Match Report: Mullen vs Liberty Common

Mullen vs. Liberty Common

Location: Mullen Soccer Complex (3601 S Lowell Blvd. Denver, CO 80014)

JV@10 on the South Field

V@12 on the North/South Blue Field (Senior Celebration to follow)

*Varsity Team Meeting in 303 at 10:30am

Liberty Strengths: 

Tactical: From what we can see, this is a well structured Liberty Common team who moves on and off the ball really well. The CBs shift nicely into position to cover for one another, and it is very clear that they are well coached and have a tactical identity. This structure in the back has handed them a fair amount of shut out wins this season, and they have proven difficult to break down in direct play.

After some struggles early season, Liberty seems to have moved to a 4-4-2 formation. They will move the ball quickly in the mid or bypass it in favor of their two forwards, but the structure in more simple and working for them. They use the middies to win balls and transition quickly. The good news about this is that we should outnumber them in the midfield (if they use this formation, so quick ball movement should be effective. Additonally, dynamic runs up top, a well executed press on their back line, balls into the corners are going to be an essential part of trying to shift this back line out of position and break them down.

Technical: Liberty has a handful of incredibly good/technical players. One center back as well as two attackers make up the list of more dangerous players. The CB moves the ball quickly, and the two attackers are relatively dynamic.

The system works like this: Like an AHS, they will move the ball around in the back a little and then look to play direct with a long ball. If they can get in behind or create a set piece opportunity, they are dangerous. Up top, one of the strikers will just kind of sit high and drift around waiting for an opportunity to strike. He wears the number 7 and has a wicked left footed strike. We can not allow him to shoot! The other striker does all the dirty work. He comes back to the ball, presses, and is also the one trying to get players to make mistakes. He then dishes it off to seven so they can go to goal. It has proven to be an effective model again and again. 

*the biggest thing for us here is to execute our press effectively. We need to use our nine to be in the space the CBs want to take in order to prevent the long ball over. Our back line needs to shift well around 7 and our CBs need to press into him when he tries to check in to get the ball. The biggest thing is that we can't give him space to work. If we are well organized and move the ball around well, they will have a difficult time breaking us down.

*We can not get stretched out against this system. Our weakside winger needs to make sure to share their weakside winger with our OB when we are defending and in transition. Additionally, if we can stifle the switch and win balls in the middle of the park, we can disrupt this system.

Lastly, on this note, the LC wings don't do a lot of marking, they like to stay high and wait for the through ball. We need to find our elevated outside backs, they will be open, and when we pose this threat, it will force the LC wingers back onto defense which will further disrupt their system of attack.

LC weaknesses:

LC has not demonstrated a lot of weaknesses in their game, other than the fact that they seemed to struggle with the speed and athleticism of Valor Christian.

So this brings two points forward:

1. LC has not seen strong competition in a handful of weeks. If we can bring the game to them, fast and strong, there will inevitably be an adjustment period where they are forced to reacclimate to the pace of play. It does not appear that they have been pressed hard, and they seem to thrive with a fair amount of time. I would think that our primary goal would be to reduce their amount of time on the ball and force them into mistakes. 

2. They don't appear to play in a particularly physical/fast league. We should not be dirty, but we should be physical. Find the contact on marks and on our press. Make sure the LC players know you are there all game long. We should make strong tackles, and we should be hungry on clearances and in front of the goal to score on set pieces.

3. Additionally, I think there are some members of their back line that struggle to play at speed. One of the CBs has been dispossessed on a number of occasions in film and goal scoring opportunities have ensued. Also, the right OB seems to be their weak point on the back line. He gets pulled out of position and struggles technically. We need to try and exploit him.

Lessons from Arapahoe:

1. Don't overrun number 7. He wants to cut back onto his left foot, so lets just contain him and keep him outside.

2. When the nine presses, they need to move into the space that the CBs want to take as they press them toward the wing. This will limit direct play.

3. Play smart passes out of the back, retain possession, and keep checking to the ball.

4. Stay connected on the back line. Weakside wingers, get back to share.

Mullen Keys to Success:

1. We need to execute our press in an organized and clinical fashion. We can't sit in the backfield waiting for this ABK team or they are going to crush us. We want to run our mid block and press hard into their OBs and wingers.

2. We need to contain and not dive in. I don't want us chasing in the middle of the park, I want us directing the game. 

3. We need to run the plays. Throw ins, corners, whatever it is, do it right.

4. Attackers need to come back to the game and get underneath. The nine needs to come under and defend and the wingers do too. We need to close the gaps.

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. 

And please remember!

1. OBs, don't track runs beyond your CBs

2. Get goal side on set pieces

3. Keep your mark in the middle of the field

4. Be a leader - clear the ball

JV tactical notes: 

I watch Liberty Common JV beat Timnath 5-1.  It was an even match except for the Timnath mistakes that gave away rather easy goals.  They will be a good match up for us as we play 9v9.

Liberty Common Strengths

1. Like to run at goal with the ball
2. Organized back line 
3. Will press our defensive line

Weaknesses

1. Run away from the ball during build-up - leaving gaps in the midfield
2. Lose shape
3. Susceptible to through balls and ones played into the their corners

Keys to Success

• Be organized defensively
  
• Connect several passes through the midfield to advance the ball close to their goal
• Our last 5 league games against 5A schools have taught us to play with courage and intensity