I was off my rocker on Saturday. In between university revision, I needed some relief. It had already hit, the withdrawal symptoms are even worse in a non-major tournament summer. Thankfully I managed to find a stream of the Conference Play-Off Final on Saturday afternoon. It gave me the drug but this can not continue from Saturday to Saturday.
After Saturday's Champions League Final and the weekend's play-off finals, there appears not much more on offer.
Think again, I have searched the footballing calendar to provide a guide to survive this Summer.
June
First of all, early June sees the Euro 2012 qualifiers re-commence. England play Switzerland at Wembley on 4th June. No second game for England but there are the home nations. It's normally around this time Scotland pick up their regular win against some half-decent before being seen off with relatively ease come September by the eventual group winners. England is live on ITV, 4.45pm.
Day after the England game, the Gold Cup in the United States kicks off. 5th June to 25th June. North America's best face off in numerous dazzling stadia from the Cowboys Stadium to the new Meadowlands Stadium to finishing at the Rose Bowl. The football will go from the better than average to the boring. Most games shown at 11 p.m., 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. Televised on Eurosport, game worth watching early on will be June 7th...United States v Canada.
A week into that tournament and something more closer to home, the Under 21 Euro's begin in Denmark. To be fair, this is normally worth watching as England young lads make the same mistakes as the senior crop. However, the previous two tournaments have been near-misses and provided they get through a group of death including Spain, Czech Republic and Ukraine (typically all three of these sides have won tournaments at age groups levels recently), there's an opportunity for success. Live on SKY. England play Spain on 12th June, Ukraine on the 15th and Czech Republic 19th. Normal televised times.
As that finishes, in comes another tournament for one of the English national teams. Women's World Cup staged in Germany with coverage on BBC throughout the tournament, they've been getting some good results of late and a favourable group draw gives them a good chance of progressing. It's sad to say; the football will go from the rather pathetic to the sublime (Brazil are shit hot). Games for England are 27th June Mexico (2pm), 1st July New Zealand (5.15 pm) & 5th July Japan (5.15 pm). Expect decent crowds too the Germans don't have the same *thing* about women's football like the UK.
July
Probably best of lot comes on the 1st July. Copa America, the World's third biggest tournament (could be argued otherwise). High scoring and entertaining, it normally ends in a Brazil v Argentina final (past two editions) but there's plenty worth watching elsewhere as proved by Chile and Uruguay's World Cup performances. The scouts across the world love it. Most games will be on at 11.15 pm and 1.45 am over here and it's also ESPN televised. I would pay attention to the group containing Uruguay, Chile, Peru and Mexico (that's right they are playing two international tournaments in one summer - so are Costa Rica). For stadium buffs, the final is held at River Plate's home, the Monumental and the opening game at the new stadium in La Plata.
24th July, that ends on. We've reached the safety of pre-season friendlies. However, there's more. Eurosport will have the Under 19 Euro Championships, held in Romania on. Now I watched this last year after the World Cup and it's more interesting than thrilling. It's noticeable the difference in footballing culture as last year England looked technically inept to the rest of their group but sheer persistence carried them onto the semi's where they were showed up by a Spain side containing Sergio Canales, Marc Bartra (goalscorer for Barca at the weekend) and Iker Muniain (Basque hero at Bilbao). England haven't qualified yet...well no-one has, the qualifiers start at the end of May and England typically have Spain in their group.
To fill in the final week before it begins again on 6th August, the Under-20 World Cup completes the Summer line-up. England have qualified and normally the Under-20's are used as a bit of a second string for the Under 21's. Difficult group containing Argentina and Mexico (under-20's is the final age group before seniors). Expect an early fall in Colombia but all of England's group games are positioned neatly before the Championship season kicks off (kick-off times of 2030, 0200 and 2300). Eurosport again covers it.
