‘The problem is ……….’
It’s good to be back. The more things change, etc. Clueless formations, players out of position, losing despite dominating possession and territory (and the lack of shots on target, before anyone says we were ‘unlucky’). No atmosphere. And what could have been a disastrous day on our British railway system (thanks, East Midlands).
Starting with our train journey. Those East Midlands monkeys didn’t print all our tickets out at St P, so we were one short for the way back. Honest types that we are, we queried it on the train up. No, the ticket inspector can’t help us, speak to the office at Sh*tfield station. So we did. After 20 minutes, no they can’t help us either. We bought the tickets on the East Midlands Trains website, ‘they have nothing to do with us’ says a guy in an office emblazoned with ‘East Midlands Trains’ upon it. Reedy nearly combusts. We could buy another ticket and ‘hopefully’ get a refund later. No ta. Just give us back what tickets we do have and we’ll risk it. Great. I go from having a stressful job Monday-Friday (ok, Tuesday-Friday this week) and then have to run the gauntlet of a lack of ticket from Sheffield to London later on (usual walk-on fare 70 odd quid). As luck would have it, I have a print out of what tickets I’ve bought, mainly cos of my earlier cock up of buying tickets for the wrong train and having to change them. Luckily, the inspector on the way back isn’t the nazi we were all dreading and it’s not a problem. Phew.
The football. (There was football?) After an agreeable few Erdingers in the Number 7, it’s match time. Johnson goes for a 4-2-3-1 with Scowen and Pearson the holding midfield players. Yes, that’s right – our star player of last season, the forager in midfield, the dynamic runner, the one making things happen – is now not allowed past the centre circle. In a passable impression of Jacob BF Mellis, he has his worst game I’ve ever seen for the Reds. Winnall, on his own up front, is supported from behind by Crowley (excellent), Hourihane and Jacob Marley. I think our 2 shots on target against relegation fodder thus far without a win is testament to what I think of this formation.
The Shrews go ahead early – and we can’t say the writing wasn’t on the wall. The first 5 minutes is spent camped in our half and they’ve already had one header over when our 2 new amazing centre halves fail to deal with another corner and the ball is deflected (I presume) past Davies and altho hooked away, it’s behind the line. Oh good. No goals conceded in 2 home games and it takes 6 minutes for me to wonder how Crainie is getting on at Huddersfield. (That’s a lie, I just put that in for Wadd and Loko, who either hate Crainie or worship at the temple of Roberts and Mawson).
But lo! Hourihane beats a man on the edge of the box, turns down the chance of a shot, goes wider, then pulls it too far across goal. Another similar effort follows, before he hits a 20 yarder off the post. Of our 1st 5 shots, he has 4 of them. Good to see him having a go. Maybe he’ll get one on target next time. Marley is the other one, cuts inside, gets a shot off but it’s too close to the keeper. Mind, he really should have done better later, as, when clean through, he inexplicably squares the ball to a defender…who promptly gives it back to him allowing him to fire it into the side netting. (I believe this is the 2nd one off the woodwork referred to by others, but it was sidenetting).
Then we actually do score, Winnall taking a pass superbly, his first touch taking it away from the defender and giving him the chance to sidefoot into the right hand corner from the edge of the box. Quality.
2nd half…absolutely f.all till some fast bloke comes on at left wing (Harris). Fast, direct…Shrewsbury were bricking it. We take appropriate action and don’t give him the ball for the last 5 minutes. Oh, then Shrewsbury ran up the field and ex-Reds junior Jordan Clark drops a shoulder and shoots home. We have managed to lose it in the last minute. Welcome back, indeed. (FYI I only saw Clark once, away at Rovrum in a friendly, and he was the best player on the park. Why can we NEVER develop attacking players at Oakwell?)
*** Crowley of Arsenal. Twitter MOTM, everyone’s MOTM. Ran at people, held the ball well, good distribution, often crowded out while waiting for the cavalry to arrive (which they never did). So taken off after 70 mins. Also had a decent shout for a pen, but let’s not bleat about one decision costing us the match.
** Harris of Cardiff. Came on as sub for last 20, ran them ragged so we never gave him the ball again. I was well excited at the thought he was one of our juniors coming good. Later found out he’s not even one of ours. Typical. 1st 4 touches involved gaining 2 corners, whipping in a cross and getting a shot off, but folk will only remember the 5th, where he blazed it into the stand with men in the box.
* Nyatanga of Barnsley. Excellent defensively, comfortable in possession. Lost the ball twice late on in promising positions though. (I’m not saying he’s a left back either, but credit where it’s due).
