Match Report: Mullen vs Overland

 Match Report: Mullen vs. Overland

JV@4:30 (North grass field)

V@4:30 (Turf)

Location: Overland High School (12400 E Jewell Ave, Aurora, CO 80012)

Please remember that we are away (white/gold(blue)/white) - games are at 4:30 - 3:30 arrival time. Make sure you are eating throughout the day and that you have a good lunch!

Match Report Preface:

Overland has had a decent start to their season, and tonight they are fighting to go .500 - They have notable wins of Vista Peak and Rangeview, but only one shutout, which means we have to find our way in. They are gonna be hungry to balance out their lead campaign, plus it is their home turf and homecoming week. Come prepared for a game.

Overland Strengths: 

Overland's primary strength appears to be their wing play. From the film that I have watched, their wingers are fast, and elusive. They are tricky and good with the ball at their feet. In both the Columbine game and the Sallis game, the goal scoring opportunities come from the left winger cutting inside. 

Additionally, they appear a little more structurally sound than they have in years past, and they are recovering well in addition to winning some strong open field tackles.

Expect to see standard Overland play. Tricky and technical with the ball at their feet, impressive individual players, strong 1v1 offense and defense, but a general disconnect between players.

Overland weaknesses:

From their film, there are really only 3 apparent weaknesses in this Overland side, but if we can exploit them, we can really take control of the game.

1. The Sallis 9 was able to easily get in behind their back 4. Unfortunately for him, a lot of the times he was called offsides; however, if he had timed his runs better, he would have had a hay-day. It seems like Overland loses elevation in their backfield sometimes as early as 35 out from goal, which results in an easily exploited back line. This is especially important because their home field has a lot more length than it does width. If they hold a high line than the switching ball across, and the through ball into Finn on the ground will both be on.

*Our 9 needs to make sure to make horizontal runs across the back line and then cut in when the ball is played. We should be able to win that physical battle, and we should have the backline beat for speed. Additionally, he can back into the CB's (Like Lutheran) and then roll off on the ball through.

2. Overland gives the ball away, a lot, in the middle of the park. This is a team that can counter well, when they can get the ball wide, but they lack technical ability through the middle. Their passing game is not strong. If we keep our structure in the middle of the park and we make sure that our 6's don't both get pulled out, they will just give us the ball. In other words, if you keep your shape and recover well, they are going to pass it right to us. And when this happens, we do need to look for the quick counter if it is on.

3. Their goalie is a little squirrely. I have seen him make some strong saves, but I have also seen him give the ball away and do some weird things. We need to pressure him when the ball is at his feet and look for chances to exploit his mistakes.

Mullen Keys to success:

The biggest thing for today is that we need to keep our structure and be quick in transition when the opportunity presents itself, both with the big switching ball, and the through ball on the ground.

Additionally, since we know that the strength of their attack resides in their wingers, we need to make sure to actively send our outside backs. This will force the wingers to get back and defend, which will result in longer runs into the attack. If we can pin the wingers back in their own 1/3, it will really dampen their ability to go forward.

Set pieces:

(Corners)

1 - Low driven ball to the near post. Two attackers crash the near post, other attackers fill in the middle and back post. 

2- Short corner overlap. Attackers cover near, middle, far - slight delay on the run in.

3- short corner choice. The players taking the corner will choose to overlap or take on the player. Attackers cover all positions, and delay runs in.

Jolly - Bend it in the goal. Attackers cover all locations, especially back post. Anything that goes long should be headed back toward goal.

Bumblebee - cluster around the goalie inside the six. Ball should be played into the cluster. 

White - Chipped ball to the near post flicked across the goal. Remember, initial runners attack the near and far post and bounce off. When the front post runner bounces off the near post, the ball should be played and the remaining attackers should be making runs toward goal.

Blue - Long ball to the back post. Like "white" runners should bounce off the near and far post, but this corner will be played long to the back post. The back post runner should then play the ball back across the middle of the goal for the finish. 

7- We set up in 2, but play a long ball out. That ball is then played back to the 2 or a penetrating run is made into the box. Fire the ball on an inswing to the back post and look for the player crashing on the opposite flank.

Snake - this essentially "1" but higher. Two runners near the top of the box, even with the near post, and a group of runners at the top of the box even with the far post. All runners complete an "x" route. Near post both attack the far post, while one runner goes to the corner on a diversion run. The ball is played on the ground, left by the first runner and struck first time by the trailing runner.

11 - Three runners at the near post, two at the back. The three runners circle around to the near post, middle, and far post, while the two at the back make direct runs across the goal.

Reminders: 

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 Overland 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!