That's better. The Glovers bounced back from last week's mauling in the Midlands with a well-deserved 3-1 win over Tranmere Rovers. Terry Skiverton's men blew the visitors away with 3 first half goals without reply. The Glovers went off the boil somewhat in the second half, contenting themselves with containing Tranmere and playing on the break. The visitors scored a consolation penalty in the final minute, but that was the only blemish on an encouraging overall display from the home side.
Yeovil's domination of the first half was as complete as it was surprising. The team lined up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, Gavin Williams playing behind Dean Bowditch up front, Andy Williams returning from injury on the right and Sean MacDonald taking up his usual central midfield role. The excellent Bowditch opened the scoring on 7 minutes, a fluffed goalkick rebounding to the striker who made no mistake with a well-placed shot from around 35 yards to beat the scrabbling keeper. The Glovers doubled their advantage 4 minutes later, Andy Williams supplying the cross which allowed left-winger Andy Welsh to score in the far corner with a well-placed header. Paul Huntington made it 3-0 on 27 minutes, prodding home after a scramble in the box following an Andy Williams free-kick. Modesty forbids me from gloating about the fiver I had on Huntington to score at anytime at 12/1! Three goals by half-time then and it could have been more. Gavin Williams forced the Rovers keeper into several saves and was denied what appeared to be an obvious penalty after being tripped in the box, and Andy Williams headed straight at Collister in the visitors goal when it looked easier to score. But all in all a fine first 45 minutes for the Glovers, with Super Gav and Bowditch looking like they'd played together all their lives and the team as a whole playing with pace, energy and purpose, keeping the ball on the floor in the main and running the visitors ragged.
It was perhaps asking too much for the Glovers to dominate the second half as much as they did the first, and the visitors saw more of the ball after the break. Even then, any Yeovil alarms were largely self-inflicted with Adam Virgo and John Sullivan getting in each other's way on one occasion and almost letting in Arnaud Mendy. JP Kalala was unlucky with a thunderbolt from 20 yards which scraped the bar and substitute Luke Freeman screwed his shot narrowly wide when one-on-one with keeper Collister. Adam Virgo thought he'd made it 4-0 with a far-post header late in the game, but the referee disagreed, penalising the big defender for climbing on his opponent, a poor decision from where I was sitting. Tranmere got their consolation in the final minute, Nathan Smith pulling back Lucas Akin to give away a penalty, which Ian Thomas-Moore converted.
The Glovers lined up as follows:
1. John Sullivan: 6/10 - Competent display. Didn't have much to do until later in the second half but coped well enough with the few shots Rovers managed on target. Maybe some concerns over a lack of communication with his defenders at times.
2. Craig Alcock: 7/10 - Very good first half, got forward well to support Andy Williams on the right and always available for the pass. Quieter second half, came close to scoring with a header from a corner.
5. Paul Huntington: 8/10 - Probably his most convincing defensive display so far in his short YTFC career. On top of that he's been threatening to score for a few games now and was in the right place at the right time.
19. Adam Virgo: 8/10 - Same comments as above, but was unlucky inasmuch his goal was disallowed. Needs to listen to his goalkeeper a bit more, especially when Mr Sullivan is shouting "my ball!" Some of his long passes to the wings were works of art.
6. Nathan Smith: 7/10 - That's more like it. Solid defensively and made some barnstorming runs forward with the ball in the first half in particular. Quieter second half and I've marked him down a point for giving away an unnecessary penalty.
7. Andrew Williams: 8/10 - Not heard his name mentioned much in regard to yesterday's game but I thought he was excellent. A constant threat on the right in the first half in particular, provided the assist for Welsh's goal and linked up well with his fullback, the midfield and his forwards. We've missed him these last few games.
