NEWS
23 November 2005
If pictures could tell a thousand words, then this could explain everything. As it was though, there was something seriously farcical about Nissan 5 Ford 0. Even if the fog/bonfire hadn't conspired to delay the game at least once, I cannot recall a game so easy as this one. This was CCL revisited.
The game isn't really worth writing about too much (especially as the bar prevented me from seeing two of the goals), but after Chelmsford, it was a nice evening out. Just imagine setting your computer game of FIFA 2006 to "dead easy" level, pick MK Dungs as your oppo and stuff them 100-0.
But instead, let's concentrate on the fog. It was a little bit misty in the first half, though certainly no worse than it was Monday night. As I entered in for the second half, it was a helluva lot more foggy. However, you can imagine my surprise when I was told that it had actually lifted.
Anyway, it got heavier and heavier, not entirely helped by a few bonfires being lit. As the pics show, it got so farcical that after 20 minutes, the ref called everyone into the centre circle. Game over, looks like we'll have to do a replay. Or so I thought. Imagine my surprise when we continued...
Oh yeah, and they had a man sent off. Bet they wished they'd never came.
All the more for that....
Plus points: Pretty easy win TBH. MC Harvey played well.
Minus points: Weather.
The referee's a.....: Refs normally get all abuse they deserve. This one didn't, made a very brave (and ultimately correct) decision in suspending the game as opposed to abandoning it. Top marks. Having said all that, I expect his next game for us will see three players from us sent off for breaking wind, and 15 dubious penalties for the other side...
Them: Crap. Lucky to get nil. Whenever they pick up their registration forms for the season, they have to hide it inside a copy of Bondage Babes to hide the embarrasment. Viking Greenford fans laugh at them in the street. Took the grand total of about 30 fans. And to think they were two divisions higher than us last season...
Crowd control: A bit of comment about what I think must have been the lowest league crowd at KM ever. Rather than go into it now, after you've finished reading here, go to the menu up the top, click on "Articles" and read my €0.02 worth on the crowd problems. No, I haven't written a new article - I've written two instead. Please read and enjoy. I'll try not to leave it so long next time.
Music is my radar: The Who playing "I can see for miles" and foghorns a plenty. Nights like this were made for Phillo...
Truth is stranger
than fiction: (1) I still cannot remember a game ever being suspended
for 10 minutes during a match for something like this. Bad injuries, yes,
but even then the longest I can recall was a 7 minute gap. And even Hammam
cutting the power switch to assist his Malaysian betting syndicate the
floodlight failures weren't quite as weird. (2) Apparently, a Womble left
the chippy without paying for his grub. Amazingly, he returned and paid the
money he owed. Christ, I think I'd be long gone by then. (3) The amount of
people in the bar even before HT. It wasn't that bad, surely?
Anything else? OK then. I wonder how many people uttered the words "Notts County" yesterday? Though I understand Sheff Utd in the mid 80s had a similar problem with inclement weather. Incidentally, why are we getting so much fog recently? Hadn't seen any for about the last 5 years.
So, was it worth it? Worth it just to see the adverse weather conditions alone
In a nutshell: Can somebody thing of an ending for me? I haven't the foggiest...
21 November 2005
Some kind soul has sent me a Chelmsford report (with pic as well). Now, that's what I like to see from the SW19 readership :)
Enjoy...
Well, a disappointing day all in all. We were slow out of the blocks and fell behind midway through the first half as Chelmsford pounced on the loose ball following a decent block from Andy Little. Matters were made worse shortly after as Steve Butler was given a straight red for a mistimed tackle in the middle of the park. We came out for the second half and to our credit looked a lot more dangerous, only to let ourselves down with poor finishing. A second red card, this time for Anthony Howard after picking up his second yellow card of the afternoon, all but ended the match as a contest.
Plus points: Gave a good account of ourselves in the second half despite having ten men, and then nine men.
Minus points: Dropping all three points when really we should have been looking to win this sort of fixture. Yet another player picking up a serious injury, this time new signing Sweeney who will apparently be out of action for a couple of months. Two dismissals and ultimately two more suspensions. A less than awe-inspiring turnout.
