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Post by gazz on Jun 15, 2015 12:56:53 GMT
Excellent stuff, Downy. It seems like, bit by bit, the fitness and confidence is coming back. Is left mid your favoured position then? Definitely not! I'm a right-footed centre back but my confidence and fitness aren't up to throwing myself into the challenges I used to. The only left-footed player is now in goals and left midfield seems to be where the last name on the team sheet goes. It's probably a relatively safe enough position in comparison to central defence or centre mid, so touch wood you won't see as many heavy challenges coming in, or at the very least be able to see the majority of them coming! Keep it up, mate!
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Post by dudleyhatter on Jun 15, 2015 19:31:15 GMT
Keep up the good work mate!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2015 2:02:24 GMT
Cheers lads, I'm trying my best.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2015 13:40:50 GMT
Time for another update.
Only two games since the last one as one week was for the cup and we're already out.
Two six-pointers as we were playing the two teams around us.
Desperate times call for desperate measures so with a shortage of players and only one centre-back I reluctantly agreed to play in my natural position once again. Although we were coming off second best in every challenge the score remained 0-0 at the 20 minute mark. A quick break from one of our corners left our defence hopelessly exposed with our keeper handling outside the box to receive the first red card of the season. That meant that I got to play in goal again and we had players playing out of position. On one of our rare attacks we managed to go 1-0 up from a corner. We were struggling to clear the ball at the back though and a finely struck shot was heading into the top corner. My first thought was how good the save would look as I had it covered. I got my hand to it but I don't think the ball changed direction, 1-1. Two more failed clearances led to two crosses which ended up in the back of the net. One off the striker's head, the other off a defender's boot after I'd got a hand to it. 1-3 at half-time.
We started the second half as we finished the first going 4-1 down pretty much straight away. Two dodgy goalkeeping errors by me led to goals 5 and 6. Poor defending led to goal 7.
So a 7-1 defeat for the ten men playing out of position and decimated by injuries. First six-pointer lost.
Going into the second six-pointer without the usual manager I agreed to wear the green jumper (Brian Clough for the younger readers) for one week only. With 13 fit players and 2 that were 50/50 the team virtually picked itself. I was going to start up front but couldn't leave out either striker so I decided to go on the bench.
We were the better team in the early exchanges and we were hoping we wouldn't regret two missed chances. Hope doesn't win games though and we fell behind with some poor defending. I decided to put myself on up front after 30 minutes just to change things and save one of the striker's legs as I was going to put him in midfield in the second half when the two central midfielders tired.
I won a few flick-ons and made a general nuisance of myself although the beer from the night before was affecting my game. A quick break and a great ball down the left to my fellow striker gave us a chance with two on one. I held my run so I stayed onside and screamed for a square ball. A perfect pass took out the defender, my first touch got the ball out of my feet and I only had the keeper to beat from about 12 yards. I stuck it in the corner for my first goal in 3 years to bring the scores level just before half-time.
I decided to start the second half but come off after 15 minutes to continue with my management role. We weren't creating many chances but never looked in trouble until our left back came off with an injury ten minutes from time. You should never make a substitution when defending a corner but this one was forced upon on us. A free header was cleared off the line but the follow up was smashed into the roof of the net. Very disappointing.
I went back on for the last 5 minutes and I was tempted to go for a diving header from a perfect cross to the back post from the same guy that set up the goal. A shout of "Time" changed my mind and I let the ball bounce sending me out wide. A finish of Van Basten quality was needed so I chose to cross it and it came to nothing.
A superstrike from their full back in the dying seconds flew into the top corner and it was another six-pointer lost.
Roll on next week...
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Jul 6, 2015 13:59:53 GMT
Great write-up, Downy, in spite of the results. And well done on getting your goal!
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Post by gazz on Jul 6, 2015 17:10:49 GMT
Well-written, mate, and unlucky with the results, especially the latter one, cruel blow if ever there was one. I'm pleased that you were able to get your first goal in years, mate, that must have been a mere Pipedream when you were recovering from that horrific injury.
Seems to me that getting your boots on again was absolutely the right decision, I'm genuinely pleased for you, mate!
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Post by dudleyhatter on Jul 6, 2015 18:00:33 GMT
It's a GOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL
Who cares about the rest. Well done Downy. Live for the game!
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Post by bigfudge on Jul 6, 2015 18:01:33 GMT
Absolutely superb write up mate!
Whilst the results weren't quite as planned it's certainly testament to your character that you came back from such a horrific injury to get back into playing and scoring that goal must have been a very sweet moment!
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Post by bringbacklenwhite on Jul 6, 2015 21:21:31 GMT
Enjoyed the read, Downey.
Onward and upwards. Good to see the shooting boots are working again.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2015 5:15:29 GMT
Cheers guys, I never realise how much I've written when I'm using this phone.
It certainly felt sweet watching it hit the back of the net, especially after seeing chances going begging from the line and getting frustrated. Add to that it was an equaliser and vindicated the decision to play myself up front. Just a shame we didn't kick on and win the game.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2015 10:18:41 GMT
Won 4 from last 5 to finish in a respectable position. Wore my new shirt to the end of season piss-up and got a great reception. Cheers Ian. Attachments:
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Post by gazz on Oct 11, 2015 11:03:31 GMT
Fantastic finish to the season, mate, and great to hear your County shirt went down well too!
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Post by dudleyhatter on Oct 11, 2015 11:44:57 GMT
Well done for even making back onto the pitch after all that happened to you. Great stuff
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Post by bringbacklenwhite on Oct 11, 2015 13:12:50 GMT
Applause.
You are now official a "COG".
Comeback Old Git. It's a very select group.
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Oct 11, 2015 14:09:41 GMT
Nice work, Downy. Well done to you and the team!
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