I was there Hoppers, Warky,TB, Nuggets and all!.....sporting my Pink Tulip wandering around Rileys like a friggin pansy getting some odd looks, desparate for someone to come up and say "Gaffer...tis you, mate, let me buy you a pint!!" Did they my arse! Very nice bouncer at door said, why didnt I stand on a chair and yell out..., anyways, I arrived at 2pm did get delayed at Chelmsford with bad traffic...something to do with FA Cup being on show there...hmmm. My thoughts in random order: Surprising crowd of 20,000 - Cracking start, just like end of 2014. - well taken goal by poacher Murph. We all thought well here we go at last, lets bust the gates down. We showed pace, energy, even flair, and Chaplow contributing well. Impressed by Brentford's passing game, on the ground,(Whats that we might well ask!) still playing well a goal down. Gerks I thought had a good game, the back 4 seemed more confident in front and apart from the usual Smith 2-3 howlers, Gerks commanded the area and the goal came soon afer he had made a terrific save, and some idiot passed the ball back to him...caused horrendous muddle, he scraped it clear....then shortly after, they banged theirs in. Brentford continued their flowing, good passing game, and we reverted to our hoofball. At this stage I dont recall seeing one thru the middle passing to feet of forwards move. Sears and Murph starved of good ball. Ref had a shocker at times. Game got scrappier. Our best player, Jonny Parr made some decent crosses from the left. Tabb usual energetic self, all over the park, industrious but hardly a singly creative thru ball. Skuse inconspic, and Murph...well what can one say. Should have had a hatrick....but really cant blame the guy, such terrific form all season. Is that 25 now?! I hope he can pick himelf up. Couldnt believe my eyes when Freddie taken off. Hoofball big time...hopeful punts up...midfield non-existent, I was thinking, Brentford are going to win this in last 10 when they were still playing totally different type of football and running rings around us, and we were looking well tired. Chasing the game rather than letting the ball do the work. Wood vainly chasing the odd ball in the air. Bish came on late and showed his touches of class. All in all quite an entertaining match with Town playing quite decent stuff in spells. But, make no mistake, we are no where ready for a prem push, we might scrape the play-offs, but will MM take us up and prove himself the right manager? Not in my book, and I do like the man, admire what he has achieved, but we do need someone with much more imagination, positive footballing philosophy. We are where we are, and thats that. And, give him credit, even tho his tactics are crass at times, he does get the best out of a modest bunch of players. Loyalty counts a lot in my book. The strange thing is in the last 2-3 games of 2014 that I watched, before our January U turn, we were playing positive, direct, passing football - 433 - not frugal, not negative and often thru the middle. And I was excited, we were all over the moon, and we threatened top 2 place, and never outside top 4 for a decent period! We are now clinging on to top 6 shirt-tails, and badly need our injured players back.Bru, Hunty, McG( I am worried about him, and fear we may have seen his best days last year). But, as we all keep saying, funny old league this. And amazingly, we are still there with a chance. Every top 8 team has experienced a poor run of form. But what really worries me is that those who do find it, like Bnmth, Norwich, Brentford seem to have a totally different style of play......and go out to win games and pass the ball around. And they have wingers. If I was offered just one change - apart from all the obious ones we have all agreed on, to make a difference over last 10 games - get Jonny W in pronto to give us that spark and energy behind the front two.. Was it worth the 7 hr haul? Of course, always love the PR atmosphere. And waxing lyrical to Dads and their sons about the extraordinary times of ITFC in the 60's and 70's. Ipswich 6 L'pool 0!! And the misty-eyed trip to Wembly and beat Arsenal! I am proud of what we have done, and know that all over the world there are supporters like Spanish and Diego who would just love to get to matches. And there are thousands of fans who have followed our fortunes for decades. And, more important, lots of youngsters who get the thrill of walking on to the pitch alongside their heroes.
We were sitting by the entrance honestly mate and Hoppers did a scouting mission around the pub! We must have just missed you mate which was a big shame as I was looking forward to meet up with you.
I heard a different story scog!! Warky saw you but hid as he didnt want to have to buy you a drink, poor old hoppers never managed to get a drink off him either!!
Must have missed you by mins Gaffer, we went over to PR at 2pm..just as well as they did not let Warky in..
I have to say gaffer that going to football is one of the biggest things I miss about England. There are a few other things I miss obviously, but football is near the top of the list.
Funny you should mention the fantastic gravy because yeah, I do. Luckily I have a British import shop near me where I can buy those great tasting granules for the wonderful price of 5 bucks (normally 99p, it says it clearly on the side ) I get the beef and the chicken if you're really interested. It also gives me the opportunity to buy other things you take for granted....Yorkie/Double Decker and sausage rolls/cornish pasties, all for an exorbitantly high price that I pay willingly for a taste of home. American chocolate is garbage
American cheese is not to clever either so I've heard.................and Warky was disappointed with the porn but that's another story...........only been to Merica once about 15 years ago .
So now we move onto cheese..... American 'sharp' cheese (as opposed to mild or medium) tastes ok for every day use but I still like to go out and pay those wonderfully inflated prices for a good piece of vintage Irish cheddar. You know, the kind that makes your forehead sweat when you eat a ham/cheese sandwich I do like strong cheese.
Sorry is cheese to far 'off topic'... No point having it if you can't taste it............ While we talking about it...what's the real ale status over there I've seen a few american craft beers at some beer festivals...?
First off, sorry to gaffer for hijacking his thread whilst I get homesick and reminisce over great English food. Beers are getting really good over here Weighty. Craft beer is huge here now and although I don't drink ale there are some fantastic IPA's about now as well as other darker lagers and such. My favourite at the minute is Red Trolley, a San Diego brewed craft beer named after the colour of the trams here. Another one I really like is Fat Tire.
Oh please stop with this real Irish Cheddar nonsense! Only Cheddar from Somerset can be classed as proper Cheddar!
It's just thread progression SD.......I'm sure nobody minds ...need something to soon a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon so might as well have a Anglo-American chat.
No worries mate...when working in Far East, I missed lots too...the seasons for starters! Fish n Chips, but I did acquire a taste for proper curries! When you do make it back, we will meet up.....I will beat this bastard disease...and guess who will be buying drinks....for all of us!!