In addition, ESPN show the Russian League over the summer (2 live games a week). Premier Sports the Irish League and the four main competitions of South America are coming to conclusion in time for the Copa America.
No excuse for being bored really.
Monday, 23 May 2011
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
A Saturday at the Huish
Yeovil Town 2:2 Bournemouth
(Virgo (pen), MacDonald : Ings (2, 1pen)
Leccy Board League One : 23/04/2011
Huish Park, Yeovil : Ground no.69
Doing a second ground over Easter is something of a regular with the games splitting across Good Friday and Easter Saturday. Previous years, I've visited Bury and Wycombe on the day Leicester weren't playing. The original intention thistime was to do one of the Devon clubs, ideally Exeter on the Good Friday but with Sky moving Forest game to Good Friday, it left just Yeovil has the only ground I hadn't visited in the 92 who we're kicking off at Saturday, 3pm. I didn't mind, even more so with the good weather. A nice drive down to deepest Somerset in the sun, it's better than struggling through snow, frozen windscreen cleaner and a M6 traffic jam to visit Morecambe in November (yes, that's correct. Probably my favourite neutral day of the season).
Fun was to be had on the route set by the Sat Nav. I rolled down towards Cheltenham having to content with the various jam-packed cars and their swaying caravans. Down the A46 towards the M5. Nice and easy at this point except for a roundabout where it appeared everyone in Warwickshire wanted to go Stratford Racecourse. Sat Nav said go towards Bristol. Instead it ended up through it, pass the Cabot Circus and towards Wells. Traffic hellwas had. Once through that trauma, it was through pretty much every village in Somerset on roads of restricted speed limits and cameras. All very quaint, past pubs with no-one in and inns with no vacancies. So reinforced the attraction of this groundhop with Yeovil being Somerset's only Football League club.
Eventually I got there, the problem with Huish Park is that it's another of those out-of-town developments. My opportunities for a Somerset Cider and a steak reduced significantly as it developed I was pretty much in boring suburbia with a run of mill Holiday Inn pub and a massive Asda to choose from. One saving grace, a fish and chips restaurant next to a garden centre, I certainly see their target audience there. I'll have a sit down I thought, plenty of time to kill. Sat down at a table and could clearly tell the (19-21 year old) waitresses we slightly miffed at this 22 year old lad sitting a table for fish and chips alone. I was pretty much instructed when receiving a menu that the only thing left was fish and chips and that it was closing soon. They were possibly some of the worst ever fish and chips I've had, I had the odd ends basically. I had made an error and for the rest of the day, I was starving. Never judge a book by it's cover.
Walked towards the ground, up a hill and it was a good fifteen minute mosey to Huish Park with it's pebbledash car park and a tent for a pub. Huish Park is rather simple and pretty basic. Two simple sized seating stands along the side, a covered terrace behind one goal and an open terrace for the away fans. All with the steel painted a nice solid dark green. Nothing really interesting or stand-out and a low score on the location. In an increasing trend of ripping off the small man (this season I've watched football for free and a fiver), I paid £11 for the Cowlin Stand on an Under 21 rate.
Unlike the previous neutral tale of Bradford City and their plight, this is a happier tale. Both clubs, Yeovil Town and Bournemouth are in the midst of being modestly successful and whilst neither club is equalling their clubs' best, they are playing above themselves.
The beauty of these two is that the only expectation is a sign of a building optimism. Yeovil Town went to the dizzy heights of nearly reaching the Championship and rather than go chasing after it, they have respectfully stayed in League One keeping a sensible budget and developing the club. Terry Skiverton's a club legend, he was there alongside Gary Johnson as they accelerated through the divisions (Conference to League One) as captain and occasionally goal-scoreer. Now he's the gaffer.
