Santos:
I was strongly tempted to write just one word here: "WOW!!!"
I'll just add that we did what we needed to do in every respect as a team this past weekend. We totally outworked both teams, especially the Fuego. We also did something we haven't done very much this year. We dominated play for 60 minutes of both games. Our focus and intensity didn't just last two halves; it lasted four halves.
We did beautifully and we did things we haven't done before. I was thrilled with and proud of our performance last weekend. It felt like a huge step forward. Let's have more of the same this weekend and prove again what kind of team we have become.
GO SANTOS!!!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
EMFC Game Notes
The game against EMFC was a good one. Any shutout is a credit to the goal-keeping in both halves. And when we were challenged, as we were quite a bit in the first half with long shots and opportunistic offense from our opponents, our keeping was well up to the challenge.
Goal-scoring. We needed a good game against EMFC and we got one. The first 20 minutes of the game we dominated and got a splendid goal to show for it. Once again, we combined very well up front to create a scoring chance and finished with precision. We have done that a lot this fall and all the girls are starting to make it look easy, but believe me it isn't. It's very difficult, especially against a defense as tough as EMFC's. Stylish goals like these--we've seen them against Clackamas, Tottenham, Sherwood, Milan, and EMFC--show the hard work and mental focus that we have brought to practices and games this Fall. Remember whenever someone makes something look easy, they have worked incredibly hard to do it. I love it!
Dominating Midfield Play. Our mids had a dominant first half. When we win balls in the midfield and quickly transition into the attack with well placed passes and runs forward, we succeed as a team. Our midfield controlled the middle third of the field with physical play and hustle for most of the first half. This lead directly to our best chances on offense.
Success Based on Defense. The second half was great too. We didn't play our best in the midfield and forward lines offensively, but our defense was rock solid. While we controlled most of the first half, our opponents were able to take some dangerous shots from distance because we weren't applying defensive pressure soon enough. In the second half, we were on the defensive a lot, but EMFC actually had very few shots on goal. Our defenders really played tight and tough and we gave up almost no space to their attacking players. It was a great defensive performance and a great adjustment made by the team. Our midfielders also helped out too. Our sweeper play is great and really helping us succeed as a team (by the way, we have dropped the flat back four defensive style and are de-emphasizing zone play because it didn't suit us individually). Our outside backs are moving forward to win balls and break up the attack far up field. This is critical. And our central marking defender is playing great, running down breakaways, winning balls with strong tackling, and destroying their attack. Without good defense, we don't win many games. With it we are a different, very powerful, team.
Tactical Focus. Tactically, this week we are asking our forwards to collect and hold the ball around the midfield more, rather then getting the ball and every time taking off down field--although we want to do this too when we have good chances--so that our outside backs can move forward to make runs down the line and our mids can move up and connect with the offensive line. We are asking our offensive mids to play more centrally, so we are stronger in the middle of the field and so they can receive lay-off passes from the forwards and switch the point of attack or push balls through to running forwards or outside to overlapping backs. These mids must occasionally look for opportunities to overlap themselves and they must constantly look for chances to get layoff balls and shoot from distance. We are trying to get our outside backs to move up into the offensive on a regular basis and look for chances whenever we are on offense to give us balance on the weak side (away from the ball) of the field.
This weekend and next are critical. If we play our hardest and best we will be fine. But if we cant keep up our effort and concentration for a full 90 minutes, we'll be in trouble. Let's be at our absolute best for these last four games!
Goal-scoring. We needed a good game against EMFC and we got one. The first 20 minutes of the game we dominated and got a splendid goal to show for it. Once again, we combined very well up front to create a scoring chance and finished with precision. We have done that a lot this fall and all the girls are starting to make it look easy, but believe me it isn't. It's very difficult, especially against a defense as tough as EMFC's. Stylish goals like these--we've seen them against Clackamas, Tottenham, Sherwood, Milan, and EMFC--show the hard work and mental focus that we have brought to practices and games this Fall. Remember whenever someone makes something look easy, they have worked incredibly hard to do it. I love it!
Dominating Midfield Play. Our mids had a dominant first half. When we win balls in the midfield and quickly transition into the attack with well placed passes and runs forward, we succeed as a team. Our midfield controlled the middle third of the field with physical play and hustle for most of the first half. This lead directly to our best chances on offense.
