I’m a great fan of The Jam. Always was, always will be. They were more of a singles band but on, I think, their third album *Setting Sons* [the one with The Eton Rifles on it] there was a track called *Saturday’s Kids*.
Obviously, it featured trenchant Paul Weller lyrics about said kids living in council houses, wearing V-neck shirts and baggy trousers, and much more along those lines. Always on the far left side of socialism was/is our Paul.
One line from Saturday’s Kids comes particularly to mind after watching our Coventry City match on Saturday:
“Dip in silver paper when their pints go flat”.
For those readers who are fortunate enough not to get the reference, it means putting the half-metallic inside top of ten Players’ Number Six or whatever into a pint that’s been nursed for an hour or so to give it 10 seconds of effervescence.
I never had to do it myself as I worked a bar for a mate for over 10 years but I saw quite a few folks only slightly younger than me who did just that.
And that effect is what turned three points into one for us on Sunday.
Coventry refreshed their pint. We couldn’t because we didn’t even have the silver paper from the fag packet on our bench. I’m not infantile enough to suggest that the Sky Blues didn’t deserve their point because they ostensibly did – they made all five subs and went for an obviously tiring team throughout the second half.
We increasingly became as flat as a witch’s threepenny bit in the final half-hour and there was nothing Daniel Farke could do to stop it. Given luck and a fair wind we might have held on but we didn’t so maybe a point from that match is nothing to be sneezed at. Our ragged Yellow Army fought hard but so many legs had gone quite a bit before the end.
And now Max Aarons is surely out until the New Year too. It looked like a really bad shin [preferably] or ankle issue to me, all of his own making as he was caught out of position, fouled the onrushing Ryan Giles and we know what happened thereafter. Young Scots midfielder Reece McAlear, already warming up at this point, made his exceptionally late matchday debut at right-back.
We struggled to cope with Coventry crosses throughout the match to be fair. I think a first-choice XI [if Farke even has such a thing] would have put them to the sword with ease. But it wasn’t to be and we all surely had guessed that before kick-off.
Sure the timing of the equaliser was cruel but had it have arrived 10 minutes earlier I would have fancied Coventry to nick all three points, so I can’t really be too down about it.
I know Luton were on the end of a 4-1 thumping on Saturday. I know Emi will be back. I also know the Goat might make an appearance on Wednesday.
But I’ve got a few questions for our Daniel before our Luton fixture.
#1 Why were we shamefully short on subs again? Just six? How about three more Academy lads able to sit on the bench to get some experience of just that – taking in the atmosphere of what the sharp end is really all about? Those chosen youngsters would have been thrilled simply to be there so why deny that opportunity to them?
#2 No mention of Lukas Rupp’s situation at all before the game. Of course don’t give Mark Robins any pre-match intelligence but surely afterwards there could have been some kind of update?
#3 Everybody could see how nervous Coventry keeper Ben Wilson was. Why on earth did no-one take a long-range pot shot at him. Not just Mario Vrancic – Josh Martin and dare I say Alex Tettey could have had a go as well.
#4 If Rupp isn’t fit for Wednesday, who the $odding hell will be playing at right-back? Extremely rarely, Max won’t be able to turn out.
#5 Referencing the above, is it time for a 3-5-1-1 to suit what’s left of our personnel?
I still think we’ll be just fine when we get some bodies back, but in the meantime:
Shelving my disappointment there’s an old Irish song about a character called Dearg Doom who was quite a murderous gentleman when asserting his authority, insisting *100 heads are so much better than one*. Seems like a statement from the Football Gods on our current injury muster.
I’ll leave you with these. Even if you’re not a Jam fan the first one is well worth a listen. And any readers with Irish heritage like myself would naturally appreciate the Celtic rock of Horslips. And hopefully, some without said heritage might enjoy it too.
Great stuff Martin, though I take serious issue with you over the Woking Wonders being a singles band. There were some superb tracks on the albums, and the B-Sides too. Much as I disagree with PW’s politics, he did write some corking stuff that never saw the light of day for most people, right through to the Council days too.
Hi Dan
I think The Jam are perceived as a singles band simply because they produced so many crackers. I’m pretty sure I’ve got all the albums up to Snap! Stuff like That’s Entertainment, Billy Hunt and Away from the Numbers were indeed excellent.
