Orangemen vs Rowdies on Mustache March in 2014

Kendall 1 Goal, Mooch 2 Assists

It’s been just over a month since that very cold night in February where we squared off against the Rowdies and held them to a tie.  Last night...on a 60 degree, spring might finally be arriving evening, we faced the Rowdies in an epic match that was well played, but alas, did not produced a result.  Final score was Orangemen 4 and Rowdies 6.  By any standards a game with 10 goals scored was a fun match.  Arguably the ref handed the Rowdies two of their goals, one on an easy call for offsides, and one on which the opposition striker intentional dove in the box to gain a PK.  The offsides call wasn’t even close.  The PK was interesting because even though there was incidental contact, the striker admitted the dive, but the ref charged up to Jan our sweeper, and yelled in his face that he was an “idiot’ for fouling someone in the box.  I expected to see a yellow card, but perhaps the ref kept his card in his pocket and chose instead to berate our player for the foul.  First time anyone on the field can remember a ref getting up in a players face and yelling and screaming, versus the other way around.

OK on to the match.  This game marked the comeback of Jermaine, who started in defense in the first half and moved to striker in the second half.  He would score 2 of our 4 goals during the second half.

Kendall was also up top trying hard to grow a beard for our Mustache March celebration. Kendall scored one of our goals off an assist from Mooch, which he used his speed to run onto as Mooch poked the ball away from the defender who stepped in to block a fast and well played through ball from Jermaine.

Dave Nanney marked his first appearance due to the spring time weather.

Ben showed up and played a fantastic game for us in central midfield.

Gene played goal and had a number of spectacular saves, one where he reached blindly behind his back and batted the ball to the ground.  We also had a an even number of shots that we saved by the Rowdies keeper so we were probably even on the night in shots taken.

Jan and Mikey played their signature Sweeper/Stopper formation with Karl and Greg starting as left and right fullbacks.  Mooch moved Karl and Greg into half back positions when he introduced Jermaine and Jorge into the back.  Mauricio and Alfredo rounded out the midfield, with Alfredo bagging a goal on a ball he lofted over the keeper into the top left corner.  On that particular goal, at least 6 Orangemen touched the ball as it was played out of the back.  We had several excellent passing combinations last night...where we were able to string 5 and 6 passes together before losing possession.  Our final goal, also game on a long series of passes.  Played out of the back, through the midfield, and out to Kendall who was running up the right flank.  As he neared the box Mooch dropped back to stay onside and to position himself away from the defender in case Kendall decided to pass the ball in early, rather than try to beat the last defender on up the right.  Kendall chose to pass.  The ball came straight to Mooch’s feet.  He had just enough time to turn on the ball had hit a quick pass to Jermaine who was standing on the top of the 18.  Jermaine turned on the ball, pushed it forward to make space, took one step and blasted by the keeper on his left for his second goal of the night.  Last week we couldn’t string two passes together.  Last night we kept the ball moving.   It’s not clear to me what the chemistry has to be in order for this to happen...but whatever it was last night...we have to remember what we were doing.  Keep passing Orangemen.  Good things always happen.  The games are always fun.  And there is a lot less complaining within our ranks.  In fact I didn’t hear a single criticism last night due to a lack of passing the ball.

Special thanks to Jimbo Landoll who showed up on a nice evening to cheer us on!!

Two coaching tips that I forgot to mention.  First, very rarely should a back heel be used during a game.  The very best players might back heel once in a game...Mooch arguably has the best back heel on the team and he didn't back heel last night and he might use it once every few games.  Tedd back heels once or twice a decade and the last time he tried it his pass was picked off immediately.

Second, if you want to play up top, meaning in the striker position, you have to have two gun barrels.  That means you have to be able to strike with both feet.  Why put a striker up front with only one foot?  Better to put two strikers up front with four feet.  If you need work on your right footed shot...get out an practice during the week.

Orangemen vs Arlington March 2014

It’s March and as we wait for yet another WInter Storm the Orangemen played a make-up game against Arlington that we originally canx back in January.

We played at 7 pm at Gunston in Arlington, Don, was very kind and grabbed the field for us so we wouldn’t get stuck with a 9 pm game at Bryant.

