Bays Fury 4 - Lakehill FC 0

This past weekend we played Lakehill FC for our third time. As expected, Lakehill was hard to break down. Their goalie certainly deserves a lot of credit as do their defenders and center mids. However, after some initial shivers, our team was able to regain composure and eventually we began to take control of the game.

For this game, Darcy took the lead in creating the line up and also running the game. It was great to see the boys adjust to his ideas while maintaining basic principles on our approach.

Our goals came through very well worked plays and good finishing. The first came after a corner kick. Jonathan got his head on the ball. The rebound sat in front of the net for one of us to take and after a few unexpected bounces, Jonathan got his foot on it and scored. Soon after, Thomas scored a beauty of a goal after he and Ben worked a fantastic one-two around two defenders. I was quite impressed by Thomas composure while in front of goal. I was also quite impressed with Ben's instinctive pass back to Thomas. It was a simple move executed with great precision. It seemed that after some moments of miscommunication, we found our stride.

As usual, Pierce, Jonathan, Brandon and Marcel did extremely well at the back, maintaining possession and not allowing attacks to materialize. I was also happy to see them use Aaron as an additional player at the back. Aaron's skill on the ball is of great importance (and I commend you on it) as it allows us to have yet another outlet when we have possession.

In the middle, Koby and Justin worked hard to recover and distribute the ball. Our wingers had a bit of a difficult time at first maintaining width but as the game progressed, they settled and things looked better. Gabriel, Tyler and Finn were threatening as usual. Marcel was also strong when he came to the wing ~ for me, it is great to see so many of the boys taking on different positions and performing well in them. I particularly liked Hamish's positioning on the field. I thought he gave us another dimension when he was on. Good on ya Hamish!

Up front, Thomas, Ben, Finn, Gabriel and Mathew also did well. In the second half, I saw two great unselfish moves from our attackers. First, it was a great pass in from the wing by Koby. Although he had the space to drive in, he decided to cross the ball right into the penalty spot. Mathew read the ball well and instinctively ran to meet the ball and with a one time shot with his left foot, put the ball into the bottom right corner. It was a fantastic goal. Not long after, I saw Finn control the ball in the box and without hesitation, set Koby up for a shot. Koby did not hesitate and took a one time shot that beat Lakehill's netminder. It was clear the boys were working hard and taking control. I should note that we also had many other chances that did not materialize: Finn hit the post, Mathew was robbed twice by the goalie, Gabriel also took shots that were saved by their goalie. Clearly, we were taking the game to Lakehill. In the end, we won 4-0. It was a fantastic way to finish our season before the Xmas break.

WHERE WE ARE NOW

Well we've come to the end of the year ~ so what can we say? Well, I am happy with our progress. I think all of us can look at the boys and see that they are changing, learning and improving. Our team is playing better. I hope that all of you also see the same. I think the boys have learned key concepts:

1. Defensively we have become stronger and more disciplined.
2. Our ability to maintain possession is much better ~ we are more calm when in possession.
3. Our attack is more incisive and we are not dependent on only a few players scoring.

We have also become more consistent in our approach ~ the boys are understanding that moving off the ball is key if you want to be a successful team.

Last, I am hopeful that all of your sons are enjoying their time as part of this team. Being proud of being a part of a great team is what makes a team great. I want the boys to remember this season as one where they learned new things and began to read the game better. It is our hope that our work helps them not just every Saturday, but also for years to come.

I will not go over what we need to work on. We'll get to that when we come back in January.

For now, please get your boy to go out and kick the ball around when he has time. Get him to practice the things he needs to improve on: is it his shooting? is it his passing? is it his speed? No need for me to say anything: the boys know what they want to better. That is what you should focus on.

So, I will end with this: THANK YOU TO ALL THE PARENTS! From supporting during the games, to helping on the line, to helping with the nets, to bringing snacks, etc. I want to make sure that all of you know that I appreciate it. No team is perfect, but I truly feel that our team has to the potential to be perfect and as head coach I will always strive to get there.

A special mention to Kim Colpman and Darcy Greaves for being so helpful in my day-to-day coaching.

Have an amazing Christmas everyone ~ Keep going Fury ~ January is just around the corner.

Cheers,

Roberto

Football is a mindgame ~ You play with your brain.

I recently read an article from a prominent soccer coaching center in Europe. In it, a professional youth coach makes some good points that I would like to apply starting next year.

By now, you have been to enough games to see many of us coaches talking and directing players on the field: “ Hold Johnnie. Run with it. Take him on. Shoot. Rebound. DROP! DROP! “

The scary thing is that such style is incredibly seductive because if the goal is just winning, at a young age, and if the coach knows enough to be dangerous, it will probably work. While teams at this point tend to be very disorganized, the organized team with the puppet master pulling all the strings will usually win. But if our goal is player development, in the long run telling each boy what to do all the time is a disaster. As players get older the game gets faster, spaces become smaller, and pressure becomes much more intense. There simply isn’t time to listen to instructions and react. Only players who can read the game and can instantly and instinctively react will have any chance of maximizing their potential. Soccer is a player’s game.

Soccer is not a coach centric exercise but is inherently player centric. To have any chance of succeeding at higher levels players must be able to see game problems and have the ability to formulate their own solutions.