Politically I’d consider myself very centre Left so I’m entitled to agree with you about the Modfather’s politics – too extreme for me too. Pity I haven’t got a party I can vote for. Enough already, Gary and I got a bit of stick for rejoicing in the demise of Trump a couple of weeks ago 🙂
I saw them only once at Brixton Academy – they came on very, very early and we nearly missed the opener!
Good times.
Totally agree with your proposed formation. The 3 fit centre backs, three centre mids including the elegant Sorensen, Martin and Placheta on the flanks and Buendia behind a mobile striker. Maybe Omotoye for a bit and hopefully Pukki for rather more.
Really the only sensible option until the walking wounded start running.
Hi Nick
Yes that does seem to be the way forward, at least in the short-term, but as ever we’ll have to see what Farke comes up with of course.
I’ve never seen Omotoye play so can’t prejudge him but it does seem strange that while Sebastien Soto apparently has to be played in Europe to get a work permit and Carlton Morris is understandably at MK Dons cos he’ll never make it with us that we’ve allowed Danel Sinani out on loan as well. Especially as he can play wide right as well as striker.
We need the Goat back asap.
Thanks
An excellent summary as usual Martin and as you say, why not have a few more Academy lads just sitting on the bench?? Yes, we all know why Max basically got himself injured, but DF was unwilling to give any of the youngsters a chance even a few minutes chance and that’s the result.
Wind the clock back to 13th Nov and then find me an NCFC fan who wouldn’t ‘have snapped your hand off’ for 7 points from the 3 fixtures just gone!! Oh, I saw that Huddersfield beat Boro as well on Saturday.
Could we see Buendia playing as our striker on Wednesday – who knows, but we do know that Stieperman can’t play there? Let’s hope that we don’t have to wait too long for the return of Pukki – perhaps coming on as sub for the last 30 minutes.
Yes, Coventry deserved their point, but we all thought we were going to hold out for all 3.
Klopp was absolutely right in saying that the fixture congestion is ridiculous and why on earth couldn’t the FA continue the league for even another month to ease some of the congestion. I’ve just seen that there are two PL games this evening – UTTERLY ridiculous!!!
Well, it’s the FA Cup draw this evening and I wonder if any of the non-league clubs will get a ‘glory tie?’
Ed, I think you’ll find that tonights 2 games are purely for live TV purposes…..so they don’t have to show them on Sky’s Freeview (no charge!!) channel.
Yep I think that’s right too. Of course football’s not all about the money 🙁
Morning Ed
My comment about the lads being on the bench comes from a bit of personal. Around 72 I wasn’t quite good or strong enough for the school’s Junior Colts but was once chosen as sub [only one allowed in those days] and went on the minibus for the long journey from Chigwell to, of all places, Greshams.
I didn’t get on the pitch that day but had a thoroughly interesting time nonetheless and it helped me with the next season when I WAS ready for the first team. That experience served me pretty well at the time, looking back.
No the Stieperdude didn’t work out as a striker. Buendia could be an option but the way he likes to play I’m not convinced. Maybe in front of Marco in the 3-5-1-1 I suggested it’s a possibility as we still have martin and Placheta out wide. And yes of course the quick return of Pukki is vital.
As for the FA Cup, I don’t expect to see us taking an active part in the competition beyond Round Three – even if we’re drawn at home to Raggedy-Ar$e Rovers 🙂
Thanks as always
Beer, The Jam (I saw them in Whitley Bay Ice Rink of all places on their farewell tour) and football-3 of my favourite things, although I think Weller has become a bit of a B.O.F.
I have information in answer to your point #4 (when did # become code for number? When NFL gained popularity, I think). I have previously played RB in Div 2 of the Anglian Combination and Div 1 of the Norwich Sunday League, as well as a few games in the Wolverhampton Sunday League. My boots are clean, I am injury free and available on Wednesday. I authorise you to pass on my contact details should DF be reading this. I can promise Greg Downs that I would sprint back to position after my raids forward; it may not look like a sprint but I promise it will be.
Never has taking one game at a time been a truer cliche. I don’t suppose DF will have a definite idea of his team until about 6.30pm on Wednesday!
Despite my own Celtic routes, Horslips didn’t do it for me.
