Beware the Vipers

[Mr X]

Looks like ex-Athelstone Gun Midfielder has slipped in with ease as the coach of Saturday side - The Vipers - currently unbeaten and equal top after 4 rounds, cna the former EA Patriots (yes sounds like a Video Game) - continue forward and maintain its current for to jump up to Div 2?

Team Played Win Draw Lost Goal For Goal Against Goal Diff Points
SALISBURY VILLA 4 4 0 0 19 2 17 12
COMETS 4 4 0 0 22 5 17 12
VIPERS FC 4 4 0 0 13 1 12 12

[Wraith]

Yes, i can say that the boys as a team have been a working very hard so far, but the job isnt done yet.

Some very tough opposition in div 3, so keeping our feet firmly on the ground, taking it 'week by week'.

[TheWingBack]

3 teams on 4 wins from 4 games and 2 other teams on 3 wins from 4 games so it's looking to be a very tough season in this division for all teams involved.

Btw Mr X, John keeps saying he's really a defender and that's why he swans around as sweeper for the A's.

[Hawkesy]

Big game for Vipers this weekend against one of the strongest teams in the league.

[Lucas Leiva]

We look forward to any team we're trying to face, regardless of if they've conceded 25 goals or won four straight like us.

It may be easy for others outside of the division to say that some of our accomplishments - winning four straight and not conceding since the first 20 minutes of the season - aren't representative of anything given the quality of some opponents, but I think regardless of any team in any div that is still a considerable feat! We've scored scissor kicks, long bombs, headers, volleys...nothing short of champagne football!

So far, so good

[Hawkesy]

We look forward to any team we're trying to face, regardless of if they've conceded 25 goals or won four straight like us.

It may be easy for others outside of the division to say that some of our accomplishments - winning four straight and not conceding since the first 20 minutes of the season - aren't representative of anything given the quality of some opponents, but I think regardless of any team in any div that is still a considerable feat! We've scored scissor kicks, long bombs, headers, volleys...nothing short of champagne football!

So far, so good

I'll reserve judgement until you've played comets and villa, as you say 3 teams with 100% records. But so far, so good.

[Calo67]

Why the name change after one season?

[Wraith]

Because we saw changing the name to Vipers as a positive step for the club. It is a far more vibrant, uplifting name, and it fits in to our long term goals.

The feedback we have had from players, sponsors & spectators has all been great.

Thats correct Hawkesy, i too am waiting to see the results from when we play Villa & Comets, (and also R/B Eagles) as i think it is a good measuring stick for all 4 teams.

[Kitchimo]

Vipers were no better than Adelaide Tigers yesterday. Our keeper only made one save early in the first half - all the five goals were from defensive errors (although the indirect freekick was class! ) - poor marking mostly, which will happen at C grade level. We have to cop it on the chin and improve because that's no excuse though.

The ref was shocking - if another ref had been there both teams would have probably finished with 8 or 9 men. He told us before the game that he liked to 'let play go' !!! Amazingly he pulled out one yellow card but no-one seemed to know what it was for ?

As for the division, if Tigers were more disciplined they would be up there. Comets are the best team we've come up against technically and tactically. Our coach decided to play some weird formation against Salisbury Villa that no-one had ever played before and we were 4-0 after ten minutes because we only had 3 at the back! We pushed Tigers and hit the post twice, but their second goal (a penalty) on the hour forced us to lose concentration. We sucked against McClaren Vale missing 5 of the players who played yesterday (but again that's no excuse).

Apart from against Comets and S.Villa I felt we could match it with the other teams we played, but let ourselves down with some extremely poor decisions, which comes from our inexperience. The division has split now for me. There is clearly a 'top 5' from which two will be promoted (Comets, S.Villa, Vipers, RB Eagles, Tigers) and the 'bottom 7' from which four will go down (Murray Bridge, McClaren Vale, Torrens Valley, Flinders Cs, Old Ignatians Cs, Strathalbyn, Burundi Eagles).

Comets and S.Villa had the ability to simply pass the ball around us with ease. I think they will both be the ones to go up.

It's hard when you are a C grade side but it's all a learning experience. Hopefully we can get some wins/points on the board (we played 4 of the 'top 5' in our first 5 games) in the next 6 games to make the second half of the season a tight contest.

[Wraith]

I guess we will just have to wait and see who does what.

[Lucas Leiva]

Loved it when the referee stopped and started pulling the card out whilst the game was being played behind him

TBH Iggies played better than us in the second half, but TBH once again you can't let in 5 goals in the first half and still consider it a close game. Having said that, I see Iggies getting their first point of the season very soon. Good luck to them.

[Missing Post Count]

if Tigers were more disciplined they would be up there.

This is pretty much what I said last season with regards to them and the African Allstars. A lot of the play tends to be adrenalin fueled and there were several instances where they needed to be more disciplined.

[Mr X]

The Vipers with another comprehensive win,

big test this week against the currently undefeated Para Hills West (3rd Sunday Div 1)

Did John have the spies out last Sunday?

