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Words from our former Coach:

HKDC Squadron vs. Anton Hill Kings Park 30th January 2005

Normal service has been resumed. Well as normal as it is ever likely to get at HKDC Squadron. Enough of the tributes let's get back to good old-fashioned football and that's exactly how it was against Antonhill on Sunday.
Much to surprise and amusement of some in the team we started a game for the first time this season with a traditional 4.4.2 formation. I was asked later to explain why I had chosen this game to play the most popular system of our time.
I have mentioned many times previously that formations and systems of play are designed to complement the players available for selection, exploit opposition weaknesses and nullify their strengths. Sunday's decision was based on the same rationale. We had players returning to the team after long absences so there were question marks over fitness and confidence amongst other things. The opposition was also unpredictable. Yes, the long crossfield diagonal balls bypassing the midfield could be relied upon but would they press us on turnovers and how would they deploy their striker's? The 4.4.2 gives a team balance because it allows an even distribution of players throughout the pitch usually because the opposition will field a similar formation. It allows for good covering a supporting positions and therefore it is difficult to isolate opponents. Players are like magnets to each other and the ball; they are drawn to one another. So with most teams playing a sliding zone defence rather than a man marking system there is usually someone in or near a players zone which means he doesn't have to go looking for company and thus the team retains its shape. The word shape is often overused in football but don't underestimate its importance. A team that loses its shape often loses the match. The 4.4.2 although predictable to play against when employed defensively is an effective insurance against the likelihood of that event occurring.
I use this column to express my views on the football topics and situations that arise during match days. It is not a commentary on the event but a forum intended to stimulate thought and debate on issues that effect your football club.

Coach .

A Life Less Ordinary

In recent weeks motivation or rather the ability to motivate others has been a focal topic. In recognition of one individual's ability to achieve that goal I have composed this tribute. It records the attributes and qualities shown throughout a life influenced and molded by football.
Jonathan Andrew Solly the first and only child of Henry and Mary was born in Slough on the 1st November 1978. Henry Solly was a South Yorkshire coal miner, which was unfortunate because there were no mines in Buckinghamshire. Solly's mother, a self-employed seamstress, provided the only source of family income from her wedding gown business. Domestic pressure forced Jonathan, the six-year-old into making an early financial contribution to the household but ironically this gave him his first introduction to football - trading cigarette football cards.
This was not an easy occupation for one so young and the eighty cigarettes a day he needed to consume to keep up his collection had a severe impact on his health. Doctors concluded the only remedy was to get more exercise and suggested that rather the collecting football cards he should actually play the game. Jonathan's introduction to the game was quite memorable. His family's stricken financial plight meant his mother was forced make his first football kit. Unfortunately for Jonathan the only material to hand were the remnants from a taffeta wedding dress made earlier that summer. Not wanting to offend his mother, whom he loved dearly, he went along with the plan.
Unfortunately for Jonathan his first team Abingdon Juniors - the only team in the South of England to wear a completely cerise coloured kit - played near Oxford. This did not deter young Jonathan but developed his love of travel that later in life would take him to foreign shores. Another characteristic forged at this early and impressionable age was his liking for fast food. The M40 services were like a Pharaoh's tomb to Jonathan and the burger restaurant was what he treasured most. He became a regular and even traveled there on non match days but as with the cigarette cards Jonathon's lifestyle was not conducive with football and he put on 30lbs in weight.
So what made him stand out at such an early age? Was it because he was a fat little boy running around in a pink shirt and shorts? We asked the man that first noticed Jonathan's ability Christopher Fowler. "I remember the words of the late Sir Matt Busby when referring to George Best, " Fowler commented. "When George played the clouds above Old Trafford used to stop and watch." "It was a similar experience for me with Jonathan except this time it was the No.17 bus that stopped next to the pitch where Jonathan's team was playing. He was not immediately obvious to me as he wasn't actually playing. He was a substitute performing a warm up routine of incredible intensity. This continued throughout the half time break and for the whole of the second period. He never actually got on the pitch but it didn't seem to dent his enthusiasm. I realised then that someone this focused and with this amount a dedication had a future.
" Unfortunately for Jonathan, Chris Fowler was not a talent scout for nearby Oxford United, he was a Printer. It would be years later, before and by chance that Jonathan's and Christopher's paths would cross. As a consequence Jonathan's development as a football player slowed. This was in part due to him discovering Leeds United. Some say his father who heralded from the region influenced him but the more informed believe it was the pennant tie-ups popular at the time and worn exclusively by the Yorkshire club that provided the major influence. Add to this, his and his parent's emigration to California, where his father could mine for gold and not coal and it had a profoundly negative effect on Jonathan's game. He missed Abingdon Juniors, especially his kit. He missed the M40 services and the Wimpey burger and fries. But as with most things in Jonathan's life things usually turned out for the best.
On the West Coast of America, Leeds United were out of reach and as a consequence his football improved dramatically and he represented the state at under 12 level. He no longer played in cerise taffeta but developed a dress style off the pitch, still referred to today as the "Solly Shirt". Best of all though he discovered McDonalds restaurants. These were good times for Jonathan but in life nothing stands still. The lower calorific value of a Big Mac compared with that of a Wimpey 1/2 pounder with cheese meant that Jonathan shed weight quickly. However there was a price to pay. It was alleged that the brand of cooking oil used in the McDonald restaurants created glaucoma damaging the retina in both eyes.
Not being able to see is a severe handicap for any football player and Jonathan was no exception. This effectively signaled the end of Jonathan's boyhood ambition to become a professional with his beloved Leeds and return them to their rightful place in English football. Once again fate took charge of Jonathan's life. His father who was enjoying better fortune as a prospector than as a coal miner was able to send Jonathan to a school for children with sight difficulties. One of the methods used at the school were books with extremely large print. The book titles were many and varied but Jonathan always had a preference for football annuals. It was whilst he was thumbing through the pages of such a book that he noticed the words "Printed in England by Christopher Fowler", the printer who had spotted him on the substitutes bench all those years ago. He couldn't believe his luck and remembering him as a kind man Jonathan scribbled down the address of his printing company.
The rest as they say is history. Jonathan contacted Fowler and explained the cruel blow fate had bestowed upon him. Fowler saw in Jonathan someone who's mind, if not his eyes, were focused and he wanted to invest in his future. He sent him to Hong Kong where the population have generic sight problems thus Jonathan would feel less self conscious and he could play out the remainder of his days warming the HKDC Squadron bench. His coach always safe in the knowledge that whenever called upon, Jonathan would always give of his best and by doing so lifts the spirits of others.

