The Rock ‘N’ Roll Oatcake

Following on from five Q’s with football fans back in the summer it is now time to look at how the various teams have been getting on as we near the halfway point of the 08/09 season…

Robin Miller a Partick Thistle fan…

Partick Thistle FC – The Great Glasgow Alternative

How has your team done so far this season? Highlights and lowlights?

We have been the stereotypical up and down.  Currently we are only five points off the top of the First Division but with poor results always keeping us from the top of the league.  We held Rangers until the 116th minute in the League Cup before losing to a Pedro Mendes cracker.  Losing 3-0 to Inverness Caley Thistle (in the midsts of them losing eight (to date) consecutive league matches hurt badly.

Best player(s) to date and which player(s) would you happily drive to another club if they would sign them…

Gary Harkins has been stunning this season, leading the scoring charts from midfield.  Liam Buchanan can’t help scoring goals when he is fit.   Simon Donnelly is an integral part of our team, but could do with scoring more goals.   New signing Kris Doolan has netted within a couple of games of moving up from the junior ranks, and will be one to watch in coming years.  Jonny Tuffey, NI internationalist and the best goalkeeper in the Scottish Football Leagues.

 What players would you like to see signed during the January transfer window and why?
 

A solid no9 who bangs in 20+ goals a season.

Which other teams and players have impressed you so far this season and why?

Scottish Teams – Annan Athletic have done exceptionally well in the first season in the actual footy league and are just off the promotion spot.  

Down South Hull City have been a joy to watch, especially beating Arsenal!  

Players – Carlos Tevez, Jermaine Defoe, Gary Harkins, Lee Sharp, Kris Boyd, Pedro Mendes… 

The big Q…where do you think your team will finish by the end of the season?

Top 3, maybe 2.

 Anything else to add…

Plug – THE best Bash Street Kid… also visit my charity website – http://the10grandcharitychallenge.wordpress.com  .  Turin Brakes are the most underrated musicians around. Watch ground level football – www.arthurlie.com 

Well done Owen Coyle for making the step to English management successfully, for hammering three successive Premiership teams in a row, but knowing to capitulate at the death because Harry Redknapp truly is the Messiah!

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The legend that is Old Stokie…

How has your team done so far this season? Highlights and lowlights?

They’ve done great. I’ve enjoyed most of it up to yet. I have to admit that Pulis and the players have far exceeded what I thought they would. Well done to them for that. Already, we’ve seen some of the most exciting games ever. The win against Villa was exceptional, not only for the result but because of the tremendous atmosphere in the ground. That day, we set the benchmark for our support this season, and it has continued. How good it is that we are recognized as the most vociferous fans in the Prem. It just shows how passionate real football fans can be. It doesn’t surprise me. Another recent survey put us top of the league in the way people feel they belong to their home town. It really is great to be a Stokie. But, then again, I’ve always known that. I’ve travelled extensively in my life and I know how close and friendly the folk of Stoke can be. Anyway, I’m rambling. I do that often. Back to the nogger. What about that win against Arsenal! Fabulous because they are the team is dislike most. It goes back to the early 70’s when they had all the luck in stopping us getting to the FA CUP FInal at Wembley [twice!] in two seasons. It was nice to rub their noses in the dirt for a change. Wenger’s throwing-his-dummy-out-of-the-pram reaction to his defeat made it even better. Super! More please. Yes, we’ve done well up to yet.

The lowlights? I can only think of one that has pissed me off. And that stirred in me the inherent dislike I have for Pulis. He doesn’t play his strongest side in a quarter-final of the Carling Cup and we get beaten [deservedly] by Derby. I read some of the comments on The Oatie board that we shouldn’t worry too much and that we need to concentrate on staying in The Prem. Grrrrrrrrrrr! Since when has progressing in a cup meant that we are weaker in the league? I’m a great believer that success breeds success. A bad day that was. However, it’s gone now and we have to look forward.

Best player(s) to date and which player(s) would you happily drive to another club if they would sign them…

Abdoule Faye has been tremendous. I knew he would be. I saw him play for Newcastle against us last season and he wrapped up our forwards on his own. A fabulous player and he continues something Stoke have nearly always had – a strong centre-back. We’ve nearly always had one since the days of Franklin [and probably earlier than that.] Add Sorrensen and he also continues a great goalkeeping tradition at Stoke. Those are the two outstanding buys. Fuller and Sidebe have not been disgraced in this league either. Nor has Delap or Griffin. I thought the latter would be. Yes, we have a good backbone to work on.

