Reporting is not always about winning

Easter not well planned

Where to start really? Easter week has the perfect game France v Spain but I am stuck in London having poorly managed this early Easter friendly match and training invitation the day after the first round of France's presidential elections. Covid restrictions having played its part when tickets were on sale. Covid also led to a more frugal lifestyle and it is a struggle to get back into the normal things to do.

European dreams shattered

USAM had an amazing European campaign and a lot of highs and lows this season. Both in the league, cups and Europe the good, the bad and the ugly occurred. I found out that Sir Vranjes is coming next season. Given what is happening with Aix I think it is the right thing to do because he will bring discipline and success as he did with Flensburg. Noelia from Asobal did that amazing interview with him a couple of years ago. Franck Maurice did well and I sometimes disagreed with the tactics and/or player selection. Yann who always kindled winked at me or acknowledged me at home or away matches is in charge until the rest of the season. Velenje comeback almost happened. In many ways this game epitomised our season. Bad luck, courage, hope with last minute failure. 

The hard fought win against Chartres was a must. I could not watch it because it was on beinsports. Thank God I would have lost conpletely in the same way that my days and nights are savagely tarnished by a deafening continuous noise upstairs. 

I had said to Marlene do watch Berlin - Nantes and I am glad the H went through. I was still in the lovely City paradise playing with wordings/clauses, toying with sublimits. By the time I had commuted back home USAM were leading 18-15 at home to Velenje. The bounceback mission was on and I was ready to do my match report.

USAM VELENJE took place on 5 April 2022 and below his second half live match report

18 – 15 break

Petty refs already

We cannot see the time stuck at 30:00 on the EHF TV thing

Sanad gets number 20 for USAM

Nobody touches him ! He missed his shot. Justice that REMI saved it

22-17 34’45

How come only 23-19? I am almost certain the scoreline is wrong.

On 39’ that was a foul. Mental!

Counter back to 4 ! Instead of plus 6

In fairness deserved red card for Luc Tobie after injury to Q Minel

I have the impression we scored more than 25

26-22 with 16 mins left

Great goal

Ibrahim to Nimes mayhem two in a row

Two Bonnefond in a row

How can he get 2 mins?  Wrong appreciation by the refs and I am being honest.

Back to plus 3 only

Venje winger should get 2 mins as well for consistency's sake…

WHAT? NEVER EVER with 11 mins left. This is scandalous. DISGRACEFUL MISTAKE by the refs and you could see it with the players reaction.

We played so much better than them and yet costly 1^st match

Bloody good save so stuck only at 29-27 

10 mins of madness is required as we have to believe in the prodigious bounceback

Too early in a second half with a +5

Slovenian bench is no longer complaining. How bizarre!

We lost 5 seconds out of this loss of memory by such irritating refs

Cheap 7 meter not so much but very annoying after the non-existent one that changed everything

All the efforts to nothing. Loved the calmness of steel by Jacobsen with only a couple of mins left.

That should be a red to the Velenje player but then Mo reacted

How any seconds you let go refs????

Ah if only that defeat in Slovenia were less damaging.

Too quick. After his fairly good first half by Remi, this long range pass at a critical moment was too forceful. And that was THE CHANCE to get to + 7

3 seconds then 4 seconds again wasted by the refs not stopping the clock

35-30

And then the big celebration by Velenje and its staff difficult to acknowledge

Sad for Yann our deputy coach now interim coach until the end of the season with Vranjes coming next season. Thank you for having given a go despite difficult circumstances.

Swiss delight

Joan liked my tweet on his team's going through to the next round. There will be no Lisbon trip for Bruno and I am not sure if Mannheim is calling.

Crystal clear

And the night before Arsenal lost comprehensively to Palace 3-0. Well played and congratulations to the Eagles and happy for Annabella!

It is the Crystals effect. 

In all seriousness the defiant travelling contingent singing despite the humbling defeat was actually the best moment of the night. Handball is better than football except when the wording of songs is such that you have to applaud, smile and laugh. Press laniard to the rescue but the position and the game complexion meant that no real good pics out of it.