Good results last night for Swindon, Oxford and Bristol Rovers last night while Cheltenham picked up a useful point and lead the charge of the local clubs in League Two.
Swindon boss Paolo di Canio watched his team put three goals past moneybags Crawley with one of his 15 summer signings - Algerian Mehdi Kerrouche - grabbing a brace as the tide continues to turn for the Wiltshire outfit. Alan Connell netted the Robins's other goal.
Oxford boss Chris Wilder blooded 17 year old loan striker Robert Hall in last night's win at Daggers and the West Ham kid rewarded his faith with his first senior goal to seal the win. Hall signed on Monday for one month and has already scored seven other times this season for the Hammers' development squad.
Chris Zebroski replaced Scott McGleish in the Bristol Rovers line up and repaid boss Paul Buckle's faith by scoring the only goal of the game as they beat Shrewsbury at the Mem. I make my first visit to Rovers on Saturday and so it will be interesting to report back on the mood around the place. From what I have heard, the Gas have been playing some decent football and didn't do too badly when I watched them lose to Wycombe in the League Cup recently.
Meanwhile Cheltenham were pegged back twice against Buckle's former club Torquay with Josh Low and Kaid Mohamed putting them ahead twice before the break and leaving them in the play-off places. However, without the point they would have been level with Rovers who currently sit in 12th place.
And that just about sums up where we are at this point of the season. A couple of wins can see you bounce from the relegation places to the edge of the play off positions - or vice versa. All the more reason for cool heads on terraces and the dressing room.
And I hope for Jamie Pitman's sake that there are cool heads in and about Edgar Street following Hereford's 0-2 home defeat to Aldershot. Reading some websites it would appear that the Bulls fans have had enough of the manager and comparisons are being made with Simon Davy who was sacked after a similarly poor start last season.
Finally, Wycombe also suffered as defeat in League One last night and have the same number of points - five - and also sit in the relegation zone. However, unlike Pitman, Gary Waddock still has the fans on his side and built up a substantial amount of goodwill during the club's promotion run last season and have been playing decent football even if the results have gone against them. I suspect that Waddock will stick to his guns and that he'll be rewarded with a run of wins before too long.
I've set up this blog (Monday-Friday) to give extra coverage to teams I cover for the national press. Any views and opinions are all my own. Best wishes, Jeff. Follow me on Twitter and I'll update you each time I blog. http://twitter.com/JeffTaplin P.S. During the summer break I reserve the right to ramble on about anything and everything!
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
From Shepherd's Bush to Flushing Meadow via Belgrade
I started yesterday evening in The Three Carrots - an Irish Bar in Belgrade - to watch the QPR v Newcastle game and ended up watching Djokovic win the US Open in the family's bar "Novaks".
Given the time difference, the late hour the match finished, the feverish celebrations of the locals and the vast quantities of alcohol consumed in a selfless act designed to improve Serian-British relations, today's post will be a brief one.
Suffice to say that it was ultimately one of those few occasions when football took a back seat to tennis, although I was the only person in The Three Carrots watching the bore draw play out from Loftus Road while the first set was played in Flushing Meadow.
Normal service will be resumed tomorrow.
Given the time difference, the late hour the match finished, the feverish celebrations of the locals and the vast quantities of alcohol consumed in a selfless act designed to improve Serian-British relations, today's post will be a brief one.
Suffice to say that it was ultimately one of those few occasions when football took a back seat to tennis, although I was the only person in The Three Carrots watching the bore draw play out from Loftus Road while the first set was played in Flushing Meadow.
Normal service will be resumed tomorrow.
Monday, 12 September 2011
Oxford United 2 Burton Albion 2
Paul Peschisolido was honest enough to admit he didn’t think that the penalty that triggered Burton’s fightback was clear cut, but was happy to take the point.
And so the Albion manager should be. Oxford blew this one and the players and coaching staff knew it when they came out to face the media at the end.
Boss Chris Wilder sent out assistant Mickey Lewis to face the music after locking the dressing room door for the best part of an hour. Presumably he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to keep a lid on his emotions, although I suspect he wasn’t quite so restrained once he’d turned the key in the lock!
Oxford looked classy until the penalty and then inexplicably seemed to lose self-belief and focus.
Whether Liam Davis actually took out winger Jacques Maghoma in the box or not in the 54th minute is a bit of a mute point because they were in so much control at that point that they should have shrugged it off and continued to dominate.
For the record I felt it was merely a coming together of the two players and neither should have been penalised, but I was at the far end of the stadium and so I’ll admit I couldn’t be totally sure.
As it was, they seemed to sit back and once Justin Richards had converted the spot kick and then added a deflected second from close range in the 66th minute, it looked as though the only winners would be the visitors.
