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Having lived abroad for the past year I was somewhat anxious about coming back to support Dag and Red. Would I still be as keen and enthusiastic as in the past? Especially considering I hadn’t seen a live soccer game for 15 months – instead getting my live sport fix from watching wonderful games of Top16 French rugby in the South of France. From all my reports last season didn’t sound too wonderful and the close of the Garry Hill era was depressing in many ways.
Anyway, season ticket renewed, I can say I am finding it really enjoyable so far! Apart from renewing old friendships I can say that this is a good to watch, young team with an enviable never say die spirit, not seen since the early Hill era. True, not all the results are going our way but the entertainment value is second to none. Who has seen a more enthralling first 30 minutes than the Exeter game including the Southam strike? Not many better goals than the Moore header against Burton either even if it did result from a head-in-the-hands misplaced Clough pass (the end for him?)! This is enjoyable stuff and tremendous value for money – in 6 home games there have been plenty of goals, action and I’ve only paid as much pro rata as it would cost to watch 1 and a bit Premiership games at some clubs.
 Hadn’t seen many of the players before and I must say I am impressed with many of them. Southam and Mackail-Smith
(right) clearly have talent aplenty whilst Moore upfront has some considerable skill. Blackett and Uddin at the back look good also.
Give the younger players like Marwa (I’ve seen the Forum debate earlier this week) a chance! They are young, not the finished article and need time and space to grow into the side.
My star though would be Roberts. I’ve watched his very professional pre match warm up routine and then marvelled at his saves in several of the home matches –the 2 3-1 victories could easily have been reversed had it not been for him. He must have dealt with 3 or 4 one on ones against Burton. In fact all 6 games could have had an entirely different result.
Robbo in action at the Masters for QPR
(copyright Dave Simpson)
So I am happy to be back and really pleased the side and the club in general is looking the way it does –well done John Still and others behind the scenes. Give them time – it may not happen this season (and this is a difficult spell of matches we are in currently) – hope they stick together and who knows what we might achieve over the next 2 or 3 seasons. Whatever, we are going to see some interesting games this season, that’s a dead cert.
DJ Johnny B
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