From The Sports Desk – League Game #3

Ok, first off, I messed up the order – Windsor was #4, SCOR was #3.  Oops

I think we are much better this spring; some teams are better, some are worse as well.  And I think this opponent, SCOR, Soccer Club of Rockford, is also better (I know this, they have scored almost twice of many goals so far this Spring than they did all of last Fall).  But I thought we would win pretty easily.

Not so much. We won 5-4 but man, was it a struggle to get there.  That’s twice in two games (Vardar Red and now SCOR) that we’ve scored late to win.  And, again, last Fall I think we wouldn’t have been able to do that, for whatever reason.

(After a SCOR turnover, in stoppage time, there’s Matthew with the ball in the middle of the field.  Good things always happen when he is in this spot and he delivered the ball to the guy streaking up the right side for the goal to take the lead).

So.  The first half is kind of quiet. We score on a penalty kick that their coach certainly didn’t agree with and our coach seemed to agree with him (looking at the video it seems like the right call to me!) and then they get a penalty kick of their own a few minutes later.  Some kids on our team have the very bad habit of swinging, and missing, balls and I think that is damned near inexcusable at this age.  Anyway, 1-1 at the half.

Second half starts and we come out in a 3-5-2 formation.  Me, and the other soccer dads who understand the sport a little, are almost stunned.  I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen this team in a different formation, and usually it is a very minor switch, from our 4-2-3-1 to a 4-4-2.  Usually, a 3-5-2 is when you are behind and need goals.  But here we are, throwing caution to the wind!

And for 10 minutes in the second half we bury with them with offensive pressure and Matthew has two great shots on goal but doesn’t score and we are still tied 1-1.   And they get a goal on a breakaway and it is 2-1 them.  And they get another goal on a breakaway and it is 3-1 them. 

Now, I still think our defense has GOT to do better than that…..all they had to do was get the ball outside and away from the kid and they didn’t.  And if this had happened last fall I am sure it would have been game over.  We would have folded the tent and played out the game and went home.

So we’re still controlling things and there are 15 minutes to go and it is still 3-1 them.  And we score.  And score again, it is tied.  And they score, again, on a breakaway that again I will say I wonder just what the heck our defense is doing during these moments.   But, with about a minute left we score to tie it and everyone in the stands is saying that leaving here a tie is a good result.  And then that SCOR kid turns the ball over right to Matthew, and two touches of the ball later he plays the ball in front of Johnny and he blows it past the goalie for the winner.

What a strange game!

(the standings, as of right now.   While we are 2nd on points we have played less games.  We are basically two games up on Windsor since we win the head-to-head tiebreaker and Vardar South would still be 2 pts back if we lose to them.  They are the next game….that’s a big one)

TEAM: 02 Boys Blue VS Scor 02 Boys

RESULT: Won 5 - 4

ATTACKING

ATTACKING STRENGTHS

As the game developed we created a number of clear-cut chances. When 3 1 down the boys remained positive. We had two centre forwards making positive runs into space and they made things happen for us. With #6, #8 and #10 in support, we took our chances showing how ruthless and clinical this team can be.

ATTACKING CHALLENGES

During the first half in particular, SCOR were playing with 3 centre backs and this made it difficult to penetrate in forward areas. Second half I changed the formation and put 2 players up front who acted as two #9s. This provided us with many more attacking opportunities. In the end the pressure was too much for SCOR.

DEFENDING

DEFENDING STRENGTHS

I thought the strength and fitness we showed to really push for goals in this game was great to see. When defending high up the field during the first half we were not as effective. But, for the final 20 minutes, we pressed with numbers and forced the opposition into making decisions they didn’t want to make.

DEFENDING CHALLENGES

#32 was a handful and he really impressed me with the goals he scored. Every mistake we made, he punished us with some excellent finishes. Felt the boys lost too many 50/50 challenges. Need to be more aggressive, at times I feel we are a soft touch when it comes to the physical side of the game.