From a training perspective this means:

• Players must be taught to understand concepts that they can apply to a wide range of situations.
• Players need to learn to make their own decisions.
• Players need to feel free to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes.

The idea of letting the players play with the minimum of interference in matches, far from reducing the role of the coach, actually elevates the responsibility and makes it much more demanding. If the coach is to perform their job adequately we must become true educators (i.e. teach and repeat during practice, remind during games) but must allow them to take on the game on their own ~ in essence, we have to let the players apply what they have been taught (this is why players it is so important not to miss practices).

The game of soccer has changed greatly over the last 25 years. Players are faster and stronger and the move towards zonal systems has reduced time and space. These trends will continue. The current World and European champions, Spain, are unquestionably the finest team right now. But why?? Is it because they are faster than their opponents? No. Do they have better technique? Yes, they have great technique BUT then so do many other teams. They are the best team because, as soccer players, they are more intelligent than their opponents. For years Spain has been developing its’ youth on a program of rapid, short passing and constant movement to space and the creation of triangles everywhere on the field. The result is a generation of players able to observe, decide and execute faster than those from other nations.

Yes, other countries will catch up to Spain, they will develop their own styles and strategies; that is the nature of a dynamic, competitive system. But only those countries that emphasize intelligence and decision-making in their players will progress. Programs that continue to see soccer as an athletic contest where the team that runs fastest and longest will win are destined to languish in mediocrity.

CONCLUSION

So starting soon I will begin to move towards a more removed role when it comes to the players during games. I want them to begin to make their own decisions. Will I be totally quiet? No. I still need to help them during games and give them support (tell them to calm down, to think, help them see patterns). But I plan to give them more opportunities to make their own decisions and figure things out on their own. BUT remember: I can only do this if the boys do not miss practices AND pay attention. In the end, it will benefit them all.

I'll leave you with a comment the great Johan Cruyff made during his tenure as Barcelona's coach (when he coached Pep Guardiola actually):

“Speed is often confused with insight. When I start running earlier than the others, I appear faster.”  

Johan Cruyff

Bays United Fury 1 - HPL Victoria Wave U13 1

Mathew focuses on making a pass to his teammate

This past weekend we had a "league BYE" but were fortunate enough to be asked by the HPL Victoria Wave team from the U13 level to play against them at the Pacific Institute for Sports Excellence. The game was very well fought and did not dissappoint. In the end, our team came back from being one down and tied the game literally with less than a minute to go on the game. In my view, this was a fair result.

Finn running at pace mounting an attack

 I will not go into a lot of detail about this game. I will just like to make some general comments:

1. We started the game a bit in disarray when it came to our checks. We were a bit lost on who had who and this caused us to be behind the play for the first bit of the game.

2. Our turn-overs were too many during this game. We seemed out of sync for periods of the game. Yet, we did combine well when we moved off the ball. That improved as the game went on.

3. Our challenges for the ball also improved as the game went on and I think in the end we were more dominant and stronger when retrieving possession.

Brandon flies while defending a long pass from the Wave

4. We definitely had more clear chances on goal than the Wave did ~ however, we were not clinical when finishing.

5. Our corner kicks continue to be a concern for me ~ it is becoming a serious issue that we need to get under control. We had three clear opportunities on goal that should have gone into the back of the net. 

6. We did however demonstrate that we have the capacity to come back from being down ~ combined with desire and determination, this will serve us well as our season goes on ~ Well done fellas!

Hamish tries to control the ball while closed down by two Wave players

Overall, I was extremely happy to see the boys come back. I think that the 1 -1 result was a fair result. We missed Ben, Thomas and Gabriel and I think that if we had them with us, we may have done even better. The Wave team was the top team in their division this past season. They are clearly talented and strong. So, I was happy to see a good result.

Marcel skips past Luca while attacking

Pierce relies on Koby while maintaining possession

I hope that this game shows the boys what it feels like to play a top team that consistently places you under pressure. It is important for the boys to understand that this is the type of game they will all face as they move into more competitive divisions in the coming years. It also allows us to see where we need to improve and where we are doing well. With that end in mind, I will try to see if we can get a game against a couple of VIPL teams during the break so that we can continue learning and improving.

Thank you all for coming this past weekend ~ I hope it was fun. Also, thanks for the snacks Katherine and Glenn.

See you at practice ~ Roberto

BAYS UNITED FURY 1 - GORGE FC 0

Aaron sends Finn on a counter attack

Well what a game, eh? Exciting until the last whistle. The referee kept us biting our nails too, but that is part of the game. In the end though, we persisted and came out successful. Despite the pressure Gorge mounted towards the end of the game, the boys held their composure and maintained a good defensive stance. In my view, we deserved the win.

Jonathan battles hard for the ball in the midfield

When we last played Gorge, our biggest problem was that we were too soft on our challenges, our drive to win every ball and our determination to regain possession was also low. Ultimately, our confidence suffered. Since that game, we decided to focus on improving on those factors. We worked hard at moving the ball quicker, man-to-man marking, positioning and most of all on becoming stronger when challenging for the ball. I think that the boys should receive a lot of praise for implementing these skills into the game this past weekend.

