brun grove 27/04/08
V’s Brun Grove
Venue: The Fortress
Brun Grove take two. First time around we saw them off 6-3, this time we were hoping for double figures.
With Wozzer out of the side Sean Lonsdale was looking for a good day in front of goal to end his current drought and create a gap at the top of the goal scoring charts.
4-4-2 again. Ross in nets. Defence – Steve Mac, Andy Mac, Scholes and Neil. Engine room – Mercer, Fiss, George and Dance Mat. Up front Clarkey and Sean.
Some early morning light rain left the pitch in a slippery condition. No referee and word coming form the changing rooms Brun only had 6 men. Great!!!
Before we knew it Brun had their full compliment and Steve had dragged a Referee off the street to officiate our game. Game on.
We got going and soon realized we were up against it. Brun were fouling the shit out of us and they had a cheating low life liner flagging us off every time we played a through ball. At one point I thought he was actually bringing in a Bowing 747 to the apron, arms and flag waving all over. No plane, just another assault on goal from the mighty Excelsior. The only way to protect his sides, 99 goals conceded, back line was to cheat and simply flag offside every time his side looked in danger. Please make a mental note any ref’s reading this. Down right despicable in my opinion.
We created and squandered the lion’s share of the chances. With the referee not giving many fouls and the shithead liner flagging everything, frustration soon reared its head in the ugly form of anger. We seemed to be in bits. One or two passes would work but time and time again the ball was mis-controlled or someone would try a hero pass over the top and we simply gave away possession. To be fair to the everlasting Mumrah (Brun Keeper) he was having a great game, taking crosses and coming off his line well.
Half time 0-0. The Gaffer was furious, nil all against the Brun he had a right to be. What was witnessed in the first half was awful. We should have made the break through but did not.
Back in to it after half time. We knew what we had to do and went about doing it. We started to make a few good moves. Scholes moved from centre half to attacking midfield with Clarkey slipping to right back. This seemed to working for us. To our amazement Brun sneaked a goal. A mistake at the back allowed the ball to bounce through to the our danger area. Confusion allowed the Brun striker to nip in and I am sure he was grateful for the finish.
We had to get back in to this game and threw on the pressure. It paid off. Some flowing moves and a couple of attempts on goal forced the Brun back to defend their box. They must have sent one too many back to defend as the ball ended up in the net off one of the retreating troopers. Very fitting that their 100th conceded goal was an oggy. 1-1 phew.
We’re we staring our first league draw in the face? Against bottom side Brun Grove? It certainly looked that way for some time. Especially after the Scholes penalty miss. Reluctant to settle for one point we carried on pushing. We introduced the physical side of our game just to gain the upper hand. We had been getting pushed around for too long. Eventually that illusive winning goal came. A Brun long ball attack had broke down for the millionth time. Ross launched the ball long, one bounce over the full back and Sean was in. One half volley and we had the 3 points.
Full time 2-1
Man of the Match – Fiss. I’m giving it myself this week. Did anyone play better? I did my best to orchestrate a short and fast passing game. Found space 10 yards away from the man with the ball, shouted for it and watched it get pumped long and out of our hands. I was pissed off with it, I still am. You know, if you give me the ball I’m not too bad at football and would maybe, just maybe be able to do something better than just give it away. Just give it short ffs.
Moment of the match – Nothing caught my eye. Neil’s clanger possibly a contender.
Well lads it definitely wasn’t pretty but we did get the points. Let’s forget the game but not the lessons. Where did our physical side go for 45 minutes? As in the report I am for one getting sick of watching hero balls go wrong. I have been getting the best view in the house of the execution of these hero balls as nine times out of ten I am stood right next to the offender. A simple pass would be nice.
Hero passes are hard to pull off. Professionals can’t do it 100% of the time. Let’s think twice about the ball we play. A man stood next to you in the same colour shirt as your own around 10 yards away or a 30 yard drive in to the abyss, a simple choice to make in a ‘team’ game.
One more game left and I feel I am wasting my time trying to drill a better football head in to people.
Match reports anyone???
