Danbury United Over 30 Soccer Team – 2005 Game Reports

 

2005-05-22 – League Game @ Bristol (T 1-1)

With some excellent saves by Gary in goal and a late take down of Roberto in the penalty box converted by Mingachos, we salvaged a 1-1 tie on the road against a solid Bristol team. The effort was there but we didn't play one of our better overall games. We again struggled on the offensive side of the ball. We seem to posses the ball well until the final third of the field and we become impatient and give up the possession too easily and find ourselves trying to stave off the counterattacks. Way too many balls served in the air  that are easily headed out by the defense or our finishing passes lack quality or vision and are easily picked off. And when we do get a quality pass thru we miss on the opportunities. Gary mentioned at half that he has had to make some tough saves and we hardly tested their keeper who is a field player into making a save. And yet we went out and dominated possession the 2nd half but I only recall their keeper having to make one save that was on goal. We struck many balls but not on target. In my estimation this is a result of lack of practice. We have a very talented team that works hard each week but our passing and shooting needs to improve.  It’s difficult to show up only on Sundays and expect your game to be on each week. As the old saying goes practice makes perfect. I realize not everyone can make practices but so you know we only get 4 players consistently to our practice. If you can't make practices it is your responsibility to prepare for each game. There are a couple players on the team who play in a summer league and their game improves in the fall from the spring every year. Playing twice a week for 6 weeks will do that for you. Guys you need to make the effort.

 

This week we are off and resume play on the 5th of June against the same team on the same field for the Cup. We now know they can play and we need to go there this time and take care of business. If you can't make it let me know now. Also there was interest over the winter in playing the Oneanta Tournament this summer. The dates are July 23 and 24. If you are interested in playing and have the dates available I need to know ASAP. I will be willing to bring a team if we have enough players. It’s a good Tourny and would be fun to go and spend a couple days together. You can bring your family if you want, I would just need to get room counts.

Thanks

Manny  

 

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2005-05-15 – Cup Game vs Colchester  (W 6-0)

Hey guys, we started out Cup play with a good 6-0 win. We finally put some chances away but we also missed our fair share and I thought their keeper made a few nice saves.

We seem to need many opportunities before we score and this can bite us in the ass with tougher competition. Our defense has started the year where we left off last year by limiting the opposition to few quality chances to score. We have only allowed 3 goals in 4 games so far this year. You win games by playing solid defense and it has showed. Regardless of the field, ball, ref , weather, pressuring the ball and sound defense  is a part of the game we can control from week to week. What we can't control is the amount of players we get to each game. Our numbers have been way down this year.  Omar was back this past Sunday after his long suspension and looked like he needed most of the game to shake off the rust. And I hope to have Joe Carlos back in 2 weeks. We have many players with other commitments

(mostly coaching) that will sometimes conflict with our games. With the injuries we have now we can have weeks where we are short players. I am not comfortable with the situation and have already added Will to our squad. And will also be trying to get Roberto to make some of our games. Omar has mentioned to me a few times that he has a couple of players that have interest in joining our team. I gave him the go ahead to pursue them. It is a long season and feel it is important to have depth on our squad. It may result in less playing time in some games for individual players but we would not have won the league and Cup last year without our team first attitude and the depth on our roster. More players makes my job harder (and keeps me from playing) but is better for the team and its success.

 

This Sunday we are away against Bristol at Fisher Meadow in Avon. I will be meeting at the club at 8:15 AM and have listed the directions for those who will be meeting us at game. I know we are without Joe C., Mark, Patrizio, and Peter so I need to hear from everyone else. Let me know if you will go direct or meet us at Club. Also wanted to thank Joe Carlos for the great work in putting together our own web site. He

updated it recently with new stuff including pictures provided by Nic and I think it looks great. I know Joe would welcome any feedback or input to enhance the site.