Carrying out an understated job of keeping Yeovil Town out of trouble, relegation scares occur but there is never any final day of the season pressure cooker. Importantly for a young manager, it appears he possesses a good book of contacts with loanees from Tottenham and other Premiership clubs always strengthening their side. This is often criticised how clubs over-achieve because of their use of loanees but for me it's not a problem, the majority of loanees are young and British. It's developing English Football. Skiverton has also sensibly picked up bargains like Dean Bowditch and Paul Wotton who can provide a background for the young lads to flourish.
After two seasons of constantly battling point deductions and transfer embargoes,Bournemouth have performed even better. A near great escape saving themselves from relegation to League Two in 2007/08, followed by staying up in League Two despite being deducted 17 points the following season, then a promotion from League Two and now in the play-offs of League One. Incredible effort mostly done with the same players who followed them down the divisions. The vultures have already circled, Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall the management team for the majority of it are now at Burnley with Marvin Bartley alongside them. Despite some recent wobbles, they find themselves still in 6th with Rochdale on their back. So they came in confidence with a full away end terrace cheering them on.
When I sit at a game as a neutral, I pretty much keep quiet bar the odd round of applause and a stand-up when a home goal goes in. I know this is completely different to my body language at a Leicester game. I may no Tasmanian devil at the Walkers but I am certainly not polite in my language or gestures. It became apparently as the first half wore on, sitting next to me was a young Bournemouth fan probably in his late teens. Originally I thought he was with a father and his young lad at the end of the row but as Donal McDermott, Bournemouth winger ran his way through the Yeovil defence I could hear 'go on son' under his breath. It reminded me of the film version of Fever Pitch where the narrator goes to a cup tie at Reading wearing his Arsenal gear only to find out his Mum has bought him a ticket for the home end. He'd probably came with his mates and once he realised he couldn't unleash his support found it a bit crap.
He was growing nervous as Bournemouth dominated the play in the first half with a centre midfield of Danny Hollands and Harry Arter controlling play and ensure the ball was in Yeovil's half of the pitch. Despite the pressure, Yeovil had the better chance of a goal-less first half. Jonathan Obika, a loanee from Tottenham missed a sitter when his initial shot was saved and his rebound missed the goal completely with the keeper's back turned.
Obika was the victim of the young lad two seats towards the left, swear words I never expected off a Somerset schoolchild. 'You fucking prick Obika, just fucking ping it!'
Below me was an annoying woman in about her late-sixties who had the Somerset accent down to a fine art, the way she screeched 'Andy' in reference to the incredibly weak and bony, Andy Welsh got on my tits. What made it worst was these screeches were in approval of Welsh, he played for Leicester you know and I thought he was completely shite at the Walkers. He's well liked at Yeovil, his mug was on the front of the local paper being sold outside the ground as he'd had a baby in the week.
A constant trend these goalless first half on neutral visits, it gives you a whole first half to regret why you went in the first place. The Bournemouth fan must have thought the same of the swearing kid and the annoying woman, he never returned for the second half. The second half was what I'd visited for, a little needle was required and it soon developed. Paul Huntingdon's second yellow card which was well deserved but the tension up a couple of clicks accordingly.
Then I seen one of the most stupid actions I have done all season, Adam Smith for Bournemouth made a run into the box from his right-back position and made a feeble attempt at conning the ref for a penalty with a laughable. Except it was a penalty. It wasn't for the foul though but Adam Virgo's over the top reaction to the dive. Rather than telling Smith to get the fuck up, he tried to rip his head additionally to telling him he's a cheating bastard. And to top it off, in front of the linesmen. Just plain daft. Of course, the Yeovil fans didn't see this way. It was a penalty no doubt, Virgo should have gone off but the ref decided a yellow was enough.
Danny Ings from the penalty spot, 1-0. The crowd had got a bit barmy by now, the ref was a scummy twat and all that jazz. Bournemouth helped matters by extending their lead with a superb counter-attack move. Keeper collects a corner, slings the ball 40 yards into the path of Liam Feeney who was rapid and impressed throughout. His square cross after running 35 yards in super speed was met by a first-time finish on his chocolate foot by Danny Ings (could make a decent little career this fella).
