We are hurtling towards 2010 and things just get more hectic…

It’s been three months at my job now and I’m enjoying it so much, it’s hard to believe there is just four months of the contract left, but generally people at work believe I’ll be kept on. Hope so!

Also work related, i’ve managed to get a 10 day break at Christmas. It falls in such a great way this year, I get a week and a half off – magic. The past few days has also seen me get invited down to stay at Iain’s place in London for four days. Aleks and her sister are back in Bulgaria for Christmas, so there’s a spare room going. Didn’t need to ask me twice, though there was some frustration getting the travel down there sorted. I managed to settle on the coach down there and a first class train ride back home. Nice!

There’s plenty of birthday celebrations, Christmas parties and Christmas dinners going on these next few weeks – it’s hard to keep a tab on everything. It’s also more added expenses, so the advance of wages that work are offering me does seem attractive.

Forest are showing their promotion credentials. As of today, Sunday the 29th of November 2009, we are 4th in the Championship, tucked in behind Leicester. I make a note of this now because, with Cardiff and Blackpool still to play, we could end up down in 6th come Tuesday. Despite all that, we’re still doing amazingly well – come next season we could be serious challengers for promotion. Can’t believe it’s been 10 years since we last graced the Premier League! It seems as close as it’s ever been.

Finally, I re-jailbroke my phone. Apparently Blackra1n makes jailbreaking ridiculously simple. It does. My phone was jailbroken in about 30 seconds. Such a simple process, and no farting about with re-syncing apps and all the music. Plus I get the camcorder back, which is what I really missed.

My first half an hour in Nottingham should have indicated that it was to be a day of contrasts. In that time I had drunk a cup of Gluehwein surround by Nottinghamshire emos, seen a man in Graduation robes ice-skating, contemplated buying an Ostrich Burger and inadvertently wandered into the middle of a book-signing by TV weatherman John Kettley. All of these unexpected juxtapositions of subject and surroundings were trumped later that afternoon when the eleven men in Doncaster Rovers shirts put in a terrible performance at the City ground. From total football to total disappointment in the space of eight days.

If ever there was a game which merited the description ‘the first half wasn’t much to write home about’ then this was probably it as the opening fifteen minutes carried as many incidents of note as an episode of Heartbeat. Quarter of an hour in though and the game livened up as Chris Gunter made a meal of a challenge by Dean Shiels to win a free-kick on the edge of the area. Rovers dealt with this but perhaps should have been awarded a free-kick of their own as Simon Gillet was hurled out the way by Dexter Blackstock. Instead the dead-ball went Forest’s way and this corner brought the opening goal. The initial low ball in ricocheted around and was turned away by a good stop by Sullivan but as Majewksi fed it back into the box the prone Gareth Roberts couldn’t get out of it’s path and it went into the net via the full-back’s chest.

As Forest celebrated the Rovers bench vented their rage at the linesman on the Main Stand side, with Richard O’Kelly’s protests causing him to be banished to the stands by the match referee. Minutes later Sean O’Driscoll looked in danger of following him as he too was incensed by the assistant referee’s failure to award a throw-in. Presumably O’Driscoll was saved by the fact that he is only audible to dogs. With Rovers rattled Forest continued to press but as much as half an hour into the game they had managed as many shots on target as Rovers had. None.

Steadily Rovers began to edge their way into the game and moved the ball well around the Forest half of the field, but the concern, as ever was of a lack of end product. In the final ten minutes the half finally came to life though as Rovers began to force chances. Both Jamie Coppinger and Dean Shiels saw efforts heroically blocked by some desperate Forest defending as did James O’Connor minutes later. Shiels also struck just wide after running at the Forest defence and suddenly the home crowd were getting restless. With Rovers pushing forward space emerged for Forest to counter and Rob Earnshaw became the first player to test either keeper five minutes before the break, turning and striking a fierce shot which Sullivan palmed round the post.

Had Rovers managed a goal from this spell then the whole outcome of the afternoon may have been different. Throughout the first half they had matched the home side in terms of possession and the final ten minutes had been played mostly in the home half with the City Ground crowd growing audibly concerned, but the half-time whistle sounded with the score still 1-0 and the break gave Forest the chance to regroup. They did so effectively, and from the start of the second half worked to put Rovers under pressure in their own half of the field. The approach worked suddenly Rovers looked nervy in possession of the ball. Passes began to go long and astray, and the pattern of play looked lost in panic.

As such it was perhaps no surprise when it was Forest who struck next as Wes Morgan rose to head home a corner from the home side’s left. At 2-0 down Rovers finally began to threaten a way back into the game with a trio of chances in a good six or seven minute spell. Shiels turned well to flash an effort across goal and inches past the post; Sharp headed just wide from a John Oster cross and then Oster himself came onto a square ball on the edge of the box only to slip at the crucial moment and send his effort into the Rovers fans. Chances not taken Rovers lost their momentum and again began to panic in possession.

So disjointed was Rovers play at this point that it was enough to send the guy in the seat behind me into a fit of hypothetical questions. “Why is he playing it there? What good is that? Why is he looking long? What was that? Why play it now? Why go short? Who’s that for? What are they playing at?” Thankfully he was brought back to normality by Forest’s third goal two neat passes on the edge of the Rovers area and Earnshaw’s shot into the far corner left Sullivan stranded. At this point, with Forest having introduced Dele Adebola, we were debating Rovers lack of a big physical presence to throw up front at this stage of a game. I suggested that we could stick Sullivan up there, and so seconds later we were a little concerned to spot Ben Smith getting ready to join the action and Coppinger looking sheepishly to the bench.

Alas it seemed O’Driscoll did not share our radical approach as it was Sullivan who made way for the substitute ‘keeper. Smith was in the thick of the action inside two minutes as his first involvement was to claw desperately in the direction of an emphatically struck shot from Lewis McGugan which flew across the area and into the far corner of the net to round off Forest’s scoring in impressive style.  Cue Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis… again. I hadn’t heard this much of their music since I saw them live at the Birmingham Academy in 2006.

There was still ten minutes to play and in fact much of this rolled past with Rovers in possession, but holding onto the ball had not been Doncaster’s problem this afternoon, the key issue was producing something effective with it. Last week’s fluidity and confidence had been lost and a token consolation was all that Rovers managed as a corner from the right flank was nodded home by Billy Sharp. No Chelsea Dagger this time, but no matter we were familiar enough with the tune by now to sing it ourselves.