As for those who I would move on. It depends. If we stay up then many periperal players need to be bussed out. Pericard. Obviously. Olifinjana and Pugh and Cresswell and Soares. Kitson too. Unfortunately, he’s come into a one dimensional [tactically] side that he doesn’t fit into. The ‘Pulis System’ is not an easy one to play and he just doesn’t fit. It’s a shame but I can’t see Pulis changing [a successful] system that he plays.

What players would you like to see signed during the January transfer window and why?

I’m going to have to admit my complete ignorance in this matter. Before we were promoted, I had little time for The Premiership and I know hardly anything about the players [well, the ones we would be able to afford] who played there. I’ll bow to others having a better knowledge of who might or might not be suitable.

Which other teams and players have impressed you so far this season and why?

See above. Add to that the fact that I don’t remember names very well and you have your answer. I was impressed with Kenwynne Jones of Sunderland. He almost got them a point they didn’t deserve. I enjoyed Dean Windass’s antics trying to stop Delap taking his throws. I’ve always enjoyed characters in the game and Windass is one of them. He made me laugh. It’s good to laugh.

The big Q where do you think your team will finish by the end of the season?

I reckon we will stay up. Pulis does things his way and he’s done ok up to yet. He’s got a good set of lads and if he plays his strongest side, we are a difficult team to beat. Our home form especially is good. That, in part, is due to the tremendous support from the full houses we are getting. It’s great. No team wants to come to The Brit because they know the hostile reception they’re going to get. If Ronaldo thought he had a hard time at Old Trafford from our support, just wait until he comes to The Brit on Boxing day! I can’t wait for that one! Yes, our home form is the key. I reckon we’ll get 22 points by the end of the year and can see us getting another 20 next year before the season ends. Let’s hope our away form improves though. It’s been poor up to yet.

Anything else to add…(feel free to waffle away on anything that takes your fancy be it football related or music, books, films etc you have enjoyed this year or plug any weblinks you wish to promote)

Waffle! I’ll let you know I’m the king of waffle. It’s what I do best. I’ve finished my first book and that is with my editor. I’m now on my second, third and fourth. Will they be a succcess? I’ve no idea. It’s not too important in the greater scheme of things. The challlenge is all that matters and the day I stop facing a challenge is the day I might as well go up in smoke at Carmountside. I’ve had a good year. My family are all well and progressing nicely, and believe me, that really is the most important thing in life. My lad, Tony, and I have introduced my four grandsons to the life of our beloved club and they’re all season ticket holders now. We have to kerb their language though. After all, the eldest is only eight. It’s quite funny listening to them singing Deliah. ‘I put my willie in her hand and she laughs no more’. I’ve been to Brussels and Berlin this year with my Stokie mates and to Portugal to stay with friends. I’m off to Portugal again in Feb and then off to Krakow with Stokie friends again next year. Family, friends and Stoke. In that order. Yes folks, life really is beautiful.

Finally, if I were to promote one website it would be a new friend of mine. But I won’t for personal reasons. He’s a Hungarian poet who is one of the most fascinating people I have ever not met. He did write a poem for me. Here it is…under the pseudonym of ‘Anon’. He’s one of the reasons I hate racism so much. His own mother was in Auschwitz and her getting home after being rescued from that hell-hole replicated that of Primo Levi. You can read all about Primo Levi here. http://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Man-Truce-Primo-Levi/dp/0349100136 I told you I could waffle.

A debt paid to Stokie

To Old Stokie, that is, commenting as OS, this panegyric entitled…

The Old Nostalgia Ground

Do you remember…
Yes I remember…
Waddington, Matthews, Viollett and Banks,
Great rivals to Revie and Busby and Shanks,
The Victoria Ground and the Butler Street Stand,
And Mudie and Vernon, McIlroy and… and…?
But shouldn’t Bob Stokoe have managed the City?
Not Eastham and Asprey, and more is the pity
It wasn’t Lord Greystoke, him of the apes,
Or Johnny Weissmuller, or even Geoff Capes!

