HTC - Swift boys: VIDEO OF THE GAME

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

High Tech Campus - Swift boys

Relaxed game. 9 - 1

This game was the easiest so far. We managed to score very soon. Andre made one of the goals of the year ;) and from then on, the game was easier. They played with no substitutions and soon they were tired. Almost no pressing from them when we lost the ball we could quickly recover it.

US: Today we didn’t play bad, however the other team cooperated on that giving us quite some spaces. Andre scored 4 goals.

THEM: They aren’t bad but their last defender (chuncky guy) didn’t run much. They almost never press us and they let us play. Their best player is their stricker. Thin and skilful guy that moves well.

High Tech Campus - TOB 1

We gave the match away. 2-3

A big shame. We had many more chances but we let them play, we were really soft in the pressing and did not follow in defense. All in all we had way more chances than them.

We were wining 2-1 and in a counter attack they equalized, 2-2. When the game is about to finish, we lose a ball 2 meters from our own area, their stricker shoots and the ball hits two legs before it goes in. They shot 3 times and score 3 goals. It is proven that in this category, teams do not need control of the ball or many chances to win the game.

High Tech Campus - Ballast Nedam Bouw

Our first victory 5-3

Nice team. The keeper is good and the striker moves a lot.

We started loosing 2-0, then we made 3-2, then they equalized, 3-3. Almost at the end Jelmer hits their crazy goalkeeper in the forehead. Two minutes later Carlos shoots with no angle and the ball enter between the legs of the keeper. And two minutes for the end of the game, Danielle shoots from far and the keeper doesn’t see it. 5-3. It was more difficult than what the score says.

Digo was back!.

The worst thing was the knee injury of Gerard, which apparently is pretty serious. Good luck with it man.

High Tech Campus- FUTSAL PLANET.NL

4-4. We gave away two points.

I didn't go to this game so the little I can say is what I got from few of you.

We started wining 2-0, then 3-1 and everything look under control but in two consecutive mistakes in defense we got two goals, so 3-3. The situation was even worse when they scored the 3-4, again in a big mistake in defense that apparently heat up the atmosphere.

Luckily we manage to equalize near to the end of the game. 4-4, one point for us.

THEM: Not bad but nothing impressive either, given the circumstances we could and should have won this game.

US: Gareth was clearly the MVP with two great goals and very committed in defense.

It seems to be clear that we should have won this game. We managed to be wining 3-1 and attacking pretty well and still we almost lost it. We should learn from this.

We have to be way more aggressive in defense and manage better the possession of the ball.

High Tech Campus - Untadilati

7-1. Welcome to first division.

Today we showed up with 5 players, two of them; new ones, we sucked physically and tactically, we scored an own goal and we barely moved. We didn't play that badly since 3rd division. Well, in 3rd division it could have been ok even with that performance... the lesson of the day is that, if we play like this now, we take home a 7-1. The biggest defeat so far since we formed Ragtag Rebels.

All in all it was kind of ok during the first half. We gave away 2 goals but we were not that exposed. We reached the break 2-0 down. Right at the start of the second half David scores the 2-1 and for a minute it seems that we may do something. However immediately they scored 2 goals, 4-1 was apparently too much so we lower the arms, stopped running and then received 3 more goals. Severe punishment.

US: Nothing to be mentioned. That's how bad it was. Many positional mistakes, not serious in defense, not following our guy, not moving into spaces, unbalanced distribution on the pitch... a big disaster.

THEM: They move the hell of a lot. Not really quickly but constantly. In defense, as long as we follow them we have a chance, but we need substitutions to be able to do that.

Linesman: Digo and Gerard

Goals: David

2011-2012

It is time now to talk about the new season (already started ;)).

First big change: we have a sponsor that gives a remarkable contribution so in exchange we have renamed the team as High Tech Campus (I).

Also important to mention that, due to his move to Brussels, Francesco will no longer be in our team unless very exceptional occasions. No need to mention that we will miss him very much.

Last but not least, 3 new players this season. Gerard, Luca and Danielle. Welcome guys!!.

A few facts of last season

The season is over, it is now time to look back and see how we did.

Here, the global numbers:


A few conclusions can be taken out of these numbers:

• Lost games = 1. We lost one game in the league. JUST ONE!. Second team here has 6 defeats. Big difference.
• Goals against = 40. Second team here: 44, third: 72!!! nearly 2 times as many as us.
• Scored goals = 79. We are fourth in this ranking, not impressive. Clearly we won the league because it was quite hard to score against us during this season.

Great and unexpected numbers. Lets keep up the good work for next year.

Note: Unfortunately I don't have an updated list of individual statistics. If any of you (Jelmer? Stefan?) has it, please let me know and we extend this post.