There is no doubt about the fact that Rovers deserved nothing from this game, the all-round performance was frankly too poor to merit anything other than a defeat. But it must also be said that a 4-1 victory flattered a Forest side who created few chances beyond those they scored. Still if Rovers are to turn around their away form then these are not the times to dwell on what might have been. You can only be unlucky for so long; without a league win away from home since April Rovers need to address the factors which are preventing them from building on encouraging home performances.

Nottingham Forest line-up (4-4-2): Lee Camp; Chris Gunter, Kelvin Wilson, Wes Morgan, Nicky Shorey; Paul Anderson, Radoslaw Majewski (Lewis McGugan), Paul McKenna, Gareth McCleary; Rob Earnshaw (David McGoldrick), Dexter Blackstoc k (Dele Adebola)

subs not used: Paul Smith, James Perch, Luke Chambers, Joe Garner

Doncaster Rovers line-up (4-3-2-1): Neil Sullivan (Ben Smith); James O’Connor, Sam Hird, Jason Shackell, Gareth Roberts; John Oster (James Hayter), Simon Gillett, Martin Woods; Jamie Coppinger, Dean Shiels (Lewis Guy); Billy Sharp

subs not used: Byron Webster, Adam Lockwood, Mark Wilson, John Spicer

Never underestimate the commitment of Viva Rovers. Thanks to the wonder of technology and the disappointment of train travel I am writing this match preview sat on a Midlands Trains luggage rack en route to the City Ground. Whilst the whole world travels by this train to Birmingham for Christmas shopping Rovers descend on Nottingham in search of their own bargain; a long overdue away win.

April was the last time Rovers won away in the league. A 3-0 win at Plymouth which secured Doncaster’s Championship status providing the last truly joyous journey home. This season whilst Rovers have led at many grounds including The Hawthorns, Bramall Lane, St James Park they have regularly stumbled at the last like a footballing Devon Loch. Whilst the team certainly aren’t daunted by these big venues, they do seem to be expecting the inevitable collapse.

Nottingham Forest have become something of a key foe for Rovers in recent years. Mirroring fortunes and similar league positions coupled with the inevitable mining strike undercurrent have helped propel these fixtures into the realm of derbys. And like any derby worth their salt they’ve featured Boxing Day batterings. Last season it was Rovers turn, a 4-2 win which saw the end of Colin Calderwood and also avenged a 4-0 defeat of three years previous. The 2005-06 season was the last time Forest defeated Rovers; the two times Minster Carpet Cup winners fairing considerably better out of this rivalry of late than the twice European Champions.

Billy Davies’ extensive summer transfer dealings appear to have served Forest well thus far this campaign. They may not have had the clout they thought they possessed on chasing Matt Mills but they are enjoying a much more productive Championship season than a year ago. The Tricky Trees bolstered their squad again on the week with the addition of Nicky Shorey and come into this game on a run of nine games unbeaten, sitting in 9th place.

Team News

Rovers will of course be without the forever absent Steve Brooker who remains sidelined. Brooker’s appearance in a feature on the official club website last week the equivalent of a South American dictator going on state television to prove they’re still alive. Brian Stock also remains absent though defenders Byron Webster and Adam Lockwood are now fit again whilst Martin Woods returns after serving his one game suspension.

Forest loanee Nicky Shorey is expected to go straight into their team as a replacement for the suspended Chris Cohen. The BBC also expect Dexter Blackstock to return to the side, but what fo they know eh?

Predicted Rovers Line-up;

(4-3-2-1) Neil Sullivan; James Chambers, Jason Shackell, Sam Hird, Gareth Roberts; John Oster, Simon Gillett, Maryin Woods; Jamie Coppinger, Dean Shiels; Billy Sharp

subs: Ben Smith, James O’Connor, Adam Lockwood, Mark Wilson, Quinton Fortune, James Hayter, John Spicer

Travelling to the Game

As we’re a bit late with this just one bit of advice; don’t travel into Birmingham on Midland Trains on a Saturday morning. This luggage rack is ruining my back

Following the Game

Good news for all, as Viva Rovers is en route to the match that means the return of our live Twitter coverage for this game. If you’re on Twitter follow @vivarovers for regular 140 character updates of the action. If you’re not a tweeter then keep your eye on the Twitter Updates box on the right of this page.

A mixed time of it last weekend, with Leicester getting the result against Plymouth but Villa, my pick of the day, only managing to draw at Turf Moor. I still think that bet represented good value, though at the end of the day a losing bet is a losing bet!

We’ve got a cracking weekend of football ahead – Sunday especially, with Everton/Liverpool, Chelsea/Arsenal and Barca/Madrid gracing our screens. None of those showpiece games represent great betting opportunities, though there are worse picks out there than the 14-5 available on Everton to beat hapless Liverpool at Goodison.

The pick of the weekend for me is Fulham to beat Bolton at Craven Cottage, currently 10-11 on Betfair. Fulham are playing really well at the moment and dismantled Blackburn midweek. Bolton, on the flip side, are having a mare, and I can’t see them getting back on track here.

A similar pick in the Championship, with Newcastle also 10-11 on Betfair to see off Swansea. I’ve been mightily impressed with the Toon this season, having written them off in a big way in the summer. To be fair, I thought they would lose far more players than they have done but, even still, they are doing remarkably well and are good value for the win here.

Selections:
Fulham to beat Bolton, 1.9 Betfair, 3 points
Newcastle to beat Swansea, 1.91 Betfair, 3 points

Weekend long-odds multiple:
Fulham, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Bristol City, QPR, MK Dons, 37-1 Betfair

As we began this week with a video highlighting Rovers’ free-flowing football approach, it seems only right to end the week on a similar note. There was a little criticism from some quarters that as neat as Rovers 35 pass move against Queens Park Rangers was, it didn’t actually lead to anything. Of course when you’ve got the ball the opposition can’t score and when your 2-0 up, two minutes of continued possession certainly does you no harm.

But just for the naysayers, this episode of Viva Video shows a more productive passing move, and rather perfectly ahead of tomorrow’s trip to the City Ground, it’s from Rovers’ last match with Nottingham Forest. On Boxing Day last year Doncaster travelled to Nottingham rock bottom of the Championship and having failed tos core more than a single goal in a game since the previous season’s play-offs. That changed dramatically on the banks of the Trent as Rovers saw off Forest and manager Colin Calderwood’s contract with a 4-2 victory.

The second of those four goals (shown last on this clip) was the piece-de-resistance of the day. Rovers retained possession for eighteen consecutive passes before Richie Wellens fed Martin Woods with pass number 19. Woods then turned on the edge of the box before executing a sublime chip over the home ‘keeper and into the back of the net. A glorious goal that kick-started a brilliant Rovers recovery and a fitting build up to tomorrow’s big game. 

