Match Report: Mullen vs. Smoky Hill

 Mullen vs. Smoky Hill

JV@4:15 - South Grass field

Varsity@4:15 - North Turf field

All students will be released at 2:00 with a 2:30 departure. Varsity players should head to the horse shoe for departure, JV players should head to the spirit center. Thank you.

Smoky Strengths:

Smoky has had some impressive defensive performances - including shutting out fossil ridge and holding trail to two goals. When they get under the ball, they are difficult to break down, and their goalie is talented.

Primary themes:

1. Smoky does well to quickly move the ball to the wings. In thefootage that I've seen, they play a somewhat territorial game, and they conservatively clear the ball. Their main highlight in the attack is their wingers, and they play them all the time. They don't seem to spend a lot of time with the ball in the middle of the park, but instead they bang the corners and make the runs. One of their wingers loves the overhead flick, and the other is quick down the line. Both are technical.

*Our recovery system is going to need to be perfect in order to contain this threat. If we get beat down the line, remember, we don't chase, the CB swings out and the OB recovers to the middle. 

2. Defensively, there are numerous occasions where Smoky has their entire team below the ball. They are somewhat well organized, but more importantly, they are good 1v1 and willing to swarm in the final third. They will send numerous players to close down shots and passes. They are going to look to block low and counter down the flanks of the field. We have to understand this tactic.

*Two things are going to be key in combating this strength: one, we need to be quick in transition. If we move the ball to the corners, we can isolate the defense and prevent them from getting under the ball. AA took it to them down the flanks. They were able to quickly move the ball in behind and then bring it across the middle to finish. We need to employ a similar tactic. Additionally, because Smoky has a tendency to bunch, we need to look to switch the ball to the weakside and isolate our players. We can work against their recovery with a strong switch of the play.

3. The goalie is good, heads up, and plays fast. In the Arapahoe game, there is a moment where ABK scores a header, the team is celebrating, the goalie realizes that the goal has been disallowed for offsides, he sets it down and starts a counter in which Smoky almost scores. You should expect him to try to restart the game quickly and have decent command over his box. Don't get caught watching. 

*The only weakness I have seen in watching him play is on set pieces and low shots. When we have the opportunity, we have to be clinical on our corners and throws. We need good service and good authority in the box. Additionally, when we find ourselves in the box, we need to shoot low and to the corners.

4. They are strong street ballers and fantastic 1v1. 

*ARAPAHOE DOES NOT HAVE ONE SUCCESSFUL DIRECT DRIBBLE UP THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. THEY ARE DISPOSSESSED EVERY TIME.

We need to move the ball quickly in the middle of the park and try to find the space in behind the wingbacks. That is the space to exploit.

Smoky Weaknesses:

1. They are vulnerable in transition, especially down the flanks. Moving into the space behind the wing backs is essential. Both crossing the ball (air or ground) as well as driving into shoot from the wings is key to our success. If we let them get under, they'll be hard to break down.

2. They don't always cover well on set pieces. Be creative with your movement and be hungry for the ball.

3. They have struggled to score. This only matters for one reason - if you don't make mistakes, we won't give them any opportunities. Follow shots back to the goal and be smart and patient with the ball.

Mullen key points of emphasis:

We need to make sure that we are recovering and creating depth in the midfield.

AS you can see in this image, almost our entire midfield is within 5 yards of vertical space. This leaves a massive 12 yard gap between our CBs and CDMs. The striker will move into the gap, take a bad touch, but we'll be too far away to capitalize, and then he will be able to play a ball in behind that will eventually lead to the PK.

When one of our CDMs comes out to press, we need to recover to the deep middle (home) in order to keep the space. When we are in a straight line, one pass beats our entire midfield.

Similarly, as we discussed yesterday, on the second goal that CC scores, our midfield is off their marks and then they converge on one player, allowing one pass to beat them all and expose the back field. Today, our midfield needs to keep itss shape and depth. 

The second key point today will be the press. ABK was really successful with their press, and Smoky struggled to create. In order to press well, we have to move up with the game. 

As you can see here, the press drives the ball back to the CB. However, at this point, we fail to adjust the press. Our winger stays in the backfield instead of pressing up to the new wingback. This leaves our 10 tucked in on the wide midfielder. The CB makes a press breaking pass to the wide open 6, which eventually results in the goal. 

Our failure to move up with the press leaves our backfield super deep and exposed. The CB has to step out to the winger, who is tucked inside, which leaves him unable to recover. 

Move up with the ball.

Today, let's try to be patient, disciplined, and not make mistakes.

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 Match report

We watched the goals of their march against Air Academy from early in the season where they played a 4-2-3-1 formation.  They tied 1-1 and both teams gave up preventable goals from poor defending on corner kicks.  

Smoky Hill Strengths

1. They love a good through ball - in fact this seemed to be their primary way to attack Air Academy.
2. Spread their players out to create ample space to move the ball.
3. Quick movements, especially on turf.

Smoky Hill Weaknesses

1. Spread the field when they play out of the back but midfielders are too static and they leave a lot of space.
2. Give away the ball when pressured.
3. Like to dribble quest when they should make a simple pass.

Mullen Keys to Success

• Pass and move - Smoky Hill gave Air Academy a lot of space to receive passes.  Air Academy was able to move the ball with simple 1-2 passes, running at the Smoky Hill defense.  This was effective and we can find opportunities if we pass and move as a team.
  
  
• Make runs into space - There were moments in Monday's 11v11 when we were making runs into space and making the correct passes.  Let's translate this practice into the match.
  
  
• Slow them down - Close down their 6s and wide attacking midfielders - step in front of them to disrupt their rhythm. 
  
  
• Be aware of their through balls - Our back line and midfield must work together to shift vertically so we are not vulnerable to their 6s sending through balls behind our back line.  The best way to prevent such counter attacks is to pressure the 6s so they cannot easily pass the ball.

Reminders:

• Trust the shape, trust your teammates
• Play smart: scan and make decisions before the ball comes to you
• Win individual battles and fight for every ball