Thanks

Manny

 

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 2005-05-08 – League Game @ Ridgefield;  (W 2-1)

Good Morning guys, awfully cool conditions for a game in May yesterday. Thought we played a great entertaining 1st half of soccer and came off field with 2 - 0 lead. The second half we

seemed to ease up a bit and even though we created numerous chances to score we couldn't put away that elusive 3rd goal. What should have been a game we won by 4 or 5 goals turned into a few nervous minutes after Ridgefield scored late to make it 2-1 score. We did end up with the 2-1 win but not before they hit our goal post with under 2 min. to go. It seems like goals are at a premium with our team as we have scored 5 in 3 games. In our first 3 games we have played well in all areas of our game and clearly put ourselves in a position to win each week. But as we all know the games come down to goals and who puts them away and we have left many on the table. We have seen good keeping so far but we have also missed on many a quality opportunity where we missed the goal entirely. And it has been

thru out the team. I didn't want to harp on this after a win but I see a pattern developing that needs to be addressed as we have not allowed the opposition and easy chances and the 3 goals against were all very good conversions and we on the other hand have created breakaways, one on ones, open nets, clear shots in front of goal, and have missed many a golden opportunity. I challenge each of you to concentrate more on your finishes and to  flood the box more looking for rebounds. After saying all this good win on Sunday and it puts us in 2nd place behind Cheshire who has won 4 games already. We are scheduled to play

them on June 19th Fathers Day. They do not have a field that day and want to use ours due to the tournament they have on all the fields in Cheshire that Sunday. We can't play on our field at 9:00 AM that weekend as the over 40 team has a game at that time. I told Andy we might be able to get our field on Fathers Day at 11:00 AM or later. I need to hear from everyone if you could play at 11:00 or later on that Sunday. I need a full squad that day and will not agree unless we have most of the team available. Let me know as soon as possible. If later in morning is not good for most of team I will look into finding another field in Danbury area to play at 9:00AM. Let me know if that is a better option I really don't want to make up the game at end of season.

 

Also this Sunday we are home against Collchester at 10:00AM for the 1st Cup Game. If you can't make it let me know. Each week there are many who do not respond back to my emails. If I spend time to send you emails please do me the favor of a response. If you think I like typing or writing these emails you would be wrong. But they do help to communicate and the game summaries I thought were fun to read and to archive in our website. For those  of you that don't know or have forgotten we have our own web site constructed by Joe Carlos.

The address is below:

Danbury United Over 30 Soccer Team

  If anyone would like to add anything or have comments about the site please direct them to Joe Carlos.

Thanks

Manny

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2005-05-01 – League Game vs Westport, Played at PCC;  (T 2-2)

Hi guys. I feel like we let one get away this Sunday. It was a clean hard fought game on both sides but we clearly had the more quality chances at goal. Even after they tied us late in the

game we responded with a few good looks at goal that would have won it but it wasn't to be. After the tie we stand tied with Westport in 2nd Place. Cheshire is in first with 3 wins under

their belt. We also may have lost a couple more players as a result of the game. Patricio left the game with a badly sprained ankle and Fred was limping with his ACL tear in his knee. With Omar suspended until mid May, Joe Carlos nursing his knee sprain, and Tony and Roberto doubtful for the first half season we will be short a few players for this Sunday. I do have a new recruit who's name is Will starting this week which will help. But we need everyone else to be at the game this week. We started the year with the exact same 20 players we ended the season with but I didn't expect these early problems which has depleted our roster. We practice on Thursdays after 6:00 if anyone knows of any players they feel can play at this level bring them by and I will take a look at them.

 

The game Sunday is a 9:00 AM kickoff due to Mothers Day. We are playing in Ridgefield at Dinez Fields which the directions are below. I will meet those that want to commute

together at 8:00 AM at the Portuguese Club. Let me know if you will meet me or go direct.

 

Manny

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2005-04-24 – League Game @ Waterford;  (W 1-0)

Sunday was the official beginning to the season. We were away at Waterford and only had 11 players available plus Joe Carlos who despite being injured went along for moral

support and to help coach the team. Waterford had the usual 22 players ready, willing, and able. Farinha and Joe put together a great game plan to pack our defense in tight let them serve the ball in and counter attack quickly. We were able to create many more quality opportunities then Waterford and were able to come away with a 1 to 0 victory.

Despite missing a few golden chances at goal Jorge was able to put one in the back of the net to award us a well earned 3 points on the road. When Farinha called me with the score right after the game he was all fired up over the victory and spoke highly of how hard and well everyone played. When he called me again 2 days later he was just as excited over the win but said he was so sore from playing the entire game he could hardly walk. To all the players that were at the game Sunday great job and I'm sorry I missed it.

 

 This Sunday we are at home against Westport. We need everyone to be there. Our turnout has been bad the last 3 weeks. There are many players that have yet to make a game. We

have a tough 1st half schedule and will need numbers at all the games. If you have to miss a game please give me notice as soon as possible.

 See you Sunday.

Manny
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