vs Mallorca 2-5 BIFL Cup

The late setting of the date for this match caused immense trouble for the Collins team, culminating in 6 first choice players missing the match including all of our potential goalscorers, and our goalkeeper. Last minute phone calls, bribes, blackmail and the random return of Glendon from the wilderness, and Alberto from the dentist actally helped us to field an almost full squad, although we did have 5 players that we had never seen playing for us. One look at league positioning, and our problems and you would have been forgiven to have called this as a double figures mauling, but against all the odds, we played out of our skins.

The first 10 minutes were very even with both sides having potshots on goal, and Carlos having potshots at anyone with a red kit on. Within minutes he was carded, 2 minutes later and warned again, and within seconds handballed for a second yellow. 80 minutes to go and down to 10 men...hmmmm.

This was not however immediately problematic. The team was Alberto in goal, Teemo dropping back to left back from midfield for Carlos, Tom and Rich as centre backs and Chris on the right. Kyle held the centre aided by Tim who came back from up front, Fritz had the right wing and Kai the left. Antti was up front alone. Oddly this seemed to settle us and although the Mallorca team pressured, we had the measure of them at the back, midfield held the ball up well, and Antti was very lively up front. I feel that we are starting to play simpler cleaner football, and this gives us alot more time on the ball. Mallorca scored to make it 1-0 after 20 minutes, but very soon after this, some great chasing on the right by Antti, put the very dodgy keeper under pressure and he parried into the path of Tim who made no mistake. 1-1, game on!!

Half time came and we were very much in the game, Kai came off for Andre, and Glendon came on for Antti to give some fresh legs up front. Immediately, Alberto was called upon to make a number of fine saves but the pressure eventually told. Twice the defence was found wanting and it was 3-1 very quickly. At this point, our forward line clicked again, and some very unlucky shots were just wide. The next goal from Mallorca was down to slow legs in defence. 4-1 and we were in danger of a thumping if we didn´t score soon. Glendon popped up immediately with a reply and 4-2 was a more realistic prospect. The Collins dug deep, Alberto saving twice more, and Caj coming in for Fritz to offer some fresh legs on the right. The next 15 minutes were all Collins as the midfield and forwards clicked like we had been missing for large portions of the season. A constant threat, Tim, Glendon, and Kyle marauded through the Mallorca penalty area and came close time after time, but it was not to be. Fresh strikers came on for mallorca and the ragged defence crumbled again, Richard a step too slow and 5-2. Mike came on for the final 10 minutes for Rich and shored up the hole, but a valiant loss, nothing to be ashamed about, and a strong showing from some of the new players.

Man of the Match, Kyle.
Honorable mentions: Tim, Glendon, Tom, and Alberto the octopus.

vs Sitges 2-5 loss

Surprisingly i think this game was a turning point for us. Sitges has always been a bogey side to many of the clubs in this league and have consistently been at the top of the tables year in year out. A depleted squad without Branko and a recognised goalkeeper, and we were looking at a stuffing.

For once, the phonecalls and hassle helped and we had a squad of 15, meaning that we would not get beaten for stamina, and the game began. Mike Roberts went in goal against his wishes as jordi will not be returning to the side. It was immediately obvious that we were going to miss him and a flapped cross enabled Sitges to go 1-0 up very early on. Carlos was having a battle of epic proportions with the entire Sitges team and was very successful in winding them up. Centre backs Rich and Tom were successfully bullying the Centre forwards but the back posts were very weak and it seemed that if the ball went over their heads it would be a goal. 2-0 up and not at all having the majority of the game, the very unlikeable Sitges team started to attack Carlos and were finally getting obvious reactions from him. On a yellow card already it was going to be necessary to sub him at half time to keep 11 on the pitch. Tom seemed to be happily crunching players left and right without any warnings so at least we weren't light at the back.

The small pitch in Sitges wasn't giving our wingers much room to work with and it was almost a surprise when Lluis nipped behind the defence and scored a goal to drag us back into the game. It was very much game on and we pushed forward with Ian and Kyle looking composed in midfield. As ever our shooting was letting us down. Dom and Alberto were not hitting the target, but we were creating alot of chances. Once more the Sitges team broke and a back post ball once more nodded in made it 3-1, soft goal after all the hard work at the other end. They quickly added another which realistically should have been saved, but Doms relentless character assasination of Mike in goal had reduced his confidence to tatters.

Lluis once more provided a retaliatory strike to make it 4-2 and once more the reply from the back post nod in was enough to silence any thoughts of a come back. The game came to a close seemingly very quickly, and although the scoreline looked comfortable, we really could have beaten them.

Lessons learned....

1. Defend the back post with the full backs better. It will inevitably improve with a good run in the side for the same players. 3 goals were scored today due to this.

2. Goalkeepers are absolutely necessary, and we need a replacement for Jordi asap.

3. We need a couple of out and out strikers and we'll be winning these games.

4. 4-5 subs make a huge difference to the game as fesh legs add that something extra to the team.

Honorary mentions:
Antti - ran his heart out up front out of position and almost scored
Jan - very composed at right back as a sub, and could be a good addition
Tom - Der Panzer, relentless with his tackling, agressive with his attitude, deserved Man of the Match

We can look forward to next saturdays cup game with relish. it will be harder that Sitges but we have a couple of strikers to try out, and Branko is back, so heads up, we fought hard and well on saturday. The only way is up.....vive Michael Collins!!!

vs Manchester 9-1 loss

We went into this one hoping that manchester were more hung over and fat after the christmas excesses than we were. It seemed like we would have a large complement of subs at training on Tuesday so we were not unduly worried before the match. Valbonna is always a bitch to play at. Its a big pitch and an awful surface but we were in good spirits as we waited for the players to turn up at the meeting point, only to realise that lucho, Chris, and Mike didn't turn up. We had a couple of new guys who had never played for us before but the subs bench was a lonely place.

Immediately we kicked off with Tom at left back and Caj at right. Dom and Me in centre of defence and a 5 man midfield of Lluis, Kyle, Hugo, Branko, and Fritz, leaving Ian feeding off scraps up front. The worrying scene of 5 subs for the opposition boded badly for us.

The first goal was due to a lazy backpass after 5 minutes, the second a missed header into the sun, and the third, some very good wing play. The one thing you noticed about these guys was that they finished excellently. Jordi made 6 or 7 class saves within 20 minutes, and we were in danger of falling apart. Branko popped up with a 25 yard thunderbolt that moved in the air and dragged us back to 3-1, but the onslaught continued. Their wingers were marauding down the left and right, and with Hans their captain at his inspirational best, it was difficult to cope with them. At 5 or 6-1 by half time, we knew it would be hard work for the next 45 minutes. Our 1 sub came on at left back for Caj who was struggling to keep up with their lighning fast winger. The first 20 minutes of the second half we kept them at bay and a couple of chances came our way but were not buried, but then came their subs. They brought on 5 players wth fresh legs and all were as good as those that they replaced. The game was up when one of their attackers scythed Jordi in the box and dropped him onto his lower back, the scene of a previous injury that kept him out for 6 months. The rest of the game we chased shadows and had a goalkeeper who couldn't move. The final 3 goals were impossible to stop as tired legs gave way to the furious pace of the game. A sound thrashing, lets hope Jordi recovers or our season is in trouble.