Fiss
Fiss- not having a go cos
Fiss- not having a go cos you do a great job as player and captain but unfortunately not all of us attended the David Batty school of sideways passing. You need to try a few "hero balls" now and then cos there is a few players in the side that can pull them off and we have forwards that can make things happen with them. In training, on astroturf, playing the short stuff works but its difficult to replicate on the shite pitches we play on. You cant have a go for not playing the same style as yourself. A team full of Makaleles wouldnt get very far. The better teams have players which can do both short and long game, especially in this league.
You're dead right you better stay Anonymous bitch!!
Who the fuck wrote that?
Yeah I must agree, we are as good as we could possible get. Why bother trying to improve when we're clearly playing the perfect game. Lets carry on smashing the long balls out of play, in the hope the odd one stays in.
Forget the short game, we can't do it so lets not even bother.
I mean the 2-1 win over the high flying Brun Grove proves that.
You've wound me right up with that shit.
Fiss
Sorry if i've ruffled your
Sorry if i've ruffled your feathers Fiss. Think you misunderstood me, you to merce. Of course there needs to be improvment on passing and long punts aint the way forward but dont think you should prevent the likes of scholsey trying to be creative with long passing. Wanted to say summat cos you've had a few pops recently for me trying a long pass. Granted, sometimes there's an easier ball on and you realise afterwards but sometimes they come off. The best players know when and when not to but we're not the best players so sometimes we get it wrong. Maybe i should'nt comment on brun game cos i wasnt there. Anyway only my opinion pal and seems everyone agrees with you, i partially do. Peace dude, see you Sunday.
The Passing Game
Glad you made yourself known pal, I would imagine it was the anonimity of the post rather than the content which has pissed people off. I have to agree with you on one front buddy, the game does need to be mixed up ocassionally especially due to the condition of the pitches and the pace at which players are shut down on a sundays. A completely different game on astro, when lets be honest anyone can look good when hardly a tackle goes in. However I feel it is our decision making that is far more problamatic than our execution on sundays.( my performance on sunday clearly an exception to this where I was shit in all depts),I don't think anyone is suggesting we only go square bud, not too sure we'd score many goals taking that route?,The frustration occurs though when poor decisions are continually made. The question when to go long, when to play short, when to take a man on, decisions??, decisions??. Always working hard for your team and being available to receive the ball is obviously imperative for the man on the ball to have a choice, which to be honest for the most part we do work fairly hard................ But also a big factor and a definate weakness in our game is not so much being vocal(although more talking is always beneficial, as long as the same thing is being said) but listening on the pitch. Just listening a bit more can help with the problems of decision making and assist with the keeping of the ball and the passing game whether it be short which is no doubt the way ahead most times man!!or occasionally long. It all has its time and place,.....It's the beautiful game!!
note for Daz's diary; Heading also allowed.
Take it easy Bud,
Peace and Love Man!!!
Well done for owning up! The
Well done for owning up! The thing that gets my back up is we can't play the long game very wellunless were playing against very poor defences. We tend to go long when we are in panic mode (or when Ross gets the ball). I agree there is a place for the occassional long un to releive some pressure or as a differnet option but it was used far too much on Sunday.How much better do we look when we get it down! We need to start looking up and in most cases start doing the basic stuff right. I dont think what you said got peoples back up, more that we didn't know who had said it! Mercer
Oh dear
So are you going to reveal yourself?? Whoever it is you can't spell Makelele. By the way there is nothing more frustrating than chasing hopeless long balls. We are not good enough to play them, I should know I've chased that many of them this year.
Come on men man up and put
Come on men man up and put your name down for the comments they're only opinions no one is gonna kick off.
I will hold my hands up Fiss pal I do try and do the hero ball a few times during the match but these are only after I've realised that the easy option isn't on. I know your not singling me out just thought I'd throw my shout in as too why I do the hero pass. When I get the ball my usually outlets are you and George looking inside to give you the pass.
Anyway we'll sort that out for next season as we'll then be pushing for the title I feel.
He is right!!!!!! Listen to Your Skipper And Your Manager!!!
