So I just completed 43 hours of focused football work this week, sticking to the promise I made myself! Wow 6-7 hours a day everyday, mostly by yourself is difficult as your always constantly thinking of "ah.. I wondering what's happening on facebook" or "Fuck this! I need a break!". It's tough, especially when you're on summer holidays. Of course i'd love to relax a little more, but then again, my goal is to become signed to an academy within the next 12 months. I've made so much progress already, I cant stop now.
I feel like I am a good player now, that I feel has more potential that ever before. I feel quicker and more confident. Although I think this attitude that I've gained from practicing by myself needs to be tested against some decent players before I get ahead of myself.
This Week
I watched at least 100 youtube videos this week on highlights of different players, watching so many really puts the things you see into your own style of play which is improving my football brain I feel.
These are some of the things I took out of it:
- When trying to receive a through ball, make a run with the ball carrier in mind and the position of his nearest defender, so he can slot a clean ball through.
- On the counter attack , you cannot delay with the ball because defence and mid are getting back as fast as possible. Wrote this because of selfish Pedro at the end of Holland – Uruguay semi.
- Fake one way, step next to the ball with one foot, take another step to fake direction while taking ball away in the opposite direction with other foot.
- When defending, if you think a pass will come near the defending line you're in, move up and block the pass that might occur, very good tactic if you don't have anyone to mark.
- Van Persie trademark is cutting inside and outside on the edge of the box to get a cross or shot in.
- Elia fakes shot, and rolls ball with sole – just another variation of a fake.
- Before making a dribble, Ronaldo may drag ball with sole of foot and that way it is easier to trick defenders because you create the speed of the ball.
So another 20 hours next week, cool!
Got back not long ago from watching the FIFA World Cup Final in a outdoor bar with friends. It's amazing, just watching the celebrations of the Spanish players and it made me want to be apart of it one day, on top of the world. Wow, Iniesta scoring that last minute goal is a moment that as a footballer you dream about. I can't imagine how I would feel if I was Iniesta scoring that goal, winning the world cup for his country. It would certainly be the moment of my life if I did something like that. And that's what I am aspiring to do, my goal is to be in the starting line up of the Australian national team by 2014. This goal is miles away currently but with every pass, every shot and every time I write in this blog I'm an improving player every single day. You don't need belief in me, I just know I can do it.
This Week and Next Week
So I recorded roughly 8 hours of the 15 I was suppose to do. But like I said previously, I am on holiday with family and I needed to spend time with them + all I had was a little mini ball to play with at the hotel. So I'm going to count this week as a little "break". But from next week I will have 43 hours to complete. 10 – 4pm every day is the plan. I'm making a promise to myself now that I WILL DO these 43 hours, so I don't keep missing out on hours. If I do not do this promise then I won't be able to trust myself in the future to reaching any goals or anything.
I currently do roughly a 60% with the ball and 40% watching mix with my current training regime. Once the season starts again and I feel that my play intelligence is improving, I will do more with the ball.
So anyway, this week has gone really fast + it's the end of world cup 
But it's all good! Off to next week then!
Some amazing world cup games this week. Holland beating Brazil and I was at a FIFA Fan Fest viewing place in Paris (next to the eiffel tower, really cool!) where Uruguay got the craziest win over Ghana. Football is amazing, the fifa place was filled with thousands supporting Ghana, one moment there going wild and screaming in celebration because a penalty is given and the next moment people are running out of the place getting beat on penalty kicks. What's even more amazing is that Uruguay didn't even qualify for the 2006 world cup as they were beaten by the Aussies, but they scraped it to the semi's this year.. but only just! The two finalists last time didn't even make it past the group stage! Wow.. constant ups and downs.
This Week
I've been a little laidback this week because I've been seeing friends and keep getting distracted by girls, which by the way take up a lot of time, I've also been in France the last three days holidaying with my Family. So I've completed 17 out of the 23 hours I was suppose to do this week. To be honest, of course I could of completed those hours if I didn't go out with friends or anything and didn't spend as much time with family, however I think it really is more important that I spend time with the people that are important as much as I can because once I become a professional footballer, I don't think I'll have as much time and freedom, so I don't want to be regretting when I look back.
Next Week
So I'll have to do 20 + 6×3 hours next week which is 38 hours! But I won't do those next week because I want to be with my family more. I will also reduce the number of hours I do to 15. So I'll do 38 + 5 = 43 hours the week after next. That's more hours than a full-time job, I think it will be a little hectic, but I'll try manage it so I play football from 10 – 4pm every day and that way I still have time to be with friends in evenings. World cup final in 7 days!