Regents Park welcomed seven hearty warriors into its fold. The conditions were good. We had the whole of Gloucester Green to ourselves and the surface was flat and true.
Graeme, Paul and Danny were pitted against Tim, Yussuf and David, with Daniel playing half-an-hour for each side. Tim, Yusuf and David triumphed 7-5.
Tim relished the grass surface with dangerous dribbles reminiscent of Aaron Lennon and effective one-twos that had the hallmarks of a young Johann Cryff.
Yussuf strikes fear into the heart of any defence. At times, you could have been forgiven for thinking you were watching Wayne Rooney.
David May was a revelation, He scored a scorcher and had a couple of powerful strikes ruled just over and round the bar. Meanwhile breaking down many an attack.
Graeme, Paul, Daniel and Danny battled like beavers, and left no stone unturned in their attempts to quell the force they were facing.
Graeme had the footballing brain of Archie Gemmell and stroked the ball around, keeping possession and creating numerous attacks, Paul had the effectiveness of Billy Bremner, regularly finding space and unleashing several strikes on goal, Daniel had the craftsmanship of Johnny Giles, with incisive runs and accurate passes.
It was a very close call for man of the match with many of the players having strong claims, but this week's winner is Tim.
Monday, 30 March 2009
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Match report 26 March 2009
It was a fitting end to the winter part of the season: 12 players and 12 goals on each side.
If Sir Alan Sugar was firing each player to leave him with the man of the match he would have a heck of the job, such was the quality on display.
So let's forget Sir Alan and in a spirit of camaraderie, raise our hands to applaud the whole damn lot. There is no man of the match - there are instead 12 fine men of the match.
A few of the regulars will struggle to make it on Mondays - including the stalwarts Andrew, Joel and John - they will be sorely missed, but we hope that they will be back soon.
So, for the Spring and the Summer, we will be in Regent's Park on Mondays at 7pm.
cheers for now,
Danny
If Sir Alan Sugar was firing each player to leave him with the man of the match he would have a heck of the job, such was the quality on display.
So let's forget Sir Alan and in a spirit of camaraderie, raise our hands to applaud the whole damn lot. There is no man of the match - there are instead 12 fine men of the match.
A few of the regulars will struggle to make it on Mondays - including the stalwarts Andrew, Joel and John - they will be sorely missed, but we hope that they will be back soon.
So, for the Spring and the Summer, we will be in Regent's Park on Mondays at 7pm.
cheers for now,
Danny
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Match Report 19 March 2009
I've said it before an I'll say it again - playing 60 minutes a man down is an uphill struggle worthy of the English rugby team. So it was always going to be that 7 would struggle against 6.
However, an outside observer looking at the talent on display in the team with the lesser numbers might have thought they had more than enough in the locker.
Andrew, Yusuf, John, and Joel (who swapped with Paul) are as much a natural unit as Penn and Teller; a horse and a carriage; or Fry & Laurie, and they were aided an abetted by David, who sliced open defences with the precision of a samurai sword, and Daniel, who won the ball with the dependable regularity of a metronome manufactured by Rolex.
But The Magnificent 7 were just that:
Martin = Charles Bronson
Ben = Steve McQueen
Adam = Robert Vaughn
Paul = Eli Wallach
Jason = James Coburn
Dan = Yul Brynner
and Danny was the one nobody has ever heard of!
The man of the match goes to: Steve McQueen.
However, an outside observer looking at the talent on display in the team with the lesser numbers might have thought they had more than enough in the locker.
Andrew, Yusuf, John, and Joel (who swapped with Paul) are as much a natural unit as Penn and Teller; a horse and a carriage; or Fry & Laurie, and they were aided an abetted by David, who sliced open defences with the precision of a samurai sword, and Daniel, who won the ball with the dependable regularity of a metronome manufactured by Rolex.
But The Magnificent 7 were just that:
Martin = Charles Bronson
Ben = Steve McQueen
Adam = Robert Vaughn
Paul = Eli Wallach
Jason = James Coburn
Dan = Yul Brynner
and Danny was the one nobody has ever heard of!
The man of the match goes to: Steve McQueen.
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Match report 12 March 2009
They may have laughed at Edison when he recorded sound, or Marconi when he invented the wireless, or Wilbur and his brother when they said that man could fly, but they would surely scream with derision at the thought of a man of the match playing for the losing side in a 14-8 defeat. Nevertheless that is what has happened tonight.
There is no disputing that Andrew resembled Fabregas, Yusuf was reminiscent of Flamini, Tim of Pires, Ben of Henry, and Roy of Lungberg, but still the decision stands.
