Alternative Euro 2004: U75 Team Needed

[Numbers]

mah sandwiches!

I was actually just about to make a sandwich Chris mate when I read that... almost made me choke on the thought of my sandwich.

 

[Relahni]

This is ridiculous, I'm getting nervous! FFS!

 

[Nou Camp]

Cheers to all the Urbanites who came and played against us (Recreativo FC) on wednesday evening in Clissold Park. A thoroughly good match, friendly but very competitive. Look forward to meeting again in the tourno and also maybe a game at yours next time. Nice one!

 

[flimsier]

At ours? Where's that?

We lost 6-2 for all those interested. We were outclassed, but better than in our last performance, and certainly took positives from the game.

There are a number of negatives, which we do need to focus on; I think its our attitude as well as our positional play, but I'll post my thoughts in more detail tomorrow.

 

[Numbers]

I can wish can't I

 

[Numbers]

Cheers to all the Urbanites who came and played against us (Recreativo FC) on wednesday evening in Clissold Park. A thoroughly good match, friendly but very competitive. Look forward to meeting again in the tourno and also maybe a game at yours next time. Nice one!

Enjoyed it too mate. we've had a half dozen training sessions but for our first game I think we done alright. I agree with flimsier tho' BUT as the great Stevie Wonder would say...

"We all know that people are the same where ever you go
There is good and bad in everyone
Learn to live, we learn to give each other
What we need to survive, together alive"

win or lose lads, we got this shit together and have come a long way since first starting out.

I for one am gonna enjoy Sunday immensely, i-feckin-mmensely, like one of the guys was saying tonight, "like minded people meeting up for some good old fun"

Your goalie
Tonie

 

[ChrisFilter]

was fun

 

[Relahni]

was fun

Agreed! But I hate fucking losing man. Fucking hate it!

But staying positive, we were much much better than only 7 days ago.

Was a little dissapointed with our "defence" in the first half. I thought it was erm - only me defending in a supposed back three. I thought we sorted who was in defence and where they would be playing before the game?

I have to hold my hands up for the third goal - I couldn't be fucked anymore - was fed up with marking 2/3 men on my own all the time. Couldn't be arsed with it.

The defence was pretty much tight as a badgers arse for the early part of the second half. But at times in the second half I thought we should have held the line a little further forward than we were. Maybe we were giving them a little bit too much respect? I politely mentioned this to LD - and!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But it's cool! Maybe we need to be a little bit more flexible in our approach - when we are 3-1 down with the clock ticking away - to have 3 in a line so deep didn't make much sense to me? A loss is a loss.

Where I think we went wrong was mentally more than anything. We played a bit panicky and I thought we were going to get dicked before we even kicked a ball. That's no good. I think it's best to approach the first game believing we can win it.

Re: long ball - it's our best option imo. We can't string passes together - it's all very nice and pretty to roll the ball out to one of the defenders if we can play two touch passing and moving etc triangles - but imo we can't play that way. I say get the ball up early. It may be a 50/50 - but I'd guess it's a 50/50 if we play through the defenders and correct me if I'm wrong but I'd rather lose possession in their half than in ours.

Mentally, I think we need to be a bit more bullish - not so panicky - it's only a fucking game - if you fuck up - which we all did - so what? As long as we try our best and stick to the plan - then there is no problems.

I'm pleased with last nights performance overall - We've hardly played together and they play in a league every week. I was impressed with Tony - great catching skills - was good to have a confident keeper who has got a bit of agression, Sleater thought was excellent in defence - LD Rudeboy was great in the second half and played even better in Hulk mode - we should wind him up some more before the game.

We know out limitations and the fact that we have two great midfielders stuck up front - but what can we do? I don't know? I thought we were possibly more of a threat up front when I pushed forward and Chris dropped to his best position.

So - in brief

Defence - tight like in second half.
Mental - positive - not so much fear - believe we can win.

 

[LDR]

Apart from my hissy fit I enjoyed the game. I think I played a lot worse than I'm capable of but I'm putting that down to the lack of sleep.