Hi Don
I just phoned Daniel on his direct line at the Club. They patched me through to his mobile at Colney and… he said as we are both currently unregistered we should turn up at Colney at 0930 tomorrow for training to fight it out for the left back slot against Luton.
He was well impressed with your Combination experience but had to quickly Google the Harlow League where I played to make sure we were both on an acceptable level.
Or at least I think that’s what he said, but for once he spoke largely in German so it might have been something akin to: $od off you two I’ve got enough problems as it is.
Shame you don’t really rate Horslips but I can understand why. I by no means like all of their material either.
The Jam at Whitley Bay rink. Now that must have been something different!
Cheers
Hi Martin
An enjoyable read as usual and excellent summary and Team Farke just holding together with sticking plaster.
Trying to fathom out the reasons of loaning out Sinani, Famewo and Macullum for game time only is coming back to haunt us big time.
Clinton Morris knows he has no future at city but is happy to sign a contract and go out on loan to lower league clubs with city topping up his salary and it looks like Thompson also at MK Don’s might be in the same boat due to all his injuries which is a shame he had/has the potential to be a very good player.
Cities injury crisis just doesn’t seem to dissipate in any way so are SW/DF planning to recall players in January or loaning/buying players in and which ever way they go we could have an over bloated squad again.
Someone yesterday playing Drmic that would have been a possible option until he did his 2 twitter pieces so he has turned into the latter day Nelson at least Lietner has kept stum on his predicament at the club.
I think every city supporter will be waiting with bated breath on the FA Cup draw tonight but that is just more games in an over crowded season, but come Wednesday lunchtime there will be more interest in Farke team update
Who will be fit to play can Aaron’s have got away with just heavy bruising, Rupp might be back in the mix and will it be Marco and Emi up front only time will tell.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay well and stay safe and Healthy
Hi Alex
Very good point about the difference between Drmic and Leitner but I guess it’s a question of how you deal with fallings-out and frustration. I make it Leitner 1, Drmic 0, but said frustration must surely be eating away at both of them?
They’ve both had plenty of time to find another club. City would release them on a free right now if anybody came in for either of them and cancelling a player’s registration by agreement isn’t really that difficult.
They won’t go silly in January with quite a few coming back but hopefully Farke has learned that three strikers is simply not enough at this level.
For me three loanees have to be recalled: Sam McCallum, Danel Sinani and the fit-again Akin Famewo. Stuff what Coventry, the Belgian team and Charlton might think.
Cheers mate
Great piece Martin,
I love the Jam analogy. Absolutely nailed the situation on Saturday.
How many times has our Daniel put on substitutes this season who have changed the game. This time he had only kids. And bringing on Christophe perhaps didn’t help if you read through Farke’s comments post-match.
Mark Robins knew exactly what he was doing with 5 fresh legs and without a doubt it changed the game.
Paul Merson said on Saturday that the rest of the team struggle psychologically if your top player is out in relation to Zaha at Palace. So god knows how the City players on the pitch felt with so many top players out !
I agree Martin it looks like 3-5-1-1 is definitely the way to go if we lose Max for any period of time.
Despite being top of the league I agree with you on the fact we do not seem to shoot from distance, we can always get what I call an ” Ipswich Goal ” like Kenny’s at Brentford.
I know I am a stuck record on this but I said it on day one, why the hell was Sam McCallum allowed to go out on loan ? Their was no back up for Xavi so why for goodness sake ?
And you are right Martin about all the others, we have just let too many players go out on loan.
Another thing to remember we have played and beaten so many clubs around us, no mean feat considering the injuries.
I thought last season’s injury crisis was bad but this is in another league, the worst i can remember in over 50 years supporting the team. I think even Bruce Rioch would agree and he had it bad.
It really is a case of being in and around the top 6 so after Christmas hopefully our injury luck improves drastically and we can make a real go of it.
5 fresh legs?? I missed the one who was hopping around!!
Wanna get that proverbial coat Jim 🙂
Sorry Jim I realised that as soon as I re-read it.
Pity Biamou didn’t play like Captain Rum from Blackadder !!!!
Didn’t Tom Baker play Rum? I think he probably did.
I loved the outro of that episode with Baldrick as the naughty minstrel:
Blackadder, Blackadder, he heard the new world’s call
Blackadder, Blaaaackaaaaader, discovered bugger all.
