In response to Wrecking Crews post and some of the other comments,
The draw from the inside (now outside, being I play for Firemen) looking at it, is a bit of a joke - but then you look at Cardiff City making the FA cup final and if you give the minnows the chance, and the big dogs slip up, they get what they deserve.
The biggest beef is that you play all year and half way through they change the game plan, 20 teams, no seeding (which is what I would be in favour of for the top 4 from
VMSL, Imperial Champions as minnows get in there, top 2
VISL, top 2
FVSL, and PCL is automatically in the prelims.
I watched the second half of the Lions/Clanbus one way traffic, clean the bench, have a laugh and watch Columbus lads bicker at each other as each became more and more selfish to pot the 5th, 6th, 7th (TK put money on it against someone, it would be north of 6 - will collect this weekend TK, cheers:
) I feel bad for a team that has to show up and go through that, what fun could that have been, and soon you had people from the sidelines telling their mates, or kids (not sure) to run someone and gain respect. That's great for the tourney.
As for us - obviously tough first round, (i guess pre lim round and we actually never made the provincials this year to be accurate
). Johnny was top notch for them, as was Darko as the pressure came. Down 2-0 ten mins in, and then figured out Ollie was still hung from Carm's wedding and that skins could get the ball at will and there was no chance Johnny or Ollie were chasing back. Pretty happy with how we battled back, drew the game, but I think the wholesale subs we made (5 in 10 mins I think), and no fault to those who came on, but the momentum and rhythm we gained was lost and the game started to go back and forth, which suits Croatia well and opens things up for Johnny to do his thing and he pots the hat trick. Would be an interesting quarter to see Clanbus vs Croatia again, as I think Columbus has a shot at a repeat.
And for the refs and BC soccer shouts - refs showing up for a 2:30 kick off at 3:00 thinking it was for 3:30, and then watching the linesmen who is late stroll on in 15 mins into the game, no rush mate, get the flag up when you get there son. Oh - and in the Croatians defence, asian line-o we had in the second half, who easily called 25 offsides, was at best right 50 percent of the time, although Johnny cheats very well and many were offside, some were priceless with the ball going 70 yards in the air from Didar, being brought down in our half, and then flag goes up....but that cat had a shocker all season for offsides, and should be relegated to CO-ED where we can toughen him up a bit.
All the best the rest of the way for those left, my call is Surrey vs. West Van in the final - and can't believe I will admit this, but KNVB gets in for 6 mins and pots the winner directly off a heeder from Millars 127th long ball.......KNVB save that paragraph for 4 or 5 weeks time...
AK