El 9-1 del Tottenham al Wigan ya forma parte de las grandes goleadas de la historia de la Premier League. Hoy recordamos otras.

Manchester United 9 – Ipswich Town 0

Marzo 1995

Andy Cole se convirtió en el gran protagonista de la mayor goleada de la historia de la Premier League. El delantero anotó cinco goles en un encuentro en el que también vieron puerta Mark Hughes, en dos ocasiones, Paul Ince y Roy Keane. Los ‘Red Devils’ acabaron la temporada en segunda posición, por detrás del Blackburn Rovers, y el Ipswich cerró la tabla.

Newcastle 8 – Sheffield Wednesday 0

Septiembre 1999

Alan Shearer no quiso ser menos que Andy Cole y también marcó cinco goles (dos de penalty) en el roto de las ‘Hurracas’ al Sheffield Wednesday. Un avance de lo que sería la temporada para los ‘Blades’, que perdieron la categoría, mientras que los de Bobby Robson cerraron la campaña en la zona media. Aaron Hughes, Kieron Dyer y Gary Speed también participaron activamente de la goleada.

Nottingham Forest 1 – Manchester United 8

Febrero 1999

El United ha protagonizado el mayor triunfo de la historia de la Premier en casa y a domicilio. Los de Alex Ferguson pasaron por encima del Nottingham Forest en el mismísimo City Ground con un Ole Gunnar Solskjaer que marcó cuatro goles saliendo desde el banquillo en sustitución de Dwight Yorke en el minuto 72’. ‘El Asesino Con Cara de Niño’ anotó sus tantos en poco más de diez minutos. Para los ‘Red Devils’ también mojaron por partida doble el de Trinidad y Tobago y Andy Cole.

Arsenal 7 – Everton 0

Mayo 2005

En una memorable noche de Dennis Bergkamp, los ‘Gunners’ pasaron por encima del Everton en el viejo Highbury. El holandés marcó el sexto en una oda al fútbol colectivo en la que participaron Robin Van Persie (8’), Robert Pires (12’ y 50’), Patrick Vieira (37’), Edu (70’) y Mathieu Flamini (85’).

Blackburn Rovers 7 – Nottingham Forest 0

Noviembre 1995

El campeón de 1995 finalizó la temporada en la séptima plaza pero regaló a sus aficionados otra goleada histórica de la mano de Alan Shearer, que enchufó un hat-trick. Lars Bohinen (2), Mike Newell y Graeme Le Saux también superaron la meta del ‘Forest’.

Manchester United 7 – Barnsley 0

Octubre 1997

Otro recital de fútbol de los ‘Red Devils’ con hat-trick de Andy Cole y goles de Ryan Giggs (2), Paul Scholes y Karel Poborsky. El United cerró la temporada a un punto del Arsenal y los ‘Tykes’ en segunda.

Arsenal 7 – Middlesbrough 0

Enero 2006

Si un año antes fue Bergkamp, ante el ‘Boro’ el protagonista de la goleada del Arsenal fue Thierry Henry. El galo marcó tres tantos en una fiesta que también tuvo como invitados a Philippe Senderos, Robert Pires, Gilberto Silva y Aleksandr Hleb.

Found this list online, here, and thought it was interesting. Good for Spurs and Villa fans at least.

The list is correct as of 17/11/09.

Top 20 Teams For Producing England Internationals (all time):

1. Aston Villa – 68
2. Tottenham – 62
3. Everton – 59
4. Liverpool – 58
5. Man United – 57
6. Arsenal – 54
7. Blackburn – 48
8= Man City, West Brom – 42
10= Chelsea, Sheff Wed – 41
12. Nottingham Forest – 37
13. Derby – 36
14= Sheffield United, West Ham – 35
16= Newcastle, Wolves 33
18. Leeds – 30
19. Middlesbrough – 29
20= Bolton / Southampton – 26

Ignore that headline for a minute, it seemed a good idea nine seconds ago when I typed it and I’m sticking to my guns. Anyway, gather round everyone, I’ve a quick story for you all. I went to Doncaster’s match at Forest last season, as, with it being Boxing Day, so did much of my immediate family. Sat with my then girlfriend we could see a Vicky Pollard-esque character bounding about somewhere near the front few rows of Rovers fans shouting and gesturing at the home supporters to our right. “I bet your sister has probably wound up sat next to her” joked my girlfriend. Inevitably she was right, and midway through the second-half my sister and my mum had to move from their seats to enable the stewards and the police to deservedly drag the foul-mouthed Pollard and her equally unpleasant parents from the away end.

When you consider this incident, from a family no less, played out against a background of festering miners strike vitriol and inevitable ’scab’ chants it comes as quite a surprise that Nottingham Forest would choose this fixture, eleven months on, to pioneer a new ‘mixed-zone’ for supporters. When Rovers go to Forest at the end of November supporters of both clubs will be able to buy special and impressively cheap ‘Family tickets’, costing £25 for two adults and two children. These tickets though are only available for a special family enclosure in which, according to the Rovers official website, “home and away supporters’ families can integrate and enjoy the match together”.

Now don’t get me wrong, I think this is a great idea. If fans can mix freely and relatively incident free at rugby and cricket fixtures then why not at football? I used to genuinely enjoy those rare Rovers away games in the Conference when the grounds were not segregated, and even those like Hayes which had segregation haphazardly thrust upon them mid-match. I think this is a scheme which is entirely plausible for a number of matches, however I feel it is especially brave of Forest to try it for this particular game. Surely Plymouth was the obvious option for tension free visitors.

Aside from upset on the inside the family enclosure faces another daunting prospect and that is its location. Whilst I’m pretty confident, especially assuming Doncaster’s Pollard clan is banned from returning this year, that families can be trusted to mix and watch football, can the same be said of those either side of this enclosure. With opposing supporters less inclined to watch their Ps and Qs on either side then families may be advised to purchase some ear muffs from the Forest club shop before attending. Speaking to the BBC website Forest’s Safety Officer Alan Bexon said “It’s something we have been considering for some time… Football has evolved since the days when hooliganism was at a peak and we believe the initiative could be a step in a very positive direction.” Its a bold move by Bexon and his staff and I sincerely hope it pays off, but they have a lot to be wary of, most notably that football can often attract followers who are less Bisto Family and more like Biffa Bacon.

Doncaster fans can find out more about the Forest family enclosure, who is eligible and how they get tickets within it, from Rovers’ official club website (no, I’m serious) by clicking here.

