Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 BFC, Saturday 24th September 2016

‘Normal service has resumed’

Off at Falmer

Another week, another loss.  Two games in a row of Armstrong and Winnall up front.  It’s not working, despite their hardwork.  Balls aren’t being held up, we’re being put back under the cosh and we’re losing goals.  Something has to give.  Pre-match, I thought it had. Marley Watkins was back in the team, but up front?  Oh no.  Let’s drop Kent and stick Marley wide midfield.  If it was meant to make us harder to break down, it didn’t work.  Brighton were all over us like a rash in that opening 15 and we’d had several let-offs before they scored.  And for a 2^nd week in a row, the opposition score from OUR attack.  Their left back clears a ball to the opposite wing and suddenly it’s 3 on 3.  As we retreat, their movement and passing has us all over the place and a low cross is buried by Glenn Murray.

Brighton's hilltop fortifications

Before that, Davies had saved a one-on-one (great) and had two clearances charged down (not great).  Knockaert on the right wing was a particular threat, for all the plaudits Murray seems to be getting.  Kpekewa never got near him, but I’m prepared to give him the benefit – White wouldn’t have got near him either.  Winnall missed a(nother) simple header, but was given offside.  Dire syndrome.  We scraped in at 1-0, grateful not to be further embarrassed.  The second half will be different.

Through the keyhole tunnel

It wasn’t.  Brighton continued to press and within 3 minutes of the re-start they’re two up, a free kick from the left flicked in by Murray.  It’s all too easy.  We awaited Hecky’s changes and 20 mins in, on comes Kent, for Marley.  We have our best 5 minutes of the match as Kent shows Hamill how to take a player on.  We even have a shot, as a one-two and snapshot from Winnall (I’m sure it was him, tho newspapers suggest it was Scowen) nearly catch the keeper out.  It was the only time we threatened, despite Bradshaw and Morsy replacing Winnall and Scowen with 10 mins left.  We were well beaten and perhaps we’re now realising how difficult this division is.  The worry is that if we don’t get a result soon, things could spiral.

The teams come out

*** Kent.  Responsible for the 5 minutes of pressure we had.  That’s how lowly I rated the rest.** Roberts.  Says it all.  Decent display yet their centre forward still scored 2.  But the midfield were (again) overran.* McDonald.  As above.

Londontykes MOTM:1. Kent2= Roberts2= Scowen


Despatches: Obviously, the best thing about Brighton is…Brighton.  So a cracking few beers before and after in the Morning Star, and plenty of friendly locals wanting to chat, as well as appearances from Farnham, Jim, Pompey (and his navy mates).  We might even have recruited a new Londontyke or two…the doughball master from Brighton, the Chingford Massive and London Jesus.  We didn’t even have to queue for a train afterwards, though we did have a beer in the ground first.

As for the players, Winnall and Armstrong were invisible.  Winnall in particular was coming under various abusive comments from those around us.  I never even had to say owt!  (But I did.)  His inability to hold a ball up or pick a pass means he’s on very borrowed time.  Armstrong had one run late on and that’s it.  GET MARLEY UP TOP. Hammill either lost it or looked for free kicks that simply weren’t there.  Like Winnall, he goes down when he thinks he can’t get the ball.  He’s also on borrowed time, cos I’ve heard he’s not had a decent game this season.  I thought Yiadom was ok again, mainly cos Brighton attacked our left.  Anyone would think they knew Kpekewa can’t defend…and I’ve not seen owt to suggest otherwise.  Hourihane had a decent 1^st half, before disappearing, while Scowen ran about to no avail.  And Davies made a few saves, but the abiding memory was his inability to clear the ball.
Down to 7^th, riding the cusp of the play-offs.

I do like Brighton's stadium...

