Seconds Out: Round Three {F.A. Cup: Brentford Away)

Last week we were walking from the car to the ground when my mobile phone went. It was tucked away under several layers of clothes, but I managed to dig it out and answer before it rang out. Cully was in the queue to get tickets for the F.A. Cup game at Brentford. Would I like one? Not half!

But, even before we had finished a short conversation the card had gone up: all allocation sold, no tickets left.

So we satisfied ourselves by getting tickets for the Tuesday game at Coventry.

But that is truly amazing: we will be taking about sixteen hundred fans down to Griffin Park! To this “showdown” against the team now managed by our former manager Dean Smith (one time “Ginger Mourinho”)

Between then and now Ben Stokes, England cricketer has absolutely smashed some records in a test match against top class opposition: South Africa in Capetown. Some of the records that, amazingly, fell:

Fastest Test double century by an England batsman

• Highest score by an England batsman at Newlands, beating Jack Hobbs’ 187 in 1910

• Most sixes by an England batsman (11), surpassing Wally Hammond in 1933

• Most runs scored in a day of Test cricket in South Africa (453), beating the 450 made by Australia in Johannesburg in 1921.

While I find it hard to become too involved in cricket (perhaps because I was never very good at it at school) this is a wonderful story and speaks volumes for an obviously talented player. Worth a mention, too is his partner at the stumps: Yorkshire’s Bairstow who would almost certainly have made his own headlines on any other day, displaying impressively powerful hitting of his own. The 26-year-old Yorkshire wicketkeeper hit five fours and a six in the space of nine balls and now averages 104 in three matches against South Africa.

 

Back to football and, at work we were discussing this weekend’s F.A. Cup games. This is the third round: the one where Premier League teams join the draw. So, after the early stages we now have all the teams in action. The time for historic giant killings? But over the past few years some upper echelon teams have played weakened teams and been knocked out, because, essentially the F.A. Cup has lost its prestige.

So my oppo, the Blues supporter reckons that in the Blues vs Bournemouth game both teams will play “lesser” teams. We cannot decide whether this means there will be more goals or less – and how about the quality of the game?

Will we see weakened teams in the Bees v Saddlers game? Both managers are in the media saying that, in each case the next games in the leagues (Championship for Birmingham, League One for us) are more important. But is it bluff or true? Psychological rambling?

The BBC, meanwhile is all over the F.A. Cup; one of the few major events it now televises. So there was a game on – and live on TV on Friday night. League Two Exeter playing Premier League Liverpool.

 

Exeter manager Paul Tisdale was one of the people allegedly considered for the Walsall job a month or so ago. the game is played on a very soggy pitch it is an intriguing game. Either out of faith in his younger players, desperation because of injuries or disrespect for the team from the lower league Liverpool governor Jurgen Klopp plays a team with few, if any recognisable names in it. Exeter go ahead; early on. Liverpool equalise. Exeter go ahead again with a sweet goal scored direct from a corner (unbelievable!) and Liverpool scrape another equaliser. Credit to Exeter, of course. Also to the young Liverpool players for their grit and determination.

 

So now the big question: it is, of course, super for Exeter to have the replay at Anfield financially, but will Klopp play a similar side at Anfield? Will he dare to … in front of the home fans?

 

What if we introduce a new rule: Premiership teams that only draw with teams from leagues one or Two forfeit the game. Should do away with the need for bothersome replays, and add spice to the F.A. Cup ties. Which do not get the respect they deserve from some clubs. Speaking of which Aston Villa manage to score in a one all draw at Wycombe ( a League two team). And I have a secret fear that, while hoping we play brilliantly and win, it will be an opportunity for Brentford staff to cast an eye over our players. And I don’t like that! (Our manager Sean O’Driscoll is quoted as denying the rumour about an offer from an un-named (perhaps Brentford?) Championship team already for Tom Bradshaw.

So, tinkering about at home pre-Walsall game, I discover that I can actually either watch BBC WM live (interesting) or get a full match commentary on the game. It is not a question: I go for the commentary: Rob Gurney and former Walsall player James Chambers. Fair team out for Walsall and seems we are playing two up front: Bradshaw and Lalkovic. Kinsella is in for right back and Rico Henry is back in to play down the left wing. According to the commentary (with the down to earth comments from Chambers) it seems we are not disgracing ourselves, then getting on top …

Then, with Downing moving forwards into the Brentford half Sam Mantom gets off a shot that fizzes into the Brentford net after thirty five minutes. I am impressed; Dean Smith perhaps less so.

 

In the second half Brentford boss the game, but we are stubborn and they cannot get past. It is raining heavily. Some substitutions made by both teams and, near the end there’s a tremendously powerful header from O’Connor (so we’re clearly not backs-to-the-wall defending) that comes back off the Brentford post

… and we are into the next round.

A couple of clearly delighted Walsall fans are on air, and asked about Dean Smith they say his departure from Bescot felt like “if your girlfriend leaves you for a midget …” An interesting analogy even if I am sure it is not how most of us see the switch.  Sean O’Driscoll was far more generous, giving Smith and O’Kelly praise for putting together a squad with such a fine spirit. Now our former manager can get on and concentrate on trying to get into the Premiership. I wish him well with that.

Meanwhile I am guessing/hoping we have all got Dean Smith out of our systems and the team we support is now well and truly Sean O’Driscoll’s.

Round Four: now, who do we fancy?

Be good to get a home game!

Post Script: Blues end up losing to Bournemouth; Wolves also go out.

 

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Bond, Boogie and the Bees.

7th December, 2015

Friday evening; we decide to go to the cinema. James Bond’s new adventure: Spectre. It is a dark film, this series with Daniel Craig as Bond are all brutal. But the action is good, the story credible and the baddie truly villainous in a twenty first century way that makes him seem to be helping society while planning to rule the world.