25. Shaun MacDonald: 8/10 - You don't know what you've lost 'til it's gone, as the song goes, but we knew exactly what we were missing when the Ginger Ninja went back to South Wales. Graft, application, hard-tackling, accurate passing but above all else bags of skill. Swansea must have some absolutely fantastic midfield players if this fella is surplus to requirements. Ah well, their loss is our gain.
21. Jean-Paul Kalala: 7/10 - Battling. Bustling. Bristling. Belligerent. Business as usual, in other words. Unlucky with one effort in the second half that skimmed the bar.
11. Andy Welsh: 7/10 - Marked him up a point for the way he took his goal - a well-placed header (of all things) away from the keeper into the far corner of the net. Slightly quiet match otherwise.
24. Gavin Williams: 7/10 - His mere presence gave everyone else a lift, crowd and players alike. Linked up well with Bowditch and always made himself available for the pass. Always appeared to have plenty of time and space come to that and popped up all over the pitch. Faded a bit as the match wore on but he hasn't got his match legs yet. Much, much, much more to come.
10. Dean Bowditch: 8/10 - Lead the line with great verve and energy. Excellent finish for his goal and looked to be thoroughly enjoying himself all afternoon.
Subs:
8. Luke Ayling (90 mins for Dean Bowditch): n/a - Not on long enough to affect the game.
18. Luke Freeman (84 mins for Andrew Williams): 5/10 - Barely on long enough to affect the game, but had one golden opportunity when one-on-one with the Tranmere keeper, which he fluffed. Might find chances to impress are hard to come by, in the next few weeks at least.
20. Owain Tudur-Jones (90 mins for Andy Welsh): n/a - Not on long enough to affect the game.
Crisis? What crisis? Play like this every game and my pre-season prediction of a 9th-place finish might not sound as daft as it did this time last week. But let's not get ahead of ourselves, again. Tranmere were ravaged by injuries and in the first half at least were as accommodating to their hosts as any away team could ever be. Having said that you can only beat what's put in front of you, and beat them we did, convincingly. What was most pleasing was the almost complete absence of the vaguely-aimed long-ball up front. Passes were to feet, or into space for players to run onto and possession wasn't just frittered away. Not that was to the taste of some in the crowd. I felt sorry for Andy Williams in particular at one point in the first half when instead of whacking a long-ball forward to no-one in particular he elected to pass back to Craig Alcock and keep possession instead. 'Get it bloody FORWARD Williams' came one stentorian bellow from behind me, followed by other shouts of displeasure, including, I swear, 'bloody rubbish Yeovil!' The beautiful game still has some way to go before it filters down into certain parts of South Somerset.
Still, at least the long-ball fans turned up. Yesterday's crowd was a miserly 3,364, the second-worse attendance at Huish Park since we joined the Football League. And that's with the return of Super Gav and Shaun MacDonald figured in. If that doesn't give the Board some serious concern and pause for thought, then nothing will.
Just read: Transition by Iain Banks: For me, Banks is one of those authors who could make a shopping list gripping. Love his books, particularly his science-fiction, which he releases under the name 'Iain M Banks'. This one's without the 'M', but don't be fooled, it's as science-fiction as they come. Infinite parallel worlds and multiple story-lines with diverse characters all of which come together in a thrilling and satisfying finish. Highly recommended.
Showing posts with label Gavin Williams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gavin Williams. Show all posts
Sunday, 12 September 2010
Friday, 10 September 2010
Return of the Talisman
Can I just say how glad I am to see Super Gavin Williams back where he belongs, playing in the green-and-white of Yeovil Town. The worst-kept secret of the summer finally came true yesterday, with the news that Super Gav has signed on loan until the middle of December. That will do for now. We'd all like it to be for longer, we'd all like it to be permanent, we'll all have to be realistic and accept that that is the best we can do at this moment in time.
