I hope you're all ok and didn't drown your sorrows too much on Saturday. I haven't quite got over the disappointment of losing - although it's made me more determined to put it right on Saturday. Oh and I apologise for losing my temper.... cringing a little about that now!
I'm just interested in collecting your thoughts about the game on Saturday and to see what you think we need to improve.
On a positive note I thought we created more chances to score than ever, worked hard to come back from going a goal down and in spells played some really lovely hockey. Game by game we're improving as a team - Claire and I can't ask anymore than that.
In terms of areas for improvement....at times on Saturday I thought we lost our discipline, didn't react quickly to turn over balls and didn't all attack as a unit. I also think we need to work at controlling the game at our pace. On Saturday Olton slowed the ball pace down and we slowed down with them.
I'd be interested in hearing whether you agree/disagree with my thoughts and what ideas you have.
Looking forward to a good training session on Tuesday.
H x
P.S. Game on Saturday is 1.30pm at Hampton (12.15pm meet at Hampton)
I totally agree with the quick turn over of balls. We need to stop arguing with the umpires to the effect that it becomes a disadvantage to us when they take free hits quickly and we get caught on the break.
ReplyDeletePossibly need to work a little on possession hockey...although that does not mean that we stop pushing for that goal, obviously sat is a great indicator of what happens when we don't stop pushing up.
Need to work on keeping the gaps in midfield to a minimum. Its not so much our units...but making sure that the 2 units are always linked.
On the plus side, i don't know bout you lot, but that was a MASSIVE improvement on last year. I feel like part of a team, rather than just 1 player playing with 10 others on the pitch. Makes me happy.
And we're scoring goals!!!
COME ON, we can so take hampton.
Yeah I agree with all of that.
ReplyDeletePositives: sooo much better than last year. every game so far has been a million times better than last season. The atmosphere among the team is awesome, and it's obviously reflected in our performances cos so many people have commented on how good we look and how much the work rate/energy/enthusiasm has improved etc.
Improvements:Definitely need to react quicker to the whistle and stop questioning umpires decisions/retreat 5yds quicker.
and I dunno if this is cos of something I'm doing wrong, or if it's to do with Han's comment about needing to work on staying as a unit, but there were times yesterday when I felt like, when we were defending higher up the pitch, I was alone in a very big space in the middle,so when Olton players came through the middle I felt a bit useless cos there was so much space for them to use...(does this make sense? lol). When we played against Harborne this didn't happen at all, and that's our best game by far! =)
Any suggestions on what I/we need to do to fix it?
Other than that, I reckon it's a positive start, we dominated for a fair amount of the game, we'll continue to improve, and after xmas we'll show them just how good we really are!
oh by the way claire, apparently joan (S's wife) filmed the last 15 mins of our game (slight misunderstanding - she didn't realise it was the wrong game lol), so you might be able to make another geeky skills movie for us lol
ReplyDeleteFeedback from me on Sat;
ReplyDeleteDefo need to be more professional/disciplined with crap decisions, they are a fact of life we have to learn to live.Quicker turnarounds are what the new rules were supposed to do to keep the game flowing, it'll flow without you; so stand and winge all you like on the sideline but never on the pitch.
My faux pas will never be mentioned hence forward as I've only just stopped sulking about it, but clearly that didn't help our cause.
I didn't think it was worth mentioning their 'national league' player as she wasn't their best and even if she was we would adapt/react to it. Personally I kept looking to see if her teeth were indeed false and likely to fall out at any point. Off putting for me and she was a minger.
What we need now is some self belief as we really can beat any team in this league when we are at our best.
What I remember about the Harborne win besdies chanting 'can we play you every week' is being knackered but smiling, we played hard and loved it.
Lets enjoy our hockey; when we do, we win.
In the words of a drunk CER - bring it...
I only just saw this post. All comments are very true.
ReplyDeleteI think we need to:
- stay focused, just play our game, whoever the umpire, whoever the opposition, whatever the score
- get fucking knackered! (scuse my language) but our fitness levels are really really good and we can thrash teams because of it, so let's do it. Plus I always feel I've had a positive game if I have worked hard throughout
- keep using support play. Small unit play opens up gaps for those threatening long balls through to our "good forwards"
Let's work for that win tomorrow!