Mullen vs. Eagle

 Mullen vs. Eagle 

JV@ 4:30pm - Thunder Ridge Middle School (5250 S Picadilly St, Aurora, CO 80015)

Early Release: 2:30pm

Arrive: 330pm

Varsity@6pm - Legacy Stadium (26101 E Arapahoe Rd, Aurora, CO 80016)

Meeting: 2:45pm

Arrive: 5pm

Boots on: 5:15pm

Warm up: 5:20pm

Scenario Number 1: Eagle has lost their last two games by a large margin. Most likely they are going to try to get deep, block, and stay underneath the ball. They have one player who is dangerous on the counter, and as a team they are decent in transition. If they execute a block, the number one thing is that we can't get frustrated with the game. We have to press players high so that we have numbers up against the block (but also so we can counter press) and we have to seize/make our own opportunities in the box. This is a game that we will have to be patient with. In order to break down the block, we have to implement the following strategies.

Cross the ball into the block

Penetrate the block with tight forward passes to feet

Shoot from outside the block

Execute on set pieces

If we can patiently do these things, and if we press Eagle hard up high, they are going to struggle to play with us.

Scenario number 2: Eagle throws caution to the wind and they try to play a big ball wide open game. If this occurs, then (like AHS) we need to make sure to recover under the ball into our mid block, and then we need to strike them in transition. This is where they are weakest, so if they choose to play this way, we have to fight hard to get in behind and create opportunities. 

Regardless of the scenario we see, you are going to have to be prepared to fight for this game. They are going to see it as a win they can steal, and they are going to fight hard for it. We have to do the same. We have to press hard, get elevated, and play with courage. We have to find that "impossible to beat mentality" again. 

Eagle Strengths:

Eagle has a couple key players to watch out for:

#9: This girl is the cutback queen! (which I love - best move in girls soccer) but she is their most dangerous player on the counter. She takes space well, and she knows when to cutback and change the direction of the attack. She ends up trying to do a lot alone, so if we can shut her down, we can have some success. However, we can't dive in on her. She is tricky with the ball and moves it with intention. Additionally, she runs very nice 1-2 passes in the middle of the park that free her up so we need to track her as a runner. One of our 6's should be aware of where she is at all times.

#20: This is probably Eagle's best all around players. She appears to be coming back from injury, but that doesn't stop her from being a wrecking ball. She is everywhere at the top of the defensive third, she is a strong tackler, and she is capable of sparking a counter attack. She was blowing up Creek girls left and right when they played against her. She also likes to shoot from distance and hits a very nice set piece. 

***Against a player like this, we need to move the ball very quickly. 1 and 2 touch soccer in the middle of the park. A lot of times, Creek held the ball to their own demise and that played to 20's strengths. We need quick, accurate, passes through the middle third to bypass 20 and not play to her strengths. Taking her on 1v1 is not smart - passing around her is the way to go

#17: This is Eagle's primary utility player. She plays through the middle of the park and sometimes up at the nine. She has good footwork, and she will grind through a game. 

Strengths in play:

Eagle is a team that will grind it out, and they are somewhat relentless in their nature (they scored 14 goals on overland in a half). They are not stepping out for a nice game of footy, they will be after you, and we have to match their intensity and willingness to do the dirty work.

1. They are excellent and courageous tacklers. No one is going to hold back on hacking you down, so move the ball quickly.

2. When they get into position, they press hard, and they have yet to be shut out this season. We need to work hard to get on the board because this team finds ways to score.

3. Their keeper is athletic and active. We have to shoot hard, and move her around to find our way in.

Eagle Weakness:

Depth - This Eagle team does not have a lot of technical depth. The drop off after their top players is significant. If we press the game and take away their time on the ball, they are going to struggle to move it across the field.

Passing - They give the ball away a lot. However, in order to capitalize on this weakness, we have to be well positioned. If we keep our shape, Eagle is going to just give us the ball.

Goal Keeping: While the keeper is athletic, she spills everything... We need to crash hard and keep fighting for things in the box.

