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Day 3 :
"A
place to spend my quiet nights, time to unwind. So much pressure in this life of
mine, I cry at times. I once contemplated suicide, and woulda tried, but when I
held that nine all I could see was my mama's eyes. No one knows my struggle,
they only see the trouble. Not knowing it's hard to carry on when no one loves
you. Picture me inside the misery and poverty, no man alive has ever witnessed
struggles I've survived."
As always, I
return with what is predicted be the middle installment of this news and rumours
article. Again, I'll be taking a look at all things ISA. So, there you go...
Since last time I believe the ISA have played four league games, taking a total
of two points out of them. Not a fantastic haul, but an improvement given that
prior to drawing with the Egerton Arms we hadn't won a game since Tattenhall on
Sunday 3rd February and had lost the majority since. And people thought
Liverpool were having a bad run. As mentioned, the ISA kicked off the New Year
with a 1-1 draw away at the Egerton Arms. It was inevitably a close game with
the ISA, in my opinion at least, on top for the majority of the game. As you
will see from the match report the result hinged on a couple of chances manager
Brazier had. The first was a shot that lobbed over the keeper and came back off
the bar. Fair effort. The second was so over the line it is unbelievable. The
ball clearly bounced down at least one yard over the line, maybe two. The goal
was not allowed for a couple of reasons, being that the referee was badly placed
to see it and Brazier should have just swept the ball into the net, rather than
try to be a smart-arse and play it off the bar. I mean, you just don't showboat
when the score is one all. Suffice to say, a draw but a promising performance.
The following week the lads were back to the hallowed turf of the Imperials in
Blacon to face the Shropshire Arms. In a rematch from a game just prior to Xmas,
the lads dominated the majority of the match. As has been the story of our
season so far, we drew, this time 2-2. Some good work throughout by a lot of the
players saw some good play which led to a couple of really good openings.
Unfortunately the ISA were not able to convert them and were very unlucky to
concede in the last five minutes. Again, a good performance but only 1 point. A
weeks break and the lads turned out to face Dee Rangers. Not going into the
what's and where-fors, but the game was moved about and eventually played in
windy conditions at Christleton. Just getting the game on was an achievement.
With a slightly changed line up the game saw the re-introduction of Micky
Hollinger upfront alongside Howell, with Reynolds moving back to the wing. This
was another of those evenly fought contests [don't they all seem to be?] that
certainly could have gone either way, unfortunately luck was against us. A last
minute winner ["Last bastard kick of the game" to quote Mark Howell]
gave Dee Rangers a 2-1 victory. It's fair to say that everyone there was gutted,
not least Tommy Hollinger in goal, who had played well all game. I think it's
worse when you lose knowing you played well than when you know that you have
lost because you deserve to.
Most recently the ISA played a Ship Inn side which are looking a good bet to win
the Section. Despite losing 4-3 there were definitely some positives to come out
of the game, not least the second half performance. 4-0 down at half time and
looking dead and buried the lads pulled together and gave their opponents a game
in the second half. Unfortunately it wasn't quite like when Man U came from 3
down to beat Spurs 5-3 [given that they won and we didn't], but surely what was
felt during the majority of that second half by the ISA players was similar to
what the Man U players felt as they came back from certain defeat. Exhilarating
stuff. One thing's for sure, the Ship Inn players certainly had more respect for
us after the game than they did at half time. We escaped what could have been a
mauling and at least can take something from the game, if not any points.
Playing like a team with nothing to lose in that second half worked really well
and everyone fought hard. If the ISA play like that every week from now to the
end of the season the points tally will rise.
With the results out of the way, in time-honoured tradition, just a quick look
at the actual team and individual performances. Based upon how the season has
gone so far I have made a few observations [and anyone is free to disagree, of
course]. In my opinion, we should always look to play a player with pace
upfront. No question. Even if they don't score the goals at least the threat is
there. I reckon our best centre back combination has to be Painter and Mellor,
as evidenced by the second half performance against the Ship Inn. Painter has
the pace while Mellor dominates thr air. Also, Burns looks more comfortable in
midfield and his place at left back could be taken by Tyrell, who played well
against the Ship Inn. Onto league position, I imagine no-one can believe that we
have only actually won two games this season. Tattenhall and the Bulls Head.
Nightmare. Despite that, performances have generally been good [despite a few
exceptions] and if you look back there are definitely games we should have won,
but have either lost or drawn. For example, how did we not beat MBNA, The
Shropshire Arms [twice], the Egerton Arms and The Bache??? And they're just the
ones that spring to my mind. Think I'll leave that as a rhetorical
question.
With that said, just a few random thoughts that have come to mind in the last
month or so:
- One for all Man U fans. I concede that Liverpool are rubbish, but just
consider this: At least Liverpool fans don't idolise a heavy-drinking,
dirty, robbing pikey. Believe me, the day that type of player becomes a star at
Liverpool is the day I stop supporting them. Oh, and you're out of the FA Cup.
- Mentioning no names, what sort of a fireman takes three days off work sick
because of a "bad leg"? And they think they deserve a pay rise.
- Similarly, what sort of a Policeman purposefully works overtime on a Sunday to
avoid playing because he got shouted at? I wouldn't have thought that sulking
was beneficial for someone "trying" to uphold the law.
- Perhaps we should give every team we play a four nil head start from the
beginning. At least that way we'll have 90 minutes to get them back, rather than
45.
Exit Tyler Durden
To read the 7 day
Theory day 2 click here
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