I need some help with a few questions.
In the afternoon - better in the centre, or on the flanks?
County Cork - creative spark, or lightweight luxury?
Klingon - destructive midfielder, positive box to box runner or neither?
Comedy Roadshow - better for us, or for Brizzle City?
I sympathise with the Coalman, at half time I had a view on each of these questions, but all answers would have been negative.
First half against Boro was poor. Despite our poor showing, we could have scored a couple, and so could they. It was all a bit disjointed, with the back four looking particularly shaky. By halftime we'd been caught out at a corner, then taken up Sunday School defending and gifted a second goal. Bad show, and a good team would have closed us out in the second half and left with three points in their back pocket.
Two subs at half time, the Gunnar and the Dutchie. We looked a bit more positive from the outset. Not that impressive, just a bit more together. MBoro sat back a bit and all of a sudden we'd created a goal for More Reasons. Katie Price down the right had looked dodgy in the first half, but had settled a bit in the second half, and picked out Angie who flicked on for More Reasons to finish neatly. May have been a touch of hand in the turn, but hey, we needed a break.
From there, we huffed and puffed a bit, but left it until the 94th minute to swing in a free kick which came out, went back in, and got poked in at the back post by Angie. Cue celebrations.
A point, which in the 78th minute looked more remote than a landslide Labour victory next May. Off to Watford on Tuesday, to see if we can be a little more solid, a bit more creative, and a bit more clinical in front of goal.
Fit and Proper People
A few non-specific but football related stories that have caught the eye this morning.
Flavio may well be deemed not a "fit and proper" person to own a football team, putting the F1 Crash King in the same boat as Frank Sinatra used to be at Man City, but the investigation into who actually owns Notts County continues. Good article in the Times this morning by Kevin Eason, who tries to untangle the complicated ownership web involving QADBACK and Munto Finance, well worth a read.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article6846543.ece
Something's upset Sol Campbell though - leaving with £160,000 after 4 weeks and 1 match. Nice work if you can get it, but just how bad must an away trip to Morecambe actually be?
Apparently we're also about to sign Sam Vokes on loan from Wolves. Sounds like a good addition, but will Don actually drop More Reasons or Angie and start the young talent from the outset?
A final quote, this time from the world of cricket. Gary Kirsten, coach of India, has advised his team to have more sex to increase their performance on the pitch - "go ahead and indulge" is the recommendation. Graeme Swann, when asked about this, described it as "the kind of forward thinking the game needs" adding that he assumes "Kirsten does not mean within the team. Wives and partners must be involved".
The need to clarify does make you wonder what activities Captain Strauss has brought to the dressing room before.....
Flavio may well be deemed not a "fit and proper" person to own a football team, putting the F1 Crash King in the same boat as Frank Sinatra used to be at Man City, but the investigation into who actually owns Notts County continues. Good article in the Times this morning by Kevin Eason, who tries to untangle the complicated ownership web involving QADBACK and Munto Finance, well worth a read.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article6846543.ece
Something's upset Sol Campbell though - leaving with £160,000 after 4 weeks and 1 match. Nice work if you can get it, but just how bad must an away trip to Morecambe actually be?
Apparently we're also about to sign Sam Vokes on loan from Wolves. Sounds like a good addition, but will Don actually drop More Reasons or Angie and start the young talent from the outset?
A final quote, this time from the world of cricket. Gary Kirsten, coach of India, has advised his team to have more sex to increase their performance on the pitch - "go ahead and indulge" is the recommendation. Graeme Swann, when asked about this, described it as "the kind of forward thinking the game needs" adding that he assumes "Kirsten does not mean within the team. Wives and partners must be involved".
The need to clarify does make you wonder what activities Captain Strauss has brought to the dressing room before.....
Overseas Scouting
This weekend sees the Skyblues taking a break from the impending relegation struggle.
The UCC will however be working on Arson and Don's behalf on an overseas scouting mission to Berlin. The YDO, SBJ, Uncle Bulgaria and my good self will be checking out as much football as possible from the hostelries of our Germanic friends.
Depending on the vagaries of technology and telecoms, our Twitter updates will be used when required.
Wish us luck, we will try our best to return with a new creative midfielder and goalscoring machine in our hand luggage.
