Orange...Men in Black

The Orangemen changed their colors on Saturday afternoon for the first time in modern history.  Wearing all black to their match against the yellow clad Sterling Sting, they played on a natural grass field, at Paul Hencken Fields, near Algonquin Park in Loudon County.  Alas the change in color, necessary for some of the aging Orangemen--including their manager--to differentiate between yellow and orange in the bright sun, didn't change the game outcome.  The Orangemen were defeated by a score of 6 to 2.  The defeat wasn't without an opportunity to learn a few things.  

First, the change to black, definitely eliminated any excuses for errant passes to the opposition.  And, aside from looking incredibly gallant in all black, we learned that some members of the Orangemen still haven’t added all black socks to their kits.  When wearing orange jerseys the splattering of white and orange soccer socks doesn't stand out.  When wearing all black, the white socks and the orange socks, are immediately visible.  So if you don’t have black socks, please make the investment this week.  Wearing the same uniform helps defeat any accusations for opposing teams that we are bringing on “ringers” when we go on our winning streak latter in the season.

Second, it turns out that several players didn't read the Evite properly and didn't process that the game time was 4 pm vs our standard 8 pm kickoff. Whereas it wasn't a manager mistake in this case sending out bad and confusion information, I still feel I could have sent out a secondary reminder that there was a change to what we consider normal.  My bad for those who missed it.  I’ll do better when highlighting that there is this sort of change.  Strangely, the entire team carried a black shirt with them to the field, indicating that everybody was paying attention to the email.  Ironically Mooch didn't bring his black shirt, indicating the age old adage, do what I say not what I do,  is still valid.

Third, we learned that good officiating is extremely helpful to the game and eliminates most of the need to talk with the referee.  Prior to the match the referee actually came to me and forced me to talk to him.  He asked me directly if I had any concerns or issues that I wanted to bring up.  During the match I asked him for clarification on several calls.  I addressed with him the need for the teams to show integrity when the ball rolls out of bounds...and he agreed.  Several questionable calls went against us and it was the other team yelling at the ref for us playing too aggressively.  I think it was clear that when we are the team stepping out of the fray and not engaging in the squabble, we look much better.  All confusion is eliminated if only one member of the other team is yelling at the ref...as was the case.  One voice in protest can be sorted out and sized up for what it was, and in this case, ignored.  The ref simply knew who to keep his eye on.  So I would like to thank all of you for keeping your heads and staying out of the business of calling the game!!

So we did score two goals.  The first one, if we could capture it on video, will be replayed again and again on the evening news.  Chris H brought the ball down at the top of the box with his back to the goal.  He pushed it to his right and turn on it as the keeper was rushing out to cut the angle.  As he turned on it he struck the ball with his left foot directing it left of the inside post.  The arc on the ball carried it wide of the charging keeper but it curled behind him just in time to slip inside the post.  It was a magic goal and kept us nicely in the match during the first half.  In fact the score at half time was 2 to 1.  So we were really still in it...and had a good chance of doing better in the second half.

Due to changes in the lineup for the second half, and the necessity to rotate the substitutes onto the field.  The Sting found holes in our defense and punished us with two early goals.  Now ahead by three, and with fatigue setting in, we were scrappy and just trying to hold on.  A late scramble in the box led to a pass into Bob A who was able to poke it from the center of the box wide to a charging Michelangelo G, who struck it hard and low past the keeper for our second goal.  The cheers that erupted from the sidelines on that goal were fantastic.  It sounded like we were in a stadium.  It’s not at all clear who all was involved in the cheering but we had a couple of visitors,  Jim L’s wife, Mooch’s dad, Jan’s ever present wife Crissy, Mauricio's better half, and of course Michelangelo’s new clan.  Thank you Orangemen fan’s for making that kind of noise!

We still have some issues with our system of play.  I’m not ready to make whole scale changes to our system...but I can tell you I've been analyzing the 4, 4, 2 formation that we've been playing for many years and have come to the conclusion it is the worst system of play in the history of soccer.  Much more to follow on that front.

Orangemen vs The Ref

Another terrific showing, numbers wise, for the Orangemen. We are finally getting our numbers up and out to the field. I felt this season we have been in a rebuilding and recruiting year and along with renewed participation from some regulars we are doing extremely well. What’s left is for the manager to get us organized as we have plenty of raw material to work with. That said I’ve got some serious criticism to lay down first and then I’ll comment on a few other things.