The referee’s a: Oh god. I’m starting to grow tired of seeing referees intent on making a name for themselves. This guy was a textbook example. An utter tool. I didn’t think Steve Butler deserved to walk at the time and the video highlights confirmed my suspicions. A bad decision as early as that was always going to mean that we’d struggle to get back into the game and so it proved.
Them: Pretty average if truth be told. We (along with the ref) successfully managed to make them look a whole lot better than I suspect they actually are. To be fair to them, they had decent support there despite it not being their home town. So their impressive form continues though on this evidence they’ll struggle to maintain it when they meet the likes of Worthing and Fisher.
Truth is stranger than fiction: With all these midfielders we seem to have in the squad, why do we play centre backs (or Steve Butler to be precise) in midfield? During his brief spell on the pitch he looked lost, and could be said to be at fault for the goal. We still don’t seem to be playing to our full potential. Now is this down to the tactics? Or are we seeing too many average performances? Either way, even a play-off spot now is looking increasingly unlikely.
Anything else: As mentioned above, the attendance was less than spectacular, and that included a few hundred from Chelmsford. So why are attendances falling? Well I guess it could be attributed to a number of reasons. Is the novelty factor beginning to wear off? Are people put off by the less than attractive style of football we seem to adopt? Was Saturday just one trip to Essex too many? One thing is clear though, it’s a worry, and one which if the club has any sense, it’ll look to address in the near future.
In a nutshell: We must start winning these ‘must win’ games.
Was it worth it: Does the Pope shit in the woods?
16 November 2005
Sorry that Patio of England 2 Garden of England 1 is a little bit late. I was recovering from the emerald green shirts of the opposition, which looked as non-league as their ground.
The thing is, I'm glad we got this tie out of the way. It was bloody cold last night, and I really didn't fancy standing for another half hour watching a game that really we should have won. Quite simply, had our shooting been up to scratch, it would have been 4-1 or something.
As it was, we got a penalty, which was reminiscent of Duncan Jupp's effort in that pre-season tournament down in Portsmouth many eons ago. I think the ball is still going.
We then scored thanks to RB. Yet we decided to do our impression of the England cricket team (and no, I don't mean get totally bladdered and then turn up to 10 Downing Street wondering where you are). For about 30 seconds later - they scored. Bastards. I had visions of a creaking game, labouring and crashing out meekly to a lower division side in cheap looking kit. In short, an old League Cup type against somebody like Cambridge United.
Except it didn't quite seem to happen. TBH, I really can't recall them offering a lot, and when we got another penalty (duly dispatched by SS), you might as well have gone home. Still, Dartford next. Another trip to bloody Kent though. They're playing the game in Gravesend, another cesspit Medway town full of toxic waste by-products. And that's just the local inhabitants.
Anyway..
Plus points: We win. Not really looking like we would lose.
Minus points: Can we keep a goal lead for longer than 30 second next time? Please?
The referee's a.....: Useful for helping me vent on the odd occasion. Apparently gesticulated to us (ever so subtly)..
Them: Not exactly on our christmas card list. Plenty - and I mean, plenty - of anti-Ramsgate/pikey songs by us. Not all of it entirely good humoured either (like you're surprised). Saw a well-known Womble afterwards asking a steward to sort out one of their players for, ahem, displaying how many goals they scored that night.
Womble aggro: A minibus of 13 lads from Ramsgate were spotted outside a pub around Shannon Corner. They went in a pub and about 100 hard core AFCW fans totalled the pub. Rumour had it that some Gillingham were spotted with them but our lot were backed up with a few Fulham (remember that FFC fan who died? Revenge). As soon as the old bill arrived, most people scarpered, but a couple caught up in the aftermath are now getting legal advice at New Malden police station. This will at least explain why there were about 10-15 Ramsgate fans there last night*
* DISCLAIMER: Actually, none of this happened. Anyone who believes it is seriously too stupid to be let out alone without adult supervision. Given some of the comments aimed at me over the last few days, I just wanted to see what happened when I deliberately go out to upset people ;)
Truth is stranger than fiction: (1) Getting 1100. Unsure if that's good or bad. (2) The smell from "Smellylands" (copyright Mr P). I really can't believe that sewage doesn't rot your brain. Perhaps that explains the general conduct of your average Cambridge Estate dweller.