Ragtag Rebels - War GP

2-2. Game over

The last game of the season was a nice game however everything was not really hot since the championship was already decided. There was some tension though but not even close to the level of the previous game against this team.

We had no substitutes today so the physical part was harder. We started controlling the game and soon Francesco does a great combination with both feet and scores a great goal, 1-0. Then we see that the referee (the old crazy guy of the first game) is again clearly against us, with no sense of shame at all. Every single issue, no matter how clear, was given to them. The great news is that we showed an amazing matureness and we almost didn't complain at all.

In that strange atmosphere we managed to control the ball. Stefan had two great chances after very nice movements but no luck. Suddenly, again a great move from Francesco and another goal, 2-0.

Then the break. During the first half Gianluca didn't have much work. The defense was working nicely with Digo as last guy and Fernando very focussed not only in defense but also taking the ball out to the attack. On top of that Francesco and mainly Stefan were helping a lot in defense.

Great first half of Stefan, great movements in attack and focussed in defense.

In the second half everything changed, mainly because we were tired. We didn't defend with the same strength and they scored two goals. The second one a very lucky one that Gianluca didn't see on time.

After that, both teams got chances to win. We had more, Francesco got perhaps the clearest but no luck. Also fair to say that Digo did a key cut on a 2 vs 1 and, even more, Gianluca saved us with two great saves at the end of the game.

US: Good first time with everyone focus, Stefan moving like never before and Francesco very inspired. Second half was less nice but that was understandable.

THEM: Their captain is, to say it mildly, the most unpopular guy in the league. No doubts about that. Today, like in every game: complaining, insulting, playing dirty and violently from the very first minute, etc; everything allowed by the old referee. Today they didn't have the blond chunky striker, instead they had a "dark skin" (not really black) guy that moves a lot and also a grey hair guy that was more static. The dark guy did a great action in their first goal. Still none of them as good and skillful as the blond guy. On the other hand this ones are normal guys, no signs of sickness in them.

If we don't consider their captain's behavior and the ***** referee (ridiculously against us), today it was a normal game, not many differences with others in the league.

Goals: Francesco (2x)

Linesman: Lorenzo

Ragtag Rebels - Mikkers

3-3. Finally: we won the league.

It was a hard game. As we knew Mikkers is a very powerful team in attack and we really had to pay attention at defense. They had the possession of the ball but we were pretty serious at defense.

They started scoring with a “kind of” an own goal. We don’t follow a guy in a 1-2 combination and later his shot is saved by Gianluca but bounces in the leg of one of our defenders and comes in. Again we started losing a game. However we didn’t lose focus and after a while Digo equalizes with a great shot. Then we make the 2-1 from Carlos (one vs one with the keeper, I think) and start dominating a bit. Unfortunately soon we make a dangerous pass from our area to the middle of the pitch, lost ball, everybody out of place and they make the 2-2.

About finishing the first half Gareth does an individual action and when some (me) were about to complain (because he didn’t pass it). He shoots somehow and the keeper feels generous and gives us the 3-2.

Then the break comes and we are tired but they look even more than us.

In the second half the game was very tense but still clean though; no rough tackles or complains. In the middle of the second half, a fast action from them: the guy turns around and shoots, the ball comes among some legs and Gianluca cannot grab it, 3-3. Then we defended a bit better following the best striker and after some actions of both teams the game was over.

US: Good game although it took us a long time to understand how to stop the strikers. Again we did our most common mistakes in defense. 1) Front line did not follow their pair and 2) losing the ball in our field. We didn’t do it often but those things caused us the first 2 goals.

THEM: The most dangerous attack we have faced this year. You give them an easy chance and it’s a goal.

They have two key players, both short and dark hair. One is a bit chunky and bald that moves and keeps the ball really well. The other one has glasses and is very fast and skillful, a permanent danger (also he speaks Spanish, ;)).

Luckily for us, their defense is way worse than their attack. They rarely follow their pair and let us several one vs one with the keeper; however we wasted most of them.

The keeper is not bad although he gave us the last goal.

Goals: Digo, Carlos, Gareth

Linesman: Jelmer and Stefan.

Ragtag Rebels - Carpe Diem

3-3. Not yet (they say).

We made many mistakes yesterday but to my taste the league is over. We have +39 goals and Hunter boys +14. Two games to go.

We started well, more or less controlling the game and in one good action Carlos scores with almost no angle. 1-0.Then they press a bit and they manage to have a penalty, 1-1 and with that result we reached the break. The second half was pretty balanced, both teams had chances and Gianluca was, probably, our best player today.

