If we were going to sack Coach Collins, don’t simply pass the chalice to one of the coaches from the same set up. Aren’t they PART of the problem? Looked like it. The team was the same, the tictacs were the same, the formation was the same, the boredom threshold crossing was remarkably similar. (I spent the game sat next to a yawning Gally.) If you want a short term boost, bring in Colin (Warnock), a manager with impeccable credentials, a Reds association, is available, and, crucially, would have jumped at the chance. Instead, we sleepwalk in to the play-offs and inevitable battering off Bolton. (I’d go 10-0-0 and try to keep the score down.)
Still, it was great for 20 minutes. The Ponty was vaguely raucous. Maybe getting rid of Collins IS enough for some people? We went ahead, a long diagonal played back beautifully to the edge of the box by Phillips, for Herbie to sidefoot home from the edge of the box. ‘Devaney has TRANSFORMED Kane’, I message in jest. Thereafter, we slowly sucked the life out of the game, and the fans. Cole had a chance, but what was he doing? Heads the ball forwards, runs onto it, and has his shot blocked. Was that the last time he touched the ball?
Otherwise, Jordan saves a certain goal 1st half, overtaking MdG and their centre forward to get the block on, while 2nd half, he runs across the backline to save us at left back. Otherwise, Northampton don’t look much. Indeed Coach Devaney must be confident, he takes off our player of the season (unannounced, btw, was that part of the ‘lap of appreciation’ cancellation?) McAtee to give Jalo a runout. We have 20 minutes of him losing the ball every time he had it. Into the last 10, it’s Cosgrove’s time for a runout, at Cole’s expense. And in a move that simply makes my BLOOD BOIL, he spurns a two on one to head to the corner flag. What made it worse was that he paused, thought about it, then decided we’d be better off wasting 4 seconds than scoring a killer 2nd. I HATE this about football, particularly when it’s BFC. What message does this send to the opposition, other than we have no intention of scoring a goal and they can commit as many men forward as possible? They do, and they score.
It is the 6th minute of a minimum 4 mins of injury time. Just desserts. The cherry on the icing on top of the cake (what cake has cherry and icing on it? None that I know….and don’t say a Bakewell Tart. That’s a tart.) If only the other results hadn’t gone our way, there could be a valuable lesson learnt here. Instead, I expect Coach Collins Devaney to spend half a day on the training pitch this week on ‘how to waste time properly’. Cos the defence, midfield and forwards have been coached all season, presumably on how to defend, set up chances, and score goals. And how’s that gone? Worse by the match. Where’s Colin when you need him?
Onwards and upwards!
*** Jordan Williams. Back to his best defensively, even if he was playing in a back 3 again. (Plus ca change!)
** No-one. I’ve had to look at the teamsheet again to try and think of anybody.
* No-one. Anybody. Did I imagine McAtee flitting about?
Official MOTM: You know, I can’t remember. I know it wasn’t Jordan Williams, who everyone else I spoke to thought it should be. Who was it? (It was Herbie Kane.)
Londontykes’ MOTM: 1. Jordan Williams 2. De Givigny 3. O’Keefe
Despatches:
Being the last league game of the season, we were promised a ‘lap of appreciation’...I went for a pint of relief. I’m not interested. The club just does my head in on the last day of the season these days. ‘Please keep off the pitch’, ‘let the players come out and do a lap of appreciation.’ Listen, bozos, running on the pitch at the end of a(nother) trying season used to be a highlight. Remember when a fan slipped, took out David Currie, then proceeded to try and rip his shirt off while he was prone? These days, BFC just want the sanitised experience of an audience at a local theatre am-dram production. ‘Well done everybody, good try’ (ripple of applause). Woe betide anybody who wants to make the end of season game anything unlike every other home game this season. Full-time whistle, I was out of there. I hear the club did their usual, take the players off, wait too long to come back on….so some (very few fans) invaded the pitch…and the club cancelled the ‘lap of appreciation’, presumably the whole while banging out messages on the PA about ‘fans leaving the pitch’, trying to guilt trip them that they’re ruining the experience for everyone else, while a few in the stands boo. The club has ruined what used to be a traditional spectacle. I’m not interested. ‘Think of the children, they want to see the players come out’. Do they? When I was a young lad (and I was one, once) I’d have much rather seen, or been part of, a pitch invasion than clap like a seal at Herbie Kane.
Oh, did I say ‘the more things change, the more they remain the same’? Collins Devaney made one last sub, sending on Cotter for O’Keefe…and a minute later they score. Our substitutions the last month have only gone one way on the pitch. However, one thing that HAS changed (from last season) is the form of Luca Connell. He was dreadful today, couldn’t even pass a square ball. Nevermind the transfer ins and outs, last summer, the one reason we’re nothing like as good as last season is because Luca Connell is nothing like as good as last season. I’m really sorry he had that illness, but it’s time to face facts: he’s never getting back to what he was. He is now just an average 3rd division player. We are now just an average 3rd division team.
Roll on Bolton...
Drink du jour: Leffe on the train, House Party IPA (lots of it) in Spiral City. Best pub visit of the season. Let’s kick-off half 12 every week!
Away: c.1,500
The Damage:
£18.50 ent (£370 season ticket / 20 games attended 23/24)
£11 train
= £11
***The player of the season palaver continued. The following Monday, it was announced Player of the Year was Adam Phillips. It is becoming standard amongst the Reds voting fraternity to ignore anything before January. It is a truth universally acknowledged that Phillips didn’t turn up until the turn of the year. Indeed, his rejuvenation coincided with Devante Cole’s disappearance. Are they the same player?
Young player of the year? Usually chosen by the manager (head coach)...but he was sacked the week before. Anyway, Aidan Marsh won it.
Players’ player of the year? Keeper Roberts, on loan from Boro. They must’ve ignored the kast 2 months, then. Maybe he’s hilarious in the changing room?
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