It's only the Carling Cup - Next Round!!!
So, I've missed the last league home game versus Accrington Stanley as my presence was required elsewhere. The Cobblers have also managed an away draw at Bury and we lie closer to the bottom of the league than the top. Not what we were expecting based on our pre season showing but "It's a marathon, not a sprint," so hope remains eternal.
Tonight's Carling Cup game pitches us against the might of Reading F.C., who only a couple of seasons ago were gracing the echelons of the Premier League and upsetting a few fancy names during their stay. However, "footballs a funny old game Saint," and anything can happen in ninety minutes.
The quirk of tonight's game as I have previously mentioned in my blogs, is the fact that the rest of my family are Reading season ticket holders, (Mum, Dad, Brother, Sis, Cousins etc), and tonight my son and I will be inhabiting seats amongst the Reading faithful to enjoy the family camaraderie, banter, winding-up etc etc.
For the first time this season I am not feeling that confident about tonight's result, we've started slowly and so have Reading, but the last time I attended a Reading match they had also had a slow start to the season and were playing Luton Town in the Carling Cup, (Deja-Vu tells me that they could be due to give someone a right hiding as they did that night, (Won 5-1)). Hope not!
I've promised me mum that I would suffer in silence and not be the lone Cobbler's voice echoing from the Reading West Stand - it don't go down well with the locals to have a foreigner being a bit vocal. The stewards have usually got an opinion as well. Anyway I've collected the folks and we travel to the temple that is known in Reading as the "Mad-Stad." (Madejski Stadium, named after the local millionaire John Madejski who has ploughed his millions, (very successful used car salesman), into Reading FC as chairman).
I'm not tight by any means, but isn't eight quid a bit steep to park your car for a couple of hours!! They obviously don't want you to bring your car to Reading. (If we charged that for parking at Sixfields we could have a new striker in a couple of weeks!!)
Just to be good, and because of our seats I have omitted my Cobblers shirt from tonight's attire. I'll gamble on the "Jackson Grundy" jacket. If I manage to keep my mouth shut all night, (promised me mum), then only the bloke behind me will put two and two together. (Hang on this is Reading, I should be OK!!!!).
We've spread out along the row to try and save eleven seats - Didn't know the Reading bench was this high up in the stand, Novel!
Me brother's gang are leaving it to the last minute to put in an appearance and we're getting pestered by plenty to give up the seats. No chance. He'll be here when his glass is empty!!
It was good to see the Cobbler's training steps lined up along the touchline. It had provoked a lot of interest / amusement from those around me. I can't blow my cover this early, the match ain't started yet.
Good start by the team announcer - our centre forward tonight has now been re-named - ladies and gentlemen I give you "Tadge Persil!!!!" (Proper name Tadgh Purcell - pronounced "Tie").
I noticed on the Reading web site that one of the players, Jem Karacan, had said, "They will come here wanting to pit their wits against a big club."
Don't get me wrong, I've already identified Reading as a Championship club, but a "Big club!" - Note to Mr Karacan - you're only as big as the team on the pitch with you. You have no divine right to start in front or to win against a "Small" club, hopefully you'll get what your throw away comment deserves.
It don't take long - 17 minutes, Reading 1-0 B******ks!
It seems like the whole of the stand has swallowed me up in celebration. Music, Dancing and lots of arm waving. Two people remain silent and seated.
20 minutes - Reading 1 Cobblers 1 - Yes!
No music, no dancing, Two people cheering and whooping. 6000 people seated and silent!!
This could be a good night. It's end to end stuff with chances for both teams. Impressed with Reading player Antonio. Very quick, very skillful, bloody nuisance!
Half time is upon us before we know it - good first half for the Cobblers. We've held our own against a "Big" team.
It was noted during the first half that the Camera man obviously got bored as there suddenly appeared a rather artistic shot of the moon on the big screen. He won't need to let everyone know that it's night time as we can now see the moon with our own eyes above the stadium. Stick to the game mate, you might miss something interesting.
My brother Chris, (he wanted to be named as no one has ever mentioned him on the Internet before! There you go bruv, you've now arrived!), has appeared for the second half - (apparently you can order drinks for the interval at Reading like you do at the theatre. Very civilised. No wonder he goes every week), has keenly observe that the Cobblers Fitness Coach (Glen Thurgood), is suffering from OCD!
