All,
For those of you unable to attend games at SJP for whatever reason here is the first of my match accounts for this season. Including personal thoughts of events as they unfolded outside and inside the ground from a supporters viewpoint................
Whatever passes for a computer that compiled the 2011/12 fixture list threw up a real beauty of a game for our season opener, namely The Gooners at SJP.
The real bugger for anyone thinking of attending such a game is that instead of being played at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon it was moved for TV to a 5.30pm evening kick off.
Still not a problem if you are a local but bloody annoying if like some of my training pals you travel to every home game from somewhere else. That said it meant for me only a slight change in prematch training routine.......... it started much sooner than normal. Not that it matters much if you can get served quick.
Also one other notable change to the training regime was that of a new venue.................... as a couple of my team mates had decided not to attend SJP (they were not alone) and were going to watch it on TV instead of paying for tickets. So having got the first two rounds in we settled down to watch The Scousers do battle with the great unwashed from doon the road in Mackemland. The first half totally belonging to The Reds who should have wrapped all three points up at the break, but went in only 1 - 0 to the good. I was not the only one that found it strange seeing Jose now playing for another side, plus lots of muttering about him and the nature of leaving etc etc..............
During half time talk turned to our game with quite a bit of optimism around the table. No one thought it would be a repeat of the comeback to end all comebacks from earlier in the year, however it was rightly pointed out that Arsenal also have quite a lot of problems on the playing side. Mind you it was also mentioned even losing the quality of Fabregas and Nasri they still probably had more to select from talent wise than we have. Predictions ranged from score draws to a narrow win and one firm loss by a couple of goals at least. Plenty of discussion about the new players as well and how they would fit in. With a bit more training and the second half of the match well underway, most decided a draw would be a good start and any win a bonus. It was then Seb Larsson scored the equaliser for The Mackems which kind of put a downer on things................
On the final whistle of the Mackems game we made our way up to the ground. Only heading in different directions once Gallowgate had been reached and the issue of being seated in various parts of the ground. Long gone are the days when you could attend a match with all your mates and stand in one place.
On entering the East Stand I noticed the team list was being shown on the TV monitors........................ so rushed across for a quick look. Very pleased to see Joey selected, but gob smacked Ryan Taylor had been choosen for the vacant left back spot. Then I lost sight of the rest as the final results of that days games started being shown.
Following a quick chat with the two guys I sit with in the ground I was informed Ba (making his debut) and Stroller would lead the front line. Another new player making his debut was Cabaye which I was really pleased about as I had been looking forward to seeing the lad play.
Then the teams arrived on the pitch and with The Toon attacking the Gallowgate end the game kicked off.
The game itself started off slowly, but before the end it would reach fever pitch proportions similar to that of the game in February.
Arsenal are extremely adept at keeping the ball and make the passing game look second nature. In particular Ramsey; Arshavin and Rosicky totally dominated possession of the ball while Newcastle midfield duo Tiote and Cabaye tried to hunt them down. I began to get very concerned about the way the game was heading, however for all the one sided nature of
things The Gooners actually produced very little in the way of an end product. The two most note worthy efforts I recall in that first half being a through ball to Van Persie, which he should have done a lot better with and a fumbled take on a cross by Krul which was cleared away from the goal line by Simpson. Cabaye looked to me to be struggling with the pace of the game yet the lad never stopped chasing and working for his team. Once he gets to grips with the nature of this league IMO he will do fine. However Newcastle as an attacking force were completely devoid of ideas with Barton trying his best to be creative as always, Jonas being Jonas, full backs Taylor and Simpson failing to get a decent cross in between them resulting in neither Ba nor Stroller looking ever like getting the ball nevermind scoring. While Arsenals £10.5m signing Gervinho and one time target of The Toon played most of the game out wide on either flank. He is very quick but for me looks light weight in Premier League terms and has a fondness for falling over at the slightest touch. I thought to myself this guy is going to be hated around grounds all over the country if he carries on in that way. Oh! how little did I realise what was to come............. So ended the first half.
Half time was celebrated with Mark Allison aka Run Geordie Run doing a well deserved lap of honour to the equally apt Lindisfarne's "Run For Home" and loud applause from supporters.
So into the second half with the Toon having removed Ba and brought on Obertan to make his debut.
The game carried on much in the same way as the first half although the introduction of Obertan added some crucial pace to The Toons attack. First impressions were that this lad could be a very good signing for us. Not sure whether Ba had been removed because of injury, he was simply unfit or the fact he is rubbish. Only time will tell. There then took place a very strange piece of play involving Joey Barton. As I was on the other side of the ground from the incident I could not see exactly what had happened. Yet even I could tell the player was upset about something. Actually thinking has he lost it completely and is heading down the tunnel. Only for him to say something to the fourth official before returning to the pitch and putting his boot on. Later of course I found out he had his leg deliberately stood upon by Song. That incident was unfortunately missed by all the officials, but the next one really gave them something to think about with less than fifteen minutes to go.
Following a run into the box from Gervinho to reach the ball and with Tiote moving towards him, but not appearing from where I was to make any contact the Gooner hit the deck.
I thought the diving b*****d is at it again, however the game just continued as The Toon defence had cleared the ball away. To be fair the ref had also turned away to follow the play so didn't see what happened next. Namely Joey Barton deciding to man handle Gervinho from the ground to give him a piece of his mind. Which piece is open to conjecture, but it was clearly another red mist moment. Gervinho didn't think much of this approach from Barton and at that point in proceedings all hell broke out. From then on it was pure farce. Joey on the ground. Saylor running around claiming an elbow had been used. The Arsenal keeper running the length of the pitch to get involved. Plus many other players putting their all in when they would have been better off walking away. In what had been a torid game with little real entertainment we now had a show! WWF could not have done it any better.
By the time the officials managed to get their act together it was obvious someone was going to be red carded. At first I thought Barton for sure just because it's Barton and Gervinho because he was at the root of it all. Very surprised to only see the Gooner get the bullet and Joey a yellow along with the Keeper who would have been much better off staying in his goal area.
After that the game pretty much died with only a series of meaningless substitutions from both managers taking place, some route one lumps up field from Krul and more woeful stuff in front of goal to conclude the affair.
Not a game for the purest and probably the most kind thing I can say is that 0 - 0 was a fair reflection of this match based upon being there.
Positives................. we did not lose and gained our first point of the campaign. Colo and Taylor handled most things thrown at them. Krul also barring one missed cross was solid and now looks like the number one choice. Obertan impressed and Cabaye will get much better. Barton still provides most if not all the spirit in the side.
Negatives................... Ba and Stroller simply doesn't work up front. We desperatley need a striker with pace to burn so get the cheque book out as they don't come cheap. Ryan Taylor is no answer to our left back problem despite sticking to the task manfully. Pre season has done us no favours.
On a final note lets all hope the manager gets to bring in more players before the window closes and no one else leaves.
Now we head towards next week and the derby with the Mackems....................... what kind of fireworks will that one produce................ladies and gents fasten your seatbelts here we go again..............
CWL
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You're probably right Nat, I only woke up when the fisticuffs started ;D
