Nannas versus THURSDAY NIGHTS
3 : 5
RH (c), DC, TK, AW, TW, CG, JH
GOals CG 2, TW 1
MOM: CG

The Nannas steeled themselves for a massive night. It was an emotional farewell for one of the brownest, takeshi Kondo, who was off to fight a small war (in brown!!) with some Hollywood maggots. It was his last game and we had to send him off in Brown style.

We faced off against an old foe, Thurday night, a bunch of winging pinheads of the highest order. As the game commenced Rhian painted his face like Mel Gibson in that stupid movie…..and roared and ripped open his nanna top! GO HARD he yelled….And with that the Nanna men were resolute! The Thursday night fools were chasing (Tight brown) tails!!!
Their first two goals came from NASTY deflections – nothing could be done, nothing at all.

The nanna’s did not let this set back hurt them. Down 2 – 0 at half time optimism was Rhians next ploy. Stil play the ball around, and don’t forget to shoot. But definitely try to forget the fact that a certain Nanna had chosen the movies over the game ( a nanna first we think!)

They got another goal, but still the nannas smiled. The extreemly handsome goalie threw a long ball and it rubbed the noggin of a hapless defender – GOAL TO THE NANNAS, we’ll take them how we get them,,,…

Then Toa(wer) of Power stung like a bee from a kick in and once again an Irishman named Rick O’Shae played a part. They got one more to make it 4 -2. Them after a furious passage the ball came free and that goalie pounced and drilled it for a goal.

With incredible pressure on the pinheads, the brave nannas kept pushing on. Then came the moment for rhian. Facing a mountain of a goalie who was falling towards him, Rhian was forced to chip and curve a ball over the goalie and trying to drop it then into the goals and not get pinged for a high ball. The shot from Rhian was sweet he did everything a captain should do, except the ball must have been a Carlton fan…it struck the bar a Rick O’Shae’d away. To come so close , yet not drink from the cup of joy!!!

Chris absolutely wiped one of the wingeing maggots out in a personally great moment, but they had a penalty and scored. It was a good game and the Nannas can be proud, however, not fully brown.

There must be a bit of soul searching for Nannas who choose a non brown option, but they are questions that they must face…..

vs Dead Dead Zombies

Nannas: AW, CB, DC, JH, RH, TW, TK

MOM: TK

0-5

What is happening in this season? Are we hibernating or what! While seeing the amazing video work of Dan at the CCP exhibition opening, I had some thoughts ”What could I do best to win the game tonight?”. Simple quick answer from myself “Perform well”. “How can I jump high with a skate board with L shape?” another answer from myself, “Concentrate”

OK, it has to boost my ability instantly somehow. Is there such a convenient way to make that happens?
The other answer was “Run”

So I decided to get the pit by running and my mental game started. The night of winter Melbourne was so beautiful. I was almost captured by the melancholic thoughts when I was running pass the Family, children, hot girls, river, bridge, station, pubs and taco bill but always another myself was whispering these words to me like a death spell. “We need to teach the opponents.” “We respectfully need to teach the team at the top of the ladder.” “We need the winning to teach ourselves.”

I was so excited, crossed the city quickly and arrived the Albert park 90 min before the game started.

I will leave a bit late next time…

vs HYDEROOS
Nannas: AW 1, CB, DC 2, JH, RH, TH 1, TW, TK

MOM: TK

4-6

How long you have been waiting for this time? The couch is back on the field.

The game was started by the lead of opponent but we were chasing them tight. We were playing in front and keep pushing up. The great invisible goal of Andy fired up Nannas last half. All of us had strong feeling to win this game. We almost took over the opponent the night. The feeling and the rush, it is something we need to remember.

After the game, we headed off to Railway and had a fantastic offer from our captain for the next Nanna function on the beach. Wait for the report! BRAVO Mt Eliza!!!

Nannas: DC, CB, RH, AW, JH, TK
Goals: DC 3, JH 2, CB 1
MOM: JH (the initial poll was tied with Striker the other main vote getter. But Striker was stripped of joint MOM on account of receiving a red card)
Result: Nannas:6 Opposition:9

After suffering the ignominy of yet another defeat, it is clear the Nannas are having one of those patches that befall all sports teams. One could be forgiven for thinking our lack of wins is a long-term thing, almost like those miserable All Blacks whose long quest to capture another World Cup will seemingly have to wait another four years.

Certainly, the Nannas’ form is inconsistent and during game time goes up and down like a parent with new child. But this has been an interrupted season for the Nannas, with only the Captain, Andy Wong, Tao (when not honeymooning) and Cocky (when not making bad art) being certainties to start.

This might not seem a new phenomenon but this season when we went down the losing path our personnel issues did create problems, not least when we could only field a tight five and subsequently got run off our feet.

And so to last week’s game, and it has to be said that the opposition’s finishing was exemplary, but apart that they were very beatable. Too many times when the Nannas needed to tighten up and show some real fight we were found walking and watching. And then when we did find some momentum, which only seems to be a second half thing these days, and came within a goal of our foe, the game was stripped from our grasp in the cruellest possible manner.

Special mention goes to the Striker for the colourful language he directed toward the referee. Sometimes a man needs to say what’s on his mind even though he knows the consequences will be dire.

Special mention also goes to the Coach for his rocking up after the game and then accusing Striker for his lack of commitment to the team. Coach takes the dubious honour of perpetrating one very obvious double standard.

