OB hit 9 in opening day win

Great result last night boys - a 9-1 win. Goals by Joe(2), Darren (2), Matt (2), Jess (1), Tim (1) and the Gaffer (1).

All played well last night. No huge problems. A bit jittery in the first half but calmed down in the second. We'll get better in the coming weeks as we gel playing this type of game, which as many of you found out is quite different then 11-a-side.

Great job on substituting. I know it sometimes seems not long enough to play all the time, especially in a game like that, but against better teams with a higher tempo it will be more needed. Just make when you are subbing someone knows you are coming off. A couple of times someone came off and a sub was not back on the pitch for 5-10 secs.. Wile this doesn't seem like much, it is easily enough to create a break, 2 on 1 and goal. A good was is to let the bench know 30 secs or 1 min before you are going to come off. I know this is not always going to be possible but it works when It can be done incase the person next to come on is not ready, someone else can come on in their place.

Although while the win was comfortable, I'm sure all will agree it was a team we SHOULD have beat and the final result should really have been 4 or 5 goals higher. We need to put those type of teams away in the first half - it was only 2-0 at the break.

All our defenders played a great game. Solid tackling and quality balls forward. Even with the frequently subbing the line stayed intact perfectly. Let's just remember If you go up for a move, you need to make sure a midfielder covers you, and you get back ASAP. There were a few time when defenders pushed up the park without cover and we were stuck with 2 attackers on 1 defender at the back - better teams will punish us for that. Great game between the sticks Wayne. Excellent distribution and communication at the back. Shame the duck was broken by that freak goal.

Midfielders, did well with lots of running and quality support for the striker - you guys produced the majority of the goals. More will come if when the forwards are shooting, we crash the goal, as many times a rebound will end up near you. Also when they have the ball, let's press up and pressure their rear players. Since we only play one up front it is necessary to push as a unit.

Forwards also played a great game. Our only issue may be that a few time during the game the forwards were too far back in our formation. Like the midfield if we are not attacking, lets push up anbd press their back line. A forward really shouldn't be in our half except when we go a man down. When this happens, one of the midfielders should drop and be a defender and the forward drops into midfield to make a 2-2 formation. We'll get used to it as the season progesses.