The Pre-Game: A ride-through-Michigan day (on Suzanne’s birthday no less….I’m certain she could have found better ways to spend her day). I was off with Kevin for a tennis invitational (wake up time: 5:20 am); Suzanne back home with Fric and Frac…..and Matthew’s game is at 3 pm in Dearborn.
The tennis is up near Pontiac…..Kevin is actually done at 1 pm (more on this later!) and is able to come with me instead of heading back to home with the team. The football (at home) starts at 12:30 so Matthew will have to leave at halftime to make it to soccer, and most likely will be there a little late.
Football game starts late; Matthew leaves late (not without a last minute plea from Matthew and coaches to stay through half-time and at least take the kick-off). There is an accident on the way; redirect Suzanne around it but the GPS takes her onto one of the local roads (not the way I would have gone) and she is stuck in red light after red light. Matthew arrives 5 minutes after kickoff
The Game:
(the boy was actually rubbing his chest after taking this ball….we’re not sure if he lost his breath or if it really hurt or what….afterwards he said it was no big deal)
Wasn’t sure what to expect here…the team we were playing had won their first two games. BUT, I think we should have won comfortably and we did…even though there was still some trying-to-get-the-boys-playing-the-way-the-coach-wants-adventures.
This boy at least provided Mom with a good day of soccer to offset the crummy driving/stress parts of the day. Came on midway through the first half at attacking center-mid….I like that he is playing here some, he is moving well without the ball and getting open. Not many chances with the ball though and I’m not sure why…probably just random chance more than anything.
Spend the second half (except for 2 seconds at the end) at center back. And did very well back here, especially on the offensive part of his defensive position. Made several runs forward with the ball and in support and was in front of the goal and got a foot on a cross to (accidentally) tip it along to his teammate for the second goal (he gets an assist for this touch…but he and everyone knows he wasn’t trying to pass it along there…oh well).
Was making a run with the ball very late in the game and was coming up on midfield when a player on the other team fouls him. Fouls him hard and cheaply, right to the calf, Matthew goes down and stays down and is moving his other leg back and forth and we know he is in a lot of pain. Learn later that the kid who did it got a yellow card; the other coach yelled at his kid “just grab his jersey, you don’t need to hurt a kid like that”. Matthew hobbles off, and they restart and 2 seconds later the game is over.
Coach Stu comes over as Matthew is limping his way over to me and tells me a) the coach’s words above and b) that Matthew, as typed above, had a pretty good second half. Matthew, happily, wasn’t limping at all very late Saturday evening.
Coach Stu Says:
| 1ST HALF SUMMARY: |
| The boys started off fantastically with the boys keeping the ball calmly and swinging the ball across the back line! I was very pleased that the boys played the right way despite the conditions of the field and the way in which the opposition started. We expected them to play a little direct and put us under pressure and we dealt with it really well! A few times we took a little long to swing the ball and the forward-backwards-forwards passes were not sharp enough! However the ideas were there and the boys never really panicked with the ball. I discussed a few learning outcomes before the start of the game and it was clear to see that the boys where trying to implement a style of play! I would say there were a few times when we lost the ball and we didn’t transition quickly enough to win it back. Although I want us to be calm on the ball I want the steel and tenacity to win it back when we lose it! |
| 2ND HALF SUMMARY: |
| We were much more direct in the final third which again is the style we want to implement! We have talked about building through the back. I want the boys to be “choosing to go the way you face” in the middle third and continue “being direct in the final third” (unless it isn’t on then start again!) And we got two really good chances before we scored; we looked to form quick combos to open up the passing lanes to find the strikers and wingers in space, this was pleasing to see the ideas turn into play. Then we got the goal we deserved when we played the strikers’ feet and he span in and punished the opposition. We made this happen because we swung the ball and stretched the opposition! We did not have it completely all our way. We were a little sloppy in playing the ball back a few times and gave the opposition a few good chances that our goalkeeper saved us! Then we scored a goal of true beauty! A perfect counter attack from the center-back out to the winger who then crossed back for the center-back and striker to get to and score! This is the type of fluidity I expect to see more of and it was a moment that I could stop and take a little smile to myself! |
| OVERALL: |
| Pleased with the overall performances! A few players switch off a little when we don’t play at a fast tempo for the whole games but I want us to be calm in possession and work aggressively to win it back! A few players still shy away from the ball and we need 11 players that want the ball all the time to be able to implement our style of play! |
| Goalkeeper: Good solid display! Got a little quieter towards the end of the each half and need to make sure that you are always focused and engaged with the team! |
| Defenders: Good defensively and spaced us out well to play good soccer. Need to be able to do things quicker as we gave away the ball a few times in positions that cost us! |
| Midfielders: Very calm and the movement was sharp and fantastic. Still need to be more creative in the final third however it is starting to take shape! |
| Forwards: Good movement and finished chances off well! Need to make sure that we are more available to feet but also play the ball back and spin in behind more, use your athleticism in that final third! |
