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Thursday, August 15, 2013
An Open Letter From The Raiders Captain
hey Ra,
Saw that the Stallions won the league, congrats mate. So glad it was you blokes and not those BNU or Olympic fu**ers. We had some ding-dong matches against those boys this year, few fisticuffs here and there... We lost to Olympic both times but knocked over BNU 3-2 a few weeks back, our best win of the year.
You guys were a class above this year, deservedly hammered us both times. We've had an up and down year, few departures and couple of long-term injuries to key players, but we kept on fighting.
Good luck if you go up.
cheers
Kris
Thought that was a pretty classy touch from him. They did us a massive favour by beating Brooklyn a few weeks before we played them so we owe them a thanks. Crack up that they find Olympic as much a bunch of f**ckers as we do. The centre back from Brooklyn also said to me as we were shaking hands "Oh well, at least it won't be Olympic". Can't wait to start up our rivalry next year!
Saw that the Stallions won the league, congrats mate. So glad it was you blokes and not those BNU or Olympic fu**ers. We had some ding-dong matches against those boys this year, few fisticuffs here and there... We lost to Olympic both times but knocked over BNU 3-2 a few weeks back, our best win of the year.
You guys were a class above this year, deservedly hammered us both times. We've had an up and down year, few departures and couple of long-term injuries to key players, but we kept on fighting.
Good luck if you go up.
cheers
Kris
Thought that was a pretty classy touch from him. They did us a massive favour by beating Brooklyn a few weeks before we played them so we owe them a thanks. Crack up that they find Olympic as much a bunch of f**ckers as we do. The centre back from Brooklyn also said to me as we were shaking hands "Oh well, at least it won't be Olympic". Can't wait to start up our rivalry next year!
Monday, August 12, 2013
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Assistism
Some cool infographics on where most assists and goals come from on the field, check it:
http://blog.kickdex.com/post/56157934804/the-perfect-assist
 |
| Where assists come from |
And the chart in the comments shows that in the EPL you need about 10 passes from inside the box to create 1 goal. What would the stallions charts look like?
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
It's our Destiny
Tangihaere's uncle gives the Stallions a pre-match speech on Destiny
Lads, I'm not sure how you're all feeling, but I'm getting a bit nervous. There's a lot of injuries in the team at the moment and I feel like we built ourselves up so much for last weeks game we almost forgot about this week. We were talking about last week's game as if it were a final, which it felt like it was, but Lower Hutt is not a push over, trust me on this. A couple of seasons ago (it was the last game of the season actually) we were up 3-0 at half time and cruising only to lose 4-3. We write Lower Hutt off at our peril. A draw isn't going to be enough for us. Only a win will do. We need to get up for this game - big time. One last big push. LET'S DO THIS!!!
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
EPIC: Stallies v BNU: 3 August
After much hype and a lot of email-traffic in the build up to what was one of the Stallion’s biggest games of an epic season, Kelburn Park turned it on with great weather and the biggest crowd of the season (well, a couple of partners, 5 or 6 kids, Nick G, and long-time Uni supporter Harriet). It was fitting that the Gossies played curtain raiser to the day’s big game; a winner-takes-all match, with the prestigious Capital 6 title on offer should the following weekend’s games go to form.
Brooklyn’s coach offered his refereeing services prior to kick-off, but after a pathetic performance in the first round, Rauru wised up to his tricks and told him to F*&K right off (Ed's note: I don't think those were my exact words...). With Tim late as usual, it was a slightly rearranged starting line-up taking to the field, including second-string keeper Pringle who had finally managed a clean sheet the week before. Tangi was there too – the baby’s head hadn’t yet crowned so there was just enough time for another 85 minutes of football - he’d have a word in the ref’s ear to get the first half shortened (who would know).
So to the match, and it was crucial that the Stallions got ahead early, to take the game to Pilsner (aka the whinging Brooklyn Shandy drinkers). The Stallions started the game with panache, happy to have Lloydo back in midfield after he missed the first round loss at Happy Valley. Capital 6 would be won or lost in the middle of the park, and the boys were more than up for it. As it happened, there were half a dozen goal-scoring opportunities created down the flanks and through the middle in the first half. Unfortunately I missed the lot. The most memorable move was a fantastic square ball from Tom, into the path of Heath, who burst into the box before whipping the ball across the face of goal for a gilt-edged scoring opportunity. Unfortunately, I (Carrick) scuffed it into the air before attempting a hand-of-god move, bundling the ball into the back of the net (surely the ref would fall for that one).
