I'm off up to the frozen North tomorrow to take in the Millers home game against - coincidentally - one of the teams from my 'patch' - Oxford.
As I had a little family business to deal with up there, the paper kindly allowed me to combine it with a visit to the Don Valley Stadium.
The only other time that I have seen Rotherham play at home was a fixture against Barnet last season on the day Ronnie Moore returned as manager, but even though the home support gave him a warm reception, the atmosphere they could generate in the stadium was restricted by its layout.
Don Valley is a wonderful athletics stadium, but it's not a football ground and the sooner the Millers get their own place the better.
From the press area in the main stand you have to look out over eight or nine lanes of running track and a long jump pit before you spot the players in the far distance. Supporters should be given complimentary binoculars with their tickets! Then again, maybe I'm being harsh as my eyesight isn't what it once was. But I'm certain the home fans would be happier playing in a proper football ground.
Rotherham were unlucky not to gain promotion last season via the play-off final losing 3-2 to Dagenham and Redbridge after beating Aldershot home and away.
In Adam (Alfie) Le Fondre they have the most prolific striker in the division. Alfie scored 30 goals last season and - with 14 so far this term - seems to be on a mission to beat that tally - if the Millers can keep hold of him when the transfer window opens!
Personally, I hope that they do and he gets his just rewards for the effort and loyalty he has given.
Adam's strike partner of last season, Tom Pope, weighed in with five goals last year, but I'm sure that Le Fondre would be the first to acknowledge his contribution. It so often happens that when one striker is scoring for fun, it's because his partner is working hard off the ball to allow him the glory.
Oxford boss Chris Wilder has brought in three new loan players this week; midfielder Paul Wooten (33) from Southampton, striker Steve MacLean (28) from Plymouth, and central defender Ben Futcher () from Bury - a new spine to the team.
I seem to recall that Wilder did something similar last season to give his side the impetuous they needed to take them to the play-off final and promotion. If these new players settle in quickly, it could have the same effect and that is what Wilder will be banking on.
Oxford certainly need to pick things up. They have lost the last three games - shipping eight goals in the process without reply.
Rotherham meanwhile haven't won since beating Accrington 3-2 in mid-October and the home support hasn't seen a victory since the game against Chesterfield in the last week of September. However, they have managed to string several draws together and seem to be finding the net thanks on large part to Le Fondre. I suspect that the end of January and the closing of the transfer window can't come soon enough for Ronnie Moore - and there's still another month and a bit before it opens!
Le Fondre missed Rotherham's mid-week JP Trophy 5-2 home defeat against Huddersfield through illness and the home fans will be hoping it's Oxford who go home feeling sick on Saturday evening.
I predict a 1-0 win for the team from the warmer climate in the south.
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!
Friday, 12 November 2010
Thursday, 11 November 2010
"Football's just .. football."
Gareth Ainsworth’s greatest honour didn’t happen on the football fields of England, but the killing fields of the Somme.
As the country commemorates Remembrance Sunday, Ainsworth will spend a quiet moment reflecting on the sacrifice made by footballers and fans who died in the First World War.
Wycombe’s veteran skipper Ainsworth, 37, recently blew a whistle to end a two minute silence during the unveiling of a memorial to the 1500 casualties from the Footballer’s Battalion – formed by professional footballers in 1914.
The Football League’s campaign to erect a permanent memorial was led by former SAS man and professional player Phil Stant and paid for by bucket collections on match days.
Winger Ainsworth explained:
“When war broke out the Government said that if friends from factories, work places or even streets signed up together they’d serve alongside each other in what they called Pals Battalions. They then said to the footballers we’ll make sure that all professional footballers are kept together and so you had players from different clubs fighting alongside each other and fans fighting alongside their heroes in what were called the Footballer’s Battalions. It was a real eye opener learning about all of this and the memorial went up exactly where some of the lads fell and died in Deville Wood in France.”
Ainsworth was humbled by the experience and said:
“It was the greatest honour of my career without a shadow of a doubt. I heard about these lads who fought for their country and died in the trenches. I saw where they fell or were blown up – it was sine tingling stuff. It really put everything into perspective for me and I just want to make sure we don’t ever forget these guys.
That’s real life. Football’s just ... football. It’s a fantastic and great game and it’s been everything to me, but you are taking things to another level when you talk about the ultimate sacrifice.
At this time of year it’s important that we don’t forget and we pass the message on down the generations. I’ll definitely be taking my little boy to visit the the old battlefields when he’s older. He’s only four now, but when he’s old enough to understand, we’ll be going.”
And the former QPR and Lincoln player revealed there was also a family connection with the two world wars. He explained:
“My dad is interested in reading about those periods of history and both my granddads fought in the Second World War. We lost two family members at Gallipoli in the first war and even had someone fighting at the Somme. Fortunately he came home while so many others didn’t.”
Wycombe and their boss Gary Waddock fully supported Ainsworth paid tribute to him and Stant. He said:
“The gaffer gave me time off and told me it was an amazing offer and a great honour while Phil did a brilliant job organizing it all. He fought in the Falklands himself and so has seen the horrors of war at first hand. He saw the Argentinean attack on the Sir Galahad. It’s not just about the First World War at this time of year. We need to remember the people who have fought for us and especially those who are still fighting like the soldiers out in Afghanistan.”
The Footballer’s Battalions were incorporated into the 17th and 23rd Middlesex Regiments and consisted of more than 8,000 officers and men.
Two players received the Victoria Cross for their bravery.