In fact, when I spoke to him afterwards, Richards was kicking himself for not netting his hat trick two minutes after pulling Burton level.
Richards also revealed how much the hostility shown towards him by the home support really only served to spur him on. Richards spent a brief loan spell with Oxford a couple of years ago and the chants of “reject” did more to galvanise him than anything.
As an aside, I wonder sometimes whether there’s any point in goading opposition players as it always seems to backfire. Surely a gentle ripple of applause and a cry of “jolly well played sir” each time they get the ball is more likely to confuse them and put them off!
The scrap between Burton strikers Richards, Calvin Zola and Us central defensive duo was an interesting side show in this game and Richards told me afterwards that Dubes was still “a class act” and he’d “never had to work so hard”.
He told me that Duberry had “bought a foul” at one point in the game and then winked slyly at the Burton man. Richards then “bought one back” and told Duberry it was “now 1-1”.
Richards also said something quite interesting about Oxford. He said that they were a great footballing side and in the first half had been the best he had come up against for a while, but he also said they were a very quiet team and wondered whether they needed someone to bark out the orders on the pitch.
I put this to midfielder Peter Leven when he and Alfie Potter were released from the dressing room, dressing down and he admitted that while Oxford had “a nice group of lads and some very good footballers” they needed to start getting angry with each other on the pitch when it called for it.
Peter drew parallels with his time at MK Dons last season and said that there were times there when, again, it would have been useful to have had someone on the pitch who ruffled a few feathers. I guess it is better to identify this problem now and address it rather than work it out next February.
Ultimately this was a disappointing result for Oxford and Peschisolido said he didn’t think that too many sides would visit the Kassam this season and walk away with all three points. For that reason, he was more than happy with the point.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Oxford DID play some smashing football, look like they could be on the verge of really clicking and, let’s face it, every team is going to learn harsh lessons about themselves as the season wears on.
And so the Albion manager should be. Oxford blew this one and the players and coaching staff knew it when they came out to face the media at the end.
Boss Chris Wilder sent out assistant Mickey Lewis to face the music after locking the dressing room door for the best part of an hour. Presumably he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to keep a lid on his emotions, although I suspect he wasn’t quite so restrained once he’d turned the key in the lock!
Oxford looked classy until the penalty and then inexplicably seemed to lose self-belief and focus.
Whether Liam Davis actually took out winger Jacques Maghoma in the box or not in the 54th minute is a bit of a mute point because they were in so much control at that point that they should have shrugged it off and continued to dominate.
For the record I felt it was merely a coming together of the two players and neither should have been penalised, but I was at the far end of the stadium and so I’ll admit I couldn’t be totally sure.
As it was, they seemed to sit back and once Justin Richards had converted the spot kick and then added a deflected second from close range in the 66th minute, it looked as though the only winners would be the visitors.
In fact, when I spoke to him afterwards, Richards was kicking himself for not netting his hat trick two minutes after pulling Burton level.
Richards also revealed how much the hostility shown towards him by the home support really only served to spur him on. Richards spent a brief loan spell with Oxford a couple of years ago and the chants of “reject” did more to galvanise him than anything.
As an aside, I wonder sometimes whether there’s any point in goading opposition players as it always seems to backfire. Surely a gentle ripple of applause and a cry of “jolly well played sir” each time they get the ball is more likely to confuse them and put them off!
The scrap between Burton strikers Richards, Calvin Zola and Us central defensive duo was an interesting side show in this game and Richards told me afterwards that Dubes was still “a class act” and he’d “never had to work so hard”.
He told me that Duberry had “bought a foul” at one point in the game and then winked slyly at the Burton man. Richards then “bought one back” and told Duberry it was “now 1-1”.
Richards also said something quite interesting about Oxford. He said that they were a great footballing side and in the first half had been the best he had come up against for a while, but he also said they were a very quiet team and wondered whether they needed someone to bark out the orders on the pitch.
I put this to midfielder Peter Leven when he and Alfie Potter were released from the dressing room, dressing down and he admitted that while Oxford had “a nice group of lads and some very good footballers” they needed to start getting angry with each other on the pitch when it called for it.
Peter drew parallels with his time at MK Dons last season and said that there were times there when, again, it would have been useful to have had someone on the pitch who ruffled a few feathers. I guess it is better to identify this problem now and address it rather than work it out next February.
Ultimately this was a disappointing result for Oxford and Peschisolido said he didn’t think that too many sides would visit the Kassam this season and walk away with all three points. For that reason, he was more than happy with the point.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Oxford DID play some smashing football, look like they could be on the verge of really clicking and, let’s face it, every team is going to learn harsh lessons about themselves as the season wears on.