Drink du jour: I went all ‘Boho’ (lager) in the pub while I can’t believe I actually drank a pint of Fosters at the stadium, but there was nothing else.  Special mention to the fish and chips too.  Oh, and I didn’t fall asleep on the bus: one handy thing about catching a bus from East Croydon is that the last stop is Peckham!
Away: 712, though Andy disputes this, given that we’d sold 712 in advance.  Personally, I’m amazed it was even 700, looked about 300 to me.  Still, a fair bit of noise and a few chants of ‘your support is f***ing s***’ and ‘2-0 up and you still don’t sing’.  Another rousing chorus of ‘Barnsalee, Barnsalee’ at full time.  The fans are still with manager and team.
Will Winnall score 10 league goals this season? A new feature this year, as you all hope and pray I lose 50 of your finest maj’s English pounds.  Farnham: ‘No’.  Jim: ‘Yes, I think he will.’  9 games in, one goal.  It’s not looking good for SSW.
The Damage:
9 train
30 ent (which included travel to the stadium, though Reedy didn’t know this so we paid twice)
3.50 prog
= 42.50
The Tunes:
Blue Bell Knoll (Cocteau Twins)
Nowhere (Ride)

The Amex Panorama

That really IS the angle at the far end.

BFC 1-2 Reading, Saturday 17th September 2016

‘I can’t believe you haven’t punched him yet’ (part 2) 

Pre-match exhibition in the Civic.

I do apologise to Bob et al for the late posting of the match report.  Perhaps I’m too downhearted that the bubble has burst.  Or is it that I’m snowed under with work???
It was a fine day in Barnsley as the Londontykes (and Katrin) stepped off the train around midday to sample the fine delights of ‘tarn’.  And what delights they were!  1^st up, a whistle stop tour of the Civic’s small (but perfectly formed) BFC exhibition, followed by some clowns outside.  Apparently today was cabaret day.  We walked on, there was beer to be had.  1^st stop the new pub in the Arcade.

It is SUPERB.  Not as small as I was given to believe, but certain it’d be very busy if there were more than 30 in – and it has 2 floors.  A pint of Brooklyn later and we were sat on the balcony upstairs, overlooking the arcade itself.  And what was that melodic singing that was circling around my head?  Bl**dy hell, we’ve a choir further up the street.  Katrin thinks this happens every week. After a couple, it was onto the usual Old #7.  I was happily ensconced, but we had people to meet and a fanzine to buy. More great stickers, courtesy of the WSB lads, as well as features by a Mr P. Hicks and P. Waddington.  Get your copy, I’m not offering spoilers.

Some Londontykes in front of town centre 'development'.

Fish and chips followed (god, I’ve missed my home trips!) before I entered Oakwell with kick-off having not even happened yet.  I must’ve been keen.  As were the two teams, it was end to end stuff in an entertainingly open 1^st half.  We hit the bar early when Kent, desperate for an option, found none, and hit a 20 yarder which cannoned off the bar.  Reading missed the odd chance too and deservedly went ahead, albeit thru slightly comic circumstances as Hourihane plays a low ball across the box from a corner (the type Winnall blazed over from last season).  Only this time, someone’s obviously gone AWOL and Reading break upfield with numbers.  It’s no surprise to see the ball slipped through for an onrushing forward to be taken out by Davies.  Blatant pen.  Davies saves, we cheer, they score, we groan. 

Pre-match outside Oakwell

Then Reading miss a couple of chances as White came off early for Kpekawa.  Now, I realise it is heresy to criticise The Good Lord Heckingbottom, but this bloke looks AWFUL.  Certainly not a left back – and apparently that’s his main position.  (Before anyone argues, those were Hecky’s words in the Chron).  Christ, for a George Williams…or Smith.  He missed balls, missed headers…and backs off faster than that Brown bloke we used to have at right-back.  (That’s not meant to be racist, btw, his name was Brown.  Thankfully I’ve forgotten his 1^st name)  Hopefully he’ll improve.  He can’t not.

The teams line up

The game continued to be open, but Reading were clearly edging it.  Then Swift (the bloke on loan from Chelsea?) easily sidesteps Hourihane and rifles it in from 20 odd yards.  Davies does seem to let in a lot of long rangers.  Or maybe I’m imagining this.  But hope is not long in coming; 7 minutes to be precise, as Hourihane fouls then gets right in their player’s face, screaming at him.  You are a tease, Conor.  McCleary loses his cool and runs 15 yards to barge Hourihane over, Conor giving it the obligatory round-turn and two half hitches.  Or am I mixing up my boy scout knots?  Conor takes a yellow for his trouble, but he’s done his job.  He’s cleverer than Professor Fox at the University of Cunning, he is.

