Jermaines Hat-trick - Orangemen vs Turtles

Launder's Pavillion -  Arrowbrook Park

In the pouring rain on Saturday night a few of the Orangemen approached me and said, among other reasons why Arrowbrook field in Herndon was a great choice to be our home field, was the fact that they built an awesome pavilion to stand under. Named Launder’s Pavilion, after Hal and Ruth Launder who owned Arrowhead Farm upon which the field is constructed, rain or shine the pavilion is there, with picnic tables and restrooms, and all the comforts of home. It’s a fantastic venue...I’m glad the Orangemen have come to appreciate the venue over and above the field at Bryant Alternative. But don’t worry Orangemen, we will get to play at Bryant in a few weeks, for those who miss it, and the drive.

We had a great game against the Turtles in that pouring rain on Saturday night. Passing was up...it had to be, the ball was too slick to dribble. Although we still had too many instances of individuals learning for themselves first that the ball was too slick to dribble. But on the goals scored, the passes leading to the goals were perfect. Final score was 3 to 4. Breaking it down, we lost the first half, 1 to 3, but won the second half, 2 to 1.

That was really a great comeback and there were several additional opportunities to score that went wanting. But we were very close. Jermaine actually scored our three goals. His first hat-trick on the Orangemen. Jermaine get’s player of the match honors. Truth be told Jermaine could have scored as many as 5, which would have equaled the feat of players such as Jermain Defoe and Dimitar Berbatov, who both have scored 5 goals in the English Premier league. Alas, he went for a spectacular bicycle kick which he arguably should have put his head on and then on another he tried to power a shot past the keeper which rocketed into Jeff H’s face, as opposed simply touching it into the back of the net. Still three goals is a fantastic percentage and we can’t rely on Jermaine to win the games for us.

Kendall has to get credit for feeding Jermaine the assists on two of the goals. Kendall either learned quickly that the ball was too slick to dribble, or he realized that if he didn’t pass the ball while in the box, Mooch was going to yell at him. Afredo also picked up on the clues coming from the sideline that he ought not be trying to dribble. Fredo’s got one of, if not the best, one touches on the ball on the team.

Mooch has be asking him to show more of that skill on the pitch and he has been working hard to show it. At half time Mooch made one switch in the defense. He kept Jan sweeping but moved Matt’s speed into the stopper position. Putting the passing skills of Fredo, Maurico, and Tedd into the half-back positions to feed Kendall and Jermaine the ball. This was the combination that really got it done in the second half.

After the game we drew a crowd over for Pizza at Bertucci’s Dave, Gene, Karl, Steve, Maurico, Matty, and Mooch at a good conversation about the game as well as auto mechanics, residential carpentry, and chiropractic medicine. Other’s should show for these impromptu discussions that move well beyond soccer.

Mooch Throws a Chair--Orangemen vs Metros

Too bad we don’t have a slick varnished wood floor and a few chairs around. Or maybe I should say good thing we don’t. No doubt I would have done a Bobby Knight and started throwing furniture around last night.

I don’t want to say we did good last night Orangemen. We lost 2 to 3 against the team I consider to be the standard for the league. If you look back to that game last Fall against the Vienna Metros I wrote a very important blog. I called it, “It’s Why a Soccer Ball is Round”. 

As good as we may think did on Saturday, the truth is we could have done better. Much better. And it’s not because there were a couple of calls that didn't go our way. It’s because, although we clearly had more talent on the pitch than we did when we fell 0 to 10 to the Metro’s back in the fall, we still have trouble make that simple last pass when we are on the attack. Time and time again last night there were better options in the box and the striker running with the ball decided to go at the goal alone.

Yes, we had chances. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Make the goal and all the sins are erased. Don’t make the goal and if there were better options in front of you, square, or charging onto the 18 you've made the wrong decision. All those options were available last night and there was plenty of guilt to go around if you feel like you are being singled out.  Actually, that would be a good thing because if you feel some guilt maybe you're one of the ones I'm talking too.