I've got a real bad pain in my ribs where I collided with Brixton Hatter. I hope I haven't cracked one. I've also got a black eye now where I stopped the ball with my face. My glasses had hit quite hard just above my eye.

I’m really looking forward to Sunday and I’m going to try and get a decent night’s sleep and not be hangover.

 

[Rollem]

hope its just bruising scott, bet the eye looks great too...bit of a bruiser looking defender aint a bad thing

gotta run (walk very fast) to a meeting, but in brief i wasnt too disheartened by last night. cheers to recreativo for the game, good to get some comeptitive play in before sunday. we've played together maybe 5 or 6 times, and each time we have improved greatly.

attitude is everythiing, as some have already said, and we had the best of them for part of the first half, imho and the defence tightening up in the second half proved friutful for nearly half an hour. i have to admit i did get annoyed that there wasnt much of a defence for the first part of the first half, but hey, voiced my opinion and got told we had to "push forward" whatever....

more later no doubt...but cheers for your performance last night lads. i was strangely proud (if i have the right to be considering i dont think i have done very much.... )

 

[sleaterkinney]

I think we've lulled them into a false sense of security. Well done lads!

 

[Rollem]

just heard form jtg that he wont be making it on sunday

 

[Numbers]

We have enough players to cover. At 7 mins each half it'll be cool.

Right then, last night.... when we play with a smile we're fine, when we start getting annoyed it falls apart. We must keep our heads up and focused even if 3, 4, 5 down.

I loved last night, thought I was a bit exposed for most of the goals, apart from the penalty. But we done extremely well, over 90 mins too.

I love being the goalie, absolutely love it gaffer.

tonie goalie

 

[Relahni]

We have enough players to cover. At 7 mins each half it'll be cool.

Right then, last night.... when we play with a smile we're fine, when we start getting annoyed it falls apart.

Cool! I'm playing up front then!!!!

Actually, I think this is our strongest line up

.............Tonio el Golio.....................

..........sleater.......LD.veryrudeboy.....

...............ringo..............................

............................Chris Filter.........

...............Relahni...........................

......................Flimsier....................

 

[LDR]

Cool! I'm playing up front then!!!!

Actually, I think this is our strongest line up

.............Tonio el Golio.....................

..........sleater.......LD.veryrudeboy.....

...............ringo..............................

............................Chris Filter.........

...............Relahni...........................

......................Flimsier....................

I like that line up.

LD.veryrudeboy indeed.

I promise I won't lose it with our team members next time.

 

[flimsier]

I said this yesterday, and I stand by it. I think that Relahni has to play at the back. Its solid when he's there. I agree that sleater looked good at the back - and he should play there, but I don't think we should make too many changes.

The above formation is very 'down the middle' It also doesn't look good in the air!

Re: the long ball. I don't think there should be a 'policy' of one of the other. Play the best ball at the time. If you can pass the ball (which has to be to feet [or head] all the time - we're not playing 11-a side where people can run onto it!) short and not lose possession, then do it. There is an argument for a long ball up to me/ filter at times though, I feel like I win over 50% of headers, and then there's a possibility of an opening for Chris.

I was disappointed with myself last night. Felt out of the play a lot, but also didn't take the chances I had, and didn't seem capable of finding as much space as I pride myself on. I did have one bloke follow me a lot, but no excuses... y'know. I'll be far better in the tournament

In midfield should be two of BH, ringo, and Chris - I can play midfield if we need to swap it around, and Chris can play up front if I am taken off...!

Shame about JTG

I really think that we need to be much more positive. We need to move to the ball. It would've been impossible to count (only got 20 digits, innit!) how many times people lost the ball because the opposition got to it first

We also need to not be scared of it. IT SHOULD NOT BOUNCE NEAR OUR GOAL! People have to head the ball, even if you're not confident it will go in the direction you expect.