HKDC Squadron vs. Club Albion HKFC 23rd January 2005

One point from a possible nine certainly isn't championship form. The pre Christmas performance against Wanderers was understandable if not excusable but the two performances since then are neither.
I was very interested to read the comments of this week's scribe. His match report certainly reflected my observations of a performance played against opposition, for the second consecutive week who sat at the start of the game in one of the league's two relegation positions. I don't share his view that we are out of contention for the league title and if any of our adversaries write us off now then that would be foolish on their part. And I can put into words what is missing from our play.
I occasionally review contributions to Coach's Corner, its helps to refresh my mind particularly for return fixtures against previously encountered opposition. My column on the 24th October 2004 the Hoo Cheung game concentrated on the previous week's defeat against White Youth. The following extract from that report contains the words that eluded our humble scribe and will set our campaign back on track.
"What influences an outcome? Several factors, technique and its application, perseverance and self-confidence. In the previous game poor technique sapped the team's confidence although the resilience was unquestionable as at least ten good scoring opportunities were created. It's the horse and cart syndrome. Does confidence improve technique or is it the reverse? The populous view is the former. I however do not subscribe to that school of thought. The difference between a good and a poor side isn't self-belief it's technique. Doing the right thing at the right time, using the ability and knowledge one possesses and not relying on an instilled self-belief or merely to chance. Class is permanent whilst form is only temporary and an ability to convert opportunities into goals and win football matches prerequisites quality.
"I think our club is in a privileged position we have some of the best players and the best coach in the league. We have knowledge; we practice and prepare for games better than any team in the league. We have the potential to win this league. We however have to accept that the title is hard earned and at present we are not deserving of that status.
In football much is made of confidence, it certainly has influence. People have been critical of my inability to generate confidence in players during matches and that my approach focuses on the negative in their performance. I have some sympathy with this view because my contribution is not always obvious because those distracters are not there to witness it. I help players become better footballers through explanation, instruction and demonstration at training sessions not in football matches. When I select a player for a game I expect him to be capable of performing that role because he is physically prepared, technically equipped and understands what is expected of him. If I think he is lacking then he is not selected. Therefore by definition I have confidence in everyone selected to play and players should take encouragement from that.
When a player receives criticism in a game it's because either he ignored something that was previously agreed or that he's capable of better. If he continues in that same manor then he is substituted, I think a fair response on my part. Imagine how confused things would become if a player were removed from the game not knowing the reasoning behind the decision. This criticism is being sited in some quarters as contributing to deterioration in confidence and the recent down turn in form. I regard this as merely another excuse. It's always easier to look to others than to yourself. How many players came of the pitch on Sunday satisfied with their performance and level of commitment? Your reaction at the post match briefing suggested less than a hand full.
So humble scribe the solution to your imponderable question sits not with the team nor the coach but firmly and squarely with the twenty-three individuals that make up the squad and they all know it!
I use this column to express my views on the football topics and situations that arise during match days. It is not a commentary on the event but a forum intended to stimulate thought and debate on issues that effect your football club.
Coach.

HKDC Squadron vs. Club Wanderers HKFC 19th December 2004

So that neutrals do not accuse me of sour grapes, may I congratulate Wanderers on their deserved victory, on the day they were the better team. However, in football you don't always get what you deserve unless it's surrendered to you as was the case on Sunday.
I am extremely disappointed by Sunday's result and the manor in which it was achieved. To concede three points to the team I regard as our fiercest title contender is a setback. Both teams were not at full strength due to absences and injuries and as in recent games, under similar circumstances, this would not be an acceptable reason for under performance.
In summary we quite simply did not compete. Of course there were technical and tactical miss-matches. I will never fault a player who competes against a technically more gifted individual and comes out second best so long as he gives 100%. Unfortunately when those circumstances arose on Sunday the effort fell well short of what was required. Tactically we started with five in midfield albeit with two players playing in more advanced roles. For the same reasons that wasn't sufficient to combat a four man opposition's midfield. Even when we reverted to four versus four in this critical area of the pitch, the situation didn't improve and we invariable came out second best.
It was suggested that formation and tactical changes rather than benefiting the team actually contributed to unsettling the team's rhythm and preferred style of play. A formation is selected to best suit the attributes of the players on the pitch. The tactics employed are intended to nullify or exploit the opposition's strengths and weaknesses. Throughout the game, in my capacity as coach I attempted, to the best of my ability, to achieve those two objectives. I may well have failed but I never stopped trying. The same cannot be said of everyone on the pitch. Therefore I regard those comments, as I would sighting absences and injuries, as mere excuses for under performing.
To finish on a more positive note. I actually think what this squad has achieved to date is an outstanding achievement. You have earned the respect of fellow players from around the league so much so that some are considering joining you. Providing you remain loyal to the principles that have taken the team this far and that you always give of your best, I have great hopes for the team in the New Year. The month of January, the commencement of phase four of our season, is a significant period. During this time we will face, assuming that the re-arranged USRC game is played, I believe the three other potential title contenders, albeit one of those teams will provide cup opposition. If we emerge from this period still in contention for both prizes we will further re-enforce our standing and reputation within the league and bolstered by players returning from injury and periods away from the territory, I will be able to field the strongest team selected, during my tenure as coach.
All that remains is for me to wish everyone associated with the club and others from around the league, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
I use this column to express my views on the football topics and situations that arise during match days. It is not a commentary on the event but a forum intended to stimulate thought and debate on issues that effect your football club.
Coach.