Friday, 9 September 2011
Oxford v Burton
I'm going for a Burton tomorrow to watch them take on Oxford at the Kassam,
And manager Paul Peschisolido is looking for revenge after the Us did a demolition job on his side in the same fixture last term. The Canadian told the Derby Telegraph:
"They were probably the only team that properly steamrollered us for 90 minutes all season.
They are a strong, athletic side with two full-backs who like to bomb on and can score goals. They have a midfield who like to pass through you and two good strong strikers. So I think this game could be a good pointer for us, if we want to be challenging at all near the top this season.
We'll perhaps be a little more cautious than we were at home against Plymouth last week. The game plan will be different. I'm looking for a performance with a lot of energy – spoiling their game in midfield wherever we can, containing their passing. Our attacking players will have to be prepared to defend when we haven't got possession. Then, if we can contain their threats, we can be a threat too – we can be a force to be reckoned with."
And defender Ryan Austin, 26, recalled the defeat at the Kassam and told the Burton Mail:
"“We were disappointed. I think Mooro (Darren Moore) and Parkesy (Tom Parkes) got sent off there and they turned us over, so that’s something we’ll be looking to rectify this year, and there’s no reason why we should be scared on anyone this season.
We’ve beaten some of the so-called bigger names in the league so there’s no reason that we shouldn’t go to Oxford, in good form, and try and get a positive result. Last year we were perhaps in a little bit of a negative run, we were perhaps feeling sorry for ourselves a little bit because we were playing a million games a week, or so it seemed.
Oxford appear to have finally put to bed the speculation that has linked James Constable with several clubs recently, but unfortunately they will be without co-striker Jonathan Franks, 21, after the Boro loanee was ruled out for at least a month with a dislocated shoulder.
Arguably Constable would have been allowed to move on if it hadn't been for Franks injury, but he's one of those players who you know will commit to the cause no matter what his personal situation is. And he'll be up for another battle with Moore who - as Constable told me himself - gave him a wretched time in the reverse fixture (a draw) last season.
And manager Paul Peschisolido is looking for revenge after the Us did a demolition job on his side in the same fixture last term. The Canadian told the Derby Telegraph:
"They were probably the only team that properly steamrollered us for 90 minutes all season.
They are a strong, athletic side with two full-backs who like to bomb on and can score goals. They have a midfield who like to pass through you and two good strong strikers. So I think this game could be a good pointer for us, if we want to be challenging at all near the top this season.
We'll perhaps be a little more cautious than we were at home against Plymouth last week. The game plan will be different. I'm looking for a performance with a lot of energy – spoiling their game in midfield wherever we can, containing their passing. Our attacking players will have to be prepared to defend when we haven't got possession. Then, if we can contain their threats, we can be a threat too – we can be a force to be reckoned with."
And defender Ryan Austin, 26, recalled the defeat at the Kassam and told the Burton Mail:
"“We were disappointed. I think Mooro (Darren Moore) and Parkesy (Tom Parkes) got sent off there and they turned us over, so that’s something we’ll be looking to rectify this year, and there’s no reason why we should be scared on anyone this season.
We’ve beaten some of the so-called bigger names in the league so there’s no reason that we shouldn’t go to Oxford, in good form, and try and get a positive result. Last year we were perhaps in a little bit of a negative run, we were perhaps feeling sorry for ourselves a little bit because we were playing a million games a week, or so it seemed.
Oxford appear to have finally put to bed the speculation that has linked James Constable with several clubs recently, but unfortunately they will be without co-striker Jonathan Franks, 21, after the Boro loanee was ruled out for at least a month with a dislocated shoulder.
Arguably Constable would have been allowed to move on if it hadn't been for Franks injury, but he's one of those players who you know will commit to the cause no matter what his personal situation is. And he'll be up for another battle with Moore who - as Constable told me himself - gave him a wretched time in the reverse fixture (a draw) last season.
Thursday, 8 September 2011
Who has most to gain from Twittering footballers ... and who loses?
On an almost daily basis more and more players are opening Twitter accounts and it is putting the fear of God into some, less less enlightened, people in the game.
Players (and ex-players) like Rio Ferdinand, Joey Barton and Robbie Savage have followers in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, and it gives them an opportunity to talk directly to their fans ... or enemies in Robbie's case!
If you are a canny operator like Ferdinand, there is also the potential to generate revenue by providing links to your own website where you can sell products or carry advertising. And frankly I have no problem with that. He's putting the effort in and so good luck to him.
But there are club officials out there who have for years tried to control what their players say and who they say it to - whether it be by insisting on knowing what questions are to be asked before journalists put them, sanitising interviews via a club's web TV feed or, in at least one case that I know of, insisting the players use club mobiles so they can see who they've spoken to when they get the itemised bills!