Nonetheless, the Stallions kept pressing with more opportunities coming my way: a great cross from Paddy but a poor header, a ball through the middle and I shot just left of the upright; then I blazed over the top and into the hedge. Next time I’d aim for the keeper (fifth-time lucky as I told Gus at half time). Heath read my mind and cracked a shot from distance - the keeper parried, but alas, no one to follow up. The first half went pretty quickly – well, the first 40 minutes did at least – with the ref blowing up 5 minutes early to give the older Stallions players a breather. But Brooklyn was wise to that old trick and they let us have an extra five minutes to try and score (wtf?). To be fair, I don’t remember our defence or keeper being tested too much in the first half, as we dominated possession.
Half time and the Brooklyn coach again volunteered to ref. Can’t you take a hint - feck off! As we’re well aware, Cap 6 can be won or lost on refereeing decisions. After a gee-up at the half time break and some sage advice for the underperforming striker(s), the Stallies picked up where they left off. Tackles were flying in left, right and centre. There was fisticuffs; handbags (most involving Tim, Rauru and any number of the Brooklyn tw@ts). It was game on. Everyone put their bodies on the line. Lloyd also put his face in the way of an ambitious bicycle kick from Brooklyn’s striker (think Tim broke the same guy’s face in the first game). Off to the blood bin, a bit of whiskey and water, and Lloyd was good to go again (very Stallion-like). The deadlock was finally broken as Lloyd put a great ball over the top for me to chase – and for the first time all season I finally got hold of one and smashed it into the ol’ onion bag. In true Stallions-style, we kept pressing and could have scored another - Tom blazed wide with a header from another Paddy cross. Lloydo had a chance to hit an open goal from 35 yards but put it wide (did it even go out?). I headed into the goal from another Paddy cross although this one was ruled out for offside – which was probably fair given what was happening at the other end.
Brooklyn’s attack was starting to find holes in our defence as they pushed forward in a desperate bid to save their season (surely a young team of quality players wouldn’t be banished to playing Cap 6 for another season?). Joe got his chop on. Aaron (?) blocked a shot with his arm inside the box. And there were some worthy shouts for a BNU penalty when Tim keeled over in the box and possibly handled (Ed's note: Tim seems to cop a lot of blame for this but it was that cankles brother of mine at fault). Could it be that luck would again turn against the Stallions? Luckily the Brooklyn coach wasn’t reffing. Impartial referee Nick White held his nerve and waved play on. The Stallions went into defensive mode, ensuring a tough final 15 minutes. Keeper Pringle tried to run it out on numerous occasions, still p!ssed that he wasn’t on the score sheet for 2013. But the Stallions withstood the pressure, taking the game by the tightest of margins, and putting themselves in a good position to win the league.
Everyone stepped up and played well – the entire squad. As with most of the season, the Stallions played the best football and deserved to win (in my unbiased opinion). Even though it was a big game, I think we stuck to the Stallions mantra of play hard, have fun, and take the piss when appropriate. If we’d taken the game too seriously, Rauru would have subbed me off at half time and I wouldn’t have scored that goal from 20, I mean 30 yards? (let’s just call it the half-way line). Good luck this weekend lads. Give it your all, but don’t forget to play it Stallions-style (free beer for the most nutmegs).
Brooklyn’s coach offered his refereeing services prior to kick-off, but after a pathetic performance in the first round, Rauru wised up to his tricks and told him to F*&K right off (Ed's note: I don't think those were my exact words...). With Tim late as usual, it was a slightly rearranged starting line-up taking to the field, including second-string keeper Pringle who had finally managed a clean sheet the week before. Tangi was there too – the baby’s head hadn’t yet crowned so there was just enough time for another 85 minutes of football - he’d have a word in the ref’s ear to get the first half shortened (who would know).