With the size of the goals, no shooting from free kicks. I take all free kicks for my 11-a-side team, but I don't think I could score with a wall in those goals (no space to get it up and down, they're not that big...!

Filter to take all corners. Someone (maybe ringo/bh/ sleater) to cover relahni coming forward for them.

Not ball watching... where's your man. I think they had way too much space because we weren't tracking their players.

Tonie and Relahni were big positives from last night. Ringo in the second half too.

Great goal from Filter too!

All in all, I'm going to really enjoy this Sunday!!

 

[Numbers]

All in all, I'm going to really enjoy this Sunday!!

That's it for me too, I'm really gonna have some fun.

 

[sleaterkinney]

My Formation:

............Tony..............
...sleater........LD Rudeboy......
..........Relahni..............
...Flimsier........ChrisFilter/BrixtonHatter/Ringo........
.........ChrisFilter/Ringo.........


Chop and change as necessary

 

[flimsier]

OK, mine is

----------Tonie-------------

Sleater - Relahni - LD Rudeboy

-BH / Ringo / Filter / Flimsier- (2 positions)

----Filter/ Flimsier ---- (1 position)

Unless tiredness or moods get the better of the defence, I wouldn't sub them at all, and obviously not Tonie!

I'm glad I don't have Rollem's job!

 

[ngeru]

Well I enjoyed last night & I can see a marked improvement already. I think the team did v well considering the opposition play together weekly, & have done so for quite some time. So pat yourselves on the back guys. As people have said, there is room for improvement & there were loads of empty spaces on the field. But remember it was the first time you played on a ground that size - use it as a learning experience for Sunday.

Looking forward to big day btw! I'll do my best to make sure LDR doesn't get too messy on Sat night & that he gets up out of the right side of bed, on Sunday.

 

[Rollem]

you sure you dont want it flimiser?! >hold head as it aches<

i think i have it sussed, reckon the midfield will be where chops and changes are made each game - looking at who's in our draw, watching them play and deciding which is the strongest team against which to play our strongest team.

at present i like the folowing line up

------------tony-------------
sleaterk---------------ld stropboy
------------relahni-------------
ringo/bh/flimsier---------filter/ringo/bh
----------flimsier/filter----------


tony, no one is taking the gloves (had they not fell out of the bag) away from you.

we NEED relahni in defence. i know you get bored and frustrated there babe, but you are without a doubt our strongest defender. thought you had a great game yesterday. you command the area well, and i think you made good changes/suggetions yesterday which helped tighten up the back three. you know what you're doing there and we need that ld rudeboy, great game when you got fired up, you really know how to make a nusiance of yourself!! sleater, i know you werent sure, but you were handy in defence, very disciplined and great goal clearance!!

ringo shows real tenacious play and strength in midfield and bh makes some good runs, but often loses the ball at the end of it when a pass would prove more productive. would like to mix the two of you into one player and get perfection, apparently cloning is agaisnt the rules though

up front we have no out and out striker as we all know, but i think both flimsier and filter have attributes which make them the choice there. woud llike to see filter play a more forwrd postion, and flimsier drop back slightly to see what difference that may make? if we find ourselve 5-0 then yeah, push up relahni there too...

most prob start first game with ringo on the right and chris on the left with flimiser up front....looking to play bh on the right in the second game and perhaps swapping flimsier and filter around to test waters........but did notice yesterday that the midfield all tend to drift over toe the right hand side....something to think about perhaps?

 

[Relahni]

If I were Rollem, I'd get it a bit more organised as a unit. The defensive back three looked solid, but only 3 of the squad have the discipline to play it.
That leaves us a bit short of options.

The two midfielders - left and right have to do a lot more work if the back 3 hold their line too deep.

I'd argue that the middle one of the back three - should push forward when we are in possession and attacking and drop back to form a 3 in defence when defending. Therefore, making a 3 in midfield when in attack, which will take the heat off the middle two men and support the lone striker more.

