Lincoln City, you scored four goals and no passes.

 

Well not compared to M K Dons who did nothing but. Way back more years than I care to remember, my boy was at the Nottingham Forest centre of excellence where the mantra was definitely pass pass pass, in fact in five a side games five completed passes earned your side a goal. I was never convinced of the sense in that. At the other end of the spectrum we had our old friend John Beck whose rule was more than two touches, I think it was, and you’re off, substituted. I was lucky enough to know a player in one of the Colin Murphy teams. Murph was not known for his love of the possession game. This was not strictly true, he did like to see his teams keep hold of the ball but maintained that in divisions three and four, as it was then, the players were incapable, skill wise, of playing that game.

Admittedly, back then the British game was much more a test of strength and fitness although I do think the modern players are fitter now if only because of more scientific training and conditioning techniques. Todays league one player is probably in better condition than even top level players of the past and technically not that far behind

We saw last night the extreme version of the passing game, little good that it did M K Dons. After our game I watched the second half of Porto taking on Chelsea and their game plan was the same. I say game plan, it didn’t seem to envisage overhauling Chelsea’s two goal advantage, although they did score a worldy at the end when it didn’t matter.

I didn’t bother listening to MK’s manager’s comments afterwards but I can imagine what was said, City should have had a man sent off, yes probably, we were the better side and we passed the ball better. Both these statements are true and on the Forest scoring method M K would have won fifty to four but football doesn’t work like that and it’s the ball in the net that counts.

City regained their prowess at doing that, mainly courtesy of Brennan Johnson although they were team goals and City at the same time rediscovered their own passing game. The  Appleton version of it is a much more pragmatic and purposeful product. Maybe Michael might care to use some footage of M K Dons laughable attempts at looking like Real Madrid in defence of their goal to demonstrate how dangerous it can be trying to play your way out of situations where even top practitioners would put their foot through the ball.

So here we are on a lovely morning looking back on that really rather marvellous display. We’re none the wiser as to whether that was a last hurrah on a successful season or whether City are going to maintain that level and finish the campaign on a high.

It’s now back in City’s hands whether or not they reach the playoffs and as I’ve said many times before, the secret of success in the playoffs, not a secret really, is being on a good run of form. As we know, through bitter experience, being in the playoffs is all well and good but unless you’re on a roll you’re just making up the numbers.