So Yeovil were beaten. The ten men looked ragged and not really bothered. It took until the old boys around me were considering leaving on 86 minutes for a response, a cross blocked by Harry Arter's arm led to Adam Virgo slotted a penalty away. Game on, that roar had returned and so had that young kid's swearing.
His day was made when Yeovil struck a late equaliser. A corner knocked in, Yeovil goalie in there *cliche alert* creating havoc and Shaun MacDonald popped up with a header into the goal. Cue chaos and the young lad running to front of the stand to greet his hero as MacDonald showcased his delight. Shaun MacDonald is quite possibly the most ugliest footballer in the English game currently, I pretty much shat myself as he ran towards the stand with the look of a bull who'd got a hard-on. The young lad didn't mind, he came up the stairs to tell his Dad he'd high-fived Shaun MacDonald.
A swift exit after the final whistle, a familiar feeling as heading towards the car. I saw a Dad with his son marching off in front, both Bournemouth. His son was embarrassed because his Dad was whispering expletives as his side cocked up a two-goal lead. Jumped in the car, heard the results. Rochdale had lost, the Bournemouth play-off bid rolls on....I know the feeling swearing Bournemouth Dad.
(Virgo (pen), MacDonald : Ings (2, 1pen)
Leccy Board League One : 23/04/2011
Huish Park, Yeovil : Ground no.69
Doing a second ground over Easter is something of a regular with the games splitting across Good Friday and Easter Saturday. Previous years, I've visited Bury and Wycombe on the day Leicester weren't playing. The original intention thistime was to do one of the Devon clubs, ideally Exeter on the Good Friday but with Sky moving Forest game to Good Friday, it left just Yeovil has the only ground I hadn't visited in the 92 who we're kicking off at Saturday, 3pm. I didn't mind, even more so with the good weather. A nice drive down to deepest Somerset in the sun, it's better than struggling through snow, frozen windscreen cleaner and a M6 traffic jam to visit Morecambe in November (yes, that's correct. Probably my favourite neutral day of the season).
Fun was to be had on the route set by the Sat Nav. I rolled down towards Cheltenham having to content with the various jam-packed cars and their swaying caravans. Down the A46 towards the M5. Nice and easy at this point except for a roundabout where it appeared everyone in Warwickshire wanted to go Stratford Racecourse. Sat Nav said go towards Bristol. Instead it ended up through it, pass the Cabot Circus and towards Wells. Traffic hellwas had. Once through that trauma, it was through pretty much every village in Somerset on roads of restricted speed limits and cameras. All very quaint, past pubs with no-one in and inns with no vacancies. So reinforced the attraction of this groundhop with Yeovil being Somerset's only Football League club.
Eventually I got there, the problem with Huish Park is that it's another of those out-of-town developments. My opportunities for a Somerset Cider and a steak reduced significantly as it developed I was pretty much in boring suburbia with a run of mill Holiday Inn pub and a massive Asda to choose from. One saving grace, a fish and chips restaurant next to a garden centre, I certainly see their target audience there. I'll have a sit down I thought, plenty of time to kill. Sat down at a table and could clearly tell the (19-21 year old) waitresses we slightly miffed at this 22 year old lad sitting a table for fish and chips alone. I was pretty much instructed when receiving a menu that the only thing left was fish and chips and that it was closing soon. They were possibly some of the worst ever fish and chips I've had, I had the odd ends basically. I had made an error and for the rest of the day, I was starving. Never judge a book by it's cover.
Walked towards the ground, up a hill and it was a good fifteen minute mosey to Huish Park with it's pebbledash car park and a tent for a pub. Huish Park is rather simple and pretty basic. Two simple sized seating stands along the side, a covered terrace behind one goal and an open terrace for the away fans. All with the steel painted a nice solid dark green. Nothing really interesting or stand-out and a low score on the location. In an increasing trend of ripping off the small man (this season I've watched football for free and a fiver), I paid £11 for the Cowlin Stand on an Under 21 rate.
