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Thursday's team 29/10/15

Here is the team and the changes for tomorrow-

Cosmos

Andrew D.  Lee Barry.   Phil A

Charlie.  Pasch  Andy J.  Tremayne 

Dan Simon

Subs- Scott (Tremayne) Scott up front Simon move to left mid, Stuart (Phil A) Dave (Lee), Montell (Andrew D)

Cosmos

Montell. Lee  Dave. Phil A

Andrew D  Andy J. Tremayne  Charlie 

Simon Scott

Subs- Barry (Charlie) Phil A move to left mid Barry left back, Pasch (Andy J) Dan (Simon)

Sorry about the font size variations.

Effective defending using the two banks of four formation.

I know that the diagram above is fairly obvious but I thought it would help to visualise what the two banks of four means on the pitch. Ideally, the opposition will be facing two lines of four players covering the entirety of one half of the pitch. 

The defensive line is particularly important as, with proper communication and synchronised movement, it can exploit the offside rule and prevent all long-balls and through-balls succeeding. 

However, it can be fraught with danger if any individual fails to cover his area of the pitch. We have to move as two units of four which means talking to each other and being aware of where each of us are in the pitch. This will cut down the space and provide protection for our defence.

We need to build a solid foundation and that starts from the back and permeates through to the midfield and our forwards closing down space. Let's try this out tomorrow. 

Team to play Grafton Strollers 22/10/15

Please find below the team for Thursday with all the changes-

Anthony

Barry. Luke Lee Phil A

Montell. Sam Andy J. Simon

Scott. Dan

Subs- Charlie (Simon) Steve (Montell) Pasch (Sam)   Stuart (20 mins) Tremayne (45 mins) 

Anthony

Tremayne Andy J Lee. Stuart 

Montell. Sam. Pasch Charlie

Simon. Scott 

Subs- Phil A (Stuart) Barry (Andy J) Dan (Scott)    Luke (45 mins) Steve (22 mins)

The times in brackets are for those who have chosen to play for that amount of time. Everybody else is getting 65 mins except for Lee and Anthony who are playing for the whole game.

Well I thought we were unlucky last week. We had a dodgy patch after half time but nearly snatched a draw.As I said last week we need to tighten up our defending as a team.  We cannot keep letting in 5 goals and expect to win football matches!!!!!!

Two banks of four work for the best of them so we should employ this on Thursday. We need to work hard to get the ball back and press from the first minute to achieve this. Fitness and work rate need to be high and as you have seen from the squad above we have enough players, if you are feeling tired. So put a shift in, particularly the first 20 mins. 

Let's put them on the back foot and win the ball back. Then lets pass the ball with confidence and make use of Dan up front. We haven't been giving him enough service since we went back on the grass.

See you on Thursday.

Team to play Sporting Falcons 15/10/15

After much tooing and froing here's the team for this week's MI Cup match against Sporting Falcons-
Anthony
Charlie  Lee   Luke.   Phil A
Montell. Andy J Sam Simon
Scott Dan
Subs- Pasch (Andy J) Barry (Lee) Dave Stuart

Anthony
Dave Lee Barry. Stuart
Scott. Pasch Andy J. Charlie
Sam Simon
Subs- Phil A (Stuart) Montell (Scott) Dan (Simon) Luke (Charlie) Luke CH Lee CM Andy J LM

Jose has had to miss out this week and we have 14/15 players (Stuart and Dave will be one player), so there have been some tough decisions made. (I won't be playing either). Please be aware that on weeks like this one, whilst being slightly grateful for having the chance to play, more importantly make the most of the opportunity and understand that there is a lot of competition for places in the squad.
The decision not to play Jose was based on commitment nothing else and whilst Jose always has legitimate reasons not to play related to his work and was unable to attend Rotterdam that was the reason.
So be ready for tough decisions to be made in the future. We are a team and as such all decisions made are based on the needs of the team. If you miss out, take it on the chin (Jose has done that this
week) and move on.

Team selected to play Atkins FC 8/10/15

Here is Thursday's team and the changes-

Geoff
Montell.    Andy J.   Barry.      Phil A
Charlie  Sam.  Pasch   Scott
Dan Simon
Subs- Jose  (Scott) Andy T (Pasch) Tremayne Stuart

Geoff
Tremayne   Andy J.   Phil A.   Stuart
Montell.     Pasch   Andy T.   Jose
Simon Scott
Subs- Barry (Phil A) Charlie (Stuart) Dan (Simon) Sam (Montell) Scott drop back to right midfield Sam up front

We need to few break our recent run against Atkins where we have drawn the last few games.
Let's be positive about a victory!!