For whom the bell tolls.

 

My Dad used to go and watch Portsmouth. All the Navy chaps stationed there did. A friend who was  also a Navy man told me they’d all go and buy a rosette from a man stationed outside the stadium, for who ever Pompey were playing, and cheer them to the rafters.

Pompey were First Division then, a big team. Mind you to read some of the reports in the Sunday papers you’d think they still were. One I saw, in a paper I shouldn’t admit to reading, got all the way to the bottom of the “report” before they mentioned Lincoln City at all.

Way back, when City got into the old third division courtesy of the Graham Taylor team, the Lincolnshire Echo, in the days when you had to wait for the paper to come out to learn anything, described Pompey as “the first indication this season that City are in higher company."

I still get that feeling, of playing a team that should be bigger and better, yet for my money there seemed little difference between the sides, as borne out by the result. The reason City are able to compete admittedly as the poor relations, was illustrated at the LNER stadium yesterday as our American investors were welcomed to the game against Portsmouth. I hope they enjoyed the game and felt that their investment was bearing fruit. It’s down to them and their fellow investors that City enjoy their present status and we, the fans get to see the likes of Portsmouth, Derby County, Charlton Athletic and Sheffield Wednesday. I know a lot is said about the feeling of entitlement of some of our supporters who perhaps haven’t lived through the years of torment that some of us have but personally, at these big games particularly with a sell out home crowd, I have to pinch myself to believe what I’m watching

Nothing’s ever certain in football of course, even some supposedly mighty, invincible clubs, find themselves on the slippery slope but, in the hope that I’m not tempting providence, these days for Imps fans there’s not that here today gone tomorrow feeling that used to accompany our brief appearances at higher levels and the club today at least gives the impression of a more secure future in the division and maybe one day may even make further progess?

Success, for City could be equated as failure for the likes of Pompey. I’m sure there will be lots of “I’ve been a supporter for forty years and never thought we’d be dropping points to the likes of these tin pot outfits we have to play” comments. Well, you’d better get promoted or you’ll be playing the likes of us for some time yet.

As mentioned, I thought it was an entertaining afternoon, that irritating bell aside. There again people probably moan about our siren. I’m sure the bell was around in Dads time. The last time he and I saw Pompey together we got stuffed four one and we got totally soaked standing on the Sincil Bank terracing in the pouring rain. Yet still we believe. It’s a grand life isn’t it?

 

Two different games, four lovely points.

 

I don’t know why but I didn’t comment on last weekend’s draw against Plymouth Argyle. This despite the fact I found it one of the most enjoyable games I’ve attended. Outside of those games where promotion or a championship was secured, a rarity I think you'll agree, or the obvious ones like the demolition of Northampton Town and Bournemouth I can’t say much has surpassed that game in terms of viewing pleasure. Of course, a win would have really put the icing on the cake and that possibility was even acknowledged by the Plymouth fans who were good enough to say it wouldn’t have been undeserved. Nevertheless, it was a terrific performance even given the draw.

We said after the game this weekends encounter would be a totally different proposition and so it turned out although my own expectation had been yet another draw. As it happened, by hook or by crook, City emerged with all three points but at one-nil I said to my neighbour this has a one-one draw written all over it.

That didn’t happen as the Imps conjured up a second goal. My prediction went west as did my assertion before we scored that an early goal would put a whole new slant on the game as Morecambe would have to come out and play. City did get the goal but Morecambe didn’t particularly change tack. Perhaps they couldn’t.

For my money City struggle in these types of games because clubs who can’t really afford to compete at league one level can garner sufficient points, they hope, by defending stoutly. You can teach a player to defend well but at the other end of the pitch, the expensive one, goal scoring is usually more of a matter of instinct and you can’t teach that.

I should say that City are also, to a lesser extent, in the same boat in that there are some awfully wealthy clubs, comparatively, in the division and mere survival is an achievement. Having said that of course, as we are all aware City have done considerably better against teams that are trying to win the game as opposed to hanging on by their fingertips and you do wonder, well I do, if City could ever make that leap, giant leap I should say, into the championship maybe there is some hope that they could survive in it.

First things first, I hear you say, the Imps have got to see off the likes of Morecambe with rather less huff and puff if such a golden future is to be contemplated but we can all dream can’t we?

