Avenues of accessibility.

These days there’s so much coverage of Lincoln City, on the radio, daily in the Echo’s website. Humble bloggers such as myself and the internet generally including the clubs own website. There’s also the weekly paper Echo.

Back in the day, which I seem to be more and more drawn to these days, must be a sign of age, there was the Echo, nightly six days a week and the excellent Football Echo which used to arrive about six pm on a Saturday. This had all the results, tables and some detailed coverage of local sides and comprehensive coverage of the Imps.

All this meant City’s manager, whoever that may be and there have been many, was not exposed to the full glare of media publicity as they are today. Now that we are well and truly into the season I find it interesting to go back a few managers (not that far in years, this being City) and see what their public pronouncements say to us, the fans.

The not unintelligent but monosyllabic Chris Sutton was at the helm when I started my writing career, if you can call it that, with the PFA and I did find him an interesting character. His view seemed to be he knew what he wanted to do but did not want anyone asking him how he was going to do it and he was damned if he was going to give any further explanation as to how we were going to get there.
Sutton left in strange circumstances, still not fully explained but my view is that playing for and managing top sides bore very little relationship to life at the peasant end of the market. When he realised his meticulous planning, and I think he did plan meticulously, when that wasn’t working he didn’t want a sacking on his CV so jumped ship.

Steve Tilson, the less said the better really, he did talk the talk but was a long way from walking the walk. I didn’t hear many voices warning of his unsuitability though, certainly I thought it was a good appointment, show’s what I know. He was however very good on the radio, just not at managing Lincoln City. Disastrous in fact.

Who was next, David Holdsworth? He was another media savvy radio performer although I found his touchline antics bizarre. How he thought anyone might give of their best whilst being screamed at for ninety minutes I really wouldn’t know. In his case the decibel count had no effect on the team and off he went which brings us to Gary Simpson. I felt sorry for him every time I heard him on the radio particularly after the hopeful signs of his early tenure faded. He gave every indication he was out of his depth which I think was right.

Chris Moyses was a manager I had a lot of time for and I think he laid the foundations for the current renaissance but the catastrophic loss of form at the end of last season cannot be ignored. I found him an interesting performer. I got the feeling I would have liked to work for him.

So to Danny Cowley and the contrast with all of the above could not be more marked. Consummate radio performer, assured coach and manager. Spotter of talent, nurturer of players. Hard headed businessman when it comes to the transfer of players in or out. I find it quite reassuring the ease with which he persuades players to join the Imps. We’ve heard all the excuses from former managers, Lincoln is remote, the budget etc etc. Doesn’t seem to be an issue for Cowley although it does have to be stated his is a better budget than formerly but I don’t think it’s all down to that.

The only City managers I met personally were Graham Taylor and Keith Alexander and I got similar vibes from both of them. I can’t give higher praise than that.

We now pause for breath after a fairly hectic start to the autumn although we must laud the latest success, the win at Chester which City have never found a comfortable place to be. To come back from behind twice and still register a handsome win is remarkable. I felt quite exhausted just listening to it on the radio.

Now for the FA Cup. I said I was confident City would come away from Chester with something and my confidence remains for the weekend.

A cup run would truly confirm the mould has been broken.

It’s a family affair.

The Echo is a fair reflection of how we’re all feeling at the moment I think carrying an article on Lee Beevers horror injury and, connected with it, Alan Powers re-emergence into the team. He’s been a bit part player this season and, with his contract up before too long I’m thinking we’d better enjoy his performances while we can.

Power is the sort of player I look at and marvel how good he can be then oops something goes wrong and I realise what a bad player he can be too. There was one mis placed pass, in fact it was a perfect pass-to the opposition but apart from that it was a welcome demonstration of what Al can do. I’d have given him man of the match to be honest even though he did come on as sub.

Then there is Lee Beevers injury which I’d realised was serious until my in house injury expert advised me it can in fact be career threatening and that was expanded upon in the Echo. The players have been visiting and are organising help for the DIY Lee was carrying out at his house. It’s a good read, have a look for yourselves.

