‘Walking in a Wilson Wonderland’
And they’re off! The comeback starts here, as the Super Reds whack the Tangy Tangerines by two goals to nil. And god, were we good….Actually, no. We were alright (in parts) but they looked like a team who’d drawn one and lost eight of their last nine games. Which, funnily enough, they had. So we might have to put off the optimism till we beat someone else. Someone better. Despite being on 32 points (12 more than us) a Tangerine I spoke to after the game was convinced they were going down. Us, Blackpool and someone else, then. (Mind, he’d been savvy enough to put a couple of quid on us beating them 2-0…not a bet any of us would’ve put on, I’m sure.)
First 20 minutes, there was a fair amount of chances at either end, then for 20 mins not much happened (aside from a Jim O’Brien flick which luckily went straight at the keeper), then, with 10 seconds left to play, Dawson uses his pace (!) to break clear. Offside or godawful offside trap? My gut instinct was he beat the offside trap, though I was so surprised to see it, my initial reaction was ‘EH? How’s THAT happened?’ Rumour has it O’Brien made the pass. (These little bits are crucial in deciding the MOTM).
Anyway, not since Andy Rammell have I seen a bloke so obviously brick it as he ran clear, almost pleading with the linesman to put him out of his misery and wave an offside flag. Dawson never looked confident and, whether he was dribbling up to the keeper, or chasing down his miscontrol, he never looked like he was gonna bag. So it was quite a relief when he turned away from the keeper and let the keeper’s momentum take him out. Cue O’Grady into the top corner (I wish he’d done that against Donny!) and the ref was off down the tunnel before Blackpool’s fans and players could get hold of him.
2nd half, we did what teams do to us – we scored early. It looked like Jim (him again) had missed his chance to cross but while defenders ran back, he dinked a ball in. O’Grady, failing to understand that Barnsley forwards are meant to stand idly behind a defender, forgot for a moment, ran in front of the defender and stooped to head home. Superb.
After that, Blackpool threw men forward, but they never really looked like scoring, despite bringing Chopra and Nathan Tyson on. In fact, I coulda done with Blackpool scoring, cos it was getting a bit boring watching us ease through! We had plenty of breaks too, 3 on 3, but we never looked that interested in improving our goal difference. We’ll save those goals for another day, presumably.
*** O’Brien. Seemed like all the good things we did came through him. Sponsors MOTM.
** Steele. Commanded his area, catching or punching everything. Made a couple of great saves too and ran out to deny strikers a couple more times. Even his kicking was up to scratch. (Hopefully last week’s postponement has helped his injury situation). Daddy Marshall’s MOTM.
* O’Grady. I didn’t think he was as involved as usual, but you can’t argue with a couple of goals.
Despatches:
Crainie and Ramage again looked solid. Perhaps we have the makings of a partnership there. Kennedy had as good a game as I’ve seen him at left back and McLaughlin looked excellent in the first half on his debut at right back. Certainly an improvement on Wiseman (who I’m pleased to hear ‘didn’t enjoy his time at Barnsley’. Funny that – I didn’t enjoy his time at Barnsley either.) For 15 minutes of the second half, Dawson absolutely ran the game (I told you they were bad) while Noble-Lazarus came back from the dead (see what I did there?) and was bl**dy awful at right midfield, giving the ball away twice in his own half. Shea meantime added to the number of shots he’s failed to score from at Birmingham with another 3 in the first half here. I’m not convinced about him, either.
Then there’s the enigma that is Dale Jennings. I heard someone say he ‘had a cracking game’ and most of the Londontykes were very positive about him. I’m not so sure. He ruined O’Grady’s chance of a hattrick by taking the ball off him whilst being offside (idiot) and a couple of times when he did beat players he overran the ball into touch. With O’Grady knackered and subbed, and no other forwards in the squad, we then had the bizarre sight of Jennings running around up front in a 4-5-1. So I’ll summise by saying ‘not as s*** as he has been’. Ran about a lot though. Runs about a lot? Bit of a temper? S***? The new Chris Shuker.
