GOOD FAN / BAD FAN

I don’t claim to speak for any fan other than myself, never have done, never will do, but I also like to reflect the general mood around me in what I write. The vibe I’m getting is a lot of unhappiness and that will not be eradicated until we have a football team that consistently wins more games than it loses and at a minimum gets us into the League Two play-offs. Forget everything else.

One or two people have called me too negative and I’ve even been called a “bad fan”. There’s also a general call from some to “get behind the team” and show some “support” for what the new owners are trying to achieve.

The debate on what makes a fan “good” or “bad” could easily fill a few volumes, as could the definition of proper support. Going to every game? Clapping everything? Never booing, even at the final whistle after a good dicking? Writing positive things on the web even after 10 straight defeats with your club in financial meltdown and the Chairman due in court on Monday on charges of molesting a goat? There has to be a line somewhere.

I write what I write based on facts and my interpretation of what I see before me. Whatever anyone may think, I’m desperately searching for positives. So I took a tiny bit of comfort when a forum poster came up with stats that shed us in a slightly better light having taken the first few games of the season out of the equation. (I’d forgotten how shite our start was). The logic behind this being that the regime, including the manager, were finding their feet. There were other stats thrown about too showing us on better current form than our rivals near the BOTTOM of the league. So my nine tenths empty glass began to fill slightly (I really am clutching at straws).

But then, you know how the saying goes: Lies, damned lies and statistics. Everyone is allowed to use them to support their own arguments, as I frequently do.

And that was before I heard that Joe Riley had signed for Bury.

JOE RILEY

I received a text from my Bury supporting mate “Is Joe Riley any good?” My reply: “Yes. Shame we have not kept him. Very attacking. Poss slightly weak defensively”. To be honest I’m not heartbroken that he has gone. He has been injury prone in the past, although there were no signs of that problem whilst he was with us, but Bury have possibly taken a risk giving him the length of contract they have. I’d previously noted that he was getting frustrated playing for us and that we did not seem to be developing him as a player. The Shakers will be pleased that we’ve got him match fit. I guess he didn’t buy into, or had seen through, Project OUFC. Sensible bloke. He was probably getting pissed off playing in a losing team. Or it might have been as simple as getting a contract near home being the biggest selling point. Whichever, it doesn’t say much for what we are trying to achieve though. Taking him on in the first place was probably worth a punt but what did the club really want the outcome to be? Not how it has turned out I would suspect.

GULLIBLE FAN

I’d like to think I’m not. So I’m going to have to make comment on Darryl Eales’ New Year Message, dated 15 Jan. (If you have not read it, now might be a good time to do so). I just couldn’t get Bullshit Bingo out of my mind:
“Framework” “Over-arching” “Sustainable” “Journey” “Inclusive” “Charter” “Aspirational” “Engagement” “Behaviours” – HOUSE.

We are a League Two Football Club. We need to play a style of football that wins League Two football matches. That’s what I’m interested in. Not a Charter.

As I write this I realise I’m only doing so out of utter frustration that MY football team is languishing near the foot of L2, winning few matches and, as far as I can see, not playing decent entertaining football despite all the DNA rhetoric. Additionally, as things stand, I can see little prospect that this situation will change. I also realise that Darryl means well and believes we are on a journey to the Promised Land (Championship?). Remember Firoz Kassam? Of course we do. He talked of a journey.

What does “pulling together” mean? Fans ignoring another defeat to a very poor team by telling ourselves we’ve got some tremendous signings coming in the summer and will storm this division in 2015/16?

“No-one performs badly or makes mistakes on purpose and the true measure of each of us is how we give support during periods of adversity. Criticism rarely improves performance whereas constructive advice and sincere encouragement do”. What about constructive criticism? One person’s cynicism is another man’s constructive criticism.

Personally I feel sorry for the players being forced to play a style of football that is blatantly not suited to League Two.

“As Chairman, I have been overwhelmed by our away support.” As Chairman he should take note of this, written on Yellows Forum by Randomox last week, “20 of us stayed in the social club rather than waste £21 entry. We love the club but didn’t want a crap game to get in the way of a good day out!”

“Our home form is not as consistent as any of us would like and trying to understand this is challenging and perplexing!” No whatsit Sherlock. Trying to understand it is not particularly perplexing. The soulless ground and a manager who is clueless about L2 and has a record I suspect is probably worse than that of anyone who has EVER been in charge of teams in the top four divisions for over 100 games. Appleton – 111 games. Wins 28. Draws 35. Defeats 48. (Stats taken from Soccerbase). I would be interested to see if any of the Mapp apologists can find a 100+ manager with a worse record.

“For me, our league position does not reflect the quality of our performances.” Bollocks, we are where we deserve to be. Delusion will lead to disaster.

“Trust requires a special bond. Trusted to be honest, forthright and steadfast, trusted to be fair and trusted to do the right thing”. My honest opinion is that Appleton, plus the others responsible for this sorry mess, need the sack pdq.

When asked to chose the colour of his jersey for the coming season keeper Daniel Bentley was heavily influenced by his manager’s skin tone.

