Half term, full game (and Julian’s golden return)
The game at the Palace today was quite balanced, at least at the start.
This seems to be a trend now: our data team incessantly input new data on a daily basis about our players and the algorithm eagerly process them to come out with more and more accurate selections. We don’t want though perfect algos with the risk of many 0-0 results after such accurate selections. Today also a couple of injuries played a part in unsettling the initial balance.
Our travelling fans made a seamless transition from the Pond to the Palace. These half terms venue changes have important socio-cultural implication: Football Dads Fans now know the dates by heart and can impress the wives when it comes to remembering their Kids holidays dates. It does though backfire when our fans refuse to go on holidays with their family to attend our matches. Getting priorities right is always key to happiness and our fans know it full well.
It was a full house despite half term with 22 players showing up, each one sporting an uncompromising attitude right from the start. Tony L was back guarding the Orange goal and fans could see what they missed. He also had few ‘Manuel Neuer’ trips outside the box (see video below) giving his midfield the extra player advantage.
http://www.footballdads.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/TonyL.mp4
There were some tactical innovation with young Adam G playing in defence while his Dad in a more offensive role. Versatility is another skill, among many others, the Galal family is bringing to the game. There were a couple of key comebacks in midfield with Julian, our missed German star player, and Adam B both boosting the Oranges ‘ odds.
Another family pair was on show with Victor Jr making a rare appearance along with his Dad Victor Sr giving respectively solidity to defence and spark in attack.
Attack was reliant on Arman, very mobile and able to hold the ball as well, along with the two ‘punteros’ Victor Sr and Giancarlo: at the end of the match there was a consensus among the specialised press that such a pair of strikers was not seen in action, in terms of speed, power and skills, since Adriano ‘ The emperor’ and Ronaldo ‘If Fenomeno’ played together with the Brazilian jersey. Victor and Giancarlo together bagged three out of five of the Orange winning goals.
The Colours team had youth written all over it with a very young back three line made by Al, Alessandro R and Riccardo. Equally attack with Giuseppe, Marco and Andrea was unrestrained and vital as ever. Alessandro C in goal, Paride and Keith in midfield, Francesco in attack were each in their own area of competence making sure that the mix of experience and youth would yield the desired result.
It was Victor Sr to break the ice after a prolonged deadlock and the Colours didn’t like it with Giuseppe able to restore parity soon after only for Giancarlo to put the Orange back in the lead also thanks to Victor’s dummy which allowed the otherwise resistible shot to end in the back of the net.
Marco, who had that far a very lively game in midfield, added his mark on the scoresheet (video below) and put his team back in contention. Incidentally Marco and Giancarlo only landed three hours before kick off after a 30 hours flight and had a good game both scoring: fans expected nothing less of them.
http://www.footballdads.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Goal-Marco.mp4
The game was as vibrant as ever until Paride had to limp off due to an injury followed by Alessandro R later on: the resulting reshuffle somewhat affected the balance of the game with the Orange taking full advantage with a one-two knock out by Victor again and Ishan with a sublime lob shot from the distance crowning an excellent game.
The score could have been heavier had not Alessandro saved yet another penalty (video below): the Data Team confirmed that 73% of all penalties taken were either saved or missed. A fairly anomalous statistic which perhaps needs to be addressed.
http://www.footballdads.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Alessandro-saves-penalty.mp4
The golden goal also went the Orange way with Julian sealing it in style and proving how reliable and dependable are his contributions.
With Yassin and Johannes missing the fight for the Man of the Match award was more open than ever. Marco and Giuseppe were surely worthy contenders but stats were heavily stuck against them: 76% of the MOTM awards so far went to players of the winning teams and this time it was no exception also considering that were few Orange players deserving the accolade like Adam G and Victor Sr. But voters were only pleased to be reminded by Julian how good his performances are on the pitch and they only wished they could see more of him.
The Ragnis played a compact game and took home the ‘most numerous family’ award with four members. Riccardo and Alessandro had a solid game in the back while Andrea this time played more centrally linking defence and attack. Francesco is still involved in a hot discussion with the Ref about a potential penalty for a foul by Tony L which even VAR provided by Paride could not fully clarify.
http://www.footballdads.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/rigore.mp4
By putting the Ragnis together in one team, incidentally the losing one, Algos showed little respect for risk management and diversification: that’s were technology has taken us to!
ORANGE-COLOURS 5-2
GOALS
ORANGE: Victor (2), Giancarlo, Ishan, Julian
COLOURS: Giuseppe, Marco
TEAMS
ORANGE: Tony L, Hossam, Victor Jr, Adam G, Ishan, Thomas, Bijan, Julian, Adam B, Giancarlo, Victor Sr, Arman
COLOURS: Alessandro C, Riccardo, Alessandro R, Al, Keith, Paride, Marco, Andrea, Giuseppe, Francesco