Team against Grafton Strollers 25/6/15

The team for tomorrow's game is below-

                                            Anthony

Andrew D.                           Luke  Lee                             Montell

Andy J                                 Pasch Jose.                        Charlie

                                            Sam Scott

Subs-  Simon (Sam),  Daniel (Charlie), Matt, Phil A (2nd half) Steve R. (2nd half)

They have 10 players. I'll go in goals for them so we need a couple of volunteers but will play it by ear tomorrow. 

The season so far.....

Well unlike the tennis season, we move away from grass and on to the artificial surface for a couple of months. So I thought it seemed like a good time to jot down a few thoughts on the year so far.

After a good start culminating in us reaching the semi final of the MI cup, it seemed like the pinnacle of the year. In retrospect given our results since then it seems to have knocked the wind out of our sails because we have struggled with results in recent weeks.

It seems to me that we are in transition at the moment. I have been experimenting with different formations and using players in positions which they have either enjoyed as a new experience or have been reticent about trying.

I have done this to give the team options in preparation for when we have a reasonably stable team and also give me an idea of your best positions. 

I am determined to build a winning team that plays football with style and passion. We have definitely improved our play recently with some impressive performances and I'm sure the results will follow.

It can be difficult picking a team when there are variations in who is available so I would ask you particularly in preparation for when we return to the grass in September to use the time at Dulwich to hone your skills. I'm always looking at how you play and I believe that competition is good for a team so don't take it badly if I move you about or ask other players to play in your favoured position. It's just how we do things at the Accies.

However please trust me to manage this situation. I have been impressed with both our work rate and our play over the past three weeks so don't worry about the results. We just need to convert our chances and shore things up at the back particularly preventing silly mistakes that have cost us recently. If in doubt..........

Use the time on the astro to pass the ball on a true surface, sort out our first touch and work hard to win the ball back. This week we need to continue our pressing game whilst using the ball creatively to prize open their defence. We have a nice blend of youth and experience so let's learn from each other and play to our strengths. 

Team for CP & DSV- 18/6/15

Here's the team for tomorrow 's match against Crystal Palace and Dulwich Super Vets (CP & DSV)-

                                                Anthony

Andrew D.                              Lee.   Barry.                            Phil A

Scott.                                     Jose.  Andy J.                        Montell

                                              Sam.     Simon

Subs-  Luke ( Barry)             Charlie. ( Phil A)       Andy T  (Jose)  Daniel

I am going to bring on Daniel in the second half to play up front ( his favoured position)  but it shouldn't affect everybody's playing time.

We are going through a challenging time recently but let's keep playing passing football, keep it tight at the back and knick some chances at the other end and we will soon be back to winning ways!!    

From The Archives: FA Cup Final Social, May 2012

Some would say these photos of questionable quality should have stayed in the archives!  It was a great day - I watched Norwich City draw 3-3 vs Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, then legged it to Palace to help the Accies to a 3-2 win over Southside U21 (a team put together by Scott I think).  Then on to the Paxton (RIP) to watch Chelsea defeat Liverpool in the FA Cup final.

Playing football does give a bloke an appetite

Two Chelsea fans looking unworried. I believe the explanation for Neill's
face paint is a Help For Heroes walk earlier in the day

Evidence should Luke need to sue the barber

Tea and cake for Sam. How very civilised

I seem to recall there was a singsong.  Don't know why

Team for Mott McDonald match- 11/6/15

Here's the team for Thursday's game-

                                              Anthony

Andrew D                             Barry  Luke                       Phil A

Charlie                                 Andy T Sam                      Montell

                                            Simon Scott

Subs-  Lee ( Andy T) Dave (Luke)  Tremayne (25 mins in second half)

We are sticking to our 4-4-2 formation from last week. We beat this team earlier on in the year so no pressure lads!!

Team Photo From Spain, April 2015

Apologies for the delay in posting this excellent photo! I do have some others from the trip which I will post in due course.  But here is our squad of 12 who were beaten finalists in the four-team 11-a-side tournament, plus the non-playing me.

Back row: Luke Fallon, Ian Holmes, Andy Thornes, Sam Herbert, Jose Carlos
Padliia Moreno, Stuart Dade, Anthony Emery, Phil Caldwell.  Front row:
Andrew Dade, Jose Cogolludo, Jorge Gonzalez, John McNally, Simon Mesner

From the Accies archives

When Graham passed away I found myself looking through ancient Accies artifacts, and one that caught my eye for a future blog post was this section of the minutes from our first ever AGM, in January 2001.  It concerns possible selection for our second ever 11-a-side game, vs Woodley Wanderers (who are now called Dolphin Riders and still play every Thursday, on the atrosturf pitch next to our superior pitch!).

I really like the arrows… Intrigued by the decision to play Tom Wrigley up front; and the full backs Luis Sandoval and Chris Osborne is an interesting choice.  I suspect on the day Andrew Dade played right-back and Chris Osborne right wing, but I can't remember, of course.  And the prospect of me and Luke at centre back in 2001 is terrifying, although in 2015 I'd be more than happy with him looking after me there.  As for Graham on the left wing…

Anyone involved in team selection will not be surprised to learn that the above forecasted 12-man squad didn't exactly resemble the final squad on the day.  Mick Woolhouse, Luis Sandoval and Luke Fallon didn't attend - their places were taken by Simon Mesner, making his 11-a-side debut, and someone called Richard Macmillan, who my fading memory reckons was a work colleague of John McNally.  Ian Holmes scored both our goals.  Ask him about them, he'll probably be able to describe them in detail!

We lost the game 7-2, and there's a symmetry to that, given that we lost 7-2 on Saturday too.  Albeit in January 2001 a total of 10 club members (or nine plus soon-to-be member Simon) attended, whereas on Saturday only seven club members turned up…  But let's not get into THAT here…

Dulwich Tigers- 4/6/15

Here's the team for Thursday's game against Dulwich Tigers-

                                               Anthony 

Andrew D                               Lee    Luke                        Phil A

Montell                                  Joe   Greg                         Charlie 

                                              Sam  Simon

Subs.    Andy T, Scott, Steve R 

Back to 4-4-2 which I've been told worked better last week. 

We have another game on Saturday so with that in mind those playing in two days time please let me know if you would like a rest (Luke is playing a half with this in mind).