Playouts vs Hibernians (Div 4) 6-2 Win (6 July 08)

Match was at Bedok North Secondary school. Once again, we were playing against a mostly ang moh team. Seems like the Espzen league is overrun with these ang moh players. Weather was superb, threatening to rain but just stopping short of drizzling. Field was nice, even and small.

Kick off and match started off with us Playouts controlling the game nicely. Defence felt solid for the first half and the Hibernians had little shots on target. We had a little problem with their free kicks as they were pretty darn tall compared to us. Adrian Yeap almost headed the ball into our own goal during one freekick, but luckily it hit the post and rebounded out. The Hibernians were a little slow and we basically overran them. Breakthrough came in when a Hibernian defender played back a ball to their goal keeper and the goal keeper somehow let the ball into the goal for an own goal. 1-0 to us.

Second half was more exciting with Playouts truly outshining the Hibernians in all areas. We were 3-0 up before the defence let in two goals (1st goal was through bad marking on the flanks? 2nd goal was through bad man marking during a set piece?)

Of note, the Hibernians kept on insulting the referee for the ‘bad’ calls that he made. They were also really pissed about us shouting ‘mine’. Apparently they are hardwired to respond to ‘mine’ by giving the ball to the person who shouts it and thats why they lost the match. Jansen, please check out the exact rules on this matter, Chris really wants to know, right Chris?

ok goal scorers please fill in the rest of the storey =P. i hope i got the scoreline right.

Playouts vs Singapore Pirates (Div 6) 3-0 (29 June 08)

Another positive display from Playouts Reunited sees us finishing off the opposition 3-0 (or 4? I cant rememer)!

Ok, so it wasnt always plain sailing.

Pirates started off with 10 players, and Playouts, despite having the lions share of the possession, could not find a way through. Late in the half though, Kong takes a freekick on the edge of the box and sends it straight into the net! Sighs of relief all around.

2nd half, the gooners finally managed to get their 11th man on the field. Bad decision, Pirates. With their full team, they changed their formation, which allowed our striker more space to play. Lo and behold, a BEAUTIFUL true (sic) ball plays isa halim gan through and he makes no mistake. 2-0.

I cant remember the last goal, but Han scores it. I always cant remember Han’s goals. But as Sir Alex likes to say, he’s in a rich vein of form!

I dont think we scored any more, if we did, I wasnt paying attention anymore, heh.

Playouts vs Awful Team (4-0 win) 15 June 08

Playouts finally had their first clean sheet game this year. Credit goes to the defence consisting of Adrian, Liansoon, Tzechong, Zaizhi, Zaishao, new import Marcus and of course the gk, Christopher. Awful Team did not have a single shot on target. Kudos to the defence and maybe to the standard of the other team.

The first half started off brightly for Playouts, with them controlling the match in the first ten minutes. Awful Team did not have a chance to attack much and they were constantly threatened by Playout’s attacking style of football. The first goal came slightly within the ten minute mark from a burst of brilliance from the left flank. In his debut match, Marcus showed remarkable composure and maturity by setting Shao up for a one on one opportunity with the keeper with a beautiful layoff. One fake and the keeper was caught flat footed. Shao shot with his LEFT FOOT (gasps!) and sent the ball rolling into the goal.

Despite being extremely sick, Zhuang managed to slip past their slipshod defence. Its only him and the last man as he lines up the shot. Unfortunately he whacks the ball straight into the last man. Who can blame him? He was sick after all…

The game is played at full stretch as the Playouts repeatedly play the ball out wide to the wingers. Geddit geddit…Play the ball Out.

Second Goal – A ball over the top appears to be on its way to be gathered by the farmer/keeper when a divot in the ground intervenes with celestial construct. The onrushing striker, in an attempt to skip over a divot, actually leaps towards the ball. He catches it with his studs and knocks the ball past the farmer/keeper but alas the former is pushed way wide towards the left touchline. He gathers the ball near the far touch line though and looks up for support that is arriving in the box. The farmer/keeper meanwhile, is lumbering back to his goal area when suddenly, the striker decides to whip a cross in. A fortunate turn of events alters the flightpath of the ball and it ends up in the back of the net from a most acute angle. And there we have it, the all important second goal that dashed the opponent’s hope of a comeback.

Third Goal – despite sleeping at 230am the night before and waking up at 645am on a sunday morning and playing a full game at 9am and didn’t go home in the afternoon to sleep and first game playing as a DM, chong pops up at the right place and the right time to volley home jansen’s cross. 3-0. Second Half

Fourth Goal – Amidst the vibrancy of the Playouts attacking play and calm from the rearguard, one man seeks to fulfill his destiny. King Kong Bundy, in one of his rare subdued displays, roars into life just as the game seems destined for dullnitude. Taking a short pass from Dunstan on the right, the effervescent Kong bursts past his marker with consumate ease, taking another along for the ride. He holds the two defenders off as they try ways dark and sinister to impede his surge. A determined run culminates in a diagonal shot from the top right of the box which the keeper does well to get down and parry. However, as all good things must come to a good end, so too does this tale. The ball falls nicely into the path of the onrushing striker who gleefully pokes it into the net ahead of the outreached arms of the farmer/keeper. King Kong Bundy and burly striker celebrate with high tens! Unfortunately, there is a high price to pay for such hedonism.