Do you remember…
Yes I remember…
Mahoney and Pejic and Shilton and Heath
A rocklike defence and a strike force with teeth,
(Those elderly wingers, those tentative ventures
Along either touchline, less teeth and more dentures),
And Conroy and Greenhoff and Dobing and Dodd,
When Hudson was Jesus and Greenhoff was God,
Denis Smith, Alan Bloor, Mark Stein and Garth Crooks,
Selected for speed, for his goals and his looks.

It was all hokey-cokey,
It was quite okey-dokey,
League Cup and Old Stokie.

Do you remember…
Yes I remember…
The days before sub-primes and hedge funds and lotteries,
When employment in China meant work in The Potteries,
When men were all hairy and smoky and stank,
When a Staffordshire woman stood firm as a tank,
When food was plain food, not guacamole or coulis,
Which you can’t properly rhyme in English with Pulis!
When you’d hop on a bus and get change from a penny!
And a laugh was not Brand but Bob Hope or Jack Benny!

When gay meant just jolly, when busted was broke!
When all was as well as it could be in Stoke!
When blokes were just bloky and life okey-dokey!
When time was still time, and Stoke was Old Stokie!

And very finally, my own poem about racism and Auschwitz. It doesn’t rank with such greats as Levi or my friend, but it is important to me. And it says what I feel. It’s good to say what you feel whether it’s about football or anything else.

Incomprehension and Understanding.

Auschwitz. I was there. But why,

On a beautiful day in May should I be

Amongst the milling crowds and groups

Who chatter to the guides who lead us on

And on through things that have such little meaning

To those who don’t truly understand

The empty suitcases and locks of abandoned hair

And sullen, empty faces above striped shirts

that stare down from the walls?

Empty faces that tell me little

except that they were once like me.

Or were they? I don’t know. How can I?

They’re just pictures of people:

Of Mengele and ‘his’ identical twins.

Of course I feel sadness. Who wouldn’t?

But that is not understanding.

And onto a room filled with shoes.

Our guide rambles on…blah…blah.

I stop and look at the shoes.

Especially I look at the shoes.

Two pairs stand out. Two pairs, side by side.

A pair of old man’s shoes. Black. Polished.

A young girl’s shoes. Pink with silver buckles.

They have the best view of us. Us ‘tourists’

As we are hurried through

Each room to make way for more

‘Tourists’ to stare at the incomprehensible.

And on to Birkenhau,

To the rows of wooden huts and rows

Of empty bases that once supported more

Wooden huts and ‘Inmates’.

Well, that’s what we were told and

What I had seen in films.

But seeing and understanding is not the same.

And I didn’t understand. How could I?

How could anyone who has not been

Photographed in striped shirts

Or slept upon the rows and rows of

Wooden bunks that housed so many,

Or been ‘chosen ones’ because they are identical?

Only the shoes have meaning to me.

A pair of old man’s shoes. Black. Polished.

A young girl’s shoes. Pink with silver buckles.

But I don’t know why as we

Left and swept through the tall trees and green rolling

Countryside that mocked at my presence

Because I deigned to go to The Crematoriam.

Now, three years on and I call at the home

Of my granddaughter, Kate. She is waiting by the door

and runs to me and hugs me by the car.

A special hug.We’re off to the theatre.

I wave a fond wave to my beautiful daughter:

Kate’s mother, and two waves to my

Handsome identical six-year-old twin grandsons

Who are standing inside, in the warm,

By the window, looking through the curtains.

We drive through the city. She munches crisps

And loses the last of her baby teeth,

Which she gives to me with a grin.

‘To save for the Tooth Fairy’, she says.

I watch her without looking. It’s what I do

When I am with her. I can’t help it.

She is just ten-years-old and I love her

Sparkling blue eyes and her smile

That fills my soul with the purest kind of love.

And, proud as the finest of Peacocks,

I walk into the auditorium, arm in arm,

Warmth to warmth.

The show begins. ‘Flashdance’.

I watch: both her and the show.

Her obvious pleasure is my entertainment.

And then the interval.

The lights come on. I look down.

A pair of old man’s shoes. Black. Polished.

A young girl’s shoes. Pink with silver buckles.

And now I understand.

Best regards,

OS.

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Musician and QPR supporter NIKK GUNNS…

How has your team done so far this season? Highlights and lowlights?

