When yesterday's final whistle sounded, it ended our "likely"
last match (unless the tampines rovers match is still on) and began
our 2 months break. Its been a wonderful time playing wif u all
guys. Lots of joy shared between thro the love of this game. Lots
of tactical and strategy changes has taken place since we started
out. Lots of improvement as well, as witnessed by Chester. (i asked
him for comments) 
.
However, frustrations, confusion and disagreements were exisistant
as well. Jem's diplomatic match reports has always left out the
mistakes and lack of discipline by the Reds. (other than himself,
wat a modest chap.)
In this posting, i would like to get some opinions regarding how my
game should be played. I believe i've been rather ill-discipline.
off the pitch: When i first join the team, i had a bad habit of
coming late for matches. Reprimanded several times by the manager,
i had changed by ways . (thanks to Lancer for picking me) On the
pitch, i believe i muz haf been rather ill-disciplined as until
today, i 've been signalled out as running out of position. Well in
fact, the last thing i wanted to do to any team i played for ... is
as a disruptive influence to it. I dun believe in being a notti boy
and not playing according to team instructions, playing a prima
donna. (i definitely dun poccess the skills to do dat as well)
However due to rather conflicting instructions off and on the pitch
( maybe my understand power lousy la... 
) i
am committing the same "mistakes" again and again which the other 2
wings-back doesnt ... or doesnt commit as much. Here, i would like
to explain mysf abit in 3 key pts in attempt to get wat is
preferred for me to do in future games. Firstly, in supporting the
attack: When we have poccession n in attempt to attack, isnt the
whole team supposed to move up? Often, after a corner by
opposition, colin shouts move up, so i did. (i watched EPL, its
like dat too ... 
)
but izzit preferred i move up bt behind the mid-field? Often the
distance between the mid-field n strikers is rather far. hence i
try to fill in the gaps (since my legs and carry me there) or draw
some defenders away, (since i cant really cross or shoot) and link
up the play. i believe in playing football in the opposition half
instead of our own to win. There are times where i ended in great
positions where boon and khai could put my thro for goal. ( on
offense to any1, maybe u guys din c me.) Manager Robin had stopped
me from joining 1 of the attacks in the last match while Colin and
sometimes Charles urge me to move fwd.
My question here is, am i supposed to join an attack? our players
does not prefer defenders to join an attack ( Russell does let me
run on to thro balls pretty often though) becos its likely we will
waste the chance? (juz be frank, i'm very opened to criticisms, i
only wanna improve, not create confilcts. juz wanna get things
clear). I knw the simple solutions here is to tell some1 to cover
for me, but changes on the field takes place to quickly, there may
not time to turn around and c whose available and then ask for
cover rite? My second pt is .... Drifting to the centre. I'm not
unaware of where i'm standing and does not stand there becos i
enjoy being asked by teammates to get back to my position. Its for
the simple reason dat the opp in the centre is free without any1
near him. and i can anticipate a pass is goin to reach him. If it
happens, he got afew damaging options to us like playing a 1-2 wif
his strikers and run on to shoot or juz shoot. hence i place mysf
near dat fella to intercept if i can, or remove him as a passing
option for his teammate. If the pass reach some1 else on my
flank... i wld then run to dat fella during the flight of the ball,
and chase him. the most dat other guy can do on the flank is cross,
or at most a short pass back to the centre. by the time, our men
wld haf got back to defend. i dun beleaf in shouting for markers
too much also as i it will create too many "indian chiefs".
Besides...i seldom see cases where i clashes wif my own
mid-fielders for ball. So my question here is .... should i juz let
them come thro the more impt centre ( i feel dat la... ) The third and last pt is abt covering. Covering is
needed becos some1 else is out of position or becos there's an
extra attacker. i've reprimanded for leaving my defensive position
and mid-fielders have to cover for me. In the last 2 matches
(including the tampines rovers match), the oppositions attacks in
5-7s. Which means, opp mid-fielders, usually more skillful and
running more than their strikers (i duno y... juz noticed dat) had
joined in the attack. Giving a scenario on sunday's game, hongwei
approach my flank 1st, i took him on, bt william ran behind me and
took the ball from the former. In another: Jimson, william, hongwei
and dawei were in front of me and patrick several times too. we
needed cover. when taking on 1 attacker, the other will run behind
me... when i turned around, its either no one on him ( then i haf
to give up my marker and chase the fella behind), or patrick or
charles will be follow him and i will drop back into the centre
back. Here, covers by the midfielders for me is needed. which took
place several times. (thank you mid-fielders) but isnt this part of
the game or it shouldnt happen? Furthermore, its often said dat our
defense shld let Charles (yestersday, patrick for awhile) be
free.... but we're always short of markers. I suggest dat the our
midfielder's be assigned to man marking particular key opp
mid-fielders which has been creating chaos in our defence for the
last few matches. Or shld i juz stick to my position, flat beside
Charles and see if things are betta dat way? I prefer cutting out
the opp early (thus moving up) instead of inviting opp into our
half so our team wldnt haf to fall back so much and allowing them
to settle on our half ... making it diff for us to clear the ball,
and build up an attack. The whole team will lose more energy in
moving back and then up to attack. I understand the concern for me
in diz case is dat i will be punctured... bt when certain situation
applies, it may be inevitable. i seldom got problems handling 1
attacker. When i'm encountered wif 2 attackers, having to restrict
their advance, i will be shagged and haf difficulty in catching the
2 whether or not i move up alot. i do pace mysf too, whn i knw i
cant take it, i will request for sub or juz stay back. i seldom see
cases where i walk ard in defense not marking any1, However
centre-backs and mid-field covers is needed, i believe. I can
gladly sit in my own position... that will really make my job very
easy... Juz clearing balls and marking attackers. It will also save
my lots of energy too. Bt i have doubts if i will be contributiing
to the team with the best of my abilty. Maybe i watched too match
EPLs... Egs: Even Alan Shearer goin to the left-back pos to clear
ball whn Andy Griffin was away. Silvestre, Gary Neville, Stephen
Carr, Danny Mills and even Jamie Carragher (least skillful of these
wing-backs) all moved up to support all and others had to cover for
them. I may be sounding dat im trying to defend mysf. Pls dun get
me wrong, my purpose here is juz trying let u guys understand wat
i've been trying to do and not intending to disrupt the team's play
or defying mgt instructions. I chooses to do the things i c as most
pragmatic on the pitch only. My views on playing the game is rather
flexible. Hence I need the views of fellow teammates to help
enlighten me and improve my game so as to contribute to the team
betta. On offense to any1. We all may haf diiferent views on how
the game shld be played to suit our team. On a different note, i
like to say dat i'm really overjoyed to see our team win in our
last match! Cheers!!!!!