At game-time the temperature was still hovering around 43 degrees so it was decent playing weather.  

This was our last official game of the Winter season.  We have two weeks before the Spring Season officially begins.  Next week I will schedule a game just to get in a run.  I think we are playing Chantilly, but stand-by it might be Springfield.

Team last night:

Gene - Keeper

Jan - Sweeper

Maurico - Stopper

Karl, George, Greg - fullbacks

Alfredo, Scott F, Cris, Tommy,  Mooch - Midfield

John H, Kendall, Wil - Strikers

We lost 1 - 3 to Arlington...we didn’t do too badly we just didn’t seem to be able to find that one more pass in the top ⅓.  In general our passing all day was flat.  I can’t remember a single string of three consecutive passes.  And most of the passes we did make were intercepted.  It’s not that Arlington was fast, we stood and waited for a ball that was never gonna make it to us.  So it appeared everyone simply didn’t want to work too hard last night...and we paid the price.

Gene kept us in the game, but just barely.  He made 3 or 4 spectacular saves that otherwise we would have been in a blowout and I would be a lot more critical of our performance.

The defense played well for us too.  They were put under a lot of pressure and Greg, Jan, Mauricio, George, and Karl came up big for us.  Mauricio get’s player of the match last night.  Not only was he in key places to defend...and save one big goal that was curling in under the cross bar on a goal kick, he somehow headed it out coming from beneath it at the last moment, he was clearing a lot of balls with his head, and even got forward to place a few headers on our opponents net.  Mauricio looked the fittest on the team last night...the winter months don’t seem to have faded him.  

Jermaine was in attendance to watch the game last night.  Jermaine turns 30 in 5 months.  I intend to begin inviting him to matches but first I will ask the other managers early in the week if we can let our 29 year old gazelle play.  I think it’s time to get him wearing orange.

The Game That Wasn't - Orangemen vs Internationales Feb 2014

A strange thing happened on the way to an intra-squad scrimmage on 22 February.  The bottom line is that last night's event was an unofficial, unscheduled, ad-hoc, 90 minute pick-up game with an opposing team that happened to show-up and take the pitch with the Orangemen.  Mauricio's brought four  friends because our numbers looked way down and this was just a pick-up game after all.  All four were excellent players who brought skill and talent to the game and made the Orangemen competitive challengers.  (Having made no contact with the Internationales manager during the week, Mooch declared the game a bust and Gooch organized the pick-up match)

The highlight of the evening was beer at Glory Days with Dave Nanney and Karl.  We learned several interesting tid-bits such as: the conference Mooch attended last week was a Japanese-style comic book convention, D.C. United is having a full squad, first-team practice with the Pentagon Soccer Club in May; Dave's daughter is getting married next month; a second generation Orangemen (Luke Tickner's USAFA classmate) should be joining the Orangemen soon; Sam A. and Julia moved to Dallas; Jose Olivera is returning from Afghanistan; Jose's son retired from pro basketball, got married, and is following his Dad in the Army; Ann and Gooch will be moving to New York in July; and Tedd is recovering from shoulder surgery (wear and tear from swimming).  I think we should make "Dave's Dish" a regular feature on the blog.

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And now for  the rest of the story…..

We had 9 regulars and Mauricio brought 4 outstanding guests.  We were setting up cones to scrimmage 6v6 when the Internationals showed up with approx 20 players, families, and loud fans.  We went up 1-0 and were dominating thanks to Mauricio's guests - Sebastian, Mikey, Firmin, and Mr X.  John A. sent John H on a tear up the left side; after winning the 50 yard dash on the touchline, John H drove a superb cross to the back post where guest Mikey was keeping pace with the run and perfectly positioned to drill the ball into the back of the net.