Success Based on Defense. The second half was great too. We didn't play our best in the midfield and forward lines offensively, but our defense was rock solid. While we controlled most of the first half, our opponents were able to take some dangerous shots from distance because we weren't applying defensive pressure soon enough. In the second half, we were on the defensive a lot, but EMFC actually had very few shots on goal. Our defenders really played tight and tough and we gave up almost no space to their attacking players. It was a great defensive performance and a great adjustment made by the team. Our midfielders also helped out too. Our sweeper play is great and really helping us succeed as a team (by the way, we have dropped the flat back four defensive style and are de-emphasizing zone play because it didn't suit us individually). Our outside backs are moving forward to win balls and break up the attack far up field. This is critical. And our central marking defender is playing great, running down breakaways, winning balls with strong tackling, and destroying their attack. Without good defense, we don't win many games. With it we are a different, very powerful, team.
Tactical Focus. Tactically, this week we are asking our forwards to collect and hold the ball around the midfield more, rather then getting the ball and every time taking off down field--although we want to do this too when we have good chances--so that our outside backs can move forward to make runs down the line and our mids can move up and connect with the offensive line. We are asking our offensive mids to play more centrally, so we are stronger in the middle of the field and so they can receive lay-off passes from the forwards and switch the point of attack or push balls through to running forwards or outside to overlapping backs. These mids must occasionally look for opportunities to overlap themselves and they must constantly look for chances to get layoff balls and shoot from distance. We are trying to get our outside backs to move up into the offensive on a regular basis and look for chances whenever we are on offense to give us balance on the weak side (away from the ball) of the field.
This weekend and next are critical. If we play our hardest and best we will be fine. But if we cant keep up our effort and concentration for a full 90 minutes, we'll be in trouble. Let's be at our absolute best for these last four games!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Tottenham and Sherwood notes
Santos:
Last weekend had us in two hard-fought games that looked to me like mirror images. Against Sherwood, we started slowly and finished with an explosion of intensity and pressure and some really fine soccer. Against Tottenham we started very strong and lost our edge as the game progressed. We need to be able to start and finish games with intensity and intelligence, especially this Sunday against EMFC.
Looking Ahead. There are just five games left for us to play this season so we have to re-dedicate ourselves to hard work in practice and smart, strong, confident, and calm play in the games. A great end to the season will help the Santos next year during qualifying and would be an appropriate finish for a team like this that has worked so hard and come so far. I really think that we have earned--through hard work and real mental focus--a good strong finish. The Santos deserve good results as a team and as individual players. Let's make it happen!
Well Done! One thing that struck me about both games last weekend was how well the team executed our main goal for the weekend of combining well in the forward line staying connected between lines. The Santos have made improvements in our tactical understanding and ability to execute the tactical part of the game which is frankly a real surprise to me. I never expected us to be so adept so quickly at understanding and applying difficult tactical ideas. This is a VERY impressive group of players. We also had some outstanding individual efforts last weekend. Our holding midfield play was really superb in the first half and absolutely outstanding in the 2nd half against Sherwood and outstanding again in the first half against Tottenham. Our forwards were playing hard and smart against Sherwood, I can't think of a goal that was more truly earned than the one against Sherwood. It's hard to recall anything as elegant as the way we combined for and finished the goal against Tottenham. Our wing forwards were getting to every ball played near them in the first half against Tottenham. Obviously our keepers gave us everything we needed against Sherwood as did our back four, a great effort from the keepers and defenders. Our two center mids were distributing extremely well against Sherwood. Some really terrific stuff all around!
Struggles. What we continue to struggle with is our willingness and ability to attack the ball in the air. This hurt us especially against Tottenham when we were often first to the ball in the midfield, but weren't really committed to making solid contact with it, either with the head, chest, and even the feet. This was also true of our play on corners. I really think when the ball is in the air or bouncing around in front of our goal, almost every one of us is privately hoping that another teammate will step forward to take it. We have paid a steep price for this attitude in close games this year and we must overcome it. In fact until we do, we will never be able to compete consistently against Gold-level teams. We'll stay Silver.
