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2007 Proves A Frightening Succesful Year...... |
| Date: 05/04/07 |
Yes, its true, 2007 has been nothing short of an amazing achievement from Alderney Manor Reserves and theres so many points i want to discuss i dont know where to begin. I cast your memories back to January. Cold and cloudy day as Alderney set out for their first fixture of 2007. Having yet to win a league game and just been dumped out of their last cup competition you cant help but think the morale wasnt high. Not only that, but they were facing a side which beat them 5 - 1 in a game which featured 5 first team players. Myself not even making the bench.
Hordle Spurs were a good side and its in this game that there was finally a side of Alderney which we hadnt seen, Resiliance. Argueable some people may say, but many may remember that Alderney didnt play the best football that day. If watching this game at a glimpse you could say Hordle played better but we all deep down that Alderny deserved to win it. Why? because sheer determination. I remember that once Alderney took the lead (the game finished 2 - 0) to go 1 - 0 up We sat back, but it wasnt a negative approach because we did it. We did it brilliantly. Although pinned back in the 2nd half Hordle failed to do anything. Long balls, down the wings, down the centre Alderney took and dealt with the ball as necessary and constantly threatened on the counter attack. Eventually this ended up with our 2nd goal. Apoligise if i seem to be making no point because I am. What Alderney realised was we could defend, and defend well!
So this win could had been a one off but it wasnt. It just triggered a train of victories to follow. In 2007 we have only conceded two defeats. One against a Well organised Roko Reserves who on the day, deserved the victory. And Dorset Knob who managed a 5 - 1 against an Alderney team filled with injuries. No question, this is a different Alderney side in terms of spirit and belief to what there was before.
The introduction of Andy as goalkeeper improved morale dramatically. Chris Matthews, was never able to reach that level that his fellow team mates required if they were to perform in this league. Having Andy has goalkeeper, followed by Will, made people feel that the game was decided by them and not silly goals let in by poor keeping. Will is not the most acrobatic keeper but he delivers a commanding and solid performance who does the things that goalkeepers should and thats why its great to have a keeper like Will.
As a team, the way Alderney perform, can sometimes still be inconsistant. The 1 - 0 victory over P.L.T.C. was little to be admired, a few glimpses of Alderney playing good football but often fizzled out very quickly. Injuries have played apart. Im the first one to rule this out as everyone has injuries but look at todays situation. Having 3 centre-backs out and 1 returning is an incredibly unfortunate situation to have at such an important position and no questions performances have been effected but even with this Alderney have still put in an outstanding performance across 2007 which has seen them all but safe from the bottom 2....
Next thing, people sometimes forget as it was along time ago, but lets remember than losing 8 games in a row at the start of the season many people would have said we didnt stand a chance of finishing outside bottom 2. Yet, now, its a question of how high in the league we can finish that is on most peoples lips. Alot of people have put in hard work this season and i think a congragulations is due to Chris and the team for avoiding the bottom 2 and ensuring the lads have something to build on next season......
Looking more closely at the team as a whole there is real good blend of players in the side. We have tacklers, runners, passers, shooters, headerers and creators. Each player really has something they excel in. Gillingham tackling, Macfarlan passing, Johnson shooting, T.Smart skills, etc. All these things combined mean as a team you have everything to offer and there are certainly high hopes for next season as there are for the remaining 3 games....
If i look at improvement, as there always is, there are so few things i could mention now cos the improvement has been immense. I dont write these things to butter the team up, i try and be honest and truth is sometimes Alderney Reserves can play 'good' football and do passes and moves which we never saw at the start of the season. If we had, maybe we would been playing in Division 6 next season...
So if i could pick one thing which i think needs improving its still the movement around the pitch. I still think that players need to gamble that bit extra or be more spontanious. One too many flicks on go unchased and crosses to the back post go missed or space on the field isnt taken advantage had a player moved 5 seconds before as a gamble. Again, this is just a small improvement i could mention on. Alderney Reserves has really put its name back on the Bournemouth League map and going into Dorset Knob game this weekend Alderney have real belief they can rumble the battle at the top.
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Chris Johnson Reveals His Footie Knowledge....... |
| Date: 20/02/07 |
Q) Whose The Best Player You Ever Played With?
Chris: 'Steve Bernard, for christchurch. Quality Midfielder, gave 100% every game. Unfortunately passed away nearly 2 years ago'
Q) In World Of Football, Who Do You Admire?
Chris: 'Thierry Henry, Steve Gerrard, 2 of best players in the world'
Q) Name Your Best Moment As A Footballer?
Chris: 'Winning Bournemouth Cup for Christchurch under 17's. Captained the side'
Q) Name Your Worst Moment?
Chris: 'Dislocating my knee whilst playing. Was out for nearly a year, Hasn't been right since'
Q) Funniest Moment In Football?
Chris: ' Paul Dixon attempting an over head kick in a training session for Branksome a while ago, He landed on his back, ball landed on his stomach'
Q)Which Game Always Sticks In Your Mind, For Whatever Reason?
Chris: 'Has to be the Bournemouth Cup final, which we won. 2 reasons mainly: We won it, and i was skipper!
Q) What Was The Worst Game You Ever Played In?
Chris: 'There isn't a game that sticks out. Any game which i play and dont score is a bad game for me. Love to score.
Q) Best Game Ever Played?
Chris: 'A game for christchurch res, When i first joined played up front, scored 3, set up 2. We won the game 7-1. Was a good game for me, as i was only 16, and was quite a high standard'
Q)Which Game Was The Worst One You Ever Been Apart Of?
Chris: 'Prob a couple of games this year, against westside, and ensbury park. Bad games, not due to performance. but dodgy linesmen, stopping us from scoring a load, flagging out of spite. Really frustrating!
Q)Name Your Proudest Moment In Football?
Chris: There are 3 moments that stand out, 1 was winning the cup, another was being scouted for dorset playin for 6th form when i was in year 10, played center back! And i suppose my managerial career at the moment is something to be proud of. Took over at rock bottom, with 0 points, now mid table 19points, and climbing!
Q)Name Something You Did In A Game Which Always Stands Out For You?
Chris: farted once, followed through..that was embaressing! Lol, just kidding, In the cup final, my job was to mark their centre midfielder, Paul Roberts. He's quality. Kept him quiet, and out of the game. As a result we won! Was hard work but a job well done!
Q) Name Your Biggest Disappointment In A Game, Even If It Was Just A Moment?
Chris: 'Playin for dorset, cup game, playing center back, score at 1-1. They have a corner in the last minute, ball comes in landing right on my head, get a call from keeper, so i leave it, he then decides to stay on his line and not come and collect, their striker, free header, scores, we lose. I could of prevented that goal, Dumb ass keeper
Q) Last One, Any Regrets?
Chris: Wish i worked harder in trainig and games when i was younger, could have been a much better player. And wish i was manager of Alderney Manor Reserves from the start of the season!
Thanks to Chris For Answering This week's host of football questions, check back soon when another player faces the questions.
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