Signing off
7 years ago
Saturday, 19 April 2008
Just not good enough...
What a difference a week makes. Last Saturday evening we were experiencing the most unbelievable high after taking all three away to Reading. Tonight we are staring relegation in the face once again. It wasn't for the lack of trying. We had plenty of chances to get something out of this match but a combination of poor finishing and defensive mistakes (the story of our season) meant we ended up with nothing. The atmosphere in the stadium after Pennant crashed home Liverpool's opener died instantly and never recovered. To be honest we didn't do enough to lift the players, but then again we didn't have a great deal to cheer about. All told a thorougly disappointing afternoon. We now travel to Man City with everything slipping away...
Monday, 14 April 2008
Song for Simon Davies
He's arguably the club's most under-rated player so it's high time that we had a song for Simon Davies, our Welsh wonder.
My preferred option would be: We've got Simon Davies; We've got Simon Davies: and repeat...used in recent years by the Gooners towards Denis Bergkamp.
What does everyone suggest? Any alternatives?
My preferred option would be: We've got Simon Davies; We've got Simon Davies: and repeat...used in recent years by the Gooners towards Denis Bergkamp.
What does everyone suggest? Any alternatives?
Sunday, 13 April 2008
Reading v Fulham: FtF coverage
Here are the links to all our pieces on yesterday's match
Match report
Player rankings
Post mortem: Anecdotes from the game
Match report
Player rankings
Post mortem: Anecdotes from the game
Post mortem: Reading v Fulham
A few assorted things, events, comments, that either happened or came to mind during the trip to the Madejski...
1. Amusing pre-match moment: The Reading fans proudly passing the flag over their head - but failing to notice it was upside down. We serenaded them with: You don't know what you're doing!
2. The poor, tubby stewards who were told to climb up the 1001 steps to the top of the stadium to tell those at the back to sit down, only to find they were already sitting by the time they arrived. By the time they returned the fans were up and the process started all over again.
3. The same stewards failing to notice extra fans were squeezed two-on-a-seat so they could be at the very back. Either that or they chose to ignore it.
4. The stadium announcer who read the Fulham team out like he was at a funeral and then switched to a 'Smashy and Nicey' over-excited radio DJ voice when it came to the Reading names. Hilarious.
5. The chorus of "We can see you sneaking out!" as the Reading fans went off for their half time pie and pint.
6. Chant of the season: "We've hit it three times, that fu***ng crossbar, we've hit it three times". Full marks to whoever made that up.
7. Liam Rosenior. Great to see him and he clapped us when he sang his name. However, he played dreadfully. Surely he was better than that when he played for us?
8. Marcus Hahneman: Some nice comments about the club during the week from the big fella who made two outstanding saves to keep the score down.
9. Alan Mullery's outspoken comments about why our season has gone wrong so far. Guess he's not wanting to be friends with Joe Kamara...
10. Full credit to the players for coming over to applaud us at the end and for throwing their shirts into the crowd. Top stuff.
11. Very magnanimous comments from Steve Coppell at the end saying we deserved the win. Can you imagine Moyes, Curbishley, etc, saying anything similar?
1. Amusing pre-match moment: The Reading fans proudly passing the flag over their head - but failing to notice it was upside down. We serenaded them with: You don't know what you're doing!
2. The poor, tubby stewards who were told to climb up the 1001 steps to the top of the stadium to tell those at the back to sit down, only to find they were already sitting by the time they arrived. By the time they returned the fans were up and the process started all over again.
3. The same stewards failing to notice extra fans were squeezed two-on-a-seat so they could be at the very back. Either that or they chose to ignore it.
4. The stadium announcer who read the Fulham team out like he was at a funeral and then switched to a 'Smashy and Nicey' over-excited radio DJ voice when it came to the Reading names. Hilarious.
5. The chorus of "We can see you sneaking out!" as the Reading fans went off for their half time pie and pint.
6. Chant of the season: "We've hit it three times, that fu***ng crossbar, we've hit it three times". Full marks to whoever made that up.
7. Liam Rosenior. Great to see him and he clapped us when he sang his name. However, he played dreadfully. Surely he was better than that when he played for us?
8. Marcus Hahneman: Some nice comments about the club during the week from the big fella who made two outstanding saves to keep the score down.
9. Alan Mullery's outspoken comments about why our season has gone wrong so far. Guess he's not wanting to be friends with Joe Kamara...
10. Full credit to the players for coming over to applaud us at the end and for throwing their shirts into the crowd. Top stuff.
11. Very magnanimous comments from Steve Coppell at the end saying we deserved the win. Can you imagine Moyes, Curbishley, etc, saying anything similar?
Reading v Fulham: Player rankings
Here's how I scored our lads after the win away at Reading
Keller – 7/10
Solid as a rock throughout. Hugely reassuring having him at the back, and apart from a header that whistled just past his post, didn't look like getting beaten all day.
Konchesky – 610
The usual solid performance we've come to expect. Would still like to see him really tearing down the wing rather than checking back but it's a small complaint.
Hangeland – 7/10
That was more like it. Recovered from last week’s nightmares to put in a great performance and almost scored with a towering header.
Hughes – 6/10
A decent display and no repeat of last week’s horror show (thankfully)
Stalteri – 5/10
Dreadful first half but recovered for a decent display in the second 45.
Bullard – 7/10
Okay, so a few passes went astray but he was all over the field for the entire 90 minutes. Came very close to doubling our lead from a set piece.
Murphy – 6/10
A good game. Floated some great passes around the field and was always involved. Am warming to him...slowly.