Interesting to see the club acknowledge the role played by three businessmen supporters in bringing Gav back to South Somerset. Ben Tupman of Westbury Packaging, Simon Prout of Avon Valley Motor Sales and Rob Tizzard of TZZ Estates have all been thanked by the club, presumably for contributing to the player's wages, though that's not spelled out in so many words. If that's what they've done, then unlike some supporters on the various forums, I've got no problem with that at all. If I had the spare cash (chance would be a fine thing) I would more than happily be willing to contribute to the wages of a player of the calibre of a Gavin Williams. I don't see it as any different to sponsoring a player, or even signing up to the club's lottery - it's all money from fans being given to the club, the only difference here is that the Super Gav Three know exactly what their money is being spent on. Nothing wrong with that and well done to them.
It's curious though that in the past the club have always fought shy of relying on supporters to subsidise wages. I can remember various groups offering to do similar things only for the club to politely refuse their help. I wonder what's changed their mind now? The obvious answer is that we have problems, on and off the pitch. New blood will help on the pitch, off the pitch the solution could well be the same. New blood in the boardroom, new blood in key roles, new ideas, new enthusiasm. Revenue streams revitalised, supporters re-energised and crowds increasing. If the current owners aren't capable of providing the resources and the leadership to keep the club at this level, then sell up to someone who can.
O brave new world. Skivo's problem for tomorrow's home game against Tranmere is who of his 7 loanees to leave out. I haven't picked the gaffer's team for him for a while, so here's my shot at it: A 4-1-3-2 formation. Sullivan in goal (1 loanee), back four of Alcock, Virgo, Huntington and Smith. Yes, Smith. The more Nathan plays, the better he gets and although he's started the season poorly he can and will improve, if he's given games. In midfield I would play Kalala as the sole holding midfielder, playing 2 holding midfielders at home is overkill and unnecessary. In front of him and playing as attacking midfielders prepared to get forward and support the frontmen I'd pick Tudur-Jones (2nd loanee) and MacDonald (3rd loanee), plus an-out-and-out winger - Andy Williams for preference, Welsh if he's unfit - who can switch flanks as and when necessary. Super Gav (4th loanee) as second striker and Bowditch the main striker. On the bench Roberts, Stam, Ayling, Upson, Stewart (5th loanee), Calver and either Welsh or Gibson, depending if Andy Williams plays or not. Freeman and Kiernan (5th and 6th loanees) miss out this time. 4-1 win (we're bound to let in at least 1), 3 points, job done. An hugely important game for Skivo tomorrow. A win, any win, and all the worries will evaporate, at least for a week. Another disappointing performance and a loss, especially with the presence of the Talisman in the team, and the pressure on the manager will be enormous.
The bookies make the Glovers 11/10 favourites for tomorrow's game, with the draw at 9/4 and a Tranmere win at 13/5. My fiver has to go on the home win. Running total: -£7.25p.
Interesting to see the club acknowledge the role played by three businessmen supporters in bringing Gav back to South Somerset. Ben Tupman of Westbury Packaging, Simon Prout of Avon Valley Motor Sales and Rob Tizzard of TZZ Estates have all been thanked by the club, presumably for contributing to the player's wages, though that's not spelled out in so many words. If that's what they've done, then unlike some supporters on the various forums, I've got no problem with that at all. If I had the spare cash (chance would be a fine thing) I would more than happily be willing to contribute to the wages of a player of the calibre of a Gavin Williams. I don't see it as any different to sponsoring a player, or even signing up to the club's lottery - it's all money from fans being given to the club, the only difference here is that the Super Gav Three know exactly what their money is being spent on. Nothing wrong with that and well done to them.
It's curious though that in the past the club have always fought shy of relying on supporters to subsidise wages. I can remember various groups offering to do similar things only for the club to politely refuse their help. I wonder what's changed their mind now? The obvious answer is that we have problems, on and off the pitch. New blood will help on the pitch, off the pitch the solution could well be the same. New blood in the boardroom, new blood in key roles, new ideas, new enthusiasm. Revenue streams revitalised, supporters re-energised and crowds increasing. If the current owners aren't capable of providing the resources and the leadership to keep the club at this level, then sell up to someone who can.