Joel, Danny, Paul, and Tom all made important contributions and all played their part in restricting the score to 3-3 and then 7-5, but the man of the match was John, who made darting runs, penetrating attacks, neat one-twos, and powerful shots on goal - at times it was like watching Fernando Torres at his best.
There is no disputing that Andrew resembled Fabregas, Yusuf was reminiscent of Flamini, Tim of Pires, Ben of Henry, and Roy of Lungberg, but still the decision stands.
Joel, Danny, Paul, and Tom all made important contributions and all played their part in restricting the score to 3-3 and then 7-5, but the man of the match was John, who made darting runs, penetrating attacks, neat one-twos, and powerful shots on goal - at times it was like watching Fernando Torres at his best.
Thursday, 5 March 2009
Match Report 5 March 2009
It was a game to cherish tonight as the 10 players on show all impressed.
In a game somewhat reminiscent of the 1966 World Cup final, Andrew, Yusuf, Joel, Tom and Danny took an early lead but were pulled back only to ease ahead again to win 12-8 in the end.
Andrew had all the hallmarks of an Alan Ball - a bundle of energy that tore up and down the pitch with vigour making his presence felt all over the park, making several notable dribbles on the one hand and important tackles on the other; Yusuf was the Bobby Charlton of the team - an attacking force with a relentless eye for goal, scoring the goal of the month with a solo run from his own box, dribbling past the whole of the opposition to elegantly slot in the ball; Joel was reminiscent of Geoff Hurst - a towering presence in attack, who was more than capable of linking effectively in midfield, together with a dangerous shot, the power of which was sufficient that had there been nets, they would have been shot through with holes; Tom was the Jackie Charlton of the side, relentlessly breaking down the opposition's attacks, bringing the ball out with calm, and setting up attacks with piercing passes.
Against such a force it was always going to be difficult for Tim, Daniel, Paul and the newcomers Jason and Dan. However, what made it such a good game was that these five fine fellows were a powerful force of their own.
Tim made dashing runs down the wing, found room darting into the inside channels and set up numerous attacks, Daniel, powered forward and at times seemed to have his foot glued to the ball, he was simply unshakeable and broke through the opposition's defences on numerous occasions, Paul was once more great at link-up play, an effective barrier to the opponent's attacks with tackles and interceptions and was also capable of strong shots that peppered the goal; Jason was a powerful force in midfield and displayed not just the sturdy defensive qualities of a man used to playing his football in Italy but also several telling dribbles, passes and shots, not to mention a powerful header that made him a huge threat at corners; Dan was a relentless runner, who covered the park, making penetrating runs forward and also making important runs back to mark men and cover the gaps, he also tore down the wing with verve and struck fear unto the opposition with his crosses.
It was a close call with many having a valid claim to be man of the match, but the award goes to ... Joel.
In a game somewhat reminiscent of the 1966 World Cup final, Andrew, Yusuf, Joel, Tom and Danny took an early lead but were pulled back only to ease ahead again to win 12-8 in the end.
Andrew had all the hallmarks of an Alan Ball - a bundle of energy that tore up and down the pitch with vigour making his presence felt all over the park, making several notable dribbles on the one hand and important tackles on the other; Yusuf was the Bobby Charlton of the team - an attacking force with a relentless eye for goal, scoring the goal of the month with a solo run from his own box, dribbling past the whole of the opposition to elegantly slot in the ball; Joel was reminiscent of Geoff Hurst - a towering presence in attack, who was more than capable of linking effectively in midfield, together with a dangerous shot, the power of which was sufficient that had there been nets, they would have been shot through with holes; Tom was the Jackie Charlton of the side, relentlessly breaking down the opposition's attacks, bringing the ball out with calm, and setting up attacks with piercing passes.
Against such a force it was always going to be difficult for Tim, Daniel, Paul and the newcomers Jason and Dan. However, what made it such a good game was that these five fine fellows were a powerful force of their own.
Tim made dashing runs down the wing, found room darting into the inside channels and set up numerous attacks, Daniel, powered forward and at times seemed to have his foot glued to the ball, he was simply unshakeable and broke through the opposition's defences on numerous occasions, Paul was once more great at link-up play, an effective barrier to the opponent's attacks with tackles and interceptions and was also capable of strong shots that peppered the goal; Jason was a powerful force in midfield and displayed not just the sturdy defensive qualities of a man used to playing his football in Italy but also several telling dribbles, passes and shots, not to mention a powerful header that made him a huge threat at corners; Dan was a relentless runner, who covered the park, making penetrating runs forward and also making important runs back to mark men and cover the gaps, he also tore down the wing with verve and struck fear unto the opposition with his crosses.
It was a close call with many having a valid claim to be man of the match, but the award goes to ... Joel.
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