Groundstaff prepare the World Cup pitch at stadium:mkIt’s 6.45 and I’m in the pub, my usual pub with my usual football watching pint of Guinness. It’s a tactical Guinness because I can’t drink them quickly – if I drink lager when watching football then I’ve got an empty glass every 15 minutes and I end up completely shedded. Trying to work the day after a lager evening watching the play off defeat to Derby (120mins plus penalties) is one of those memories that never goes away.
It’s JPT time again with us away at the stadium:mk – what a wanky name, especially when written in lower case letters like it always seems to be. This is one of the grounds earmarked to be developed should England win the bid to host the World Cup in 2018 with Milton Keynes being the hotbed of football that it is – all that history and tradition etc.
So, Guinness in hand and the TV is on with no sound and the teamsheet is flashed upon screen. Due to a combination of injuries (Hammond), illness (Harding) and being cup tied (Seabourne and Otsemobor), there are a total of five changes with Holmes dropping to the bench. Into the side came Thomas, Perry and Mills to the defence and Antonio and Wotton to the midfield. Instead of reverting to Davis as captain as you would expect, Pards gave the armband to Jose Fonte in only his second start.
Away we go and Saints tear into them from the off and nearly take he lead in the first minute as after staying forward, Captain Fonte controlled well and lashed a shot just wide. Two things were immediately obvious, one was that Saints were well up for it and looked by far the stronger side and the other was that the pitch was like a ploughed field. Antonio went on a mazy run and after beating a player had to check back when confronted with a cabbage and some turnips.
A glorious chance presented itself ten minutes in with Antonio breaking down the right with Lallana streaking in the middle from the left. The whole pub (well, me anyway) stood and yelled ‘pass it’ but Antonio didn’t get his head up and allowed the covering defender to get to him whilst Lallana stood in the middle with his arms in the air making vague flappy motions.
Lallana got his chance for real a few minutes later when again, Antonio burst clear and this time squared it. The covering defender tripped over a cabbage and left Lallana with just the ball and a load of time for company. Instead of taking a touch he took it first time and half hit it straight at the keeper who flapped it away. How many more chances were we going to create without scoring? Answer… none.
A free-kick from Mills on the left was headed on by Lambert where Michail Antonio controlled before swivelling and firing in off of the far post. Great finish and a thoroughly deserved lead. The camera pans to what appears to be a cardboard cut out of Paul Ince in the stand.
Last week I said that I very rarely note an opposition player anymore but I have to say that Jason Puncheon looks a very good player for Milton Keynes. He scored a good free kick against us at SMS and tonight he was looking like the only player who would cause us any problems. Meanwhile, the World Cup pitch was getting worse as the game went on and on first view, I thought it was responsible for James going over in the penalty area. On replay though, he was hoofed up in the air by a clumsy challenge and as they say …”I’ve seen ‘em given”. It’s still really all Saints and Lambert lined up a 30 yard free-kick. Trouble for Rickie now is that there is a level of expectation so when he misses (by bloody miles this time) there is a tangible disappointment.
And that was it. They changed the fucking channel over to the Liverpool v Spurs game. Every second Dubliner is a Liverpool fan and the pub I was in could only show one Sky Channel. My first and most reasonable argument was that the Liverpool game didn’t kick off until 8pm in half an hour but the barman was probably a fucking plastic Scouser so wanted to watch the preamble. My second argument that Liverpool were shit, our game would be better and the fat waiter would get sacked after the game was a bit less reasonable. It was time for a one man pub crawl in search of the game. The next pub I went in was showing the Liverpool game and the Villa / Blackburn Carling Cup Semi. It’s a good job I didn’t try to argue that our game would be better entertainment than that game as it ended 6-4. I realised then that I was not going to find it and headed home. Half time text as I was walking home in the rain, 1-0 to the mighty Yellows.
At home, the internet connection was down and things are not going well. There is no mention of the game on the radio so all I have is internet commentary on my phone which is not great and costs a fortune. Needs must though… it still reads like it’s mostly Saintsand the time ticks on. Holmes is on for Lallana and he immediately gets booked for kicking the ball away. Nice one.
Ten minutes to go and still 1-0 and not much in terms of goal threat from the Fake Dons and then Schneiderlin gets sent off for handbags after pushing the guy who provoked him. It’s frustrating and the ref should have handled it better but by the letter of the law he had to go and so we were down to 10 men. Regardless, we repelled the little amount of pressure that was put on us and won by what I would call a comfortable 1-0.
The aftermath of the game was dominated by some comments by the Fake Dons assistant manager who was not impressed by the Saints players and fans celebrations after the game. After all it was only half time and we were apparently celebrating like we’d already won it. If memory serves, we got the hump with Derby after the first leg of the playoff semi final when we lost at home. At the time I thought it was pretty naff to mention it in public as it just sounded like sour grapes and this time is no different. Why not celebrate anyway… you’ve just gone away from home and won. I’d like for Billy Nomates MK Fake Dons assistant manager to write a guideline for celebrating a win in the away leg of a two legged fixture. Apparently they’re going to use it for motivation. Is he suggesting that his players weren’t motivated and they will be for the return leg. Moron – shut up, you got outplayed by the better side and all that despite giving us a cabbage patch to play on.
It’s the return of everyone’s favourite Irish Psychopath Roy Keane on Saturday with Saints taking on Ipswich in the 4th Round of the FA Cup. I think we have a decent chance in this one but Pards is going to struggle with the selection especially in the centre of midfield with Hammond injured and now Schneiderlin suspended. Wotton will play and I assume be partnered with James if he’s not needed at right back. Thing is that I think he will be as all three of the new defenders are cup tied so Thomas will have to play centre back with Perry unless he throws in Aaron Martin. An alternative could be to play James at right back and bring Oscar Gobern Carlton Palmer into the midfield. Doesn’t matter who we pick… Bring it on.
