As forecast on a blog comment, 1-2! This against a side who could play football at a snail's pace but perhaps that was what was needed on an unpredictable, bouncy pitch.
We were poor despite having several good chances to forge ahead and win after being 0-2 down.
Matt scored with a rasping shot so welcome back to the goals' trail.
I apologise for giving them their second goal. I guess I wasn't on the planet when Gavin was barged in the back in middair! Split second, I guess I thought he dropped it under pressure and then once given I couldn't give a free kick or their argumentative tossers would have gone bananas or even papayas and I didn't want that. Perhaps again I am harking back to my youth when the likes of Lofthouse and McParland's challenges on the goalie were acceptable in the original spirit of the game! Lord Kinnaird's challenge "shall we have hacking" has always been my mantra. Anyway I thought it was only a matter of time before we got our act together and scored six or seven. Twas not to be so, I influenced the game. As for that new stopwatch it's a fascinating little object I've been playing with it ever since- think I've got the hang of it. Certainly took my mind off the match- is it still going? what happens if it stops, and what's that compass doing on it? Oh it's facing north, I'm off yem, a wonder wot me da's hevvin fer dinner. Great Yorkshire puddins, shag end of lamb an tatties. Wonder what Gazza's doin?
Oh back to the game. We didn't play at our own tempo, which would have been far too much for them, until late in the first half and for pockets of the second. We tended to get very frustrated at the vagaries of the pitches bounce, frustrated with each other and frustrated with some of the mad mouthings of some of the snails.
Bill played well when he came on for them showing that their way of playing suited him more than ours. We must play to our strengths and on this pitch quick passing to the first call for the ball isn't necessarily one of them. Just take our time a little!
Which brings me to one notable absence in our performance yesterday- "talking to each other".
It was awfully quiet out there. A few meaningful calls will always be of assistance, a name to alert the receiver when you're about to pass to him, "time", "man on" even "man overboard" might be better than nowt. And remember the person calling for a pass is theoretically an option not a divine command. If you want to control the ball properly before you attempt to pass, it's probably a better option, certainly on a bouncy pitch.
Next week it's Sandy away in the league. The pitch will be worse in bounce than yesterdays and it's small, narrow and bog filled down one half. You still fancy going up there? Of course you do.
Let's get together and give them a game. A few key absences in personnel, a few challenges there- ideas welcome as always.
Training at Odyssey and gym on Tuesday and Thursday might be a good idea in light of next weeek's game. There's a lot of matches left yet. And remember, every hole's a goal and when yer gettin on every game's a treasure to savour there may not be many left for you before you take up zimmer racing, and that is a sad thought.
Ron
Goodbye Sir Ronald
Quack quack
Monday, 25 February 2008
Friday, 22 February 2008
League Table
The league table is now available on the website at http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/knebwortholdboysfootballclub/league_table.pl
We are currently top of the league a point ahead of Goldings who have a game in hand but who we play at home on the 16th March.
Sandy also have a game in hand so our game away to them on the 2nd March is very important. As far as I know we always give them a good game at their place and we have been extremely unlucky to come away empty handed on our last 2 visits. Well that's what the bloke down the pub told me!
We are currently top of the league a point ahead of Goldings who have a game in hand but who we play at home on the 16th March.
Sandy also have a game in hand so our game away to them on the 2nd March is very important. As far as I know we always give them a good game at their place and we have been extremely unlucky to come away empty handed on our last 2 visits. Well that's what the bloke down the pub told me!
Sunday, 17 February 2008
Knobs 8 phonecalls made Vintage Dundee 0 phonecalls
Thanks a bunch guys. A simple thing like yes or no on Monday or Tuesday at the latest and they couldn't manage it. Oh well this is the much vaunted, technologically white hot society that we live in. Efficient, progressive and brimming with an optimism that we are in total control. In wi canna mak a fookin phonecaal. It widna a heppened afore Thatcherism set in. Ah well just calm doon bonny lad, hev yer Horlicks or yer Ovaltine in pull the covers ower yi heid. I just might dae that!
Wrinkled prune
Wrinkled prune
Monday, 11 February 2008
Ware 5 Knobs 1
This should be short,succinct and to the point.
Three league points dropped. We weren't that bad. I feel we could have defended much more energetically but ultimately our lack of a goalkeeper probably was the crucial difference.
Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh on myself and too charitable to some of the outfield play but probably not.