In my lifetime (and I generalise here) I've seen media relations with players go from cordial, mutual respect - in a sense that everyone is playing a part in the same circus - to mistrust as money (in football) and sensationalism (in the media) take hold.
Before the advent of Twitter, increasing number of players were becoming media savvy, but in the process, actually saying less. Now social networking is becoming the norm, it seems as though a weight has been lifted from their shoulders. They're liberated and they feel can just be themselves. That's got to be a good thing for the fans - not to mention the players themselves.
The traditional media have little to worry about. On the contrary, in some cases it's another source of material. And anyway, a 140 character message doesn't compete directly with a newspaper article of a television feature. Fans will still want to hear, see or read more substantial interviews.
In a funny sort of way, Twitter is allowing the clock to be turned back as players feel that they no longer need give stock answers and can be themselves. It's refreshing and I'm all in favour of them asserting themselves. One of the nice things about what I do is getting to know players as human beings and Twitter allows fans to do this to a certain extent.
I'm just not sure that some club officials are feeling the same way though as some will believe they are losing the control they have enjoyed for so long.
Players (and ex-players) like Rio Ferdinand, Joey Barton and Robbie Savage have followers in the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, and it gives them an opportunity to talk directly to their fans ... or enemies in Robbie's case!
If you are a canny operator like Ferdinand, there is also the potential to generate revenue by providing links to your own website where you can sell products or carry advertising. And frankly I have no problem with that. He's putting the effort in and so good luck to him.
But there are club officials out there who have for years tried to control what their players say and who they say it to - whether it be by insisting on knowing what questions are to be asked before journalists put them, sanitising interviews via a club's web TV feed or, in at least one case that I know of, insisting the players use club mobiles so they can see who they've spoken to when they get the itemised bills!
In my lifetime (and I generalise here) I've seen media relations with players go from cordial, mutual respect - in a sense that everyone is playing a part in the same circus - to mistrust as money (in football) and sensationalism (in the media) take hold.
Before the advent of Twitter, increasing number of players were becoming media savvy, but in the process, actually saying less. Now social networking is becoming the norm, it seems as though a weight has been lifted from their shoulders. They're liberated and they feel can just be themselves. That's got to be a good thing for the fans - not to mention the players themselves.
The traditional media have little to worry about. On the contrary, in some cases it's another source of material. And anyway, a 140 character message doesn't compete directly with a newspaper article of a television feature. Fans will still want to hear, see or read more substantial interviews.
In a funny sort of way, Twitter is allowing the clock to be turned back as players feel that they no longer need give stock answers and can be themselves. It's refreshing and I'm all in favour of them asserting themselves. One of the nice things about what I do is getting to know players as human beings and Twitter allows fans to do this to a certain extent.
I'm just not sure that some club officials are feeling the same way though as some will believe they are losing the control they have enjoyed for so long.
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Wycombe Wanderers 3 Bristol Rovers 1
The last time I visited Adams Park a couple of weeks ago, there was a noticeable gulf in class between the Chairboys and the opposition - Championship outfit Nottingham Forest.
Forest won that League Cup tie quite convincingly, but in last night's Johnstone Paint Trophy clash with Bristol Rovers, Wycombe highlighted the difference between Leagues One and Two. There wasn't a massive gap between the two sides, but it was definitely there.
Manager Gary Waddock had the summer luxury of adding to a promotion winning side and even though no-one in the town is expecting too much from the team this season, he has cultivated a good spirit within the camp which will serve them well in the months ahead.
I asked Gary where the JPT stood in his list of priorities this season given that "with the best will in the world" Wycombe weren't going to win the FA Cup and his immediate retort was: "Why not?" Admittedly he had a slight grin on his face, but he pointed out that every game was important as each win bred confidence.
The great thing about listening and talking to Gary is that he is a pleasant guy seemingly full of self belief, but without any of the arrogance displayed by some managers. He appears relaxed and has a good sense of humour and I can't imagine him panicking - character traits which will serve him well when times get tough, as they inevitably will in the career he has chosen.
Waddock is in the early stages of his managerial career, but has already saved QPR from relegation in a caretaker capacity, won promotion from the Conference and the Conference League Cup with Aldershot, and despite failing to save Wycombe from relegation to League Two (after replacing Peter Taylor in October 2009) he brought them back up last season.
Wycombe appears to be a great club for young managers to be allowed time to develop their skills and has seen the likes of Martin O'Neill, Paul Lambert, John Gregory (Waddock's replacement at QPR) and Lawrie Sanchez move on to bigger and better things.
Only a fool would make a prediction about what the future will hold for Gary Waddock at this juncture. So here goes.