The Big Match

0-2 at half time.  I should be despondent, but I have that bizarre 1^st home game of the season feeling.  What is it called?  OPTIMISM.  Kicking towards the Ponty, against 10 men.  Score one and we’re in.Reading go solid 4-4-1 and we make hard work of it.  Hammill is fouled for the 6^th time (he really was, for those of you who think he did nowt, it’s difficult when you’re being chopped every time).  Scowen wishes he was 2 inches taller as he heads over an empty net.  Then, miss of the match.  Super Sammy Winnall, on the back post.  A deliberate flick of the head.  He knows exactly where he’s putting it.  Wide.  Like Odejayi, ‘cept with his head.  2^nd game in a row?  

418 Royalists.  Allegedly.

‘Come in Winnall, your time is up.’  Hecky throws his last two die.  On comes Bradshaw up front, with Janko coming on for Kent.  I’d have had Watkins on for Winnall at HT.  Now there’s no space, which is a shame, cos our boys had been putting stuff up top for  Armstrong and Winnall to fail to keep hold of all day.  But Bradshaw straightaway showed his value, heading a couple of knockdowns to his own teammates, one of which sees Armstrong, playing slightly behind him, bang it in 1^st time from the edge of the box.  It was such a surprise that no-one had time to be on their feet before the ball hit the net, possibly the 1^st time in 3 years my dad has seen the net bustle.
So, full on pressure for the last 10 minutes or so?  Well, we had the possession, we were camped in their half, but the chances failed to materialise.  In fact, the best was when they hit us 2 on 2 on the break and messed it up.  Still, at least we saw Davies come upfield for a corner, which is always entertaining.

A packed Ponty, pre-match.  

In short, best team won, but there were plenty of pluses to draw upon.
*** Yiadom.  Superb.  I like him.  I like him a lot.  Athletic, can tackle…AND can play.  Twitter MOTM.** Roberts.  Struggling for a 2^nd and 3^rd, but I thought Roberts held it together despite the efforts of Kpekewa and, to a lesser extent, McDonald.* Bradshaw.  We had FA up front till he came on.
Londontykes MOTM:
*** Yiadom
** Roberts
* Armstrong

Despatches:McDonald looked unsure in possession, forever chasing after his own miscontrols (but he got away with it).  Scowen was bloody awful.  Couldn’t tackle, couldn’t pass.  Constantly running to where the ball’s just been.  Hopefully a one-off.  Him and Hourihane were overrun in centre-mid. Hamill was kept quiet (see earlier) while Kent flattered to deceive.  Winnall was Winnall.  He’s s***, he’s lame, he never scores in any game…and on that note, I have a small fortune wagered on him this season.  50 of Her Majesty’s pounds (20 with Jonesy and Slacki, another tenner with Nice Guy Chris) says he won’t score 10 league goals for Barnsley this season.  Reedy’s after match summary: ‘If he doesn’t start scoring soon I can’t see him getting a game.’  And yes, play-off goals count too (!).

Oh, and a mention for the crowd.  Excellent in the second half, but full marks to the Ponty for the ovation at the end, having lost.  Together Everyone Achieves More*.  Christ, what have I turned into?

*TEAM.

Home time!

Drink du jour: Brooklyn, Erdinger…vodka and orange…something Czech back in The Smoke.  Amazingly, I DIDN’T fall asleep on bus home.  Had cunning plan to text all my mates instead.  That’d be Reedy and The Captain, then.

Away: 418.  Didn’t look it.

The Damage:
21 travel
2 fanzine
3 prog

Time to read the programme.

Panarama of someone's head.

West Ham United 1-0 Accrington Stanley, Wednesday 21st September 2016

West Ham United (London) 1-0 Accrington Stanley, League Cup, att. 39,877

Sunset over the Olympic Park

With every foreseeable Premiership home game a sellout at the 'London Stadium' (sh*t name, but in keeping with what was to follow) I accidentally came across this early opportunity to sample the delights of the old (new) Olympic Stadium.  Would it be as bad as I thought, watching football from beyond an athletics' track, or would the constant assuaging of the Golds and Bradys of this world prove true?  The dawning of a new era for West Ham, blah blah.