"How do you work that out?"
"He's lined all the drink bottles up in one corner of the technical area, all facing the same way. We just chuck ours anywhere."
Perhaps it takes someone with OCD to notice another or perhaps it's a good sign that the Cobblers like their house in order and that Reading are a bit of a mish mash arrangement!
62 minutes - Reading 2 Cobblers 1 - Hal Robson-Kanu, (Good Welsh name that one)
Ditto 17 minutes. - Boring, Boring, yawn, yawn.
My brother is now totally confident that his regular 3-1 Reading bet is about to reward the bank balance for the evening. As soon as he announces the forthcoming funds they are absorbed into the household by my sister in law! (I'll leave your name out Jax, just in case you ticked the no publicity box on the form!!)
64 minutes - Reading 2 Cobblers 2 - Kevin Thornton, (God like performance so far tonight).
Ditto 20 minutes (times 3).
Brother's household funds are now swiftly returned to Messrs William Hill or which ever gambling charity he invests in!! Abuse sent in my direction with aplomb - I didn't score the equaliser, honest!
"There's always next week mate," I offer.
Cobbler's are dominating the second half, it's difficult to tell who the "Big" club is. Kevin Thornton denied a wonder goal after waltzing round four defenders. Michael Jacobs causing problems down the left as well as attracting compliments from Reading fans around me.
94th minute - 2 Cobblers fans in West Stand and about 800 behind the goal reach the heights of ecstasy as Steve Guinan scores the winner!
"He's offside, he's offside," cheers my Brother. (Ditto 17 minutes, Word 9). Extra time.
114 minutes - Reading 3 Cobblers 2. We've excelled tonight but surely we can't come back again!
This is not the Cobblers of old, this is not the team that couldn't score against Accrington Stanley, (That's a bigger team than Reading in lettering terms!), this team tonight have belief.
Reading denied a stonewall penalty in dying seconds.
125th minute, yes the ref played until we scored as he felt we were the better team on the night and wanted to see it through to penalties.
125th minute - Shot, Deflection, Whatever - Reading 3 Cobblers 3 - Ecstasy.
Can't shout much more, lost my voice. Ref seems popular with the locals as they are all offering him advise.
Penalties - I'm not going through them one by one. Reading missed two and we didn't. Cobblers win 4-2 on penalties and go into the draw for a "Big" team.
We won't forget our night out at the "Mad Stad" for a long long time. Bragging rights have been graciously accepted and on tonight's performance we look forward to a league visit next season!!
I'm sorry Mum, I broke my promise to keep quiet and not show anyone up. 17 minutes wasn't that bad and I know you had more problems with the behaviour of a couple of local fans. Dad, don't get so involved, it's only a football match!!!
It was a "Nice" drive back up the A43. I suspect that most cars heading back my way were full of jubilant almost bewildered Cobblers fans, still trying to work out how our "Little" team had beat their "Big" team.
I hope Ian Sampson pinned that interview up on the wall before the game. Something must have happened 'cause tonight we owned 'em! (Oh by the way, Sammo smiled. Sammo smiled a lot).
"Come On Cobblers, Come On!"
Thursday, 26 August 2010
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
It's Only The Carling Cup!!!
"He who has never hoped, can never despair" - George Bernard Shaw
Well I wonder who he supported then, because that was obviously intended for football supporters everywhere.
The first game of the league season has passed us by and all hope and optimism shared by supporters nationwide is either blossoming or shattered!!!
We Cobblers went into the first game of the season with every thing to look forward to, and here we are, three days later, with our season in tatters after a drubbing at Torquay!!!
There's been plenty written by more learned fans than me on the whys and wherefores of the performance by the seaside and I am not going to re-visit old ground. I wasn't there, I didn't pick the team, I only suffered in silence like thousands of others. The pain, the pain. The shame, the shame.
I didn't expect this sort of reaction this early into being a supporter, but there you have it. Heartfelt anguish of defeat - what happened boys?
I picked my son up from the train station ahead of the evening Carling Cup match against Brighton.
