Voyle Park Rangers

Tactics

 The basic strategy we employed should form the way we play most of the season. 

1. Play with some width (Geoff and Norm were almost wingers at times) and fullbacks willing to go forward to support that width.
2. A holding midfielder to support centre backs – we can trust ourselves to deal with any crosses etc if the full backs are caught out of position.
   
3. Strikers willing to run hard to cut down the time the opposition backs have – don’t let them set up play through the midfield.
   
4. Centre backs going forward at corners.
   
5. Keeping a higher line and trusting our keeper to gather up through balls
   
6. People willing to go forward – and looking for the ball
   
7. Passing to each other (yep - a novel concept, not sure why I didn’t think of it before)
   

Man of the Match

Man of the match was a big call and in lieu of bribes to the contrary, I have given maximum points to Shane. His defence was what we’ve come to expect, but he also added a lot going forward. The other great thing was that he joined in with the instruction giving at the back. I think that 5 aside has given the lad some confidence.

For very similar reasons, Dave Hall picks up the 2 points.

Lester picks up half a point for his goal and another half point for his professional foul (as he says, thou shall not pass). I also had to give a point to Gareth – he looked sharp and caused them a heap of problems.

In all honesty, a case could be made for anyone on the pitch to get player of the day.

Team player simply has to go to Cam – turning up to ref when injured, and then reffing the whole game (and doing a bloody good job – even the opposition said that, though it was at half time when they were winning). Thanks Campbell.

Scottish Cup Result

Well what a result ……..

 Once again the boys in blue smashed their noisy red neighbours – winning the penalty shoot-out after a 1 all draw.

As far as I know – this is the first time TVP has progressed past the first round in the Scottish Cup (Bob’s overseas so hopefully I can’t be proved wrong).

We more than just won – we looked damn good!

• Right from the word go we were passing the ball – and looking for gaps so we could receive it in space.
  
• Once it was 11 on 11, we had good control in the midfield. This was a combination of our strong midfield, matched with attackers who allowed them no time to play constructively from the back and defenders slotting into the middle of the park when required (defending and going forward). Our opposition fed back that if we continue to control the midfield like we did on Sunday, we are going to have a very good season.
  
• The talk was awesome – everyone was chiming in
  
• We didn’t fall into the trap of starting slowly in the second half - we smoothly just carried on doing the business.
  
• Everyone played very well – there were no weaknesses anywhere
  

First game – and Lester’s goal is already odds on to be a contender for goal of the season. Simply beautiful (the goal, not you Lester).

The basic strategy we employed should form the way we play most of the season. Play with width, look to go forward and use a central 3 in defence.

Battles won and lost

And thus, the first battle of the Voyle fields was complete. The brave yeomanry in their tunics of green held fast before the legions of George the 1^st. Pearls of sweat flew like arrows of steel, the clash of bone on bone shuddered through the villages and the women mourned for their men folk. All the while, ignoring the carnage and death, one lone hobbit scavenged amongst the corpses for mushrooms, the cycle of life not to be interrupted by the clashing foes.

A great preseason session on Sunday - with a few more faces due to arrive this Sunday, we’re all go!

The Stats

Drum Roll Please

Here are the final stats for the 2014/15 5 aside season. 

Note: all disputes will be ignored

Social Grade

 Played:            23

Won:                17

Drew:              2

For:                  55

Against:           26

Serious Grade

Played:            24

Won:                4

Drew:              3

For:                  21

Against:           70

Goal Scorers

1.  Mark 24
   
2. Chris T 14
   
3. Geoff 9
   
4. Tim 5
   
5. Chris D 4
   
6. Dave Hall 4
   
7. Gareth 3
   
8. Leon 2
   
9. Shane 2
   
10. Dave Hill 1
    
11. FJ 1
    
12. Phil 1
    
13. Dave S -12

Hush Gentlemen

An expectant hush fell over the crowd. The hooter sounded and the first semi-final was underway. Two excited teams settled into the battle knowing that the winner was through to the final and a place in history. Meanwhile, on another pitch, we also kicked off ……

 Thankfully the organisers kept our two teams at different times so we could “optimise resources, utilising a shared service approach”. This makes a change from “the Sunday lean operating methodology”.

 This week saw two unique outcomes

1.    Neither side lost

2.    It didn’t rain

 First up the Killers / Broken (as opposed to Broken / Killers) and a relatively comfortable 2 nil win. Goal from Shane and FJ.

