Fulwood Blade
Well-Known Member
First of all – Compliments of the season to everyone.
Decided late last week to go to Wigan after all. New year celebrations weren’t quite what they were at the Sister in Laws down the A1, so drove back early morning to Sheffield and straight over to Wigan. It’s a place I've never been to – not with work, not to the original shit hole of shit holes called Springfield Park. Worse ground for me was Halifax in the L4 days, but even that they made Springfield Park look like Hillsborough – a dump, but not as big a dump!
We went past Wigan Pier on the way to the ground – if you don’t know what it is then google it – you might be surprised at the size of it! Decided to give it a miss and go the game instead.
Never got to Wigan Casino in the old days too – brought up on Soul and Northern Soul but having a quick spin round Wigan, not sure any of us have missed out – think that song away fans sing about “so and so is a shit hole” actually comes to mind a bit.
So, the DW stadium – tucked away in what seemed like a retail park including a KFC where we had lunch – filled with Blades as expected – I started to get the feeling this was a bit like Peterborough away in L1, you seemed to feel the expectation and confidence in the fans. For me, I've thought it for a few months that this season is reminding me of L1 – yes, it’s a much harder league but were growing as a club and as a team and the supporters seem on board. What can derail it? Just get your differences sorted McCabe and Princey. We're doing what good teams do - we're growing into the season and improving as we go.
When we got to the ground, there was a massive car park – 4 or 5 times bigger than South stand car park, but hardly any cars in it – bit strange I thought, but running through to the end of the game – what a fucking nightmare getting away from the ground. We parked elsewhere, but the traffic lights system around the ground was useless to aid the speedy get a way. Dread to think what it was like when they were getting 20K+ in the Prem.
The ground, even though one of these modern concrete and steel designs, had superb viewing - we were a few rows from the back. The pitch looked as good as ours, not sure if it was a Desso, but considering it has to accommodate Rugby League in the summer it was in excellent playing condition – just right for our tiki-taka football!
Got a Northern Soul single before the game! (and another at HT too) - any NS fans shuffling the feet?
The game started with our A team - my love for Freeman being passed now to Baldock – he’s come into the team and stepped up a level as a few of the others have. Crainey came in Bash of course (he did very well to slot in, but sure was told not to go on any overlaps!), but the interesting thing was CW refused to move Egan over and accommodate Stearman which some had thought might be the solution to Bash being suspended. The bookings he's got suggests a 2 match ban will be following over the coming weeks - Crainey will be ok.
The game started, but what is clear is that we’re lovely to watch. We have a purpose, a pattern and players that don’t panic with the ball – everyone seems comfortable with it.
For me we had slightly the best of the half, although Lee Evans should really have buried a chance from 8 yards. Deano was a little bit at fault beating a fierce shot back into his path but he tried to tuck it away into the corner (it was on his left foot) and pushed it wide. Watching the replay later, even if he had hit the target there’s a fair chance Egan would have blocked it anyway, so well done to him for seeing the danger quickly. A resounding chant from the 4,000 blades was “You’re just a shit Ollie Norwood” reverberated very loudly round the DW! To be honest, I always liked Evans but it’s really obvious that Norwood is different gravy.
The goal came out of nothing really - decent corner from Fleck, but watch the role that Egan played in it – he simply blocked the GK from getting to the ball without fouling him which led to the Duffy shot and the McG finish. Egan thinks very quickly – we have a Premiership defender here for me. Anyway, 4K Blades singing the McG song – he must love us to bits.
Second half – no changes – then smash, bang, thank you man it’s 3 nil and game over. Special praise for Deano and Billy on Duffy’s goal and if you watch Duffy’s goal, the clever none shot that committed the GK which led to the trickle shot into the other corner. Superb finishing after picking up Billy’s layoff.
And so to the record breaker – what a fantastic goal we scored here with just a tap in from Billy, but that is what he’s all about – right place, right time – he watches the line more that most forwards and it’s a testament to why he’s now a record breaker. Superb movement and passing from all involved in this goal – as a fan watching from up high in the stand the fact that OUR football team is playing with such panache and style is just brilliant – you make a 62 year old very happy. It has been said before by others and i’ll repeat it – the football we play now is better than in the John Harris era and it brings a smile to my face.
Bringing Coutts on again for Duffy seems to be a plan that the management team are working on. This flat 3 of Norwood, Coutts and Fleck appears to be a game closer. Once again, you could draw a ruler line between them. Could we be developing this for some pretty tough away games coming up?
The substitution of McG brought another rendition from the fans – and the response from McG as he went off and clapped the fans appeared to be really really genuine – I reckon he’s been well and truly bitten by the Blades bug. He is a very clever footballer – thinks his way through a game. For all the signings in the EFL in the summer, he is by far the bargain of the season.
That’s it really -we saw the game out – we got a few ole’s which didn’t last long, but we were just playing keep ball at this stage without pushing it. Don’t really like that piss taking of the opposition – it can come back to haunt you if not careful.
The 4K Blades fans were loud as usual - well done and another good day out.
We move on – QPR up next, but need to plan the away game calendar – it’s L1 again for me.....you know you WANT to believe it.
Bonus for Xmas/New Year – take a look at our goal difference now and as for Leeds and Norwich – we’re hunting you down.
