‘I’ll get mi’ lube’
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We have nothing to fear except fear itself. Well, that and complacency. For a second game in a row what I witness is a Barnsley side completely outplaying the opposition, finding it oh so easy…missing chance after chance…and allowing inferior opponents to get back into the game. OK, Walsall were a lot better than Gillingham, and actually did come away with the draw (we could have done with them equalising sooner), but we only have ourselves to blame…
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| Drab. (The fans' outfits, not the town, obvs.) |
Who missed what? Well, little happened in the 1st half, so all of these were in the 2nd, as we kicked towards the Ponty; Moore flicked a header wide from a superb Penniless cross; Thiam cleared the bar as the ball rolled nicely to him; Moncur f***ed up a 2 on 1 as his cross couldn’t have been worse (overhit for a goalkick); Victor had a one-on-one saved (the move of the match, from one end to the other, involving 4 or 5 players and quick, one-touch passes) while Moncur had a late one scrambled around the post by the keeper. We should’ve been out of sight (again).
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| I'm sure this floodlight used to be INSIDE the ground... |
Having said all that, Walsall missed the best 2 chances of the game, both from poorly defended corners. Early in the second half, as a clearance was returned into our box, the defenders were too late in coming out and left their player to flick a ball over the bar from 3 yards out. Proving this was no fluke, a minute before they equalised, an identikit move leaves 4 (4!) of their players 6 yards out and their player controls it, turns, and somehow drags it wide. The gods are with us. We have this game won. But as I said, complacency comes on (centre midfield), Walsall attack and they always, always, had an extra man in our box and a 10 yarder is drilled through the legs of both defender and keeper.
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| The Walsall massive. |
As Slacki said, it felt more like a defeat, conceding in the 87th minute. But we showed what we’re about, we continue to create (shame we didn’t use the 6 foot 8 bloke up front tho) and we remain unbeaten. Given Walsall’s also unbeaten start, they’re no mugs, so maybe we need to look at it as an an extra point towards promotion?
Oh yeah, I forgot, we scored. Victor had a shot, the keeper saved it, it hit a defender and bobbled in. The gods are with us. We’re gonna win this game etc.
*** Bahre. This lad looks class. I like him already (though since I thought his name was Ibehre, I expected Jabo’s younger brother. He doesn’t look like Jabo’s younger brother…) Confident on the ball, drives forward. Tired a little towards the end, but what do you expect in his 1st game? Perhaps we can also buy him a shirt wot fits.
** Moore. Perhaps a controversial choice. Moore won everything, held balls up, brought others into play…but couldn’t get on the end of anything cos apart from that Penniless cross, the balls to him were utterly, utterly appalling, usually not beating the 1st man.
* Victor. Came on for McGeehan and caused mayhem up front. He certainly seems to have the knack of being in the right place at the right time.
Twitter MOTM: Penniless.
Londontykes MOTM: TBA (when I get round to reading my e-mails).
Twitter MOTM: Penniless.
Londontykes MOTM: TBA (when I get round to reading my e-mails).
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| The teams come out. |
Despatches:
‘Who do you hate this season, Al?’ asked Nozzer as we waited for our Gala Bingo taxi. ‘F***ing Thiam’ I returned. Too fast for the fullback, too strong, too skilful…but simply cannot get the message from brain to feet in enough time to know what to do with the ball. Nevermind his inability to cross a ball. Allegedly scored 2 v Oxford the other week, crackers an’ all. All I’ve seen is 20-30 failures and a penalty at Millwall. If anyone here can tell me he’s a better winger than Adam Hammill…I…I…I’d be speechless. McGeehan more than matched the ineptitude, being dragged off at half time after a couple of loose passes in midfield. How many more failures will he be allowed? Pinnock made a couple of mistakes (complacency: thinking he’s as good as we think he is) while my favourite Lindsay moment involved him holding onto the ball too long in his own area and being forced to rush a clearance, which he underhit straight to them. What does everyone see in him that Wadd and I don’t? (Christ, me and Wadd agreeing on a player!?) On the plus side, I thought the centre halves protected Walton well…but those Walsall chances from corners stick in the craw. Walton did make one great save, tipping over a close range header in the 1st half. I’d nearly forgotten about that. Penniless looked solid for the most part but got stripped in the 1st half, while Cavare looked defensively sound, but couldn’t cross a ball over 6 feet high. Mowatt and Moncurhad their moments, though never really created owt. Fair play to Stendal though, making another adventurous sub and changing the formation.
Drink du jour: Arcade Alehouse this week, and I made the mistake of having a Durham Pale Ale. Horrid. Back on the Staropramen. Later, vodka and orange or G&T. I learnt yesterday the difference between London gin and non-London gin. I have since forgotten.
Onwards and upwards!
Away: 400. Well, that’s what the tannoy said. No-one on the train thought it was anything like that.
The Damage:£30 train
= £30
‘Who do you hate this season, Al?’ asked Nozzer as we waited for our Gala Bingo taxi. ‘F***ing Thiam’ I returned. Too fast for the fullback, too strong, too skilful…but simply cannot get the message from brain to feet in enough time to know what to do with the ball. Nevermind his inability to cross a ball. Allegedly scored 2 v Oxford the other week, crackers an’ all. All I’ve seen is 20-30 failures and a penalty at Millwall. If anyone here can tell me he’s a better winger than Adam Hammill…I…I…I’d be speechless. McGeehan more than matched the ineptitude, being dragged off at half time after a couple of loose passes in midfield. How many more failures will he be allowed? Pinnock made a couple of mistakes (complacency: thinking he’s as good as we think he is) while my favourite Lindsay moment involved him holding onto the ball too long in his own area and being forced to rush a clearance, which he underhit straight to them. What does everyone see in him that Wadd and I don’t? (Christ, me and Wadd agreeing on a player!?) On the plus side, I thought the centre halves protected Walton well…but those Walsall chances from corners stick in the craw. Walton did make one great save, tipping over a close range header in the 1st half. I’d nearly forgotten about that. Penniless looked solid for the most part but got stripped in the 1st half, while Cavare looked defensively sound, but couldn’t cross a ball over 6 feet high. Mowatt and Moncurhad their moments, though never really created owt. Fair play to Stendal though, making another adventurous sub and changing the formation.
Drink du jour: Arcade Alehouse this week, and I made the mistake of having a Durham Pale Ale. Horrid. Back on the Staropramen. Later, vodka and orange or G&T. I learnt yesterday the difference between London gin and non-London gin. I have since forgotten.
Onwards and upwards!
Away: 400. Well, that’s what the tannoy said. No-one on the train thought it was anything like that.
The Damage:£30 train
= £30
The Tunes:
Key Markets (Sleaford Mods)
Achtung Bono! (Half Man Half Biscuit)
Key Markets (Sleaford Mods)
Achtung Bono! (Half Man Half Biscuit)
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| The teams break out before KO. |
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| More drabbidity behind the East Stand. |
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| Tickets Only. Disappointed hordes turned away. |
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| A 2nd half downpour. |
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| The #23 has a rest. Time was when I recognised a player by his number... |
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