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There's something afoot. All us defenders were called in yesterday, and the boss told us that he's looking to bring in a young lad on trial. He didn't mention any names, but the rumour is he is attached to a club at the moment, so would have fitness. It's not something you want to hear at my age - but I guess with all our injuries recently, it might be sensible.
In any case, he hasn't accepted the offer yet, though I'm fully fit again, but was still on the bench this afternoon for the Trophy replay. Why the FA insisted it be played at 3 in the Afternoon, I've no idea - a few of us had to take time off work, but the attendance was more than a little sparse. I did at least get on - the gaffer made 3 changes, bringing myself, Steve Maden and Ben Paszkowec on after an hour, when we were 1-0 down. We tried our best - Perry-Acton hit the bar - but we just couldn't equalise, and went out of the Trophy.
I'm not entirely sure that said gaffer is too worried though - it's less fixture congestion, certainly.
Burscough 0 - Welling 1
01-02-2005, 12:11 PM
Brothers in Arms - A Year in the Lives of Two Very Different Footballers Post #22
Another game tonight - the rearranged clash with Altringham, postponed because of that Trophy replay earlier in the month.
With young Wesley Beckles back alongside me in the middle of defence, I had a really good feeling about the game as we ran out - don't get me wrong, Miles Chamberlain is a good young player, but before his injury, me and Wes really had a good understanding. Unfortunatley, after all of two minutes, it disintegrated - we were miles apart as Alty took the lead. It was about the only thing we did wrong all game though - Ben Paszkowec quickly equalised, and we went on to grab a 3-2 win - Altringham's second coming deep into injury time.
It was a really good win, and we're now up to 7th. Two places, and one point, below the Playoff spots. You never know...
Burscough 3 - Altringham 2
01-02-2005, 12:11 PM
Brothers in Arms - A Year in the Lives of Two Very Different Footballers Post #23
Alfreton today - and we've, amazingly, got a pretty fit squad - just Ian Pulman out injured. If he returns with his shooting boots, the playoffs are a definate possibility.
Not though, if we play like we did today. A 3-1 defeat wasn't good for the team - Ben Paszkowec scoring our goal in the second half - but I wasn't involved for most of it. Seven minutes in, I fell awkwardly and landed on my shoulder. There was no way I could carry on, but the physio, Mel Singleton, reckons I'll be OK in a week.
Hopefully I'll be alright to return to the team straight away, as we've only got 12 games left, and it's sure to be a very exciting run-in - especially if we are still in the playoff mix at the end of the season!
Burscough 1 - Alfreton Town 3
01-02-2005, 12:12 PM
Brothers in Arms - A Year in the Lives of Two Very Different Footballers Post #24
This one, of course, was always likely to come far too early - but it is a slip up which we could have done without. My stand-in in the Number 5 shirt, Greg Tiffin, scored with a deflected strike fairly early on, but by half time Nuneaton Borough were level, and on 65, on a foul day, they won it thanks to a good finish from Murphy.
The playoff hope is still there though - 11 games to go, and we are in 9th place, 4 points away. It's possible!
Nuneaton 2 - Burscough 1
01-03-2005, 12:02 PM
Brothers in Arms - A Year in the Lives of Two Very Different Footballers Post #25
Well, I'm back - shoulder injury shrugged off. In all honesty, I couldn't have picked a more boring game to return in - we didn't register a shot on target, whilst Leigh troubled our 'keeper, Kev Scriven, on 5 occasions. Apart from a sending off for them, that was about that.
Needless to say, the score remained level at 0-0. Not a match for the purist, but a point. We're now 10th though, but if we can win even half of our remaining games, we should be in the playoff picture.
Leigh RMI 0 - Burscough 0
01-03-2005, 12:02 PM
Brothers in Arms - A Year in the Lives of Two Very Different Footballers Post #26
I can't believe it's been 20 days since I last wrote after a match. Then, I was still injured - now, I'm fit - but the story was the same. We lost 2-0 to Portsmouth, and we're now in real trouble - down in 17th, and inside the relegation zone.
Personally, I did start - again on the left of the midfield five. It's by no means my favourite role - it's too central for me, and I'd rather be operating as the winger. Still, it's all hands to the pump - people are coming to us and seeing St Andrews as a weak place, and Birmingham as a weak team. We're now down to 19th - one place, and six points, above Derby, who've looked doomed all season.
We've got to turn that around, or we'll be playing Farrell's boys in the Conference North before too long!
