Mullen vs. Grandview (2022)

    Match Report: Mullen vs. Grandview (JV@4:30 at Grandview High School, V@8pm @ Legacy Stadium)

Grandview High School: 20500 E Arapahoe Rd, Aurora, CO 80016

Legacy Stadium: 25901 E Arapahoe Rd, Aurora, CO 80016

Things to do: 

Kits (This is an away game, we are white), socks, nutrition (Remember that this is a 8pm game, you need to eat food and have snacks, take care of your nutrition, don't eat nothing.)

Match Report Preface:

Grandview has our number. Psychologically, they come into this game the historically dominant team. Even at the top of our game last year they gave us a lot of trouble. On Thursday night, they will be confident and they will believe that they can winn (and they need a win). That will matter. They will approach the game disciplined and patient, and they will wait for us to make mistakes that they can then capitalize on. They will play the way they have always played against us. The pressure is on us to change the fates, not them to repeat what they have always done. We will have to win the psychological battle on Thursday. We have to convince them and us that we are the better team. We have to come hungry.

Grandview Strengths:

As always, Grandview has strong athletes on their team. They are fast and physical, and they run hard for everything. They are opportunistic and they capitalize on the chances given to them. Additionally, as always, they play a relatively conservative game: Big balls out of the back, capitalize on set pieces, grind hard.

This season they have shown to be particularly dangerous is 3 ways:

1. They appear to have a strong press and their outside backs are a little more active than they have been historically. A handful of the goals they have scored this season have been a result of forced turn overs in the back.

2. Their center forward is a grinder, and he carries some speed. Grandview plays a big, territorial game, and their center forward has no problem doing the dirty work. He runs hard, presses hard, and doesn't need the goals. It seems like his main function is to put pressure on the defense and create set piece opportunities in the offensive third. He is a dangerous player because he is on the move, and he doesn't give up. We need to constantly be aware of him, and we need to see every play through to the end, or he is just going to keep coming.

3. They are good in the air on set pieces. We need to have our structure down, float Ethan, and Mitch needs to dominate the box. Especially on corners, we can not leave players unmarked, they will get in on goal for sure!

This is a team that keeps pushing the game, and they won't go away. They were down 3-1 against FOCO and then 4-3 and they came back and tied the game. What they lack in pure talent, they make up for in grit. Plus, they need to do something to turn their season around, and they are going to come out hungry!

Lastly, their CBs are good in the air. When we clear the ball, we need to do so to the corner, or they are just going to keep smashing it down our throats.

Grandview Weaknesses:

Like Creek, GV relies heavily on the other team to make mistakes. They have grabbed a couple of wins playing this way, but they have also been shut out a handful of times because of it. If we can limit our mistakes, hustle, and press well, we can keep them out of the goal.

They are also susceptible to defensive breakdowns and goals on set pieces. Without Ben this year, it is clear that their defense does not have the same structure and discipline of years past. Tonight is our chance to get in, score, and run away with a win. However, if we don't come out hard and give up a goal early, GV is just gonna sit it and smash everything out. The one dimensional nature of their game can be a blessing or a curse, depending on the circumstances.

Lastly, they haven't shown particularly well against the possession game. If we can move the ball around and play smart, we can shift them out of position and find our way in. We don't want to play to their strengths (big balls up the middle) we want to try to exploit their weaknesses. We are a better technical team, we can find our way in.

2 objectives:

Score 1 or more goals

Get a shut out

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 GV 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!