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