On Saturday, we were thoroughly embarrassed and in all places our home territory. However we can learn from this setback. People say this "welcome to the premier league" junk and all that but I know all of us knew what we were getting into in our first couple of games and yeah, this is a rude awakening, but we did not play up to snuff on Saturday and when you don't show up which we didn't then even the average teams (and the team we played against was average) will beat us with no problems in this league.
I can run off a few things from the top of my head of what was wrong Saturday but in reality it wouldn't be fair and I can take a great amount of responsible because let's be honest, I am a defender and they scored four goals on us, so for whatever anyone says, I'll take full responsible for that and gutted that now I will miss the next two games because I thought to save face and not let a fat pudgy b****** score on an open net. People tell me I should have let him score but I am sorry I can't sit there with the pride that I have, let this guy laugh at our players and then score on an empty net. (It is just not happening and I am pretty sure I got majority of the ball on the challenge, the problem I guess is that I went through him).
It is a gut check for us but I think the players we have can bounce back from this. We have a lot of talent here and probably the best thing for us is that we have another game straight away because I've been through training sessions after losses (especially bad ones) and those are the worse ones to be in. So I think this next game on Tuesday will define us, whether we will sink or we will rise up because starting 0-2 in this league will be a bad hole to be in especially with the league being this competitive. Unfortunately I won't have a direct impact in the game, but I'll do everything in my power to make sure that the guy's are ready for this one. LET'S GO BOYS!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Imparting Knowledge
Playing this game for a long while and playing in the same position for about eight or nine years, you know the type of plays to make in a game. As a center back, I need to know when to step in, when to drop off or when to cover my ground. Also my criteria as a center back is trying to do the less running as possible while defending. When I say that I am trying to say, how can I put myself in the perfect position so I don't have to rush myself and over-do things.
Now I am playing on a team where I am actually one of the older guys on the team even at 24. And most of the players who are deputizing in my position is in the range of 21 to about 19. I'm sure they know about the game and they have some knowledge but they have some of the deficiencies that I had when I was in that age. Even though they are looking to play in my spot, I feel somewhat obligated to let guys know how to make certain plays without breaking a sweat or being in the right position that the ball sticks to you. I don't feel like it's an obligation, I feel like helping out people because I wish I had the same sort of help when I was around their ages. I mean don't get me wrong, the coaches did their jobs very well and I learned a lot from them. However there's not a better feeling when a player fills you in on some of their knowledge.
I know what you're thinking, why tell those who might take your spot how to (in fact) take your spot. Well, I feel the goodness in my heart to do so. I enjoy the competition and knowing that there is someone behind me that could potentially take my spot. Plus even if they know how to do the things I know how to do. I believe that I know how to do play my position very well so it'll take some magical work rate and doing your job to perfection to take my spot.
They know that and they know that whenever they need to ask a question. I'm not afraid to share a wee bit of wisdom to the young kids and hopefully they'll think to do the same with others....
Now I am playing on a team where I am actually one of the older guys on the team even at 24. And most of the players who are deputizing in my position is in the range of 21 to about 19. I'm sure they know about the game and they have some knowledge but they have some of the deficiencies that I had when I was in that age. Even though they are looking to play in my spot, I feel somewhat obligated to let guys know how to make certain plays without breaking a sweat or being in the right position that the ball sticks to you. I don't feel like it's an obligation, I feel like helping out people because I wish I had the same sort of help when I was around their ages. I mean don't get me wrong, the coaches did their jobs very well and I learned a lot from them. However there's not a better feeling when a player fills you in on some of their knowledge.
I know what you're thinking, why tell those who might take your spot how to (in fact) take your spot. Well, I feel the goodness in my heart to do so. I enjoy the competition and knowing that there is someone behind me that could potentially take my spot. Plus even if they know how to do the things I know how to do. I believe that I know how to do play my position very well so it'll take some magical work rate and doing your job to perfection to take my spot.
They know that and they know that whenever they need to ask a question. I'm not afraid to share a wee bit of wisdom to the young kids and hopefully they'll think to do the same with others....
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Journal Entry 2: Two Weeks On..
March 2, 2010 10:36pm
It's been two weeks since I've been back in Auckland. There has been some adjusting for me to do. Getting into preseason fitness and all. I haven't done a preseason since 08. Yeah that long. Last year I came in somewhat midway through the season so I had to get into fitness without a preseason. It took me a couple of weeks to get up to speed. It's been the same with this year but we have a lot of running to deal with. I'm feeling that I'm getting in pace with the rest. Everybody has been doing preseason four weeks before I got there so of course they are going to be off and running. But slowly but surely I'll be back on my pace myself.
My groin has been hampering me for a bit. It is kind of a bugger and all. I'm trying to manage it by icing, stretching it, and taking days off when I need to. I wanted to use my days to get some needed running in but the groin has put a stop to it at this moment. This groin is being a pain in the a** for me.
Other than that I've just been chillin in the meantime. Getting caught up with my cartoons. They show a lot of Tom and Jerry and Scooby Doo around here. Those toons were my joints back in the day. They need to get back showing Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck around here also. I don't get what Cartoon Network is doing. Let me get this straight, the channel is called Cartoon Network where they are suppose to show 100% cartoons right? Okay so why are they showing the movie Spider-Man on the channel. I'm not talking about the cartoon version, I'm talking about the one with Tobey MaGuire on it. It doesn't make sense, you are a cartoon network. Your name should say it all. Maybe it is my bias towards Cartoons talking here but whatever, they can show Spider-Man on fox or something.
That's it from me. The season starts on March 20. It shall be a good and interesting one. I'm going to enjoy it. I don't have anything else since my last rant was about cartoons. I think I'm slowly going insane here. But I'll be updating soon...
It's been two weeks since I've been back in Auckland. There has been some adjusting for me to do. Getting into preseason fitness and all. I haven't done a preseason since 08. Yeah that long. Last year I came in somewhat midway through the season so I had to get into fitness without a preseason. It took me a couple of weeks to get up to speed. It's been the same with this year but we have a lot of running to deal with. I'm feeling that I'm getting in pace with the rest. Everybody has been doing preseason four weeks before I got there so of course they are going to be off and running. But slowly but surely I'll be back on my pace myself.
My groin has been hampering me for a bit. It is kind of a bugger and all. I'm trying to manage it by icing, stretching it, and taking days off when I need to. I wanted to use my days to get some needed running in but the groin has put a stop to it at this moment. This groin is being a pain in the a** for me.
Other than that I've just been chillin in the meantime. Getting caught up with my cartoons. They show a lot of Tom and Jerry and Scooby Doo around here. Those toons were my joints back in the day. They need to get back showing Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck around here also. I don't get what Cartoon Network is doing. Let me get this straight, the channel is called Cartoon Network where they are suppose to show 100% cartoons right? Okay so why are they showing the movie Spider-Man on the channel. I'm not talking about the cartoon version, I'm talking about the one with Tobey MaGuire on it. It doesn't make sense, you are a cartoon network. Your name should say it all. Maybe it is my bias towards Cartoons talking here but whatever, they can show Spider-Man on fox or something.
That's it from me. The season starts on March 20. It shall be a good and interesting one. I'm going to enjoy it. I don't have anything else since my last rant was about cartoons. I think I'm slowly going insane here. But I'll be updating soon...
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