Cod Almighty | Diary

Diary - Monday 1 November 2010

1 November 2010

White rabbits, it's a new month folks! To paraphrase manager Neil Woods's post-match interview, Town passed it around a bit in the first half but never really threatened. Your Guest Diarist was mildly surprised when Coulson's shot found its way (without deflection) through a forest of legs and into the net. "If we go behind we lose, if we go in front we can maybe at least draw," I thought during half time.

To continue with what the manager said afterwards, they had a rousing talk at half time about kicking on and winning the game, but the players never got going at all in the second half. Faithful Dale tried to find questions which accentuated the positives, licking Woodses' open sores with the alacrity of an old spaniel. But Mr Woods got as near to the brutal truth as he ever has saying the Town players didn't lift the tempo; the play to within 45 yards was OK but after that basically clueless; and the defensive failings are all still there.

What Woods didn't say was how truly awful Peacock was. Immobile, a casual fouler who can't come close to fooling even these Conference referees, and basically a pointless selection. Yes, pointless in every single bloody way. Dare I say it - was he actually trying all game? Mr Peacock doesn't just give up on lost causes: he appears to give up on most causes. And Coulson, his goal notwithstanding, was a mile off the pace - but at least we can be confident that he will improve with matches. You have to whether question Peacock ever will.

But there is a way forward, gentle reader! If Ademeno can stay fit then his brief cameo at the end of the game showed us what he will do. Ademeno bustles, Ademeno strains, Ademeno don't give up when he gets tackled - he just wriggles and worms away to get to the ball. Ademeno looks strong, Ademeno appears to have pace. Ademeno lasted 20 minutes without limping off! We need another striker real bad, folks. Connell took his penalty with brutal efficiency, but he's not playing as well as he was, you know. His strike rate may not continue and he needs a settled partner who does not sport a tired Mohican and has more than the pace (and enthusiasm) of a horse on the way to the knacker's yard. Let's hope that Charles stays fit and shoulders the load with Connell because his enthusiasm might be infectious. And that's what fans and players need - a player to rouse, a player to set examples.

Eastbourne manager Garry Wilson has been railing to his local paper about the referee (Steve Ross) who has awarded three penalties in a year against his side. Wilson doesn't actually complain that the spot kicks shouldn't have been awarded, and doesn't appear to believe in buttering up the ref before the game as he claims he greeted the sight of Mr Ross with a less than jovial: "Oh no, not you again." Connell was looking for the penalty alright, but the defender Nelson made enough of a mistake to ensure he got it in my view. Neither side was good enough to win on Saturday and I'm surprised that Woods was upset enough to comment on the lack of backing from the home fans. It was a nothing game between two woefully mundane sides - sorry, an entertaining four-goal thriller draw.

Finally Alan Richardson wrote to the diary at the end of last week about - well, let's let him tell the story: "Sometimes taking the mickey out of Town's marvellous website is just too easy. I clicked on to see what was happening (if anything) to be greeted with a big "Jobs @ BP" splash across the page. Surely even Town can't be advertising for new players on their website, although I'd say it's well worth a try. The reality is that they wouldn't be advertising as they don't seem to have clocked the need for three or four new players, particularly in midfield. What really made me chuckle was the bit at the end of the job description:

"The post holder will be required to work some evening [sic.] & weekends... to be prepared to travel... to fulfil criteria/meetings required by Comic Relief."

"I think it's great to see that Comic Relief have included our football club on their list of desperate cases that need their help. Bring it on. To be honest, I haven't got a problem with Comic Relief running our club - they couldn't do any worse." Thanks for that, Alan.

Hmmm, now I can imagine Lee Peacock with a red nose and matching red Mohican - time for a career change? Go to the SNOS to apply, Mr Peacock. Today. See yer.