Handball journeys

 Herein the current projections for the European Handball League a month ahead of the last 16 round But before that we have a mouth-watering PSG - USAM later today I must admit that was too unwise not to travel. USAM were down by 8 goals at the break after a very poor start. We then reduced the arrears for 5 mins. Then relinquished up to 11 mins left on the clock now trailing by ten. We then had a pride bounce back spike and at some point back to within four. With 17 seconds left on the clock Matt scored PSG's 36 and we lost by five. I did not travel on this occasion and I can only imagine how I would have felt and behaved. I was not similing during the match nor at the end but at least I did not have to hide my disappointment in front of both the Paris and Nimes players and coaching staff. Our season is well and truly over league wise. In Europe we are playing for pride as there is no automatic qualification for any of next year's ones. We have two meetings against St Raphael,

  Kiel – Montpellier   23 Feb 2022 Sagosen on duty after 45 seconds Wiencek with an eye injury still finds the net but Bataille battles well 2-1 2’45 Sego saves from Wiencek and then from Pekeler A lot of empty seats. Covid as a reason. They exchanged pennants. A lot of noise in the Sparkassen Arena Landin keeps it tight 3-1 5’30 Bilyk close to passive play gets number five but Montpellier keeps at it 5-3 8’30 Wienhold finds space where nobody does 6-3 10’ Sagosen winces and gets it right 7-4 11’40 This time Sego read Weinhold attempt low on his near post Valou gets the old-fashioned way past Niklas Landin 7-5 13’  Julien Bos responds to Reinkind in very similar fashion Where’s the Montpellier defence as Pekeler is on his own 10-6 15’45 Hugo Descat opens wide then shots inside Reinkind top corner, a beauty. Wiencek line play was sublime 12-8 17’40 But then gets a bit accommodating with his no defence attitude 12-9 18’15 Kiel ought to win so as to

 AEK – USAM So many other big matches Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday Revenge after home defeat Missed it so do not tell me the result. I watched it late and that was a nightmare. A lot of empty seats. Still no goals after 2 minutes Quick Jimenez fires in and Mo responded after 3 minutes 1-1 Jimenez again top corner in a passive defence 2-1 Remi saves well from a Greek counter It is a football atmosphere and not a handball one 3-1 already for AEK 6’ Mika was expecting the ball and it never came to him Very good wing goal by AEK by Evangelos 4-1 7’20 Time out of course Even 5-1 after empty goal Only yellow cards to avoid too many 2 minutes???? Another unorthodox goal to concede 6-2 10’ Julien Rebichon with his new hair cut scores an easy one Jimenez was inside when he scored that number seven Empty goal and Mylonas scores despite Mika attempt 8-3 11’50 A 7-meter and a 2-mninute and a goal conceded. Argh 9-4 13’10 Another empty goal error 10-4. Nightmare. I would have been so unhappy ha

  Nantes – Cocks 15 February 2022 Baptiste on the wing to make it 2-1 3’20 4-2 7’ 5-4 10’ Should talk to Marlene. Rushing the counter to no effect. Even a win in Europe does not guarantee a Champions League spot unlike what football does I need to book that weekend but what tests to be taken for Germany? Polish refs right to blow. That was dangerous on Portela. Valero on the 7-meter 6-5 12’45 Michael Robin beaten by an old school goal initiated in unorthodox manner Good steal Ovnicek 8-6 14’40 The Lisbon trip that is never to materialise! Buda on the escape a week-end after a Bank Holiday. But is it not the presidential elections weekend? Living to the regrets. Excellent Monar goal but disputable disqualification. Strange one. Dragan gets it easy 11-7 20’ A huge miss by Theo on the counter. Alexandre with no mercy 12-8 22’ David Balaguer scores a clever one 13-8 23’ 13-10 25’ Alexandre finds some space in the middle to make it a 4-goal game Ryb

  NIMES – PELISTER EHF EUROPEAN LEAGUE 15 Feb 2022 Has Francoise gone to my seat? Slovak refs After 2 mins Sanad equalised after the Macedonian team led through a well drilled line play On the stroke of luck Sanad gets the ball from Remi 2-1 3’10 Remi cannot do anything when no defence Sanad scores his third 3-2 4’ Slovak refs not stopping the clock Mandalinic scores the 7-meter 3-3 5’30 Sanad missed the 7-meter well saved by the keeper who did his video review Taboada scores a beautiful one 3-4 7’30 Well saved by remi after a passive play not given and the travelling not given and the ball recovered by Pelister Sanad reacted well 4-4 9’45 Velkovski finds the interval after a Taboada release 4-5 10’ Turnover as missed pass by USAM A time out would be a good idea Good line play and trailing by 2 4-6 12’ Quentin Minel nice jump 5-6 12’45 Gradan is getting the right mobility 5-7 13’25 Twice the same foul and double suspension to Pelister We must use it Well done Sanad despite Tabaoda Rebi

  Baia Mare – Neptunes de Nantes 14-13 at half time Bizarre match where Mare got to a difficult start then inflicted a 4-0. A couple of turnovers. Not many saves by the respective keepers. Some odd decisions from the refs especially one on minute 29’ Guillaume Saurina ladies suffering despite Ondona and Stromberg Hagman was fairly quiet and sparingly used to be fair. Both teams not using the wing play as much as I would like them   to. My wishes getting heard at the restart as wing play initiated by Neptune but Pandzic cut it short Lovely wing goal by Fujota from Baia 15-13 32’ Both coaches needing mineral water to cool down Finstad Bergum low shot and Sandra responded well Tirle double miss and the keepers are making themselves heard Finally, the first two minutes. Two in a row and Naemi Ardouin drawing it level 16-16 36’ Hagman on the counter as Baia are short-handed 16-17 37’ 18-18 40’ Hagman responds to Laslo but Baia still ahead 20-19 43’ How can it