HKDC Squadron vs. ANP King's Park 12th December 2004

Unbeaten in the last six games is a statistic that any team and indeed coach should be delighted with. Granted it falls considerably short of recent unbeaten sequences in the top flight of the game; Arsenal springs to mind. Yet in some ways our humble achievement is no less significant when you consider the circumstance's under which it was achieved.
Uncontrollable factors such as a 50% depletion in the squad due to injuries and unavailability's. Then the more unpredictable but consistent series of player indiscretion's which have included being inebriated at the commencement of games. Being delayed on poorly rescheduled flights from holiday destinations. Failure to play to agreed formations and systems of play. Finally, a steady decline in the numbers attending training sessions.
This list of imprudent acts does not involve everyone in the squad and it is not my intention to name or exonerate individuals. What concerns me more is my reaction to these situations and the repercussions and atmosphere it creates. I have on three occasions this season lost my temper with players and a spectator. Something I regret. On each occasion I have apologised to the people concerned but my apology never contained an explanation for the outburst. I am now at a stage where I'm not enjoying what I'm doing nor content with my behaviour. Self-examination of the situation has led me to the conclusion that my behaviour is actually out of character and born out of frustration with the actions of some players.
For my part, my expectations of players as individuals and as a team possibly needs to be curtailed. Players' whose opinions I value have suggested that some elements of the team lack confidence and require more encouragement when errors occur, rather than the berating that they currently receive.
The relationship between a coach and his players is built out of respect for each other's knowledge and skill, application and commitment and the results achieved. Without doubt we are succeeding in some of these areas but in others, both sides fall woefully short. If both parties do not address the situation in good faith there will be an irreconcilable breakdown in the relationship with both being culpable. In post match discussions I have touched on this subject but I am concerned that my comments may have been interpreted as me requiring a vote of confidence. That is not the case and I have never felt that was a requirement.
I have declared in the past that honesty in football, in all of it forms is very important to me. I realise that people outside our football club will read this column. This is not a vehicle for propaganda but an honest account of the issues that face our football club. They may interpret what has been divulged as weakness. I hope that together we can show them, through our renewed approach, application and continued good form and results, that this will make us stronger and more determined to succeed.
I hope this insight enables you not to tolerate but to understand my actions and thought processes. I hope I still command your respect and that we can go forward together and achieve the team's full potential, whatever that may be.
I use this column to express my views on the football topics and situations that arise during match days. It is not a commentary on the event but a forum intended to stimulate thought and debate on issues that effect your football club.
Coach.

HKDC Squadron vs. Club Colts. HKFC 5th December 2004.

It's a very fine line and the football adage of, "if he's good enough then he's old enough", is often accepted when it comes to age discrimination in football. An adage however is merely an acceptance of truth by the populace. The reality in England at least, is that the Football Association's Rules of Association are quite different. I quote, "A child in the age ranges Under 7, Under 8, Under 9, Under 10, Under 11, Under 12, Under 13 and Under 14 must not play, and shall not be permitted or encouraged to play, in a match where any other player is older or younger by two years or more than that person."
What this means is a player of fourteen years or older is permitted to play in open age football, as was the case in Sunday's match. I have only been involved in two Squadron vs. Colts exchanges and therefore it is difficult to generalise. I am also not privy to the Colts player's profiles but my assessment of their team's average age, excluding the two senior players involved, was that it was significantly lower on this occasion than on our previous encounter. I am also not implying that any of the players involved were under fourteen.
So if no rules have been broken. What's my point? With respect to the players involved, anyone watching the game would probably have described it as "men against boys". That reference would have been based purely on the difference between the two side's physique and not on any technical and organisational differences. The Colts competed but were at a significant disadvantage at set pieces such as corners and free kicks. When it came personal duels they invariably came out second best, strength and size over coming commitment and tenacity. The seniors involved with the Colts Bobby, Tony and Martin do a great job trying to develop and mould the Club's future football talent. However, playing teams like Squadron and others must be intimidating for a fourteen-year-old. From Squadron's perspective no quarter was given and on the back of the French Dragons game which was physical to the extreme, I would have feared for players so young competing in such a situation, thankfully that was not the case. I have heard from unconfirmed reports that one Colts player sustained a fracture to the leg from a innocuous looking challenge. I can't help but feel that this was attributable in part to the physical differences of the two players involved.
Reflection on the league and discipline tables proves the Colts can compete at this level and with the correct approach and respect for the game. It's just unfortunate that in Hong Kong there appears to be no arena for under sixteen's to compete in there own age group, outside the school's structure. The Yau Yee League may have a role to play in bridging this gap by creating an affiliation between clubs and schools as is happening in England through the FA's Charter Standard scheme. I personally would be happy to be involved in any future dialogue or discussions concerning this very important area of youth development in soccer.
I use this column to express my views on the football topics and situations that arise during match days. It is not a commentary on the event but a forum intended to stimulate thought and debate on issues that effect your football club.

