Tyrone Shoelaces

Well we had a two week break and we came back like we’d never seen a football before. They wanted it more than us and once again we were out enthused by a team much lower down the table than we are. Huddersfield Town at home - look out because they’ll be at it no problem. I was going to put today’s game in the drawer marked “ Out-enthused again “ but I can’t because it’s full up. I found room for it in the “ Games we’ve won after going behind “ drawer - that was empty. We’re not physical enough, we’re not aggressive enough, we’re too passive by half. Dolan thinks being aggressive is squaring up to bloke when a decision has been given - stupid. How many times did they get outnumbered and we still let them come away with the ball. Exactly what happened for their goal. We’re getting done in centre midfield all the time. Teams run through us. It was like the Stoke game only Stoke had better finishers. Two playing in front of the back four, Szmodics on the half way line, two out wide all the time. Acres to play in in that space for opponents. A three or a four will always cut us open. Maybe more later when I’ve had a think. Scores Pears 6 Did nothing wrong, made a couple of decent saves. Just got beat by Khadra’s only touch of the ball that I saw. JRC 7 Usual up and down the pitch performance. We missed him when he went off - again. Carter 8 Star man. Gave 100% at both ends of the pitch. Hyam 7 Did nothing wrong, steady and resolute. Pickering 6 Teams target his lack of pace. Did ok going forward. Hedges 6 OK, I prefer him on the left. Morton 5 He’s a luxury we can’t afford, got Travis booked, not for the first time either. Travis 7 Playing on his own in centre midfield. Dolan 6 I keep saying it - we need him more in their half than in ours. Childish booking. Szmodics 5 I’ve got to say it - I’m not a fan. Not in the game anything like enough for me. Again in the first half I’d forgotten he was playing. Gallagher 5 Absolutely no physical presence at all. Paul Dickov was half his size but who would you want to play against ? OK the service to him was shite but you’ve got to impose yourself on the game more than that. Missed a good headed chance right at the death. Subs - all brought on way too late. Thomas - poor, but by thevtime he got on we were 1-0 down and they’d got 10 behind the ball and he’d no space to run in to. Dack - hardly got a touch. BBD - ditto but why was it that his every touch was like he was trying to control a rugby ball ? In all - very disappointing.

Yeah we only had all summer.

Yeah, move on to the dark side of the moon.

X 10. Start like the Rotherham annd Stoke games and it’ll be a long afternoon. These are no mugs.

The Temptations - Just My Imagination ( Running Away With Me )

That got brought home to me many years ago. I was walking across the warehouse at the place I served my time when who should I see walking towards me pushing a sack truck but Stan Milburn. The last time I saw him playing was at his testimonial game a month or two ago when a host of old time stars turned out for him. His name might not mean anything now but he was Jackie Milburn’s brother and Bobby and Jackie Charlton’s uncle. He’d had a long career in football at several clubs , mainly at Leicester City, before he wound down at Rochdale. He’d been an England “ B “ international in his time. Yet a month or two after retiring from football he was working as a labourer in a warehouse. At least our works football team got a good player/coach. He was a lovely man, no side to him at all. No great “ I am “. He played amateur football well into his mid fifties. RIP Stan and thanks for the memories.

I’d like some help but not that badly.

Bobby Bland - Turn On Your Love Light

Jackie Lee - Do The Temptation Walk

Johnny Rivers - The Poor Side Of Town

The Knight Brothers - Temptation ‘Bout To Get Me

Astrud Gilberto And Stan Getz - The Girl From Ipanema

Jimmy Reed - Honest I Do

Sounds like turkeys voting for Christmas.

James Carr - At The Dark End Of The Street

The Miracles - You Really Got A Hold On Me

The Supremes - Come See About Me

Duane Eddy - 40 Miles Of Bad Road

He seemed to be an all round good guy. He’ll be sadly missed. RIP.

Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs - Little Red Riding Hood

“ Ryanair “ ! Slumming it with the great unwashed ? It’ll be a private jet surely ?

Curtis Lee - Pretty Little Angel Eyes

The Tymes - So Much In Love

The Young Rascals - You Better Run

Freda Payne - Band Of Gold