It is now time to switch to a new Money AM football blog as the world cup is now over and we all look to the future.....World cup 2010 is over, Bravo Espana, and Forlan, once again and bring on the new season !.....I never expected the last thread to be such a success...thanks all.... so this new one might go on for years without the need to edit the title...we shall see...

From My Seat: Stoke City (A)
By Ken Buckley :: 01/01/2014
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Arriving in Stoke on a wet and windy day sort of screams bleak England in the bleak midwinter... but 4th in the Premier League and playing some good stuff, optimism abounded as we assembled. The team came through: no Distin and Stones in as deputy with Heitinga not in the squad... so it seems like, if he can negotiate the contract and wage he wants, then he is an ‘Hammer’... or is it an ‘Iron’?
We kicked off attacking the home end and within minutes Mirallas had got to the by-line with pace but the final ball found only the first man who played for Stoke and the move ended. The next 10 minutes set the tone for the half... and maybe the whole game. Everton had the possession and built well to the edge of the box; then, for a variety of reasons, our moves floundered, which allowed Stoke to get it forward quickly and we had to be aware at the back. An example of this took place around the 10-minute mark when we forced a corner after good build up. Baines took it but we bundled the ball out for a goal kick. The keeper kicked downfield and within seconds Assaidi had a shot on goal – a weak one, yes, and straight at Howard... but a warning nevertheless.

Barry fed a great ball from midfield to Lukaku out wide but the best the big man could do was force a corner which was cleared. Stoke then had a period of attacks which showed the first-time pairing of Stones and Alcaraz in a good light. Both have hardly set foot on the pitch in a Premier League game, yet they played like a partnership in waiting. Stoke had a shot that Howard did wonders to save but the offside flag was up although Howard didn’t know that. Then Crouch was just wide with a header.

At last, around 20 mins, we had a shot on goal when McCarthy surged forward and hit a soft one right to the keeper. The rain got heavier and heavier but the pitch played well and we continued to build up with neat passing but rarely if ever troubling their keeper. On the half-hour Barkley threaded a pass toward the box and someone was felled. Free kick – Mirallas took... keeper motionless as the ball thumped the crossbar with great force and the rebound was cleared.

Before half-time, Stoke had a shot deflected in our box which left Howard wrong footed and stranded; luckily it dribbled wide. Mirallas charged forward, crossed low and Barkley got it over the bar. Then we got another free kick in Baines territory but Mirallas took it and – would you believe it – keeper motionless again as the ball thumps the post this time, and then got cleared. You could forgive Mirallas for believing it was not to be his day.

Half-time: 0-0. Although we'd had most possession, we struggled to find the quality final ball. But Stoke deserve some credit for that with the memory of the 4-0 mauling just a couple of weeks ago, they certainly set up not to lose and the man who is most fans' yard-dog – Shawcross – was having a very effective game.

Second half and Stoke changed their keeper, the original one had nothing to do so he must have been injured. We started where we left off, on the attack, but again the breakup of good moves was in that last third and Lukaku was suffering more than most with his touch with plenty of others not seeming to realise we play in Blue.

We got a bit ragged and Stoke took advantage and had a sustained attack and, within only 5 minutes of the restart, we were one down when a cross was headed out by Stones but straight to Assaidi who thumped past Howard from the edge of the box. You can’t be too hard on an 18-year-old making his debut but I am sure he will learn from his error, just a pity it cost a goal.

We retaliated but our end-product was a Mirallas effort high over the bar... then Shawcross gave away a free kick which again Mirallas took but this time hit the wall. Then Coleman was wrestled to the ground by Assaidi but the ref waved 'play on' – much to the annoyance of the faithful – but it did rouse them and some good 12th-man stuff took place.

With 65 minutes gone, we still couldn’t get that decisive move that at least gets people on their feet, let alone a shot on target. Also, a few of our players were now looking a bit either mentally or physically tired... in fact, we were just not at it – yet on top – until it came to their box, where a ‘one-two’ with third man running could well have worked wonders for all assembled on and off the pitch.

