An intimately fierce game

For some 10 minutes it looked like Giancarlo and Yasin had to make true the Club principle that wherever there are two FDs there there is a game.

Such a low turnout did not make justice to the wonderful weather: the sun shining on the green grass made covid-19 a distant memory. Fans were not deterred either and took courage to watch the game from the sidelines coming out from the bushes and down from the trees in the inner conviction that the show to come was worth any fine. They were not to be disappointed.  The ultimate 4 v 4 format came with the luxury of choosing a tiny and perfectly even and grassed strip of land.

It is like if you deploy Ronnie O’ Sullivan you might well get him a proper pool  table and, as always, the least fans  got was great value for money. Besides, no money can buy some of the sheer thrills provided by a fierce contest  full of pace as the limited number of players made for a 90’ game on non stop. If you posed to catch your breath you deprived your team of 25% of its potential. Such guilty feeling was a lot harder to stomach than the desire to regain energy.

Players gave the impression to be powered by Duracell batteries which had to be discharged at the final whistle.
It looked like from the very start that the Unbibbed had rehearsed better during the week as the ball travelled with purpose, speed and direction. Giancarlo became  the terminal of such fluid traffic as he put four goals in with the fifth stopped on the line and converted by Yasin eager to re-open his account after a long absence.

The Bibbed had quality and pride to counter that. Adam in particular seemed to have developed a brand new relationship with the ball during covid-19  to the point that he managed an unprecedented hat trick, and not in his own goal. Diego also was a constant threat both with his feet and his head adding physicality to a proper technique.

The arrival of Chris H. put the Bibbed one man up but the goal was widened with him playing as a rush  keeper.  That did not last much  as the Unbibbed poached a rookie, Gleb  from Russia . It is reassuring to see that covid-19 has not prevented the Club from spending money in the Summer window, in this case also deploying the hedging on the ruble.

The game became hectic with the Unbibbed able to retain the narrowest of margin thanks to the coast to coast relentless faring by Yasin who was dominating defence, midfield and attack.

The Bibbed hit the outside posts multiple times and amassed a countless number of corners: did they thinks that the old rule of three posts or five corners for a goal was in place?

Social distancing was interpreted very liberally, especially by Chris who performed a couple of reckless tackles on Giancarlo and Cedan aiming either at the ball or the leg, in no particular order.

Far from being intimidated Giancarlo and Cedan scored again and with a brace by Yasin managed to land the score at a comfortable 9-6.

There was only time for the golden goal which, much the the Unbibbed frustration, Giancarlo scored with a lob shot from the distance for his fifth for the day. Such a tally is there to confirm that the Rossonero  is a ‘Barolo’ player getting better with age as he is completing his 13th consecutive season with the Club. Still a long way to go as for FDs the quarter of a century is the first meaningful milestone to get into the Club Hall of Fame but time is on FDs side.

Without Yasin Giancarlo would have been the Man of the Match but the award was rightfully handed to the Moroccan: there is hardly any player, perhaps Messi gets close on a good day, that combines Yasin’s  speed and technique and that, unlike Messi, can be found in any part of the pitch which he crosses up and down all the time at variable speed almost undisturbed by the desperate opponents. Beside today Yasin was sporting a brand new pair of Puma shoes (see pic). We do not believe that the shoes make the player (l’abito non fa il monaco) but we suggest you buy them before they fly off the shelves.

Ubibbed-Bibbed 10-6

Scorers

Unbibbed: Giancarlo (5), Yasin (2), Chetan (2), Gleb (1)

Bibbed: Adam (3), Diego (2), Tarek (1)

Teams

Unbibbed: Giancarlo, Yasin, Cedan, Gleb

Bibbed: Chris H, Adam, Diego, Tarek