 The Broken then snapped their losing streak with a 1 all draw. Tim scored for us but they equalised with a somewhat gifted goal. As the game wore on, their ring ins played more and the girls less but no way could they crack our defence a second time.

 Off we stormed to the next Killer’s game. The young serious dudes and dudettes couldn’t match the finesse and physical strength of the wise old heads. A hard game but a deserved 2 – 1 win with Shane and Geoff scoring.

 Last game was a disappointing win by default. I guess the sight of the stallions in blue is enough to scare many a team and they simply didn’t turn up. Never missing the chance for a run around, we played against ourselves. The topless hair bears vs the sophisticated blues. Nil all so onto a penalty shoot-out (well it was finals night). The hairies slotted home their first attempt (a nutmeg even). Of course the blues buried their first as well. The suave sophisticated blue keeper kept out the second shot but unfortunately they missed their second shot. Onto the last round and again the hairy shot was saved. Up stepped Mr Cool and the Blues took out the title (not sure what the title was – but we’ll take it any way)

 And thus endith the summer season

Seriously Social or Socially Serious

With basically one team playing in both grades, we’ll just forget about Killers & Broken. We are one …. aww group hug!

How are we tracking?

Social w 14: d 2 : l 3 (with 1 bye). GD +28

Serious w 3 : d 2 : l 15. GD -45

Guess that proves we’re a social team!

The top 3 scorers so far are: Mark on 24, Chris Tricker on 12 with Geoff on 8.

Rain, rain

It was a good night at the office for The Broken. A 6 nil win followed by another awesome display for the bye. In fact the bye was done to perfection.

To put things in perspective though, the young girl in goal during the first half wasn’t the best (oi – I wasn’t meaning Jim, I was talking about their ‘keeper). Still we won’t complain and quite happy to take the points. Goals to Mark (2), Geoff (1) and Chris D (2) plus an OG.

The Killers had a damp time all round. The 6:30 kick off was changed to 6:00 (surprise!!). Lucky we had plenty of Brokens floating around to cover – especially as there was only 3 again! The opposition was missing to start with and then turned up to win 2 nil in the second half (with a couple of our players to boot). Personally I thought that they had defaulted but I notice the claimed the win according to the board when I left.

The second game was against a very good side – but I thought we had the game under control at 1 nil in the first couple of minutes. In the end I guess we were lucky to only lose 1 – 4.

Some questions from the night:

• Is there anything more graceful than FJ sliding elegantly around like a ballerina on ice?
• Do you remember the weebles – the short round blobs that wobble and never fall down? Guess who got hit in the face, rolled over and wobbled back up just like a weeble?
• Guess who laughed at the first weeble then did a similar manoeuvre himself?
• Why is our ‘keeper the only player in either team to not even get close to hitting the ground?

Win draw loss win

Well our summer season is underway again.

 We were lucky that there are 2 grading weeks and that our teams are in different pools. This meant that the fit young bucks in the Broken could help out the motley collection of Killers – even on a small pitch, it would be hard work playing with only 3.

 It was great to be able to watch the other team and support each other (with the twin Dave’s doing the Mexican wave, Jim singing rousing football anthems and Leon kitted out in full cheer leader uniform complete with pom poms – how could we fail to be inspired).

 First honours went to the Killers with a fine 2 – 1 win. Chris T got the brace and took early pole position on the leader board (what misses???). The Broken fought hard to secure a nil all draw – our young gymnast in goal owned the game!

 The second round saw the Killers up against a really good team (well they all had 2 legs and no gold card). Even with Chris T slotting another goal and Leon “The Don” running the defence, they guys went down 1 – 3. The Broken faced a young team who quite frankly scored 2 wonder goals. They were crackers! Of course 2 is never enough to defeat the gallant Broken, with a hat trick from Mark the seagull sealing the win.

 Next week The Broken kick off at 6:00 and The Killers at 6:30. So far I know that Brad, Bob and Gareth are out for this week.

Awards 14 September

Player of the day

This was an easy call this week. Gareth overcame the incredibly long odds from being short and had an awesome half in goal. Not quite sure why he was always kissing one particular post, but hey, he kept us in the game with an incredible display so we won’t even speculate. He put in a pretty good second half as well with lots of running from the back.

Clayton picks up the 2 points for his fine defensive display in the first half and not too shabby keeping in the second. The last point to be awarded this season goes to Norm who despite a lack of possession still engineered some good opportunities.

Team Player

Bob picks up the team point for his constructive instruction from the side-line. Something we all should do when we’re having a breather.