TWFC

We needed plus ones again this week. We thank Guests Abdul, Kai and Landi for coming along and we thank Elvis and Jimmy9 for inviting their respective guests.

We also acknowledge and thank Jimmy9 for doing the teams.

It was interesting to note that Jimmy9 had taken Naz, the player of the match the previous week, on to his team and he had also assimilated VIIGeorgeVII arguably one of our most complete all round player managers in modern times. Both Naz and VIIGeorgeVII had devastated Jimmy's team of Musketeers the previous week.

When players arrived, Jimmy9 revealed his two plus ones as Guests Abdul and Kai, both of whom are very handy players. Jimmy9 was gently advised that he had somehow contrived to draw up a team for himself with an average age of early 30s whilst his opponents averaged early 40s. He advised that his opponents would have the advantage of experience. VIIGeorgeVII, who was this week on Jimmy9's team, did not say a word but merely smiled with all of the satisfaction of a predator about to feed.

An offer was made to switch the teams up but the decision was the Blue Bibs would take their medicine. This is the nature of football. In true competition one cannot pick and choose opponents and on this day the Blue Bibs would do their best and not complain. In the pre-match huddle Ellislewis123 was heard to talk the Blue Bibs through how to keep it together if they were behind. We commend Ellislewis123 for this example of leadership perspicacity as he in effect told the Blue Bibs of adversity that might come and how to get through it. This is infinitely better than simply risking waiting for it to happen and players turning off, hanging their heads and remonstrating.

Game kicked off. Guest Landi struck first for the Blue Bibs. That was cool, he had scored on his first appearance and the Blue Bibs would not be whitewashed. Minutes later Guest Landi scored again to put the Blue Bibs 2 - 0 ahead. This was even better, the lad had joined the ranks of those who had scored multiple goals on their first appearance.

Two goals behind woke the Mufti up and they drew the match level. However, Guest Landi also brought up his hat-trick.

Not to be denied Naz scored a great goal for the Mufti where, prevented by three players from advancing, he simply used his opponents as camouflage and unexpectedly bent a shot around them to score from distance.

Guest Kai is also noted for an acrobatic scissors kick that he buried from the edge of the area.

Blue Bibs 3 - 3 Mufti

With Guest Landi's hat-trick it began to dawn on the Blue BIbs that Elvis's guest might actually be the game changer. By the time Guest Landi had scored his fifth goal it became clear that when he hit the ball it went like a rocket and his accuracy was second to none. Guest Landi hit one shot from a meter inside his own half on the right and rocketed the ball diagonally straight into the opposition goal.

Recognition must be given to the Mufti because, once they saw the threat that he was causing them, their back line took necessary steps to nullify Guest Landi. Guest Abdul, Leonalexis and VIIGeorgeVII were committed to mark him out of the game. Now this is where a strategic football brain kicks in. The maths is simple. If one player has more than one opponent on them then that normally means that someone else on their team is free. Unable to get as many clear attempts on goal as he had got in the first half of the match Guest Landi turned facilitator and brought his team mates in to play.

At the end of the match Elvis reported he had scored a brace, JonF reported about five and Ellislewis123 estimated his tally as at least four.

Everybody in blue was inspired. Ellislewis123 would later commend JonF for being outstanding all over the pitch and for making a great run to score from a defence splitting pass he had played. He also quite rightly pointed out the amount of time they both stopped the '3 amigos' (believed to be Leonalexis, Jimmy9 and Guest Kai) to keep their score down.

Leon94 quietly went about his business, bagged a hat-trick, and would later commend his keeper as having made some vital saves at pivotal moments that kept the Blue Bibs in it at times.

In the final third of the match Guest Landi returned to his scoring ways demonstrating perfect balance to spin away from opponents and score time after time. By the end of the evening the fixture had been lit up with a scillintilating guest performance that rocketed Guest Landi into club folklore of the top echelons of goals in a first appearance alongside

Alozie10 - 23-08-2023
Quiggerzz - 30-09-2015
Trisdon - 26-07-2023

We know from Elvis and Ellislewis123 that the Blue Bibs are believed to have either scored 21 or 22 goals. We also know that the rest of the team believe that they scored 14 between them, so this would leave Guest Landi with 22 - 14 = 8 goals at least. The mystique of this match is that without video corroboration we shall never truly know how many goals he scored and assisted. Future pundits will not be able to visually compare this night's explosive impact with future greats.

Player of the Match is awarded to Guest Landi. We don't normally award a match ball when there is no footage but on this occasion I make an exception because everyone clearly knows who by far and away was the top scorer. Match ball awarded to Guest Landi.

Final Score

Blue Bibs 22 - 6 Mufti

Match awarded to the Blue Bibs.

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