Well not really, but you can blame Chief and James for asking me about my lack of blog at training tonight! That's enough to claim popular demand in my mind! At least two people read it, or read it once!
Just as an aside first up, I couldn't bring myself to write a Socceroos Blog on the Germany game. It was just too painful for me. The only thing I think I can say which hasn't already been said is this; chin up boys, if Pim tries something stupid again, put your heads together and sort it out. The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different outcome. I think for professional footballers to be guilty of this is a crime. Good luck boys, smash Ghana! then Serbia!
Back to the real winners of the weekend, THE ROVERS! I must say I was as concerned as anyone about how we would all handle the force 2 week lay off. Turns out we should take 2 weeks off more often. A bright first half by all involved saw the Rovers firing on all cylinders, despite early injuries to Chief, and Sasha we simply dominated. Whilst the Redbacks tried the long ball, we kept our heads, ball on the deck and good possession. Special mentions to James for his cameo up front for the first 15, and Sasha for his absolute brain snap and subsequent yellow card. For a moment you must've thought you were playing in the NBA finals mate, rejected the keeper? Or as mentioned at training, maybe it was that netball drill Bob had us do at training last week!
Despite long periods of domination we didn't manage to snatch a goal in the first half. Second half more of the same, and more of the Rovers curse of dominating but not scoring. Then as if Karma finally was a real force in the world, not the myth of hippies everywhere, Nahid knocked in a superb long range effort... Well... He hit a cross and it snuck in at the back stick! But to be far, we deserved our goal, although the manner left a bit to be desired! It had the desired effect and the flood gates opened!
Leo was the next on the score sheet, the positive side of him not turning up until well after half time was that he was full of running! after beating the offside trap and heading towards goal he hit what can only be described as an inch perfect pass to the back stick. Just enough to give their defender a glimmer of hope of keeping it out. But that glimmer faded as the ball, and the defender, rolled across the line. 2-0. Pete then chimed in with a brilliant run from beside me at the back which started with the comment "random run forward?" to myself, to which i replied, "go for it." Not 30 seconds later he was cutting in on his right foot and smacked home into the bottom corner. 3-0.
Armyn's goal and the Rovers 4th was controversially ruled offside. But it didn't matter the day was one. Of particular importance was a clean sheet and a good team performance across the park, it made the 3-2-1's very difficult!
Onto Normanhurst this weekend, it will be another tough game, and I'll be doing all i can, including staying of the grog at Nahid's to keep another clean sheet. (I also promise i won't go near the penalty spot this time around!) Fire up Rovers! Let's go back to back and restart our season!
See you at a TV somewhere, bleary eyed watching the World Cup!
B!
P.s. Well done to New Zealand, for showing the Socceroos what they could of, nay should of done against Germany. Ok it was against a 'weaker' opposition but the game plan was spot on, the attitude was spot on, and they got the point they needed!