FAN WITH STEAM COMING OUT OF HIS EARS

When I saw the starting line up I was quite positive. I’d decided to be positive. That’s how it is supposed to work isn’t it? Forget realism. But no, with Michael Collins back and the front three we were starting with I told myself we’d be okay.

Southend had the first few minutes which required a superb one handed Ryan Clarke save to keep it goalless but we soon got into the game. I was heartened by the way we went forward. Yes FORWARD. The sideways, backwards, what was the point of any of that stuff? we usually see was noticeable by its absence. And there was much rejoicing. Callum O’Dowda, playing more centrally, ran at the Shrimpers defence. Additionally the dicking about at the back was cut out and we hit many more long balls than usual. Southend might have a reputation for being good defensively but this being L2 it resulted in chances being created and us playing further up the field. A lot of what football is about at this level is the percentages game. Whack it forward in reasonable fashion, press the defender before he can do much with it and Bob, whilst not being your Uncle, will at least be in the opponents half with a chance falling his way every now and again.

Whilst feeling good about this it was obvious from the off that there was a problem at the other end. Chey Dunkley had a shocker. He never looked assured and there was a comedy moment or two including one where a decision was required whether to use the head or the foot. It’s best to decide on one or the other in reasonable time. Sam Long is a centre half by trade. Presumably, with the acquisition of Dunkley, the club think he’s not ready to challenge for that position or even be reliable cover. Yet the poor lad is required to play right back, no, not right back, an even more demanding role, right wing back. FFS. He’s no wing back.

So it was obvious that at the back we had big problems but perhaps we would out score them. When our first went in someone commented not long after, “we’ll need three to win this”. We’ve got some fools amongst our fan base but plenty who are not.

The first goal showed that we can play meaningful football, if we have a mindset that takes us forward. Danny Hylton won a long ball in the air and found Will Hoskins who with one classy pass played in the advancing O’Dowda. Two touches later we were 1-0 up. That’s the way to do it.

That the lead didn’t last long surprised no one in the stands. Long was faced with two opponents so it was a bit inevitable that a cross would come in. Playing three centre halves should ensure that it was easily dealt with. That it was not demonstrates what a disorganised rabble we have become at the back. Confidence is gone and everyone is playing worse. No one bothered to mark David Worrall and as Clarke’s sharpness had gone a bit AWOL it was easy pickings.

Eight minutes later we were given a boost when Gary Deegan was dismissed for a second yellow following a challenge on Collins. Having seen the TV replay I don’t think it was as bad as I did on the day but it is hard to argue that a card should not have been brandished.

We’d proven at Plymouth that we could do the job against 10 men but there wasn’t much sign that we’d mastered it on this occasion as half time approached. Then in added time we got a bonus. Most of our corners are pretty poor but for once one wasn’t. Long’s perfectly timed run and header was just the tonic we needed before the break.

There was now general consensus that we didn’t need 3 centre halves. (Had we ever needed three?)

Midfield is the area where we needed strengthening. That is the area from which control can be exuded. Stick an extra man in there and with us one up make sure we were more solid and perhaps just a little bit more creative too? So what does our tactical genius do? – bring on another striker.

We should have got the game by the scruff of the neck but didn’t. We’re weak. Three minutes after the restart we were no longer winning. Again the ball came in from our right. Perhaps Long should have done better to stop the cross but every Southend player in the box was marked so again we should have survived. Unfortunately THD was sleeping. He’s no longer progressing at Oxford and I’m wondering how much good this experience, which must be turning into a painful one, is doing him.

Instead of really going for it we reverted to going nowhere much other than sideways and backwards. With the extra man we should have moved the ball about in such a way as to tire the opposition but instead seemed more intent on playing it into densely populated areas where being a man up counted for nowt.

It was utterly pathetic. We were rudderless and without shape. After the game someone described us as a “jelly”. Quite a good description I think.

At about 20 to 5 we woke up and finally put some genuine pressure on the Shrimpers goal. Too little too late. Southend defended in the style of “bodies on the line for the cause” and much as their approach at times grated, they have to be admired for it.

We did not do likewise. On 82 minutes our opponents played a one two down our right flank (Familiar pattern, or what? Had our manager done anything to sort this out? Had he ***k.) The cross came in. (Yawn). Mullins missed it. They scored. We had six men in the box to their two. But, hey let’s not bother to mark anyone.

So, during the last 10 minutes the crowd were trying to roar on a team that had once again let them down big style. Roar them on to what? – salvage a point against ten men who had come from behind. And we couldn’t even achieve that.

There are still seven teams below us but we are only three points better off than Dagenham in 23rd place. Fact. Also, two of the teams below us have a game in hand.

Whilst Mr Appleton has added another defeat to his proud managerial record Phil Brown has notched up another win. His record is 338 games. Wins 113. Draws 98. Defeats 127. Not great but it beats Mapp’s by some distance.

TRANSFER WINDOW

I’m waiting to see who wants to come to our beloved football club and be managed by a man with such a record?

BUT …….

From time to time there’s a jolt that puts all this football palaver into perspective. R.I.P Keith Pasfield. I’m not sure whether I ever spoke to him. His was one of those faces that I kept seeing regularly at away games and, whether I had spoken or not, I kind of felt I knew him a little bit as, like so many others, he was part of Oxford United.