Monday 12th October, 2007. Scorer: Norberto
Okay, I have been in a spiritual retreat regarding football for two days, trying to work out how it is possible that we dominate another game, yet managed to actually get thrashed 3-1. Letting in three daft goals, two after gifting their on-running players the ball when being naiave near the back and getting caught in possession or simply playing the kind of pass we shouldn't be playing, or failing to play to the whistle (again) when Andrew was fouled, but not in the ref's view and the entire defence stopped, meant that our (many, oh so many) missed chances cost us dear.
Missing 8 or 9 players, this game stretched our squad, but our starting 11 was still as strong as any this season. Irial moved back into midfield, and we had an all Portuguese strike force. Nate started in goal, and Andrew and Sebastian made up a makeshift centreback partnership.
We started slowly, failing to get the ball moving, and this cost us an early goal as we got caught in possession too deep in our own half and they ran in and scored. This got us playing, and the period between their goal and our equaliser was the best we have played this season. Truely brilliant. Having a right-footer on the left and a left-footer on the right (Me and Leo) gave our midfield a dynamism and creative versatility that had us creating all kinds of chances, and missing them in all kinds of ways. Once we got the ball moving we looked calm and patient, waiting for the right time to play the killer ball, but still managing to play at a pace that they couldn't keep up with. With Luis hitting his 2006 form, we were effectively playing with 4 fantasisti, along with Irial's bursting runs and Norberto's forward presence. In this game we must have had 4 or 5 one on ones, all from great little threaded balls through the midfield. All missed. Every move was ending in a chance, yet every chance was ending in a miss.
Jaime gets clattered by the keeper and has to go off at half time. Get well soon mate. Tijl comes on, and does excellently. At half time we all say that once we get one we will get more. We take our time getting the one, after missing a few more great chances. Norberto flicks in Irial's cross after a great run to the byline, after Tijl's unselfish movement created the space for first Irial then Norberto. Okay, we then go mental for five minutes and let in two goals. The first one night have been a foul. The ref (who was generally ourstanding) didn't think so, so we shouldn't stop. We stop, they score. We have a couple more chances, including a freekick of mine that Irial is already celebrating behind me before the keeper pulls off a miraculous save with his top hand as the ball was entering the top corner. He then pulls off a mirror image save from the resulting corner as Irial heads towards the other corner. We give it away, they score again (excellent finish by the way). Game over, effectively, although we still have to chances to peg them back. Obviously, we didn't score any of them though....
Look, we have to make this luck change. This is about responsibility. We all have to make sure we cannot blame bad luck again. Bad decisions at the back and bad finishing up front (or a pathological refusal on my part to shoot instead of setting it up for someone else) are costing us every week, when we are clearly superior. Clearly, as in much, much, much better. Mark even went as far as saying that it almost felt we had won on Monday, which was true to an extent. An excellent half from Luis, some great confident play by Leo, easily my best game for the EUI in ages (and a return to the always getting fouled days of two seasons ago. Ditto for Leo), a great goal from Norberto, after a great run by Irial, great selfless play by everyone, an excellent defensive line, and a good performance in goal by Nate all mean very little when it comes to the league table. This was a great game to play in, one that I think a lot of people enjoyed, because it was open, with a ref in control and we believed in our ability. Let's win next time, eh?
I have Charles and Norberto's IDs by the way! I have been offered 5 euros for Norberto's one, but no-one wants Charles' because the stamps in it mean he would never make it past US immigration. 6 euros and it's yours again, Nobby.
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