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A lackluster performance on Saturday turns into a 5-1 defeat to top team Arnold and Bart
Posted by Rob Anderson at Dec 3, 2005 4:00PM PST
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SOCCER CITY, ETOBICOKE - Ouzo came out flat against league leaders - Arnold and Bart on Saturday. Two early goals by the Polish leaders deflated the boys in what turned out to be the ugliest game of the season. "I just don't think we we're focused - me especially." Said a "half-drunk" Delaney after the game at the team's after party. "We were getting beat to every 50/50 ball out there" That hit the nail right on the head. Ouzo has been a team that is known for there toughness and heart, but not on Saturday.
The team did have there share of chances again though. "With a little bit of luck, a few of those could have went in" said a hobbled Anderson. This coming from a guy that hasn't scored in 4 games - a personal record for the veteran midfielder.
Ouzo did get on the team sheet late in the game by a nice feed from Rob Rusnov to a wide open Gus, who slotted home his 3rd goal of the season.
It was said that a small group of fans at Soccer City were heard chanting "Bring back Haus, Bring back Haus". The fans might have a point. Young Haus has only been called up for one game this year and scored two goals. "Where has Haus been the last few games?" Said Stu Fletcher. "We need his firepower back in the line up". Some of the veteran's on this team might have to step aside to let some of the youth get there turn. Only time will tell if this young promising star gets his shot again this year. Stay tuned.
On a disappointing note, Winger's lounge (home to Ouzo F.C's after party's) was closed for a Christmas party. With no place to go, and no apparent invite to the Christmas party, Ouzo took their sorrows to the "Wild Goose" down the road. This is a problem that Management will bring up to the owners of Soccer City at their annual meeting.
Ouzo's next game is against rivals Raging Bulls, which looks like it could potentially make or break the season for the boys. Sitting at 3-3, the squad really needs to start there play-off push.
BY: MANAGEMENT
George Best - Pure Genius (1946 - 2005)
Posted by Rob Anderson at Nov 29, 2005 4:00PM PST
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Of the vast volume of words written and said about George Best, perhaps the most telling came from the mouth of the man himself. The ultimate laddish tale tells of the night when a waiter delivering champagne to Best's hotel room saw thousands of pounds of casino winnings and the current Miss World both arranged tastefully on the bed. The scene prompted the legendary question: "Mr Best, where did it all go wrong?" But it was only some years later that Best observed: "Perhaps he saw something in me that I didn't."
Best was always ready with this self-deprecating put-down when questioned on his lifestyle. "I spent 90% of my money on women, drink and fast cars. The rest I wasted," he was often quoted as saying.
A more reflective Best also said: "I was born with a great gift, and sometimes with that comes a destructive streak. Just as I wanted to outdo everyone when I played, I had to outdo everyone when we were out on the town." What is evident is there were plenty of people who cared more about Best than perhaps he did himself, and they nearly all found it galling that Best arguably squandered some of his gifts.
Current Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson hails Best as "unquestionably the greatest. There was nobody to compare with him." United team-mate Paddy Crerand described Best as "a one-off" and Denis Law said Best was "the complete player." I don't care if he is George Best, unless he's willing to do hard training, he won't get a look in Malcolm Holman, Ford Open prison coach But one of the most apt tributes to Best's talents came from former West Brom defender Graham Williams. In the middle of a game in which he was being run ragged, Williams asked Best: "Will you stand still for a minute so I can look at your face?" "Why?" asked Best in return. "Because all I've ever seen of you," explained Williams, "is your backside disappearing down the touchline." At the same time, there are more sober reflections on Best's life and career. Ferguson himself also conceded it was "so tragic that circumstances led to such an early retirement from the game".
A true legend who will never be forgotten for what he did for the game From CK Have your say on 606 Former Wales manager Bobby Gould said "Best's rare talent was allowed to fade before its time. "When George looked at how Alex Ferguson handled the likes of Eric Cantona, I wonder whether he regrets that someone did not handle him in the same way."
It was Sir Matt Busby who came closest to playing that role for Best. Aware that he had a particularly fragile talent at his disposal, Busby warned: "Don't coach him, he's a genius." Busby did his best to protect Best's talents "We had our problems with the wee fella but I prefer to remember his genius," added Busby, who was one of the few figures to command Best's respect.
David Meek, who covered United for the Manchester Evening News for more than 40 years, offered an alternative view to those who criticised Best's early retirement. "I thought the criticism levelled at him when he finished at 27 was unfair," said Meek. "He played 11 seasons of First Division football with United and paid his dues to the public. He started early and was entitled to finish when he did."