"Are you looking forward to the game?"
"It's ridiculous, but I'm really excited about it," he replied
This football supporting lark is infectious, cause I can't wait either. I feel like an excited teenager. Get a grip man!!!
(For those of you who have followed previous posts and have previously heard me mention, I apologise, but I was at the Royal Albert Hall last weekend watching the BBC proms, in particular the concert on the Saturday evening by the National Youth Orchestra. I can report that the concert was amazing, conductor extraordinaire and music enchanting! (BBC 2, August 21st 7.30 ish).
Tuesday 10th August - Cobblers v Brighton & Hove Albion (Carling Cup 1st Round).
So it's off to Sixfields once more for the evening match in the first round of the Carling Cup. There has been plenty of opinion shared on the Northampton Town Fan Forums, (try out the "Hotel End" and "Sixfields Boys" a good way to pass a few moments of time keeping up with the gossip). (For legal reasons and I don't want to appear bias towards other Forums that I have not mentioned, other forums are available, local call charges may or not apply and share prices can go up or down, and the opinions expressed within these pages and others on the Internet are only opinions of those expressing them!!)
Some say that the cup result doesn't matter and it's the league we want to concentrate on. As a football fan I want to win every game even though I know that's not possible, I couldn't care what competition is being played, I want my team to perform well and progress as far as possible. It's nice to think we are big enough to concentrate on the league only and bed in the youngsters as seems to be the general trend these days, but we need a cup run for good gate receipts, we play our youngsters 'cause they are good enough to play, and we don't have the luxury of one side for the league and one for the cup. Bring on the Seagulls!!!
I'm nervous before the game. I think it's caused by the fear of losing again. Brighton are a league higher than us and won on Saturday. Having seen a lot of promise pre-season and hearing that the team did not play that well at Torquay, I am nervous 'cause I want them to play with a passion they showed pre-season.
The first ten minutes were not great for the Cobblers. Our on loan goalkeeper had a few issues keeping the ball between the two white lines running either side of the pitch and we were giving the ball away with a consummate ease that had not been obvious in previous matches.
Suddenly, it was all a distant memory - courtesy of a determined run into the box by our own boy wonder, Michael Jacobs. His shot seemed to go through the goalkeeper and Cobblers led 1-0
It's interesting to see what a goal can do for confidence, as a different team patrolled the green pastures of Sixfields from that moment on. Heads held higher, chests expanded with the fresh air of confidence, the Cobblers played like a team.
We only had to wait a few more minutes before an excellent cross by Gilligan, (had a good first 45 minutes up and down the right flank), was expertly dispatched with his head, by Billy McKay, into the corner of the net. Cobblers 2 Brighton 0. Oh, how we cheered!
Brighton were rocked!
Now managed by Gus Poyet, (player -Uruguay, Chelsea, Tottenham, Swindon!! Coach - Swindon, Leeds, Tottenham), you would have expected his new charges to play the game with a bit of panache. (I don't think Swindon have played with much panache since Don Rogers ploughed through the mud at wembley to score two extra time goals against Arsenal in the 1969 League Cup Final, (now the Carling Cup for you young 'uns),that Swindon won 3-1) No chance.
"You can take the man out of Leeds, but you can't take Leeds out of the man."
Couple the "Leeds" factor into a South American temperament and you get tonight's Brighton team.
Yellow cards were shown. Straight red for Matt Sparrow - he got what he deserved - you can't raise your arms into an opponents face these days without facing the walk!
Enraged Uruguayan remonstrating with anyone that would listen - West Stand let him know what they think. Uruguayan sits down.
Brighton player has a go in another on field bout. Uruguayan manager seen rollicking young player and probably pointing out to him that "it's not yet half time, we're already down to ten men and Matt Sparrow won't eat all the oranges before you get there!!!"
Half time - Cobblers 2 Brighton 0
I didn't expect much of a spectacle in the second half. Brighton had lost the plot for this match and they would come out huffing and puffing their way through the second half with aggression thrown in to try and bully their way back.
