18th February -vs- Mill FC 17.30 (Availability - let's get six again!)

_blank_

Well, we need a good attendance this week to ensure we can keep some kind of momentum going.

kaizersoze123

I'll be there (1)

emc2

I'll be there.

LoBo

emc2=2

I'll be #3

bugs90

I'll be there - That makes a few:p

Savman

#5

FrankGrimes

I'll be there.

We were terrible in the first half yesterday, and I'm putting a lot of that down to the lack of preparation by the place being closed when we arrived, and the lack of motivation from knowing we had the game won before it kicked off.

The second bit is a once-off thing, but compare the first half performances over the past two weeks and it's pretty clear to me that a good midweek session combined with a good full 30 minutes warm-up really does make a difference, so try get there by 5pm lads, and let Des know if you're running late in advance.

Q_Ball

nay

Mikie

Looking forward to the game lads.


Cheers,

Mikie.

MrJones

I'll be there. Thats 8.

Quball15

Ill be there. 9

Bootsy Collins

Lads, I'm going to be away this weekend in Cologne so I won't be able to make that game.
Best of luck anyways, sounds like you did well last week.

Bernie

Guy:Incognito

I'll be there. That'll be 10.


As an aside to Des thread, who's the assistant manager that now takes over team affairs?

BlackWizard

Ill be there

Thats 11

_blank_

Stekelly wrote:

an aside to Des thread, who's the assistant manager that now takes over team affairs?

I've asked the Captain, Jules to step in for me.

I take it no-one has any issue with that?

LoBo

Are we without a keeper at the moment?

FrankGrimes

Yep, we're without a keeper, but Des had discussed with the guy Nuttz, who watched a few of our games and posted on here, about joining us - he used to play in goals and is wary due to ring rust, but hopefully he can step in for us on Sunday, which would be sound.

I PMed Simon and he'll be there, waiting on an update from Keith.

So fingers crossed Keith can make it out of work and Shay's ankle heals, and then we'll have a good squad to give these lads a surprise.

Guy:Incognito

FrankGrimes wrote:

he used to play in goals and is wary due to ring rust

I can just see the Sun headline now

"STI sidelines goalkeeper":D




BTW, I'm sure the team picked will be the best from everyones point of view.

KdjaCL

In +12




lift?



kdjac

Draupnir

Sorry lads, I'm unavailable due to work being a nightmare. Keep it tight in the middle of the park and Mill are no great side. They pack the centre of the pitch and get a lot of runners coming through on the break, the middle is where this game will be won.

Really sorry I cant make it, as some of ye may know, I know a good few of the Mill players, so I really wanted a chance to get the win over them and put in a performance.

I'll be back the following week hopefully, once my deadline passes.

BlackWizard

I'll be able to give you a lift Anto Ill text ya what time. Match is at 5:30 so I'll
be trying to get there for 5:00

Mill FC are a decent enough footballing side. I watched them last week for a lil
while. They have a midfield that really works hard. A lot of their football is done
in the middle of the park with the full backs staying right on the half way line
giving them width now and then. The strikers, I think there was two, tend to
drop right into the center near midfield and live off making breaks and picking up
after def/mid mistakes. I wouldn't be surprised if our defense get some time on
the ball. I only seen the first half.

They pack the centre of the pitch and get a lot of runners coming through on the break, the middle is where this game will be won.

Thats what I took from the game I seen them in last week too. Loose balls
will be important. Their players love dribbling at players so their should be a
good few loose balls knocking about.

We should be able to get 5 though

Draupnir

Come on boys, how did it go?

Savman

Lost 3-1

Went 1-0 up and they equalised soon after. We had chances to regain the lead but they caught us on a counter attack and we were 2-1 behind at half time. First half we were decent, 2nd half we fell apart, couldnt string a pass together and they just dominated.

We also had no keeper today so Joe & Lepo did a half each, did pretty well all things considered.

Dont know what else can be said really, there's only so many times you can talk up a defeat :rolleyes:

BlackWizard

We had no keeper.

But everyone got a run around which was great. They hammered us a few weeks
ago 5-0. So to come close to matching them a few weeks later shows us how
far we have come.

I played the first half. Was bored to death up front. A lot of the play was in our
half. Then I had a chance to score and scuffed it. I blame that on standing still
for 20min then having to put my left peg on it. Came close again a few min later
with a shot that was deflected by the keeper. Unfortunately the rebound was
about 5ft in the air and going out for a corner and I couldn't get to it in time.
Was VERY close though.

So at half time I think it was 2-1. We scored first. Second half it was much
the same. Towards the end of the game we let in another goal and then really
pushed to score one back. Thats when we had our best moments. All drove
up the pitch together as a team. Came close to scoring once or twice. Enda
look threatening with them free kicks and one or two shots. Jules almost lobbed
the keeper from the halfway line ha ha

Oh and our step in keepers were great! Had a rotation type thing going.

