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.

Resilient City draw record attendance.

 

Not long ago one of our resident panel of experts suggested the steam had gone out of the Imps fans enthusiasm and gates were on the way down. That was before the Sheffield Wednesday ten thousand plus gate and today the record, for the all seater stadium, gate of over 10300 for the visit of Sunderland.

Even then someone suggested the gate was exaggerated although I don’t know why City would do that given that, presumably VAT would be calculated on the amount of tickets actually sold. Why would you deliberately skew the figures and pay more tax?

You wouldn’t is the answer and it’s the fans who should be congratulated for sticking by the side through this thinnest of seasons and of course if City can lay on the sort of entertainment seen today that will be reflected in next seasons sales of season tickets.

Many moons ago the Imps faithful bemoaned the fact that the two Sheffield clubs were given the Sincil Bank terrace in it’s entirety when they visited. Fans complained these areas were theirs but the club reasoned if they could fill those terraces then they were going to be allowed to. These days that’s not a problem as the home support is holding up very nicely thank you but it’s interesting to see that the temporary stand in the corner by the Selenity stand was used today. It remains to be seen how many more away fans will fill the Stacey West Stand once it is extended and of course that may well push the attendance record even higher.

I would not want to suggest City were dominant, for those one or two reading this that weren’t there, the Imps were at full stetch to stem the Mackems flow and it took a brilliant save from Jordan Wright to keep the Imps in the game. In the Selenity more than a few of us old codgers dragged ourselves to our feet to applaud that but it was another day when the team to a man performed well. I must just mention Morgan Whittaker who has been taking a bit of flack. Today though he was dishing out the punishment to Sunderland and whilst in all honesty City never really looked likely to take all three points, well apart from that effort also at the end of the game in the end they were good value for their point.

Michael Appleton will no doubt be relieved at another clean sheet, we all were and as we approach the end of the season whilst we’re not out of the woods yet City are showing themselves as tough nuts to crack although it’s a mystery as to why the deadwood at the bottom of the table can seem to do so when really quite decent teams like Sunderland, and they were a quality outfit, could not.

Oh well, ours not to reason why and all that. Sunderland will be mystified as to why they only got one point today. Me too if I’m honest but does that bother me? No it doesn’t.

 

Hold on tight please.

 

Here’s a little pointer for those of you who have joined us in the last few years. This is the reality of supporting Lincoln City, not the meteoric rise we’ve seen lately. You’ll sit through games that you’re convinced City should have won at a canter only for the team to collapse in a heap. That situation goes on for too long. Then, just like in your younger days, you land a date with that good looking girl down the road. You think, this is well out of my league but we’ll give it a go. She thinks you’re hilarious and wants to repeat the experience. You know how that one ends up too don’t you?

So, having endured a fairly catastrophic series of home games where City should have filled their boots but instead came away with nothing, not bad performances apart from Gillingham which was, well, I’ve used catastrophic already but that’s what it was and we now approach a fixture that is the embodiment of getting promoted to a higher league, glamourous, shiny, big time, according to them, Sheffield Wednesday. 

To be honest, even given the experience we’ve all had recently when, despite my previously held conviction that there was no way City were going to get relegated, we were facing just that possibility but for some reason I quite fancied our chances. The reason for that, I’ll call it no more than hope, is that Wednesday would come and play us, unlike the previous outings where our opponents’ sole preoccupation was not to be beaten, only to be presented with a gilt edged opportunity to win the game which of course, they grasp like a drowning man who will grab on to anything to survive. The only thing you could say is that their subsequent opponents are not as generous as us and you just got the feeling if City could just garner the odd point here and there that may well be sufficient.

All of which brings us to the visit of the Owls. House full signs up, metaphorically of course, the hoards in blue and white, I was glad Wednesday wore their traditional colours, the scene was set. We were going to have to be on our mettle, the fans I mean but it applied to the team too and of course that’s exactly what happened. City took an early lead, that’s not all that unusual and Wednesday equalised, that’s not unheard of either but what is a rarity is that the Imps got straight back to business, undaunted, just by way of a change and proceeded to take the game by the scruff of the neck.

