[Lord Snooty]

August 11:

Legendary Scottish football manager Andy Beattie, was born on this date in 1913. He was born in Kintore in Aberdeenshire, a town that has just recently passed a motion to name a street after him. I've had a look on Google Maps, it's not been named as such yet.

As a player, he started his working life as a quarryman working for Inverurie Loco Works, but then was scouted by Preston North End and signed professionally for them. His playing career was seriously curtailed by the war, but before that all kicked off, he played for PNE, alongside Bill Shankly, in the 1938 FA Cup Final against Town.

He then managed Barrow and Stockport, but was appointed manager of Huddersfield Town in 1952, just before we got relegated for the very first time. No problem though, he got us straight back up there and got us to our highest league placing since 1936, when we finished 3rd in 1953/54.

At the same time as that, he was managing the Scotland national team as well, becoming their first ever manager, taking them to the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland. That was a disaster, which I wrote about earlier in the year.

After three seasons in Division One, we got relegated again and Andy resigned, leaving Shankly in charge, his old team mate who he'd brought in as first team coach. Before he'd resigned though, he had been back up to Aberdeen and unearthed a rough diamond, which once polished up became Denis Law, the greatest footballer on the planet.

When he left Leeds Road, he went back to Preston and ran a Post Office, but got fed up with that and went back to football, managing small clubs like Carlisle, Plymouth and Nottingham Florist.

It was in Nottingham that he died in 1983, aged 70.

On this day in 2018, we started our second Premier League season with a home game with Chelsea. And following an excellent pre season, expectations amongst the fans had reached ridiculous levels. We had had draws against Dynamo Dresden and Darmstadt, followed by wins against Lyon, Bologna and RB Leipzig. We were obviously going to do well in next season's Champions League. 

David Wagner had also been busy in the transfer market. Florent Hadergjonaj, Ramadan Sobhi, Juninho Bacuna, Erik Durm and Adama Diakhaby had all signed on. Terence Kongolo, who was on loan last season, had signed from Monaco for a club record fee of around 17 million pounds. We had a new keeper, Ben Hamer. And in the last couple of days, Wagner had pulled off a brilliant looking signing on loan, the skilful speedy Belgian winger on loan from Montpellier, Isaac Mbenza, who's YouTube clips made him look like Pele/Messi/Ronaldo all rolled into one.

When the line ups were announced, we were surprised to see Hamer in goal, in preference to Jonas Lossl, who'd been away at the World Cup in the summer. The rest was as expected though with Flo at right wing back and Chris Lowe on the left. A back three of Kongolo, Zanka and Christopher Schindler. Midfielders were Jonathan Hogg, Aaron Mooy and Phillip Billing, with Alex Pritchard and big Steve Mounie up top.

Bring it on!

Two nil down at half time. What the hell happened there? We'd started brightly, Pritchard had a good shot saved, Mounie had a shot just over the bar, but then with what was their first foray into our box, they scored through that little toss pot N'Golo Kanté.

Undeterred, Town won a corner. Mrs Jorgensen's lad won the header and big Steve then headed it against the post. So close. But then just before half time, the most ridiculous and spectacular dive from Marcos Alonso somehow fooled Chris Kavanagh and his guide dog and he awarded a penalty. Jorginho scored it.

So at half time, Wagner brings on the scourge of Stamford Bridge, Laurent Depoitre from the bench to replace wee Alex. Willy Caballero, who wasn't even on the pitch, shat himself! 

It was another disappointing half though as the Town players visibly wilted under the pressure, the fans deflated and despite Billing hitting the woodwork with a header, it was Pedro who gave Chelsea another goal and a 3-0 win.

Massive over expectancy all around and the first of many meltdowns on social media.

Next up? Man City away.