2nd game in 3 days, like is going to be the last week, and this is always dangerous as our energy levels weren't at 100%.......right?
Not much to add about Loko, as we played them on friday. We knew what was going to happen. Tackles, elbows, and long balls, lots of long balls. So Pagewood was aware of what was going on.
A modified again first 11, inducted by the fact that we are lacking so many players, just when the league start to be in that cheeky moment. A mistake and we can drop some important points, a mistake and we can step back in the ladder.
Not today.
With Vlad as a GK (amazing btw), Darren, George, Ian, and Foff in defence, Kenny and Pat taking the wings, Cam and Jason in the MD and the mexican duo upfront, the team was ready to play.
First half of battle without rest 0-1
If we did some phisicall problems, basically a tight hamstring, or a dodgy calve, the team managed to play with a high intensity level pretty much the entire game. This doesn't mean that it was a walk in the park, pretty far from that. Loko did had real problems in terms of fitness so they played with one goal in the first 45 min. Push as max the machinery, get close enough to score and close and defence in the second half. In the practice it worked well at the beginning of the game, playing they're game, putting our midfielders under the test. Cam and Jason had to deal with to many pressure, and Loko create a few clear chances that either Vlad or our defence managed to safe in the last moment. That was a call for Pagewood.
Carlos, one of the best players of this game, started to change the game by pressing on a very high level, and always looking for spaces trough some long passes. Marco and Foff where doing the same on the left flank, always with Pat as a "stick to the line" men, the triangulations and changes of rhythm of the spaniard generate problems enough for Loko to take a step back, and this was a terrible mistake.
Carlos and Marco did combine really well today, well, the Colombian combined with everybody, even with some players in other parallel games. The striker, never stops chasing, and today it had a reward. After a over pass from Jason, Carlos run to pick the pass, but Loko's Keeper is going to get there first...so he does. But scared of el leon, he kind of dropped the ball, in front of Carlos pressure, the striker took the ball and saw Marco in the far post coming from behind, he delivered a criminal pass with a death sentence, and with a scary touch with his left foot when felling, the spaniard put the 0-1 and a sensation of release in the team.
After that, not much more happened, Jason and Marco could had scored the 2-0 in two different chances, but both of them missed. Loko did had the best chance to score in this half, after a 3 vs 2 on a long ball that catch our defence in a complete mess,Vlad first and Foff just after him saved the team from an ugly 1-1
The game was under control and Loko lost they're chance to put a bite in the cake.
The supplier. Carlos the handymen 0-2,0-3, 0-4 and the job is done.
On the second half, the team worked with his full capacity, and overplayed Loko withouth many problems, except a couple of mistakes in some contrattacks. This is something that worries this old fella. We have lapsus. Brain farts. Novice mistakes. It happen on the last game and it happened again today, in some moments, the team loose the order, with players out of position, or coverings that are not done properly. Today the problem was the communication, in this second half it was much higher than the last 45 min, this increased our sense of control, and if you do 2+2 it's 4.
Having they're players exausted, and leaving so many spaces in the field, players like Kenny or Marco are in the heaven. They love to move around the field ready to start a combination, involving the whole team to dance his tango. This cooperation increases when players like Cam or Darren are in talking mode, as you can here a description of what is around you when you are in posession of the ball. Sometimes I just had to follow Darren instructions to know who I had in my back, or in my right....
Long ball without problems. Jason can't catch it and stops as the keeper, over him, take's the ball. Everybody turns around and start walking to they're positions, another day in the office...but the keeper had different plans, he leaves the ball for Jason, inviting him to join the fest, and of course he can't refuse the invitation. With a touch with his right, he brings light and justice in this planet. 0-2, and much more to happen.
The 0-3 started with a ball from Pat to Carlos, the striker, just pass the midfield line, start to run controling the ball, attracting defenders, waiting for the right moment. Then he close his eyes, and does a tricky pass, with the outside of his foot, everyone stares at the ball except from the Crane, who is already running towards the keeper to send another ball in the net. You can't stop him on the 1 vs 1.
2 goal of Jason, 14, and he already improved his last year numbers. Oh, and second assistance for Carlos. Just wait a little bit more.
With Pagewood attacking like a bear, brute and incisive, Loko had to start kicking some knees, Carlos was his favourite target today. Terrible mistake to make him angry. He passed one, he passed two players, and when the third was coming, he cross the ball from the right wing, and leaves Pat totally alone to score the 4-0. What a game for both players. Carlos today deserved a goal, but instead he got a hat trick of assistances. Pat on the other side, did a great game specially in the second half, always winning those 50/50, a deserved goal for his last games.
The last 15-20 min Pagewood took a step back, move some players and did something that we should do more often. Play in squares. Secuences of passes, CB to MD to CB to RB to MD.....seeing players from Loko running behind the ball, chasing shadows, was at list enjoyable. Bring me popcorns amigo! The players understood that the red energy levels where down, and instead of just crack balls up and down will exaust us, the team did really had the posetion. Switching game from side to side through short passing and always playing with no more than 3 touches. Easy pass, tiki, taka
3 important points as we facing Sydney Uni this friday (who had a Bye this weekend). Now we have 28 points for 21 of Sydney Uni.
1-0 Marco (Carlos) 2-0 Jason 3-0 Jason (Carlos) 4-0 Pat (Carlos)
MPV of the game
3 Marco
2 Kenny
1 Ian
Red: Mental Limbo sometimes.