Here are the important takeaways from the game last night:

On field discipline:

First, I’ve said this before and you will no doubt hear it again. Only Mooch talks to the ref. If others talk to the ref it is a sign of disrespect and two things can happen. One, it pisses the ref off to the point where he takes personal retribution against us with fewer and fewer calls going our way...like last night. Two, if others talk to the ref it reduces the effectiveness of me talking to the ref. When a couple of guys are already up in his face, the last thing he needs is another guy up in his face regardless of whether it’s the manager. Only Mooch talks to the ref.

Second, The ref makes the call. Reversing the refs call on our own is another sign of disrespect. Whether that be to correct a touch out of bounds or more seriously to correct a goal that is not given. Both things occurred last night. The correct way to handle the ball out of bounds is for the player to raise his hand and point to himself thus conceding to the ref that he touched the ball last. This will also appease the opponent if they see the player conceding. The ref may or may not change the call. In the case of a goal that’s for the manager on both sides to conference with the ref. The ref makes the call.

Third, we don’t learn the rules of the game on the field. So last night we had a least four or five people talking to the ref for clarification and asking him, in my opinion, pretty strange questions about hand-balls, off-sides, and shoulder-charging, etc. We all know how to play, we all know the rules. He knows we know the rules. So you can’t feign ignorance and think he doesn’t see right through your protest. The only gesture anyone on the field should be making towards the ref is a shoulder shrug, with your arms and palms open, and your mouth wide shut. We don’t learn the rules of the game on the field.

Forth, No fighting period. Last night was the closest we’ve come to a fight in a long time. I’ve got zero tolerance for fighting. Start a fight and take a swing and you’re gone, permanently. Threaten another player and you will be suspended. I’m not entirely sure what happened last night but it sounded like some threatening was going on. If it’s reported to me credibly I’ll look into it. If you threatened a another player consider yourself suspended. No fighting period.

Expectations:

When we have a crowded bench we can’t wait for folks to be drop dead tired before taking a blow...so after a 20 minute shift on, everybody should be looking for five minutes off. This is situation dependent but the expectation should be there. Of course no one should be conserving energy with a loaded bench. Everyone should be going full tilt if they know they have relief on the bench. 

The Orangemen have always had an everybody plays philosophy. I will continue to support this strong tradition. However, in the coming weeks, now that we have plenty of raw material, I will be experimenting with systems of play that could make us more effective on the field. Some of this includes substituting lines and reshaping our system depending who’s upon who’s on the field. 

In the coming weeks I will share with you various systems of play to get your feedback. Traditionally the Orangemen load the center of the field with our strongest players and we attack through that center column...then we drop back and defend centrally as well. In the future I will be experimenting with ways to load other areas of the field even if just for a period of time.

Now onto the game:

 We played well last night. As Ben was overheard saying, the score doesn’t matter so much as long as we played well. I certainly agree with that and it’s particularly gratifying if we show improvement along the way. We’ve got some real talent starting to show up and we can all learn a thing or two about how to play...everybody has to be open to learn. For instance, everybody saw my buffoonery when I stepped onto the field. I was immediately in a position to control a ball being played over the top. I got there in plenty of time to put a touch on the ball. Rather than touching the ball I slowed down and expected the ball to bounce softly so I could bring in under control. As I slowed down, one of their extremely fast midfielder, Mike I think was his name, beat me to the ball and touched it back into the air. Two more times in succession, we chased back after the ball and each time I waited for the ball to come down so I could control it and Mike would beat me to it. The valuable advice that Ben gave me was to just get a touch on the ball even if I can’t control it. A touch would have broken up Mike’s momentum and sent him wide, screwed up his timing, or broken up the play. It’s against every fiber of my being to play out of control, but Ben is absolutely right. Any touch is better than no touch, which was what I got...no touch...three times. 

 So we lost...4 to 1 with an own goal conceded and a questionable call that the ref was originally taking back since the play for all practically had ended with a skirmish in the box. Therefore the score was closer to 2 to 1. Feels like we played pretty well. Both Herndon teams are very aggressive opponents but we havebeaten them before. From my email above, you should all get the feelingthat although we played well, it was our behavior after the action, that caused us more difficulties. A lot of cards issued last night, more than usual, and all of them more or less for attitude rather than offense. Enough said...it was a fabulous night and most had fun...

