I was sitting a little bored last night and got to thinking just how little I actually know about football, 50 years of following it and still I know so little. The truth is I get a little envious of the amount of knowledge on these boards, the insight into potential targets, strengths and weaknesses of foreign players I have never heard of, I struggle to spot the strengths and weaknesses of players we have. When we score a goal at the SoL I jump up pumping the air in excitement but then have to look at the scoreboard to see who scored because I often miss it in the melay. Got me thinking, why do I go, what makes me pay money I cant really afford for a season ticket and a shirt Iâm to fat and old to really wear, whatâs the draw. I read in admiration the accounts of games 5, 10 and 20 years ago, players who did this, teams who did that, I struggle to recount games from last season, so again I ask myself, why. Well yes there are all the obvious things, the thrill of the day, the comaradari, the excitement, but sitting last night it was none of those things that I remembered without having to put thought into it, And anyway all of those nice thoughts and memories can be countered by the doom, gloom and dissapointment. 2 things stood out in my memory from last season, 2 things that make me want to go back again and again in the hope I see and feel similar next season. One is Hendersons goal when he chested the ball down, rounded the defender and scored, well not so much the goal but his reaction. I have seen a few run to the fans in the corner with hand grasping the badge on their shirt but there could be no doubt that Henderson meant it. At that moment I got to share a young lads dream and whatever the future holds for him he will always have a place in my heart for letting me share that moment. Second is watching young Colback over the last few games of the season. He came in more through luck that choice and watching him in his first game I felt for him because he looked like a kid who knew he maybe should not be there. He looked like an outsider, scared to make a mistake, not really wanting to have the ball but he got through the game and did OK. I then watched the same lad a few weeks later, most of the first team had gone with their season over and he was in the middle of midfield to do what he could, he dominated that game. Every ball came through him, short passes and long passes all made, tackling and bursting into the box, all there. Over the course of a few weeks I had watched a young nervous boy become an accomplished man, will it last, who knows but the memory of that short journey stays with me. So maybe I go now trying to recapture my lost youth and live it through those kids or maybe I have been doing it for that long that I know no better. Whatever the reason I will be there next season, still oblivious to most of whatâs going on but still loving every moment.
Great post Syd. About young Colback. With my very limited knowledge of the beautiful game. I feel this young lad is a gem and is headed for the very heights.
Colback is a player I know about but there again knew nothing of. I know its wrong but he came on with his red hair and pasty skin and first thoughts, honestly, well he does not look like a footballer, I know its wrong but just being honest. By the last game he had wowed me in a way Henderson never did, he just looked so good, a Scholes or Gerrard in the making. Now if we grow and keep him I will know we have moved on.
Do you expect Colback to play many games this season.? Competition from Catts, Meyler (when fit), and Bruce does seem to be targetting midfielders at the moment.
"By the last game he had wowed me in a way Henderson never did" Bang on mate. He's just one of those very few players that you watch, smile and think "He's good. He's very good".
I think the lad has the potential to be a superstar if he keeps his head right. One thing we can say about young Jordan is that he always came across as a level headed kid unlike his new team mate. No names mentioned but a small clue, he comes from up the road & is a long haired, lanky piss ball. Betcha can't guess?
I'm hoping he gets something that Henderson missed out on, time. I think, on what I have seen, that he is good enough, to me potentialy better than Catts and Meyler so when he gets his chance, and he will, he will take it. and thats the point of my OP, I'm no expert just enjoy watching but its the Colback moments that I remember.
If Bruce is prepared to give the youngsters a chance, why are we prepared to splash out millions on Whickham when we have our very own Noble waiting in the wings? He could well be the next, Henderson, Colback. and save the Whickham money for someone more proven.
Could Colbeck benefit from a season in the Championship playing week in week out for a Club like- Ipswich? Perhaps part of a deal for Wickham
Lads. I did try to tell you about young Jack from his youth team days through to the reserves. He actually stood out more than Jordan in both and the time he has on the ball and the lovely one touch pass and move mentality made me notice him from the second I saw him. He is a very intelligent young player and has a great future ahead of him. He will, IMO become an integral part of our team next season and for some to come, unless of course Liverpool dont come waving a cheque book next summer, then we will just flog him and try and make out its a good deal for everyone?
I never quite got the hype surrounding Hendo. The times I saw him he looked average at best. Maybe some of it was to do with him being a local lad come good but for me selling him was no biggy. And for 20 Million!!! Yes please. Every player has his price and Jack is no exception but if we did sell him it would be a damning enditement on our club. And our future.
Jordan will be a huge hit on Merseyside IMO. He is technically a good player and playing alongside Gerrard will be good for him. He is only a kid and only 2 years into his career and yes there are good games and bad ones. My sadness is that when he matures in another 2 years, it will be with another club not SAFC. I think we could have held out and kept Jordan though and linked him to Colback and Noble to have a red & white heart NE at the club as Man Utd and Liverpool have done recently with Giggs, Scoles, the Neville's etc and Gerrard and Carragher. Its been a dream of mine for 30 years, to see a team with 3 or 4 local lads in, as when Rowell, Arnott and Elliot broke into the first team in the mid to late 70's. I think the current crop are good enough and were ready to play their parts but sadly, that will never be now. Lads like N'Gog wont add a single thing to our club but lads like Jordan Henderson would have run through a brick door for the club. I find it depressing that we should just cash in so readily when we do produce a good young local player.
going back to my OP for my answer on this, I know nowt but enjoy what I know. I cant in all honesty say I enjoyed watching Henderson so a 20 mil pay day is good to me. I do enjoy watching Colback so I hope he stays around.
That's what we all want at the end of the day. Players you don't mind spending your hard earned cash on to see. Off the top of my head I can think of Bally, Dickie Ord, Rowell, "The G force", Monty, Quinn and of course SKP.
Great post syd i could have wrote that for myself I also struggle withn the memory thing lol someone wil mention players long gone from my memory I also look at the score board lol but i do know 9 times out of ten once i get my glasses focused on the number not being racist but when Bennet scored we knew (he was the only colured player on the pitch lol) Too fat for the shirt- yes Foreign players -not a clue Syd its in the heart that pumps our red and white blood we have Its all the years of Excitement heartache The expectation that this could be our year of 1973 again Its also the fact we are too old and fat to play ourselves, although i bet we all sit there and crticise saying things like "I could of scored that" "FFS watch the offside line" "Jesus lad your ****e" But when that winning goal goes in we are like excited kids again getting there first feel behind the bike shed lol So i guess ill see you next year
YOU ARE RUBBISH SON BRUCE YOU DONT HAVE A CLUE I COULD HAVE SCORED THAT TIRED, HOW COME HE IS TIRED ON THE MONEY HE IS ON WHAT A STUPID SUBSTITUTION I often wonder why I'm never picked or ofered the managers job, I am so much better than that lot.
Why do managers sit in the dug out? It's obviously far easier to do it from the stands. We get 40000 fantastic managers in the SOL every week, yet the one apparent crap one sits in the dugout.
Lol i like your point and there is 40,000 who would do it for free and you get to go to all the games around the country for nowt lol sit on the team bus what more can a man want.
