BFC 1-3 Fulham, Saturday 27th January 2018

Patrick Cryne, R.I.P.

Wow.  What a game.  Up against the most formist form team of the division, we put up a fight.  We took the game to them.  We were the better team.  We were winning (1-0).  And then…and then….Dimitri Cavare (is that REALLY his 1^st name?) runs 6 yards to shove over a Cottager.  No need, no excuse.  I don’t care he’s disgruntled cos of his earlier yellow.  About the only thing the ref got wrong here was in not giving him a straight red.  What an imbecile.  And nevermind that shoving a Fulham player in the back results in a clutching of the face.  Dimitri – if you’re gonna get sent off, tw*t the f***er in the mush, not some cowardly shove from behind.  Anyway thanks, you cost us.

Hit the road, Jack (Cavare).

Things had been going so well too.  A lovely one-touch move down the left ended with Moncur having a shot blocked – by Kiefer Moore.  Fulham weren’t at the races.  Obviously it was destined to be emotional, Patrick’s death this week and all (a minute’s silence pre-match).  But our players were hungry for it.  Fulham shrunk.  They just didn’t look up for it, aside from the diving and cheating.  These Premiership wannabees eh?  I particularly enjoyed one, as the ref blew his whistle and brandished a card.  FINALLY, a ref in this division willing to stand up to it. Oh, hang on, he’s given Fulham the free kick.  The booking was for Cavare.  (If I was him, I’d be very very cross indeed and probably do something stupid later on.)  It was equally bizarre because the incident was in our penalty area.  

Flags out for Patrick.  Be proud, Patrick.

Still, we only had a couple of minutes with 10 men before half time and we were winning, Lindsay popping in the rebound from a corner after the keeper saved with his legs.  Said keeper then ran 40 yards to remonstrate with the ref and be cautioned.  I didn’t think there was anything in it myself (I wouldn’t, would I?) as a Reds player in the box simply didn’t move out of the way.  Since when is it an offence to stand still in the box?

900 and odd Fulham.  Most must have arrived later.

I made a beeline for downstairs at half time.  (Without my dad, who’s had enough of coming ‘till we start winning’, I’m doing a tour of the ground; this week, upstairs and a fine view 1^st half; downstairs and Slacki’s company 2^nd.)  I wanted Slacki’s opinion on what we were seeing.  Slacki had spotted an investment opportunity while on the train up: the Super Reds were 3/1 to win a home game. Odds he simply couldn’t turn down.  We told him not to, but 43 minutes in he was looking very much the sage.  (Let’s ignore the fact that we barely win 1/3 of our home games whether we’re playing crack outfits like Fulham or not).  Anyway, as I said, up until Cavare’s sending off, we were very much in the ascendancy.

The view from the upper tier.

Course, the 2^nd half was a different proposition.  Would we…could we…last?  With 60 seconds gone, I told Ian ‘only 44 minutes to go’. I considered doing this for every minute we lasted out, but decided this might be irritating.  We last 4, which were about the number of defenders who failed to stop their right winger from cutting in, before a shot off the post was knocked in.  Like Julian Clary, a bit of a bummer.  Still, only another 40 minutes for the draw….

The view from pitchside.

And actually, we looked pretty comfortable after that.  Pinnilos had already come on at left back for Bradshaw to strengthen the defence, but bringing on Hedges and Thiam for Hammill and a knackered Moore suggested we were going for it.  Hedges broke from the halfway line, beat 3 players and banged in a 20 odd yarder which the keeper did well to fist away.  Then, I did that thing which always results in the opposition bagging: I started thinking ‘we could get a point here’.  Injury time loomed.  Fulham looked nothing.  Then a right wing cross and a player headed it down at the back stick and it bounced high over Davies, who’d come toward it.  Davies fists it up, then has another go as it comes down again, before someone or other bundles the ball over the line.  In real time, I thought he was unlucky.  Having seen it again on telly, we need a new keeper.  Why’s he fisting it in the air when he could simply tip it over the bar?  Probably cos he’s not very good.  Then, in further injury time, Fulham win the ball when a player climbs all over ours right in front of the ref, they break upfield and superior numbers end with a tap-in.  Double bummer.

It was one of those days. We’d lost, but everyone felt a lot more optimistic about our chances of staying up.  It’s certainly the best we’ve played since Brum at home over 2 months ago.  Now, if only f***ing Cavare…

Onwards and upwards!

Lighting up the Ponty for Patrick.