And it’s not that we don’t know how to pass. We were passing fine through the midfield. The Metro’s were so fast if the ball wasn't moving they would have shut us down. But just after the break heads went to ground. Two weeks ago I said I was going to start shouting about one more pass...I failed to do so last night. Some I’m shouting now. One more pass. Start making those final passes or start working on your defensive skills. It’s that simple. Only one of those extra passes last night would have made the difference.

So, onto the game. We went down 2 to 3 in the end but we clawed back from a 0 to 2 deficit to tie the game and put serious pressure on the Metros to respond. And respond they did.

The Metros are competitors. They are gonna put the body on you if you’re on the ball. They are also talented players who have been together as a team for many years. They have a system, they know their positions, and their roster rarely changes. But they are not unbreakable. FC Valpo beat them last weekend, for instance. But Valpo is a good team...they might even be the team to beat these days. Valpo beat us back in July...and if memory serves, it was quite a spanking. Although I chose to forget about most of it in the blog I wrote...the Tour de France was in full swing. It is the game where the herniated disk between my C6/C7 probably originated. But here it is if you want to remember. Orangemen vs FC Valpo.

So we clawed our way back from two goals down. We didn't lose heart...which was a good thing and we kept running hard. Jermaine scored a great goal on a break with a well place feed to him. His speed surprised the Metros. It’s not clear we ever produced that kind of speed in a player upfront for Orange before. He just strides away from them when he has the chance. However the Metros adapted. They truly understand how to play the game. Never again, did Jermaine get a clear run at the ball after the goal. The Metro’s marked him close and never gave him an inch. They put their bodies on him and got the touch in to knock him off balance at all cost. Another example of their adaptation was to Matt’s throw. Matt was using his long throw to make trouble for them. We fooled them once or twice with his long throw. After that, they backed it up. Almost instinctively they knew the yardage and had someone there. 

It’s frustrating to put in the kind of work that we did last night and go down. But, just like the game is never over when you play a team like Manchester United, the Metros are gonna play hard until the final whistle and frustrate you time and time again. Yes we scored two against the Metros...but for a team that has put 10 up against us before, we know they are gonna score. So the only thing we can do is out score them. Which means teamwork. One more pass Orangemen...we had plenty of guilty players last night...all trying to be the hero. 

It was a physical game. There were slides and there were whistles and there were free kicks. Yes there was some controversy but in the end we failed to produced, it was not their physical play. Dave their manager was always talking to his team and keeping things under control. Several times I noted honest play turn the ref’s call around. On both sides. But the physical play and the sliding will produce injuries. But it’s not just slides, Mooch got raked down the back of both of his Achilles tendon and had to step off until he could walk again, and a few others got knocked ass over tea kettle by the Metro’s physical play. But the injury of the night belongs Will H. If you didn't see it he has a stud mark on his upper shin that looks like a bullet wound. I hope he iced it down. But ask him to show it to you next weekend. He’s going to keep that particular scar for life.

Best goal of the night honors go to Jose for left foot blast into the top of the next that came from out of nowhere as it raced into the box with defenders all over him.

Best goal of the night that wasn't honors go to Tommy who got on the end of a very nice ball over the top from...either Matt or Jose or Will...and then he put it right back across the keeper with his head. It should have been a goal, but the quality of their keeper was not to be underestimated. He snatched it in a reflexive dive to his right.

In the end however, I’m giving Man of the Match honors goes to Scott Fearing. The defense kept us in it. And Scott was playing like a man possessed. He was there again and again to break up the play. He tireless played all positions assigned. He got forward to start the game. Was moved into midfield. And then finished in the critical position of left full-back.

