Match Report: Mullen vs. Grandview (JV@4:30 at Grandview High School, V@6pm @ Legacy Stadium)
Grandview High School: 20500 E Arapahoe Rd, Aurora, CO 80016
Legacy Stadium: 25901 E Arapahoe Rd, Aurora, CO 80016
Things to do:
Kits (This is an away game, we are white), socks, nutrition (Remember that this is a 6pm game, you need to eat food and have snacks, take care of your nutrition, don't eat nothing.)
Grandview Strengths:
1. Grandview has our number. Psychologically, they come into this game the historically dominant team. Even at the top of our game last year they gave us a lot of trouble. On Tuesday night, they will be confident and they will believe that they can win. That will matter. They will approach the game disciplined and patient, and they will wait for us to make mistakes that they can then capitalize on. They will play the way they have always played against us. The pressure is on us to change the fates, not them to repeat what they have always done. We will have to win the psychological battle on Tuesday. We have to convince them and us that we are the better team.
2. Grandview is incredibly disciplined and patient. They play a territorial game of football designed to minimize the threat in front of their own goal. They will block for entire games and just wait for counter attacks. And their block is good and difficult to break down. They do not shy away from having 9 or 10 men behind the ball. This can be frustrating to play against. Furthermore, this type of football demands so much discipline from the attacking team. Bad passes turn into counters. Mistakes turn into goals. Defenders can't drift into the play, they always have to hold position for when the ball is given away. Defenders must live by the mantra "Where am I when we turn the ball over?"
3. Number 9 and Number 10 can play. Their outside back is a creative player who does well to get forward, and he is opportunistic on set pieces. He is a big body that fights for space really well. Number 10 does well to clear to the ball out of the back, but he will also carry the ball through the midfield when given the opportunity. He scored a nice goal from long to win the trail game, and he is dangerous going forward if he is left unaccounted for. Additionally, 10 sends in a really nice set piece so we will have to have a floater to attack and clear the ball.
4. Their corners are dangerous. They send a lot of numbers in and they can hit good inswing and outswing corners from both sides. Additionally, they play a lot of their games at legacy stadium so they are used to the width.
Salida weaknesses
1. Grandview struggles to control the pace of the game and they suffer a lot for it. The lack of identity in their football often means that they simply have to give way to the style of the other team. They sit back and then counter. This results in them taking on a lot of pressure, giving up set pieces, and struggling to work the ball out of the back. For this reason, if we play fast defensively, and we win the midfield, we should be able to keep up a constant pressure on Grandview.
2. They have given up a number of set piece goals. They have shown weaker on corners and set pieces (especially free kicks from outside the box), and their goalie doesn't read them well. If we can play with high pressure and force set pieces (throw ins included, which they didn't handle well against trail) in the final third, we should be able to find a way to score.
3. Their goalie has proven erratic. Their goalie has made some nice saves this season, but he is jumpy and his decision making is questionable. He hasn't shown well with his feet, so pressuring him and covering his outlets is going to be important. He also hasn't shown well when screened or when shots come from outside the box. We need to look for opportunities to shoot through the war room to exploit this weakness.
Mullen Strengths against Grandview
We have proven really deadly on set pieces this season so far. We need to take advantage of this fact and find a way to convert on 1 or more on Tuesday night.
Out link up play through the middle of the field is really strong, as is out 1v1 on the flanks. On Tuesday night we need to switch the ball at speed, play direct, and try to create 1 on 1 scenarios going into the box. Our counter game is getting better, and that is Grandview's biggest weakness. If we can switch the ball fast and send numbers, we will have a huge advantage.
Our recovery defense is strong and we have been smart up to this point. We need to limit mistakes and work for one another in recovery. Furthermore, our 10 and 9 need to account for their center back coming up the middle. He needs to be covered and followed until he is contained, which means, as always, everyone defends!!!
In that same vain, our 7 and 11 need to be aware of attacking outside backs. Teams have been relatively conservative against us so far this season, but we are entering the big leagues and everyone is going to bring it. 7 and 11 must pick up their marking assignments, convert on turn overs and push the ball quickly into open space behind the GV defense. When marking number 9, keep him left. It is his dominant foot, and he will dribble right over the end line to keep the ball on his left. Don't bite at attempts to go right, he doesn't want to do that anyway. Stay composed and keep him outside.
Everything we have done has prepared us to win this game. We just need to play our soccer and do the right things.
Main Focus:
Score 1 or more goals
Clean sheet
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 DHS 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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