1-3 vs Thursday Knights – Albert Park Pits
DC(mom), RH(1), AW, CG, JH

Yep, another stinkin’ loss! but not without merit.

The Nannas have been hammered by these limeys before so we did none too poorly to restrict them to 3, while the Captain snuck a late ball under the well covered goalie to keep our pants on. There was some OK possession play but, as Giller pointed out, that’s not really how the nannas score goals. Playing possession football also requires an ability to push into gaps, open defenses and run on to that final pass – not something the nannas are known for doing with much regularity. The majority of Nanna goals at this level seem to come from scrubbing and hustling, jostling a loose ball and limping it over the line while the goalie is down. Its the final move we’re missing, either we need a striker with some foot skills (including the ability to kick with a left foot) who can actually take on a defense – especially the one on ones with the keeper – or we need to really focus on the final combinations, develop some interplay skills in front of the box, where there’s a little bit more expectation between the front two as to what may actually be about to happen. Call it prediction, call it set plays, call it future reading, call it what you will, it’s what we need. hell what we really need is some training, I’m sure that some basic strategic practice would lift the Nanna game by at least 3 – 4 %, and that my brown friends is the difference between losing badly and almost winning !

p.s. the 21st of July has been locked in as the inaugural beach box poker event. the nannas will get crazy high on a cocktail of bourbon and hollywood nose buffet before losing their money and passing out in the sand… tasteful !

8-1 vs ?? [the pits]
RH TW 1 AW DC James(ringin)

Who says you need a Goalie – The Nannas do.
No Gillie no TKondo no good answer to anyone pointing towards our goal and swinging their legs.

It was a meek Nanna response to an unconvincing opposition.
We started well, infact it may have been nil-all right up to the 10 minute mark. The following 3 or 4 minutes were far less flattering, it may have been a goal a minute there for a while.

On the brightside Tao showed a real flourish of Nanna spirit and finished a back heel from the reigning striker with pin point accuracy.

Much kudos to James (not Hannan) for a last minute Ringin role, especially for since it was a no-goalie ring-in debut.

It’s time for the famous Nanna mid-season turn around.
Avalanche
Avalanche
Avalanche

Goal frenzie ladies that’s what we’re looking at this week.

2-5 vs dead dead skillful [the pits]
DC 1 TW RH TK CG JH1 CB AW

MOM CG

Within the first 30 seconds of the game I dived to my right to save a goal (i did by the way) and landed on my hip, heavily. MY ASSSS IS SOOOO SORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

its SO SORE

That is probably all I should write about last nights game. It was not an attractive night if you wear cardigans and knit.

We held them off for a long time. It was nil all for nearly the whole first half, but in the last few minutes they snuck two past my SORE ASSSSS!

We rallied slightly at the start of the second half to draw level with erogenous work from Dan in close and a RIGHT foot goal from the most recent Nanna to share his gene pool.

Then…..oh then they touched us in a very private place. I dare not look them in the eye after what they did.

We only really have ourselves to blame, but they were maggots, we should not deny them that title, well maybe only the blonde boy…..

Keep on fighting brown men, do not go gently into that good night, but rage, rage again the dying of the plight….

3-11 vs Thursday Knights [MacRobertson]
DC 3, TW, RH, AW, TK(gk), TH(coach, temp goalkeeper)
MOM DC

It was a tight five, again,
and it was bloody hot, again.

But – we kept our pants on a little more than last outing against these limey nuff nuffs. The first half was pretty tight with some nice possession play and some excellent passing back style moves. Tao had a glaringly obvious goal disallowed which was a bloody travesty and the fatty in goals at the other end looked well sheepish. ‘Come on lads’… my arse! Can’t remember the exact sequence of goals but the half time score was 3-5. After some confusion in the goal mouth (fatty palming balls off the floor and rolling around like a jelly wrestler) DC managed to find the net. This was followed by some nice passing and an aggressive run into the area by Bestlookingnanna™ who drew the goalie before squaring perfectly it for DC to tap in. The Captain was putting in some sterling defense work and even ran past a nimble limey after a nice feign (didn’t work a second time however, dirty nimble limeys). Wal (who arrived late, forcing the Coach™ into an early and extremely risky goal-keeping venture) made a couple of nice runs to the back door but didn’t quite get the delivery he was expecting (not sexually, not like Leaving Las Vegas). Kondo was making some fearless saves in the ugly face of an overly aggressive style of play peddled by the Eng Landers.

But – then it all went to shit! The nannas ran out of legs (“push up wal, I’ll stay back *pant*, *gasp*”) and ideas. Tao was harshly denied again, this time by the post, Striker™ had no idea about the subsequent rebound that hit his leg before bouncing uselessy wide. The game finally ended with the opposition circling the goal mouth like pommy vultures, passing it around the box before tapping home. Kondo made a couple of great saves to frustrate them somewhat in this endeavour but it was pretty ugly at the end… not to mention f**cking hot !

But – we did finally make it to Section 8 for beers, dumplings and desserts dipped in soy sauce, with a bona fide Nana no less (El and Lus Nana that is, who was also at the game in a supporting role, although she seemed the most impressed by Thomas’ coaching – “… has Thomas played soccer at quite a high level before?” say what ?). We were also joined for post match discussions by our Nanna brethren, Jim (after a hard nights proffesional writing training ???) and Chas (treading the disorganised charity boards) – nice.

ps. I had a post match shower for the first time ever. (In the ladies toilets no less (I mean it is a girls school)…. dirty!)