I should, I suppose make a list of the players who performed well but that would merely be all the team so lets just name two that particularly pleased me. Brooke Norton-Cuffy. This lad will play for Arsenal’s first team, I’m convinced of that. Every game smooths a bit more rough edge off and he’s going to go back to London a much improved player probably equipped to fight for a place in their first team squad. We next come to a player who has frustrated me, Lewis Fiorini. I’m not going to make a similar prediction for him at Man City but, my goodness we saw yesterday a complete performance from him that may yet force me to reappraise that. I don’t know who won Man of the Match yesterday but if he didn’t, I can’t think why.

So, there we are. A wonderful experience, a marvellous performance against a very good Wednesday team. The fans stood up to be counted, our heroes stood up to be counted. No queuing up to get out of the stadium being deafened by the away fans, in fact there weren’t that many of them in the Stacey West when we left. Good.

A corner turned? Possibly. A relaxing end to the season? Don’t bank on it.

 

Another home defeat. Cheers!

 

I seem to be at that stage of life where quite a lot of things in my day annoy me. My family and friends will probably advise you they had realised this rather sooner than I have.

The lady I sit next to said something yesterday that certainly reflected how I feel at the football. She said she was fed up of queueing to get out of the stadium being regaled with the delighted cheers of the away fans who, in many cases after months of struggle following their team, came to Lincoln to be gifted three lovely points that their team barely had to work for, there you are, you don’t deserve it, but there’s the points, have them on us.

Once again, a very modest team, one that had sacked their manager, the likeable football genius, according to him, Steve Evans, had left a club teetering on the brink of relegation but, help was at hand in the form of a benevolent Lincoln City who gave them a bit of relief from their troubles and their fans, starved of success, getting some air in their lungs singing some songs they thought they wouldn’t be singing again this season. Happy to help. Safe journey.

I’m starting to get in my stride now. We seem to employ a man whose sole responsibility is to chat to the fourth official. In my seat I have an unrivalled view of this. Here he comes, he’s sent back to the dugout. Undaunted, two minutes later he’s back again. I know other teams do this, not as much admittedly but they do. Usually, but not yesterday he wears an Imps bobble hat. Again, nothing wrong with that but he looks like a fan and I think, I could do that, for free. Chatting to the spare referee, how difficult would that be?

You’ll notice I’m doing anything but talk about the football. One more annoying thing though. Alan Long, announcer, we love you but for goodness sake, welcome the away fans by all means but please don’t encourage them to start cheering, it’s us home fans you’re supposed to be geeing up. Oh, and we know you’ve done your research but the away fans don’t need to know how far they’ve travelled, they’ve done it and we’re not bothered. Rant nearly over.

Yesterday was a new experience for us. I’m not going to jump on the Appleton out bandwagon, it’s getting a bit crowded anyway but often I can see how difficult it is to break down a team whose sole aim is not to be beaten. Time after time teams have come to Lincoln after getting a pasting elsewhere and City have looked pretty good, to be fair. Take Doncaster. Incidentally, they were very loud, well done you. Anyway, they looked as if they wouldn’t score if they’d played till Christmas then they were gifted a penalty and, as we know, you score, we lose. Wycombe was a bit different, although pegged back when we could have won it was a good performance but again, one point when it could have been three and here we are, no points and definitely not a good performance.

Michael Appleton, manager, BBC Radio Lincolnshire, what happened there? What do you want me to say? He really did say that, what do you want me to say? We really don’t help ourselves sometimes.

Bit of rough and tumble? Don’t mind if I do.

 

Strangely enough I probably enjoyed the Wycombe game a bit more than the win against Morecambe. Obviously the three points were better than one but for some reason, probably the fact that I wasn’t expecting anything from the game, I was more relaxed about the outcome, particularly as we’d picked up three points last time out.