At 49 years old he still has a way to go, but I really do believe that he has the potential to make it at the very top. He appears to have the trust and respect of the media, the players, the fans and the club officials and no small amount of tactical nous to go with it. Expect to see his name in the frame for a top Championship club or a bottom half Premier League team at some point in the next two years.
Rovers manager Paul Buckle still has some work to do, but he has signed a decent bunch of players who, as Waddock said: "Will serve the club well once they gel and see them in the mix at the end of the season."
I agree. Rovers needed to be completely rebuilt following last season's relegation and when wholesale changes are made as they were at the Mem, its not often that everything clicks into place immediately.
Gasheads will need to have a little patience with Buckle and his boys in the coming weeks as he decides on his best side - and clears the treatment room. Once that happens, I'm sure that they'll tun things around.
Forest won that League Cup tie quite convincingly, but in last night's Johnstone Paint Trophy clash with Bristol Rovers, Wycombe highlighted the difference between Leagues One and Two. There wasn't a massive gap between the two sides, but it was definitely there.
Manager Gary Waddock had the summer luxury of adding to a promotion winning side and even though no-one in the town is expecting too much from the team this season, he has cultivated a good spirit within the camp which will serve them well in the months ahead.
I asked Gary where the JPT stood in his list of priorities this season given that "with the best will in the world" Wycombe weren't going to win the FA Cup and his immediate retort was: "Why not?" Admittedly he had a slight grin on his face, but he pointed out that every game was important as each win bred confidence.
The great thing about listening and talking to Gary is that he is a pleasant guy seemingly full of self belief, but without any of the arrogance displayed by some managers. He appears relaxed and has a good sense of humour and I can't imagine him panicking - character traits which will serve him well when times get tough, as they inevitably will in the career he has chosen.
Waddock is in the early stages of his managerial career, but has already saved QPR from relegation in a caretaker capacity, won promotion from the Conference and the Conference League Cup with Aldershot, and despite failing to save Wycombe from relegation to League Two (after replacing Peter Taylor in October 2009) he brought them back up last season.
Wycombe appears to be a great club for young managers to be allowed time to develop their skills and has seen the likes of Martin O'Neill, Paul Lambert, John Gregory (Waddock's replacement at QPR) and Lawrie Sanchez move on to bigger and better things.
Only a fool would make a prediction about what the future will hold for Gary Waddock at this juncture. So here goes.
At 49 years old he still has a way to go, but I really do believe that he has the potential to make it at the very top. He appears to have the trust and respect of the media, the players, the fans and the club officials and no small amount of tactical nous to go with it. Expect to see his name in the frame for a top Championship club or a bottom half Premier League team at some point in the next two years.
Rovers manager Paul Buckle still has some work to do, but he has signed a decent bunch of players who, as Waddock said: "Will serve the club well once they gel and see them in the mix at the end of the season."
I agree. Rovers needed to be completely rebuilt following last season's relegation and when wholesale changes are made as they were at the Mem, its not often that everything clicks into place immediately.
Gasheads will need to have a little patience with Buckle and his boys in the coming weeks as he decides on his best side - and clears the treatment room. Once that happens, I'm sure that they'll tun things around.
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
Wycombe v Bristol Rovers - Putting a nice gloss on things
Wycombe take on Bristol Rovers in a Johnstone's Paint Trophy second round tie tonight at Adams Park with the winners due to face Cheltenham - and I'm looking forward to being back in the Press Box for the first time in a couple of weeks.
Both sides are looking to bounce back after poor recent results.
Wycombe have lost their last three games (two at home) while Rovers haven't won in open play in five - although they did sneak through on penalties in the League Cup tie against Watford.
Meawhile, Chairboys boss Gary Waddock is keen to show the sponsors some "respect", but understandably also wants to take a look at some of his squad players in action ad has said:
"I would like to give our young players some match time. With the (number of) league substitutes being cut down, you look at the cup games to give them a chance. But the rules are there and we will respect them.Other clubs will do what they think is best for them, but Bristol Rovers are a good team and we will respect them and we will have a strong team out."
Former Wycombe players Matt Harrold, Scott McGleish and Chris Zebroski* return to their former club tonight following a 4-1 weekend drubbing at Crawely and Harrold has told the local Bristol paper:
""I got an alright reception from their supporters when I went back there last season, but their away fans booed me when they came to Shrewsbury! It's all a bit of pantomime I suppose. We can't hide from the fact that Saturday wasn't good – they were the better team for pretty much the whole game. We saw Crawley on a good day and us on a bad one. We did look sluggish in comparison to them. We have had a lot of games and, although that's not an excuse, maybe it caught up with us.