It happen that this year a few times, seems that the team because of the lack of players is trying new things moving players in some moments of the game here and there. Sometimes they work sometimes not. This depends on the discipline that the team has for adapt himself to those changes. This discipline is lost sometimes. We been caught 3 times today 3 vs 2 or 4 vs 2. Against Olympic eagles this can means 3 goals against. Be aware lobsters
Orange: Firepower.
In between the 3 "official" strikers did score 24 goals this season, and sure that many more have to come. Also is positive that we won two games in a row, now that looks that the weather will give us a break, and start to catch the rhythm again. Also 7 goals in 2 games. We need now more extra. The captain and George said that today, More second line shots. We are on the right way, catching up on goals, something that last season was a guaranteed fact.
Green: Team attitude
I like the vibes. Good group, and all looking forward to get this thing done together. Even when we have more luck or less luck in the games, over victory's, defeats and draws, is a good group. Nobody drop his arms down or surrender before the whistle.
Vlad 8: Vampire. He sucked all Loko's strikers blood. Flying in the night, making the sky a safe place. Is no air ball, or ground ball that scaped from him. He also knows how to be one more of the team by his higher ratio of communication. Safety is his surname.
Darren 7: Mountaineer. Yolereeeeee Yohooooooooo. Darren climb's up and down the field, as a RB or as a MD. He know's what his role is, and he completes his tasks with elegance and discipline. He gives instructions to everyone, and sometimes I can play with my eyes closed, just following his orders. Didn't complicate himself with the passes, as that was the task of other people. Perfect bouncer for the playermakers.
George 7: Flexible. Like a well stretched hamstring, he played in a few different positions today. Didn't had many work to do as a CB, but he covered the few options that Loko had with solvency. End up the game playing as a striker downloading the ball at any chance, and scaring the opposite defenders. He tried succesfully a few great deep passes. He's back
Ian 8: Speakless. The silent leader. He doesn't open much his mouth, but when he does, even the pope listen. Took a defensive role today, playing as a CB and MD. Disciplined, tactically smart, and very sassy with the ball. He helped the distribuition starting from behind, and with Kenny and Marco is one of the players with a higher passing ratio in this game. Oh did I mention dad he tackle even the ref? He finish the game playing triangulations with no more than 1/2 a touch. Epic
Foff 8: CPR. Advanced paramedic, the LB, position that start to be his fetiche, was covered with mastery. Didn't progress much in attack as he had to deal with a very tall wing, but instead of attack he covered Pat's and Marco's back. The team lost the control 3 times, and one of them Loko almost score. But super Foff was there, between him and Vlad they save the 1-1 twice. His name finish with two FF of Fierce Fucker.
Cam 7: Tactical. Like the generals in the ancient wars, he read the game with intelligence and took 2 steps back in the midfield, leaving the creating tasks to other players. Still, this doesn't stop him to sprint up and down pressing and pushing as much as he can, and becoming a married men soon, his wife and child will be proud to have him. Cam go and buy milk, and with the blink of an eye, Cam will bring you a cow.
Jason 9: Criminal. He had that much determination that the opposite GK gave him a freebie to score the 2-0, and because 13 is a unlucky number, he scored the 3-0 after a great pass from Carlos. Going on the 1 vs 1 against the keeper, is useless to try to stop him. Jason is here, with 14 goals, 1 more than the entire last season. We have striker, forever. And ever. He's already married with the goal.
Kenny 9: Volatile. Another game, and another great perfomance of the wing. He doesn't face the goal very often (he will) but his mastery to deal with midfield business it's priceless. Able to break the lines with a cracking dribbling, or inteligent enough to play the ball fast and always finding the best option. Have players like this, add's to the team so much value. He got punished sometimes, as the loko defenders where literally getting "loco" with him. Count till 10 and count how many players can he pass in those 10 seconds. Kenny da men
Pat 8: Rewarded. Like in the old far west, he got a reward for a bounty kill. He scored after create his own space, and follow Carlos run. A reward after a long list of games where he fights, sacrifaces, passes, shot, in resume, he plays with the team, for the team. We all need players like this. On his first year he's showing a lot of determination and ambition to win the league. Bravo for this gentleman.
Marco 9: Lieutenant. Another one that is in great shape. He scored again with his left foot, after a great serve from Carlos. Also took a more organising role today, playing much more close to the MD than usual. Less visual in the 1vs1 as he didn't look for it much, but with the ball he is unpredictable. Today moved the team at his own music style, and connected with everyone. End up the game doing what he most likes, tiki taka plays. With Kenny, Carlos, Darren, Ian, Jason.... He will find a pass for you, even if you're at home. Mastermind
Carlos 9: Santa Claus. Christmas was this last sunday, and lucky for us, we all get some rewards. Carlos did a hat trick of assistances, and he deserves a special mention. His job, ugly and dirty, but necessary. He loves what he does. And we love it too. He fights till the last whistle, he open spaces with or without the ball, and even when today he looked at the goals from the distance, he will score many more goals. You just wait and see. The southamerican wants to win. Badly. El Leon.
Stu 7: Barracuda. Do you remember him? The eternal kid, baby face Stu. Badass Stu. Rock and Roll Stu, Stu o'clock time, which means tackle time. Without havin rhythm of football on his boots, he still having the mojo. Not very prolific in attack, but solid and serious in defence! Stu was back for the old times.
LAST UPDATE IN LEAGUE TABLES:
- Olympic lost against redfern 0-3. Great news
- No league this weekend as we only going to play catch up games
- We play our last 2 catch up games friday and saturday agains Sydney Uni and Maroubra.
- 6 points this weekend, will leave us leaders, one point ahead from the Eagles, facing them the following weekend.
The play offs are almost mathematically guaranteed.....but we want to win the regular league and the play offs finals right?
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