This weekend’s fixtures look like a pretty sedate set on the face of it. Leeds’ terrestrially televised trip across the shires to meet Burnley and what may be the most pathetic grudge in history, Saints versus Seagulls, are worth keeping on the radar perhaps, but otherwise I can’t help but be drawn down the leagues to the two derbies west of Bristol. Plymouth’s trip to Torquay, which the Gulls go into as comfortable favourites for the first time in years, has sold out and is likely to provide its fair share of spark, but our Preview this week rolls up…
All posts in The Thursday Preview
The Thursday Preview: Maidenhead Vs Aldershot
While risking sycophancy, it seems fitting to tribute this post to therealfacup. Not so long ago, I had little interest in the Cup’s First Round or anything that preceded it. My focus was on Plymouth Argyle, its status as a Championship club and not a lot else. If asked whether I was a fan of football or Argyle, then my answer was a depressingly parochial one. Fast-forward to the present day, and my perspective’s changed. Not least because of the efforts of Damon and Simon of the aforementioned in promoting the virtue of these early rounds. For me, at least,…
The Thursday Preview: Coventry Vs Southampton
“There was no hope left. No one even shouted at the players.” Conversation over post-match drinks with a Coventry-supporting friend on Tuesday night was dominated by such sentiments. Toning down my personal delight at City’s 3-0 capitulation at Millwall, I murmured in sympathy. The draining away of hope among the Sky Blues in the Den’s North Stand was not dissimilar to the feeling elicited by Millwall’s own winless run in September. However, it was clear that my drinking partner’s words were not the usual melodramatic whinging of a fickle supporter. They hinted instead at a wider malaise at the club….
The Thursday Preview: Oxford Vs Port Vale
With year-end targets at work biting, it’s an express preview this week based predominantly on recent first-hand impressions rather than diligent research. Indeed, along with the other original unfortunate (not to mention a further couple) I made the trip to the Kassam on Tuesday to see a youthful Plymouth side soundly beaten by their hosts. It was a depressing event; besides being a pain to get to, many will appreciate that the stadium is about as spiritless as they come and, perched a distance away from home supporters at the far side of the North Stand, I did start to…
The Thursday Preview: Notts County Vs Brentford
League 1′s top-eight looks, as things stand, much like the masses predicted back in August, with the monied Charlton, Huddersfield, Franchise, Preston and Sheffields United and Wednesday all present and correct. Yet, defying convention and sticking it to Big Boyz are two of the division’s less chic teams, Notts County and Brentford. The pair meet at Meadow Lane this weekend.Following a tumultuous 2010-11 for both, this term has been about tightening up and bedding down new systems but, given a little momentum, could either side go all the way this season?Focusing on the Magpies, form certainly suggests that a crack…
Rob: This is not going to go down well at all here but I feel I have to res...
Stanley: A fine critique of The Economist piece, Ben, and a fine piece of your ...
Neil - Row Z: Interesting article, particularly re: the link between clubs and commu...
Kyle: Excellent article Ben - couldn't agree more with your criticism of the...
Steve: An excellent read and full of wisdom that would benefit many a footbal...