Anyway who thought, at the beginning of the season that City, now well into this campaign, sit at the tail end of some pretty illustrious names in the table? Not your correspondent, That’s for sure.

Personally speaking I really should pay less attention to the naysayers who forecast disaster after every set back. The way things are going with twitter perhaps that opportunity won’t be an option. I wouldn’t miss that aspect but perhaps I could pass on the benefit of my experience as a City supporter. Things have rarely been as successful as they are now. Do enjoy it while it lasts.

On the map.

 

Many moons ago I was in conversation with my fellow students, many of whom were from big cities, talking about football and we stated who our teams were. Normally when you say you are from Lincoln people know the city but don’t know where it is and it’s a bit difficult. I think a lot of people would say, well it’s quite near Nottingham but, certainly the sort of people I went to college with weren’t all that sure where that city is either.

Anyway, there was a recognition of the name as we were all football fans and City were known about because, at that time we’d had quite a decent run in the third division as it then was and people had heard of us. I remember thinking, yes, we’re a third division outfit now.

Of course, City being City that situation didn’t last long and you don’t need me to tell you what followed on but I sort of had that notion on Saturday watching the game. Yes, the Imps are relative minnows compared with the likes of Sheffield Wednesday but here we are doing battle with them and the other so-called giants in the division but we're in league one and here as of right, not some here today gone tomorrow flash in the pan like last time.

Furthermore, things are gradually changing. I don’t know whether you saw that article on our manager in the Irish Times but Mark Kennedy made reference to the fact that, behind the team management is a polished, professional and highly ambitious board and governing set up committed to, at the very least, maintaining City’s place in the hierarchy. We didn’t have that before. Kennedy went so far as to say if he hadn’t got the job he would have thanked the club for the opportunity of applying for the post, such was the respect the club is now afforded.

Did you notice also the attendance - it’s always nice when it’s over 10000, was the biggest in the division? Admittedly in the absence of any of the big hitters being at home. So it was a proper big match atmosphere as the game kicked off and I said so to my friend, the Boston United supporter who must have been getting ready for his game and by the time he replied it was “good luck for the second half”. Good luck indeed as City appeared to be very much against it with Wednesday looking impressive although thinking back it was very much the Barry Bannan show. I know I shouldn’t but I really enjoyed Bannan’s performance and, being as I’m in a nostalgic mood it reminded me very much of a City midfielder called Dennis Booth who was a pivotal player for us very much in the, if you’re in trouble, give the ball to Dennis mode.

In terms of the game given that, whilst the figure for possession was massively in Owls favour as were the shots but in terms of shots on target the two teams were identical.

That, for me was the story of the game. Wednesday, the glamour boys backed noisily and in great numbers but when it came down to it, profligate in front of goal and in the final reckoning, the stat that matters equals. Wednesday might not like it, but we are.

For some reason I felt particularly at ease at the game. Maybe the expectation that City almost certainly were going to lose, so might as well sit back and enjoy it but maybe it dawned on me that Wednesday were a bit of a one trick pony, in the form of Bannan and City, particularly in the second half, as they rapidly levelled, they had every chance of getting at least a point.

Teams like Sheffield Wednesday are always going to look better than us but I do wonder, what with City’s reputation of bringing on young players, either our own or a loan, in terms of quality, albeit at the beginning of careers rather than the finished product, we’re not actually seeing players of at least the same or better than these so called big clubs. Certainly the standard compared to the last time the Imps were at this level is at least a division higher, if not more.

Tales of the unexpected.

 

I don’t go on BBC Radio Lincolnshire any more. I’m sure I’ve covered this on the blog before but the station contact people they’d like to come on the sport shows in advance and ask if they’d give the benefit of their wisdom and if you do they treat you like some overenthusiastic fan who’s phoned in, in response to their on air request. Been to the game? Call this number to discuss with Michael, Rob or whoever. I’m sure they do put on air people who sound like they can string a sentence together but that’s how it worked with me. Would you like to come on? Yes please.

Anyway, I think my sin, the reason I’m no longer in good books was to answer the question what formation do you think the manager should employ tonight with the observation that I’m a fan, not qualified, certainly not qualified you might say as a reader of this blog, to give a considered answer. I’m a fan, I watch and support I hope, the manager or head coach I should properly say, stipulates how the team should line up and play. They win, I’m happy, they lose, I’m sad. In the event of a draw, I’m something in between. I didn’t put it in those words but the upshot was, no more invites.