Coach.

HKDC Squadron vs. French Dragons King's Park 28th November 2004

I consider the Dragons game to be our best planned and executed so far this season. A depleted squad, suffering once again and as predicted the after effects of the Manila tour and the concurrent Phuket tournament applied itself commendably. Several players were forced to play out of their normal positions and adapt to a new formation intended primarily to nullify the opposition's strengths. I think it's fair to say a year ago this squad would not have demonstrated the flexibility and desire to compete in such a fixture under those circumstances. So what has changed? Personnel for one, the size and demographics of the squad is larger and younger and I believe technically more able. Secondly, tactically and organisationally the squad is better equipped to exploit and counteract the opposition's weaknesses and strengths. Third, there is self-believe developing amongst the players borne out of the previous two factors. The Dragons are a very capable team who will be competing for honors next May. Therefore in addition to those points added to our own tally, I have to be content by taking points from them. This is how it has to be against our greatest adversaries, we must not concede ground and a drawn game must be the minimum achievement. If we are able to do this then we will stay in the race. If we continue to improve and apply ourselves as we have done so to date, we could do considerably better.

I hope it is only attributable to the current crop of injuries that the numbers at the Tuesday and Thursday training sessions are starting to deplete. In cannot stress enough the value I place on these training sessions. New players to the club have demonstrated their credentials at these sessions and been rewarded with starting positions in the team. The competition for places will be stronger than ever when players return from injury or commitments outside the territory. Training attendance will be factor in deciding who gets to start. I would even go as far as to say a requirement for the fixture against the French Kiss, falling as it does immediately after the Christmas and New Year holiday. My earlier comments in a previous article concerning the potential for squad erosion following tours was borne out by what happened following Manila. I will not allow the other expressed concern, relating to fixtures falling immediately after the holiday season, to impede the team's progress. If you are not prepared physically and mentally you cannot expect to compete and be successful.

I use this column to express my views on the football topics and situations that arise during match days. It is not a commentary on the event but a forum intended to stimulate thought and debate on issues that effect your football club.
Coach.

Coach's Corner 15th November 2004

Asked if I'd rather be dazzled by the King's Park floodlights or have to contend with ten degrees more heat, associated with early kick off times, the choice is easy. It was a pleasure to be playing under the cover of darkness for the first time since the opening day of the season. I realise that the scheduling of matches is no easy task with the limited pitch resource available and that playing conditions are the same for both sides. However, playing in the cool of evening is a significant advantage for both teams. Weather and field conditions do influence the outcome of football matches. How many times has a blustery wind or an uneven surface been attributed as a leveler, which resulted in an unpredictable outcome? My point is that the significance of kick off times should not be overlooked by the league fixture secretary and where possible, through rotation, all teams should subjected to the same playing conditions throughout the course of the season.
Probably as a consequence of the cooler playing conditions and both sides possessing within their armory an abundance of speed. Added to that our perennial problem of being unable to retain possession for sustained periods of play - which provided plenty of opportunities to be counter attacked - this match was played at a furious pace. The higher tempo, suiting our style of play in some areas of the pitch. The slow starts that have blighted us all season was replaced with an intensity that I had been demanding but had not yet witnessed in the first ten minutes of previous games. The energy resources of the midfield quartet were severely put to the test and those demands will continue throughout the remainder of the season. With the depth and quality of bench cover in these positions, starting players should not attempt to conserve energy and pace themselves. If they do, it will be to the detriment of the team and obvious to myself.
I was extremely pleased with the way we defended our lead, as a team and as individuals, against determined and quality opposition. We looked in control, even during the sustained period of pressure, in the last fifteen minutes of the match. Dead ball situations, free kicks and corners excepted, we maintained high levels of concentration and were physical but controlled. Communication and better organisation is what is required to rectify the dead ball inefficiency. This improvement is an immediate requirement as goals are easily conceded as a consequence of these inadequacies.
Probably one of our best performances all season, against opposition who played like a team placed third in last season's campaign. Again, we must learn and use this experience as a stepping stone. Sifting the good from the bad and trying to improve and progress, as a team and individuals.
I use this column to express my views on the football topics and situations that arise during match days. It is not a commentary on the event but a forum intended to stimulate thought and debate on issues that effect your football club.
Coach.

Coach's Corner 10th November 2004

With almost a third of the season completed and only 4 points separating the first and tenth placed teams there's everything to play for. It appears, with a couple of exceptions, that all teams are capable of taking points from their opponents regardless of their standing in the league. This trend, I believe will continue through out the course of the season. So why is this the case?
There are a number of factors that influence teams' lack of consistency. Hong Kong football in particular is effected by "off the field" commitments. These interfere with players' preparation and participation in matches. Poor preparation results in inadequate levels of fitness that contribute to sustaining injuries, which further compound the problem. Technical and tactical inefficiencies mean teams are unable to win games either because of an inability to create and convert chances or to close down games already won. Finally and for me most significant, the absence of "match winners", players who can change an outcome with a moment of genius. So if the reasons known can the outcome be influenced?
I believe so, I also believe that the team, which prevails this season, will be the team with a sufficiently large squad of players who demonstrate the best approach and preparation for their matches. For our club in particular there will be many distractions between now and next May. Tours to Manila and Bangkok and the Christmas and Chinese New Year holidays to provide examples. Traditionally we are vulnerable in fixtures immediately following these events as players' physical and mental condition is severely tested. This season those fixtures could make the difference and I will be carefully monitoring players' attitudes and approach when making team selections for those games.
I'm satisfied with the team's progress to date. We are about to enter a difficult third phase of what I consider a five-phase season. For those of you who have reservations and aired a doubt that's reasonable. My task is to ensure that when we enter phase four you have none. If I am successful, beyond that, you will prevail.
I use this column to express my views on the football topics and situations that arise during match days. It is not a commentary on the event but forum intended to stimulate thought and debate on issues that effect your football club.
Coach.

