Asunto: Tipping the U21 WCQ

After 2 mins I was fearing the worst, then we started to come back into the game. Griffiths you little ripper!

Fantastic game. Well done Minkee, we did it the hard way, but we made it. To get to the World Cup with the squad we've had available this season is a great achievement!

You've done a great job. You deserve this result.

"the more the enemies, the sweeter the victory" :)
We never gave up in the end, that's probably what kept us alive this campaign.

It did look a bit shaky at the start but their winger, even with plenty of ball, didnt deliver anything because our defense kept on top of it each time. This 4-1 setup at the back is my backyard, it can be faulted for sure but on the other hand it won't let many go in either and that is just what happened last night.
I'm usually a bit more cautious and use a 4-3 at the back, but there was no justification for it against Bosna as we needed nothing less than a win to go through to the WC.

My main concern, as I almost mentioned it above, was that I had none previous to the game and that was a very odd feeling. I usually wondered what wrong could happen to us before each game and while it usually did I felt I gave everything on the last game and if it was meant to be or not then so be it.

I was surprised to be 2-0 up at half-time, I had planned Laurie and Erdogan to do the damage in the second half with their fresher legs but it's nice to see new faces stepping up when we were up against the wall. Tang, Griffiths, Durante and few other last minute inclusion to the team over the last few games showed what a community can do overall if they train our national players... it offered us depth and solutions when we were left with our eyes crying over the demises of our best players. So thank you to all the community for training our players. While it always could be better it was sufficient to let us through to the WC :)

Credits need to go to the staff too. Achmid, Naph, Cometer and Vivski have been great support and have done a lot to put me in the box seat when it mattered during the season and although I've been flying solo a bit these last few weeks, but all the tips and advices have been useful even last night. Thanks to all of you.
Viv, it was nice to revive our teamwork on thursday night for a few hours, it paid off once again even if the TI were all over the place :p


Every good thing has an end, I've enjoyed the journey. It made me go through a few different feeling and emotion during this campaign and while this is just a game it is funny to admit that it can have these effects on you! Anyway, I think I did the best I could and it is time for me to let the spot to someone else next season.
While I would enjoy the challenge of the WC, I'd like to leave on a high note and I made the decision to step down. RL is getting very busy, being a mod and running my own club (again) are what I can dedicate time wise to this game, this season stretched me too much.

kinda unfortunate that durante's coming back on form just as the season's winding down and he turns 22, but hopefully i can get o'neill to double incredible by the middle of next season and start working on his pace. that should be something to look forward to ;)

and what passes by griffiths! david "beckham" griffiths strikes again!
(editado)

Griffiths is maturing well, he'll be a key member of the team next season. He and Barnes will be the focus of our offense. The squad looks good for the World Cup. Glad we're in it to give our guns a chance to shine.

I look forward to seeing what they can do.

So who is going to take over U21?

Final Round scores:
1- Sx 3pts
2- Uber & Minkee 1pt
4- Cometer 0pt (the only aussie not to tip the joeys to win! boo!)

Final Standing:
1- Minkee 14pts (good to see I knew my stage group...)
2- Cometer and Sx 12pts
4- Auldreekie 3pts
5- Vivski & Tigermaster 2pts
7- Fantum & Uber 1pt

Next week we will take on Terje's homeland Norge after Cuba left us without a fixture. The format is a mix of U20 and U19 so we can leave the U21 rest before the WC (for which we qualified!).
So please submit your player before thursday next week.

Only tipped against us because I needed to make up ground if I wanted to win the tipping comp ;).

I am not sure if I should go:

A) Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi! Oi! Oi!

or

B) Heia Norge, Heia Norge, Heia Norge!

Maybe I should just ask for a draw?

my trainees still lack a fair bit of pace so i think you'd want players with more rounded skills ;)

I am not sure if I should go:

A) Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi! Oi! Oi!

or

B) Heia Norge, Heia Norge, Heia Norge!

Maybe I should just ask for a draw?

Why not just go in the middle :p.

Aussie,Aussie,Aussie,Norge,Norge,Norge ;).

3-3 then ;) Ok!