Match Report: Mullen vs. Creek, JV/V@4:30 - Mullen Soccer Complex
3601 S. Lowell Blvd. Denver, CO 80236
Things to do:
Kits (This is a home game, we are dark), socks, nutrition (Remember that this is a 4:30pm game, you need to eat food and have snacks, take care of your nutrition, don't eat nothing.)
Creek Strengths:
Prologue and probably Creek's greatest strength over the last 7 months:
Creek has won or almost won a number of games that they should not have won or even had a chance....
Fossil Ridge
Arapahoe on Tuesday night
Regis last spring
Boulder last spring
Grandview (Twice last season)
...just to name a few.
This is significant for two reasons: one, teams are either failing to address Creek appropriately (they are not recognizing them as a threat) or, two, they are failing to put away Creek when they should, and Creek is sticking around long enough to stay in the fight.
We can not make either of these mistake. One - we need to take Creek seriously (last years performance has no weight on tonight's results) and, two, we need to seize early opportunities to put Creek away or we will pay the price for it.
They have proven one thing in the last 7 months. They are not going away and they will fight until the bitter end for a result. There is no shame in their relentless attack. (A bit of a Leeds United, if you will)
Other strengths:
- Creek is incredibly opportunistic. They have scored a majority of their goals as a result of mistakes in the back, players out of position, and balls bouncing around in the box. If we isolate their primary threat and avoid these mistakes, they will struggle to score.
- Creek is incredibly fit and fast. Creeks players are constantly chasing the game and looking for any opportunity to pounce. They are present for big tackles in the middle of the field, their outside backs will go for everything. They are in a constant state of motion and some of their movement is pretty dynamic. Creek will run at us all game long.
Creek weaknesses
Creek has one primary weakness that we need to try and exploit:
They are erratic, lack patience, and get drawn out of position - in other words, they are prone to moments of disorganization.
Their outside backs have a tendency to get sucked in, and their center backs don't seem to work well together, which opens avenues in behind their defense if our movement is creative. Creek performs really well against slow methodical play, that is why they are a good match up for Grandview, but if we move the ball quickly, and directly, Creek will have to chase the play, and they are not disciplined enough to trust one another to do the right thing. They are constantly trying to attack the ball.
Today - exploit this weakness, beat Creek with good passes.
***As an aside, their goalie has not shown particularly well from distance. For this reason, we need to take open shots. However, the Grandview goalie had the game of his life the other night, so goal tenders are not always what they seem.
For this reason, I think that he can be beat from distance, but we can not just batter him with shots all game. We need to be dynamic, shoot from range, but also look to penetrate in behind the defense.
****Lastly, we need to have a killer instinct on set pieces. Creek has not shown as well as Grandview in defending them. Also, we are at home, so we have an advantage on set pieces. Use that advantage.
Mullen Strengths against Creek
The most important things we can do today:
- Hit our marking assignments with high pressure, especially on the wings.
- Be dynamic and clinical on set pieces
- Not make any mistakes at the back - we can not be afraid to push a counter against Creek, our direct football against Grandview was very impressive.
- Trust the game, see what it is giving to us, follow its lead, and take your chances.
Main Focus:
Capitalize in the final third
Counter quickly
Stay organized on defense
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.
-Outside backs need to dribble at the CHS full backs and then distribute the ball into space or feet. One/Twos around the defense will be very effective.
3. Know the set pieces. 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!
7. 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. (See diagram above.)
Good luck!
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