Unlike the previous neutral tale of Bradford City and their plight, this is a happier tale. Both clubs, Yeovil Town and Bournemouth are in the midst of being modestly successful and whilst neither club is equalling their clubs' best, they are playing above themselves.
The beauty of these two is that the only expectation is a sign of a building optimism. Yeovil Town went to the dizzy heights of nearly reaching the Championship and rather than go chasing after it, they have respectfully stayed in League One keeping a sensible budget and developing the club. Terry Skiverton's a club legend, he was there alongside Gary Johnson as they accelerated through the divisions (Conference to League One) as captain and occasionally goal-scoreer. Now he's the gaffer.
Carrying out an understated job of keeping Yeovil Town out of trouble, relegation scares occur but there is never any final day of the season pressure cooker. Importantly for a young manager, it appears he possesses a good book of contacts with loanees from Tottenham and other Premiership clubs always strengthening their side. This is often criticised how clubs over-achieve because of their use of loanees but for me it's not a problem, the majority of loanees are young and British. It's developing English Football. Skiverton has also sensibly picked up bargains like Dean Bowditch and Paul Wotton who can provide a background for the young lads to flourish.
After two seasons of constantly battling point deductions and transfer embargoes,Bournemouth have performed even better. A near great escape saving themselves from relegation to League Two in 2007/08, followed by staying up in League Two despite being deducted 17 points the following season, then a promotion from League Two and now in the play-offs of League One. Incredible effort mostly done with the same players who followed them down the divisions. The vultures have already circled, Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall the management team for the majority of it are now at Burnley with Marvin Bartley alongside them. Despite some recent wobbles, they find themselves still in 6th with Rochdale on their back. So they came in confidence with a full away end terrace cheering them on.
When I sit at a game as a neutral, I pretty much keep quiet bar the odd round of applause and a stand-up when a home goal goes in. I know this is completely different to my body language at a Leicester game. I may no Tasmanian devil at the Walkers but I am certainly not polite in my language or gestures. It became apparently as the first half wore on, sitting next to me was a young Bournemouth fan probably in his late teens. Originally I thought he was with a father and his young lad at the end of the row but as Donal McDermott, Bournemouth winger ran his way through the Yeovil defence I could hear 'go on son' under his breath. It reminded me of the film version of Fever Pitch where the narrator goes to a cup tie at Reading wearing his Arsenal gear only to find out his Mum has bought him a ticket for the home end. He'd probably came with his mates and once he realised he couldn't unleash his support found it a bit crap.
He was growing nervous as Bournemouth dominated the play in the first half with a centre midfield of Danny Hollands and Harry Arter controlling play and ensure the ball was in Yeovil's half of the pitch. Despite the pressure, Yeovil had the better chance of a goal-less first half. Jonathan Obika, a loanee from Tottenham missed a sitter when his initial shot was saved and his rebound missed the goal completely with the keeper's back turned.
Obika was the victim of the young lad two seats towards the left, swear words I never expected off a Somerset schoolchild. 'You fucking prick Obika, just fucking ping it!'
Below me was an annoying woman in about her late-sixties who had the Somerset accent down to a fine art, the way she screeched 'Andy' in reference to the incredibly weak and bony, Andy Welsh got on my tits. What made it worst was these screeches were in approval of Welsh, he played for Leicester you know and I thought he was completely shite at the Walkers. He's well liked at Yeovil, his mug was on the front of the local paper being sold outside the ground as he'd had a baby in the week.
A constant trend these goalless first half on neutral visits, it gives you a whole first half to regret why you went in the first place. The Bournemouth fan must have thought the same of the swearing kid and the annoying woman, he never returned for the second half. The second half was what I'd visited for, a little needle was required and it soon developed. Paul Huntingdon's second yellow card which was well deserved but the tension up a couple of clicks accordingly.