80s-inspired patterns at the London Stadium

It is truly AWFUL.  You ARE miles from the pitch, you CANNOT see who the f*** is playing on that other wing and as for the atmosphere...well, there's the odd fan standing up and trying (and failing) to drive the rest on.  Maybe the rest are tourists, like me, here to tick off a stadium rather than admire anything West Ham United have to offer.  The whole thing is a soul-sapping experience.  Has anyone ever deserted their team cos they have moved grounds? (Wimbledon/MK Dons doesn't count). Cos I simply could not watch football at this stadium every fortnight.

The teams shake hands.

I was impressed with the organisational aspects though.  From getting off at Stratford, you're channelled out to a road which has been shut down, and the walk is quite pleasant, what with views over the Queen Elizabeth whatever it's called Park.  Look!  There's the Aquarium!  Or is it the Velodrome?  I know my partner knows her stuff and was telling me, but I have to admit, I've no interest in the Olympics.  The area is a far cry from the Lee Valley I once knew, with the athletes' village now accommodation for the (richer) proles and brand spanking newness everywhere.  And it's still not finished, unless those cranes have been carelessly left behind.

Then like West Ham (London) they fade and die

The London Stadium is a tidy thing from a distance, with the steel struts interlinking above the roof. It might look passable close up too, were it not for the cheap West Ham United (London) branding on the outside, all blue and claret triangles in patterns once common in the 80s.  Compare this to the Emirates and their floor to ceiling photos of Arsenal players from past eras, all putting their arms around each others' shoulders.  'But West Ham are only tenants' I've heard.  Yes - tenants for the next 99 years or whatever.  Shabby.

There's the match!  Over there!

There were queues, but we were quick in - a cursory bag check making me think anyone could smuggle something into here.  It was cheap too, tickets tonite being £10-£20.  I decided to treat the missus, went large, £20.  I chose seats high up (row 70) on the halfway line, hoping for a decent view. What I got was a patch of grass somewhere in the distance and no hope of recognising players' numbers beyond anyone on this touchline.  And when I got bored (often!) and stared out across the stadium, all I got was the floodlights, long since patched onto the underneath of the roof, thereby preventing any view of the far stand.  It really is a crap experience, up (down?) there with the Ricoh Stadium match ordeal.  At least Wembley has escalators to show for the ridiculous amount of money spent.  At the London Stadium, they haven't even made up for the distance from the pitch by having any kind of steepness in rake for the stands.  So you're in a shallow stand a good distance from anything (not) happening on the pitch.  No thank you.

The land of half and half scarves.

This match wasn't a full house, but problies a respectable crowd given the nature of the opposition and that West Ham United (London) were so confident they played a virtual reserve side.  And for 90 minutes (plus injury time) you could tell why they were in the reserves.  It really was poor fayre from the formerly Happy Hammers as both sides had chances to win before Star Man Payet (on as a half time sub) pinched it with a last minute free kick with the home side having gone down to 10 men, Heart breaking stuff for Stanley, tho' a blessed relief for everyone else, fearing another 30 minutes of dirge.  It was, at least, an easy walk back, since most had left long before the end.  Though there is one vast improvement on Upton Park (sorry, 'Boleyn Ground Boleyn Ground Boleyn Ground Boleyn Ground'.  Do they never stop banging on about it?)  You no longer have to queue for an hour for the tube.  Give it another couple of years and I bet it'll be quicker still.  They'll be in the Championship.

Introducing the players on the big screen.

The Accy fans, fabulous noise throughout.

Full time panorama

Men of the Match.

...pretty bubbles in the air

Preston North End 1-2 BFC, Saturday 10th September 2016

‘I can’t believe you haven’t punched him yet cos I would have.’

Welcome to ...

It’s good to be back (good to be back).  Can one quote Gary Glitter in these climes?  Good job I don’t work with children.  Oh. 