All of which brings us to last nights complete reversal of our expectations for the team last night. I said to Stewart as we walked past the almost deserted fan village, we were a bit late and just got in for the national anthem, but I said I’m expecting a tonking but it’s just the sort of game City might just produce a result no one at all was expecting.

I thought everything last night was right for an upset, for that surely was what it was. The atmosphere was sizzling, helped by the fact that the Derby fans were in fine voice, anticipating the mauling their team was about to inflict on their tinpot opponents and the seven or eight goals they were about to savour. The lions den comes to Daniel, you might say.

Except of course that didn’t happen. The home supporters seemed to find a voice that’s maybe been missing this season, determined not to be drowned out by those fans who have spent most of their tine at a considerably higher level than now and City had a not so secret weapon, the 617. I don’t know how many are in their number but it sounded a lot, the rest of the attendance took their cue and, certainly after City scored, well against the run of play, really that was the end of the noise from the Rams. Apart from the roar that greeted the disallowed goals. How we laughed.

How did City do it? Well you’re asking me what formation the Imps should play, they simply bust a gut to get on top of a Derby side that looked the part initially but, as the game wore on we all, players and fans alike started to realise that they were all mouth and no trousers and that this game was there for the taking. Mind you, even with two or three minutes to go I was still convinced  our formerly illustrious opponents would get the two goals they needed to take an undeserved draw.

It did rather help that reinforcements are now available with more to come but in the minus column Ted Bishop limped off and no Walsh. When will this injury saga right itself? No matter, the talk was all about this unexpected win and how good City were. Long may it continue.

Go for it City, what’s the worst that can happen?

 

When I’m in a new town, or one I haven’t been to for a while I generally go to have a look at the railway station and the football ground. I know, I know, I probably should have dated more girls and got out a bit more in my youth.

Anyway the point is, and I know you’re glad there is a point, in times gone by the football ground was generally in better shape than our own dear Sincil Bank, as it was, LNER Stadium now. Somehow other stadia, be it Peterborough or even Grimsby seemed to look the part better than our home. Obviously in the case of the latter I was in disguise.

So it was rather pleasing, for the Exeter game to look at the freshly painted, titivated stadium and think, that’s more like it, the old girl is looking more like a league one stadium now. It’s never going to win any beauty contests but it does look as if it’s had a few quid spent on it. I’m sure that is an understatement, you’ve only got to look at the pitch to see the huge leap forward.

Yesterday, also, what with the weather, judging by the titfers and some of the clothing, you certainly scrub up well and, sartorially we might have been in Milan or Barcelona. All of which, thankfully I hear you say, brings me to the match, or rather the season so far, not that there’s been that much of it.

There’s two ways of looking at it, as has been reflected on social media, which I must say I’m paying less and less attention to as it can be really quite irritating, either City are undefeated in three or the Imps can’t win for toffee. City’s three points could just have well been garnered by a win and two defeats but whether those three draws represent a decent start only time will tell. Until yesterday, Exeter were looking like world beaters and a point at Portsmouth is never a bad thing. Are Forest Green Rovers a good side or relegation fodder? On yesterdays evidence they didn’t look much cop and, with a bit more conviction and, dare I say it, willingness to get beaten in the process City could have been out of sight by the time FGR scored. Perhaps we got a bit too used to three relatively easy points against the darlings of the press with their vegan tendencies.

City sort of fell into a better line up due to Tashan Oakley-Boothe being rather more eager to play than perhaps he should have been and, by the sound of it he’s going to be hearing all about it from the manager on Monday but the upshot was, after he was replaced, City looked much more threatening with Jordon Garrick having an effective debut.

We had an opportunity to look again at our two rehabilitated players, post Appleton, Max Sanders and Lasse Sorensen, both were good but perhaps not quite as good as they were against Exeter, probably because the team as a whole, I felt, were not as good but, chin up, City scored first and another day will probably romp a game like that.

The Imps did of course show they could win a game in midweek, albeit against a league two side but one who had previously prospered against the Imps however they played, rather like City’s supremacy against FGR. Oh well. Onwards and upwards.

And Relax.

 

When you think about it, City did what they’ve often done this season. Play really well for about half an hour. The difference this time was that three goals were scored in that spell whereas we’re used to seeing the Imps batter but the door isn’t breached.

