Mullen vs. SHHS

 Match Report: Mullen vs. Smoky Hill High School

Location: SHHS (16100 E Smoky Hill Rd, Aurora, CO 80015)

Varsity on the Turf - JV on the South Grass Field

Time: Both games at 4:15

Early Release @2:00

Varsity Team Meeting at 2:00 in C5.

Smoky Strengths

Key Players: Smoky has two key players who represent the spine of the team. Both play in the attack, and both are quite talented. They play as the 9 and the 10 for the most part, but they interchange between the two positions. They are fast and strong on the ball. Number 21 is their senior, and she kind of steals the show. She is good with the ball at her feet, and when she is in and around the box, we have to play conservatively against her because she has the ability to draw fouls in dangerous areas. (Remember, we are still waiting for our first PK... make sure it is in our favor.) Number 2 is a junior, and in my opinion, the most talented of smoky's players (all around). She is fast, she moves the ball well, and she acts as the link to 21. Without her, SHHS has nothing. The problem is that the whole midfield depends on her, and she struggles for the fitness to keep up with their open style of play.

Set pieces: Number 21 can hit a nasty in swinging corner on her right foot, and you have to believe that they practice them on their home turf. They are going to be looking to counter and create corners. Our near post and our hybrid zone has to be sharp. They can also send in a long ball and are willing to scramble in front of goal. 

Grit: I think this is probably Smoky's biggest strength. They make your life particularly difficult. If given time, this smoky team will get under the ball and dig in to defend. Their win against Littleton was a particularly gritty one, and if you watched any of the game against trail, they just kept hanging around. ABK was a little more clinical against them and put in 5 goals. If we leave Smoky in the game, anything can happen. If we are careless in possession, they will make us pay. And if we don't come out with the intent of playing a clean, hard game, we will leave the result up in the air.

My analysis: Teams that have failed to take Smoky seriously have paid the price, or struggled hard for the win. Teams that have come after them (Like Chap and Poudre) have just thrashed them. Play them hard, and they will not be able to handle us.

Smoky weaknesses: 

Smoky has two primary weaknesses that I can see -

1. Their defense struggles to stay organized. They don't always move as a unit, and they are not quick enough to regain their shape (when given time, they all just get back and pack the box). This means that taking them 1v1 in the corner and bringing the ball back across the face of the goal can be really effective. Additionally, if we simplify and play line breaking passes (PT10), we will be in behind their defense left and right.

2. Smoky has no depth. Their drop off after player number two is significant, and their bench is not strong. If we press hard and demand a fast paced and athletic game, this smoky team is going to really struggle against us. 

Mullen Keys to success:

1. We need to get organized underneath the ball -

In the image above, you can see that our 6s are stacked, which is going to allow Creek's ten to move in between our two CDM's and proceed unmarked to the top of the box where she'll eventually strike a mishandled ball from the forward and score in the upper 90.

Instead, we need to look like this:

Here, you can see that when their 9 receives that ball, both of our CDMs are underneath the 10, which would thereby prevent the shot at the top of the box. We have to identify and fill the gap.

2. We need to tighten up our pressure cover:

As you can see here, we don't pressure the initial recipient of the throw, and our 11 gives chase, but when she returns the ball to the OB, our 11 trys to get back to the player with the ball, but is beat on the dribble. Our OB is too far off and therefore can't do anything to prevent the cross. This deep in the corner, the 3 and the 11 should double the girl on the ball. If you look at the image, we technically have a 3 on 2 and she still gets the cross off and Creek scores.

As you can see here, when the ball is played back to the thrower, both the 11 and the 3 can double in order to prevent the service. 

Offensively, we need to just play simple and find our 10 to break the lines. If we strike SHHS in transition, we are going to destroy them.

Lastly, 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)

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.

Oh! and I thought I should include this little gem of the birthday girl...

Free Kicks -

Name + Number

ex. Kendall 1 (would be Kendall hitting a right footed shot to the near post)

1 = Right

2 = Left

No mistakes in the back. No goals against. Work hard for each other.

Good luck.