"No Joao today". The words explode like a stun grenade in the dressing room, the upbeat vibe shattered in an instant as everyone stares at the floor and carries on putting on kit in silence. "No Adam either...or Gregg, Russell or Bilal". No one dare say it, but a communal thought hung heavy like a black cloud..we're going to struggle today. Joe Paul Scholes is making his midfield debut today and has a massive task to step up and fill the huge hole in the middle of the team, where usually both the Recreativo brain and heart would be.
"What are the opposition like?" Max asks.
"Absolute shite" is the reply, a little white lie to con our youngsters into feelings of superiority and feed their youthful cockiness.
Some of us older lads are completely whacked by the time we've warmed up and nervously peer over at the Llamas, resplendent in their Villa Real yellow kit and with probably only one or two players shorter than 6ft tall. We awaited their WAGS to follow, to pour more scorn on us scruffy Hackney boys.
After last week's fatal self destruction Nick turns to us and says, "We have nothing to lose!". We certainly can not stoop any lower than last week's debacle and so charge into this game from the off. Whether it was the sunshine, or exorcising the demon's of last week's shame, a little piece of magic fluttered across this small corner of North London today as some quite exquisite football unravelled from the team in Roma red. Max and Connor ran their back line ragged at times, linking up with Aaron and Joe with neat triangular passing, one-twos straight from the Barcelona skills manual.
After last week's fatal self destruction Nick turns to us and says, "We have nothing to lose!". We certainly can not stoop any lower than last week's debacle and so charge into this game from the off. Whether it was the sunshine, or exorcising the demon's of last week's shame, a little piece of magic fluttered across this small corner of North London today as some quite exquisite football unravelled from the team in Roma red. Max and Connor ran their back line ragged at times, linking up with Aaron and Joe with neat triangular passing, one-twos straight from the Barcelona skills manual. Despite conceding three, Recreativo were deserved winners today, Connor scoring once and Max grabbing a much merited hat-trick. Despite missing so many quality players today, everyone else had a chance to stand up and be counted and in fact be part of Recreativo's best team performance of the season. With a six point double-header coming up next, it's going to be a headache selecting the team.
Team: James Humphreys, Mario Pisano (Marcus du Sautoy), Nick Candy, Jimmy Lloyd, Joe Dunthorne, Aaron Gayle, Chris Read, Joe Paul Scholes, Tino (John Megaughin), Max Bland, Connor Joseph. Sick notes: Bilal and Stef (fighting at the Latin disco), Adam (family duties), Joao Spinola (family duties), Russell (dad's birthday), Jimmie (in kit but worn down by kids football), Gregg (unknown).