Mathew mounts an attack ~ Koby and Gabriel advance in support

From the back to the front, the team worked hard. Aaron endured incredible pressure. Yet, he did well to take care of things. Almost before the final whistle went, he made two stupendous saves and the boys' reaction to them (going over and tapping him on the shoulder with a 'well done!') showed how much they all recognized Aaron's efforts. Our defenders were also phenomenal. Jonathan and Pierce controlled the middle excellently. I was very happy to see Pierce showed his prowess and set the standard high when tackling - and also ensuring that he did not go out of position. Jonathan's strong challenges and distribution of the ball was also admirable, especially cause he played both at the back and in the center mid.

Marcel controls the ball while in space

When it came to man-to-man marking though, it was the Tyler and Brandon show. These two young men put on a clinic when defending against Gorge's top boys. Neither one of them backed down and in fact, they had the upper hand on them so much that I could see the top players switching positions just to get away from Tyler and Brandon. Here is where Marcel and Finn and Gabriel also played an immense role. Marcel, despite having a knock on his knee, fought through the pain and battled the big boys like David battled Goliath. I was also very happy to see Finn and Gabriel come back and not one, or twice, but many times take the ball back and regain possession for our team. For me, one specific moment was of great importance. It happened when Finn slide-checked Gorge's top striker in the first half. This not only served Finn as moment where he could see what he needs and can do to improve his defensive game, but it also served as an example for the whole team to follow. Hamish also impressed me with his grit and slide-checks. It was a great effort from all our wingers.

Tyler clears the ball while under pressure

In the middle, Jonathan and Koby set a high standard from the start. Their control was exactly what we needed. When Justin came in, he added a different dimension to our midfield and worked hard at getting the ball back as well. What I like the most about our midfield was their understanding that their role is to pass and set the rhythm of the game. You need to know when to hold and when not to hold on to the ball for too long. All three played excellent, moving the ball quickly and accurately passing to open players. Well done boys.

Koby works hard to get the ball back from Mackie

Our wingers (Mathew, Finn, Gabriel, Hamish) were great on the attack. I found that finally, they were opening themselves so that they could use the space to their advantage. That was a big part of why our team put Gorge on their heels. They could not deal with our speed and incisiveness on the wings for a long period of time.

Finn takes off on another attack

Up front, Robbie and Mathew started off well. Robbie's strength and skill combined with Mathew's skill and speed created problems for Gorge. Credit to their defenders who kept a close eye on Robbie and Mathew though ~ their defence was not easy to break them down. Mathew was closely checked so he had a difficult time getting into spaces. Robbie was also being marked tightly, sometimes by two or more players. But through the work of the entire team, the goal we've been fighting for finally came. After closing down a pass to their midfield, Mathew controlled the ball in the middle, just outside the box. Then, he quickly made a pass to Finn who, instinctively, gave a first time right foot flick to Robbie in front of him inside the box. Robbie controlled the ball and headed towards goal and despite having one defender on his right side and the goalie come out to shut him down, maintained control of the ball and at the right time took a quick low shot which the bottom right corner. 1 - 0 for us. Our work paid off. It was a decisive move that exemplified how important it is to move for the ball when you do not have the ball.

Mathew turns away from the opposition and begins another attack

For their part, our super subs Ben and Thomas also did well. Thomas had a clear chance to score our second goal but slipped at the moment of contact. Unfortunate but Thomas still managed to create problems for the defenders, his positioning up front is excellent and it is this reason why he often finds himself in good positions to score. For his part, Ben continued his form to fight hard for the ball and move off the ball. His tenacity has improved a lot and because of that, he continues to shine in the positions we put him. As a coach, I was very pleased to see both these boys working hard for the team.

Benny battling hard for the ball

CONCLUSION

It is true that we endured some nervous moments in the end. But let's be clear: Gorge FC is a great team and we should not think that they would simply give up. The idea that we would dominate during the entire game is unrealistic. However, I truly believe that despite those scary moments in the end, we created clearer chances (which also scared Gorge a lot), had most of the possession of the ball and were better in setting the rhythm of the game. Most of all, we came out hard and played hard. In the end, I believe that we were the better team this game.

Justin giving it all to win the ball

So with that, back to practice we go. Season is not over - we still have lots of work to do!

For now, I want to thank all of the parents for your support again. We got a game against the HPL U13 Boys next Sunday so let's get ready for that.

Until next time,

Roberto

BAYS FURY 7 - PENINSULA 1 

As we start our third round of games, our team continues to be able to do well in the division. As it stands, we are now tied for points with Gorge FC (although they have a game in hand). Our tally of goals continues to be impressive and our boys continue to show that they are improving.

As usual, Peninsula showed great determination. As a matter fact, despite the score, this past weekend was Peninsula's strongest game as they really pushed us physically. The score reflects a better form in finishing from our team, but it does not mean that the goals came easy. We had to work hard to get those goals.

The first bit of the game was evenly fought in the middle of the park. Koby and Justin had their hands full with strong center-mids who fought for every ball they could. Our wingers worked well to get by the outside defenders for Peninsula but scoring was proving to be a bit difficult. However, the deadlock was broken when Robbie passed a quick little pass to Mathew who, after coming back from injury, showed his composure and coolly slotted the ball into the back of the net. Not long after, Koby sent Mathew on a break-away. Again, Mathew showed his composure and scored.

