Judgement Day: Part 1

This is it fellas. THIS IS FUCKING IT!

We are fourth.

We have two games left. The situation is if we win both – we’re definitely in the finals. If we win one, as long as we win well and lose closely we have a good chance of making it. If we lose both – we are OUT!

Making the finals is important for two reasons.

1. Finals pressure takes the intensity up a notch. I bet that if we did win a final we’d be pumped for the next few weeks or so.

2. The other three teams in the bottom four are -
BHS United – probably don’t deserve to be there because they only joined halfway through the season and they are quite good.
Dragons – thrashed twice
Team Eric Li – whipping boys of the competition.

Tell me you’ll be satisfied with that if we finish with this illustrious company.

But we’re not in the finals yet. We have two games to play.

The first game BHS United – i haven’t played them before so Im unaware of what they are like – but they have won their past 4 matches including a draw against Drifters and a win against Vanderlay. We need to do as well as we can in this match – we need to try new tactics but we also need to realise if they aren’t working we need to try something else. I guess that means that some of the defenders have to be creative. If thats the case make sure you are in a position that if you stuff up, someone is backing you up. If you are the last person back – play it safe. Just do a safe pass. Attackers – shield the ball, take shots whenever possible, you never know they could take a deflection. Defenders – don’t be the first person to make a mistake. Let them make the mistake first – good advice from Howie, stand your ground, obviously some times a goal could get deflected but these things happen.

Defenders – Craig and Chris/Shaun a partnership, Raymond and Andy a partnership. Try and not cross over – always be in a position to accept a pass from someone. This means you have to run to a new position.

Attackers – Chris, Naveen, Howie and Me rotate. Shield the ball, take a shot, when you take a shot, u won’t have much time so just hit it with all you got, one step. no time to get fancy and prepare yourself for the greatest strike ever.

The second game – Team Tarje – this IS THE BIG GAME. The preliminary preliminary final – Team Tarje play Vanderlay this week, and as of right now are equal points with us on 47. This game will decide who gets to play in the finals the week after and I would hate it if it wasn’t us. Last time they played us they beat us 5-3. Our review last time stated “we had plenty of shots – but weren’t on target….. our decision making was poor…. sometimes we could have had a shot and didnt. other times we made the wrong pass” Time to get things right fellas – it sounds like we could have beaten them. we didnt score enough goals – so obviously they have a good defence. This means the defenders have to be prepared to run a lot this game to provide extra support AND ALWAYS running back to track attackers on the loose as soon as we give up possession.

Finally if you want to reply with tips – this is the time to do so. PROVIDE YOUR TIPS.

Nav’s Tip – Shield the ball. Play to your strengths – if you only have a right foot, use your right foot. You can stuff around at home.

Howie’s Tip – Wait for the attacker to commit. Don’t over commit yourself. Stand at a distance where you KNOW for sure you won’t get beat if he tries something tricky.

James’ Tip – Get back and help defence when they are undermanned. Play to the percentages – ie don’t try fancy stuff if you are the last person back – it will come back to haunt you. If you try it once and get away with it, you will try it again, and you will lose it someday.

Ref’s Tip – Don’t foul. ( I think we haven’t given too many of these freebie free kicks away lately so thats a good sign.)

Lastly – Sensible football, positional football, tactical football. Go Gumbies!

Comment: Possession Football and Positive Football Thinking

I would say the last few weeks we have been playing mostly end to end football, relying on our pace to beat the man.

What we can also do is keep the ball. I thought raymond showed confidence a few times. I remember one time he did lose it because he was a bit slow, who cares, the next time he’ll probably get around the player. We should add this to our gameplan. Its not about slowing the game down. its about finding new angles to pass the ball into.

If you do intend to go slow while u have the ball, its easy for them to take the ball off you. So always have a plan of exactly what you’re going to do. Even if your plan everytime is to take it into the corner. Just know what u are doing. Never should u ask in your mind what u should be doing. Because by the time u figure it out, the situation has changed. People are making runs everywhere, the defender or defenders are coming at you so have what u are going to do in your mind BEFORE YOU GET THE BALL and just do it.