Season opener Div6 Stallions Vs

CAPITAL FOOTBALL DRAW FOR 2 - 8 APRIL:
SATURDAY 2 APRIL

CAPITAL 6:
Uni Accies V Marist Inter _ Nairnville 1 (12.30);
North Wgtn Villa V Uni Stallions_ Alex Moore 2 (12.30);
Wainuiomata V Brooklyn Northern _ Prouse 2 (12.30);
Petone Chacago V Lower Hutt Sangham__ Petone 2 (2.30);
Miramar RangersV North Wellington _ Miramar 1 (2.30).

More Silverware

Following the big win at the charity 5-aside tourny, the Stallions twilight team pulled out another grand final victory today. In typical Stallions fashion, we were 2-nil up with 10 to go, but it went to penalties - great save by Lachlan, Nick coolly slots it home, grade dominated. And all done at Kelburn Park under the watchful gaze of the practicing cricket Stallions.

The opposition included Colin from the Uni 3rds who let us know that most of their team from last year is back, with (said with a knowing smile) they have picked up a couple of fast new young guys from the trials. Man imagine, fast, young ...

Pre-season Formation

It's that time of year again where the blog gets updated frequently, new signings are made, and the Walker brothers squabble about formation.

Last season we had a bit of a play around with formation which seemed to work ok, except in that game where we were up 3-0 after about 10 minutes before blowing it (did we draw or lose it? Eds note: I just checked the tables and in the cup tournament we won 2 lost 1 so I guess we lost it 4-3). The formation worked ok for a bit until they worked out how to play us and we didn't adapt. We wont be making that same mistake this year and if things aren't working we'll look to change things around.

For this weekend I'd like to play a mix of 4-3-3/4-5-1/4-2-3-1. Basically the back 4 is pretty standard. For this game we'll start with (and in brackets the names of others who could/will fill those roles if everyone is available:

GK - Jamie (Paul)
LB - Corey
RB - Spencer (Dan/Joe)
CB - Jason (Mike/Tangihaere/Paddy)
CB - Dan

Their roles are pretty much what they have always been. Assuming they play 4-2-2, two of the defenders pick up their two attackers which leaves 2 people free to pick up their wide midfielders coming through, or just to help out in numbers.

The midfield/attack are:

DM - Aaron
CM/DM - Rauru
CM/AM - Gus (Lloyd/Paddy)
L/RM - Graham (Panda/Rauru/Gus/Paddy/Nick)
L/RM - Rob
CF - Tristin (Rauru/Gus)

I'd like the R/LM to play quite high up the pitch in almost an attacking role so that there is support for Tristin who is going to be a lone striker. I think we're not prolific enough goal scorers to have Tristin up front by himself (we had one of the lowest 'goals for' in our grade last year but had the best goal difference which says a lot for our defense - we had 5 less goals scored against us than the next best team!). This means that in this game on the weekend we need Rob and Graham to play more attacking than defending. Gus also has a bit of a free role to attack through the middle. Of course they cant play as attackers, but as soon as we get the ball the R/LM need to get wide and push up. If the ball is on their side they need to be hitting the corners, if it's on the other side they drop into the middle a bit more near Tristin who will stay central and as deep as possible.

This gives us 1 sub for the weekend (Nick - only cause I thought you were out initially Nick!) who will probably out wide as a L/RM but can fit into the middle if needed.

This could be seen as a 4-2-3-1 formation. 4 defenders, 2 holding mids, 3 attacking mids and 1 striker. We'll adapt as we need to though.

This is a bit of a mixed up team as two of our regular CM are out (which means I'll fit in there this week to start with), as well as two CB (although not as much of a disruption as Dan and Jason will probably play there quite a bit this season).

No idea if this is going to work, or even if it makes much sense, but we'll give it a crack!

We need us some Under Armour

Damn, imagine if the new Stallions strip had this technology

On the plus side, we will all be able to see just how much fitter and generally better than everyone else this season's Champions League winners are!

New Arrival

So every new signing brings a few teething problems right? I know that Dan doesn't read this blog, so just want to suggest that we take a few tips from the rumoured disfunction in the Chelsea locker room and just phase him out. Make him sit by himself in the changing room, let the skipper try to hit on his girl, and most importantly ignore him during the game. Analysis from the Chelsea-Blackpool game shows that there were 3 or 4 times when Torres was free in the box, but players did not/refused to pass to him.

This conspiracy theory is also driven by Torres's reaction to this where instead of looking frustrated or upset barely even acknowledged anything - as though he knew he was being phased out and accepted he wasn't getting any love. I'm with the Chelsea players on this, screw the fancy new signings, lets make Dan an outcast from the beginning, lets break his spirit and love for the game, drive away all those spectators he will bring to the game.  Screw Dan and all his game winning skills and abilities - they just ain't stallion-like. F****er

Nah, Welcome Dan - great to have you as a full team member as we embark on the heady rise up the grades. A great signing, excellent way to start the season.

And all power to the Stallions who won the University 5 aside tourney - a good omen, well played.

The twilight team just had a competitive, hard game that had the potential to get a bit nasty. Of course we won easily in the end, but interesting to see the team name on their strip - The Karori Magpies, our 'friendly' opposition in a couple of weeks. Bring your shinpads!

Hmmmmm

Even as a Liverpool supporter (who is feeling very good after Sunday's 3-1 win over Man U), I think maybe taking things too far?

Stallions Season 2010 highlights

Ok, so imagine we have a 15 second video celebrating our grade winning, free-wheeling, pie-eating, women-stealing last season (or was that just me?). What would this montage that summed up last season include?

- Definite fade out moment: one of Panda's run behind the goal posts pointing at the ball celebrations
- Flashes of G-Mann's bright boots
- Shots of Rauru's 4 goal haul vs Lower Hutt/Stokes Valley, whoever it was
- Dan's header vs Marist
- The sad moment - North Wellington score their 4th goal to win 4-3 (or was it a draw, I can't recall).
- General pride at running around the artificial at Te Whaea
- In car cam of Nick's breakdown with multiple stallions in the backseat
- Gus's reverse header goal
- Some epic stretching saves by Paul
- Rauru and Tangi arguing over the merits of 4-3-3 vs 4-3-2-1
- Endless missed shots on goal by Paddy
- This nagging presence of Ben Hodges in the background
- We might have to dig back to past seasons to get some biffo, what were we last season - sponsored by Hippies & Peaceniks?

Any other suggestions?

Damn, we might need more than 15 seconds.

We need a soundtrack to the season as well. Any thoughts?