Like most I had little enthusiasm for the game yesterday, a case of the team
and the fans just going through the motions. Talking outside the pub in the
sunshine the general feeling was that we were there because that is what we do.
We have all renewed for next season but again, more because that is what we do
(we all agreed that 1989 was our best ever season, so that is how long these
lads and myself have been going) but we have no great faith that next season
will be any better than the previous ones and that Heck is NOT the answer. We
had another watch of the Soccer AM 'appointing Heckingbottonm - the most
Yorkshire of all Yorkshire names - clip' and reckoned it was probably close to
the truth !
Anyway we made our way to the ground with over 30,000 other people with no
better way to spend a nice sunny Saturday. One of our lot had threatened to run
on the pitch if Ekuban and Lassogga started - thankfully for all concerned they
did not as Roofe got picked in his favourite position with Saiz supporting him.
We started Ok but the game was pretty much a stroll in the sun, two poor teams.
We got an early sniff of a goal when Alioski nipped in and pinched the ball but
his chip over the advancing keeper went just wide.
Then from nowhere we got the opening goal (we had decided that the first goal
would be all important and that if we got it we would win comfortably 3-0 or
3-1) Pearce intercepted a wayward pass just inside their half and strode
forward with purpose and when he got to the edge of the area he let fly with a
daisy cutter that found its way into the corner of the net - a good finish and
good positive play from the young lad. I thought he did well overall but is one
of those full backs (like Ayling) that is better going forward than defending,
but I think he will have a decent career even if he may end up as a wing back.
Instead of really taking it to them after the goal we sat back and let them
control the game - a great save low down by BPF (our man of the match - again,
which tells you all you need to know- our keeper mom at home v the 4th worst
team in the Division!) Our defence all season has been unable to keep opponents
at bay so what hope a back five of a young keeper playing his 10th (?) game, a
young right back who has 20 games under his belt all as a centre back (and a
poor one at that) and two other young 'uns at centre back and left back with 6
games between them. What they needed then was for fan favourite and legendary
cult hero , Pontus to really get to grips and sort them all out, telling them
where to go etc. We got nothing of the sort - Pontus was quiet as a mouse and
did nothing to help his inexperienced colleagues - he did head one ball away
and follow it up with some sort of 'He-man roar and puff his chest out' OK for
the crowd but no help to the players around him.
We then did do the inevitable and concede an equaliser. When it came it had a
big slice of luck - a cross into the box was missed by Pontus(?) and came at
full pelt at O'Connor who tried to clear but put it into the roof of the net (I
think it was Shaunessey who did this earlier in the season ?)
We then came close to going behind when a Barnsley player went past two or
three players in the box and got in his shot but thankfully BPF was up to the
task and saved well.
The second half was a carbon copy of the first in some ways - we started by
playing well and getting into them, a lovely weighted ball with the outside of
his boot by Pearce sent Roofe down the wing, he beat the full back for pace and
got right to the dead ball line where he stopped,, looked up and put it on a
plate for the onrushing Alioski who poked it home from a yard out. A classic
footballing goal.
We hoped / expected that we would go on this time and put the game beyond them,
but despite our wishes the players had other ideas and just sat back and let
Barnsley put us under pressure. Once again, if further proof were needed, we
cannot defend, and sure enough they soon had the ball in the back of our net,
thankfully the flag was up for offside, but that was pure luck on our behalf
not some great use of the offside trap. BPF was again called into action and
then it appeared that one of theirs missed an open goal - not exactly sure what
happened (will wait for TV) but on the face of it he missed from a yard out. We
had our hearts in our mouths a bit later when one of theirs went down in the
box under pressure from O'Connor (?) - the ref did us a favour and spotted that
the lad had dived (assuming he did) and gave him a yellow card rather than a
penalty.
Heck then subbed Saiz who was far from happy - I like it that a player is
unhappy to be taken off BUT his reaction was totally wrong and a real insult to
Heck. He kicked something over, was waving his hands around, refused to shake
the hand of the manager and threw a bottle to the floor. The sort of tantrum
that is becoming too common from him.
The only other thing of note was a shot by Phillips- whose stupid hair style
from the Villa game had gone even more stupid with a ridiculous top knot - what
a wanker- was worthy of the jeers and catcalls he got from the fans - he hit a
stupid volley from miles out, from a difficult angle, and not suprising it went
miles high and miles wide - a total lack of footballing ability and decision
making
A victory is a victory and this was our third double of the season (we beat
Bolton & Burton twice too) which shows the level we are reaching
So two more pointless games to go Norwich away and then QPR at home (cannot see
many staying for the 'lap of honour') - two big questions 1. Will Radz put in
the cash needed to bring in much better players than we have at the moment ?2.
Should Heck keep the job ? Personally I am not bothered either way and think
both sacking and keeping him can be justified. Keep because we need some
stability, he took over a team in turmoil, he has had lots of injuries to
contend with etcSack because he has done nothing to show that he even knows
what he wants to do and has failed to stamp any identity onto the team
DavePS Well done to the u 18s Champions ("if you're happy and you know it ,clap
your hands"-CIty piss-take) Lets hope a few of them, and the u23s are good
enough to make the step up to the first team sooner rather than later
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RIP Jimmy WAC-COE
