Just What the Doctor Ordered … or not!

It’s Tuesday evening. I’ve been at work all day and now I’m driving off the doctor’s car park. It’s dark. I’m hungry. The various medical test results are all clear: that’s a load off my mind as you can imagine.

Additional bonus: I’ve got a ticket for the away game at Shrewsbury on December first. I’m hungry. I’m wondering whether there’s time to programme my new sat-nav (new sat nav, who am I trying to kid? My first ever sat nav I should say!) and get on the M5 for the County Ground, Swindon where we are playing.

I’m wondering about the news that flared up this morning. A Russian Su something or other fighter has been shot down by Turkish aircraft after, the Turks say, violating Turkish air space. The two man crew baled out, but are they still alive?

This puts two big nations toe to toe. The history of the troubles in Syria involves so many other countries and agenda: known and secret – but these two were initially on opposite sides. Can a resolution be reached?

The assassination of Arch-duke Ferdinand began as a dispute in some little known place and spread because  of alliances, politics and greed;  is It beginning all over again?

I reminds myself of rush hour traffic jams, spaghetti junction, just how far it is to Cheltenham … and that Swindon is some way beyond that … and settle for a stroll across to the Co-op to buy a celebratory packet of dark chocolate McVite’s Digestives.

I get home, set up some potatoes to boil, bring the radio downstairs so I can listen to the live match commentary (about time, BBC WM!) and open the packet . Also a lager. (Saddlers Widow is away, in Leeds as it pansd out, a “mystery/surprise destination” organised by her sister – so I have the house to myself.)

By the time the game comes on I’ve warmed up beef stew, poured it over the mashed potato and toast and am wolfing it down. The TV is on – muted – showing wildlife around Loch Lomond, Scotland and I’m sat on the sofa, trying some guitar tunes.

Swindon Town seems to be a bit of a circus. They were beaten in the play off finals last year, their manager sacked, the owner took over the job, failed miserably and now they have martin Ling – a former Walsall scout and friend of dean Smith trying to rescue a bottom of table misery.

I have been disparaging about local BBC attitude to the Saddlers, but fair’s fair: if I don’t get it here, what options do I have?

We sound as if we are on top; I was expecting nothing else, but They sneak into the lead. It sounds as if the Walsall players are getting kicked about a bit, that Bradshaw has a genuine shout for a penalty ignored, that the referee is making poor decisions, not stamping down on the fouling.

This physical aspect is only to be expected I am afraid. We are in the top end of the table;  a team of ball players. It is hard to get the ball off our players in full flight, so this niggling, chopping and hacking is a way to gain some kind of control.

But, having said that … we have to be able to mix it. Bradshaw is not a big player, but capable of looking after himself. Strangely Jordan Cook has started, instead of, say Milan Lalkovic. Cook is no stranger to the darker side of the game.

 

 

After the re-start, Bradshaw gets his eleventh goal of the season: the result of his chasing and persistence even if it is a scuffed shot. It goes in to the sprout bag – and we needed the goal.

Seems to be fairly simple then to take advantage of the slump in morale that must surely follow our come-back.  Certainly sounds as if we are rampant. But it also sounds as if their goalkeeper is on form. Cook gets the ball into the net, but is ruled off-side.

Now, as my good friend would say (with some justification) “I would have done this – or that (or not done what was done) … but what do I know about being a football manager?”

And Dean Smith has been a revelation this season; all of his plans and schemes have come to some sort of marvellous fruition – this far at least … so I am hesitant to criticise. However, feels like (so here I go then) we need the guile and persistence of Lalkovic, to push Sawyers up a little more … to …

What actually happens is that Reece Flanagan comes on. And a little bit too late to make the difference. Flanagan is a developing player, young and tenacious but a little green and easily knocked off the ball.

Etheridge is making some good saves too, as we push forwards. But Swindon catch a poorly cleared ball and are that vital goal in front.

And so it remains until the end. We lose a game that I was certainly thinking we needed to win; we sink to fourth in the league:

1	Coventry	19	11	5	3	36	19	17	38
2	Gillingham	19	11	4	4	37	23	14	37
3	Burton Albion	18	11	2	5	17	14	3	35
4	Walsall	18	9	6	3	30	17	13	33
5	Wigan Athletic	19	9	6	4	29	19	10	33
6	Bradford City	19	8	7	4	21	18	3	31
7	Peterborough	19	9	3	7	42	31	11	30

The good news is that I am disappointed with my team in fourth place! I could not have imagined, though I always dream of it, that we would have made such a brilliant opening to the season. Credit to everyone involved: players, staff and, especially the scouting  and youth teams. George Evans has had his loan from Man City extended. He has made a big difference; we are happily lucky to have kept him on (and he is equally lucky that we wanted him – of course!)

