Practice - last week of June

Spartans!

Who wants to set up a practice? Please sign up below, and select a day that works for you. What we can do is run individual practices, if need be. Even if we get four people, we can run through some drills and sharpen our skills.

Remember that July 1st is a stat holiday, so if you want to do something in the morning, let's say, that could work as well!

We can't practice on field this week...it's a night game, so we don't get the field until the last game is done!

Commentators Gerry Dobson and Craig Forrest

Sunday night, FAD commentators Gerry Dobson and Craig Forrest talked about the Spartans in a post game analysis.

Gerry: It was  a mixture of good and bad in this last game for the Spartans

Craig: It certainly was Gerry. The Spartans started out in a bad spot. Having only 9 men to start, they had some adversity to overcome

Gerry: And that they did. If we look at the highlights, the Spartans kept the Gunnars from the net for a good 20 minutes. Some good passing, and some fine chances.

Gerry: then some lapses in defense, Craig

Craig: that's right Gerry. Maybe a little tired, maybe a overhwelmed by the more numerous opponent.

Gerry: And that's when the Spartans get some relief. They finally have a sub.

Craig: But it's a little too late. Note the positioning. The Spartans seem to have lost their positioning, allowing for an unneeded third and fourth goal.

Gerry: And that's about where it stood, until the rain came down. Gunnars added one more late goal, against the exhausted Spartans.

Craig: Overall, not a bad game for them. Lack of substitutes really did them in this time, as well as momentary lacks of holding positions.

Gerry: As well as some fine saves from their goalkeeper.

Craig: [laughs] Goalkeeping is the most important job.

Gerry: too bad you never excelled at it.

Craig: up yours Gerry

Gerry: and that's it for our post game analysis...good night.

Captain Ian in Trouble

FAD Accountants question "Talent Search" in Cuba

Word from FAD officials, who recently received questionable reciepts from Captain Ian, who seems to be on a search for new Spartan players in Cuba.
"Alcohol, multiple hotel rooms and 'massages with happy endings' does not constitute best practices for Darlington owners," commented William Shutz, lead accountant for the FAD.
When confronted with these charges, Captain Ian was quick to denounce them.
"The women's league is completely low on quality players. I took matters into my own hands to ensure quality would return to their divisions."
Although Captain Ian did admit that the new recruits lacked any sort of football skill, he noted "they were eager to try new things and participated in three on ones and other positional problems."
Captain Ian is due back early next week.

Practice!

Spartans!
We really need to have a few practices. There's two ways of thinking.

First:
We have a weekday meeting. We need atleast 10 committed people to conduct a practice.

Second:
We meet an hour earlier from the game to go over some items.

Ideas or comments are welcome to improve

Spartans Lose Thriller!

Keeper Mark Saves one of Many!

Fans and Sportscasters were kept locked on the wildly entertaining game between the Spartans and Destroyers. After a critical error by loaned Bundesliga legend The Baron, the Destroyers took a one nil lead into the half.

"Our goaltender told me to cover the Black guy...how was I to know that there were two of them?" said the irate Baron.

Riding a high, the Spartans learned that Olympiacos forward Fil would miss the match due to ligament damage. And after a indulgence of oranges the team took to the field.

"I don't know what happened," said Spartan goalie Mark,"suddenly I had all these shots on goal."

The Spartans were shocked to discover that the second half was actually a combination of the entire game.

"When we played the friendly against the Mosquito Girls, the second half didn't count," said Pat, who had a good shot on net in the first,"and I think that really screwed us up."

In confirming this point, most of the Spartan fans and substitutes left after the mandatory oranges.

4-3-3 Formation

This formation is quite an attacking one.

The 4-3-3 system - that is four defenders, three midfielders and three attackers - allows you to have three attackers while still having a strong midfield.

The three midfielders will normally play quite closely together to give protection to the defence and so they cannot be passed around by the opposition.

The three strikers will split across the pitch to provide width to the attack.

Usually you would have a central attacker with one each side of him.

The 4-3-3 does not actually differ that much from the 4-5-1 formation

Very few teams actually start with this line-up as you need to have specialist attackers.

But if a manager needs a goal late on in a game then he may opt to move to three up front.

Spartans Close, but no Cigar

Sunday, June 13th...

Trying a new formula, the fan favourite SPARTANS fell well within their plans.
"We wanted to lose by no more than four goals," said Captain Ian,"so in effect, we definitely won.
"We had some solid defending." said former Bundesliga star The Baron,"and the offense actually made two shots on net."
With three of their stars injured, including Italian Sensation Piatti, the struggling Spartans are now 0 and 3. They face a determined opponent next week with FC Destroyers.
"First we have a friendly against the girls Mosquitos,"said Ian,"which should test us thoroughly"