Gaffer Appears Prepared To Be Stern
(Morristown,NJ)- In a conservation via telephone this morning Continental Manager Dan Clayton said, "A lot of guys might not like me, but i'm trying to coach the right way."
"We have to move to a more defensive mindset, we have a team of midfielders we have to use that to our advantage and have more heart and energy than our opponent."
He went on to say fitness and possession have to improve immediately.
Randao On History
Club Co-Captain and Board Member Ryan "Randao" Deighan said, "Turns out yesterday wasn't our 'Battle of Trenton', but it's coming. The Battle Of Trenton was the turning point in the American Revolution for the underdog Continental Army and occured just before Washington's Men marched to Morristown in late 1776 for which our club is named.
Whenever we do put on a streak of good form and some positive results that will be our 'Crossing of the Deleware and Battle of Trenton'."
Bauer Expects More
In a separate phone call with last weeks' armband wearer, Russell Bauer, the Continental Board Member was quoted, "We have to be more physical!".
Vinton Prepared For Less Playing Time
Reports out of Continenal camp suggest Mark Basso may see "a lot" of time in net this spring. Ryan Vinton, former manager and current goalkeeper returning from a knee operation said...
"I'm definitely rusty out there. I'm really still missing that first step. I'm just a player doing whatever Dan (Clayton) asks me to do for him on the pitch.
My knee feels pretty good, however coming back from a year off has really affected my general fitness."
Pollock Wants To Attack
Mike Pollock, Continental Utilityman and player of just about every outfield position in his now almost year with the Continental lads was asked today, how he felt about playing all those different positions?
"I went to Manager Clayton (during the match Sunday) and asked for a few changes in my position (from defense) to a few in the midfield and a few others and we started having our best offense of the day. Coincidence? I think not."
When asked he he saw himself as a leader with the club, Pollock answered, "I really feel the team is starting to look to me as an emotional leader. I try my best to lead with my firey intensity."
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Captain Makes Intentions Clear
FLORHAM PARK, NJ - Team Captain Russell Bauer received his first booking while playing his first game as full captain in Sunday's fall against Maiwand FC, amidst a match teemed to the brim with drama and tension between and among the two sides.
Bauer was booked late in the second half after charging Maiwand's spot kicker from the wall during an attempted free kick. The very same kick was previousy gifted by Bauer, who violently (and seemingly intentionally) lashed out at the legs of another Maiwand player outside the 18. Though there was no card on the foul, the subsequent act of apparently leaving the wall before the kick forced the official's hand.
The issue being discussed off the field, however, was that this action was just the culmination of a very fiesty day for the Continental captain. Most notably, Bauer appeared to engage in loud verbal arguments with his own squad on the pitch in front of the vistiting team's fans. Many have been calling the new skipper's attitude into question following his second half display.
"There was a bit of a quarrel, I admit," commented Bauer in a phone call this morning. "It was a poor example for me to set to my teammates, that's for certain. It showed a lack of professionalism and discretion. Taking it out on the other team the way I did was no more right than what happened between certain teammates and myself."
Bauer attributed his frustration towards a culmination of mistakes made by everyone, including himself, which had caused the game to slip away into the second half.
"We had stopped communicating as well on the field. I was trying to get my point across, appropriately, but the back line had just stopped clicking the way we had been during the first half. It put me on edge, and when the blood is running hot and the adrenaline is pumping, it takes a lot to keep your cool.
"Clayton and I shared some words on the sidelines after the incident and I realized he was right and I wasn't being a good leader out there. I apologized to the Manager, and later to my team for getting out of line and I feel like we're ready to move past this."
Bauer insists there are no locker room rifts between him and any players involved.
"We're just looking forward, now. To next week and the rest of the season. We want to take what we learned from this game and make ourselves a better team. I think we made a lot of positive changes in the mid-season break. And I saw a lot of it on the field. Granted, most of our starting defenders were unavailable. And we still are lacking that strong midfield presence, and we have been discussing how we can make our transition up the field better.