The first goal conceded hardly set us up for greater things. "Come on ball crawl and bobble this way, look there's the corner of the net, no not there, over there, get in there I won't touch you" and it did and I didn't (touch it that is). Well that would have required me bending down, leisurely and picking it up. Well the effort was beyond me. 1-0.
Other goals sailed in, probably Trevor would have been more active in preventing the third reaching their man on the line, who knows. But half time saw us 4-0 behind.
Attacking repeatedly in the first half of the second half saw us carve out several chances but only one was converted- by Gavin. A second half win 1-0 was spoiled by a handball and a penalty late on and that on a sunny morning was that sunny Jim!
A cosy pub, excellent rolls and Lakeland beer raised the spirits and we go onward and hopefully upwards against Vintage Dundee, a very good side, next Sunday.
Blind Pew
Three league points dropped. We weren't that bad. I feel we could have defended much more energetically but ultimately our lack of a goalkeeper probably was the crucial difference.
Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh on myself and too charitable to some of the outfield play but probably not.
The first goal conceded hardly set us up for greater things. "Come on ball crawl and bobble this way, look there's the corner of the net, no not there, over there, get in there I won't touch you" and it did and I didn't (touch it that is). Well that would have required me bending down, leisurely and picking it up. Well the effort was beyond me. 1-0.
Other goals sailed in, probably Trevor would have been more active in preventing the third reaching their man on the line, who knows. But half time saw us 4-0 behind.
Attacking repeatedly in the first half of the second half saw us carve out several chances but only one was converted- by Gavin. A second half win 1-0 was spoiled by a handball and a penalty late on and that on a sunny morning was that sunny Jim!
A cosy pub, excellent rolls and Lakeland beer raised the spirits and we go onward and hopefully upwards against Vintage Dundee, a very good side, next Sunday.
Blind Pew
Sunday, 3 February 2008
Saints 2 Knobs 3
A hard won 3 points in the league which we deserved on the shitheap which passes for a football pitch in St Albans.
Chris G's withdrawal was blamed on John Boyle and rightly so and we persevered with the remaining bodies present.
A measured first twenty minutes, kicking up the Eiger, saw us comfortably ahead from a powerful Steve Bull drive from distance, parried over his head by an eccentric keeper.
A long punt forward carried by the brisk wind and was then headed goalwards by Roy, wrongfooting Trevor, to give them an undeserved equaliser. Mind you Trevor had made an earlier save from point blank range from their only previous attack. Fuck me Ivory Coast have just scored.
A poor second goal from Saints from a punt into the box which bounced off their bloke's cerebellum was poor reward for our efforts. Then again a really fantastic save from Trevor, again in a one to one, meant that we turned round with the wind in our favour only 2-1 down.
Gavin, coming on as an impact player (his phrase) after half an hour terrorised them for the remainder of the game. And he didn't seem to have time for a manicure before this week's set to!
Second half they rarely troubled us until they asserted themselves physically in the final 10 minutes. By then we'd gone 3-2 ahead. A pathetic hack on Richard, in an unthreatening position, gave us a soft penalty, chucklingly accepted then sweetly converted by Steve. A Matty chance looked to have gone but fell to Richard who converted easily. Despite losing two players to hamstring anomalies we held on well. Good old Ron, coming on with 10 minutes left- YES only 10 minutes left or was it 9 almost scored our 4th with a sweet shot before Matt's passing arse intervened and converted for a goal kick.
Brendan reckons Dave's a dirty bastard- on reflection perhaps I might agree, but he's our dirty bastard. Dave having upset that bloke up on the top line for the umpteenth time, the fella took his revenge out on Roy who was felled like a log. I couldn't believe it that wiz Roy lying supine in t'mud. Shamming surely! Tempers settled down and sweetness and light and camaraderie were to the fore in the pub later, where 10 of us supped Timothy Taylor and other swill. I believe some stalwarts continued the bonding in the Station later- tis what vets club football is all about.
Thank you last week to those of you who put the nets up before the game, stayed to take them down after the game, cleaned out the changing rooms, paid their subs and went to the pub to fraternise with the opposition as well as slaking their own thirst.
Some good performances this week, none better than the resurgent John Boyle, a fine game at right back. What he's surging back from I'm no so sure.
Next week it's Ware away in the league. We beat them in a very physical game last time so we're gonna have to be up for this one. Do exercise this coming week.