Around the 70-minute mark, the manager had seen enough and took off the two who looked to be running through treacle: Pienaar and McCarthy; both had run themselves out. Jelavic and Osman came on. It was ‘go for it’ time as a 4-2-4 system looked to be employed but, such was our need, it was a free for all at times.

Osman made an immediate impact and at last we had a player showing craft and guile; attacks became more structured which set off the faithful to start to roar the players on. Barkley and Barry were the two in midfield; both seemed to pick up on the calmness of Osman and looked the better for it as we ploughed forward more menacingly now. Of course, this left us a little exposed to Stoke breaks and a couple of times they looked dangerous. With Assaidi giving Coleman a hard time all match and Baines often caught up field, Stones and Alcaraz were sound and Barry and Barkley got back as quick as they could.

Just 10 mins to go, Naismith replaced the misfiring Lukaku and we stepped up another gear. The faithful roared louder, Jelavic had a shot blocked near the goal line, Coleman raced forward but ran into traffic on the edge, Osman cleverly played Naismith in but the ball ran away from him as he seemed flat-footed.

Soon it was 5 mins left and Mirallas hits a free kick high and long so no attempt on goal; then Osman twists and turns with purpose in the box, leaves three Stoke players stranded and crosses for Naismith to head on goal but alas a man on the line again saves Stoke.

We were in injury time, Baines takes a free kick, Jelavic connects but his shot is blocked. The din was now reaching Health and Safety limits as we roared for one last Hurrah....

Almost over... then, "Hey Up, La — Ossie’s in the box!" He goes past one but is tripped, he doesn’t go down but heads and stumbles toward goal and then Pennant ensures he hits the deck: Ref’s whistle, "Penalty!!!" Baines takes — keeper goes wrong way — net bulges — and we have a point. It may be the case that we dropped two points but, at that moment, one felt great and from the celebrations you thought it could have been the winner.

Final whistle and in keeping with a draw there was no wild talk either way.

MotM – Very hard call today but I am going with Osman. He may have only been on for half an hour but I fear without him we would never have scored.

When we scored, a smoke bomb or flare was set off yet again at an away match. It’s not my place to tell anyone how to behave but I have to say, letting those things off in very crowded areas is bloody dangerous. Plus the fact it’s your own Blue Brothers you are likely to harm!

Up for the Cup, Saturday! I love the FA Cup and winning it would be just great... yet I bet it will be quite a different atmosphere and low key with team changes as batteries are recharged to continue our title quest. Times change from banners, scarfs, rosettes, rattles... and dancing in Trafalgar square fountains. Could they come back this season?

See you Saturday.
UP THE BLUES

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Peter Anthony
077 Posted 01/01/2014 at 21:59:21 Thanks for another top notch report Ken, really top draw service you provide that is massively appreciated.
Come the end of the season I think this may be a point gained, since so many top sides hit the buffers at the windswept mosh pit Brittania. Onwards and upwards is the trajectory on the whole and this month is indeed pivotal on and off the pitch. In Roberto I trust... NSNO.

Ole , Ole , Ole , Ole
Solksjaer
Solksjaer

Just need him to bring that kid Mats Moller Daelhi with him , sign Tom Ince , a centre half and get Buttner and Defoe on loan and we'll be sorted.

Ole does the Ollytollah :)

.... and while your flavour of the month tell Tan we want our blue kits back.

Ex Mold isn't he?.. Should go far with him then -):

Its Molde and pronounced moll-dey u northern git :-)

Copied from cardiffcityforum.co.uk and posted by cmorris1927

Tan's list of objectives for Solksjaer

Love it Dil

"Its Molde and pronounced moll-dey u northern git :-)"

Profuse apologies I didn't know that -):

Know feck all about football either :-)

M ... you really don't want Malky trust me.