Thank the Lord our boys didn't get involved. We continued to play some decent football. Michael Jacobs continued to taunt the newly introduced Alan Navarro and it was during one of these "Skinning's" that the unfortunate Navarro was left lying in agony from a quick turn and saw him departing sadly on a stretcher. It's not great to see any footballer leave the field in this manner and we wish him a speedy recovery.
We were unable to trouble the scoreboard during the second half - amazing really as we dominated for most of the second period. Yeh, Brighton rallied for spells but they never really threatened to score.
A lot of positives for the Cobblers' tonight. We showed that we can play football. Jacobs is a great prospect. Billy McKay looked dangerous every time he got the ball.
For me on the evening I was very impressed with Nathaniel Wedderburn. This was his full debut for the Cobblers and has impressed during the pre-season. I believe he will grow into his role on the pitch and he quietly goes around doing an efficient and effective job of sticking his foot in a breaking up the play. There was also some good distribution around the park with a sweet left peg. I look forward to watching him over the season, he's only eighteen and shows maturity beyond his years. Give the lad a chance and help him believe.
Someone behind me encouraged Sammo to give us a smile. Sammo's response was to bellow instructions to one of his players. "That told me then," came the response. No smile.
Gus Poyet still looks as fit as a Butcher's dog! He could probably still do a decent job on the pitch if it wasn't for the knees. It's nice to know that some manager's enjoy the banter with the crowd, as a quick piece of ball control on the sidelines was greeted with cheers from the home supporters. Poyet turned and blew kisses to the crowd in appreciation!! Nice touch well received by the fans.
We're in the next round of the Carling Cup! - Along with at least 2,000 other supporters I left with hope. It's only a matter of time I suppose before despair rears it's ugly head once more. However, I take hope from the fact that on the opening day of the 2009/10 season, Norwich City lost 7-1 at home to Colchester. Norwich picked themselves up and finished champions of Division 1. Now that's hope!
I shall be missing from the next few home games due to holidays. I return, God willing, for the match against Southend on September the 11th - That's a whole month without a fix. I don't think I can last that long!
I would like to think I return to watch the league leaders!
"Come on Cobblers, Come On!"
Well I wonder who he supported then, because that was obviously intended for football supporters everywhere.
The first game of the league season has passed us by and all hope and optimism shared by supporters nationwide is either blossoming or shattered!!!
We Cobblers went into the first game of the season with every thing to look forward to, and here we are, three days later, with our season in tatters after a drubbing at Torquay!!!
There's been plenty written by more learned fans than me on the whys and wherefores of the performance by the seaside and I am not going to re-visit old ground. I wasn't there, I didn't pick the team, I only suffered in silence like thousands of others. The pain, the pain. The shame, the shame.
I didn't expect this sort of reaction this early into being a supporter, but there you have it. Heartfelt anguish of defeat - what happened boys?
I picked my son up from the train station ahead of the evening Carling Cup match against Brighton.
"Are you looking forward to the game?"
"It's ridiculous, but I'm really excited about it," he replied
This football supporting lark is infectious, cause I can't wait either. I feel like an excited teenager. Get a grip man!!!
(For those of you who have followed previous posts and have previously heard me mention, I apologise, but I was at the Royal Albert Hall last weekend watching the BBC proms, in particular the concert on the Saturday evening by the National Youth Orchestra. I can report that the concert was amazing, conductor extraordinaire and music enchanting! (BBC 2, August 21st 7.30 ish).
Tuesday 10th August - Cobblers v Brighton & Hove Albion (Carling Cup 1st Round).
So it's off to Sixfields once more for the evening match in the first round of the Carling Cup. There has been plenty of opinion shared on the Northampton Town Fan Forums, (try out the "Hotel End" and "Sixfields Boys" a good way to pass a few moments of time keeping up with the gossip). (For legal reasons and I don't want to appear bias towards other Forums that I have not mentioned, other forums are available, local call charges may or not apply and share prices can go up or down, and the opinions expressed within these pages and others on the Internet are only opinions of those expressing them!!)
