|
|
 |
| Ah the memories |
Heeds stayed in 2nd place this week thanks to a comfortable 4-0 win over the bottom side. It was a good chance to give some fringe players a proper run out knowing they would not get the chance this weekend, and possibly not in the last round of matches either. The result sees us not quite guaranteed 2nd place yet, but if we can keep things tight it should be a done deal. We go into this week's top of the table clash knowing its do or die for the division 3d title. When this current squad was built it was meant to be all conquering, taking division titles every season as they matured until they eventually got to the top to reclaim the Dream league title.
It started off so well, winning games and titles at a canter, getting 11 out of 11 places in the Xpert Eleven every weekend, even getting disappointed when we didn't take the full amount of money from player prizes at the end of the season. Last season we looked as strong as ever, undefeated and finishing top of the full division table. It was our strongest ever season. This season though I knew that wasn't possible from the outset. Just looking at the squads and manager history in 3d at the start of the season I knew that our time of domination was over prematurely. I mean seriously, what's the chances of getting hit with the cup champions as opponents when you're in division3!
The chance is still there to win though, but it's risky. A defeat will mean we have no chance of getting top spot and puts us in danger of losing 2nd place if its a heavy loss. A win puts us in pole position and a draw gives us an outside chance in the hope of a last weekend upset going our way. The question is do we try to go all out and win the division? Or do we consolidate what we have and defend in numbers to secure a draw; thus securing at least a play-off place, plus giving ourselves a chance for the win in the last weekend?
Well I can answer that one right now; Heeds only know how to play one way, and its not to secure no stinking draw results! Not to mention this club's awful history in "neutral" ground matches where we seem to get mauled far too often; so a play-off place is definitely not a sure-thing ticket to division 2. The difference is we're a league team, not a neutral ground one off match cup team, and we need to show the cup masters what competition they're fighting in right now.
This is sparta...I mean the league! A return to our roots of hacking, Scottish football style might be our best hope of upsetting the odds with a ref that's not going to be hard on our players. Whatever happens though it has been a good season and a true test of these players limits. Good luck Grant!
|
|
|
|
|
 |