Cheltenham Programme

In The Programme – Cheltenham Town

Okay folks, take two. The Northampton game didn’t exactly go to plan now did it but we made up for it at Rochdale. To be honest, despite the result, I took positives from the Northampton game. Our visitors on the day looked well organised and dangerous on the break but for an hour we had plenty of possession and on another day could have notched a goal or two. And that is not withstanding the obvious penalty that a referee, who had a stinker, completely missed.

On the Rochdale game though it was a good performance by all accounts in difficult conditions and just what the doctor ordered to get our season up and running. Of course much has been written about the game, or in particular the team selection, in the aftermath of the game. The fact of the matter these days is that football has become a squad game and every player at some stage or another will find themselves out of the team. I suspect that no-one reading this will doubt that Roberto is an influential player and for me he has never been the same since he was clattered against Boston last season. However, as they say, form is temporary, class is permanent and if a spell out of the side can bring back the Roberto of 2002/3 vintage then how beneficial will that prove to be to us this season? I know I’d love to see it again.

It has been said many times but any team that has a squad of players all competing to reach the pinnacle of the first XI makes for a good team and that appears to be what we have built at this club, not just since Kenny was appointed, but before that. We now appear to have some good competition for places all over the park and it cannot spur the opposition on much when they look over to our bench and see the quality that can be sitting on it – knowing that each of them can worry their team in different ways.

The biggest plus of the Northampton game was the attendance although it has to be said that a cracking atmosphere before the game was spoilt by the early Northampton goal and as a crowd we never seemed to get going again after that. It’s been said before that the crowd here can be like an extra man and we should remember that at all times and also let’s not forget that for all these teams it will likely be their last visit to the Vetch so let’s not let them forget what an intimidating place it can be for the opposition teams.

The downside of the crowd against Northampton was the fact that yet again we saw the linesman in front of the North Bank have missiles thrown at him after the ‘penalty’ decision that was mentioned above. These items were pointed out to the referee and no doubt mentioned in his match report. Can someone please explain to me what possesses people to throw items at the match officials/opposition players/opposition fans? Do you seriously think that it will help us reverse a decision or help the club as fact of the matter is it will do neither. Maybe the people that throw these items would like to dig deeper in their pockets and pay any future fines that the club get for this behaviour? If you don’t, then the exit signs are marked clearly and perhaps it’s time to spend your Saturday afternoons elsewhere as frankly the club does not need that kind of behaviour. Sorry if it sounds brutal but I’ll lay even money that the majority of the people reading this are agreeing with me at this moment in time?

The Northampton game also saw the (outside the embryo) debut of my 10 month old daughter at the Vetch. It’s a shame she won’t remember the Vetch when she grows up but I can tell her that she did see it. I don’t know what it was but she yelled a few gurgle type noises when the ref failed to give that penalty – no idea what she was saying but I suspect that it wasn’t quite as bad as what her old man was yelling at that time. I dread the day she asks me why the man in yellow/black/green is a b !

Cheltenham arrive here today as a team described to me by a Cheltenham local as ‘hot and cold’ – I would like to see the cold version today if you don’t mind as the 3 points will come in very handy. Games between the two clubs have a tradition of ending in a draw – 5 draws in 6 meetings – the only exception being the Lee Trundle inspired win at Whaddon Road last season. What would you give for another match like that today.

Anyway, circumstance dictates that I cannot be with you this afternoon but you can guarantee that I’ll have an eye on the result at 5pm and fingers crossed that things go our way this afternoon.

Someone give that extra shout for me

JACKARMY!

Phil Sumbler

You can keep updated on the views of the fans by visiting www.jackarmy.net – Supporting the Swans, All Day, Every Day.

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Why not check out the latest Vetch Verdict on the BBC site?