A + B + C + D = Trouble Early
Kind of called it yesterday.
Unfamiliarity between players + nerves + the disorganization that comes with new team formations + an athletic team hungry to show its stuff = trouble early.
But trouble early don’t mean trouble all day. Especially when you’ve got a group of competitive ballers with a ton of collective heart, desire, and work rate.
We played 3 x 45min scrimmages vs St Croix 09, Boreal FC 09, and Manitou 09. Although we nearly scored in the first minute after a 9-10 pass build-up sequence, our first 10 minutes or so were nervy. But the girls settled in nicely, and took over the rest of the game. I was really impressed with our patience in the attack (not every time, but enough of the time) and our tenacity in defense. We completed over 220 passes to St Croix’s 60, and the pace and pressure of our individual and collective defending made it difficulty for St Croix to keep possession of the ball.
But that’s why they want to play us. To see how they stack up, identify strengths and area for improvement, and to get better. I can appreciate that.
And in turn, they are our best local match up at our age group due to their athleticism. I’d play them once a week if I could.
All in all, very happy with where we’re starting at this year in terms of overall skill, athleticism, and personalities.
Reminders for the Girls - Key Takeaways from the Day
Game 1 vs St Croix 09
When we’re down late in a game and looking for an equalizer, we need to -
Likely change our formation, pulling defenders and adding attacking players.
Speed up our play. Get the ball in quickly on restarts, whosever restart it is. Our throw in? Sprint after the ball and get it back in play quickly. Their throw in? Sprint after the ball and hand it to them - don’t give them the opportunity to slow the game down.
Play more direct. The ball needs to get forward quickly. Defenders should look for set balls from midfielders in order to be more able to play long balls forward if needed.
Get the ball in the box. Put the ball into the danger area as often as we can, and make sure that we have the numbers there to capitalize on chances.
Game 2 vs Boreal FC 09
Sometimes, in order to go forward we need to go backwards.
Wall of defenders packed in in front of you? Work the ball to our defenders, get them to step up and pressure us further from their goal, opening up spaces in behind where we can now attack.
Slip passes in and around the box.
The closer we get to goal, the tighter our players should be marked. It goes to follow that it becomes more difficult to pass to feet as teammates will have defenders on top of them. This presents a great opportunity to make darting runs to get free, and to slip passes into space (rather than to feet).
Game 3 vs Manitou FC 09
Give support, create angles.
Manitou’s group was the only one of the four teams at the friendlies who had not played 11v11 last year. So as expected, their fitness level was not high and by their third game they were beat.
We scored a couple goals early on, then the girls were restricted to 2 touches in the attacking half of the field. This served to blunt our attack while also providing challenge for the MTA girls to continue to develop.
Support your teammates to maintain possession. This support should be at the proper distance. Close enough to offer a relatively easy passing option, far enough so that you’re not pressured by the same defender the passer was pressured by.
Create angles to ensure that your teammate in possession can find you easily. Meaning, don’t stand behind defenders. Find windows. If you can’t see the ball, your teammate can’t see you.
