Sunday, January 31, 2010

No games today

Ice on the court. We will try to reschedule for Tuesday or Wednesday

Saturday, January 30, 2010

futsal t-shirts


here is what our awesome futsal t-shirt looks like hit us at cntrcircle@gmail.com if you're interested.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Donovan's first goal


Landon scored his first goal of his Premier League career yesterday in a 2-0 win against Sunderland. It was a very well taken strike which he brought down to his left foot with his chest and volleyed home from just inside of the top of the box. Well done Landon I hope this is only the beginning of a real soccer career NOT one in Minor League Soccer.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Inter 2 - AC Milan 0


I would like to recap the Milan derby where shortly into the game I was lifted off of my seat twice by the electrifying Wesley Sneijder only to see him sent off for sarcastically applauding the referee. needless to say I wasn't the happiest person and may have yelled not so nice things at the tv. The referee gave what could only be described as a terrible performance in the first half. He single handedly stopped Ronaldinho after he beat three defenders the referee got in his way and then 3 minutes later got in Sneijder's way as he was about to receive the ball at the top of the box. Im pretty sure that is what led to Wesley's attitude and his shortly after that sending off. Right before that sending off on a counter attack Goran Pandev sent a fantastic no look pass to Diego Milito who did what he does best...score. When the sending off occured I thought the game was ruined but boy was I wrong. Jose Mourinho's genius and team spirit was quite evident and not only did they keep the 1 goal lead they had but built on it with a well taken free kick late in the second half by January signing Goran Pandev. The referee tried but he couldn't stop the game being brilliant.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Monday's Futsal Games are on

The court is dry and games will be played.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

The Milan Derby


This is a game that will be played at 11:00 am (central time) on Fox Soccer Channel and is one that I am really looking forward to. AC Milan and Ronaldinho have been nothing short of on fire and Inter have shown the defiant spirit of managerial great, Jose Mourinho with late comebacks over there last few games. Please check it out!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Futsal European Championships start tonight in Hungary



12 Nations start their quest to become Futsal's European Champion tonight. Spain is the reigning champion but the Russians have been Champion the previous years and look to take back the title from Spain. Keep up with all the action @ http://www.uefa.com/competitions/futsal/index.html

Luis Amado's guide to Futsal goalkeeping


Spanish goalkeeper Luis Amado gives some good instruction for Futsal goalkeeping.

Russian (Brazilian) Cirilio's guide to the Pivot



As you can see Cirilio may play for Russia but he's hardly Russian! This is his guide to the Pivot (pronounced PIVO) position, which is the lone forward in a diamond formation in Futsal.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Games are on today

Monday's games and two makeups from Sunday are happening today.

He's Baaaacckkk



Ronaldinho fresh off of his brace (that means 2 goals) against Juventus decides to one up himself. Looks like after two years of laziness Mr. Gaucho is back playing with a smile and quite frankly that makes smile, enjoy...

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Sundays games are cancelled

Futsal for Sunday is cancelled. Please let us know if you can play on Wednesday instead.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

What is a youth soccer coaches job? The HOW WHAT and WHY methodology.


Observing my peers and based on my own beliefs and experience this is what I've come up with:

A coach's job is to make their player,s at whatever level they come to the coach at, to be better as an individual and in a team then when they first arrived in their guidance. To me the way to do that is by teaching players HOW WHAT and WHY.

What I am noticing is that many (probably 80% if not more in USA) coaches overcoach the WHAT without teaching HOW or WHY. This doesn't improve players or allow them to leave that coaches team and perform in a different system, at a different level, or with different players. These players become robots for this coach and only know how to play for him/her not how to play the game anywhere with anyone. This is a BIG PROBLEM in the US and it's something I hope we can fix.

The problem's solution all starts with the HOW. In my belief and the belief of the country of Brazil HOW is technique. A player without technique (the ability to pass, trap, dribble, shoot, head) is like a student without knowledge of the alphabet and the ability to write. Sure someone could take a group of kids who don't know how to read and write and eventually get them to complete their (that coaches) own tests but what happens when that student (player) leaves that grade and goes to a different teacher? They are lost and have to learn how to take tests all over again. If they knew how to read and write they would have no problem, much like a player being able to pass trap dribble and shoot along with where and what their job is on the field. This is what is I see happening in youth soccer, players go from coach to coach and have to learn all over and never really understand HOW WHAT and WHY. This is not very productive and really slows the progression of America's youth.

