Guess who's this SHUAI guy?

As stated on the title - Prizes to be won for correct guess!

Match this saturday

Guys the venue for the match is confirmed.. it is the field of the old TKGS, a place which weiwei will love =P

The venue is roughly one bustop south of the "star", near the bridge.

Meeting time is 9.15am.

As for the attire, wear our gold jersey. For those who don't have, either wear white, or perhaps something yellow, because the opponents will be in orange.

Please make yourself free as pangsehers will be duly condemned.

See you all on saturday!!

Post-Exams Match

Match Details:

Date: 101206
Time: 0900 hrs
Venue: Marina South Pitch 2
Opponents: Kamal's Team
Attire: Wear GOLD
Meeting Point: Be at the field by 0830 hrs

If you don't know how to go to Marina South field, I don't know where you've been for the whole of your life. Here's a little help if you are really clueless. You can take the MRT to Marina Bay station and take bus no 400 from the bus stop outside the station.

If you're able to make it for this match, please drop your name in the comments section so that we can ensure that there are enough players for this match.

Alright, if you're reading this and you still have papers to sit for... Tsk Tsk Tsk... Time to get back to your books! Zai Mug!

On behalf of all from McLuckyFC, I would like to wish every student all the best for the exams and I look forward to meeting you all on the football pitch again.

That's where we truly belong, isn't it?

P.S. - McLuckyFC would also like to wish Alvin Lee Chia Wei a speedy recovery from his knee injury. For those who don't know, Alvin Lee had damaged his knee ligaments and meniscus during the match against Khee Yong's team when he took a big tumble while attempting to twist away from his marker. According to the big fella, he would have been through on goal with only the keeper to beat if he had been successful. He's still pissed that he lost an opportunity to score a goal and defy his critics. 'What a passionate player!' as Captain Ong would say.

Anyway, Alvin Lee would definitely be missed by all at the club and we once again send him our most sincere of well wishes.

The Young and Restless

Mclucky FC Versus Ivan's Team

Time: 3.30pm
Venue : Marina South Pitch 6
Weather: Cool and cloudy

Starting Line-up:
Kelvin (GK), Huzer (DR), Wai Fu (DL), Ee Yang (DC),
Wei De (DC), Chun Wei (MR), Sin Cheng (ML),
Ben (MC), Siu Chun (MC), Rayner (ST), Ee Bing (ST)

Substitute: Gerald

Formation: 4-4-2

Pre Match

Having been missing in action for almost three whole weeks, it was time to get back to writing for Mclucky FC after the fun and games of the tetiary orientation camps. Mclucky FC had been on a 5-game losing streak ever since the crushing 6-1 win over Jackson's Team (can you remember when that was?). This time they were up against (another team with no name) Jackson's Team, which we thought were going to be easy meat after looking at their line-up, which consists of multi-racial players over a wide range of ages. However, like the famous saying "Don't judge a book by its cover", Mclucky were about to find out how things were not what they seemed to be...

Match Highlights

First Half

Things do not look too well for Mclucky FC when they go behind within the first 5 minutes after kick-off. A bad back pass by Ee Yang results in No. 16 (in the orange shirt) of Ivan's Team (IT) getting to the ball and slotting it into the bottom right corner of Kelvin's goal. 1-0 to the opponents.

Mclucky score a worthy equaliser in the 10th minute when Eebing dribbles and dances past the opposing defenders before unleashing a daisy-cutter into the bottom right corner of the opponent's goal. 1-1 and Mclucky are back in the game.

Substitution for Mclucky FC in the 17th minute. Sin Cheng is replaced by Gerald, who will operate on the right flank while Chun Wei moves across the pitch to the left.

A heart-stopping moment for Mclucky in the 20th minute when IT have a clear shot on an open goal after Kevlin comes off his line to clear a loose ball, albeit unsuccessfully. Fortunately, the player fluffs his shot and the ball sails wide of the goal.

The action continues to be fast and furious when Rayner fends off defenders to shoot in the 22th minute, but the ball sails just over the bar. He then gets on the end of a low shot on goal by Ben, but the referee calls for offside just as he directs the ball into the back of the net.

The last chance on goal for the first half falls to Mclucky in the 30th minute, when Ee Bing powers in a shot on goal. However, the shot is straight at the keeper and he palms it over the bar. The first half ends all square with both teams going into the break with a goal each.

Second Half

The second half starts with Gerald still remaining on the right flank while Sin Cheng replaces Siu Chun in the centre of mid-field. Almost immediately, the Mclucky goal comes under siege in only the 3rd minute, when "16" of IT shoots at goal but Kelvin reacts quick enough to turn it away for a corner.

Mclucky's defence is broken in the 5th minute when "16" (him again!?) shoots from beyond the penalty area and scores from long range. 2-1 to Ivan's Team

Fired up, Mclucky begin their own assault on IT's goal, with Chun Wei and Ee Bing hitting the opponent's post consecutively around the 10th minute mark. Substitutions follow suit in the 13th minute, with Siu Chun replacing Rayner in the striking role. Rayner then comes back into the pitch for Wai Fu in the 18th minute as Mclucky switch to a 3-4-3 formation.

