Hey Fighting C0ckers, wake up!!!

Từ đầu năm con Chuột đến giờ, Fighting C0cks FC chưa thắng trận nào. Thi đấu 2 trận thì 1 hòa (2-2 against St Andrew's), 1 thua (2-3 against Central Park FC). Mặc dù biết là do dư âm của Tết nhưng mà đề nghị các Fighting C0ckers (certainly myself included) nghiêm túc kiểm điểm lại bản thân. It's not the same anymore, all the publicity, from The Newpaper, or ESPZEN League, or what the ever fcuk not only bring us fame, but also bring us unwanted disadvantage. Opponents will treat us as team to beat. They will take a very cautious, and also very fierce approach against us.

My post today is not about yesterday match. No one was at fault yesterday, it's a team's fault. We played at a team, lost as a team. I just want to share some experience on the way we approach the game. It's obvious that the field at AR-JAS is very good, and we play very well there. But come on, be realistic, we cannot play all the games there. And a strong team, a contender for championship do not rely only on the field to do the works. If other teams can survive, can play well on other fields than AR-JAS, why can't we?

In the game against St Andrew's, the opponent was obviously afraid of us as they lost to us twice. Hence, they used all kind of tricks to frustrate us, to make us lost concentration to the game. I sometimes use this very same tactic to harass the opponent. The trick is to play rough on the opponent and then abuse them verbally. Some of us turned mad in that game, and talked back to them, or worse, hit them back in a very obvious way, which then led to several yellow cards. Come on, it's not the way. To counter the trick, you just need to keep quiet and let your legs do the talking. Sometimes, just smile back to them and nod your heads, kind like "I'm fully agreeabe to all your talkings, pls continue your talks while I'm playing". I'm sure when you score the goal, or getting pass them, they will be more frustrated. It's also from my own experience, when I did this trick and the opponent still can score, I feel even more hurt and damn painful inside my feeling.

In yesterday game also, we can't expect the referee to be always fair, even at pro level, the ref still make some not-so-correct judgement. What to do? It's parts and parcel of the game. Be a man, take it in, and transfer it to energy to win the game, to revenge the frustration on the opponents. If you cannot control your temper and really want to throw it out, do it in a smart way, and make the team less suffer. If you know you are going to get a yellow card for a challenge, make it worth the damage. Look at Nam's feet, the opponent got yellow card but he (the opponent) also reduced the dangerous on the left side as Nam suffered from pain and could not continue to play as well as before.

I donot ask you to play dirty, but play tough, play rough to show that we are not a pushover little boys. To show the opponents that although we are tiny size compare to their gigantic figures, but we are not intimidated by the physics difference. In fact, they may look big, but their fitness level are not so far better than us. The only thing their size comes to help is their powerful long shot. That's why we need the midfielders, and defenders as well, to quickly block the opponents, donot let them have a few seconds free on the ball. As such very short moment can give them enough times to unleash a thunderous shot toward our poor GK, Quang Anh. Why had I slide too much and commit so many fouls yesterday? Because I didn't want another shot from them like the 1st goal. With a very slippery surface, it's very easy for us to unbalance ourselves, hence I choose not to go face-off challenge and use the tackle instead.

So far, from what I saw, only Cuong Ma and qTheBoss still show the toughness in their playing. Thai and warlock used to be tougher, but dunno why, now they are not as rough as before. But please also note that play rough do not mean just anyhow commit a foul. Always go for the ball first, leg later. Playing tough means fighting to get the ball back, don't give away possession so cheaply, be not so easily pushed to the ground. One of my coach told me definition of playing tough "Go for the ball in all 50-50 situation, just go for it, see who blink first. Those who hesitate will not reach the ball earlier than those who not". If you are waiting for the ball to come to you, must look out for any opponents who are coming to intercept, use your body and your strength to keep them out, block the ball. Don't just stand there and wait for the ball. Always go for the 1st ball, if you miss then continue to go for the 2nd ball. Even if you know that you may not jump as high as the opponent, you still need to jump with him to compete for the ball. Your jumping may not make you get the ball, but at least unbalance the opponent, don't give him free time on the ball.

That's several thing from my experience. I mean to share only, not to "teach". As I myself is not perfect. As cVu mentioned, my 1st touch is everywhere. Besides, my ball control, dribbling skill, speed are far away below your level. My only good points are physical challenge, positioning, defence with all my heart, roughness, and a few dirty tricks.

Please start the winning way again. Wake up and be the real Fighting C0ckers, show the whole S'pore social soccer world how mighty we are!!!