Thus, the team began to settle more. We made some changes in our frontline and our midfield. Our center mids began to move the ball faster. Our forwards kept fighting for the ball. Our defence maintained their ground. Yet, like I said, Peninsula was not backing down. Brandon and Jonathan in particular had some heavy work to do during this half. But eventually our concentration paid off. The third goal came when once again Mathew, after receiving a well struck cross from the outside right, controlled the ball and with a quick snap shot put the ball into the back of the net again. 3-0. A natural hat-trick for Matty. Half time came right away.

During the half, our instructions were simple: treat this game like you would any other game against any other top team. Do not back down from challenging for the ball. Do not let people run by you. Keep working hard at retrieving the ball. Keep moving the ball quickly from player to player. Keep positive. Keep supporting each other.

During the second half, the players kept their structure and not too long after the start, our team scored again. First, Jonathan took matters into his own hands during a corner kick. He received the ball well and headed it to goal, but the keeper made the save. However, Jonathan did not give up and as the ball danced around in front of goal, he snapped a quick shot into the back of the net. Soon after, on an attack from the wing, Marcel crossed a fast flying ball that was met with a great one time volley by Finn. It was an amazing goal that showed great skill by both Marcel and Finn but that also showed great teamwork. 5-0.

We made some more changes. Our sixth goal from a strong impromptu run by Robbie. Following our instructions to put pressure on the defenders of Peninsula, Robbie went after two players who had the ball but that looked a bit unsure on what to do. Robbie caught up to them, went through the two, took the ball, went to goal and scored on the far right corner. It was great solo effort. But for us, it was even better to see him use his tenacity and follow our instructions. Our attacks continued and not long after the 6th goal, Marcel was pulled down inside the box. Penalty kick. Ben stepped up to take it. As the whistle blew, we all stood excited with anticipation. But unfortunately, although Ben did hit the ball well, he struck it too far right barely missing the post. We all felt for Ben, especially because he was working hard to win balls, make good passes and create chances. However, despite his miss, he did not give up and kept working. Most importantly, the team supported him and no one reacted harshly or negatively to the kick. So Ben kept fighting. I was proud of him. His hard work paid off. Towards the end of the game, Ben was rewarded when, after receiving a pass inside the box, he coolly took the ball and slotted it into the back of the net. That marked our last goal of the day. Well worked, well taken.

But the game was not over ~ Peninsula kept coming at us and in fact broke us down twice in counter attacks. Through one of them, our defence found themselves in a bit of disarray and allowed a low hard shot to be taken on Aaron who, despite having made a great save on the first counter-attack breakaway, could not repeat the feat in the second. It was nonetheless fitting for Peninsula to get a goal as they showed that they just would not give up. Our respect to them.

So with that we finished our first game of the third round. I want to commend ALL and EACH of the players on the biggest improvement so far: hardening up. We were just too soft before. Now we are fighting more and as you can see , it is paying off. Well done guys.

What's next? Well, our biggest rivals come to play us next week. No one can deny that there is a lot of anticipation for this game. All I know is that if we keep working hard and being positive the result of this game may be very different than our last one. We got what it takes boys ~ we just simply need to apply it.

Until next practice boys ~ Cheers~!

Roberto

MOVES FOR THE WEEK ~ Practice makes perfect!

Before every practice, I always go through my favorite soccer training websites to see what new drills, ideas and concepts I can learn and bring to the team. A long time ago I came across this video: I really liked it. It shows a fellow by the name of Brendan Donahue doing different moves with the ball. What is most rewarding about the moves that are presented here is that doing them will inherently help each player with agility, developing core strength and better control of the ball.

My added suggestion is that if it is too cold to go outside and do it, that you get a tennis ball and do the tricks in your bedroom. Close the door, put some music on and go at it. You'll be surprised at how much your skill will improve by doing this.

Here is the video boys ~ enjoy and practice, practice, practice.

Fast Footwork Skills

Roberto

BAYS FURY 5 - SAANICH FUSION 0

Mathew, back from injury, steps over the ball while attacking Fusion

Another great game by the boys this past weekend. The boys continued to show great intuition on the field and all of them have taken instructions well. Our defence continued to show resilience and determination and have continued to join the attack when needed. Our strikers continue to be a threat and our wingers are much more settled into the concept of being wide on the field. I do have to say though that for me, our center mid was much more effective in this game and I cannot write this post without giving them the props they deserve. Well done Justin and Koby.

Although the score matters, at this stage of the season it is how we are playing that matters most. The tenacity and ability to play as a team is what we need to cement down, not individual plays. Hence, the 5-0 score was appropriate but what was most telling was the fact that the amount of Turn-Overs is down, that our possession time has increased and that our ability to get the ball back from the opposition has improved. Well done fellas.

Jonathan sends a long pass to the strikers

Since we have come to the end of round 2, in this post I will focus on what the boys have been doing well and what we need to improve on as a team ~ I am focusing on the TEAM rather than each player.

Where we NEED to Improve

COMMUNICATION: Although it is better, we are still lacking a strong understanding of communication on the field. You see, communication is not just who talks or how loud one talks. It is when and what is said that matters. Thus, having a player tell another after a mistake is done "come on man" is not helpful. Just the same, calling someone's name without providing direction (like "I'm on your right") or providing help ("you got time") is not helpful at all either. So instead of saying "Tyler, Tyler, TYLER!", we must aim at helping Tyler by telling him (and all your teammates) what he can do and how you can help.