Getting to the Heart of the Beautiful Game

In keeping with Mooch's tradition of awarding "Man of the Match" honors, let us begin with a democratic process of voting.  So raise your hand if you were at the Orangemen match 7 September.  15 players' hands should be up.  Keep them up if you have ever undergone major surgery.  Fewer hands will be up.  Now, keep your hands up if you've had your sternum sawed in half and your chest cracked open to allow doctors to surgically ensure the function of a critical organ.  Dave Nanney's hand should be the only one in the air at this point and I believe we can all agree to name Dave “Man of the Match” on the 9th anniversary of his triple bypass surgery.  

Dave represents a side of soccer that transcends anything that occurs on the pitch. Soccer is an international community of men and women who love the beautiful game and gather together to share this love despite adversity, despite differences, despite all the ugliness and negativity that is sometimes a reality of our world.  Soccer allows us to think that no matter how bad things get, there is a kid somewhere in the world at this very instant - maybe on a mud-packed alley of a ghetto, maybe on beach looking at the ocean, maybe on a side-street of Calcutta, maybe in vacant lot in Europen city, or maybe in a dusty field in Africa - but that kid will find a ball, hopefully gather a few friends and they will kick it around, pretend that they are international stars, try a few moves, and for however long possible they will forget their troubles and get lost in the magic of the beautiful game.  

Sometimes that kid is a balding, over 50 dude who is celebrating 9 years of life after a significant event reminds him of the precious sanctity that accompanies each moment with friends and loved ones.  Dave Nanney brings an incredible gift to the pitch - he brings love.  I speak for all of us in thanking him once again for sharing his gifts.

Onto the game…  The Orangemen showed up with exactly 10 men and 1 woman to start the match at 8 pm.  We had a nice pre-game visit with Jim Landoll who stopped by to say hello and watch a bit of the match.  Jim’s devotion to the team was evidenced not only by his presence but also by the fact that he matched the Orangemen’s all-black kit.  The referee came to the field at around 7:55, so kick-off was delayed until after 8pm which allowed 3 more Orangemen to show.   The late start was one of the very few negatives about this ref.  He called a superb game even though it was a very physical (not dirty) and hard-fought contest.  He let play continue whenever possible and kept order by issuing a yellow card when the hard knocks got too rough.  Sterling’s manager also did a good job of keeping his team under control despite language challenges including native English-speakers who apparently do not understand the meaning of “no slide tackles”.  I’d also like to commend the Orangemen for keeping their cool despite some debatable off-side calls, no-calls on hand-balls (denying a goal for us), and a few dishonest throw-ins poached by our Sterling brothers.

The Orangemen started with a 4-4-2 formation featuring Gene between the pipes, Jan sweeping, Greg stopping, Ann at left back, Karl right back, Tommy right mid, Gooch and Ben central mids, Scott Fearing left mid, Will and Jemaine on the attack.  Warming up with Dave Nanney were late-arrivals Kendall and Matt.  The Orangemen started out playing a splendid game of controlled, short passes, with tremendous runs off the ball to gain advantageous positions.  Hallmark tactics such as creating space on the flanks, give-and-go’s, wall passes and well-timed runs with deftly-weighted through balls created several scoring opportunities all through the game.  Sterling, like many recent opponents, were stunned at the speed, pace, skill and work-rate the Orangemen displayed.  A large part of this is attributed to players like Kendall, Jermaine, Will (new recruits) as well as the return of John H.  Of course none of that would matter if the defense were not a solid unit.  The flourishing dominance of Matt and Greg combine with Jan’s mastery and Karl and Ann’s steadfastness have kept the pressure off our beloved Keeper Gene and have vastly improved our competitive opportunities as well as team chemistry. 