I’ve missed going to see the Reds.  The journey (today with special guest Katrin from Germany, soon to be Bob’s boss), as well as Andy and the Captain.  The sight of a rambling Kempy outside the 1^st pub we came to.  The 2 or 3 other pubs we ignored so Andy could take us to the one with 6 customers, despite a big match being on telly.  But it WAS the one which had the best ale, and after a couple of Leffes on the train, I had Erdinger on tap.  And the all-day hangover I had on Sunday after Andy made me drink my fill of vodka on the train before taking Katrin and I to a gig up Islington way and Brooklyn on tap.

The Big Match

Inbetween the bouts of drinking, a match broke out in the EFL (WTF?)  And for 45 minutes there was only one team in it as we destroyed Preston.  They were barely able to get out of their own area.  What we didn’t do was drive home our dominance with goals, though at least we did go in one up at the break, Winnall doing what he does best, toe poking a goal from 2 yards out from Marley Watkins’ cross shot.

Goal for #9, Super Sammy Winnall!

Actually, there was only one team in it in the second half too, but this time it was PNE (or ‘Nob Enders’ as Burnley fans call them).  I’m not sure what happened, but we certainly sat back and despite Preston not really creating too much, it was no surprise when they scored – but what a goal.  McGeady (on loan at the Fowls last season) cut inside and hit a screamer from 25 yards.  TV pics do the goal a disservice, as it was always swerving away from Davies in goal; indeed, he did well to get a hand to it.

Super Sunny Deepdale

It was all hands on deck now as Preston went in for the kill.  Winnall was sacrificed and on came Morsy for his debut.  Looked like Hecky was trying to protect what we had.  Armstrong had already come on for Kent (just as Kent was starting to shine) causing Phil to have a moan, but then came a sublime piece of skill from my new favourite Newcastle player (a short list indeed).  Hourihane chips a ball 40+ yards to the right wing for Armstrong to chase.  Armstrong runs around the defender, backheels the ball, runs around him again and then curls it into the far corner with his left, right in front of us.  Two and a half thousand Reds fans go berserk.  I’ve missed all this.  We saw out the game with no danger, and probably looked the more likely on the break.  Love it, just love it.

Fans salute their heroes

*** Scowen.  He’s here, he’s there…all over the place.  But in a good way.  The perect foil for Houri-Houri-Hourihane.** McDonald.  For all Preston’s pressure, the centre halves stood tall.  McDonald looked solid.  Alfie who?* Roberts.  What a great pair at the back.

Despatches:
I thought Yiadom looked excellent at right back, save for one time in the second half when they got free.  Looks a better prospect than Bree, for all I want the latter to be our 3^rd right back in a row to join Everton.  Hourihane again put in a shift and his passing was excellent.  Davies didn’t have much to do, Hammill didn’t do much, while I thought Winnall hadn’t kicked the ball till he scored, but TV showed he had a shot earlier, tipped over.  Kent looked promising, though as I say, just as he was getting into the game, he got dragged off, while Armstrong…I wish he was ours.  
You Reds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The home end at the end.  (The sun ruined most of my pics)

Drink du jour: Vodka and orange.  We also saw Alistair Campbell on the platform at Preston (presumably on the way back from Burnley) while we ‘enjoyed’ an edgy few minutes on the train with a Sunderland-supporting ‘loyalist’ with a difficult-to-ignore facial tic who was coming back from Celtic-Rangers.  As I say, I’ve missed these trips.  Just time to drink myself to oblivion and fall asleep on the night bus home.  Yes, night bus.  Which meant ending up in Crystal f***ing Palace rather than my usual end of route stop.  Fell asleep on couch.  Still, Redfearn was happy.  He got his breakfast before I went to bed.   

Away: 2,100.  Another impressive turnout, but we need to make more noise BEFORE we score. Tho' it would help if the home support made some noise, aside from a dozen lads around a drum in the far corner.  No wonder everyone else avoided them.     

The Damage:
30 train 24 ent 3 prog    

The Tunes:
Milk and Kisses (Cocteau Twins)
Mixmag Aug 15 (Black Coffee)

The Stadium.

Behind the away end

The view from behind t'nets

Poster advertising the day's play

Surely there's more than 2,100?

'PNE, PNE, PNE'

Too sunny? Some people are never happy.

Some folk are always 'on point' even of a Satdy teatime.

Bite the Buffalo.  S*** name, great band.