Moving on: Unido 0-1 Maroon Kids

Twenty-five year olds just don't have the same lung capacity as those spritely-ORDed twenty year old fresh faces. It's a damning cycle: You enlist, eat well, exercise a lot, then ORD and hit the downward spiral. You end up flunking the annual IPPT (ok, so maybe its just me) and get breathless chasing that kid who glides effortlessly along.

Such was the theme of yesterday's game against a side made up of these 20-year olds.

The tactic of the day was to defend, and attack, as a team (for those who missed it, see KS's last post here. Well, we did...or at least tried to do that. Those kids were freakishly quick, and seemed not to run out of breath. They closed us down at every opportunity and didn't allow us to settle down.

Even the referee asked JQ why we were out of sorts.

Anyway, on to the match details: we managed to carve out a few opportunities, the closest being Zhiwei springing the offside trap to slot past the onrushing keeper, only to see the ball bounce agonisingly wide of the post. KS also had a clear header on goal which he put over the bar. Otherwise, our attack lacked bite, probably due to the new tactic we had adopted.

Although we were losing the midfield battle, at least it didn't translate into too many opportunities for them. Jackson was brilliant, tipping over what seemed to be certain goals, but unfortunately, near the end, he was beaten by a combination of poor marking and fortune on the opponent's end.

The defender ghosted in unmarked to score at the near post, a downward header that really, really, should not have been given away. We did try to hit back, as the urgency increased and we began stringing some passes together, but as usual, it was too little, too late.

MOTM: Jackson - for his superb saves which kept us in it and kept the score to a respectable one goal only.

Details for the match on 5th April

Venue: Yishun Ring Road blk 367

Time: 1030hrs

'Dresscode": Yellow

Opponents: NTU Hall 11

http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/travel_id_3573/travel_site_126254/

30th March 2008

hi all, this sunday's match 30 march 2008 will be at Serangoon Secondary School again

Location is as per link below.

Jersey Colour : BLUE
Time to Reach : 830am
Venue : Serangoon Secondary School
How to get there : for those of u taking buses, u can take 27 from Tampines ; and alight at the 1st stop into sengkang , switch to 136; alternatively pls make ur arrangments with KS or others to pick up at sengkang MRT.
Map : http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/travel_id_25474/travel_site

Guys can we all try to make it there earlier? We really do need time to warm up and everything.

A center back perspective and rant on the last match

well, forgive me for ranting, but there are certain issues that i think need raising, which all of us should take note of regarding the previous match...

overall, i think we did quite well, not conceding any goals... i was guilty of a couple of bloopers; think the backpass in the first half was bad, but jackson managed to redeem me.

At the end of the pitch, i think that we can't push all the blame towards the strikers for not scoring, some might argue that they are not clinical enough. But i would rather think that there is a problem with the team as well, when we are attacking. Defensively i think we learnt a lot since we first started off, but in terms of attacking as a unit we still have much to learn. When we attack, i realized we tend to just pass the ball forward and then stay in our original positions. This applies to all of us, me included. The reason why we need to move off the ball, is to provide more space for the ball, more options for the man on the ball. Soccer is not about the man on the ball, it's about the men off the ball. As a result, our strike unit, and our midfield unit and our defense units are just that units, not a team. Maybe what we should think about is not pushing the ball forward all the time, but rather moving off the ball and stroking the ball around, involving the defence and midfield and strikers in attacking.

The other rant that i have is about the time that we need to arrive for matches. I do understand that some of us do stay a distance away, and that some of our matches are early in the morning at 9am. but it gets kind of frustrating when i make an effort to arrive on time every match, only to see people turning up late, people need morning calls at 8am or 10am, and who can't be responsible enough to ask for morning calls. The last match was especially bad. We were supposed to be there at 1030 and when the referee blowed the whistle at 11am, we still didn't have enuff. I do know that we are a casual soccer team, sunday warriors if u like, group of friends who play recreationary, but there's a reason why we need to arrive early: to practise our set pieces, crosses, running off the ball and warming up, which I reckon we all dearly need. Not to say that we must always reach half an hour earlier, but trying to is better than not. What really pisses me off is the attitude that some of us have been showing towards punctuality which is quite bad.

Forgive me for ranting, but i think the team needs to talk this through a bit. As u all say, regardless of what happens we are a team, but if this is the attitude that some of us want to bring to the team, then are we still a team or just a bunch of rag-tag misfits?

Pre-Match and outing

Hey all,

Lets prepare for the up coming match...

Reuben is maybe right, I don't believe they will be push overs.

BUT we have improved leaps & bounds ourselves, we won't be easy oppositions for them.

So please rest , eat and prepare yourselves well for the match.

Next thing, Sat nite, Singapore will play Australia at the National Stadium at 730pm. Harry Kewell will be turning out for them, so I am quite keen to watch. Anyone interested to go together? Pls let me know and we can meet up for the match and dinner.

Match on 22nd March

Here are the details for the highly anticipated "we think we can thrash them but we wont" match against shangwei's team.

