Playoffs, Biatches

With each week of big result after big result, it becomes more difficult to make blanket statements like, “Best victory of the season”. Sunday’s revenge win over Saugus, however, qualifies as such. With a playoff spot on the line, the Villains played a with composure, mental toughness, and clutch-ness, winning 3-0 in a game that was probably closer than the score indicates.

Mid-way through the first half, the Villains possessed the ball well, eventually working the ball laterally to Mike K., who moved up from his outside defensive spot to deliver a great cross to Ryan , who finished with a solid shot from about 15 yards out. The second goal was created by off a great free kick from Brendan from deep within the Villains defensive zone. He sent the ball over the heads of the Saugus defense to a streaking (well not really streaking per se) Azzy, who caught the keeper in “no-mans-land”, off his line but not far enough out to get the ball.  Azzy deftly one-touched the ball over the keeper’s head for a 2-0 lead that the Villains took into the half.

The second half was a struggle, but the Villains remained sound in their own zone, despite a blatant hand-ball in the box by Brendan and yellow cards from Nick and Rabbit. Finally late in the game, the Villains were able to clinch victory when Garv fought off some Saugus defenders, dug out a ball in the Saugus penalty box, resulting in Cam striking a great shot from the 18. 3-0. Ballgame. Playoffs.

The Villains haven’t been to the playoffs since the Patriots were dominating and winning Super Bowls. 

The playoff opponent is Peru Sport. Nobody knows anything about Peru but it looks like they have a penchant for scoring a lot of goals but they are also vulnerable to giving up goals. The Villains will win the game if they continue to play a solid, mistake-free, possession-oriented game in the back and the midfield, while not being afraid to take some chances offensively. Working the ball up the sidelines to the outside half-backs, forwards, and others who are making runs has worked quite well. Also short passing has been working well. Basically everything has been working, except thru balls to the other team’s keeper. As the legendary and now-plastic-surgery enhanced Kenny Rogers would tell you, “Know, when to hold ‘em, and know when to fold ‘em. Know when to walk away, know when to run.” You get the point. Be solid and not reckless. But if you decide to be reckless, then be 110% reckless and make something happen. Screw Peru.

Playoffs Start a Week Early

The Villains continued rolling right along with some stellar play versus a Lynnfield team that had no idea what was coming at them. Before jumping ahead and looking at a must-win playoff-type match-up this coming weekend, let’s quickly re-cap the Lynnfield match.

The Villains first 30 minutes of play was absolutely sublime. Best the team has played in recent memory. Good defense, great possession, use of the whole field, numerous scoring opportunities. Solid. However, it wasn’t until almost 30 minutes in that the Villains were able to capitalize. After Gatchell pummeled a few Lynnfield defenders and the ball bounced to Garv in the middle of the field a few yards outside the 18, Garv collected the ball on a short hop and drilled a perfect shot into the right inner netting that the keeper had no chance at. A few minutes later, Rabbit, who was all over the goal all day long, resiliently finished a shot in a scrum to give the Villains a commanding 2-0 lead.  Later in the half, Lynnfield was awarded a penalty shot that they converted, creating a 2-1 halftime score. However, as the teams were heading to the sidelines for water and oranges, Rabbit stepped in front of some Lynnfield douche bag, ended up on the ground, and El Douche-o got a red card, all but sealing a Villain victory before the 2^nd half even started.

The second half saw some sloppy Villain play but also some solid scoring chances. In the end Mikkel was able to knock in a goal after Rabbit hit the post for the second time of the day and Eric forced the keeper to make a tough save on a rebound, and later Nick took a great cross from Fares and beat the keeper far post. Final score 4-1 Villains. Third “run-of-play” shutout in a row. Let’s close the door on that one.

The important thing now Villains is Sunday’s match-up in God’s Country vs. Saugus. The playoffs basically start this week fellas. We win, we’re in. We lose, we’re out. Oh and if we tie we’re in as well. If we lose, we’ll be tied with Saugus and since we lost to them already, and head-to-head is the tie-breaker, we’ll be out of luck. All that said, if we get good attendance and play the way we have been playing lately, we’ll take these guys.

Saugus is going to remember that awful, low-energy crap-fest we put together earlier this year. That was our worst effort of the season. It will be different this time.  They are going to show up with their nice warm-up suits and do team drills and group jogs before the game. We’ll be hungover. I’ll be lucky if I can find shorts that match my unwashed jersey. Salach is gonna show up a minute before the game smoking a cigarette and drinking a jumbo Iced coffee or 24-oz Bud. None of that shit matters though.

We’re gonna come to play when the whistle blows. Assuming we have good attendance, we’re going to run like mad, talk a ton on defense, cover up for one another, move the ball using the outside and corners of the field, and play a fuckin nastly and relentless Villain game. I’m sure Saugus has a plan. But to quote the great philosopher and boxing legend Mike Tyson, “Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the face.” Let’s do this Villains.