Bradford City will have to do with a friday night tie against Notts County as Notts Forest were also drawn at home. It makes me wonder how they decide when these clashes occur. Maybe it’s just because Nottingham Forest are in the championship while we are only in the basement of the football league. If someone knows the answer to this, please get in touch.

However, what is clear is that although the  ‘magic’ of the cup is lost due to the friday night fixture, it gives an extra day’s rest before next weeks games against Port Vale & Bournemouth and also gives McCall and Jacobs the chance to scout upcoming opponents.

Grzegorz Rasiak eased the pressure on boss Brendan Rodgers with a brace in Reading`s 3-1 victory at Coventry and the Polish striker’s exploits ensured he was the leading points scorer for the week in the Actim Championship Index. The former Tottenham forward scored in the first minute and added the crucial third goal for the Royals to pick up a total of 51 points and move up 118 places in the Actim Index to 226th. Rasiak had only scored one goal in the Championship before his double at the Ricoh Arena and Rodgers will be looking for more of the same if his side are to move away from the relegation zone.

Matty Fryatt was once again Leicester’s match-winner in their clash at QPR and the prolific striker’s double at Loftus Road has resulted in him moving into the top 10 in the Actim Championship Index. The pacey predator scored both goals in a 2-1 victory as the Foxes maintained their impressive start to the season and he also amassed 47 points for the week to move up 10 places to seventh in the Index. The former Walsall man has scored nine Championship goals this season from 25 shots on target for Nigel Pearson’s side.

Newcastle midfielder Kevin Nolan still leads the way in the Actim Index with 300 points for the season. However, the former Bolton man had one of his least profitable weeks, having registered only 15 points in the Magpies’ 1-0 victory against Sheffield United. In-form Cardiff midfielder Peter Whittingham is hot on Nolan’s heels in second place despite also having a poor week in terms of Actim points, picking up just 10 in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest. Sought-after Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson is in third place, while Bristol City striker Nicky Maynard moved up to fourth after scoring his ninth Championship goal of the campaign in the Robins’ 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

West Brom defender Jonas Olsson was included in the Actim Championship Team of the Week after scoring and playing his part in keeping a clean sheet in the Baggies’ 5-0 thrashing of Watford. The Swede scored 36 points against the Hornets and has now scored three goals for the season, as well being solid at the back for Roberto Di Matteo’s side having made 29 clearances, 17 interceptions and winning 33 tackles and he moved up 11 places to 11th in the Index. Olsson’s team-mate Gianni Zuiverloon was also in the Team of the Week after scoring 38 points for the week, with the Dutchman also on the scoresheet against Watford.

Swansea are one of the form sides in the Championship at the moment and their Dutch forward Cedric Van der Gun made the Team of the Week after scoring his first goal in English football in the 2-0 win at Scunthorpe. The Swans are now unbeaten in nine Championship games and former Ajax man Van der Gun, who scored 35 points for the week, looks like being a key player if Paulo Sousa’s side are to push for promotion. In the overall Index, Ashley Williams is the Welsh side’s leading performer and the big defender, who is ranked 23rd overall, has won 62 tackles and played a major role in ensuring Swansea have conceded only two goals in their last nine league matches.

View the latest Actim Index >

Last night I got the opportunity to meet ex-Nottingham Forest and Derby player John McGovern during a Sportsman’s dinner at my workplace. McGovern also had a very brief spell with Leeds United (under Brian Clough’s management) and made an appearance in The Damned United.

He seemed like a decent bloke. After waiting around like a giddy little teenager for the right moment, I managed to get the book-version of The Damned United signed on the night, which was nice. Here it is:

Marlon King may never play for Wigan Athletic again after he was jailed for 18 months but does that mean his football career is over?

The 29-year-old striker, who was found guilty of sexual assault and actual bodily harm after he had been rebuffed by a female student in a London nightclub, probably doesn’t think so.

King may well cling to the fact he joins the illustrious if unwelcome group of top footballers who have been jailed during their playing careers and who have gone on to play at the top level again.

The former Nottingham Forest, Watford and Hull player may not be in the same class as George Best, Jan Molby, Tony Adams and dare I say Joey Barton but he will still look to them for hope and inspiration.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan may have also expressed his regret at signing King – and many potential employees may snub him as a result of his record – but who is anyone to play judge and jury on King’s career?

I’d be interested to know what people think about King’s future, will he or even should he ever play in the Premiership again?

Professional footballers are after all meant to be role models aren’t they?

Newcastle returned to winning ways after back-to-back defeats with a late victory over Doncaster last week. That 2-1 win came courtesy of Kevin Nolan’s 18-yard strike and his performance in that win earned him enough points to climb to the top of the overall Actim Index, overtaking Michael Chopra who drops to fourth.

The week’s best performer was Cardiff midfielder Peter Whittingham, who scored a hat-trick for his side in the thrilling 4-3 win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. That performance earns him the highest score of the week with a mammoth 73, which is the second best individual score of the season, behind Cardiff team-mate Chopra. He obviously takes his place in the Team of the Week and moves up seven places to second in the overall Index.

Watford had a fantastic time against Sheffield Wednesday, beating them 4-1 in the televised clash last Friday, and four of their players have forced their way into the Team of the Week as a result. Defenders Jon Harley and Adrian Mariappa, Arsenal loanee Henri Lansbury and Manchester United loanee Tom Cleverley all take their place in the select XI. The team is completed by Peterborough’s Joe Lewis and George Boyd, Coventry’s Ben Turner, Preston’s Billy Jones, Derby’s Robbie Savage and Cardiff duo Whittingham and Jay Bothroyd.

Managers can often be heard in post-match interviews saying the Coca-Cola Championship is a long season and there are plenty of games. And they would be right, as the players are already racking up the minutes on the pitch. Three players are sharing the most amount of time on the pitch and they are all from the same club. Nottingham Forest trio Chris Gunter, Wes Morgan and Lee Camp have all spent 1367 minutes sweating blood and tears for Billy Davies’ men this term. Meanwhile, Derby duo Stephen Bywater and Dean Moxey have been positively lazy, with just 1366 minutes of game-time. It must be something in the East Midlands water.

Famous for being lobbed from the halfway line for THAT goal by David Beckham and for almost denying England a route to Euro 2000 when he played for Scotland in the play-off, Neil Sullivan is still plugging away and this season, at the age of 39, he is the oldest player in the Coca-Cola Championship. Derby veteran Paul Dickov and QPR coach Gareth Ainsworth are the oldest outfield players to grace the pitch this term, aged 36. At the other end of the scale, Ipswich’s Connor Wickham is having a baptism of fire to his career, but he is adapting well at Portman Road and has played over 300 minutes, despite just being 16.

