Predators win at St Crispins

That's our 2nd win of the summer.  After Robson, Matt, Samni, Josh, Yassim, and Hammad took the plate with their heroics at Binfield, the other set did the same at St Crispins.  Harrison, Jack, Alex, Josh, JB, Joseph and Luke came through after not scoring a goal in the qualifying stages.  With just one goal from open play (in the final), the boys relied on some unexpected penalty skills to win through.

After the other boys won 2 shoot outs at Binfield, can say we're finally getting the best of these penalty exchanges.

If anyone has pictures from Binfield would love to see them............or a better one from St Crispins.

See you all tonight at the end of season do.

Still have a spot for one (or two) more players.

2012/13 Season U13's squad

1.   Isaac
2.   Harrisom
3.   Matt
4.   Jack C
5.  Samni
6.  Tom
7.  Luke
8.  Alex
9.  Josh
10. JB
11. Yassim
12. Joseph

13. Robbie from swimming (tbc)
14. tbc

2012/3 squad: Looking for 2 (good) new U13s players

Happily as its stands we have enough interest for Simon and i to run the Sunday team again next season - as U13's.  We will aim to stay in the North Hants Premier league after a pretty successful first stint at 11 a side.  We've all learnt a lot this year and will be better equipped for our 2nd go.

At this early stage, it looks like we have 12 confirmed boys.

Isaac, Samni, Tom, Jack, Matt G, Harrison, Alex, Luke, JB, Yassim, Josh, Joseph.  If we've misunderstood, please let us know asap......we'd like to get our squad set as early as possible (so we all know where we stand).

As last year we would like a squad of 14....though we would consider a maximum of 15.  Which means we are on the lookout for a couple of good players.  We're not expecting superstars - but only fair on the players we already have that they are on a level with our current set.  The boys are pretty good judges of that - so feel free for them to invite their friends (that match that description).

Most important - keen and commited.

We already have 2 boys of a very good standard (that we've seen play) who are keen to take those remaining spots.  So if you know of anyone that might be interested, please get them to contact myself or Simon soon.

Thanks,

David DMatthews@mizuno.co.uk

Heel pain......coming to a boy near you

Thought i'd post this link based on some research i've just had to do.  Josh has been struggling with some heel pain at the end of games - which was getting progressively worse.

Did a little research and turns out that a lot of kids from 10-14 suffer with this.  It's related to a piece of floating bone at the back of the hell.....which doesn't fix itself till they are a little older.  It's called Severs Disease - sounds more dramatic than it is and you can't catch it.

Anyway all can be fixed with the use of a heel insert which props the foot up and takes pressure of the calf and achilles.  Most running shoes have this already, but footy shoes run flat on the inside.

We bought some small mens ones from Boots and they've had an instant effect.

So check the boys out as this seems more common than i realised.

Read the full article here.

New boots for 2012/13 season

If any of you are shopping for new boots for next year (and have had enough of Nike) - let me know.

This fella seems to think the new Mizzies are pretty good.

They do some pretty good reviews here of all the new boots.  

Hook U12 v Lower Earley Predators U12 (1-7)

Really feels like we're over that mid season wobble now.  Finally figured out how to play without Shiv and Thierry.

Joseph looks a natural up front.  Kicking ouselves for not trying him there before.  Lots of pace....but even better intelligent movement.  He's not trying to score everytime he gets the ball, just offering himself, taking a touch and keeping the ball moving.  Joseph looks like the missing part of the jigsaw in keeping possession in the other team's half.  Until now i felt we played well from the back, but tended to rush once we hit the opposition half.

Matt has slotted in at the back - giving Jack the insurance of his pace.  They look a natural pairing and the defence looks solid again.

Though this was a game for the forward players to shine.  We asked Yassim, JB, Josh and Richard to stay in contact with each other and not be scared to play the extra pass (until an opening presented itself).  They carried out the instruction to the letter. 

Luke was asked to sit 10 yards behind Josh - so as not to cramp the front 4.  Luke wants to get forward at every opportunity, but when he gave himself space to watch play open up, it was very effective.  Having a goal scorer like Luke in centre mid makes us a far more powerful outfit.

There were brilliant moments from Richard (unplayable), Joseph and Yassim (man of the match).  Mention for Josh as well who kept the play ticking with simple unselfish passing to let the runners run.

