“Eleven Hours Since …”: Bradford at Home.

Sunday, 29th November, home.

Some of the terrorists blamed for the Paris murders were living in a part of the Belgian capital, Brussels. The Belgian police and anti-terrorist organisations have been searching the area and, allegedly the ring leader was identified and killed.

Great Britain finally made it through to a Davis Cup final. This was being held in Ghent, not far from Brussels. The last time Britain won a Davis Cup final was in 1936 and the present team has done brilliantly to reach this set of games. In Andy Murray we have one of the world’s leading players; but he will be stretched having to play in the doubles game (with his older brother Jamie) and in the singles game on the final day. To be played with the threat of a terrorist incident says something about the spirit of tennis – and a lot about the spirit of the Belgians. Le the tennis do the talking!*

Meanwhile, after a successful morning shopping in Lichfield (and a seriously decent full English breakfast at the dam Fine café) I am saddling up and heading, past the arboretum, for Bescot Stadium. Listening to BBC Radio WM, who happen to mention that the Bradford (today’s opponents, goalkeeper” has not conceded a goal for eleven hours.” That is impressive, but I am trying to work out how many actual games that is:

• A game is an hour and a half, so three hours is two games and six hours is…

But decide for safety’s sake to concentrate on driving instead. And anyway it isn’t like they played Walsall in the last eleven hours is it As we are approaching Christmas this is also the nominated game for fans to take new toys in as donations for Walsall Manor Hospital Children’s Ward? Apparently the club is also collecting the Thomas Project, part of the Black Country Food bank – or to drop change into the collecting buckets for the same cause.

On a good run and, properly, fancying their chances today, Bradford have brought a good crowd: I count three coaches and five mini buses and the away end (the inappropriately named Wolverhampton and annoyingly named University stand) is full. Full and noisy. Bring on the teams:

“… and the pride of the Midlands: the mighty Saddlers!”

It is straight into a fine, fast and passionate game of football. Pleased to see Lalkovic and Morris back in the team. Lalkovic is in his element, head down and running, step-overs and jinks at the defence. Rico Henry too, is pushing up. Bradford have a pack of big players; including six foot four James Hanson, who is something of a throwback to the head days of target men: strong and attempting to intimidate … possibly quite capable of doing so too. But O’Connor and Downing seem to have the second ball covered, with Adam Chambers popping up where needed – as usual.

We fall into a discussion of how effective, in the “modern game” (by which, I assume  we are talking about current fashions) a single big bruiser can be. It’s not working while we are talking about, but we quickly remind ourselves this opinion may best be shelved until the end of the match, because …

And, anyway how do football tactics evolve anyway. The dreaded “catennacio” system from 1960s Italy; the sweeper, the “wingless wonders” that won the F.I.F.A. World Cup for England and Alf Ramsey in 1966. Each had its day … and something new came in. Maybe we are due for a return to the big man up front, the lay-offs…

Today we seem to be playing a loose, 3 – 5 – 3 system.

Lalkovic gets his head down one more time, unleashes a shot that Tom Bradshaw steals from the toe of the big defender and slides it accurately past the goalkeeper.

“Eleven hours and fourteen minutes …” I whisper to the BBC commentary team, but doubt if they are listening. Third goal in three games for Super Tom.

We are all over the bantams until half time, but good defending and poor shooting means we are only a fragile one goal up, despite all our efforts.

They are helped by some weird refereeing decisions and rough house and time wasting tactics. Poor sportsmanship, in the real sense of the word.

From the off they go hard at it, once the second half kicks off. Under pressure, Neil Etheridge pulls of some amazingly agile saves, low and accurate headers, reflex actions. I am already considering him as man of the match, then with a fantastic volley, they draw level. Their fans go crazy. They have had the lion’s share of the play, seem dominant.

