A Frosty Winter

First and foremost I would like to wish all the vital football fans a late merry Christmas and a happy new year, secondly I want to apologise for not writing for a while as I`ve left my job therefore loosing my PC privileges.

My wife bought me a laptop over the festive period so I will be able to now write more and at ease in the comfort of my home, rather just when my boss wasn`t looking (oh future employers I jest I jest…).

The last article I wrote was when we were about 10 games in and sitting 6th in mid September, since then we have played another 14 or so and ended the year winning only about 4 more in the process. Also loosing in the FA cup to a team in our league and in the FA Trophy to a team a league lower than us.

So what`s gone wrong?

The lack of scoring goals certainly hasn`t helped and i`m not a massive fan on short term loans as I feel the constant influx of different players can disrupt a team. Also when they start scoring like Kirby and Margetts – you run that risk of them getting called back to their main employer.

I`m not really going to mention Hurst getting dropped and then getting injured as these things happen in football, or the fact that Dennis and Spencer have both gone on to score an absolute shed loads between them – although it would be interesting to see how we would have faired with them playing up front in the current side.

I read a interview with Neil Young and he said that confidence was low, which if true is a shame considering the calibre of experienced and ex league players that (on paper) we have.

The more points we slip the harder it will be to catch up to the already running away play off spaces, and also – the more people then who start to blame the manager for the performances out on the pitch.

And even when you look at the “powerhouses” of the game like the Man U`s and the Chelsea`s even the ones on the top start to turn on their own people when the points start to slip.

I personally am a believer in it taking two to tango and where the manager can’t be blamed for a strikers poor finish in front of goal, he may well be blamed for buying the striker in the first place.

On a lighter note I find it ironic that the “fans” website where he gets stated the most is in fact the one that sponsors him? But (as that internet meme says where Kermit is drinking wine) – “that`s none of my business”…

This season marks the 20th anniversary that I have been watching county meaning that next season it will be 20 years since the 1996/97 promotion run, I think it would be only fitting for the club to do something to remember that season – maybe even play in a replica kit?

Speaking of which I managed to get the Argentina style matchworn of Tommy Swords signed by the 1982 squad which I will get framed, i`ve also picked up a signed current pink shirt and a captains armband to go with my (some would say sad) collection.

Looking back to the fixture list and we have some hard games coming up with the likes of Nuneaton but we also have games against the lower positioned teams like Telford, Gloucester and Hednesford. These being the games that we have to capitalise against and be taking maximum points.

Please keep a lookout for my page in the official matchday program where I write the County A-Z, as in the up and coming weeks I have pieces about the QPR game, a profile and chat with Neil Edwards, a quick catch up with Alan Lord in regards to the Academy and his role at the club, and not to mention that fateful night at Old Trafford in 1978…

Until then lets keep behind the lads.

Steve