Physical confrontation

We lost to INAC, closest rival, 2-1. They scored both halves and we were on the back foot all day. All week we worked on improving the quality serving of crosses, but we hardly saw them. In the meeting, we talked about switching the field so that we can serve better balls, but we never saw them. Instead, INAC took our game plan and executed very well. They did not look like a team that relied on individual brilliance and counter attack, which they did against us previous three games. We were the one that looked like relying on certain players and set pieces to score and defend. We weren't disciplined. We weren't physically tough. I reckon, that is something other teams have picked up and they are confronting us. Yeah, we can win initial 50-50 balls or 2nd ball (after heading for example) but they will put body on us and stop us from attacking forward and go backwards or take the ball away from us....
We need at least 7 points from next 6 games to secure us from the drop to second division. Next week's game is against a team at the bottom of the league and desperate to get a point.
Physicality will be the key.

Fogs

Since I am living the hills and as the weather is getting colder there is often fogs in the morning. When there is a fog in the morning, at least you know it won't rain. Some days are very thick, and it won't clear up until 10ish in the morning. And since I am not used to the fog, I drive very carefully. But as it clears up, it is quite a scenery.
So one more round of games left in the season. 7 more to be exact. Then play-offs.
This weekend's game is our arch-rival INAC. So far in the league we are 1-1 but when including the cup games, we are 1-2. So we need to win. Simple as that. Don't matter how.
we heard that the goalie for INAC will be starting a back up. We can't confirm it so we just have to prepare to play to our best of our ability.

Should be exciting.

Tough draw, bad day at the office

we drew 1-1 to the lady ninjas, Kunoichi, of Iga. Tough match as they are trying to craw out of relegation zone. They were fast and physical. Although we were able to win the initial second ball or 50-50 but because of their physicality they were able to regain possession, so the game was fast pace. Up and down. We had early chance and in normally, our National player Aya, would score, but with only goalie to beat she shanked it straight to GK. I'm not sure but see had a off day. She even kicked her corner kick out of bounds, which is rare.
So, it was up to others to pick it up, but they kept passing to her hoping for a magical touch by her, regain herself, or they just don't have confidence in themselves.
But she didn't and we struggled physically. They scored first in the second half, but we were able to equalized late to salvage the match with a point.
This game could have gone either way. Had we scored early, then who knows. But they always looked dangerous.
7 more games to go with one more rounds to play each team. Some are trying to get out of relegation zone, others are battling out for the championship, and we are pretty much in for the mid-table finish. We need to play well, and build it toward play-offs. One game at a time, with not looking ahead.

Walking thru the town of Iga

Iga is a small town with a small castle town. Yeah, also famous for Ninja but also famous for producing one of the famous "Haiku" Poet, Basho Matsuo.
I strolled the town to look for a cafe, but most of them was closed. I went to the book store and bought some CDs and asked for a cafe.
The cafe it turned out to be more of a pub, but never the less, I was able to sit down for a read. I had a beer instead.
There I met few English people and was happy to use the common language of English.
Good luck to them, they teach English.
Good luck to us as we're about to go in and play the Kunoichi - women ninja. They are quick, you know.....

Going to Ninja country

We're going to play Iga Kunoichi. Iga is famous for ninja town. Kunoichi is the name for female Ninja. We won last game at home and we are going into Iga to beat the women ninja.
They are quick and play lots of 1-2 pass and they try to attack the flank. In their Defensive Midfielder is a national team member with deadly accurate pass. And She's tall.
So if we play long ball tactics, you better make sure it goes over her head.
She's not so fast so we need to attack their flank just like they want to do. Beat'em to it!
Travel is by bus.

wish us good luck.

