11-19-2017, 01:15 PM
Farm--
Sorry for the delay.
Stanford looks to possess, sometimes too much, preferring a certain backwards pass to even a slightly risky attacking ball at points. Definitely offensive minded once the ball moves over the midfield line, much of the action will come up either flank with overlapping runs from our outside fullbacks Xiao and Pickett. Our three midfielders generally leave two in a more defensive posture, and one in attack, but that shifts with the flow of the game. Good off-ball movement and passing, and Macario is something special with the ball at her feet.
I'm not sure how FSU will approach us - they are definitely an attacking team, but it will be interesting to see whether they play more directly in an effort to catch Stanford on the counter-attack, or to try to possess themselves to deny us the ball and make Stanford work more on defense. The most interesting tactical choice will be where they choose to start pressuring the ball - at what point on the field. Teams have had success pressing Stanford deep in the Cardinal's end, because we often count on that space to safely move the ball around in possession, and get discombobulated when denied it - UCLA and for stretches $C did that.
One key indicator - how often is Andi Sullivan able to pick the ball up and move forward looking up. If she can pick the ball up, turn, survey the field, and pick out her options, Stanford should have a good day. But I'm sure FSU knows that, and the Seminoles will probably try to take away the middle of the field and force the ball outside. If Sullivan is consistently quickly pushing the ball wide under pressure, that bodes well for them.
Just some thoughts.
VG
Sorry for the delay.
Stanford looks to possess, sometimes too much, preferring a certain backwards pass to even a slightly risky attacking ball at points. Definitely offensive minded once the ball moves over the midfield line, much of the action will come up either flank with overlapping runs from our outside fullbacks Xiao and Pickett. Our three midfielders generally leave two in a more defensive posture, and one in attack, but that shifts with the flow of the game. Good off-ball movement and passing, and Macario is something special with the ball at her feet.
I'm not sure how FSU will approach us - they are definitely an attacking team, but it will be interesting to see whether they play more directly in an effort to catch Stanford on the counter-attack, or to try to possess themselves to deny us the ball and make Stanford work more on defense. The most interesting tactical choice will be where they choose to start pressuring the ball - at what point on the field. Teams have had success pressing Stanford deep in the Cardinal's end, because we often count on that space to safely move the ball around in possession, and get discombobulated when denied it - UCLA and for stretches $C did that.
One key indicator - how often is Andi Sullivan able to pick the ball up and move forward looking up. If she can pick the ball up, turn, survey the field, and pick out her options, Stanford should have a good day. But I'm sure FSU knows that, and the Seminoles will probably try to take away the middle of the field and force the ball outside. If Sullivan is consistently quickly pushing the ball wide under pressure, that bodes well for them.
Just some thoughts.
VG