Life goes on though, especially in football and this weekend City are in Chester where I lived for a year many moons ago. I’ve always regarded Chester as a bit of a bogey team. Way back, and I really mean it, City were pipped at the post by Chester for promotion by the tiniest fraction of a goal and ever since that I’ve always regarded them as having some sort of hoodoo when it comes down to the Imps.

I’m going to stick my neck out and say I’m very confident City will come away from Chester with something at least and it wouldn’t be a surprise if it’s three points. After that second half against Boreham Wood it’s going to take a very good side indeed to take anything off the Imps at the moment.

A good win and a bad loss-and a bonus.

Another three points on the board last night making it four points from two very tough home games. Radio Lincolnshire said it was an easy win. I thought it was anything but as City struggled to get their game together in the first half but once they scored, that was the end of Boreham Wood.

You could see why Boreham Wood have had so much success on the road. They looked like they were used to gaining points and, despite what was said on the Radio, made it difficult for City to get a foothold but once they did, through Arnold, or was it Robinson, that was the end of Woods gameplan and they didn’t have another.

The evening was marred by a bad injury for Lee Beevers and a long delay was necessary to treat the stricken player and get him to the changing rooms. In the eight minutes of injury time largely taken up with that disaster, City scored with an effort from Arnold that may or may not have been deflected in by Robinson.

I wrote recently I expected some players to go to pastures new and I suppose one of the players I had in mind was Alan Power. How glad I am that prophecy came to nothing as Al put in the sort of performance we all used to hope for when he was playing regularly. Just one passing howler but other than that a virtuoso display. Welcome back.

City were much better in the second half and very much looked the part of title chasers. It was a wonderful half of football and sent the crowd home very happy. In fact we remarked during the game what a pleasant atmosphere there is around Sincil Bank these days. It’s all about winning of course but it’s more than that. There’s a feeling the club is being gradually rebuilt.

I would say though that the city needs to get behind the club a bit more. Just 3000 there last night. It’s good but you do wonder what this squad have to do to get more people in the ground. It’s the missing fans loss to be frank. Anyone still sitting at home thinking things haven’t changed need to get to Sincil Bank and find out for themselves. The extra funds accumulated by more fans in the ground might make all the difference come the latter half of the season.

Speculate to accumulate more speculation.

I suppose there’s no point in moaning about it. You either have a manager no one’s interested in or you have a red hot property and his name is touted around every time a vacancy for a new manager comes up. If you don’t know there’s now a vacancy up the A46 you must be the only Imp that doesn’t.

Just looking at that, and I don’t suppose you all agree with this sentiment, if a club of the stature of Grimsby Town has lost their manager to the likes of Shrewsbury, we’d better keep a very tight hold of ours as already the rumour mill is spinning at a fair old rate linking Danny Cowley with the vacancy.

I can’t help feeling there’s more to the Mariners situation than meets the eye. I recall reading somewhere that their manager, now departed, was told get promoted or else, that again may be speculation but it might explain why he was prepared to move, for me , more or less sideways although up a division, for the moment at least. It could be payback time. Anyway, if Danny Cowley starts dropping hints about a new car we’d perhaps all better be prepared to get our hands in our pockets and get a crowdfunding account started.

We’re not here to discuss that situation though although our manager will move on at some stage, we’d have our heads in the sand if we didn’t realise that but, on to more pressing matters, the second of a season defining double header, the visit of Boreham Wood.

Saturdays disappointing one point, the match wasn’t disappointing but the draw was, heralded a big two games and I wrote beforehand that we would know a bit more about City’s prospects after these two massive home matches. I never thought it was going to be easy and tonight won’t be either. City will have to do something no one else has this season if they are to take maximum points as Boreham Wood haven’t been beaten away all season.

I’d normally say a point is better than none but do wonder if it’s worth going all out for the win even at the risk of losing the game. What will the manager do?