*** Pearson.  Cleared, blocked.  Outstanding at centre half, especially 1^st half.

** Lindsay.  Cracking game, and scored.  Twitter MOTM (I think).

* Moore.  Gardner.  Looks a different player as defensive mid.

Despatches:
Surely the time has come to buy a new keeper.  I’ve had enough of defending Davies. With his shot stopping now…shot…his inability to command the area…his inconsistent (tho improved) kicking…we at least need someone who can push him in the 1^st team.  Not Townsend, then.  Yiadom looked excellent again, while Moncur busied himself about.  Mallan, I’m not so sure about.  Early days, but has taken over Williams’ role as bloke most likely to give the ball away in his own half.  Also had a tendency to hit the 1^st man on corners.  Hammill worked hard, and only had one lunge at their bloke. Moore looked very promising and it surprised some he was taken off, but he looked spent.  Bradshaw….well, let’s say he was the unlucky recipient of Cavare’s red, being hauled off at half time. At least he now knows he’s no longer number 1 in our frontal pecking order.

Oh, and bad news for The Captain, who found out that the Reds were due to play Hull on FA Cup 5^th round day.  Cue fingers crossed…but Hull winning anyway.  Still, maybe they’ll get a home draw???

Away: c900.  About twice what we expected of Fulham, and about half what they ought to bring, given their home crowds, league position, expectancy, etc

Drink du jour: Vodka and orange.  After a few recent half-hearted efforts, Reedy and myself were back on form, polishing off a whole bottle.  Which gave us the appetite for a beer in the Parcel Yard.

The Damage:
£23.80 train
£3 prog
= £26.80

The Tunes:

50,000 Fall Fans Can’t Be Wrong (The Fall). Mark Smith, R.I.P.
Shepherd Moons (Enya)
Four-Calendar Cafe (Cocteau Twins)
Lovelife (Lush)

Match programme.  Patrick Cryne, R.I.P.  Thanks for everything.

Upper tier panorama v Fulham.

Lower tier panorama v Fulham.

Welcome to .....

Flowers left in memory of Patrick.

The Ponty v Fulham.

2nd half action.

Looking toward the Ponty, again.

Aston Villa 3-1 BFC, Saturday 20th January 2018

‘If tha’ can fit tha’ in thee'er, tha’s gorra big un’

Welcome to ....

After last week’s promising shut out against the Wolves, it was time for me to make my 1^st ever visit to Villa Park to see the Super Reds (and only games against the Super Reds count, Reedy says so).  I tried to be optimistic: Villa hadn’t beaten us at Villa Park since before I was born.  But the head said we were in for beating, and so it proved.

A miserable day in Brum (aren't they all?)

We got to Birmingham. It was sleeting, it was snowing, it was miserable. No worries – we had tickets for the front row. S***. I hate sitting low down, nevermind the front row.  Luckily, our seats were so appalling (past the corner flag) that Andy and I could stand up without upsetting anyone behind.  This was great, as it also afforded a top view of all the stewards who stood in our eyeline.  Our reputation precedes us.

It's ok, I don't wanna see the goal.

Still, plenty of space in the upper tier (though we couldn’t find a staircase).  After going one down in 2 mins (a low cross at the far end bundled in by £15m Hogan) I asked a steward if we could go in the upper tier to, like, see the game.  No, this wouldn’t be possible.  Even worse, I’d missed a 2^nd Villa goal.  7 mins in and the game is over.  Perhaps a poor view might be for the best.  How many are Villa going to rack up?  Fortunately, Villa showed a replay endless times on their big screens.  What’s Davies doing?  I dunno, but he’s not flying off his line and punching it clear, that’s for certain.

The teams come out.

As we set ourselves for a pounding, up the pitch we go and a 1^st sight of new deadball specialist Stevie Mallan.  He whips the corner in right footed from the right and Cavare bangs it in with his head.  Goal crazy!  Funny, we don’t get a replay of THAT goal.  (Fine, it’s Villa’s prerogative; but if I was a Villa fan, I’d want to see the goals we score AND concede.  Perhaps Villa fans don't mind being patronised.)  Villa fans in the North lower also occasionally serenade us with ‘You’ve only come to see the Villa’, an arrogance that always seems to beset these ‘big’ teams lowering themselves to our level.  Yes, I think, that’s why I’ve seen you maybe 4 times in my life.  I love watching Villa.

Mallan whips in the corner for our goal.