Birmingham 0 - Portsmouth 2
Farrell Kilbane
Last week I wrote that if we can win 5 from 10, we should be in the Playoffs. Now, I'm not sure if we'll win again this season. Today was frankly poor - Stalybridge have struggled all season, but they still overran us, and were 2-0 up by half time. Steve Maden did pull one back after the break, but they scored again 15 minutes from time.
On a personal note, I was disapointed with my performance - picking up another booking, and not playing too well into the bargain. Again, my morale is pretty low at the moment. We're trying, but simply not getting anywhere. Still, at least Ian Pulman is back again - and he's certainly got a few goals in his boots.
Burscough 1 - Stalybridge 3
01-03-2005, 12:03 PM
Brothers in Arms - A Year in the Lives of Two Very Different Footballers Post #27
That's better! - Our first win in nearly a month, and even then we took trouble over it. Ashton United aren't the best side we'll play this season, but the first half was simply poor, from the point of view of both sides.
We did take the lead - Steve Maden scored a brilliant 30-yarder - but on 84, we thought that we'd thrown it away when Miller equalised. I wasn't entirely blameless - caught on the turn - but luckily, 2 minutes later, Ian Pulman announced his return with a fine finish. That's the way to do it!
8 to go - and we're 9th. Suddenly, everything looks a lot better!
Burscough 2 - Ashton United 1
03-09-2005, 10:17 AM
Brothers in Arms - A Year in the Lives of Two Very Different Footballers Post #28
I didn't exactly have the best buildup to this evening's game - young Steve Maden approached me earlier, asking me to have a word with the boss on his behalf. As Club Captain, I do have to do these things occasionally. Steve is worried that the club is relying on him too much - he's only 21, but he is very tired and is looking a little jaded at the moment. The upshot is that he'll be rested this evening, and the boss knows that Steve - and our other youngsters - do need to be looked after to avoid burnout.
Every player knows some exciting young talent who has been through that - and it's not pretty. Much like a star golfer with the yips, or a prizewinning author with writers block, it's so frustrating - and a little upsetting, at times - to see somebody with so much natural ability not able to show it because they are simply too tired to do so.
We could have perhaps done with Steve today - our attacks against a Harrogate side we thumped 6-1 earlier in the season mainly consisted of long balls aimed towards our strikers. They weren't entirely blameless either, and the finishing left a bit to be desired. Harrogate took their chance early in the second half, and there would be no comeback. We've lost two places again, and the playoff hope is growing ever dimmer.
Harrogate Town 1 - Burscough 0
03-09-2005, 10:18 AM
Brothers in Arms - A Year in the Lives of Two Very Different Footballers Post #29
If the press were pumping up our game against Bolton as a Must-Win, then the buildup to our trop to bottom club Derby was hectic, to say the least. We've probably had more media attention this week than in the rest of the season so far!
Now unfortunatley, it's likely to be even more. We were alright, Derby were awesome - and beat us 2-0. We've not won in three monhts now, and it's like a mourge when you come in to train. In all honesty, we'll probably get relegated - but what that'll do to the club, and ourselves as players, is anybody's guess.
Sam Allardyce really should have strenghtened in January. He didn't - and now we are paying the price.
Derby 2 - Birmingham 0
Farrell Kilbane
Dear Diary;
Ninth again! - It seems as if we are destined to bounce between 11th and 7th all season. The playoffs are 8 points away, and with six games left there is still a remote chance.
Today though, we looked impressive - Ian Pulman scored twice in a 2-0 win over Moor Green.
However, there are rumours in the air - the club have had a loan offer accepted for a young Liverpool defender. (Un)fortunatley, Walsall are also looking at the lad, an American called Zak Whitbread . The gaffer again told us defenders personally - He's desperate to increase bodies cheaply in the last couple of months of the season.
We'll have to see...
Burscough 2 - Moor Green 0
03-09-2005, 10:18 AM
Brothers in Arms - A Year in the Lives of Two Very Different Footballers Post #30
Maybe we are hitting form at the right time? - Whatever the reasons for our rapid improvement, none of us are complaining. Fresh from a week in which Zak Whitbread went to Walsall, we've just thrashed Gainsborough 3-0. Steve maden may complain that he is played too often, but when he scores twice - a 30 yarder and a late penalty - he can't really be suprised. In fact, I wouldn't be suprised if we started seeing more scouts at matches in the near future. Ian Pulman scored the other one.
After a rather heavy night on the sauce - celebratory only, you'll understand - I'm off to sleep. Our Kev is on Sky tomorrow. I wonder what Birmingham would give for a 3-0 win?
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