All the more reason to be at the Bank tonight to see first hand.

I beg to differ.

It’s not often I leave a match at Sincil Bank and pretty much disagree with everything I’m hearing and reading about the game. It happened on Saturday though.

I thought the game was a fantastic advert for National League football. The Echo described it as poor. As far as I’m concerned it was a pulsating midfield battle, full of tension and endeavour. A chess game between a wily old head and the young pretender.

Thommo said on the radio afterwards he thought the referee had a good game. Not for me. Sure he knew the rules but failed totally to find any empathy towards the game which is, I’d just like to remind him a form of entertainment for the paying public. By paying public I mean home and away supporters. He showed similar distain for both.

I reserve particular criticism for the fourth official. He seemed to have pre determined to find issue with everything the home bench did. He spent most of the time practically in the home technical area. Not impressed.

The sponsors don’t escape either. How they failed to spot the buccaneering performance of Lee Beevers I struggle to understand. Not impressed with Lee? What about Matt Rhead? I don’t think I’ve ever seen such mastery of the ball headed from height. He looked disappointed to be replaced. Don’t be. You did as much in the time you were on as anybody could expect. A masterclass in forward play and distribution.

I will say I believe my view of the match seems to accord with my fellow fans as twitter seemed to confirm. These are not the sort of games where a win is essential, although it was good to come away with a point. Don’t forget a point for City means just a point for Eastleigh who I’ve got to say looked a very useful outfit indeed.

My worry is that Tuesdays equally potentially epic encounter may end in stalemate too. That would be unfortunate and a poor return for a lot of effort. If anyone was to win yesterdays encounter it should have been City but then again I would say that wouldn’t I?

Imps battlebus fuelled and ready to go.

We had proof yesterday, if we needed it, that City are not regarding this season as a find your feet exercise and are fully engaged now with a promotion push.

Yet another quality signing, Elliott Whitehouse, another England C player was snatched from under the noses, we’re told, of Eastleigh who appropriately enough are tomorrow’s opponents. City then play Boreham Wood the following Tuesday so we will have a better idea of City’s credentials then.

The worry must be, I suppose that Danny Cowley will be poached away from us a la Braintree before he has brought any tangible results for all this effort both from him and the board who are sanctioning the enterprise. I don’t think anyone can accuse them of lacking the stomach for the fight or indeed not providing the necessary wonga for a successful season, not after all this investment.

In the meantime, as alluded to above we are now in a full on battle for the top of the table, really for the first time since relegation. I don’t think anyone believes what has gone on since then has been anything other than a survival exercise and certainly no real excitement for us, the fans, apart from pleasure at individual performances and wins. I wouldn’t want to say there has been nothing to cheer, there has but this is the meat and drink of what football supporting is about. It’s been thin gruel but let’s delight in the feast that is now being loaded onto our table.

Looking to the future there are now several players who don’t have much of a hope of football on a matchday. We need some strength in the squad of course but I’m thinking we perhaps will be saying goodbye to some familiar faces (and some not so familiar) before long.

Imps aiming for the third round-that’s the Theo-ry.

Sorry about that but, having done things the hard way, it is City we’re talking about after all, they are now in the FA Cup proper and with an eminently winnable tie against Altrincham to come (why do I say these things?) The Imps must be eyeing the third round.

I said after Saturday’s game I was confident the Imps could still progress in the competition and so it turned out although I have to say, whilst they could be accused of being a little unambitious at Sincil Bank, Guiseley appear to have put their early season travails behind them and can now concentrate on the league being a much stiffer competitive unit than they were. I’m so glad I’m saying that about them though and not us. As it happened Theo Robinson burnished his reputation and eased slight City fears of lack of attacking options with a brace to see the Imps through. Unconvincingly perhaps but through nevertheless.

The aim must be though to snare attractive league opposition in the third round of the cup and get some much needed dosh in the coffers for the fight ahead.

That though is really putting the cart before the horse. Altrincham is just the sort of banana skin City have made their FA Cup reputation on.