It was a great week for Nathan Ellington as his last-minute equaliser for Watford against Ipswich not only saw him score his first goal of the season, but also saw him climb a gargantuan 197 places up the Index. He still loiters well down the rankings in 409th, but it was an impressive week nonetheless. That is not something Crystal Palace’s Nick Carle can say as his Index score of -7 sees him slip a rather embarrassing 104 places in the overall standings.

View the latest Actim Index >

“We all know that football is the best way of getting kids off the street, and if I can help youngsters in society in any way I can through this, I will be delighted. This will be a positive thing for the kids.”

To find out more visit www.dexterblackstocksoccerschool.com

I hit the 2 month mark at my new job and I’m really getting into it now. I’m now at the stage where I know exactly what I have to do, no longer relying on the notes I was furiously taking down in the first few weeks of my job. I’m quite heartened to hear my workmates say how well i’ve been doing, how fast I work and how easy it is to get on with me. Everybody likes compliments (or an oppurtunity to enlarge my ego…), i’m no different!!

I’ve steadily got to know most people at work too. The ground floor staff, i all know. If not to talk to, i at least know their names. Upstairs, however, is like a whole other world! It’s larger and there is no great urgency to go upstairs throughout the day, so I tend not to mix with the people up there so much. Well, that was until last week when I tagged along on a work night out to celebrate my sister (and others) end of training for their new positions. The majority of people on this night out were from upstairs, but thanks to my old friend alcohol, a few drinks down the line and I’m anybody’s. Drink has always been a fabulous way to unwind and get to know people, even people who you’ve previously only nodded a hello to them in the corridor. Now i’m laughing and joking with them while drinking down double jack daniels!

An actual proper work night out is scheduled for next friday night, or at least I hope it is, i had such fun that I’m itching to go out with them again. I even went out and brought some new clothes – partly because of my diet, my clothes are all too baggy, and partly because of my criminal lack of smart ‘going out’ clothes. Whenever I go out normally now, it always seems to be a pub, so I have no ‘town’ clothes. Clothing that means I wont get turned away at Lloyds…

Sticking with the ILF, we had an annual conference a few weeks back. It was actually the first annual conference they had, but it is good for what it was. Basically an event to get everyone involved with the ILF together in one building. I stuck around only for the first part of the day, not sticking around for the dinner or drinks, but i could see the merits of meeting these people. We even got a show from Natasha Wood (she is one of the ILF users), who has a one woman show visiting various towns, cities and countries, all about her life and how her disability (she has Spinal Muscular Atrophy) has both helped and hindered her throughout her life. It’s well worth seeing, both funny and touching, and worth the day off work to see!

Work is great, my weight loss (6 stone and counting) is great and even Nottingham Forest are playing great. Finally we’re seeing the real deal from Forest. While we’re still a way from being champions, we seem to be finally competing at this level, this is what all of us fans have craved since we got relegated from the Premier League 10 years ago. Okay, one season in 2003 might have been brilliant, but aside from that we’ve never really convinced as challengers at this level. After a run of matches this year where we’ve played so well but come away with nothing, it’s good that we are now reaping the rewards of our efforts. On an unbeaten streak, we’ve been camping out in 7th and 8th these last few weeks, keeping within touching distance of the top due to the fickle nature of this league. One week Newcastle are top, then it’s Cardiff, then Middlesborough. We’re three points behind current leaders Newcastle, but equal or better than them in terms of quality. We could beat any team in this league on our day, but despite all this we do still have our inconsistencies, not least our ‘one half good, one half bad’ syndrome which we can’t shake! (take the Newcastle game as a prime example)

I’m just chuffed that it’s nearly November and we’re 8th. We’re competing in this stupendously competitive league. While a promotion this year is beyond us, a playoff place chase certainly isn’t, and it’ll put us in good stead for the next few years where hopefully we can step up and be genuine promotion contenders. It’s been 10 years since we were at the top, finally we seem to be headed back towards there.

I’ve been enjoying my Xbox 360, it’s good to have this console again. I bought Saints Row 2 and Fifa 10 recently. Saints Row 2 is a great game, this is how I’d have preferred GTA 4 to be like, a bit more tongue-in-cheek and silly. That’s not to say that I didn’t like GTA, but having played San Andreas, playing Saints Row 2 seemed like a ’sequel’. And Fifa 10, it’s a great game. Really good. I’m happy that Fifa have finally stepped up, after years of shit football games. The football is natural, controls are easy and the graphics are excellent. I wholeheartedly recommend this game!

And before I go, I got an invite to Google Wave the other day. I was intrigued as anyone to see what the fuss was all about. Google Wave is like a glorified Google Mail with a tacked on ability of real-time instant messaging. This means you actually see the words appear on the screen as the other person is writing them, there is also the chance to upload a ton of media as well as the ability to group edit anything that has been added/uploaded. It’s much easier to explain when you’ve used it, but something to remember before using it, is that it needs a fast (FAST) machine to run smoothly. My Mac seems to run it okay, but my work PC struggles big time. It’s worth a look, but I can’t say it’s changed my life. Google have plenty of work to do on this, so until then it’s little more than an interesting oddity.

No lo voy a negar, escribo esta entrada entrada “>precisamente por haber visto la reciente pelicula de The Damned United, que la verdad, me ha servido para coner al personaje que hoy ilustra la entrada.

Y es que ha tenido que ser una pelicula, altamente recomendable, me ha permitido conocer al mejor entrenador ingles de toda la historia, ni mas ni menos que 2 Copas de Europa y 3 Ligas con los modestos Derby Country y Nottingham Forest que el mismo mismo “>creo junto a su fiel amigo Peter Taylor y una apuesta futbolistica atrevida. El mismo lo decia con una de sus declaraciones mas sonadas:

Si Dios hubiera querido que el fútbol se jugara en las nubes, no habría puesto hierba en el suelo.

Pero los inicios de Clough, habian empezado como jugador, un autentico killer al que las lesiones le cortaron una trayectoria en la que contaba ya con 197 goles en 212 partidos y empezando el camino del que pudo haber sido uno de los grandes de la historia de Inglaterra, pero quizas nunca una lesion dio tanto al futbol posteriormente.