"My biggest concern is that we play with a little more physicality. Obviously not the physicality that I displayed late in the game, but we need to carry ourselves with more authority and defend with our bodies more, playing more shoulder-to-shoulder when challenging attackers. We need to play big."
"We play Hispano next, and we really should have beaten them the first time around. We put a bullseye on this fixture a few months back knowing what we should have accomplished previously. We wanted to start the spring with at least four points but I would be happy to see us with three come Sunday afternoon."
Bauer was booked late in the second half after charging Maiwand's spot kicker from the wall during an attempted free kick. The very same kick was previousy gifted by Bauer, who violently (and seemingly intentionally) lashed out at the legs of another Maiwand player outside the 18. Though there was no card on the foul, the subsequent act of apparently leaving the wall before the kick forced the official's hand.
The issue being discussed off the field, however, was that this action was just the culmination of a very fiesty day for the Continental captain. Most notably, Bauer appeared to engage in loud verbal arguments with his own squad on the pitch in front of the vistiting team's fans. Many have been calling the new skipper's attitude into question following his second half display.
"There was a bit of a quarrel, I admit," commented Bauer in a phone call this morning. "It was a poor example for me to set to my teammates, that's for certain. It showed a lack of professionalism and discretion. Taking it out on the other team the way I did was no more right than what happened between certain teammates and myself."
Bauer attributed his frustration towards a culmination of mistakes made by everyone, including himself, which had caused the game to slip away into the second half.
"We had stopped communicating as well on the field. I was trying to get my point across, appropriately, but the back line had just stopped clicking the way we had been during the first half. It put me on edge, and when the blood is running hot and the adrenaline is pumping, it takes a lot to keep your cool.
"Clayton and I shared some words on the sidelines after the incident and I realized he was right and I wasn't being a good leader out there. I apologized to the Manager, and later to my team for getting out of line and I feel like we're ready to move past this."
Bauer insists there are no locker room rifts between him and any players involved.
"We're just looking forward, now. To next week and the rest of the season. We want to take what we learned from this game and make ourselves a better team. I think we made a lot of positive changes in the mid-season break. And I saw a lot of it on the field. Granted, most of our starting defenders were unavailable. And we still are lacking that strong midfield presence, and we have been discussing how we can make our transition up the field better.
"My biggest concern is that we play with a little more physicality. Obviously not the physicality that I displayed late in the game, but we need to carry ourselves with more authority and defend with our bodies more, playing more shoulder-to-shoulder when challenging attackers. We need to play big."
"We play Hispano next, and we really should have beaten them the first time around. We put a bullseye on this fixture a few months back knowing what we should have accomplished previously. We wanted to start the spring with at least four points but I would be happy to see us with three come Sunday afternoon."
Monday, March 30, 2009
Continentals Fall In Spring NJSL Opener
(Morris Plains,NJ)- The Morristown 1776 A.F.C. fell 5-1 Sunday vs Maiwand FC in a "home" game at 1776's temporary home, Morris Plains Boro School.
The NJSL season picked up play all around North Jersey, continuing after the long winter layoff.
New Gaffer Dan Clayton fielded a side with a lot of familiar faces and a few new ones, Russell Bauer, Ryan Deighan, Mike Pollock, Tyquan Griffin, Vin Mazza, Mark Basso,Brady McDonald and Peter Luthi all played with the club in the fall and saw playing time Sunday.
Mike Cheatham, Bedo, Steve Sabo, Rob Linepinuel, Marco and Juan are all players that saw either sparse time in the fall on trial or time with the lads to integrate into the Continental System in the clubs winter indoor league and spring training.
Former Club Manager saw his return to meaningful matches as he played the first 70 minutes in the Continental net, conceding 4 goals. Mark Basso played the remainder of the game in goal after seeing time in the outfield on the wing before.