Some say that the cup result doesn't matter and it's the league we want to concentrate on. As a football fan I want to win every game even though I know that's not possible, I couldn't care what competition is being played, I want my team to perform well and progress as far as possible. It's nice to think we are big enough to concentrate on the league only and bed in the youngsters as seems to be the general trend these days, but we need a cup run for good gate receipts, we play our youngsters 'cause they are good enough to play, and we don't have the luxury of one side for the league and one for the cup. Bring on the Seagulls!!!
I'm nervous before the game. I think it's caused by the fear of losing again. Brighton are a league higher than us and won on Saturday. Having seen a lot of promise pre-season and hearing that the team did not play that well at Torquay, I am nervous 'cause I want them to play with a passion they showed pre-season.
The first ten minutes were not great for the Cobblers. Our on loan goalkeeper had a few issues keeping the ball between the two white lines running either side of the pitch and we were giving the ball away with a consummate ease that had not been obvious in previous matches.
Suddenly, it was all a distant memory - courtesy of a determined run into the box by our own boy wonder, Michael Jacobs. His shot seemed to go through the goalkeeper and Cobblers led 1-0
It's interesting to see what a goal can do for confidence, as a different team patrolled the green pastures of Sixfields from that moment on. Heads held higher, chests expanded with the fresh air of confidence, the Cobblers played like a team.
We only had to wait a few more minutes before an excellent cross by Gilligan, (had a good first 45 minutes up and down the right flank), was expertly dispatched with his head, by Billy McKay, into the corner of the net. Cobblers 2 Brighton 0. Oh, how we cheered!
Brighton were rocked!
Now managed by Gus Poyet, (player -Uruguay, Chelsea, Tottenham, Swindon!! Coach - Swindon, Leeds, Tottenham), you would have expected his new charges to play the game with a bit of panache. (I don't think Swindon have played with much panache since Don Rogers ploughed through the mud at wembley to score two extra time goals against Arsenal in the 1969 League Cup Final, (now the Carling Cup for you young 'uns),that Swindon won 3-1) No chance.
"You can take the man out of Leeds, but you can't take Leeds out of the man."
Couple the "Leeds" factor into a South American temperament and you get tonight's Brighton team.
Yellow cards were shown. Straight red for Matt Sparrow - he got what he deserved - you can't raise your arms into an opponents face these days without facing the walk!
Enraged Uruguayan remonstrating with anyone that would listen - West Stand let him know what they think. Uruguayan sits down.
Brighton player has a go in another on field bout. Uruguayan manager seen rollicking young player and probably pointing out to him that "it's not yet half time, we're already down to ten men and Matt Sparrow won't eat all the oranges before you get there!!!"
Half time - Cobblers 2 Brighton 0
I didn't expect much of a spectacle in the second half. Brighton had lost the plot for this match and they would come out huffing and puffing their way through the second half with aggression thrown in to try and bully their way back.
Thank the Lord our boys didn't get involved. We continued to play some decent football. Michael Jacobs continued to taunt the newly introduced Alan Navarro and it was during one of these "Skinning's" that the unfortunate Navarro was left lying in agony from a quick turn and saw him departing sadly on a stretcher. It's not great to see any footballer leave the field in this manner and we wish him a speedy recovery.
We were unable to trouble the scoreboard during the second half - amazing really as we dominated for most of the second period. Yeh, Brighton rallied for spells but they never really threatened to score.
A lot of positives for the Cobblers' tonight. We showed that we can play football. Jacobs is a great prospect. Billy McKay looked dangerous every time he got the ball.
For me on the evening I was very impressed with Nathaniel Wedderburn. This was his full debut for the Cobblers and has impressed during the pre-season. I believe he will grow into his role on the pitch and he quietly goes around doing an efficient and effective job of sticking his foot in a breaking up the play. There was also some good distribution around the park with a sweet left peg. I look forward to watching him over the season, he's only eighteen and shows maturity beyond his years. Give the lad a chance and help him believe.
Someone behind me encouraged Sammo to give us a smile. Sammo's response was to bellow instructions to one of his players. "That told me then," came the response. No smile.
Gus Poyet still looks as fit as a Butcher's dog! He could probably still do a decent job on the pitch if it wasn't for the knees. It's nice to know that some manager's enjoy the banter with the crowd, as a quick piece of ball control on the sidelines was greeted with cheers from the home supporters. Poyet turned and blew kisses to the crowd in appreciation!! Nice touch well received by the fans.