While the Orangemen failed to convert early opportunities into goals, Sterling’s speedy, skilled ball handlers produced an early goal on one of their counterattacks.  Most Sterling attempts were expertly staunched by Jan and company; however, a Sterling attacker sprinted past our backs then connected with a loping through-ball lobbed into our 18.  Gene’s run narrowed the angle, but a decent finish put Sterling up 1-nil.  Time after time, the Orangemen snuffed Sterling’s attack.  Greg was playing an aggressive, high line and disrupted many plays.  Matt entered the pitch as stopper, moved Greg to outside back, and allowed Ann and Karl to go on a rest-sub cycle.  Kendall came onto attack, moving Will to midfield and Gooch onto the pine while Dave subbed in at forward.  

Sterling had luck on their side during the first half as no less than 10 Orangemen shots went everywhere except into the net.  Apart from the culmination, Orangemen build-up and total field play was gorgeous.  With Tommy and Ben settling into a harmonious rhythm of crisp accurate passes.  Will, Jermaine and Kendall ran non-stop: touch-line to touch-line and half-way line to goal box.  All of the miles ran, hard work fought, and creativity displayed was much appreciated and resulted in a style of soccer which was beautiful to watch. 

Later in the half, Sterling scored a second goal in flamboyant style.  One of their wings lofted a corner across the Orangemen’s 18.  With Matt all up in his grill, the Sterling forward closed his eyes and attempted a spinning, waist-level volley – the ball didn’t touch the ground until after it hit the net.  The Sterling forward opened his eyes and blinked in disbelief for a few moments until he realized the ball actually went in.  2-cero for “El Amarillo”.   

  

The Orangemen came back with a glorious goal.  What made it sweet was that the goal resulted from a steady build-up from the back line, through midfield, then into the attacking third.  Ben and Tommy deserve huge credit for the running and passing.  They allowed Jermaine to penetrate deep on the right flank.  By this point in the match Sterling always had two guys on Jermaine and after he beat one, he pulled the ball back to behind the 18 where an on-rushing Will was open and drove a surgical strike past three Sterling defenders and their keeper. 2-1 Sterling at half.

Sterling accumulated substitutes at half-time – and by that I mean they had a yellow clone army consisting of 8-11 identically-built and equally-skilled players.  This included a goalkeeper who Karl described as “the only reason Sterling won”.  The Orangemen tried this keeper again and again only to be thwarted by great saves.  We also had too many balls bouncing around in Sterling’s goal box.  Some areas to improve upon are shot placement, finishing, and having a nose for the goal.  This means that during a shot, at least one forward needs to collapse onto the goal positioning himself in area which allows him to tap in a rebound off the keeper, post, or defender.  Same feedback for corners and set pieces near the opponent’s goal: we need to convert many more opportunities into goals.

Of course it’s not all about points on the Orangemen’s column.  Again, we can’t forget the tremendous defensive performance.  Jan’s excellence is obvious, consistent, and almost scary.  Last night’s performance from Ann and Karl was very good – they confronted forwards who had experience, ball handling tricks, speed, and excellent soccer skills.  Ann and Karl put on a clinic featuring ‘how to stand an attacker up; delay, deny, and destroy’.  Often the destruction came when the attacker pushed the ball sideways to go around, allowing Jan or Matt to pounce.  Ann’s great game was accentuated by her throwing various parts of her voluptuous body in the path of Sterling’s shots – which was very disconcerting from the perspective of her fidanzato, but she saved two goals from the line.  Matt was particularly fearless as he relentlessly shouldered into challenges that were audibly cataclysmic.  Greg continued to raise his performance bar by playing 90 full minutes of Total Dutch Soccer – conducting deep-raid sorties into Sterling’s line like one of Jeb Stuart’s Killer Angels.

Sterling scored their final (soft) goal after a mis-communication between Jan and Matt left the ball ricocheting off players and bouncing into the path of a Sterling forward who easily drained the shot from about 12 yards.  3-1 Sterling.  Oft-times soccer has magic moments: the Orangemen’s second goal was one of those moments.  Jermaine once again gathered a pass and out-maneuvered a bevy of Sterling’s amarillo warriors near the right touchline.  He expertly switched fields delivering a beautiful cross to Kendall who was streaking up the left side.  The pass hit Kendall in stride, he expertly controlled the hot rock with one touch in front of him then absolutely blasted a 22-yard cannon-shot from his left foot beating Sterling’s keeper and notched the ball in the upper left corner.  As the net rocked and jaws dropped, Kendall erased whatever doubt anyone had about ‘what just happened?’ by screaming: “GOLAZO!!!” while thrusting his fist high above his head.  Indeed, Kendall, es verdad!   

