Max Goalman > Quotes

“That should have made me happy, I guess, but things had been easier when they underestimated me. I shoved those thoughts out of my head. Paul said that soccer is never supposed to be easy because nothing worth doing ever is. If they weren’t going to make it easy on me, I should take it as a compliment and try a little bit harder. Then I figured something out. I could use their fear of me to our team’s advantage. While the two best offensive players on their side were worried about me, they couldn't try and get into a scoring position themselves. I broke hard for the right corner, and they followed me. I hoped they couldn’t see me grin because they totally fell for my trap. Vince threw the ball in near Percival, who only dribbled a few feet before passing it toward the enemy goal. Seamus and the striker realized they’d been had. They both zipped after the ball, leaving me in the dust. I let them get ahead, and then pushed myself as hard as I could. The looks on their faces when I ran past them were so hilarious. They both tried to pick up the speed, too. But they had been hauling a lot of extra weight up and down the field all day. My smaller body worked to my advantage. That didn’t mean I wasn’t tired as all get out. I concentrated on breathing evenly, instead of gasping like a landed fish. I felt the grass under my cleats, the wind going through my sweat-soaked hair, and fell into a kind of trance.”
― Max Goalman, The Next Messi: Soccer Books for Kids 8-12

“and my distraction made me fall behind.”
― Max Goalman, The Next Messi: Soccer Books for Kids 8-12

“Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.”
― Max Goalman, The Next Messi: Soccer Books for Kids 8-12

“Highlanders played thought the same thing?” I sat up on the edge of the bed. “All of those teams that they beat.” He sat up too, finally getting my point. “I see what you mean, Max. It’s logical to try to counter an offensive blitz with a strong defensive strategy. But the Highlanders have no doubt faced exactly that strategy before.” “Yeah, that’s exactly what I was saying. What if we work our butts off, get our strategy down, and play our hearts out… and we still can’t win?” I shook my head. “I don’t want to doubt the coaches or anything, but shouldn’t we have a backup strategy?” Geezer laughed and laid back down. “I imagine that Alistair the Mustache Musketeer has a back-up strategy, a back-up back-up strategy, and a back-up strategy for that one if they all fail. Relax, Max. Focus on executing the strategy.” “I know, I know… I’m just worried, that’s all.” “Max, you’re pretty good at thinking on your feet, and we’ve all seen how hard”
― Max Goalman, The Next Messi Book 2: European Challenge

“But”
― Max Goalman, The Next Messi Book 2: European Challenge

“watched the sun come up on game”
― Max Goalman, The Next Messi Book 2: European Challenge

“GOALS “Starting something new is like a one-person game of Jenga – just when you think you’ve got it all together, everything falls apart again!”
― Max Goalman, The Next Messi: Soccer Books for Kids 8-12

“The rules of soccer are very simple: if it moves, kick it. If it doesn't move, kick it until it does.”
― Max Goalman, The Next Messi: Soccer Books for Kids 8-12

“I was breaking normally again, without the wet sniffling sound. Their goaltender looked downright”
― Max Goalman, The Next Messi: Soccer Books for Kids 8-12

“us”
― Max Goalman, The Next Messi Book 2: European Challenge

“the next Messi.”
― Max Goalman, The Next Messi: Soccer Books for Kids 8-12

“You don’t have a real rivalry unless both”
― Max Goalman, The Next Messi Book 2: European Challenge