FrankGrimes

Yeh, we're not gonna be happy losing games, but at least this was an improvement over our last match against them. The first half was very even and we set ourselves up well, and with the chances we had we should have been level at the break.

Second half they had a lot more possession, but again we limited them to few enough chances, and they did very well to take one of those. The bottom line is they are a very good footballing side. Didn't catch which league, but their captain was talking to the ref about their Saturday league games (which I'd guess is LSL or AUL), which might explain why them being in a slightly higher class. Technically they were excellent, it's rare to come up against a team where every one of their midfield and forwards are excellent dribblers and willing to take time on the ball.

So putting it in perspective, I think we're still improving, but are still punching just below our weight. We've cut out the giveaway goals in the past two games, if we keep that up and become more ruthless about taking our chances when they come, we'll tip the balance in our favour.

Couln't fault anyone for their approach - felt everyone gave it their all on the day, though can't understand why we were so quiet for the first 15. And thanks to Joe & Lepo for giving us a dig out and doing a fine job in nets - wouldn't fault either of you for any of their goals.

_blank_

Hey lads.

Sorry I missed yesterday.

Sounds like we did well for the first half, but then something happened in the second?

Lack of proper midweek training?

Will someone PM me the Starting XI, and who was the subs, and who scored please?

I'll try to make it on Wednesday.

What's the craic with the gear - Anto - you got it?

kaizersoze123

I have the gear, will try and get it to a laundry but can't promise anything, will spray some lynx on it sure, same job

Draupnir

They play in the AUL on Saturdays.

FrankGrimes

Shay - bring the gear on Wednesday to training and I'll take it off you and get it sorted.

FrankGrimes

Shay - bring the gear on Wednesday to training and I'll take it off you and get it sorted.

Des - I'll drop you a word shortly.

Savman

They actually play in AFL but whatever, that has work to their advantage.

I don't know what happened 2nd half other than we just lost our shape/composure. I thought iin the 1st half we look well, nothing bad on Joe but Darragh gives that "big target man" system and in my opinion the team looked balanced. It's a lonely role I will admit but he won headers and made a nuisance of himself to their defenders. And shoulda scored!!

Darragh went off at half time, in hindsight it should've been either myself or Enda going off for Joe because I thought we were unbalanced in 2nd half, Joe is just a different type of player and high balls are no use unless you got a big man up there. That said, our passing went all over the place 2nd half. Lepo did well as wing back in 1st half but I thought when Michael came on 2nd half he played more like a left back, fairly deep I thought.

Defence played well actually, as someone said we were no pushovers at the back and any chances they got they really had to work for. In fairness to them, they had some good moves in the 2nd half, 1-2's an the like.

The Noisewater game will be tougher again so we will have to up our game altogether but if we approach the game like we've already lost then we should just not bother turning up.

Nuttzz

Only saw the second half. I agree with savman the defence performed well considering the amount of running at them, i think the strikers let themselves become too isolated, more than once the centre midfield (e.g. jules) was helping the defence on edge of the box and the strikers were well in the oppositions half, any clearances from defence into midfield were quickly returned.

again i think (2nd half anyway) you got a much better return when it was played on the deck, there was little return from the hgh balls to the strikers, the second half sub (no 16?) did well when he got the ball to run at the defence, but because of his size he couldnt win a high ball.

my (unsolicited )2c anyway

LoBo

Nuttzz wrote:

Only saw the second half. I agree with savman the defence performed well considering the amount of running at them, i think the strikers let themselves become too isolated, more than once the centre midfield (e.g. jules) was helping the defence on edge of the box and the strikers were well in the oppositions half, any clearances from defence into midfield were quickly returned.

again i think (2nd half anyway) you got a much better return when it was played on the deck, there was little return from the hgh balls to the strikers, the second half sub (no 16?) did well when he got the ball to run at the defence, but because of his size he couldnt win a high ball.

my (unsolicited )2c anyway

I think I speak for all of us when I say it's great to have our first supporter, thanks for coming along and giving us feedback here

That was me #16 in sunday's game, if you think I have trouble winning headers in 1v1 situations you should see the horror when i've a free header

Have to say I agree about high balls in general, we seem to do much better with passes to feet. One exception on sunday was a great play from enda over the top of the defence to sav - very unlucky not to equalise there.

Savman

LoBo wrote:

One exception on sunday was a great play from enda over the top of the defence to sav - very unlucky not to equalise there.

Aye some save by their keeper, the fecker pulled that one out of the bag for the cameras :mad:

BlackWizard

And I much prefer the ball played into my feet than over the top or in the air.