Despatches: (Takes deep breath) Despite 'dominating', Shrewsbury made it easy for us. Every ball they put forward they were offside, so much so my dad wondered if they had Dyer up front 1st half. They scored 2 from the 3 decent attacks they had, and the other one needed an unbelievable save from Davies (tho if it had been in the corner, he'd have had no chance). The new right back (Mubara?) just ambles forward then checks back or inside when someone covers him - just like Nyatanga. No idea what he's like defensively as he had nowt to do. But he looks built for rugby, not football, so has an air of Reece Brown about him for me (the useless lump we gave 10 games to last season at right back). As we know, Nyatanga's never gonna leg it down the left and whip in a cross, and neither is George Smith - cos he's on the bench. Hourihane had a decent outfield game (though his dead ball deliveries weren't up to normal standard), while I thought Watkins was hit and miss. Pearson had a quiet game. Winnall is the new Nardiello (so Loko will like him). Always offside, too slow, so needs an early run on players but capable of a goal if he gets a chance. Moans like hell when he doesn't get the pass he wants, while standing 6 yards offside. Someone have a word. But at least he didn't spend the game on his ar5e like he normally does. Maybe playing on his own up front has forced him to improve this side of his game. Or Johnson's told him that all his diving isn't helping matters. The centre halves didn't do owt to impress me, apart from Roberts and his ginormous throw-in. Shame the very person we want at the end of it is himself, cos Shrewsbury won every header from his efforts. Smith of Swindon came on up front and looked very poor. If we're gonna pick up other 3rd division club's rejects, I'd have happily kept Jabo (Ibehre). But it's ok, cos we can see him next season when Carlisle get promotion.
The manager / tactics? A few of us quite like Nyatanga, though can accept the centre half partnership is settled. But Nyatanga could play sweeper and we go 3-5-2 (3-5-1-1?). But that means wing backs (Smith and..?) As it is, tippy-tappying it about midfield will not get us anywhere.
Drink du jour: wheat beer in the pubs and a craft beer carryout for the way back. Expensive. (Cheers, Dave).
Away: 437. Excellent turnout from a ‘small’ team. Their 1st visit in 30 years, they must have really enjoyed beating a 'big club'. Good on 'em.
The Damage:
25 train
3 prog
2 fanzine
 |
| The Super Reds take their places. |
It’s good to be back. The more things change, etc. Clueless formations, players out of position, losing despite dominating possession and territory (and the lack of shots on target, before anyone says we were ‘unlucky’). No atmosphere. And what could have been a disastrous day on our British railway system (thanks, East Midlands).
Starting with our train journey. Those East Midlands monkeys didn’t print all our tickets out at St P, so we were one short for the way back. Honest types that we are, we queried it on the train up. No, the ticket inspector can’t help us, speak to the office at Sh*tfield station. So we did. After 20 minutes, no they can’t help us either. We bought the tickets on the East Midlands Trains website, ‘they have nothing to do with us’ says a guy in an office emblazoned with ‘East Midlands Trains’ upon it. Reedy nearly combusts. We could buy another ticket and ‘hopefully’ get a refund later. No ta. Just give us back what tickets we do have and we’ll risk it. Great. I go from having a stressful job Monday-Friday (ok, Tuesday-Friday this week) and then have to run the gauntlet of a lack of ticket from Sheffield to London later on (usual walk-on fare 70 odd quid). As luck would have it, I have a print out of what tickets I’ve bought, mainly cos of my earlier cock up of buying tickets for the wrong train and having to change them. Luckily, the inspector on the way back isn’t the nazi we were all dreading and it’s not a problem. Phew.
 |
| Tartan Tykes |
The football. (There was football?) After an agreeable few Erdingers in the Number 7, it’s match time. Johnson goes for a 4-2-3-1 with Scowen and Pearson the holding midfield players. Yes, that’s right – our star player of last season, the forager in midfield, the dynamic runner, the one making things happen – is now not allowed past the centre circle. In a passable impression of Jacob BF Mellis, he has his worst game I’ve ever seen for the Reds. Winnall, on his own up front, is supported from behind by Crowley (excellent), Hourihane and Jacob Marley. I think our 2 shots on target against relegation fodder thus far without a win is testament to what I think of this formation.
The Shrews go ahead early – and we can’t say the writing wasn’t on the wall. The first 5 minutes is spent camped in our half and they’ve already had one header over when our 2 new amazing centre halves fail to deal with another corner and the ball is deflected (I presume) past Davies and altho hooked away, it’s behind the line. Oh good. No goals conceded in 2 home games and it takes 6 minutes for me to wonder how Crainie is getting on at Huddersfield. (That’s a lie, I just put that in for Wadd and Loko, who either hate Crainie or worship at the temple of Roberts and Mawson).
