Author: erikcpanzer

Week 5 begun as with the regular Monday routine. We did our rolling, stretching and mobility in the normal place before we had to move to another training ground 5 minutes away. This was because the Foyle Cup is being played this week and the training ground we use is a pitch for games throughout the week. So we trained at a different field, highly sand based, and more like a local park, with only 1 goal having the resemblance of a net on it. No matter the conditions, football is football and you must adapt and that is what we did. A new passing drill at the beginning to sharpen up before we opened up and played, along with some running on the side. It was a good session although the challenges of the surface. It is my understanding that we will be there all week due to the Foyle Cup.

Conveniently enough, the Foyleside Arena is right across the road from the field we were at, so I headed there after training and showered up before we relaxed for 70 minutes. We had our regular gym session which was good as always, and the rhythm is becoming more comfortable as I am now able to challenge myself a bit more and test my strength. We finished the gym session with a good roll out and stretch before Wardy and I were dropped back at his car which was at our regular training ground. There was an under 12 game on that we stayed and watch for 30 minutes before we headed off to the grocery store. We decided that today we would try a different way home, through some back roads that we travelled one day via taxi. It was an adventure to say the least, and certainly took a lot longer than usual, with many wrong turns, but eventually, we made it home. 

 

It was another scorching day outside, and after 4 weeks of clouds and rain, it makes me cherish the sunshine a little more, so I have been making the most of it. I was able to sit in the sun for 2 hours after we got home tonight, which allowed me to finish the book I was reading, The Alchemist. I received the book as a graduation present, and I couldn’t think of a better fit for graduation than to read that.

Once again it was Sunday and we headed off to our hour long yoga session, followed by the ice baths. Yoga has been great I think for my body, however a little difficult to judge progress when we do different things each week. As for the ice bath, it feels like it gets colder and colder every time. Who really knows!

Home by 12, had some food, and then I was finally able to sit outside in the sun, yes the sun and read my book. We had about 4hrs of consistent sunshine and warmth and I made the very most of it. Reading a lot of my book, and soaking in the rays. And to my surprise, I got a little red. I guess after 4 weeks of no sun, my skin wasn’t as conditioned to the sun anymore. Oh well, very well worth it. It was just a lovely day in the sun.

A relaxing evening at home before another week begins in the morning!

Today was game day, so I got to sleep in a little bit after the intense training week had caught up on me. It was a casual day at the house where I did get a few things done. I sent thank yous to all those who wished me a happy birthday, which started a few more conversations with friends. I also finally decided to unpack my suitcase a kind of organize my room. Although I still don’t know how long I will be occupying this room, I thought it was about time to be a little more organized and stop living out of a suitcase. There is now a fair bit more space in the room which is nice!

It also turned into a very special and exciting day for my girlfriend Shannon who is now a registered nurse after she passed her boards. She has a job lined up at Yale New Haven Hospital that she will begin in late July, which is very exciting. I also managed, with the help of a few people, to get flowers and a card delivered to her to make the day even more special. For all that could have gone wrong, it was a complete success!

Like all other game days, I headed in early. This time it was Harry who was out recovering/keeping fit that I worked out with. We got a very good intense 45min session in with a variety of drills, ball skills, ball movement, passing etc. Pearce, the strength and conditioning coach had also set aside a few exercises for us that worked on speed and agility. I finished with a few long runs. Oh and did I forget to mention, it rained again during the session. No pre game training session for me has occurred without rain I don’t think. We got showered up and dried off and then it was game time. 

 

It was a game that Derry should have always won and dominated, and they did just that. Scoring a penalty in the first half to lead 1-0 and then just before the half, a Longford player got his second yellow card and was subsequently sent off. Not too much of half time talk other than be more clinical. And in the second half they were. The game ended 4-0, and puts Derry back on track.

 

It was just another day in the books today, with the routine continuing to tick over. Same routine, with an extended scouting video session to make sure the team was ready for the game tomorrow.

After warming up and playing a few 8v2 circle games we went into 11v11. Kenny named his likely 11 for tomorrows game, and then named another 11 to line up how Longford was likely to lineup. I was in the Longford line up, playing with 3 center backs and 2 wing backs. Unusual for me having only ever played with 2 center backs and a back 4. However the point of the exercise was for the team playing tomorrow to work through how they will play and understand the movement that needs to be made to be effective against the team. Safe to say they were frustrated, however it was a productive exercise, and it was also the first real opportunity I got to see the Manager, Kenny truly step in a speak tactically and offering technical and tactical guidance. I was just glad to be taking part in that part of training instead of being off with the younger boys playing 4v4, and I made sure that although I was there to mimic Longford’s shape and style, I still did what I can as a defender to continue to prove myself and my ability.