I've been on the receiving end of beatings like that before and it's not nice, because everybody goes home with the hump. We were all in on Sunday and a few home truths were said. Everyone who follows the club had a bad weekend, and now we just have to put it behind us. Nobody is happy with how things went on Saturday, but we are only six games into the season and it's how you finish it rather than start it that matters."
Ten months ago, Rovers came out on top in a 6-3 thriller in the same competition, but since then the clubs have swapped divisions and Rovers now start as the League Two underdogs.
*Zebroski has picked up a knock and so is now doubtful.
Both sides are looking to bounce back after poor recent results.
Wycombe have lost their last three games (two at home) while Rovers haven't won in open play in five - although they did sneak through on penalties in the League Cup tie against Watford.
Meawhile, Chairboys boss Gary Waddock is keen to show the sponsors some "respect", but understandably also wants to take a look at some of his squad players in action ad has said:
"I would like to give our young players some match time. With the (number of) league substitutes being cut down, you look at the cup games to give them a chance. But the rules are there and we will respect them.Other clubs will do what they think is best for them, but Bristol Rovers are a good team and we will respect them and we will have a strong team out."
Former Wycombe players Matt Harrold, Scott McGleish and Chris Zebroski* return to their former club tonight following a 4-1 weekend drubbing at Crawely and Harrold has told the local Bristol paper:
""I got an alright reception from their supporters when I went back there last season, but their away fans booed me when they came to Shrewsbury! It's all a bit of pantomime I suppose. We can't hide from the fact that Saturday wasn't good – they were the better team for pretty much the whole game. We saw Crawley on a good day and us on a bad one. We did look sluggish in comparison to them. We have had a lot of games and, although that's not an excuse, maybe it caught up with us.
I've been on the receiving end of beatings like that before and it's not nice, because everybody goes home with the hump. We were all in on Sunday and a few home truths were said. Everyone who follows the club had a bad weekend, and now we just have to put it behind us. Nobody is happy with how things went on Saturday, but we are only six games into the season and it's how you finish it rather than start it that matters."
Ten months ago, Rovers came out on top in a 6-3 thriller in the same competition, but since then the clubs have swapped divisions and Rovers now start as the League Two underdogs.
*Zebroski has picked up a knock and so is now doubtful.
Monday, 5 September 2011
Weekend Round Up
Good to see Swindon notch up a win against League Two leaders Rotherham on Saturday - and also Hereford pick up their first win of the season.
Everyone - including me I'll admit - wondered whether Swindon were about to implode following their recent run of defeats and manager Paolo di Canio's bust up with striker Leon Clarke, but great credit goes to the players for shrugging off the growing uncertainty to beat one of the division's fancied sides.
Rotherham had lost goal machine Adam Le Fondre just before the transfer deadline, but there is no excuse there for the Millers as his replacement - Alex Revell - came in and scored a brace himself.
Hopefully this will kick start Swindon's season, although I still have concerns over the unpredictable nature of di Canio's character and whether it is conducive to good man management.
There is also talk this morning that di Canio is set to sign another striker and defender when the loan window opens this week.
Bulls boss Jamie Pitman possesses a much more measured personality and I had hoped - and suspected - that the club would get their first three point haul before too much longer.
I'm sure that Pitman will have been delighted with the result against a Daggers side who had started the season in fine form themselves.
The results for Bristol Rovers and Oxford were not so good!
Rovers will be smarting after a 4-1 thumping by Crawley. The League Two new boys are making the most of their financial muscle as they go for back to back promotions, but credit to the players as they still need to find the net on the pitch no matter how good the club's bank balance looks. Rovers boss Paul Buckle will have been seething after seeing his team beaten so comprehensively though.
Oxford manager Chris Wilder won't be much happier either, although I suspect that a young Crewe - under Dario Gradi - will beat a few of the fancied sides this season ... while dropping points against some of the lesser fancied clubs.
Back in the UK now after my week in the Rio sun and now waiting to find out where I'll be next weekend. I'll keep you posted.
Everyone - including me I'll admit - wondered whether Swindon were about to implode following their recent run of defeats and manager Paolo di Canio's bust up with striker Leon Clarke, but great credit goes to the players for shrugging off the growing uncertainty to beat one of the division's fancied sides.
Rotherham had lost goal machine Adam Le Fondre just before the transfer deadline, but there is no excuse there for the Millers as his replacement - Alex Revell - came in and scored a brace himself.
Hopefully this will kick start Swindon's season, although I still have concerns over the unpredictable nature of di Canio's character and whether it is conducive to good man management.
There is also talk this morning that di Canio is set to sign another striker and defender when the loan window opens this week.
Bulls boss Jamie Pitman possesses a much more measured personality and I had hoped - and suspected - that the club would get their first three point haul before too much longer.