UTB
Decided late last week to go to Wigan after all. New year celebrations weren’t quite what they were at the Sister in Laws down the A1, so drove back early morning to Sheffield and straight over to Wigan. It’s a place I've never been to – not with work, not to the original shit hole of shit holes called Springfield Park. Worse ground for me was Halifax in the L4 days, but even that they made Springfield Park look like Hillsborough – a dump, but not as big a dump!
We went past Wigan Pier on the way to the ground – if you don’t know what it is then google it – you might be surprised at the size of it! Decided to give it a miss and go the game instead.
Never got to Wigan Casino in the old days too – brought up on Soul and Northern Soul but having a quick spin round Wigan, not sure any of us have missed out – think that song away fans sing about “so and so is a shit hole” actually comes to mind a bit.
So, the DW stadium – tucked away in what seemed like a retail park including a KFC where we had lunch – filled with Blades as expected – I started to get the feeling this was a bit like Peterborough away in L1, you seemed to feel the expectation and confidence in the fans. For me, I've thought it for a few months that this season is reminding me of L1 – yes, it’s a much harder league but were growing as a club and as a team and the supporters seem on board. What can derail it? Just get your differences sorted McCabe and Princey. We're doing what good teams do - we're growing into the season and improving as we go.
When we got to the ground, there was a massive car park – 4 or 5 times bigger than South stand car park, but hardly any cars in it – bit strange I thought, but running through to the end of the game – what a fucking nightmare getting away from the ground. We parked elsewhere, but the traffic lights system around the ground was useless to aid the speedy get a way. Dread to think what it was like when they were getting 20K+ in the Prem.
The ground, even though one of these modern concrete and steel designs, had superb viewing - we were a few rows from the back. The pitch looked as good as ours, not sure if it was a Desso, but considering it has to accommodate Rugby League in the summer it was in excellent playing condition – just right for our tiki-taka football!
Got a Northern Soul single before the game! (and another at HT too) - any NS fans shuffling the feet?
The game started with our A team - my love for Freeman being passed now to Baldock – he’s come into the team and stepped up a level as a few of the others have. Crainey came in Bash of course (he did very well to slot in, but sure was told not to go on any overlaps!), but the interesting thing was CW refused to move Egan over and accommodate Stearman which some had thought might be the solution to Bash being suspended. The bookings he's got suggests a 2 match ban will be following over the coming weeks - Crainey will be ok.
The game started, but what is clear is that we’re lovely to watch. We have a purpose, a pattern and players that don’t panic with the ball – everyone seems comfortable with it.
For me we had slightly the best of the half, although Lee Evans should really have buried a chance from 8 yards. Deano was a little bit at fault beating a fierce shot back into his path but he tried to tuck it away into the corner (it was on his left foot) and pushed it wide. Watching the replay later, even if he had hit the target there’s a fair chance Egan would have blocked it anyway, so well done to him for seeing the danger quickly. A resounding chant from the 4,000 blades was “You’re just a shit Ollie Norwood” reverberated very loudly round the DW! To be honest, I always liked Evans but it’s really obvious that Norwood is different gravy.
The goal came out of nothing really - decent corner from Fleck, but watch the role that Egan played in it – he simply blocked the GK from getting to the ball without fouling him which led to the Duffy shot and the McG finish. Egan thinks very quickly – we have a Premiership defender here for me. Anyway, 4K Blades singing the McG song – he must love us to bits.
Second half – no changes – then smash, bang, thank you man it’s 3 nil and game over. Special praise for Deano and Billy on Duffy’s goal and if you watch Duffy’s goal, the clever none shot that committed the GK which led to the trickle shot into the other corner. Superb finishing after picking up Billy’s layoff.
And so to the record breaker – what a fantastic goal we scored here with just a tap in from Billy, but that is what he’s all about – right place, right time – he watches the line more that most forwards and it’s a testament to why he’s now a record breaker. Superb movement and passing from all involved in this goal – as a fan watching from up high in the stand the fact that OUR football team is playing with such panache and style is just brilliant – you make a 62 year old very happy. It has been said before by others and i’ll repeat it – the football we play now is better than in the John Harris era and it brings a smile to my face.
Bringing Coutts on again for Duffy seems to be a plan that the management team are working on. This flat 3 of Norwood, Coutts and Fleck appears to be a game closer. Once again, you could draw a ruler line between them. Could we be developing this for some pretty tough away games coming up?
The substitution of McG brought another rendition from the fans – and the response from McG as he went off and clapped the fans appeared to be really really genuine – I reckon he’s been well and truly bitten by the Blades bug. He is a very clever footballer – thinks his way through a game. For all the signings in the EFL in the summer, he is by far the bargain of the season.
That’s it really -we saw the game out – we got a few ole’s which didn’t last long, but we were just playing keep ball at this stage without pushing it. Don’t really like that piss taking of the opposition – it can come back to haunt you if not careful.
The 4K Blades fans were loud as usual - well done and another good day out.
We move on – QPR up next, but need to plan the away game calendar – it’s L1 again for me.....you know you WANT to believe it.
Bonus for Xmas/New Year – take a look at our goal difference now and as for Leeds and Norwich – we’re hunting you down.
UTB