Empezo en el modesto Hartlepool United de la 4º Division, y de ahi, paso al Derby Countre, donde empezo a cosechar exitos. Clough, logro sacar al Derby Country despues de 10 años de la Segunda Division, para retonar a la Premier y acabar en 4º posicion logrando clasificarse para Europa, aunque una sancion les quito ese derecho. En la siguiente siguiente “>temporada, acabaron en 9º posicion, para dar la campanada a la siguiente para logra el primer titulo de Liga del Derby Country, algo totalmente historico. La leyenda de Clough crecia a una velocidad vertiginosa.

Tras ese titulo de Liga, paradojicamente, empezaron los problemas con la directiva del Derby, que acabo con la marcha del tecnico aunque ningun aficionado lo queria, y tras un breve paso por el Brighton & Hove Albion, Brian Clough llego al Leeds United al que Don Reavi Reavi “>habia convertido en ganador con un futbol racano y que generaba odios de todos los aficionados ingleses. Brian Clough, amante del futbo limpio, cosa que no hacia el Leeds de Reavi, se presento con otra declaracion explosiva:

Hasta donde sé, ustedes ustedes “>pueden tirar a la basura vuestros trofeos conquistados, porque ustedes los ganaron haciendo trampas

Esto como es normal, no sento nada bien en los pesos pesados del vestuario del Leeds que se habia proclamado campeon de Liga la temporada pasada, y acabo provocando que Clough durase 44 dias en el Leeds. Es cierto, que mucha gente considera que se dio estre fracaso, porque no estaba  a su lado Peter Taylor, el ayudante y amigo con el que consiguio todos sus exitos deportivos.

Gracias a esto, Cloug llego al equipo en el que logró los exitos de mayor renombre, el Nottingham Forest. Cogio al equipo en la Segunda Division, y otra vez con ayuda de Peter Taylor logró el ascenso a la Premier para lograr algo impensable, ganar el titulo de Liga y Copa de la Liga logrando permanecer 42 partidos imbatido, record que solo supero un fantastico e irrepetible Arsenal años mas tarde.

Pero no acabaron ahi los exitos del Nottingham Forest. Como consecuencia de su posicion liguera, llego a la Copa de Europa como un completo desconocido, aunque pronto daria la sorpresa al proclamarse campeon campeon “>despues de ganar al Malmo sueco  en el Olimpico de Munich. Tras este exito, el Nottingham Forest tuvo derecho a volver a participar en la Copa de Europa al ser el vigente campeon, ya que la plaza de la Premier se la habia habia “>llevado el Liverpool pese a que el Nottingham no habia perdido un partido. En esta segunda edicion, tambien volvieron a dar la campanada ganando al Hamburgo en la final disputada en el Santiago Bernabeu.

Con esto se acabaron los exitos de renombre de Clough, a pesar de que sumó algun titulo menor mas a su coleccion, pero con esto era suficiente, ya habia forjado su leyenda, en base de sus declaraciones, siempre llenas de arrogancia y sus exitos deportivos, algo que nadie ha sido capaz de lograr, ni si quiera de acercarse. Al final, un elevado alcoholismo que desencadeno el deterioro de su salud, acabo con su vida.

Aun asi, el bueno de Brian Clough, dejo muchisimo escrito en esto del futbol, esa idea de plantarse en el Leeds y llamar tramposos al mejor equipo de la Liga por practicar un juego juego “>racano, basado en las trampas y el juego sucio e incluso violento es algo que no haria cualquiera. Simplemente por eso, se merece todo mi respeto, un tio que fue el precursos de gente como Mourinho, y que jamas dejo a nadie indiferente. El era Brian Clough.

For my sins, I’m a Forest fan. Having been born in the mid eighties and not really being aware of the team until about a decade later, that means I have rarely experienced true joy when it comes to the true Reds winning anything. The glory days of Clough were long gone by the time I fell in love with Frank Clark’s team of Colin Cooper, Steve Stone and Chettle, Ian Woan and, of course, Stuart ‘Pyscho’ Pearce. The years since have been a bit of a drought. When I heard Arsenal fans whinge about four years without a trophy I pity them. Come talk to me when it’s twelve years since you’ve played a Premiership match.

So it is an unfamiliar emotion that I find myself feeling this Monday morning in October. Four wins in the last four games (including seemingly runaway promotion favourites Newcastle), goal difference keeping us from a play-off position – not a bad way to start the week.

However, best not to get carried away. Promotion is won in May, not October, one game at a time etc. Got to keep feet on the ground, otherwise there’ll be tears when it all goes tits up at Christmas. Still, I can revel in this for a bit: ahead of Leicester, and the sheep all the way down in 17th. How could that not be a great start to the week?

Hands up who thought this blog was going to be about Cloud Computing?

Dawson oggi è un beniamino dei tifosi degli Spurs

Sabato Michael Dawson ritroverà l’uomo che l’ha lanciato nel calcio che conta (l’incontro è già avvenuto questo 17 ottobre, NdT).

Paul Hart, oggi manager del Portsmouth, ha seguito il difensore quando era nelle giovanili del Nottingham Forest e l’ha fatto esordire tra i professionisti quando aveva 18 anni, nell’aprile del 2002.

Lo stesso è successo con Jermaine Jenas al Forest e Jonathan Woodgate, che Hart ha allenato nel vivaio del Leeds United.

‘Daws’ arrivò a giocare 91 partite per il Forest prima di trasferirsi agli Spurs, nel gennaio del 2005.

“Paul era responsabile dell’Academy del Forest e mi mise sotto contratto quando avevo 14 anni,” ha ricordato l’amatissimo difensore.

“Quando avevo 16 anni era il manager dell’Under-19 e ricordo di essere stato con lui circa un anno prima che passasse alla prima squadra.”

“Alla fine del mio secondo anno come studente a tempo pieno mi ha dato l’opportunità di debuttare in prima squadra.”

“Il modo in cui allenava e la sua disciplina erano incredibili, e la quantità di giocatori che ha tirato su dimostra che è un manager di prim’ordine.”

“Di certo mi ha insegnato un bel po’ di cose. Era severo e ci ha dato un bel po’ di strigliate, datemi retta.”

“Dovevi essere sempre al massimo, ogni giorno, a ogni allenamento, e se non succedeva te lo faceva capire di sicuro.”

Michael, che adesso ha 25 anni, non vede l’ora di incontrare di nuovo il suo allenatore di un tempo in occasione della trasferta a Fratton Park per un’altra importante partita della Barclays Premier League (poi terminata con la vittoria per 2-1 degli Spurs, NdT).

“Non vedo Paul da tanto tempo, da quando ha lasciato il Forest,” ha continuato Daws. “Mi era scocciato che se ne andasse quindi sarà bello ritrovarlo.”

