Last weekend the weather had its say on both A's game and ours, so this week we were both hoping to get back out there.
A had his game on the Saturday, after only 1 substitute appearance in the last 16weeks due to his broken hand it was obvious he was nervous when his coach started him. After only a few mins gone he got his first tackle in - a good solid block - which seemed to settle him into the game.
At times he was guilty of giving up on the ball and having missed a tackle watching the attackers run past him rather than chasing back. So I had to do my bit and yell at him to not give up, he took it on board and performed much better in the second half. Unfortunately the team were mis-firing as a unit and ended up on the wrong end of a 4-2 result, I was however very pleased with his performance as he seems to be finding his feet again. My score this week 8.5/10, He gave himself a 7.
Onto Sunday and it was a tough away trip for my team up against a side low down the table but much better than their position would suggest. Andy and I knew this having had a tough home game against them which we narrowly won earlier in the season. Their results also suggested they gave a good game with a number of draws and the losses often only by a single goal.
With a few players missing and a couple returning from injury we knew it would be tight and we weren't disappointed. The game started with one of their midfielders putting in some shocking tackles (we were lucky not to have any broken bones) within 10mins of the start he was in the refs notebook which fortunately seemed to calm him down.
The pitch was awful and this made it awkward to play our type of passing game. Their style of play however was the long ball over the top. We dominated the first half for large periods and it was a long ball which caused us to find ourselves a goal down against the run of play.
Just before halftime we won a free kick about 25yards out, up stepped our free kick specialist and the 'ginger wizard' produced a magical goal powering the ball into the top right hand corner like a rocket.
The second half was a tense affair with neither side really taking control although they probably had the best chances. All in all the 1-1 scoreline was a fair result, unfortunately it caused us to drop a position and we are now in 4th spot.
Monday, 8 February 2010
The SJ Update
Ok so as you all know I was due to meet up with SJ for a second date, it ran far from smoothly and was very confusing....
I had arranged to get out of work early and meet SJ for dinner just after 6pm on a Thursday night. We had picked a pub to meet at and it was there that we were going to eat. I arrived and the carpark was absolutely rammed. After finding myself a space and waiting 15 mins SJ finally showed up.
My phone rang 'I can't get a space, do you know anywhere else?' I suggested somewhere and she followed me as I sped off. When we arrived we walked in and straight out again - the place was full of screaming kids! Eventually we found somewhere and ordered our food.
The conversation was awkward and didn't flow well at all. At times there was uncomfortable silences and after the barmaid had been very flirty with me i'd decided to try and catch her eye - unfortunately I failed!
At times I felt like just calling it a night but for some reason I stuck it out, we ended the date with a kiss and a fumble. Which after the rubbish time we'd obviously both just had confused me even more!
Once we were both back home the texts started, She seems really uncomfortable with being single and wanted me to know that if anything was to happen between us she'd want to see me at least every other day (I guess this was due to me telling her how busy my week had been with kids, beer and football). It was decided that I was not what she was looking for and she's not really what I want. Whats wrong with taking things slowly and letting them just progress naturally, everyone seems in such a rush these days!
I had arranged to get out of work early and meet SJ for dinner just after 6pm on a Thursday night. We had picked a pub to meet at and it was there that we were going to eat. I arrived and the carpark was absolutely rammed. After finding myself a space and waiting 15 mins SJ finally showed up.
My phone rang 'I can't get a space, do you know anywhere else?' I suggested somewhere and she followed me as I sped off. When we arrived we walked in and straight out again - the place was full of screaming kids! Eventually we found somewhere and ordered our food.
The conversation was awkward and didn't flow well at all. At times there was uncomfortable silences and after the barmaid had been very flirty with me i'd decided to try and catch her eye - unfortunately I failed!
At times I felt like just calling it a night but for some reason I stuck it out, we ended the date with a kiss and a fumble. Which after the rubbish time we'd obviously both just had confused me even more!
Once we were both back home the texts started, She seems really uncomfortable with being single and wanted me to know that if anything was to happen between us she'd want to see me at least every other day (I guess this was due to me telling her how busy my week had been with kids, beer and football). It was decided that I was not what she was looking for and she's not really what I want. Whats wrong with taking things slowly and letting them just progress naturally, everyone seems in such a rush these days!
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Desperate?? I think not....
Something strange happens when you try internet dating, people think you must be desperate. Any mates you tell certainly think so, which is why I don't tell many! Also the other site users seem to think you are too..
Why else would a HUGE 56 year old woman with 27 kids contact me with a message like 'your cute' or 'nice smile, wanna chat'?? Ok, so maybe thats a slight exageration but i'm sure you understand my point. There's a sense of freedom that internet dating gives you, a freedom from consequences. If I ask a stunning girl in a bar for her number theres a good chance of humiliation, where as on the internet I just get deleted. This is not a good thing, hence the 25 stone grandma's getting flirty with me!
