So this evening I got back from London and after watching Chelsea get beat yesterday by Man City at stamford bridge and stupid math homework I just wrote random answers to so I could get it done, i’m not feeling the happiest. But on the good side, going to England and training and playing with competitive youngsters and just getting the experience of playing english football was well worth it. I have come to a conclusion now that after I finish my studies at school, it would be my dream to be..

Living in England/Europe and Playing for a Premier League Academy or Top Level Team

Working Part Time on my Business’

That’s my short-term goal right now and I have about a year and a half to achieve it, time goes fast so i’m working towards the short-term dream from tomorrow, I’m committed!

Reflecting upon the three, two hour trainings with AFC Wimbledon this is what I learnt. What training mostly consisted of were passing drills and one-two touch drills. We never did any fitness sessions, however most of the drills were done at high intensity. The academy team has some good players, however the coaching staff weren’t amazing. I thought Mark the head coach was a good guy, but he didn’t have full discipline over the players, I thought at times he laughed to much with them and could of dealt with heavier consequences to those who were misbehaving in the change rooms or something. The two other coaching staff could of put in more input at times and I don’t know.. I just didn’t think it was professional enough.

Monday:

• Leant they play at a high pace and touch has to be good but it was nothing hard I could handle it easy.
• Other players finishing is better than mine

Tuesday:

• Learnt that so many players are undisciplined (for example players talking when the coach is talking)
• Have to be strong physically.
• Standing tackiling was very poor, got beaten through the legs a million times!
• Haven’t seen a player that really wants it, that gave it their all to be noticed, to win balls, etc.

Friday:

• Finishing was poor, striking with laces needs more power.

The other things I found is that touch is really important, which the pros have said before but now I really now how valuable a good touch is when in high intensity, fast pace situations. Speed also helps alot in my opinion.

The Overall Wrap Up from the Coach

I wasn’t exceptional and he didn’t go wow I really need that player on my team.
I was there with the standard of players, but not in the high standard bracket.
I need to be stronger physically.
Use inside of the foot more.
He said I didn’t look quick on the pitch, but probably because it was a small pitch.
I looked ok technically.
Times where I looked like I got pushed off the ball.
Need to make faster decisions.
Need to kick some playing habits out of my game, he didn’t say what exactly.

So the three most important things i’ve learnt about myself in my time there and that need to be improved in order to make it where I want is:

Be 10/10 in some areas so I am considered an exceptional player

Faster decision making

Strength on and off the ball

The next trial I want to go to is for the open trials at the Bolton International Academy in three or four weeks time, will keep you updated if I decide to go or not.

Otherwise, I will keep working hard to become an world class footballer!

Trials Day

Today was the footballcv trials day in Hampton. It didn’t go so well.. 15-20 minutes after the game starting I got a metal studded boot right in the forehead. Starting bleeding and they had to take me off immediately and I ended up going to the hospital to see if I needed stitches. Turns out the cut didn’t need stitches and the whole day was almost a waste of time. Although I did learn some things in those 15-20 minutes about my first experience playing in England.

1. It’s played at a faster pace, requiring top fitness.
2. Many more long balls
3. Harder tackles

Yeah it was interesting and I’ll learn more about it this week at Wimbledon.

My Preparation
I had a pretty hectic week juggling school, business and football so I had to “cancel” 3 or 4 things I was planning to do, but I also felt my body needed a rest in some occasions because I could risk injury.

How the week went

We did alot of fitness on Wednesday and Thursday and not alot of technical ball work, but i’ll tell you what went on:

Tuesday:

• Finishing was really good, however I wasn’t placed in any one on one situations.

Saturday:

• Two touch passing is not great
• Finishing was once again good

Sunday (Match/Trials Day):

Alright, so now comes Wimbledon.. will keep updated.

What to say about this week…

I’ve only really trained twice this week due to a little sprain in my toe and a knock in my knee. Probably which I could’ve trained on but seeing as I am finally going to England next week to trial, I didn’t want to risk injuring myself further.