They have had some great games and some utter shite games. We are already on the 3rd manager of the season and behind the scenes the club is in chaos – billionaire owners are not all they are supposed to be….

Best player(s) to date and which player(s) would you happily drive to another club if they would sign them…

Ledesma has had his moments, as have Blackstock and Stewart. I would drive the owners to another club!!!

What players would you like to see signed during the January transfer window and why?

Any decent striker – preferably 2 of them.

Which other teams and players have impressed you so far this season and why?

Harry Redknapp has had a good run at Spurs, equally Hull have impressed me and Stoke aren’t getting smashed every week either.

The big Q…where do you think your team will finish by the end of the season? 

Hopefully top half of the table. The Championship is quite tight this year – a couple of poor games and down the table we will go!!!

Anything else to add…

I won’t be guiding my God Son or my nephew the way of QPR as they develop their footballing skills. I would recommend reading Alex James autobiography “A Bit of a Blur”, watching the film “Walk Hard- The Dewey Cox Story” and listening to loud Rock ‘N’ Roll.

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Pompey supporter DAVE CLARKE of PLANET EARTH PUBLICITY

How has your team done so far this season? Highlights and lowlights?

I think Pompey are, again, doing really well this season. So far Harry’s departure hasn’t affected us in the slightest. The highlight of the season so far has to be last Thursday night against AC Milan in the UEFA CUP. Despite the Italian legends clawing the game back to 2-2 with the last kick of the game, it was just an amazing night. Pompey played brilliantly (without the likes of Campbell, Diarra, Defoe, Krancjar & Utaka – all out with injuries) and the atmosphere was immense. The ground was actually shaking at several stages of the game. And we all love Tony Adams and he’s done us proud so far. The low point was being fed a constant stream of bullshit for 10 months by Harry Redknapp. Since he turned down the Newcastle job I lost count of how many times I heard him say things like, “I’m Pompey ’till I die”, “I can’t sell this club to the players I’ve brought in and then walk out – it wouldn’t be right”, “Sandra said I owe it to the Pompey fans to stay, especially after what happened with Southampton”, “this is my last job in football”, “I love it here”, “Why would I leave?”…etc, etc, etc. I’m so grateful for what he did, but the way he left has left a bad taste in the mouth…again. Still, good luck to Spurs. I hope they get promoted next season! Hahaha.

Best player(s) to date and which player(s) would you happily drive to another club if they would sign them…

Best players: our full backs, Glen Johnson & Bel Hadj. 

Worst players: John Utaka. He just can’t get going this season. We paid £8million for him. Stoke can have him for £4million – he’ll still be twice as good as Ricardo Fuller…and Pompey fans should know!

What players would you like to see signed during the January transfer window and why?

I’d like to see a consistent right midfielder sign for us. I also think we need a creative centre midfielder. Diarra, Diop, Davis and Hughes are all pretty defensive – and I’ll be amazed if Diarra doesn’t leave in January.

Which other teams and players have impressed you so far this season and why?

Giovanni and Hull. Stoke holding their own has been great to see. Stephen Ireland at Man City has had a great season so far.

The big Q…where do you think your team will finish by the end of the season?

It depends who we have left come February 1st. If we keep the same squad, I reckon we’ll finish 7th. If not…who knows!

Anything else to add…

Stoke need another striker if they want to stay up.

Play Up Pompey

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A Notts Forest fan who runs a rather good blog Through the seasons before us

How has your team done so far this season? Highlights and lowlights?

Badly!  We started okay, but flattered to deceive somewhat.  The highlights have been limited, Moussi knocking out Sonko with a shot against Reading was entertaining, as was referee Stuart Attwell’s last five minutes in our first game with Direby for almost four years.  Ultimately we’ve played quite well in some games, but lost, and frankly been awful in others, and lost – thus we’ve spent much of our time in the relegation places, with our manager until intense (and not entirely unwarranted) pressure.

Best player(s) to date and which player(s) would you happily drive to another club if they would sign them…

Best player has been James Perch – Mr Consistent personified.  He gets stick from fans because for him to have a good game means you don’t notice him, largely utilised as a holding midfielder, although has also played at right back.  I’ve also been impressed by both Cohen and Tyson, both of whom work tirelessly and thanklessly a lot of the time – both of them need to work on their end product, though!  Luke Chambers and Kelvin Wilson have been largely disappointing, and I would have put Andy ‘Andrew’ Cole on the list, but he drove himself away, which was a bonus!

