Game Time: 5:30 PM I pushed for earlier but they would not budge on time.
Bus Leaves: 3:30 PM.
This will be good to play. In a sense, games are better preparation than practice. Get a good night sleep.
There will NOT be another JV game. Non-double rostered players have the day off. All DOUBLE ROSTERED players are required to attend. We need you!
JV plays first at 4:30 PM. Varsity follows around 6:00 PM. BUS LEAVES AT 2:30 PM
XC has meet so they will be driving up – that is big sacrifice and VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!
Line-up:
GOALIE WILL BE DECIDED BASED ON AVAILABILITY. ASSUMING LEVI IS WELL, HE WILL START. I MAY USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE LOGAN SOME MINUTES. IF LEVI IS UNDER THE WEATHER, JEFE WILL START.
I know they wanted more than a 0-0 tie. So did I. That said, they left everything on the field for the colors and our school. I am very proud of them. Every team is made of imperfect people doing their best. Their effort today was truly outstanding and I love them for it. They suffered. They were dehydrated, cramping, and banged up. They were incredible. We will talk about ways to improve but not tonight. As Nolan Browne said, find a pool that is open and jump in. Ice up, have some ice cream, and know your coach is proud of you.
Check your emails. Can’t wait for 4:00 PM!
Tomorrow is a big game. Everyone knows it. You have the ability to make a statement – at home, our home. Everything we need to win is here.
Tough – not just physically but mentally. Mature in your approach and who you play for. It is not for us .. it is for this community, your families, the blue and gold.
Humble – we are not a team of individuals or even select groups of individuals. We do not have greater thens or less thens. We ALL need to play our best soccer. Look inward not outward.
Together – we are our best when we have each other’s back. Always. Remember when I said at the beginning of the year, you get to meet the man- not when things are going well – but when you are in the thick of it. Will you point fingers or rally the troops? Moravian will know how to play, but you can play better. You will beat them to every FIRST ball, SECOND ball, THIRD ball, and make them chase the ball to kingdom come. And we will do it all together.
Everyone, read this and email me something genuine about the game tomorrow. Oh, AND WEAR YOUR BLUE AND GOLD HOME JERSEY tomorrow. Don’t hide it under a hoodie or jacket. I will do the same. I will play those committed to TEAM.
Lineup and tactics to be emailed later.
Remember, the enemy is us! Win over us today…How?
No yellow cards in the last 7 games. And no, Connor is not injured.
Did we get away with one here? Connor says “It was all ball”.
Bus Leaves at 2:00 PM. Early dismissal at 1:45 PM. WHITES!
Starting Lineup:
4-5-1 Narrow (4-2-3-1 narrow). Rubarb and Pavorotti jump out when ball transitions to their fullbacks. Lt. Dan stay as a true holding CDM in front of centerbacks and D. Jones move up to mark and connect. If Lt. Dan goes, D. Jones will hold.
This will look quite different when we are in possession.
This is for example if ball is in Rubarbs clutches. Keerat could remain as safe option or overlap. Keep space around Braden uncrowded, Gigi look to poach, etc.
Quick, quick, movement. Make unpredictable runs that are impossible to mark or see coming.
We will experiment with some personnel as well so be READY!
TOUGH, HUMBLE, TOGETHER!
1. It’s something we are going to try – we have to be open to change to get better. We still have some holes to plug we don’t want good teams to exploit.
2. Outside backs – Justin, Nolan, Keerat, Andrew, Noah, Kyle, Jayden, etc. – LOOK at the ball carrier. If they are not being pressured, back off the opposing winger (Dillard style) to avoid getting exposed and only go after them once the ball comes in and prevent turn. PREVENT the turn. IF the ball carrier is under duress (we are pressuring them), SHUT OFF THE WINGER (Stewart style) and make them suffer in the trap. This is the best of both worlds. In other words, READ THE PASSER as well as the winger. If the passer has time, we need to be cautious of the ball behind and wait for the pass to come in to pressure the winger. If they are under WARRIOR pressure, shut off and make their life insufferable. We will call this hybrid of approaches the “STELLARD”.
3. CDM’s – we will have one sit deeper screening the centerbacks or covering for an exposed overlapping fullback while the other jumps into the midfield to mark out higher and support our attacking play. This must be coordinated and disciplined. We will decide on this in the lineup.
4. Fullbacks – you will need to adventurous and active but also very SMART. You must read the play. You MUST pick the right times to bomb up the field (available for the overlap or switch of field). In this system…YOU provide the width so be active. If we lose possession in the midfield, you will need to recover fast like rabid wolves are after you.
5. Crowded midfield – this is a blessing and a curse. Crowd the middle and get narrow and encourage the pass out wide – then pressure blocking passing lanes. Mark out their midfielders with ours. The curse comes in possession and not getting in each others way. I want to see creative runs to get in behind the backline. Expand. If they want to play a high line – hit gigi nice and easy through on the ground and let him run at them.
I know this was short notice and not much time but I think the experiment will be worth it. Let’s go WARRIORS!!!!
I have corrected it in the schedule and results section. It is at the Plainfield Township Municipal Park
Wilson Warrior Soccer 