-vs- Boca Plate 21st Jan 17.30 (Availability and general rants)

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Who'll be there?

I will.

BlackWizard

I should be there again.

Once again I have exams but taking a few hours out won't hurt.

I don't think I have ever seen that Ref jog or run on the pitch. He seems to just
stand still. That has got to effect some of his decisions. So I think we should
call every ball and tackle to our advantage. Kinda like how in the AUL leagues
no matter how onside the striker is, the defense still shouts for offside lol...
memories.

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I will say one thing about this weeks match.

Get stuck the fúck in. They aren't afraid to hit hard, so you lot don't be either.

Savman

Will be there

Xavi6

Yeah i'll be there

Guy:Incognito

I'm due back in from Liverpool at 3:30, so assuming no delays, I'll be there.

kaizersoze123

I'll be there too.

Gileadi

Will be there

emc2

I'll be there too

murtagh

ill be there

FrankGrimes

I'll be there.

Bang on about the ref Darragh. We're paying for "qualified referees" but this fella was standing on the half way line pretty much the whole time.

LoBo

I'll be there

Q_Ball

I'll be there.

Looking forward to getting my kicking boots on

kaizersoze123

FrankGrimes wrote:

I'll be there.

Bang on about the ref Darragh. We're paying for "qualified referees" but this fella was standing on the half way line pretty much the whole time.

He's eagle eyed enough tho, spotted I wasn't wearing shin pads and had a few words with me

Quball15

I'll be there.

Mikie

Hi there lads.

Be there.;)

MrJones

I'll be there.-Brian.

Bootsy Collins

I'll be there on Sun. too

bugs90

I'm away this week (so at least that should improve your chances)

Good Luck with the match lads!!

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Well that's a selection headache out of the way, you were going to be either Sub #1 or Sub #2

MrJoeSoap

I'm more than likely going to miss this one lads, I'm down to work until 6. If I can manage to get off at 4 I'll be there.

Gileadi

John (Lepo) wont be there

FrankGrimes

Gileadi wrote:

John (Lepo) wont be there

What's up with John?

murtagh

Brian wont be able to make it tomorrow either

Gileadi

Hes over in London, for some talk i think

Draupnir

I cant make it today lads, I have to work all day. In work now in fact. Sorry and see you next week.

Gileadi

Hes a filthy liar, hes watching the match i bet!

Draupnir

Thats blasphemy Simon, blasphemy.

FrankGrimes

That's a pity Keith.

Out of interest, does anyone know what teams those who can't make it today support?????

Quball15

Im a united fan so theyve no excuse hehe

Im heading off now to catch the first half...

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I think Mark supports Southampton, could be wrong though.

FrankGrimes

I make it that's 14 we should have today so should be alright.

Draupnir

I'm a United fan Jules, so I missed double the fun today.

KdjaCL

Im out for a while, got new job working evenings on weekends

kdjac

Savman

For those interested, we lost 5-0. But we know what we have to do so close thread

FrankGrimes

There’s people on boards that are interested in how the team are getting along, so it’s only right we give a bit of info when we lose (and blow by blow details when we win):

First off, Boca are a very good team, easily good enough to play in the LSL.

We actually started very brightly, stringing some nice passages of play together, and though I can’t remember them all, I remember thinking “we’ve just had 3 good chances and now they’ve scored with their first shot”. One of those chances was a header I glanced just wide of the bottom from a long Neil free-kick, should’ve done better.

Unfortunately marking was slack as a Boca player was able to get through right down the middle to score a goal that was soft from our point of view. The same avenue was exploited by Boca the second time round as another Boca player went right through the middle and took his finish well, though he wouldn’t have been expecting it to go in. Manager Des then reshuffled the defence and midfield, putting captain Neil into central midfield, Simon to centre half, and Mikey to right full. This shored up the leak down the middle somewhat. Boca then won a free-kick on the left hand side of the box. Keeper wasn’t quite happy with his wall when the free was taken, but between the wall, keeper, and man on the post, given the height and angle of the shot, it should never have reached the net. But it did to give Boca a 3-0 lead at half-time, which was harsh on Boardeaux as it had been a more balanced half than the scoreline suggested.

The game opened up a bit in the second half, giving our attacking players more time on the ball and we created a few very good chances including a Colm header from a lovely cross, a Sav glancing header from a nice incisive move involving Shay, myself, Colm, and then Sav. A through ball also got Sav round the last man on right side of the box and he struck a very good shot across the face of the goal and was unlucky to see it hit the base of the post. On another day 2 of those chances would have found the net, but it was not to be.

