Match Report: Mullen vs. Overland

 Mullen vs. Overland

JV/Varsity @4:30 (MSC - 3601 S Lowell Blvd.)

**Both teams will play at the same time on the East/West fields (JV seating is along the North sideline of the North Field)

Team Meetings:

Varsity @3 in 303

JV @ 3 in Dr. E's room (G39)

Boots on by 3:45 - Warm up @3:50

Today's theme: "Set pieces - the game within the game"

Overland Strengths:

This is an Overland side that has worked incredibly hard over the last year on their defensive shape. They are giving up fewer goals this season. However, they have lost some of their attacking power as well, so they are fighting harder for ties and low scoring victories.

1. They will be organized. They have held a couple of quality opponents to one or zero goals, and in part it is because they are committed to getting underneath the ball, blocking shots, and looking for big clearances. They seem harder to break down than in years past, and when you watch them, you can tell that their shape and movement is better.

2. They remain phenomenal tacklers and dribblers. 1v1 situations are a huge strength for this team. They are wicked on the dribble through the middle of the park, and they tackle well all over the field. The more we limit these scenarios - contain them and force them into passes, move the ball quickly, dribble into space - the more they are going to struggle to control the game. We do not want a street ball grudge match with this team, it will turn the game into a coin flip. And we do not want to slow the pace of the game in the middle of the park or lose our momentum 1v1. We have to beat them with the pass and dribble into space, this will pull them out of shape and open up the lanes.

3. Much like Eaglecrest, these boys will pull the trigger from anywhere. On our smaller field, that could mean right after half. We have to expect the shot and close down all over the field. Northing should get out. 

Overland Weaknesses:

1. They will be vulnerable in transition. I've spent a little time watching the teams that beat them by and handful of goals to see if there was any themes in the way they played. All of them are relatively direct, but more importantly, they transition quickly up the field (be it through the middle, or down the side lines). We need to take advantage of this. Overland is well organized when given time, but if we can catch them in recovery (or not give them time to recover) that is where we are going to cause the most damage. We need to be concerted in our movement up top, attack the space, and move the ball quickly - one and two touch. This will pull them apart and let us behind the lines. Again, going toe to toe with them plays to their strengths. We want a clinical and direct game of futbol that exploits the space and gives no time to recover.

2. As the second piece to that puzzle, Overland is also very territorial. When they are under pressure in the backfield, they'll just kick the ball out of bounds for throws and corners. We need to play to this tactic. If we are taking space up the line or to the corner, don't cut back in and give them the opportunity to clear up field. Take the space wide and go off them for a throw or corner and we will catch them on set pieces - an area where they aren't as strong. Play for goals, but also play for goal scoring opportunities. Find chances to play to our strengths on set plays.

3. The goalie does weird things - and he is off his line a lot!! We should definitely be looking to catch him in both regards. If you see a chance from range, take it (not all the time of course, but don't be afraid to shoot) Additionally, against Boulder, on corners, he was standing on the six. Our corners should be very effective, the service just needs to be good and we have to be hungry in front of goal. The last piece of this is that we want to go fast. As always, take time on throws, corners (unless you see him off his line, then just bend it in), and free kicks right outside the box, but from range, if you can catch them or restart quickly, do it!

Keys to success:

We were marvelous in our recovery and shape against Eagle, and I want a repeat of that performance. Look at these images one more time to make sure we are recovering through the middle of the park and not getting caught out:

As you can see here, our 9 and 6 (who is acting as a 10) both come out to press the CB as planned. Our other 6 slides to contain the midfielder at the bottom of the triangle like he should. However, our 10 never drops into the space to recover for the pressing 6 who is playing his role. This leaves a midfielder open to travel through the middle of the park.

Unfortunately, our other 6 doesn't foul to reset the play, and our strong side CB doesn't step into the gap, and as a consequence, their lefty is open to strike. This will be the exact type of space that Eagle is looking to exploit. Always scan and recover middle.

1. Move the ball quickly

2. Capitalize on set plays

3. Keep our shape - they will just give you the ball.

Set pieces:

(Corners)

Rio - Fake corner. One player goes and gets the ball and acts like they are throwing it to the other player. He plays them as soon as he steps on the field and we attack. The runners have to be sharp on Rio and ready for the fake play!

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. 

JV tactical notes:

So far this season, Overland JV is 2-5-1, scoring 13 goals and allowing 23.  They are 0-4 on the road.  Since this is the second week of league play, Mullen and Overland have not played any common opponents yet.  Mullen JV has scored 25 goals and allowed 21.  Based on a match against Boulder, Overland played a 4-4-2 and here's what I observed.

Overland Strengths

They have experienced players on the JV roster who are quick and athletic.  They look to move the ball upfield quickly and recover quickly in defense when they are out of position.  They have players who have solid technical skills.

Overland Weaknesses

• Significant gaps in the midfield
• Susceptible to through balls behind their defensive line
• Multiple players chase the ball to win it back
• Give away the ball cheaply

Mullen Keys to Success

(1) Exploit the gaps in their shape

In this sequence that starts with a goal kick after a Boulder scoring chance, Overland's defense (white kits) is too close to their own goal. 

Frame 1 - Their central midfielders are in a good location but the gap between them and Overland's defensive line is significant.

Frame 2 - Overland GK kicks to the Boulder midfielder who plays a Brazilian one-touch pass to his other midfielder.
Note the highlighted Boulder player in the square.  No Overland defender is within 15 yards of him!

Frame 3 - Boulder midfielder spots the wide open forward and plays a ball to him.

Frame 4: No Overland's defense wakes up to the danger but they are late, giving the Boulder forward time to move the ball.

Frame 5:  The Boulder forward takes a touch into space while a Boulder outside back (outside the frame) is running to receive a ball.

Frame 6: The Boulder forward plays a square ball to the outside back, who is now running full speed and the Overland defense is out of position.

Although Boulder didn't create a scoring chance on this particular play, they did this often in this match and put 5 goals past Overland.

(2) Play Mullen Football

Control the midfield - we did a great job controlling the midfield on Tuesday against Eaglecrest and their coach and players were frustrated within the first 10 minutes of the match.  They didn't know how to get through our defense.  We want a similar approach against Overland.  So, we want to keep our shape so that we can win balls in the midfield and we want to play quick through balls behind Overland's defense.

I want to see our 9s (Cohen & Isaiah) work with our 10s (Ignacio & Martin) to play as we did in Wednesday's practice - holding up the ball and then allowing our wingers (Smith brothers, Henry and Gavin) to make runs to either the corner flags and to the near goal post so we pull Overland's defense out of shape.

For every 10 runs that the 9s, 7s, and 11s make, you might only get the ball 2 or 3 times but if you stop moving, you will make it easier for Overland to stop our attack.  When you receive a through ball, do not take a touch, just shoot the ball first time and everyone crashes the goal to look for rebounds off their keeper.

Mullen JV averages 8.75 shots per game and I think we can beat our average against Overland.

Defenders stay connected and use the midfielders (6s) for quick vertical passes to break pressure or play the outside backs.  6s make sure you are an option for a pass as the attackers move the ball around Overland's penalty area and then look to play.

OUTSIDE BACKS NEED TO GET INVOLVED IN THE ATTACK! ALL THE TIME!!!

Reminders:

1. Protect Mullen's home field and win your HOCO match!
2. Play simple quick passes to feet so that we pull Overland out of position as they chase the ball
3. Offensive goals: play through balls into space behind their defense and take one-time shots
4. Defensive goal: clean sheet / no goals allowed