Posted by: Richard Lee 19/10/2008
Spot Of Relief
Well that was a nice way to finish a week! A resounding victory against Southampton and saving two penalties has made for a good start to this run of games we have coming up.
I sit here writing this at 5am (I really struggle to sleep after games, adrenaline has its effects) and I can’t help but think how things could’ve been different and how football really is a game decided on the smallest of margins.
Ninety seconds into the game and they burst through, in an attempt to make a block I take down the striker. In doing this it left the referee with a few different scenarios. My belief was that it should’ve been a free-kick (as I’m sure it was outside the box) and a yellow card, two of our lads were recovering behind me so I think a red card would’ve been harsh. But I’m honest and realistic enough to realise that it could quite easily have been red and some referees may have seen it that way. How different the game could have been then...and it could also have meant Alec coming out of retirement once again!
Thankfully I was given the opportunity to do what I did and I have to give a big thanks to Alec, Mark Tyler and Hodgy (Chief scout) as they were the ones who do the homework behind the scenes in order to give me the information as to where the penalty takers have gone in recent games.
I’m sure they got a kick out of me saving them as I trusted their info and was able to make the saves. Bizarrely enough it was actually a picture in the match programme that Tyles saw of McGoldrick taking a penalty low to the keeper’s left which was the deciding factor in the first penalty.
I would also like to give Tamas a mention, who I think most would agree is really coming into his own. He and Will Hoskins are beginning to form and impressive partnership up front which is vital in my opinion to any team that wishes to challenge in this or any other division.
The week itself was a good week of training. I was able to do plenty of goalkeeping work with Alec and combined with plenty of small-sided games is the kind of week I feel great for. The games are always sharp with plenty for the keepers to do in terms of shot-stopping and distribution.
With so many games coming up the focus will be on recovery much of the time but I do believe it’s an important time for getting the balance right between working on techniques, tactics and rest. Approaching each game fresh and full of confidence will give us a great chance of climbing the table, which thankfully we are beginning to do now.
I’ve also had the pleasure of taking John Eustace on in a few more games of snooker this week! I’ve even gone to the extent of buying my own cue, which I believe made the difference after losing the first four matches to him I was able to win on Thursday and, as I keep reminding him, you are only as good as your last game! Hopefully we’ll get chance for a couple more matches this week.
Well it’s now 5.30am and I’m gonna try and get another hour’s sleep before training! See ya next week.