This is an appreciation of Simon, drummer for Rubinthecubin.

Simon Ink.,as different from Gashead Simon, is a drummer for the band Rubinthecubin and is one of our relatively new players. He is quite good in goal, actually diving to make a save, and does these mazy, long dribbles, which are quite exciting to watch until Simon gets a crunching tackle from Big Dave or his brother Stevo.
Simon Ink.also has a tendency to shoot off-target. It might sound counter-intuitive but it makes sense in our standard of five-seven a side footie to shoot closer to the goalkeeper. This would make the goalie work for a save or the goalie might drop the ball and this would lead to a brilliant goal.

For instance, when Spizz shoots, invariably he is quite accurate. Then, he spoils the moment by half-collapsing with his puffer, if he has had to make a strong run to get into the shooting position.

We scrapped through with a 4-3 win!!

We scrapped through with a 4-3 win last week. The winner was a lucky ricochet when their goalie tried to kick the ball out and it hit Alan M. and went in. We were playing against Big Dave and Spizz. The punk star had a solid game but did not have the same goal opportunities as in previous weeks. Big Dave was a tower of strength although there was some debate from Alan M., who claimed he was on the wrong end of a studs-up challenge, but it was nothing really.
Our side was helped out by one of the guys from the previous game. Tony could really play football and scored two amazing goals. He could actually pass and the Guv'nor benefitted from the decent passing game that followed. I was moaning to Gashead about passing to Tony P., his big mate, rather than me once. I was in the clear while Tony P. was being marked by Big Dave's brother Stevo. Dohhhh!!
www.manutd.com
I put in the Man U. link because Stevo is a big fan although his first true love is Ayr United. Stevo had a pretty strong game overall. He was part of an attacking trident including Ross, who is also a Man Utd fan and Joe.
Ross's game has gone up a few gears. He was always good at direct runs but now he is getting consistently a goal a game. Now, Ross is really delivering an end product. He is also brave and I have never seen him complain about the strong tackling he can receive. (I complained on his behalf!)
Joe is a relative newcomer to our game and also scored a good goal. His passing has come on streets and bounds. Joe now always plays the easy ball unlike Gashead.
Since the blog has started I have wanted to open it up to guest contributors. So watch this space!! It could feature Ross, who is in a band called
Rubinthecubin.
No news about the Deutschlandtour but I can contact an old mate in Barcelona about setting up a return game to gain revenge after our one and only drubbing in the Catalan capital. We got whacked because their referee was an old fusspot blowing up all the time booking Stevo in the process. We also did not have a specialist goalkeeper. Nobody but nobody wanted to go in goal.

Spizz had a brilliant game last week!!

This Friday I am really looking forward to the game. Last week I actually played something resembling a six-a-side football player. We raced to a 3-0 lead but got pegged back thanks to Big Dave and Spizz playing really well. The punk star got a good goal and spent a productive time in goal, when the team took on a more conventional shape. Spizz does have a tendency to lead the attack and rather forsake his tracking back
duties.
Our star players were Tony, who can really hold the ball up, and Sam, who is in sixth form college and actually knows how to play football. Sam, notwithstanding being nearly 33 years younger than me, actually passes to the Guv'nor.
No more news about the Deutschlandtour but I will keep you, dear readers,
posted.
Big Sam D. says he will be back soon after a few more evening shifts. In the pub after the game me and Spizz started chatting about pension plans as you do. The rock'n roller quipped that he hoped REM would do a cover version of "Captain Kirk."

Spizz bags another brace but we still lose.

The Deutsches Fussballorganiser has not turned down the idea of a bit of a footy match in Germany. I said to Mick that I was the new Cafu and needed to be selected for the right back position. However, I going to have to own up to a distinct lack of pace and will probably end up a late impact substitute to soak up time. I am trying to work on my pace but suffer from the handicaps of wearing glasses and having a pin in my leg.

Spizz bagged another brace of goals last Friday night. It was like vintage Maradona, a combination of grace and power. However, we were soon 1-4 down and thanks to Spizz and Big Dave, we got our noses ahead to 5-4 only to let in two soft goals at the end. I seemed to spend an inordinate time in goal and so next week I will strive to spend more time on the pitch.

For the 14th of May there has been a change of plan and SpizzEnergi will be supporting the legendary New York Dolls at the 100 Club. Spizz said they would be headlining a date in September. Spizz and I reminisced about the Dolls' performance on "Old Grey Whistle Test". Spizz said that Bob Harris was a bit sniffy about the Dolls and did not get it.

By September, we will be well into a new football season and have more of an idea of the German trip. I would prefer to play in October just to get into some shape and we could have a few practice games since eleven-a-side is not our forte.