<Insert Vagina on knee photo here>

Match Analysis

1. Switch Play through Defence

We succeeded in switching play through the backline on numerous occasions; in fact, one of our switches resulted in a fantastic counter-attack that stunned AwfulTeam. However, our full backs need to pull out to the side touchlines to provide width for us to switch. We tend to run towards our player after we pass to him, which makes it easier for the opponent to mark both of us. Also, DM, CB & Winger need to provide passing options once FB gets the ball.

2. Possession

We did pass the ball more this game than the last, but we’re still too rushed, and hence not controlling the game. We need to stop thinking “forward, forward, forward”, but instead think “easy pass, easy pass, easy pass”. The more easy passes we play, while at the same time providing the return pass option, means we can direct the ball where we want it to go.

3. Awful Referee – fucking fuck.

4. Man of the Match

Adrian Yeap. Who would have thought he would win another soccer award after 1999’s Most Improved Player Award at Jimmy Tong’s Boot Camp.

Key Take Aways

1. When passing among the defence, non ball-carriers should provide WIDTH & DEPTH.

2. If you want the ball, make urgent sounds/motions/runs to signal to ball carrier how badly you want the ball.

3. Win the damn headers; we concede too many opportunities to opponent by letting the ball bounce once.

Playouts versus CISCO 6-5 (6 Jun 08)

Writted by CZZ (freely edited by ed)

Hey guys, frankly, i cant remember all the goals except for the first and last goal. whoever scored goals, can you fill them in, i think renhanx3, jansenx1, zhuangx1 and Kongx1.

Match at Changkat Secondary School, 5.00pm, 6 Jun 08, referee was Yahya Madon.

Pitch Report: Long grass, no potholes, relatively level; plenty plenty plenty sandflies and red ants. ka pui!

Highlights

Pre-match warmup - Everyone was on time. Well done! 6 new shiny new balls were brought out to be used for the first time. We found out that both our keepers were not turning up, so there was some last minute scrambling to decide on who was keeping. In the end, Chong was 1st half keeper, Liansoon was 2nd half keeper. They played without gloves. Zhi and Ed were wearing brand new boots.

1st Half Kick-off

1-0 – Goal by Renhan (penalty kick) – Renhan was brought down in the box while trying to dribble past a defender (keeper took him down). Referee immediately blew for the penalty and renhan stepped up to take it. His penalty shot was hard and went to the goalkeeper’s left middle side. The goalkeeper guessed the right direction but the shot was too hard for him to save it.

1-1 – This goal occurred almost immediately after we scored the first goal

1-2 -

early on in the 1st half – shao tracks back as his opposing player charges down his flank with the ball. his face is full of pain. his legs are unable to carry him the distance. he stumbles, the stumble of drunk men or wobbly-legged wussies, without any contact from the opponent. see his bloody shack face! 15 minutes into the game only!

wake up your idea, platoon best trainee!

gahmen make you weak!

1-3 -

(missed pen) - Again, Renhan was the person who won the penalty when he collected a pass from Jansen in the penalty box. Renhan asked Jansen to take the penalty. Jansen stepped up and blasted the ball onto the cross bar and it rebounded back in play. Dunstan leaped up to head the ball back towards goal, but could only somehow put it over the bar!

Half time - Amazingly demoralised, as we were 2 goals down at half time after squandering a 1 goal lead and missed a penalty. Defence seemed very shaky with the opponents seeming to make runs with impunity into our penalty area and creating alot of chances for themselves. I didnt think that we could win this match at this point in time.

(ed: for the record, i never thought we were in danger of losing this match; it was clear that they were not vastly superior to us, and so in matches like this (which means in 90% of our matches), we are always in with a shot. try to remember that we are a formidable team ourselves)

2nd Half Kick-off

2-3 – This goal happened in our very first attack after the second half kickoff by us. (kong found jansen with a slide-rule pass…jansen controls it well and slots it past the keeper at his near post.)

3-3 -

every play in the 2nd half - kenny breaks up the opponents’ play.

kenny breaks down the opponent.

kenny rampages CISCO midfield.

kenny is omnipresent.

kenny is the new makelele.

(apologies to his partner zhuang, but kenny was just so powerful this game that … erm… he kinda overshadowed even your huge contribution.)

4-3 – goal mouth melee…jansen collects it at the top of the box after our striker contrives to not pull the trigger but lay off…close control brings him past 3 defenders and as he steadies to shoot…a last ditch tackle comes in and ball trickles to lurking striker who as luck would have it gets hit by the ball which then rolls in at the near post…wild celebrations ensue!!!

