Post by themonk on Sept 22, 2008 10:50:50 GMT
This will be a long one but that's my prerogative as manager - so shut it.
Another hefty scoreline for Rovers to live with and another minimal squad. Once more however, Rovers Ladies were the better team and the result was basically down to numbers.
This was the poorest turnout since the season started, with Rovers only just managing to field a team of 7 players. It was disappointing that some players said they would attend and then didn't show up; nor did they offer apology or reason.
With the minimum requirement on the field the initial formation of 2-2-2 was never going to keep a clean sheet. The clean sheet, however was not one of our targets today. Today's targets were 3 fold.
Positioning - Although we only had a crazy 2-2-2 / 2-3-1 formation the main thing the girls needed to focus on was their positioning and ball watching. In the previous games the defence had sat too deep and not kept a straight line. Today however the defence made sure they stuck together and the positioning was much better, we caught the attack on the offside many times and allowed ourselves a yard to catch up the attackers if they broke and made the challenge at the end. The midfield too had picked up the bad habit of dropping too deep and constantly found themselves behind the defensive line somehow. This week however was much better, with the midfielders staying in front of the defence. In attack the girls began to interpret play and were first to all miss kicks and passes in the opponents half. constantly on the correct side of the oppositions defense. The positional play this week was a huge improvement on the previous matches. When we did need to play wide we broke effectively with the team offering support to each other.
Possession - In previous matches we had given the ball away by not realising that we can't run through an entire team. Today however, we realised that we don't need to play forwards and it is becoming apparent the we are starting to realise that none of us are psychic. The girls held the ball up and were more vocal when offering support - we played backwards and built from the back on occasions. Possession is a key factor in the improvement today. We made sure we found a green shirt in space and didn't ping long balls everytime to the exhausted wingers. we played short, simple balls and the correct through ball every now and then.
Goals - We are always going to concede goals without a recognised keeper and without a full team, but what the score lines previously don't reflect is the amount of chances Rovers make. We have great ability in attack and can score goals. I wanted the girls to show that they can score more than one consolation and be a real threat in front of goal. Today's 4 goals should prove that we can be effective in attack, and prove we only lost because of the numbers. A superbly struck free kick from 35 yards by Siobhan in the first half opened her Rovers account for the season as it flew into the top right corner, helped by the beaten keeper's glove. Superb goal. In the second half Siobhan grabbed a second as she intercepted a short pass in midfield and drove through the opposition midfield and defence to score a superb solo effort. 1 minute later, Siobhan (who had been playing as right back until midway through the second half) grabbed her hat-trick after a through ball sent her on her way, again avoiding multiple challenges. Slotting the ball under the advancing keeper. Rovers 4th goal was superbly constructed and well deserved. Great clean up from Ellie and Izzy at the back resulted in the ball arriving at Hayley's feet who sent a ball down the wing to our Antipodean whippet Nicole who skipped inside past the defence and drove the ball past the keeper.
We can score goals, we just need the numbers to stop them That's really all I can say today. We lost because of numbers. Delta Colts were a good side and I wish them good luck, however I think Rovers deserved the win. Playing that well with 7 against 11 only shows how good we can be.
Player of the Match - Ellie Gray
I feel i need to write a separate report for Ellie after her performance today.
Ellie's performance was the best I have seen all season; including FA Premiership players. Switching every 30 minutes with Siobhan to play right back and right midfield Ellie never gave up and battled throughout. Ellie was first to every ball and made sure she worked hard to get back and defend if Delta broke. She didn't hoof the ball clear either, she found rovers players with an easy pass or turned the tide and beat the attacker she had tackled and set off a Rovers attack every single time. When she was attacking Ellie was lighting fast and skillful. The Delta defence couldn't keep tabs on her. Never straying out of position and having great awareness were key parts of Ellie's game today. The opposition manager also named Ellie POM for the above reasons. I wish the men's teams were here to watch her and take note. Absolutely superb performance.