I'm sure that Pitman will have been delighted with the result against a Daggers side who had started the season in fine form themselves.
The results for Bristol Rovers and Oxford were not so good!
Rovers will be smarting after a 4-1 thumping by Crawley. The League Two new boys are making the most of their financial muscle as they go for back to back promotions, but credit to the players as they still need to find the net on the pitch no matter how good the club's bank balance looks. Rovers boss Paul Buckle will have been seething after seeing his team beaten so comprehensively though.
Oxford manager Chris Wilder won't be much happier either, although I suspect that a young Crewe - under Dario Gradi - will beat a few of the fancied sides this season ... while dropping points against some of the lesser fancied clubs.
Back in the UK now after my week in the Rio sun and now waiting to find out where I'll be next weekend. I'll keep you posted.
Friday, 2 September 2011
On the way home today
As I'm coming back from Brazil today, I don't have time to write a proper post, but did share my hotel breakfast room near the Copacabana with some of the Fluminense club players and officials. Ther was, er, well okay I didn't recognise any of them, but then again none have thhem have played for Hereford.
Good luck to all of the local teams playing this weekend. Jeff
Good luck to all of the local teams playing this weekend. Jeff
Thursday, 1 September 2011
So what news from the local clubs on transfer deadline day?
Better late than never!
As I'm still in South America and barely keeping myself sober, please forgive me if I've missed anything!
Bristol City have managed to hold on to Nicky Maynard and will now be hoping that they can get him to sign a new contract so that he is worth something rather than seeing him go n the summer for nowt. Either way, this is as good as a new signing for the Robins. Nicky is a proven goalscorer and has proved he is as good as his word – he always said he was happy at the club, maybe the board should make him a little happier now.
Manchester City youth product Ryan McGivern, 21, has also joined City on loan until the end of the season. The lad has already picked up 13 caps for Northern Ireland despite only turning out for the light blue City once. However, he does have leagu experience and has played on loan for Crystal Palace, Leicester, Walsall and Morecambe. It proved to be a good signed by manager Keith Millen especially as Jamie McAllister now looks set to be sidelined for around eight weeks with an ankle injury.
In League ONE, Wycombe pretty much kept btheir heads down yseterday. Manager Gary Waddock had already stated that his bbusiness was done for the summer and s it was merely a case of pulling the plug on the fax machine and turning off the mobiles to ensure no-one left.
It seems that Cheltenham and Mark Yates were in the same boat and, again, nothing much happened n Gloucestershire – no change there then :-) I suspect that Mark will be happy with that though.
No-one came in at Bristol Rover, but Paul Buckle has allowed midfielder Ben Swallow to go out on loan to neighbours Bath City. Not a bad move for either Ben or the club. Swallow is a bright prospect, but needs experience and Buckle has brought a few players in this summer and so an early Bath beats playing in the stiffs.
And striker Jo Kuffour looks to be on his way as soon as the emergency loan window opens next week. Buckle has been quoted as saying: "He's definitely in the departure lounge. It will have to be a loan now the window has closed, we were confident he would go yesterday but sometimes players are not willing to compromise.It's a very small market for Kuffour as he wants to go back to London. We've had interest from League One clubs around the country but he's not interested."
I can’t help but feel that Hereford fans might be sorry to see striker Stuart Fleetwood go to Luton and at the same time wonder whether it is a good move for the fella. You could argue that Luton are a bigger club than Hereford, but the Bulls are a league side whereas the Hatters seem to be stuck in the Blue Square and are not finding it easy to get back to where they undoubtably belong. Only time will tell on this one and Stuart’s a decent guy and I wish him well.
Oxford boss Chris Wilder has signed Jonathan Franks from Middlesboro’. Striker Franks, 21, has appeared for Boro on 28 occasions. He’s also represented England at U-16, 17, 18 and 19 levels.
Finally Swindon have let midfielder Michael Timlin join Southend until January which will allow him to get his career back n track and ensure that he isn’t assaulted by any deranged Italians.
Kevin Amankwaa has also left the club after being given a free transfer and so the former Bristol City and Swansea defender is a free agent and can sign for a new ooutfit at any time.
And it looks like striker Leon Clarke, who only joined the club from QPR 12 days ago, will be allowed to leave emergency loan window opens next week following his bust-up with manager Paolo Di Canio after Tuesday's game against Southampton.
Chairman Jeremy Wray told the local paper: "I have not had chance to speak to Leon but I have spoken to his agent and it has been agreed by everyone that a loan move elsewhere would be best for everyone."