But this is a Walsall team that work for each other. They knuckle down, get the rhythm back and go forwards again an again. Now we have Sawyers putting long balls through the middle, changing the routes. Both teams used the wide channels in the first half. This is different, confuses Bradford.

Almost instinctively Lalkovic is bursting through. Onto a long ball from Sawyers. He takes one touch to take it past the defender and another … to score.

That settles it.

Bradford steam and huff and puff, but we  hold on. Job done.

I have my ticket for the game at Shrewsbury in my pocket and arrangements are made (I just have to try and get rid of the “allotment smells” from my car..

Elsewhere Leicester’s Jamie Vardy sets a new Premiership record, scoring a goal in eleven consecutive games. This one against Man United as Leicester, second in their league hold on to a 1 – 1 draw.

*It does; with both players determined and becoming exhausted there is a final rally and Murray stretches every sinew to get to a ball and lob it perfectly over and beyond Goffin, his opponent. He falls to the clay in disbelief – and possibly relief. History is made. But then, truly sporting credit is given to all the players on both teams as well as their coaches and behind the scenes people.

Beware of Offers: Burton Albion at Home

Friday Night: 9^th October, 2015

At home

So, this weekend sees another international break … and another enterprising bid by the Saddlers to grab a few more fans (at least for one home game, if not – having been so impressed by what these “first timers/floating fans” have seen on their day – for games for the rest of the season. Reasoning is thus (I guess) local football fans will have their fill of (let’s call it) top level games on TV (England v Estonia on Friday evening for example … and, oh Lithuania versus England on Monday evening) and might just fancy s alive game squeezed in on the usual Saturday. Hence the offer:

Season ticket holders (such as I) can take a “friend for a fiver”. Actually, with the start to the season we are having – and Saturday’s home game pitting – unexpectedly perhaps the top two side in the league against each other (come on: really who would have thought newly promoted Burton Albion would be top, much less that Walsall would have been second by this stage?) Needless to say my brother will benefit from the offer: no problem (except that he’s not a “new” supporter at all) but …

Results in games where these offers have been made are not – generally good for us. And performances at these games, coincidentally I am sure, are poor so far …

… and we will be short of two of the players that are making us so difficult to play against: ironically both are away on international duty. Neil Etheridge is quickly establishing himself as an all action hero: energetic, acrobatic commanding, busy and ever-so-slightly kamikaze at times. He will be getting his forty sixth Phillipino cap while away. Demetriou looks far more at home going forward from right back position than defending at times, but he covers the ground, marks well and gets his body in the way when needed: he has a game for Cyprus to participate in.

In will come, I suppose Craig McGillivray as ‘keeper. Hope he can handle this game. He will undoubtedly develop as a keeper, but needs to build a better understanding with the defence as his style is far more static than Etheridge’s. Communication will be key here.

Talking of offers: apparently Rotherham, having sacked their manager Steve Adams made approaches for both Jimmy Floyd Haisselbaink (burton manager and Dean Smith this past week. Papers and club web-site are saying Smith is too important to let go. Maybe … but er, for how long … and, with his contract up at the end of the season, where do we stand? This could be about how much the board are prepared to pay to keep him. And, though I have had my doubts about his style – should I now adjust that to read “styles” in the light of what we are seeing this time round? – he is proving remarkably successful on an extremely low budget. Rotherham, being in the Championship might have the extra spending power … or what if one of the Premiership clubs comes a-knocking? Money no obstacle?

Brendan Rogers just couldn’t make the grade at Liverpool: sacked already and Dick Advokaat resigned from Sunderland … Tim Sherwood, failing visibly at Aston Villa must be quaking in his boots at the moment. Hey, Villa people keep your thoughts and paws off the Ginger Mourinho.

Last night Northern Ireland qualified for the European Championship finals in France next year with a stirring 3 – 1 win against Greece. Good luck to them and congratulations too.

