Morning Guys (This is for players and parents so please pick it apart with your son this week).
I'm going to try and strike the right tone with this match report, but equally get across some really important messages i'm hoping land with everyone involved. I'll happily reiterate this verbally too and we are in the process of confirming a time and place to run a very short season welcome meeting across the club so that everyone (players and parents) fully understand our expectations this season so that everyone is on the same page.
Firstly, the meet time for training and games is set for a reason guys. Please have the respect to make the effort to get there on time. Of course every single one of us will get delayed on occasions, thats life. But if it's consistent it's disruptive for the whole group.
From a performance perspective I thought we started really bright and were very good in the first 10 minutes. However, as soon as we conceded a couple we may has well have cut the game short as there's no nice way of saying this but some of us (based on body language) looked like they had borderline given up, which is extremely disappointing. There's nothing worse than being labled a "soft" team. A team that looks great when the game is going in their favour, but crumbles when the tough gets going or the intensity is too much for them. As much as it pains me to say it we do have a little softness in this group and it needs to be eradicated if you want to be successful lads, it really does. But the beauty of football is that you get to work hard in training and prove otherwise next week.
You're 8 years old! Consistency doesn't exist at your age and that is okay! One week you will look like Barca the next week you will look like Barnsley. Losing games will be part of your development. BUT there's a way to lose and yesterday wasn't really acceptable boys.
I literally spoke to you pre-match about what you should expect during the game. It was going to be crash, bang, wallop and a blood and thunder game and you MUST be able to show fight and desire in duels and stick to what Ollie has been teaching you training.
One team played with something to prove and the other team crumbled and hid under the pressure of the game. Coney Hall thoroughly deserved to win the game. For the simple reason they played with far more heart and desire. Let's be honest, we gifted them most of the goals too. It's okay, this is all learning. BUT it is only okay if you do actually learn from yesterdays game.
Why on earth did we revert to kicking the ball long in the same way the opponents did? It looked like a combination of panic, hiding from some individuals and poor decision making. Plus information from the side which really isn't helpful. If we wanted to teach you to play that way and throw development out the window we could have recruited a team of big lads and made you brilliant at smashing the ball up and running on to it? We are literally promoting the opposite to give you a good chance to play at a higher level as you get older, so you must follow guidance and instruction from you coaches boys.
There were 2 or 3 of us yesterday who hid for the vast majority of the game. When I say hid, I specifically mean when your teammates get on the ball you MUST be brave enough to show an angle, demand the ball, make a run etc etc. Some of you boys barely broke into a sprint. The occasion/ noise and environment was clearly too much for some of you and that's a little bit alarming.
We massively missed the energy, desire and quality of Coley and Teddy on both flanks as we had little to no threat for a lot of the game. But boys, that's how football is? When players are missing you either take it as a great opportunity to shine or you don't. That will come with wisdom as you get older as you are still very young.
Dealing with mistakes - Boys! You've heard me say a million times (and I stressed it yesterday before and during the game) the game of football is BASED on mistakes and you HAVE to be okay with this? If it's okay for Ronaldo or Messi to lose the ball or make an error then it is certainly okay for you at 8 years old! What isn't okay is letting it affect you so badly that you then hide away from the ball. In the moment a mistake is made simply react in positive way immediately. You will never be criticised for a mistake at Unique by any of the coaches, but if you don't react well we will most definitely pull you up on it. Lose the ball, RUN and attempt to win it back. Miss a shot, get back in shape. Shank the ball off the pitch, no stress immediately find who you're marking and get hold of him. Whatever the scenario REACT POSITIVELY, that is all you need to do?
Parents - I spent most the time yesterday consistently attempting to gain the attention of players who were constantly looking over towards parents and supporters pitch side in total bewilderment. It was ridiculous. Half the time they couldn't even hear me with all the noise.
Let me be really clear so this isn't misconstrued in any way. Our take is we have a fantastic set of parents who week in week out turn up and support the lads brilliantly and that is really appreciated. We also have some good football knowledge across this group of parents which is an added bonus. But if we are all going to turn into Pep on a match day and start shouting coaching instructions to our 8 year old sons and their teammates then we're going to see the debacle of yesterday repeated multiple times this season.
Imagine being 8 years old, receiving the ball on a bobbly pitch and having 2, 3 or even more people shouting passionately what to do in that moment or just prior.
I'm well aware it's coming from a good place. But it's not helpful. It's also not fair on the lads.They need 1 voice, 2 maximum and even then it's for the coaches to punch carefully when providing info from the side as it can very quickly become information overload.
Encouragement, praise, the odd little positive comment we absolutely want. It's appreciated.
But coaching instruction or criticism absolutely not.
Same goes for the referee. We can't be jumping up and down shouting "ref" when he gives the throw in the wrong way etc. It's not right. 95% of grassroots clubs are fine with all that behaviour even if they proclaim otherwise. You and I see it week in week out. But we're not having all that at Unique, no chance.
The 14 year old referee was reportedly called a p**** and was swore at on multiple occasions yesterday, it's absolutely unacceptable if that's the case.
Trust me, no one get's more frustrated with the amount of needless cheating that goes on in grassroots football right the way through the age groups, but let us deal with it. Some of it is uncontrollable.
I've ordered a crash helmet for myself off Amazon incase any of you take this in the wrong way. But by in large I trust you will see exactly where i'm coming from.
Back to the boys - keep smiling! And working hard lads!
Jamie
