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+----- Thread: The Remember Monday Syndrome (/showthread.php?tid=13785)
The Remember Monday Syndrome - Devongone - 17-05-2025
When I saw the team selected for our second leg of the play-off I immediately switched back to watching Aston Villa. I thought our chances of winning were minimal, but it took only a few seconds of reflection to realise that heading for my 73rd birthday in June I couldn't just desert the club I'd supported all my life. As it turned out the second leg, even in defeat, made me wonder what the hell was going on a few days earlier. We made some changes it is true, but in truth we looked like a wholly different side last night. We passed the ball with apparent purpose. We appeared to have located the opposition's goal. And we seemed to have discovered the determination and spirit that had been previously entirely Walsall's. We lost. Walsall deserved to win. The wonderful Albert Adomah cast aside his zimmer and demonstrated that talent is ageless. And Levi Amantchi notched the winner which was just as things should be. The pitch invasion suggested Walsall should refrain from setting up a branch of Mensa any time soon. The solution to it merely emphasised that the fans were not the only ones who needn't worry about Mensa membership. So the season ends, not with a whimper, but a colourful smoke bomb.
My man of the match, indeed the whole tie went to Simkin the young Walsall keeper, whose goalkeeping was excellent, and whose behaviour was such that at his age he should be sent to the headmaster's study to explain his behaviour. He has it within him to play the game at any level. He was the best player on the pitch twice. He does not need to imitate a "mardy" child, sitting down whimpering and holding his poorly leg, when the obvious motive is simply to waste time. He is too good for that and needs to stop listening to any voices encouraging such behaviour. Imagine Gordon Banks doing that! He played for Stoke City too! Try to emulate him will you, not disgrace his memory!
Player Performances:-
Boot - 7 - did well in both legs, enhanced his reputation
Gordon - 6 - stopped passing back and pushed forward. Looked a player.
McFadzean - 6 - hewn not born. Too old to become creative, he stood as a barrier throughout, nail a sign on him.
Palmer - 5 - the less time he's given the better. Give him a last-ditch tackle, no decision time involved.
Mandeville - 7 - not a full back, but did a job and provided options going forward.
Fleck - 6.5 - didn't do what I expect of a defensive midfielder in front of his centre backs, but provided a couple of class touches and attempted to bring Dobra into the game to the extent of often slotting in behind him.
Naylor - 7 - a warrior, committed to the cause, he worked his socks off and ignored the blood.
Metcalfe - 6.5 - works, tries to create, can see a pass, can miss with one too, but he did more than okay.
Dobra - 7.5 - showed why we are a better team with him than without. Displayed skill and cheek in equal measure. Tried things, took players on, caused trouble and is brave enough to get things wrong sometimes too! Scored.
Banks - 6.5 - quite what his role was meant to be, baffled me, but it also troubled Walsall. Showed skill, caused problems, I'd like to have seen him take a couple of surprise pops at goal to test out the young keeper.
Pepple - 6 - seems permanently on the verge of falling. Turned defenders superbly but having made space always stumbled. Fought his aerial duels bravely, but would have been better served by a traditional wide man.
Sparkes - 6 - came on a sub' and lit up the place with dangerous crosses until Albert Adomah decided to show him some proper football.
Jacobs - 5 - came on too late to show he has genuine class.
Colclough - 5 - showed pace and tried a shot, looked the part, but it was only a bit part.
Grigg - 5 - not much of an opportunity to shine, but did show Pepple how to remain calm and decisive in the box.
Duffy - 4.5 - he's a winger and he tried but he isn't the man to win a cross in defence.
Cook - 6 - Manager. Never achieved full beetroot, his odd selection looked for a while as though it might work. Personally I'd have brought Grimes on with 20 minutes to go. He's a hero time guy who would have died to get on the end of a dead ball and score.
We lost. We tried. We will still be an EFL team next season.
RE: The Remember Monday Syndrome - Dancingwilldoit - 17-05-2025
Good review.
Funny but I also thought Grimes would have been a good sub for the last 20 playing as a striker. It would have given them something to think about and he can certainly head the ball.
Not a good end to the season but it's been one of those years. With the injuries we've had, the fit players have performed miracles to be anywhere near the playoffs. Hats off to them and the management team.
Close season will be interesting with the high number of out of contracts.
We all go again in August.
Haven't made any games over here yet. Looked at tickets for Gironav Villadolid and decided 95 -130 euros was a forget it moment. £10 to watch my team from the comfort of an armchair with a favorite beer or wine is a much better option.
Oh well, onwards and upwards hopefully.
RE: The Remember Monday Syndrome - Devongone - 18-05-2025
Be careful, this might just be a bout of homesickness setting in.
RE: The Remember Monday Syndrome - Dancingwilldoit - 18-05-2025
(18-05-2025, 09:48)Devongone Wrote: Be careful, this might just be a bout of homesickness setting in.
No chance of ever coming back Dev, best thing I ever did. My health is so much better and life here is just so relaxed.
It's a bit like your area, a bit manic for a couple of months then the calm returns.
Am back for 6 weeks in July/ Aug. Hopefully catch a few friendlies.
Have a great summer.
RE: The Remember Monday Syndrome - Devongone - 19-05-2025
We're just finishing our summer over here. I think the weather during your six weeks in July and August will probably make you glad to escape to Spain.
A sunny May doesn't usually turn into a gorgeous summer in England, as you'll remember.
Glad Spain is doing your health so much good.
We're worrying about a water shortage again. FFS, dig a big hole near a stream, watch it turn into a big lake, stop losing milions and millions of gallons in leaking pipes made by Prince Albert, and make some effort not to pump everyone's shit into a watercourse or the sea. Do other countries find it as hard as us? To avoid soiling our little planet?
And if you are a water company, how can you not make money? Your product falls from the sky for free on a regular basis. If only we could have some Rare Earth showers - we'd rule the digital world and MAKE BRITAIN GREAT AGAIN!!!!
Bests for summertime, when the weather is fine.
RE: The Remember Monday Syndrome - Dancingwilldoit - 19-05-2025
Water is a little weird here. You just turn on the tap and out it pours. The weird bit is that it hardly rained at all for 12 months but was still just as plentiful. The water company is owned by the area council and bills are typically 30-40 euro per month which is about 25% of our bills with Severn Trent before we left.
The product is the same - free, we don't get shit in the sea or rivers and Spain was always considered a second class country. Go figure. Ok it's probably not as pure here but we just put drinking and cooking water through a filter just in case.
Give any company a monopoly and most private equity organisations will screw it up sooner or later. Think that time has come for the UK.
RE: The Remember Monday Syndrome - Devongone - 20-05-2025
We have the highest bills in the country down here, because of the coast. So we pay South West Water lots of money to help pour more of our shit into the sea and drive Surfers Against Sewage mental.
And my recent bill advises ME about wasting water, whilst their pipes leak billions of gallons each year ............. and in any case water doesn't escape to Mars or Venus does it? It becomes clouds that rain and the water companies can't be arsed to collect it properly ...... so more clouds and the weather girl needs a whole new wardrobe of frocks, skirts and fetching tops.
Mrs Thatcher, the gift that just keeps on giving.