Also this weekend the Rugby World Cup final. England vs South Africa, I say GO BOKS!

concentration

Today's game was won by our sheer concentration and determination. We were able to score early to control the game, but credits to Niigata they were poised and they actually looked better than us.
We were able to win ball and carry the up to the Final 1/3 of the field but when we get close to the goal, they had the numbers to prevent us from penetrating, but also we didn't control the ball as well as we could have. So, we kept the game close for them.
Second half were the same. But, as they were looking for equalizer and we were looking for goal to put the game away, game became more active with ball going up and down the field. But second goal came from set piece. They had defended with determination but we were able to squeak pass one. Then Niigata decided to go for broke and we punished them with 3 goals including an own goal.
So the final score 5-0 and we were able to cut down our goal differential, and were able to finish the game in the second half, but we need to create more chances in 1st half and score when the opportunity arrives.
We were better team as far as concentration is concern.

turtle dish

I had an opportunity to eat "Suppon" a soft shell turtle: Japanese soup style. I have to say it tasted like chicken.
I wonder why so many food taste or feel like chicken?
Either way, the turtle was great and the nutrient is plenty. Rich in Collagen and we got few girls with knee problem, and I hear that Collagen is good for your joints and skin, so I hope the girls ate a lot. You know them girls need them.....
here is the pic of what the turtle looks like.
http://www.nara-edu.ac.jp/ECNE/kaerhebi/kaisetu/suppon.htm
don't mind the Japanese wording.

against weeker(?) opponents

So, after the beat down handed by Beleza, our girls decide to have a player's only meeting. And after trainings they have been doing lots of talking and doing pick up trainings by themselves.
Pick up trainings is a training for after all the team training is done. Usually, the numbers involved in the pick ups are few, but for this week's, everyone has been involved. I wouldn't say they are close to pushing the panic bottom, but I do feel that they feel a sense of urgency to get a result: win.
We are going to play Niigata this Sunday. It should be interesting. And it's a home game.

demolition

Demolition is the appropriate word when you get thrashed 8-0....
Yes, we missed our game captain. Yes, she is the rock in defense. Yes, our depth is short.
But still.....
Life goes on....
Positive is that we had 4 shots on goal. and that is 4 times more than last game! Last game we had none....
we looked better in second half, after going down 5-0 in first half!
Our head coach told girls not to allow them to score in the first 5 or 10 minutes! We did not allow them score until the 11th minute.
The game could have been 9-0 but thanks to officiating blunder and good advocating from our side of the bench, we were able to disallow a goal for offside, when it wasn't even close.
So we are now getting ready for Niigata.

Yokohama Metropolitan.

I am in Hiratsuka, suburb for Yokohama. Quite town with J-league team in the city. They are called Hiratsuka Bellmare. www.bellmare.co.jp
Actually they are called Shonan Bellmare. sorry.

We are staying Nice hotel called Grand Hotel Kanatsuki. I should take pic but I may infringe on some rights possibly so I won't.

Tomorrow's game is going to be interesting with our best defender out with knee injury....
Not the best way to resume our season nor not the best way for the league to resume with hardly no rest with that silly National Sport Festival.....

wish us good luck

Season Resumes

So we resume our regular season Monday. Monday is National Holiday - National Sports Day. Our Opponent is Nittere Belleza, the team that thrashed us 5-0. It should be interesting because it is away game and how we will play.
Training has been okay. The girls has had a tough week, and our head coach has been trying to find a right combination of drills and weight of loading. And for me it has been a good learning.
As for the goalie training I was able to communicate with our goalies to find the right amount of training. I think....
And the season will roll on......

4th in the National Sport Festival

I learned that we finished 4th in the National Sports Festival in Akita.
Great stuff considering we did not have our whole team up there. Great stuff for one of our players to score 5 goals! I hope some of the scoring problem has been solved.
For the girl that scored 5 goals, I bet it is a great confidence boost. I personally don't care how she scored. Whether our great National team player set her up nicely or not. She worked and earned them. Good on her.

They will be back tonight and then we got a regular season game on Monday.... busy week for some of our girls. Hope they can get a decent rest before season resume in Monday.