A Team On The Skid.......

Our team has got to rise up and take a new form to find success this season.  With two losses and a tie from our first three games, we find ourselves asking many questions of each other and of our own ability. I read somewhere, some time ago, that smooth seas do not make skillful sailors. In other words, when facing adversity, remember that a kite rises against the wind. And in even better words, "You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you." -Walt Disney

With only minor changes to the team, which consist of three new players on the roster, it seems very odd to be experiencing such a negative slide in the standings. It seems like we have forgotten how to play smart soccer. With players running the same routes, therefore occupying the same space and others getting pulled out of position...it is easy for our opponents to take advantage of our weaknesses.

Last night, we had a very good turnout for a scrimmage against a local High School team. The team we played against was not a challenge at all, and we knew that going in. It was intended to be  "coaching-game" set up to help out the kids and coach before their season started. But what the night turned out to be was a great time to kick the ball around with the boys and just have some fun. No pressure. Just solid hard work.
We tried out a new formation that everyone saw great promise in. I have referred to it in a previous post, the 3-6-1.  With the focus shared between flooding the midfield with options and encouraging strong wing-play, the 3-6-1 enhances our strengths and forces us to play a style of soccer that you just don't see within our league very much. However, our last defeat came to a team that utilized that wings extremely well. And that got me thinking about imposing this style again. I had mentioned it once or twice to the guys and received glazed over looks and mutterings about 4-4-2's and this and that in grumbled tones. But after 3 games without a system. We have to do something more composed and organized to achieve our desired 3 pts.

Most importantly, we have to stay positive. Much too often I have seen great teams fall to pieces in the tougher times. With the frustration building, it gets easy to point fingers. The blame game gets revved up and can easily dismantle a good solid team quicker than Greased Lightning. And I am not talking about the fixer-upper turned sick ride from my first grade girlfriend's favorite movie that I was forced to watch about 100 times (and sing along to as well...I still know all the words...stop laughing now).