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

Bays Fury 5 - Saanich Fusion 0

Now that our first round has ended, I want to give you a first round assessment for each player. This includes comments from last week's game and more general ones. Please know one thing: These are not final nor should be taken to stump players. What I am doing is ensuring that players can see where they are at so that they can learn and improve. Comments? Please call me or Darcy if you have any. Thank you!


Aaron: although not extremely pressured, Aaron did control the ball well when it came to the net. He also stood his ground properly during crosses and corner kicks. He made a couple of good interventions too and his ability to switch plays from side to side was excellent. Overall, Aaron is doing very well and we are happy to see him mature so much this season. Your confidence is notable and we believe that as you go on during this season, it will only get better and better. Advice: improve on your involvement in the game through communication. Scream from the back when your outfield players do well and also when you need them to regroup.  Remember to keep the intensity going at all times. You never know when a break away may come. Also, work on goal kicks - that will help you become an even more outstanding goalie.

Pierce: although Pierce did not play this weekend, it is impossible not to think of our defensive line without this young man serving as a standout defender. Pierce is a big boy ~ naturally he has a strong presence at the back. But this does not mean that he relies on size alone. You have shown that your movement on the back and positioning is solid. You anticipate when necessary but also fight hard when caught out of position. You have progressed to a point that all of us feel secure because you are at the back. Your distribution and passing has improved a lot from what I saw last year and in my view this is making you apt to move up the field into less deep positions. You have also become a strong leader on the field and I view you as a great example for the team. Advice: work on your goal kicks. Practice in getting more height and distance on them. Also, work on controlling balls that are bouncing towards you while you are running backwards (like in a real game). This will help you measure speed and distance so that you are rarely caught out of position when other teams try to pass to players who gain your back. Well done Pierce.

Jonathan: our good ol' skipper Jonathan was solid at the back. Your ability to traverse through the back with the ball under control was very well executed. In particular, you are making better decisions when you have to decide on where and at what speed the ball should move from the back. Most of all, it is your reading of the game that is impressive. Keep working hard at leading by example and most of all continue your coolness. I particularly like to commend you for being able to play at the back, the middle and up front with such ease. Advice: continue improving your communication and continue setting the tone. Help those around you by telling them what you see. Also, practice your goal kicks too. Aim at not curling so much but at sending passes that stay in the air for a bit longer (unlike the curvy looping passes) Those are fine, but you should learn to do the others so that you can then have more weapons in your arsenal. But by all means, you are doing well Jonny!

Brandon: your ability to destroy the attack of any team is by now well known amongst us. I don't doubt other teams have heard of the man some call "Shaggy". But for me, what I view as more notable is your involvement in the attack while ensuring you do not forget your duties as a defender. I think that if you continue on that road, your ability to change games will continue to grow. Advice: continue practicing your dribbling and your first touch. Remember that as you get bigger and stronger, so will many of your opponents so do not rely on the great strides you've made thus far. Keep challenging yourself by going out on your own and juggling, bouncing the ball of a wall and dribbling while at pace. Make your game even more complete.

Marcel: clearly you are also improving in your ability to attack. For several games now your confidence in attack has grown and but for some amazing goalie saves, you would have a few goals to show for it. I was happy to see you score this past weekend. With goals like that, Darcy and I are confident that you can continue becoming a great wing-back and be feared by any team we play against. Advice: remember to control the ball better and not to rush (first touch is Key!). Quick does not mean Rush. Quick means you know what to do before the ball gets to you so that if you need to move the ball fast, it will always go to your teammate. Keep going Mars!

Koby: it is hard to fault someone for not wanting to come off when they are playing well. But remember that sometimes these things are done because of strategic movements and do not reflect errors on your part. During this game, you controlled the middle very well as usual. You go past players with such ease it is hard not go "oh my God, that kid is awesome". But for me, your greatest improvement is when you release players and distribute the ball with pinpoint accuracy and quickness ~ a little Zidane in the making. If you keep that up, your ability to control the ball so well, combined with your vision and quick distribution, will make your game impeccable to the point of perfection by the end of the season. Advice: remember to lead on and off the field. As a leader in the team, you can make a huge difference even without the ball at your feet. Give credit where credit is due and support everyone around you. I have nothing but respect so I want you to continue becoming a master leader and passer of the ball. As the season progresses, that will save you energy, the same energy you will use when attacking the opposite end and taking on defenders.