Incredibly di Canio has admitted he was informed that Clarke wanted to leave the Robins on Sunday and is quoted as saying: “I thought during the night whether he did what he did because he wanted to make a big show to leave the club. After the game I discovered that two days before he had asked to leave. I didn’t know this before the game because I will never allow a player to wear a Swindon shirt who asks to leave."
The obvious question being: "Why didn't you know? You are the manager after all."
The more the Swindon saga builds, the more I feel that their fans deserve much better than all of this.
Despite everything, some Swindon fans are managing a good stab at gallows humour and I salute them. While the messageboards were full of gloom, one wag pointed out: “ … if you look close enough you can see a fight at the end of the tunnel ;-) “.
Sir, you are a true football fan and I salute you and your humour – that would be a regular salute by the way and not a di Canio style salute.
As I'm still in South America and barely keeping myself sober, please forgive me if I've missed anything!
Bristol City have managed to hold on to Nicky Maynard and will now be hoping that they can get him to sign a new contract so that he is worth something rather than seeing him go n the summer for nowt. Either way, this is as good as a new signing for the Robins. Nicky is a proven goalscorer and has proved he is as good as his word – he always said he was happy at the club, maybe the board should make him a little happier now.
Manchester City youth product Ryan McGivern, 21, has also joined City on loan until the end of the season. The lad has already picked up 13 caps for Northern Ireland despite only turning out for the light blue City once. However, he does have leagu experience and has played on loan for Crystal Palace, Leicester, Walsall and Morecambe. It proved to be a good signed by manager Keith Millen especially as Jamie McAllister now looks set to be sidelined for around eight weeks with an ankle injury.
In League ONE, Wycombe pretty much kept btheir heads down yseterday. Manager Gary Waddock had already stated that his bbusiness was done for the summer and s it was merely a case of pulling the plug on the fax machine and turning off the mobiles to ensure no-one left.
It seems that Cheltenham and Mark Yates were in the same boat and, again, nothing much happened n Gloucestershire – no change there then :-) I suspect that Mark will be happy with that though.
No-one came in at Bristol Rover, but Paul Buckle has allowed midfielder Ben Swallow to go out on loan to neighbours Bath City. Not a bad move for either Ben or the club. Swallow is a bright prospect, but needs experience and Buckle has brought a few players in this summer and so an early Bath beats playing in the stiffs.
And striker Jo Kuffour looks to be on his way as soon as the emergency loan window opens next week. Buckle has been quoted as saying: "He's definitely in the departure lounge. It will have to be a loan now the window has closed, we were confident he would go yesterday but sometimes players are not willing to compromise.It's a very small market for Kuffour as he wants to go back to London. We've had interest from League One clubs around the country but he's not interested."
I can’t help but feel that Hereford fans might be sorry to see striker Stuart Fleetwood go to Luton and at the same time wonder whether it is a good move for the fella. You could argue that Luton are a bigger club than Hereford, but the Bulls are a league side whereas the Hatters seem to be stuck in the Blue Square and are not finding it easy to get back to where they undoubtably belong. Only time will tell on this one and Stuart’s a decent guy and I wish him well.
Oxford boss Chris Wilder has signed Jonathan Franks from Middlesboro’. Striker Franks, 21, has appeared for Boro on 28 occasions. He’s also represented England at U-16, 17, 18 and 19 levels.
Finally Swindon have let midfielder Michael Timlin join Southend until January which will allow him to get his career back n track and ensure that he isn’t assaulted by any deranged Italians.
Kevin Amankwaa has also left the club after being given a free transfer and so the former Bristol City and Swansea defender is a free agent and can sign for a new ooutfit at any time.
And it looks like striker Leon Clarke, who only joined the club from QPR 12 days ago, will be allowed to leave emergency loan window opens next week following his bust-up with manager Paolo Di Canio after Tuesday's game against Southampton.
Chairman Jeremy Wray told the local paper: "I have not had chance to speak to Leon but I have spoken to his agent and it has been agreed by everyone that a loan move elsewhere would be best for everyone."
Incredibly di Canio has admitted he was informed that Clarke wanted to leave the Robins on Sunday and is quoted as saying: “I thought during the night whether he did what he did because he wanted to make a big show to leave the club. After the game I discovered that two days before he had asked to leave. I didn’t know this before the game because I will never allow a player to wear a Swindon shirt who asks to leave."
The obvious question being: "Why didn't you know? You are the manager after all."
The more the Swindon saga builds, the more I feel that their fans deserve much better than all of this.
Despite everything, some Swindon fans are managing a good stab at gallows humour and I salute them. While the messageboards were full of gloom, one wag pointed out: “ … if you look close enough you can see a fight at the end of the tunnel ;-) “.
Sir, you are a true football fan and I salute you and your humour – that would be a regular salute by the way and not a di Canio style salute.
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