Peter Luthi scored the Morristown goal that brought them within a 2-1 scoreline of Maiwand with 10 minutes to play in the first half.
Morristown conceded 3 times in the second half and failed to convert offensively at the other end.
Notes:
The NJSL season picked up play all around North Jersey, continuing after the long winter layoff.
New Gaffer Dan Clayton fielded a side with a lot of familiar faces and a few new ones, Russell Bauer, Ryan Deighan, Mike Pollock, Tyquan Griffin, Vin Mazza, Mark Basso,Brady McDonald and Peter Luthi all played with the club in the fall and saw playing time Sunday.
Mike Cheatham, Bedo, Steve Sabo, Rob Linepinuel, Marco and Juan are all players that saw either sparse time in the fall on trial or time with the lads to integrate into the Continental System in the clubs winter indoor league and spring training.
Former Club Manager saw his return to meaningful matches as he played the first 70 minutes in the Continental net, conceding 4 goals. Mark Basso played the remainder of the game in goal after seeing time in the outfield on the wing before.
Peter Luthi scored the Morristown goal that brought them within a 2-1 scoreline of Maiwand with 10 minutes to play in the first half.
Morristown conceded 3 times in the second half and failed to convert offensively at the other end.
Notes:
-Luthi and Bauer both received yellow cards in the second half.
-Luthi's goal moves him out of a tie (and ongoing battle) with Brady McDonald for the club's all time leader.
-Bedo and Linepinuel both made their outdoor debut with the club.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Clayton Dubs Sunday "Battle of Trenton"
(Morristown,NJ)- Continental Gaffer Dan Clayton has called Sunday's match with Maiwand FC, "The Battle of Trenton", showing some knowledge for history, refrencing the comeback nature of the fight for the real life Continental Soldiers.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Continentals Need Basso Ready In Net
(Morristown,NJ)- Last Night's Training Session at Black Brook Park in Whippany reaffirmed one thing for the lowly Continentals, they need Mark Basso ready to step in at keeper.
Former club manager Ryan Vinton has shown some flashes here and there in goal since his return from knee surgery, but he appears set to take it slow and not push too hard, missing time in Sunday's friendly as well as time in training Tuesday night, not to mention at least two goals in the friendly Sunday that could only be placed squarely on his own shoulders and "rust".
Basso, who appeared ready to take his outfield player status in stride must come prepared to take back the net if need be, either because of Vinton's injury or poor form.
Vinton's comeback could be a big boost for the club, but his status in the boardroom shouldn't give him a free pass for criticism on the pitch as Basso has proved a worthy bloke manning the 18 yard box.
Former club manager Ryan Vinton has shown some flashes here and there in goal since his return from knee surgery, but he appears set to take it slow and not push too hard, missing time in Sunday's friendly as well as time in training Tuesday night, not to mention at least two goals in the friendly Sunday that could only be placed squarely on his own shoulders and "rust".
Basso, who appeared ready to take his outfield player status in stride must come prepared to take back the net if need be, either because of Vinton's injury or poor form.
Vinton's comeback could be a big boost for the club, but his status in the boardroom shouldn't give him a free pass for criticism on the pitch as Basso has proved a worthy bloke manning the 18 yard box.
Spring Training Report
(Whippany,NJ)-
Notes from The Morristown 1776 AFC's Tuesday Night Training Session:
Notes from The Morristown 1776 AFC's Tuesday Night Training Session:
-Caretaker Manager Dan Clayton led the lads thru some light drills and scrimmages.
-Defender Mike Pollock was limited in training with stiffness in his back he has been experiencing since Sundays Friendly match.
-Keeper Ryan Vinton was also limited in training with continued soreness in his surgically repaired left knee as well as swelling in his right knee.
-Striker Peter Luthi attended his first Continental training session since the fall and was said to be "well in form".
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Training Tonight(Tuesday) 8pm
The Morristown 1776 A.F.C. will hold "spring training" tonight(Tuesday) 8pm at Black Brook Park in Whippany.
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