Mellis did his usual stroll too and I tried not to be too apoplectic about the twice he had the chance to play O’Grady clean through and overhit the ball by miles. If he can’t pick a pass, what’s the point? Later narrowly missed with a free kick. ‘At least he got it over the wall and down again’ said my dad. ‘You’re describing gravity, dad’ was my reply.  |
| I'm sure every single one of these was in the Old Number 7 pre-match... |
And they’re off! The comeback starts here, as the Super Reds whack the Tangy Tangerines by two goals to nil. And god, were we good….Actually, no. We were alright (in parts) but they looked like a team who’d drawn one and lost eight of their last nine games. Which, funnily enough, they had. So we might have to put off the optimism till we beat someone else. Someone better. Despite being on 32 points (12 more than us) a Tangerine I spoke to after the game was convinced they were going down. Us, Blackpool and someone else, then. (Mind, he’d been savvy enough to put a couple of quid on us beating them 2-0…not a bet any of us would’ve put on, I’m sure.)
First 20 minutes, there was a fair amount of chances at either end, then for 20 mins not much happened (aside from a Jim O’Brien flick which luckily went straight at the keeper), then, with 10 seconds left to play, Dawson uses his pace (!) to break clear. Offside or godawful offside trap? My gut instinct was he beat the offside trap, though I was so surprised to see it, my initial reaction was ‘EH? How’s THAT happened?’ Rumour has it O’Brien made the pass. (These little bits are crucial in deciding the MOTM).
Anyway, not since Andy Rammell have I seen a bloke so obviously brick it as he ran clear, almost pleading with the linesman to put him out of his misery and wave an offside flag. Dawson never looked confident and, whether he was dribbling up to the keeper, or chasing down his miscontrol, he never looked like he was gonna bag. So it was quite a relief when he turned away from the keeper and let the keeper’s momentum take him out. Cue O’Grady into the top corner (I wish he’d done that against Donny!) and the ref was off down the tunnel before Blackpool’s fans and players could get hold of him.
 |
| O'G slots the pen away |
2nd half, we did what teams do to us – we scored early. It looked like Jim (him again) had missed his chance to cross but while defenders ran back, he dinked a ball in. O’Grady, failing to understand that Barnsley forwards are meant to stand idly behind a defender, forgot for a moment, ran in front of the defender and stooped to head home. Superb.
After that, Blackpool threw men forward, but they never really looked like scoring, despite bringing Chopra and Nathan Tyson on. In fact, I coulda done with Blackpool scoring, cos it was getting a bit boring watching us ease through! We had plenty of breaks too, 3 on 3, but we never looked that interested in improving our goal difference. We’ll save those goals for another day, presumably.
*** O’Brien. Seemed like all the good things we did came through him. Sponsors MOTM.
** Steele. Commanded his area, catching or punching everything. Made a couple of great saves too and ran out to deny strikers a couple more times. Even his kicking was up to scratch. (Hopefully last week’s postponement has helped his injury situation). Daddy Marshall’s MOTM.
* O’Grady. I didn’t think he was as involved as usual, but you can’t argue with a couple of goals.
 |
| The Reds clear their lines. |
Despatches:
Crainie and Ramage again looked solid. Perhaps we have the makings of a partnership there. Kennedy had as good a game as I’ve seen him at left back and McLaughlin looked excellent in the first half on his debut at right back. Certainly an improvement on Wiseman (who I’m pleased to hear ‘didn’t enjoy his time at Barnsley’. Funny that – I didn’t enjoy his time at Barnsley either.) For 15 minutes of the second half, Dawson absolutely ran the game (I told you they were bad) while Noble-Lazarus came back from the dead (see what I did there?) and was bl**dy awful at right midfield, giving the ball away twice in his own half. Shea meantime added to the number of shots he’s failed to score from at Birmingham with another 3 in the first half here. I’m not convinced about him, either.
Then there’s the enigma that is Dale Jennings. I heard someone say he ‘had a cracking game’ and most of the Londontykes were very positive about him. I’m not so sure. He ruined O’Grady’s chance of a hattrick by taking the ball off him whilst being offside (idiot) and a couple of times when he did beat players he overran the ball into touch. With O’Grady knackered and subbed, and no other forwards in the squad, we then had the bizarre sight of Jennings running around up front in a 4-5-1. So I’ll summise by saying ‘not as s*** as he has been’. Ran about a lot though. Runs about a lot? Bit of a temper? S***? The new Chris Shuker.
Oh, and BFC being BFC, it wouldn’t be quite right if they didn’t f*** something up: apparently Cywka shoulda been on the bench but someone (Wilson?) forgot to put his name on. Amateurs, Barnsley, amateurs.
Onwards and upwards!!!!!!!!!
A
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| I bet these wish they'd never come |
ps, well done Mr Selwood of Highgate, a grand richer courtesy of the Centenary Draw. I’m looking forward to seeing him at Washday even more now.
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