O brave new world. Skivo's problem for tomorrow's home game against Tranmere is who of his 7 loanees to leave out. I haven't picked the gaffer's team for him for a while, so here's my shot at it: A 4-1-3-2 formation. Sullivan in goal (1 loanee), back four of Alcock, Virgo, Huntington and Smith. Yes, Smith. The more Nathan plays, the better he gets and although he's started the season poorly he can and will improve, if he's given games. In midfield I would play Kalala as the sole holding midfielder, playing 2 holding midfielders at home is overkill and unnecessary. In front of him and playing as attacking midfielders prepared to get forward and support the frontmen I'd pick Tudur-Jones (2nd loanee) and MacDonald (3rd loanee), plus an-out-and-out winger - Andy Williams for preference, Welsh if he's unfit - who can switch flanks as and when necessary. Super Gav (4th loanee) as second striker and Bowditch the main striker. On the bench Roberts, Stam, Ayling, Upson, Stewart (5th loanee), Calver and either Welsh or Gibson, depending if Andy Williams plays or not. Freeman and Kiernan (5th and 6th loanees) miss out this time. 4-1 win (we're bound to let in at least 1), 3 points, job done. An hugely important game for Skivo tomorrow. A win, any win, and all the worries will evaporate, at least for a week. Another disappointing performance and a loss, especially with the presence of the Talisman in the team, and the pressure on the manager will be enormous.
The bookies make the Glovers 11/10 favourites for tomorrow's game, with the draw at 9/4 and a Tranmere win at 13/5. My fiver has to go on the home win. Running total: -£7.25p.
Monday, 30 August 2010
It's the hope that hurts
Catch-up time. This blog is a Holdingsgate-free zone, at least for today. We've seen a couple of unexpected new signings since the last time I blogged as well as the confirmation of longer-term loans on a couple more; added to which the rumour-mill, fuelled by no less a source than Skivo himself, has gone wild with the possibility of one more big signing before the transfer window shuts at 6pm tomorrow. Oh, the possibilities! If one was of a cynical frame of mind then one might conclude that the Glovers Board had relaxed the purse-strings somewhat in order to distract attention away from Holdingsgate, but we're not that cynical are we? Hell, no. Oh, I nearly forgot, we also earned a good point away yesterday against a decent Oldham side for which we were full value and were evidently somewhat unlucky not to come away with all three points after having what seemed like a perfectly good goal disallowed as well as a cast-iron penalty refused, again. What is it that referees have against Yeovil Town?
The two loanees who have penned longer-term deals are the expected ones: Millwall keeper John Sullivan and Watford midfielder/defender Rob Kiernan will remain at Huish Park until at least January 3rd 2011. Good news there, but the really good news came on Friday. In hindsight everyone and his dog and cat could see after the Hartlepool debacle that the weak link in the squad was the central midfield, especially when JP Kalala was missing. That has now been addressed, firstly with the arrival of Welsh international Owain Tudur-Jones from Norwich City, back for a second month's spell at Huish Park after his month long loan deal last season; and secondly with the massively welcome news that Shaun Macdonald is back and on a reasonably long-term basis too, also until January 3rd. We won't actually see the Ginger Ninja in action until the September 11th home game v Tranmere as he's off for the next week on Welsh u-21 international duty, but the news that both he and Tudur-Jones have signed was a huge boost on Friday after a pretty dismal week. Welcome back boys, with so many Welshmen back on the playing staff how can we go wrong?