OVERALL COMMENTS

Crazy game, scored a pen that wasn’t a pen. Then we gave the ball away in our defensive zones, which resulted in a giving them an avoidable penalty kick. At half time, we changed things around to 3 5 2. The reason for this was to get closer support to our #9 who had 3 players on him for the majority of the half. We started the half well, creating two clear-cut chances. But, lacked concentration and discipline at the back and conceded two sloppy goals. Credit to the boys for digging in a showing great desire to get back in the game. Two well worked goals, made it 3 3. Just as we all started to think the game is there to be won. We conceded a fourth goal. At this point, I felt a tie was a good result and with very little time left we had to push hard. To win the second game in 2 days this late on, is really pleasing. This shows, spirit, character and belief in what we are trying to achieve this season.

From The Sports Desk – League Game #4

Windsor.  We played them fall and spring last year.  They are very good.  In fact…..

They are third-ranked in Michigan good.   Apparently they are an all-star team from the rec leagues in Windsor and because they, well, aren’t in Michigan, they have to work their way up the Michigan Premier League to their proper ‘place’.  They stomped through a lower league in the fall and are, like us, in Premier 2 hoping to win (or possibly finish 2nd in) the league and be promoted to Premier 1.  So my expectations were set pretty low for this game.

And we won 3-0.  And it wasn’t particularly close either.  Click to view (not my best video outing; forgot the tripod!)

(absolutely positively have to start bringing the nice camera to some of these games and have Suzanne take 5 to 10 pictures of each boy each game.  These pictures from video stink)

I know this after this game:  our last coach, while a good guy, could not coach.  Just did not make many changes to line-up or formation.  As I’ve ranted about here, had his kids that he liked to play in his positions and didn’t really deviate from that and if we won, we won, and if we lost, that was that.  Our new coach has not been afraid to change things up and in this game particularly moved some of our team speed up front, instead of in back, and it paid off handsomely.

Matthew was the attacking center mid again today and did ok but was completely dwarfed by the easily 6’ holding center mid of the other team.  Just a very bad physical mismatch for Matthew and they ended up switching him out of there later in the game.  He played ok….and I thought there was a stretch where we really looked bad and gave up corner kick after corner kick that the team really missed his head and physical play.  Oh well.

TEAM: 02 Boys Blue VS Windsor 02 Nationals

RESULT: Won 3-0

ATTACKING

ATTACKING STRENGTHS

Throughout the game the boys showed great desire to attack and played some excellent balls towards our #9, #11 and #7. We played to feet and also played some great through balls. Attackers forced their back line into making unnecessary mistake and we literally beat them down during every single minute of the game. This then allowed the team to dominate and cruise for the final 20 minutes. Great stuff.

ATTACKING CHALLENGES

There two centre backs were strong and quick but our forwards did a fantastic job in looking after the ball, and building play before sliding balls through towards positive attacking positions. We took our chances when they came along during the important periods of the game.

DEFENDING

DEFENDING STRENGTHS

The spirit and togetherness displayed today was really pleasing. We were under pressure for around 15 minutes in the first half and it took a team effort to fight through that period. The attitude and work rate was perfect today. We are setting a high standard for ourselves.

DEFENDING CHALLENGES

Corners kicks and free kicks were Windsor’s main goal threat. #5 was very powerful in the air and I was pleased we fought through the spell of pressure they had in the first half. During half time I highlighted the importance of not giving free kicks or corner kicks away. We did great in the second half and in general gave away very few chances.

OVERALL COMMENTS

Defending corner kicks and free kicks has to improve. We start by marking a player, but then take our eye of him a watch the ball. We must be brave and attack the aerial ball when traveling to our area. At the same time keep an eye on the player you are marking. We rode our luck, but we certainly deserved a bit of luck. Every position competed with high levels of aggression, once in possession we made good positive decisions on the ball and created plenty of chances. Players showed a willingness to get forward and also worked hard to fall back into shape and defend. Really impressed. Let’s now focus on our state cup game on Sunday.

Kevin’s Bands of the Week

Kevin and I traded Bands of the Week for most of his first year away.  I wanted to take the time to go back and document some of that and, more importantly, remember what I liked so that I could add it our library.  And listen to bands I’ve forgotten one more time before leaving them behind.