Another hefty scoreline for Rovers to live with and another minimal squad. Once more however, Rovers Ladies were the better team and the result was basically down to numbers.
This was the poorest turnout since the season started, with Rovers only just managing to field a team of 7 players. It was disappointing that some players said they would attend and then didn't show up; nor did they offer apology or reason.
With the minimum requirement on the field the initial formation of 2-2-2 was never going to keep a clean sheet. The clean sheet, however was not one of our targets today. Today's targets were 3 fold.
- Positional awareness
- Simple passing to find a green shirt
- Score more goals
Positioning - Although we only had a crazy 2-2-2 / 2-3-1 formation the main thing the girls needed to focus on was their positioning and ball watching. In the previous games the defence had sat too deep and not kept a straight line. Today however the defence made sure they stuck together and the positioning was much better, we caught the attack on the offside many times and allowed ourselves a yard to catch up the attackers if they broke and made the challenge at the end. The midfield too had picked up the bad habit of dropping too deep and constantly found themselves behind the defensive line somehow. This week however was much better, with the midfielders staying in front of the defence. In attack the girls began to interpret play and were first to all miss kicks and passes in the opponents half. constantly on the correct side of the oppositions defense. The positional play this week was a huge improvement on the previous matches. When we did need to play wide we broke effectively with the team offering support to each other.
Possession - In previous matches we had given the ball away by not realising that we can't run through an entire team. Today however, we realised that we don't need to play forwards and it is becoming apparent the we are starting to realise that none of us are psychic. The girls held the ball up and were more vocal when offering support - we played backwards and built from the back on occasions. Possession is a key factor in the improvement today. We made sure we found a green shirt in space and didn't ping long balls everytime to the exhausted wingers. we played short, simple balls and the correct through ball every now and then.
Goals - We are always going to concede goals without a recognised keeper and without a full team, but what the score lines previously don't reflect is the amount of chances Rovers make. We have great ability in attack and can score goals. I wanted the girls to show that they can score more than one consolation and be a real threat in front of goal. Today's 4 goals should prove that we can be effective in attack, and prove we only lost because of the numbers. A superbly struck free kick from 35 yards by Siobhan in the first half opened her Rovers account for the season as it flew into the top right corner, helped by the beaten keeper's glove. Superb goal. In the second half Siobhan grabbed a second as she intercepted a short pass in midfield and drove through the opposition midfield and defence to score a superb solo effort. 1 minute later, Siobhan (who had been playing as right back until midway through the second half) grabbed her hat-trick after a through ball sent her on her way, again avoiding multiple challenges. Slotting the ball under the advancing keeper. Rovers 4th goal was superbly constructed and well deserved. Great clean up from Ellie and Izzy at the back resulted in the ball arriving at Hayley's feet who sent a ball down the wing to our Antipodean whippet Nicole who skipped inside past the defence and drove the ball past the keeper.
We can score goals, we just need the numbers to stop them That's really all I can say today. We lost because of numbers. Delta Colts were a good side and I wish them good luck, however I think Rovers deserved the win. Playing that well with 7 against 11 only shows how good we can be.
Player of the Match - Ellie Gray
I feel i need to write a separate report for Ellie after her performance today.
Ellie's performance was the best I have seen all season; including FA Premiership players. Switching every 30 minutes with Siobhan to play right back and right midfield Ellie never gave up and battled throughout. Ellie was first to every ball and made sure she worked hard to get back and defend if Delta broke. She didn't hoof the ball clear either, she found rovers players with an easy pass or turned the tide and beat the attacker she had tackled and set off a Rovers attack every single time. When she was attacking Ellie was lighting fast and skillful. The Delta defence couldn't keep tabs on her. Never straying out of position and having great awareness were key parts of Ellie's game today. The opposition manager also named Ellie POM for the above reasons. I wish the men's teams were here to watch her and take note. Absolutely superb performance.