Defending Corners and Clearing. When it comes to corner kicks, the first thing is to avoid giving them up. Throw-ins are always better than corners. We have to try harder to avoid them. Next, when defending them, because our ability to attack the ball needs improvement, we must give extra effort in marking and defending players. By leaving players open in front of the goal, we concede goals. Especially when we combine that with a lack of aggression in attacking the ball. At a more fundamental level, our clearing of the ball is still inconsistent. We often fail to make solid contact and produce, instead of a well-hit and solid clear, a little squib that ends up at the feet of our opponents. This is a technical problem and the coaches must take responsibility here because it is not something we have practiced at all and until we do we will have trouble.
We had a superb practice Wednesday and I know we are ready to go for Sunday.
Last weekend had us in two hard-fought games that looked to me like mirror images. Against Sherwood, we started slowly and finished with an explosion of intensity and pressure and some really fine soccer. Against Tottenham we started very strong and lost our edge as the game progressed. We need to be able to start and finish games with intensity and intelligence, especially this Sunday against EMFC.
Looking Ahead. There are just five games left for us to play this season so we have to re-dedicate ourselves to hard work in practice and smart, strong, confident, and calm play in the games. A great end to the season will help the Santos next year during qualifying and would be an appropriate finish for a team like this that has worked so hard and come so far. I really think that we have earned--through hard work and real mental focus--a good strong finish. The Santos deserve good results as a team and as individual players. Let's make it happen!
Well Done! One thing that struck me about both games last weekend was how well the team executed our main goal for the weekend of combining well in the forward line staying connected between lines. The Santos have made improvements in our tactical understanding and ability to execute the tactical part of the game which is frankly a real surprise to me. I never expected us to be so adept so quickly at understanding and applying difficult tactical ideas. This is a VERY impressive group of players. We also had some outstanding individual efforts last weekend. Our holding midfield play was really superb in the first half and absolutely outstanding in the 2nd half against Sherwood and outstanding again in the first half against Tottenham. Our forwards were playing hard and smart against Sherwood, I can't think of a goal that was more truly earned than the one against Sherwood. It's hard to recall anything as elegant as the way we combined for and finished the goal against Tottenham. Our wing forwards were getting to every ball played near them in the first half against Tottenham. Obviously our keepers gave us everything we needed against Sherwood as did our back four, a great effort from the keepers and defenders. Our two center mids were distributing extremely well against Sherwood. Some really terrific stuff all around!
Struggles. What we continue to struggle with is our willingness and ability to attack the ball in the air. This hurt us especially against Tottenham when we were often first to the ball in the midfield, but weren't really committed to making solid contact with it, either with the head, chest, and even the feet. This was also true of our play on corners. I really think when the ball is in the air or bouncing around in front of our goal, almost every one of us is privately hoping that another teammate will step forward to take it. We have paid a steep price for this attitude in close games this year and we must overcome it. In fact until we do, we will never be able to compete consistently against Gold-level teams. We'll stay Silver.
Defending Corners and Clearing. When it comes to corner kicks, the first thing is to avoid giving them up. Throw-ins are always better than corners. We have to try harder to avoid them. Next, when defending them, because our ability to attack the ball needs improvement, we must give extra effort in marking and defending players. By leaving players open in front of the goal, we concede goals. Especially when we combine that with a lack of aggression in attacking the ball. At a more fundamental level, our clearing of the ball is still inconsistent. We often fail to make solid contact and produce, instead of a well-hit and solid clear, a little squib that ends up at the feet of our opponents. This is a technical problem and the coaches must take responsibility here because it is not something we have practiced at all and until we do we will have trouble.
We had a superb practice Wednesday and I know we are ready to go for Sunday.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Bridlemile game notes and Practice Recap
Santos:
Last weekend's game against Bridlemile showed that we still have some important elements of our game to improve before we can be consistently successful on the field against strong teams.
The Fuego. By the way, it was nice to see that the Fuego have become a strong team. They have improved tremendously after what must have been a disappointing season to them last year. They were every bit our match last Sunday and we will have to be at our best when we next play them. No doubt that team has added several new strong players, but you can see that they are also working harder and playing together on the field far more than last year. We should draw inspiration from their improvement and likewise improve ourselves.
