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.

Ragtag Rebels - Eindhoven United

5-0. Quiet and simple

From the very first second we had a clear chance and Francesco almost scored. Right after that Francesco scores the first goal after a lost ball from the keeper. Their keeper lost many but MANY balls today and some meant goals.

Gianluca didn't come and Stefan was the keeper, he wasn't very busy but still did his job very well.

I don't remember the second goal (Jelmer?)

Third goal was a cool one, Gareth get's in the pitch and the first thing he does is a pressure to the keeper, whom decided to shoot Gareth on the leg, rebounce and goal, first touch=goal: Veni, vidi, vinci (Julious Caesar).

Fourth goal starts in Fernando dribbling a striker in our area then he crosses the whole field but the defenders are more worried of his pass so he accepts the invitation to shoot and scores. Very nice long run and beautiful goal

I'm a bit confused with the goals but we reached the break 4-0.

One more in the second half (Carlos??) and 5-0.

US: Solid defense although we didn't have many difficulties today. To put a "but" I would say that it seems to be tricky when we have Jelmer and Francesco together, there are moments when none of them cover the last guy and we have some difficulties. In the second half we agreed not to follow the keeper (because he wasn't dangerous in attack) and we fixed that minor issue. Again, nothing serious today but something to keep an eye on. However in attack they did couple of very nice 1-2, actually perhaps the best play today was a great combination of them.

THEM: It is not a bad team but they have a serious problem in defense-keeper. They loose very dangerous balls. They also do slow vertical passes keeper-first defender, we recovered many balls just by being quicker there. Their best player today was the number 6, he moves around a lot and we needs to be covered.

Anecdote 1: Today we shot at least 4 times to the post: Gareth(2), Francesco and David.

Anecdote 2: In the second half Stefan receives a long and easy ball out of their defense(from their field) and he plays funny and let's the ball come in the goal. That is supposed to be ok because the rules say that's not a goal. However the referee was even funnier than Stefan and gives the goal!!!. Luckily the referee at the table corrected him and cancelled that. Lesson of the day: you wanna be funny? better do it on wednesdays.

Anecdote 3: Mikkers lost against War GP. Virtually(because we have one more game) we have an advantage of 11 points. Most likely that difference will be reduced to 8 points next week.

Next week we rest. In two weeks we face De Witte Burgh, let's forget about points and differences and try to play a serious match against them.

Linesman: Digo and Fernando

Goals: Francesco, Jelmer?, Gareth, Fernando, ??? Help me at the comments please.