We're in the next round of the Carling Cup! - Along with at least 2,000 other supporters I left with hope. It's only a matter of time I suppose before despair rears it's ugly head once more. However, I take hope from the fact that on the opening day of the 2009/10 season, Norwich City lost 7-1 at home to Colchester. Norwich picked themselves up and finished champions of Division 1. Now that's hope!
I shall be missing from the next few home games due to holidays. I return, God willing, for the match against Southend on September the 11th - That's a whole month without a fix. I don't think I can last that long!
I would like to think I return to watch the league leaders!
"Come on Cobblers, Come On!"
Monday, 2 August 2010
Time For The Practice To End
I believe it was Harold Wilson who once said that "A week is a long time in politics." He was implying that fortunes can change rapidly - well a week is certainly a long time in the life of a Cobblers supporter. Take this week for example;
The Cobblers have two new full backs now on a permanent contract, (messrs. Johnson and Hall, probably the finest two full backs in league 2 on current evidence), Abdul Osman agrees an extension to his contract, (jury out, haven't seen much of him yet), personalisation of the East Stand with NTFC now emblazoned across it, season tickets now safely in my possession, Northampton now resides in the North East???!!! (Johnstones Paint group - "Howay the lads") and new scarves now on sale in the shop!
I'm exhausted keeping up with it all. Didn't know supporting the Cobblers was quite so frenetic and the season proper hasn't even started yet!!!
To cap it all, my season companion is away with the National Youth Orchestra. We knew it was coming and plans were set to find another convert.
"Do you fancy going out Sunday?" I asked my ever suffering wife.
"That'll be nice. Shopping, lunch, pub, walk, what do you reckon?"
"Cobblers versus Birmingham, Sixfields, 2'ish."
Now, my wife is not a great football fan, she's not a great sports fan and the last time she attended a football match, (Reading vs QPR, cold mid-week, 0-0 draw), she wasn't exactly chomping at the bit to go to another one.
"Yeh, alright as long as I see some goals this time."
"Now it's League two v Premier, surely there's a goal or two in it." I offered.
Date was set, tickets purchased and off to the football we went.
Sunday 1st August - Pre Season Friendly; Cobblers v Birmingham XI
I don't want to keep repeating myself, but once again a fine, warm Northampton afternoon at Sixfields for the last chapter of the Cobblers' pre-season preparation. And so far it has been a damn fine one. Loads of positives, good tidy football, goals, wins, draw and the odd defeat, (still haven't worked out how Coventry beat us).
Birmingham had a good season last year in the Premiership and proved to a lot of people that they would be no easy team to beat. It was however their first season back in the top flight and as others have proved over recent seasons, the second season is often harder than the first, " 'cause they've got your number", by then. Time will tell.
Never quite sure what to expect when a top side brings an "XI", (There hardly likely to field a "X" are they?). Birmingham had a game on the Saturday at Derby and fielded a strong side so the likelihood was for "wannabe's" and "has beens".
Proving that today's game is all about a strong squad, Birmingham had brought all the first teamers and featured players that had not started against Derby. A strong line up including Maik Taylor, Stephen Carr, Liam Ridgewell, Kevin Phillips, Cameron Jerome and James McFadden would prove to be a good test for the Cobblers. (The bench looked impressive as well).
My wife has by this time surveyed the ground, sampled the beverages and observed the abilities of £40k+ a week footballers.
"So all they do is run up and down a bit, have a stretch, walk back for a sit down and get paid 40 grand a week."
"You've got it in one love, it don't take you long to suss this out does it."
"You can also tell they get paid good money, cause they've all got well tanned legs!"
Where did that one come from? (Leave her to it and watch the game).
Both sides started brightly, chances at both ends. McFadden causing problems whenever he's on the ball.