For a start, there wasn’t so much of an insistence of playing out from the back. That’s not a criticism of that tactic, about which more later. In the days when City used to play like Wycombe, managers used to say things like, they’re good at what they do. Call it a backhanded compliment, I call it not a compliment at all, it was a signal that it was not the way opposition managers would have their teams play. I didn’t believe a word of it then and I don’t believe a word of it now, Wycombe are up at the right end of the league and that’s the end of it as far as I’m concerned.

What I would say though is you play that way if you haven’t got an awful lot of talent at your disposal, well that’s how it was when we played a more direct game. We play the way we do now because that’s the way our manager wants it and basically if we didn’t the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal wouldn’t loan us their young talent and we need that to balance the books skills wise.

Talking of young players, I sincerely hope young Norton-Cuffy’s parents were watching on Saturday as their lad grabbed the opportunity presented to him with both hands. Once he embarked on that mazy run the roar that greeted Norton-Cuffy’s every touch was tremendous and well deserved.

In fact several players seem to be emerging from the doldrums they had drifted into, not all, but many, and, certainly on Saturday there didn’t seem to be the nerves, either from the crowd or the players when Wycombe equalised. Maybe it was the fact that nothing was expected from the game but I do hope, having emerged from this difficult fixture City don’t throw it all away by losing the third of three home games this coming Tuesday.

Assuming, hoping the Imps emerge victorious from the Doncaster clash then the home hoodoo may be said to be over. I hope I don’t regret saying that.

The madness of crowds.

 

Going home in the car I was almost on my drive by the time Michael Appleton was interviewed on the radio. It was the usual spiel, I thought we were excellent in the first half, true. I silently mused, please praise the crowd because, for me, not for the first time but probably the first time this season the LNER faithful were instrumental in getting the team over the line with all three points. He eventually did acknowledge the fans not before commenting on the assembled faithful’s nerves after, with a certain inevitability Morecambe pulled a goal back. You bet we were anxious Michael, we’ve seen it all before.

That set back, as is depressingly familiar, rocked the team back on its heels. I was thinking, poor as they were, if Morecambe get an equaliser, they’ll win it. The reason for that is, that’s what keeps happening, Step forward, us. The Imps weathered the storm and kept it at 2.1. The crowd sensed resolve was slipping, something was needed from us and gradually, metaphorically speaking people began to rush to plug the gaps pushing, heaving the team over the line. Led and cajoled by the ever excellent 617 the cry rang out, red and white army, red and white army. The silence signs in the library were covered over, come on, more is needed, red and white army, you can clap along but we need a massive effort, so those who wouldn’t normally utter a word did join in, red and white army, red and white army on and on it went until finally, finally the referees whistle went. Even then the chant still rang out, a home win. We’d done it.

Any notion that the steam had gone out of the City support was answered last night. A very healthy, I thought crowd of 7500 turned up to see what was the least attractive  of the triple header to come. I’m not that sure I enjoyed it all that much as the game took on a familiar pattern. City imperious in the first half. Two goals, I thought at the time if we could just get one more maybe the nerves will subside but it didn’t come. A free kick was awarded in a dangerous place. Free kick. Really? Morecambe got one back. It was a great strike admittedly. Here we go again backs against the wall. You’d think we’d cope better, we're very experienced at this sort of thing. Talk about deflated, the body language seemed to say, go on then, win it, that’s what usually happens but somehow, I like to think I know why, the inevitable didn’t come about. City survived, we survived. We pushed and shoved and did the only thing we could and it worked.

Rob Bradley tweeted afterwards , give the crowd Man of the Match and he was right, well he wasn’t, I’d have given it to Conor McGrandles. Can a crowd win a game for a team? No of course not. Did a last nights crowd win the came for City? I’d like to think so.

New look team. Same old result.

 

When John Marquis stuck a boot out to put City in the lead yesterday, we all said, there you are, that’s the missing piece of the jigsaw. Unspectacular, being in the right place at the right time, just like last week when the player arrived in the right area, stepped forward and slotted home. Just what we’ve been needing.