The UCC will however be working on Arson and Don's behalf on an overseas scouting mission to Berlin. The YDO, SBJ, Uncle Bulgaria and my good self will be checking out as much football as possible from the hostelries of our Germanic friends.
Depending on the vagaries of technology and telecoms, our Twitter updates will be used when required.
Wish us luck, we will try our best to return with a new creative midfielder and goalscoring machine in our hand luggage.
Matt Le Tissier - betting scams in the 1990's
Matt Le Tissier has launched his autobiography, Taking Le Tiss. Apart from explaining why he never played for a big club, why he never made an impact for England, and how he managed to score all those great goals, he also sheds some light on the worst betting scam of the 1990's.
Those were the days. Not sure what the statute of limitations is on conspiracy to defraud, but I assume his lawyers checked that one out first.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Southampton-star-Matt-Le-Tissier-admits-he-was-part-of-failed-10k-bet-fix-article142265.html
Update:
CPS have decided that pursuing the allegations would not be in the public interest. did the lawyers advise that this was the most likely outcome? Or did no-one think it through.
Those were the days. Not sure what the statute of limitations is on conspiracy to defraud, but I assume his lawyers checked that one out first.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Southampton-star-Matt-Le-Tissier-admits-he-was-part-of-failed-10k-bet-fix-article142265.html
Update:
CPS have decided that pursuing the allegations would not be in the public interest. did the lawyers advise that this was the most likely outcome? Or did no-one think it through.
Blackpool away - Match Report
Following on from the picture gallery below, a short summary of the "performance" against the Tangerine Army.
The terrace was open as usual, and pretty full, for at least 70 minutes of the game. We played 4-4-2 for most of the game, with Angie and More Reasons leading the line, Klingon and the Gunnar holding the centre and Ten Burners and Marti Caine propping up the defence. Jack Cork, who may just be nicknamed Son of Alan, played out wide, with Comedy Roadshow sprinting down the line on the other side. In the Afternoon and the Dutchie supported the wingers down the flanks. That was the theory anyway
The lowlights of the game - most of the minutes, where the defence were all at the seaside, the midfield were playing beach football, and the front two couldn't get near the ball. Opta stats would show 3 shots on target, but none of the shots would have reached the goal-line, let alone troubled the keeper. We were very very poor, and Don Key ignored the youth team options on the bench which may have changed the energy levels if nothing else. The SBA stomached the "display" for 70 minutes, until most gave up, vented their disgust and left to find some entertainment.
The highlights of the game. The final whistle wasn't too bad. We discussed a man of the match for a while, and failed to come up with one.
It was that bad.
Where to from here?
A lack of activity before the transfer window closed means only one of 2 things. There is no money available, and we will be stuck with the "squad" we have until January, where we could be in the bottom 3 if this continues. Or, we've got some free agents lined up ready to jump in over the next 10 days.
We must keep the faith, it's a marathon, not a snickers.
The terrace was open as usual, and pretty full, for at least 70 minutes of the game. We played 4-4-2 for most of the game, with Angie and More Reasons leading the line, Klingon and the Gunnar holding the centre and Ten Burners and Marti Caine propping up the defence. Jack Cork, who may just be nicknamed Son of Alan, played out wide, with Comedy Roadshow sprinting down the line on the other side. In the Afternoon and the Dutchie supported the wingers down the flanks. That was the theory anyway
The lowlights of the game - most of the minutes, where the defence were all at the seaside, the midfield were playing beach football, and the front two couldn't get near the ball. Opta stats would show 3 shots on target, but none of the shots would have reached the goal-line, let alone troubled the keeper. We were very very poor, and Don Key ignored the youth team options on the bench which may have changed the energy levels if nothing else. The SBA stomached the "display" for 70 minutes, until most gave up, vented their disgust and left to find some entertainment.
The highlights of the game. The final whistle wasn't too bad. We discussed a man of the match for a while, and failed to come up with one.
It was that bad.
Where to from here?
A lack of activity before the transfer window closed means only one of 2 things. There is no money available, and we will be stuck with the "squad" we have until January, where we could be in the bottom 3 if this continues. Or, we've got some free agents lined up ready to jump in over the next 10 days.
We must keep the faith, it's a marathon, not a snickers.
Roll up and spend your last dime...
It's Bank Holiday Sunday in the Castle in Blackpool - if we've got it we'll play it...
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