I was always struck by Sean Connery as the best Bond. Back in the days when this was a new genre of film. And, as with who is your favourite Doctor Who, loyalties lie deep. Craig is excellent; I can imagine his Bond going toe to toe with other action hero  types (John McClain for example in the Die Hard franchise or the Liam Neeson (come on what is the character’s name?) in the Taken series (how many more can there be?)) and not embarrassing himself (or Her Majesty’s Government).

Getting back tour house we remember that our central heating boiler has gone kaput – and snuggle up until tomorrow, hoping that the unseasonably warm spell will continue until it is repaired. The sensor window keeps flashing a “F13” fault message and I need a Walther PPK to wipe the grin off it’s face.

Elsewhere Lenny Henry is knighted for services to charity (co-founder of Comic Relief) and comedy (I think). Never could stand his younger, brash persona, but he has matured into a wonderful person: local –ish lad from Dudley done well.

On Saturday Walsall are the highest ranked team in the Second Round of the F.A. Cup (sponsored this year by Emirates Airlines). We are  away at Chesterfield. I am not going. While it is not so far I have a date to keep with Status Quo at the NIA in Birmingham.

So I curl up and turn on the radio. BBC WM. But they are only flickering to and from the Walsall game with “up-dates”. And they report that Tome Bradshaw is not in the team. Was the injury at Shrewsbury so serious? Is this just a precaution? Jordan Murphy has been recalled from his loan spell at Kidderminster Harriers so …

… watch this space.

I don’t have a good feeling about it all, but after eighteen or so minutes the news comes in that we are one nil up. A Jason Demetriou goal. By full time we are one – one, because Lee Novak scored a ninetieth minute equaliser. So a replay … and we are still in with a chance to get into  the next round. A good thing?

I decide not to worry about it. Neither will I worry about some of the names being linked with the manager’s job. Somebody will sort it all out. And there has rarely been a better chance to take over at Saddlers.

Skilful players, good league position – and still in the cup with a chance to raise money and enhance reputations.

I use my sat nav (Birthday present: Thanks kids!) for the first time to get to the NIA. It takes us a different way and we get snarled up in traffic, but are in our lofty seats in time to see a short (thirty minutes) support set from the Wilko Johnson Band … then the mighty Status Quo. Very smooth, great sound, lot of favourites and we spin home – contented.

 

I have just enough energy to watch one game on Match of the Day: Bournemouth winning one nil at Chelsea … it is a goal if the referee says it is (that’s the rule) but this one , to me,  was scored from an off side position.

Monday morning I drive to work. Thinking that we are still in the F.A. Cup. Wondering whether I actually meant the thing I said in the pub before the Shrewsbury game. (I said it would be great to get Brentford after we’ve beaten Chesterfield, to show Dean Smith what he left behind!)

There is heart warming news from the Carlisle F.C.. team. Their home ground – and the town – are inundated with record breaking rainfall (the crossbar of the goals is below water level!) and their players have volunteered to help anybody who needs it in the resulting clear up operations. real community stuff. Commendable!

… and, sure enough, at work I’m asked “who would you like in the next round?”

One of my colleagues is a Blues supporter so I tell him I’d love to get Birmingham City – at their ground!

“Better for me if we were at your place,” he smiles, “we are not so good at home!”

Or Everton; there are Everton supporters there too.

But when the draw comes up on BBC Two I watch the big teams (Championship and Premier clubs) come and go. The non-League teams (like Eastleigh, nicknamed “the Spitfires” as this was the home of Supermarine who designed the iconic World War Two fighter).

But I am not surprised when Brentford comes out of the draw … followed  by ball 60 “Chesterfield or Walsall”.

Aren’t there times when you should have kept your mouth shut ?

The irony is lost on the TV pundits; but this could be a game of games …

… if we can get past Chesterfield of course.

Strikers … One Step Forward Please.

So, it was confirmed today. David Moyes, chosen by Sir Alex Ferguson among others as his successor is out of a job. The price of failure. The pressures of football management. Or maybe any kind of management when the stakes are financially or artificially high.

Seems a somehow disloyal decision to me, but then I support a local club that’s run, it would appear on completely different lines. They’re the “toffs”, we’re Alf Tupper on his way to training via Winton’s chippie and doin’ a paper round on the way.

Meanwhile Wolves are promoted as champions and Brentford also get promotion. The knock on effect of that is that Walsall get another slice of cash for Will Grigg (one of our key forwards last season).

He couldn’t agree a deal with Dean Smith and moved to Brentford in the close season, but we were due some money. The F.A. needed to set up a tribunal as the two clubs couldn’t agree on a figure. But the tribunal was (wickedly) late for we could have done with the money during the transfer window so as to be able to nab something that resembled a replacement. Not to be – and the authorities remain bullet-proof. Then eventually they got together and we were granted an initial £325,000 with additional clauses.

Now, with Brentford qualifying for promotion, we get an additional £50,000. Bonus. And we need a dyed in the wool striker! Dean Smith should get some of the money to spend. And he should be able to start looking soon (hint, hint!)

Craig Westcarr has been our season-long front man, but, with all due respect he is not an out-and-out striker. Sure, he can hit the ball, has vision, but lacks the aggression to get in where it might hurt and the killer instinct to put himself in the right places. Sawyers was worth keeping, but is inconsistent: a talented ball player but lacks application sometimes.

A year ago, losing the three doing-well strikers (Febian Brandy, to Sheffield Utd, Jamie Paterson – Notts Forest and Will Grigg, to Brentford), really knocked us back. But, after a surprisingly reasonable season, we need to be in the market. And we have money. Don’t we?