Then I seen one of the most stupid actions I have done all season, Adam Smith for Bournemouth made a run into the box from his right-back position and made a feeble attempt at conning the ref for a penalty with a laughable. Except it was a penalty. It wasn't for the foul though but Adam Virgo's over the top reaction to the dive. Rather than telling Smith to get the fuck up, he tried to rip his head additionally to telling him he's a cheating bastard. And to top it off, in front of the linesmen. Just plain daft. Of course, the Yeovil fans didn't see this way. It was a penalty no doubt, Virgo should have gone off but the ref decided a yellow was enough.
Danny Ings from the penalty spot, 1-0. The crowd had got a bit barmy by now, the ref was a scummy twat and all that jazz. Bournemouth helped matters by extending their lead with a superb counter-attack move. Keeper collects a corner, slings the ball 40 yards into the path of Liam Feeney who was rapid and impressed throughout. His square cross after running 35 yards in super speed was met by a first-time finish on his chocolate foot by Danny Ings (could make a decent little career this fella).
So Yeovil were beaten. The ten men looked ragged and not really bothered. It took until the old boys around me were considering leaving on 86 minutes for a response, a cross blocked by Harry Arter's arm led to Adam Virgo slotted a penalty away. Game on, that roar had returned and so had that young kid's swearing.
His day was made when Yeovil struck a late equaliser. A corner knocked in, Yeovil goalie in there *cliche alert* creating havoc and Shaun MacDonald popped up with a header into the goal. Cue chaos and the young lad running to front of the stand to greet his hero as MacDonald showcased his delight. Shaun MacDonald is quite possibly the most ugliest footballer in the English game currently, I pretty much shat myself as he ran towards the stand with the look of a bull who'd got a hard-on. The young lad didn't mind, he came up the stairs to tell his Dad he'd high-fived Shaun MacDonald.
A swift exit after the final whistle, a familiar feeling as heading towards the car. I saw a Dad with his son marching off in front, both Bournemouth. His son was embarrassed because his Dad was whispering expletives as his side cocked up a two-goal lead. Jumped in the car, heard the results. Rochdale had lost, the Bournemouth play-off bid rolls on....I know the feeling swearing Bournemouth Dad.
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Heroes and Villians
Nottingham Forest 3:2 Leicester City
(Tudgay, Earnshaw & McKenna : Oakley, Vassell)
Leccy Board Championship : 22/04/2011
City Ground, Nottingham (already visited)
Football Manager always asks on those annoying press conferences before a derby game. 'Do you believe the competition is richer for games like this?' It's a daft question, Football full stop prides itself on the occasion of a derby game whether it takes place in the second tier of English football, the top tier of Brazil or the fourth tier of Outer Mongolia. They do now hold some extra importance in England, they are one of the few games left in the calendar which have some atmospheric bite.
For us Leicester fans, this brings around the well done debate about which team have more appliance to us as a derby. Well this derby is mine, the comparisons between Nottingham and Leicester as a city I see as not too different. In addition, Nottingham Forest are the most successful team of the East Midlands thanks to two European Cup wins (which we always hear plenty about). Forest dismiss us, it's Derby for them and only Derby apparently. Well I disagree, there's more than enough passion showcased by the Reds when Leicester come to town.
It's further recognised by myself that the City Ground is probably the best stadium or awayday in the East Midlands. It's not the best looking, in fact it's rather tight for legroom and in the concourses but it's location is the most recognisable in the division with the ground overlooking the Trent river where the City of Nottingham meets it's suburb of West Bridgford. There's plenty nearby and the train station is just fifteen minutes walk away.
