Some things I liked:

1. Clean sheet – The whole team defends and we had some really nice pressure in the midfield that won us a lot of balls. The backline was aggressive preventing balls in to their attacking players and preventing them the time and space to do much if they did get it. This must be continually done.

2. We worked the ball around using and involving a lot of the team. Good passing, often to feet, kept our opponent working and chasing which wore them down and helped us in the second half. Good soccer lets the ball do the work.

3. There was a slight uptick in communication.

4. Braden got us rolling with a few great takes – on the ground (Can’t miss low) and gave us the lead and 1 goal cushion. He is our man of the match. He also did a lot of work on the ball – and helped us win the ball back. Great job!

Some things we must continue to improve:

1. Communication. It was better in the last game but we need it to rise to another level.

2. Finishing. We need to be more clinical in front of goal. This will continue to a point of emphasis.

3. Getting Stretched. For much of the game we were not as stretched as we have been vertically but as we substitute players we occasionally lose some of our shape.

4. Our attackers must remain active and present to press together. We occasionally had some attackers adding pressure but not all and then that just amounts to a lot of useless running. TOGETHER. I will discuss this in our game plan for tomorrow!

Great to get the win. Lets not get complacent. Let’s commit to finding another level for all of us. Every game will be a battle.

We will practice tomorrow. It will be recovery oriented but we do not want to drop off before Catty on Saturday. We should be finished by 10:45 AM or so.

Nice work today boys. More thoughts on the win later tonight. Rest up. One game at a time.

Need two players to run balls and 1 player to place and collect flags. If I wasn’t coaching I would love to do it. I love helping at anything! I’d MUCH rather this be a choice you make as opposed to something I assign. Come see me if you want to do it.

For obvious reasons I will not post the line-up or plan here in the public space. Players MUST check their email and read the link and start thinking about their responsibilities.

Tomorrow we play Saucon Valley in our first league match. I want the boys to play with love for each other and for our community. There is so much good in the team. I challenge us all to love like a family, despite the mistakes and all the different personalities. Positive, Positive, Positive. I say this to myself all the time also. This is always my vision for a team. Play with joy and strength tomorrow. TOUGH HUMBLE TOGETHER.

Oh, and I had forgotten we are off Friday so I have switched practice to Friday morning at 9:30 AM-11:15 AM but maybe I will reward the boys with rest if they win tomorrow! Lets go Warriors!!!!

Mandatory we wear blue and gold / blue jerseys to school. Blue socks to school are optional.

Report for game ready to rock NO LATER than 3:15 tomorrow.

Starting Line-up and Game Plan to be posted later tonight.

HOME OPENER!!!!

We ran into some conflicts originally with senior night dates but I think we have settled on 9/27 hosting Palisades. I will notify you when I have final confirmation with time.

1. Braden is our practice player of the day with Owen Smith as runner up. Approached practice with maturity and dedication! Great job boys. Thanks Noah for the help with the balls!

2. Today we worked on passing and pressing. Tomorrow it will be communication.

3. Our JV game against Saucon is canceled Thursday – they do not have a JV team evidently. JV, please show for the varsity game in your uniform. Dual roster players wear varsity uniforms.

4. I am very blessed to serve with these boys. Thank you for supporting us by encouraging them when we suffer, building them up when they are down, all the while trying to keep the standard high. We hope to get that balance right always. Wilson’s kids are a treasure to the community.

5. Two days from our home opener! Let’s get PUMPED!!!! GO WARRIORS!!!!

I had to break the video up into two parts. Shame because you lose some of my audio commentary on the ROMA Bologna game but that’s life. First,

PV Analysis, Press, and a few other things

Now, watch the qued SERIE A footage at time marks I post.

https://youtu.be/ebl6tEKcPkY

1:20-1:30 Watch as the wingback comes close to centerback and they do give and go with CB and he continues up field unmarked. CDM covers

1:50-2:00 Watch as wingback presses high and forces low percentage long ball. Also pause the video at 1:55 to see how CB and MF mark their men. They have ALREADY rotated and are TIGHT on their marks.

6:38-6:50 the quick movement. Little to no dribbling or stopping the ball. TEAM TEAM TEAM…everyone involved.

Reflect, Learn, Grow

I built in two rest days for the calendar and today is the first. Get sorted for school, good luck in golf match and get ready to get at it hard tomorrow for Saucon. I will post a MANDATORY video tonight discussing SHAPE in DIFFERENT PHASES, PRESSING, COMMUNICATING, and BALL MOVEMENT. Then we spend two days mastering these improvements on the field together.