I try to answer every message with at least a 'thanks for the compliment' or 'thankyou for the kind message' unfortunately this seems to encourage some in their quest for a date. Resorting to begging is not attractive, nor as a message does that I have received tonight does slagging off my football team turn me on - it just makes me imagine a life of arguments about football inside the sanctuary of my own home as well as down the pub.
Anyway... rant over! Sunday evening involved a trip to Sam's again, she introduced me to her daughter! Although very sweet this seemed a little too early for me and made me feel uncomfortable - I have been single for about 4 years in that time I have had plenty of relationships but my children have only ever met one partner, a partner that I was with for about 6 months. Still each to their own I guess. I just hate the worry that comes with it all - will the kid get attached, if we don't 'date' again will she think its the childs fault etc....
So tomorrow (Thursday) I am getting an early finish from work and have arranged to meet up again with SJ. We are going for a meal as we'll both be going straight from work. I tried to pick somewhere not too expensive - just incase! Been looking at her pictures again and man she has some body! Probably why we're meeting for a second date, although we did get on well too - but is that enough??
I shall update on Friday with details from the date.
Why else would a HUGE 56 year old woman with 27 kids contact me with a message like 'your cute' or 'nice smile, wanna chat'?? Ok, so maybe thats a slight exageration but i'm sure you understand my point. There's a sense of freedom that internet dating gives you, a freedom from consequences. If I ask a stunning girl in a bar for her number theres a good chance of humiliation, where as on the internet I just get deleted. This is not a good thing, hence the 25 stone grandma's getting flirty with me!
I try to answer every message with at least a 'thanks for the compliment' or 'thankyou for the kind message' unfortunately this seems to encourage some in their quest for a date. Resorting to begging is not attractive, nor as a message does that I have received tonight does slagging off my football team turn me on - it just makes me imagine a life of arguments about football inside the sanctuary of my own home as well as down the pub.
Anyway... rant over! Sunday evening involved a trip to Sam's again, she introduced me to her daughter! Although very sweet this seemed a little too early for me and made me feel uncomfortable - I have been single for about 4 years in that time I have had plenty of relationships but my children have only ever met one partner, a partner that I was with for about 6 months. Still each to their own I guess. I just hate the worry that comes with it all - will the kid get attached, if we don't 'date' again will she think its the childs fault etc....
So tomorrow (Thursday) I am getting an early finish from work and have arranged to meet up again with SJ. We are going for a meal as we'll both be going straight from work. I tried to pick somewhere not too expensive - just incase! Been looking at her pictures again and man she has some body! Probably why we're meeting for a second date, although we did get on well too - but is that enough??
I shall update on Friday with details from the date.
Weekends Football
Success on the field for both members of the family this week. 'A' made his return from injury having a 30min run out for his team playing half of that time at right back and half at left back. I was very pleased with his performance after 14 weeks out (due to his broken hand and then the weather).
He had training on the Friday night and looked very very rusty. I was pretty hard on him in the car on the way home as I warned him he'd have to raise his game if he wanted to reclaim his starting position and that he did. After a nervous 5mins he settled in well having the confidence to look for good passes out of defence instead of the old hoof upfield. His best move being while playing at left back - having received the ball from his centreback he was quickly closed down and turned back towards goal. I took a deep breath fearing he would be dispossesed as another attacker joined his team mate in trying to win the ball. A made himself enough space inside to turn and dig at the ball with his right foot resulting in a perfect pass into midfield setting up another attack. His team ran out 5-2 winners.
On the way home we always mark his performance out of ten, mine usually slightly lower than his rose tinted assessment of his performance! This time it was the other way round as he gave himself a harsh 7/10 considering his length of time out I gave him a 9/10 but told him I expected more next week - Its great being a Dad!
As for my team we won 9-1! Andy had purchased a new red kit over the xmas break and it was our first time out in it due to the frost and snow ravaged fixture list. Despite the huge score it took us 30mins to get the ball in the back of the net as we created a few good chances but the keeper equal to them all. Following our first goal we won a free kick within mins of the restart that was converted and we found ourselves 2-0 up. We seem to lack a killer instinct at times and as usual seemed to think it was job done which invited them onto us for a good 10min spell. Against the run of play and just on the stroke of halftime we made it 3. My half-time talk revolved around not backing off and the best form of defence being attack, Andy joined in with a few words about lacking a killer instinct and getting the job done - it seemed to work hence the final score of 9-1. A player we've really missed while having a broken ankle announced his return scoring a hat-trick after coming on as a sub with 20mins remaining.
We are playing the same team on Sunday as our fixture list has piled up, I suspect they will be more ready for us but we will be sending the boys out with that killer instinct message again and hope to destroy them as its done our goal difference no harm what-so-ever!
