Thursday Pickup

Can we get a count of all who will be there tomorrow night? I have to bring the kids, so that may or may not work.
Remember that we start next week on Wednesday, 7pm, at Fiala in Camp Hill. Directions to Fiala from the CASL website: From 581, take the Camp Hill exit (11/15 North) to second traffic signal at Camp Hill Mall. Turn right onto Chestnut. Take a right onto 21st st. Follow 21st to the end, turn right into the cul-de-sac.
Take it easy,
jc

Another outstanding showing and end of season notes

All,

It can't be said enough - that was great work yesterday all over the field. It's one thing to know we can beat an opponent, another to go out and settle the issue. I can't think of a better way to close the season. All hail Sensei - after playing so many games without subs, we had no problems while the other team struggled. The finishing was outstanding, the defense shined by not only giving them few chances, but by creating a few and starting a number of attacks, and our midfield ran circles around them. Great work, everyone.
As for next season, I think we start the first Sunday after labor day, but that has yet to be determined.
This Thursday we will play as usual, then start up again Wednesday the following week.
If you know are not planning to play with us next season, please let Mark or I know as soon as possible and please turn in your jersey. I hope all of you plan to remain with the team as we are really starting to get it together.
Take it easy and congratulations on a nice win,

jc

Summer Pickup

We talked last night about keeping up with our practices during the summer break, and all agreed this would be a great help. Not only are we improving with each outing, and have these sessions to thank, but we now have a good way to bring players in and see how they fit.

So, the schedule will be:

Monday nights, 7pm, CD East
Wednesday nights, 7pm, Fiala (Camp Hill)

I propose starting this schedule on Wednesday, July 5. Let's play next Thursday as usual. Or whatever works, let me know.

Let's count on this and start letting people know via the blog or e-mail whether you will attend or not.

Take it easy and see you Sunday,

Jeff

Thursday pickup

at 7pm, CD East. BYOB.

Hervorragend, meine Herren

Excellent work yesterday, boys. It feels good to have a point, and as several pointed out, to rise above Bye in the standings. The defense was outstanding, denying Carlisle significant chances, Gary and Steve ran the middle of the pitch, Sam, Jim and Marat really created some nice interplay up top. And in that weather. It goes without saying that having a mere two subs made all the difference.
Enjoy the world cup games and remember that we'll be up at CD East on Thursday at 7 to kick around.
Also, several people will not be able to make it this Sunday, including our keeper. If you can make it at all, even if it's for a half, please come out. And if you can bring someone along, please do.
Take it easy,
jc

Preparation for Sunday

Sunday is going to be 90 degrees and humid. Obviously our stamina will be stretched to the limit. We need as many of our teammates to show, even if it's for 20 minutes. Also, do yourselves a favor and load up on fluids the night before (the non alcoholic kind) and the morning of, have a good pasta dinner get some rest. Limit your exertion before the game. If you can, get to the Thursday evening kickaround, it's done wonders to build our passing game.

... and the Man

As the song to the 70's tv show says, 'Chico, don't be discouraged.' We did some good things today. Especially encouraging was our play up front. Very well done, fellas. I apologize for not covering enough ground today. That's not how I want to do it.
Now, I suppose relegation, if you can call it that, is a certainty. I say so what. It may be a blow to the ego, but we are building a team here, and it takes a couple of seasons to get things straight. We are improving, and that's the important thing. Once we gel, we're going to run the table. Let's keep playing together, because we're moving in the right direction.
Once again, we'll get together on Thursday at 7 at CD East.

Mike Labe - are you still having people over tomorrow? Can you give us directions to your place?

Hang in there guys,

Jeff

Ecuador!!!!

450-1 odds on to win the world cup.....they will be qualifying with Germany in their group.

Pickup on Thursday

Just a reminder, 7pm, CD East MS. See you there.

That was a damn fine effort

I tell you, it was heartening to see the effort put in across the board today. We should all be proud and satisfied. We have three games left, and if we play like we did today and have a full squad, we should compete for the points. Personally, I had a tale of two halves, stank like a rat's ass in the first, moved to the middle and became suddenly comfortable. Interesting how that happened. How did you all experience the day? Gary lit the lamp well, Marat fought like I'd never seen him fight before.
Let's get together on Thursday again, at 7. See you then,
jc

Thursday pickup

Same time and place as last week - 7pm, CD East. If you know of anyone who might want to play with us, bring them along.