In July 1916 Bradford City defender Donald Bell stuffed his pockets with grenades and successfully stormed a German machine-gun post. Days later he was killed trying to repeat the attack on another position.
Bernard Vann, a school teacher and striker with Derby County, was shot through the heart in October 1918 - only one month before the ceasefire.
Of the original 600 members of the Footballer’s Battalion who had signed up by early 1915, it is estimated that 500 lost their lives either on the battlefield or later through injuries sustained during the fighting.
As the country commemorates Remembrance Sunday, Ainsworth will spend a quiet moment reflecting on the sacrifice made by footballers and fans who died in the First World War.
Wycombe’s veteran skipper Ainsworth, 37, recently blew a whistle to end a two minute silence during the unveiling of a memorial to the 1500 casualties from the Footballer’s Battalion – formed by professional footballers in 1914.
The Football League’s campaign to erect a permanent memorial was led by former SAS man and professional player Phil Stant and paid for by bucket collections on match days.
Winger Ainsworth explained:
“When war broke out the Government said that if friends from factories, work places or even streets signed up together they’d serve alongside each other in what they called Pals Battalions. They then said to the footballers we’ll make sure that all professional footballers are kept together and so you had players from different clubs fighting alongside each other and fans fighting alongside their heroes in what were called the Footballer’s Battalions. It was a real eye opener learning about all of this and the memorial went up exactly where some of the lads fell and died in Deville Wood in France.”
Ainsworth was humbled by the experience and said:
“It was the greatest honour of my career without a shadow of a doubt. I heard about these lads who fought for their country and died in the trenches. I saw where they fell or were blown up – it was sine tingling stuff. It really put everything into perspective for me and I just want to make sure we don’t ever forget these guys.
That’s real life. Football’s just ... football. It’s a fantastic and great game and it’s been everything to me, but you are taking things to another level when you talk about the ultimate sacrifice.
At this time of year it’s important that we don’t forget and we pass the message on down the generations. I’ll definitely be taking my little boy to visit the the old battlefields when he’s older. He’s only four now, but when he’s old enough to understand, we’ll be going.”
And the former QPR and Lincoln player revealed there was also a family connection with the two world wars. He explained:
“My dad is interested in reading about those periods of history and both my granddads fought in the Second World War. We lost two family members at Gallipoli in the first war and even had someone fighting at the Somme. Fortunately he came home while so many others didn’t.”
Wycombe and their boss Gary Waddock fully supported Ainsworth paid tribute to him and Stant. He said:
“The gaffer gave me time off and told me it was an amazing offer and a great honour while Phil did a brilliant job organizing it all. He fought in the Falklands himself and so has seen the horrors of war at first hand. He saw the Argentinean attack on the Sir Galahad. It’s not just about the First World War at this time of year. We need to remember the people who have fought for us and especially those who are still fighting like the soldiers out in Afghanistan.”
The Footballer’s Battalions were incorporated into the 17th and 23rd Middlesex Regiments and consisted of more than 8,000 officers and men.
Two players received the Victoria Cross for their bravery.
In July 1916 Bradford City defender Donald Bell stuffed his pockets with grenades and successfully stormed a German machine-gun post. Days later he was killed trying to repeat the attack on another position.
Bernard Vann, a school teacher and striker with Derby County, was shot through the heart in October 1918 - only one month before the ceasefire.
Of the original 600 members of the Footballer’s Battalion who had signed up by early 1915, it is estimated that 500 lost their lives either on the battlefield or later through injuries sustained during the fighting.
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
The season so far in League Two - Guesswork
Having set myself up for a fall by promising to update this blog each day, I often need to wrack my brains to think of something to write about and so as we’re nearly 25% of the way through the season, I thought I’d take a look at League Two and give my predictions/thoughts on the sides I’ve seen so far and where I think they’ll end up in May.
Of course fans of these teams will have seen a lot more of them than me this season and you can’t make any real judgments on a handful (or even one) of performances. It’s just a bit of fun, but post a comment if you agree or disagree.
Working my way up from the current table (positions in brackets), these – for the little they are worth - are my views:
Lincoln (23 out of 24) – Saw them recently against Wycombe and they showed a great deal of heart coming from behind twice. They have a good manager in Steve Tilson and I really can’t see them struggling all term. Mid-table finish.
Hereford (22) – Another good young manager in Jamie Pitman who has them playing well and they are unbeaten in seven. However, I’m sticking by my prediction in an earlier post that old boy Steve Guinan - who is currently on Northampton’s books – will be offered the job in January. Either way, they have too much talent to go down and I expect them to pull away from trouble. Bottom half finish though.
Stockport (21) – I saw them at Oxford where they were impressive in a hit and run win. However, subsequent results suggest that I might have seen them on a good day. Paul Simpson has no money to spend and will be relying on his contacts and loan deals to ensure a bottom half finish.
Northampton (19) – Ian Sampson will be hoping that they get over the hangover of their up win at Anfield pretty quickly as it seems to have dragged on and is in danger of costing him his job. Should finish mid-table.
Morecambe (17) – A poor side they day they played Oxford at the Kassam and they will do well to beat the drop.
Oxford (15) – Chris Wilder is about to set the cat among the pigeons with several loan signings which is a good indication that he has no intention of consolidating in League Two and doesn’t want any chance of promotion to slip by. They enjoyed their day out at Wembley last season and I have a gut feeling they’ll be back on the train to North London again in May.
Burton Albion (14) – This is just about where they will end up I suspect. A good manager in Paul Peschisolido, but he needs funds to help bolster a meagre squad and he just doesn’t have them.
Crewe (11) – Write off Dario Gradi at you peril. A play-off place beckons for the Railwaymen. I saw them lose at Oxford, but have faith in the old fella.
Cheltenham (9) – My surprise package for League Two. I think that they have one of the best managers in the division in Mark Yates and wouldn’t put it past them to make one of the top three automatic promotion places.
Wycombe (5) – Doing well at the moment (away from home), but I wonder whether they’ll last the pace. They were pre-season favourites for promotion, but I didn’t see anything to suggest they could do it when I was there.
Of course this is all good and well, but Bradford were string into the abyss a couple of weeks ago and now look as though they'll keep on marching up to the summit of the table. There's still an awful lot of football to be played.
Of course fans of these teams will have seen a lot more of them than me this season and you can’t make any real judgments on a handful (or even one) of performances. It’s just a bit of fun, but post a comment if you agree or disagree.
Working my way up from the current table (positions in brackets), these – for the little they are worth - are my views:
Lincoln (23 out of 24) – Saw them recently against Wycombe and they showed a great deal of heart coming from behind twice. They have a good manager in Steve Tilson and I really can’t see them struggling all term. Mid-table finish.
Hereford (22) – Another good young manager in Jamie Pitman who has them playing well and they are unbeaten in seven. However, I’m sticking by my prediction in an earlier post that old boy Steve Guinan - who is currently on Northampton’s books – will be offered the job in January. Either way, they have too much talent to go down and I expect them to pull away from trouble. Bottom half finish though.
Stockport (21) – I saw them at Oxford where they were impressive in a hit and run win. However, subsequent results suggest that I might have seen them on a good day. Paul Simpson has no money to spend and will be relying on his contacts and loan deals to ensure a bottom half finish.
Northampton (19) – Ian Sampson will be hoping that they get over the hangover of their up win at Anfield pretty quickly as it seems to have dragged on and is in danger of costing him his job. Should finish mid-table.
Morecambe (17) – A poor side they day they played Oxford at the Kassam and they will do well to beat the drop.
Oxford (15) – Chris Wilder is about to set the cat among the pigeons with several loan signings which is a good indication that he has no intention of consolidating in League Two and doesn’t want any chance of promotion to slip by. They enjoyed their day out at Wembley last season and I have a gut feeling they’ll be back on the train to North London again in May.
Burton Albion (14) – This is just about where they will end up I suspect. A good manager in Paul Peschisolido, but he needs funds to help bolster a meagre squad and he just doesn’t have them.
Crewe (11) – Write off Dario Gradi at you peril. A play-off place beckons for the Railwaymen. I saw them lose at Oxford, but have faith in the old fella.
Cheltenham (9) – My surprise package for League Two. I think that they have one of the best managers in the division in Mark Yates and wouldn’t put it past them to make one of the top three automatic promotion places.
Wycombe (5) – Doing well at the moment (away from home), but I wonder whether they’ll last the pace. They were pre-season favourites for promotion, but I didn’t see anything to suggest they could do it when I was there.
Of course this is all good and well, but Bradford were string into the abyss a couple of weeks ago and now look as though they'll keep on marching up to the summit of the table. There's still an awful lot of football to be played.
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Bulls-chat – A Pretty Good Guy
Jamie Pitman hit back at the poor attitude shown towards his team before the game by the Hythe camp, but also gave credit where he felt it was due and in doing so, showed a little more class than his part-time opponents. He said:
“It helped us in the respect that I don’t need to say to the players that they’re coming here and you’re supposed to e professional footballers and so you have to do what you’re good at and what you do day in day out. And that’s what they did to be fair.
I said to them that the first fifteen minutes was going to dictate what happens. If they score and you allow them into the game then it’s going to be very difficult. If you don’t then you’ll probably go on and win by five, seven or eight and in the end it could have been double figures.
In the end fair play to them, they worked very hard and they kept in the game all of the time and to be fair to them they weren’t bad, they weren’t bad.”
Pitman is also pleased with the atmosphere around the Bulls’ camp and said:
“The players seem to be enjoying themselves and so it’s just a continual progression for us at the moment.”
Two-goal hero Mathieu Manset allayed any fears the Edgar Road* faithful might have about Pitman’s managerial ability and revealed:
“He’s a real manager. He knows how to shout! He is a football man and once played and so he knows what to do.”
* Apologies to Bulls fans for calling Edgar Street 'Edgar Road'. A lazy error on my part, although it does explain why the Sat Nav took me to Hounslow first :-)
“It helped us in the respect that I don’t need to say to the players that they’re coming here and you’re supposed to e professional footballers and so you have to do what you’re good at and what you do day in day out. And that’s what they did to be fair.
I said to them that the first fifteen minutes was going to dictate what happens. If they score and you allow them into the game then it’s going to be very difficult. If you don’t then you’ll probably go on and win by five, seven or eight and in the end it could have been double figures.
In the end fair play to them, they worked very hard and they kept in the game all of the time and to be fair to them they weren’t bad, they weren’t bad.”
Pitman is also pleased with the atmosphere around the Bulls’ camp and said:
“The players seem to be enjoying themselves and so it’s just a continual progression for us at the moment.”
Two-goal hero Mathieu Manset allayed any fears the Edgar Road* faithful might have about Pitman’s managerial ability and revealed:
“He’s a real manager. He knows how to shout! He is a football man and once played and so he knows what to do.”
* Apologies to Bulls fans for calling Edgar Street 'Edgar Road'. A lazy error on my part, although it does explain why the Sat Nav took me to Hounslow first :-)
Monday, 8 November 2010
Hereford United 5 Hythe Town 1 - R.E.S.P.E.C.T
As a professional footballer you need no greater motivation than to read that the opposition manager thinks you’re “nothing special”.
Hythe Town were the smallest team left in the FA Cup on Saturday and were duly dumped out of it in emphatic style by the Bulls and it could have been a lot worse if it hadn’t been for some sloppy finishing and inspired goalkeeping from Kieron Mann.
Hereford manager Jamie Pitman told me after the game:
“I didn’t need to say anything to the players before the game as they had done my job for me by showing a total lack of respect.”
Any chance of an upset died in the 8th minute when midfielder Richard Rose burst through the Hythe defence and planted a shot in the bottom left corner.
In the 21st minute Rob Purdie buried a shot from the edge of the box in the same place.
Hythe pulled one back in the 26th minute when Council Planning Officer Gary Mickelborough ran into the box and rifled another into the bottom left corner, but that proved to be the Kent side’s only high point.
Gallic flare then took over in the form of a Mathieu Manset brace before half time.
French striker Manset, 21, scored with an acrobatic overhead kick in the 39th minute before bundling home a header five minutes later.
Afterwards Manset said:
“As a child I dreamed of playing in English football and in the FA Cup, but last season I was sent off when we beat Sutton and so I was very unhappy. Today was better.
My hero back home in France was Jean-Pierre Papin who was known for his overhead goals and so I used to practice them and still do in training. To score one just like him was a great feeling.”
In the second half I fully expected Hereford to reach double figures such was their dominance, but they struggled to find a way past the vertically challenged, pink-shirted Mann who made several excellent stops – three in particular from winger Stuart Fleetwood.
But Fleetwood had the last laugh.
In the 93rd minute Fleetwood’s shot hit the post and rolled along and over the line and while substitute Sean Canham appeared to make sure by belting the ball into the back of the net, the winger wheeled away in delight at finally overcoming the amateur stopper.
Hythe Town were the smallest team left in the FA Cup on Saturday and were duly dumped out of it in emphatic style by the Bulls and it could have been a lot worse if it hadn’t been for some sloppy finishing and inspired goalkeeping from Kieron Mann.
My clipping from this morning's copy of The Sun
The Sun’s football website: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football
“I didn’t need to say anything to the players before the game as they had done my job for me by showing a total lack of respect.”
Any chance of an upset died in the 8th minute when midfielder Richard Rose burst through the Hythe defence and planted a shot in the bottom left corner.
In the 21st minute Rob Purdie buried a shot from the edge of the box in the same place.
Hythe pulled one back in the 26th minute when Council Planning Officer Gary Mickelborough ran into the box and rifled another into the bottom left corner, but that proved to be the Kent side’s only high point.
Gallic flare then took over in the form of a Mathieu Manset brace before half time.
French striker Manset, 21, scored with an acrobatic overhead kick in the 39th minute before bundling home a header five minutes later.
Afterwards Manset said:
“As a child I dreamed of playing in English football and in the FA Cup, but last season I was sent off when we beat Sutton and so I was very unhappy. Today was better.
My hero back home in France was Jean-Pierre Papin who was known for his overhead goals and so I used to practice them and still do in training. To score one just like him was a great feeling.”
In the second half I fully expected Hereford to reach double figures such was their dominance, but they struggled to find a way past the vertically challenged, pink-shirted Mann who made several excellent stops – three in particular from winger Stuart Fleetwood.
But Fleetwood had the last laugh.
In the 93rd minute Fleetwood’s shot hit the post and rolled along and over the line and while substitute Sean Canham appeared to make sure by belting the ball into the back of the net, the winger wheeled away in delight at finally overcoming the amateur stopper.
More quotes from this game tomorrow.
Friday, 5 November 2010
Hereford United versus Who? – Where?
Hythe Town? Who are Hythe Town? Where is Hythe Town?
Most people will never have heard of the Kent seaside town of Hythe, but I have the dubious honour of having stayed there as a kid while on a choir holiday.
I was eleven and remember that – aside from playing football against some lads from Manchester – it was the worst holiday and dullest place.
Our choirmaster eventually saw sense and kicked me out citing that fact that I was both tone deaf and the spawn of Satan who had no place being in a church anyway! Okay, I exaggerate, but the fella didn’t appreciate my vocal skills, that’s for sure.
According to Wikipedia “a French fleet approached Hythe in 1293 and landed 200 men, but ‘the townsmen came upon them and slew every one of them: upon which the rest of the fleet hoisted sail and made no further attempt’.”
So the French don’t like the place either then.
Hythe Town play in the Kent Premier and the fixture against Hereford tomorrow will be the biggest in the club’s history having never made it to the 1st Round of the FA Cup before.
They are the smallest team left in the Cup and, on paper, you would expect them to take nothing more than a couple of cases of cider back with them to celebrate the achievement of being knocked out at this stage. However, and it may be a cliché, football is never played on paper.
But hold on. Isn’t this fixture what the FA Cup is all about? David versus Goliath? The favourites against the underdogs? Newcastle against, er, Hereford?
The Hythe Town website edi9or is certainly getting excited, This from the home page (http://www.hythetownfc.co.uk/index.htm):
“where do we start....the first Kent League team in 53 years to reach the First Round Proper, a 7th consecutive win, a 6th consecutive F.A. Cup win, a 4th consecutive clean sheet! The FIRST time Hythe Town FC have EVER reached the first round of the F.A. Cup!!!!!!!”
The Kent side are currently mid-table in the Kent League Premier Division (a feeder for the Isthmian League and the 9th level down on in English football’s footballing pyramid), but have played four fewer games than leaders Herne Bay and are only nine points off the pace.
Their goal scorers this season (up to 23rd of October are):
Goals (League Cup and then Total)
Brendon Cass 6, 3, 9
Dave Cook 4, 4, 8
Kieran Byrne 0, 5, 5
Gary Mickelborough 1, 3, 4
Craig Thompson 1, 2, 3
Gary Lockyer 2, 0, 2
Pat Kingwell 1, 0, 1
Lee Shearer 0, 1, 1
Lee Winfield 0, 1, 1
Ronnie Dolan 1, 0, 1
Billy Somerville 0, 1, 1
Damian Abel 1, 0, 1
Hereford have picked up in League Two under the guidance of physiotherapist Jamie Pitman who has been handed the caretaker manager’s job until the end of the year.
Hythe boss Scott Porter watched Hereford’s 2-2 draw at home to Aldershot on Tuesday, which saw the Bulls move out of the relegation zone for the first time this season and said his side – who will head West on Friday and return on Sunday – have nothing to fear.
He said: "They were quite ordinary and if we can stop them playing, then we have every chance."
Brave words? Or a red rag to the Bulls? We’ll see.
One thing is for certain, if Hereford win you my miss my piece if you blink while reading Monday’s copy of The Sun – if they lose I will be spending most of my weekend writing!
Most people will never have heard of the Kent seaside town of Hythe, but I have the dubious honour of having stayed there as a kid while on a choir holiday.
I was eleven and remember that – aside from playing football against some lads from Manchester – it was the worst holiday and dullest place.
Our choirmaster eventually saw sense and kicked me out citing that fact that I was both tone deaf and the spawn of Satan who had no place being in a church anyway! Okay, I exaggerate, but the fella didn’t appreciate my vocal skills, that’s for sure.
According to Wikipedia “a French fleet approached Hythe in 1293 and landed 200 men, but ‘the townsmen came upon them and slew every one of them: upon which the rest of the fleet hoisted sail and made no further attempt’.”
So the French don’t like the place either then.
Hythe Town play in the Kent Premier and the fixture against Hereford tomorrow will be the biggest in the club’s history having never made it to the 1st Round of the FA Cup before.
They are the smallest team left in the Cup and, on paper, you would expect them to take nothing more than a couple of cases of cider back with them to celebrate the achievement of being knocked out at this stage. However, and it may be a cliché, football is never played on paper.
But hold on. Isn’t this fixture what the FA Cup is all about? David versus Goliath? The favourites against the underdogs? Newcastle against, er, Hereford?
The Hythe Town website edi9or is certainly getting excited, This from the home page (http://www.hythetownfc.co.uk/index.htm):
“where do we start....the first Kent League team in 53 years to reach the First Round Proper, a 7th consecutive win, a 6th consecutive F.A. Cup win, a 4th consecutive clean sheet! The FIRST time Hythe Town FC have EVER reached the first round of the F.A. Cup!!!!!!!”
The Kent side are currently mid-table in the Kent League Premier Division (a feeder for the Isthmian League and the 9th level down on in English football’s footballing pyramid), but have played four fewer games than leaders Herne Bay and are only nine points off the pace.
Their goal scorers this season (up to 23rd of October are):
Goals (League Cup and then Total)
Brendon Cass 6, 3, 9
Dave Cook 4, 4, 8
Kieran Byrne 0, 5, 5
Gary Mickelborough 1, 3, 4
Craig Thompson 1, 2, 3
Gary Lockyer 2, 0, 2
Pat Kingwell 1, 0, 1
Lee Shearer 0, 1, 1
Lee Winfield 0, 1, 1
Ronnie Dolan 1, 0, 1
Billy Somerville 0, 1, 1
Damian Abel 1, 0, 1
Hereford have picked up in League Two under the guidance of physiotherapist Jamie Pitman who has been handed the caretaker manager’s job until the end of the year.
Hythe boss Scott Porter watched Hereford’s 2-2 draw at home to Aldershot on Tuesday, which saw the Bulls move out of the relegation zone for the first time this season and said his side – who will head West on Friday and return on Sunday – have nothing to fear.
He said: "They were quite ordinary and if we can stop them playing, then we have every chance."
Brave words? Or a red rag to the Bulls? We’ll see.
One thing is for certain, if Hereford win you my miss my piece if you blink while reading Monday’s copy of The Sun – if they lose I will be spending most of my weekend writing!
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Swindon - Bits n Pieces
Some ramblings from my sick bed on Tuesday's game ...
Following Tuesday evening's game against Charlton Danny Wilson revealed that he hadn't dropped keeper David Lucas - who had shipped ten goals in the three previous games.
According to Wilson - who kept his side in the dressing room for 45 minutes after the game - former Leeds stopper Lucas had been feeling lethargic by his own admission and so the club had taken blood tests and sent them of for analysis. On Tuesday they were still awaiting the results and so Phil Smith was asked to try and stop the Charlton tide.
Despite picking the ball out of the net three times, Smith - who had no chance with the goals - was big enough to face the media once Wilson had finished peeling the paint of off the dressing room walls.
Smith was pleased to have had some game time after spending much of the season warming the bench, but obviously disappointed with the result.
The fact that the club have recalled Michael Timlin from his loan spell at Southend shows how desperate Swindon are to inject a little experience into the side.
I can't help but feel that there is something going on at Swindon that we don't know about. Why a manager as experienced as Wilson has been left with so many youngsters at his disposal doesn't make sense. I'm starting to wonder if the board have lost faith in him or haven't released sufficient funds to support him.
The team is similar in many ways to the one that ended up at Wembley for the play-off final and so maybe they'll soon turn the corner. However, they have not replaced a key component of that team - Billy Paynter.
Two seasons ago Paynter acted as the foil to Simon Cox who scored goals for fun as Wilson dragged Swindon out of the relegation area to safety.
Last season Paynter got a hat full himself alongside new boy Charlie Austin before leaving on a 'free' to join Leeds and I think it's only now that Robins fans are starting to realise what a massive contribution he made to the team.
They may also be asking why he wasn't tied up on a longer deal and allowed to to for nowt.
Following Tuesday evening's game against Charlton Danny Wilson revealed that he hadn't dropped keeper David Lucas - who had shipped ten goals in the three previous games.
According to Wilson - who kept his side in the dressing room for 45 minutes after the game - former Leeds stopper Lucas had been feeling lethargic by his own admission and so the club had taken blood tests and sent them of for analysis. On Tuesday they were still awaiting the results and so Phil Smith was asked to try and stop the Charlton tide.
Despite picking the ball out of the net three times, Smith - who had no chance with the goals - was big enough to face the media once Wilson had finished peeling the paint of off the dressing room walls.
Smith was pleased to have had some game time after spending much of the season warming the bench, but obviously disappointed with the result.
The fact that the club have recalled Michael Timlin from his loan spell at Southend shows how desperate Swindon are to inject a little experience into the side.
I can't help but feel that there is something going on at Swindon that we don't know about. Why a manager as experienced as Wilson has been left with so many youngsters at his disposal doesn't make sense. I'm starting to wonder if the board have lost faith in him or haven't released sufficient funds to support him.
The team is similar in many ways to the one that ended up at Wembley for the play-off final and so maybe they'll soon turn the corner. However, they have not replaced a key component of that team - Billy Paynter.
Two seasons ago Paynter acted as the foil to Simon Cox who scored goals for fun as Wilson dragged Swindon out of the relegation area to safety.
Last season Paynter got a hat full himself alongside new boy Charlie Austin before leaving on a 'free' to join Leeds and I think it's only now that Robins fans are starting to realise what a massive contribution he made to the team.
They may also be asking why he wasn't tied up on a longer deal and allowed to to for nowt.
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Swindon Town 0 Charlton Athletic 3 - No Defence
First of all, apologise for the late report. I have been laid down low with man-flu for the last 24 hours and so would like to thank a nameless colleague for his input …
Once the team sheets were handed out in the Press Box several of us picked up on the extremely youthful nature of the Swindon team and, as Danny Wilson stated afterwards, that “soft underbelly was exposed”.
Charlton took only 13 minutes to crack the inexperienced defence.
Three Town defenders homed in on a cross and Paul Benson brushed them all aside to prod the ball out to former Swindon loanee Johnnie Jackson on the left side of the area and the former Spurs trainee blasted in his 3rd of the season from 12 yards.
Charlie Austin found himself outwitted on three occasions by Addicks keeper Rob Elliot in the first half, but in the second half Charlton stepped things up a gear.
In the 51st minute winger Matt Fry sent over a deep cross from the left and striker Joe Anyinsah nodded in unchallenged from about four yards out on the far post.
Striker Benson deservedly got onto the scoresheet himself in the 74th minutes as Charlton wrapped things up and Swindon fan started praying for the final whistle.
This time Scott Wagstaff crossed the ball, but again Swindon were all at sea as Benson nodded in from about six yards.
It was perfect revenge form last season’s play-off defeat at the hand of the Wiltshire outfit and Addicks chief Phil Parkinson was quietly pleased with his team and said: “It was a professional performance, though we had to rely on keeper Rob Elliot for a couple of crucial saves in the first half. I hope that the Brighton defeat was the turning point but we've got to keep it going.
We were very clinical. We played some good football against a very good Swindon team, so I'm pleased with the lads. This is a difficult place to come, so to get a good win is very satisfying."
Wilson said: "I had a frank discussion with the players. We have not dealt with their strikers and even though we've had chances, overall you've seen a team who haven't helped each other out.
There were countless little exchanges we lost, our decision making was poor, players didn't want to get into good positions and we played like a team who are low on confidence. We have to regroup and I hope that we can bounce back."
Once the team sheets were handed out in the Press Box several of us picked up on the extremely youthful nature of the Swindon team and, as Danny Wilson stated afterwards, that “soft underbelly was exposed”.
Charlton took only 13 minutes to crack the inexperienced defence.
My clippings from this morning's copy of The Sun (The first is from an early edition and the second from the London Edition)
The Sun’s football website: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football
Three Town defenders homed in on a cross and Paul Benson brushed them all aside to prod the ball out to former Swindon loanee Johnnie Jackson on the left side of the area and the former Spurs trainee blasted in his 3rd of the season from 12 yards.
Charlie Austin found himself outwitted on three occasions by Addicks keeper Rob Elliot in the first half, but in the second half Charlton stepped things up a gear.
In the 51st minute winger Matt Fry sent over a deep cross from the left and striker Joe Anyinsah nodded in unchallenged from about four yards out on the far post.
Striker Benson deservedly got onto the scoresheet himself in the 74th minutes as Charlton wrapped things up and Swindon fan started praying for the final whistle.
This time Scott Wagstaff crossed the ball, but again Swindon were all at sea as Benson nodded in from about six yards.
It was perfect revenge form last season’s play-off defeat at the hand of the Wiltshire outfit and Addicks chief Phil Parkinson was quietly pleased with his team and said: “It was a professional performance, though we had to rely on keeper Rob Elliot for a couple of crucial saves in the first half. I hope that the Brighton defeat was the turning point but we've got to keep it going.
We were very clinical. We played some good football against a very good Swindon team, so I'm pleased with the lads. This is a difficult place to come, so to get a good win is very satisfying."
Wilson said: "I had a frank discussion with the players. We have not dealt with their strikers and even though we've had chances, overall you've seen a team who haven't helped each other out.
There were countless little exchanges we lost, our decision making was poor, players didn't want to get into good positions and we played like a team who are low on confidence. We have to regroup and I hope that we can bounce back."
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Swindon v Charlton - Sporadik Addick
Back to the County Ground tonight and it should be an intereting tussle against pre-season promotion favourites Charlton.
The Addicks are nicely placed one point off second spot in League One and will be looking to record their third win on the bounce.
Manager Phil Parkinson was delighted with his side’s performance at the weekend and said:
“We went to Carlisle and went three-nil up, then 3-3 and winning it in the last minute but even this week has been a tough week just waiting for the Sheffield Wednesday game to come.
It was interesting to see how the lads were going to respond but I thought they were excellent today and to be fair I think the supporters know the lads give their all every week and that Brighton was a one-off result
I'm very pleased, I though it was a solid performance today. We probably got the balance right between being solid as a team and playing some good football and showing some creativity. The team showed a lot of good characteristics today and we're all very pleased.
Simon Francis and Johnnie Jackson were threatening today with their set-pieces. I was pleased for Simon because he’s put in some excellent performances but I think his best performances have been away from home so it was good for him to put in a solid performance today."
Danny Wilson will be concerned after reading those comments as his team have now shipped ten goals in the last three games. However, they have fought back to pick up draws in their last two and so the fighting spirit is obviously alive and well. Wilson showed his concern though after the Yeovil game at the weekend and said:
"You can't fault my team for effort but when you look back at the goals we have conceded we don't learn our lessons. They were really poor goals. We have to look at ourselves in certain areas and we have got to do better than that. The only trouble we had in the first half was the problems we caused ourselves. To go 1-0 up and it could have been two or three was disappointing.
To concede the goal we let in just before half-time was criminal and when they got the second one there was no danger at all. You can't tell people what decisions to make in the middle of the game. They are professional people and we can't keep protecting them."
There’s no doubt that the Robins’ central defending partnership of Scott Cuthbert and Sean Morrison will need to keep a keen eye on midfoielder Wagstaff and striker Paul Benson who have both notched up five league goals each so far this campaign.
My gut feeling says a third draw on the trot and I suspect Parkinson will be the happier of the two managers if that turns out to be the case.
While they have it in their locker, Swindon need to put a little run together now. The table in congested and two or three wins on the bounce would see them fighting for one of the promotion spots instead of looking over their shoulders.
Charlton just need to maintain their momentum. Brighton have a nine goal lead at the moment, but there’s lot of football to be played and, if the Addicks can maintain the pressure, when the Seagulls hit a bad patch they’ll be perfectly positioned to take advantage.
The Addicks are nicely placed one point off second spot in League One and will be looking to record their third win on the bounce.
Manager Phil Parkinson was delighted with his side’s performance at the weekend and said:
“We went to Carlisle and went three-nil up, then 3-3 and winning it in the last minute but even this week has been a tough week just waiting for the Sheffield Wednesday game to come.
It was interesting to see how the lads were going to respond but I thought they were excellent today and to be fair I think the supporters know the lads give their all every week and that Brighton was a one-off result
I'm very pleased, I though it was a solid performance today. We probably got the balance right between being solid as a team and playing some good football and showing some creativity. The team showed a lot of good characteristics today and we're all very pleased.
Simon Francis and Johnnie Jackson were threatening today with their set-pieces. I was pleased for Simon because he’s put in some excellent performances but I think his best performances have been away from home so it was good for him to put in a solid performance today."
Danny Wilson will be concerned after reading those comments as his team have now shipped ten goals in the last three games. However, they have fought back to pick up draws in their last two and so the fighting spirit is obviously alive and well. Wilson showed his concern though after the Yeovil game at the weekend and said:
"You can't fault my team for effort but when you look back at the goals we have conceded we don't learn our lessons. They were really poor goals. We have to look at ourselves in certain areas and we have got to do better than that. The only trouble we had in the first half was the problems we caused ourselves. To go 1-0 up and it could have been two or three was disappointing.
To concede the goal we let in just before half-time was criminal and when they got the second one there was no danger at all. You can't tell people what decisions to make in the middle of the game. They are professional people and we can't keep protecting them."
There’s no doubt that the Robins’ central defending partnership of Scott Cuthbert and Sean Morrison will need to keep a keen eye on midfoielder Wagstaff and striker Paul Benson who have both notched up five league goals each so far this campaign.
My gut feeling says a third draw on the trot and I suspect Parkinson will be the happier of the two managers if that turns out to be the case.
