Goodfellas 3 - 0 J- Leaguers: New Boys Open Account with 100% start to the season.
First off before I get into all the match details, I would like to say that is was a great performance by everyone on Saturday - On and off the pitch. I was very pleased to see the level of commitment and support shown by the team for the team. For me personally, it was a day that brought back some good memories of what it means playing for the Fellas and I for one, am looking forward to the day when I am able to get back to full fitness and back on the pitch with all you boys.
As for the match itself - A new Season, A new League, A new Kick-Off time and also some new faces on the team. On a day when there were so many things that were new to the Fellas, the only things that we were familiar with; were probably a) the all important ICE_BOX and b)our opponents – the J-leaguers, who we have played before on several occasions in freindlies. Our results against them in the past were something the Fellas were hoping to forget. The message the Fellas wanted to send to our good old friend Yuko’s team and the rest of the league was that ‘we belong here’.
As to the start of every season – the Fellas signed up and even showed up in numbers. A good thing –particularly on a very very very HOT day like it was on Saturday and A norm that I hope we can set for the entire season. I got to the pitch about 10 minutes before Kick-Off and the Fellas were all ‘kitted-up’, doing their ‘stretches’ and running some ‘warm-up drills’. Another norm that I hope we can set for the rest of the season.
As per Goodfellas tradition, just before kick-off- the team was gathered in to discuss strategy and starting line-up and I can confidently say that it was this moment that ‘won us the match’. I gave everyone the exceptional motivational speech followed by a quick word by Howard (not sure how important or motivational that was).
Jokes aside – it was seriously this moment that proved to be the vital part of the win as it was then that Howard told everyone that we would go with the 4-5-1 formation. A formation that worked out quite well for us at the end. Firstly, it made it very hard for our opponents to break us down and that was shown by the very few number of chances that they had on our goal. The 5 man midfield meant that there would be less ground to cover for each mid-fielder – clearly shown by Pepp’s performance.
The starting line-up:
GK: Andy
DEF R-L: Jase, Bear, Darryl, Chi Wai
MID: R- L: Koh, Howard, Doug, Shaka, Peps
Forward: Hans
Bench: Pete, Jerry, Jason K, Age & Henry L
The opening 15 mins of the first half perhaps we paid a little too much respect to our opponents and were a little overawed playing in a new league. We found it a little difficult to keep the ball and were not able to get our passing game going. However, we did very well to absorb all the pressure from our opponents and a special mention to our defense, the dealt with all the ‘crosses’ and ‘high balls’ with ease, or at least it looked that way from the sidelines. Clear cut chances were far few in between but one play that did stand out involved some crsip passing between Shakka, Doug, Koh and Jase on the right wing which ended up with a through ball from Jase to Hans whose shot was just wide.
The half ended 0-0.
The second half continued with the Fellas packing 9 bodies in its own halfallowing Yuko's boys to joga and long ball as they pleased. But with 3 central midfielders crowding them out, their juggling and crossing ended up with their players getting caught offsides or our players shutting them down. The plan to play the counter-attack started to work after our central midfielders finally calmed their nerves and found their legs. GF's first Legal League goal came courtesy of a groundball to Hans who took it wide and then shot at the far post. The second goal was the result of neat passing between Shaka and Pete on the left wing, with Pete threading a through ball for Jerry who closed in from the right wing, rounded their keeper, and slotted home. The third goal was a clearance from Chi Wai, with Pete chasing it down and shooting at an empty goal as their keeper was caught stranded near the center circle.
Everyone put in a great performance but a special mention to:
1) Andy – for not doing much for most of the game
2) Henry L – for showing up with kit even though not part of the 15 man squad. And did end up getting a game- so a good example set for all those out there who would sign up but don’t make the squad of 15 – if you show, you might just get a game.
3) Chi Wai- for doing a great job at Left Back, Center Back, Right Back, Mid-Field and pretty much everywhere else on the pitch. Wonderful attitude to the game. Head down and doing what was required of him, if not more. A great support to everyone on the pitch- something we can all learn from.
4) Defense: - for keeping a clean sheet – icing on the cake.
5) WAGS- Mrs. Hinds, Mrs. Wong, future Mrs. Knight (?), for baking in the sun with the Fellas
6) Doug's boy, Steven (Peter) G, B-dawg and G-dawg for supporting the team without playing.
On the whole - a great way to begin the season. We could not have asked for a better start and believe it or not, the final score line was much deserved and fair. More importantly, I can confidently say that it was not only the 11 men on the field or the squad of 15 that brought home the victory – each and every person that showed up at the pitch contributed for the win.
The big question now on everyone’s mind – Can the Goodfellas keep this up? Not trying to be over-confident or getting ahead of ourselves – but if we can show the commitment like we did on Saturday and play every game like it is our first game of the season – then there should be no reason why we can’t put in performances like this week in-week out.
I am not going to take anything away from the boys- GREAT WORK and I am looking forward to seeing you guys play next Saturday.