After training 5 of us headed back down to the waterfront where the markets were still there and boats still moored. We each found different places to get lunch from the markets. I got a delicious Spanish paella and some french creamy potatoes with bacon bits. Not a bad lunch, but most impressively topped off with a plate of Dutch pancakes with Nutella and strawberry jam. I hope Dad wasn’t too jealous! We wandered the whole waterfront and back to a little coffee shop where we got coffee and tea, before we finally headed home.

A casual evening at the house, keeping track of various Europa League qualifying games in which teams from the Irish leagues were playing in.

 

Today was my birthday, however no one at Derry City FC knew, not even my flatmates. It isn’t something that I publicly announce, nor need a big deal made of it. So long as I am happy and healthy on my birthday, I deem it successful.

Also, it was just another day of training really. Long morning session, quick lunch, then a good gym session and we were done for the day. Training was decent but nothing to new or difficult. Some good passing drills to continue to focus on the little things, and then the same old possession grids. As reported earlier, there was a possibility of me going to another team until January, however that team has already signed a center back. So the manager has to look at things again and said he would reach out to another team and see whether there is an opportunity there. So the bumpy road continues, but Ill just keep training and hope that something comes my way soon.

 

My afternoon was spent responding to birthday wishes, before we went grocery shopping and I treated myself to buying New Zealand Lamb, which I cooked for dinner tonight. Very nice!! Stocked up on groceries for the next 5 odd days or so, seeing as I don’t think I’m going anywhere anytime soon.

And finally, here are the highlights from the recent 5-0 loss to Dundalk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crtJcBDOje0

 

 

 

Today was another lazy day on our day off. All starts with a good sleep in, especially after the intense sessions we had yesterday.

I finally decided today to iMessage as many people as I could in my contacts list with my new UK number. I had yet to inform many of my friends of my new number so, I took the opportunity of a day off to do so. It took about an hour to first just text all those in my contacts. This then created numerous conversations which took another 2-3 hours of responding to. So it was a day of catching up with many friends, some asking why I was in Ireland, others checking in to see how I was doing, and others just thankful they heard from me. A successful exercise if you ask me.

Surprisingly enough, there were segments of time where the sun shined for more than 5min and I happily sat outside in the sun to start reading my new book, The Alchemist. Unfortunately these moments in the sun are tough to come by and so that may hinder my book reading!

I made a very yummy pasta dinner, watched a movie and called it a day!

 

Today was also the start of my fourth week here in Ireland (specifically Northern Ireland), and the time has really flown by to be honest. Like all Monday’s, it was back into routine today. Arrive, foam roll, stretch, mobility. 30min technical scouting of Longford, who Derry play this Friday, and then finally out onto the field. A grueling 100min session, with many similar exercises and drills, however we finally did some structured passing drills which was good because it allowed me to focus on specific aspect of my game; controlling my first touch into a place for me to make the next pass effectively, keeping my head up when the ball is traveling to me to survey options, and most importantly, passing the ball to the receivers correct foot to allow them to take their touch effectively. Then a fitness component was added to it which challenged mental capacity and concentration to still effectively and efficiently pass the ball. All good stuff to better my game. And of course we finished with 8v8 to goal with players on the outside.

A quick shower and then I spoke to the manager briefly to try and get more of an understanding of my situation with the team that he has been speaking to about me. Not much progress there, but hopefully some movement in the next few days as this team plays a friendly next Saturday and I would love to get my feet in the door with this team if it is where I am going to end up! We shall see.

We grabbed some lunch and then headed off to the gym. The gym session was a good challenge and the program is continuing to focus on specific muscles and movements the body does or requires in football, so its all really important work and I do feel stronger because of it.

Home finally for the afternoon around 3.30pm. Surprisingly enough the sun was trying to stay out longer than a few minutes, so I took the opportunity to read my book outside in the sun. Well, it was in and out for about 15-20min, before it began to rain and that was the end of that.

 

After a fun night celebrating Aaron’s birthday, the coach had made a wise decision to push back yoga until 12 instead of 10am. The session was very good and I could certainly feel it in the body, but it was a good pain. It was then time for ice baths, and although I didn’t even play on Friday I put my legs in for 5 minutes. 

Finally we were on our way home. A productive afternoon at home, followed by a fantastic dinner created by myself, and then ending with the Euro final. Not the most entertaining game to watch, but still a great spectacle to end a great tournament. Now that it’s over, what am I going to do with myself?!