The Red Devilz had a repeat outing against the Manurewa Samba Eagles, this time round, the Eagles seemed a ‘different’ team altogether, they brought some boisterous support to Bledisloe Park and their demeanour was bloodthirsty; plenty of niggles and words accompanied the play off the ball and some of the Devilz were somewhat put off their game by the Eagles’ conduct.
The game was played out at great pace and plenty of skills were on show. According to eyewitnesses’ reports the Devilz once again lifted their game a notch or two and continued to show promising passages of passing, ball distribution and finishing and they displayed plenty of proof that their general football brains are well and truly continue to develop.
With a goal down after around 10 mins in the first half the Devilz started to dominate their feisty opponents and for the last 15 mins of the first half they played out of their little skins. Two beautifully executed attacks yielded a 2:1 half-time lead to the Devilz and stand-in Coach, JK, and supporters were rapped.
The second half was a fairly even affair and the Eagles managed to claw one back to level the scores.
Luck was not the Devilz’s patron on the day; with seconds to go the Eagles found a very soft opening in the Devilz’s defence and ruthlessly pounced on the loose ball… 2:3 down and still looking for the first three pointer in the championship round.
To their enormous credit; the Devilz didn’t leave the field down-cast, they knew they were in a tough match and they played good football. The attitude and the joy for the game remains unbroken and as a coach that is the most encouraging message you can get from your team when you are stuck in a mini rut like this.
Onward and upward, we look forward to training on Thursday on the ever bustling fields of PAFC and next week it’s off to Maraetai in search of the elusive three points…
Thanks to JK et al to fill in for an otherwise engaged, nervous as heck on the mobile phone listing in, coach. -Cheers-
Now; some thoughts about the English National Football Team…, how good are they?!
Take England B:
Merhaba Arkadash; sooo close came the English B-team, scarcely disguised in prominent blue-white and red shirts to advance to the business end of the Euro 08 cup, only to have it spoilt by the never say die turkiem benim outfit.
If that didn’t grip you, take a look at England C:
Бриллиант, or, in the mother tongue; ‘Brilliant’ aptly describes the performance of the English C-team against the Oranjes; advancing to the ‘boys to men’ stages of this wonderful tournament.
What does that tell us?
Weeeell, imagine if the FA had decided not to adopt the G.-Henry-Cotton-Club-Variant and instead neglected to rest (or make them play as if they were resting) its top outfit players during the qualifiers for Euro 08 for the admittedly all important Littlewood Cup we could have seen an England A-team mixing it with Europe’s finest now and one Richard Chorley would have re-gathered a bit of self-belief into an otherwise emotionally tumultuous English Football Psyche (compare “The European Ritual: Football in the New Europe by Anthony King, page 220 ff.).
So, 21 premier league players defied the odds, slipped on a different shirt and managed to get into the knock-out stages, not a bad effort for a seemingly confused nation?
As for the Bundesliga; 57 players started the tournament, 33 made it through to the knock-out stages (blow me away, is that ‘three’ run-on teams?) and there will be a fair few amongst the last men standing, but of course, it doesn’t mean anything, really, or, does it?
On another note;
We wish to thank Caltex and Lynda for supporting our team on match-days again this year with plenty of goodies for the player of the day –Thanks Caltex-.
The Devilz’ motto “… the Sky’s the limited!”