Screaming at your player because you want the ball does not help either - sometimes they have better options than you. Remember too that yelling at someone with no help places undue pressure on him from his own player (God knows Darcy and I already place enough pressure on them).  So be positive and helpful when you are on the field.

Thomas mounts another attack after skipping past the Fusion defender

DECISION MAKING: We need to be better at making decisions when attacking and defending. When attacking, holding on to the ball for too long reduces the element of surprise which wrecks havoc on the opposition. The faster we move the ball, the less time our opposition has to set up to defend against us. When defending, it is crucial that we do not just follow the ball. Each player has to remember what your role is AND most of all, who that player is checking. Boys, take a look around you. By doing that, you will improve your defensive positioning substantially. I guarantee it.

Tyler takes the space on the wing supported by Gabriel and Koby

OFFSIDES: I do not mind when a player is called offside and it is tight (refs make bad calls too). But when players get called offside and it is clear that they are a few feet offside, it shows a lack of understanding of their role and demonstrates that they are so focused on the ball and scoring that they are not paying attention to their position. We must focus on ensuring that we know where we are before the ball is kicked. It is true that many players walk a fine line between being offside and putting pressure on the opposition. But let's be more disciplined about this: in the end, if we get called offside, it is the team that loses a chance, not you.

Finn looks to do a one touch pass to his teammates

MOVEMENT OFF THE BALL: When I was a kid in El Salvador, I had an Argentinian coach who would always say to us "You do the most running when you are not on the ball not when you have it". Yes, it is true that seeing Messi or Ronaldo go at defenders at full speed while dribbling through one, two or more players is beautiful. But let's be realistic: how often do you think that happens? And perhaps more importantly, have you seen how much more often they just pass the ball and make runs off the ball? You see, it is the ability to exploit spaces in the middle of the field that creates a perfect team. So, this means that we cannot rely on Koby, Justin, Gabriel and others to just "go go go". What we need is for players to move constantly so that whoever has the ball has at least two options for passing. Once in the box, well, that is another story. But for now, keep in mind that moving into spaces is a key factor in this game. We are doing it, but we need to do so ALL the time.

Justin heads the ball breaking up another attack by Fusion

FINISHING: I know most of you will say "how can you bring this up when we have the most goals in the league?" Well, it is not so much the goals we got that matter but the amount of chances we have missed that worry me. We must be more clinical. Missing one-on-ones, free kicks and most of all CORNER KICKS, have become a bit too common. These should be goals, period. Why? First because we have to quality to finish. But more importantly because when we hit teams that are as good as we are, the difference may be marked by that one chance we get ~ if we fail on that, we may fail during the whole game.

Robbie tries a shot while in space

Where we HAVE Improved

POSITIONING: I have seen more of you follow instructions. Our wingers have been much better in the last few weeks. I specify our wings because with the likes of fast runners like Marcel, Tyler and Gabriel, we are doing a disservice to the team if they cannot use their speed. But the key is to have them in positions where they can exploit space and use their speed. This is why I am happy to see them sticking wide on the field. Even if they do not get the ball, other teams are going to be so worried about them that they will inevitably open up the field for our team to use. Well done wingers (Mathew, Hamish and Ben included). Our center defenders and midfielders have been much better at understanding their role and why they need to hold positions, even when they have the energy to push into the box. Last, our forwards have been very good at running diagonals and creating space for us to put the ball into. It is good to see us doing this.

Marcel settles and makes a pass to a teammate

RETRIEVING THE BALL BACK: It was only a month ago when I remember having a chat with the boys where I said "we are too soft". Well, I have to say that things are looking up. The "just jockey" move has to be executed but the reality remains that hard challenges win games. When we are in the middle or up the field from our net, we must go hard. Plain and simple. In my view, we have become better at this. Our wingers are returning to defend and get the ball back. Our forwards are forechecking more and even if they do not get the ball in their feet, they cause throw-ins in our favor. Overall, it is our new-found mentality to get possession back that has marked a difference in the team and I cannot be prouder to see it unfold.

HARDER CHALLENGES: I saw it against Lakehill and I also saw it this past weekend against Saanich ~ we are using our body more and getting "stuck in" more. This is a must. You see boys, no matter how technical you are, if you are not strong enough to challenge for the ball, your game will be reduced by 50%. Just like if you are very skillful but get winded after two sprints. Now, let me be clear: this does NOT mean hurt players. I do not and will not accept any such play ~ we must play fair. What you must do is go hard for the BALL, not the player. Lately, I have seen many of you push more, fight more and most importantly, not give up. This attitude will take you far and most of all, will serve the team well. Excellent work!

Hamish goes past a defender and works hard to push forward

TEAM ATTITUDE: I see more camaraderie in the team. I see more of you laughing together and chatting more. Keep it up ~ a team is only as strong as the bond that unites its players. Yes, we all love the game, but if we are friends, our team will go even farther.

PRACTICES: I see more focused players in practices ~ this is key. You cannot expect to play well in a game when in practice you do not listen, give it only half of your effort and see no purpose on them. I want to commend you and encourage you in working hard. Practice like you would play in a game.  I am happy to see this happening.

Conclusion

We are in the thick of it. This team has what it takes ~ but even with the skill we got, we cannot sit back and think that because we have a ton of goals we are the best. Not at all: the best teams are those who never know they are the best but believe that with work they can be the best. 