He lost a lot of goodwill when he kept drinking after his liver transplant Michael Parkinson Equally, Best was acutely aware of his standing atop the pecking order, and could be cutting in his impish dismissal of other players. "Geoff Thomas? Isn't he the player who can trap a ball as far as I can kick it?" he once asked. In a similar vein, he said on another occasion: "Who knows, one day they might even say I was another Ryan Giggs."
His allies in the media would also weigh in on his behalf. Parodying Best's claim that Kevin Keegan was not fit to lace his boots, football writer John Roberts said: "Keegan isn't fit to lace Best's drinks." Michael Parkinson became a close friend because of Best's regular appearance on his chat show.
And perhaps it was that close friendship that allowed Parkinson to make a more balanced assessment when he asserted that Best "lost a lot of goodwill when he kept drinking after his liver transplant and that's very sad." So perhaps it should also be left to Parkinson to put things into a final, telling perspective. "The only tragedy George Best had to confront," Parkinson concluded, "is that he will never know how good he could have been."
A controversial late goal by AC Attack defeats Ouzo 2-1 on Sunday
Posted by Rob Anderson at Nov 27, 2005 4:00PM PST
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SOCCER CITY, ETOBICOKE - Ouzo F.C was involved in another physical battle yesterday with a seasoned AC Attack squad. The game started off very intense with both teams not willing to give any room out there. Ouzo broke the deadlock by a nice feed from Stu Fletcher to a sprinting Rob Rusnov, who finished strong off the post. The veteran defender was too fast to stop on that one. After several chances by both teams, the score stayed a 1-0 for Ouzo until halfway through the second half when Attack tied the game at one all.
Later in the 2nd half, an excellent play between Flores, Fletcher and Anderson, resulted in a squandered chance by Anderson. "It was just one of those games" said Anderson, who has failed to score in his last 3 games. With minutes left and Attack down to 4 men on a foul committed, former Ouzo player Daniel Pinto scored off a free kick to put Attack up by one. Fortunately for Attack, the referee overlooked the fact that they had 5 players on the field when they scored. A frustrated Ouzo couldn't convince the ref otherwise. "he (Pinto) always seems to score big goals against us" Schnitzel said. "Ever since he left Ouzo, he has come up big against us". Should there be video replay you ask? "I was the 5th player on, but I'm not going to say anything...would you?" a chipper Daniel Pinto said after scoring what turned out to be the game winning goal.
An upset Ouzo squad knew the instant replay controversy wasn't the real cause for the loss this time around. "This game could've gone either way" said frustrated Ruben Flores after the team's 2nd defeat of the season.
On a positive note, this game also marked the 5th consecutive game that young Midfielder Stu Fletcher has recorded a point. As well, Ouzo logged in another 3 hours at Wingers Lounge for the 5th consecutive game, which means "Win or lose, we still have our booze"TM
Ouzo F.C face 1st place Arnold and Bart and Raging "Beer Bellies" next week in what should be an exciting double header for the fans.
By: Management
Ouzo Rebounds with a 6-1 Win Over F.K Kontakt
Posted by Rob Anderson at Nov 20, 2005 4:00PM PST
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Ouzo redeemed themselves this past Sunday with a 6-1 win over F.K Kontakt. With a week off and losing their previous match to Mesopotamia, Ouzo made up for on the field and in the bar last night. Jesse (Schnitzel) Geisel opened the scoring with a squeeker that bounced off the boards and into the corner past the keeper. Ouzo's second goal came when Geisel shot and had Ruben Flores redirected it into the goal for a 2-0 lead. Their third goal was the result of a pretty passing play from Ruben Flores, Stuart Fletcher with Mike Michaelides finishing it. Ouzo had a 3-0 lead at half time. In the second half Ouzo scored again to make it 4-0 when Ruben Flores sent a through ball for Geisel to run onto and one time in the top corner past the keeper. Gus Polymerus scored his first goal of the season to make it 5-0 on a pass from Rob Anderson. Just when things were going so well Mike ("Fireball") Michaelides was head butted when the ref wasn't looking. Mike retaliated by yelling at the referee for not making the call, so the ref gave Mike his walking papers and Ouzo a 5 minute major. F.K Kontakt took advantage of this and scored a lucky goal when the ball bounced off the boards, off Colin Wright's back and into the goal. Ouzo wasn't finished though as Gus Polymerus added his second of the game with a shorthanded goal to make it 6-1. Ouzo ended the night with a few pitchers up at Wingers and some great comradery. Ouzo faces off next week against a strong A.C Attack team. Stay tuned to see how that will end up.
by The Schnitzel
Belfast boy in a life less ordinary - George Best Remembered by all
Posted by Rob Anderson at Nov 19, 2005 4:00PM PST
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As concern grows over George Best's fading health Bill Elliott remembers a fun-loving man who was nobody's fool
Sunday November 20, 2005
The Observer
Mac, the village newsagent, had The Sun open on the page led by the medical bulletin on George Best. He pointed at the story. 'He's an idiot, isn't he?' he asked. It was, of course, a rhetorical question but it still deserved an answer. And the answer is 'No'.