“Nella mia prima stagione intera da titolare del Nottingham Forest ci ha portati fino alle semifinali dei play-off ma subito dopo il Club ha venduto un po’ di giocatori e sfortunatamente per lui i risultati non sono più arrivati.”

“Ma per come ci aveva guidati in quella prima stagione molti Club importanti iniziarono a interessarsi a lui e adesso allena in Premier League.”

“Sono certo che ne sia contento, anche se sicuramente vorrebbe qualche punto in più in classifica e comunque sta facendo del suo meglio.”

servizio del sito ufficiale del Tottenham Hotspur

http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/dawsonshearttohart161009.html

Photo courtesy Nffcchris (via Wikimedia Commons)

If any Newcastle United fans are already entertaining the thought that their club has been below the top flight of English football for too long, the Magpies’ visit to Nottingham Forest on Saturday ought to shut them up.

Forest, a founding member of the Premier League but one that hasn’t been in said division since finishing dead last in the 1998-99 campaign, welcomes Newcastle back to the City Ground for the first time in a league match since March 10, 1999, when a 73rd-minute goal from Dietmar Hamann gave the visitors a 2-1 win.

The landscape that both clubs find themselves standing on is very different a decade on, though, and not just because New Labour’s pretty much gone down the toilet – Oh, don’t give me that, it has! – since the two teams’ last league fixture against each other.

The last time the two teams met in a league game, Forest was on its way out of the Premiership with Newcastle not terribly far above them, and now the Magpies are a strong early favorite to go right back up while Forest continues along on its drawn-out climb back up the English football pyramid.

Both teams were on impressive form, however, in the weeks leading up to the last international break, which makes for an interesting matchup at the City Ground on Saturday.  Newcastle has earned more wins (seven), kept more clean sheets (seven) and conceded fewer goals (four) than any other team in the Coca-Cola Football League Championship so far this season, and Forest – currently in tenth place in the Championship – holds the longest current winning streak in the division, having last lost in the league on Sept. 19.

Manager Billy Davies and his Forest side haven’t defeated a top-16 side so far this season, though, so it may take some doing for the Tricky Trees to do the business on Saturday.  Stranger things have happened, though – Newcastle and Forest both being in the lower leagues, for instance – and Davies will be hoping that the City Ground really comes alive on Saturday.

You know, for old time’s sake.

For information on action elsewhere in the Football League this weekend, follow along after the jump.

Championship: The three teams who dropped out of the Barclays Premier League are still the top three teams atop this season’s Championship table, and chances are that things will stay that way for at least another week.  Both second-place West Bromwich Albion and third-place Middlesborough are at home on Saturday, hosting 15th-place Watford and 21st-place Reading, respectively.  West Brom and Boro will be keen to win those matches, as only five points separate second place from 11th in the current league table.  Cardiff City and Preston North End, sitting third and fourth in the Championship, are as aware of the small gap as anyone, and they’ll want to keep themselves well and truly in that fold this weekend.  They really ought to do just that, too, with Cardiff hosting Crystal Palace and Preston making the long trip to West London to square off with Queens Park Rangers.

League One: Charlton Athletic has a game in hand on Leeds United, but the Addicks may find themselves temporarily back in the League One lead this weekend if all goes according to plan for the South London club.  It won’t be easy, though, as even though Charlton are at home this weekend, it’s against eighth-place Huddersfield Town, a team that demolished Exeter City 4-0 last Saturday.  A win this Saturday puts Charlton into the top spot in the division, however, and the Addicks’ chances to retain that place would become significantly greater if Leeds falls at home to fifth-place Norwich City at Elland Road on Sunday.  Just below Charlton and Leeds, though, Colchester United and Milton Keynes Dons will try to stay on pace to challenge the top two as they face Wycombe Wanderers away and Gillingham at home, respectively.

League Two: As we reported earlier in the week, Accrington Stanley is close to repaying its unpaid tax bill to HM Revenue & Customs, and Saturday’s home game against league-leading Bournemouth at the Crown Ground ought to put a little extra dosh in the fundraising campaign’s coffers.  The Lancashire club ought to feel confident coming into Saturday’s big game, as well, having crushed pummeled Cheltenham Town in the second half of last Saturday’s 4-0 win over the Robins.  Bournemouth will definitely want to win on Saturday, though, with Dagenham & Redbridge, Rotherham United and Rochdale still very much breathing down the Cherries’ necks.  That might change this weekend, though, especially as Dagenham & Redbridge will have to navigate its way past 11th-place Bradford – albeit at home – and third-place Rotherham welcomes fifth-place Notts County to the Don Valley Stadium.

Matthew Semisch

]]> http://blaydonrace.wordpress.com/2009/10/16/kezdodik-a-iii-szakasz/ Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:58:34 +0000 marcitomi http://blaydonrace.wordpress.com/2009/10/16/kezdodik-a-iii-szakasz/

Szombaton kora este a forduló zárómeccsén Marlon Harewood visszatér anyaklubjához, akik otthonában 18 éve hagytuk ott utoljára a 3 pontot.

Harewood a héten kisebb lábfejsérüléssel küzdött, de nem meglepő, hogy vállalja a játékot egykori sikerei helyszínén. Marlon 1998-ban mutatkozott be a Forestben, majd egy finn kiruccanás (dupla a Haka színeiben) és egy Ipswichnél eltöltött pár hónap után, a másodosztályú csapat egyik erőssége volt. 2003-ban csatárpartnerével és jó barátjával, David Johnsonnal az osztályozóig jutatták a Forestet, ekkor figyelt fel rá a West Ham és vitte el fél millió fontért.

Harewoodnak nem okoz gondot, hogy vendégként játszik a City Groundon, távozása után két hónappal már a 7. percben eredményes volt egy Forest-West Ham mérkőzésen. Marlont akkor végig kifütyülték és most, 5 évvel később is hasonló fogadtatásra számíthat, hiszen az elmúlt szezon hajrájában tárgyalt arról, hogy kölcsönbe visszatér a Foresthez, ám végül a Wolverhamptont választotta.

Komoly kérdések elé néz Chris Hughton. Steven Taylor (combhajlító) és Fabricio Coloccini (ágyék) sem edzett a héten, a hírek szerint az utolsó pillanatig várni fognak, hogy végül elutaznak-e Nottinghambe. Ha maradnak, várhatóan Danny Simpson és Zurab Khizanishvili kezdenek középen és Ryan Taylor lép vissza jobb hátvédbe. A mai lapok hosszan spekulálnak arról, hogy érdemes-e Taylort és Coloccinit kockáztatni. Tekintve, hogy egy hét alatt három meccs vár ránk, én pihentetném mindkettejüket.