Unfortunately, the goal didn’t mask that other underlying problem. When a good reliable solid unspectacular centre half head was needed to clear the ball it instead was scrambled into the net, yes those old defensive failings are still there and, once again we went home disappointed after yet another home reverse.

I suppose the one thing you could say is that Burton Albion are a decent outfit, far more so than Cambridge a couple of weeks ago. Uncompromising, direct when they needed to be, well drilled and energetic. If it hadn’t been for the fact they were playing City I could have quite enjoyed their performance.

The home fans were certainly up for it, with a big crowd in and in good voice City fluffed their lines. Certain players, I wont name them, failed to back up the promise they had showed previously. It wasn’t a bad showing but perhaps Josh Griffiths’ heroics in goal deflected the fact that City were up against it dealing, as I said with a more than capable opponent coached by the biggest managerial name in the division and that showed. It’s ironic, one of the smallest clubs in the league, their biggest star was in the dugout and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, I felt, had all the answers or rather City didn’t have the answer to the Brewers threat.

Not for the first time the Imps home form proves to be their Achilles heel and I really can’t see why. I don’t go to many away games any more but I have in the past, many times and it’s not the crowd. I’m sure we’re no worse than most and better than many supporters but that same old home hoodoo rears it’s ugly head. For years it’s been better following City on their travels than at home.

Yesterday I suppose you could point to the double defensive change that sunk the Imps. The manager was quick to point out the change was forced upon him by circumstances but the upshot was, straight after the change the game was lost and City will have to go to MK Dons to put matters right. I’m encouraged by the fact that I was at that game a few years ago when an imperious City swept aside the home team to more or less seal their promotion from League Two.

Of course, that marvellous performance was quickly followed by Carlisle away which we also attended where the Imps were, let’s say less than magnificent. Oh, and we had a little shunt in the car afterwards. Happy days. Up the Imps!

Tales of the unexpected.

 

I can’t remember his exact words but I was struck by the here today gone tomorrow nature of some players employment circumstances and possibly Michael Appleton’s ruthlessness and desire to succeed when Appleton was invited to heap praise on the returning hero Max Melbourne who, after all had secured all three points with his last gasp winner. Was there any way back into his affections? Ha ha, yes, he did quite well. That’d be a no then.

There are plenty more examples of players who seem to be part of the furniture, Neal Eardley and Michael Bostwick for example, absolute bedrocks of the team, yesterday’s men before you know it. I was impressed with John Marquis’ ability to override his situation, one minute generating, for our level, big money transfers, the next, new manager comes in, out in the cold. He commented it was a long way home last night but where is home?

Yet here they all are, thrown together in the melting pot that is the modern Lincoln City, the actual permanent squad, decimated by injury and not just injury, this is a Lincoln City roster of crocks, serious medical difficulties and players that can’t play three games in a row. When will it all end I ask myself? The answer is, I would imagine, these players will be shipped out as soon as circumstances allow, see above for an example of the managers resolve.

In the meantime we reflect on the unlikely turn of events that have got even some of our legendary pessimists thinking we may yet be alright this season. Oxford, home, Sunderland away, Cambridge home, Plymouth away, that’s three points for the Cambridge fixture, forget the rest and move on. Wrong again.

How has all this been done? Well, for my money, as long as City weren’t bottom of the league I don’t think Michael Appleton’s situation was at all vulnerable as far as the board were concerned, whatever the doomsayers were predicting. The powers that be were aware that the summer transfer business had been a disappointment to say the least. I don’t think the injury situation was regarded as the managers sole responsibility either although you do have to wonder how this mayhem has come about. Is football just too hard at the moment? I think we mostly regard modern footballers as a fairly pampered lot, even at our level but something’s going awry and it’s not often City don’t have a midweek game to contend with and with the powers that be insisting that minor cup games be fitted in at the drop of a hat it’s probably no wonder players welfare is being threatened.

