A classy energetic game tonight, with all seven players fired up by the knowledge that the transfer window was closing tomorrow and the park was awash with scouts pointing their binoculars in our direction.
All seven players showed skill and determination and the match had the rivalry of a Celtic v Rangers match except, like civil wars, tonight we saw brother go against brother with Martin and Danny and Rory and Laurie on opposite sides of the fence.
Joining Martin and Laurie were Pedro and Paul. The four stroked the ball around with the consummate ease of Pele, Jairzinho, Rivelino and Carlos Alberto.
Meanwhile the brave threesome of Danny, Rory and Luke displayed the skill and determination of Jay-Jay Okocha, George Weah and Salif Keita.
Nevertheless the four won through 8-5 and man of the match goes to Laurie - watch the papers tomorrow to see if he gets picked up by Man City.
Monday, 31 August 2009
Monday, 24 August 2009
Match report 24 August 2009
A highly competitive 4v4 tonight.
With a team as packed with talent and spirit as the bibbed ones Chris, Rory, Jason and Paul, it would have been a brave man that would have predicted that they could be tamed.
Yet, step forward newcomer James, Luke, Andrew and Danny who linked as naturally as a horse and carriage, and played with the determination of a Bert Trautman injected with adrenalin.
The game came hot on the heels of the Ashes victory for England and more than one player remarked that the stats would probably have favoured the bibbed ones just as they did with Ponting's men.
Many people staked strong claims for man of the match - Luke and Andrew were like Alan Mullery and Jimmy Greenhoff; the former effective in defence and attack and the latter combining style and flair in attack, finding space and cutting through the opposition like a samurai sword through some Flora that's been left in the sun, but man of the match goes to James who showed a great footballing brain, a lethal pass, and beautifully turned defence into attack.
With a team as packed with talent and spirit as the bibbed ones Chris, Rory, Jason and Paul, it would have been a brave man that would have predicted that they could be tamed.
Yet, step forward newcomer James, Luke, Andrew and Danny who linked as naturally as a horse and carriage, and played with the determination of a Bert Trautman injected with adrenalin.
The game came hot on the heels of the Ashes victory for England and more than one player remarked that the stats would probably have favoured the bibbed ones just as they did with Ponting's men.
Many people staked strong claims for man of the match - Luke and Andrew were like Alan Mullery and Jimmy Greenhoff; the former effective in defence and attack and the latter combining style and flair in attack, finding space and cutting through the opposition like a samurai sword through some Flora that's been left in the sun, but man of the match goes to James who showed a great footballing brain, a lethal pass, and beautifully turned defence into attack.
Monday, 17 August 2009
Match Report 18 August 2009
Another great game tonight with a dozen men involved in a ding-dong tussle that ended in a 6-5 victory to the bibbed ones.
The bibless Joseph, Francesco, Guy, Nick, Ben, and Ed fought valiantly and came back from 5-3 to level at 5-5. Once more Joseph played a crucial role as a holding midfielder reminiscent of Didi Hamann, Francesco was akin to Michael Owen at his best nipping about and losing his markers with the same ease as if they had been biros in an office stationery cupboard, Guy and Nick were great new additions to the pool of players - Guy thrived in goal and Nick challenged with the tenacity of Norman Hunter and played with the footballing insight of Neil Webb, Ben once more had more energy than a Duracell battery on speed and must have covered every blade of grass and the surrounding divets on the pitch, Ed showed his usual determination and posed the type of threat in attack not seen since the days of Malcolm MacDonald.
The bibbed ones (Jason, Tim, Luke, Yusuf, Rory and Danny) displayed strength throughout. Jason showed his usual determination winning numerous 50:50s and then spreading the ball about like Gus Poyet in his prime, Tim played an effective attacking midfield role, dribbling effectively and passing with panache - onlookers would have been reminded of Ruud Gulllit, Yusuf displayed the sort of attacking flair that terrorises the opposition and scithed through the opposition like a young Jimmy Johnstone, but man of the match goes to Rory, who consistently thwarted the opposition with strong tackles and masterful interceptions, passed with the accuracy of Phil the Power Taylor when he comes to the ockey, and made incisive runs that proved vital to the success of the bibbed ones.
