Channons Windmill

I was there last night but in with he home fans so not reacting to the second goal particularly was a struggle; it did offer me an excellent view of the game though. If I may offer my objective view… I thought there were actually plenty of positives to take from this. The team is clearly affected by a collective loss of confidence so a scrappy victory has to be taken as purely a good thing. Plenty of players put in decent performances which is very much something to build on and there is the bones of a good team in there. There is a still a legacy of Russball to our play which I hope will dissipate over the coming months but is something we revert to when not sure what to do next, we are obviously lacking real leaders on the pitch. Concerned about the middle of the team - I’m actually not sure how many times Downes touched the ball but he’s clearly a problem. Either he can’t get into the game, or he’s unpopular within the set-up and not included - whatever, it was an incredible performance of an invisible man. Charles/Romeu would surely have more presence there. There were moments when we started to break the shackles so maybe this is a glimpse of the way forward. The subs - Azaz is so clearly lacking in confidence - he had that great break down the wing then played the ball into the box far too early, it nearly paid off as it even surprised the defenders. I’ve seen him play for Middlesbrough this season as he doesn’t look the same player. Downs. I actually feel sorry for the guy as I can’t work out why he’s there - he doesn’t appear to be quick, hard-working or strong (the way he went down under a shoulder barge in an advanced position was very poor) - for all he did last night, I’ve seen better players this season in League 2. Maybe, again, it’s a confidence thing. Finally - the last phase was odd but again we invited it upon ourselves so assume a low block was our strategy? The natives around thought it worked well for us and couldn’t see their team getting past us - an interesting view. I took away more positives than negatives from this - it’s obvious where the weaknesses in the team are but it’s less than two months to January.

I’m not sure THB would know who Channon is….

I know Roy Keane wants to get back into management - I’ll see what I can find out…

I lived in Bristol for many years - if you like real ale/cider and proper boozers then The Bag o’Nails in Hotwells is a must - it’s about twenty mins walk from the ground and away from any football crowds. The Grain Barge (another Bristol BF place) is on your way and, if walking that way, there is always the Nova Scotia by Cumberland Basin. Those were always my go-to pre/post Ashton Gate pubs - parking is a little easier that side of the river(s) as well

I went to West Ham v Palace last weekend (Potter’s last game) and watched JWP with interest - he spent 90 minutes going tidily side to side. Potter would have been very happy with his possession stats. Looks a perfect fit for the current Rangers team…. (And I definitely wouldn’t want him back)

So, think we’re chaotic, it’s always good to keep an eye on Yeovil Town who seem to go from crisis to crisis - it wasn’t so long ago that we were playing them in the League. Ex-Saint Richard Dryden was caretaker until ten days ago until replaced by Danny Webb (son of ex-Saint David Webb), Webb has now quit and has been replaced by Ex-Saint Richard Dryden….. 🙄

Interesting game - I watched from the side with one of the non-playing Watford squad so got an insight throughout from a pro.. Thought Watford were all over the place in the first half and our full-backs, Manning especially, had plenty of freedom to roam. We should really have had the job done in the first 45, it was only our weak finishing that let Watford off the hook. We then didn’t adapt the tactical changes Watford made at HT quick enough which was a little worrying. Thought we played well enough, we actually have quite a lot of quality, just lacked concentration at times giving the ball away too often and just not being ruthless enough.

Richard Dryden appointed interrim manager at Yeovil Town following the sacking of Mark Cooper

Was the Boro game? I was watching him and not sure he actually touched the ball, certainly not in the first half an hour. Looked awful

I saw Azaz last weekend at Millwall. - looked decent and caused mayhem in the home defence at time, at others he reminded me of Edozie so not sure it’s a massive improvement

With this talk of Palace, I’ve just got myself a ticket for their European League thingy on Thursday so it will be interesting to see their line up…

My late father went to his grave still hating Heath and Bailey - also Arsenal after an awful 0-1 in freezing conditions on New Years Day 1980 or 1981? He died on a Saturday night and his (almost) last words were ‘did Arsenal lose today?’. Only in the week we’d discussed the ‘bastard dwarf Heath’… I have a bit of an irrational dislike of Adam Armstrong mainly for his beard and tattoos.. certainly qualifies as irrational. Also had a real dislike of Terry Curran

I vaguely remember a pre-Cup Final team picture in the candy stripes…. Or is that just my memory playing tricks on me? I know we wore them for the Charity Shield

Can I add encounters with players I missed? Twenty years ago I lived in a village near Longleat and next to the pub - one morning one of my mates knocked on the door to say that Mick Channon and Alan Ball had been in the pub the previous evening - it never occurred to him to come and let me know. Not long before Bally died, will always be a big regret that I never got to meet those two that night..

I recently shared a lift with Poch and his son… I also once declined an invitation to go drinking and ‘pull a few birds’ with Mick Harford which I believe to have been a very sensible decision.