I have to agree with Fiss on that one, when we play football we destroy teams its where our strenghts lie, i know its sunday and we carnt do it everytime, i dont expect that. But i want and expect it most of the time. We have the players and the ball winners to play football n if you carnt play football or the passing game then maybe this isnt the team for you(not aimed at you ross). The way i see it is Sunday was a bad performance but you dug in and won the game when you were behind, now that is signs and promise of good team, a side that wont give in we have that now, but we also have to remember repect and not to think that we will automatically beat every team thats below us, we still have to work hard, cause if we dont we loose those games, thats what has cost in the past, last and this, this year it has cost Us 3RD place n Promotion, n it wont be happening again. We put that game to bed n look forward, remember what we have done in the last 10 league games 9 wins 1 defeat. So lets keep up the vibe please no slating each other
great training tues really enjoyed it.
Great to see Daz Tan Tastic back.
Just one skip dont get mad get back on the bike n pedal harder i could of give up last year on you lot but i didnt, we have have to keep moving forward as a team together.
N you missed out ross's penalty save you had a great game rossco.
Sunday different game high stakes great party, with my boys carnt wait.
Ahhh Mr. Worrall I presume
Well it didn't really take a genius to realize it would have been you, Dazza, the long ball games number one supporter.
If you weren't so mild natured and fortunate enough to be seen by myself as one of the lads i'd have had to consider ripping your head clean off.
Lets not be silly Dazzle, the long ball game sucks. You simply bypass the whole team in a vain attempt to put someone through. We play 4-4-2 not 5-0-5.
I do run a tight ship Dazza and I rule with an iron fist. Everyone knows this. You do something good, I praise you. You fuck up and I'm on your case. I do all I can to ensure we win. Do my job for Steve and team. When its going bad, Steve turns to me for the answers, unfortunately Daz the shit rolls down and I look to the players for answers. Long balls aren't the answers I'm looking for.
You may find this chart helpful.
1st fuck up in a game - no problems, a mistake, lets move on.
2nd fuck up in a game - I'm getting angry
3rd fuck up in a game - We're having words
This is your captain’s long ball commandment. When the long ball is on, play it. But if you fuck it up and I am stood right next to you, then, you're in for a coating my son.
Fiss - unforgiving and ruthless
PS- Nice effort to gain an ally Dazza
"dont think you should prevent the likes of scholsey trying to be creative with long passing"
The long ball commandment stands, regardless of the player.
No need for "head ripping
No need for "head ripping off" jibe fissle pal. Not a long ball fan. You misunderstood again. George and Carey in particular expanded on what i was trying to say and put it better than i did. "Long ball commandment" made me giggle, i'll bare it in mind. Dont take things personally mate i think your a great captain, on and off pitch, but you dont need to have words when i fuck up a pass or make wrong choice. Nuff said on this topic i think.
Ps Soz for confusion of who wrote comment, wasn't meant.
In fairness Fiss pal I do
In fairness Fiss pal I do play a few long balls but 7 times out of 10 they come off and we go through but you know that if I mess up and you are stood there then first thing I do is hold my hands up and apologise to yourself and George.
I can understand the long ball punts when players at the back are under pressure which most of the time they are but I do agree that when defenders have the ball most of the time the midfielders are there screaming for it as your out lets.
In my opinion I think the long ball does work but only when the easy options aren't on or the long ball is blatantly the best option as it puts someone clean in on goal.
The debate rages on ...
I'm indifferent about the passing style although many simple balls are missed, we do have a tendancy to panic as a team and go long. The key, as George has rightly said is for the team to be on the move and asking for the ball - you'd never need to go long then!?
Just out of interest, where have our goals come from this season?? Through the middle, out wide and then centering the ball, defensive errors, long range efforts, counter attacks?
I agree with George and Andy
I agree with George and Andy on this. In an ideal world we play short passes, one-twos, passing around their team like Arsenal. What happens often is players don't move for you, so its either take on a player, try a risky short pass or go long.
Going long is favoured because the other two options are more risky. Putting pressure on players to make the short pass also causes indecision if there are no short passes on - in this situation players get caught in possession.
We should work on it - do more one/two touch pass and move stuff in training to encourage moving off the ball.
I wouldn't even say it's
I wouldn't even say it's something you can work on it training cause most of the time it's not always easy to transfer it too the pitch.
The difference is that Arsenal and teams that do pass and move are sides that win things, even local Saturday sides don't always pass and move as it's the personnel that the team process.
I don't understand why we're having this discussion anyway as we have won 9 out of 10 games so whatever so are doing it does work. I would have to say it is certain players that do tend to do the long ball but if you have ever played in defence sometimes that is the only option.