Mathew: what can I say? Every game you dominate and prove that skill surpasses even the most crippling pains. You are adapting well in every position we place you and we believe that as you get over some of these nagging injuries, your game will continue to shine more and more. I also want to mention how good it is to see you cut into the middle from the outside and thus create chaos for the defenders of the other teams. You do that so well, you should be teaching younger boys how to do it properly. Advice: keep your optimism high and know that no matter what injuries come your way, all the work you put in while you are fit will show every time you are on the field. Also, remember to continue working on your defensive duties. Your ability to recollect the ball when the opposition has it, especially on the wings, is crucial for us to be able to sustain pressure and mount counter attacks.

Hamish: hands down, this was your best game up to date. You kept a close eye on your offsides, handled the ball well, took throw-ins well and were rewarded for your work with a magic goal that was hard to take. Seriously, left foot, one touch on a volley that went to the top corner - Excellent! Your touch and ability to position yourself so that you can do the most damage was evident. I thought that your defensive qualities also shone through and in my view have gained you lots of ground in the team. Well done Hamish! Advice: keep your eye on the spaces around you and do not get hypnotized by the ball. Continue working on becoming strong on the ball and understanding how to move into spaces. By doing this, offsides and missed opportunities will be a thing of the past in a few weeks.

Tyler: Once again, Mr. Speedy did not disappoint. Your runs up the line, your corner kicks and your ability to join the attack were also fantastic. We rely on you at the back because you have an uncanny ability to break plays and regain possession that is hard to ignore. We know that your knee bugs ya and that you got a nice hit on it on that day. So I must commend you for playing through pain ~ well done. As far as your play goes, you have improved in your passing and we must acknowledge your work rate in every game. Advice: continue working on your dribbling while running at pace. Work on decision making when running at the defenders of the opposite team and also try to make sure that your hair looks nice every game (ha ha ~ it always does, we know! You know we love ya buddy!)

Robbie: it is hard to be complimentary to your own son while still being objective, not appear biased and not be dismissive to the player. I will aim to balance though. I will start by saying that your skill and your ability to hold the ball and always find a teammate to pass is outstanding. I have seen you under pressure and I rarely see you make a bad pass (great, now I've jinxed you!) but please, keep that up. I have also noticed that you are more settled when in front of goal. Your two goals this past weekend were great. The second one in particular, a one timer from 25 yards out while the ball was bouncing, was one to remember. Overall, I think it is great to see you enjoying the game while maintaining a clear understanding that you are part of a team and not the sole player in the team. Much love papito. Advice: practice your shot with your left foot - start with accuracy, then move to power. Second, when on break-aways, change speed and direction while running at defenders. That will make you more lethal as the season progresses.

Gabriel: another speed demon who has come to our team with every intention of helping the team succeed. He also did not disappoint.  By now Gabe has a better understanding of when to make runs and when not to so that he uses his energy in other areas. Your fitness is showing great improvement too. What I was most impressed with was your tenacity in getting the ball back when we did not have possession. I counted at least 5 times when you came back and commandingly took the ball away from the opposite player and then made a pass to one of your teammates. This is going to make your game more complete and will accelerate you to become an even more reliable player. Advice: keep your defensive work going. Come back and retrieve balls from the back, dispossess players and set others up. By the way, the assist you gave to Robbie with your header was outstanding. Well done!

Finn: let's start by confirming that you possess amazing skill (yes, your miss on that pass from Hamish was unfortunate but don't get stuck on it - just learn from it). For me though, what I like the most is the fact that your movement off the ball is improving. I saw you moving in diagonals and coming back to retrieve balls to mount attacks in a very efficient way. I also liked that in several occasions, you did not rush but got your head up to see if there was a teammate you could pass the ball to so that you could create space. This means you are improving in your understanding of the game. With your skill, that piece of the puzzle will help you reach greater achievements in your soccer career and will make you a crucial part of any time, now and in the future. Advice: continue improving your vision of the field. Remember that because of the centrality of your position, when attacking you can act as a pivot, not just a straight arrow - you don't always have to look for the same one or two players. Use all your options. And when you are on the wing, stay wide. You will enjoy more time on the ball which means you can do more for the team.