Joey Barton és Shola Ameobi még jó ideig hiányozni fognak, de Jose Enrique sérülése rendbejött és Jonas is szerzett egy kis kilométert a lábaiba (gratula a vb-részvételért, Maradona szerint bérelt helye van a keretben). Egyetlen gond az argentínnal, hogy Uruguayból Anglia akár egy napig is eltarthat, az időeltolódás 3 óra, kevés esély van rá, hogy bekerülhet a kezdőbe. Bár a gólérzékenysége miatt ezt most annyira nem is bánom.

Robert Earnshaw a válogatottnál szerzett vádlisérülés miatt kihagyja a mérkőzést, Chris Gunter játéka egy szerdai kőkemény ütközés miatt kérdéses.

Formát elnézve a Forest az esélyes, hisz’ három mérkőzést nyertek zsinórban, de a hazai mérlegük egyáltalán nem rózsás: 5 meccsen 2 győzelem, 3 vereség, 7-8-as gólkülönbség.

Védőink hiánya miatt egy döntetlen könnyen becsúszhat, de úgy érzem megszakítjuk a döntetlenek sorát és győztesen hagyjuk el a City Groundot.

A találkozót a BBC élőben közvetíti, legutóbb sikerrel tudtam nézni az Ipswich-meccset a myp2p fórumán található British TV nevű programmal (VLC kell hozzá). Ezen felül bizonyára lesz stream a myp2p-n, az atdhe-n és az iraqgoals-on is, valamint élő stream lesz a betfairen és bet365-ön. Egyéb megoldás a rádió lehet, amelyet most is szinte biztosan megtalálhattok majd ustreamen.

Howay the Toon!

By CHARLES HAPPELL

The Australian sporting landscape has been dotted with its fair share of neurotic, eccentric and lovable (if semi-certifiable) loonies – and Kevin Sheedy, Jack Gibson, Ron Barassi, Lawrie Lawrence and John Kosmina are a few that come straight to mind – but I’d hazard a guess that, in the matter of sheer originality and barminess, this wide brown land has produced no-one that comes within cooee of English soccer manager Brian Clough.

Clough made his name as an outspoken and controversial manager of Derby County, which he transformed from a Second Division rabble to First Division champions in 1972, and then Nottingham Forest which he took to the Championship in 1978 and the European Cup in 1979 and 1980, an astonishing result for a club that had won nothing of note since the FA Cup in 1959.

Clough’s methods were unique. He was essentially a dictator, and not always a benevolent one. “Have you ever been punched in the stomach, young man?” he once asked a centre-forward, Nigel Jenson, in the dressing room. When the answer was no, Clough suited the action to the word, remarking, “Well, now you have.”

The Damned United is a film based on David Peace’s wonderful novel of the same name which traced Clough’s ill-fated 44-day term as boss at Leeds United in 1974. The film has just been released in Australia and, if it is anything like as good as the book – a masterpiece of its type – it will be well worth a look.

Here is an exerpt from the book* (The Damned United, by David Peace, 350pp, Faber) which gives some idea of the erratic, expletive-strewn rants Clough was often prone to as a manager, not to mention his paranoia, obsessiveness and arrogance. It is also a glimpse at a distant age, long before players had become tycoons who drove Maseratis to training and had their own special table permanently reserved at Nobu, when coaches and managers were often unrepentant autocrats: (* If you are offended by bad language, look away now).

… Here is where League Championships are won and lost; here at Leeds Road, Huddersfield. Not White Hart Lane. Not Anfield or Highbury. Not Old Trafford in front of 50,000 crowds and television millions -

… And Derby have just lost 2-bloody-1. You look around this filthy fucking dressing room, these filthy fucking players, soaked to their bloody skins and covered in flithy fucking Yorkshire mud -

And you ask Colin Boulton, ‘You want to get me the fucking sack, do you?’

‘No, Boss,’ he says.

‘Well, you fucking will because you’re a useless cunt of a keeper.’

You ask Ronnie Webster, ‘You want to get me the fucking sack, do you?’

‘No, Boss,’ he says.

‘Well, you fucking will because you’re utter fucking shite, bloody rubbish.’

You ask John Robson, ‘You want to get me the sack, do you?’

‘No, Boss,’ he says.

‘Well, you fucking will because you’re the worst fucking defender I’ve ever seen.’

You ask Colin Todd, ‘You want to get me the fucking sack, do you?’

‘No,’ he says. ‘I don’t.’

‘Well, the amount of bloody money I fucking paid for you, I must have been bloody pissed out of my fucking skull. You can’t even keep on your fucking feet.’

You ask McFarland, ‘You want to get me the fucking sack, do you, Roy?’

‘No,’ he says.

‘No, what?’

‘No, Boss. I don’t want to get you the sack.’

‘Well, I don’t fucking believe you,’ you tell him and then turn to Terry Hennessy, ‘You want to get me the fucking sack and all, do you?’

‘No, Boss,’ he says.

‘So where the bloody hell were you this afternoon? You might as well have fucking stopped at home, use you were to me out there.’

You ask John McGovern, ‘You want to get me the fucking sack, do you John?’

‘No, Boss.’ he says.

‘Well, you remember that open goal, that bloody open goal you should have stuck that fucking ball in?

‘Yes, Boss.’

‘Well, that looked like a deliberate miss to me, to get your manager the sack.’

‘I’m sorry, boss,’ he says. ‘It wasn’t.’

‘Fuck off,’ you tell him. and turn to Archie Gemmill. ‘ You want to get me the fucking sack and all, do you, Scotsman?’

‘No, Boss,’ he says.

‘Come on, admit it,’ you tell him. ‘You liked it better back in the Third Division, didn’t you? Come on, admit it.’

‘No, I didn’t,’ he says.

You shake your head and turn to John O’Hare, and ask him the same question: ‘You want to get me the fucking sack, do you?

‘No, Boss,’ he says.

You point at Hinton and ask O’Hare, ‘You know how many centres he sent in?’

‘I’m sorry, Boss,’ he says.

‘No, you’re not,’ you tell him. ‘Or you’d be out there now fucking practising.’

You ask Kevin Hector, ‘You want to get me the fucking sack, do you?’

‘No. Boss,’ he says.

‘Really?’ you ask him. ‘Didn’t bloody look like that to me. Not when they took the lead and you had that chance – not chance – that fucking sitter when you landed flat on your bloody arse. They’ll be laughing about that in Huddersfield all fucking season.’

You turn to Alan Hinton. You tell him, ‘You played well, Alan. Thank you.’