The Diary

04 December 2007: Some Blue-Skies Thinking About Tomorrow's Sky Blues Game.

Having taken in a little bit of American football earlier tonight (hubby was watching, so I did in a sort of half-attentive way), one issue in particular did leap out for me. The match in question pitched Cincinatti Somebody-Or-Others up against Pittsburgh Steelers, which the away side seemed to win quite easily after going behind early doors.

But it wasn?t the football that caught my eye, so much ? the rules are so arcane, try as I might, I just can?t seem to motivate my brain cells sufficiently to get a half-decent mental grip on the various ?whats? and ?whys? of the game ? it was the state of the pitch, which was, quite frankly, bloody awful.

Now this surprised me at first: the one thing you do tend to notice, when watching these games, is the billiard-baize surface condition of the playing area. Pristine, lush green, and not a bump or divot in sight, normally ? but not tonight, it would seem. That grass sure looked badly in need of refurbishment: patchy, visible holes here and there, with rucks and bumps almost ubiquitous. And rock-hard, too, if the contorted faces of those tackled were anything to go by.

Couldn?t be the fault of the ground staff, I reckon, so the obvious culprit had to be the climate, which in that part of the world right now, must be approaching near-Arctic in character. The problem exists because the US is one big landmass: a quick look in the atlas will show you precisely where both sides are located, with Pittsburgh stuck right in the middle of Pennsylvania (not all that far from Civil War battle site Gettysburg, actually), and Cincinatti enjoying life cuddled up close to one or other of the Great Lakes, as near to the ?official? Midwest as dammit. And, unlike us, the US doesn?t derive any benefit whatsoever from the transatlantic equivalent of the Gulf Stream, which has been our own saviour from constant snow-bound gridlock on many occasions.

Result? Barring followers of Calfornian and Deep South sides, whose home games must kick-off in idyllic spring-like climes at this time of year, following the US code can only be a pretty exacting stern test of fortitude and loyalty. Winters in regions further north ? such as those shown on TV tonight - get bloody cold, and with all the trimmings, too.

Snow, ice, cutting winds, and sub-zero temperatures, right through from November to February ? and it didn?t half show on that pitch, tonight. I reckon we get it comparatively easy with the weather in this country. And as American football is an all-day affair, how on earth do spectators stand it without ending up frozen to the spot? Sure, you can wrap up as warm as you like, but in my experience of hypothermic conditions, the bitter cold always seeps through, eventually. I can only assume that some bring sleeping-bags and the like to games, to act as an extra insulating layer.

In countries with equally-awful winter climes e.g. Russia, and some Eastern European states, the solution is perfectly simple: head straight for the off-licence before the game, and purchase for consumption during it lots of over-strong spirits, truly capable of taking the lining off a stainless-steel sink, but I can?t see our Transatlantic cousins doing that.

In the US, morals concerning people and drink are pretty strict, comparatively speaking: what constitutes a moderate evening?s ration in the local for the average Brit would trigger immediate AA referrals for the ?offender? over there, not to mention Social Services child safety investigations innumerable, if female and with sprogs. In some states, in fact, the consumption of alcohol by pregnant women, even just one small drink, is deemed a criminal offence. Needless to say, such Draconian legislation is a pretty contentious issue over there, with both parties screaming about loss of human rights, etc.

Nope, supporters sure as hell wouldn?t risk ostracism by being deemed to be ?under the influence? at games, so they must all suffer in silence, I guess. The strange thing about all this is that just thirty or so years ago, all the smart weather money was on a swift return of the Ice Age, and similarly-cold conditions for this country (or much worse) during the long, dark winter months. Thank God for global warming.

After we?d had enough of that, we then turned to the live Scunthorpe-Blackpool game ? well, to the closing stages, at any rate. When we joined the game, Scunny were leading 1-0, and looking pretty good to cart off all three points at Blackpool?s expense. But their gaffer couldn?t have reckoned upon one of his little brood committing the footballing equivalent of hari-kari, just 20 minutes before the end, now, could he?

