Your reading a pre 2010-11 archived article
I’m not a fan of previews of games, they tend to be speculative and uninformative, rarely go beyond a basic format and I certainly never intended they would be part of the Clarkeonenil mix. However I have decided to make an exception on this occasion, for three reasons. 1) because it’s a visit to a new ground, 2) because it’s my first Leeds game of the season and 3) to see if I can bring a more “hardened glare” to the concept.
Colchester United are a football club that despite our limited amount of contact over the years remains close to the memory of the older Leeds fans, the FA Cup misery of 71 (as constantly referenced by the media). Recent contact as had its moments also, the defeat at the old Layer Road on our way out of the Championship in 07 being one to avoid lingering on. I recall thinking their team that played at Elland Road earlier than season as being one of the worst I had ever seen. The win at the new stadium last season only compensated for a home defeat during the still unexplained loss of form during the dying embers of Gary McAllister’s reign. Colchester are not quite as irritating as Gillingham in my eyes yet but similar to that other Essex based team we visit soon, Southend, they come close.
Mention of the new stadium brings me to one of those ridiculous arguments you can guarantee in build ups to games in them: the “old grounds are better than new boxes” discussion. Lets be clear, the new “Community Stadium” could either be as feeble as the Walkers and the Riverside or as impressive as the City of Manchester or the Emerites, it matters not, Layer Road was about as bad as it gets, facilities were a disgrace to farm animals never mind people, glad to see it gone! The only reason I haven’t already “ticked off” the new ground was transport chaos last April (which combined with other issues scuppered a day out I’d looked forward to all season). Simular issues on the train front exist this weekend but I’m going come hell or high water.
The other thing that isn’t going to stop me attending is the Upton Park factor. We have seen a lot of coverage on that incident earlier this week, the Leeds forums have included some idiotic brave words about reminding the country what our feral can do, we know that Essex is WHU country, so what? None of it matters, 99.9% of us are going to a match, that other 0.1% can go screw and take the consequences of their actions from Essex Police. I’m going to drink before hand, drink after (taking in the ManU v Arsenal game hopefully), meet someone special to friends of mine and hopefully get treated as a human being in-between.
Having written of our chances of going up automatically and walking the division I find myself about to attend a game whilst Leeds sit top of the league and on a 100% game record. A little early in my book to be extrapolating that to celebrating in May but even so all the signs (as witnessed through video, television and reports) are good. Their remains the rather obsessive reliance on all things Beckford that operates so long as the transfer window remains open (4 days and counting as I type) to slightly blacken the sky (and let’s not forget the permanent black cloud called Bates) but Grayson could hardly have done any more with the present squad in the early games. If I’m wrong about his tactical judgement I am happy to be so, still concerned about when the pressure is on but if we carry on like this that pressure may never materlise. Personally I would settle for a point, a sign that we can come away from games against sides on form and hold our own, no point trying to replicate our 2007-08 start, Colchester look a good side, even after Lambert’s departure.
Our signings will come under specific scrutiny from me, don’t care how many plaudits others have already given I need to see for myself Higgs is as good a shot-stopper as Ankergren and how Crowe has improved the defensive issues around right-back and how Kisnorbo plays. Doyle will be interesting, especially in the context of whether it’s him, Grayson or Howson himself under orders that is restraining the young captains attacking surges. Obviously with Tuesday looming large Beckford’s body language will be closely analysed (if it is his last game for us I want him to work his socks off ala Becchio, setting his partner up in the way he has had) and I hope also to see either Parker or Kilkenny get some sort of run out.
As I indicated earlier, happy to settle for something out of the game, even more happy to have a relaxed day out (although I suspect the bus replacement between Witham and Colchester will grate) but the big thing will be whether something has changed since the disappointment of Millwall in the play-offs, can I enjoy watching my team and for 90 minutes put behind me the irritations of the last 7 seasons and the spectre of who controls the club? Here’s hoping.
