FC77 Rangers 4, No Subs 2

Scorers:  (McConnachie 12', 70'/No Subs O.G., 89' [PK]; Burden 20')

As a manager, the single most important task there is (besides crafting awesome match summaries and surfing the internet for pictures of hot cheerleaders in outfits that match the team colors...oh, and collecting team fees...and opening the field prior to kick-off...and then closing it up after the match) is team management. Nothing fills my heart with dread quite like doing a player count and coming up with a number less than eleven.  So it was that on Thursday, less than forty-eight hours prior to kick-off against familiar foes No Subs at the Montessori Earth School, I was going through possible line-ups and I only counted eight.  Ack.  I understand that this is only a recreational team and that work, family, travel, and vacation considerations occasionally take us away for a weekend or two.  It just gets the gaffer a wee bit nervous when those conflicts occur on the same weekend...to almost 40% of the team.

Determined not to play No Subs with, well, no subs, many furious emails went out to secure the on-loan services of "Rangers for a Day".  When referee Ryan started the match at 12:10 for Match Day Nine, four new players were proudly suited up in the Yellow and Black and every single one of them brought their "A" game.  New acquisitions included:

Andre DeBar, on loan from FC77 Madisons.  Many of you will remember Andre as a former Ranger who was credited with the longest goal in 'Gers history prior to Muralt's "Death From Above" last season.

Jeff Wiggin, on loan from The Goodfoot FC.  Wiggin plays for my indoor soccer team, FC Black Cat III.

Ed Hughes, also on loan from The Goodfoot FC.  Ed proved to be a solid defensive presence in both halves.

Bruce Barclay, returning on loan goalkeeper from FC77 Old Nicks and FC77 Newcastle.  His second stint as the 'Gers stickminder allowed Dan Calkins to return to the field and commandeer the back line...no small task given No Sub's aggressive forward attacks early in the second half.

Starting XI:

Barclay, goalkeeper 

Seaton - Calkins - Hughes - DeBar, defenders

Ingersoll - Radigan - Snyder - Burden, midfielders

Foubister - McConnachie, strikers

Wiggin - Fahrbach - Vogel, reserves

So how did the hastily thrown together 3-1-4-2 perform?  Pretty damn good, baby! Inspired by both the inclement weather at kick-off and a humorous comment posted by our Scottish supporters last week... (C'mon, it's been a while since I've milked a power ballad for a match summary!)  

November Rain (Ranger '08 Remix)

When I look down at the roster
I can see our team is strained
But Rangers when I email you
Don't you know I need players for the game

'Cause the season doesn't last forever
And we all know players can change
And I got DeBar, Hughes, Wiggin and Barclay
In the cold November rain

We've played No Subs for such a long long time
Just tryin' to kill off the game

But Gary always runs and McConnachie always goes
And his lob shot beats their goalkeeper today
Scoring away

Then Seanny takes the time
to lay the ball on the corner lines
I could shoot instead
Just knowin' those posts were mine
All mine

So if you want to volley
then Burden don't refrain
And we just end up scorin'
In the cold November rain

Do you need some subs?...On your own!
Do you need offsides?...He's all alone!
Everybody needs some fouls...
On their own
Don't you know you need some headers...He's all alone!

I know it's hard to keep a clean sheet
When their strikers seem out to harm you
But if you could take back a broken throw-in
Wouldn't the score only be one to two?

(Extended guitar solo)

Sometimes we need a corner...on our
own
Sometimes we need McConnachie...all alone
Everybody needs a cross...
No Subs own (goal)
Don't you know we need to win...all alone (at the top of the table!)

And when you drop Thom with a slide
And a penalty kick remains
I know that you can't blame me
When there's no one left (to take it) but James
So never mind the keeper
You still can find a way
'Cause a hat trick lasts forever
In the cold November rain

Don't ya think next week 'Gers need some bodies?
Don't ya think that 'Gers need everyone?
Rangers need everybody
Against Petro Kickers
You're not the only one! 

Next match:

FC77 Rangers vs. Petro Kickers

Saturday, November 15th, 2008

12:00 noon KO

Montessori Earth School