Pickup this week

Thursday, 7pm, CD East Middle School - where we played our first home game. See you there.

Also, Twin Ponds West is hosting pickup Tuesday night as well as Monday night, 9pm, $5.

Numbers

No, not the overextended drama on cbs ("Them gangstas, they're using MATH!"), but an increase in our roster is the reference here.
Let's face it, we're hurting when it comes to numbers and I've heard several people mention that they would, put nicely, really like more players. Of course, we mean players that will help us win.
Now, some of us are newer to the area than others, some of us have lots of soccer contacts, and some of us don't. But we can all do something: poach players from other teams who aren't getting playing time, grab players from pickup, post signs at soccer facilities and on listservs. I think we'd be more than willing to let someone come out for a one game trial and see if they fit.
So, let's see if we can find 4 or 5 good players to help us out. We've got a month left to win some games.
jc

Field Change

Sunday's game (May 21) versus Angelos is still at 3:00 but we are not playing at the CD East Middle School. Instead we will be playing at the CD East High School (Admin fields). If you are not familiar, the High School fields are in the same complex but just a few hundred yards away, up on the hill behind the fence/gate. So if you are facing our regular field that we play on from the parking lot, the field is to your left on the far side of the football practice field and softball field and baseball field).

Pick-Up Games

Here are pick-up games in the area I know about: please feel free to add to the list.

Mon: Twin Ponds West, 9-11pm, $5 charge
Tues: In Carlisle w/ Carlisle team, 6pm, at the field we played at last month (Valley Meadows?)
Wed: in Hershey at the Hershey Med Center, 6pm-ish
Fri: Linglestown Middle School, 6.30 (an older crowd)
Sun: same as Friday but at 4.00 or so

Not as bad as we thought...

Thinking about yesterday's game, we actually had some very good moments. We talked about bringing the ball out of the back slowly, possessing the ball, and we did that for a while. We worked at coming back from midfield, and you guys in the back found us. I can recall a few occasions when the ball went back to Mike, who then kept it going across the field. We hadn't been able to do that before. We also had good team movement for a while. What broke down was fitness, and that's the easiest to fix. . Now we need to work at keeping the possession going past midfield and on our man-marking. What do you think about playing a flat four at the back? Something a little different. So, anyone feel like a bit of pickup? Tuesday? Thursday? I don't want to set up a permanent date yet, but seeing as we don't have a game Sunday, I thought we could manage a kickabout this week. Please post your interest up here. (Dil - can you send me an e-mail so I can send you another invitation to post here? That goes for anyone else not able to post). Keep your heads up, we are going to get there. jc

Next Game, Last Game

First and Foremost: the time for this week's game has been changed to 3pm. The location remains the same. We changed it so that we could be certain of having numbers. However, we will not have refs, so please take this into consideration when launching savage slide tackles. Also, Annville was very gracious to change the time, so I'd like to bring a case of beer to share with them after the game. Contributions will be welcome.
Now, as for last week's game: I wanted to say something, but couldn't until now without excessive use of various forms of the word 'motherfucker'. We all know that was an aberration, we can and will play much better. I'm not going to repeat anything - we know what we have to do. I will add that we need to stay focused, and be more aggressive all over the pitch. Don't be a sheep out there - be a wolf.
Bis spaeter,
jc

PS - great pic, sensei.

click on image for larger view.

I asked the team's wife to get some photos, unfortunately they are all of me. I'll ask her to share the wealth next time.

Bloody Chelsea

Any Russian Billionaires on the team who can buy Arsenal and purchase 25 of the best players in the world?

If anyone was going to stop Chelsea, I would have thought it would have been ManU, apparently, only lowly Charlton can stop them.


Btw: ManU needs to dump/sell RV Nistelrooy.

Game 4

All,

Game four is this Sunday at 1 pm at CD East. I don't know what color shirts our opponents wear, so please bring a blue shirt along with the red, just in case.
Directions to the field (from the website):
Directions: Take the Union Deposit Road exit from 83/322. Drive East (away from Harrisburg) on Union deposit Road for about 1.5 to 2 miles. Cross Rutherford Road (school is across intersection on the left). Turn left onto Firehouse. You will see fenced in basketball courts in front of you. The field is behind and below the courts. - Not visible from road. Do NOT park in the Firehouse parking lot. - Your car will be towed !

See you there,