We will share the checklist with you the reader. We will be brutally honest, as that is the only way to make things get better So here we go.

1. Many players received the ball and tried to turn into the marking defender. Stupid stuff. Pass the way you are looking. Why? To begin with, there is less chance of losing the ball. Also, the back pass reduces pressure at the ball, and changes the direction of the attack. It also maintains control of the ball. We said that. But it is all true and helps in the attack.

2. Many players passed into space. Now it is not to be denied that passing into space can help, but most of the time passing to feet is better. Better for the receiving player, and better for keeping control of the ball. Passing into space is like saying, "I hope that you get there." If not, then what?

3. Many players pass in the air. We believe that an air ball is a two-touch ball, at best, where a ground pass may be a one-touch ball. Can you see the difference? Fewer touches on the ground. Faster movement of the ball. And the player running beyond the ball runs into unoccupied space. Faster. More efficient.

4. We seldom overlapped on a square or forward or square pass. Overlapping is part of the modern game. Players need to be trained to execute this simple step. Overlap. The overlap disguises the point of the attack and creates a numerical advantage near the ball. What is wrong with that? That is good soccer.

5. We crossed the ball in the defensive half of the field. Wrong! Wrong! The problem is that these passes create the strong possibility of a counter-attack. Crossed passes should begin at the midfield line, and not before. There is little chance of a counter attack from a crossed pass delivered at or beyond the midfield line.

6. The keeper punted all the balls. Where is the variety or deception in that? Do the same thing over and over? How about a short pass to the flanks? Throw the ball to the feet of a player? Change things?

7. We dribbled too much. That is a simple statement. Try to explain that to a player who wants to dribble all over the field. Bench the player? Play him in a different position? Try to have players dribble in the final third of the field and not before. Dribbling can cause problems. The ball can be lost. That is obvious, but the real problem is that the dribbler slows down the attack. Passing is quicker than dribbling. Try to explain that to the players. A hard task. But try it.

8. Players ran straight runs. This is another stupid thing. Players run straight down the field, arrive before the ball, stand and wait. Or run off side. All stupid. Arrive before the ball, stand and wait? Is this good soccer? Stand and wait? Run away from the ball? Read that again. Run away from the ball. A wide receiver in American football? Run away from the ball. Sure.

Why not run in a curved line to see the ball and the field of play? See all and know what to do. Running away from the ball means not seeing the ball, and not being able to receive the ball. Yes, stupid!

9. Do not force play up the middle. This means that the ball should not be played up the middle to cause the defense to collapse around the ball. Use the flanks to open up the middle of the field. Then the team can center the ball and go to goal.

There were other problems. Many. We shot from too far outside. We made few combination plays. Wall passes, up back and through passes, give and go passes, etc.

I feared reaching a dozen problems, but nine is more than enough. That is more than a season of work . There is no easy way to go. Soccer is a process; it is not a quickly acquired product. If you expect quick results, try basketball. Just get tall people.

FUNdamental Reader: Your comments and questions for Alan Maher are welcome!