Interesting facts

Table for goals scored and goals allowed Pac10.

	Goals for PAC 10	Goals against PAC10
2008	17	52
2007	19	37
2006	19	48
2005	21	61
2004	16	86
2003	10	78
2002	8	70
2001	3	78
2000	16	74

Overall including league games:

	Goals for Overall	Goals against Overall	Goal Ratio PAC10
2008	27	70	3.1
2007	31	53	1.9
2006	32	68	2.5
2005	29	84	2.9
2004	20	112	5.4
2003	10	82	7.8
2002	10	86	8.8
2001	4	105	26.0
2000	27	118	4.6

Do we see a nasty pattern?

Game Summary - Methacton

I held off posting this because we were oh so close in 3 games last week.
Where do I begin?
We score first. Then they score 3 and are winning at half. 3-1.
Surprise, surprise - we show some real character! We score 3 in the next 10 minutes of the second half to take the lead 4-3.
They tie it up just a few minutes later 4-4.
Both teams are back and forth for the next 20 minutes - scoreless.
Then all of a sudden - someone hit the switch.
The switch that turns everything off.
Turns off our movement off the ball.
Turns off our stepping to the ball.
Turns off our talking and listening.
Turns off our desire.
Like Deer in the headlights.
You get the picture.
They score 5 goals in the next 10 minutes. That is one goal every 2 minutes on average.
And I can not figure it out.
I made changes last week.
Kane and Kelly to the outside. Strawley to the middle. Alec back to play.
It did work.
In all 3 games last week we had the lead for a considerable time.
Then someone does something dumb.
Why? Heck if I know.
Why don't we recover from that mistake?
It's called leadership and character. It is missing. Someone needs to step up on the field.
Here is an idea: How about you all take that leadership role for your position?
Let's see how many players ask me about this.
How about you care how you play? You should be so tired when you come off the field that you do not feel like talking or fooling around. Even on the bus ride home it should be relatively quiet.
But it's not.
Don't feel you get enough game time? Ask yourself these questions:
How about running hard to and off the ball instead of jogging?
How about going up for a head ball with your eyes open?
How about showing for the ball ALL of the time?
Are you listening AND doing what your teammates tell you on the field?

3 weeks left. 6 games. 4 are pac10 games. Can you beat last years record? 4-12 & 3-10
L 9-4. Game grade B- (for 80 of the 90 minutes) Overall record: 2-10. pac10: 1-8.

Housekeeping:
Notes for going home with parents after an away game:
Due to players not being able to follow a simple rule of giving the coach the note before getting on the bus the following is now in effect:
If anyone attempts to give the coach(es) a note after the coach is on the bus (either written or via email) all privileges of riding home with your parents will be revoked for the whole team for the rest of the season. No exceptions. This has gotten to the point of being out of control.
JV Game:
I talked, harassed, encouraged some of the JV players to do better when they came off of the field. Told them what they need to fix.
Did it work? For about 2 minutes when they went back into the game. The same old stuff.
Where is the desire?
Where is the want to win?
Where is your first thought on the ball? Where is space? Where are my teammates? Where is the other team?
None of this happens.
We still panic when we get the ball.
You passes are either so slow or like rocket blasts.
You STAND and watch after passing the ball instead of supporting the receiver.
Run? Running on JV is slower than me.
For those that want to continue to play, think about this:
Not next year - but the year after, there will be a ton of boys looking to play soccer at the new school PP2. If you do not fix these things now - guess who will not be playing soccer in high school in 2010?

Next weeks Schedule

We are home for Wednesday (Upper Perk) and Friday (Pottsgrove).
Dismiss for both at 2:30. Bus: 2:40.