Napoleon on Elba and plotting.......
Chris G's withdrawal was blamed on John Boyle and rightly so and we persevered with the remaining bodies present.
A measured first twenty minutes, kicking up the Eiger, saw us comfortably ahead from a powerful Steve Bull drive from distance, parried over his head by an eccentric keeper.
A long punt forward carried by the brisk wind and was then headed goalwards by Roy, wrongfooting Trevor, to give them an undeserved equaliser. Mind you Trevor had made an earlier save from point blank range from their only previous attack. Fuck me Ivory Coast have just scored.
A poor second goal from Saints from a punt into the box which bounced off their bloke's cerebellum was poor reward for our efforts. Then again a really fantastic save from Trevor, again in a one to one, meant that we turned round with the wind in our favour only 2-1 down.
Gavin, coming on as an impact player (his phrase) after half an hour terrorised them for the remainder of the game. And he didn't seem to have time for a manicure before this week's set to!
Second half they rarely troubled us until they asserted themselves physically in the final 10 minutes. By then we'd gone 3-2 ahead. A pathetic hack on Richard, in an unthreatening position, gave us a soft penalty, chucklingly accepted then sweetly converted by Steve. A Matty chance looked to have gone but fell to Richard who converted easily. Despite losing two players to hamstring anomalies we held on well. Good old Ron, coming on with 10 minutes left- YES only 10 minutes left or was it 9 almost scored our 4th with a sweet shot before Matt's passing arse intervened and converted for a goal kick.
Brendan reckons Dave's a dirty bastard- on reflection perhaps I might agree, but he's our dirty bastard. Dave having upset that bloke up on the top line for the umpteenth time, the fella took his revenge out on Roy who was felled like a log. I couldn't believe it that wiz Roy lying supine in t'mud. Shamming surely! Tempers settled down and sweetness and light and camaraderie were to the fore in the pub later, where 10 of us supped Timothy Taylor and other swill. I believe some stalwarts continued the bonding in the Station later- tis what vets club football is all about.
Thank you last week to those of you who put the nets up before the game, stayed to take them down after the game, cleaned out the changing rooms, paid their subs and went to the pub to fraternise with the opposition as well as slaking their own thirst.
Some good performances this week, none better than the resurgent John Boyle, a fine game at right back. What he's surging back from I'm no so sure.
Next week it's Ware away in the league. We beat them in a very physical game last time so we're gonna have to be up for this one. Do exercise this coming week.
Napoleon on Elba and plotting.......
Monday, 28 January 2008
Knobs 1 Therfield 0 Part two
Where was I before a shave, makes you feel less end of the worldish pinioned as you are at the end of a razor blade, a crap and a shoeshine.
A struggling victory- aftermath of festive season? No that was the Old Owens game which we won 3-0. Chopping and changing personnel (16 of us) well even the first 25 minutes, pre- the first of the 'all-off mind the step' exchanges, we were terrible. Even I was terrible, plodding round with me tin whistle and me birro paper with endless permutations as to how 16 went into 90 with equal shares for all, so much so that I kept forgeetin I wa supposed to be reffing. Not that that made a great deal of difference, a shepherd's crook and wor dog would have been more suitable- "over here, stand there, tackle that , kick this and don't piss against that bush".
Anyway we won. Also a little known fact. John Boyle aged 40 going on 41, the day of Spurs attendance at Wembley next month, scored the goal. Not only that, but this was the first time in those lost aeons that John had scored a winning goal in any match he'd played in! You know Vets football makes sense.
Performances: Well most, over the piece, did some things which were good and they will individually remember these glowing contributions. But surrounding the islets of goodness was the big bad ocean of mediocrity, nay crapness. Hence the word inconsistency should be aimed squarely and fairly at them.
A bumpy pitch, drying out is never conducive to slick, effortless football- it has to be worked on and overcome. These pitches come up every year at this time but folk never get used to them. Only Premier teams get all year round bowling greens- so divvint watch that stuff to improve. Ronaldo would struggle on some of the stuff we go out to graze on. Frustration sets in with each other when it is really a lack of adaptability to the playing surface which is the cause. After 10 minutes everyone starts avoiding proper achievable passing and starts to cut out the middlemen by attempting killer balls. Inevitably many of these ambitious efforts, if not all of them, go astray- result shitey play and even more indidualist efforts. Then it's aal doon hill.