Francis and The Lights – I liked this

Woodkid – Really like this; Baltimore’s Fireflies might be one of the best songs I’ve heard this year!

Goldfish – I don’t remember them so I must not have liked them.

Noisettes – Liked this

Hozier – Kevin suggested this way before his album came out; I made him wait for me to listen to it until the album came out.  Liked it, but, the song is way overplayed now.

Lindsey Stirling – Liked this so much I was going to go see them in concert with Kevin.   Missed it to get to Pittsburgh….

I gave him Sleeper Agent; I need to go back and listen to them again (I’ve given him other things but they aren’t new and aren’t worth mentioning here)

Crystal Fighters – Dad says “Do not like.  Listened to three songs.  Moving on.”

Tunng – Need to listen to this again since I have completely forgotten them.

Zeus – I gave this to Kevin and the albums are on Amazon Prime; this is more of a reminder for me to go buy them.

Electric Guest – From Kevin; I liked it but can’t remember it at all right now.

Florrie – I can’t find my comments about them; must have told Kevin on the phone.  Don’t remember them so that must not be good.

One Direction – Kevin has several texts telling me I’ll really like the new 1D album because it is 70s/80s inspired.  I never did listen to it.  BECAUSE IT IS 1D!

The Hoosiers – I liked them but can’t remember them right now to save my life.

LP – Again, I need to listen to this again.  Just can’t remember it.

Yuna – Liked this; will need to purchase it

twinsmith – This is a recent me-to-Kevin band and they only have one song out BUT Kevin and I both like it so we’ll have to scout the album out soon

I forgot Kevin and I also traded some bands on Facebook Messenger

Garfunkel & Oates – I still think I’ll burn in hell for listening to the one song BUT it was pretty funny.  Not a big fan of everything else.  Kevin went and saw them in concert last Fall.

From The Sports Desk – League Game #2

We are slowly making our way through the Vardar Soccer Club this spring; lost to their A team 3-0 last Thursday.  Play their B team, Vardar Red, today.  Play their affiliate, Vardar South, later this year.

Anyway, we played these guys last Fall and won 4-1 (Matthew had a goal) and I’m hoping we come out and just control this game like I think this group of boys needs to start doing.

Not so much.  We win 2-0 but we score the two goals in the last 5 minutes.

(we always like when Matthew is in the middle of the field with the ball; here, he has worked his way past the four kids behind him and the kid closest to him is about to foul him from behind for the free kick)

The bright side?  Last year we lose or tie this game…..because we, I guess, are 12-13 year old boys we play, a lot, to the level of our opponents.  And the other team did some different things to negate our strengths.  I guess the good news is our new coach seems much more willing to switch things up on the fly in response to the other team’s actions and we did pull it out in the end.

Will give Matthew high marks for his work in this game.  Thought the boy worked hard and helped to get his team into some very advantageous positions.  Still playing, when he is in the game, the #10, the attacking center mid.

TEAM: 02 Boys blue VS Vardar MI RED

RESULT: Won 2 0

ATTACKING

ATTACKING STRENGTHS

The determination we showed towards the end of the game. We continued to get players forward, created a couple of half chances and whipped in a couple of dangerous balls in to the box.

ATTACKING CHALLENGES

Exploiting the sweeper that Vardar Red had. With 1 v 1 situations in the wide areas, we had to find away to use this situation to move the sweeper out of position. They had a deep line, which meant clever build up play was needed to draw the opponent out of position. We showed some good examples of this, but didn’t do enough.

DEFENDING

DEFENDING STRENGTHS

I thought the two centre backs were defensively sound today. #4 and #5 (the outside defenders) were left exposed during the final 15 minutes as we pushed to win the game. But I felt they defended well and I was pleased for them and our #1 that we kept a clean sheet.

DEFENDING CHALLENGES

Vardar Red played with two strikers for much of the game which meant the #4 and #5 needed the #6 to hold and screen as well as the #3 and #2 to tuck in and outnumber the pair of strikers. As I said previously, we left the #4 and #5 exposed and I was disappointed with the way we defended as a team today.