Lets put that one to bed
Lets put that subject to bed and play our favourite ratings game just to start a few more debates!
Ross 7 - Not alot to do, did nothing wrong
Chopper 6 - Again not really tested defensively, not much happened up front either
Neil 5 - Few air shots and the goal, not his best game.
Andy Mac 7 - Sound
Steve Mac 7 - rock solid
Scholesy 6 - Neither good or bad
Dance Mat 5 - carrying a knock i think, quiet.
George 5 - By his own admission, average.
Fiss 6 - Ball by-passed midfield alot.
Sean 6 - worked hard, couple of bad misses, crucial goal stolen from the right midfielder!!
Wes 6 - Not much of an impact
Team 6 - Poor performance, it happens.
Ratings Game
Good plan mate, just what we need before the weekend's huge game a bit of a confidence boost!! oh go on then fuck it!! honesty is always the best policy!!
Rosco P. 7.5 - did everything that was asked of him saved a pen and pulled us out the shit with assist for seano's goal.(long ball debate anyone??)
Clarky. 6 - solid second half, too much vocal critisism for me in the first half, which affected the whole team.
Andy Mac. 6.25 - solid enough if out muscled once or twice albeit unfairly, ref gave very little tho.
Steve Mac. 6.75 - very solid, crucial covering block in the second half
Scholesy. 6.5 - composed and tried to use the ball always, decent game in both positions i thought(pen miss aside!), good pass to open up their defence for our first.
Neil. 5 - never settled into his usual rythm, allowed a few big mistakes to affect concentration.
Merce. 6 - game stifled by very poor linesman.
Me. Big fat 0. - fucking terrible!! still gutted now.
Fiss. 6.5 - Involved in anything any good, not enough good things happened invariably the game passed midfield by.
Dance Mat. 5 - cant remember any involvement very quiet game by recent standards.
Seano. 6 - missed a couple of sitters, but persistance and fantastic work ethic to be in a goal scoring position got us the winner.
Wez. 6 - showed more than last week, good involvement when introduced.
Just didn't turn up for the first half (no-one more than myself!!) on Sunday boy's and by the time we did their tails were up which made it far more difficult than it should have been. Poor performance that should be put firmly to bed chaps. Lets move on and take the positives out. Decent fighting spirit shown in the second half, to grind out a victory and pull it from the fire..... we'll be much better on Sunday, of that I have no doubt!! to be fair we will have to be!! Thought Ross was probably the most deserving of Motm, Kept us in a game made difficult by ourselves with the penalty save, and gave us the chance to win it... Roll on Sunday, where we can right some wrongs, and finish the season on a high note!!....Peace and Love man;-)
Ratings Game My Favourite Part !!!!!
Casilas Solid and resolute my mom 7
Gollum not ur best pal put it to bed 4
Chopper good enuf when needed carnt do more than that 6
A Maccavenie 6.5 good in air. let himself get rettled 6
s Mcilroy found wanting a bit in some areas but stil solid 6
Braveheart you wernt that bad just not your usual standard 5
Skipper tried his best to get sent off but tried to get involved with the game. 6.5
Dance mat injured my fault you shouldnt have started pal 4
mercer not his best game allowed himself to get riled 5
Shaun good running mist a few tho but did score the winner 6
scholsey better when up front started to unlock them 6.25 wont mention the pen.
Wez thought did ok wen he game on needs fitness 5.5
lets forget and move on lads big game sunday only a win will do so as i say HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT IT!!! ITS DOWN TO YOU. GO OUT THERE AND MAKE ME PROUD
pics
just a quick 1 for carey wen ru putting the pics up from sunday pal?
Alright lads speaking to
Alright lads speaking to Ross last night got an idea to make Sunday a little bit more entertaining. I've done it before and it's quite good fun. Put dares into envelopes and everyone picks out there dare for the do. Don't worry the dares aren't rude, degrading or anything that no one would ever dare to do they are just humorous and fun. Some of the dares are simple but if you pick out the difficult one then thats where the amusement starts.
Let us know if your up for this lads could it is just summit else that we could do to bond the side etc...if your all up for it I'll do the envelopes tomorrow.
Scholes pal.........
Listen mate, someone really needs to introduce you to drugs.
Fiss