4-4 -

somewhere in between -

ed takes a corner on our left side. and sends the ball straight to the centre circle, creating a massive couterattacking opportunity for CISCO. ed henceforth banned from taking corners/freekicks/crosses/allmannerofballkicking

5-4 – striker attempts to play a return ball to kong after some nice threesome intercourseplay between edwin areola lim…king kong bundy…and striker…alas the striker kicks grass and no ball and ball goes to defender…striker tries to win ball back and defender…being in striker’s pockets conspires to play a pass across to the centre of the park…striker’s new boots have an extra 3.7 cm and this extra inch and a half intercepts the ball…striker is clean THROUGH on goal and not TRUE…as in TRUE pass…he delays his one-on-one effort and miraculously trips on the ground before stubbing his toe and inadvertently knocks the ball past miserable keeper again at his near post…wild celebrations ensue!!! striker has to go to church to pray for his good fortune.

somewhere in between – jansen and ed fight for the post when defending a corner.

5-5 -

somewhere else in between – tzechong makes a “world class tackle” on CISCO striker, but knowing that he actually fouled the guy, quickly cries out “ref! i touched the ball!!”, so as to “concede” a corner instead of a penalty.

his cunning and craft well-known to his teammates, only the referee fell for it and awarded the corner; the rest of us were sniggering all-knowingly.

6-5 – Goal by Zhuang [approx 85th min] – Chong won the ball in defence at the edge of the penalty box with a sliding tackle, Zhi collected the ball and ran with it for the counter attack before passing it to Kong who was in the opponent’s half. Kong saw Zhuang make a run for it and made a through pass in front of Zhuang just outside the opponents penalty box. The goalkeeper was rushing out to try to collect the ball, but the pass reached Zhuang nicely and he pushed the ball past the keeper who was diving to attempt to get the ball. Zhuang then slotted the ball into the net from a tight angle with a clinical finish

Full time - We won! Couldnt believe it. Match was a good match with no dirty shady scuffles and ill feelings. Opponents were clean players and they played well too. Yahya Madon commented that Kong, Ed and Kenny were very strong players. Kenny played a spectacular match in the 2nd half as he shut down the opponents attacking midfielder by shadowing him every time he made a run for the ball. This allowed the defence to concentrate on the strikers and wingers, making it more stable.

Playouts vs Grey Team (6-4) 1st June 08

By Edwin Lim (edited by CZZ)

So here I am nearly 1 week later finally sitting down to report on last Sunday’s match. Good luck to Zhi when the new season starts in trying to chase you guys to write! We won 6-4 !! A massive victory for attacking football!!

So we went into the match with a new 3-4-3 formation, with the intention of using this in future games if ever we need to chase a game. Verdict: attacking wise potent, defending wise not yet steady (until we find a way to organise the team in a defensive position)

Match at Greenview Secondary (Pasir Ris), refereed by Othman.

Ref report: Excellent ref, lots of verbal communication with the players, 5 star performance.

Pitch report: Excellent field, level, smooth, well-cut grass, great for passing, no bumps, no dry patches, grassy throughout.

Goals

1. Dunstan 2 goals (1st goal guoming crossfield pass to duns on the left edge of the box, duns cuts inside to tuck it home; 2nd goal i cant remember shit) Added by Renhan – Dunstan’s second came from a determined run by isa…scampers down to the right byline and cuts it back across for tungsten to steer it to the bottom left corner.
2. RenHan (ren han is a damn nice guy la, but i forgot how he scored. i think it was another intricate passing move with isa cutting back and a simple renhan tap in. or maybe im making things up) Added by Renhan – Edwin releases Jansen down the right and an early first time ball across the box is bundled clumsily and fortuitously in by the burly cumbersome striker.
3. Kong (rasping shot from outside the box, straight down the centre into the top just under the crossbar; looked like kong was bored so he felt like scoring)
4. Kenneth (dogged determination – kenneth runs down the entire defence, half dribbling & half chasing down his loose ball – and finally makes space to shoot, goal!)
5. Isa (some nifty passing play results in renhan getting the ball on the left side of the box, a chipped pass to isa and isa flies in with a jumping/diving header!!)

Highlights

1. Cong attempts a bicycle kick in the 2nd half; an admirable attempt that flew all of 5m. But at least he contacted the ball.
2. Cong, through on goal and 1-v-1 with the goalkeeper, contrives to shoot straight directly at the goolkeeper.
3. Adrian Yeap makes numerous interceptions and headers, only for no recognition to come his way, as usual.
4. BoonHai plays for the first time as DM, and settles into it pretty comfortably. Being ACJC’s tallest midfielder (less Raja Kluivert), he has to boss the midfield.
5. Isa stays on the pitch.
6. RenHan plays every position on the pitch. What’s new.

Takeways from game

1. In attack, provide diagonal balls for wingers to run onto or play the ball to striker to lay off; do not pass straight thru ball for striker, chances are the goalie will get it each and every time.
2. When defending (both midfield and defence), use the screen/rubber band, i.e., the whole defence/midfield should shift as a rigid unit towards the ball.
3. In defence (everybody) stop ballwatching- track back and follow/mark/tackle/kill the nearest guy.