Cobblers have the audacity to score! Billy McKay making the most of defensive confusion and poking the ball past the advancing, (not only in years), Maik Taylor. 1-0
Now one of the things I've noticed over the years is the higher up the leagues you go the players moan and whinge more. There seemed to be a constant barrage of exchanges between Birmingham players and the referee. Kevin Phillips, Lee Bowyer to name but two and just to prove that old habits die hard and following Lee Bowyers' audition for the next Hollywood Blockbuster - I then forecast to my wife that he was likely to go seeking revenge on the Cobblers player who had obviously come close to ending his career. Sure enough within two minutes Mr Bowyer was seen in deep discussion with our man in black who was obviously waiting for the same outcome as I was. Very predictable and a real shame.
Half Time; Cobblers 1 Birmingham XI 0 - YES
Birmingham started the second half the better team, it seemed inevitable that they would get back on terms and they did. A 25 yard screamer from Cameron Jerome on 50 minutes. Good Goal.
McFadden continued to torment, Phillips continued to moan after goal disallowed. Not sure why he moaned. He looked offside and used his arm to bring the ball under control. Apart from that I couldn't see anything wrong with it!!! "Shut up whingeing and get on with the game."
Phillips got on with the game and defied the logic that "Tall defenders win all the headers against small strikers," (he'd probably talked our boys into submission by then), and proceeded to provide a quality header straight into the path of 'Dangerman' himself, James McFadden. Quality finish. 1-2 Birmingham.
Cobbler's young guns, Jacobs and Herbert started to terrorise the flanks with speed and the odd flash of sublime skill. Herbert went close with a shot into the side netting, and it was the combination of Herbert and Jacobs skipping past Stephen Carr that led to a far post cross being bundled into the net from close range by Liam Davis. Cobblers 2 Birmingham XI 2.
The pacey Herbert provided another chance for Davis with only a minute left on the clock. And from 15 yards out it remained Cobblers 2 Birmingham XI 2.
A good game of football. Birmingham will have more concerns over their conceding two goals against lower league opposition, particularly the first caused by a defensive mix up.
My wife enjoyed her afternoon at Sixfields, well I said there'd be goals and there was. We went shopping, (bought a scarf and a hoodie), We had a drink, (diet Coke).
"Fancy a pie love?" God I know how to treat her!!!!! (We walked back to car arm in arm, romance eh, you can't beat it!!!)
And what about the Cobblers?
We've got a lot to look forward to if we can sustain this pre-season form. They'll be highs, they'll be some lows but I reckon we'll be there come end of season.
It's time for the talking to stop now and time for the real work to begin.
Good luck to the boys at Torquay on the opening day of the season. I will be enjoying the delights of The National Youth Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening presenting Dukas, Anderson and Berlioz. (Check with their agents Sammo, they might be available on a free!!!)
"Come On Cobblers, Howay The Lads"
The Cobblers have two new full backs now on a permanent contract, (messrs. Johnson and Hall, probably the finest two full backs in league 2 on current evidence), Abdul Osman agrees an extension to his contract, (jury out, haven't seen much of him yet), personalisation of the East Stand with NTFC now emblazoned across it, season tickets now safely in my possession, Northampton now resides in the North East???!!! (Johnstones Paint group - "Howay the lads") and new scarves now on sale in the shop!
I'm exhausted keeping up with it all. Didn't know supporting the Cobblers was quite so frenetic and the season proper hasn't even started yet!!!
To cap it all, my season companion is away with the National Youth Orchestra. We knew it was coming and plans were set to find another convert.
"Do you fancy going out Sunday?" I asked my ever suffering wife.
"That'll be nice. Shopping, lunch, pub, walk, what do you reckon?"
"Cobblers versus Birmingham, Sixfields, 2'ish."
Now, my wife is not a great football fan, she's not a great sports fan and the last time she attended a football match, (Reading vs QPR, cold mid-week, 0-0 draw), she wasn't exactly chomping at the bit to go to another one.
"Yeh, alright as long as I see some goals this time."
"Now it's League two v Premier, surely there's a goal or two in it." I offered.
Date was set, tickets purchased and off to the football we went.
Sunday 1st August - Pre Season Friendly; Cobblers v Birmingham XI
I don't want to keep repeating myself, but once again a fine, warm Northampton afternoon at Sixfields for the last chapter of the Cobblers' pre-season preparation. And so far it has been a damn fine one. Loads of positives, good tidy football, goals, wins, draw and the odd defeat, (still haven't worked out how Coventry beat us).
