We played Nittere Beleza and lost 2-0. You may think, 2 nil to an opposition that crushed you by the combined score of 13-0 in the last two games? Wouldn't you say it's a moral victory?
NO, NO, NO.
It was our home game and perhaps they were tired from long trip, or colder weather. But the fact is that they are mile ahead of us in terms of skills, fitness, and rest. They passed the ball well, but luckily for us they got too fancy in front of the goal and we were able to get rid of the ball. Yes, get rid of the ball.
You want to take the ball away and then begin attacking or pass the ball around to build up the attack, but we just kicked away or gave it away. We couldn't hold on to the ball for more than 5 second, I reckon.... Our #10 was the only person who were willing to hold on to the ball. Our other players just looked like they didn't want the ball. Our forwards were willing to take on the ball, but they hardly got the ball.
we are not strong enough, either. Physically we need to get stronger.
We were too tense, too! Our goalie had a off day in her kicking game.
We were out classed, man handled...
2007年11月25日日曜日
2007年11月18日日曜日
Riding luck is not good enough
We lost 2-0. We rode our luck to fullest, but they decided to take the matter straight forward by being physical. We rode the luck for 72 minutes, but we weren't physically up to the challenge by putting the body on them.
When they forced the issue, we allowed them to do whatever. We had lots of scare, but there is so much you can do, when you get physically tired, by getting the blows.
Running around to chase the ball and when we did win back the ball, we couldn't posses for more than 3, 4 passes.
We deserved the loss.
When they forced the issue, we allowed them to do whatever. We had lots of scare, but there is so much you can do, when you get physically tired, by getting the blows.
Running around to chase the ball and when we did win back the ball, we couldn't posses for more than 3, 4 passes.
We deserved the loss.
2007年11月16日金曜日
busy?
when you are busy, I guess the blogs get left behind. I wanted to use this to record what's been going in my coaching life.
Well, when you really put your time into coaching and working, and since I don't have a Internet at home, you don't have time.
And I am Single, so I have to cook. Remember I live in rural Japan where I can not find a good restaurant, actually there is none. There are some ramen noodle joints, which they are good.
So there you have it, I have to cook for myself!
As for coaching, things are going okay. we are playing Urawa Reds Ladies. The men's side won the Asian Confederation's Champion's League. And after our game, the men's are playing later in the evening. And for the men's they win, they win the league for the second year in a roll.
I reckon, the game will be rowdy. It's away game for us.
I'm gonna keep myself busy, eh.
Well, when you really put your time into coaching and working, and since I don't have a Internet at home, you don't have time.
And I am Single, so I have to cook. Remember I live in rural Japan where I can not find a good restaurant, actually there is none. There are some ramen noodle joints, which they are good.
So there you have it, I have to cook for myself!
As for coaching, things are going okay. we are playing Urawa Reds Ladies. The men's side won the Asian Confederation's Champion's League. And after our game, the men's are playing later in the evening. And for the men's they win, they win the league for the second year in a roll.
I reckon, the game will be rowdy. It's away game for us.
I'm gonna keep myself busy, eh.
2007年11月11日日曜日
0-1 lost to Tasaki
For us it was a challenge to earn a point from them and we worked all week on defending; individually and collectively. If we were lucky leave Himeji with three point. For Tasaki, it was just win, baby. And We lost....
Himeji, a city famous for Japanese castle, was the neutrual site but refs weren't. But bitching about refs don't do much so we'll leave it to that
We started well but they had the first chance at goal, but our goalie was up for the challenge as she made sound save. She would also guide the defense and made several good saves, and she was busy.
we were able to attack the right side, but we again struggle to penetrate due to bad control and pass. I don't think the decisions were wrong, just we weren't accurate and seemed like we were just kicking at the direction hoping our teammate would get there.
As for Tasaki, they just sit back and played sound but very boring football. Like the old Arsen*l would play - not like Arsene Wenger type of Gooners. Soak up our attack and played simple counter attack or possessed the ball at the back. We did well enough for 43 minutes, but we were caught ball watching as they attacked from right side to left side then we lost track of their forward and when the crossed the ball, that lost forward headed the ball and wrong footed our goalie.
Second half was again ordinary as we attacked but lacked accuracy, and Tasaki was content on holding the lead. We did have shots on goal but they defended well. And they kept the possession of the ball which we had to chase all second half. As I said earlier, we lacked accuracy or able to hold the ball, so even when we did get the ball we gave it back to them rather quickly.
But we did certain things good. Tasaki is very good football team with strong kicking legs. With their speedy attackers, we contained them well. We did win second ball as we contested the ball well to win it. We did defend well collectively for 90 minutes. Now we need to defend well individually. If we can defend individually, it would be much easier to defend collectively.
And the best team of the league showed us how to do that.
Himeji, a city famous for Japanese castle, was the neutrual site but refs weren't. But bitching about refs don't do much so we'll leave it to that
We started well but they had the first chance at goal, but our goalie was up for the challenge as she made sound save. She would also guide the defense and made several good saves, and she was busy.
we were able to attack the right side, but we again struggle to penetrate due to bad control and pass. I don't think the decisions were wrong, just we weren't accurate and seemed like we were just kicking at the direction hoping our teammate would get there.
As for Tasaki, they just sit back and played sound but very boring football. Like the old Arsen*l would play - not like Arsene Wenger type of Gooners. Soak up our attack and played simple counter attack or possessed the ball at the back. We did well enough for 43 minutes, but we were caught ball watching as they attacked from right side to left side then we lost track of their forward and when the crossed the ball, that lost forward headed the ball and wrong footed our goalie.
