A crowning moment

There was a crowning moment on Tuesday evening. The coaches divided the team into the firsts and reserves for our second pre-season match. I played the second half as a left back because we were missing a starter there. Don’t think I’ve played left back before, but I ended up doing really well there. After the game, I asked Sander the coach what I could improve. He didn’t say I could improve anything. Every single day I’m working on my weaknesses, thinking about what can make me a better player, so to hear a comment like that makes that hard work in training worth it. His comment made me really happy for a day or two, but that happiness was short lived.

Saturday’s game, we played against DVVA. They were really just a bunch of tall, older guys that were pretty slow and poor. I guess as a reward for Tuesday’s performance, I was told I’ll to play a full game in my preferred position as a right winger in our team that had heavy rotation. I knew a outstanding performance in this match would propel me to a fixed starter. I was hustling and hustling for the entire match. I tried everything I could to get that ball to make goals and assists. Constantly drifted inside to get on that ball more, making as many runs possible and putting pressure high up on the field. Worked so hard to get on the score sheet, but it just didn’t work out. I even went kamikaze into the goalkeepers knees to try score, but I just ended up lying on the ground holding my balls in pain for a few minutes. We ended up winning 4-1 or 5-1 and I shrugged my shoulders in frustration.

What I have to keep doing is showing the level of work and intensity and the results on paper will come. If I sit down and think what I could have done better in these matches, there’s really not much at all I can say. We’ll see how next week goes before I say what I think the next step is, just to make sure these good performances aren’t a fluke.

Nothings happened with potential opportunities. It’s just three weeks until I begin uni again, and I desperately want something to happen before then.

• 1-on-1’s
• Receiving with back to ball
  & become a more valuable player by..
• Looking for more ways I can get on the ball

– Getting better at 1-on-1’s, and find that I have a key advantage as I can shoot with both feet well and so the defender doesn’t know which direction I’ll go. Also learning not to stop or slow down as I’m approaching the defender.
– Getting on the ball more by positioning oneself on edge of box for 1 touch, shot.
– Making inside runs, you can get on the ball so much more as I found in training this week.
– Coach pointed out to me whilst playing, don’t be static, move & move. I think he was right and just maybe the answer to getting on the ball more.
– Receive ball on touchline, rather than in the middle.
4/8/13 – Confidence definitely improving in one on ones as I practice them more and more with the out of contract guys.
12/8 – going inside more as a winger to make those cross field runs, I do get more touches on the ball that way.

General comment: Improving, and I really want to shine more out of tight positions. Getting better, but so difficult to make this a habit. Still making sure I’m purposely scanning in personal trainings and club training drills.

3. Ongoing – Find out what makes great players, great. What separates the “great” from the “good”.

4. Defend better

4/8/13 – Doing this actively and making good gains.

Monday – Lunch: Workout C Evening: Training with JOS

Tuesday – Evening: 4th pre-season game

Wednesday – Rest Day

Thursday – Evening: training with JOS

Friday – Training with out of contract players?

Saturday – 5th pre-season game

Sunday – Morning: Workout A and Training C