To be honest, the goal is completely against the run of play, as Villa continue to carve us open like the turkeys we are.  Grealish (I think) runs between 2 or 3 defenders and lays the ball off for an easy sidefoot for Hourihane.  3-1 and 20 mins in. If this goes on, we’ll concede 10.  Somehow, despite Villa’s superiority, they fail to add another before half time and we trundle off, grateful for 3-1 and a feeling we might yet avoid a proper hiding.

Villa North Stand ultras.

Hecky decided to change it at half time, Hammill on for McCarthy.  The experiment of 5 at the back and a midfield triumvirate of Potts, Mallan and Moncur being a dead loss.  This, despite one eternal Reds fan in the bogs pre-match declaring it a bold and exciting decision.  These optimists.  They really get me.  Straightaway we look a better team, and aside from a Hogan effort off the post (again, against the run of play) we run the half without ever looking like scoring.  And as Andy pointed out, the match is still in the other half of the field, so we can still see FA.

The Reds' contingent.

I have a vague recollection Bradshaw had a shot saved, but I know the closest we came.  New signing Moore cuts inside from the left, beats one player…maybe two (it’s a long way away) and now is in front of goal, I’m guessing 10 yards out…and he blazes over with his right. He’ll fit right in here.  Despite the pressure, I don’t think we ever really looked like scoring, though Villa did survive one penalty appeal (from A. Reed) as one of our guys got chopped.  Turned out to be a free kick about 30 yards from goal.

A packed Holte End.  You've only come to see the Barnsley.

*** No idea.  Honestly, I don’t feel qualified to have an opinion.  Worst view in a long time.** Cavare.  Scored.  Though I didn’t think much of his defending.* Mallan.  Set a goal up and looked dangerous on set pieces.

Londontykes' MOTM:  1. Hammill  2. Mallan  3= Cavare/No-one

Despatches:
I like coming to Birmingham. Makes me feel superior.  But we did do well on pubs today, calling at a café-bar (‘Cherry Red’?) with a range of draft and the Victoria Theatre Bar, with a pint of some local unfiltered.  We don’t do Brewdogs. Corporate bullies. 

Oh, and Andy got a touch of the match ball, cleared our way at one point.  It reminded me, I've never touched the ball during a game in more than 35 years of spectating.

Onwards and upwards!
Drink du jour: 
In a throwback to the 80s (Birmingham?) I enjoyed a game of 3-2-1. 3 pints of Schneiderweiss at the Cherry pre-match, 2 Longhorn IPA unfiltered at the Victoria, and a pint of Weihanstephaner at the Euston Tap (which has been refurbished upstairs since Andy and I’s last argument).  

Away: c1500.  Decent, if unspectacular atmosphere.
The Damage:
£13 train
£30 ent
= £43
Programmes? Never saw one on sale.  Their loss.

The Tunes:
Transformer (Lou Reed)
Sound of Water (St. Etienne)
Skywriting (The Field Mice)

Villa v Barnsley panorama

Trinity Road, pre-match.

Pre-match in the Cherry Red.

No, thank YOU.

BFC 0-0 Wolves, Saturday 13th January 2018

‘At my age it's like tattie watter.’

Pre-match in the Arcade Ale House

I LOVE THESE NEW OWNERS!!!!  Best we’ve ever had, etc.  They came in, they promised to improve the fan experience…and within a fortnight we have new hand dryers AS WELL AS hot water.  Christ, Oakwell joining the 20^th century.  I may well take them up on their hope that supporters come to the ground early…just so’s I can wash my hands, dry them…and repeat the process.  I f***ing love it!  Love it I tell ya!

Down the hill to Oakwell.

The football?  Who cares?  I’ve been asking for hand dryers for 20 years.  I wouldn’t even care, but I hadn’t got round to e-mailing the latest bunch (thought I’d let them settle in first).  Apparently we’re the 6^th richest team in the country now (ironically, just behind today’s visitors Wolves).  Bring it on.  What else can we have?  Carpeted refreshment areas, a la Norwich (my dad tells me; I’ve never been in the home end)?  A big screen that’s actually…big?  (I’ve heard that’s in the offing).  Young virgins hand feeding supporters (sour) grapes in the Ponty? 

The corner of the West Stand and Ponty.

Course, it might help if we stay in this division.  And hopes were high pre-match.  ‘0-3’, ‘0-3’, ‘0-3’, ‘0-4’ (Wadd) and ‘we won’t get a point in the next 4 matches’ (Nozza).  There was only one dissenter, a Dunelmian bloke, proclaiming (hoping) that without Star Man Bowie Joe Williams of Everton, the midfield would step up to the plate and we’d nick a 1-0.  I was one George Moncur mishit from being bang on.  (Obvs that means ‘not a hope in hell’)  Having kept the wolves at the door, Little Red Riding Hood had the temerity to get up the pitch, the ball set nicely…and everyone’s favourite Godbotherer blazed wide.  From the East Stand, it looked a goal all the way.  Luckily, I was sat in the Ponty…

How can anyone stand THIS view?