It started well, counter attack from defense and Jelmer scores. 2-1. Then we had several actions like a shot on the post by Fer, but didn’t score… until Carlos dribbles a defender and scores the 3-1. Then in another counter attack we lose the ball, Digo and David(what a lousy game he did today) crash into each other, 3-2. At that point we had the possession of the ball because they were tired but we miss passes. We should have frozen the game.

And when we had one minute to the end (just one minute!) our last guy looses the ball, two on one with the keeper and 3-3.

US: Regular/bad game, like the previous one but against a stronger team. At the beginning we played decently but then we started to miss passes. Later we stopped following our man but luckily that didn’t cause any goal. Gianluca had more work than normally and he did it pretty well. Individually we made many serious mistakes that we should discuss. Not smart in the pressure and then misplaced on the pitch, not following our guy, not helping or moving when a team mate has the ball, etc.

THEM: As proven today, very dangerous team. They don’t defend very well but in attack they move a lot and in general they are taller and heavier than us. When the keeper was attacking, they found empty spots in our defense (left side mainly, right for us).

I think that when, with only one minute left, after being winning 3-1 and having the league already won, the ball came in, we all wanted to scream. Let’s learn from this for the next game.

Next game: Mikkers. They beated us 4-1 (our only defeat so far) and they are without any question one of the strongest teams in the league.

Goals: Carlos, Jelmer, Carlos

Linesman: Lorenzo

PS: Thanks Lorenzo for joining us and please get well soon, we need you in shape for next season.

A bit of math

Today we have our first match ball of the season. Funny isn’t it? This was our first season in second division and most of us (me first) didn’t think we will be at this position at the end of the season. Nice to see we were wrong.

I always say that making numbers is useless until the last three games… well this is it so let’s do some math.

The situation is like this:

1. Ragtag. We are first with 38 points and 15 matches. There are only 3 matches to go=9 points.
2. Mikkers with same number of matches (15) and 11 points less (27), that means they already cannot win the league.
3. Hunter Boys with also 11 points less than us (27) but only 14 matches, if they win their next game (I assume so because it is an easy one against the last) the difference will be 8 points.
4. Waar GP with 25 and 15 matches (no chances to win the league).

Bottom line: Eight points difference, 3 games to go and only one opponent. We just need one point, since our goal difference is pretty sexy (+39).

The next (and last) three matches are:

1. Carpe Diem (tonight). Together with us, they are the best team in the second leg. They have won around 10 games in a row, beated War GP and last week Mikkers 6-4. They were loosing 4-2 at the break and scored 4 goals in a row. On top of that they played some time with 4 players after a green card. They are currently in very good shape.
2. Mikkers, currently the second team in the league. So far the only team that beated us this season. Scored 4 goals actually.
3. Waar GP. We had a very rough and dirty game in the first leg. There are complains about their behavior from some teams. I would not feel confortable playing for the league against them.

These are the maths. Nice position needing only one point, suuuure but we often make the easy a challenge and the three next games are the most difficult ones. Let’s focus in tonight’s game and in what we individually have to do on the pitch.

Good luck.

Ragtag Rebels - De Witte Burgh

5-3. We just did our home works.

It was in principle a simple game. We started well and controlled the game for quite some time. We didn’t suffer much in defense. So all in all and then goals were came naturally. Well done pressing, etc. Very nice, we reached the break 4-0. Then a bit of relax, misunderstanding in defense and 4-1. Luckily soon we made the 5-1 but then we just stopped playing. No pressure, no offering, no moves, nothing. Digo even said he had the feeling that everybody wanted to score, could be, I don’t know. Anyhow the fact is that we had a serious problem of concentration and then they took control and scored twice in 3 minutes. Then we kind of woke up and cold down the game a little bit. Not so many chances anymore for any of us and final score 5-3.

In total the result was ok, but it really worries me the fact that we easily lose control of a very positive situation. This is not the first time it happens, see 2 games ago against High Tech Campus, also winning and losing control. Luckily today we had a very nice margin and their attack was not that powerful but one day we could pay for our relax time.

THEM: De witte burgh is a nice team, balanced with young and experience players. However they have problems when we press them. When they do counter attacks (at least today) normally it is only the guy with the ball attacking not followed by anyone else of his team so it is easier to stop. They attack also with the keeper but they don’t move enough to take advantage of that.

US: Nice first half, horrible lost of concentration and aggressiveness. Luckily we came back on time but this is not the first time it happens. We should definitely keep an eye on this.

Note: After today’s victory only 2 teams have mathematical chances to win the league: Hunter Boys and us. Mikkers and Waar GP cannot make it anymore. Carpe Diem is coming back but they wont be able to make in time.