COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: Blackburn (H)

By Ken Buckley :  25/08/2007 :  Comments (8) :

A welcome point from a game that looked certain to yield none.  On hearing the line up I was somewhat perplexed. Lescott on the bench? McFaddon and Osman in the same team as attacking threats?  It didn't look right to me considering opposition with a physical reputation and no mean performers in the football department.

The first half did nothing to dampen my fears that the manager may have opted for the wrong choice of starting line-up. For fourteen minutes we coped reasonably then in the fifteenth we were guilty once again of sloppy defending by firstly stopping expecting the offside decision which never came then dealing disastrously with a speculative overhead kick that hit the bar and compounding it by allowing Santa Cruz all the time in the world to scuff a shot past a confused Howard and find the net. Deja Vu from last week at Reading. Schoolboy defending at its best!.

The half went on and I don't think I was the only one who thought it was our visitors who looked the more likely to add to the score sheet. Then, approaching half time, fate took a hand. Carsley and Stubbs picked up knocks that were obvious from the stands, Carsley subbed just before half time and Stubbs didn't come out for the second.  Would the manager have changed it if they had'nt picked up those injuries...???

This produced to my mind the central defensive partnership we should have started with, namely Yobo and Lescott.  Immediately we looked more mobile at the back which rubbed off on those in front to feel that bit more secure and we did huff and puff that much harder but in my opinion still persisted in hoofball assaults on the channels so much that I thought Sky TV may have wished to sponsor us on the basis that we both believe more channels the better. Quality doesn't come into it!!

Then the manager opts for Hibbert off and Big Vic on resulting in Neville to right back, Jags and Ossie centre mid, Faddy wide left, leaving AJ and Big Vic as strikers.  For the first time in the game, the Blackburn central defender Samba ceased to look like the best thing since sliced bread as Big Vic matched him for stature, endeavour and pace and so opened the door for that bit more creation to take place.  Arteta, who up until then had only figured in small cameos, started to torment; Jags seemed to get to grips with the centre mid requirement and we flowed that much better.

So much so that, with 15 mins to go, Arteta came to life and mesmerised their defence and put in an inviting cross which was expertly converted by our least performing player with his wrong foot.  Just shows what can be achieved with a balanced line up; Moyes ? take note!

The final minutes were played out with expectation from the Blue hoards present but in truth right to the death it could have gone either way.  Overall, I was impressed with Baines debut and he looked to me to be the sort of left back you need if you are to go places.  Also, I was impressed with Jags home debut in central midfield which he seemed to take some time to come to terms with but certainly grew into it which made me wonder if paired with Manny instead of Osman may at last give me hope of the midfield duo I have craved for some time as I believe this area of the team ultimately decides many a result.

Big Vic's introduction proved to me that physicality up front is essential in clearing the way for them that can play and convert to do so.  So, in what was a relative disappointing 90 mins, I saw what (with a bit of signing and tweaking before the deadline) could well give us a chance of a very good season.  Manny and Yak to come but I don't think it should end there; wideman?  I hope the manager is way ahead of me because the makings are there and money seems available (from where??) so here's hoping.

Having said all that walking away from the ground I couldn't help but remember the minute's applause for Rhys Jones and how I wished that it was never necessary.  I imagined a young lad walking from footy training talking to his mates about all things footy as well as the latest downloads of tunes to the mobile and all of the other things kids talk of only to be cut down by a bullet from the gun of a mindless shit-for-brains no-mark.  I sincerely hope the code of silence will be broken on this one as it transcends any semblance of gang culture and even those who wear the badge of gang loyalty will see this as the work of a deranged maverick who must be given up.

The bravery of his Mum Dad and Brother standing with Moysey on the touchline reduced me to tears.  I don't expect the Jones family read my ramblings on this site but if anyone reading this knows them, please pass on my deepest condolences.  RIP Rhys.
UP THE BLUES

Reader Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer