well, what a week! Firstly I am banished to text messages for the game at Brunton park - crappy work thing - as the boys got what to be honest sounded like a fair result on one hand, but read like a proffesional smash and grab on the other in the YEP. Then a cracking tie against the Monkey Hangers midweek with macca making 9 changes and just scrapping by as Portly Robbo smashed a cross cum shot in to the net in the last seconds...
Today we have Hereford who gave us 2 great games and deserved to beat us last season, however not doing so well this which means that we should be fearful of today. Whilst many are predicting a hatful, I think talk like that only leads to a dour 0-0 or at worse a smash and grab away win...
One thing is for sure, we are playing some of the best football at the moment I can recall since before Oleary brought in Brian Kidd. its refreshing to see that with a team camped in front of us and the time ebbing away on Tuesday, we carried on passing around looking for that oppertunity and not hoofing it long for one last chance to drop in the box...
Also really soaking up the fact we have a young lad from the acadamy that is far better than anything we have produced since young Lennon. I fear it won't be long before we cash in, so we are enjoying Delph's skills whilst we can!
Well, its a very kind offer isn't it - they obviously know that us Yorkshire folk would snap up any oppo if its for Free, however, I and most of the lads I know are over 25- Yes, I know - I only look a day over ....
Well, that was an interesting trip yesterday. It certainly wasn't a 2-0 defeat type of game, but then the reality was due to our horrendous defending, it could have been 4-0. First have was littered with errors and near own goals, the second half was, at times - inc the second goal - school boy at the best. We had lots of possesion, lacked a cutting edge and when the chances came, we either fluffled - Becchio missed with a lob at 0-0 - or we didn't get the rub of the green when needed. The same can't be said for the home team - Ref missed a shocking hand ball in build up to first goal - every player bar the offender seemed to stop awaiting a whistle that never came. Then the 2nd, well, if I get a link I will add it up for your amusment.
One of the most disapointting aspects of the Leeds play today was the lack of quality on the final ball. Time and again we got into great crossing positions, only to not get past the first man, It's fucking basic football this - players should be fined for not doing the simple things - once or twice, fair enough, but every time - left me pulling my hair out!
Also had to question Macca's sub use today, unless they had knocks, he took off Delph and Howson way too soon - I can see he wanted to add some width to the midfeild, but frankly, Snodgrass spent one half his time on the field in the centre, the rest sulking and arguing...
To cap off the day, all the way back, super talksport presenter Durham, who is clearly a Posh fan, was gloating every two minutes and encoraging fans of all clubs to text in if they hadn't heard the Leeds score - and so they did and he read them all out and repeated the score hundreds of times - all quite funny that Spurs, Hammers, CFC, manu fans etc all texted in - clearly because they are no longer bothered about Leeds! However, one Leeds fan texted in a well done to the Posh for the win, to which Durham said we finally had a fan who could lose with dignity - Now why should fans of any club lose with dignity when cockheads like that win like a gloating buffoon!?
Onwards to a massive game now with high flyers Rotherham in the JPT - I mean that with due respect to Rotherham as they are flying and a defeat on Wednesday could have a big effect on the rest of our season...
We're definitely getting better and it was an exciting match with us pulling it back to 2-2 after being 2-0 down, but their winning goal was very annoying. A complete mis-hit by Dyer in the 90th minute looping for what seemed like eternity over Glennon's head.
3 defeats out of 5 at home. We're fucked if Derby recall Liam Dickinson - he is class.
Not sure Derby will need Dickinson for a while, given their striking options at the mo.
Still recovering from the shock of beating Carlisle yesterday, not just for the result but in the fact that we were so dominant away from home (which never happens). After we went a goal up in less than a minute I thought Carlisle would step up a gear. They didn't, and we should have had the game won by half time.
At last Ronnie Moore decided to pack the midfield and it worked. After we lost the midfield battle vs Colchester (when we played what looked like a 4-2-4 formation) then playing one up front actually allowed our full backs to get into the game and for Eddie Sonko and Ian Moore to get into shooting range. It's no exagerration to say we should have won by at least three clear goals.
It made me wonder whether Ronnie Moore was Capello in disguise. I just pray that he plays this system again next week when Millwall come to town (they seem to be doing well under Jackett so I won't be too over-optimistic).
I think Leicester are going to end up pissing this league. If CTT's report of yesterday is anything to go by (plus their similar smash-and-grab win over us two weeks ago in a really excellent match), they've got that compact and purposeful knack of winning games when they're up against it - and they've got more experience and talent than similar 'fallen giant' teams in recent years such as Forest and Leeds have had.
Peterborough are looking a good shout for the play-offs at least, and they've, for the moment, got cash.
Couldn't get to Huddersfield yesterday, sounds very exciting. As for us pissing the league - well, 22 points, 17 goals for, 5 goals against after 9 games is pretty convincing, but there remain a few question marks in central midfield and up front. Millwall really didn't let us play when they came to our ground and if other teams adopt a similar approach they can get at us.
In general I'm really enjoying this league - the football is much more pleasing on the eye than in the second tier, from us and (most) opponents. Some good pubs too - E10, I was at the Birkbeck Arms before and after our match at Brisbane Road, superb boozer.