Well done, then, Kelly Youga, for almost severing the lower limbs of Blackpool?s Stephen Crainey with a lunge so wild, it should have been housed in Dudley Zoo?s lions? enclosure. Or was the dismissal because of the equally-undomesticated nature of his locks, which, to say the least, had a definite tinge of ?owner?s-forefinger-immovably-stuck-in-plug-socket? about them? For that untamed hairstyle, he deserved dismissal on ?crime against fashion? grounds alone.

The best bit? He was only dismissed last week, apparently! What a complete and utter plank. That gave the visitors the massive fillip they needed, so to no-one?s particular surprise, Michael Flynn equalised for The Tangerines about two minutes before the end of normal time. Not that there were all that many Blackpool supporters there to celebrate, mind.

As far as I could tell, they must have totalled less than a thousand, which is a far cry from the vast armies they used to have, earlier in the season. Remember our game with them? And, not a single drum-beat within earshot, deafening, or otherwise. Could it be that the owner had finally decided not to keep the faith, any more? Or was it a matter of veiled threats, pure and simple, i.e.: ?You turn up with that chuffin? drum anywhere near me next week, and I?ll ram them chuffin? sticks right up your??.? Yes, quite!

Not that the end result affects anything for us, of course, but it?s always interesting to see what other sides are up to. Tomorrow night will be our ?biggie?, if you want to lump Coventry City in with that description, of course. But they?re having big problems of their own. As of tonight, they?ve filed what?s called ?Notices Of Intent To Go Into Administration?, with the local County Court, presumably. The first time I?ve ever heard of such a thing, but then again, I?ve never been much for civil proceedings of any description.

According to the official City website, the word from the club is that his is merely a measure protecting the bank and its creditors, and designed to give the other party to the proposed takeover a bit of a kick up the fundament, courtesy m?learned friends with the fancy wigs and gowns.

What it says, in effect, is that the club will have a 10 working day ?window? in which to complete negotiations with Ray Ranson, and Sisu Capital, as well as other parties to the takeover. If things still haven?t been resolved by the end of that time, then pukka administration procedures will be triggered.

That would be a killer blow for the club, as administration would result in an automatic ten-point deduction for the Sky Blues: as they?re not exactly storming up the Championship table (they currently occupy 14th place, away record W4 D1 L4 F12 A12, points total 25, goal difference -7), such a massive loss of points would probably see them relegated to League One (old Division 3), for the very first time since Adam was a lad. Or the very last time Jimmy Hill turned out for them, which amounts to much the same thing, really.

More serious still were rumours that staff wages due at the end of last month hadn?t been paid, but this has now been refuted by the club. According to their website, everyone has now got their money, but even so, life at the Ricoh can?t be very secure for anyone, right now. Which, in its turn, could well exert a significant ?knock-on effect? as far as the first team?s concerned. I?m glad it isn?t me that works for them, what with Christmas coming on, and everything. For those with families, it must be a tremendously unsettling time all round.

Bearing all that background news in mind, then, who?s hot and who?s not to turn out for the Sky Blues, tomorrow? The lad Mifsud, their top scorer, with 11 goals to his credit thus far this term, will be back after serving a three-match ban for ? guess what? Elbowing, during the corresponding away fixture between our two sides! Stupid boy. David Macnamee is doubtful to start for City, however, after having to go off injured at half-time during their losing home encounter with Sheffield United last weekend. Those two changes apart, it looks very much like ?all hands on deck? for the remainder of the Sky Blues side.

We now turn to look at who will feature in the famous navy blue and white striped shirt. The word is that there won?t be any changes from the side that drew with Palace (Cesar?s suspension doesn?t cut in until next weekend) so that means we?ll go with Bednar starting up front, then, with Beattie warming his bum on the bench again. He?s beginning to worry me, a little, is James Beattie. You would have thought that a player with his amount of experience, albeit in the Scottish League, would be making a concerted effort to shine, by now.

All those near misses, once tacitly accepted as bad luck on his part, are beginning to grate a little on the mind, and Saturday?s brace, after he?d entered the fray, didn?t help raise his standing in the popularity stakes one little bit. I do accept that what he really does need is a goal, and quickly, but that still doesn?t stop the worry worming its insidious way through my brain, that we may have mistakenly purchased a pup.

