Saturday, October 19, 2013

Fordham tomorrow / Family time

Another early Saturday morning with a cup of coffee on the couch and the BPL early game Liverpool v Newcastle on the telly.  Entertaining first half with Newcastle playing well to deny Liverpool time and space on the ball and holding onto a 1-0 lead before the mini magician Luis Suarez gets free and draws a penalty and subsequent red card for the Newcastle defender.  Stevie G scored the PK and his 100th premier league goal. A good week for him after scoring for England and qualifying for the world cup.  Not that he needs the money but he really should buy a lottrey ticket today the way his weeks going.

Onto practice and a brief scouting report and chat got the session started before we hit the field.  I was rather excited to take the warm up as I cannot remember the last time I took one, probably way back in preseason.  The warm up can set the tone for the whole session and the players have to be mentally and physically ready for the next stage.  Today it was 3 teams winning team staying on with resting team providing service from the outside.  After I called the crossbar rebound and volleyed in to score I felt on fire so was pleased to step in for the yellow team as they were a man short.  Unfortunately I couldn't replicate my crossbar challenge form and was rather non existant in the games but enjoyed it all the same.  A cool down and the players were done for the day.  Emphasizing the need to rest, eat right and get plenty of fluids in the build up to the game tomorrow the session was over and it was time to catch the end of the BPL scores.

Just when I thought my fantasy team would be a disaster this week, Ramsey came off the bench to score another goal for Arsenal and Ozil got his second.  More importantly Southampton who were trailing 1-0 at Man Utd got a late equalizer which made my day.  No other major surprises so I was home in time for the West Ham game.  

this Afternoon was with the family kicking a ball and some shopping and then we were home for Cerys to watch our newly purchased movie "The Wizard of Oz".  Just to clarify, The original movie not the poor remake.  

Great day spent watching, coaching and playing soccer followed by some quality time with the family.  Good results for Southampton and Swansea now I need a good result for GW tomorrow. 

Fordham preview http://www.gwsports.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/101713aaa.html hope to see you at the game 1pm kick off.  

Raise High Moment of the Day
Spending the afternoon with the family 

Friday, October 18, 2013

End of the Week Game Day Sunday

Its the end of the work week unless you're a coach in season which means everyday is a work day.  A lighter session today as we scale down the workload for the game on Sunday meant the session was short and sharp and the guys were done a little early.  I cant say too much about Coach Oumet's soccer ball cleaning invention as its still in the infancy stage with patents pending I'm sure but it was quite a sight to see the players scrubbing the balls clean.  Almost medieval looking with a fair bit of labor going into the process produced an almost new looking ball so theres no excuses now for the goalkeepers or players not being able to pick the flight of the ball up quickly.

Having the opportunity to play a longer 11v11 game today after the warm up and shooting exercise we were able to let the game flow more and allow the players to get into more of a rhythm.  I find myself stuck in the middle of the free flowing game always with a ball underarm ready to bark some instruction but today the moment never really came.  (which is a good thing!)  Some slight adjustment here and there and a quiet word with one or two guys was all that was needed as I stood back and enjoyed the moment.  Two days from now the calm and peaceful mood I felt today will be long gone as we enter the battle of another A10 game.  I must average 20 cups of water during a game as I stand on edge thinking and kicking every ball tense yet mentally sharp for 90 minutes or as of late 110 minutes.  No complaints thought I love what I do especially when we win.

Wanted to give a shout out for a good friend of mine Davie Butler who at 1.30pm today was officially sworn in as a US Citizen.  Hopefully he will grace us with his presence on Sunday for the game unless he's already started a run for office.

Thats it for todays Blog.  I gotta get going, pick up the kids from daycare, clean the house as my wife returns home after a week long convention, get ready for Colonial Invasion, change my BPL fantasy League team, get dinner at some point and then hopefully have a good nights sleep.

Raise High Moment of the Day
Nils Elwing screamer of a goal from the top of the 18 which flew into the top corner past Hinners token gesture full stretch dive.  The celebration which followed was even better with Arsenal apparently winning the Champions League with that shot.  You Beauty!!!

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Jorge Campos / Tree Climbing

Another great weather day in DC leading up to practice and knowing how important the game is this weekend made it another day that I was really looking forward to getting on the field.  As normal our 15minute warm up by Coach Irizarry ran closer to 30 minutes so the players were definitely ready for the next part of practice and the GKs got an extended warm up with Coach Ouimet.  Luckily for Coach Irizarry the need for him to step into the goal today saved him from being fined for going over on the warm up and his display once again left people wondering if he really played in a National Championship in center midfield.  Staring to remind me of Jorge Campos for those of you who know he is?

The next part of practice was onto some crossing and finishing and I took the shooting group. Firstly though I have to tell you that today was another example of how players can take what you say verbatim.  Firstly the GK's in their warm up after I told them there was no need to use Coach Pasquinelli's equipment proceeded to then not use any of the numerous cones we have available and I saw 4 shinguards on the ground that they were using for their warm up.  Luckily they had decided to use some of the balls.  Then in my shooting after telling the players they had to get their own ball no matter where it went, the first ball had gone probably at least 30 foot over the crossbar and lodged in a tree.  To my amusement and obvious worry for his safety, I then saw a player climbing a tree behind the goal to try and retrieve his ball.  Awesome!!!

Anyways, I know on my end the players looked good in the shooting and as we moved into a game to finish the session, the intensity they had brought yesterday and today was evident as we played for just 15 minutes as I felt that was enough and we finished on a high with a goal from Valencia rounding off a nice passage of play.  Two more sessions before the game Sunday, a big weekend at Home before we leave on the road again the following weekend.