While they have it in their locker, Swindon need to put a little run together now. The table in congested and two or three wins on the bounce would see them fighting for one of the promotion spots instead of looking over their shoulders.
Charlton just need to maintain their momentum. Brighton have a nine goal lead at the moment, but there’s lot of football to be played and, if the Addicks can maintain the pressure, when the Seagulls hit a bad patch they’ll be perfectly positioned to take advantage.
Monday, 1 November 2010
Wycombe and Lincoln quotes - Talk
Following Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Adams Park, I had a chat with several players from the both camps as well as the managers.
Goalscorer Mustapha Carayol, 20, filled me in on his background and aspirations after the game and said:
“My family left Gambia to live in Paris when I was six. My mum was taking her Masters in French and is now a translator. She’s a smart lady and one of many intellectuals in my family, but I’m just happy playing football.”
And Carayol is keen to play for his country of birth and gain international experience, he revealed:
“Gambia have already asked me to play for them, but the club weren’t given the 14 days notice they needed. I’d be honoured to be asked again and if we can build on the way we’ve started under the new gaffer here, they might give me another chance.”
Full back Gavin Hoyte – brother of Boro defender Justin and son of British sprinter Wendy – found himself making the loan move from Arsenal to Lincoln on Friday and explained:
“As I live in London it was pointless going up to Lincoln and then coming down again on the coach, so I was told to get to Wycombe for one o’clock which is the first time I met any of my team mates. They are a great bunch of lads though and made me feel part of the team straight away.”
Lincoln’s new boss Steve Tilson was pleased with the point – the second in to games since he took over from Chris Sutton – and said:
“It was a very open game from two teams trying to win it to be honest. Even once we’d scored the second goal I felt that we probably looked the side who could go on and win it. It was a good game of football.
I spoke to Brushy (coach Paul Brush) and said that the pleasing thing for me was that we are labeled as a side who don’t score many goals – which is true – but we’ve gone and scored two goals away from home and probably could have scored three or four.
It was the worst start possible. Away from home against a decent side you want to keep the first ten minutes as tight as possible and so to go 1-0 down wasn’t the greatest of starts. To be fair to the lads though they showed character and spirit to get us back into the game.”
Wycome goalscorer Kevin Betsy has asked for the home fans to stick with the team. He said:
“When things go against us we all need to pull together. I know it can be frustrating for the fans, but we need them with us.”
Boss Gary Waddock said:
“We have done really well away from home but at the moment it is just not happening for us at home," said Waddock. "We have got to be better at breaking teams down because teams come here with a game plan. "As a home side the emphasis is on us but I am confident it will turn for us here because we want this to be a difficult place to come to. But credit where credit is due, we must give credit to Lincoln. We have done well to get a point and you must never underestimate a point.
"First half we did reasonably well, we scored an early goal but in the second half that was nowhere near what we were looking for. We could have quite easily come away from this with a 3-2 defeat. Our back four dropped too deep and we weren't able to get close enough to them in the middle of the park and the game got stretched and we let them back into the game."
Goalscorer Mustapha Carayol, 20, filled me in on his background and aspirations after the game and said:
“My family left Gambia to live in Paris when I was six. My mum was taking her Masters in French and is now a translator. She’s a smart lady and one of many intellectuals in my family, but I’m just happy playing football.”
And Carayol is keen to play for his country of birth and gain international experience, he revealed:
“Gambia have already asked me to play for them, but the club weren’t given the 14 days notice they needed. I’d be honoured to be asked again and if we can build on the way we’ve started under the new gaffer here, they might give me another chance.”
Full back Gavin Hoyte – brother of Boro defender Justin and son of British sprinter Wendy – found himself making the loan move from Arsenal to Lincoln on Friday and explained:
“As I live in London it was pointless going up to Lincoln and then coming down again on the coach, so I was told to get to Wycombe for one o’clock which is the first time I met any of my team mates. They are a great bunch of lads though and made me feel part of the team straight away.”
Lincoln’s new boss Steve Tilson was pleased with the point – the second in to games since he took over from Chris Sutton – and said:
“It was a very open game from two teams trying to win it to be honest. Even once we’d scored the second goal I felt that we probably looked the side who could go on and win it. It was a good game of football.
I spoke to Brushy (coach Paul Brush) and said that the pleasing thing for me was that we are labeled as a side who don’t score many goals – which is true – but we’ve gone and scored two goals away from home and probably could have scored three or four.
It was the worst start possible. Away from home against a decent side you want to keep the first ten minutes as tight as possible and so to go 1-0 down wasn’t the greatest of starts. To be fair to the lads though they showed character and spirit to get us back into the game.”
Wycome goalscorer Kevin Betsy has asked for the home fans to stick with the team. He said:
“When things go against us we all need to pull together. I know it can be frustrating for the fans, but we need them with us.”
Boss Gary Waddock said:
“We have done really well away from home but at the moment it is just not happening for us at home," said Waddock. "We have got to be better at breaking teams down because teams come here with a game plan. "As a home side the emphasis is on us but I am confident it will turn for us here because we want this to be a difficult place to come to. But credit where credit is due, we must give credit to Lincoln. We have done well to get a point and you must never underestimate a point.
"First half we did reasonably well, we scored an early goal but in the second half that was nowhere near what we were looking for. We could have quite easily come away from this with a 3-2 defeat. Our back four dropped too deep and we weren't able to get close enough to them in the middle of the park and the game got stretched and we let them back into the game."
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