Birmingham had a good season last year in the Premiership and proved to a lot of people that they would be no easy team to beat. It was however their first season back in the top flight and as others have proved over recent seasons, the second season is often harder than the first, " 'cause they've got your number", by then. Time will tell.
Never quite sure what to expect when a top side brings an "XI", (There hardly likely to field a "X" are they?). Birmingham had a game on the Saturday at Derby and fielded a strong side so the likelihood was for "wannabe's" and "has beens".
Proving that today's game is all about a strong squad, Birmingham had brought all the first teamers and featured players that had not started against Derby. A strong line up including Maik Taylor, Stephen Carr, Liam Ridgewell, Kevin Phillips, Cameron Jerome and James McFadden would prove to be a good test for the Cobblers. (The bench looked impressive as well).
My wife has by this time surveyed the ground, sampled the beverages and observed the abilities of £40k+ a week footballers.
"So all they do is run up and down a bit, have a stretch, walk back for a sit down and get paid 40 grand a week."
"You've got it in one love, it don't take you long to suss this out does it."
"You can also tell they get paid good money, cause they've all got well tanned legs!"
Where did that one come from? (Leave her to it and watch the game).
Both sides started brightly, chances at both ends. McFadden causing problems whenever he's on the ball.
Cobblers have the audacity to score! Billy McKay making the most of defensive confusion and poking the ball past the advancing, (not only in years), Maik Taylor. 1-0
Now one of the things I've noticed over the years is the higher up the leagues you go the players moan and whinge more. There seemed to be a constant barrage of exchanges between Birmingham players and the referee. Kevin Phillips, Lee Bowyer to name but two and just to prove that old habits die hard and following Lee Bowyers' audition for the next Hollywood Blockbuster - I then forecast to my wife that he was likely to go seeking revenge on the Cobblers player who had obviously come close to ending his career. Sure enough within two minutes Mr Bowyer was seen in deep discussion with our man in black who was obviously waiting for the same outcome as I was. Very predictable and a real shame.
Half Time; Cobblers 1 Birmingham XI 0 - YES
Birmingham started the second half the better team, it seemed inevitable that they would get back on terms and they did. A 25 yard screamer from Cameron Jerome on 50 minutes. Good Goal.
McFadden continued to torment, Phillips continued to moan after goal disallowed. Not sure why he moaned. He looked offside and used his arm to bring the ball under control. Apart from that I couldn't see anything wrong with it!!! "Shut up whingeing and get on with the game."
Phillips got on with the game and defied the logic that "Tall defenders win all the headers against small strikers," (he'd probably talked our boys into submission by then), and proceeded to provide a quality header straight into the path of 'Dangerman' himself, James McFadden. Quality finish. 1-2 Birmingham.
Cobbler's young guns, Jacobs and Herbert started to terrorise the flanks with speed and the odd flash of sublime skill. Herbert went close with a shot into the side netting, and it was the combination of Herbert and Jacobs skipping past Stephen Carr that led to a far post cross being bundled into the net from close range by Liam Davis. Cobblers 2 Birmingham XI 2.
The pacey Herbert provided another chance for Davis with only a minute left on the clock. And from 15 yards out it remained Cobblers 2 Birmingham XI 2.
A good game of football. Birmingham will have more concerns over their conceding two goals against lower league opposition, particularly the first caused by a defensive mix up.
My wife enjoyed her afternoon at Sixfields, well I said there'd be goals and there was. We went shopping, (bought a scarf and a hoodie), We had a drink, (diet Coke).
"Fancy a pie love?" God I know how to treat her!!!!! (We walked back to car arm in arm, romance eh, you can't beat it!!!)
And what about the Cobblers?
We've got a lot to look forward to if we can sustain this pre-season form. They'll be highs, they'll be some lows but I reckon we'll be there come end of season.
It's time for the talking to stop now and time for the real work to begin.
Good luck to the boys at Torquay on the opening day of the season. I will be enjoying the delights of The National Youth Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening presenting Dukas, Anderson and Berlioz. (Check with their agents Sammo, they might be available on a free!!!)
"Come On Cobblers, Howay The Lads"
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