Mullen vs. Grandview

 Match Report: Mullen vs. Grandview

Location: Mullen High School (3601 S Lowell Blvd)

Time: JV@4:30 (North) V@4:30 (South)

Varsity Team meeting @ 2:45

Boots on @ 3:35

Warm up @ 3:40

Grandview Strengths: 

1. Grandview probably has one of the top 5 players in 5A (if not the best) in their attack. She is ruthless. She operates off of two primary strengths - exploiting the space underneath the midfield and on top of the defense and running in behind. Her finishing is top notch. Today you will see her do a couple of things: she will drop in to receive the ball at her feet and turn to attack. We can't let her do this with out a tussle. Constant contact with her is important. She will also try to get in behind on the counter. Our small field alleviates some of this, but if she gets going, she is hard to catch. Our midblock will stifle a lot of her opportunities behind our defense, but we have to be aware of what she wants. We have to try and reduce opportunities for her in front of goal.

2. Grandview is moving the ball pretty well. Unlike ABK, this is a Grandview team that is trying to play some soccer, and in the last couple of games it has paid dividends. They aren't relying so heavily on the counter, and they are trying to play more on the front foot at times. I think it has cost them a couple of games, but overall they will be better for it. They are also finding ways to be dangerous in possession. Our shape and organized press is going to be particularly important today as we attempt to cut off passes and take away time.

3. Finally, their central midfielders drift out to the flanks and this really opens up the middle of the field. This was a tactic that we really struggled with against Eagle on Tuesday night. On Tuesday, 20 would drift wide and pull our midfielders out (when our 7 and 11 failed to recover underneath) and then isolate 9 in the middle on top of the box. That made her dangerous 1v1. GV will employ a similar tactic as they try to get the ball to their star center forward. We can't get pulled wide, we need to keep the shape and our 9 and 10 need to fight to get underneath the ball.

Grandview weaknesses:

As we watched in film, GV did struggle with the intensity of the press from Eagle in the early parts of that game. If we are well organized and keep our shape we will frustrate GV with a lack of opportunity. We have to be ready for a fight and a conservative game - if we embrace these two elements we can really get after the GV team.

Additionally, the GV midfield has a tendency to get pulled wide in defense. In order to exploit this, we need to find our OBs and wingers and draw the MF wide. But then we need to quickly transition the ball through the middle to the weakside in transition. If we can do this, we can create a lot of opportunities 1v1 with the defense. This will help us to find goal scoring ops and set pieces.

Lastly, the Grandview goalie struggles high. Shots on goal and dangerous set pieces will really matter. 

Mullen Keys to Success:

1. Being mindful of the GV center forward. We need to know where she is at all times, make contact with her and stay tight in cover.

2. Everyone needs to get underneath and we need to close down shots.

We will look at this whole clip in our meeting today, but in this particular situation the CF drops into the half space between the midfield and defense where she receives the ball. As the 6s recover beyond her, she brings the ball further into space and then turns back toward goal. No one makes contact with her, no one stays with her, and Eagle is left with four players beneath her doing nothing. The CB steps way too late to the shot and she hits a 31 yard banger (bar down).

This situation is easily avoided by retaining possession in the middle of the park, but also by staying in contact with her in recovery. If Eagle number 20 had just kept her as a mark the CF would have never gotten off the shot. 

That is our goal today. No shots on goal=shut out!

Additionally...

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!

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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!