Fight or flight for Masques

[fathands3k]

After another disappointing result for Masques Sacrés following a 4-0 defeat to current league leaders F.C. Kaapstad, we managed to get an interview with Masques star striker, Luke Walker. He had a lot to say about the current season and what he thinks is going wrong.

Hey Luke, great to meet you again. How have you and the team been coping in the last 4 weeks were the results have been less that stellar? Your last win came back on Valentine's Day but since then it seems your team has fallen out of love of winning and currently struggling to get any form in the crucial run up to the end of the season.

Simply put, it's not been great. The performance of the team has dropped that is for sure, something that we can't allow to happen at this level otherwise you get punished. I think all 4 games have been against better opposition (except maybe in one match) but that doesn't excuse how we played in those matches. I don't think you'll find a player who was happy with what happened on the pitch. We gifted away goals and squandered chances of our own. Recipe for disaster. With Krung Thep picking up a vital win against CS Rova Mpanjaka, a team we could only manage a draw against, that puts us dangerously close to the bottom two. Only a matter of weeks ago there was some hope of a title challenge but that has well and truly been extinguished now.

Where do you think it has went wrong for you in the last few matches?

We need to create more and get more shots at goal. If we don't do that we struggle. It's a simple as that. In that regard we do tend to fall behind the best in the league, of which that is FC Kaapstad. I can show you the stats we are working with and what we see and shows us where we are in comparison to them. This is just from the league:

Masques Sacrés

Matchday 1: 20 Shots (Win) (xG - 1.96)
Matchday 2: 11 Shots (Loss) (xG - 1.71)
Matchday 3: 22 Shots (Win) (xG - 2.11)
Matchday 4: 9 Shots (Loss) (xG - 1.05)
Matchday 5: 13 Shots (Draw) (xG - 1.21)
Matchday 6: 12 Shots (Loss) (xG - 1.46)

87 Shots across 6 matches
9.5 xG Total
1.58 average xG per match
0.11 xG per shot

Compare this to Kaapstad:

Matchday 1: 13 Shots (Win) (xG - 1.36)
Matchday 2: 16 Shots (Win) (xG - 2.97)
Matchday 3: 23 Shots (Draw) (xG - 2.88)
Matchday 4: 25 Shots (Win) (xG - 2.26)
Matchday 5: 21 Shots (Win) (xG - 2.67)
Matchday 6: 27 Shots (Win) (xG - 2.96)

125 Shots across 6 matches
15.1 xG Total
2.52 average xG per match
0.12 xG per shot

This shows the margins we need to hit and how we are missing them. Less shots, less xG and our shots when we take them aren't as good a quality chance as they create. Add that together and it's why they are top and we are 4th, 9 points behind and too close for comfort to those bottom spots. To close the gap we need something to click so the chances are more forthcoming so we can compete at the top. But that'll come with time hopefully as players improve. I am all to aware they are one of the better team in the league with slightly more quality of player to rely on.

It sounds to me you are putting the emphasis / blame on others for not creating enough for you to score?

You are better than that, that's bait. My own performances haven't been up to standard either in the last few matches. But you are equally trying to say I expect people to put it on a plate for me every time. That sadly isn't how football is played. A good run creates space, a good pass creates opportunity, a dribble past one or more players creates chaos and decisions to be made. The whole team has to contribute and when it all clicks at the right time a chance is created which needs to be taken, whether it's by me or someone else. Teamwork will have to improve to get better results and we have to show we want it more than the team we are playing. That is the bare minimum.

How do you expect the rest of the season to pan out for Masques?

I expect us to fight to stay in this division. We have been woefully inconsistent in the league, unable to string two wins together, not even a win then a draw to keep any momentum going. This has to change. One step forward and one step back isn't progress. We stand still long enough and we will be overtaken. I have full faith in the management to see us through this rough patch. If it is by a change of tactic, additional training or just a good kick in the a** I don't care. All I want is the best for this team and they can rest assured I will be giving it 100% every time I step onto that pitch.

Lastly, where do you feel the team is lacking and should target for next season in the draft, trade or free agency?

That's a question for management, I think we have a good team here and with a few players stepping up a level in the next season or two we will be a strong contender. But management have hard decisions to make every day but whatever they decide I know it'll be the correct decision. We are still a young team, only newly created so we are still forging our path and trying to make our mark against the more established teams here. But we will, that I am certain of and I hope to be part of it and be a leader they can follow behind when doing so.

It's clear from talking to Walker that he is determined to turn the fortunes of this team around. I can't help but want to root for him. While I do believe Masques will stay in Division 1, they cannot afford to stay on the slippery slope they find themselves on currently.

[CamGoldenGun]

1060 words.

I agree, Luke does need to put up a better performance. And our wins, but most importantly, our losses, definitely ride on his scoring or lack thereof ;)