Seeking Keeper desperately

Strictly from a players’ number point of view, it was a rare, compliant 11 v 11 though the cherry 🍒 on the cake was missing, as only one role keeper answered the call of duty. Truth being told, there was a second one: the long awaited return of Paride, rested by a fastidious back injury. Fans spared no cheers in welcoming him back cherishing his fantastic saves and his aerial prowess during his daring raids on opponents’ box. In his absence when the nature of the problem and the timing of his return were not known, the CLUB ignored the many offers and decided to stick to his talisman.

Why would someone take the risk of spending so much money for an injured player? As we all know common metrics do not apply to FDs. Specifically in this instance a half fit Paride would still make all the difference both as a keeper and an outside player. He decided to go for the latter role today and had a solid defensive game while taking the liberty to score a goal from the distance. We wish Paride a swift and full recovery in the knowledge that he is already very much in demand the way he is now.

The game was graced by two Rookies: Yuvraj who kept the Colours’ defence on red alert scoring as well on debut and Smayan who had a good game and never gave up fighting. Unfortunately Yuvraj towards the end suffered a bad knee injury in a fortuitous clash with Victor. We wish him a speedy recovery. What Yuvraj showed today on the pitch was enough to predict a bright future with the Kids frontline.

Johannes proudly introduces Yuvraj to Football Kids. The Rookie responded with a goal on debut

Rookie Smayan by wearing that shirt made no secret about his football ambitions

Colours had a lot of quality in every compartment and it showed right from the start putting constant pressure on Orange defence. Modern keepers can dive down the ground in a fraction of a second while Giancarlo at times, like in Francesco’s first goal, seemed to be more comfortable with minutes…In fairness he just denied before a close volley again by Francesco with a reaction save. Yet over the course of the match the difference in goalkeepers’ quality was a decisive factor.

Once Colours extended the lead with Diego F and later with a wonderful shot under the bar by Jonathan, it was very difficult for Orange to reduce the gap as Colours’ defence was set up to perfection. Hossam and Victor as central defenders showed an understanding that only veterans possess coupled with style and vision. Victor’s many layers did nothing to reduce his agility and touch, while Alister and Andrea M on their respective avenues could gear themselves up from defence to attack at no notice adding, in case of Alister, a precious goal.

Gregorio was yet again at the heart of this well oiled machine firing on all cylinders finding in the process the time to add a brace from his tally.
It would be wrong to conclude that Colours had an easy game as they were constantly kept on their toes by the restless plots of the Orange midfield with Dario and Johannes dictating the pace and the passes to both Yuvraj and Ross who were able to find the net in three occasions.
Despite not scoring Al on the Colours’ had a good game with trademark long deliveries with trajectories reminiscent of the early Beckham. At time though his love affairs with the ball met some teammates’ criticism but the lad is young and can only learn from the many seasoned players around him. Youngsters these days have so many coaches and masters eager to force kids to execute their elaborate schemes that is in a way refreshing to see free spirits taking on players and dribbling their way to goal.

While teams battled fiercely for supremacy the clock at 11.45 found them at 6-4 score in favour of Colours. In fact the gap looked generous had not Orange squandered few chances in front of goals: as such golden goal was anyone guess.
It only took few minutes for Colours to orchestrate a fast and precise move, surely the result of in-week training, and put Adam in the crowded box finding the winning angle with a soft yet deadly touch that allow Colours to claim full victory on the day.
Yet Orange fans were in no mood to feel derogatory towards their players, rather cheering them in recognition of both their fighting spirit and the entertaining quality of their game which perhaps only lacked cynical finalisation.

The Man of the Match ties in with what today is rare commodity on the pitch: Dads and particularly good goalkeepers. Alessandro ticks both boxes and today was simply outstanding for both the number and the difficulty of some his saves. He also ventured to save a penalty procured and taken by Julien, proving once again that scoring penalties with existing goals is more difficult that missing them given also the quality of our two only existing goalkeepers. It was argued that with swapped keepers the score would have been different: no one dared to counter as the stats were overwhelmingly in that direction.
As a measure for more balanced games with role keepers in place the CLUB is now offering a double Amazon voucher for those who can produce the impossible: a Goalkeeper Dad!

COLOURS-ORANGE 7-4

GOALS

COLOURS: Diego F, Gregorio (2), Francesco, Jonathan, Alister, Adam

ORANGE: Paride, Ross (2), Yuvraj

TEAMS

COLOURS: Alessandro, Hossam, Victor, Alister, Andrea M, Gregorio, Diego, Jonathan, Al, Francesco, Adam

ORANGE: Hannes, Giancarlo, Edoardo, Thomas, Julien, Dario, Johannes, Paride, Smayan, Ross, Yuvraj