Winters World

After a week away topping up my tan on a cruise around Italy, Croatia and Greece, it was good to get back to the reality of football.

Whilst I was away, England had comfortably taken care of the Croatians and are now South Africa bound.

Already, the papers have started bigging us up. When will we ever learn?

My informants had kept me up-to-date with the weekend’s Football League results. Jon Sotnik’s updates from Darlington’s game at Lincoln did not make such good reading and the hope of continued improvement after the positives of the previous two games was proving to be misguided. Whilst Oldham were evidently poor, Darlington were downright abysmal.

I was back home on Thursday night and where better to get back into the swing of watching football than a Friday night trip to Accrington? Many will recall I made myself public enemy number one in those parts last season when passing unfavourable comments about their ground and facilities. Those comments may be factual, but the club has far more pressing problems at the moment. As Darlington fans will appreciate, or should appreciate, having a club is far more important than many other things. Whilst being critical of the ground last season, I was, at the same time, very complimentary about the club’s vociferous support. This did not stop them adding a couple of anti-Winter songs to their endless repertoire on Friday night.

Having the audacity to have an opinion that upsets them obviously puts my sexuality into question and because I stated that their ground was far from satisfactory, it means that I take it up the arse!! What is it about sexual aspersions that so interest the youth of today? (More about that in this week’s Villain of the Week.)

That apart though, the locals' support in both numbers and noise was fantastic. They really get behind their team and it creates a great atmosphere. Also, a massive pat on the back should be given not only to the people of Accrington but also to the fans of other clubs in the area who pulled together in the club’s hour of need. Double the average attendance was admirable, as was the help from neighbours Burnley, who had put on a friendly to help the club. A few short months ago, the people of Darlington, local clubs and supporters did little to help the Quakers' plight. I really hope that AS survive as their supporters deserve to have a League team.

With regard to the game, there was very little for the 300 plus Darlo fans to cheer about. They had been moved from the open terrace where they had got soaked last season and were crammed into the corner of the ground where the view could not have been the best. I am sure that they would not have complained too much though, as not many would have wanted to witness what was on show. Had David Dowson taken his guilt-edged chance then Darlo might have even come in at half-time level. I think we all know that a half-time scoreline of 4-1 or 5-1 to the home side would have been more deserving. The second half was better. A well-taken goal from Kevin Gall raised hope but then a late goal when AS ran through a non-existent defence meant that the better side won in the end.

Post-match, Colin Todd was scathing of his side. I must apologise for not having any audio for Darlo fans of his interview as my equipment, like Darlo’s defence, was just not working. Since Friday night, I have read the message boards with interest and even now, when I should know better, I am still amazed by the comments of some of the posters. Sack Todd and Singh must go!! I know that there are many who have tried to add some sense to the debate, but did anyone out there with half a brain and any knowledge of football really expect anything different this season? It was blatantly obvious after the antics of GH that survival was the best the club could hope for this season. And by that I mean staying in the Football League. RS saved the club’s existence and now, half a dozen games later, some are calling for his head. Well if he walks, Darlo folds. End of!!

Now for Colin Todd. He is a man who had no budget and had to get players to agree to join the club without pay and with the promise of “possibly” having a career if and when the club came out of administration. Mourinho could not have done any better. And did some fans expect players of the highest quality to be lining up to sign for a club in Darlington’s predicament? I wondered why on earth Raj would want to stay involved - I bet he is thinking the same now. As we discussed in the car on the way home, the problem is that there is no obvious solution. With falling attendances that are likely to fall even further as results continue to be poor, the income is not going to be there to finance purchases or even pay the wages of loan players. Joining a team that is rock bottom of the league is hardly an appetising prospect, is it?

I don’t know what the answer is, but I do know that the ridiculous suggestions of sacking Colin Todd is not the way to go.

SATURDAY

After Darlo’s disastrous performance, I was hopeful of enjoying a better day. It did not start off too well as I watched Rangers scrape a point against a young impressive Motherwell side. I then set off to Hartlepool. Surely today was going to be that elusive first home victory of the season. It proved not to be and again I saw disgruntled fans of a local side. I feel that playing at Victoria Park is becoming a problem for Pools' players. They appear on edge, knowing that criticism is only a mis-placed pass away. I don’t honestly know of a ground that is so lacking in atmosphere. The fans certainly show passion but they have no songs, not even for the team, let alone the players. Surely it would help the cause if the fans helped them rather than criticised. At least they managed a point with a late Adam Boyd equaliser.

Back in the studios, I had Poolie mayor and fan Stuart Drummond as my guest, along with some lively and amusing callers.

SUNDAY

I caught up with the football I recorded with Sky Plus and also did a piece on Talksport regarding the Adebayor incident.

Read my views on his antics in this week's Villain of the Week article.

TUESDAY

A trip to Haydock Park to see our horse Ibrox run ended once again in disappointment. The lazy sod came back hardly blowing, so it looks like cheek pieces will have to be tried to focus him a bit more. I managed to shoot across to Hillsborough and took my seat just as the game kicked off. Within two minutes it looked as if my day was going to get worse. Varney got the better of Seb Hines and Danny Coyne was picking his thunderbolt out of the net.

Boro came battling back and in the end class showed as Boro ran out fairly comfortable winners. Boro manager Gareth Southgate was understandably delighted and my post-match interview with him can be heard here.

The only other point of interest of the day, apart from the FA correctly deciding to charge Adebayor, was the unbelievable news that UEFA had done a U-turn over their banning of Eduardo.

More about this in my article for the Evening Gazette on Friday.

The chaotic few days since returning from holiday has meant that I was unable to get the Stuttgart trip organised so I watched it on the TV instead.

THE WEEK AHEAD

It’s Boro v West Brom on Saturday followed by a trip to Queen of the South next Wednesday for Rangers' CIS cup tie. The next Phone in show will be on air on Saturday 26th September after Hartlepool v Walsall on Radio Hartlepool. The phone-in programme will be on 102.4FM from 5-6pm so Poolies will have the chance to get their views off their chests immediately after the game.

You can ring me on 01429 275111, contact me to let me know your views by email, or text me on 60300 starting your message off with "hart".

Enjoy your week.

Comments

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RUMPLESTILTSKIN - 17th September 2009 22:13:40

HE MAY WELL HAVE BEEN THERE, HE STILL HAS INTERESTS IN lINCOLNSHIRE.

Sorry 'bout capital but the wife was on last and I can'f type and look at the screen at the same time.

Geordie Quaker - 18th September 2009 07:55:45

I am far from sure about this, but didn't Jeff once say he didn't like Sotnick?

If so that's great news. I don't like him either but know I can text him for score updates when I can't be at the match

Santino - 18th September 2009 16:04:43