Anyway, where were we, oh yes, Plymouth away and, innocent that I am as regards team construction and tactics it was always my belief that this team wasn’t that far away from being a decent outfit, in fact you could almost narrow it down and say if we’d had a fit Tom Hopper and maybe an understudy, we’d have been doing a whole lot better than we have. Well now we’ve rectified that, at least for the moment. I wonder if the Marquis situation is regarded by the club as a temporary solution, until Hopper is fit. I don’t really see how the club can afford his wages once the reported support from Portsmouth ends but there again, what do I know? Nothing Lincoln City do surprises me anymore. Exciting, isn’t it?

Another one bites the dust.

 

My wife knows better than to greet me with a cheery, “Had a good time?” after (another) home defeat. For some reason I really did have an enjoyable afternoon though despite the fact City were unable to add any points to their admittedly meagre tally.

Judging by the fact that the smattering of boos were replaced by a smattering of applause from the departing fans in the Selenity Stand, a lot of supporters thought their afternoon wasn’t entirely wasted either.

City started brightly, not for the first time but it felt a bit different as Michael Appleton threw his new recruit on and it was a new look side not least because the existing team members seemed to be playing with a panache not always seen earlier in the season.

In the end though it was an outcome we’d seen so many times before with the Imps doing everything but score, an admirable rearguard from Cambridge and a keeper in sparkling form. Just our luck!

I suppose the only surprise for me was the inclusion of Scully in the starting line-up. I’d fallen for Michaels gloomy, “He’s fifty fifty” in Thursdays interview only to be replaced by a sprightly “He’s in the team” by Saturday. The player was sprightly too as City set to Cambridge with all guns blazing. They were firing blanks unfortunately but whereas I’d never felt someone’s going to get a real pasting from this team in the not too distant future, now I can well imagine one opponent is going to learn City are not the duds they thought they were but it wasn’t to be on Saturday. Of the three fixtures City faced this was surely the one they could take maximum points from? No was the reality of course.

Still, onwards and upwards and City face opponents every bit as good as Oxford and Sunderland and every bit as vulnerable too on Tuesday. That’s why we love football. Never a dull moment.

When the going gets tough.

 

Many moons ago my late father-in-law was on the board at Lincoln City, a thankless task at the time. City had a new manager, a young man plucked out of the team in his first managerial role. It was not going well but Dad saw some potential in the earnest young man who lived and died football and he had an ally on the board who thought the same. Together they persuaded the other board members to give the manager a bit longer to turn things round. You may have guessed that wet behind the ears coach was Graham Taylor. The rest is history. I was fortunate to meet Taylor, again a good few years ago and he told me that my father-in-law had effectively been responsible for saving his job and, as we know, it didn’t exactly do City any harm either.

So I’m always sceptical when people start calling for a managers head particularly when the reasons for the slump are reasonably obvious, finances, or at least an unwillingness to be held to ransom, loss of form in players, injuries and disappointment in the transfer market. When a club suffers all of those setbacks it’s difficult to see what good changing the man in charge would do, apart from what is known in some circles as a dead cat bounce.

Personally, although I did allow myself the possibility that the Imps could find themselves back in league two, I never believed that ditching Michael Appleton was the right thing to do, as my old boss used to say, in any way shape or form.

Anyway, not to put the cart before the horse, on Saturday and again last night, two of the unlikeliest fixtures to arrest the slide were faced and City emerged victorious. It wasn’t down to luck either.

We can’t yet say that we are out of the woods but things certainly look a whole lot rosier when you consider also, that a further quality addition to the squad is expected and finally the injury woes might be easing together with a return to form of some team members I had been wondering about.

It’s all particularly pleasing personally, Oxford is a team I’ve seen many times, home and away, usually with disappointing consequences and Sunderland, well Sunderland, you can forget your Ipswich’s and Charlton’s, Wigan’s and Sheffield Wednesday’s, Sunderland are right up there as the gold standard as far as away wins go. They must be highly delighted to fail to go top of the league courtesy of the leagues Cinderella side.

