snoopy87

Gutting for Kimi today. Without the Merc being a biscuit, he'd be running away with it this year and rightly so. I loved his radio when he had the problem, he just wanted to carry on and see if he could get something, would have had Max not beached it

Thursday nights are though

That's who we lost to in the final. Absolute chancer. One of my teams parents watched their last couple of games and he said they manufactured their way into our bracket. He went on to tell me there's some in his side he needs to cut. Would you believe they didn't see the final and played in the group games he didn't want to win 🙄. We weren't really up to much. Played one good game out of 8. Some of mine couldn't be bothered being there yesterday. Got our tournament this afternoon in a tougher group, so at least I should be finished earlier 😂.

Yeah it's Thurmaston. There's a couple that have slipped in that are higher than the tournament flyer stated. The gap between level 1 and 2 is huge, 2 to 3 is massive. We've had some horrible games against level 2 sides and been battered, could say the same for level 3 .

Loads do it unfortunately. We had one at Ashby two weeks ago who had players clearly older than U9, one of them was as tall as me and just built like a pre-teenage boy! There's a team at a tournament we're doing this Saturday that I know have flip flopped between level 1 and high 2, but are at a 3-5 tournament. One of the only tournaments we stood a chance of being competitive at has been taken away already.

For the parents and players player, I made mine do a top three in order of who they think deserves it, then did a points system based off the answers. Has worked really well and all the right players are going to get the "special" awards for the effort they've put in over the season. We've also got a mangers player and most improved which me and my assistant have selected, may give the most improved to the parents next season though. Going to do a top goal scorer and lead assister as well, but they're getting handed out in August when we return after the season is done. Top goal scorer is far too close to call!

Charles Leclerc: Ferrari driver signs two-year contact extension until 2028 with team ahead of home Monaco Grand Prix | F1 News | Sky Sports Charles Leclerc ensuring he doesn't become world champion any time soon

Lost out in the quarter finals of the champions Cup side of the draw at Ashby yesterday. Did really well in our group until our final game were we came up against a side from out Stoke way. They clearly had a few of players in their side who were older. I have 2 big lads in my side, these lot towered over them amd were just built differently. Finished 2nd in our group amd were brilliant in our quarter, should've score more, but ended 1-1 with them scoring in the last minute from a punted ball in. Some dubious decisions and ever more dubious time keeping in this game sent it to penalties. Lost out on the lottery but really happy with how the lads performed. Properly got stuck in everywhere and tried playing football. Was really good to see.

Which club are you with if you don't mind my asking?

Just seen the email. Yeah we're the Tigers. Some decent teams there. That AP boys are playing up a year. They'll make the final, most his side are signed up on pre-contracts with Leicester and Derby

That was one of the greatest threads ever. Bring back Cheese

Whetstone Athletic. Been getting beat comfortably at our level lately, so we're probably in your boat as a lower 3B / higher 4A currently. Been really difficult as we have some very good and capable players who can play higher, have played higher, but the weaker lads are probably playing above their level. Our parents are very aware of this, so when it comes to tournaments I always go equal in the groups, then its a case of who is more on it if we make a knockout. They all get at least half the match anyway, I never keep them off for longer as that's not fair. One of my parents is very honest and open and tells me not to play her kids if she thinks they haven't been performing. I think it all depends on your group and how they feel. Mine are more for the greater good so the boys can try and win a trophy.

Our first ever tournament ended in penalty heartbreak last year, to a side we'd beaten comfortably in the group stages. Was an Easter tournament as well so had to wait ages before we could go again, so I know your pain. Tournaments do bring the whole side together, more so on my part as I never really get to spend much time with the parents socialising on match days as we're opposite sides of the pitch. The drama of it all as well in the latter stages bring out the best (and worst) of teams as well. Watched my son miss many penalties. We entered a tournament at Halloween, ended up going through most of the side in the final to the point he had to go and take one (wanted nothing to do with it). Stuck it right in the top corner to win us the trophy. Funnily enough at the same tournament this Easter against the same side in the final in another penalty shootout, he smashed it straight into the keepers gut! We're at Thurmaston as well, so may come across you.

Poor group stage for us yesterday at Peterborough, finishing bottom without a point, which was tough on us as the ref made an absolute howler in the first match which gave the oppo a winning goal towards the end. Had to have a word with them after the final group game at the side of the pitch because we just weren't doing anything. Parents had spent a good chunk of money and driven early to get there and the lads just weren't putting the effort in. Queue the semi-final and something resembling football broke out from us. Put our foot on the ball and never let them in, constant pressure on them, earning us a 3-0 win. Went on to win our final 2-0 and won the "Bowl" section of the tournament. We were easily the better side than those we played in the knockouts. Having checked the results when I got home, 3 of the 4 sides from our group won the knockout trophies. So you could say we were in the dreaded group of death. Was group D as well!!! Really well run tournament at Peterborough by Play on the Pitch. The opportunities for a trophy wherever we finished was really good as well, gave every team there a chance to go at something. The medals are the best I've ever seen as well. Obviously you get what you pay for, but we've spent more playing on King Power with precision pass with only one trophy up for grabs and I'd say this weekend was so much better. Ashby Ivanhoe for us next Sunday. Two mixed groups then split down into a Europa League and Champions League depending on how you finish. On the hunt for more silverware.

Looked at that one for my lot, I'll keep an eye out next season after that review. Though how does a level 1 side end up in your final? Takes away all the good work your boys have done. We kick ours ours off tomorrow in Peterborough at London Road. Lord knows what we're walking into. This one is just for an experience. Pulling us out of a tournament later in May due to the group we've been put in. We've been poor for a while. Going into a tournament where the whole group is level 1, 2 of those side's the best in the county at our age group, just aint right for my boys. We'll get nothing but a hiding. My major gripe is they've put their own higher level side in the lower side of the tournament, a team who've smashed us twice. Tournament organiser sees no issue 🤷🏻‍♂️.