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Subject: [NT] Friendlies
Nice match. :) Chances both ways - down to the finishing. The second Canada goal was wonderful.
Friendly tomorrow against a very good Bosnian team. Diogo Gjini from T Syndicated and the reserve goalie Ibn-Osman have been added to the roster. We have some problems with the form (and stamina) of the players, especially at the back, so expect some fresh legs to come in second half.......
Were both teams to play U21? Seems we did but they didn't.
I want to reiterate my concerns about the "Conga Line" formation. I see no benefit, and the downside was clearly evident in this match. When 3 middies are holding hands in central midfield there are open passing lanes everywhere. BiH could make a 50 - 60 yard through ball almost at will in this match. If you feel that strongly about stacking central midfield, try a little triangle. You still have 3 guys close to each other, and you fill a few more passing lanes.
Singh was awesome. Kept the score from really going offside. No other stand outs for me.
I want to reiterate my concerns about the "Conga Line" formation. I see no benefit, and the downside was clearly evident in this match. When 3 middies are holding hands in central midfield there are open passing lanes everywhere. BiH could make a 50 - 60 yard through ball almost at will in this match. If you feel that strongly about stacking central midfield, try a little triangle. You still have 3 guys close to each other, and you fill a few more passing lanes.
Singh was awesome. Kept the score from really going offside. No other stand outs for me.
I think too, the gaps between the back 3 defenders was too large given they had little or no support of cutting out passes of the opposition from your midfield. Think that's where the game was lost tactically, might have been lost if they didn't go U21 if they were expected to as well as that never helps the situation.
Singh saved a fair few chances though.
Singh saved a fair few chances though.
Yeah it was suppose to be an U21 match, Bosnian manager say's he couldn't log in to set the team.....
As for the tactic, I tried something that i did in a friendly match, but it worked a lot better there :)))
As for the tactic, I tried something that i did in a friendly match, but it worked a lot better there :)))
Very good match to watch against Croatia.
Thought Maillet had probably his best match for Canada (too bad he couldn't have made a better pass in the 89th). He and Lemieux were a nice combination.
Boisierres obviously a nice game. Seemed some of his best service came from Croatian defenders. :P Singh as well was pretty sharp and made some nice saves (even though he surrendered 4).
Nice to see some debuts. :) De Guzman is a nice find, and he played well. Didn't think either Gjinni or Parise were all that sharp. Maybe nerves? :P
Thought Maillet had probably his best match for Canada (too bad he couldn't have made a better pass in the 89th). He and Lemieux were a nice combination.
Boisierres obviously a nice game. Seemed some of his best service came from Croatian defenders. :P Singh as well was pretty sharp and made some nice saves (even though he surrendered 4).
Nice to see some debuts. :) De Guzman is a nice find, and he played well. Didn't think either Gjinni or Parise were all that sharp. Maybe nerves? :P
So Peru this week. Anything the fans should know about? U21 or any other restrictions?
Very good tactic from laufer one of the best influenced from not such a good tactial approach from Peru. Madden very strong one of the best along with Holden and Renda.
Congrats on a nice result against a respectable opponent. :)
I thought some of the player selection was really good - Renda and Faria in particular are guys that could be useful in the WC - especially if something were to happen to Caron or Iginla. Good to give them a run.
I was a little worried when I first saw the tactic, but it worked really well. :D My concern was the gap between the defense and the midfield. It was very large, which means a pretty ambitious pass from the defenders to any midfielder (Bradshaw in particular had a 40-50 yard closest target much of the time). When I try tactics like that, I get a couple hundred panic kick-outs, which is usually lethal. But the back 3 performed really well in that regard (my inkling is they over-achieved a little, but I could be wrong).
It was a pleasant change to see Valiant FC strikers scoring without requiring double digit shot attempts. I had to double check that was actually my Biron - 2 for 2, both from ~20 yards - not his usual MO. Good sign for the new season. :)
I thought some of the player selection was really good - Renda and Faria in particular are guys that could be useful in the WC - especially if something were to happen to Caron or Iginla. Good to give them a run.
I was a little worried when I first saw the tactic, but it worked really well. :D My concern was the gap between the defense and the midfield. It was very large, which means a pretty ambitious pass from the defenders to any midfielder (Bradshaw in particular had a 40-50 yard closest target much of the time). When I try tactics like that, I get a couple hundred panic kick-outs, which is usually lethal. But the back 3 performed really well in that regard (my inkling is they over-achieved a little, but I could be wrong).
It was a pleasant change to see Valiant FC strikers scoring without requiring double digit shot attempts. I had to double check that was actually my Biron - 2 for 2, both from ~20 yards - not his usual MO. Good sign for the new season. :)
Nice performance today.
Especially Biron with his 20 minutes play...only 1% game activity but 2 goals with 2 distance shots!
Birons answer when we interviewed him after the match: I came, I saw, I conquered. Bullseye!
Especially Biron with his 20 minutes play...only 1% game activity but 2 goals with 2 distance shots!
Birons answer when we interviewed him after the match: I came, I saw, I conquered. Bullseye!
Yes I was very pleased with the performance. I went with a bit of a risky tactic by putting just 3 defenders, but it payed of. In my opinion the man of the match was Bradshaw, Biron a close second...this kid keeps getting better and better :))
Jekyll and Hyde. Biron could be back to the 1 for 15 oaf again next match. :P
Little side note: Amado was 27.5 before he achieved the same skill set Biron has entering his 24th year. We've got a pretty good duo on the cook with Biron and Lavrynenko, and Boissieres not far behind.
Little side note: Amado was 27.5 before he achieved the same skill set Biron has entering his 24th year. We've got a pretty good duo on the cook with Biron and Lavrynenko, and Boissieres not far behind.
This saturday we play #2 power is sokker...Belgium! Should give us an idea where we stand agains sokker superpowers going into the world cup.
Hehehe I was just browsing Belgian forums to see what they were writing about tomorrow's game, and it turns out they have this huge preview, starting with the history of Canada, geographical position, famous Canadians, and something about tundra and ice... They even wrote about me...the only thing I could understand in Belgian was" they are led by a guy called Laufer, a Canadian, with a Croatian logo and a German nickname. They also mention Madden and Wyn Lavrynenko, I guess stating that they are our best players. The famous Canadians are in this order....Paul Anka, Avril Lavigne, Leslie Nielsen, Billy Bishop, Steve Bauer......
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:) Perhaps got a little more attention due to the election.
Good try. A shame the final whistle wasn't blown at half. :P
Great gamble playing a wing defender on just the one side. Unfortunately it only seemed a matter of time before Belgium's quality shone through. Game seemed to turn with the Deroo substitution.
Wyn had a nice match even though he didn't score. Seems to me he's been breaking a lot more tackles recently, and against a couple of pretty good defenders. It's awesome when a player with that kind of finishing can create his own chances.
Good try. A shame the final whistle wasn't blown at half. :P
Great gamble playing a wing defender on just the one side. Unfortunately it only seemed a matter of time before Belgium's quality shone through. Game seemed to turn with the Deroo substitution.
Wyn had a nice match even though he didn't score. Seems to me he's been breaking a lot more tackles recently, and against a couple of pretty good defenders. It's awesome when a player with that kind of finishing can create his own chances.