Even though the night ended 3-2, the Orangemen played a tremendous game against a great opponent.  We have plenty to be proud of, a few things to work on, and a promise of future victories to follow.  With the return of our missing captain Mooch as well as Tedd (competing in the Nation’s Triathlon), Mauricio, John H., Alfredo, and maybe a few of our multiple Jose’s  - this will be a great season for the Orangemen.         

Orangemen Defeat Springfield 3 to 2 on Labor Day Weekend

Jermaine in Flight

Sorry this is a late and short report this week as I’ve been once again, placed on the injured reserves.   I could write about my medical condition...but I've spend too many  blogs this year doing that...let's just say I'm getting old.

Labor day weekend screwed up the league but the showing from Orange was fantastic as we had at lease 18 players at the field.  However the home team, Fairfax Juve, canx on us early in the week forcing us to go out and find another opponent.  Robbie from Springfield’s opponent also balked, but because Robbie has players who actually like to play, was able to field a team.  So we used the Juve field, hired a ref and split the cost.  Game On!

Springfield has been have serious success this season going most of the Spring/Summer undefeated, and the last game we played with them, only six weeks ago, was barnstormer...and we suffered two pretty serious injuries, not due to Springfield’s play, just the competitive nature of the match.

The game was also very competitive.  But we had an all star cast of performers on the field including John H, Jose the younger, Matt A, Tommy, Bernie, Jan, Will H, Mauricio, Alfredo, with Kendall, and Jermaine up top.  We also had Chris show up to split time in the net with Gene and Greg, Steve H, Karl, and Scott F on the pitch to shore up our defence.  I iwll note it was Jan’s first game back since the shoulder separation against Springfield six weeks ago.

It was a highly competitive match.  We were going end to end with plenty of opportunities up front.  And much better distribution of the ball than last week.

Matt, who should always be taking our throw in’s, was heaving the ball from the slide lines to the far post...this is as effective as one of Tedd’s corner kicks.  On one throw the ball went far side, was headed back across the goal, and Jose was able to get his neck behind the ball and direct it in for our first goal.

Springfield was playing their typical ball control, Barcelona style, of play. Relentlessly passing the  ball with an entire squad of strong and shorter stature players who all look like Lionel Messi from behind.  Strong on the ball, exceptional control, and great passers.  The two goals they scored on us they practically walked into the net.

But because Jose had pulled a goal back, the game was not out of reach and we were playing well.  If fitness could hold out we had a shot.  And it took until the last fifteen minutes of the game to tie it up.  Jermaine took a pass between two defenders, pushed it forward, and used his gazelle legs to run through them like they were standing still.  Jermaine has Gareth Bale like speed when he gets into a free lane and can spread his wings.  He finished with a right footed shot that the keeper couldn’t handle.  We were tied.  Mooch called for a sub and made a late game change to put fresh legs on the field for the last five minutes.  As Will walked off he said to Mooch, “If you want to win keep Jermaine on the field”.  Mooch kept Jermaine on the field, and wouldn’t you know, we had repeat performance.  Jermaine took a pass right between two defenders, pushed it past them and used is gazelle like speed to run past them for another right foot strike past the keeper.  The Orangemen we up 3 to 2.  A wonderful late goal and we could just hang on, a long awaited victory for the Orangemen.  We hung on for the remaining minutes and took the victory home on labor day weekend.

Good job fellas!  Sorry it took all week for us to re-live the glory of the past weekend.