Therefore, this leaves always 2 at the back holding it together and gives us more attacking options. Looking at the game from last night, we had isolated strikers, not much support and midfielders tracking back...

When I pushed forward we scored one and threatened more. They were more on the back foot.

Throw ins? Chris - Relahni near post flick on - Flimsier header. Corners - Relahni on keeper, chris aims for Flims head or low and hard or as throw ins. Near post flick on.

 

[Rollem]

When I pushed forward we scored one and threatened more. They were more on the back foot.

fine, but the way i see it, a quick break from them and we are left a bit light in defence whilst you track back

i am not against it, and can see the benefits, and perhaps in a 7min half its possible, but it will be a frantic pace i am assuming, and if you play just in front of the back two, not looking to push too far upfield i think we are stronger. you cant hold very position...

 

[Numbers]

I want to play tonight.

I agree with moody, I mean relahni, 3 at th eback as mentioned and the big moody one, sorry relahni pushing up when we're attacking, it just means Mr Strop and sleater getting tight.

Last night we had no midfield at times, just a big empty space. thus moody, sorry I mean relahni pushing up.

but ffs we ALL KNOW THIS - Just look at how we talk about what Sven should do on other threads.... n'mean gentlemen and of course gaffer.

I just want to make my wife proud of me, leppin' around makin' saves - and I will make some saves.

I love coming out for the ball me...

"keeper"

 

[Rollem]

Last night we had no midfield at times, just a big empty space. thus moody, sorry I mean relahni pushing up.

precisely, so why should moody, oops relahni have to do this. why not the midfield get their arses in gear and sort it out? all very well saying great, its ok, relahni can help out, but at the expense of how many goals?

>huff<

i aint trying to be rigid, just practical

 

[ChrisFilter]

precisely, so why should moody, oops relahni have to do this. why not the midfield get their arses in gear and sort it out?
>huff<

that was probably my fault last night.. but it was tricky to be a midfielder and a striker.. a lot of running.

 

[Numbers]

cos.......... when we attack, the midfield obviously are pushing forward, with the 3 guys at the back then holding position it just left a huge gap. Hoof the ball up I hear the crowd say.... we can't have 1 3rd of the pitch empty. cos that's how they were breaking. yes peeps need to track back more and I think it'll be a lot better on the day cos it'll only be 7 minutes each half, and although the pace will be good, it shouldn't be much more than last night. we only fucked up when we started getting tired and all that.

I'm sorry, but it's glaringly obvious someone has to push up and help and relahni's a better ball player, last night your man kevin was going forward and LD was off strolling as a winger, relahni was then left on his own in the middle. 2nd half when we were tighter he was able to get further more. and it was only at the end when knackered, and a penalty that they scored 3.

our heads drop too soon also, if it aint going right you don't fucking sulk, you give it your all, til the end.













easy to say as a goalie but goalies have their pressure too

 

[LDR]

I struggled with my positioning in the first half as I'm simply not used to playing defence. I’m not too good when dealing with high balls or crosses either.

Despite that I don't mind playing there as I think it's good for the team, but I feel far more comfortable in the left midfield/wing. I kept drifting out on to the wing in the first half which what I do when I play in the midfield. Once Relahni explained about staying in the middle unless there is a man on the wing, I felt a lot more comfortable. At least until he told me to push up while Tony1798 was telling me to come back. I was so confused.

Having said that I had a big night and very little sleep before the game (hence the strop), so I’m guessing I’ll play better on Sunday. Fingers crossed.

 

[Rollem]

I'm sorry, but it's glaringly obvious someone has to push up and help and relahni's a better ball player

think you misunderstand me. i am not saying i dont want relahni to push forward, of course he should at times, just not into a striker position, which happened towards the end of the game yesterday. and he needs to be able to get back to hold the defence. am all for suporting eachother, but how about the midfield dont run away from the ball. that might help

anyway, gonna step away from the keyboard now, tired and stroppy

 

[LDR]

anyway, gonna step away from the keyboard now, tired and stroppy

Save it for the game like I do.