What players would you like to see signed during the January transfer window and why?

Without naming specific players, we could really do with a proper right back and a proper left back (I might be appeased by Moloney coming into the first team from the reserves on the right back front), a commanding central defender with a bit of experience, and another striker.  And a midfielder.  Don’t want much do I?  Explains why we’re where we are in the league though.  I wouldn’t say no to a new manager either, assuming it wasn’t Billy Davies.  Or John Gregory.  Oh yes, we should definitely sign Lee Camp as well.  I really like Paul Smith, but he’s been without any competition for too long.

Which other teams and players have impressed you so far this season and why?

To be honest, not a fat lot of them – which makes it all the more frustrating to be where we are.  Coppinger from Doncaster (fellow strugglers) impressed, as he did last season – but really I’ve been quite underwhelmed by the difference in quality between League One and the Championship.  Strikers are faster, finishing is more clinical, but generally the standard of football isn’t great.  Oh, except for Wolves – we caught them on an exceptionally good day and ended up on the wrong end of a 5-1 tonking.  And that scoreline was flattering to US rather than them!

The big Q…where do you think your team will finish by the end of the season?

I still dearly hope and pray we have enough about us to haul ourselves out of the relegation zone, and to be honest, at the moment that will do nicely.  Another dip into the lower lower leagues will probably have quite seizmic effects on the club in terms of fanbase and all manner of things.

Anything else to add…

Next time you’re in Nottingham come and see the Brian Clough statue in the City Centre – it’s amazing!

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Freelance journalist and Watford supporter TOM HOLMAN…

How has your team done so far this season? Highlights and lowlights?

Shocking. Bottom five and one manager down. Highlight: fluking our way to the quarter finals of the Carling Cup. Lowlight: sacking Aidy Boothroyd.

Best player(s) to date and which player(s) would you happily drive to another club if they would sign them…

Best player: Tommy Smith – 10 goals and plenty of flair. Worst player: Can I nominate the chairman, Graham Simpson? Thanks.

What players would you like to see signed during the January transfer window and why?

A couple of defenders. And a couple of midfielders. And a striker. A keeper would be nice too.

Which other teams and players have impressed you so far this season and why?

Birmingham and Wolves will be up with plenty to spare. I’ve been impressed that QPR managed to lose to us by three clear goals.

The big Q…where do you think your team will finish by the end of the season?

Bottom six. Just the right side of it.

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Leeds fan (well someone has to be) DOMINIC SMITH…

How has your team done so far this season? Highlights and lowlights?

Highlight so far was beating Neil W****rs team Crystal Place 4-0 in the League Cup, lowlights I can’t think of any……..oh silly me it’s probably bloody Histon!!!!!!

Best player(s) to date and which player(s) would you happily drive to another club if they would sign them…

Best player a toss up between Beckford and Becchio, worst most definitely Lubo Michalik (turning circle of an oil tanker)

What players would you like to see signed during the January transfer window and why?

Torres, Gerrard and Carragher would just about do it

Which other teams and players have impressed you so far this season and why?

Oldham Athletic’s Chris Taylor, one for the future I reckon

The big Q…where do you think your team will finish by the end of the season?

Play offs sadly

Anything else to add…(feel free to waffle away on anything that takes your fancy be it football related or music, books, films etc you have enjoyed this year or plug any weblinks you wish to promote)

Me waffle, how dare you………..now where shall I start. Good to see my dad’s team Hull City doing so well in the Premier League, its almost as if he’s returned to his childhood as he gleefully rings me after another surprisingly good result. Very nice to see Chelsea getting knocked out of anything by a lower league club, well done Burnley, now here’s praying for a quick Champions League exit! LUFC once again are returning to their old ways of making the long suffering fans believe that things are on the up then lose to Northampton Town and Histon in less than a week! Musically Elbow’s ‘Seldom Seen Kid’ and Radiohead’s ‘In Rainbows’ are both in my humble opinion ‘works of genius’, the only album I can compare them to in my music loving lifetime is ‘Wild Cat’ by the Tygers of Pan Tang ( only half joking!)