My Pops again turned down the opportunity of using his season ticket.  Something about not being interested till we look like winning a game, along with a sh*tty journey through roadworks on the motorway.  So I went in the Ponty, found the seat next to Jonesy occupied (was I looking at the wrong seat? He claims otherwise) so found Wadd, Moll, Loko and Hicksy.  If only Selwood weren’t at some Butlins dancing away to 90s choons, I could have had the full set of Chuckle Brothers.  Still, at least I know why I see a different game to them – they’re so low down you can only see this half of the pitch.  Perhaps it’s for the best.

My new view.  Not great.

With Williams out, it was up to Gardner, Potts and Mallan to form a midfield trio behind Bradshaw.  So it was with no rush that I spent the 1^st 10 minutes in the ticket office, sorting Villa tickets.  ‘Sorry for the delay.’  ‘Oh, it’s alright, I’m only missing the match.’  My only worry was missing a Wolves goal.  Once in, yeah, they looked the better team, but we were BATTLING, not giving an inch, and in particular it was the holy trinity of Lindsay, Pinnock and Gardner where we won it, though everyone put a shift in.  Everyone.  We made it to half time without looking particularly threatened.

A capacity away end, 1200 off 'official' capacity.

Second half, Wolves took it to us early doors and one of their multi million pound signings (I presume) smashed it off the bar from 20 yards, a la Thiam at Sunderland.  Then a goal disallowed for offside (not sure how – it was at the far end!)  But lo!  For 10 or 15 minutes the Super Reds were the better side.  Hammill missed a snapshot, the ball dribbling wide (did he see it late, behind a defender?)  Bradshaw was a willing runner, finding space down the right, while crosses started coming in. Time to unleash the beast: our new signing Kiefer Moore.  Momentum immediately switched their way.  So, while Moore did create the chance for Moncur with a flick on, the miss of the match came with a Wolves multi-million signing (I presume) lifting the ball over the bar from what looked like under it.  As I said, perhaps you’re better off with a poor view.  No need to worry about the old ticker so much when the opposition press at the other end.

The old Main Stand.

So there it was.  BATTLING BARNSLEY ARE BACK.  A cracking effort (despite the lack of goals) and Wolves ZERO shots on target was testament to a fabulous defensive display.  One problem: Villa next week, Gardner can’t play cos he’s on loan, while Williams is still out suspended.  Shall we have a sweep stake?

Onwards and upwards!

*** Gardner.  Twitter MOTM. Whythehell not?  I’ve given him plenty of brickbats thus far, so credit where it’s due.  (We’ll ignore the fact he lost his man for the cross where they missed from under the bar.)

** Lindsay.  Blocked, headed, sometimes found his man.* Pinnock.  Where’s he been hiding?  Says something about Dulwich Hamlet’s school of excellence compared to ours.

Londontykes' MOTM:  1. Pinnock  2. Gardner  3. Lindsay

The East Stand.

Despatches:
I liked the look of Toby (Cavare) 1^st half.  He proper went through 2 different Wolves players in tackles.  I was surprised they got up.  Nearly gave them the game with a careless pass near the end tho.  The rest ran around, made life difficult.  Exactly what was needed against the runaway leaders.  

And I know the ref probably was one of the better ones we’ve had (wasn’t it great hearing Wolves fans chorus ‘we only get sh*t refs’, though I couldn’t understand what their gripe was).  Oh yes, my gripe…TWICE (that’s once, plus another once) he blew up for fouls against us for high feet, when both players pulled out of lifting their feet before they did damage.  What is this? The thought police? You can’t give a free kick for a player THINKING of lifting his leg up.  I guess the ref was anticipating the high foot.  Next time, concentrate on anticipating the penalty you’re about to give Barnsley.

Oh, and we shared the journey back with West Ham.  Now, this might be one for Wadd or Dave Wood, but we got talking about ex-West Ham who’ve come to Barnsley.  Moncur (s***), Elliott Lee (s***), a 3^rd one I can’t remember the name of (s***).  Have we EVER had a decent player who played for West Ham earlier in his career?

Panorama v Wolves.