And then there's the possibility that's got the rumour-mill in overdrive. Speaking after the Oldham game, Skivo stoked the fire: "I am still trying to add one more and I am not going to say who it is yet, but I am still trying and I think if we get this one that I am looking for we will be very strong this year." ITK's suggest the mystery man is none other than Gavin Williams. The Welsh international is out of favour at Bristol City, barely appearing on the bench so far this season under former manager Steve Coppell or current boss Keith Millen and is set to go out on loan. According to the rumour-mill L1 rivals Southampton were thought to be keen on signing Super Gav, but with the shock sacking of manager Alan Pardew - who signed Williams from Yeovil when in charge at West Ham United - that move must now be in doubt, which may just leave the Glovers in pole position. It might be a case of 2+2 equalling 5, but there have been whispers all summer about the possibility of the player returning to Huish Park at some stage, and it might just be that this time the rumour-mill's got it right. Fingers are very firmly crossed.
The thought occurs to me that if Gav did sign (I know, I know, let's not count any chickens, but I can't help myself and it's my blog so I'll say what I like), but if he did sign then not only would we have three Williams's in the squad, we'd have a grand total of six (count 'em!) Welshmen as well, if you count Andy Williams as being Welsh which I do seeing as he was born in Hereford. Six Welshmen! Plus one with a surname of Welsh! That's more sons of Wales than Cardiff City and Swansea City combined managed to name in their first team squads this weekend! Cymru am byth!
Ahem! Back to reality. The Glovers entertain Exeter City in a Football League Trophy 1st round match at Huish Park tomorrow night, a game I'm hoping to get to if my sodding electric wheelchair can be fixed before then. My back wheel fell off as I was taking the dog for a walk today, not an experience I want to repeat in a hurry. To add insult to injury it happened at Huish Park as I was foolishly going to see if the ticket office was open so I could buy a ticket for tomorrow night's game. The ticket office open on a bank holiday? What was I thinking? The bookies make the Glovers 6/5 favourites for the win, the draw is priced at 12/5 and an Exeter win at 15/8. My fiver's going on the home win. Running total: +£3.25p.
Just read: Time's Arrow by Martin Amis. Life starts at the moment of death and winds backwards in this Booker Prize-winning novel. Our sympathy is with the protagonist as he gradually gets younger until we realise that his present life hides an appalling past as an assistant to Mengele in Auschwitz. A clever, very readable novel which horrifies and amuses in equal measure. I finished it nearly two weeks ago and I still find myself haunted by the scenes set in the concentration camp, as time inexorably flows backwards, with all that implies. Frightening and absorbing.
The two loanees who have penned longer-term deals are the expected ones: Millwall keeper John Sullivan and Watford midfielder/defender Rob Kiernan will remain at Huish Park until at least January 3rd 2011. Good news there, but the really good news came on Friday. In hindsight everyone and his dog and cat could see after the Hartlepool debacle that the weak link in the squad was the central midfield, especially when JP Kalala was missing. That has now been addressed, firstly with the arrival of Welsh international Owain Tudur-Jones from Norwich City, back for a second month's spell at Huish Park after his month long loan deal last season; and secondly with the massively welcome news that Shaun Macdonald is back and on a reasonably long-term basis too, also until January 3rd. We won't actually see the Ginger Ninja in action until the September 11th home game v Tranmere as he's off for the next week on Welsh u-21 international duty, but the news that both he and Tudur-Jones have signed was a huge boost on Friday after a pretty dismal week. Welcome back boys, with so many Welshmen back on the playing staff how can we go wrong?
And then there's the possibility that's got the rumour-mill in overdrive. Speaking after the Oldham game, Skivo stoked the fire: "I am still trying to add one more and I am not going to say who it is yet, but I am still trying and I think if we get this one that I am looking for we will be very strong this year." ITK's suggest the mystery man is none other than Gavin Williams. The Welsh international is out of favour at Bristol City, barely appearing on the bench so far this season under former manager Steve Coppell or current boss Keith Millen and is set to go out on loan. According to the rumour-mill L1 rivals Southampton were thought to be keen on signing Super Gav, but with the shock sacking of manager Alan Pardew - who signed Williams from Yeovil when in charge at West Ham United - that move must now be in doubt, which may just leave the Glovers in pole position. It might be a case of 2+2 equalling 5, but there have been whispers all summer about the possibility of the player returning to Huish Park at some stage, and it might just be that this time the rumour-mill's got it right. Fingers are very firmly crossed.
