Muskego Report

Cheese Athletics Staff
August 30, 2008
Muskego High School Soccer Report


Muskego's defense is abysmal. They are slow and offer nothing in the way of tackling. What they do bring to the table is good foot skill. After giving up 3 goals in the first half, two of which were one on one's with their keeper, it is evident that defense is Muskego's main weakness.
As always, they offer a great attack with solid runs being made from all of their players and anyone in the attacking third is capable of burying a shot from within 25 yards. In the game against Appleton North they dominated possession throughout most of the match but were not finishing their opportunities.

Offensive Positives

• Central midfielders do a great job of releasing the ball as soon as they have it.
• Kurt Knolle (#3) put together multiple sequences with his outside midfielders and forwards. He is active off of the ball and is a more difficult mark as he gets closer to the net. He should have been issued a caution for delay of game when he threw the ball 15 yards out of bounds when he realized it was not his team's throw in.
• At times Muskego looked like the dominant team they were last year. This was evident in a sequence of three consecutively well placed headers that split the Appleton North defense for a shot that was missed high by Andy Ksobiech (#13).
• Muskego is highly dangerous their attacking third, specifically in the corners. Appleton defenders had a very difficult time keeping them in front and almost always allowed a cross. Christian Stoiber (#17) beat his man for a cross that was sent on the ground clear across the mouth of the goal. Unfortunately for Muskego, no one was there to finish. Throughout the game Muskego did not finish their runs, indicative of the final score.
• The crosses were terrific for virtually the entire game. However, most all of them were taken deep in the corner, they rarely took an early cross in an attempt to keep North off guard.
• Riley Weiner (#7) is strong on the ball with good foot skill. He is very dynamic in the attacking third whether it is finding his teammates on through balls or taking shots. He warrants serious consideration in marking him with the opposition's best defensive player.
• The Muskego Warriors' home field is almost as wide as it is long. Muskego did a good job in keeping their midfielders near the touchline, allowing their central midfielders time with the ball.
• In the 21st minute the Muskego played an early cross from about 20 yards out. The ball sailed passed its target and was collected by North. It was one of the only times they looked to cross early and away from the end line.
• Ksobiech has the best work rate on the team. He is in constant motion working for the ball.
• Momentum had clearly swung to their favor after the two goals in the 52nd and 53rd minute mark. However, Muskego was still unable to put away the tying goal.

Offensive Negatives

• Defenders are too confident on the ball. An outside defender was stripped after trying a spin move; the shot went wide of the goal.
• No long range shots until late in the game. Muskego would always try to get in close for an easy shot, unfortunately the shots never came.
• None of the 10 field players overly hustled on defense. They started the game dominating the possession but in the final 10 minutes, when they needed a goal most, they were on the wrong end of a 60:40 split.
• By the 28th minute mark they had given up four fast breaks that resulted in a one on one opportunity with their keeper. Two of the breaks went for goals. By the end of the game they had given up 8 through balls that ended in one on ones or last second tackles to block a shot.
• From what I was hearing on the field, Muskego players do not seem fond of one another and it shows in their play. This was their third game in two days, so that may have something to do with the poor attitudes.
• Riley Weiner, following in his brother's footsteps, received a yellow card for descent of a referee.

Defensive Positives

• Jacob Pope (#5) is a good ball winner and a decent defender.
• All four defenders are great with the ball at their feet.

Defensive Negatives

• Muskego allowed eight fast breaks in the game. If you are looking for a weakness in their team, it's their entire defense. Not one of them would be considered a pure defender and none of them were too interested in running down the fast breaks as they occurred.
• The back line is surprisingly slow for a team that is generally rated top ten in the state.
• Muskego had massive breakdowns when North held possession in the attacking part of the field. Muskego allows shots from all over the field within 25 yards. The only thing worse than Muskego's back four defenders are Muskego's midfielders pretending to play defense.
• Marking in loose to the point of non-existent.
• Most of the through balls surrendered were from a distance of 20 to 30 yards.
• Tim Dahl (#18 ) and Vince Tomczyk (#19) were both starting defenders and were both painfully slow.
• Muskego is so weak on their tackles that offensive players were almost invited to split their defense on the dribble as well as on the pass.

Set Pieces

• 35 yards out, left side – Dahl plays a ball to the top of the 18 yard area, ball is flicked towards goal, keeper save.
• 35 yards out, right side – Ball is driven to the penalty kick marker, went through untouched for a goal kick.
• 30 yards out, throw in to the Penalty Kick marker. Cleared by defense.
• 25 yards out, right center – short cross, picked off by North defender
• 25 yards out, throw in – Jacob Pope throws ball to the Penalty Kick marker. Cleared by defense.
• 40 yards out, left side – Played to the six yard area, great challenge but Jake Bergmann made the save.
• Corner Kick, left side – In-swinger to the back post. Cleared by defense.
• 30 yards out, left side – Ball played between Penalty kick mark and 6 yard area, Justin Durovy (#11) misses wide of the back post.
• 35 yards out, right side – Weiner sends cross just inside of the 18, Bicycle Kick missed by Andy Zirzow (#16).

Goals
Appleton Goal – 9th Minute – Michael Smongeski (#2) dribbles past last defender, is now one on one with the keeper, passes to Jeremie Suave (#18 ), who may have been in an offside position, for the easy put goal from 6 yards out.
Appleton Goal – 24th Minute – Michael Brooks (#23) is sent on a through ball from 30 yards away. With the ball at his feet he pulls away from each of the Muskego defenders and slots the ball into the right side netting for an easy goal.
Appleton Goal - 33rd Minute – Goal was scored off a simple possession and a onetime shot from 20 yards out. I could not make out the number of who scored.
Muskego Goal – 52nd Minute – Ksobiech gives a quick ball to Jacob Pope (#5) who buries the shot from 20 yards out just inside of the far post.
Muskego Goal – 53rd Minute – Pope steals the ball and finishes quickly from the top of the 18 yard area.

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I was not impressed with Muskego at all. With the talent they have, they should be stomping teams. It's a long season though, they may turn it around.

drago wrote:I was not impressed with Muskego at all. With the talent they have, they should be stomping teams. It's a long season though, they may turn it around.

I love teams like this. All talent, no heart. They always end up towards the bottom of their conference and making fun of the teams that beat them. Too bad those teams rarely beat anyone when that is their team make up.