Tensions and Intentions: Rochdale at Home.

There are so many international tensions at the moment: one of them is the escalating unrest created by Islamic State. The following is a short definition taken from the official BBC website and I am posting it here to give a reasonably unbiased context (of course any definition will be slanted by the political background of those defining it)

“Islamic State (IS) is a radical Islamist group that has seized large swathes of territory in eastern Syria and across northern and western Iraq.

Its brutal tactics – including mass killings and abductions of members of religious and ethnic minorities, as well as the beheadings of soldiers and journalists – have sparked fear and outrage across the world… The group aims to establish a “caliphate”, a state ruled by a single political and religious leader according to Islamic law, or Sharia.

Although currently limited to Iraq and Syria, IS has promised to “break the borders” of Jordan and Lebanon and to “free Palestine”. “

I mention Islamic State here because the Kingdom of Jordan, recently in negotiations to save one of their pilots held hostage by IS reacted to news of his savage murder by mounting air strikes against IS targets. This is a strong statement to be making, but only follows reported attempts by the kingdom to conduct fair discussions and meet the demands made by IS. I am sorry but I find it hard to imagine that here can be a place in the modern world for a non-secular state such as the one apparently proposed by Islamic State.

Meanwhile in Europe, the situation in the Ukraine continues, defying the confidence I had back in March last year that it would all be sorted in gentlemanly fashion. A group termed by media here as “Russian separatists”, though not officially overtly supplied by Russia has taken over a fair stretch of territory and is actively fighting against the “Ukrainian national army”. This week there have been negotiations and discussions involving Germany, France, Ukraine and the USA. Russia will soon be involved in the ongoing talks.

 

On a more local, definitely less dramatic and newsworthy level, I think I got a bit of a chill in the couple of hours I was queuing up for the Wembley tickets (but so glad that I did) . The emphasis now moves on the actually getting there. I have searched train prices, hotel overnight stays, just entered Walsall F.C. Wembley tickets into the search engines … so many options – but the train is E X P E N S I V E.

And er …

Will the connections be there? On time? Will there be cancellations? Work on the line? And how to get from London Euston – for example to Wembley stadium? Not impossible of course, but stressful?

So, at the moment I am thinking coach. Give that stress to somebody else; parking near to the stadium, chance for a spot or two of beer, leaving times sorted according to the game (extra time, penalties). But waiting to hear from my brother (hurry up mate!).

Waiting for my brother and taking LemSip (other cold cures are available). I wrap up warm; big coat, scarf, gloves and two pairs of socks and set out for the home game against Rochdale. Home game number sixteen? Really? Sit alone in a draughty seat in the Savoy Lounge – now I know why nobody else was sitting there, every time someone comes in or goes out there is a cold draught up your back!

Cully and Andy arrive. Talk about Wembley, why we are paying to have the wind-power turbines turned off, whether you need felt under the tiles on your roof and straw bale houses (prompted by Eddy Winko and his blog at https://winkos.wordpress.com/ ).

Then out to the colder air. And what a different team we looked! Dean Smith had been quoted in the Express and Star as saying he wanted the team to make a “faster start” – and they did. Playing to a strategy I haven’t seen at Walsall for a long time now. Based on attack and pushing forward. On loan Jordy Hiwula playing up front (Ashley Grimes on the bench) and very enthusiastic, chasing every ball. Sawyers playing – almost alongside him, but also weighing in with some incredible runs, control, switches of play and accurate passing. Forde and Cook also very aggressive and Purkiss pushing forward up the right wing. Within twenty two minutes we are three (count ‘em!) nil up.

 

 

Brave diving header bulleted in from O’Connor stooping to meet a driven corner; via a few deflections. The second a majestic long sweeping cross field diagonal ball from Sawyers, finding Ford tracking in on goal and a clinical slotting in at the near post. Rochdale looking bewildered. Similar pass to Purkiss, pushed inside, possible poor control from Chambers but the ball picked up by Hiwula who scored. Two games, two goals. Good start, even though he occasionally looks stranded; he puts in the work. O’Donnell has also made a couple of good saves.

Ford is substituted at half time: Baxendale comes on and, for this or some other reason we look vulnerable. Sawyers looks tired and is less bullish in the challenges. He rarely gets in to challenges where it might hurt – and had a cracking first half. Cook is edgy, looking annoyed and tetchy; I get a little bit worried that he’ll get sent off. He is much improved but still has that underlying streak that makes him a bit of a “red mist” player at times. Rochdale have obviously had a bit of a talking to and they are all over us,. Getting two goals back and pressing hard, just failing to get the equaliser before the end.

After a half time discussing whether or not to buy “Early Bird” season tickets – now on sale with a chance to win Wembley prizes the second half is fraught. Thank goodness we got three in the first half!

Credit to the Rochdale fans – supporting their team even when behind and respectful during the pre-match silence for former Walsall captain, Albert Macpherson.

 

Port Vale at home on Saturday: season’ warming up!