The main news from today, which the WO seem to have missed and the club decided to completely ignore for some reason, was that Graham Taylor was there. Only those of us in the Upper Rous seemed to notice. You might have seen a wave of applause that started in the centre of the stand and grew outwards as more people worked out what was going on. He grinned and waved, looking slightly embarrassed at the reception he received.
What was he doing there? One can only hope that the rumours of a return in some sort of capacity (manager would be nice) are true. All week I've looked expectantly at the OS hoping to see his beaming smile, only to be greeted by offers of corporate hospitality or the slightly worrying news that the Buzz Store is closing less than two years after it opened.
Why oh why wasn't a bit more made of the fact GT was at the ground? I can't fathom it at all. It would've given the supporters a big boost which, in turn, would've helped the team.
Instead the club tried to give us a boost by employing a couple of drummers. Rodgers said he wanted a marching band to match the Wilmington lot we had against Scunthorpe but, presumably, funds didn't quite stretch to a brass section. I don't know if they were the same ones we had to endure during the 2-0 playoff loss to Hull but they were just as annoying. If you're employed to help the atmosphere then try and get in tune with what is happening on the pitch and in the stands. Don't start your own drum solo when the Rookery is in the middle of a 'Yellow Army' chant. Just drum along with it. Similarly when the physio runs on to treat Gavin Hoyte's shoulder it isn't the time to start an Indian war dance. Or when Sheffield United are attacking. I think both their goals were scored to accompaniment. Once it was 2-0 they disappeared, hopefully never to be heard from again.
Darius received a heroes welcome and even got a chorus of Henderson from the Rookery. Webber got booed which I always find strange. He was great for us on loan and then chose to sign for us at a time when we were still financially struggling after the ITV/Vialli fiascos. Given he came from Man U he probably could've gone anywhere. He always did well, most memorably in the 5-2 demolition of Coventry. Apparently we could only afford his wages because they were being paid for by a director. Eventually this arrangement had to come to an end so we sold him to Sheffield United. We sold him. He didn't ask to go. Yet he gets booed every time he returns. Whereas Bromby who publically stated he wished he'd never left Bramell Lane got a hearty round of applause when he came on as a sub. Strange.
The game played out in the same way as the Reading match, with the exception that we actually looked vaguely threatening a couple of times. This was mainly down to Tommy Smith who was superb and never stopped trying all day. But once Webber scored early in the second half we never looked remotely like getting back into it.
When Henderson made it 2-0, the black humour from the Mad Stad returned, as Darius was saluted with more chants of his name. To his credit he didn't celebrate his goal.
You'd have thought Rodgers would've then tried to change things slightly. Okay he did bring on Hoskins for Williamson, but that was it. Surely it was worth bringing Priskin and Bridcutt into the game then. All the players looked tired in that last 20 minutes (some had for the full 90) and another couple of pairs of fresh legs might have made a difference. But the manager either thought otherwise, or was prepared to accept a 2-0 defeat.
If we carry on like this we will go down. Its time for the board to be brave and act now. Rodgers must go. Yet again he reckons this "was yet another game that with a few little adjustments we could go and push on in." He talks about the fragile defence. But can't he see the problem is more up front at the moment. We've not 'pushed on in' against anyone lately.
I understand where he is coming from and what he wants to do. But I don't think its feasible considering he joined us languishing at the bottom of the table. If he'd joined us in pre-season it might have worked. But we've needed wins from the day he started and so far he has only delivered two in the league. We haven't got the time its going to take to completely overhaul how we play. We'll end up in League One where we haven't got a hope of then attracting the sort of players required to play Rodgers game. Its a vicious circle that requires someone God like to get us out of. Graham!!!