If a player is taught technique first they have the tools to do the job and have the HOW. Then the player can be taught WHAT to do on the field and if a coach lets them know and understand WHY these players can play, enjoy, and succeed at whatever level and with whomever the they choose to play with. Without the HOW WHAT and WHY a player will never reach full potential and our job as coaches is to make sure players leave us better then they came to us. So please coaches teach these things and observe these players succeed when they leave to go to another coach and watch our country succeed on the world stage.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Wait a second...who do I play for again?


For the record I think Togo pulling out of the African Cup of Nations is the correct move. Also, I think that the fact the tournament is still going on and that more violence could occur is ridiculous but, what I also found to be ridiculous was Emmanuel Adebayor doing an interview about the what happened in an Arsenal top! Should be interesting to see how Man City handles that one...

Sunday, January 10, 2010

The Greatness That Is Jose Mourinho



After what could only be described as an absolute cracker of a game I did some reflection on the greatness that is Jose Mourinho the most loved and hated manager around. People love or hate this man because of his arrogance, I fall in the category of the former. In a game where Inter where decimated by injury and losing their top striker (Eto'o) to the African Cup of Nations, Jose's brilliance and influence shown through. Mourinho switched the formation a bit to 4231 where as most of the season they play a 4312.

The team was set up to work around Mourinho's summer signing Wesley Sneijder and in the attacking half this worked well, with him setting up and scoring himself in the first half. Defensively they were a bit suspect and conceded twice in the first half

In the second half the brilliance of Jose started to show with his substitution of two players (Quaresma and Stankovic off for Samuel and Arnautovic). This is one of my favorite things about Mourinho is his willingness to change whenever he feels it's not working. In a tie game at half time what other manager would use two of his substitutions at halftime?!

In the 67 min Siena scores again and the game seems to be destined for a loss (the first at the San Siro they would have had in 36 games) and Jose's FIRST HOME LOSS IN 8 YEARS! "At 3-2 I was pondering my first home defeat in eight years against [Alberto] Malesani’s Siena, and I thought at least it will come against a coach I like." - Jose Mourinho taken from goal.com

In the 88th minute when Sneijder blasts a low free kick in off of the post to his right the goalie's left. Now this is where I really relate and learn from Mr. Mourinho...as opposed to celebrating a last gasp draw he angrily tells his players to stop celebrating and that their job is not to draw but to win...and win they do substitute Walter Samuel scores in the 94 minute to win. What a game, what a manager.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Landycakes debut vs. Arsenal in 2-2 draw


In the twelfth minute he got an assist of off a corner and had a strong debut. He was substituted in the 68th minute. Will Landon stay in England or Europe after South Africa? I hope so. Now that he got rid of D-List actress wife Bianca hopefully he will man up and stay. Why would anyone want to come back to the Galaxy after playing in the game he just did? I don't know but I am moving all my Landycakes hate (and use of that name) to the side and will call him Landon as long as he is playing in Europe.

Togo bus attack


Togo's team bus shot at and the bus driver was killed along with players and backroom staff have been injured. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Togolese national team and their families. Togo's players (correctly so) say that they have no interest in playing in the African Nations Cup as a result. Angolan rebels attacked the bus and it appears to have been a planned attack.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Cue the "Team America" theme song!!!



Clint Dempsey's wondervolley yesterday against Stoke City in the English Premier League.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

No Rain No Snow, we play

If we have no rain or snow we will be playing our futsal games. We need to get these games in whenever possible with the rainouts we had in December. We would like the league to be done by the end of January so it doesn't conflict with club practices. I know it is very cold but there is no rules as to what you can wear so layer up and we will see you on the court.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

New Year, Transfer Window, and Futsal

Happy New Year to all. With the new year comes the January transfer window. The transfer window being open means that clubs are free to do business (buying and selling) players from their team and others. The summer transfer window is always the busiest but January can always bring some intriguing player movement. This is Chelsea FC's last transfer window they can purchase players for a while as they are being suspended for an illegal player approach, so expect to see at least one big move from them (probably Franck Ribery). Also Liverpool FC are expected to make quite a few moves in the January window as their start to the season has been nothing short of disappointing.

Futsal League starts back up on Monday the 4th and will run for the month of January. We can't wait to see the players growth and progression over the next few games!