He had training on the Friday night and looked very very rusty. I was pretty hard on him in the car on the way home as I warned him he'd have to raise his game if he wanted to reclaim his starting position and that he did. After a nervous 5mins he settled in well having the confidence to look for good passes out of defence instead of the old hoof upfield. His best move being while playing at left back - having received the ball from his centreback he was quickly closed down and turned back towards goal. I took a deep breath fearing he would be dispossesed as another attacker joined his team mate in trying to win the ball. A made himself enough space inside to turn and dig at the ball with his right foot resulting in a perfect pass into midfield setting up another attack. His team ran out 5-2 winners.
On the way home we always mark his performance out of ten, mine usually slightly lower than his rose tinted assessment of his performance! This time it was the other way round as he gave himself a harsh 7/10 considering his length of time out I gave him a 9/10 but told him I expected more next week - Its great being a Dad!
As for my team we won 9-1! Andy had purchased a new red kit over the xmas break and it was our first time out in it due to the frost and snow ravaged fixture list. Despite the huge score it took us 30mins to get the ball in the back of the net as we created a few good chances but the keeper equal to them all. Following our first goal we won a free kick within mins of the restart that was converted and we found ourselves 2-0 up. We seem to lack a killer instinct at times and as usual seemed to think it was job done which invited them onto us for a good 10min spell. Against the run of play and just on the stroke of halftime we made it 3. My half-time talk revolved around not backing off and the best form of defence being attack, Andy joined in with a few words about lacking a killer instinct and getting the job done - it seemed to work hence the final score of 9-1. A player we've really missed while having a broken ankle announced his return scoring a hat-trick after coming on as a sub with 20mins remaining.
We are playing the same team on Sunday as our fixture list has piled up, I suspect they will be more ready for us but we will be sending the boys out with that killer instinct message again and hope to destroy them as its done our goal difference no harm what-so-ever!
Friday, 22 January 2010
Rugby vs Football nearly prevents second date!
I decided it was about time I arranged the second date with SJ, mainly since writing on here had reminded me I needed too! We'd not text each other for a couple of days and I wasn't sure why or who'd text last..
I kept it simple to start and tapped in 'Hey hows you? Not spoke for a while Xx' within five mins I felt my phone go in my pocket 'I'm ok you? x' was my reply. Oh dear not the best start although I thought the fact there was a kiss was a good thing.
I suggested we arrange the second date which SJ agreed to saying she thought I'd change my mind after stopping texting. I couldn't remember stopping texting, she assured me I had after she'd told me she liked rugby. In particular Welsh rugby, this then generated into a Rugby vs Football debate..
The debate basically centered around her suggesting Rugby was a proper mans game, while I resorted to the old favorite of real men don't roll in mud with each other or put their heads between each others legs argument. It quickly descended into me calling rugby players egg chasers and her saying football players were diving prima-donnas maybe she has a point about some of them!
At this point I began to wonder whether a second date would be a good idea as assuming we did get on, who as a slender bloke wants to see his Mrs drooling over some big manimal playing for Wales. If that's her kind of man then I'm not the man for her!
Needless to say I began to think the second date was quickly slipping from view! She then responded to my childish 'well you won't convert me!' text with a simple 'I wouldn't want to'. She says she does like football too but not too keen on the overpaid topflight, that think they're gods - her words not mine as I do think they're better than gods as they're real! Maybe all is not lost although i'm still not sure about the dodgy taste in sports.
Thursday is D-day anyway so lets see what happens!
I kept it simple to start and tapped in 'Hey hows you? Not spoke for a while Xx' within five mins I felt my phone go in my pocket 'I'm ok you? x' was my reply. Oh dear not the best start although I thought the fact there was a kiss was a good thing.
I suggested we arrange the second date which SJ agreed to saying she thought I'd change my mind after stopping texting. I couldn't remember stopping texting, she assured me I had after she'd told me she liked rugby. In particular Welsh rugby, this then generated into a Rugby vs Football debate..
The debate basically centered around her suggesting Rugby was a proper mans game, while I resorted to the old favorite of real men don't roll in mud with each other or put their heads between each others legs argument. It quickly descended into me calling rugby players egg chasers and her saying football players were diving prima-donnas maybe she has a point about some of them!
At this point I began to wonder whether a second date would be a good idea as assuming we did get on, who as a slender bloke wants to see his Mrs drooling over some big manimal playing for Wales. If that's her kind of man then I'm not the man for her!
Needless to say I began to think the second date was quickly slipping from view! She then responded to my childish 'well you won't convert me!' text with a simple 'I wouldn't want to'. She says she does like football too but not too keen on the overpaid topflight, that think they're gods - her words not mine as I do think they're better than gods as they're real! Maybe all is not lost although i'm still not sure about the dodgy taste in sports.
Thursday is D-day anyway so lets see what happens!
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