Second half was again ordinary as we attacked but lacked accuracy, and Tasaki was content on holding the lead. We did have shots on goal but they defended well. And they kept the possession of the ball which we had to chase all second half. As I said earlier, we lacked accuracy or able to hold the ball, so even when we did get the ball we gave it back to them rather quickly.
But we did certain things good. Tasaki is very good football team with strong kicking legs. With their speedy attackers, we contained them well. We did win second ball as we contested the ball well to win it. We did defend well collectively for 90 minutes. Now we need to defend well individually. If we can defend individually, it would be much easier to defend collectively.
And the best team of the league showed us how to do that.
2007年11月10日土曜日
visiting Eddie
I met Eddie Jones, Former Wallabies head coach (rugby) and who also helped South Africa win 2007 Rugby World Cup over this past Tuesday.
I had a good conversation. He has been my mentor since my days at Suntory. He is still the Technical Advisor for Suntory Rugby team.
I learned a lot from him and I was able to get meaningful discussion about coaching.
Of course, I got some stern lecture from him as I need them from him. Good learning experience and later on, I helped him translate for Keio University's rugby team.
That evening, I also helped my friend's team which also happened to be Keio's women's soccer. I had fun. Over all good day to catch up with my mentor and friend.
I had a good conversation. He has been my mentor since my days at Suntory. He is still the Technical Advisor for Suntory Rugby team.
I learned a lot from him and I was able to get meaningful discussion about coaching.
Of course, I got some stern lecture from him as I need them from him. Good learning experience and later on, I helped him translate for Keio University's rugby team.
That evening, I also helped my friend's team which also happened to be Keio's women's soccer. I had fun. Over all good day to catch up with my mentor and friend.
2007年11月4日日曜日
decent win
Today's game was against bottom team O-Hara. Not O'hara.
We figured they will Bunker down and fight for their lives for the point and possibly sneak out with a win. They were indeed came out fighting all guns blazing, very physical, but they played positive soccer. They actually attacked with numbers committed when they attacked.
We were better team and we attacked fairly decent. Our Forward for the most of the part did their job by holding the ball. Early in the game we had chances to score, but credit to them, they soaked up the attack well. They did their homework, and caused us trouble on the flanks, because our outside midfielders, couldn't hold the ball or penetrate by dribble.
We were losing the battle on the flanks, and as they were slowly growing in confidence we scored from a free kick to deflate their confidence. Now they had to attack to equalized. Yet, we were poor in attacking the flanks, we gave them possession of the ball quite often, which they counter attacked. Our back 4 did well to repel counter attacks. and our defensive midfield.
Second half started just like 1st half, and pace of the game was borderline frantic. By end of our 1st half our forwards were also losing ball, so we subbed in for our captain who's slowly gaining playing time. Today she was going to play 45 minutes, which was bit of a gamble, but it paid off within 5 minutes of 2nd half. She rose to meet the early cross from our right flank, one of our better attack from there, headed home a vital second goal for the team, first one for her after long rehab for her torn ACL. Congrats to her!
We added another to seal the win. We lost concentration after the 3rd goal and they attacked and we conceded 2 yellow card (two different players), which was unwanted. Our goalie was hardly involved but she was called into action in the last 10 minutes of the game with few good diving save; they were comfortably saved. But Corner Kicks and crosses caused trouble because of poor marking.... But we won the game, though we're shocking on the flanks.
For the fans this game was good for them, we did well enough to win and fairly entertaining. For coach, we need to sort out our attack, especially on the flanks.
This win confirmed us that we will not finish dead last Mathematically. We could still get sucked into the relegation battle. So we still have to work hard. Clearly we got more work to do.
We figured they will Bunker down and fight for their lives for the point and possibly sneak out with a win. They were indeed came out fighting all guns blazing, very physical, but they played positive soccer. They actually attacked with numbers committed when they attacked.
We were better team and we attacked fairly decent. Our Forward for the most of the part did their job by holding the ball. Early in the game we had chances to score, but credit to them, they soaked up the attack well. They did their homework, and caused us trouble on the flanks, because our outside midfielders, couldn't hold the ball or penetrate by dribble.
We were losing the battle on the flanks, and as they were slowly growing in confidence we scored from a free kick to deflate their confidence. Now they had to attack to equalized. Yet, we were poor in attacking the flanks, we gave them possession of the ball quite often, which they counter attacked. Our back 4 did well to repel counter attacks. and our defensive midfield.
Second half started just like 1st half, and pace of the game was borderline frantic. By end of our 1st half our forwards were also losing ball, so we subbed in for our captain who's slowly gaining playing time. Today she was going to play 45 minutes, which was bit of a gamble, but it paid off within 5 minutes of 2nd half. She rose to meet the early cross from our right flank, one of our better attack from there, headed home a vital second goal for the team, first one for her after long rehab for her torn ACL. Congrats to her!
We added another to seal the win. We lost concentration after the 3rd goal and they attacked and we conceded 2 yellow card (two different players), which was unwanted. Our goalie was hardly involved but she was called into action in the last 10 minutes of the game with few good diving save; they were comfortably saved. But Corner Kicks and crosses caused trouble because of poor marking.... But we won the game, though we're shocking on the flanks.
For the fans this game was good for them, we did well enough to win and fairly entertaining. For coach, we need to sort out our attack, especially on the flanks.
This win confirmed us that we will not finish dead last Mathematically. We could still get sucked into the relegation battle. So we still have to work hard. Clearly we got more work to do.
2007年11月1日木曜日
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