The Stand Says It All
At Millwall yesterday, we sat in the North Stand and could see this on the top of the stand opposite.
The Stand Says It All
Cold Blow Lane was the location and name of the old Den.
However, yesterday it would have been an ideal name for their current ground. Look at these flags on the East Stand.
Stiff Flags In A Cold East Wind
They are standing out ram-rob straight right across the pitch due to the biting easterly wind.
If you look at the shape of the roof, it might even act like a wing and create all sorts of vortices and downdraughts.
Whatever though, the cold and wind ruined the match.
For a lot of the time, play was consistently in front of the West stand, as the ball was blown across, with long sequences of throws-in. Passing was awful on both sides and the match is summed up by the score, as no-one seemed to be able to get a decent shot on goal.
Ipswich nearly scored an unusual goal. This is from the BBC report.
But Ipswich, themselves unbeaten in three games, came back into the match and nearly took a bizarre lead when Forde’s poor clearance fell to Hyam, whose 50-yard lob was headed clear by Millwall defender Mark Beevers.
Until, this point, Town were playing extremely badly and every clearance seemed to go to Millwall.
After the match, I talked to a couple of Millwall supporters. They said that they’d had several matches like this and this was the fourth goal-less draw. They all said that the pitch was rock hard, hence the watering at half-time.
Cricket may have Rain Stopped Play, but Millwall seem to have other weather related problems.
The match may have cost me only £17, but I would have enjoyed myself more if I gone to bed for the afternoon.
Getting To Millwall
I like going to see Ipswich play at Millwall.
The New Den is a compact ground, where away supporters get a good view of the action. In fact, as the view is one of the best, the stewards are generally friendly and it is an easy ground to get to by public transport, it is one of the best away experiences in English football, if you support a reputable club.
It is also exceedingly good value, as my senior ticket cost just £17 and of course because of my Freedom Pass, I had no travel costs. So my total expenditure was much the same cost as taking a lady to the cinema. Although in that case, I’d probably have to buy a drink or even a meal!
I went by taking the Overground to Canada Water station, from where I got a P12 bus directly to the ground. Even though, these buses are every 20 minutes on a Bank Holiday, I still did the journey in just over thirty minutes.
Coming back, I walked to South Bermondsey station and took the train to London Bridge, from where I got a 141 bus home.
wikipedia also says that a 21 bus goes close to the New Den, so as it goes past the end of my road, I might try that next year. You get off at Ilderton Road.
It certainly is the easiest ground for me to get to, with the probable exception of Arsenal’s ground at The Emirates. But that would cost a lot more for a match.
The Meerkats Drove Me Out
I was going to Millwall to see Ipswich play today, but as ever, I was on the drag.
Then one of those awful meerkat adverts came on the television.
i was through the door like a rat up a drainpipe.
Miliband Shows His True Colours
I have never been a fan of David Miliband. To me, he is one of those I would bar from Parliament, as he doesn’t appear to have done a real job in his life. Two many MPs on all sides of the house are just political time servers, who live off the fat of the land.
He was also one of the yes-men, who didn’t stop Gordon Brown’s disastrous policies, that led us into the state we’re in today.
So his first desertion to New York, is probably a good thing, as hopefully he’ll never get into another British Government. But then the Labour Party in recent years has shown a particular talent in bringing in their friends to important positions, despite past failures and indiscretions.
Incidentally, I can never understand, how anybody ever wants to work in the United States, because of that country’s adherence to the death penalty.
I suspect that his resignation from the board of Sunderland Football Club is just as much about practicalities, as about the appointment of Paolo di Canio as manager. Sunderland is a long way from New York.
Leeds Under Warnock Haven’t Changed
Ask any reasonable football fan to give their list of clubs, that they don’t like and Leeds United will generally be in there. Ask about managers to Ipswich fans and Neil Warnock, will certainly be on the list of those they think don’t behave correctly.
So on Saturday Leeds started playing in a way that wouldn’t win many friends amongst neutral fans. Eventually, Jay Tabb was unfairly clattered by Tom Lees and sent off. The picture shows the aftermath.
Leeds Under Warnock Haven’t Changed
The sending off probably led to Ipswich winning three-nil, but you wouldn’t think that Ipswich should have won according to this from Warnock. This excerpt shows he was at a different game.
It’s a crazy day and I can’t believe we haven’t won.
We were dominating. I’ve never been to Ipswich and dominated as much as that in my life. If I was (Ipswich boss) Mick (McCarthy) I’d fill in a lottery ticket tonight.
After all, the skill of good management is to make sure that those working for you, act in a way to maximise your skills and resources.
Warnock didn’t do that, but just seems to get his players to irritate everybody with their tactics.
In the end, Ipswich fans went home, feeling very pleased that the defeat had been inflicted on some of their most disliked rivals.
Although, we weren’t pleased with the snow that was falling. But perhaps it cooled Warnock’s anger!
You Can’t Take The Competition Away From The Sportsman
I’m just listening to the pre-qualifying chat on Radio 5 for the Australian Grand Prix and they’ve just talked to Sir Chris Hoy. He was talking about competing in the celebrity race tomorrow and sounded very enthusiastic. As they finished the chat, someone said the title of this post, about Sir Chris.
It’s very true, even when they’re doing something for fun.
I bet David Beckham, Bradley Wiggins or Sally Gunnell never lose to their children at tiddlywinks!
Football In The Vatican
I’ve just found this article about the Vatican City football team.
It’s definitely worth a read and I don’t think anybody would find it offensive.
The Grandmother Of All Overspends
it is being reported that the overspend on the Sochi Winter Olympics is approaching £335 million in several places. Read about it here in the Bangkok Post.
The Times is also reporting that they’ve got serious floods in Sochi.
It’s good that we had the Olympics last year, so now weather and cost overruns can’t effect them.
It’s The Grand National Soon!
April the 6th, sees the Grand National run at Liverpool this year.
It’s The Grand National Soon!
In some ways, I’m surprised, as in the 1960s, it was quietly fading away! But then out of the Book of Unlikely Sporting Heroes came that amazing horse; Red Rum. By winning the race three times in five years, he effectively recreated all of the interest in the race. He must be the only animal, who has single-handedly saved a sporting or other event, that was failing and put it on a sound footing.
Now the Grand National meeting at Liverpool, is one of the biggest events in the city. C and I went once with the kids and some day I’ll go again.
I was once told a tale, that in the 1970s, when it looked like Aintree racecourse might fold, that the Jockey Club had plans in place to recreate the Grand National course on Newmarket Heath.
Luckily Red Rum came along and the rest as they say, is history!
In some ways though, Red Rum had the last laugh, in that he spent several years enjoying himself as a celebrity. He then died at thirty, which is a very good age for a horse.
Taking Your Anger Out On Wikipedia
Last night as Manchester United threw their match away, I had an eye on the Wikipedia entry for the referee; Cüneyt Çakır.
Aspersions were being cast by the irate and removed by the moderators.
It’s all calmed down now!
The Anonymous Widower 