Our next game is at home against Bradford who are unbeaten in the last ten games or so. At Bescot! Could be a monster game!

Colchester Utd (home)

I’m at the allotment, loaded up with runner beans, pears and sweet corn and heading towards the car, when a thought strikes me.

“Hey!” I say to Mike (he’s a Wolves supporter), our allotment neighbour, “the world’ll be a different place when we get back, we may passports to visit Scotland!”

“Yes,” he agrees, “And Walsall might have scored.”

We’re off to New York, joining a tour that eventually returns from Washington D.C. I am certainly looking forward to it; not least after hard-working-no-win-in-sight day at Bescot yesterday.

Playing Colchester, who just sacked their manager, Joe Dunn and his assistant Mark Kinsella (father of our latest prodigy full back Liam Kinsella), for poor performances were not happy to play the role of weak and feeble victims to our “fierce comeback after Tongue lashings following the defeat at Scunthorpe last week” (as per the local media).

There’s an “international break” with no Premier league or Championship games and a number of players are in the stand: Febian Brandy, Brian Flynn, Mark Kinsella and Ben Purkiss to name but a few.

We start quite well, but Colchester match our passion and pace. Some fine challenges and Walsall lose the ability to create space and pass. Our one strength and feature so far this season.

I understand that it is too, too easy to be an armchair manager, but, despite this I cannot understand why Manset, with his frame, strength and ability to hold the ball under pressure is playing somewhere behind a workaholic Tom Bradshaw. Surely the point of having “Big Man” Manset is to use him as a mobile target man? I don’t doubt he has the versatility to play other roles but see the target man role as key to us having a plan B strategy.

 

Some of the challenges are early-exchange assertive; some are blatantly criminal, including one that has Manset crashing onto the track/wall down below us. He is, at least dazed, while being treated (if the holding hands and shaking them our physio was doing can be labelled as treatment) for some moments. But brave or stupid, he’s back on and getting involved again – in mid field. No action from the referee, who, I don’t believe actually saw the challenge.

It is, of course wrong that I am left criticising refereeing decisions: I would love to be concentrating on the play and players, but little was happening.

There were good, solid games from Reece Flanagan (some fine, subtle and determined touches), Liam Kinsella and Kieron Morris. I love the idea that we’re investing successfully in bringing young players through, that I was watching three of them today … but not quite as much as I like seeing my team winning convincingly and that hasn’t happened for a long time. Tom Bradshaw still has that energetic, keen edge, running everywhere, chasing what seem to be lost causes and making something of them. But again getting poor service and needing to drift back too often to get any touches at all.

I am convinced we have the players but something needs to be altered. I like the fact that we have a management team that inspire loyalty and team spirit, but am disappointed that we seem to have just the one strategy. And that one has been sussed already.

Meanwhile Sainsbury’s School Games begin this weekend; meant to inspire they are based on opening-ceremony to closing-ceremony events like the Olympics and include Paralympic athletes. Credit to Sainsbury’s for sponsoring this event, best wishes to all taking part in Manchester.

The Tour of Britain Cycle Race also begins on Sunday. The first stage begins in Liverpool. The race finishes in London. Glad that we have a premier cycling event in Britain, but cannot help but smile at the inevitable comparisons I draw with the Tour de France, The Guiro (Italy) and la Vuelta (Spain). One day maybe, winning the British race will have similar cache, but not for some years and much promotion I fear

In political world news what the media is calling “pro-Russian separatists” are still ensconced and seem determined in the Ukraine. Russia itself seems to be supporting the so-called rebels more and more directly. A N.A.T.O. conference in Newport, wales has some agreement on what action to take and David Cameron is talking tough “ruling nothing out at this stage” … but winter and colder weather is creeping towards us and we get a lot of gas from Russia (along with most of Europe). Watch this space, I guess, to see whether the current ceasefire lasts … and even leads to peace.

Indeed, watch this space, because if all goes to plan we won’t be back until after the referendum in Scotland over independence. It seems ridiculous to me that only residents of Scotland will be voting when the result will affect all of the United Kingdom countries, but hey, what do I know.

I am already aggrieved that Scots and Welsh M.Ps. get to vote in the Houses of Parliament on English laws and decisions, while M.Ps. with English constituencies have no role to play in the Scots or Welsh Assemblies.

