Dear Netters,

this Sunday we lost against La Mafia, so that our record does not look very good at the moment. Yet this defeat was not as bitter as others that we endured in the past, and I have reason to believe that we shall soon rise again to our rightful stature and to the results which we deserve. Remember that this season ends with play-offs, so that our primary task at the moment is to grow stronger and gain confidence for those fateful final games.

All in all, on Sunday we played a good game; our defense was attentive and authoritative, our midfield solid and creative, our offense forged clever, rapid actions. During the first half, and at least in a couple of occasions, Eichi was rapacious enough to get his claws on dangerous balls in the goal area of the Mafiosi, but not precise or fortunate enough to shove those balls into the net. On the contrary, the first of La Mafia's goals was born out of an improbable ricochet between our goalie and the goalpost, and the ensuing dismay in our ranks gave the Mafiosi a golden chance to score a second goal.

In any case, I feel that we must thank Christoph for doing a great job in the goal; starting from the next game on, we will be able to count on a "vocational" goalkeeper (that is, somebody who'd rather be in the goal than running on the field): David Frayer.

But let me come back to the reasons why we shall overcome: while I was watching fractions of this last game from the sideline, I saw all Netters display a good physical shape, a laudable pugnacity, and a growing understanding of their role on the field. In the last two games we have been experimenting with a somewhat conservative layout: I wish to thank the people who suggested that we need to be more daring, and let our attacks be our best defense. That is what we will do, starting next Sunday. The game against the not-impregnable Red Rush should be a great occasion to hone our offensive skills, and satisfy our hunger for goals.

Cheers,

Michele

Webmaster: Michele Vallisneri