I’m confused. I could swear the Super Reds played some decent stuff at times and ran the game for chunks. So how comes we let in 4 goals, they hit the woodwork at least twice and Steele made 3 amazing saves? Well, perhaps some clues could be had from the goals conceded:
#1. Free header from a corner. Tudgay is the ‘marker’ as Deeney heads home. Presumably Hill did his homework and assigned the centre halves to other players? (Their centre halves?)
#2. Everyone in the away end sees their bloke break down the left. Everyone in the away end knows the player he’s just played it to is going to backheel the ball for player #1 to run onto. Unfortunately, Crainie doesn’t and the player is now free. No worries, we have plenty of other defenders available. Only Foster stands and stares, doesn’t bother closing down, electing to stay with his man. Their left back cannot believe he’s got a free run at goal from virtually the corner flag and pokes it through Steele’s legs from an angle.
#3. Hilarious this one. Crainie is pulled up for a foul and while he’s arguing with the ref (even bothering to make sure he’s no longer ‘goal side’) they take it quick. Their centre forward drops back a couple of paces to take possession and drills it into the bottom corner while Foster (who’s attention he has evaded) stands rooted. (This is the same Foster, btw, who the others will tell you is MotM – well, that’s what they said in the pub.)
#4. McNulty finds himself completely the wrong side of their man and tries to do what he has systematically failed to do all match – tackle somebody. Needless to say, he ends up bringing down the man and the penalty is despatched confidently.
The second goal was the killer. At the start of the second half, it was all us. In fact, I was just complaining to Salisbury that the ball had been down the far end too long and I wanted some action where we were. One attack later and it’s 2-0. Over and out. Goodnight Barnsley FC.
However, even in the first half we more than matched them. The catalyst for this was probably the enforced subbing of an injured Mellis, for Dawson. The bloke in front allowed himself a chuckle as I told Mellis he limps faster than he runs (I swear this is true. No, not that I made the comment, or that the bloke laughed. But Mellis even put a jog on as he limped off). Dawson came on and for the rest of the half took the game to them. Tho perhaps the highlight was when he ran 20 yards to foul their player (who was shepherding it out for a goal kick) then told him to f*** off when he put his hand up, wanting to be helped him up. That’s the spirit, Stephen!
Sinclair missed the best (only?) chance. Through on goal, by rounding the keeper he gave the defender that extra second to get back and the resulting shot was duly cleared off the line.
Christ, nearly forgot MotM, ie, the whole point of this e-mail.
*** Steele. Couldn’t blame him for the goals and kept us in it with some super saves.
** Dawson. Cracking 15 minutes, then disappeared.
* Greening. Solid.
Oh, and guess who we shared the train with back to London? Well, none other than Mr Greening, who was off to London to see a musical with the missus (‘Wicked’, since you ask). No, he doesn’t like musicals, no, he won’t enjoy it cos we’ve lost, but he’s definitely looking forward to his lie in tomorrow, without 3 kids crawling all over him. Anyway, he seemed a decent chap. As all north-easterners are. No-one gave him a hard time, since he had yet another good game. Oh, and he was also a bit annoyed that we’d conceded that 2nd goal when we were in control of the match.
As for the fans today, not a big turnout (no surprise there) but time is running out for Hill. It is now officially ‘Bobby Hassell’s red and white army’ and 10/10 for my favourite chant….’Rochdale, it’s just like watching Rochdale’. If we lose to Washday in a fortnight, Hill needn’t worry about what the players eat and drink over Xmas, cos he simply won’t be there.
Despatches:
If Jim O'Brien cannot get into our team, we must be pushing for promotion. Once again he came on, looked keen and was sadly only let down by the other 9 or 10 outfield players. Reuben also looked keen ('We need bloody Lazarus' cried one wag).
As for bl**dy awful, how s*** must a fit Hassell be if he's behind Crainie, Stones and Wiseman for a right back berth and Foster, Wiseman and McNulty (and probably Collins) for a centre half spot? Crainie looks woeful to me at right back. Certainly worse than an out of form Stones. And problies about level with a Wiseman.
And McNulty? I am so gutted to see how such a fine player from last season has imploded. He looks absolutely shocking at the moment, game after game. Beckenbauer can seemingly do nought right, whether it's passing, tackling, marking, or strolling out of defence with the ball. Dare I say it, right now, he's reminiscent of Dangerous Brian (O'Callaghan).
What did cheer me up was seeing the return of Tim....also Caton came out...a pile of kids (even young Yasmin didn't seem as moody as usual) and Ben 10 showed what a gentleman he was by scoring an own goal winner in the table football to ensure we were beaten by 2 girls with a combined age of 14 (Yasmin and Lily).
It was that kind of day. (ps, we played well in patches, but despite some solid goalkeeping, a couple of fine strikes and some diabolical defensive play led to a flurry of goals and comprehensive defeat...anyway, I should've just stayed in the pub...I'd already seen the future!)
oh yes, forgot to add - we actually scored, last kick of the game. Their bloke f***s up and hands it to Tudgay on a plate.
No comments:
Post a Comment