Fans will love him , work ethics fantastic , tactics .... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Real nice/genuine guy and will always be a legend in Cardiff with the fans for what he achieved but feck me we bought the Championship last season and should have bought survival this season given what he spent.

Tan is a tw*t but I'd be just as peed off as him with some of the buys Malky made last summer.

I was talking to a baggies fan and he was saying something similar to you Dil, Managers to concerned with defending at the expense of attacking aided by poor signings, result lack of goals and points. Probably a case of fear of failure by inexperienced management.

Quality finishing by the super team http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHOq4jP3aAA

Eagles!

lol mate you just cheered me up no end.

From My Seat: QPR (H)
By Ken Buckley :: 04/01/2014


Comments (1) jump to end
A goodly number of us assembled at our meeting place and the room of nonsense soon was abuzz with the possibilities of the day and indeed the possible outcome of the transfer window. Hot off the press was that Baines was not in the squad due to negotiations regarding atransfer to Man United. This was to be Jelavic's last game in a Blue shirt and we would get Dos Santos. Well, I told you it was the room of nonsense.

The teams were received via the cyber-space gateway which set off more permutations of comings and goings in January and after eleven years of Moyes putting out weakened teams in the cup, the same seemed the same today. Not many saw this as a foregone conclusion yet by 5.00pm we had trounced them and the cult following that Martinez is enjoying got larger.

The walk up to the ground was about as lively as the weather which could best be described as overcast and dank. It’s strange on cup days how the buzz of a Premier League match is replaced by a sort of suck-it-and-see attitude considering the team changes. After entering the ground an announcement was made informing all of a 10-minute delay due to excessive queuing at the Bullens Road/Park End ticket office as once again on a cup day the ticketing operation was not as smooth as might be expected of a multi-million pound business.

Still the resident record player operator put on all the cup songs of the past yet I noted the Manfred Man song that we replaced the word Quinn with Ev-er-ton was missing. Still its cup day so let’s get at it. The teams duly arrived and our Ref was Howard (I’m the greatest) Webb accompanied by the assistants and today we had a Judy Lino who seemed better than the bloke who only seemed to raise a flag when the great one told him.

Off we went attacking the Park End and right away the Martinez way was in action no matter the personnel on show and but for a weak effort to connect with a cross as the goal beckoned was to be our only scare of a half which was going to consist of us probing and passing in search of the opening that we could profit from. We had varying degrees of success but never that ball that produces a goal, some a bit over-hit, some a bit under-hit. All over the pitch we seeing good performances and none better than the young Stones at centre back.

The half though was being built around Barry and McCarthy who were instrumental in repelling what was building up toward our goal and the catalyst for all the forward moves which in turn let every member of the team put down a marker. Barkley was quality one minute then ordinary the next but could never be ignored which was a source of trouble for the visitors who incidentally had many players of premier and international experience within their ranks. Wherever you looked we had players playing well but just that final finish was missing. It was mostly all one way but the crowd were getting a little restless at our inability to score yet with the patient build up throughout the team it just seemed a matter of time.

Around the half hour mark Barkley surged and hit a shot that the Brazil international keeper could not hold and the quicksilver Osman was first to react but put his stretched effort over the bar. We were not to be denied though as on 35mins the excellent Oviedo roared forward down the left and a peach of a ball fed Barkley who took it on and curled a pearler home leaving the keeper stranded. We needed that goal and the reaction of the crowd whilst celebrating seemed to somehow know it was ‘Game over’ but let’s have a goal spree anyway. The ball was sprayed about front back and sides as the Blues built and probed and it was no surprise just before the break when our play was rewarded a second time and everyone was delighted for Jelavic as he got a break in mid-field from a mistake by a QPR player and strode on and despatched a 20yarder beyond the keeper. Cue raucous celebrations and delight by players and fans alike as the Croat broke a very unwanted statistic. Just a minute of added time and the break was reached to the satisfaction of all of a Blue persuasion.

H/T time and mostly the chat was light-hearted with many believing it could have been five!