Tonight I dutifully watched England – looking radiant and a class apart, beat Estonia by two goals to nil at Wembley (still with traces of the American Football markings visible on the field of play (really? No way to wipe these out?) One nil up against an outclassed but determined, well organised side but not inspiring, allowing me to switch to Gardener’s World for half an hour and switch back in time to see Leicester’s Jamie Vardy slip an unselfish pass across for Raheem Stirling to knock in the second (class vision from the just-on substitute).The win puts England into the seeded teams, so we should miss the seriously big teams in the competition in the group games (France, Germany and Italy for example).

Sunday morning, home, 11^th October, 2015

Picked my brother up to go to the game. Cars everywhere, lucky to be able to jam the Vauxhall into a little spot and take the traditional walk. Long queues, even at the collection window so, like any true Walsall fan would I deserted my brother to the queue and went in. His s eat wasn’t necessarily going to be by mine any way …

Good crowd inside, some Bluenoses (Birmingham City fans) in the seats next to ours who proved to be good company (here because of the “international break I guess). Good, noisy contingent from Burton. Game pitting the two top teams against each other with no Championship games must feature heavily in tonight’s Channel Five football programme so masses of TV cameras and OB wagons.

And, from the kick off three things became apparent.

First – and so proud to be able to type this: we were superior and full of pace, passes and width.

Two: Burton are a team who seek to gain any advantage and do not draw the line at cheating, only exacerbated by

… three: one of the worst referees I have ever seen in charge of a professional football game.

The game was always going to be keenly contested. Top of the table clash, why not? We have the best defensive record in all of the top national leagues so far: we have, in fact only conceded six goals in our league! Burton also have not had many put past them. But, above and beyond the simple “man up and play” physical challenges that both teams took on, their players fell over unnecessarily, feigned injury, protested decisions and generally tried to upset the pace and switching of passes (Rico Henry and Liam Kinsella being brilliant runners at the Brewers defence on each wing).

… and the referee fell for far too many of these pantomime tricks too many times.

But it wasn’t enough! Romaine sawyers –once again playing his game-changing passes with sweet touches and marvellous vision made space for our players going forwards. Tom Bradshaw playing his usual strong game up front, drew defenders, creating space and pockets of room for the likes of Kinsella to race into, play a one-two and get a centre in. Usually from the goal line. And we hold the midfield; Reece Flanagan, Chambers and Sam Mantom mastering the flow, the tackles and interceptions and pushing the ball forwards. It is, frankly impressive. Especially when Sawyers and Mantom got the ball to Liam Kinsella, racing into the box to slot a shot into the far side of the net. The possession dominance showed – at last.

… and, if only briefly we are top of the league!

Second half saw more poor refereeing decisions (I am, I hope careful not to criticise referees often: it is one hell of a thankless job and poor decisions will, inevitably be made – it is what makes football what it is of course –)  but this guy ???

He had penalised Rico Henry in the first half and booked him, when there was no genuine offence and the challenges carrying Chambers through three red-blooded tackles were far more deserving of the whistle (and perhaps a card). But in addition to poor decision making the ref was guilty of wasting time – oh so much – talking to offending players: not just once but time after time. Why not just one warning then next time it’s a card?

Brewers proudly came at us in the second half. Good now at coming forwards they threw three men up front. We were a little sloppy at this stage, couldn’t get the ball back and keep it. No pressure from players to make the follow up challenge that would secure the ball and launch a counter attack. Partly because of the Burton players skills no doubt – and they proved skilful, just adept at cheating along with it.

The clock ticking down we began to edge into the play again. Sawyers, still cool, Bradshaw still mobile and Cook coming on, running and harrying. Sam Mantom put through had a perfect opportunity to nail a goal, but er, hey Sam, get some shooting practice in eh – a touch too many and the shot was blocked.

Never mind, Burton were also wasting golden opportunities: at least two.

Then Sawyers flicked an apparently casual ball (he is rarely casual this season!) and got a penalty.