HKDC Squadron vs. German All Stars King's Park 31st October 2004

Working on the premise that if I keep repeating myself that someone will eventually listen I say again "preparation is as equally important as the execution of a game of football." Sunday's preparation was a shambles. Late arrivals combined with ineligibility arising from I.D. card discrepancies resulted in three different team selections within fifteen minutes of the scheduled kick off time. Without doubt this contributed to us conceding an early goal and the necessity to change personnel and the preferred team formation. I recommend one hour to prepare for games. In this time we discuss the game plan, change and undergo a warm-up routine. At the end of that hour your minds and bodies should be operating at a level equivalent to that achieved in the game. If that isn't the case errors and injuries are likely to occur. Asked after Sunday's game whether the hour's preparation could be reduced. My response is, at a cost. Increasing the probability of below par performances early in the game. It is still my intention to plan a one-hour preparation for the next game. I can review this requirement depending on your reaction to my reasoning.
Penalty or not? Offside, or on side? The final decision sits with the referee and good decision or bad we have to abide by it. Both teams will have differing views and will react differently. That was certainly the case in the last minute of Sunday's game. Unlike us the opposition did not stop playing and that was because the referee did not require them to do so. So what was the difference in the players' mindset that caused the differing response? I believe positive and negative thoughts. Defending by its very nature is destructive and therefore negative. Defenders want things to fail or breakdown whilst a good attacker will always chase a lost cause. The assistant referee's waiving flag was false hope for a defence that had been breached, a negative thought. The positive thinking required to retrieve the situation was missing. Instead minds and bodies shut down. Had the defence accepted that the opponent in possession had been on side, a positive thought, I believe they would have defended the goal successfully. An attacker's mind-set in a defender's brain will minimise error and optimise performance.
I use this column to express my views on the football topics and situations that arise during match days. It is not a commentary on the event but forum intended to stimulate thought and debate on issues that effect your football club.
Coach.

HKDC Squadron vs. Hoo Cheung King's Park 24th October 2004

There are three issues I want to address in this week's column. The first is to recognise the progress the team has made as an attacking force. The second is the improvement of the judgement required and the eradication of lapses in concentration in the defensive third of the pitch. The third is to consider a "Code of Conduct" to address the lack of discipline, both on and off the field.
Repeats of the previous week's frustrations loomed large especially after two convertible chances were squandered in the first ten minutes of the game. In football the law of average does not apply and the probability of eventually scoring could not be left to chance, it had to be influenced. What influences an outcome? Several factors, technique and its application, perseverance and self-confidence. In the previous game poor technique sapped the team's confidence although the resilience was unquestionable as at least ten good scoring opportunities were created. It's the horse and cart syndrome. Does confidence improve technique or is it the reverse? The populous view is the former. I however do not subscribe to that school of thought. The difference between a good and a poor side isn't self-belief it's technique. Doing the right thing at the right time, using the ability and knowledge one possesses and not relying on an instilled self-belief or merely to chance. Class is permanent whilst form is only temporary and an ability to convert opportunities into goals and win football matches prerequisites quality.
How many times have I said, "defending is about good methodology, organisation, application and concentration?" Obviously not often enough. Against probably the leagues' most lightweight offense we conceded two goals that wouldn't have been out of place in an Ealing comedy. As coach I choose the method of defending and instruct on the organisation. I am satisfied that both of these responsibilities are being implemented appropriately and correctly. I am not satisfied with the level of judgement and concentration being demonstrated by players in the defensive third of the pitch. Judgement in this area of the football field needs to be fail-safe and the old school boy adage of "if in doubt kick it out" has value here. It is concentration or rather the lack of it that gives rise to most concern. In "dead ball" situations or at transition play we are vulnerable for this single reason. Conceding five goals in as many games is a creditable statistic but when one analyses that all the chances were created from the situations referred to, it is unacceptable. The solution is better judgement and greater concentration!
A disciplined approach to the game can only be expected if players understand what is expected from them and by whom. I have been associated with this club for less than one year and I am vague as to the "Code of Conduct" which applies. Indeed, as to it's very existence and who is responsible for it's content and implementation. I have been disappointed with some players' approach to their preparation for games and their conduct on the field of play and on occasions I've even considered my own behaviour as being unacceptable. Discipline is best instilled out of respect for one another rather than through the imposition of sanctions, although the later may be necessary for constant offenders who show an unwillingness to conform to the "Code of Conduct". This is an issue which, in my opinion, needs to be addressed by the management with some urgency.

Coach.