Mullen Keys to success:

1. I think the biggest thing is that we have to fight for a win today and be willing to do the dirty work (especially pressing hard in the attacking third)

2. We need to keep our defensive positioning and hit our defensive shifts to prevent the counter:

In this picture, you can see that our midfield has been pulled over to the flank, which exposes the middle of the park. Even as an opposing midfielder drifts outside, we need to make sure to not chase her, but pass her off instead. As you can see, if we allow the OB to step up to press, we drop our strong side six, and slide our weakside six, we have a defensive midfielder in a central position that can eventually break up the counter.

And here, as the winger cuts in to take the shot, we need to make sure that our strongside CB is stepping into a cover position while our weakside CB drops to balance. This allows us to block the shot higher up field, or prevent it in the first place. 

Lastly, we need to be effective on set pieces tonight. They will play a big role in tonight's game.

Also - from the ABK match report - please read again:

Like we spoke about the other day, our biggest key to success will be the discipline in our midfield. This week we play against two very strong number 10s, so our shape in the middle of the park with be elemental to our success. 

6s - Remember to look at the field like a cross section. As the strong side 6 elevates, the weak 6 needs to drop into the whole. This will allow us to cut off the counter and recover to the middle if Trail strikes out wide. The discipline to keep the shape is so important. Think: where am I when we lose the ball? 

*Also remember that this doesn't mean we can't make a weakside run, we just have to do it conservatively. Also - if we send the weakside 6 (which can be super dangerous in the attack) the strong side needs to drop in to keep the shape.

Additionally, We need to make sure that all players are pressed to their designated marks - this means outside backs need to press up and regain the ball high up the field. (We can't be in a situation where half the players are doing their job, while the other half stays dropped off - we will get killed in transition)

Lastly, we need to look for opportunities to advance, drop, and advance again. This will open up the defense and set up goals and set pieces. In transition, be smart, play good/smart passes, and take care of the ball!

_________________________________________________________________________________

DON'T LOSE THE THROWER - RETAIN POSSESION ON THE THROW

Set Pieces:

Defending corners: 

Remember that when we are defending corners, we are in a man/zone hybrid. The zone marks are at the posts, and floating near the back of the six. Every other player should be marking an opponent. If there is no second taker, that player needs to drop back and pick up a mark, as does our nine if we are outnumbered. Purple = zone, Navy = man mark

Corners -

REMEMBER: When you are down in the attacking corner and trapped, play the ball off your opponent. We should be looking for moments to get throws and corners in the attacking third.

REMEMBER: We don't want to rush our corner kicks or set pieces. They are an invaluable part of our system and a great way to score goals. Huddle up before the corner to figure out who is going where and then execute your run!

Marcoux: This is an in swinging corner hit to the middle of the goal inside the second six (the space between the six yard box and the pk spot) runs should be made to the near and far post and the middle. Remember to send the ball back across the face of the goal at the far post.

2: This is an overlapping corner. The first player plays the ball short and then overlaps the second player who then lays it off. The initial player should then hit a curving ball to the far post (on goal) We need to crash the far post.

2 - option: If the defender over commits, the second player should beat them on the dribble down the line.

Bumble Bee: Create a hive around the goalie. The taker should hit an inswing ball in on goal. One player should break to the near post, and another should roll off to the back post. 

Blue: Two players bounce off the posts, the server plays the ball deep to the back post, and that player heads the ball back across the goal.

7: Line up like we are taking 2. Outside backs stay deep. Play the ball to the outside back, she plays it back to the second player, and that player swings it into the back post. When the initial ball plays, the weakside OB is sprinting to the back post to finish the shot. 

GATITO (Little kitties): On this corner, the server should send in a violent and volitile inswinging ball. We will then pump fake runs into the box, allow the ball to be served, and then crash the area where the ball is headed. On this corner, you are hunting down poor clearances or misplayed balls that land in the box. 

Lollipop: Three players at the near post, 2 players at the back post (our 9 plays the kitty and hunts at the top) The three players roll off to the far post, the middle, and the near post, while the two players in the back run across the face of the goal. The server hits an inswinging corner.

Good luck!