Match Report: Mullen vs. Arapahoe (JV@AHS -4:30, V@LPS - 7pm)

   Match Report: Mullen vs. Arapahoe (JV@AHS -4:30, V@LPS - 7pm)

AHS: 2201 E Dry Creek Rd, Centennial, CO 80122

LPS: 199 E Littleton Blvd, Littleton, CO 80121

Things to do: 

Kits (This is an away game, we are white), socks, nutrition (Remember that this is a 7pm game, you need to eat food and have snacks, take care of your nutrition, don't eat nothing.)

Arapahoe Strengths:

1. AHS has been a defensive powerhouse this season. They have not lost any games, and they have only given up 7 total goals. Historically, they have been well organized defensively, nothing has changed. Additionally, they continue you to be incredibly conservative, leaving 3 of the four players on their back line "back" almost without exception. In other words, the weakside outside back has a tendency to stay home and they attack from one side at a time. This is why they can keep the ball out of the back of the net, but it is also why they have struggled to score a lot of goals this season. We can expect a conservative back line again this evening.

2. Their center backs are strong and their center forwards are aggressive. AHS like to play the ball directly up the middle of the field, usually long from a center back or their keeper. This is why they struggled against Eagle, but were effective against creek. They play somewhat territorial, but they want to grind up top and find tap ins. In the same way, they attempt to direct the opposing attack down the middle of the field. They pressure the flanks and drive the ball into toward their strengths. We have to attempt to keep the ball wide.

*It is my opinion that the primary reason that Arapahoe has had the success that they have is that they have yet to come up against a team with effective outside backs. This could be a strength of ours that plays against their weakness.

3. If allowed, the wings can get inside and finish. Number seven plays out on the right flank, and he is a talented lefty. He wants to come in on his left foot and shoot, but he will take the ball down the line and cross it with his right. The player on the left flank is also a good shooter, and given the opportunity, he will find his way in to shoot as well. The good news about these players is that historically, and from what we can see on the film, they are also quite conservative in their movement on the field. They play in straight line, and they are good at it, but it still dampens the effectiveness of their attack.

4. Hit or miss... AHS has had a couple of games where they have been very effective on set plays. They have a couple BIG players who can get inside, and on occasion, their service is good. Expect a lot of balls into the box from the D and the midfield. This allows they to send the ball forward while not sacrificing their defensive shape. They want to defend more than they want to score. They are happy waiting for a little luck, a mistake, or a small opportunity on goal. 

AHS weaknesses

1. AHS is not particularly dynamic. That doesn't mean they aren't good, and it doesn't mean they can't win games (clearly), but it does mean that they are predictable. 

*A quick story - last year when AHS played Grandview, they started the game in a 3-5-2. It was effective, but their wings were occasionally pinned back as will happen in a 3-5-2. They played the formation for about 12 minutes. They then went back to their 4-3-3, shortly after, they conceded a goal, and then they lost 3-0 or something like that.

I tell you this to make a point. AHS is afraid of change - and sometimes that doesn't matter (12 wins is a lot) but it is also prevents them from being really great. What we care about though is the fact that their predictability makes them vulnerable. If we are strong in the middle of the park, if we close down shots, and if we don't make mistakes in the back, AHS won't score. They won't find another way, and they won't change to seek it out. If we do the right thing tonight, we can lock them down.

2. Their outside backs are their weakness. Conservative play allows for the building of momentum, and it forces players into one on one situations. Much like our strategy against Eagle, we want to isolate the outside backs and take them on. We want to attack in the middle of the field only when we are directly in front of goal. Take on the outside backs, bang the base line, and bring the ball across the middle.

3. Their recovery systems are poor. When their left outside back attacks, the six does not drop to cover. If we can create a turn over and counter in behind the outside back, we can create opportunities on goal. Additionally, their wingers/strikers do not really defend. (That might prove different against us than it did against some of their other opponents - CT definitely had to track back) But outside backs need to get involved in the attack. It will either create 2 on 1 scenarios or force their strikers to make insane runs out of the back field, either of which is advantageous. 

4. Their goalie sometimes has bad hands. You need to crash the goal after every shot, cross, opportunity. If we can get shots on goal, he will make a mistake.

Mullen Strengths against Arapahoe

The main thing is that we need to play our game. Every minute counts. Every set piece counts. Make the extra pass. Everybody defends tonight.

This is a good match up for us. A strong press makes life very difficult for static attackers. If we keep our shape and organization, if we do our jobs well, and if we don't make mistakes in the back, we will get a good result. 

Main Focus:

Clean sheet - that is the only thing that matters tonight. 

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 AHS 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!