Match Report: Playoffs (Game 5- Championships) Mullen vs. Northfield @8pm - Weidner Stadium

 Match Report: Playoffs (Game 5- Championships) Mullen vs. Northfield @8pm - Weidner Stadium

Weidner Stadium: 111 W Cimarron St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903

***Arrive by 6pm at the latest. Make sure to have dinner before the game and snacks going up to the game. 

***We are the away team so we will wear all whit kits. However, CHSAA has instructed us to bring both.

Preface: This is the Championship game. Game 20. We play tonight with respect for our opponents and the importance of this game. We play our game - fast, organized, strong, and physical. That is all.

Players of interest: 

10 - terrific in the air on set pieces, and striking them. He plays as the sole forward or in the pair of two. He is a fan favorite and thrives on the support. If he isn't getting service, he'll get mad and pout around. His movement up top is creative and deadly.

9 - probably their best all around player. Great on set pieces, fast, and he can definitely finish. His movement is creative and he likes the ball out wide, but is also constantly looking for chances to get behind the defense. Preventing service to him is of the utmost importance.

7 - FIFA pace: 96. He carries the ball forward at pace and has a very positive touch. He will get back and defend, but all he really wants to do is dribble. He loves to cut in on his right foot from the left side, so we need a 6 or 10 there in cover to immediately close down the internal run.

4 - He has played CB all season, and he is their spinal chord. He is cool and composed on the ball, and will usually play a pretty conservative ball out of the back. However, he does like to dribble, and he struggles with pressure. He isn't particularly fast. Pressing him will cause a lot of problems. He has also given away a fair amount of PKS and penalties in the final third. Forwards and wings should try to get their body between him and the goal.

6 - Also plays the six, and he has a rocket; however, he struggles under pressure, and he makes bad passes and has bad touches on the ball. He is also a complainer. 

8 - He plays their 10 and his movement is exceptional. He can dribble at pace, and he likes to get out wide and come inside. He is also a work horse. Him and 9 will be the ones that keep the game alive for northfield if we get up.

11 - usually plays the left center back when there are 3 in the back. He is a huge liability. He is not great in the air, and he loves to dribble out of the back. He will struggle with any pressure. 

Game Scenarios: 

Scenario 1: Three in the back

If Northfield chooses to come out with three in the back like they have all season, we will want to focus on pressing the center backs and strong side wings. Additionally, from an attacking standpoint, we will want to overload their back three. Every turn over needs to become a counter attack, and we need to exploit the weak side quickly because they will not have a recovery defender. Furthermore, the outside backs will need to elevate to push the northfield wingbacks into their own final third, while one of our sixes makes a third run between the outside center back and the central center back. We are going to want to feed this third run as much as possible for him to bring the ball in on goal or across the face of it. Against a 3 in the back, it is absolutely imperative to get inside your defender on the weakside of the game.

As you can see here, when the ball is with the left center back, our 7 is pressed to him and forcing the sideline. Our 9 is preventing the pass back to the middle, and our 2 is marking the winger. The 6's and our 10 are sharing the midfield and our RCB is in position to cut off any passes through or to the corner for one of their forwards or a 10 making that run. Most importantly, our 11 is marked tight to the weakside winger, so that our 3 can share the other forward.

In this scenario, it is important to remember that they will have two forwards who move off the ball brilliantly. We will have to trust our system, constantly communicate, and share players as they move around the field. We also need to make sure that we never get high and flat. Our defense must always form the cup to catch and recover on players moving through. It is also the responsibility of the attackers to make sure that the northfield defense can not send through balls (on the ground/through the midfield) that find the attackers. That makes us insanely susceptible to 3rd runs out of the midfield. 

Remember, when we are making recovery runs to stop players, it is important for our 6's to ask the question "Where are the off ball players moving?" Tonight, much like basketball, if will be imparative to have an eye for ball and player. Where is one, and where is the other headed. 

Lastly, in the 3-5-2, they do not necessarily look for the big switch, like Battle did, but they switch the ball through their 6's and their 10. If we can stifle that ball in the middle of the park, we can prevent the switch, and we can use it to counter to the weakside.

Scenario 2: Four in the back

If northfield comes out with 4 in the back, the scenario will be much more straight forward. Hopefully, if this is what they do, number 9 will become their other center back. We will press this 4 in the back in the same way that we have pressed every team we have played. Marking assignments don't change. The only difference from scenario one is that they will most likely only have one forward if they play with 4 in the back, but they will then have two central backs so the 9 and 10 will need to work together to press the ball wide. If they play with 4 in the back, we will have to be extra attentive to the CB's wanting to dribble unmarked out of the back to make that long through pass that skips the midfield. The 9 and 10 need to make sure to take away any time to do that.

The major advantage to this scenario is that one, it is untrained, but two, number 4 relies a lot on the fact that he gets to play really deep when he is the sole central defender. This allows him to make up for his lack of speed. However, when they moved to 4 in the back the other night, they got caught flat a number of times, and we can exploit this. Switching balls to the weakside, balls across the back of the defense, and through balls on the ground will all be on against a 4 in the back. 

Big things to remember: 

1. We can't foul in the final third, they have terrific free kick execution.

2. We can't dive in on these players, they are too good 1v1

3. We must use our recovery system and stay organized. 

Keys to success: 

1. Our press needs to be organized and mechanical. We can not miss marking assignments this game. If we are on top of Northfield, they will really struggle and push the ball backwards. They thrive with time, we need to take it from them.

2. We have to win the first ball out of the air! This will prevent Northfield from getting forward and developing an attack.

3. We have to get inside our defender on the counter run. See film below:

As you can see, once we win the ball, Bryce pushes the run inside, but Jack remains on course outside of his defender. Tonight, we have to make the run inside that outside back to get in on goal. In our first match up with them, an inside run would of put us on goal a handful of times.

But here...

You can see that Eli makes an inside run, and so does Jack and it results in a goal. You can also see how our attacking players are playing close together (they even form the futsal diamond!) It is a fabulous team goal!!! Messi, messi, messi, messi, messi....

Avoiding Mistakes:

1. Northfield is talented in possession and very good 1v1. We need to contain on the initial press and then win the 1v1. No diving in tonight!

2. Everyone needs to recover behind the ball. Northfield has a couple players who can shoot, and if we fail to recover, we play right into their strengths.

3. Let's be conservative out of the back. We have the strength and speed advantage. It is okay for us to go out big and then fight to win the ball back up field.

Throw ins:

Let's take advantage of it tonight these tonight. Against battle, we were almost in in the first couple minutes off a throw. If northfield just learned of it the other night, they will not be prepared. However, since this is a big field, don't be afraid to look for the counter throw. If we get a chance to move quickly down the line, take it. But be smart. If it isn't on, just wait for the switch and we will run a play.

And always remember....

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 Northfield 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!!!