Anything else? Yeah - Rob Ursell was back on the bench. Nice to see him back, but I do wonder if far too much expectation is being put on him. He's had a very bad injury, which will mean it'll take time to get back into the swing of things anyway. He'll be coming into a much tougher league. And the pitches won't be the best. I just hope he doesn't get destroyed by our patient fanbase when he doesn't score 3 goals a game...
So, was it worth it? Well, it was a night out I suppose.
In a nutshell: Who needs the FA Cup?
And finally: As said before, I'm not at Chelmsford. Chances are, if you're reading this at work on Thursday, I'll be somewhere between Stansted and Cork. I'm back late Saturday, so if you fancy seeing your scribings in glorious HTML......
13 November 2005
There's only one thing worth mentioning about Rams 1 Forest 1, and I don't mean SS's header over the bar from five yards out. Basically, 30 locals decided to charge into our section, at least one ambulance called, the police (eventually) arriving and once again the whole aspect of security at away games gets called into question.
Let's get the rumour and conjecture out of the way first. Some of these are true, others may not be: a kid with a hernia got kicked in the, er, affected area. A kid got a fag stubbed out on his face. The perpetrators had blades and were fishing around in hedges after the game. They were Spurz fans. They were Herne Bay fans wanting revenge for being slapped in a pub at our game there. They tried to infiltrate the police frogmarch back to the station (Newcastle 88 revisited). Stewards laughing at racist abuse. Players trying to taunt our fans. Their fans trying to taunt our subs. There's probably more, you'll have some things you've heard as well. Suffice to say, I had to be very careful when putting it in the NLP report...
I am aware that a couple of our female support got threatened in the queue for the toilets (and I don't mean the Bryan Robson way of acting around ladies toilets either). This is of course bravery on a scale with gang rape. I do know that three of their suppporters have been given life bans with immediate effect (though whether they'll come again I have no idea). And I certainly do know that our team decided to get the fuck out of there ASAP.
So now what? Well, seems like many may give Margate a wide berth, which isn't totally surprising. Although I believe Margate are quite well organised and would segregate us (but then, they're an ex-Conference side so they should have a scooby what's occuring). Read on a message board - second hand info at best, make of it what you will - that one of them were promising to "finish the job" at Margate. Hmm. Wonder if any of our lot will want a bit of revenge for yesterday? It's these sorts of incidents that can mobilise people
And yes, that may be irresponsible to say that last sentence, but the longer these sort of incidents go on, the more some of our rowdier element will take matters into their own hands. We are not as immune from this sort of thing as some may think.
The game? They scored first, we scored 5 minutes later. And we got the replay. That really is all you need to know.
Anyway...
Plus points: Getting out of there. Getting the replay
Minus points: Guess.
The referee's a.....: Must be thankful that he wasn't the biggest twat in the area that day.
Them: Well, the area of Ramsgate was pretty picturesque. Typical Kent town though, there's a moody air in the place that I also noticed at Herne Bay. Not particularly pleasant after the game, I was there on my own and too many little chavvy gangs milling about. Only place I've ever moved my car from a sidestreet to a far more lit area to do my NLP report. Their chairman and other assorted officials seemed very red faced over the incidents. Still, they'll know better next time....
Point to ponder (1): Both AFCW and Ramsgate have been involved with incidents in the last month or so. Ramsgate have a bit of a reputation (or if they didn't in the past they have now) and we're not exactly squeaky clean. Medium-to-high risk game. Nobody can disagree with that. So, why did we see more security at Redbridge for 500 docile people? Incidentally, let's see how many of their local hard men venture from outside their town walls on Tuesday.