The thought occurs to me that if Gav did sign (I know, I know, let's not count any chickens, but I can't help myself and it's my blog so I'll say what I like), but if he did sign then not only would we have three Williams's in the squad, we'd have a grand total of six (count 'em!) Welshmen as well, if you count Andy Williams as being Welsh which I do seeing as he was born in Hereford. Six Welshmen! Plus one with a surname of Welsh! That's more sons of Wales than Cardiff City and Swansea City combined managed to name in their first team squads this weekend! Cymru am byth!
Ahem! Back to reality. The Glovers entertain Exeter City in a Football League Trophy 1st round match at Huish Park tomorrow night, a game I'm hoping to get to if my sodding electric wheelchair can be fixed before then. My back wheel fell off as I was taking the dog for a walk today, not an experience I want to repeat in a hurry. To add insult to injury it happened at Huish Park as I was foolishly going to see if the ticket office was open so I could buy a ticket for tomorrow night's game. The ticket office open on a bank holiday? What was I thinking? The bookies make the Glovers 6/5 favourites for the win, the draw is priced at 12/5 and an Exeter win at 15/8. My fiver's going on the home win. Running total: +£3.25p.
Just read: Time's Arrow by Martin Amis. Life starts at the moment of death and winds backwards in this Booker Prize-winning novel. Our sympathy is with the protagonist as he gradually gets younger until we realise that his present life hides an appalling past as an assistant to Mengele in Auschwitz. A clever, very readable novel which horrifies and amuses in equal measure. I finished it nearly two weeks ago and I still find myself haunted by the scenes set in the concentration camp, as time inexorably flows backwards, with all that implies. Frightening and absorbing.
Friday, 9 July 2010
Silly season warming up
Pre-season training has been going on for over a week now and the big news is that there really isn't that much big news around. We have made another signing since I last blogged, 20-year midfielder Ed Upson, who was released by Ipswich at the end of last season. I'm not going to pretend I know anything about him or that I've even heard of him before, but Skivo was obviously impressed enough to offer him a 2-year deal, so good luck Ed and welcome to Huish Park.
Andy Williams and Luke Ayling have signed their agreed 2-year deals so they're ours now and we can do what we like with them (evil laugh). Skivo has already said that he sees Ayling as a central midfielder rather than the central defender he's been up 'til now. Young Gunner Luke Freeman has also now signed a 6-month loan deal, and I'm looking forward to seeing all the above at the first friendly of the season, at least the first one that's not behind closed doors, against Swansea City a week on Saturday. According to the invaluable @SW6Haribo on Twitter the Glovers are in the Home Counties this weekend for training matches against Wycombe and Stevenage.
Hopefully we'll have a goalkeeper for those games! It's been confirmed that 31-year-old former Bradford City, Huddersfield and Carlisle keeper Matt Glennon is training with the club, as, perhaps surprisingly, is Richard Martin, who of course was released by Skivo at the end of last season. The rumour is that Skivo is hoping to entice Alex McCarthy back to Huish Park for another season which if true might explain the apparent relaxed attitude to getting a keeper signed up, doubtless more will be revealed in the fullness of time.
Another player worth mentioning who's been training with the Glovers this week is former Brighton defender Adam Virgo, but judging by Skivo's comments it's more a question of whether he fancies joining us rather than the other way around. Former Glover Scott Guyet has also been present this week following his release by Bournemouth as well as an unnamed German central defender. It's not known whether anyone mentioned the World Cup to our teutonic guest, but if they did let's hope they got away with it.