Game Summary - Perk Valley

It's amazing what we can do when we want to do. Truly Amazing.
This was only their 3rd time over the half way in 6 minutes... and they score. They score first - why? Players standing and watching instead of doing in the 6th minute.
But we did get 3 shots off before they had one.
We come back in the 18th minute on a shot from Kane with assist from Picardi.
Okay - we have a game.
Oh - did I tell you that in 16 minutes they were in our half only 7 times?
In the 24th minute we take the lead with a shot from Caffarello and assist from Strawley. We were in their half 30 of the 40 minutes.
Half Time - we are leading 2-1. We are CONTROLLING them.
I know their coach was really worried according to my spy at halftime. He told his team that we suck and that we only beat Pottstown.
Well part of that is true.
We did beat Pottstown and we do NOT suck. I thought that we were a superior team today - for the most part.
It takes PV 59 minutes to tie us. And we still controlled them.
They win in the 81st minute - overtime because simply we can not take charge on the field. We got lazy in the last 20 minutes and started to stand and watch instead of do.

Let's all say a prayer for #3 of PV that was taken off the field via ambulance.

We are a young team. I am happy as long as we build on something after each game.
You saw that you can control a team. This will continue as long as you win the ball, cover each other, talk and do instead of watching.
Watching = losing.

Players of the day: Kelly and Strawley.Honorable mention: Meszaros, Shainline and DeLeo (This was very tough decision today)
L 3-2 (OT). Game grade B+. Overall record: 2-9. pac10: 1-7.

Game Summary - Church Farm School

I thought I saw just about everything in 9 years of coaching high school.
I was wrong.
During the game here are some of highlights of what happened:
Opposing team coach said to one of the referees during the game and I quote "Sir, you are an idiot".
The referee responds by handing him his whistle and said "Here, do you want to call the game?"
And the referee walks back on the field. No card.
Go figure.
Same coach was also taunting the and questioning every call. Again - no card.
Go figure.
Our sweeper tackles the forward as the forward runs into the sweeper. Sweeper wins the ball. Forward falls over the ball because he loses it - Forward awarded penalty kick and scores.
Go figure.
I have 2 of my players pushed, not shouldered off the ball 3 times inside the box and fall to the ground, NO call.
Go figure.
In the last 5 minutes of the game we were on the attack. There are 3, count them 3 hand balls in the box - 2 by the same player within 10-15 seconds for the first 2 and the last about 20 second later. No call.
Go figure.
Also in the last 5 minutes of the game, yellow carded player enters field BEFORE his 5 minutes are served (Thanks to Mr. Kelly for catching that). I point it out to the ref and they find it is true. Player sent off again. They waste over 45 seconds on clock and only put back 22 seconds. No soft red.
Go figure.
Two of their goals were offsides. Not by a little. Close to 10 yards. That's 30 feet. Big difference. I think the officials got tired calling them offside.
Go figure.
They are yellow carded 4 times. Wonder why?
This was the first game I can say was lost by the referees. I have had some bad refs but this one really took the prize. I hate to bad mouth refs because most of them really do try. But this one was so bad I would have trouble letting him call a U8 game. I am sorry that I said that.
It was a good effort by most yesterday. We pressured and won balls. Still some backed off.
Welcome back Alec.
Goals by Kelly, Gray, Shainline and Picardi. Good effort. Need lots more from where that came from.
Players of the day: Meszaros, DeLeo and Shainline. The defense is STARTING to work together. Reilly for giving his all.
L 5-4. Game grade B-. Overall record: 2-8. pac10: 1-6.

Game Summary - Boyertown

You should be embarrassed. I am.
I can not make you step to a ball.
I can not make want to win a ball.
I can not make you support your team mates.
I can not make you talk to your team mates.
I can not make you RUN off the ball.
I can not make you listen to your team mates when they finally call for a drop.
I can not make you call for the ball when two of you are going after it.
I can not make you want to play.
The two most vivid memories of the last two games:
OJR - when I asked who was ready to play, play hard and give me 100%. The bench just looked up and said nothing.
Boyertown - when one of our players attempted to tackle, missed, had 2 in support of him, and all three ran away from the ball carrier. Chased him. Behind him. That said it all for that game.

NO Varsity practice on Monday. I will be spending my time with the JV.