It’s JPT time again with us away at the stadium:mk – what a wanky name, especially when written in lower case letters like it always seems to be. This is one of the grounds earmarked to be developed should England win the bid to host the World Cup in 2018 with Milton Keynes being the hotbed of football that it is – all that history and tradition etc.
So, Guinness in hand and the TV is on with no sound and the teamsheet is flashed upon screen. Due to a combination of injuries (Hammond), illness (Harding) and being cup tied (Seabourne and Otsemobor), there are a total of five changes with Holmes dropping to the bench. Into the side came Thomas, Perry and Mills to the defence and Antonio and Wotton to the midfield. Instead of reverting to Davis as captain as you would expect, Pards gave the armband to Jose Fonte in only his second start.
Away we go and Saints tear into them from the off and nearly take he lead in the first minute as after staying forward, Captain Fonte controlled well and lashed a shot just wide. Two things were immediately obvious, one was that Saints were well up for it and looked by far the stronger side and the other was that the pitch was like a ploughed field. Antonio went on a mazy run and after beating a player had to check back when confronted with a cabbage and some turnips.
A glorious chance presented itself ten minutes in with Antonio breaking down the right with Lallana streaking in the middle from the left. The whole pub (well, me anyway) stood and yelled ‘pass it’ but Antonio didn’t get his head up and allowed the covering defender to get to him whilst Lallana stood in the middle with his arms in the air making vague flappy motions.
Lallana got his chance for real a few minutes later when again, Antonio burst clear and this time squared it. The covering defender tripped over a cabbage and left Lallana with just the ball and a load of time for company. Instead of taking a touch he took it first time and half hit it straight at the keeper who flapped it away. How many more chances were we going to create without scoring? Answer… none.
A free-kick from Mills on the left was headed on by Lambert where Michail Antonio controlled before swivelling and firing in off of the far post. Great finish and a thoroughly deserved lead. The camera pans to what appears to be a cardboard cut out of Paul Ince in the stand.
Last week I said that I very rarely note an opposition player anymore but I have to say that Jason Puncheon looks a very good player for Milton Keynes. He scored a good free kick against us at SMS and tonight he was looking like the only player who would cause us any problems. Meanwhile, the World Cup pitch was getting worse as the game went on and on first view, I thought it was responsible for James going over in the penalty area. On replay though, he was hoofed up in the air by a clumsy challenge and as they say …”I’ve seen ‘em given”. It’s still really all Saints and Lambert lined up a 30 yard free-kick. Trouble for Rickie now is that there is a level of expectation so when he misses (by bloody miles this time) there is a tangible disappointment.
And that was it. They changed the fucking channel over to the Liverpool v Spurs game. Every second Dubliner is a Liverpool fan and the pub I was in could only show one Sky Channel. My first and most reasonable argument was that the Liverpool game didn’t kick off until 8pm in half an hour but the barman was probably a fucking plastic Scouser so wanted to watch the preamble. My second argument that Liverpool were shit, our game would be better and the fat waiter would get sacked after the game was a bit less reasonable. It was time for a one man pub crawl in search of the game. The next pub I went in was showing the Liverpool game and the Villa / Blackburn Carling Cup Semi. It’s a good job I didn’t try to argue that our game would be better entertainment than that game as it ended 6-4. I realised then that I was not going to find it and headed home. Half time text as I was walking home in the rain, 1-0 to the mighty Yellows.
At home, the internet connection was down and things are not going well. There is no mention of the game on the radio so all I have is internet commentary on my phone which is not great and costs a fortune. Needs must though… it still reads like it’s mostly Saintsand the time ticks on. Holmes is on for Lallana and he immediately gets booked for kicking the ball away. Nice one.
Ten minutes to go and still 1-0 and not much in terms of goal threat from the Fake Dons and then Schneiderlin gets sent off for handbags after pushing the guy who provoked him. It’s frustrating and the ref should have handled it better but by the letter of the law he had to go and so we were down to 10 men. Regardless, we repelled the little amount of pressure that was put on us and won by what I would call a comfortable 1-0.
The aftermath of the game was dominated by some comments by the Fake Dons assistant manager who was not impressed by the Saints players and fans celebrations after the game. After all it was only half time and we were apparently celebrating like we’d already won it. If memory serves, we got the hump with Derby after the first leg of the playoff semi final when we lost at home. At the time I thought it was pretty naff to mention it in public as it just sounded like sour grapes and this time is no different. Why not celebrate anyway… you’ve just gone away from home and won. I’d like for Billy Nomates MK Fake Dons assistant manager to write a guideline for celebrating a win in the away leg of a two legged fixture. Apparently they’re going to use it for motivation. Is he suggesting that his players weren’t motivated and they will be for the return leg. Moron – shut up, you got outplayed by the better side and all that despite giving us a cabbage patch to play on.
It’s the return of everyone’s favourite Irish Psychopath Roy Keane on Saturday with Saints taking on Ipswich in the 4th Round of the FA Cup. I think we have a decent chance in this one but Pards is going to struggle with the selection especially in the centre of midfield with Hammond injured and now Schneiderlin suspended. Wotton will play and I assume be partnered with James if he’s not needed at right back. Thing is that I think he will be as all three of the new defenders are cup tied so Thomas will have to play centre back with Perry unless he throws in Aaron Martin. An alternative could be to play James at right back and bring Oscar Gobern Carlton Palmer into the midfield. Doesn’t matter who we pick… Bring it on.
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