Funny story of the week was the one about Super Gavin Williams signing for League Two no-hopers Hereford United. Bullshitter fans were getting very excited about the possibility on their forum, right up until the time Gav got to hear about it himself and said, er no. What would make the story even funnier would be if the multi-talented Welshman then signed up for one of the Hereford's bitterest rivals instead, and no, I don't mean Cheltenham. Sound far-fetched? Maybe, but maybe not. Fingers crossed, eh?
And finally: Lee Trundle. We have made him an offer, according to Skivo, as have several other clubs including Tranmere (where he's training), Swindon, Charlton and Welsh Premiership side Neath Athletic. I think my feelings about the possibility of Trundle signing are best summed up by the erudite Cruncher on the Achieve By Unity forum: "If we are going to give it a go for an expensive flair player, it has to be only one and the one that stands out is SuperGav. No idea if he will become available for loan, but I would want to keep a hopeful slot open for him rather than commit to Trundle and miss out on Williams." Couldn't put it better myself.
Just read: Loadsa stuff so far this summer but what stands out in particular is a series I've re-read: Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy, Red Mars, Green Mars, and Blue Mars. Easily the best lets-go-to-Mars-and-colonise-and-terraform-the-place series I've read, and believe me, I've read a few. It's long, overlong for a lot of people perhaps but I loved every word of it. If ever human beings get to Mars then this is the template on how to do it. Inspirational.
Andy Williams and Luke Ayling have signed their agreed 2-year deals so they're ours now and we can do what we like with them (evil laugh). Skivo has already said that he sees Ayling as a central midfielder rather than the central defender he's been up 'til now. Young Gunner Luke Freeman has also now signed a 6-month loan deal, and I'm looking forward to seeing all the above at the first friendly of the season, at least the first one that's not behind closed doors, against Swansea City a week on Saturday. According to the invaluable @SW6Haribo on Twitter the Glovers are in the Home Counties this weekend for training matches against Wycombe and Stevenage.
Hopefully we'll have a goalkeeper for those games! It's been confirmed that 31-year-old former Bradford City, Huddersfield and Carlisle keeper Matt Glennon is training with the club, as, perhaps surprisingly, is Richard Martin, who of course was released by Skivo at the end of last season. The rumour is that Skivo is hoping to entice Alex McCarthy back to Huish Park for another season which if true might explain the apparent relaxed attitude to getting a keeper signed up, doubtless more will be revealed in the fullness of time.
Another player worth mentioning who's been training with the Glovers this week is former Brighton defender Adam Virgo, but judging by Skivo's comments it's more a question of whether he fancies joining us rather than the other way around. Former Glover Scott Guyet has also been present this week following his release by Bournemouth as well as an unnamed German central defender. It's not known whether anyone mentioned the World Cup to our teutonic guest, but if they did let's hope they got away with it.
Funny story of the week was the one about Super Gavin Williams signing for League Two no-hopers Hereford United. Bullshitter fans were getting very excited about the possibility on their forum, right up until the time Gav got to hear about it himself and said, er no. What would make the story even funnier would be if the multi-talented Welshman then signed up for one of the Hereford's bitterest rivals instead, and no, I don't mean Cheltenham. Sound far-fetched? Maybe, but maybe not. Fingers crossed, eh?
And finally: Lee Trundle. We have made him an offer, according to Skivo, as have several other clubs including Tranmere (where he's training), Swindon, Charlton and Welsh Premiership side Neath Athletic. I think my feelings about the possibility of Trundle signing are best summed up by the erudite Cruncher on the Achieve By Unity forum: "If we are going to give it a go for an expensive flair player, it has to be only one and the one that stands out is SuperGav. No idea if he will become available for loan, but I would want to keep a hopeful slot open for him rather than commit to Trundle and miss out on Williams." Couldn't put it better myself.