Raise High Moment of the Day
Bailey Hinners from the tree top to hitting a 30 yarder, 2 shots one into a different zip code the other breaking the goal net!!

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

World Cup/ Wales / USA / YouTube

With our off day yesterday it gave me a chance to follow the days entertainment which for me was the World Cup qualifying final round of games.  With England finally stamping their ticket to Brazil next summer I'm sure all press will now turn from how bad they were in qualifying to how they can win the World Cup.  Me on the other hand, I thought they did rather well in qualifying and expectations can be as a quiet outside shot.  Not sure the last non South American team to win the World Cup in South America, if there is one, so anyone outside of this region will find it hard to win.  Europe's usual powerhouses  have qualified with Spain, Germany, Italy, Holland already going and France and Portugal in the playoffs.  Not taking anything away for the other teams that qualified but I will be cheering for Iceland in the playoffs and I hope they can get there.  For me the biggest shock probably came at the hands of the USA.  Already qualified with ease despite early doubters which baffled me as to why? the USA then proceeded to score 2 goals in injury time to win their game v Panama and hand Mexico their arch rival in the "HEX" a lifeline into the playoffs when they were on the way out.  Oh the heartbreak of qualifications! the ups and the downs, coaches fired, bad officials and all this is unless your from Wales.  After 3 games theyre already virtually out of it so no heartbrake at the end or jubiliation just the misery of watching a whole campaign already planning for the next with optimism until we've played 3 games again.  Can't wait for the Euro Qualifiers.

Back to today and it was back to the field for the players.  Our Fifa 11+ warm up followed by some defending.  Despite our great efforts over the weekend we are still only 8th in the A10 and a long way from getting into the A10 tournament the first of our goals.  With a home game this weekend we need to get the win and so todays session was about our individual defending and the hard work it takes to be successful in all 1v1 battles.  Finding that perfect distance that invades a players personal space enough to get his head down and let him make a mistake is an art form that I believe is getting forgotten. As the media and TV continues to glorify the attacking side of the game and individual moves that look great but have no outcome or end product or what I call "the Youtube Nation" games are still being won on good individual and collecting defensive balance that allows teams to express themselves offensively.  Anyways, a shortened session on the field due to our lifting session with coach Spellman put the players through a tough workout and hopefully set the tone for this weeks practices and preparation for our next A10 game.

Raise HIgh Moment of the Day
Coach Ouimet and I in the ravine looking for our lost ball and just before giving up, there it was.  Search over and back to the office.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Post Game thoughts / A10 rookie

After getting back from St. Louis with no delays for the first time I've travelled there  the bus picking us up at BWI airport was late to take us back to DC.  It finally came which was good and I walked through the door at home at 2am.  I can never sleep straiht away when i get home from a road trip probably due to the fact that ive had 8 cups of coffee throughout the day and the 15 minute drive from the office wakes me up so im a little wired. With early meetings this morning for our staff Leadership Academy there was no sleep in or rest for me so it was back to business. 

After getting home it was a chance to reflect on the game yesterday and how well we did to achieve the tie.  Being behind on the road and finishing as strong as we did after equalizing was quite a display and one that I was proud to be a part of.  

First half 
After absorbing long periods of st louis possession we were happy to let them have the ball so deep in their half and when we did win it back we attacked with purpose.  The best chance of the half fell to Ranalli but the keeper denied him another chance to add to his goal tally and then McQuitty was denied from a close range header.  Then at the worse possible moment, 2 minutes before the half we gave away a sloppy goal after losing our mark in the box. Dagger blow as we found ourselves 1-0 down at the half. 

Second Half
After a slow start to the second half we pushed hard for the equalizer in the final 15 minutes and just when it looked like it wasn't going to come we scored.  A quality service from Forrest was headed in by Hinners with just 3 minutes left. Another overtime would follow for the players but they somehow found the strength to get through it and after Farrell had saved us with a good double save in the first period of OT we would end the game strong.  The game ended 1-1 another tie on a very difficult weekend against nationally ranked teams and 2 of the A10 favorites. 

Today it was back to practice and after starting a little later I took the guys on a light jog.  Not letting the government shutdown deter me I took the guys from Foggy Bottom campus to the monuments through the barriers around the reflecting pool and back to the Charles E Smith Center.  The weather was great and it reminded me of the old days when we actually had to practice on the mall and running round the monuments was a weekly occurrence. After the stretch the players left and with an off day tomorrow they'll hopefully get their legs back for Wednesdays session and the preparation for our home game this Sunday v Fordham. 

Raise High Moment Of the Day
Tobi Adewole A10 rookie of the Week

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Heading Home unbeaten on the road

Arriving last night to our hotel in St. Louis we were greeting by the numerous fans leaving the St. Louis Cardinals playoff game which was across the street.  When I say greeted, I mean they stumbled upon us as we entered the hotel and the sea of red shirts in the hotel lobby bars told me they must have won the game (they did 1-0) as they atmosphere seemed very jovial.

The guys got a sleep in this morning after our travelling yesterday.  Our pregame brunch at 10.30am at the hotel was follwed by our usual pregame talk and line up and then it was back to the hotel room to start preparing mentally for the game at 2.30pm.

Full game thoughts will follow tomorrow when I finally get back to DC and out of another airport.  By the way we tied 1-1 another solid performance and deservedly got a point some could say we dropped points but St. Louis away from home ill take the tie

Raise High Moment of the day
Bailey Hinners Goal