CHARGERS FC DEF. REAL GUMBIES FC 10-5
Scorers: Naveen Nadesan 4, Chris Honig 1
This was the first bad defeat we’ve suffered in the last month. With only 6 out of the 7 expected players showing up for the game (Nav’s friend Faeez couldn’t make it), our team structure was in disarray from the kick-off and we never fully recovered. The Chargers jumped out of the blocks and playing aggressive attacking soccer – before we knew what hit us they had 4 goals on the board. With extra confidence they began to attack with 3 or 4 men at a time, and we were simply unable to retain enough possession to put the pressure back on them.
To estimate time in possession, it was probably 70%-30%. They had an excellent passing game (including an insane cross, header and goal) and ran harder than the Lucky Strikes last week. But to our credit, despite being completely swamped and out of position in the first half, we were able to even things up on the scoreboard in the second half (including a great goal from Chris, his first of the season). The defence also got better at keeping goal side and blocking a few shots, and props to Ben for making some nice saves in his first attempt as keeper.
Well done also to Chris and Craig for keeping for the first time, and everyone else for their fitness in running the game out with only 1 sub. However I think we really need to improve our goalie throws and develop a better passing game. We were too way predictable.
Also I take full responsibility for the poor first half setup. There should have been a contingency plan for playing with one man down. I was also guilty of running down the ground at the wrong times – a tighter defence was needed against the Chargers.
May 28, 2007 at 4:27 am
Hey all, never mind about the loss – we have to take a step back sometimes and realise we are just playing for fun and while its no fun to lose, there are times when the other team is just too good on the day.
Another thing I want to bring up – are we getting enough shots off – whats stopping you guys running with the ball or passing to an open man? Maybe its not our shooting we need to work on, its the ball control. Honestly from what i have seen in the last season, its below average in our competition for pretty much all of us.
Secondly – if someone is in the offensive half – there must be someone to give him the safe option ALWAYS, and communicate in case someone tries to pinch it. The guy who has just received it should know whether to dribble or pass, whose coming at him.
So in practice this week, stuff to work on
- Dribbling – dribbling at pace – be prepared to make mistakes in training, its no good keeping control of the ball, dribbling slowly at training because that is what you’ll do during the game. this applies to everyone. We are all good enough to dribble slowly, but dribbling quickly, thats when i see people kick it too far or kicking into their opponent hoping it will go straight through them or bounce off them unknowing. I know this happens cause i see it all the time. Its TIME TO fix it once and for all. If you make mistakes in training, this will prepare you for when you make mistakes in the game and you’ll react quicker. Soon enough you will make less.
- Passing – practice passing at 45 degree angles forward – thats when we are dangerous, moving forward and away at the opponent, we will be able to complete more passes that way. Passing directly forward allows their defender to come in front of our attacker and take the ball.
- Drills
- Hexagon passing drill. Keep passing, keep moving.
- Use your opposite foot in dribbling, with the outside of your right foot touch the ball and push it forward on a 45 degree angle, twice. Then with your left foot twice, then with your right and so on. This helps you get into position.
- Dribbling at speed drill – with a stationary defender, dribble at speed and at the last minute go round to the left or right. also try it with a defender moving forward. also try it with the defender lunging left or right, then yourself going the opposite way. lastly try faking the defender one way and then going the opposite way.
May 28, 2007 at 7:42 am
I’ve always felt against a team with an old fart or a slow guy at the back was to invite him forward by manning on everyone but him. As soon as he’s in our half – then start manning him up.
What happens then? Then he starts dribbling more – which throws their whole shape out of whack. If he attempts a back pass from our half, someone should get onto it.
But Chargers FC are beatable and im not too fussed. They think they’re all that but they really aint all that.
May 28, 2007 at 7:50 am
Finally good goal to Chris – not that it matters – cause he’ll never read this.
The only way he can prove he read this is to reply.
May 29, 2007 at 1:21 pm
‘whats stopping you guys running with the ball or passing to an open man?’
We are not even controlling the ball properly, let alone running or doing anything else with it. This involves not trapping the ball properly from receiving a pass, and opting the boot the crap out of the ball in defence instead of just getting in between the ball and the opponent, and thus, having the ball all to urself to do whatever u want with it.
‘if someone is in the offensive half – there must be someone to give him the safe option ALWAYS’. Actaully, this is probably the only thing I would think we are finally improving at these days. I remember having an argument with you James, regarding the option of passing back vs having to make every shot be a forward/side pass.
‘Dribbling – dribbling at pace ‘..