Just read: Loadsa stuff so far this summer but what stands out in particular is a series I've re-read: Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy, Red Mars, Green Mars, and Blue Mars. Easily the best lets-go-to-Mars-and-colonise-and-terraform-the-place series I've read, and believe me, I've read a few. It's long, overlong for a lot of people perhaps but I loved every word of it. If ever human beings get to Mars then this is the template on how to do it. Inspirational.
Friday, 12 June 2009
The man not in black anymore
Rob Styles retired from refereeing today. He's only 45 so he could have gone on for another few years had he wanted to, but apparently the pressure of reffing at the top was too much for him, so he's gone. Good! He was a poor, poor ref in my humble opinion, always seemed to want to be the centre of attention, always very eager to get his cards out of his pocket at less than a moment's notice, and was something of a homer to boot. I'm glad he's packed it in.
I know, I know, without referees we wouldn't have a game. Styles may have been poor generally and always seemed to get at least one crucial decision wrong per match, but we should be encouraging referees generally and one experienced ref less is nothing to celebrate..... Well sorry, but in Styles case the fact that he's retired is something to celebrate. From memory he only took charge of one Yeovil game, when he managed somehow to send off Gavin Williams of all people. Super Gav may be many things but one thing he is not is a dirty player and apart from the likes of Bobby Moore or Ryan Giggs it's hard to think of a player less likely to be sent off for anything, but Styles managed to do it. He certainly wasn't afraid to make decisions, the problem was that too many times those decisions were just plain wrong. Bye bye Rob, have a good retirement and please, don't change your mind.
Talking of referees makes me think of the standard of officiating in L1 generally and I have to say that on the whole last season it wasn't too bad overall. I'm struggling to recall more than a couple of games when I left at the end fuming at the man in the middle, most seemed to be competent enough on the whole. The biggest problem that I could see and the thing that leads to frustration amongst fans and players alike was a lack of consistency. But there, I guess if the refs at L1 level were as consistent as they should be then they'd be plying their trade in the Premiership. Just like Rob Styles did.... Oh.
Currently reading: Living Next Door to the God of Love by Justina Robson. I wanted to like this, I enjoyed Mappa Mundi by the same author, but I had to give it up as a bad job in the end, didn't even get halfway through it. A weird mix of fantasy, superheroes and hard sf but ended up as self-indulgent rubbish, albeit well-written self-indulgent rubbish. Ah well, you can't win them all.
I know, I know, without referees we wouldn't have a game. Styles may have been poor generally and always seemed to get at least one crucial decision wrong per match, but we should be encouraging referees generally and one experienced ref less is nothing to celebrate..... Well sorry, but in Styles case the fact that he's retired is something to celebrate. From memory he only took charge of one Yeovil game, when he managed somehow to send off Gavin Williams of all people. Super Gav may be many things but one thing he is not is a dirty player and apart from the likes of Bobby Moore or Ryan Giggs it's hard to think of a player less likely to be sent off for anything, but Styles managed to do it. He certainly wasn't afraid to make decisions, the problem was that too many times those decisions were just plain wrong. Bye bye Rob, have a good retirement and please, don't change your mind.
Talking of referees makes me think of the standard of officiating in L1 generally and I have to say that on the whole last season it wasn't too bad overall. I'm struggling to recall more than a couple of games when I left at the end fuming at the man in the middle, most seemed to be competent enough on the whole. The biggest problem that I could see and the thing that leads to frustration amongst fans and players alike was a lack of consistency. But there, I guess if the refs at L1 level were as consistent as they should be then they'd be plying their trade in the Premiership. Just like Rob Styles did.... Oh.
Currently reading: Living Next Door to the God of Love by Justina Robson. I wanted to like this, I enjoyed Mappa Mundi by the same author, but I had to give it up as a bad job in the end, didn't even get halfway through it. A weird mix of fantasy, superheroes and hard sf but ended up as self-indulgent rubbish, albeit well-written self-indulgent rubbish. Ah well, you can't win them all.
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