Feeling Proud

The girls played brilliantly this morning. They lost 8-1 but at times their defending, determination and passing was excellent. Last week our opponents won 16-nil so I feel the girls scored a moral victory even if we didn't get 3 points at the end of the day. I think some striking drills are in order for Wednesday.

Hurrah - a win for the midgets

It is amazing how you forget that you are standing on the sideline in the swirling wind and pouring rain when your under 10s are playing their little socks off in a 7 a side match. Recently the girls have played really well but not got the result at the end. Today they did both. They played brilliantly and won 2-1. I got back in my car at the end of the match and realised I was absolutely drenched to the bone, my hands were frozen and my feet soaking. I didn't care - we'd won - hurrah!

A shambles

Martin Jol was treated dreadfully by the Spurs board and they should be ashamed. Jol has done some great things for the club over the past two seasons and whilst I have been very critical of his occasional dubious tactical decisions on the whole he got the players and the fans to believe that the club were great again. I am sorry to see him go. That said what is done is done and Ramos, who reportedly watched the game today, has some work to do. He needs to instill some confidence in the back four and above all he has to make sure he hangs on to Berbatov in the forthcoming transfer window. I am disgusted by Levy and his colleagues but when you support a club you do so when they are up and when they are down - it is just less fun when they are down.

Nevermind Spurs, what about the Midgets?

Having shrugged off yesterday's home defeat to Arsenal, I got up this morning both nervous and excited about the Midgets' match against Fulston Fillies. Everyone turned up on time and whilst the goal posts were being erected the girls were having a good kick about. The game got underway and despite a couple of good surges forward we were under pressure quickly eventually conceding a goal - a good strike from outside the penalty box. The referee took a little tumble which had both the parents and the girls all giggling but half time soon came and saw us 3 nil down but the girls were still playing very well. A quick team talk at half time and spirits were back up. We put some pressure on their keeper with some excellent running down the flanks. Unfortunately we conceded another two goals making it 5 nil to Fulston at full time. The girls played well but were outclassed by a team who have obviously been together for longer. No shame though - if Inverness can lose 5 nil to Celtic, then so can we to Fulston. Next week it is Gravesham Girls - our first away match of the season.

A mighty 4 nil to the Midgets

The first game of the season and like many of the girls I was nervous about the opener against Dartford. The match had been switched to a home fixture but the large travelling crowd of parental support took away some of the home advantage. Despite some early nerves which saw some fevered activity in our penalty area the midgets were soon surging forward and after some excellent passing we went one nil up. Another shot saw all the Meridian parents cheering before realising that the ball had not crossed the line - the girls on the pitch knew this already and looked over at their supporters with a look of embarrassment that only 8 and 9 year old girls can give! Half time came and went and the girls took their positions back on the pitch but after two quick goals the game was all but won. Dartford continue to threaten on the break but with some solid defending our keeper was never really troubled. One more goal was scored and when the final whistle sounded there were smiles and sighs of relief all round. The girls played brilliantly and it felt wonderful to have been involved. And now I can't wait for training on Wednesday.

Pre Match Nerves

The "midgets" have their first game tomorrow. It was supposed to be away but is now at home. I am probably more nervous than them! I am excited and scared at the same time. I know they'll all play their best but what do you say to 8 or 9 year old girls if they don't win? Hopefully I'll never have to find out...

Fulham - our bogey side

I went to see the Fulham v Spurs match a couple of season ago. It was a Monday night game in the middle of winter and it was freezing. We spent the entire game jumping up and down singing and chanting if only to keep warm. It was also the game that saw Spurs fans since "we've only got 10 men" every time Rasiak went any where near the ball. That night we played well but conceded a goal in the last minute of the match robbing us of a point. And so it was thus yesterday.

I wasn't at the game but watched it in full on Sky's Football First last night. At times we appeared to be playing really well with Keane and Berbatov linking up superbly, and Huddlestone solid in the middle. But what is wrong with our defence? They always lose concentration in the last 15 minutes of a game - I'd love to see the stats of how often we concede at the end of a game. And Robbo needs a rest. Give Cerny a go - and hopefully he won't fall into the Robbo trap of hoofing the ball up field with the likely consequence of giving the ball back to the other side.

Fulham in my view have always been our bogey side, but yesterday Spurs let themselves and the fans down by not concentrating hard enough at the end of the game. Those 3 points would have taken us up the table in time for next weekend's game against Arsenal.