The Internationals played a familiar style - using their forearms, elbows, and bodies to screen, possess, and dispossess.  Our midfield and attack was matching them blow-for-blow and the referee seemed content with allowing the physical play.  The Internationals clearly were not pleased that we refused to back down and they hacked and grabbed at Orangemen as we dribbles around them.  Mind you: all this was occurring during sequences of play - both sides were playing physical soccer.  On numerous occasions, the referee engaged in  loud discussions/debates with dissenting International players.  The ref had an unusually high-pitched voice as there was this ear-piercing sequence of screeches from the Internationals penalty area.  Turns out, it was the ref squeaking with Internationals during the typical scrum and jostling which occurs in an out-of-control physical match amongst passionate players.  

As the ball was cleared from the Internationals back quadrant, the pushing/shoving continued in the middle/center part of the field and there was upper body contact (looked shoulder to shoulder to me) between Orangemen guest Mr X and Internationals.  The ref blew his whistle and Orangemen Guest X continued to jog away from the Internationals and towards the Orangemen half.  The ref was frantically screeching, and one of the Internationals literally launched himself through the air and delivered a flying kick to the back of Mr X.  So Mr X turned and went back into the on-rushing fray of Internationals, while addressing them.  At no time did any Orangeman strike, kick, trip, tackle, spit at, etc. any International.  Nonetheless, the ref pulled the red card on both Mr X and the International Flying-kickster.

In Mooch's absence, I discussed the matter with the ref, who said Mr X had kicked the Flying Wallenda's son earlier so Flyboy was retaliating.  I told the ref that I did not see Mr X or any Orangemen commit any of the 7 sending-off offenses.  The ref repeated that he saw Mr X kick Wallenda J. first. I asked why he didn't caution or send-off Mr X at that point, and the ref said he "told" the Internationals that he would handle it, he gave them a free kick, and he "told" them not to retaliate.  That's what all the earlier squawking was about. I guess the Internationals decided not to obey him.  Unfortunately it made the game more ugly than necessary. 

The Internationals equalized the score with a loose ball that bounced around our penalty area after a corner kick - weak goal.  We failed to convert on many opportunities.  My other criticism is that the Orangemen did not maintain possession and string together series of passes.  There was only 1 pass backward and we failed to get the ball out the wings enough.  We tried to dribble through 2-4 opponents when a wall pass would have been more effective.  We did have good communication and excellent running off the ball to get into open space.  Defense was excellent - only allowing one instance where a full-back was beaten and a supporting mid-fielder was a half step away from clearing.  As this midfielder stated, that was my fault for terminating slide-tackles at halftime (after the red card fiasco).  During an uncontrolled game, I'll risk a 2-1 loss if we can mitigate the chances that one of our guys might get carried to the ER - again.  I'll take the blame; however, if presented with the same circumstances, I will make the same decision every time.  

After the final whistle blew, the ref told me that he did not want to report the red cards at the International manager's request. I engaged the ref in another discussion that from my vantage point (I played goalie), the Flying Walleneda karate kick was the only dangerous or violent act.  The ref said that he saw Mr X fouling Wallenda Jr and the Orangemen were the instigators - so I should believe him and not my lying eyes.  Any officially licensed referee would have penalized a dangerous foul if they saw one.  Furthermore, a legitimate official would have documented and reported a violent retaliation such a deliberate flying kick (intended to injure) to the back of a player.  Recognizing that my protest would be countered by the other team and the referee, I agreed to treat the red cards as a matter that stayed on the pitch.  The only logical conclusion is that this bizarre event was not an official, league-sanctioned match.  

A few beers and good stories were definitely necessary to cleanse the mind and soul after witnessing such a felonious assault perpetrated against the beautiful game.

Orangemen - Special Thanks to Gooch for the write-up last week.  It definitely appears that something strange was going on between the Ref and the Internationales...I’m glad no one was injured and that everybody, considering the circumstances, kept their heads together.  As far at resetting the Red Card clock to zero...I’m not sure what to do about it.  We’ve gone 480 days without a Red Card...and the player involved wasn’t an Orangemen...and the Red Card wasn’t reported.  I will have to talk to the other Team Manager...to understand more about the ref involved.  But to me, it seems like the red card was issued to avoid a major altercation.  He red carded both players to keep the peace…  In the end though, if red is shown, sportsmanship has broken down, whether it was our fault or not.  My sense is we’ve got to reset the clock to zero.