Whether this was because Cheltenham weren’t very good, on the beach or City were brilliant I don’t really know although looking back at the play Cheltenham weren’t that bad and City were, if not brilliant, pretty good.

It was all a lot better than I was beginning to fear and this is all from rueful experience, of City just not getting any more points and our fellow relegation candidates suddenly hitting the turbo charge button leaving us wondering what happened whilst contemplating another season back in the basement division.

Anyway that didn’t happen and instead we contemplate another season in the comparatively rarefied atmosphere of league one where we will be joined by Derby County. I think I may have mentioned in the blog before but way back, having got a job and a car, although, come to think of it we had a decent train service then and you could get to Derby without changing trains, I often used to head for the old Baseball Ground for some top class football entertainment. What entertainment it was too although thinking back to the pitch and looking at our perfect surface, after a season I don’t know how they produced such quality on it.

So we now look forward to the remaining two games with partially detached anticipation, either our heroes, shorn of the fear of playing for points that will define the season, one way or the other may relax and treat us to more of the enterprise on show yesterday or (more likely) do a Cheltenham and look not too bothered about it. I do hope we see more of the same as there are still season tickets to be sold. As good as the sales have been I can imagine there is a considerable shortfall between sales for next season and those for the last one.

I can’t see the point in slogging through this stop start season only to put a dent in next terms budget by not sticking with the Imps, always accepting, of course that financially for many of our supporters’ things are getting pretty tight. What else are you going to do on a Saturday though, go shopping?

Chances are the likes of Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth and now Derby County will be visiting and given the stadium is not to be made larger, not that it would have been ready for next season, a season ticket is the only chance of guaranteeing a ticket for these big games. I do hope those who have not purchased will find the means of doing so as there’s no better sight and sound than a full LNER stadium.

I said a week or two ago that I could see the basis of a good side emerging from the players we’ve seen and yesterday underlined that. Plus of course the return, or arrival of players who have been out on loan, having had, in most cases a successful time of it and City’s reputation being done no harm by the improvement in Lewis Fiorini’s and Brooke Norton-Cuffy's game after their time with us, hopefully Manchester City and others may see fit to let some more of their talent come to us to further their education. This aspect should be seen as the icing on the cake rather than relying on loans to produce a team but nevertheless, what a time it is to be an Imp seeing these young players emerge into the spotlight with us rather than enviously watching them appear for supposedly bigger and better outfits.

 

 

City pay the penalty for not being famous.

 

Once again we trudged out of the LNER stadium deafened by the cheers of the victors. Sour grapes alert, Wigans following was pathetic, for a team not that long ago in the prem. They were loud though.

I was trying to think, when we were top of a league, whether referees and their assistants, starstruck by our glamour, fell over themselves to award redress for our opponents transgressions or failed to punish our own mis deeds. I don’t think we got anything much but there again we're neither famous nor fashionable, are we?

Yesterday we saw another dazzled in the headlights of our illustrious (tongue in cheek alert) opposition on the part of our referee and assistant who failed to spot, to mention just two, a blatant foul in the box, waved away, you’re not famous and a foul which led to a Wigan goal. You’re not getting that, they used to be in the prem you know.

Michael Appleton maintained this was a good performance by City. I don’t know about that but it certainly wasn’t bad and just to show I’m not completely biased you have to say the Latics were a decent outfit and did what winners do, took their chances.

What I will say is, despite the loss I thought I could see the heart of a decent side in City. There will be quite a bit of tweaking in the close season and maybe one or two surprises to come, as there needs to be given that the Imps still aren’t out of the relegation scrap with few games to come but I’ll say it again, the nucleus is there.

As to the next few games I believe those below us will fail to gain the necessary points to overhaul us as much as City gaining the required points but, even in this stuttering season points have been accumulated along the way so I’m not sweating (yet)

It’s easy to be jealous of the likes of Wigan, down and out one minute and top of the league the next but we should be grateful to our own benefactors, Clive Nates and the Sportvest and other investors who put their money in an unfashionable club in an unfashionable area, just for enjoyment. The least we can do, when the going gets tough, is to recognise what they are doing and the financial and business expertise involved. What’s the alternative? To go back to where we’ve been as long as I’ve been following the Imps. Thanks but no thanks.