Burton players did their level (and beyond) best to stretch out the time before the kick was taken in the hopes of putting Super Tom off his game. But he just stood there while the childish behaviour was going on , hands on hips, looking at the ground – then stepped up and blasted us into the top spot in the league.

Great game – in which I became outraged, involved and had the sweet satisfaction of seeing my team dig in. play skilfully and beat a dishonest side. And a real advertisement for the high levels of talent, commitment and emotion that goes in this lower league. Next game is at home (Chesterfield) so there is a really good chance some of the “new” fans will be back to see if it happens again.

Top of the league (on goal difference only) but a magical afternoon … and even having my car boxed in couldn’t wipe the smile off my happy little face.

Dracula’s Ghost and A Posh Trip: Peterborough Away

Sunday, 20^th September, 2015

Home

Friday began with a day’s work in Tamworth: a fine warm day, autumnal misty roads on the journey there. But my new Android ‘phone is turned off while I am work so I missed the calls about he Peterborough game, but managed to catch a lift anyway …

Evening at the Garrick Theatre in Lichfield: Dracula’s Ghost (the Don’t Go Into the Cellar Theatre Company’s original work) had two actors playing a variety of roles (costumes and accents) which linked the death of Bram Stoker to a host of characters, real and imagined (Sherlock Holmes, Irene Adler, Jack the Ripper, Dr Moreau, Dorian Gray included). Particularly good I imagine if you could catch all of the allusions; though I did wonder what the no-more than thirteen year old lad with his mother made of it all.

Saturday morning, thinking about getting to Rugeley on time I was interrupted by a ‘phone call offering free horse muck at the allotment. Not able to resist so was a little late making the rendezvous (I needed a decent wash after all didn’t I?).

But a good steady drive; humour, exchange of information, opinion and discussion on a second fine autumn day: Pompeii, the rules of rugby (England beat Fiji and, in some way I do not understand yet, got bonus points for … well something or other), ticket prices at Posh (“it’ll cost me more to get into the Peterborough Walsall game than it will to watch Chelsea on Wednesday evening!”), allergies, careers, further education salaries … the miles pass by and we park opposite the one-time London Road (now the ABAX) stadium in the car park (for a fiver) of the Peacock pub. Couple of beers each in a friendly atmosphere. There is a mixture of fans in the bar and outside, all ages and everybody smiling and getting on well. Most of the Walsall crowd are resplendent in the new away kit (getting used to the rather smart white and blue shirts now) and a boy no higher than my hips is trying to hit the dartboard as part of a game. Good to see and the two lagers help to cool the throat.

   

But once in the ground there are only Balti pies and I decide to go hungry.

The stadium looks good in a temporary modern kind of way. But the seats in the stand where we come to rest are genuine antiques: hinged wooden seats shaved to contour your bum and wooden back rests screwed to the rusting iron framework which has been concreted – more than once by the look of it – into the ground. Amazingly they are both roomy and comfortable in a way plastic copies are not – or is that just wishful thinking?

It is inevitable of course that the club will put their efforts into making home fans comfortable first – we smile, we have of course seen both better and worse than this but then … as we settle down the back section of the chair in front of the driver breaks off and he suddenly has enviable leg-room.

While we sit high up under the roof the game, in bright sunlight is at best mediocre, passing and possession pretty equal if a little uninspired. We are not sure why Milan Lalkovic isn’t starting, what role the up-to-now-improving Flanagan is taking on and why, oh why the exciting Kieron Morris is still not in the starting line-up. Reece Flanagan in this game seems to be once again – going for a more complicated pass than is needed. Andy Taylor and Rico Henry are spreading the paly well, but most of our wing play is via Demetriou who is so far forward he is in and out of the Posh penalty area.