So to the match, and it was crucial that the Stallions got ahead early, to take the game to Pilsner (aka the whinging Brooklyn Shandy drinkers). The Stallions started the game with panache, happy to have Lloydo back in midfield after he missed the first round loss at Happy Valley. Capital 6 would be won or lost in the middle of the park, and the boys were more than up for it. As it happened, there were half a dozen goal-scoring opportunities created down the flanks and through the middle in the first half. Unfortunately I missed the lot. The most memorable move was a fantastic square ball from Tom, into the path of Heath, who burst into the box before whipping the ball across the face of goal for a gilt-edged scoring opportunity. Unfortunately, I (Carrick) scuffed it into the air before attempting a hand-of-god move, bundling the ball into the back of the net (surely the ref would fall for that one).
Nonetheless, the Stallions kept pressing with more opportunities coming my way: a great cross from Paddy but a poor header, a ball through the middle and I shot just left of the upright; then I blazed over the top and into the hedge. Next time I’d aim for the keeper (fifth-time lucky as I told Gus at half time). Heath read my mind and cracked a shot from distance - the keeper parried, but alas, no one to follow up. The first half went pretty quickly – well, the first 40 minutes did at least – with the ref blowing up 5 minutes early to give the older Stallions players a breather. But Brooklyn was wise to that old trick and they let us have an extra five minutes to try and score (wtf?). To be fair, I don’t remember our defence or keeper being tested too much in the first half, as we dominated possession.
Half time and the Brooklyn coach again volunteered to ref. Can’t you take a hint - feck off! As we’re well aware, Cap 6 can be won or lost on refereeing decisions. After a gee-up at the half time break and some sage advice for the underperforming striker(s), the Stallies picked up where they left off. Tackles were flying in left, right and centre. There was fisticuffs; handbags (most involving Tim, Rauru and any number of the Brooklyn tw@ts). It was game on. Everyone put their bodies on the line. Lloyd also put his face in the way of an ambitious bicycle kick from Brooklyn’s striker (think Tim broke the same guy’s face in the first game). Off to the blood bin, a bit of whiskey and water, and Lloyd was good to go again (very Stallion-like). The deadlock was finally broken as Lloyd put a great ball over the top for me to chase – and for the first time all season I finally got hold of one and smashed it into the ol’ onion bag. In true Stallions-style, we kept pressing and could have scored another - Tom blazed wide with a header from another Paddy cross. Lloydo had a chance to hit an open goal from 35 yards but put it wide (did it even go out?). I headed into the goal from another Paddy cross although this one was ruled out for offside – which was probably fair given what was happening at the other end.
Brooklyn’s attack was starting to find holes in our defence as they pushed forward in a desperate bid to save their season (surely a young team of quality players wouldn’t be banished to playing Cap 6 for another season?). Joe got his chop on. Aaron (?) blocked a shot with his arm inside the box. And there were some worthy shouts for a BNU penalty when Tim keeled over in the box and possibly handled (Ed's note: Tim seems to cop a lot of blame for this but it was that cankles brother of mine at fault). Could it be that luck would again turn against the Stallions? Luckily the Brooklyn coach wasn’t reffing. Impartial referee Nick White held his nerve and waved play on. The Stallions went into defensive mode, ensuring a tough final 15 minutes. Keeper Pringle tried to run it out on numerous occasions, still p!ssed that he wasn’t on the score sheet for 2013. But the Stallions withstood the pressure, taking the game by the tightest of margins, and putting themselves in a good position to win the league.
Everyone stepped up and played well – the entire squad. As with most of the season, the Stallions played the best football and deserved to win (in my unbiased opinion). Even though it was a big game, I think we stuck to the Stallions mantra of play hard, have fun, and take the piss when appropriate. If we’d taken the game too seriously, Rauru would have subbed me off at half time and I wouldn’t have scored that goal from 20, I mean 30 yards? (let’s just call it the half-way line). Good luck this weekend lads. Give it your all, but don’t forget to play it Stallions-style (free beer for the most nutmegs).
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Thoughts
Winning and pressure does funny things. It can change you - for the better or the worse. And this weekend's game is about as much pressure as this team has ever felt. The reality is, if we win, we are one win away from taking out the league. It's a position I didn't think we'd find ourselves in after losing to Olympic, and it's a kinda odd feeling.
I was talking with Heath before the game last week and we were talking about how winning has it's down sides. It's great to win, and it's great to play well in doing so, but the pressure that it creates sometimes isn't a good thing.