Like, I suspect, millions of others, Mac only knew - or thought he knew - one George Best. The one who was weak, unable to say no to almost anything, a man lost in a shambolic world, an alcoholic who never managed to beat properly the old foe. Now, weeks on from that first bulletin, comes more of the same, confirmation again of his weakness. But an idiot? No, not an idiot, never an idiot.
And so I tried to tell Mac about the Best I knew in the late 1960s and the 1970s when I was a Daily Express football reporter in Manchester, covering United and City and travelling with the Northern Ireland team for their matches. And trying to keep up with Georgie Boy and a fast life that captured the times. It was fun but, Christ, it could be difficult as well.
Those were the days when reporters still had real contact with the stars. First priority was to have a contact number. I had one for Bobby Charlton, one for Denis Law. For George, at his height, I had 19 telephone numbers in my book. These included his old digs in Chorlton-cum-Hardy and his 'second mum' Mrs Fullaway, who fussed over him and to whose modest home he retreated when he needed a break from the bollocks, and where the local kids guarded his E-Type Jaguar from the sharp scratchings of envy.
There was the number for the home he had built, an uber-modern place with a huge TV set that disappeared up a fake chimney. It had more glass than brick in its construction, so the fans could see straight in and George was forced to sit with the blinds down to avoid being watched all the time. He loved looking at his house, but he hated living there. A goldfish would have felt edgy, so, soon after he moved in, he moved out.
The other telephone numbers were for a bunch of his best pals, a few were for women and the rest were for the various clubs and pubs that George frequented, places like The Brown Cow or Slack Alice's or Blinkers. It was in these places that he would be protected as he drank his then alcohol of choice - vodka and lemonade - and held court quietly and shyly. He was, almost always anyway, friendly with everyone except the fools and, of course, he was especially friendly if the interloper wore a micro-mini and sported long, blonde hair. There were a lot of these about at the time and George made friends with all of them.
The rest of us young men could only watch all this with a mixture of fascination and envy, but if we were gobsmacked by his effortless pulling power we were even more impressed when we watched him play football. London back then had Michael Caine and Twiggy and The Rolling Stones as it swung, Liverpool had The Beatles and the rest of the Mersey sound but Manchester, grey, old Manchester, had The Hollies and Bestie. Mancs, to a man, felt they had the better of the deal.
The old TV pictures of George playing do him some justice but not enough. Tom Finney once told me George was, by far, the best, most complete footballer he had ever seen, a view echoed by Bill Shankly. What was he like? You had to be there to appreciate the brilliance, the imagination, the balance, the commitment, the goals. Most of all, he had the belief.
In 1976, Northern Ireland were drawn against Holland in Rotterdam as one of their group qualifying matches for the World Cup. Back then the reporters stayed at the same hotel as the team and travelled with them on the coach to the game. As it happened I sat beside George on the way to the stadium that evening.
Holland - midway between successive World Cup final appearances - and Johan Cruyff were at their peak at the time. George wasn't. I asked him what he thought of the acknowledged world number one and he said he thought the Dutchman was outstanding. 'Better than you?' I asked. George looked at me and laughed. 'You're kidding aren't you? I tell you what I'll do tonight... I'll nutmeg Cruyff first chance I get.' And we both laughed at the thought.
A couple of hours later the Irish players were announced one by one on to the pitch. Pat Jennings, as goalkeeper, was first out of the tunnel to appreciative applause. Best, as No 11, was last. 'And now,' revved up the PA guy, 'Number 11, Georgie [long pause] Best.' And out trotted George. Above him, a beautiful blonde reached over with a single, long-stemmed red rose. Given his nature, his training and his peripheral vision there was no way he was going to miss her or the rose, so he stopped, trotted back, reached up to take the flower, kissed her hand and ran out on to the pitch waving his rose at the punters as the applause grew even louder.
Five minutes into the game he received the ball wide on the left. Instead of heading towards goal he turned directly infield, weaved his way past at least three Dutchmen and found his way to Cruyff who was wide right. He took the ball to his opponent, dipped a shoulder twice and slipped it between Cruyff's feet. As he ran round to collect it and run on he raised his right fist into the air.
Only a few of us in the press box knew what this bravado act really meant. Johan Cruyff the best in the world? Are you kidding? Only an idiot would have thought that on this evening.
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