Player of the day: Meszaros - for consistently doing his job even when he is tired and frustrated. Honorable mention: Sein-Lwin for effort. Keep trying. Maybe it will become infective. Shainline for the killer shot that I don't know how the keeper saved.
L 7-0. Game grade F. Overall record: 2-7. pac10: 1-6.

Next Weeks Schedule

Monday- Practice- Bus: 2:50
Tuesday- Church Farm-3:45 Dismis: 2:00 Bus: 2:10
Wed - PV (Home) 4:00. Dismis: 2:30 Bus: 2:40
Thursday- Practice- Bus: 2:50
Friday - Methacton 3:30 Dismis: 2:00 Bus: 2:15. Games will be back to back. Varsity first. JV at 5:10.

Game summary - OJR

Well at least we did not get shutout. They did score a bucket full of goals.
My wonderful wife of 28 years came to watch the game yesterday. She has seen many of the SPX games in my 9 years here. This was her first view of us this year. She was appalled at the way we played. That is putting it mildly.
Her answer was simple:
OJR came to play - we did not. TRUE.
OJR wanted the ball - we did not. TRUE.
She also said that she saw only a few players that were playing hard. She could not believe the number of times that we jogged to a ball and of course we got beat.
She asked "Why do they do that?"
She thought that the referee was going to eject me when I asked the bench "Does anyone want to give me 100% when they play today? Is anyone ready to play that way?"
She was stunned that the bench just looked and no one responded.
Well - yes one did respond. Eggplant (O'Conner).
A freshmen JV player.
He had the guts to say "yes coach, I'll play".
A freshmen, a JV player that was the ball boy at the time.
And play he did. Duckey (DeLeo) give him his varsity jersey and Eggplant went in as a defender.
Yes - he made some mistakes, but you know what? He played his little heart out and ran hard every play. He did a good job. Thank you O'Conner. Nice job. I'll remember that.
Wow.
Imagine that for a minute if you will. Draw that mental picture.

I moved a JV player up to varsity permanently yesterday - DeGregorio. Ball skills are not the best - but he tries his hardest on just about every play.
He plays with desire.
Another freshmen.

I moved another JV player player up about 10 days ago - Sein-Lwin. Good player. Nice shooting skills. Needed confidence. Backed away from larger players. Guess what he fixed and now gets a good amount of playing time. He is in my top 4 go-to players when I need one. Sure he makes mistakes and is learning to play his POSITION.
He plays with desire.
He is a freshmen. Loves the game.

One more thought .... ah.... Question.

How come no one listens when a sophomore talks? Talks on the field?
Please help me understand why no one listens to him and does what he he tells you to do. He is absolutely correct most of the time.
Is anyone else taking a leadership role on the field?
This same player (Reilly) tries to do it all, gets tired and then starts doing cheap stuff like playing the body instead of the ball. Reilly - this cheap part has got to stop too.
He is trying to do it all. Is anyone helping him?
When are we going to start playing with heart? Desire?

District play is fading away.........

Players of the day: Venezia, Sein-Lwin. Honorable mention: Strawley (for being honest about the way he was playing), Reilly (mr. cheap) and Kelly(for the 2 assists). Thumbs up to DeGregorio and O'Conner (No O'Conner your not varsity yet).
L 7-2. Game grade F. Overall record: 2-6. pac10: 1-5. We are at the halfway mark for the season.

JV Game:
Not bad. Need support in every sense of the word - meaning there is just about none.
Most of the players truly played with desire. The effort was there.
Some players held the ball too long (Chesney). Others seems to want to get rid of it quickly (Copley).
Please get the arms out and use them for balance and space. (Gama, Syrylo, Nester, Schival)
Thumbs up to Logue, Rapp, DiDonato and I have to learn how to slide Shoemaker.

Home Game Information

• Home field is Gerald Richards Park (GRP). Directions can be found at : www.pottsgrovesoccer.com
  
• Entrance to the game field is via the path to the gate in the middle of the field.
• Fans and parents should be use the stand located at that gate. Do not come over by the team.
  
