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!

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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 🤷🏻‍♂️.

To be fair I was quite firm when I first took over, probably when we were playing our best football and making the right sort of mistakes as well. Only in the last 2 months have I gone softer and it's declined. Hammered them a bit last night and got what I wanted, they had to forfeit if they weren't paying attention, which cut the chat out as the session went on, they seemed more engaged towards the end. Sometimes, a good old rocket is what they need. I'll be fair with them this weekend mind, as we're playing at Peterborough United on the pitch.

Been doing it all season. We started with 1 central defender and 2 wing backs either side. The ones that fully understood the wing back role were the ones who are seriously invested in football, the rest just can't fathom the role. I've done all sorts. It's not a case of they're not up to it, we used to annoy the hell out of sides that we're a level or two higher than us, we used to play and create, now we barely register a shot. Training last night felt good, they understood what was required, they also got it if they weren't paying attention. I do wonder if I've maybe been too soft with them and they've started taking liberties. Been listening to podcasts, reading grassroots hub on Facebook and changed my style from it all a bit lately. Since I have, the performances and effort have just dropped. There's groups that need the softly softly approach, I do not think mine is one of them!

Last league match yesterday to wrap up our U9 season. Awful! Not won a game since beginning of March and they all turned up yesterday looking like they'd never seen a football before. Some of the defending looked very similar to what I've been watching at the KP the last two seasons. Really do not know where it's gone wrong. We've gone from being composed, challenging and working hard to treating the ball like a hot potato and not even closing players down. The last 3 games I've watched my side allow the other team to take all the time in the world in our half before launching a shot goal wards. Our movement off the ball is horrific now. Players' just stood by while one carries the ball up the field, offering zero help. We had a horror period in October, this has gone on longer and I am really struggling to see what else I can do with them. We've gone back to the very basics of 1v1's, ball mastery, small sided games and nothing is working. I have a fair few who I think could take or leave football and it's those that I've noticed aren't putting the same level of effort in during training and matches. There's some ability there, but I've spent the best part of a year now trying to get them to play as part of the team and they're still where they were when I first took over. It's quite soul destroying at times.

I've been thinking this over myself. I've got to the point where I'm going to do it and an award for most assists as well. It's extra reward for their efforts through the season. When it comes to announcing them, it'll be about those players choosing the right option at the right time, hopefully get them thinking in games more aiming for that award next year.

Another one at The Prodigy in Nottingham on Friday. Brilliant night and gig, fully endorsed by my 9 year old side-kick for the evening. So many bangers in the back catalogue it could never be dull going to see them.

Sneinton Market has been good for us in the past. Not many spaces but quiet and tucked away to the point that I don't think many know it's there. Only a 10 minute walk as well. It's where I'm heading for anyway.

From mid-May to the end of June we have one every weekend bar one. Going to be a tough summer. We're at one in Markfield and the group we've been put in is ridiculous. I'm in two minds on whether to just pull out and save us the heartache because we do not stand a chance.

Owners looking to get out. Rumour a while back was Harborough were looking at taking them over

We're 3A, probably hovering over that relegation line now. Really struggling at the moment. Seems to be the same issue you've highlighted with my lot. We used to be really calm on the ball, tried playing, now it's either a big boot or they're going to take everyone on all by themselves. It feels like teams have just powered away from us as the season has gone on, most of which I would attribute to them just wanting it more as a unit over mine. Most sides we've played recently haven't had any better players than us, they've just worked harder for it or started quicker. Handing out 3-0 head starts isn't going to do us any favours! Regarding goal "bonuses", had that. I chucked the kids straight into defence so they couldn't score. Seemed to stop it as the parent had to find another way of rewarding them.

That's what about killed them off last time. Started hiking the fees of the grassroots teams up to fund their first team and lost them all. It's why we have AFC Andrews over on Aylestone Rec