Quick recap of our last two games; in short, not so hot.
We don’t seem to be gelling as a team like we did last season, everyone seems to want to play from the back, I broke my collarbone, so we a minus an experienced keeper too. I just wanted to boost myself there.
Last week we went down 5-2 in a rather crazy kind of game. I didn’t pay my game fees for this half of the season, believing I would not be ready to play. Due to some player shortages and general unfitness, I’ve scraped a few minutes in. In James’ words, ‘I didn’t help [my] cause’, when I scored a screamer with the outside of my left foot.
That was really all there was to that game, the rest was just fouls, fouls and more fouls. Apparently, according to our referee, indoor soccer is ‘non-contact’, and despite many attempts to find our just what that meant for the game, we were told to read the rule-book. OK, fair enough, we can do that after the game, but what about during? I think it’s the referee’s resposibility to explain to the players, on both sides, his interpretation of the rules.
Both sides were committing fouls, left right and centre, most were in my opinion quite trivial; tackling the ball from front on, but hitting the players leg in the process. I can understand, and in some cases agree with the referee’s stance on no contact. For sure some of our games are pretty much ruined by lumbering, unskilled loafs, who are just hacking at you all game. What I didn’t understand was how tackles that would have been legal in outdoor soccer, were called for fouls, however illegal tackles in outdoor and just general ‘contact’ (ie pushing, and niggling) from behind was ok.
Like I said before, sure after the game we could read the rules, but we need to be told during the game the reason why every challenge is becoming a foul.
Last night was little better in terms of our gameplay; a 3-3 draw. True we only drop one point, as scored draws are worth 2 points, but it just wasn’t a good game from out perspective.
Everyone was terribly flat. The passing atrocious, and next to nil in communication. Some would say we were unlucky, with Paul conceeding two simple goals, but I would counter with the two very easy chances they missed. I feel for Paul, it’s not easy being the keeper, especially since he’s been overseas for a month. It took me a while to get in form, so I wouldn’t expect the world from him.
Those guys just ran so damn hard all game, whilst we were left showing our age (bar Andy of course), wheeezing, puffing and just general redness. I still believe despite our general unfitnesswe should have won, but one point dropped isn’t too bad.
