Amid all the hubbub surrounding Reading’s magnificent promotion, I was more than quietly impressed by the performance of Nottingham Forest at the Madejski Stadium last night. However, if you are trying to tell me that the smooth operators that graced the Mad Stad turf are piloted according to Steve Cotterill’s instructions while a certain Sean O’Driscoll is stationed behind the scenes, then you’ll be telling me that Bruce Rioch laid the groundwork for Arsène Wenger at the Arsenal. Forest uncannily resembled the Doncaster Rovers of 2006-2011, albeit at less of a cut price – the astonishing entry into the action of Andy…
Running out of steam
Momentum: a priceless commodity at any stage of the season, and even more so now. Not downward movement, of course – the sort of inexorable slither towards the relegation trapdoor exemplified by Wolves – but the unstoppable force of a Reading, hitting full stride and storming past rivals on an irresistible rise to the top. Momentum is something that two sides who met in League 2 on Saturday afternoon, Oxford and Gillingham, appear to have lost, and not just temporarily down the back of the sofa. The home side went into the match clinging desperately onto the final play-off place,…
The Monday Profile: Kallum Higginbotham
For our profile this week, we welcome back Craig Telfer, author of a deservedly well received post recently identifying those players in Scotland who might attract the attention of NPower League Clubs in the coming months. Craig runs his own blog dedicated to Stenhousemuir FC, Who the hell is Akabusi? and here turns his attention to a former SFL man already plying his trade south of Hadrian’s Wall, but finding opportunities difficult to come by. These are uncertain times for Huddersfield Town’s new forward Kallum Higginbotham. Once one of the most coveted players in Scottish football, the 22-year-old has found…
Never Write Off a Wounded ‘Banger’ – Carlisle United Will Go Down Swinging
This time four years ago Carlisle United stood on the brink of glory. A single win from their last four games against Leeds United, Southend, Millwall or Bournemouth would have been enough for the Cumbrians to claim the final automatic promotion spot from League One and reach the heady heights of English football’s second tier for the first time in 20 years. Some fans will tell you that the intervention of a single player cost the Cumbrians that year – Middlesbrough’s Nicky Bailey, then of Southend, is held in peculiar affection at Brunton Park – his histrionics served to con referee Anthony…
Pausing for Thought at Wimbledon
As the season draws to a close, Chris Lines attempts to measure the success of this, Wimbledon’s first year back in the League. “It only took nine years,” was the chant as AFC Wimbledon edged Luton Town on penalties at Eastlands last May. Nine years after their club had been shamefully ripped away from them by the authorities, Wimbledon were back in the Football League. Confidence was high as the club toasted promotion. League 2 is not generally considered to be of a greatly higher standard to the Conference. One only has to look at how often Conference clubs thrive…
James: Are the wealthy middle classes really the ones to back a football team...
Lanterne Rouge: Garath McCleary on signing for Reading today:
"It's amazing to be a...
Lloyd: On the Oxford / Reading thing, Lanterne, you write that "there is no c...
Ben: Yes, it does loom a bit, doesn't it? Moxey's comments on the ground re...