[Wraith]

Looking forward to the challenge of playing Para Hills West - should be a good game.

Theyve had a great start to the season so far, so its good to be playing a team thats in good form.

[To Mati]

Looking forward to the challenge of playing Para Hills West - should be a good game.

Theyve had a great start to the season so far, so its good to be playing a team thats in good form.

As much as I don't enjoy saying it, I'm tipping PHW (a full strength side) to flog the Vipers.

[Wraith]

The boys put in fantastic effort, and were very competitive.

Even though we lost 5-2, for a Sat Div 3 team (1st year might i add) it was a great showing against a Sunday Div 1 team.

[gee_kay]

what happened with murray bridge game???????????????????????????????????????????????

[To Mati]

If you don't play that well as a unit, you don't achieve. The vipers looked a little fitter than them, but they just couldn't gel it together. A silly penalty, Sloppy passes, and other defensive errors were partly to blame. The strikers were doing ok, testing the MB keeper out quite a bit with some great shots, however the keeper was outstanding in my opinion.

[Kitchimo]

If you don't play that well as a unit, you don't achieve. The vipers looked a little fitter than them, but they just couldn't gel it together. A silly penalty, Sloppy passes, and other defensive errors were partly to blame. The strikers were doing ok, testing the MB keeper out quite a bit with some great shots, however the keeper was outstanding in my opinion.

Murray Bridge found a keeper!

[swannsong]

The warnings about Vipers are seeming to be true.
Very close league with Vipers undefeated on top with only 4 points separating the top 5 teams !

[Lucas Leiva]

That's right Swanny, there are no rumours about the Vipers anymore, just plain fact in plain b&w - we are back on top

Maybe Bodo the glam fan will grace our presence when we face Salisbury Villa and give everyone a run-down of our true potential?

[Missing Post Count]

That's right Swanny, there are no rumours about the Vipers anymore, just plain fact in plain b&w - we are back on top

Maybe Bodø the glam fan will grace our presence when we face Salisbury Villa and give everyone a run-down of our true potential?

Glam fan... I've never been called that before. When do you play Salisbury Villa? I know it's not next week because I pencilled in Comets v Salisbury Villa and your game against Strathalbyn in my short list for next saturday, but perhaps I could wait until you play the Villa.

[Lucas Leiva]

We play S Villa in two weeks at home...we would be honoured by the "glam fan"'s presence! Yes, you can claim it as your new handle if you'd like

I'm assuming that when that game comes around we'll both be equal on points at the top, so...

[Missing Post Count]

I've just looked at the SAASL website. It says SALISBURY VILLA vs VIPERS FC [15:00]. Are you sure it's at your ground and not Salisbury?

[Lucas Leiva]

Ah - you're right Bodo. Apologies...anyway all the cracking matches in Div 3 happen this month (where Vipers, Comets and Villa all play each other), so take your pick I guess!

Hopefully we'll see you in the next fornight

[gee_kay]

Game on saturday really a tale of two halves. Vipers came out the hungrier and better side comets very sloppy. First goal was well worked second really came form nothing 30 yard strike that went over the keepers head. Second half was all comets creating chance after chance but unable to put the ball in the net. Well done to Vipers who are a good bunch of lads. Only downside for them is one player who thinks spitting at others is fine(he knows who he is)

[Wraith]

Game on saturday really a tale of two halves. Vipers came out the hungrier and better side comets very sloppy. First goal was well worked second really came form nothing 30 yard strike that went over the keepers head. Second half was all comets creating chance after chance but unable to put the ball in the net. Well done to Vipers who are a good bunch of lads. Only downside for them is one player who thinks spitting at others is fine(he knows who he is)

What a goal by Geladaris

Contender for goal of the year that one.

[TheWingBack]

The next few weeks should be interesting for the Vipers and give some idea of how the league will sort itself out.

Comets and Salisbury Villa play this week in a clash of equal top vs 3rd.

Vipers and Salisbury Villa the week after while Comets play Adelaide Tigers who are in the top group.

Then it's Vipers vs Red/Blue who are also in the top group while Salisbury Villa play Adelaide Tigers.

And then we're back to play everyone again and the Vipers start off with Adelaide Tigers.

After all these games which will be hard for all the teams just mentioned and in particular Adelaide Tigers, Salisbury Villa and the Vipers, we should get a fair indication of how all the teams sit against each other. Having said that though, there still a lot of games to go and some of the lower teams in Div 3 seem to be getting better and are likely to pinch games and points off of the top teams.

I think this is going to be a very interesting division.

[sgray]

Agreed. Some of the bottom teams definitely have the ability to pinch a few points off the top 3-4 teams as witnessed a couple of weeks ago with Murray Bridge and Vipers.
Also good to see Salisbury Villa back in the league and not surrounded by ill-informed opinions on their on/off field behaviour.

[Lucas Leiva]

I'm sure most have noticed that teams such as Murray Bridge, Burundi, Iggies, and Torrens Valley have started to pick up points as compared to the start of the season when they gave them away for free...I think the next few rounds are only the beginning of a very interesting second half to the season!