Match Report: Mullen vs Northfield

 Mullen vs. Northfield

JV@2pm - Arrive by 1pm

Varsity@4pm - Team meeting in 303 at 2:45pm

Location: MSC (3601 S Lowell Blvd, Denver, CO 80236)

This rivalry has some significant history. Be ready to play fast and hard.

Northfield Strengths:

Northfield has become a 4A powerhouse over the last couple of years. They've won back to back state championships, and a total of 42 games or something like that in that time. They have gotten used to winning, and that means something.

Northfield has an incredibly strong cast of players. Their attack is comprised of two forwards who are very dynamic in the movement. They are constantly looking for opportunities to go through on the counter and they won't hesitate to run down a ball in the backfield. However, they will also check back to the ball and release midfielders on the third run or look for the weakside switch. We have to make sure that our back line has some depth, we can't get caught high. But we need to also stay connected tight enough to execute our press. We can't give up huge areas of space in the middle of the park behind the midfield and in front of the D. 

Additionally, their 10 and their 8 are very creative players. They move well through the middle of the park, and they are constantly looking to find width in behind the opposition's defense. Our box should keep them somewhat contained, but never expect them to stop moving. We need to constantly recover underneath in order to clog the lanes and disrupt the flow through the middle of the park. If we can play fast and direct, we can drive them further into the backfield to receive the ball.

Northfield also has a series of set pieces that have the potential to be quite dangerous. 

First, they want to play fast and switch the direction of play in transition. If we foul players in the defense or in the middle of the park, we need to cut off any quick restart and try to disrupt the flow of the game. Never allow them to play the long ball quickly. 

Furthermore, over the last couple of years, they have had a lot of success on freekicks around the box. We need to have a well positioned wall, expect the hesitation from the first approach and for the second player to take the shot. We need to be patient and not get bated. 

They also have a long throw. They run a play that we used to call white during which they attempt to find a flick near the front post (usually off of a checking player's head) that they then send across the face of the goal. This throw got them through to the state final last year. We need to get underneath and treat throws in the final third like a corner.

Lastly, their corners can be dangerous. If they send two players to the corner, so should we. On top of that, they like to run a "bumble bee like" corner, only at the top of the box. They bunch up and then scramble as they make a series of different runs. However, one player will make his way to the back post and try to either go to goal or play the ball back across for a finish. We need to make sure we float deep and identify our marks so we can track them out of the hive.

Finally, their goalie is talented and we will need to be clinical in front of goal. 

Northfield weaknesses:

As noted, this is a very strong team. However, they can be vulnerable in transition, and when things aren't going their way, they tend to get frustrated. They also struggle to make adjustments. If their game plan isn't working, they can't always find a solution. 

We are going to need to get underneath and play direct. We looked really dangerous in the scrimmage on Thursday when we moved the ball quickly and attempted to exploit the space in behind. We need to be efficient in our attack and keep our momentum. We can spring a couple on them if we manage to draw them out. They gave up two goals to Golden (and scored a handful), but it shows that they have some vulnerabilities. We just need to stick to our plan, stay disciplined, and try to strike them in transition. We can't make mistakes in the back. When in doubt, move the ball out.

Lastly, if we are clinical, we can catch them on a set piece. We just have to want it more than them!

Mullen Keys to success:

As we noted yesterday in film, we need to be efficient in our attack and use our press to contain their midfield and forwards. Our at home 10 should act as the base of the pressing triangle, cutting off opportunities to break the lines from the defense out. In addition, we need to hit our marking assignments on the wings to stifle their forward momentum. Lastly, we need to stay connected as a team while simultaneously not allowing them to get into the backfield unmarked. This game will require a perfect performance.

Please take note of the images below:

As you can see in this image, when we are pressing in the 3241, we use the 9 to direct the game to one sideline or another. At that point we press our winger into their outside back and our OB into their winger to eliminate opportunities up the line. Our home 10 slides into the bottom of the triangle between our 9 and 11 while the strong side 6 occupies the higher space up field and the weakside 6 holds the deep central position. Our other 2 CBs slide toward the strong side staying as a conncted unit while our 7 drops a little deeper to share attacking players on the weakside. 

If we organize in this fashion (like against Denver North) the only relief is the attempted clearance over the top.

In contrast, when we look at this image we can see that our 11 is pulled all the way inside to try to compensate for the fact that our 10 is split between players as is our 7. Both of our 6s are stuck on the weakside of the game in a straight line with our weakside CB. This has left our strong side CB flat and our LOB stretched to try and cover the switch. Denver North has free reign over the middle of the field and hits line breaking pass after line breaking pass. All we are left to do is chase and an almost foul results in a free kick that scores.

When we look at this image in comparison to the diagram above, we can understand the importance of getting our central midfielders into position on the strong side so that the rest of the shape and fall into line.

When we turn off organizationally, we get beat.

How to beat Northfield:

1. Organized and effective press

2. Retain/regain possession

3. Use the width

4. Score on set pieces.

Don't turn off, see the game through.

Set pieces:

(Corners)

2- Short corner overlap. Attackers cover near, middle, far - slight delay on the run in.

3- short corner choice. The players taking the corner will choose to overlap or take on the player. Attackers cover all positions, and delay runs in.

Jolly - Bend it in the goal. Attackers cover all locations, especially back post. Anything that goes long should be headed back toward goal.

Bumblebee - cluster around the goalie inside the six. Ball should be played into the cluster. 

11 - Three runners at the near post, two at the back. The three runners circle around to the near post, middle, and far post, while the two at the back make direct runs across the goal.

Snake: 

For this corner, we will have two groups of two players at each corner of the six. They will make phantom runs where they appear to check away and then just bounce back. Two more players will start at the front top of the box and make diagonal runs to the back post. At that point an initial runner will sprint to toward the corner taker while the second runner trails. The corner taker will make a pass to the top of the box, the first runner will dummy and the second will strike the ball. 

Reminders:

1. No mistakes out of the back. Smart decisions and smart passes that avoid the counter.

2. Patience. We can't chase them all game. We will have to be okay giving up moments of possession in order to strike when the timing is right. Marking assignment and a high level of confrontation will be key!

3. We need to keep the ball out of the middle of the field in the central third. Swinging the ball quickly through the 6 and the 10 will open up the attack so that outside backs and wingers can serve.