Romaine Sawyers is another payer getting better (perhaps until I publish this, but hopefully not) by the game. I am impressed that he is now more committed to chasing back, harrying and winning the ball – something I have criticised him for in the not too distant past. Sam Mantom too is influential. And by half time, while not impressed at least we are not losing – and Peterborough look to be there for the taking. We drink a coffee in the shade; stand up to ease the cramp in our legs – the seats not so comfortable then.

Second half begins with the same, but bursts into drama as Rico henry – typically energetic and busy-busy-busy distracts the defence when sawyers takes a pass and opts to cut inside. As the defence parts he hammers the ball solidly into the net, defying the goalkeeper’s stretching fngers on the way. A fine goal, well deserved on his performance too. Then during a break in play when players “take on water/energy drinks/refreshment” Peterborough’s Jermaine Anderson, in a seeming fit of anger hurls the water bottle at either the assistant referee or at the crowd (his own fans). While it may have been a rush of blood moment there is no doubt in my mind it was no accident (as will be claimed in his defence later). But the result is a prolonged discussion between the fourth official and the referee who shows the nineteen year old the red card. He is amazed and seeks support from both Peterborough and Walsall players. But I can count on the fingers of a snail how many times a rfereee has changed his mind once a decision is made and – eventually he leaves the pitch.

   

“Where’s your water gone?” is the gleeful chant of the Saddlers Choir to something like the tune of Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep’s “Where’s Your Momma Gone?”

Neil Etheridge, whose skills, bravery and commitment perhaps kept us in the game during the first half is developing into a fine keeper. Once he has made a decision he will stick to it, he is agile, has that courage/craziness that defines goalkeepers and works well with the defence, who are pushing forward to get a second goal. But Peterborough, now a man down are pumping long balls up past our defenders.

Tom Bradshaw (“suffering a slight groin strain”) is taken off, Jordan Cook comes on – and we appear to go to a four defender line up. To be caught out as Posh forward Bostwick falls over Etheridge when both are challenging for the ball and the referee goes for the easy way out after maybe re-thinking sending Anderson off opts for a penalty. Me? Not sure but definitely no criticism of Etheridge – even if he doesn’t save the spot kick. We head towards the exits, close enough to feel the smack as a last second powerhouse shot from Sam Mantom rattles the Peterborough crossbar.

Radio puts us second in the league table, with promoted this season Burton Albion top.

Great chat on the way back about whether to risk Bradshaw – if he’s injured – at all in the Wednesday game against Chelsea…

… and the first episode of the new series of Dr Who (who made Davros?)

 

 

 

Close Shaves and World War III ? Coventry Home.

Home

23^rd August.

Getting just a little bit of stick at home for the – er – not quite beard that I am not quite growing. Its not a fashion thing, indeed not a big deal; just that when I don’t shave facial hair appears. But, casting for a suitable time to take a shave, some days ago I promised “after the Coventry game”. Because, seriously the Coventry game seemed like such a long way into the future.

Talking to a guy in the butcher’s car park. He went to his first ever Walsall game in 1948. He reels off a string of names that was the line-up. He does the same for a Liverpool team that played against Walsall in “one of the best games I’ve ever seen”. His wife, appearing from the butchers, is a west Brom fan and talks, with a smile about “when we beat Chelsea six-nil”.

They sometimes go, together to Hednesford Town football games – and it was very interesting to talk with him.

There is increased media speculation about the transfer market. Tom Bradshaw is – and properly so – a magnet for scouts. The big clubs have a week-and-a-bit to make their moves. Scuttlebutt on the Rochdale terraces was about how much: ) we’d miss him and b)how much he’d be sold for. There’s pride backed by realism to deal with if you’re a Saddlers fan.

Dean Smith is apparently also talking about making “two more signings”. We are a small club with a small squad. But to make anything like a real bid for any kind of sustained glory I reckon he is right. Injuries will bite at some point.

I have a friend who is a Coventry fan, but replied to an invitation to the game by saying that he “was taking his family to the zoo”. There’s a difference?