• Dismissal on home games is at 2:30.
  
• There will be a bus to bring you to GRP if you do not have a ride.
  
• Do NOT climb, jump or vault over the fence. You MUST use the gate.
  
• Varsity: You are to be at the field at 3:00 dressed and ready to warm up.
• Varsity games usually begin at 4:00pm unless otherwise noted.
• JV: You will play after varsity. Usually about 5:30 your game will begin. Please take the time to do your homework. You are to stay at the field and not roam around. You can volunteer to be ball boys for varsity (four are needed). Two will be inside the fence and two will be outside the fence.
• JV games will usually end around 6:30. The game maybe shortened due to weather or referee availability.
  
• Rest rooms are available in the building instead of using the port-a-potty.
• All players are to be picked up at GRP - not at Pius within 15 minutes after the end of the game.
  

Game Summary vs Spring Ford

Where oh where do I begin?
Let's start with their first goal in the second (2) minute from just outside the six. Why did that happen? It takes another 24 minutes for them to score again, in which they score about every 4 minutes for a while.
We do get off 4 shots in the first half, making the keeper make 2 saves. And granted - they were good shots except they were not on net.
I have been harping about the lack of support and team work.
I bring up a JV player - freshmen(DeGregorio) because I have 2 players sick and another that is as pail as the line paint and Alec is still out with mono.
First play after the freshman is in, Spring Ford is on the attack. My left defender steps up to make a tackle and the freshmen runs behind him for cover. Wow..... This kid does it most of the game.
I tell the bench and they just look. Look like deer in the headlights.
Am I speaking another language?? Must be. Have to be.
Because when they are subbed in - do they do it???
If you answered yes to that question - I have a bridge to sell you. Cheap.......
Score is 4-zip at half.
I am disgusted, frustrated and most important disenchanted by this time.
I am angry too - to say the least.
I had told them about pride, respect, and about giving up in the pre-game speech.
They gave up again. I ask why? You might have thought I asked them about nuclear physics.
Second half - little better but not much. Lasts for 9 minutes when SF scores again.
At this point it's time to make massive replacements.
Keeper, inside mids and defenders. I guess that worked because SF only scored 2 more goals. Could be too that they replaced all of their starters with second and third team players.
At the end of the game I am livid and practically foaming at mouth.
I can see losing to a better team. They were not. Sorry and no offense to SF.
The only team I have seen that was better than us was Palmyra.
So why is our record now 2-5?
List of still nots: (meaning - we are still NOT doing this during a game)
Stepping to ball.
Running off the ball.
Having 3 in support.
Cover all of the time.
Accurate passing or as it is better known as make the correct pass. Did you know that in the second half alone we have 38 turnovers just because of bad passing?
Working as a team
This used to be fun. Now it's more like work.
Are we a High School team or intramural?
It's like someone wiped away all of the things that we worked on in camp.................

What team is going to show up and play today against OJR?
Last year we lost 1-0. Game was scoreless for 75 minutes.
What are you going to do this year?

Players of the day: Meszaros and Miller. Honorable Mention: Sein-Lwin. Thumbs up to DeGregorio.
L 7-0. Game grade F. Overall record: 2-5. pac10: 1-4.

Phoenixville - Game summary

Housekeeping Items:

• Home Games:Do NOT climb, jump or vault over the fence. You MUST use the gate.
  
• Varsity: You are to be at the field at 3:00 dressed and ready to warm up.
  
• JV: You will play after varsity. Usually about 5:30 your game will begin. Please take the time to do your homework. You are to stay at the field and not roam around. You can volunteer to be ball boys for varsity (four are needed). Two will be inside the fence and two will be outside the fence.
• Rest rooms are available in the building instead of using the port-a-potty.