Hopefully it doesn’t end there, City now embark on a mixed programme for the next few games but the way things are going I wouldn’t put anything past them.

Two nil and, well, you know the rest.

 

Oh dear. It was all going so well. City, unrecognisable from the stuttering losers of the last few weeks. The tweaks made to the team, no doubt forced on the manager but nevertheless working had me thinking we might be ok here.

Then, a well finished oggie and, best of all an MK player falling over in his own box, I’ll just grab the ball like I’ve seen on the telly, penalty! How we laughed.

Chris Maguire stepped up to take the kick, smiles wiped off faces but no, in it goes, two nil. What could possibly go wrong?

Yet, at the back of my mind, if MK get a goal, that’s it. We’ll cave in. It didn’t happen in the first half although Dons were certainly getting in the game. Get to half time, let Michael give the team a few pointers and with Scully on the bench it’s looking good. There was an unaccustomed round of applause at the half time whistle. Yes the team were patched up. Yes there were one or two scruffy moments but this was a team that have turned the corner, right? Wrong. It’s not the Lincoln City of a couple of years ago it’s the here and now and right now nothing is going right. Nothing.

You can blame the manager, plenty are, not me but plenty are but, for me, after the euphoria of last season we are right back to earth with a bump and Lincoln City are struggling to compete financially. The expected loan signing didn’t materialise. We don’t know the circumstances but possibly other signings didn’t happen either. If City had a goal poacher to stick an unspectacular foot on a cross, you know which one I’m talking about, the Imps win the game and plenty of others too.

We don’t however so we are left with the hope that, assuming the player is who we think, he will score the goals and galvanise the team to rescue the precarious position they’re in and end the season still in league one. After Saturday, for the first time, I allowed myself the possibility that we will not but I look at the good bits and still think we have enough quality to survive. It’s worth remembering though, that the worst that can happen is we end up in league two and, in my view, were now far better than that level.

I’m sure you’d rather not but, looking at the second half it was the usual story. MK Dons did get their goal, poor from us and, as predicted, got another then got their winner from a shot that was going anywhere but in the goal. When your luck’s out………

Help me doctor. I’m suffering from passbacks.

 

Regular readers of this blog will know I claim no particular mastery of tactics. But even I know the likelihood of scoring a goal diminishes the further away from that white rectangle you are.

Thus, City, with moments go before the end of the match, staring another defeat in the face, were studiously heading away from the supposedly intended target. Players, it seems to me, are unwilling to put themselves in the way of criticism by actually getting in a position to have a swing at a ball flashed across the goal area and as we all know, if you don’t have a go, you don’t score. That, in a nutshell appears to be the problem at the moment.

Having said all that Chris Maguire, a player I regard as one of City’s more skilful, did somehow conspire to send a shot over the roof of the stand, a feat I’ve rarely seen in sixty years of presenting myself at Sincil Bank in the hope of being entertained. That’s the way it is presently.

I’m told the team endured a chorus of boos at the end. I heard some booing but it wasn’t that much, certainly over in the more genteel surroundings of the library. Those I did hear seemed to be the result of said Mr Maguire supposedly telling a fan or some fans where to get off. I don’t mind that to be honest. I’d sooner a defeat hurt the players than not. It certainly hurt me. You can tell me I’m wrong, I frequently am, but pound for pound I thought City’s players were better than Hartlepool’s were, not that it made any difference as the game took on a now familiar pattern of City fashioning some good attacking play, failed to convert any of it, our opponents had one chance, or it seemed like that, ball in the net and as we all know after that it’s goodnight Vienna.

What do we do about it? Well I’ve heard the inevitable calls for the managers head. I can’t in all honesty see what good that will do. I do wonder about Michael Appleton’s health though, well we know about it. The trouble is, like the Queen, he can’t really take a couple of weeks off to recuperate from his recent travails so we wait, I guess for the sound of galloping hooves as the cavalry arrives to relieve the beleaguered garrison. At least I hope they do.