A warm drive to the game. Parked up and, not knowing the new season’s systems I enter via the turnstiles. Access to the Savoy Lounge ( needing a season pass) is changed: the restaurant is now in the centre of the room and we are permitted some space – and it might get crowded! – at the far end. So I have to burn the routes into my brain and delete the old by-habit ones … including which toilets to use.

Coventry have bought a goodly number of fans; the atmosphere is superb: noisy, bright, animated. Coventry are doing well (early season league leaders) and have high expectations. Stadium (this is my first home match) looks impressive. Good playing surface.

 

By these new routes it seems a long way to my seat, but sure I will get used to it.

There is a buzz from the beginning; this is one of the many local derbies throen at us this season. Notably Jason Demetriou (nominally full back) is forward and at home taking players on, little one-two passes and sharp. Etheridge, so mobile and looking more confident, has a few scrambles. Bradshaw is marked by a physically large centre half Reda Johnson: interesting. But we make ground and keep it, looking very positive and on the front foot. Coventry have their own goal machine, Adam Armstrong, teenager on loan from Newcastle, but their attacks fizzle out in poor shots.

Then there is a pantomime moment. On top of the professional (what a misnomer: it is nowhere near professional to fall over, feign injury and seek advantage – quite the opposite in fact!) part of their game one of the Coventry players (James Maddison) goes down – and stays down. Physio comes on – he’s there for an unusually long time before deciding Maddison can walk. Maddison then takes an equally long time to limp to the side line (carry the bloke for God’s sake, let’s get on with the game). Immediately, however the physio signals that he is OK to re-join the game, the ref waves him on,. He walks on to the pitch, looks at the bench, shakes his head and – sits down! He could have found that out while he was “off the field of play”!

Substitution! Six minutes gone!

The football being played is open, skilful and a wonderful advert for both teams – and, indeed football at this level. While the referee misses some things and is lenient with others the players are committed and seem to be enjoying the match themselves. We string about twenty passes together; the move ends with a promising shot; wide.

We break the deadlock just before half time. Bradshaw is marked pretty much out of the game, dropping back deeper to find the ball. He scoops a ball to the busy Sam Mantom who drops a wonderful pass in to Forde’s path. Cool finish: one nil!

Half time. We organise getting tickets for the Brighton game (Capital One Cup at home on Tuesday night) and wander out for what we think will be a torrid second half.

It is, but Walsall are keeping this aggressive attitude. Rather than sitting back on the one gaol (so expensive last season) we rally after the inevitable early Sky Blues pressure and Bradshaw (who else?) is there to snap up a rebound from Lalkovic’s shot and toe – poke the ball in for the second. Possession and quality then from saddlers. Kieron Morris (good start to the season from him) comes on for Forde and Cook comes on for Lalkovic. A surprise because It seems to be sawyers whose game is least effective at this point. He is too easily put off the ball of doesn’t get to the passes. But, hey I am not the manager – and we are winning two nil! What do I know?

In the final twenty minutes or so Coventry go for broke. Big centre half Johnson goes up front, they throw everything they have at us – and we endure, getting some counter attacks going to balance the game. We are not giving up, they can’t let us get another goal. They have a near-perfect free kick come back of our post. We relax: Etheridge had it covered after all. Didn’t he ? (No he bl**dy well didn’t!).

And Murphy, their clever nuisance value winger hits a screamer which Etheridge very definitely doesn’t have covered. Consolation. But on the drive on the way home, Brighton tickets in back pocket, I hear that we are (joint*) League One leaders – equal on points with Gillingham.

Teenager Joel Richards, long time Walsall supporter and local referee- one of a family of three who, along with other tourists was murdered in a terrorist attack on a beach in Tunisia – has had his efforts recognised by Birmingham County referees. He is awarded Referee of The Year. He should have been alive to collect it!

So it is now after the Coventry game: should I shave the “beard?

*hmmm; just wondering: shall I delete the “joint” before I publish?