In the round up of how my two trainings went, here it is:

Thursday:
- Too relaxed on the ball
- Shooting was way off! Missed all chances.
- Turning with the ball was good, something I have worked on (training pays off once again!)

Saturday:
- Played game, had three one on one chances and finished none! Should have finished all of them.
- Dribbling through cones only with inside of one foot needs a lot of improvement.

I’m about 100% again and next week will be about catching up and getting ready, preparation week. I’m feeling a little out of fitness and I need to work on a couple of things so I don’t embarrass my self. I’ve worked out a schedule which I will stick to until Saturday when I leave to the airport. If I am not at my best at 100% before going into the trial, then I won’t really know how I measure up.

Monday Morning: 10 minutes right/left foot one touch passing,  10 minutes two touch passing, finish with 50 pushups, 50 situps, 150 leg co-ordination exercises / Lunch: 15-20 minute game with friends / Afternoon: 40 minute treadmill run.

Tuesday Morning: Same as Monday / Lunch: Same / Evening: Club training.

Wednesday Morning: 30 minute run / Lunch: Same / Evening: Club training.

Thursday Morning: 10 minutes juggling, 20 minutes dribbling exercises, 10 minutes one touch, two touch/ Lunch: Same / Evening: Club training.

Friday Morning: 60 minutes run / Lunch: Same / Afternoon: Swim

Saturday Morning: Club training and then leave to England.

Sunday: Trials day at FootballCV.

Monday – Saturday: Wimbledon.

So following on from today’s other post,
I had a rocky week this week. Only trained on Tuesday and Wednesday as I got a slight strain on my knee from doing some stretching exercises on Wednesday night. Going through the days here were the key points..

Wednesday:
Passing against bench exercise with more pace.
Need to have quicker legs in trampoline sprinting exercise.
Following and man marking has to be better for defending.
Awareness and one touch passing was good.

Saturday’s Game:
The Big Thing That Needs Improvement:
- Taking players on one-on-one, especially with left foot. [I was playing on the right and left wings and was far too slow with taking the ball up, passing and taking players on].
- Shooting was appalling. 2 shots on target, 3 shots way off target.
- Crossing with left foot needs way more improvement.
- Getting back for Tackles, and especially slide tackles were great.

Now, I also have noticed how much training really does relate to games. Everything, the way I pass the ball, how fast I take the ball up the field, how fast for me it takes to get back to defend. I somehow thought that when you’re in a game situation it’s different but really it’s exactly the same. My coach was saying this before, but I didn’t really understand it until now.

I also find that the things you learn while watching games really does make a difference to how you play, from the way you position your body to where you pass, yeah all I have to say is that watching lots of premier league games has made me smarter in football

Two weeks before England, I have to buckle down right now and prepare properly because if i’m not at my best at 100% before going, than how will I really know how I measure up to these english players.

Stay tuned for more.

This is my Ultimate Footballers Experience:

These quotes are by champions and remind to keep on track of my goal:

So the biggest problem in training for me today was keeping the ball under close control. Javier Mascherano talks about how he keeps the ball under close control, another good video from nikefootball.

• Keep on your toes.
• Be aware of the players around you before receiving.
• Take the ball away from the closest player, away from danger.

Tuesday:

• More determination to do better in long fitness exercise in training

Wednesday:

• Long passing accuracy can be improved
• Left foot finishing needs improvement
• Short touches with the ball again needs more improvement

Thursday:

• Running at high pace needs to have more smaller touches for more control

Looking at what i’ve wrote the last few weeks, working on having smaller touches looks like the biggest concern. So next week i’ll focus on keeping smaller touches! I wish I could work on this stuff at the oval near my house, but it’s snowed down like crazy the last few days.

So I Couldn’t train on Saturday or today because I slightly sprained my toe, hopefully it gets better by tomorrow.

It’s probably because i’ve kicked my mini ball all around the house alot this past week before school and after trainings. What Will Smith said about “working when the other dude is sleeping” has made me think and realise that to go where I want to go I gotta “work on my football skills while the other dudes are sleeping” .

Fresh new week from Monday, I got a game on Saturday to top it off. Lovin it.