If Tex can acquit himself as marvellously as he did during the early stages of the Palace game, then that already-porous Coventry defence will sure have a helluva lot more on their plate to worry about. It would probably make a welcome change from money problems for them, though. An awful lot will also depend upon how well we mark the returning Mifsud out of it. With eleven already to his credit, he?s certainly ?nuisance value? if nothing more.

Being serious for a moment, what Tex was doing with the ball against Warnock?s lot was truly unbelievable, a magnificent display of skill and plain showmanship I?ve not seen from any individual Albion player for many, many years. What a shame that sheer carelessness forced us to drop those precious two points in the end. Never mind, though, despite a chronic level of fixture congestion, we?re still cookin? on gas out there. How good it feels, right now, to be a Baggie?.

There is some good news to report, though, concerning our still-absent strikeforce. According to the Express And Dingle, Kev Phillips is now back in training, following that alarming month-long injury absence of his. Mark Venus is hopeful that he?ll have both Kev and Ishmael Miller back by Christmas, but understandably, is quite reluctant to guarantee that will actually be the case. Equally sensibly, he?s also stressed that neither player will be rushed back to first-team duties.

A fair point, that: as we all know, football injuries, even slight knocks, can do peculiar things, break down again for little or no apparent reason, and similar. You only have to remember what happened to Appy to realise just how precarious a player?s lot can be at times. Whatever you do to try to prevent such events, there?s not a lot that can be done when people sustain complete and utter accidents on the training pitch.

If we can get both of them back in time for the Yuletide footie-stress-fest, the boost that would give to our promotion hopes would be incalculable. With both of them raring to go, I can visualise more than one side raising the white flag, mentally, at the very least. With a grand total of seven in 26 days to face, a result tomorrow night, and one at Leicester would set us up for the remainder very nicely indeed.

Just bear in mind that Watford go to Colchester, never an easy side to face, while the Dingles, trailing us by just two points, travel to Barnsley, currently twelfth in the table. I don?t think they?ll be enjoying that one very much, either. Charlton, now four behind us, go to drop-zone-threatened Cardiff City, which can also prove an ?elephants? graveyard? for sides careless enough to make light of the grave peril they represent for the unwary. And their supporters resemble troglodytes.

Desperate sides can, and do, lash out ? and with all their overheads, including a plethora of former ?big names? to pay, they sure as hell will be desperate to get something from this one. Our chances of going top, after tomorrow?s final whistle? No ? I?m not going to start on that game: with our favourite football club, things don?t half have an awful habit of going unexpectedly pear-shaped, and right when you least imagine them, too!

You might also want to know that the referee appointed to officiate at tomorrow?s game is yet another enjoying a brief sabbatical from the Prem, Mark Clattenburg. Linos are D. Bryan and N. Sarginson, and the fourth official is P. Joslin, whose name does ring a bell with me, for some reason I can?t rightly fathom, right now. Maybe it will come back to me nearer kick-off time.

Mind you, when I looked at the Sheffield United-Stoke City reffing appointments (they also play tomorrow night), I reckon they?ve landed up with just the fourth official both sides deserve. You?ve probably gotten way ahead of me by now, but I?ll say it anyway: well done, Mister Miller. Now go and ruin their game from the technical area. If you dare.

And Finally?. One. About tickets for that Charlton Cup tie. I?m given to understand from their website that the Addicks have been wonderfully sensible with their pricing for this one, which will be sold at ?bargain basement? rates, comparatively speaking i.e. ?15 for adults, ?10 Old Farts (Champagne in The One And Only Old Fart?s house; the last time Charlton let him in so cheaply was on his brief return from the Western Front, back in early 1915!), and just ?5 for ickle kids. So fill yer boots, peeps.

Two. Having had recent confirmation my OU pharmaceutical chemistry thing went OK, I?ve now signed up for a course in human genetics, which kicks off next February. If nothing else, it?ll sure explain what it is about Dingle-lover DNA that makes them so vacuous, up top!

 - Glynis Wright

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