But lo! Hourihane beats a man on the edge of the box, turns down the chance of a shot, goes wider, then pulls it too far across goal. Another similar effort follows, before he hits a 20 yarder off the post. Of our 1st 5 shots, he has 4 of them. Good to see him having a go. Maybe he’ll get one on target next time. Marley is the other one, cuts inside, gets a shot off but it’s too close to the keeper. Mind, he really should have done better later, as, when clean through, he inexplicably squares the ball to a defender…who promptly gives it back to him allowing him to fire it into the side netting. (I believe this is the 2nd one off the woodwork referred to by others, but it was sidenetting).
Then we actually do score, Winnall taking a pass superbly, his first touch taking it away from the defender and giving him the chance to sidefoot into the right hand corner from the edge of the box. Quality.
2nd half…absolutely f.all till some fast bloke comes on at left wing (Harris). Fast, direct…Shrewsbury were bricking it. We take appropriate action and don’t give him the ball for the last 5 minutes. Oh, then Shrewsbury ran up the field and ex-Reds junior Jordan Clark drops a shoulder and shoots home. We have managed to lose it in the last minute. Welcome back, indeed. (FYI I only saw Clark once, away at Rovrum in a friendly, and he was the best player on the park. Why can we NEVER develop attacking players at Oakwell?)
 |
| Come on you Shrews! |
*** Crowley of Arsenal. Twitter MOTM, everyone’s MOTM. Ran at people, held the ball well, good distribution, often crowded out while waiting for the cavalry to arrive (which they never did). So taken off after 70 mins. Also had a decent shout for a pen, but let’s not bleat about one decision costing us the match.
** Harris of Cardiff. Came on as sub for last 20, ran them ragged so we never gave him the ball again. I was well excited at the thought he was one of our juniors coming good. Later found out he’s not even one of ours. Typical. 1st 4 touches involved gaining 2 corners, whipping in a cross and getting a shot off, but folk will only remember the 5th, where he blazed it into the stand with men in the box.
* Nyatanga of Barnsley. Excellent defensively, comfortable in possession. Lost the ball twice late on in promising positions though. (I’m not saying he’s a left back either, but credit where it’s due).
Londontykes' Top 3:
1. Crowley
1. Crowley
2. Roberts
3. Hourihane
Despatches: (Takes deep breath) Despite 'dominating', Shrewsbury made it easy for us. Every ball they put forward they were offside, so much so my dad wondered if they had Dyer up front 1st half. They scored 2 from the 3 decent attacks they had, and the other one needed an unbelievable save from Davies (tho if it had been in the corner, he'd have had no chance). The new right back (Mubara?) just ambles forward then checks back or inside when someone covers him - just like Nyatanga. No idea what he's like defensively as he had nowt to do. But he looks built for rugby, not football, so has an air of Reece Brown about him for me (the useless lump we gave 10 games to last season at right back). As we know, Nyatanga's never gonna leg it down the left and whip in a cross, and neither is George Smith - cos he's on the bench. Hourihane had a decent outfield game (though his dead ball deliveries weren't up to normal standard), while I thought Watkins was hit and miss. Pearson had a quiet game. Winnall is the new Nardiello (so Loko will like him). Always offside, too slow, so needs an early run on players but capable of a goal if he gets a chance. Moans like hell when he doesn't get the pass he wants, while standing 6 yards offside. Someone have a word. But at least he didn't spend the game on his ar5e like he normally does. Maybe playing on his own up front has forced him to improve this side of his game. Or Johnson's told him that all his diving isn't helping matters. The centre halves didn't do owt to impress me, apart from Roberts and his ginormous throw-in. Shame the very person we want at the end of it is himself, cos Shrewsbury won every header from his efforts. Smith of Swindon came on up front and looked very poor. If we're gonna pick up other 3rd division club's rejects, I'd have happily kept Jabo (Ibehre). But it's ok, cos we can see him next season when Carlisle get promotion.
The manager / tactics? A few of us quite like Nyatanga, though can accept the centre half partnership is settled. But Nyatanga could play sweeper and we go 3-5-2 (3-5-1-1?). But that means wing backs (Smith and..?) As it is, tippy-tappying it about midfield will not get us anywhere.
Drink du jour: wheat beer in the pubs and a craft beer carryout for the way back. Expensive. (Cheers, Dave).
Away: 437. Excellent turnout from a ‘small’ team. Their 1st visit in 30 years, they must have really enjoyed beating a 'big club'. Good on 'em.
The Damage:
25 train
3 prog
2 fanzine
 |
| Match action |
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