‘But he’s only had 2 days on the training pitch.’ Well, we shoulda sacked Clarke last Satdy nite then, shouldn’t we? I notice Huddersfield put 5 past Crawley with THEIR interim manager. ‘But they were only playing Crawley.’ Yes. And we were playing a side who were incredibly without a win in 14 matches (4 draws). Could we have played a side with lower morale? And we’d nicked their star player (DKD) back in September. What could go wrong?
What could go wrong? Conor rings the changes. Well, he plays Benson at right wing back and switches O’Keeffe to the left. Cos, like every other master tactician with a coaching badge, he thinks it doesn’t matter. Humphreys is this week’s lamb to the slaughter up front, while loanee Rodrigues gets nowhere the pitch. (Humphreys is hauled at HT for Max Watters.)
It took us 11 minutes to concede. An idiot defender (we’ll call him Roberts) kicks the ball straight to their player in the box and it’s snaffled, into the bottom corner. Worse, I think that’s when Smith injures himself in goal. Brilliant. Our 5th keeper of the season* comes on, young Flavell. How bad can he be, if he’s been continually overlooked in favour of Slonina, Kilip, Gauci and Smith? Actually, he doesn’t disgrace himself and makes a couple of saves. There’s nothing he can do about the winner, as 3 centre halves fail to deal with an up and under and another player is left with a tap-in. Last minute an’ all.
*I’m only counting the league. I think Flavell played in that Mickey Mouse trophy, whatever it’s called.
Inbetween, we actually equalise. Nice Guy Chris won’t approve, but criticism from the fans appeared to have an effect. ‘Sideways and backwards, everywhere we go’ was the terrace chant, as Phillips beat a player on the left. The crowd commentary was great. ‘Woooah...SQUARE...whooah...SQUARE...whooah...SQUARE...GOOOOAAAALLLL. I think Hourihane said we scored with our best period of possession. By which I think he meant we’d put 3 passes together.
It was true though. The only time we found a Reds shirt was in going backwards or square. Kicking it forward only resulted in us losing the ball. And this might sound oxymoronic, but I found out today we’ve played more long balls than anyone else in the division. But it makes sense to me. We’re either punting 45 yard balls towards the corner flag (for opposition defenders to pick up) or we’ve turned into a team of Herbie Kanes. (Let’s get that chant going...never mind wanting ‘a team of Marc Roberts’...’we all play like a team of Herbie Kanes, a team of Herbie Kanes’...etc. Which is ironic, considering we got rid of the sideways shyster.
Onwards and upwards!
*** Bensons for Beds. Started, Scored, NEARLY completed 90 minutes (83, if you must know.).
** Flavell. Kept a clean sheet for 75 minutes.
* No-one. Another awful Saturday.
Londontykes’ MOTM: 1= Benson / Flavell 3. No-one
Despatches:
Commander Reed had surveyed the area and pronounced it was going to be a dismal day of drinking, but it turned out well in the end. In no rush to hit Mansfield, we started in the Sheffield Tap, the Mallard at Worksop Station (where we had to change), then, a newish craft ale place in Mansfield Woodhouse. OK, 45 minutes walk to the ground, but owned by a Reds fan! (We didn’t know this.)
Mind, the train back was slightly delayed. Something called ‘football hooliganism’ broke out, but it all seemed a storm in a teacup. Net result: one bust lip and a small child crying (the small crying child wasn’t the one with the bust lip). Then a yoof asked me and Andy if we were alright! I know we might be getting on for pensionable, but one of us could have had any of these runts. (Clue: Andy.) ps, I said ‘runts’.
In XG chat, we lost another game, 1.75 v 0.46. I’m starting to wonder why I can’t remember all our chances at games, but then I work out...we haven’t had any! Excellent finish from Benson for Beds too. Apparently, Coach Conor likes him cos he’s ‘full of energy’. I expect he is, not having completed a game since he signed for us...has he?
Drink du jour: Weihenstephaner in the Sheffield Tap, Vocation Crush Hour on the train, Virtuous Session IPA in The Mallard in Worksop Station, New World Brewing Hazy IPA in the Barrel Micropub in Mansfield Woodhouse...and whatever we had on the train back...and another in the Mallard...and another in the Sheffield Tap. It’s like we had a return journey!
Away: c.1,900 Sellout? ‘Toxic’ said a texter to Radio Sheffield’s Praise or Grumble. I’ve heard worse this season. ‘SIDEWAYS AND BACKWARDS, EVERYWHERE WE GOOOOO, EVERYWHERE WE GOOOOO’.
The Damage:
£26 ent
c.£8 petrol
£15 train
= c. £49