Boca were then ruthless in punishing us with a fourth goal, which, again, was given to them more than earned. The lowpoint was Boca’s fifth goal which was from a free-kick fully 15 yards inside their own half. Confusion reigned in the penalty box and the uncertainty resulted in an own goal that was easily preventable.

There was much to take encouragement from the way Boardeaux heads did not drop and kept ploughing away, continuing to string some nice passes together up to the final whistle, with our keeper making a few decent saves along the way. Des was right in pointing out that a few of us were guilty of trying to play through balls into the box instead of taking on shots that were available. A nice movement from inside our own half led to a ball being played to Darragh’s feet up front and he did well to protect it and was then fouled. Neil struck his free-kick sweetly and the keeper did well to keep it out.

A few of the Boca players agreed that the scoreline was harsh on us, and though the better team won on the day, if we can shore up some leaks with better defensive organization, we can take some positives from the game – creating that many chances against a good Boca defence is one for starters.

From the talk in the dressing room it’s clear we have a bunch of players who want to do all we can to win, so we’ll look into organizing some tactics and training sessions.

Savman

I agree we looked better after the reshuffle putting Neil in midfield, but the knock on effect was we looked instantly weaker at the back. We almost needed 2 of him, one playing Centre Half and another Centre Mid. That's not anything against anyone else in defence, but you really need a commanding presence Centre Half (look at Chelsea without Terry as an example of a class team looking average).

Regarding the Free Kick 3rd goal, I was in the wall (with Neil iirc) and as far as I was concerned we were positioned where Bernard told us to be. After the goal went in at the far post we had people giving out about where the wall was, can I just say for the record that there is only 1 person on the pitch who decides where the wall goes and that's the Goalkeeper for obvious reasons.

We have to get the simple things right, make these opposing teams work hard for their goals. It looked as though some of Bocas better players weren't even breaking a sweat, and with their complacency we could've given them a real tough time if not for 2 soft early goals.

A couple of sessions are really needed, just to sort out the small things. The more you play with a bunch of people, the more you learn to read their play. If you have a guy who can whip 40 yard passes, you learn that whenever he gets the ball you're gone, full speed, looking for that ball into the channels giving you yards of advantage over your marker. The sooner we get past the guessing game the better and I think that's an issue that'll sort itself out with some midweek game or whatever.

I have a fair idea what Neil, Jules & Enda are looking to do when they get the ball so I try to read ahead. Enda favours the ball down the wing so I try hit the back post, Jules goes for the lay offs and touches so I know I have to be close whereas Neil probably looks for the diagonal ball over the top so there's no point running toward him unless that's the only option on. With some of the other lads I find myself hesitating cos I just don't know what they're going to do. That comes with time I guess.

One thing that really baffled me was Shay toward the end, we were winning possession well in the final 3rd and he boots the ball 50 yards back into his own half, almost taking me head off in the process and setting Boca up nicely for an attack :eek::eek:. I can understand the frustration but fookin hell! When your good players lose the plot you might as well tell the ref to blow it up.

But the spirit is good, during a bad run all you can do is knuckle down.

BlackWizard

That was hilarious stuff from Shay

I'm still getting used to playing up front. Then playing CM during the week and
going back to playing up front I guess is strange. So I definitely could do with a
mid-week session to get used to playing upfront more. Back to goal is very odd
and hard to get used to.

FrankGrimes

Savman wrote:

IOne thing that really baffled me was Shay toward the end, we were winning possession well in the final 3rd and he boots the ball 50 yards back into his own half, almost taking me head off in the process and setting Boca up nicely for an attack :eek::eek:. I can understand the frustration but fookin hell! When your good players lose the plot you might as well tell the ref to blow it up.

In fairness, that cracked me up, Shay just going f*ck this, and absolutely wellying it. Ref things you're a hero by the way Shay.

Good performance again by Shay though, he keeps winning a lot of ball, gets stuck in, and made some good bursts forward from the centre.

FrankGrimes

BlackWizard wrote:

I'm still getting used to playing up front. Then playing CM during the week and
going back to playing up front I guess is strange. So I definitely could do with a
mid-week session to get used to playing upfront more. Back to goal is very odd
and hard to get used to.

In fairness, you've had a thankless task up there the past 2 games Darragh, but you can't be faulted for lack of quality service up to you. You've been making some good runs, and if we pick you out a bit more the chances will come.

kaizersoze123

Savman wrote:

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One thing that really baffled me was Shay toward the end, we were winning possession well in the final 3rd and he boots the ball 50 yards back into his own half,

Apologies about that, was aiming for one of their players...guess I just lost the head for a bit