Venue: Yishun Ring Road BLK 367
Time: 1100-1300
Reach at : 1030am
Colour: The cursed yellow

http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/travel_id_25261/travel_site_1/

ks - ya the field is not bad played there once.. it's near Yishun ITE those driving go by Lentor then Yishun Ave 1 then Ave 6

16 MARCH MATCH SUNDAY

hi all, this sunday's match 16 march 2008 will ALSO be at Serangoon Secondary School.

Location is as per link below.

Jersey Colour : BLUE
Time to Reach : 830am
Venue : Serangoon Secondary School
How to get there : for those of u taking buses, u can take 27 from Tampines ; and alight at the 1st stop into sengkang , switch to 136; alternatively pls make ur arrangments with KS or others to pick up at sengkang MRT.
Map : http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/travel_id_25474/travel_site_1/

Sun 9am 9 March 2008

hi all, this sunday's match 9 march 2008 will be at Serangoon Secondary School. Location is as per link below.

Jersey Colour : BLUE

Time to Reach : 830am

Venue : Serangoon Secondary School

How to get there : for those of u taking buses, u can take 27 from Tampines ; and alight at the 1st stop into sengkang , switch to 136; alternatively pls make ur arrangments with KS or others to pick up at sengkang MRT.

Map : http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/travel_id_25474/travel_site_1/

btw, the place is super near alex's place, so can we come up with an agreement that if alex, our lateking is late again, maybe we could fine him, or make the game on him or lunch on him of something? those in favour say aye! =)

For love of the game

Guys,

We have been playing together for as early as 2000 for some of us... While this team has only been playing on field regular since last year, we have been with each other for at least 5 years.
I couldn't help but wonder at times, why we can't play as a team at times. This problem has been bugging me for quite a while...

I have decided give my opinions on several issues.. However, pls believe me that my intend is to get to the root of the problems and help the team move on forward.. it is not to finger point...

1. Passion for the game - No doubt everyone has their way of showing their commitments and fighting spirit during a game, but sometimes I just feel not everyone is giving their all. All referring to the focus, concentration, the hunger to win, the hunger to get the ball. I just don't feel that we want to win the game, in fact sometimes I feel we are just contended to run the game down. I know and accept that its my responsibility to inspire you guys.. hence the rentless runnings at times. Even if i know i run after a loss cause, i feel its worthy if it can inspire u all to carry on fighting.


2. Scoring goals - Yes I know it feels great to score. Everyone who plays this game knows the best feeling is to score. However, I plead with everyone to know their roles and importance. Some of you might think the scorers get all the acclaims and credits while u all do the dirty and unwanted work and don't feel appreciated.. For that, I wish to clarify this once and for all.. Some of us all stronger in certain attributes but weaker in certain aspects..for example, i know my limitations lies in my close control and shooting.. but i also know my strengths... my pt is..when we 1st started out, we place everyone in positions according to their strengths and not preferences. I feel it should be the way, otherwise where is the controlling of the game? where wld the dynamics and the potency of our team be?
You might think defenders are not as important as the strikers or the midfielders...but thats never true.. Anyone playing football week in week out can tell u, that every single position in the team is impt.. otherwise, why do we need 11 players? I firmly believe that if you strive to give ur best in whichever position you play in, u can be a hero anywhere. As for the goals, don't worry so much...if possible we try to let everyone score.. and if we manage to dominate and lead a game, we will rotate our position.. but for now, lets concentrate on our roles ok?

3. Fitness - it shouldn't be a chore guys.. I know how tiring it can get..believe me.. when i do my run every tuesday.. i feel damn slack and draggy.. but i know it will pay off for me in the future games.. Please try to keep yourself fit ..its for ur own good too..warm ups are a must,.. try to do basic stretch.. i dun want anymore injuries.. smokers.. i wun stop u but try to cut down or smoke earlier and not smoke and not do warm ups before the match..it doesn;t show unity in the sense..

4. Team Selection and substitution - I try to play everyone equally as much as possible.. but depending on the match and tactics, i have to make certain calls.. its not telling anyone that he is lousy nor is it biased on my part.. Fitness, game play, form, game attitude and linking up with team are some of the aspects that i consider... try to be understanding on this part..

5. Team spirit - We started out not knowing each other well.. but after so long together, we ought to be very close. I can say you guys are all my important friends in my social circle. The game is like a war, and you guys are my comrades. I am counting on you to watch my back, support me, help me, fight by my side. Conversely, I will be watching your back, supporting u, helping u and fight by urside. There's no point in finger pointing, blaming and passing the buck.If we lose, we lose as a team. Remind each other, advise each other, help each other.. not grunt, not blame. If you try to beat the defenders on your own, I will support you..but dun be too proud to not accept my support and try to dribble on ur own everytime.. look up, look beside.. sometimes its faster to pass den to dribble. We should work as a unit, a team.. and we must work as one.

With that I urge u all to be understanding and responsive. Stand up and be counted!

I will be looking forward to the coming games and emerge victorious!

Back to Back matches

Can i get a show of hands who's ok with playing back to back matches on the 22nd of March(sat morning) and 23rd of march(sunday)? The team we'll be up against on the 22nd is a familiar face, shangwei's team. (We whopped their assess thrice if u remember) .