i dont think a lengthy report is required! The look and feelings of the whole team after sundays match as people walked off the pitch said it all. Potentially we threw away our chance of winning the league this year against an average side who SHOULDN'T have beaten us.

 

However, despite a fast paced game, some good running by all the salient points from sundays game are thus.

 

We defend well, with a solid back 3 ( 4 if we include Luccho), some good solid tackling and with all the defense looking to aggressively attack from possession and distribute the ball forward. I think that the halves also overlap well and certainly as the season has progressed the man to man marking has improved, from a defensive position we are certainly picking up players quicker. This MUST happen in the last 4 league games against good teams who will capitalize if we give them space to roam. 

 

Ball is moved well to midfield, halves looking equally left and right which is giving us extra options. It can be dangerous if we become a one dimensional team for instance just playing the ball right. There will be times when the key players are away and the play will brake down, so lets continue with the variation but make sure we distribute it one way or another, be decisive and if there are no options then switch. 

 

The PROBLEMS set it big style when we get the ball about 10 yards past our half way line!!!!

 

Any one read "hitch hikers guide to the galaxy" On the cover it reads DONT PANIC!  

 

we will not generate any success in either creating good attacking hockey or at all scoring goals with this obvious and apparent panic approach to our attacking hockey. from the side lines you can see as i did! the look of panic on players when they get the ball close to the D. There is no urgency or alarm when we are in these positions. During May we need to instill some CALM in our hockey and have some confidence to keep the ball.

 

Drawing a comparison  from a a top english premiership football club, sorry graham its not Hull City. But look at Man UTD. How many time  do we se united 1 goal down with 5 mins to play. Do u see the squad running around brainless like headless chickens? No they play there game which they have played all game. Its at this time thats its vital we play solid steady pure hockey to create chances. We are NOT going to run a goal in at 100 mph with 2 mins to play. Whats needed is solid ball to stick, passing the ball around working it forward passing back, moving into space. If not find a foot, get a penalty corner. United play a steady last 5 mins up the work rate and create goals. It takes 6 passes to get the ball from our 16 yd lien to inside the D if passed correctly and people run off the ball into space.

 

Sunday saw players screaming in panic for the ball when really there was no need for panic, they were passed the ball when in fact the defender had been drawn away. Similarly we need to improve on a few elements of our game.

 

1) when our players have the ball and are closed down by defenders our guys have got to move into space and move towards the guy with the ball and give him options. The major fault in our game is players sit behind defenders and do not move. You CANNOT pass a ball through a defender its the fundamental rule of hockey. Its to easy to intercept he ball, and to be honest we play against teams who have better skills than us who practice. By enlarge we DONT. People can be forgiven from not training if work commitments dictate, but the fundamentals have to be in place. Move into space move towards the player, lead with your stick show him where you want the ball! Call for the ball only if you are in space un marked and can do something with it. If you cant get the ball, make a run draw a defender away and if need be OUT of the D. Wingers and midfield run wide take a player out create a hole for the attackers, you can be assisting in goal scoring without actually being involved in the goal itself 

We have given too many goals away this season from no where. Having had possession made stupid mistakes handed the ball over and goals conceded from absolutely nothing.

 

2) although our defense i feel have had a great season, hockey is played over 2 halves of 35 mins.... that means concentration of 70 mins..... takes 1 mistake to lose us the game, and in all fairness we haven't conceded many goals this season and those that we have have been through mistakes.

 

3) I genuinely believe that as a team we have to start playing a less selfish style of hockey when it comes to scoring goals. If the golden boot was up for grabs or the cover of sports illustrated then fair enough. Ask yourself how many times have you had the ball in the D had 3 defenders clawing at you and you still tried to shoot instead of slotting ball right/left to somebody else whose been screaming for the ball. I can think of numerous occasions ive been stood on line unmarked and the ball just hasn't been past 2 yards right, or wasn't passed early enough so intercepted when it came late.

 

4) When we find ourselves unable go forward. Stop the ball and dribble backwards. Couple check steps back create some space between you and defender to either get past or pass the ball.  Its like chess you can go forward and back!

 

Guys we have 4 league games left, regardless of the league now, lets g out there and try and build some lessons from which to consolidate next season and win the league. We have 4 big games, they will be fast physical and skillful, if we go out against any of them the way we played 144 we will get destroyed by Valley, shaheen, punjab and Pak B.

 

For the standard of hockey which we play in Div2 its only a process of tweaking our game. If we do we will ENJOY our games and revel in the feelings of success of winning and actually in the belief that we played well as a team played good hockey and not have to walk off the turf as we did on sunday heads down.

 

Friday night is derby day. We are playing away at Valley. They will be up for doing us....... remember this is the side that beat HKFC Bs in the cup i know i played. The game will not be easy.

Forget sunday lets go out and play some good hockey.

 

Graham has a couple of new ideas re a new formation to try out which we think will fill the obvious hole in midfield. Also I think   re think on short corners. WE need more tiem at the top of the D. I think the problem we are having is we are being indecisive with what we are doing. Options 1, 2, 3.

1) shoot

2) slip left/right

3) slip forward to injector on near post

 

PLan it, call it, play it! Once it called we dont change plan! Regardless!!!!!

 

Best regards........