London Calling

Another week, another couple of games…

Portsmouth.

Wouldn’t normally go to this one but as George had a spare ticket I had to think about it.

Nice early start on Saturday morning and the car is bombing down the M1. There’s not too much traffic on a Saturday morning so the drive down to meet George in Barnet isn’t too bad – but it’s still five hours driving and I’m still nowhere near Portsmouth!

Leaving so early meant that there was plenty of time to have a meal before we set off for Portsmouth, which is another couple of hours from Barnet. Half way there we hear on the radio that there is going to be a pitch inspection because of the amount of rain that is falling. It’s not been that bad though so we plod on feeling sure that the game would go ahead (the radio presenter seemed convinced at that time as well). As we get close to Portsmouth there is less and less hope in the presenters voice and we parked up close to Fratton Park at around 3.45, just as they announced there would be a final pitch inspection at 4.15 – one hour before kick off. We decided to stay in the car and wait rather than go out and get wet, but 30 minutes later the game had been called off because of a waterlogged pitch. Seven + hours there, and the same journey back to look forward to…

Fortunately although I did think about going it just wasn’t going to be possible so I spent the day in sunny Newcastle and my only inconvenience was a 20-minute walk to the pub to find out that the game wasn’t on – but it was a close thing!

In my opinion the whole thing is a farce. Apparently it only started raining on the day of the game and the whole problem was due to the pitch being re-laid and the drainage not being up to scratch on parts of the pitch. I’m sorry but that’s just not good enough and Pompey should be made to pay for their incompetence. Lot’s of fans did travel and were inconvenienced by something that just shouldn’t have happened in this day and age.

I don’t think Pompey should lose points or anything stupid like that, but I do think there should be something done for the fans in situations like this. This wasn’t a situation that was out of Ports mouths’ control – we’re not talking days of torrential rain, just a normal day of heavy rain that you get at this time of year. It’s always the fans that are left out of pocket and expected to turn up on whichever day the game is rearranged and I’m sick of it. When a club can’t complete a fixture through there incompetence there should be a levy made against them and somehow it should find it’s way back to the fans.

Juventus.

Ok, no way I was going to miss this one. Third time I’ve seen Juve play at Highbury and I’ve still not forgiven them for their disgraceful display when they played here in 1980. Ahhh, the beauty of being a football fan; you can hold a grudge against a team or player for decades and no one (well no other football fans) thinks it’s weird.

Another train journey this one – and by 4.30 I was at Kings Cross and hungry. Blackstock Road (just by Highbury) is known as a street with many of the Arsenal pubs in it, but there are also some good places to get some grub there so that’s where I headed as soon as I got to London. As it happens I wasn’t that hungry so I just had an omelette and chips (travelling and eating – never been that good at it) and headed for the 12 Pins. It was raining by now; not heavy but the annoying sort of on/off drizzle that seemed wholly appropriate since the clocks went forward last weekend to signify British Summer Time.

Being so early there was no one I knew at the 12 Pins when I got there but by the time I’d had a couple Dr Dom, and then Mac turned up at just the right times to get my third and forth drinks. It’s all in the timing. Actually now I think about it I haven’t bought a round for a little while. Oh well…

Despite the rain we stayed outside the 12 Pins although we did stand in the corner where we were sheltered from the heavier phases. As has been the case all season in Europe I seemed almost alone in my optimism that the team could go through, but when put on the spot I had to admit that as long as we kept a clean sheet in the game I’d be happy. An away goal for Juventus could kill us and our makeshift defence (it’s been so long that it’s strange to remember that there is still only one ‘regular’ in the back four) had to stand firm.

George turned up last (as usual…) and after he’d stocked up on bagels we set off for the ground. It was still raining, but not too badly, as we got to Highbury. The Jinxy Scud couldn’t make it so after the success of sitting next to me for the Real game Dr Dom was sitting there again. Well, you don’t have to be superstitious to see the logic! We hadn’t got there early enough to see the warm up but just before the kick off Vieira was having his name chanted round the whole ground. I really don’t know why some of the papers were saying he’d get a bad reception because absolutely everyone I spoke to intended to laud him before the game – but then obviously give him stick for the 90 minutes (well love him or not he was playing against The Arsenal).

There was a tremendous atmosphere at the start but the first ten minutes frightened me to death. We just looked like we were going to be over run and Senderos couldn’t win a header against their forwards. But, gradually, we took control and as against Real they didn’t have a clue where the runners were coming from. With the set up of the midfield there’s only really Poly that doesn’t crack on, but then again even a centre half can charge up to their area safe in the knowledge our Brazilian will cover for them.

After all the talk in the media about it being Paddy v Fab how symbolic was the first goal? Especially with our non-tackling number 7 sliding in to take the ball off Paddy. I thought that goal raised the roof but it was nothing compared to the second! Arsenal 2 Juventus 0. Jeez. It wasn’t the fact we beat the Italian Champions; we humbled them. They were falling apart long before the last few minutes and their rush for first dibs on the soap, and you could almost see the steam coming out of Capellos’ ears from the North Bank.

Although he was treated with total respect before the game after his booking Paddy started getting some stick. ‘Who are ya!’ from the whole ground probably hurt him as much as losing, and you do wonder what he was thinking as he left the pitch. Maybe he was thinking that his idea of filling the team with superstars rather than youth might not be the best way to go, or maybe he was doing what he keeps saying he never does – regretting a decision.

Tardelli, Mancini – those red cards were for you!

The whole crowd seemed to bounce out of the ground and I don’t think anyone cared the rain was still coming down. We all went back to the 12 Pins and I’ve rarely seen so many happy faces. None of us are fools – we know that an early goal for Juve next week and the tie is wide open but after a performance as accomplished as that there was nothing to do except celebrate. A few beers then it was back to Georges’ place where we had another couple of drinks and watched the match again since George had recorded the right channel! A few hours sleep and it was back on the train to Newcastle. And full gloating rights!

Come On You Red(currant)s!