Something rotten in Crofton . . .

. . more like.


















A decent enough pitch and a bright but bracing midwinter's day should have seen 'the boys' in their prime. In reality the game exposed Fleece reserve's underbelly - plenty of bite but little cohesion and up against a Crofton team that had the edge in most departments.
Fleece were maybe complacent after a few had served well in the first team last week and the week previous beating highflying Jolly Miller. Fleece on the up? Not really, a reality check was due and Crofton delivered it.

Perhaps it was Fleece's lofty 9th position and 12 points over 2nd bottom and 5 points? (Now 8 points and a game in hand.) Who knows? On the day Fleece's lack of organisation was clear and basic mistakes let them down, in fact they were lucky not to go down to double this score.
If Crofton had been dialled in earlier they had had plenty action through on goal. Ok, so there was some dogged defending but as many missed chances.

A short summary -

Fleece - complacent, sloppy passing, few effective challenges at the 50-50 ball, mostly static and seemingly not hungry enough for the win. In fairness, there was the odd few moments of flowing football. But few. If it wasn't for the bit of battle displayed by most then this could have been quite embarassing

Crofton - If honest, more or less the exact opposite of the Fleece. Although, hunger gave way to some measured football but plenty of bursts through on goal to keep an occasionally haphazard defence on the hop. And lots of running into space and a reasonably well marshalled defence.

Croton 2 Fleece reserves 0.

Something to work on for Wednesday.

Fleece Reserves were -

GK - Tony Simpson,
Defence - Craig Kellett, Mark Bowden, Dale Shaw, Nicky Stevens,
Midfield - Matt Fox, Shaun Kellett, Paul Ingham, Graeme Hardwick,
Upfront - Andy Sugden, Paddy McGarry.

Subs used - Neal Barlow (for C. Kellett)
Simon Kelly (for M. Fox).

Ta for the nosh.

Something rotten in Denmark?

Sven Goran Eriksson and rank hypocrisy.

There's a lot of people chucking muck around here that ought to know better. As many have said of Sven's comments about Ferdinand*, Owen and erm . . ?, forgot who else, this stuff is not new and, really, shouldn't the national team manager be able to criticise or comment about his stock of players?

Much of the criticism levelled at Sven is plain bollocks. Here's a man who stepped in to do The England Manager's job when either no suitable English candidate could or would come forward.
Likewise, many of these self same managers seem to look after numero uno - self and club interests before international duties. How often have premiership managers complained of their players being required to play on the bigger occasion (friendly or otherwise?). Likewise, the sudden development of injury at these times.
Given that, it's hardly surprising that Sven would consider becoming a premiership manager - they seem to have more clout than him in his current position.

Premiership managers and, indeed, chairmen should actively encourage their players to aim ever higher, to play on the biggest stage possible. Develop the breed, so to speak. There are plenty of players who would be glad of the chance and the game and national squad(s) can only benefit. Blimey, if England's managers got behind the England team then the pig might begin to live up to it's much-hyped high-flying credentials. Some of them might even develop the bug and see themselves worthy of becoming national manager too.

Yeah, right.

Back on planet earth/football -

Perhaps it's the case that the press are panicking early this time. Instead of touting Engerrland for the world cup and claiming robbery and where did it all go wrong after the event it seems like their journalistic incontinence precedes them this time.

England, despite having a talented squad, rarely live up to the billing. Take Japan/Korea world cup finals and the Brazil game. If memory serves me well, the lads were doing an excellent job until they eased off on the pressure and allowed Brazil the upper hand. A game where the battling spirit displayed in the qualifying 0-0 draw against Italy, in 19whenever, wouldn't've gone amiss.

LIkewise the complacency displayed in the games against the 'lesser opposition' of Denmark and Northern Ireland. Underdogs having their day. At least they had bite.

Finally, others talk of the rights and wrongs of unsettling the national manager and team at such a sensitive time. Rubbish either way - it should be about building the best team whenever but the current discussion doesn't seem to address this isue.