HKDC Squadron vs. White Youth King's Park 17th October 2004

Ask me if I take comfort from the facts that the league leaders beat us and that three of the teams we've played to date occupy positions in the top four of the table and my response would be an emphatic no!
Four games into the season the playing field has very much been leveled and teams I expected to provide us with the greatest opposition now finding their form after what for them must be considered a poor start to their campaigns. With the greatest respect to White Youth they were not included in that number, which is why Sunday's result is so frustrating. I don't think I underestimated the opposition and aside from the result the game unfolded as expected. This was a must win game and the team and formation selected reflected this requirement. After taking four points from the Albion and Antonhill games it was important to build upon that achievement. Unfortunately we did not.
Observers will probably reflect on the numerous missed chances and attribute this to our demise. I do not. We lost because we conceded two poor goals and our control. I include myself in that statement. For the first time this season I experienced that horrible sinking feeling as the game spun out of control. Players lost their discipline, the team its shape and direction. The substitutions made whether enforced or not provided little benefit to the team's cause and at two goals down it was merely a question of giving everyone a "run out" rather than trying to change the course of the game, an admission that troubles me greatly. I talked after the game about honesty, something in football very important to me. I still believe we can compete in this division and with the right approach and execution be contenders for honors come next May. This however requires everyone sharing the same vision and consistently giving his best efforts in both the preparation for and the playing of the game. During the last ten minutes of Sunday's match I regrettably lost that vision and stopped giving my best. I will ensure that it doesn't happen again.
Hoo Cheung is another opportunity for us all to demonstrate that we possess the quality and desire, both on and off the field, to put the White Youth experience firmly behind us.

Coach.

HKDC Squadron vs. Antonhill, Kings Park, 10th October 2004


I have seen at least once this season all of our first division opposition play. On early season form Antonhill are in my opinion the best all round and balanced team I have witnessed. Therefore, I take comfort that we took something from the game and once again maintained a confidence boosting clean sheet. If you had offered me seven points and two clean sheets from the first three games before the start of the season, I would have gladly accepted the offer. Now, having created a platform, we must attempt to launch our season.
After winning, scoring goals is the best tonic for any side and our aim should now be to boost our "goals for" tally. This however should not be achieved at the expense of conceding goals. Our disciplined approach has to be maintained and our "goals against" record jealously guarded. Our opponents will recognise our strengths; it effects their attitude and approach towards us. They will be wary of conceding goals knowing the difficulty in scoring against us.
Defending is about discipline, method and eradicating error. Attacking is about improvisation, composure and confidence. In the first three games I credit our success to our defending ability. We have demonstrated the qualities necessary to be successful in this aspect of the game. Taking the confidence that this has generated we should now attempt to exhibit the other components, improvisation and composure, in our attacking play. Composure comes from self-belief that a technique can be performed well in the time available. Technique is perfected by correct practice, whilst time is created through finding and occupying space on the football field. Improvisation is about doing the unexpected, making play unpredictable. There is of course a time and a place for these actions and the technical and tactical training sessions will reflect the change in the team's requirements and provide guidance and the opportunity to practice and perfect these skills.
Our next game is a significant moment in our season not by virtue of whom we are playing against but where it appears in the schedule and how the team now needs to develop and progress. The next phase of a long season is upon us I hope that it proves to be as successful as the first.

Coach.

HKDC Squadron F.C. vs. Club Albion, Sandy Bay Pitch No.1. 3rd October 2004


It is my intention in this week's contribution to concentrate on general matters rather than go into any great detail on previously played matches. For the HKDC Squadron vs. Club Albion match report please go to the appropriate web page via the scroll down menu bar on the left of the screen.
In football as in life you never stop learning. Whether player or coach there's always something we can take from a game. The easiest lessons are those centered on winning and success. Whilst learning becomes more painful and difficult when associated with defeat or failure. Thus far HKDC Squadron's campaign has produced two victories, two systems of play and two schools of thought. I know this because I witnessed the games, designed the game plans and talked to several squad members about our approach, planning and execution. In one camp the belief is that the strategy improves our chances of success therefore they support it. The other, that we over complicate what is essentially a simple game and as a consequence reduce the enjoyment achieved from playing and training for the game.
Who's right? In my opinion both camps are right. The game has to be enjoyed otherwise players will stop playing. However, possibly the greatest source of enjoyment, winning, requires planning and successful execution. It's a balance but just what proportion of each. I'm not sure what is right for you. Before the season started and a ball was kicked I supported a meeting where the teams aspirations for the forthcoming season could be discussed and the season's objectives set. Armed with the knowledge of what people wanted I could then specify what might be expected from individuals for the teams to realise those goals. This might have included squad depth and rotation, playing systems and strategy, fitness regimes and diet, training schedules and content, commitment and availability. Unfortunately it didn't happen and as a consequence you now have to live with what I believe you want or maybe worse, what I think you need.
This brings me back to my initial point that it's better for us all to learn what is required now whilst we are enjoying success rather than waiting for leaner times when it may be too late and painful for all concerned! Training facilities at King's Park are not available this week as an alternative the management is trying to arrange a venue for a meeting where these and other matters may be discussed in a relaxed atmosphere. Confirmation and details of the venue and timing will be forwarded to you by email. I hope you can attend and make a contribution.

Coach.

Season 2004-05

A warm welcome to all HKDC Hearts players with whom I look forward to working with in pre-season and throughout the forthcoming campaign. The same sentiment is extended to all HKDC Squadron players. May I also recognise and applaud the administrators from both clubs for all their hard work in bringing the two clubs together to form our new society. Finally, to offer my appreciation to our new sponsors HKDC, for their generous financial support in providing training equipment and facilities.

It is an exciting time for everyone involved in the club and I consider it a privilege to be performing the role of coach at this time of transition. There will be many challenges; the forging of two successful teams from two previously independent clubs will be as demanding for you as it will be for me. It is your club and as members you will agree the objectives for the teams and set the criteria for success against which you and I will ultimately be judged. I consider it essential that prior to any official pre-season activity scheduled to commence at Kings Park on the 7th September 2004, that the season's objectives be set.

I have requested that the management organise an informal social gathering of all club members during w/c 30th August 2004, where these and other matters such as playing and training strategy may be discussed. It will provide the perfect opportunity for us all to see (DVD presentation) and talk football, whilst encouraging the team bonding which is an essential ingredient for any successful group.