Huh and What?
We score first from a tremendous throw from Kane (assist) that the keeper gets a piece of BUT Sein-Lwin is there to walk the ball in. This extends our scoring streak to 6 games. This is a record for Pius. We have not been shutout.
We pressured and just plain got some luck when their forwards could not carry the ball.
Most crosses I have ever seen by a Pius team. Unfortunately about 30% were short. That is WHAT allowed them to have quick counter attacks.
We also had them offsides a ton the first half. They fixed that in the second half by just allowing 3-4 yards in front of the defender. Our defenders allowed that to do just that.
WHAT also allowed them to cross the ball to the running outside mid was simply the lack of immediate pressure by our mids and forwards. Most of the time it was an after thought instead of being instinctive.
Huh? They come back and score two in the remaining 7 minutes to take the lead at the half.
Okay - so we have a game.
Huh? They score a third goal and as Kane and Budnick said "We quit. We gave up. Why do we do that?" Heck if I know.
Well I do know.
It's called pride, self esteem or self respect.
It is one of the seven deadly sins..... but not in this context. We, as a team. lack this.
As Webster's defines it:

• 1: the quality or state of being proud: as
• a: inordinate self-esteem
• b: a reasonable or justifiable self-respect
• c: delight or elation arising from some act.

Are YOU proud of the way YOU played the WHOLE game?
Did you try your hardest all of the time or just some of the time?
Did you take the extra step to the ball in an attempt to win it?
Did you go up and try to win the ball in the air or did you just stand and watch as teh other team won the ball?
Why not? Why did you give up?

This must end and end NOW.

Players of the day: Meszaros and Budnick. Honorable Mention: Reilly and Quigley.
L 8-1. Game grade- first half - B. Second half - F. Overall record: 2-4. pac10: 1-3.

Pottstown - Game Summary

Housekeeping:
Schedule for next week:
Monday - Spring Ford (Brooke Elem) 4:00. Dismis: 2:15 Bus:2:30
Wed - OJR (Home) 4:00. Dismis: 2:30 Bus: 2:40
Friday - Boyertown 4:00. Dismis: 2:15 Bus: 2:30
We will now have a bus for home games.

Help!!! I need someone to tape our game.

Good Stuff:
Great shots from Gray today.
Excellent ball movement in 2 of the last 3 goals. All one touches running at full speed. That is how to get the job done.
We even dropped the ball to the keeper.
Good jobs by Kelly at attacking mid, Strawley and Reilly at center mids.
The defense was providing cover for each other most of the time. Finally.
We were crossing the ball - unfortunately some of the crosses were too low.
We have not been shut out in 5 games. Let's keep the streak going.
Stuff that needs to be fixed for today's game:
I counted 5 drops for the whole game. I could be wrong in my count - but still that is far from being enough. This needs to be fixed.
Caffarello could not buy a goal. It was just one of those days for him. This needs to be fixed.
There was 5 times a Pottstown player was unmarked on their attack. All mids - this needs to be fixed.
Some crosses were too low. Stop with the straight ahead balls. I want 45 degree angle crosses and people running to the ball. This needs to be fixed.
Still too much standing - make your own space and show for the ball.
Players of the day: Meszaros and Gray. Honorable Mention: Kelly and Budnick.
W 5-0. Game grade C. Overall record: 2-3. pac10: 1-2.

JV Players

Your coaches have decided to be generous with you and give you the day off (Wednesday) so you can watch the varsity game verses Pottstown. (Not mandatory)
Varsity will also need two (2) ball runners.

Today's game

Today's game vs Pottstown is cancelled and rescheduled for tomorrow.
There is NO practice for today.

Pre-Game - Pottstown

Reminder to be at the field at 3:00.
Dismissal is at 2:20.
Phoenixville game on Thursday: Bus leaves at 4:00.
JV plays first at 5:30. Varsity starts at 7:00.

Thanks to all of the parents that contributed to last nights dinner.
Special thanks to the Hyde's, Picardi's and Grajewski's for all of their work.

Expectations for today:
I am looking for possession today. Without team work there will be no possession.
No communication - no possession. No support - no possession. We will talk, listen and do.
You play the way you practice - you practice the way you play.
I expect to be 3-3 at the end of this week.