Not to say there weren't moments of brightness amid the gloom, there were, but only for moments.
The goal was a relief, when John lashed in an unstoppable shot from the narrowest of angles, high into the roof of the net- does it all the time on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Palpable relief illustrated what a crap showing this was.
Not that there were not highlights and solid performances. Brendan played an excellent game, rarely a tackle missed. John Twigg was peerless and his distribution proved simple and excellent. Chris Wilson played as a relentless chain saw at the back as one would expect. Dave came on and once he'd got his sea legs it was all 'ahoy there me hearties'.
Not as much energy as one would expect by the way, all round.
I was gonna yap on about some of the negatives, with an eye for positive improvement, but am afraid some might take it the wrong way. Anyway it's two league games on the trot and this might be the be all and end all of our adventure in those parts. Keep up the morale, howay the lads yer berra than last week's performance.
Knobs summer tour to Norfolk in the offing- watch this space. May it'll be. No the month of May it'll be. Maybe.
Divvint believe ivvrything yi read aboot Wor Kev in the papers by the way- roll on August!
Rip van Whistle
A struggling victory- aftermath of festive season? No that was the Old Owens game which we won 3-0. Chopping and changing personnel (16 of us) well even the first 25 minutes, pre- the first of the 'all-off mind the step' exchanges, we were terrible. Even I was terrible, plodding round with me tin whistle and me birro paper with endless permutations as to how 16 went into 90 with equal shares for all, so much so that I kept forgeetin I wa supposed to be reffing. Not that that made a great deal of difference, a shepherd's crook and wor dog would have been more suitable- "over here, stand there, tackle that , kick this and don't piss against that bush".
Anyway we won. Also a little known fact. John Boyle aged 40 going on 41, the day of Spurs attendance at Wembley next month, scored the goal. Not only that, but this was the first time in those lost aeons that John had scored a winning goal in any match he'd played in! You know Vets football makes sense.
Performances: Well most, over the piece, did some things which were good and they will individually remember these glowing contributions. But surrounding the islets of goodness was the big bad ocean of mediocrity, nay crapness. Hence the word inconsistency should be aimed squarely and fairly at them.
A bumpy pitch, drying out is never conducive to slick, effortless football- it has to be worked on and overcome. These pitches come up every year at this time but folk never get used to them. Only Premier teams get all year round bowling greens- so divvint watch that stuff to improve. Ronaldo would struggle on some of the stuff we go out to graze on. Frustration sets in with each other when it is really a lack of adaptability to the playing surface which is the cause. After 10 minutes everyone starts avoiding proper achievable passing and starts to cut out the middlemen by attempting killer balls. Inevitably many of these ambitious efforts, if not all of them, go astray- result shitey play and even more indidualist efforts. Then it's aal doon hill.
Not to say there weren't moments of brightness amid the gloom, there were, but only for moments.
The goal was a relief, when John lashed in an unstoppable shot from the narrowest of angles, high into the roof of the net- does it all the time on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Palpable relief illustrated what a crap showing this was.
Not that there were not highlights and solid performances. Brendan played an excellent game, rarely a tackle missed. John Twigg was peerless and his distribution proved simple and excellent. Chris Wilson played as a relentless chain saw at the back as one would expect. Dave came on and once he'd got his sea legs it was all 'ahoy there me hearties'.
Not as much energy as one would expect by the way, all round.
I was gonna yap on about some of the negatives, with an eye for positive improvement, but am afraid some might take it the wrong way. Anyway it's two league games on the trot and this might be the be all and end all of our adventure in those parts. Keep up the morale, howay the lads yer berra than last week's performance.
Knobs summer tour to Norfolk in the offing- watch this space. May it'll be. No the month of May it'll be. Maybe.
Divvint believe ivvrything yi read aboot Wor Kev in the papers by the way- roll on August!
Rip van Whistle
Knobs 1 Therfield 0
Shite, win, shag and a shoeshine.
All content except perhaps two. For the rest of my tenure I am inured to aught but football. If you play shite or you can't play do what I do in my modest way don't play- they reckon gardening and TV regarding is good in one's dotage.
How double dare they!
More to follow, JB scored.
Dumpling
All content except perhaps two. For the rest of my tenure I am inured to aught but football. If you play shite or you can't play do what I do in my modest way don't play- they reckon gardening and TV regarding is good in one's dotage.
How double dare they!
More to follow, JB scored.
Dumpling
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