Ups and downs can also apply to others.
Leeds United’s first week back in the Championship (Division 2 to you and me) and already we have a “pressure pointer” game on Sunday, basically if we win Nottingham Forest’s Billy Davies attracts the flak, if we lose the headless chickens in the forums start to cluck. Our two performances, as described on here in our new column The Dielhenn Debrief, have shown both encouraging things but also some problems. The main problem is central defence, despite our clean sheet from Tuesday. Basically, and without this ending the stress free season I intend to have, other than Kisnorbo – Bruce, which is unproven, their is no combination involving our 6 centrebacks which does not cause me concern. As witnessed against Derby County we have some mobility problems, and in the case of Collins, some positioning issues. Naylor got dropped for Lincoln City, not sure why he was considered more culpable. Kisnorbo is months away from fitness, Bromby is erratic and Michalik doesn’t have Grayson’s confidence (although for me if he is with us September 1st he should be considered). So whilst we are 35 games away from worrying it would be nice for this early issue to be sorted quickly.
Equally at Aston Villa a quick appointment is needed. The loss of Martin O’Neil so close to the season start does nothing to inspire confidence they will ever break the glass ceiling of 6th. They have lost a decent man manager and inspired ranter, not a tactician as such and certainly not the best talent spotter if his signings are anything to go by but nevertheless a very decent British manager. The list of replacements all, so far, suggest at least 2 seasons of mid-table to come, however the Larner/O’Neil love out meant his resignation was the only outcome and the right one for the club. Too many clubs live beyond their means, too many managers want too much in transfer fees, mainly to cover their inadequacies in bringing youngsters on. The PL has been crying out for a owner to take a stand and say “only Manchester City can buy who they like, we have to balance the books”. Well done that yank in showing the second highest net spender in the PL in the last 4 years the realities of life and shame on your Mr O’Neil on not being able to cope!
One name not mentioned with the Villa Park vacancy is David Jones of Cardiff City. Mr Jones is a strange bloke, reluctant to point the finger at Ridsdale when it was clear to see the ex Chairman was a barrier to promotion, always professing loyalty to the club despite numerous wage delays and yet still turning out half decent teams with some players that don’t look the part. But even the likes of him do push the hard luck story sometimes. Take the 4 man bench for the Sheffield United game, Jones knows he could have filled that subs list but he choose instead to make a political point about the transfer embargo lifted this week. Compare that to Roy Keane at Ipswich Town, he moans on about being down to the bare bones but still uses his youngsters and is rewarded with wins at Middlesbrough and Exeter City. He understands that if you pay people as professional footballers you have to trust them and play them, regardless of age. They are either good enough to be tried or why are they at your club? Clearly Mr Keane will cope better than Mr Jones in adversity.
Adversity was where Southampton were until Markus Liebherr walked in and wiped out a £30m millstone around the clubs neck. His unexpected death isn’t expected to have a adverse affect on the future of the club, which I suppose is why his short reign should be celebrated on the South Coast. Meanwhile further west Exeter City mourn the death at 31 of striker Adam Stansfield. Cancer at such an early age and so quickly is true definition of adversity, much more serious than a football club paying the price of its own indulgences. In my book it would be a fitting tribute to both men if Southampton donated the takings from their home game with Exeter this season to cancer charities (and maybe Jeff Stelling could attend also).
Alas all tragedy tends to be balanced by farce. In football their is lots of it and some places its a permanent feature. Southend United (whose fans think I have a vendetta against them, nonsense I just despise the deluded and ignorant) carried on from last season with 2 court appearances, a mass ref rant over a goal and the signing of 17 players in one day, most of whom have a “conference” feel about them. Now to be fair to Paul Sturrock they do seem to have found some temporary bunker mentality at Roots Hall (or should that be isle 15 condiments?) with late equalisers and unexpected scalps but that only takes you so far. They need the points now to protect them when the Sainsbury’s bailout monies dry up, so about 6 months on present form. Maybe in that time the support will have woken up to Fossets Farm never happening, any realistic Southend fans want to have a book on where your playing in 2 years (ground wise)? I’ll start you off, ground-share with Concord Rangers!
One set of supporters who will never wake up seems to be England. Last night was like Groundhog day, some good stuff, some horrid stuff, youngsters turned up, some big players not performing, tactics a touch disjointed but some interesting cameo’s from players who might feel they should have gone to South Africa. On top of that we have had the “no thank you’s” and the Beckham boot-out (Capello gets one thing right shocker). So not better, not worse, Hungary was just like the rest of the last 2 years. As stated previously on this site, once you realise we don’t have the personnel to win Euro 2012 and that no European team, and certainly not one as limited as England, ever wins the World Cup in South America is the moment you realise Capello is just building up a pension pot at our expense. When we go to Poland/Ukraine no doubt the fact we have qualified will mask the cracks but worse than that it will be two years wasted on Lampard/Gerrard/Barry midfields and not spent on building towards 2018. A shame and a crime in my humble opinion, less a mixed bag more a mixed up mess.
Michael Green.