So lets' keep working.

To ALL the Parents, thank you again. Whether you agree with me or not, I do hope that you continue to trust my approach and that your son is coming home happy to be in this team. They are part of something special. I am privileged to witness it first hand. 

Ian, Don, Dean and Jim enjoy the game (Jim shows his experience as a model for Sears)

Oh, and to my buddy Darcy, Thank you Sir ~ couldn't do this without you.

See you at practice!

Roberto

Roberto does what he does best ~ carry things!

BAYS UNITED FURY 3 - LAKEHILL FC 0

Justin skips away from Lakehill's center mid

This past weekend we continued our season by playing against a rejuvenated Lakehill U14 Gold team. This team came at us hard at first. Clearly, they are playing with more heart and more determination. So it is no surprise that both Darcy and I were happy to see that the Fury Boys handled the pressure well but more importantly, played better than last weekend.

Pierce anticipating and breaking a Lakehill attack

In the first half, Lakehill kept us on our toes. They created breakaways that caused us to minimize our attacks in order to ensure we defended those breakaways. Pierce and Jonathan were kept busy. Brandon and Hamish, who stepped in to relieve Tyler due to an injury he suffered right before the game started, also had to maintain a close eye on the attacks. As I said, it was clear that Lakehill came to play with a focus on working hard. But our boys were up to the challenge. Slowly, Fury began to settle and once that started, the midfield began to move the ball better throughout the field. Their efforts came to fruition when, after a strong run from the wing, Gabriel centered the ball where the Lakehill keeper made a great save but Robbie had also followed the play, found himself open and snapped a low shot into the net. The break we wanted had come. The goal was created by the quick movement of the ball from the middle to the wing and then back into the middle. Well done fellas.

Gabriel fighting hard to get to the ball

Not long after, we won a corner kick. The boys positioned themselves in strategic positions throughout the box. Hamish delivered a great corner that was met ferociously by Jonathan who headed into the net with determination. The goalie got a hand to it but the ball was flying so fast that the goalie's efforts did not matter. Two nothing for us.

Robbie mounts another attack down the wing

A few more minutes went by. During this time, we saw all the players working hard. We saw them sliding and going hard shoulder-to-shoulder. We saw them maintaining possession and being more diligent in their passing. Yes, we still made some mistakes, but overall, the boys were better in moving the ball. Before the half ended, Gabriel made another great run on the side and again crossed it into the middle where Finn quickly attacked the ball and scored our third goal using his knee. It was a great display of attacking futbol again.

Finn skips past a Lakehill defender

Half time came. At this time we made some changes. Ben and Thomas came to the front and when the second half started, we kept going from where we left off. Our attacks kept coming. Koby and Justin kept possession well. Our wingers worked hard to not only attack but also coming back to defend. Our defence continued their hard work. Brandon was fantastic in anticipating and cutting down anything that came his way. Pierce and Jonathan positioned themselves much more centrally and this helped us maintain our shape. As usual, Marcel worked hard on the wing to not only defend well but also provide support for the attack.

Brandon taking care of business

Up front, Ben worked hard. It was great to see him work so hard and win so many balls back for us. He created several chances and helped maintain the pressure for our team.

Ben goes after a loose ball in the Lakehill half

Thomas used his skill to create great moments of magic too. He also fought hard for the entire second half. Thomas found himself in great positions several times. In three different occasions, Robbie provided Thomas with passes in front of goal. Unfortunately, Thomas' goal was not to be. No worries Thomas, keep doing what you are doing and the goals will come. In the end, we did not score anymore but we still showed a marked improvement in our passing and defending in comparison to last week.

Thomas fights hard to get possession for our team

WHAT WE DID WELL: We played more as a unit and did not rely on lucky bounces. We were much more composed when under attack and created cleaner chances when up front. I want to commend the boys for working harder at defending as a unit and becoming more determined in winning the ball back. We must continue working on that.

THINGS TO IMPROVE: during this game, we got away with it but let's remember that when teams pressure us, we will not have the time to hold on to the ball for too long - hence, we must move the ball quickly. Our outside defenders must try to push and take the space more often when available. This will give us another dimension to our attacks. And the last thing? Our finishing. Although I was very happy with the opportunities we created, we need to finish them. Darcy and I counted at least 8 opportunities that should have been put in the back of the net. The percent of success we have when finishing is worrying me. We have to improve it.

TO DO: we'll continue working on speeding up the movement of the ball, moving off the ball, pressuring when not having possession and yes, we will work on being more clinical when finishing.

Thanks to all the parents for your support ~ See you guys at practice!!

Cheers,

Roberto

Bays United 7 -  Juan de Fuca 0

Our game this weekend was an opportunity for the boys to come back from a disappointing game last weekend. It was our chance to try some changes and insert a new vitality into the game. It was our chance to see what other options we have in situations that we do not anticipate.