Finally, the most personal reason for Forest, they brought around a very low point for me as City fan. I was scarred by a last minute equaliser there during our administration season. We were declared into admin the week before, job cuts made the day before the game, City were cruising at 2-0 at Half-Time but then proceeded to throw it away in the most cruel of fashions when Jack Lester bagged a 96th minute equaliser. Their reaction that day suggested to me this game meant something.
We gained revenge later in the season, a hero was made of Tommy Wright as what can only happen to hometown players. A two-yard tap-in of a winner for which he successfully made the rest of Leicester career from. Kept on for far too long, he now plays for Darlington.
This is what derbies do though. They make heroes. For Leicester fans, a player bagging a winner at City Ground would make more than a hero. Having not won in the league here for over forty years and in process destroying Forest's play-off dreams.
It's been a while since the game. So no OTT match report, I am trying to keep it minimal. It was a scrappy game typical of a derby and given the position in the table of both teams, neither wanted to lose. This was mostly caused by Leicester City's tactics. I have previously mentioned the problem Sven tactically faces where City appear too open to a pacy attack. This even more of a problem facing a side of 4-4-2 as they cover the possession game City play easier and one poor pass leads to an opening.
So with in mind, it was no surprise to see Ben Mee back in for Van Aanholt. The largely clueless Bruma kept his spot much to my dismay (typically gone onto score two wonderstrikes since). City played a lot deeper than recent games in much the same fashion as QPR away. Forest's formation is similar to QPR's, a narrow 4-4-2. The players on the flanks tuck in to allow the full-backs the wings. Forest should have the same problem as City but they have the comfort of both McKenna and Moussi sitting in.
Given the energy sapping weather (I lost three pounds alone standing in the Bridgford End), neither side chased the ball which disgruntled the 'Up and at them!' crew. It was stalemate tactically, as mistakes were the difference. Mistakes largely from goalkeepers.
Forest's first was a showcase of City's downfall this season: Marking. A cross far too easily allowed into the box met by the always scoring against Leicester, Marcus Tudgay with the normally dependable Miguel Vitor disappearing from his man. The first equaliser probably one of my favourite celebrations of the season, could have been saved by the over applauded Camp but fair play for Oakley in producing a ping.
Forest's second, City other problem. Goalkeeping. Lewis McGugan's shot weakly palmed back towards goal where Earnshaw whose made a career of lurking in this area, taps in. Camp then let us back in the game, virtually a minute after going down dropping a Naughton cross at the feet of Vassell.
City were the better side at this point. Vassell coming on for an ineffective Yakubu led to more urgency upfront and by simply cutting down Morgan and Chambers, the ball was staying down towards the Trent End far more often. Yakubu to me looks completely fucked, there was one point where he was half put through but then caught up by the defender and his shot was about as weak as my piss. Typically like Oakley and Bruma, my criticism has a midst touch. Kamara's more of a disappointment, he looked hungry on arrival but now a disinterested individiual who could have quite easily been sent off in this game.
The winner did come. McKenna's powerpuff volley squeezing under Weale's body. A shattered away end watched on and the players mirrored the feeling. There's our villain, no hero today. Sadly, that's probably ten points the likeable Weale has cost us this season and he's proved the catalyst for Forest saving their season. However, for us it's now a rarity of a season in recent years, a dead end.
(Tudgay, Earnshaw & McKenna : Oakley, Vassell)
Leccy Board Championship : 22/04/2011
City Ground, Nottingham (already visited)
Football Manager always asks on those annoying press conferences before a derby game. 'Do you believe the competition is richer for games like this?' It's a daft question, Football full stop prides itself on the occasion of a derby game whether it takes place in the second tier of English football, the top tier of Brazil or the fourth tier of Outer Mongolia. They do now hold some extra importance in England, they are one of the few games left in the calendar which have some atmospheric bite.