Our Difficulty. What we struggled with last weekend was creating scoring opportunities. While we didn't play poorly on offense, we didn't combine well in the final offensive third of the field. We were playing too far apart to do "give and goes" and use some of the tight space skills we have developed in practice. Our three forwards didn't combine well in the final third (although they did great in the middle third) and our midfield and forwards didn't combine often enough. PSU is a very large field where it's easy for our players to become isolated from each other, which is why we have to make the extra effort to play more closely together. This is hard because we want to spread out and use the field's width also. This is where our outside backs must push forward into the offense (one at a time) to give us the width we need in open space. This is critical and something we must have this coming weekend. We will need more attacking and aggressive play from the outside backs--this includes winning balls that are played up the line by our opponents.
Attacking Mids. Our two attacking midfielders will have to do a better job of supporting our forwards. Too often there was too great a gap between the midfield line and the forwards. We need attacking mids to overlap, look to score, as well as be available for layoff passes back from the offensive line.
Good News. Good news was that our back line was strong and well-organized in the last game. All four backs played well. We also got solid goal-keeping. We saw some excellent shot blocking which we now need to match with aggressive play off the line and more "sweeper-keeper" work.
Practice Recap. In case any of the parents are wondering what we are working on in practices over the last two weeks, we have been working on combination play in front of the goal, 3v3 small-sided games to develop skills and feeling for the game, 1 and 2 touch passing over distance and in close, controlling difficult-to-handle balls, heading, volleys, lofted passes and chips (in other words, playing the ball in the air) as well as finishing. We have worked less on tactics than skills and this may account for a little of the chaos we've seen on the field lately, but skills and individual playing ability is what matters in the long term. The girls have been really great in practice and are improving quickly. I've been really happy with practices and the effort and concentration put forth.
This coming weekend is a huge one for us, so let's be at our absolute best.
Go Santos!
Last weekend's game against Bridlemile showed that we still have some important elements of our game to improve before we can be consistently successful on the field against strong teams.
The Fuego. By the way, it was nice to see that the Fuego have become a strong team. They have improved tremendously after what must have been a disappointing season to them last year. They were every bit our match last Sunday and we will have to be at our best when we next play them. No doubt that team has added several new strong players, but you can see that they are also working harder and playing together on the field far more than last year. We should draw inspiration from their improvement and likewise improve ourselves.
Our Difficulty. What we struggled with last weekend was creating scoring opportunities. While we didn't play poorly on offense, we didn't combine well in the final offensive third of the field. We were playing too far apart to do "give and goes" and use some of the tight space skills we have developed in practice. Our three forwards didn't combine well in the final third (although they did great in the middle third) and our midfield and forwards didn't combine often enough. PSU is a very large field where it's easy for our players to become isolated from each other, which is why we have to make the extra effort to play more closely together. This is hard because we want to spread out and use the field's width also. This is where our outside backs must push forward into the offense (one at a time) to give us the width we need in open space. This is critical and something we must have this coming weekend. We will need more attacking and aggressive play from the outside backs--this includes winning balls that are played up the line by our opponents.
Attacking Mids. Our two attacking midfielders will have to do a better job of supporting our forwards. Too often there was too great a gap between the midfield line and the forwards. We need attacking mids to overlap, look to score, as well as be available for layoff passes back from the offensive line.
Good News. Good news was that our back line was strong and well-organized in the last game. All four backs played well. We also got solid goal-keeping. We saw some excellent shot blocking which we now need to match with aggressive play off the line and more "sweeper-keeper" work.
Practice Recap. In case any of the parents are wondering what we are working on in practices over the last two weeks, we have been working on combination play in front of the goal, 3v3 small-sided games to develop skills and feeling for the game, 1 and 2 touch passing over distance and in close, controlling difficult-to-handle balls, heading, volleys, lofted passes and chips (in other words, playing the ball in the air) as well as finishing. We have worked less on tactics than skills and this may account for a little of the chaos we've seen on the field lately, but skills and individual playing ability is what matters in the long term. The girls have been really great in practice and are improving quickly. I've been really happy with practices and the effort and concentration put forth.
This coming weekend is a huge one for us, so let's be at our absolute best.
Go Santos!
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