Match Report: Mullen vs. Smoky (JV@4:30 at Smoky Hill High School, V@4:30@ Smoky Hill High School)
SHHS: 16100 E Smoky Hill Rd, Aurora, CO 80015
Things to do:
Kits (This is an away game, we are white), 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.)
Preface:
Smoky is strong on the counter and weak on set piece defending. WE WILL NOT HAVE ANOTHER HIGH SCORING GRUDGE MATCH LIKE THE SPRING. The only team scoring goals tonight will be us.
Smoky Strengths:
1. Smoky can score. They have only been shut out a couple of times, and the one win they have was a high scoring game. Most opponents have not been able to keep them out of the back of the net, and it has landed them a hand full of goals and a couple of ties as well. Focus against this team is going to be key, they make opponents pay on the counter.
2. Smoky has a handful of very technical/strong players. When you watch the goals that they have scored, a number of them have been very impressive, very technical, independent efforts. 1v1 match ups must be addressed clinically. This team needs to be taken very seriously.
3. Smoky has nothing to lose. They have had a really rough season, and now all they are doing is hunting wins. They will go hard at us and try to get an upset today. This is the kind of game that needs to be played just as hard as any other. They are going to try to get in our heads, talk trash and disrupt our rhythm. We have to keep our cool today!
4. Their goalie has shown well at times. He has decent hands.
SHHS weaknesses
1. Smoky is incredibly disorganized in the back and all around the field. Their greatest struggle this season has been the fact that players get pulled out of position and there is next to no support. Their communication is poor, and almost everything becomes and independent effort to defend or attack. A well organized press, and dynamic runs will create nightmares for this Smoky team.
2. They have proven to be pretty weak on set pieces. Historically they have run a zone on corners (they build the house) and that makes it so hard to track runs into the box. The area between the near post and the pk spot has been particularly vulnerable. This makes 1.5 an ideal set piece if they line up the same way. However, the key to their opponents success has been clinical execution. Both THS and Highlands Ranch scored some very nice set pieces because their players executed. We have to get behind the ball and put it in the back of the net.
3. They have the bad taste of losing, and if we get up early, they will crumble. They will turn on one another, the ref, and their coach. We need to be clinical in our execution today and put this game to bed early. The harder we come out, the quicker we squash their hopes of an upset.
Mullen Strengths against Grandview
1. Our counter press needs to be fast. If we can put a lot of pressure on their outside backs and wingers, they are going to have a lot of trouble breaking us down. Like against Creek, the key to success will be both the speed of our shift and the quickness of our counter. We can not give Smoky time to dribble or turn. Their technical players will make the most of any momentum they can generate.
2. We need to drop the six against the counter and make sure that the 9 or 10 track back with their six. Smoky loves to send numbers forward so we cannot miss our marking assignments. If the 6,5, or 4 comes out of the back, our CAM and Strikers need to track them as deep as they go. We can use this to win the ball and create counter opportunities.
3. Our set pieces look awesome right now, which helps a lot. One of our strengths is one of their biggest weaknesses. This is a good match up for us in that way. Plus, Smoky's turf is narrow so we need to use the long throw to our advantage. Be patient, get the lead and play the game smart.
WE NEED TO EXECUTE ON SET PIECES TONIGHT - NO EXCEPTIONS
Main Focus:
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 SHHS 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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