What a fantastic concept those four series were.
Yes it was dear old Tom playing Captain Rum, Martin.
Mad as a hatter on screen and off !!!!
Never knew much about him off-screen really, but in my humble he’s a great actor and when you look at some of the irregulars in the Blackadder episodes he was hardly alone.
Rik Mayall, Miranda Richardson and even Peter Cook!
Hi Tim
I like the Wilfried Zaha analogy – very appropriate.
Also the McCallum loan still astounds me as much as it does you. Sages say you have to keep every squad member happy and I’m sure young Sam is enjoying playing alongside his mates at Coventry but that’s hardly the point. If he’s good enough for them he’s good enough for us – end of in my view.
I think we will hang on in and around the top six until we get key bodies back but it could have been so much better right now with a next to complete squad.
Ten unbeaten is terrific but quite a few of us can see that trend reversing under the circumstances and none of us are happy about that but $hit happens, although rarely to this degree.
Dunno what brought the Jam theme into my head really. I never do. If you enjoy structured writing most – if not all – of the MFW team are better than me 🙂
Cheers
Hi Martin
My son is a huge Jam fan, but I predate them, and for me it’s the Animals and the Stones. Mind you, I’m probably near word perfect on “Going Underground” for the number of times I heard it belting out from upstairs.
I think Farke’s reluctance to pack out the bench with youth team players is that he thinks they should only get the opportunity to sit with the big boys if they’ve shown him that they’ve earned it. Whether he’s right or wrong, it’s his call, I guess.
The draw was ultimately a disappointment, having gone ahead and the held out for so long, but given our situation injury-wise and league-wise, I’m not going to carp on about it. Left of centre politics or not “Things ca only get better”!
Hi Jim
Yes I can see your viewpoint on Farke’s bench call but I can’t see why he couldn’t have picked a chosen trio after, maybe, consultation with David Wright or somebody. That issue’s very much open to debate of course but it can give a youngster a massive boost [see my reply to Ed, above].
I dunno why politics pops up on MFW very occasionally, but it does 🙂
As we’ve mentioned before I’m about 10 years younger than you and in terms of music that’s one heck of a gap. Retrospectively I love the Stones, the Kinks and the Who but wasn’t able to appreciate them when they were breaking through.
I grew up with Sabbath, Floyd, LedZep and the Faces basically. Blimey a decade can really make a difference 🙂
Cheers
Well said as always Martin.
Yes, I think we all perhaps felt we were robbed because of the time of the equaliser, but as you so rightly say, had Coventry scored some 10 minutes earlier I don’t thinks we’d have got even the solitary point. And unlike some, at least they came to the Carra with the intention of playing football.
Did anybody else think that possibly Zimbo was a little slow in getting back to his feet having slid in with the eventual scorer??
Curious that in the Prem its LiVARpool with all the injuries, and in the Championship it’s us……and both Head Coaches cut their teeth at Dortmund…..or am I clutching at non-existent straws…
On Wednesday it seems that anyone who is NOT carrying an injury will start, regardless of competence.
O T B C
Hi John
I just think we have to be realistic right now and not expect too much until we get a few bodies back. Simple as, really.
As for any straw-clutching I feel it’s a reasonable assumption to make regarding BVB but it could all be total bollox of course. I dunno, but I have felt the same concerns myself in the not-too distant past. Maybe Farke & Co expect too much in training a la Klopp but I genuinely do not know.
It would be great to hear from somebody who has regularly trained at a professional level – unfortunately I’ve never been privileged enough to do so myself.
Thanks as always
I fell in love with The Jam my senior year of high school in 1979. Living amongst a bunch of rich, entitled with no world view beyond the money their parents handed them every morning (which they blew on coke by the end of the school day), The Jam’s message enticed me (even if I didn’t understand their specific message all that well). But this line about trying to refresh their pints with silver paper was always a mystery to me. So here I am, early morning of the year 2020-two, age 60, listening to the favorite songs of my life … and Saturday’s Kids plays. God I still love these guys. (I saw them in Vancouver BC in 1982; I’d moved to Seattle to start uni; it was just the three of them; they played loud and distorted; and i loved it!). Anyway, I appreciate this explanation … although, as they say, the more you know, the more questions you have.