Nee naw nee naw: So, the police were apparently waiting a couple of streets away, and only turned up when the horse had bolted and galloped away. Had to be "invited in", which was the same reason I heard when Portsmouth stewards were doing their, ahem, duty. By that line of logic, coppers can't break into a house and stop somebody chocking somebody else to death because they'll be tresspassing. Right. And this organisation wanted to lock away people for 90 days without charge. It's no wonder that many football fans hate the police.
Point to ponder (2): This thought occured to me this morning as I sat down to write this, and confirmed after researching about Margate. I know quite a few people are a bit pissed off that AFCW seems to be a bit hellbent on zooming up the divisions at the expense of "the fans". Yesterday proved to me exactly why we need to do that. Would this sort of thing happen at Sutton, or Barnet, or Woking? No, there'd be proper co-ordination, less cost-cutting, proper security, that kind of thing. It was no surprise when the Coney Hall replay went off peacefully at GGL : Sutton are pretty well on top of that sort of thing. Too many clubs in the lower reaches seem to go for the cheap buck at our expense. I would happily sell the soul of AFCW if it meant that we don't have to put up with these sort of setups anytime soon.
Truth is stranger than fiction: Walking in and thinking that although the setup was untidy, it was pretty friendly. Amazing how things can change in an instant.
Point to ponder (3): Wonder what would have happened had we lost? Or indeed, won?
Anything else? Not really. At least I can now say I've driven on the M2.
So, was it worth it? Cough
In a nutshell: Let's ram it home on Tuesday.
9 November 2005
Few things first. Updates at the moment might be a little on the sporadic side and a bit brief as well. Basically, I've been earmarked to do an exam next month (NCTJ teeline shorthand), which is seriously testing my powers to think at the moment (insert wisecrack here), so obviously that will have to take priority. I have honestly no idea whether I'll be at Ramsgate, and I definitely won't be at Chelmsford away - I'm going to Cork City v Derry City in the Eircom league championship decider*. So expect a restricted service while vital repairs are carried out.
* - although the EL could be decided by about Saturday in Cork's favour. Though doubtless most of you lot will be wanting the Apprentice Boys to win.
Mind you, there wasn't really that much to say about Staines 0 Marks 2 - this was a comprehensive performance from start to finish. I just about caught our goal after 6 minutes (M25 solid, quite a few Wombles got stuck in it, including a few arriving at half time), and really it was a solid game as I've seen this season. Genuinely can't remember a Staines attack, and Sonny Farr's goal was of course a massive fluke. But then, most shots like that which go in the net are flukes. Nobody ever calls a cross-cum-shot that doesn't go in the net as "lucky".
If you want more, you'll have to make it up yourself. Instead, you'll have to digest the following...
Plus points: Nobody really putting a foot wrong. Sweeney looking useful (and I refuse point blank to make a reference to a certain TV show. Anyone who says otherwise gets nicked).
Minus points: It pissed down. The traffic.
The referee's a.....: Dear oh fucking dear. Can I just leave his description at that? Suffice to say, the bloke in front of me had a rather way of talking to the lino....
Them: Dear oh fucking dear again. Are they really ahead of us? Quite simply, if this is how a top team performs, it wouldn't be so majorly far fetched to suggest that we really could get a playoff berth. And who knows what will happen if/when H&R stop riding their luck. Their #3 was quite lucky to remain on the field having sort of aimed a kick once the whistle had blown. Not at the football, I hasten to add. Oh, and their fans booed RB when he went off. Good of them.
Truth is stranger than fiction: (1) The geriatric Staines fan near me complaining quite a bit about the amount of swearing going on. Senile old cunt. (2) £3 for a cheeseburger, and no the two I had (I was seriously hungry, OK?) were not worth the premium. Strangely enough, I don't recall the grub being quite so pricey when I did Staines v Brentford this pre-season...
Anything else? Yeah - what a real shame this wasn't a league game. I'm in two minds about these minor cup competitions : they're a pain in the arse at this stage, yet if you get to the final they're worth the effort. Seriously, how many of you would have given a shit last season had we not got to Woking? FWIW, I would have happily lost yesterday if it meant that we won on Saturday. Winning the FAT sounds quite nice on the CV.
So, was it worth it? It was all right, I suppose.
In a nutshell: Staines wiped off.