A couple of weeks ago I said on the board I was enjoying the break from football, spending time with the family, and not even thinking about the Albion. But as soon as I had decided to go to Histon, the game could not come quick enough, it was Saturday, and Saturday means football.
I went to Histon with KetteringBaggie, and his son (WBAlbion_til_i_die) who drove.
We got to Histon at about 1pm and of course headed for the first pub we came to where, after a phone call, we met up with Bedfordbaggie and of course we discussed last season, and the present one, and we were all fairly confident we are going to have a good season.
After moving to another pub and meeting up with Lincs (great credit to Lincs for making that journey for a friendly) we made our way to the ground. Histon is a small and compact ground, and the majority of the Albion fans were standing behind the one goal.
The starting eleven was nothing like the team who will start against Newcastle, but you would still expect a decent performance. People often say these results mean nothing and it’s all about fitness, but it’s not that long since we all clapped the lads off after the Liverpool game and how unfit can you become in a few weeks? And this was a Blue Square team who could not get out of their league.
We started with: Kiely; Worrall, Barnett, Olsson, Cech; Knight, Mulumbu, Valero (with new haircut!!), Brunt; Beattie, Elford-Alliyu.
Straight from the kick-off we seemed very lacklustre, as if we had gone 6 months without kicking a ball! Histon were obviously well up for this and they wanted it more than we did and had most of the early ball, although any high balls were dealt with by the impressive Olsson. Standing behind the goal it was good to hear a very vocal Kiely barking his orders, something that is lacking with Carson, and it was great to see Cech wearing the number 3 shirt, he will make a big difference this season, not just with his defending, but with his distribution of the ball.
The first-half was very tentative with not too many chances created, although I was disappointed with Worrall, who looked a little out of his depth, even against this level of opposition. Brunt was seeing plenty of the ball but either he was told not to run with it or he just could not be bothered, and as soon as he got the ball, he either went wide left, or lumped it up front looking for Beattie - who looks anything but a footballer.
The second-half was virtually a different team, with Daniels taking over between the sticks, Zuiverlooon coming on, along with Kim, Sawyers, Cox and Moore.
From an Albion point of view the second half was no better. Cox was doing plenty of running, trying to get into space, but either the final ball was poor or the Histon defence got to the ball first.
In the middle, Sawyers, (who when I went to see the Academy team play was in a different class of his own) was having a dreadful time, every ball he played was either putting his team mates in trouble, or the pass was wayward, perhaps he was trying to impress RDM too much, but he could not have had a worse game.
Although Albion were seeing more of the ball, Histon were attacking whenever they got the ball, and after a corner which Albion struggled to clear, Barker scored with a shot from 20yds which went through a crowd of legs.
Albion still seemed lacklustre even after going a goal behind, but were given a great chance to level when Samuels was tripped in the box and the ref pointed to the spot....without hesitation Cox picked up the ball but a very poor penalty was well saved by the keeper.
Albion missed a couple of other good chances before they were awarded another penalty when Cox was fouled in the box...Cox wanted to take this one, but Moore grabbed the ball, and Cox had to stand and watch with the rest of us the worst penalty I have ever seen! I am still no way convinced by Moore, and although you all know my feelings towards the team he came from, he is one of the worst players I have seen wear the famous stripes. I hope he proves me wrong, but he just seems as though he would rather be somewhere else.
So all in all, a poor day. No positives, and a few minus points, but onwards and upwards, and I am sure RDM will have learned a few things from his first game in charge (not to pick Moore!!) and I cannot wait for the Newcastle game, when it starts for real.