The Stallions have never taken ourselves seriously. It's why we're called the Stallions. There was an Italian student that was in our team in the first year and we did it to take the piss. We've always taken the piss. In the early days (before kids and wives) there were fine sessions that would go on for literally hours. People would rack up $5-10 worth of fines a week for the stupid things they'd say (Hodges), do (Hodges) and any other things like bad throw-ins (Butch), turtles and twizzles (Jules), uniform fines (Rob) and the like. At the end of the year we'd have literally hundreds of dollars worth of fines which went towards a night on the booze (remember that night at Willie's flat on Bond St? Carnage), or in later years a dinner out.
As we've gotten older with more responsibilities after the game, the fine sessions dropped away, and perhaps with it our ability to laugh at ourselves. We've still managed to do it a bit with the pink headband but even that has gone walkabout this season! I think we've been pretty good this season being able to keep that sense of who we are with such a large number of new players. All the new boys that have come into the team have been up for a laugh and are happy to take the piss out of themselves which is what we want. Our team is essentially made up of people who enjoy getting out there for a run but can't be assed going to trainings. We play to win but we have to keep in mind that we play to have fun. I feel that the danger is that if we start to take ourselves too seriously then we start to lose that fun aspect.
Which brings me to this weeks game. I'm torn between doing what we've always done and asking who wants to start on the sideline and selecting the team based around that, or selecting what I think is the strongest line up. I had thought about saying that the key players should stay on the field for the whole game with everyone else rotating in and out but I'm not sure that that's in the spirit of the Stallions. One part of me obviously really wants to win, but another part of me says that it shouldn't be at the expense of what that Stallions are about.
I see my role in this team as more of an admin type role. I liaise with the club, I organise balls, gear, people and whatever, but as far as the coach/manager type stuff goes, it should be a team thing, especially when it comes to weekends like this one. So, I'm gonna leave it up to the team. Feel free to post your thoughts. I'd be interested to hear what you have to say, even if you say it anonymously. If you don't want to say anything then I'll take it that you'll be happy with whatever the team decides.
Sorry for the long email, we're just in uncharted territory here!
I was talking with Heath before the game last week and we were talking about how winning has it's down sides. It's great to win, and it's great to play well in doing so, but the pressure that it creates sometimes isn't a good thing.
The Stallions have never taken ourselves seriously. It's why we're called the Stallions. There was an Italian student that was in our team in the first year and we did it to take the piss. We've always taken the piss. In the early days (before kids and wives) there were fine sessions that would go on for literally hours. People would rack up $5-10 worth of fines a week for the stupid things they'd say (Hodges), do (Hodges) and any other things like bad throw-ins (Butch), turtles and twizzles (Jules), uniform fines (Rob) and the like. At the end of the year we'd have literally hundreds of dollars worth of fines which went towards a night on the booze (remember that night at Willie's flat on Bond St? Carnage), or in later years a dinner out.
As we've gotten older with more responsibilities after the game, the fine sessions dropped away, and perhaps with it our ability to laugh at ourselves. We've still managed to do it a bit with the pink headband but even that has gone walkabout this season! I think we've been pretty good this season being able to keep that sense of who we are with such a large number of new players. All the new boys that have come into the team have been up for a laugh and are happy to take the piss out of themselves which is what we want. Our team is essentially made up of people who enjoy getting out there for a run but can't be assed going to trainings. We play to win but we have to keep in mind that we play to have fun. I feel that the danger is that if we start to take ourselves too seriously then we start to lose that fun aspect.
Which brings me to this weeks game. I'm torn between doing what we've always done and asking who wants to start on the sideline and selecting the team based around that, or selecting what I think is the strongest line up. I had thought about saying that the key players should stay on the field for the whole game with everyone else rotating in and out but I'm not sure that that's in the spirit of the Stallions. One part of me obviously really wants to win, but another part of me says that it shouldn't be at the expense of what that Stallions are about.
I see my role in this team as more of an admin type role. I liaise with the club, I organise balls, gear, people and whatever, but as far as the coach/manager type stuff goes, it should be a team thing, especially when it comes to weekends like this one. So, I'm gonna leave it up to the team. Feel free to post your thoughts. I'd be interested to hear what you have to say, even if you say it anonymously. If you don't want to say anything then I'll take it that you'll be happy with whatever the team decides.
Sorry for the long email, we're just in uncharted territory here!
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