Eddie Chan Team Ball Suckers 0 Revolution 3 (HT: 0-0) A squad of 14 Fellas showed up on a hot Saturday afternoon to take a collective (and individual) 90 minute nap, save for a 15 minute spell in the beginning of the 2nd half. Not bad enough to merit a 3-0 defeat, but not up to standard. First half We lined up 4-5-1 with a number of Legal League debuts. Andy in goal, Ikes, Parker, Bear and Eddie from L to R along the back, Justin, Howard and David in the middle, Garrow on the left, Jason Li on the right and Peps up top. We started the game with instructions to sit tight and patiently defend and attack on the counter. Aside from a few hairy moments, it was a pretty uneventful first half. Shots rained in on Andy's goal from outside the box but despite encouraging the opposition, few were actually on target. There was a moment when Andy paused a fraction long before putting both his hands on the ball on the ground just before a striker kicked it out of his hands and passed into the net, but the referee (rightly) disallowed it for the foul. Meanwhile, we spent most of the half booting meaningless long balls up top interspersed with the odd flick on and run down the left channel. Justin, realising he only has half a season to decorate his Goodfellas disciplinary record with, scythed down an opposition player to prevent him from running free on goal and duly collected a yellow card. Both with and without the ball, we were at sixes and sevens, with little running and conviction to make any real impression. Half time talk: - Midfield not winning the ball but even so, rest of team and especially flanks, not providing any support by running off the ball. Need ppl moving and not watching. - Play ball out of defence a bit more rather than long/direct ball tactics. Use the flanks, who in turn need to start running (see above). - Stop sucking balls. Second half Single change with Cedric on for Peps as striker. First 15 minutes were encouraging, with more drive from the Fellas, the flanks started running, and we started spreading the ball and finally caused them real problems. Cedric's running and presence helped keep the ball in their half for prolonged attacks, and some nice running and play from Justin and Garrow, and we were finally getting into the final third, but the final ball and lack of composure (especially from *ahem* yours truly) let us down. Unfortunately, they got a good break when the Fellas defence was slow in reacting to a ball in from the left that gave their striker a clear chance in the box. Andy did well to get down and save at point blank, only for luck to desert him as the ball rebounded right onto the striker's left foot and was duly flicked into the net from a few yards out. 0-1. Very unlucky for Andy. Cue naptime. Play became more frantic and the Fellas were being pulled all over the place whether covering for someone, playing out of position or a combination of both. Thariq on for Garrow. Their second was scored from a sweet turn on the left corner of the penalty box, and a great shot that Andy got a hand to but had no chance preventing it from settling inside the far post. 0-2. Can't remember too much what happened in the build up to that goal (but maybe that speaks volumes too). Raz on for Justin in a switch to 4-4-2 with Parker thrown up front a la Robert Huth at Chelsea. More frantic play. Their third came from a freekick conceded by David's unintentional handball at the halfway line. David turned his back to the ball, they took a quick free kick, everyone fell asleep and they scored. This from the L-League website: "a cooly taken Paul Snelgrove free-kick was threaded through a napping Goodfellas defence to put Lochrie clean through on goal for the third." 0-3. Final score. Post-game Anyone seen the Manchester City v Hull City half time team talk by Phil Brown? This was better. I had this talk in mind when drafting this report. Analysis - Stop sucking balls. - Stop blaming the collective, focus on own performance. Sort of a "know thyself" thing. - More running off the ball into good positions. A lot to be said for providing support off the ball. - Decide what to do with the ball before receiving the pass. - Legal League is quicker and more aggressive. Deal with it. - See point 1.