Can somebody explain to me how that is fair?

Meanwhile, of course Mike deserved some come-back to his cheeky (if witty) remark about the possibility that Walsall might have scored …

Best I could manage was to ask how long he thought we were going away for …

Coventry ? Away?

5^th March, 2014

I’m standing by my allotment shed discussing allotment politics when my mobile phone blurts out its text-received beep-beep. “That’ll be Cully,” I think, “he’s getting back to me about going to the match tonight …”

Wrong! It’s my wife, letting me know she’s “going to Deb’s for  a coffee …”

I am, a little harshly I realise, jolted to think of our daughter’s observation about the facile nature of some social networking comments of the “feeling happy/eating a biscuit” variety. Largely pointless, except perhaps to reassure the individual “adding the comment that they have a value because they have posted something in the Ethernet. And the inevitable sadness that value is based on putting something out there that has very little real value. Like a blog? Like a self-published book ? More on that perhaps later.

I get a little stick about going to the game tonight. It’s not easy being a Walsall supporter. But then it never has been.

Eventually Cully rings. He can’t make it. Working in Solihull until, er probably 6.30. Ironically for a Coventry supporter. But this “supporter isn’t going either. And that’s another digression. Coventry City. Once one of the most successful teams in this part of the world are fallen a long way from grace these days. They were docked points at the beginning of this season for “financial irregularities last season (basically signing and playing players they could not afford: cheating perhaps by another, better dressed name), they no longer play in Coventry, but ground share with lowly (even compared with Walsall F.C.) Northampton Town. The mighty (and I’ve been there for a Bruce Springstein concert) Ricoh Arena management asked for more rent and Coventry couldn’t (or wouldn’t) pay. For a while it was like a poker game, maybe it was  a bluff… but no. So Sky Blues home games (!) are no longer played in Coventry. “Exiled,” as Express and Star reporter Matt Maher has it, going on to say in this evening’s sports pages:

“ This isn’t the place to delve into the hows and whys of Coventry’s current plight, a classic modern football tale of moneymen putting their own self-interests ahead of a club’s well-being and where – as always – the biggest losers are the fans.”

So – just me and my brother then, tickets already purchased.

When I get to his house he’s on a call. He works for a massive multi-national company, usually from home and this happens a lot. At least I believe it does. I am sure he could tell me more but he would have to kill me.

We plan the route on the fly, avoiding what BBC Radio WM says is the M6 closed because of a serious accident and get to the “compact” Sixfields (is it a stadium (as per traditional football scuttlebutt) or Sixfields Leisure as the local, rather poor signs state?

Car parking is very close and at £4 quite reasonable. The ground is actually part of an out-of-town shopping and entertainments estate: there’s a multi-screen cinema, several universal supermarkets, a couple of U.S franchised eating places and, let’s say the other kind of places that you find in every out-of-town territory.

The youngsters selling the programmes, when asked confidently state that they are working for a company that works with the Cobblers (Northampton Town) and quite happily show us to the “away” supporter’s entrance. Seems to me, I am thinking, we are all away supporters in this game. And we probably followed each other down the M6/M1 route … and are probably
parking side by side here. Behind the goals and once ensconced in the ground, having been told by  a hi-viz vested official that you can “sit where you want” we look at the illuminations of the logos and signs from the outlets on the hill opposite. The hill on which allegedly a determined group of Coventry City supporters gather to watch a fraction of the pitch when Coventry play. It’s their version of a protest. They will not pay to go in, thus giving money to the owners because they want their team back in their city. But tonight ? Too dark to see if anyone is there or not. The seats are closely arranged, the one immediately behind me being taken by a tall guy and his knees, quite accidentally are in my shoulder blades for most of the first half … and when I’m catching up with the programme and the paper at half time I am unintentionally invading the space of the lady in front of me. Shame the seats are not off-set. Before kick-off we buy food – a generous hot dog, artistically patterned with mustard and coffee. The range of pies on offer includes steak and ale. The programme incidentally is a fine one: there are ten pages with Walsall information and it is a glossy high quality read. It is called PUSB but there is no explanation: an acronym something, something Sky Blues maybe.

The Guy on the public address is overly enthusiastic for such a small crowd: almost American and the gimmick of presenting ten footballs to the crowd during half time, which, somebody  near me suggests cruelly, means every Coventry fan gets a ball (such is Saddlers humour). I wonder whether it could be organised for all ten balls to be thrown onto the pitch during the second when play is over that side (such is my divergent thinking).