Dempsey – 8/10
Outstanding. Gave us a glimpse of what we have been missing. Beautiful skills combined with a tireless work rate.
Davies – 7/10
Some excellent skills to set up both goals. Can be proud of his contribution.
Healy – 7/10
Fantastic work rate. Set up the opening goal and had a few attempts on goal himself.
McBride – 7/10
Not as mobile as he once was; nor wins as many headers, but he’s there when it matters. Scored the opener and came close to a second. Great stuff from the captain.
Substitutes
Nevland – 7/10
Did everything asked of him and scored a belting second to wrap up the points.
Bocanegra – 6/10
Added a bit of extra steel at the end.
Andreason – 6/10
Same as Boca, came in to provide the muscle effectively for the last few minutes.
Man of the match: Clint Dempsey. Any one of four players could have been given the nod but Deuce shades it for me due to his sheer work rate and outstanding skills.
Keller – 7/10
Solid as a rock throughout. Hugely reassuring having him at the back, and apart from a header that whistled just past his post, didn't look like getting beaten all day.
Konchesky – 610
The usual solid performance we've come to expect. Would still like to see him really tearing down the wing rather than checking back but it's a small complaint.
Hangeland – 7/10
That was more like it. Recovered from last week’s nightmares to put in a great performance and almost scored with a towering header.
Hughes – 6/10
A decent display and no repeat of last week’s horror show (thankfully)
Stalteri – 5/10
Dreadful first half but recovered for a decent display in the second 45.
Bullard – 7/10
Okay, so a few passes went astray but he was all over the field for the entire 90 minutes. Came very close to doubling our lead from a set piece.
Murphy – 6/10
A good game. Floated some great passes around the field and was always involved. Am warming to him...slowly.
Dempsey – 8/10
Outstanding. Gave us a glimpse of what we have been missing. Beautiful skills combined with a tireless work rate.
Davies – 7/10
Some excellent skills to set up both goals. Can be proud of his contribution.
Healy – 7/10
Fantastic work rate. Set up the opening goal and had a few attempts on goal himself.
McBride – 7/10
Not as mobile as he once was; nor wins as many headers, but he’s there when it matters. Scored the opener and came close to a second. Great stuff from the captain.
Substitutes
Nevland – 7/10
Did everything asked of him and scored a belting second to wrap up the points.
Bocanegra – 6/10
Added a bit of extra steel at the end.
Andreason – 6/10
Same as Boca, came in to provide the muscle effectively for the last few minutes.
Man of the match: Clint Dempsey. Any one of four players could have been given the nod but Deuce shades it for me due to his sheer work rate and outstanding skills.
Fulham win AWAY!!!
“Keep the Faith. FFC.” It was a simple message scrawled on the toilet wall at Reading’s Madejski Stadium, but it was enough to remind us that our season is not over...not yet at least.
This was a team that scrapped for every ball; refused to give in; and emerged worthy winners after 90 of the most gripping, nail biting minutes of the season.
So good was this performance; so polished was the passing and so clinical the finishing for the goals, it was hard to believe that we had not enjoyed a victory on the road for 19 months.
“We’re winning away, how shit must you be, we’re winning away”, baited the Fulham faithful after McGod crashed the opener home from a Simon Davies cross.
Funny as it was, this was actually harsh on our lads who had thoroughly deserved the lead. Non-stop running, non-stop attacking and full of heart. Terrific stuff.
We then had a string of chances to put the game out of Reading’s reach with Brian, Hangeland and Bully all going close with a shot, header and free kick, respectively.
“We’ve hit it three times, that f****ng crossbar, we’ve hit it three times” we sang, followed by: “The bar! We’re gonna hit the bar” after being awarded a free kick just outside the area.
The disbelief that referee Rob Stiles decided we needed four extra minutes – FOUR!!!! – was soon forgotten as Erik “the Viking” Nevland charged through and secured the three points.
“The Whites are staying up!” we sang, more in hope than expectation. Disappointingly news filtered through that Bolton had beaten the hammers but Brum’s draw with Everton gave us a lift.
We are now just four points from safety but while that’s great, the feeling still remains of what might have been. Wins against Derby and Sunderland and we’d be out of the relegation places. Agonising.
This was a team that scrapped for every ball; refused to give in; and emerged worthy winners after 90 of the most gripping, nail biting minutes of the season.
So good was this performance; so polished was the passing and so clinical the finishing for the goals, it was hard to believe that we had not enjoyed a victory on the road for 19 months.
“We’re winning away, how shit must you be, we’re winning away”, baited the Fulham faithful after McGod crashed the opener home from a Simon Davies cross.
Funny as it was, this was actually harsh on our lads who had thoroughly deserved the lead. Non-stop running, non-stop attacking and full of heart. Terrific stuff.
We then had a string of chances to put the game out of Reading’s reach with Brian, Hangeland and Bully all going close with a shot, header and free kick, respectively.
“We’ve hit it three times, that f****ng crossbar, we’ve hit it three times” we sang, followed by: “The bar! We’re gonna hit the bar” after being awarded a free kick just outside the area.
The disbelief that referee Rob Stiles decided we needed four extra minutes – FOUR!!!! – was soon forgotten as Erik “the Viking” Nevland charged through and secured the three points.
“The Whites are staying up!” we sang, more in hope than expectation. Disappointingly news filtered through that Bolton had beaten the hammers but Brum’s draw with Everton gave us a lift.
We are now just four points from safety but while that’s great, the feeling still remains of what might have been. Wins against Derby and Sunderland and we’d be out of the relegation places. Agonising.
Friday, 11 April 2008
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