Work hard at your game and our reward will be the success of your new society, your team and YOU.

Coach.

Squadron F.C. vs. Kowloon Cricket Club. Kings Park, 25th April 2004

I would like to thank the management for the meeting I called for in last week's column. I am not able to enter into details as to the content of those discussions but I am satisfied that the club in my opinion is moving in the right direction and in the best interests of all its members. Discussions also covered matters concerning the approach, attitude and expectations for the remainder of season. After careful consideration I have decided to temporarily suspend for the remaining fixtures my contribution to Coach's Corner. I remain committed to the team and management and hope to have your continued support in pre-season training and throughout next season's campaign. Thank you all for your efforts to date.

Coach.

Squadron F.C. vs. Hoo Cheung Community Sports, 18th April 2004

If ever a game served to demonstrate the fragile nature of the squad this was it. Ravaged by the effects of the Bangkok Tour injury toll the management was only able to muster ten "fit" players. Included in that number was a stand in goalkeeper, who performed miraculously and a coach who had hung up his boots five years previously.
From a tactical and technical perspective there was very little to comment on with the Community Sports pitch once again offering very little assistance to the latter. The defence was well marshaled, disciplined in its approach and performed well. The teams resolve to prevent a potential cricket score was commendable and its fitness level was adequate in what was quite testing conditions. In conclusion a spirited battling performance was rewarded with a respectable defeat.
My comment from the Wanderers game that " the pool of players available for selection is too small and aging" has been vindicated within two weeks and in my opinion needs to be addressed by the management with some urgency. I hope to have the opportunity to discuss these matters with the appropriate people at some stage this week.
Turning to our remaining games it is important that we return to winning ways and achieve the best possible league standing. The other results at the weekend worked in our favour and analysis of the remaining fixtures leads me to the conclusion that we can still attain third place if they continue to do so and we realise maximum points from our last three games. I also believe this position to be a true reflection on our standing within the league. I want everyone to approach each game as if it were our cup final. I will learn more about you and this team in the next three games than I have done all season. I cannot stress enough the long-term importance to the club of finishing the season on a high.

Coach.

Squadron F.C. vs. Club Wanderers Kings Park, 4th April 2004

Sunday's game will probably be remembered for missed chances, a dubious refereeing decision and at times poor defending. What I will take from the game is an offensive game plan, successfully applied, which presented the opposition severe defensive problems and generated numerous scoring opportunities. Without question our football in the attacking third demonstrated the most fluidity and penetration I have witnessed from a Squadron side and possibly any Yau Yee team this season. Football matches however are won through converting and not merely creating opportunities, so there is work to be done in this area in the remaining games and next year's pre-season training.
We continue to be punished for personal and team defensive errors. There will be no easing of the punishment until we realise that the situation, which is of our own making, can only be resolved by adhering to the defensive principles which form the foundations of the team. I believe there is the knowledge, understanding and acceptance of these principles by all of the players. The challenge is to consistently apply and execute them. Failure to do so will undermine whatever we achieve elsewhere on the pitch as Sunday's game serves to demonstrate.
At this point I would like to thank all the players for their efforts in what has been an encouraging "cup run". Particular thanks go to the players who turned up on Sunday and never featured in the game. We have four games remaining and it should be an objective to realise twelve points and attain the highest possible league standing. I also believe it is an opportunity for squad rotation. Which leads me into my next point.
The pool of players available for selection is too small and aging. On Sunday we said farewell to Bubble, thanks go to him for the service he has provided the team and the support he has afforded me, he has to be replaced and added to. This should not be seen as a damming reflection on the ability of the current crop of players but as an indication of my ambitions for the club next season. A larger squad will create more competition for places and therefore potentially result in fewer games for some players. It is my hope that we strengthen the team by adding new players whilst retaining the services of all our existing members.
I head for Bangkok tomorrow for my inaugural Squadron tour. I'm not sure the FA coaching manual has prepared me for what I'm likely to encounter but in football you never stop learning. Enjoy!

Coach.

Squadron F.C. vs. USRC Kings Park, 21st March 2004

I always try to look for the positives in a game of football and with fifteen minutes to go in this game, I was struggling. Fifteen minutes latter, I'd almost forgotten the series of schoolboy errors that at one stage threatened even to eclipse the Anton Hill thrashing. This time there was a difference. Rather than hiding and wishing the whole thing would just stop and go away, collectively you refused to accept your fate and with your will and a couple of inspired substitutions, you retrieved a lost game. This was the positive!
As we've discussed on many occasions the outcome of a football match hinges on so many factors. Organisation, technique, fitness and as you demonstrated on Sunday self-belief. Nobody knows the extent of influence each factor has on the result of a game. What is fact, is that more professional clubs are employing the services of motivational psychologists. I am not qualified in this area of the game and I am not advocating engaging someone to provide this service but clearly it does have a significant influence on the result.
I always ask my players to be honest with themselves, know their own capability and be able to acknowledge to themselves whether they are performing to that level. On previous occasions there has been a tendency for you to look to others for that belief and what you saw was a team mate looking back in search of the same. On Sunday you looked inside yourselves and found what was required and as footballers you are all the better for that.
Self-belief can turn to arrogance if there is no substance behind the belief. They way the majority of you played in the first sixty minutes lacked substance and at times bordered on complacent. A repeat performance that lacks attention to the fundamentals upon which our game is based and a belief that the situation can be retrieved merely by applying ones mind is arrogant and will not be rewarded over the long term.
I know you all understand what went wrong and I know you all have the knowledge and skills to prevent a reoccurrence therefore it is not necessary for me to go into detail and "hang out our dirty washing" here.
The training sessions we have arranged and notified you of by email will reinforce the fundamentals of our game and provide the substance required please make every attempt to attend.