Drink du jour: 
Arcade Ale House: Durham IPA?  Is everything from Durham a bit dodgy?  Transferred to Staropramen.  Much better.  Vodka and orange on the train with West Ham.  Sierra Nevada in Kings X with Tottenham.

Home without falling asleep on the bus.  Bed, after falling asleep on the couch.  Dammit.

Away: 4,701.  This is bugging me.  A sellout from Wolves, but plod won’t let us sell 1200 tickets in the away end.  I say milk ‘em for all they’re worth.  Get ‘em in the West Stand.  That’ll give plod something to think about…

The Damage:
£23.80 train
= £23.80

Programmes sold out before kick-off.  Again.

The Tunes:Foxbase Alpha (St. Etienne)
SoTough (St. Etienne)
Cyberdream (Dr Devious)
George Formby Ultimate Collection (George Formby)
(Yes, you read that right).

The old Main Stand in full.

Millwall 4-1 BFC, Saturday 6th January 2018

‘You’re fackin’ s***, you’re fackin’ s***, you’re fackin’ s***’

Welcome to ....

It’s been a while since I’ve walked home from a game.  About 35 years to be precise.  So it was with some amount of joy that I trotted home from The New Den to my place in Peckham.  Course, to fully enjoy this walk, one’s team has to have won, and one must like walking through an elongated industrial estate and traveller encampment.  (I don’t mind ‘travellers’ per se, but I do mind folk who never go anywhere being referred to as ‘travellers’.  How about ‘caravan dwellers’  - as opposed to ‘home owners’?  I digress, but I know of at least three of these sites around Millwall/Peckham…)

Where it all started today....(the award winning) Peckham Library.

It’s been three months since we last played Millwall away, a game I thoroughly enjoyed, through a) winning, b) a few drinks in a cidery on the Bermondsey Beer Mile and c) after match beers on home turf in Peckham.  What I can deduce from today’s FA Cup capitulation is that a game at Millwall is so much the better for us WINNING.  Being knocked out t’cup before it’s even started is a bad blow by anyone’s standards, especially against a side who always let us win.

Match action in front of literally...dozens.

Having enjoyed the beer mile last time, we vowed to go on more of a crawl.  This is great in theory, especially as brewery Head Brewery Honcho Loko can get us some free beers, but in January, what this means is drinking a variety of beers in a variety of cold railway arches.  Chilly.  I actually thought the last place would involve a pub, given it involved a 10 or 15 minute walk.  But no, it just meant we were nearer to the ground and in a different railway arch with more chipboard furniture than the rest.  I have no qualms over the beers, btw.  I’m just bitter that I haven’t had time to simmer down following the debacle on the pitch…

Moor Beer Company

We took the lead.  True, not much was happening, but then a ball is laid out, Hammill crosses and some guy runs in and buries it high into the net.  It’s only Potts!  Y’know, that bloke who everyone slates for being a bit s*** (he probably is) but outscores every other midfield player we have.  Great finish.  Time for a few rounds of ‘It’s happening again…’.  Will this be our 6^th or 7^th victory in a row against this bunch?  I forget.

The path to the away end; not an away fan in sight.

Luckily, the squad misread the script.  Lindsay failed to deal with a cross and Millwall score, despite Davies’ best efforts.   (Someone else said it was Davies’ fault, so I look forward to seeing a replay).  It was good to see it wasn’t a fluke though, as Lindsay gifted Millwall a 2nd just after half time.  Ok, ‘gifted’ may be harsh.  Perhaps ‘tediously slow to react’ could be more accurate, as he’s unable to turn and deal with a cut back.  I’m still annoyed.  It was the only place the Millwall fella coulda put the ball.

No-one outside either, save for a steward.

Of bigger worry is the seemingly bizarre decision to swap our fullbacks.  Who does that?  Is Heckingbottom some tactical genius who ‘thinks outside the box’?  He must be, cos at half time it was one-all and 61 minutes in we’re losing 4-1.  Course, no-one can legislate for Williams’ ridiculous challenge (actually, we can, cos we know he likes to put a foot in) and we’re now 2-1 down, away from home, and we only have 10 men.  I don’t fancy our chances.

There ARE some away fans...

Still, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed having Williams’ #1 fan in front of me (Loko – Marius still watching it on TV in Norway).  It’s true, Williams does make a tackle, and does occasionally find a red shirt, but finally (FINALLY) even Loko can vouch for Williams losing the ball 3 times in dangerous positions in ONE HALF.  Two of these were simple passes made bad, while the 3^rd was being tackled while strolling out.  Dangerous Brian O’Callaghan territory.  I’m sorry, but I don’t quite see the maestro everyone else sees.  Maybe 3 matches off will focus our midfield…

The full bit.  Behind the home dugout.

