GLF 67: Geoff comments of football happenings from the seaside.
Blackpool Rock
MOTHERWELLIt would be nice at this point to comment on football but we've not had so much of that.A run of games at Fir Park was decimated by the weather.This can only add pressure when games are rescheduled as the size of our squad could impact on our ability to maintain the high standards we have set this season.The transfer window saw us more under-strength until the late arrivals of Hammell and Lappin.In terms of numbers we may have to rely on kids to make up our squad at times but we have a little bit more in terms of players that Mark McGhee will actually feel comfortable allowing on the park.We lost some players from the wage bill but they were never going to be allowed to challenge for a regular place.Much as it was sad to see Kaiser go, surely it is better for everyone involved that he does not feel he is stealing a wage here and actually gets a chance to play week in week out.
WEATHERIt feels like all we need is a hint of Soccer AM's light drizzle and Fir Park will be waterlogged.Some have accused the club of not doing enough but what can they expect?We don't control the weather and referees decide if the game is off despite our best efforts.Fir Park is beginning to live up to its Fir Ark name.I can't recall quite so many games falling foul to rain but it has been particularly heavy of late.Drainage here has never been the best but appears to have got even worse since the undersoil heating was installed.Should we go throwing money at it to improve it?Not until the SPL tell us we have to would be my choice.Given the options of spending a lot of money fixing the pitch and having games on or having money to pay wages to bring in player(s) and having to suffer a few postponements I'd go with game off any day.
BLACKPOOLBlackpool are currently mid-table but a few bad results could see them back in the relegation mix.Paul Dickov has been brought in to add some penalty box nous (a last minute winner on his debut a plus) and to give referees hell (gobbing off within minutes of his arrival and nearly getting booked).Will they have enough to stay up?Will I care?The Championship is often lauded as a great division with lots of teams challenging to reach the Holy Grail of the Premiership.Having endured six months of it now I'm getting an Emperor's new clothes feeling.The division is tight and most clubs are capable of beating every other club.Sadly a lot of clubs, especially away from home, are more fearful of losing and set their stall out accordingly.Add to that the bigger supports with even more inflated ideas of their importance and you are left thinking, "where is the fun?".I am left yearning for Division One and have made the decision that I am going to give up my season ticket and have a few away trips and a lot more trips up to Fir Park next year.If there's no enjoyment then what's the point.
IDES OF MARCHYet another postponement put paid to knowing whether we got past Dundee before this issue went to the printers.I can only hope we've not had another Ayr United situation where we knew our next opponents and were eyeing up a semi-final.Ayr bit us on the bum so let's hope Dundee haven't done the same. If we have managed to get past them then I hope we don't go into the Queens game thinking we are guaranteed a semi place. Remember they beat us as recently as last pre-season, in fact they tanked us. And don't forget what they did to our Cup hopes in 1980 or how hard a game we had against them at Fir Park recently. Mark McGhee will have our players psyched up properly or maybe the previous few sentences will all be rubbish and we'll be jealous of Dundee getting to Hampden.
TRANSFER WINDOWIs it just me or is this becoming more ridiculous every year?Clubs have all of January to make deals yet on the last day we get major wheeling and dealing right up to 11.59pm.We even had the added fiasco of Benjani's transfer being allowed after the window had closed!I can see why the window was brought in as it gives clubs stability for a defined period of time and I probably agree that it's so much better than the old way of Celtic and Rangers robbing teams throughout each season.I just think that clubs shouldn't be waiting so long to deal, they know who they want rid of or would like to loan out so why wait till January 31st.Could we have moved for Lappin earlier?Probably.We did move for Hammell yet it was allowed to drag on till closing day.Luke Daniels came in early enough and we shipped out players quickly apart from Stepover, which was another last day deal.Thankfully all our games being off reduced the effect of a depleted squad but it could have had a major effect on our season.
BOB MALCOLMMr Charming himself was mooted for a Motherwell move.To say that the thought of his arrival divided opinion would be an understatement.Leaving aside his off-field misdemeanours, no, forget that;let's recall great moments of drunkenness and the FTP signature.What about on-field misdemeanours?Well, raking your studs down a players face, getting away with it and scoring a winner and then getting away with the video review comes high on the list of pissing off Well fans.That leaves his abilities on the park.I've probably seen him more recently than anyone else, having seen him play for QPR at Blackpool.I'd like to say I saw proof that he could do a job for Motherwell but am even happier to report that he was indeed Fat Boab and a load of rubbish.
SECOND TIME AROUNDThey used to say never go back and there is plenty of evidence to back that up. Gregor Stevens, Fraser Wishart, Brian McClair, Alex Burns although he wasn't that great first time to be honest.A look at our current squad would suggest that coming back is perfectly acceptable.Keith Lasley has returned to us a better all round player.Our most capped International, Stevie Craigan, is a stalwart of our defence.Added to these we have Stevie Hammell.I wonder what difference some time away has done to him.It seems that he was something of a dead ball specialist for Southend.Most of us will be wondering if his defensive awareness has increased or was it just our tactics that called for him to stand off players and allow the ball to get crossed into the box.He has a big gap to fill as Jim Paterson proved capable of playing many roles consistently for the club and I wish him well as I do Stevie on his return.Now if only we could sort out some sort of deal for that Faddy chap.
WORLD GONE MAD…OFFICIALWhat a battling performance in the FA Cup by Havant and Waterlooville at Anfield.Proof that the game really is just eleven against eleven. The financial disparity between the clubs was unbelievable yet the visitors emerged with enormous credit and a tidy sum of cash. While they return to their bread and butter division Liverpool announced that they are cutting back on their new stadium plans but it will still cost a total around £400m. Meanwhile their great rivals Manchester United are reported to be willing to offer Cristiano Ronaldo a pay deal worth £140,000 a week.These sums of money are scandalous; many are paid by fans through Sky subscriptions or admission costs to grounds while Liverpool's stadium plans will only come to fruition through a huge loan.Hell mend them.
Come On Ye Well
Up The Pool
Geoff Baby
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