Sun Aug 06, 2006 11:38 am
We were arrogant, we strutted around the place - we know that we are THE team in League Two this season. And that was just the fans.
Picken walked it, did he sprint once? Pead was solid, and Taylor and Fox linked up like they've been playing those roles all their lives. Gerrard didn't put a foot wrong. Clayton Ince made one cracking save...and that's all he had to do.
Kinsella didn't break sweat. All he has to do this season is stand in that centre circle, because he's got Dobson to do the donkey work. A proper captain from what I've seen in pre-season and yesterday. Doesn't shirk tackles, and again, head and shoulders above what he faced yesterday.
Wright had one of his better games - again the final ball is so often shocking, but unlike in League One and the Championship, he WILL keep getting chances against his marker because he has pace and because he is an out and out winger.
Sam had a poor first half and oftentimes did too much when he should have passed or shot. Second Half though he ran Rochdale ragged, the experience showed and Rochdale's lack of ability showed. Butler is a Championship player, and as Money has said this morning in the papers "he worked them (the defence) like never before". Chest out, elbows out - a proper striker who surely we can count on for at least 20 goals.
It would have been so easy yesterday to fail to meet expectations because we were expected to win. But I don't think anyone thought we would do it at such a pace. Everyone around me agreed that if we play like this 70% of the time then we WILL go up. The challenge is, unlike last season, to keep the good start going. However, unlike last season, it wasn't a scrappy opening day win, it was a win that should set the marker for the rest of the season. It is so easy to get carried away, but it was the perfect start for Money.
For once, I agreed with Sheff about something yesterday. If you have forgotten Sheff, I was the lad who started off the "Paul Merson, What a barclays" chant in the first half, which you joined in with quite vociferously. The glare you shot at the few knobs at the back who started it off reminded me of the "Bring Back Colin Lee" glare! :lol: :wink:
Also, Nikki and Carl...tell Ella that she shouldn't be hugging drunken men in towns like Rochdale! I'll let her off, because obviously me (and later, Gaz Ellison) are obvious exceptions to this rule. Metfan wins the best observation of the day award..."Are you still pissed or hung over?" :roll:
Apologies to SaddlerScott too...I had the last food in the stand at Half Time, and it is entirely possible that he is still drooling at the outrageous amounts of bacon that I had...all for £1.50. I love League Two...regardless of the social clubs with Meat Pies, awful pints of lager and 14 year old bar maids.