Coach.

Squadron F.C. vs. Antonill F.C. Kings Park, 14th March 2004

After two weeks away attempting to add to my questionable knowledge of how this game ought to be played, I was delighted to be involved once again. On the back of what was by all accounts an impressive performance not to mention result against Club Albion, I was loathed to suggest any changes to the style and tactics to be employed in the game. Indeed, I was very sensibly discouraged not to do so by the management.
In coaching they say "practice does not make perfect, it makes permanent" and I am now, after several months of working together, beginning to witness a consistency in your style of play. This is particularly apparent in the defensive third where the goalkeeper, back four and midfield are demonstrating a skilled and disciplined approach to their play.
As we move further up field there are issues still to be addressed. Should we adopt a flat four-man midfield or as I would prefer a slightly narrower shifting diamond formation? My reasoning for the preference is three folds. I believe it will provide more support for the front men that work tirelessly trying to create space and exploit the channels either side of their marking central defenders. It will create space down the flanks enabling the fullbacks to penetrate the attacking third. It will allow the midfield to link the defensive and attacking thirds with greater ease, as the concentration of supporting players will be greater.
In the attacking third the team is blessed with pace and will always score goals as we did for the second on Sunday by playing direct long balls beyond the oppositions defence. There is however a potential downside! If we fail to convert we then expose ourselves to becoming stretched along the length of the field. The midfield and defence will not have sufficient time to compress the play and the team will lose its shape. Good teams will exploit this! If they can get creative players, with time and in space, between the back four and the midfield they will be able to pick off our central defenders with through balls down the channels.
It is in my opinion now necessary for the team as a team, to reaffirm its commitment to trying to improve collectively and as individuals. I believe to do this we need better training facilities. We now need to be training in small side games 6 vs. 6, on an area no smaller the 60m x 40m, with full size portable goals, at least once a week, preferably for two hours.
I realise this may generate additional costs and require organising but I believe it is the way forward. As you all improve it becomes more difficult for me to keep you challenged and motivated. If this is what you want, help me to help you.

Coach.

Squadron F.C. vs. Kowloon Cricket Club. Kings Park. 15th February 2004

They say a week is a long time in politics and in football it's even longer. You'll forgive me another cliché when I say, time is a great healer but gentlemen this week, as a football team, we healed. There were questions to be answered following the French game. This was true of the management the players as well as myself. Through your performance on Sunday I think we all provided the some of the answers to those questions. The preparation for the game was great. Everyone on the ground an hour before the kick off. Nick's poignant pre-match briefing focusing on a game plan, rather than merely demanding more effort and commitment as this was the cup and a semi final berth awaited the victor.
You started the game with a far great tempo than in games in recent weeks. As a consequence you unsettled the opposition and this brought about the early goal. The shape of the whole team was much better. Compressing play and forcing errors when the opponents had possession. Creating space by introducing width to the game when you had the ball. To me the most satisfying aspect of play was the progression of the football from the defensive into the attacking third of the field. The distribution of the ball and ultimately the progress achieved down both flanks exploited space and defensive frailties. Pass selection showed signs of improvement. Hopeful crosses into the penalty area was replaced by balls played to forwards' feet or down channels towards the goal line. Superior speed in this area of the pitch constantly troubled the defenders. To compensate they tried to drop-off to provide cover for one another but this merely served in nullifying any protection the offside rule may have had to offer.
I believe that in the middle third of the field, players' movement and that of the ball towards the flanks would further improve your attacking options. This is dependent on support play. Players without the ball taking up the correct supporting positions and communicating with the man in possession. Communication should be assertive, demonstrate confidence and imply an acceptance of responsibility for the situation. The man in possession ultimately carries responsibility for selecting the option, which provides the team with the position of most advantage. This depends on many factors, the state of the game, the opponents positions, the positions of supporting players' and your own technical ability. Add to this list my tactical preferences and you can see it's not an easy task making the correct decision. To assist you, recall my definition of unskillful play. I sited Ronaldo dribbling the ball on the edge of his own penalty area. Although technically competent, his judgement of the situation and ultimately his choice of action makes his play unskillful. My recommendation is always to try to play skillfully and an easy task well executed rather than failing attempting the impossible fits with the definition.
There are still questions, which remain unanswered and in the weeks and months ahead, in training and matches, you'll get the opportunity to address them. For now, congratulations on your improvement and achievement.
Bring on the Wanderers!

Coach.

Monday is my day for reflection on the weekend's game and when I looked back at the French game most of my recollections were positive. The 2 - 4 result was creditable considering we conceded three goals in almost as many minutes at the beginning of the second half and the effort and commitment shown to reduce the final deficit to two goals, was commendable.

Football however is a game of judgements and I think it is fair to say that we were on occasions found wanting in judgement, in certain areas of the football field. Fortunately this can be addressed through coaching so that you become more aware of the associated risk. What however cannot be relied upon is how you will react to miss-judgements either of your own making or to those committed by other members of the team. In this situation I do have hopes of how you will respond.

It is my belief that we give ourselves the best chance of success by playing a system that centers on denying the opposition space to play. This system and the methodology it requires has been coached, practiced, documented and successfully applied in games the past few weeks and it forms the basis of my hopes for you and the other players.

If therefore your response is too keep faith and apply the system in even the most trying of situations it is my opinion you will remain a coherent force, making the opposition play predictably, thus limiting their effectiveness and consequently providing yourself with the greatest opportunity for success.

Coach.