Score 5-2 (Win)
Summary:
Another slow start by the White Salamis which lead to the opposition taking full advantage by gaining a 0-2 lead. But a net buster of a goal by Sam Ornadel which was well worth the admission or attendance fee (if we had one) alone, rallied the whites to rise like a phoenix out of the ashes and sail to a well-earned and well-deserved victory.
Game Positives:
Sam.O: A 5 star performance by Sam who is happiest when he has the ball at his feet and he is running at the opposition that joy of expression filters through to those who watch Sam who has an unerring ability to glide past players with unnatural ease. You would think that would be all but it is not Sam has a cannon of a strike that helps to give his dribbling skills an end product. Sam was defiantly the catalyst that helped to spark this team into life. Great work Sam a very well deserved MOTM award for today’s game.
Marlon : This team desperately needed a striker and boy did we get one. Marlon answered all our prayers in one game and was very much a MOTM. He was a focal point for our team and rarely missed any of the opportunities he was given. He gave the opposition no ends of concerns and bagged a brace for all his efforts, a very solid shift by our front man who showcased his array of talents and also helped the team over the line to victory.
Mohamed (Mo the Magician): Not yet back to his majestic best, this was a different side of the magician who had top battle hard and put in challenges. Good to see Mo putting his body in front of the ball and making it hard for the opposition to get time and space. With all that being said Mo was still able to be in the right place at the right time and bag himself a goal. Well done Mo!!
Muzzammil (Muz): Another solid performance by Muz who is easily one of the teams most consistent players. Hard in the challenge and great at linking play with the wingers or the midfield. When on the ball Muz rarely loses possession and always seems capable of finding the right pass. Muz today also put himself as a contender for MOTM but just feel slightly short to Sam. Great work Muz.
Ronnie: Ronnie is improving week by week and is starting to make the right wing position his own. Ronnie is very good at holding up the ball and bringing players in. Unlike Sam on the other wing I would like to see him attack the opposition more and have more shots on goal. It is very encouraging to see Ronnies progress keep up the good work Ronnie.
Max: Max played in the midfield which is a deeper role than usual, however, Max still applied his usual energy and conviction to encourage and inspire his team mates and gave every last drop of his heart and energy to the team. Another solid performance Max well done!!
Game Issues:
White Salamis midfield need to have better communication and cohesion. One of the strengths of this team is it’s togetherness which could clearly been seen in our warm up. That same level of togetherness is sometimes not replicated on the pitch. The team needs to apply simple one touch passing to help the ball to move quicker around the pitch and create space. I would also like to see the Whites use the width of the pitch to help release our wingers and attack the opposition.
Room For Improvement:
Oli: Had moments where he affected the play by spraying a wide ball to Ronnie, however he did not do that that much on the game. A mistake by Oli where he held on to the ball too long and got dispossessed, allowed the opposition to advance through our midfield and catch our defence off guard which led to a goal. Oli did start to grow more into the position as the game went on and defiantly started to affect play but he need to do this from the first whistle. As always Oli feel s a huge responsibility for the team which is why he is the captain but as the captain Oli has to trust his team.
Luke: There were some nervous moments for both Luke and Furkhan as centre backs, as they are both new to this position that is understandable. I am hoping that they will have a better understanding of their role and working with each other as the season progresses.
Furkhan: Has shown promise is his position. Furkhan is usually decisive and assured in this position but today showed moments of hesitation. Perhaps this is due to the pressure from the opposition during this match. Furkhan needs to have more confidence in himself and his abilities and ensure that no matter who the opposition is he plays his game with confidence and does not loose focus.
Michal: Normally very dependable and consistent in this position throughout the season. Like Furkhan Michal had a nervous game due to the physicality of the opposition. This forced him to make some unforced errors. Michal has been very consistent in this position and needs to trust in his own abilities and not be intimidated by the opposition.
Sam: Needs to be more affective as a midfielder from the first whistle, Sam is a very technical player who also has the ability to press and tackle the opposition however, sometimes there is not that awareness of where he should be positionally in the team which leads to Sam feeling demotivated. I have seen moments where Sam will provide that energy and affect the play but he need to do this more often.
Injuries:
David: Knee injury, David suffered an knee injury from a bad challenge by the opposition. After coming back from a ankle injury David has been delt another cruel blow by injuring his knee, hopefully it is not too serious. His determination to do well for the team was there for all to see. I wish David a swift recovery from this injury and hope to see him soon.
Notes:
The team will also need to utilise the training sessions to work on stamina and technique that way they will be more capable to execute during the game. May need to work on crossing the ball and the position of the strikers when the ball is crossed in. One touch passing and ball control is also something that needs to be worked on during training where the training is done with a similar intensity as the match day to force quick decision making and player reaction.