Thomas: you my friend are one heck of a skillful player. I love seeing how you step on the ball, roll it, cut it and yes, control it with great precision. I also like that you are not set on scoring every time you have the ball and are close to goal. I see you passing when needed and shooting when needed. In other words, you have a natural disposition in the attacking front and I commend you for it. I want to also say that I am most impressed with your tenacity every time you are on the field. Coaches can teach skill, but we can't teach heart. Advice: work on your control with your left foot and your body positioning when receiving bouncing balls. Also, one important thing: yes, some of these players are faster than you. So what??? You got skill Thomas. So, what do you do? You do what you do best: shield the ball hard, run with it as close to your foot as you can and avoid putting the ball away from your control. Work on becoming stronger and protecting the ball well while maintaining your head up so that you can always make good passes, especially when dribbling under pressure. Move off the ball and away from opponents into open space. Do your thing my friend!

Ben: Ben has improved in two main aspects: his fitness and his tenacity. These two factors were limiting your ability to make the type of impact Darcy and I believe you can make in this team. However, as of late, we have seen you be more involved, finish your runs and be more aggressive. This past weekend you hit another cross bar (remember the one against Gorge??) You are also better at passing the ball quicker and with conviction. I say that as games go by, you are showing more and more determination to fully gain the trust of your fellow players. That is something every coach wants. I commend you for it. Advice: continue working on your fitness. Yes, at school, go hard in PE. At home, work on your left foot touch. At practice, play like you are in a real game. And last, remember that when receiving a ball, do not let it run by you. You saw that no matter how ready you are, if you let if run by you, you are setting yourself up for an unnecessary race against the ball when all you had to do was control it.

Justin: this guy is by all accounts one of the most skillful and strong workhorses in the team. In addition, this game you showed once again that no matter what position we place you on, you are like duck tape: we can use you for anything!! Seriously! You have played 6 different positions: forward, center back, stopper, center mid, winger and outside back. Your understanding of the game is great. But your ability to listen and apply instructions is even more phenomenal. I applaud your tenacity. Like Koby, you have also improved in your distribution of the ball. Your ability to hold the ball has to be balanced with your duty to pass and create chances for players in attacking positions. I believe that you are doing that and that as our season progresses, you will continue developing the perfect balance. Advice: yes, continue working on becoming a master-passer. Also, work on your shot. Practice shots while you are running and from far out. Most of all, remember to not complicate your game on the field - think of making things simpler. That will take you far in your career.

Alright, yes, long post but necessary I believe.

For now, have a great rest of the week and see you Saturday ~ Cheers!

Roberto

Tip of the Week: Find a Wall at Home

Coaches are often asked "how do I improve my first touch and first time passing outside of practice?" During practice, players pair up and pass the ball back and forth. However, this takes away from the speed of the passing as it hinges on the ability of each player to be able to pass the ball back and forth accurately. Sometimes players use benches, go to a gym, or find some other type of wall around that they can bounce the ball against for increased velocity and challenge.

 

But how do we get around the fact that we don't have a wall to use at practices? Well, a great alternative option is to find a wall at home and score yourselves on how many passes you make against the wall. You start off with a longer distance (say 7 feet) and simply pass the ball against the wall. When the ball bounces you simply pass it back using only one touch. The purpose is to have the ball go and forth between and the wall at certain speed. Don't let the ball come to a stop! As you get better, you reduce that distance (5 feet) and then even a bit smaller (3 feet). The key is to master the rhythm first before you go and reduce the distance. Some great players have spoken about the benefits of doing this simple drill at home.

Dennis Bergkamp, said that when he was a young player at Ajax, they had little three foot high walls. He would knock the ball against it for hours. He would do it over and over, trying to establish a rhythm.

“I would also hit the ball against the side of the house… Hitting the ball with both feet, seeing how long I could return the wall passes without losing control. I found out later that so many pros spend lots of their childhood doing that.”
So what I would say to you is go find a wall at home. Get your touch down. Once you do, you can begin scoring yourself. For example, you can start on a Tuesday and count how many times you can hit the wall without losing control in a half hour period at a certain distance. The next time, try to go for more passes and once you have that down, aim at reducing the distance but increase the speed of the passes (this means hitting the ball harder so it bounces faster off the wall). Inevitably, you will find that when you are playing your first touch will be better, you will be able to adjust your foot quicker during quick passing in a game and ultimately you will see less turn overs.

I hope this gives you something to try at home on your free time. Aim to do it at least twice a week. You will be surprised at how quickly this helps you improve. For now, take care and see you this weekend.

 

Cheers,

 

Roberto