Mullen vs. Battle Mountain (8/21/2021) @11am - Battle Mountain High School -
0151 Miller Ranch Rd, Edwards, CO 81632
**This is a two hour drive along I-70, players need to arrive no later than 9:45am
Battle will play Durango at 6pm Friday evening. It will be a quick turn around to play us at 11.
Things to do:
Kits (This is an away game, we will wear all white), socks, transportation, nutrition (Remember that this is an 11 o'clock game, which is a weird time just before lunch. Eat breakfast and also take care of your nutrition before the game, don't eat nothing.)
Battle Mountain Strengths
Over the last decade, Battle has been a formidable presence in the 4A division. They have won a state title, been to a handful of quarter finals, semis and one other final I believe. Their players are experienced and carry a winning mentality.
On the field, Battle has a nice blend of technical and athletic ability. Their primary tactical attack comes out of the back. They are comfortable moving the ball around between defenders and after a couple short passes, they look to push the ball and play long. Once they have entered the attacking third, they press hard and shoot often. Their movement is decent, but they are definitely a team that plays by the mantra "More shots inevitably results in more goals." Additionally, they are comfortable at home. They have dangerous set pieces (good shooting and good corners- that they often put on frame) plus, they train and play at altitude which allows them to govern the pace of the game against most of their opponents.
Defensively, they run a decent man marking system, and they are usually pretty quick. Furthermore, they always have an athletic goal keeper prone to some dynamic saves.
Battle Mountain Weaknesses
Battle has an assortment of weaknesses that we will be looking to exploit. Hopefully the fact that they will have played the evening before will work in our favor. However, we can not count on them being tired. They have a decent reserve squad.
In many ways, they are one dimensional. They play in a league that they dominate, and thus they are not forced to be particularly creative. If we follow our recovery system and do not leave everything to a footrace, we will limit their attacking options. Furthermore, if we close down shots, we will create a number of counter attack opportunities.
Battle is prone to leaving just two in the back, and their center backs do not naturally cover the outsides, the fullbacks chase players down the field. If we overlap our runs in the back, we can exploit the space behind their full backs and bring numbers into the box and/or create set piece opportunities.
Battle is known for having athletic keepers that culturally prioritize deflecting the ball over catching it. For this reason, off ball players need to crash the net and position themselves to be dangerous in front of goal. If we unload some dangerous shots, we should be able to pick up a couple tap ins.
Finally, Battle graduated their big play maker (16 goals, 14 assists, which is impressive no matter where you play) They will be looking for an identity as a team, so this is the perfect time to strike. We just need to play our game and get an early season win!
Mullen Strengths over Battle
We have excellent fitness and speed and fire power up front. We are also a technical team that can move the ball quickly and accurately. By exploiting the space, we can find gaps in the Battle formation, and create opportunities on the counter. When the chance arises, we have to move quickly down field. Slowing the game down will be advantageous to them. Play smart, and don't make mistakes at the back, Battle's attackers are opportunistic and technical.
Additionally, we have a disciplined and structured defense. Battle had to rely heavily on set pieces and lucky breaks to get through their more structured opponents in the spring. If we keep our shape, pressure and mark, we can shut them down.
Keys to success:
1. No mistakes out of the back. Smart decisions and smart passes that avoid the counter.
2. Exploit the space on the flanks and at the top of the box. Outside backs need to get involved in the attack. They should have space to move forward, and their attack will spread the midfield.
3. Capitalize on set pieces. If we can take advantage of these moments, we will have a great deal of success.
4. Discipline and structure in the back. We need to hold position and recover for one another.
5. When in possession of the ball in our defensive third, we need to play quickly, not get the ball stuck under our feet, and play into space instead of small spaces. It is a big field, don't fear the dynamic long ball.
6. 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!
Good luck!
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