Mullen vs. Grandview (Women's soccer)

 Mullen vs. Grandview (V@4:30/V@4:30)

All games are at the MSC (Mullen Soccer Complex) - We are home, so wear navy all the way down.

Warm up: 3:50

Preface: This is a strong Grandview team that has conceded one goal so far this season. They play deep, and they are defensively minded. We will have to draw them out and look to counter beyond their back line.

Grandview Strengths:

1. Grandview is incredibly disciplined and patient. Under their new coach, they are not the attacking team they have been in the past (though they are still talented going forward), but they have more organization and control in the backfield. They will sit deep and absorb the game and then look to play out of the back or push the ball over the midfield to the front line. They aren't afraid to push the ball long.

2. They have a big and powerful attacking line. The girls up top move well, and fight hard to get inside their defenders. They also put together a nice press. They will come back to receive the ball at their feet; however, they prefer the long ball through. They will be looking for something off the back line into the attack, or from the deep mid. 

*They hold their positions tightly, so they aren't incredibly dynamic in that sense. Good communication in the back will be elemental to tracking players. And a strong press from our attacking line will make it more difficult to play balls over the top.

3. Their left outside back presses hard and gets involved in the attack. She is the primary attacking member of their back line. She gets forward nicely and adds an additional dynamic to the attack. If we don't track her and catch our marking assignments, she will open up a lot of space. 

Grandview weaknesses: 

Like us, I don't think there are a lot. However, if we play the game right, we can exploit their conservative play and deeper back line. 

The key to unlocking Grandview is going to be finding our 9 and 10 in the gap. See the picture below:

(Grandview is in white) - As you can see, CV gets the ball in the midfield, and Grandview's LOB is elevated, but the remainder of the back line is still deep in their own territory. CV has three players in the gap between the midfield and the back line. If CV could have found those two players in the gap they would have put together a nice counter attack situation. 

When we win the ball in the middle of the park, we need to find the 9 and 10 and move forward quickly. The more we can isolate the back line, the more opportunities we will create on goal. Slow play will just allow Grandview to recover and get back behind the ball. 

Additionally, as noted above, a strong press is going to disrupt Grandview's desire to go forward. If we can press players and close lanes (and not dive in) we can slow the tempo of the game. We simply need to avoid mistakes in the back and not give away anything for free. Grandview has no problem sitting in all game and just waiting for the mistake that gives them the opportunity to get in on goal.

We want a clean sheet!

Mullen key's to success:

1. Set pieces and territorial play: Grandview has a size advantage, we need to play this game the right way. If we rely on organized defense, and move the ball quickly to the wings and corners, we should be able to create set-piece opportunities and counter attacks.

Corners and set-pieces need to be played into the box to exploit GV's poor clearances. We need to crash, crash, crash, and not give up on any play. 

2.No mistakes in the back: When Grandview is on the attack, we need to totally commit to our recovery, and be willing to block low when we need to. Clearances need to be strong and clinical, and never across the middle. Additionally, our nine needs to look for opportunities to double, and our ten needs to be committed to covering one of Grandview's 6s and tracking her on through runs.

***If we briefly revisit the Windsor game, the determining factor is that initial goal two minutes in. We win the corner, but our 9 doesn't track back into the gap to start the counter. When the ball goes out wide, we dive in and our shape has shifted out of position. This allows for the ball across the top of the box and eventually the goal.

We have to keep GV out of the goal early for our tactics to work. Organization and discipline right from the start gives us an edge in the game!

3. CLOSE DOWN SHOTS

4. Track our marking assignments and press. Wingers, press the outside backs hard, and outside backs, press their wingers.

5. Outside backs, get involved in the attack.

6. Conservative play in the back, strong clearances, close down shots. (TWICE)

No shots on goal = shutout