Newsletter (04) Term 1
It’s crazy how time flies! 4 weeks of training almost marks the halfway point of term 1 training. Taking a look at the training environment we can see massive improvements in juggling across our Mini Mongo and Pre Academy programs. Players are welcoming the challenge to improve this skill and competing with their teammates for who can juggle the most. This notion of friendly competition is very much encouraged as the players competing and pushing one another promotes their self drive to continue to improve. Our u16’s are particularly excited for their friendly game vs Manly United on Saturday which will provide a great opportunity to compete as they prepare for their winter competition and tournaments. The Saturday Skills continue to provide an ideal environment and set up for players to discover, challenge and polish their individual skills. The enthusiasm towards learning we have seen so faros very encouraging.
Looking to the footballing world, domestically we saw VAR controversy in the Melbourne City v Central Coast Mariners games which has left many contemplating how much sway it should have over the decisions of on-field referees. Internationally, we have seen the commencement of the round of 16 in the Champions and Europa leagues which always provides some amazing games with titan clubs clashing to compete at the highest level. Make sure to stay tuned as the title race in the English Premier League is heating up with Liverpool and Arsenal in red hot form. Similarly Barcelona’s recent form with the acquisition of Aubameyang is breathing some new life into the club since Messi’s departure.
We are very much looking forward to the commencement of week 5
Stay safe everyone,
TD
English Premier League Heating Up!
The Premier League title race is now wide open after Liverpool closed the gap Man City to just three points.
Jurgen Klopp’s side played their game in hand over City on Wednesday night… and proved they were up for the fight with a 6-0 demolition over Leeds.
City lost 3-2 at home to Tottenham on Sunday, Harry Kane scoring a dramatic late injury-time winner just moments after Pep Guardiola’s side thought they had snatched a draw.
City are currently on 63 points, with Liverpool hot on their heels on 60.
Wednesday night’s battering against Leeds also means Liverpool now have a better goal difference than their title rivals.
But the Reds have to travel to the Etihad to face City for what could be a title-deciding showdown on April 10.
That is, of course, dependent on neither side dropping too many points between now and then.
Given the two clubs’ recent dominance, that’s not something you’d bet against – especially if the incredible title race between the two sides from 2018-19 is anything to go by.
Both Liverpool and City have now played 26 matches, meaning there are 12 left to play.
And after Liverpool had played 26 times back in 2018-19, the two sides were level on 65 points, with City having played one game more.
But from that point forward City won ALL eleven of their remaining games, finishing the season on 98 points.
Meanwhile two draws in their last 12 games proved costly for Klopp, as his side agonisingly lost out on the title by a single point.
This time though, despite trailing City, it’s Liverpool who appear to have the upper hand.
The Reds have won six out of seven games since the turn of the year to trim the gap at the top, and are looking in imperious form as of late.
On January 2 this year, City were ELEVEN points clear of Liverpool, albeit having played a game more.
At that point Pep Guardiola and Co were in pole position to press on and score back-to-back Premier League titles.
But a shock 1-1 draw against Southhampton on the South Coast later that month was City’s first sign of a stutter for months, with the result snapping a 12-game running run.
And the 3-2 defeat at home to Spurs last weekend blew the title race wide open with 12 games left to go.