The change in tactic does not seem to work however, when an IT player (the Indian in the Holland jersey) shoots from long range and scores. 3-1 to the opponents and they seem to have an insurmountable lead.

However, Mclucky manage to narrow the scoreline within minutes when Rayner reacts fastest after the opponent's keeper spills a free-kick by Siu Chun. He scrambles the ball into the net after a goalmouth melee for the ball. 3-2 and Mclucky manage to close the gap with a typical "Mclucky" goal (LOL).

In the last minute of play, Siu Chun receives the ball just outside the opponent's penalty area and tries to get a long shot on goal, but it goes agonisingly wide. The final score reads: Mclucky 2 Ivan's Team 3

Post Match

No player ratings this time round, but there is plenty to discuss about. Though the match seemed like ours for the taking, our opponents played with disclipine and purpose, effectively disrupting our tactics. Playing with a sweeper and utilising the long ball tactic, they negated the presence of our midfield, allowing their strikers to take advantage of their pace (remember the Indian guy in the Holland Jersey and "16"?) to get on the end of these long balls. Ivan's team could often be seen having 7 or 8 men behind the ball while their strikers remained just in line with our defence, in preparation to break the offside trap.

Though the offside trap worked to a certain extent, it is a dangerous tactic to employ if the defence do not communicate with each other. Too many people were seen going for the same ball when the opponents pressed into our half, often resulting in goal-scoring opportunities for the opposition. One such instance was when Ee Yang and Wai Fu went for the same ball on the left side of midfield during a counter-attack by Ivan's Team. With 2 of our defenders being drawn to the same man, their midfielders were able to overlap into our penalty area which resulted in Wei De being outnumbered and overworked.

Passing between players should also be less casual, especially when they are being tightly marked. Players should also try to spread play to team-mates in open areas when they are under pressure from the opponents, instead of trying to pass into already built-up areas of the pitch. The defence must also handle long balls more confidently, deciding on the best route of play to get the ball out of our half safely.

On a brighter note, players are now more willing to track back to help out in defence once we lose possession of the ball, unlike previous occasions when only the defence would often be left to face the full impact of an opponent's counter-attack. Keep the morale up and let's make sure we break our losing streak in the next match!

Next Match

Here's the details

Date: 26th Aug, Saturday
Time: 3pm-5pm
Venue: Marina South Pitch 6
Opponent: Ivan's Team ( No idea who he is, only gotten his contacts at Marina South)
Attire: Wear Blue
Meeting point: Be at the field at 2.30pm

5 games losing streak. Let's have go for positive result on Saturday~!

-doubleU

A Cure for Insomnia Anyone?

McLucky 0 Marist Seniors 1


Match Details
Date: 20th Aug 2006, Sunday
Time: 9am - 11am
Venue: Punngol Sec School
Weather: Dry conditions

Starting Line-up:
Kelvin(GK), Chunwei(RB), Da Hao(LB), Weide(CB), Zhangwei(CB),
Xin Cheng(LM), Benny(RM), Bingde(CM), Rayner(CM),
Khee Yong(AM), Alvin(ST)

Substitutes: Eeyang, Nicky, Siu Chun

Formation: 4-4-1-1


Drab. Bore. Dull. Jaded. Stale.

Adjectives to describe the largely listless, uneventful, low-scoring and at times uninspiring match. Both teams lack the cutting edge and the extra motivation to lift the game or to take it a higher octave. In short, even Tohari Paijan will have trouble keeping his eyes open on this early Sunday morning kick-off!

It was unusually odd as this was a match much anticipated and awaited after the hustles of orientations and hall activities. It was perhaps due to this very reason that also contibuted to such an insipid display. Even the Marist Seniors, which fielded familiar faces like Zhirui(not again!) Kelvin and some others whose names i can't remember, were off the pace and poor. Well, the previous night exertions on EPL could be a factor too, but certainly not to such an extend; where quality was nowhere to be found on a completely lack-lustre performance!

Moreover, even the preparation and warm up was non existent for some. Pig in the middle? One touch passing? Just start the match.

I'm struggling to recall and piece out any exciting moments of the match...and even that requires serious brain avtivity involving thought processes more complicated than the limit of tanx. 1/x. But before we know it, we "settled" ourselves in familiar territory and senario- we went 1-nil down!

A battle down (our)left flank between Kelvin(Marist Seniors{MS} right winger) and Da Hao ended in the former overpowering the rueful full-back before cutting the ball back into the danger zone for an onrushing striker bombarding his way forward to sweep the ball into the gaping net. "ZAI concede goal in the first 5 mins!!!!!" was our common exasperated reaction as we found ourselves once again on the backfoot early on.