OVERALL COMMENTS

Today I felt the team started poorly. We sat back and invited pressure towards us and struggled to connect passes together as a team. I think Thursday evening’s efforts contributed to the slow start and the first half was certainly a difficult watch. However, credit must go to the players, they found a way to win the game late on and this could prove to be a very important win. During the game I felt the effort was there but It was one of those games were our best efforts were simply not good enough and to reflect on the game and see a 2 0 score line in our favour, we can count ourselves lucky.

From The Sports Desk – State Cup Game #2

I’d like to think I’m one of the parents on the sidelines who understands what is going on with our team the best.  So, when the State Cup Brackets came up months ago it was a big disappointment…..we were placed with the 2nd seeded team and the chance of winning our group was essentially nil.  We did look to be the 2nd best team in the group and so, if we could just take care of business against the other two teams and not get hammered by Vardar, well, we might have a decent shot at a wild card slot.  And that would be a big deal for this team.

 

(click for the video…although there aren’t many highlights)

We lost 3-0.  It could have been a lot worse.  It could have been a lot better.

The formation:  we came out bunkered in; we surrendered possession to them and kept 11 kids behind the ball and hoped to hold on.  And it worked.  And it got our parents upset and I had to have words with one of them because THAT’S WHAT WE NEEDED TO BE DOING.  We came out of our shell in the second half; gave up more chances, but, got a few ourselves. 

The effort:  Thought the boys played well as a group and did exactly what their coach wanted them do and responded well to the changes

The goals:  But the goals against were stupid stupid STUPID.  Goal #1 was a cross to the far side of the box and not one of the three players over there was goalside of that player….and it is an easy goal.  The second goal was a sweet misdirection of a header off another cross BUT that cross should never have happened because one of our kids forgot to mark the guy and gave him the easy cross.  And the third was a corner kick that bounced and bounced and none of our kids moved towards.  Sigh

Thought Matthew played well….he is the #10 in the formation, the attacking center mid, and did exactly what his coach wanted him to do.  As the game report says:

DATE: 4/23

TEAM: 02 Boys Blue VS Vardar 02

RESULT: Lost 3 0

ATTACKING STRENGTHS

A difficult game to identify any sort of attacking strength but I was pleased with some of the moments where we intercepted the ball and sprung a counter attack. We created two clear opportunities and against teams like Vardar, we must be clinical and take these moments in front of goal.

ATTACKING CHALLENGES

We found it tough to maintain possession and we had to take care of the ball and find our #9 who was our only real outlet. When we were deep and defending in our own half we had a great outlet option, but struggled to connect effectively. This meant the ball came straight back and we had to show defensive organization.

DEFENDING STRENGTHS

Shape was fantastic, we forced Vardar sideways and this shows that #6, #8, #10 were doing their job defensively. As we forced Vardar wide, the #7 & #11 were protecting the #2 & #3. But, we didn’t stop them serving into the box. We displayed good shape and forced them sideways and backwards but allowed them time and space to cross the ball in dangerous areas. They scored three goals from crosses, 2 in open play and 1 corner kick.

DEFENDING CHALLENGES

We had to show spirit, togetherness and work tremendously hard to stay in the game. Shape and discipline to play in a different style than usual was performed well, and I was delighted with the work rate. We have to defend crosses better than what we did tonight, firstly, stop the cross and secondly, make sure we hold a good line and protect the goal. We were caught flat-footed for all three goals. Higher levels of concentration and communication will help us avoid these situations.

OVERALL COMMENTS

The boys stuck to the game plan, which was slightly negative, but I felt this was the way we had to play in order to salvage a result. Our #9 was isolated so we relied on him to hold the ball up when building out the back. If our #9 held the ball up, then this allowed us to support gradually with numbers. Our defensive shape was good, #6, #8, #10 were asked to hold and sit in front of the back four and stop Vardar from penetrating through forward central gaps. We achieved this and I was delighted with the performance. #7 and #11 had to hold and allow their right and left back time and space (unless in crossing position). There instruction was to read the game and look to pinch square balls played by the opposition. We stole a couple and countered on a few occasions. Tough game for the boys but, the understanding of the tactics for this game was pleasing to see, we looked tough to break down and well organized.