Orangemen Victorious on Aggregate

Bob Ashpole Retires as Manager

On a day when most people are making sure their mortgage is paid on time, on this 15th day of the month, the Orangemen were trying to reverse the losing trend that has been growing over the past two games.  In addition, on this beautiful Fall evening, the Orangemen hosted their first “Family Night” of the modern football era and paid tribute to two Orangemen icons.

“Family Night” will hopefully be  the first in a long line of traditions the Orangemen Soccer Club will initiate in an effort to revitalize the team as well as the league which has been suffering in recent years.  Orangemen numbers were dwindling throughout the summer with a turnouts that required stand-in players. It is not only the Orangemen who are suffering a dwindling attendance.  Almost every week there is a threat of a team canx due to low attendance.  And on this night, against the Turtles, this threat almost was realized.  On Thursday the Turtles only had about 5 players signed up to play.  They were seriously thinking about a cancellation.  But when Mooch informed Jeff, the Turtles manager, that the Orangemen would field large numbers, they shouldn’t canx because we had the field, the ref, the money, and almost enough substitutes to field two teams.  The Turtles agreed to play so “Family Night” was a go.

Turnout from the families was exceptional...There were even several trays of food and deserts on top.  But the real reason for the celebration was to present the first annual “Orangemen Sportsmanship Award”, as well as to officially retire Bob as the Orangemen Manager.  Before kickoff, Jim Landoll was award the Orangemen Sportsmanship award which took him completely by surprise.  All credit goes to Bob for conceiving of the prize and then following through on it until it was presented to Jim.  The second presentation was to honor Bob as the Orangemen manager for the previous 14 years.  He was presented a trophy and a book printed by Shutterfly with a number of photos from the years he was in charge.  At half-time Bob was presented a Pentagon Soccer Coin by Tedd effectively inducting Bob onto the Pentagon squad.

Then it was time to play.  The Turtles turned up short handed so the Orangemen provided them with four players, B, Dave N, Mike G, and Mike G...we will call the first Mike G “Gooch” and the second Mike G, Floppy to distinguish.  Even with these players going over to support the Turtles, the Orangemen still have no less than 8 substitutes.  All told a least 23 Orangemen showed up to play...this might be a record setting attendance.

When the game began it was fairly early on when the Turtles drew first blood. It came on a massive throwin from Pete deep in Orangemen territory.  B, playing striker for the Turtles, and the shortest player on the field, connected with the throwing on the fly and buried it in the Orangmen’s net.  Perhaps Mooch had made a mistake by giving the Turtles an Orangemen striker who was reaching his season peak.  Luckily, the Orangmen were quick to answer and tied the score when Jan kicked a wonderful off angle volley that miraculously was driven high and into the far side netting. 

An opportunity to score presented shortly after where one of the Turtles brought down and Orangemen player in the box.  The ref immediately pointed to the spot but it took awhile for the Turtles to realized a penalty kick was materializing.  Ben stepped up with confidence to take the shot.  Jeff, the Turtles keeper, thwarted Ben’s effort with a confident block.  Ben, no stranger to blocked PK’s ran forward to chase his failed effort but was unable to turn the ball back on goal for a second try.  That would not be the only free kick Jeff would save for the Turtles on that evening. 

The next two goals came in the second half.  The Turtles possess a young striker with phenomenal ability.  He is extremely fast and prides himself on playing the ball around a defender and then taking the long way around the defender to collect his own pass.  He has wonderful skill and scored two unanswered goals almost single handedly.  Peter would claim an assist on one of those goals...but we will have to have the Ref’s make a judgement call...some would claim the assist goes to the striker who clearly passed the ball to himself.  Peter can claim and be awarded an assist on the Turtles fourth goal...Peter crossed the ball in from the right and somehow B ran to the center of the goal and volleyed it straight into the top netting.

The Orangemen were dumbstruck that they had been outdone so handily by their own teammate playing for the Turtles...but they were not finished.  The Orange Crush continued to pressure and had a few more opportunities go wanting.  Luke rushed into the box and jumped for a header with on of the Turtle defenders.  Unfortunately the defender’s nose collided with Luke’s hard cranium ending in a very bloody nose.  The game was halted for first aid to be rendered.  The Orangemen hope the player down is doing OK.