Id rather everyone learn to control the ball more / feel more confidence with the ball, before trying any fancy sprinting/dribbling tricks/trying to beat a defender 1 vs 1. You know that even Nav does not try to beat a defender straight on. He just slowly makes his way towards the goal and does a simple push to the side and shoot.
‘Passing – practice passing at 45 degree angles forward – thats when we are dangerous,’
I’m sure you meant passing at 45 degrees as opposed to passing at 90 degrees, or trying to get thru an opponent.
I would suggest an even wider angle.., thats wats the nets on the side are for..
‘other various dribbling comments’
refer to the points about controlling the ball first.
anyway james, if u have enuff time to think/post so much about soccer, then u have time to come to a game instead :p
May 29, 2007 at 1:52 pm
>
‘whats stopping you guys running with the ball or passing to an open man?’
We are not even controlling the ball properly, let alone running or doing anything else with it. This involves not trapping the ball properly from receiving a pass, and opting the boot the crap out of the ball in defence instead of just getting in between the ball and the opponent, and thus, having the ball all to urself to do whatever u want with it.
Skill level of all must improve.
>
‘if someone is in the offensive half – there must be someone to give him the safe option ALWAYS’. Actaully, this is probably the only thing I would think we are finally improving at these days. I remember having an argument with you James, regarding the option of passing back vs having to make every shot be a forward/side pass.
The way we are playing these days is not conducive to a forward pass everytime. We play so close to the nets that one side is shut out most of the time. If we are so close to the net there is no forward pass available unless there is a defender overlap which rarely happens. So regarding my statement of always passing forward, at the time I meant always make our passes forward our number 1 option (which is kind of obvious), however after rethinking it again this is probably not possible.
>
‘Dribbling – dribbling at pace ‘..
Id rather everyone learn to control the ball more / feel more confidence with the ball, before trying any fancy sprinting/dribbling tricks/trying to beat a defender 1 vs 1. You know that even Nav does not try to beat a defender straight on. He just slowly makes his way towards the goal and does a simple push to the side and shoot.
We may not have the skill to do this, but theoretically speaking you have to use pace/acceleration to get around someone. Even Nav uses pace – however he puts his body between the opponent and the ball making it difficult for them to get a steal. Its definitely not about tricks – i don’t think anyone needs to use tricks. I rarely use tricks in the game, even though I try them all the time at training. I do that to get a feel for the ball, get confidence, dribble and touch the ball with both feet etc.
For example, look at Harry Kewell, if you analzye the way he plays – he runs straight at the defender, when the defender is moving backwards he is in trouble, especially if Kewell is faking left or right because Kewell is using forward momentum, and the defender is using backwards momentum, at a fast pace, Kewell has the upper hand to accelerate forward and go past the defender. But that’s the theory anyway. Probably too complicated for all of us, and maybe I shouldnt have brought it up cause its hard to pull off. But at least you know.
I thought I would bring this theory up, because we all seem to play such a fast style, we rarely sit back and play a few passes around, that if you have a defender right in front of you, the best thing is to run at him, because if you run to one side, he’s got you covered. If you run straight at him then he has to decide which way you’re going to go. This takes great control, because you have to judge how fast you are running and if he’s a good defender he won’t make the move until you do, in which case you have to fake him out. At this stage, its best to keep your feet moving with smaller steps, lunge in one direction and go the other way.
The fancy tricks and dribbles do the same as moving your feet with smaller steps, because it keeps your defender preoccupied and guessing. So the lesson to learn is to keep your defender guessing, cause otherwise he can read where you’re going. But its not easy, if it was id be scoring heaps. Or maybe it doesnt work in indoor…
>
‘Passing – practice passing at 45 degree angles forward – thats when we are dangerous,’
I’m sure you meant passing at 45 degrees as opposed to passing at 90 degrees, or trying to get thru an opponent.
I would suggest an even wider angle.., thats wats the nets on the side are for..
I agree using nets – i use them a bit, i don’t even have to pinpoint a pass – just hit it at the nets at the right angle.
>
‘other various dribbling comments’
refer to the points about controlling the ball first.
anyway james, if u have enuff time to think/post so much about soccer, then u have time to come to a game instead :p
Not playing soccer has really helped me study on Sundays.
June 1, 2007 at 6:03 am
I agree with improving our first touch first before attempting to dribble…
disagree with having to do tricks/dribbles to get pass opponents…
In my opinion, after we receive a ball we should look up to see if we can pass to someone in a better position.. then if no option, dribble.
if our off the ball movement is good, we will create goalscoring chances from it.
we can win our game not just by what we do with the ball, but with what we do off the ball…. and vice versa we can lose our game by what we do without the ball (ball-watching)