Koby working hard to block an attack by JDF

Although we dominated in the first half, we were not clicking as well as we should have. In several occasions, we made rushed passes which landed at the feet of the opposition and put us on the defensive unnecessarily. We were sluggish at times even though we had space to take and opportunities to exploit. When we did open up Juan de Fuca's defence, our shots went high over or to the side of the net. Pierce, who was for the first time playing up front, caused problems for the opposition but was having a bit of a hard time settling. Tyler, with his speed, also maintained pressure on the wing and was unlucky to have his shots fly too high. Marcel, with his strong work ethic, also pushed the opposition hard. We missed a couple of open chances. However, towards the end of the half, Marcel's persistence paid off by blocking a clearance that went back towards the Juan de Fuca goal. Pierce followed the ball in and with strong determination slotted the ball into the net. 1 -0. We settled a bit more after that but we still looked a bit in disarray at times. Half time came.

Jonathan defending an attack by JDF

During half time, we made some further changes. We changed some of the players in specific positions and then indicated to the boys that we had to go and do what we wanted to do from the beginning: Pressure the opposition and take away their spaces. We also asked the wings to stay wide to open up the field during our attacks.

Immediately starting the second half, the boys were better. The first noticeable change came when Gabriel displayed his skill by taking on not one, but five players. He dribbled through with speed, tenacity and determination. He beat the first player to the ball, then pushed the ball past the next one, then cut inside on the next one, then cut away again from the last one and then beat the goalie by strongly shooting the ball to the top of the net. It was the boost the boys needed.

Gabriel mounting another attack down the wing

Not long after, Koby carried out a similar play. From the middle, Koby took the space in front of him. He dribbled through, carrying players with him to the side of the net. He then cut towards the net slightly and with his right foot slotted the ball to the opposite side of the net. 3-0.

We seemed better. Gabriel began to take command of the wing by staying wide and coming back to defend. It was clear that our midfield was being more disciplined. Hamish was a constant menace and the Juan de Fuca defenders were having a nightmare trying to stop him. For their part, our defenders maintained a close eye on breakaways and in more than a few occasions had to come back and defend hard (but successfully) against the Juan de Fuca strikers. Our strikers were also pressuring more and more.

Robbie moving forward pressuring for more goals

Our next goal came from a very nicely taken corner kick by Hamish. It was Pierce again who, through good positioning and strength, controlled the ball and spun around to shoot the ball into the net. It actually hit a defender's hand but ended up in the back of the net nonetheless. The pressure continued and soon after Hamish, who was having a great game, took a shot with his right foot which was clearly stopped by a defender with his arm. Penalty. Hamish stepped up and cooly took it - the goalie did not even move. This marked our 5th goal.

Towards the end, our goalie Aaron, who was given a chance to play out, had two great goals. The first came after Gabriel passed the ball along the ground from the wing and Robbie intelligently faked receiving the ball, dummying the defender, letting the ball pass through for Aaron to end alone with it before goal, controlling it and smashing it into the back of the net. The other was even more sensational. Aaron received a ball from the midfield. As it was bouncing, he put it over and around the defender behind him and once in the clear, without much hesitation, took a volley shot from far out, which hit the top right corner of the net. Although this was our last goal of the day, this did not stop Thomas who with only seconds left in the game also tried a volley from the top of the box, only to have it miss the net by inches. The final whistle came immediately after that.

Aaron cutting away while Thomas begins to move into space

Based on today, it is clear that we have what it takes to succeed. I think that when all of us work hard, from the goalie to the strikers, we are unstoppable. But the key word is "work" ~ we must play every game hard, no matter the opposition.

Coming together after a well-deserved win

I want to give props to Finn for playing goal in the second half and to all the boys who played in positions that you usually do not play in ~ it's all for the team so good on you for never saying no and always trying to do your best.

Thanks and see you Tuesday ~ remember, no practice on Halloween.

Cheers,

Roberto

BAYS FURY 0 - GORGE FC 3

Lionel Messi in 2010 after being beat by Germany 4 - 0
and getting kicked off the World Cup Semi Finals

This past Saturday we played a tough team ~ Gorge FC. This team is without a doubt the most difficult team we've played thus far. They have given us tough games during the two opportunities we have played each other.

THE GAME

Fury started off well. Shots began to fly from early on in the first minutes of the game. Robbie caused Fynn (Gorge's goalie) to make two difficult saves in the first 5 minutes. Gabe also slipped away from his defenders twice, only to have his shots stopped by Gorge's netminder. Our midfield was in control and was battling hard in the midfield. We had a couple of corner kicks where the ball skipped in front of the net but we failed to put the ball in the back of the net. However, at around the 20 minute mark, Gorge began to turn the screw. They began to put more pressure on our center mids and back four. Suddenly, the outlets that we had in the first half began to dwindle as our wings began to disappear. Our center mid began to have the ball stripped away and turn overs began to show. Towards the last minutes of the first half, an error in the center of the field gave a free ball to one of Gorge's players who without hesitation took a low hard shot and scored on us. We were stunned. Yet, we continued. However, a few minutes after, a long cross from the wing came looping over to our net and somehow went over our goalie's arms. Two nothing. It was clear that we were deflated and had lost control.

The break came at an opportune time. During the break, Darcy and I asked the boys to toughen up and to be first to the ball. We gave them instructions in moving quicker when not on the ball and also gave them instructions on positioning. Specifically, we asked the wingers to open the field and come back to retrieve balls. We also reminded all the boys that no matter how much we worked, turn overs would kill us and therefore they had to stop.