I don't know if Alex Ferguson has been touted for the job but I'd offer it now (mebbe's even a straight swap? pffff . . . ). If memory serves me well, the technical area was invented to cage the likes of him and to paraphrase Bill Nicholson (might have to look that one up) - What are you doing on the pitch if you are not trying to influence the game? In this case applied to Ferguson off the pitch.

Ferguson has most of the qualities and an impressive enough pedigree to make a credible manager and perhaps an incredible team.

Perhaps.

Read on -
www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&client=safari&rls=en&q=alex+ferguson&btnG=Search

Are referees bastards? Or just mourngy?

(Before I start, this is not about our fellas, Sir, at the local game. (Dis am de BIGFELLAS.)

The sending off of Arjen Robben for acknowledging the cheers of the crowd and - fuck me!, enjoying his football is a sad day for football. Yes, the referee's decision should be final, but shouldn't he facilitate a good spirited game?
After all isn't it supposed to be called the beautiful game?
(There are many other complaints to lay at Robbens' feet - why has he started to run like a girl?, the obvious pansy rolling, etc. and this from a very skilful player.)

Players, managers and fans unbridled outpourings of celebration an wind-up are part of what makes the game - why we play, watch and endless hours are spent analysing it, arguing with fellow players, workmates and the missus.

l'm something of a fan of the ref in Rugby linked up to external and nearly reliable extra eyes. Although a different game to football due to the nature of breaks in play there could be an argument for extra technology. It would cut out part of the unneccessary hoohar and prove that a goal is a goal or so-and-so was or not offside.
(As with all these things and the ability to be applied retrospectively though, England's '66 victory gets called into question. Let sleeping dogs lie, eh?)

Refereeing as much as football is not an exact art and requires at all levels a dual ability - that of recognising the mood of the game and also acting as its judge. A difficult juggling act.
The hooked up Rugby ref has considerable authority over his footballing counterpart, chance to play more of an active and almost starring role - an occasional downfall, but also to assume greater or lesser influence.

Rugby is undeniably more physically demanding than football and the normal game makes the nastiest of football matches seem like a tea party - pansying footballers take note and get a grip on yourselves. The backed up and big screened ref can stamp out handbags and other misdemeanours early on and culprits are writ large.
This handled quite well by the good natured and quietly stated authority of the ref in this weekend's England Vs. Ireland fixture - a game even then not without contoversy but then on the whole fair enough.

My favourite bit of refereeing has to be from last year, methinx, when two players were quietly battling away in the corner of the pitch in full view of the cameras and on the big screen - ground and live TV. The ref upfield and dealing with something else and the crowd and commentators enjoying every second of this added bonus. The ref then called the offendants over, said l don't think anyone noticed, encouraged the players to shake hands and got on witha good natured game.

Which was nice.

'We hate ManU . . . etc, etc (#1 of an irregular column)

As something of a lapsed Leeds fan (although will likely rediscover fanaticism on re-entering the premiership) hating Man Utd is par for the course. However, fickle football fans would do well observing the 'enemy'. And let me tell you why.

Are we sitting comfortably?
Good, then we'll begin . . .

Top flight football is, and probably has been for a while, much more than yer 90 minute kickabout. This was first noticed observing Alex Ferguson outpsyching young pretender of the day David O'Leary. From what is remembered from the time Ferguson flattered O'Leary, which wasn't too hard as Leeds were well on the up. Ferguson pulled a sucker punch by acknowledging that O'Leary could well be the manager to fill his boots when he retires. In short, meaning that Man Utd were the better team and O'Leary could aspire to greater things.
Maybe not that much to go on, but once these things get whipped around in the media and the fans all start the usual well-balanced gossip - 'are we gonna lose O'Leary?' etc, then the knife is in and doubts raised. Ferguson, you sly bastard!

