Nobody is perfect ?

1st team against Etincelle or Nobody is perfect

Captain Xmas’s mail, which we received last Friday, was crystalclear : « I need a big performance this weekend. I wasn’t happy with a number of things last week. Arrive on time and let’s prepare well.” No need to tell you how excellent the preparation was. As the match was to begin at 2 pm we were supposed to meet up at 1.15pm in the changing room. Xmas seems to believe in Santa Claus!? Everything had been carefully thought, even the team was in his mind: the same one which ended up the match last week with Makoto in the goal, Slade CB and Jan RM and Juan CM … or the other way around, can’t remember!

1.45 pm – only 7 or 8 players in the changing room!!! Well done. While Nils was trying to find The Slade’s wallet – he surely lost it at one of those sadomasochistic parties where he loves hanging about all nights long – Jan was getting lost in the streets of Everberg because of all the diversions. At last we finally decided to start the match with a totally unique defence this season, as Jonathan came by like a Spanish tourist with his dirty fingers… That was a defence Queen Mum would be proud of: RB the Irish, CM the Welshman, CM the Belgian-Scottish and LB the Englishman… And that’s when the match virtually began!

After a little while of adaptation – provoked by the changes we previously mentioned – the first took advantage of the game and began to accumulate the clear-cut occasions. First one was Nils’s, the flying RB. When the goalkeeper of the oppositie team kicked a ball-clear, Nils the partyman brought back the ball and threw it to Lorre “pleasure” who threw the ball in depth to Nils, who went on with his efforts, after having needlessly turned round himself. He came in front of the goalkeeper, all by himself, and tried a lob… but the beer effect prevented him from scoring. But it’s nothing, nobody is perfect.

The second big occasion was meant to be for Seb, the cheese eater. Ali, always gifted in defence proved he was also capable of nice passes. He threw in depth to Lorre “pleasure” … pity: the slowest player the team has ever known! He arrived all by himself in front of the goalkeeper but as he wasn’t well placed, he passed to Cheesman who arrived, running, and shot but the goalkeeper veered off by the skin of his teeth… But it’s nothing, nobody is perfect.

The third occasion was meant to be for Laurent this time. After a fabulous work on the right side, Hodgy came into the game, stared at the defence and passed the ball to the only real Belgian player of the team. This guy first controlled the ball and sent it straight towards the goal. Unfortunately the well placed shot hadn’t been powerful enough and was derived by the goalkeeper’s fingertips (not Jon’s!!!). Missed it again! But nobody is perfect.

All of a sudden, Jonathan el Cabrone (to his buddies) put on his bullfighter’s costume!!!!!! It genuinely was his Day and he was about to prove it… Just like Don Quichote’s valet Sancho Penca, the excellent Gael the real frog (maybe one of the most underestimated players) helped him out. Gael didn’t miss any balls at all, as usual. He produced a tremendous work on his left side and constantly helped the two CMs. But anyway the hero of the day was Jony! Indeed he definitely made the whole right side crazy and the defence of the opposite team too, thanks to his numerous forays. He was everywhere … well almost!

Nevertheless the first goal came from the right side of our team. Xmas, who got a countless numbers of balls with his head, threw Speedy Hodgy in depth. Proving his team spirit, he centred the ball for Seb who just had to shoot it into the empty goal.

And that was just the beginning!!! The first killed the match in five minutes because just a few time after the ball got thrown in Hodgy took it and let it to Magic Juan 100% on his right side. He belted along directly in line and sent the ball into the top corner of the opposite net. 6 games, 6 goals.

No need to say that the opposite team was cheesed off with this powerful English team. It followed logically that the third goal came. Both Gael and Jonathan played well on the left side until Jonathan switched to the other side as numerous of his team members were playing on the right. Juan and Laurent let the ball to Flying Nils, who finally drained off all off the previous night beers. Catching the ball in the mid-air, he threw it out of reach of the goalkeeper. Nobody’s perfect but at some point Nils’s gesture definitely was. Hodgy and Nils celebrated this event, of course (even though we were not in the showers!)

What about the opposite team, then? All their attacks were beaten by the seriousness and conscientiousness of the defence. James made a fool of the opposite team’s number 10, who couldn’t go through and started shouting at his own team members. Xmas and Ali who were so good at duels got all the balls … except one which ended up on our goalkeeper’s lath who hopefully touched it with his fingertips. Well done, Makoto.

The second half resumed on a slower rhythm. The first managed during the match and let some trifling initiatives to the opposite team. They never surprised the powerful defence. The midfield players well helped by the forwards nicely cut all the angles. Even if our grandads Simone and Massimo weren’t there we nevertheless played in a very mature way.

Jan the Man on the field gave the first the opportunity to speed up the rhythm and the attacks followed one another again. The opposite team quickly got overflowed: headers on the lath, Seb’s slalom between the opposite defence players, well placed free kick, second line foray, … The opposite team had no other solution but knock our block off! It was tackle party… It seemed like Carsten trained them all week long. Yellow cards were piling up for the opposite team but also for Crazy Tackling Xmas who got so disappointed for having been tackled by the back as he was about to score his very first shot of the season (the first one was a pure piece of luck) came up on the field to take his revenge… Five minutes later it was Jan’s go to get his own back. After making a fool of the opposite team’s defence thanks to his dribbles, speed and dummies, he zoomed straight to the goal when he got tackled by the back again.

The first got a last but huuuuuge occasion. Juan, same old good player, after a wonderful job on his right side came into the big rectangle of Etincelle. He indeed tremendously backpassed (at the small rectangle height) to Lorre who only had to kick it in but shamefully enough he sent the ball 5 metres above the goal (5 days later I still don’t know how I missed that one!). Everyone roared with laughter, everyone enjoyed … especially Mike!!!!! Take pleasure!!!! But it’s nothing, because … nobody is perfect.

And to conclude: a very good performance from the first, very serious match. A good organisation. Much pleasure … and 6 points ahead thanks to Pharma’s draw!!!

Take pleasure guys, Vush met de kush!

MOM: Jonathan

Reporter: Laurent Legère

(Lorre’s personal translator: Julie© >> Right, what about a quick one ?! Ha ha)