Course, maybe Williams is (or will be) a great player.  He’ll certainly never be as bad, or as anonymous, as Gardner’s younger brother, Gardner.  I’ll have to admit ignorance here, cos while chanting ‘There’s only one Craig Gardner’ I presumed no-one joined in cos he’s s***, not cos I had the wrong brother’s name.  He’s still s*** though.  Good job we’ve punted out Kay and McGeehan on loan, while giving every chance to other teams’ players.  Grrrrrrr.

Let me cheer myself up again.  Hawkes Cidery, Bermondsey.

I cannot remember Millwall’s 3^rd and 4^th.  Suffice to say their forwards play neat little give and go’s, other players move…and it ends with goals.  Cheats.  We stand around and hope Messi will run past 6 players and lay it on a plate.  Can you spot a problem there?  Outclassed by Millwall.  F***ing Millwall.  About the only positives from today are a) it’s only the cup (only!?) and b) Fulham lost.  Our game at home to the Cottagers goes ahead on 4^th round day and The Captain’s decision to purchase rail tickets doesn’t look so bad a judgement.

Just checking. It IS 4-1 isn't it?

At this point, I must sound very angry and bitter.  And I am.  I am currently watching a different programme to everyone else.  In the pub (sorry, railway arch), ‘will we stay up?’…I got 3 responses of ‘absolutely’ and a tentative ‘yes’ (A. Reed).  We have midfielders with no creativity, wingers who can’t beat a player, forwards who can’t make their own chances (Bradshaw) or who shoot from anywhere without reward (Thiam), a keeper who can concede from anywhere, fullbacks who DO give the ball away (whatever McCarthy’s chant) and centre halves who….well, they’re inconsistent at best.  I realise I’m seen as a bit negative (!) but I think I live in this world called ‘reality’.  Truth will out, I guess.

*** No-one.  Nice Guy Chris asked me who my favourite Reds player is.  Well, at the mo, problies ‘No-one’.  He certainly makes himself known on a regular basis of late.

** No-one.  Does the work of two in this team. 

* Potts.  Scored, and it annoys everyone else.  Apparently we’re s*** cos Potts is in the team, which ignores our poor run when he WASN’T playing. (PS, didn’t he return to our team for our 1^st win in 11 at Sunderland?)

Does what it says on the stand.

Despatches:
Where to start? How about up front?  Guess what? Bradshaw battled hard, spent the match with his back to goal and never looked like scoring.  Thiam meantime buzzes around, gets the ball, and shoots from anywhere, ignorant to the result of this.  Mamadou, let me tell you – Matches: too many. Goals in open play: f*** all.  Did someone say we’re paying him a fortune?  F***.  We’re stuck with him, then.  Isgrove played.  Allegedly.  Ditto Gardner, who at least offered some amusement with a 20 yarder which he dragged wide in slow motion.  Didn’t he do this at home to Dirty Leeds? Or was it Derby?  Basically, a central midfielder who can’t shoot, can’t head, doesn’t run with the ball, never tackles, doesn’t pass a ball forward…basically, we are paying someone else’s player to keep the team’s shape.  Surely that is the LEAST a player can do.  I blame the manager.  Hammill played too, but I only noticed him when the right winger laid the ball back…to Hamill.  Christ, I thought Hammill WAS the right winger.  The fullbacks were average, though having read reports about Toby (Cavare) I wonder what the fuss is about.  The best I can say is that he blends in with the rest.  And McCarthy hasn’t been the same since being dropped for being good.  That’ll teach him.  Pinnock looked alright, classy.  But that was at 1-0.  Nowhere when they were scoring.  And I've done Lindsay.  At least Jackson's back training, I read.

Anyway, I didn’t want to go to Wembley (again).

Onwards and upwards!

Drink du jour: all sorts, though a brand new experimental apple pale ale at Hawkes Cidery was my highlight.

Away: 414 (advance sales).  Whatever they claim about today’s attendance, it can’t have been more than 3000, including not many of us.  

The Damage:
£15 ent
= £15


I may have bought a programme had I seen one.  Apparently they were sold out. Sold out?  How many did they print?  50?

The Tunes:
OX4 – The Best of Ride (Ride)
Hippopotamus (Sparks)

I should have turned back here.

The New Den panorama.