But as the game resumed Phil came forward sprinting onto a cleared ball that was only lobbed clear.  When he connected he popped it up high and it looked as if it was going to rise up and over the cross bar...but as reached the top of it’s trajectory and fell back to the field it was angling to the top corner of the net.  The Turtles keeper kept his eye on it and rushed to the corner of the goal to make sure it went high.  As he jumped for it the ball fell just below the back of his hand and the goal.  Phil had scored on a shot that couldn’t get any closer to the top right corner of the goal.  The Orangemen had closed the gap to within two.

With time running out Andreas played a clever through ball that split the defense wide open.  It was perfectly weighted and had enough speed to clear the defense but was not fast enough to roll to the keeper before Scott B pounced on it.  As he ran forward Scott moved left of the ball with a marvelous opportunity to strike the ball with his right foot across the goal into an open net.  Unfortunately his touch let him down and the ball went wide.  On any other night it was a certain goal.

So at the final whistle on this night the Turtles defeated the Orangemen 4 to 2.  However, of the 6 shots that stretched the net on this evening, Orangemen players can claim 4 and victory for just having been on the pitch on such a wonder night celebrating a wonderful occasion with friends and family.  

And Field Justice for All...

The Vienna Metros are a good team.  We’ve always struggled with them.  However last night, under the lights at Lake Fairfax Park, the Metros had help from league appointed referee. Help they didn't particularly need.  We don’t chart the games or track the calls and we don’t have instant replay.  When appeals to the ref don’t seem to have any effect, we have no other recourse but to talk about things like, “Field Justice”.   And expecting to win a game on field justice alone is like Al Pacino trying to win a case in Judge Rayford’s court room…it just ain’t gonna happen...

After the ball rolled out of bounds and the ref didn’t blow his whistle, and the Metro’s continued down the field to score their first goal, I thought to myself as I appealed to the ref, this is going to be a long game.   After I picked myself up off the ground for a third time I looked over at the ref for a call, and he waived me off as if I was “out of order” for even asking…I thought to myself, ”I’m out of order, I’m out of order…this whole game is out of order.”  And so it would be a loss for the Orangemen…in a game where we could have hung on…perhaps not won but hung on.  Instead we were handed, by the court of referee “I’m never going to blow my whistle, instead I’m going to make a motion with my hands but you’re not going to know what it means because I’m only going to talk in whispers”, another humiliating defeat.  The final score was 7 to 2 at the hands of the Metro’s and their midfield holding style of play.

No other team in the league holds the midfield like the Metro’s do.  They win every ball in midfield.  They consider it a humiliation if during a goal kick they don’t win the ball the air.  They’ve be winning balls in the air for as long as I can remember.  Ben, gave them a pretty good run for their money in the air, but the rest of us stood flat footed and watched them step up, step in, or step through us (without a call) to win just about every cleared ball.  They played well.  I can’t fight the feeling that on dry night with a dry ref, it would have been a different story.

We did score two, Jose finished a penalty kick in the first five minutes of the game for a clear hand ball in the box…the first of only two calls that went in our favor last night.  And Andy, our visiting striker from the “Indoor Champion’s of San Diego” charged in on a long shot from Ben that was tipped by the keeper and off the crossbar that dropped onto his charging run.  This should be a lesson to all strikers to charge into the box no matter where they think the ball is going.  This of course was call number two, as the ball hit the lower cross bar with appeals from the Metro’s that it struck part of the goal that was out of play.

Everybody played well last night…I didn’t notice any major mistakes.  The Metro’s had three goals that were unstoppable.  They had a couple goals the came from scrambles in the box, as a result of striking the wood work and being able to finish what was left, and Gene missed a few that he would have covered on a dry night with a dry ball.  That very quickly adds to seven.  On balance, field justice didn’t come close to saving us last night.

Finally, I want to thank everyone for keeping their cool.  Nobody yelled at the ref or took their frustration out on the other team.    We are still in a building year…and we’ve had a look at some good players and had some moments of brilliance that will manifest later this season.  Don't forget next week is family night.

As the Thunder Rolls...In (But Not Fast Enough)

The Orangemen would assemble on the Memorial Day weekend for a game that came under threat from two sources.  The first, the game was originally cancelled as the Herndon Attack could only field four players and terminated the game on Thursday night.  Mooch scrambled to find Mt. Vernon as a willing opponent and Jon B their manager gratefully stepped up to take us on.  The second threat came from Mother Nature, or rather the atmospheric disturbances of Hurricane Isaac’s outer bands pushing a number of server thunderstorms forward across the Central Atlantic states.  The thunder and lightning was threatening at kick-off with Gerard assigned the task of keeping the piece and the safety of the game at hand by keeping a watchful eye on the storms as the rolled in.