In the second half, the boys came out with a bit more composure. It seemed that they might be heading in the right direction when suddenly, without much build-up, a turn over at the back gave a chance to one of Gorge's forwards who with a one time left-footed shot hit the net from far out. It was 3-0 early in the second half. I could tell (and feel) the boys' confidence fly away.  We made a couple of small changes in the formation but it was clear that we were having a difficult time focusing and regrouping after such a quick a hard blow.

Yet, because of their talent, the boys did eventually create some chances. Finn was unfortunate to miss two clear chances when he hit the bar then scuffed the rebound shot away and in another had the ball stripped away from his feet by Gorge's goalie. In another instance, Robbie took a shot from inside the 18 yard box that just missed the inside of the post. Another opportunity gone. The boys began to suffer more and more as the lack of subs became a factor (we had none). As the game progressed, the threat from Gorge's forward's stifled our advances to net and continued to unsettle our defence. Our hesitation was palpable. Our defenders were kept at the back without much room to advance forward. Brandon had his hands full in the second half but did well to cover up what he could. Koby and Justin fought hard in the middle even though things were not going their way. In fact, I think all the boys did try to do what they could within their means. But in the end, as the final whistle blew, it was clear that Saturday was not our day.

Gorge deserved the win. They also deserve our respect for their hard work and undying desire to win.

INJURIES

Although it is part of what coaches deal with, I must admit that it was difficult to present alternatives to formation and strategy when 4 of our boys were hurt and one was away. Mathew and Jonathan could not even play. Robbie got hurt early in the game and had to come off while Tyler also got hurt (so bad that he left the game entirely in the second half). Although the two played, it was clear that they were not 100%. Tyler could not even walk properly by the end while Robbie limped during the entire second half.  Hamish was away.

It was unfortunate that this happened. I truly believe that if we had all the players 100% available, we would have done better. This is not to take away from the boys who were not injured ~ they deserve credit. But one cannot deny the fact that our options were reduced and that this dictated how our team was set up in the game. Being able to sub players is one option that we just did not have in this game.

FINAL ASSESSMENT OF GAME

There is no question that the two biggest factors that contributed to Gorge's win were the following:

• First, Gorge's persistent pressure on us (alongside our inability to deal with the constant pressure).
• Second, our lack of focus when defending.  

We must give credit to our boys in regard to their skill and control of the ball. They have worked hard and have shown that they have what it takes to play at a high level. During many periods of the game, we did move the ball well and also had some beautiful moments of attacking soccer. But we faced a team that plays hard and does not give up any spaces. We did not know how to handle this and in the end, that is what cost us the most.

So back to the practice field ~ in the next few weeks we are going to work hard on becoming a tougher team.

And remember - no team is unbeatable. Just ask Messi & Co.

Until next time,

Roberto

Bays Fury 6 - Peninsula Gold 0

Great game guys

Ben mounts another attack while Justin and Koby join in

This past Saturday we played Peninsula. There was no doubt that this team is capable of doing good things on the field and we knew that. We also knew that they would be coming to our neck of the woods with every intention to give us a good game. And they did. However, our team also came out on fire and was able to deal with Peninsula's high tempo game.

Aaron sending a ball up after his drop kick

Within the first minute of the half, Robbie took the ball in front of the 18 yard box and after dribbling through a couple of defenders took a shot which quickly bypassed the goalkeeper. From then on, our midfield took over and soon enough our second goal came. This one was a thing of beauty. Robbie passed to Gabriel who then took on the defender, rounded him, centered the ball where Finn climbed in the air and scored with a beautifully timed header. It was a very good show of skill but also of team work. In the midfield, our boys slowly began to dictate the game more and more. I must commend Koby for playing a very excellent game distributing the ball. His efforts were also rewarded when he took a shot from far out and scored our third goal. Justin and Ben also worked hard in the midfield and kept control.

Koby passing to create another attack

Half time came.

In the second half, Robbie followed up the way he started the game by scoring his second goal within the first 30 seconds of the second half. Thomas had done well to skip past a defender and take a shot, but the keeper made a great save. Robbie then pounced on the rebound and with a one-time side-footer scored our fourth goal. The game continued with our team dominating most of the play. Our wingers were phenomenal in making incisive runs (Marcel, Gabriel, Hamish, Tyler) that kept creating chaos for the Peninsula defenders.I commend all of you for continuing to come back and retrieve the ball when we lose it. Your defensive game is sure making a huge positive difference in our team.

Gabe settling the ball to maintain possession and mount another attack

As the game continued, in another great display of teamwork, Hamish cut into the middle to set up Finn and he finished with a nice touch on the ball. This marked our 4th goal. But Hamish was not done. Within a few minutes after, he again produced another great play and this time he set Robbie up for his third and our team's 5th goal. Hamish was on fire! He almost made it 6-0 soon after when he received a pass from Gabriel but unfortunately the ball went just a bit too wide to hit the back of the net.

Justin skipping past Peninsula's midfield

Overall, the boys once again displayed their talent. It is clear that they are improving and that no matter what the opposition brings to the field, the boys are working hard to surpass those challenges. Our defence continues to be solid and I am confident that this is what will keep us going strong in the season.

Tyler taking off on the wing

This Saturday we will have another big game against Gorge FC. Although this team is phenomenal, I believe that the boys do have what it takes to get a win. I hope that their continued work during practice and tenacity during games gets them the win they are hoping for.

See you on the field!

Roberto