Today’s Game

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!

Some notes on the new system

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!!!!

Let’s GOOOOOOOO!!!

Today must be a WARRIOR day full of WARRIOR soccer with a WARRIOR win. League game. Do not assume last year’s Pen Argyl will be this year’s Pen Argyl. In fact, don’t think about them at all. Nameless faces. Think about YOUR preparation, YOUR communication, YOUR work rate, etc.

Keys:

1. Press, Press, Press. Do not give them an inch to breathe.

2. Rotate in the back and midfield. As the ball shifts, so do we. The diagonal on the opposite side of the field is less dangerous then the ball side runs.

3. QUALITY soccer. Nice triangles, including in the attacking third. Do not be afraid to rip it IF you have an open shot. Avoid blasting it into bodies. Look for that pass.

4. COMMUNICATE. I have yet to see this year the FULL ON, BELT IT OUT kind of communicating we want off the ball in all thirds of the field, particularly with marking but also in helping teammates with the pass. MORE of this the better.

5. FINISH – we must finish our chances. Be calm and strike like a snake.

Noah is absent today as we will need to stay healthy in the back. Let the ball do the work.

YOU GOT THIS MEN!

Varsity Letter Points Updated

Braden still leads with 270 points.

Congrats to Nolan Browne, Gigi, Hetrick, and Steve Barba who have all joined the 200 point club this week joining Dillard and Danny and Braden in the VL club. Keep it up! Every practice and game matters. Remember clean sheets are +10 and we missed one on Saturday. Let’s get one Monday.

Good to great

Our goal this season is to aspire to be a GREAT team, one that can topple the perennial powers in the league. We have the men for the job. We have talented players and wonderful guys. Once they scored, I had a hard time shaking it as the standard has been raised and we do not want to lower it. Every goal scores on all of us, not any one man so I do not want anyone feeling that. In fact, I want to think about all the goals we DON’T concede because of the wonderful players we have. I loved the passing at time and creative play. The goals were all well worked and well played. Keerat and Noah had some great assists from the back and I loved seeing Harnit opening his account. Dillard stepped up as CDM and gave us an amazing goal – a really stunning piece of work that goal.

I am so grateful for these guys. For all of you who make the drive to see us – thanks! Pen Argyl next!

All hands on deck!

Tomorrow we face Salisbury in their own nest. Turf field. Cool morning. What else could we ask for? We will go FULL GAS. Lineup is below:

Keys to the game:

  1. Full assault. We have a habit of feeling our opponent out, like a boxer moving around the ring, the occasional jab. Don’t. Dictate the game straight away. Shut off the nearest neighbor and COMMUNICATE. Rotate and move the ball quickly.
  2. Do not let them receive the ball to feet much less turn. Be vigilant. Do not just occupy space. Think and anticipate, everywhere but particularly in the back.
  3. Do not get comfortable. Do not expect easy. Make it easy with a monstrous effort.
  4. LET THE BALL DO THE WORK. MOVE IT. PASS, PASS, PASS. Let them chase and get tired. Then hit them.
  5. Beware ALWAYS of the counter. Watch and look and be ahead of the game.

We are down a few guys but I believe completely in who we have. Keerat, expect a shift in the midfield. Dual roster guys. We need you at full gas tomorrow. Be ready.

They do not have a JV but everyone goes. Bus leaves at 8:20 AM. Wear ALL whites. Don’t forget shin guards.

So excited to play tomorrow! Be prepared. TOUGH HUMBLE TOGETHER – WE WIN

Blessed

Games like this remind me of what a blessing it is to have a full Varsity and JV and men that cheer for each other. To stop a 15 year from trying to score a goal is like trying to stop a tsunami. We tried 3 touch, 2 touch, 1 touch, extraction to balance the game. That said I needed some Varsity guys to get a little work in too instead of two days off. As the dust settles, I can’t help but smile as some guys who have badly deserved and desired the back of the net find it. I also am proud that none of them were asking for more goals or time – they all understood. Wilson players are really the best. All respect to Lincoln Leadership as their coaches were class and even congratulated Jeremiah on his goal. Best wishes to them.

As for us, we move on to practice tomorrow and Salisbury Saturday. We have much more work to do.