I‘ve often thought, in the last few years, we’ve had more than our fair share of luck. In those moments we were enduring with City supposedly heading for defeat, those skywards glances hoping for divine intervention were sometimes answered and even the most desperate situations were occasionally turned around. Not anymore. Just rain, rain and more rain.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

 

Hard times.

 

There were two good things about Saturday. Firstly my football going partner Stewart decided to park a bit closer to the stadium than usual and secondly his car has heated seats. I’ve never been so cold as that walk back to the car and those two aspects were the only prompters of cheer.

It doesn’t help that the football produced no moments of inspiration, excitement, pride or hope frankly. I sat there willing a goal but in my heart of hearts I just knew it wasn’t going to happen.

I missed the Portsmouth game, that was certainly a moment of inspiration and I suppose I had expected a bounce back from that reverse with all the players busting a gut to put on a show and when we heard that Accrington were travelling over on the day, I think that is a rarity in league one, and they were delayed on the road I felt genuinely sorry for the handful of away fans in at kick off and for the away team for that matter running the stiffness out of their limbs.

I needn’t have bothered as the Accrington following, boosted considerably when the supporters coach arrived had the last laugh as their team, let’s say ordinary at best, pounced on a loose ball that Griffiths could only parry and got the only goal of the game. Were you expecting City to get back in the game after that? Me neither.

I won’t criticise lack of effort, that was there certainly but anything else by way of game plan, tactics, passing (don’t start me off) awareness and general will to win were nowhere to be seen.

I didn’t envy those who had to choose man of the match. I’d have given it, as the sponsors did, to young Draper. At least he put himself about. Whether he should have been on the pitch in the latter stages I’d question as he got a heavy knock, the rough treatment testament, I’d like to think to his potential.

Stanley used every trick in the book to stay ahead. That’s as much appreciation as criticism, I’d have hoped City would have done the same in the circumstance, I’ve certainly seen us do that many a time.

As the game dragged on to I started to think of the fiver I’ve invested in the cup game. Can’t be as bad as that. Can it?

A tale of two Cities.

 

I’m not a great one for away games these days and I don’t usually avail myself of the delights of i follow. Unlike last season which, in the memory seems to have been so unlikely but, like you I suspect I watched nearly all the games, home and away through that usually one eyed medium.

Everyone was talking last night about Wigan being the latest moneybags outfit. They didn’t like that much did they? Wigan fans protested that their team cost nothing in transfer fees but that is only half of the story and as many pointed out the sort of players they have attracted aren’t there because the Latics used to be quite famous.

Last season was different and City were able to compete on more equal terms because of the salary cap but you could tell who had the money because the production values on i follow were much better. Needless to say City couldn’t afford any fancy dan dual camera arrangements.

Anyway, my own set up for away games usually comprises, lap top, for twitter, my DAB radio and Sky on the i pad. This frees up my phone for whatsapp messages to my co sufferer Stewart. City, as we know tore into Wigan and at two nil I messaged to ask why City can display such a lack of cutting edge against Wimbledon and yet go to Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan Athletic and do so well, Come to think of it, I’m still waiting for a reply.

If you’re looking for a tactical analysis you’re in the wrong place, as I’ve pointed out several times before but it has to be something to do with the way the Imps are set up although we all, I suspect, fall into the trap of saying, defeat, bad performance, win, good performance.

Back to i player or You Tube probably, a different story emerges as the highlights are viewed. City maybe aren’t as bad as we assumed and indeed Michael Appleton is adamant that City played well in the defeat to Wimbledon. As fans of course we question that view as no points were accrued but managers see matters differently to us.

Not for the first time I find myself agonising over the fact that City are saving their best performances for away games. I’m not complaining as the name of the game, as far as I'm concerned, is preserving our place in the division in the first instance. I’m quite hopeful that either the planned reinforcements may materialise after Christmas or other targets with any luck can be secured but I’m not so swept away by recent success to think every season can be a winning one.

If I could be so bold a little bit of the stardust of the last two away performances wouldn’t go amiss this Saturday at home though. I’m sure you’d like that too?