Really hope we keep all the boys next year to keep this momentum going.

Lower Earley Predators U12s v Manor U12s (1-1)

I missed this one - but couldn't have been happier to hear the result.  Simon and i talked this one through days before and decided that we had to be a bit more pragmatic.  Manor have always scored early against us, before we could begin to dictate with our passing game.  The big striker and fast left winger have always outscored us......................so instead of trying to outscore them (again), we thought it was better to establish a sound base for our smaller skillful players to work off.  Hence Richard making his first appearance in defence - and looks like it worked perfectly.  Amazing how every year we end up learning that not letting goals in is the way forward.  That's two hard earned points, two weeks running.  Feels like we've finally recovered from losing Thierry and Shiv.  Bodes well for nest season.

Anyway report by James following.

Probably the best team performance of the season.  Whereas we had only played our best football against Manor in the last 10 minutes of the previous games against them after the game had gone, it is fair to say that we outplayed them for large parts of this game.

No Tom this week through injury, Matt went to left back with Richard at right back to contain their tricky left winger.  A quieter start from Manor saw us take advantage winning the midfield battle with Luke and Alex ferocious and an energetic Joseph causing their defensive line to make mistakes.  One such persistence saw him dispossess the goalkeeper at the side of the goal and unselfishly rolling it across where it was cleared.

JB was also stellar with his use of the ball and was linking up well with Matt, who was getting forward whenever possible. The inevitable happened when we conceded from a corner, but the boys kept pushing forward and Luke was extremely unlucky to see a sweetly hit volley rebound off the bar.

Shortly afterwards we had a free kick over on the left, when the ball was rolled back to Joseph to curl the ball into the area, it bounced past the onrushing attackers and sweetly into the corner of the net.

Going downhill second half, Manor were always going to have more of the ball in our half and so it proved, but the defence was resolute and we still continued to play football.  Robson came into midfield and helped disrupt the long balls forward, but a hairy moment when Isaac appeared to have the ball kicked out of his hands but Matt cleared the ball off the line, unfortunately Isaac was injured in the process and Harrison had to replace him in goal until the end.

We did have a number of attacks and Joseph was unlucky when through one on one and towards the end Richard left the opposition in his wake from deep in our half and forced an excellent save from the Manor keeper, whilst minutes later he rescued the team getting back to clear.

To be honest the second half was quite scrappy with a few delays and stoppages for injuries and as the game got more frantic the referee had his hands full controlling some tempers.  As well as the performance, just as pleasingly our boys maintained their discipline and continued to play football to the end and I think a draw was a fair result.

Excellent performance by the whole team, but particular mention to the midfield, where Alex and Luke worked tirelessly, with Alex shading the Man of the Match award.

Lower Earley Predators U12s v California U12s (0-5)

After a reasonable start i thought we really lost confidence in this game.  Once the first softish goal goes in, the boys look like they're expecting the worst now.  So we have a job to build the confidence back up.  Also want to get back to giving them something to work on even when losing - at least we'll walk away from every game with some kind of achievement.  Those half steps often end up taking you somewhere.

We also missed Luke badly.  In recent weeks he's been our strongest player (next to captain Jack).  Hopefully with him back in the ranks we'll have a bit more bite back.

JB was immense throughout - always offering to take the ball. Even when things were heavy going.  But for his leadership and determination to pull the whole team along with him - man of the match went to Jack.

Congratulations to California.  Always been a good side and they're going from strength to strength this season.

On a positive note, Simon recieved a nice email from a neutral who was at the game.  Just when we were a little flat, it was nice to get such a complement for our supporters and boys. So thanks,

"I only managed to get to see the second half ............of the game on Sunday versus the California team at U12 in the NEHL. I recognised some of the LEP players and some from other teams previously. The biggest difference was the way the players played football, the fantastic positive approach from the coach and parents. Very refreshing and absolutely the right focus on football, the players and the right way to play football. So different from the past and the reputation that had been built up of this age group that I had encountered before. The real test is how the players and parents act in defeat and your manager parents and players may have lost a football game but they won the match in the way they played and conducted themselves, tried very hard and played good football with a smile on their faces.

As a neutral I feel your team players and parents came out with a lot of credit and are having a very good season on and off the pitch. Well done."