Apart from the chap with “Steward” on his hi-viz back, there are other staff. In their bright vests and for some reason I cannot quite explain they remind me of Lego characters. There’s one marked “Perimeter”, another a long-legged, black trousered blonde with “Stand Manager”. Mr Perimeter is chatting amicably with a Walsall fan and, it seems encouraging him to be standing. The P.A. reminds us that this is a no-smoking, all-seated venue and politely invites us to take our seats. Mr Perimeter and this animated fan continue to swap chatter.

 

Cannot remember the last time I was in a ground that has floodlights at each corner (like here): the old traditional arrangement. The quality of light on the pitch is noticeably unequal. Beyond the lights the new moon, bringing my grandfather to mind as always, is veiled by light cloud.

The first half is poor from our point of view. We are penned back by an efficient Coventry team and seem short of ideas and energy, a lot of passing, which we normally do so well, goes wrong. Refereeing decisions are, at best eccentric and – unsurprisingly become the butt of Walsall chanting. (Our “choir” is always inventive and usually topical). This evening we have the

“If you’ve paid your rent, stand up

If you’ve paid your rent stand up” among others.

We go in at half time a goal down.

But come out faster, slicker more aggressive.

There are no ball boys; at one stage a well wrapped up photographer has to hurdle wall and ranks of seats to retrieve the ball (no spectators in this stand). No ball boys Is that because tis is an evening kick off and they have school tomorrow, or because local kids will ball boy for Northampton, but not Coventry? Note to self: check at other evening games to see if there are ball boys.

Players who had  a quiet first half (Febian Brandy, Milan Lalkovic) are in the thick of the action more and more often and we go on the hunt, putting pressure on the Coventry defence. Which is sound. Mal Benning, our young full back came towards us on a steaming run, had a shot saved and put the rebound into the net.

We were on top and significantly so. Pushing up. But a couple of the team started to look tired. Lalkovic – on a season long loan from Chelsea, Craig Westcarr … and we’re missing Sam Mantom, suspended after being sent off against Preston on Saturday.

Couple of substitutions. Ngoo (on loan from Liverpool) a young, tall aggressively confident “giraffe” of a player coming on for Craig Westcarr and Troy Hewitt for Lalkovic.

But while we were pushing forward, wouldn’t you know it ? They crept up and scored the winner.

We kept on hammering away and there was a tremendous volley of shots one after the other in the final minutes. The sound of the boot hitting the ball carrying the short distance amazing. But, frankly well organised defending and luck meant we were going home 2- 1 losers. James Chambers has been sterling throughout, looking unruffled and fit, elegant yet determined.

M6 closed on the way home, so a lengthy diversion down the dependable A5, including a second diversion down the old A5.  The road we were taught at school built by the Romans; straight, efficient. My old route to work. The motorbike shop is still there, so is the Vauxhall garage; the one where, when I couldn’t pay for a routine service I was vouched for by the receptionist (who had been the “tea monitor” at a school nearby where I worked and could remember me (also perhaps that I rarely had money to pay my weekly tea fees!)

Tamworth was also once one of the most significant towns in England: capital of Mercia. We wondered how many people now learn about this. And talk drifted on to the rights and wrongs – as we see them – of Scottish independence (and what might happen to the Scottish Nationalist Party, a vote against Scottish independence would take away the key plank of SNP ambition of course … so what future ?), the events in the Ukraine (feted by our media as a “sovereign state” (what? I am thinking, they have no sovereign …) apparently invaded by Russia. The truth may be somewhat different, but I have two thoughts on the matter.

First: if all of the Spanish-speaking people in say, Texas made a fuss and expressed a wish to join Mexico (unlikely but bear with me eh?) what would Barak Obama’s reaction be? Probably to send troops in. Now I realise the situation is not exactly the same but it is worth thinking on. The uprising in Kiev deposed what, when all is said and done and whatever we feel about the situation, was a democratically elected government. So, to this way of thinking we in the west are supporting an undemocratic regime.

Secondly: I believe that Germany was able to “annexe” Sudatenland (then part of Czechoslovakia) because Hitler “proved” most of the subjects there were, essentially Germans, German speaking for example …

OK two opposite cases and each equally provocative …

We decide that the outcome is likely to be an annexation of the Crimean peninsular (strategically important to Russia) and a reduced Ukraine being adopted swiftly by the EU. We cannot afford to “annoy” Russia as they are the source of a lot of our oil (and so power) … and we seem to be back in the realms of the moneymen running things and the ordinary people getting hurt (or, indeed, killed).

Bring on Saturday, the Wolves and the sell-out crowd.