It was hot and muggy with temperatures still in the 90’s at kick-off a condition that would hinder the Orangemen, despite 6 substitutes, as Mt Vernon delivered a huge victory by beating the Orangemen 6  (or 7) to nill before Gerard called the game quits 25 minutes into the second half due to the proximity of the ferocious lightning strikes.

Lacking a few keep players in defense to start the game Doug stepped up as sweeper with Karl and Sam in their routine positions with Mooch staring as stopper.  In midfield, B was on the left, with Andreas and Jon central and Floppy running up the right flank.  Bob A and Jim L started up top.  It should be noted that Mt. Vernon lacked a keeper at kick-off so the Orangemen graciously offered up Mauricio to step between to frame for them. This formation proved highly effective as the Orangemen were on the attack and pressured Mt. Vernon again and again.  We were easily in control of the midfield and let very few runs forward come from a very talented Mt Vernon side.

Early shot’s came from Jon, B, Mooch, and Floppy.  Trouble for the Orangemen came as we grew tired from wave after wave of attack and then made their first round of substitutions.  Mooch stepped forward to run into the box on a long throw-in from Jon leaving the defense to Doug and the two new defenders who just stepped onto the pitch, the visiting Sandy and Nate the keeper’s son.   Mt Vernon swiftly launched a counter attack with our entire front line, midfield, and Mooch too far forward to assist in defense.  The result was inevitable as the Mt Vernon strikers are known for their clinical finishing.  Gene could only stand flat footed as the first Mt Vernon shot came in with ridicules pace and accurate to the top left corner of the net.  

A few minutes later the Orangemen had an opportunity with a well struck ball traveling through the penalty area going just wide of the far post.  One of the Orangemen raised the issue of a wrong call and the questionable award of the goal kick vs a corner kick because it appeared to him that the ball was deflected wide by striking the keepers mitt.  Mt. Vernon side didn’t react as if it was deflected, nor did anyone else on the Orangemen.  Mooch had a clear view of the ball from when it was struck to when it curled wide over the end-line.  The Orangemen player said he heard the deflection.  He asked ref to ask the Mt Vernon side to fess up to the fact that ball was touched by their keeper’s glove and deflected across the end line.  When that didn't happen the Orangemen player refused to let it go and launch a tirade of verbal yelling at Mt. Vernon players.   He began yelling at Mt Vernon that they were dishonorable for the next 15 minutes.  Two things here…first, only Mooch talks to the ref.   Let me reemphasize…only Mooch talks to the ref.  Second, the call is the call.  After the ref makes the call, right or wrong, zip it, get back in position, and get on with the game.    Field justice normally materializes within a few minutes if necessary.  I’m not going to comment further on a continuous tirade to call the other players without honor.  I not beyond talking smack to the other team…but it should stop within a minute or so.  Mt Vernon then went on to score two more unanswered goals before halftime in similar fashion, very accurate strikes from there talented offense.

At half-time Mooch called Mauricio back from his goal tending duties with Mt. Vernon and started him in the mid-field. Jon A was struggling with a tight left hamstring and dropped back to defend with Doug.  Once again, the Orangemen showed Great Spirit for the first 10 or so minutes of the second half with several forward runs from Mauricio making a run up the left hand side with a great strike on goal.  B was also back in the business of making runs with a tremendous ball over the top from Andreas to land perfectly for B to run onto.  Unfortunately Mt. Vernon fielded a central defender who must have played semi-pro ball.  In fact the Mt. Vernon defense was absent with the exception of this terrific player.  He was almost capable of playing defense single handed.  I didn’t see him make a single mistake the entire game. 

25 minutes into the 2^nd half Gerard called it quits as the lighting was extremely close.  It was the right call and since Mt. Vernon was handing us our ass at that point it didn’t come soon enough.  Since this game was not our regular match with Mt. Vernon we get a second opportunity this season to play them.  25 Nov will be an away game to Mt. Vernon…we will use this opportunity to regain some pride after the humiliating defeat in the heat and lighting.

  

Finally, for those new players who need practice on the proper techniques to throw-in a soccer ball they should watch this YouTube video get out this week and practice a few throws.  Here’s a good practice video.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1vwjiWR0pQ