Second half, no changes from our manager and two goals to the good we set about the opposition again and this half followed a similar pattern to the first with us spraying the ball about in what is now known as the Martinez way which is great to see, but every now and again a slight slip whilst passing across goal brings the ‘Watch it’ roar from the assembled. Otherwise this was a very one-sided half and many were wrestling with the notion of ‘Are we that good’ or is the second team in the championship ‘That bad’. Whatever the reason we played some great stuff and from keeper who was keeping his first clean sheet to Jelavic up front getting his first goals since, what is it, March 2013? Every member played a part.

Coleman had a couple of raspers saved; one was a brilliant save from the keeper. Barkley had surges and blasts, mostly off target, it has to be said, but a constant threat. Oviedo was playing the left touchline in great fashion with excellent defending and productive runs and dangerous crosses. This lad can play. It was his slalom of a run that set up the second for Jelavic who was left just a couple of yards out and free to accept the great pass from the Costa Rican and tap home. (He wellied really). ‘Jela’ was the word on the lips as two goals in a game was thought by many to never be seen again.

Just about ten minutes later the Oviedo machine was at it again as he powered his way into the box and eventually the keeper brought him down and even Howard Webb agreed with the faithful that it was a penalty. ‘Jela’ – ‘Jela’ - ‘Jela’ was the cry. No team-mate made any effort to take the ball so the stage was set for a Jelavic hat trick.

He placed the ball with precision and on the whistle he sashayed to the ball and dinked a slow motion shot that beat the keeper but sadly not the bar and the groans could be heard in Kirkby. Could he challenge Lukaku for a starting berth on this form or will he be moved on? January sounds exciting as long as you believe nothing till something happens. I think he deserved to take the ball home today but it was not to be.

It was easy-peasy now but fair play the Blues did not shut up shop and none roared forward with purpose more than Coleman and near the 80min mark Barkley had another devastating run with swerve and power and played the marauding Coleman in down the right and in keeping with his present form he smashed it across the keeper and tested the net fastenings. Much celebrating took place as the scoreboard clicked over to read 4-0 and that score line was a surprise to no-one. That was goal number 6 from our right back.

He was then subbed and Hibbert made his return and on his first touch the roar of ‘SHOOOT’ was prominent. That brought more smiles to faces. With little more than 5mins to go the excellent Barry made way for Heitinga and Barkley left the field to a great ovation as Mirallas took over.

No one was pushing themselves now as we kept ball as the clock ticked down. Such was our dominance today the faithful idn’t even bother with the ‘Ole’s .

Final whistle and we all filed out satisfied and made our way to destinations various. Many stopped off at the Fat Van and chippies and queue’s had formed. Someone asked what a Fat Van was, Mike I think, well it’s a large mobile caravan that cooks all the processed trans-fat meats and cholesterol laden multitudinous calorie carriers that our health police say will ensure an early grave to participants. The warnings seem unheeded.

M.O.tM. Many great performances that no matter who you pick would be hard to argue with but for me the Barry – McCarthy axis dictated the play from front to back which allowed all the others to strut their stuff. Our keeper didn’t have a save to make all match- wow

Back to the room of nonsense and no heavy tactical discussions needed. Just a Brown/Bitter and a laugh did me. I took Dick Fearons advice of a brown bitter is also called a ‘communist’ so I ordered with confidence. However our lady bar person loudly requested I go away in jerky movements!
Back again next Saturday for the visit of Norwich. Will not be as easy as today but we can’t afford another slip up at home.

See you there to ‘roar em on’!

UP THE BLUES.




Reader Comments

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Mike Gaynes
981 Posted 04/01/2014 at 23:45:28

Thanks, Ken! Having been abandoned by the TV gods today, we all envied your eyewitness position.
The Everton radio guys kept commenting on how quiet Goodison was today. Did you have the same reaction?

SAM ALLARDYCE??????????????????? Do West Ham have money to chuck away??.

Thought they lost 5-0 today.