The bibless Joseph, Francesco, Guy, Nick, Ben, and Ed fought valiantly and came back from 5-3 to level at 5-5. Once more Joseph played a crucial role as a holding midfielder reminiscent of Didi Hamann, Francesco was akin to Michael Owen at his best nipping about and losing his markers with the same ease as if they had been biros in an office stationery cupboard, Guy and Nick were great new additions to the pool of players - Guy thrived in goal and Nick challenged with the tenacity of Norman Hunter and played with the footballing insight of Neil Webb, Ben once more had more energy than a Duracell battery on speed and must have covered every blade of grass and the surrounding divets on the pitch, Ed showed his usual determination and posed the type of threat in attack not seen since the days of Malcolm MacDonald.
The bibbed ones (Jason, Tim, Luke, Yusuf, Rory and Danny) displayed strength throughout. Jason showed his usual determination winning numerous 50:50s and then spreading the ball about like Gus Poyet in his prime, Tim played an effective attacking midfield role, dribbling effectively and passing with panache - onlookers would have been reminded of Ruud Gulllit, Yusuf displayed the sort of attacking flair that terrorises the opposition and scithed through the opposition like a young Jimmy Johnstone, but man of the match goes to Rory, who consistently thwarted the opposition with strong tackles and masterful interceptions, passed with the accuracy of Phil the Power Taylor when he comes to the ockey, and made incisive runs that proved vital to the success of the bibbed ones.
Monday, 10 August 2009
Match Report August 10, 2009
It was a highly competitive 8 players v 7 players tonight. Dennis Wise and Vinnie Jones would have watched on proud at some of the challenges, Jurgen Klinsmann would have admired the diving and Roy Keane would have loved the dissent at some of the decisions.
That said, there was the usual camaraderie afoot. In addition, there were a plethora of silky touches, great runs, and passes that could have thread the eye of the needle.
Everybody played well. Martin and David had crackers and deserve special mention, but joint men of the match were Luke and Pedro - who between them scored 8 of the goals in the 5-5 thriller.
That said, there was the usual camaraderie afoot. In addition, there were a plethora of silky touches, great runs, and passes that could have thread the eye of the needle.
Everybody played well. Martin and David had crackers and deserve special mention, but joint men of the match were Luke and Pedro - who between them scored 8 of the goals in the 5-5 thriller.
Monday, 3 August 2009
Match report 3 August 2009
It was a great 6v5 tonight. All the makings of a great game were there from the start although there are rumours that the ground staff have been fired.
For a long time the five held on against the odds, with Tim rampaging in attack and sturdy in defence, Ed owning the midfield, Martin winning all the fifty-fiftys and creating chances from all angles, and David A making runs, skillful dribbles, and sharp crosses that asked all manner of question of the other side.
At one point it was 5-4, but as Donald Trump once said:
"What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate."
And, boy did the 6 react. Each goal from the opposition, they had an answer to and eventually won 10-6. David M in the words of Tim expertly threaded the ball into dangerous positions, Ben was a midfield general with a shot that would have made Bobby Charlton proud, Graeme with immaculate positional sense started many an attack and stopped many a threat, Francesco was peerless at finding space and distributing the ball wisely, Paul constantly created problems up-front and commanded the attack, but most crucial of all was the man of the match Lionel who showed skill, composure, determination and a great positional sense.
For a long time the five held on against the odds, with Tim rampaging in attack and sturdy in defence, Ed owning the midfield, Martin winning all the fifty-fiftys and creating chances from all angles, and David A making runs, skillful dribbles, and sharp crosses that asked all manner of question of the other side.
At one point it was 5-4, but as Donald Trump once said:
"What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate."
And, boy did the 6 react. Each goal from the opposition, they had an answer to and eventually won 10-6. David M in the words of Tim expertly threaded the ball into dangerous positions, Ben was a midfield general with a shot that would have made Bobby Charlton proud, Graeme with immaculate positional sense started many an attack and stopped many a threat, Francesco was peerless at finding space and distributing the ball wisely, Paul constantly created problems up-front and commanded the attack, but most crucial of all was the man of the match Lionel who showed skill, composure, determination and a great positional sense.