For us Leicester fans, this brings around the well done debate about which team have more appliance to us as a derby. Well this derby is mine, the comparisons between Nottingham and Leicester as a city I see as not too different. In addition, Nottingham Forest are the most successful team of the East Midlands thanks to two European Cup wins (which we always hear plenty about). Forest dismiss us, it's Derby for them and only Derby apparently. Well I disagree, there's more than enough passion showcased by the Reds when Leicester come to town.
It's further recognised by myself that the City Ground is probably the best stadium or awayday in the East Midlands. It's not the best looking, in fact it's rather tight for legroom and in the concourses but it's location is the most recognisable in the division with the ground overlooking the Trent river where the City of Nottingham meets it's suburb of West Bridgford. There's plenty nearby and the train station is just fifteen minutes walk away.
Finally, the most personal reason for Forest, they brought around a very low point for me as City fan. I was scarred by a last minute equaliser there during our administration season. We were declared into admin the week before, job cuts made the day before the game, City were cruising at 2-0 at Half-Time but then proceeded to throw it away in the most cruel of fashions when Jack Lester bagged a 96th minute equaliser. Their reaction that day suggested to me this game meant something.
We gained revenge later in the season, a hero was made of Tommy Wright as what can only happen to hometown players. A two-yard tap-in of a winner for which he successfully made the rest of Leicester career from. Kept on for far too long, he now plays for Darlington.
This is what derbies do though. They make heroes. For Leicester fans, a player bagging a winner at City Ground would make more than a hero. Having not won in the league here for over forty years and in process destroying Forest's play-off dreams.
It's been a while since the game. So no OTT match report, I am trying to keep it minimal. It was a scrappy game typical of a derby and given the position in the table of both teams, neither wanted to lose. This was mostly caused by Leicester City's tactics. I have previously mentioned the problem Sven tactically faces where City appear too open to a pacy attack. This even more of a problem facing a side of 4-4-2 as they cover the possession game City play easier and one poor pass leads to an opening.
So with in mind, it was no surprise to see Ben Mee back in for Van Aanholt. The largely clueless Bruma kept his spot much to my dismay (typically gone onto score two wonderstrikes since). City played a lot deeper than recent games in much the same fashion as QPR away. Forest's formation is similar to QPR's, a narrow 4-4-2. The players on the flanks tuck in to allow the full-backs the wings. Forest should have the same problem as City but they have the comfort of both McKenna and Moussi sitting in.
Given the energy sapping weather (I lost three pounds alone standing in the Bridgford End), neither side chased the ball which disgruntled the 'Up and at them!' crew. It was stalemate tactically, as mistakes were the difference. Mistakes largely from goalkeepers.
Forest's first was a showcase of City's downfall this season: Marking. A cross far too easily allowed into the box met by the always scoring against Leicester, Marcus Tudgay with the normally dependable Miguel Vitor disappearing from his man. The first equaliser probably one of my favourite celebrations of the season, could have been saved by the over applauded Camp but fair play for Oakley in producing a ping.
Forest's second, City other problem. Goalkeeping. Lewis McGugan's shot weakly palmed back towards goal where Earnshaw whose made a career of lurking in this area, taps in. Camp then let us back in the game, virtually a minute after going down dropping a Naughton cross at the feet of Vassell.
City were the better side at this point. Vassell coming on for an ineffective Yakubu led to more urgency upfront and by simply cutting down Morgan and Chambers, the ball was staying down towards the Trent End far more often. Yakubu to me looks completely fucked, there was one point where he was half put through but then caught up by the defender and his shot was about as weak as my piss. Typically like Oakley and Bruma, my criticism has a midst touch. Kamara's more of a disappointment, he looked hungry on arrival but now a disinterested individiual who could have quite easily been sent off in this game.
The winner did come. McKenna's powerpuff volley squeezing under Weale's body. A shattered away end watched on and the players mirrored the feeling. There's our villain, no hero today. Sadly, that's probably ten points the likeable Weale has cost us this season and he's proved the catalyst for Forest saving their season. However, for us it's now a rarity of a season in recent years, a dead end.
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