Mama Weer All Crazee Now

Big game tomorrow. Big, big game. We're away to Brighton, who are currently 6 points behind us in one of the relegation places and with a game in hand on us. They win and then win their game in hand and they go above us; we win and they've got it all to do. A draw... well, I'll take a draw at this point.

What makes the game really interesting of course is the presence of our former manager in the Brighton dugout. Russell Slade didn't take long to find a new club after his untimely exit from Huish Park, and why shouldn't he? A man with a proven record of success at small clubs was bound to attract the attention of a bigger club sooner rather than later, and while Brighton may not be a big club right now they'll be doing a decent impersonation of one when their new stadium is built in a couple of years time.

Which makes his removal from Huish Park even more inexplicable, and still we wait for a proper explanation from the club. Of course I'm not so naive to think there'll ever be a proper explanation - I've no doubt the club will continue to stall all queries and hide behind the "legal reasons" excuse and say nothing official; whilst unofficially those with axes to grind, things to hide and sometimes maybe acting out of pure mischief, will continue to spread rumours, half-truths and outright lies in the hope that if you throw enough mud that some of it will stick.

Sigh. I'm not getting into this tonight. I'm pissed off enough at the news released today that there won't be a reserve team to watch next season. The club are pulling out of the Combination League and any reserve team matches that are arranged will be played behind closed doors. The reserve team games left to play this season won't be played at Huish Park - they'll be farmed out to wherever there's a pitch going spare. I'm really disappointed by this. I enjoyed going to watch the reserves as much - more sometimes - as I enjoyed watching the first team. The games generally had plenty of goals, there were triallists to evaluate, young players to keep an eye on... just going along as part of a small crowd where you could hear exactly what the coaches were saying to the players and vice versa helped to make you feel more involved, a part of the club rather than a simple spectator. Also, one of the recognised perks of being a season ticket holder was free entry to reserve team games, apparently the club are going to address this when they price next season's ST's but it's not the bloody money, it's not being able to attend what games that are arranged that's the pisser. I know, moan, bloody moan. It's not that big a deal in the great scheme of things and if the manager is happy that specifically arranged friendlies played behind closed doors is adequate for his squad then who am I to quibble; but it's yet another small reason among many to fall a little bit more out of love with this club.

Good luck to the boys tomorrow. Russell will know all our strengths and weaknesses and will set his team up accordingly. It's going to be tough.