Whites Mid Season Review

It is that time of year again. We analyse the highs, the lows, the good, the bad, the stars, the duds and preview the rest of the season in the Whites mid season review. As Im too lazy to do my own, I have completely plagiarised Tony’s from last year.

Overall
Obviously better than last year. Talk of the Whites being contenders for the flag this year after 4 wins in our first 6 games are pie in the sky. A few of us are still eternally grateful for every point we get, after the horrors of last year. Five wins, five losses and a draw, with three defeats by a single goal shows the Whites aren’t the pushovers of last season.

Best Win
The first is always the best. To beat Shell City, who gave us two footballing lessons last year, was particularly sweet. Our best game in football terms was versus Jamberoo. Slick passing, strong tackling that never let them into the game, two cracker goals, great match.

Lowest Point
Against Azzuri. The harder we tried the worse we got. Best just to forget about it.

One that got away
Hogs. For all the hype, they didn’t impress. Scrappy goal, should have at least been a draw.

The New Boys
All are fine additions and have fitted in nicely. Dennis has proved his transfer from hockey was worth the money, with the first 2 clean sheets in White history and a string of fine saves to keep us in many a game. Keith has added speed and skill to the midfield, anyway I think its him, I cant tell him apart from Phil on the field. A few nice goals in his first season as well. Rod has added composure to the backline and is a deadball specialist. He also knows all the stats of each opposition, handy for talking ourselves into believing we can win sometimes.

Best goal
Hmmm lets see, which one of mine.... I’ll let the fans chose. Mr 21’s two goals have been quality, and SteveB’s chip against the Maroons was a goodie (so I’m told, was looking somewhere else).

Best blast against the timber
SteveB vs Fernhill (both posts), Phil vs Jamberoo, Dougie vs Figtree, Eco-warrior vs cant remember.

Worst Miss
It has got to be Kirk vs Jamberoo. A metre out with no one in front and misses the ball completely. Honourable mentions AB vs IFS and Keith vs Azzuri.

Best Dive
Slugger vs Uni. Tripping over his feet, then the ball, just in the box without a hand laid on him. Goes down pleading for a penalty, not a Uni player within 5 meters. Lucky he didn’t get a card.

Best Tackle
Dougie’s on Maroon Trev. All ball.

Hoodoo Award
Mitty. Comes to watch the derby, leaves at halftime with us trailing 2-0. We win the second half but still lose. Thanks a bunch. No wonder we didn’t win a match last year.

Luckiest Win
Fernhill. When we rely on a header from the man with the head shaped like a 50 cent coin to win, the gods are definitely smiling on us.

Worst excuse for not playing
Handball and his line about having to go to Cowra to pick up a couch his wife “won” on e-bay. He was spotted by numerous people swanning around Thirroul at the seaside festival in his trademark funky little hat.

Best Fan
Maxie Charles. At every home game he plays in the lantana until materialising at halftime and at the end of the game to show he kicks the ball twice as hard as dad.

Best Linesman
Jose Phillipson. He correctly kept the flag down in the dying seconds to allow the winning goal to stand vs Shell City amid a torrent of abuse. Well done.

Most improved Old Boy
I may be biased as he spends most of his time on the left where I am, but Laid Back Phil Lally just gets better and better. Looks to be completely over the knee injury that stalled his season last year, he has have picked up a yard of pace, mixing precision passes with strong defending. Hardman Doug Hamill and Goalie Glenn are proving their worth with some fine games in defence.

Best lead up to a non-goal
Without a doubt Hucky’s marathon weaving odyssey at Towradgi. Well documented previously in Mr 21’s match report.

As you were
Glen Cahill (Local Historian). Still playing 80-90 minutes a game, still playing right back, still the quickest player in the team, still rarely makes a mistake. Still has the hip bone density of an 85 year old.

Best Referee
The young fella vs Azzuri. Made only one mistake that I can remember, and that was in the Maroons game before.

Best haircut
Keith recently turned up to the Balgownie match with a stylish bob that makes him look like one of the beatles. It probably cost him $50 but looks like Rachel put a bowl on his head and cut around it. At least I will be able to tell him apart from Phil and Handball now.

Best Quotes
“Aargghyylll grrrrummh gggffluuwww” Handball rallying his troops in the heat of battle. I have no idea what he says half the time.
“Why don’t you shut up mate” Andres in his best strine last weekend against Bally. The bally forward was actually abusing his own players.
“Stick it up your arse can head” Bally dude to Andres.

Wish he was here
Seems Alex has moved to Tassie to complete his ship captains ticket so will not be back this season. As Les commented, life cannot be that bad to make yourself move to Tasmania. We haven’t seen much of Trev and big Al yet either. Kirk has already played twice as many games as last year.

The rest of the season
A tough 6 weeks started against Bally with the Whites playing the top 5 plus the Maroons. This run will really sort us out. If we repeat our 5 wins from the first half in the second half of the season there will be some very happy boys at the end of the year.
Thoughts turn to player of the year. Will Dennis be the second goalie in a row to take the coveted prize? Will one of the new lads come through strong in the second half of the year? Will an old boy make enough of an impression to accumulate enough votes? Will a certain striker get to double figures and figure in the running? Will Alex be last year’s Mick Scanlan?