Misplaced passes, pathetic first touches, lousy control and poor decision makings were strewned throughout the match as the game soon evolved into a scrappy and dismal affair. Even the few chances that fell McLucky's(Mclys) way, was spurned in the form of Alvin Lee but he too was clearly not match fit with his already Chuix knee as mentioned in an earlier report.

At the other end, little or no action followed after the goal as the only eventful event was probably the soft free-kick given away at the edge of the penalty box which the foul was actually committed inside the penalty area and thus it should be a spot-kick and not a free-kick but it should not be given as it was not a foul at all in the first place!(Phew...get it?)

Half time approaches...

Team Captain Ong WeiDe encouraged comments by fellow Mclys and to speak up to express their views. Play passing, play balls into space, opponents closing down in double quick time were just several issues raised as we believed we could get something out of the game as our opponents were neither superb nor at their best.

If you think the first half was bad, the second half that followed certainly encouraged Wang Meng Meng or Edwin Yeo to continue snoring their heads off, or snore even louder!

The only highlight worth mentioning was the penalty awarded to MS conceded by Chunwei. However, that should NOT be a penalty in the first place as contact was made OUTSIDE the penalty box but once again the dubious referee awarded a rather controversial penalty. As Weiwei later explained, he ensured that the opponent was outside the box before committing himself to the sliding tackle which warranted a yellow card.

HAHA! The MS striker side-footed the ball onto the right-hand post from 12 yards and fortunately the rebound fell to me which i was able to hack it away from danger! Penalty missed by MS!

As the match draws to a conclusion, MS resorted to some dirty tactics like shirt-pulling on the "tu lan" Bingde(who was surprisingly quite on this particular day...the loudest he shouted was probably this incident when his shirt was pulled!) And Weiwei was almost sent off as the shirt-pulling episode irked him off and he vented his frustrations out loud but his swearing was unfortunately overheard by the referee who gave him a last warning. -_-"'

The referee blows for the final whistle!

5 games in a row now that we've lost! With this streak continuing, we'll probably face the likes of Ipwhich and Wolves instead of Chelski or Liverpoot...just to quote an analogy. As said earlier, this was a match where both teams deserve to lose and a nil-nil scoreline would be a better reflection of the actual proceedings of the match. We can only hope things look up from here!


Players Ratings


Kelvin, 6.5: confident in catching high balls, but has to speak up more to communicate with the
back four and to be alert when dealing with onrushing strikers.

Chunwei, 6.5: Did improve on previous match but can still curb on emotions..haha zai yellow card! And get accustomed to the right midfield role again.

Da Hao, 6.0: did his job rather competently. can try supporting attacks next time if possible.

Weide, 7.88: a few misplaced passes but otherwise another stable display(well i can only give 1 mom so that explains your score ya)

Zhangwei, 7: did reasonably well to clear his lines...be wary of long balls too and also communicate more with back four.(Communication for the defenders are of utmost importance!)

Xin Cheng, 6: Didnt reali get to the play as he was injured half-way. have to show more consistency.

Benny, 7.5: made some intelligent runs and did provide telling crosses to the strikers. your dm role was full of running but try not to drop too deep

Bingde, 6.5: the commanding(literally) mildfield maestro was not at his loudest and lack the extra confidence up front.

Rayner, 5.5: many misplaced passes. perhaps the long break shattered my confidence. certainly disappointed at my own contributions.

Khee Yong, 8.0: full of running and hard tackling. however must be aware of team's level and it quite diff for every1 to play the passing game especially at such high tempo and uber-fast closing down by opponent.

Alvin, 7.0: again shows wonderful Mclys spirit coming down for a game! once u fully recover, u'll be a force to be reckoned with once again!

Eeyang, 7.5: never let the team down with his committed displays and bombastic surges into opponent's half. can work on control of ball though.

Nicky, 6.5: hardworking closing down opponents defenders, but as strikers must anticipate balls and to hav the ability to ks!

Siu Chun, 6.0: perhaps too tired after the Gao Lung game...but showed enthusiasm and spirit coming down for the game. was not reali at ur best though!


Quotes of the day

"eh...hows Uni life?"

"Do NOT let ego get in the way of a simple backpass!"

"The fundamentals of a CHEE HONG KIA!*"

*Only meant for those surviving the aftermath of the match(i.e. lunch)

Match this coming Sunday

Hey people, how's orientation so far? Hope you guys have fun, cos i enjoyed myself. Now I hope you guys can still run or even remember how to stop a ball after the long break, for there's a match coming soon. It's this sunday!

Match Details
Date: 20th Aug 2006, Sunday
Time: 9am-11am
Venue: Punggol Sec
Opponent: Marist Senior Team ( 1984 batch)
Attire: Wear Gold
Meeting point: Be at the field at 8.30am. ( Don't be late!)

If you do not know how to get to Punggol Sec, here's a map of it. For those taking public transport there, you can take MRT to Punggol. From there, take LRT to either OASIS or COVE station and make your way to Punggol Sec.

Alright, that's all. See you guys this sunday!

-doubleU