TWFC

We welcomed six guests this week and are very grateful to them for coming to our aid. Eddie117 saved the fixture by bringing five of his mates. One might say he has become the North London equivalent of a kind and benevolent Thanos, he finds football populations that are low on numbers and then helps double them.

Hagenius, with no fanfare whatsoever, told us he had a guest too and he turned up with the one and only Guest Trisdon. For context, that is like arriving for a match and bringing a mate who turns out to be Jude Bellingham.

Closer inspection showed that Eddie117 had brought two guests from Brazil. We all know about the unparalleled history of Brazilian football. The fixture had probably not seen such a diverse array of guests' playing prowess and football heritage since the days when we played against the Atletiko Madrid Guests.

Eddie117 is also thanked for doing the teams. There was some talk at the start about whether the teams were balanced. In truth, what is balance? May be it doesn't exist in football. Perhaps ask Pep Guardiola about decisions when it comes to facing Spurs.

Within the first 15 or so minutes, the Blue Bibs raced to a 3 - 0 lead and then there was a plaintive voice that asked if teams should be reset. We still cannot identify for sure who it was. Despite Fabiocc17, the previous week, having indicated on social media that he was mea culpa it could not have been him because he wasn't playing this week. Who is Spartacus? Actually all is finally solved because in the film when asked everyone responded 'I am Spartacus'. This means that at Tottenham Wednesday there is a reset movement that cannot be quelled. This chronicler shall therefore never ever again comment on the practice of offering or calling for a reset by any team. It is now one of our standards of 'fun'.

The Mufti waved away offers of a reset and had the satisfaction of showing their ability to fight back. It was a joy of modern TWFC to see the battle between Sadulla and Guest Trisdon. It was current day jousting at its best as each strove to get the better of the other, with no quarter given and none asked. There isn't a video but perhaps imagine a cross over movie where Avengers face the Justice League in training manoeuvres on a Star Trek holodeck. That battle was pivotal for controlling the middle of the pitch and neither gave ground.

The Mufti edged back into the game, it was noticed that Guests Gustavo and Savs were combining to spearhead an attacking formation with Guest Gustavo at the tip and Guest Savs coming in from the wings. This allowed them to work with their teammates to score those team goals that have characterised the style of play that has become so successful in recent weeks. Somehow Guest Savs scored two simple goals through the tightest of gaps at the keeper's right post. However, were they really simple goals? Probably better to say they were executed so well that they looked simple. The reason why the angle was tight was to show him the rest of the face of goal to shoot at or have him blast the ball at the goal for the keeper to smother. Somehow Guest Savs was doing the exact opposite to what he was expected to. Having seemingly tired of scoring at the right post Guest Savs inexplicably switched wings and popped up at the keeper's left post and repeated the same goals of low grass cutter shots to the near post covered by the keeper. When he had finally helped himself to four or five goals Guest Savs took a moment to explain to the keeper that he would always beat him at his legs. This tip was well received and a fundamental part of opposing colleagues coaching each other to become more aware.

During the match it was noticed that as well as scoring goals Trisdon has a skill that we do not often see demonstrated in games. It is the cross field pass with the outside of the boot, where the ball is pinged from one flank to a player in a better position on the other flank. Everyone can pass the ball but how often do you see it happen with the outside of the boot? Because it is uncommon, any player who can land the ball on a sixpence like that switches the attack in a moment. That is an embodiment of the big pitch game that is so hard to defend against.

The Mufti alternated their goalkeeper, theoretically Guest Gustavo being off pitch and in goal should have been a relief for the Blue Bibs but all that happened was he began keeping for the Mufti like Ederson. The Blue Bibs who had earlier offered a reset were now having to do all that they could to keep their lead.

There was a point when someone called deliberate handball on Eddie117. He seemed both nonplussed and then incandescent at the allegation. It was a bit like that video (without the swearing) where someone knocks the ball at Harry Redknapp while he is being interviewed and Harry loses it for a moment . It was interesting to speculate whether the call was a genuine belief or just a strategic way to disrupt the opposition's focus. After strong protestation, the alleged handball was not given.

From a healthy lead the Blue Bibs were not only being pegged back but eventually the Mufti got the match to 8 - 8. A Noble Draw was on the cards but the team after us had not arrived. The Mufti moved ahead and Coach Hagenius sternly warned the Blue Bibs that they had gone behind for the first time that evening. That is why every team needs a strong voice. The Blue Bibs had to dig deep. The score was 10 - 10 when the rest of the team after us began to congregate. A Noble Draw was offered but both sides took the decision to throw everything at a Last Goal Wins ending. Statistically, very few teams are going to break down a defence formation which includes Coach Hagenius, Guest Arthur and Guest Leon, but Last Goal Wins is a lottery. This week the golden ticket went to the Blue Bibs who scored the last goal of a hard close night.

Final Score

Blue Bibs 11 - 10 Mufti

Match awarded to the Blue Bibs

Let's do it all again next match at Tottenham Wednesday FC