O'Leary at Leeds could maybe have learnt more from Ferguson by not soft-soaping when things didn't go quite their way. Excuses and topflight football are a poor mix. (More about Leeds, later).

Next up on this Manchester arse lick is love him, hate him or both - Roy Keane. A couple of seasons or more ago (I'm no anorak on the stats) Rangers were up against the boys of ManU in the Champions league and Keane let it be known that once he'd done playing premiership football he would happily see himself out to retirement in The SPL. Priceless.
During the game when the damage had been done and Rangers effectively beaten, Ferguson rubbed salt into the wound by substituting the old stager for young scot and Celtic fan(?) Darren Fletcher.

Such things only last until the opposition catches on and Man Utd and Fergie have other contenders to deal with - the Spock-like Wenger and some bloke called Mourinho.

(TBC . . .)

'They think it's all over; the crowd are on the pitch . . . . '

Random pix from Fleece Vs Morley (they might get labeled but you all know who you are). They're actually the wrong way around but this is all something of an experiment and I'm off to bed.

(Played Man City - hahaha!)

Fleece Vs Morley. 14/01/06

Horbury Fleece FC displayed their usual battling qualities in an 8-0 annihilation of lowly Morley.
10 minutes of hard work but fairly even football delivered The Fleece's opener, ably put away by Mark Morgan (can't quite recall how as was struggling with the camera (and still missed the shot).
Good for their lead but still facing an opposition determined to give it a go it was some 10 mins more before the 2nd.

Memories of the reserves seesaw game of the previous week where a similar 2-0 lead was let slip encouraged the small but vocal home support to urge the fellas on. It helped do the trick and come half time Fleece were 5-0 up and coasting.

Although scoring 3 more after the break the second half should have been more of a stroll in the park than it was. Maybe complacency had set in and Fleece eased up on the pressure instead of taking a more measured and disciplined approach and clinically finishing off the opposition. There were even some periods when the lads spent more time having a go at each other which with a comfortable lead was at least amusing for the support.
Better to have a fighting spirit than wimp out.

Although this period also allowed Morley to apply some pressure of their own and at least go out with some honour. Despite this never say die attitude any ball through on goal was adequately covered by keeper Dave Whittaker's safe hands and keen eye for the release and counter.

After this 20 minute 'awkward' period Fleece finally got back into gear and eased home; scoring twice in the final 10 minutes.
All in all a good game for the home side.

Afterwards, the referee candidly admitted that he could have done a better job butthen can't we all? At this level you don't get Pierluigi Collina and overall the ref, Sir, managed a flowing game with good and bad decisions being fairly evenly distributed. Perhaps the harshest decision was the sending off of a visitor with 2 minutes left to play; presumably for dissent. This at a time when all the damage was done, players and ref were tired and in a game with it's fair share of handbagging. And at £45 a go that's some smack in the mouth (I'd appeal).

Scorers (in no particular order) -

Mark Morgan
Carl Walker (3)
Ash McGhee (2)
Mark Lemm
Nicky Stevens.

Subs used -

Nicky Stevens
Paul Ingham
Shaun Kellett

Pictures to follow. (They aren't that good so don't get too excited.)

Fleece reserves 5 V. Jolly Miller res 3. 7/jan/06

Getting tired of trying this out now!! Will be back . . . .

Pictures are -

- 'keeper Tony doing a fine job forcing the Millers to miss a penalty.

- Foxy heads in goal #3 (?)

- the usual suspects (when they can be all arsed to turn up, that is).

Wot the f . . . ?

This is the all-singing all-dancing some drinking and maybe some football unofficial site of Horbury Fleece FC. Maybe something of a sideways look at all things sporting and team building.
Initially something of atemplate for a proper site it now looks like this is all you're gonna get. If you don't like it then write in and whinge away. It is open to other contributors and comments are more than welcome.

Game on?


Ps Too late to realise we didn't need 3 dubyas at the start of the address but if you're here then you already know that. Think you can do better? Then write in.