Mullen vs. Eaglecrest
Location: MSC (Mullen Soccer Complex - 3601 S. Lowell Blvd.)
V@4 - Varsity Soccer Field
JV@4 - NW 40
Varsity Release at 2:20, JV release @2:45 - Varsity team meeting at 2:45
(This is a home game, we are navy all the way down. Make sure you ate a good lunch, and snack throughout the day. Eat before the game!)
Prologue: This is Eaglecrest's final game of the season - and they are in the midst of their fall break. They are checked out and defeated. This means one of two things, either that they will put it all on the line to get a result tonight, or they will toss it up in the air and write off their season as some bad luck.
The way we play will determine which of these attitudes they have in the game. If we go out soft and fail to execute our chances, they will see this as an opportunity to slay the giant and end the season on a high note. The longer you leave them in the game, the more their confidence will grow.
However, if you execute early, finish your chances, tonight will simply feel like a repeat of their bad luck and they will turn in on themselves.
The outcome of tonight's game is entirely in your control.
Eagle Strengths:
This is a good Eaglecrest team with some tight results. For a good portion of their games, they have been on the wrong side of the luck, and early season, they just couldn't get things to go their way...
They have a strong CB and their attacking players are talented and fast. They look to isolate 1v1 and take players on, and when they are clicking, they look pretty decent. In those moments, they can play really well as a team.
Near the 17th minute mark of the first half of their game against Trail, Eagle seemed to find something. They orchestrated a nice press, and they put a lot of pressure on the ball. For ten minutes, they looked very dangerous and like they might fight their way back into the game.
This was a biproduct of two things - one, Trail let off the gas, they let their guard down and lost their sense of urgency. Eagle recognized this and they shifted the momentum. They saw a chance to get back in and they went after it. Secondly, their pressure temporarily forced Trail into a pretty direct game that opened up wide. The game became centered around 1v1's, 50/50s, and counter attacks. This played to Eagle's strengths.
What can we learn from this? Well first, we need to keep the pressure on Eagle - teams who have gone after them all game (including trail in the second half) have just poured on the goals. Additionally, this can't turn into a kick around. We need to be intentional in possession, play on the front foot and have good first touches.
Remember, this is a good Eagle team, that if they find a way, can capitalize on it. We need to make the most of their downward spiral, and establish early that they are not in the game.
Eagle Weaknesses:
Eaglecrest has really presented two primary weaknesses:
1. Their outside backs are not particularly strong. They are vulnerable 1v1, and will just get torn apart by dynamic movement. When it comes to the OBs, we have a size and strength advantage. Don't always cut them back, take they momentum that they are giving you, and don't be afraid to round them on the corners.
This is also a perfect opportunity for out 10 and 9 to make dynamic runs to the corners, while our 7 and 11 come inside for goal scoring opportunities. Don't miss these chances to get in behind and impact the eagle shape.
Lastly, I want our OB's elevated, and especially on the left side, I want Nate to make underlapping runs that create goal scoring opportunities. By dynamic.
2. Eagle has shown to be particularly vulnerable on set pieces. We just need to execute our runs and be hungry in front of goal.
Remember:
If we can limit our mistakes, we limit their opportunities, and we can keep them out of the back of our net.
-make sure that our match ups are good on corners and set pieces
-don't allow for mistakes to compound. If you make a mistake, close down the player and stop forward progress. Allow us to reset and get shape.
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 EHS 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.
Good luck!
No comments:
Post a Comment