The problem with being a Messiah is that people anticipate instant miracles. The more realistic might settle for some early signs of gradual change but they too would have been disappointed by this performance. I know Rome wasn’t built in a day but surely Romulus, gazing down from his hill, would have expected to see a few cranes and bulldozers before he rode off to find some Sabine women to help populate his new city. There were no such harbingers of transformation on display at the Reebok yesterday. The game, particularly in the first half, was distinctly Megsonian. Given the enforced absence of Cahill and Steinsson, who were replaced by Andy O’brien and Robinson, pre-match hopes were that we would score more than them; it soon became apparent that goals would be as rare as Sabine virgins.
Some of the blame for this lay in the initial selection and tactics. It appears that OC sees Mark Davies as a Teddy Sheringham or Peter Beardsely, playing behind the main striker and producing probing passes, which result in lots of goals. It didn’t work, partly because Davies Minor isn’t that kind of player, partly because Davies Major doesn’t score lots of goals, and partly because the defence habitually play the ball direct to Davies Major anyway. The result was that for an hour we had the familiar lack of co-ordination with the ball in the air as often as it was on the floor.
The first half had only one memorable moment. It brought me out of my seat celebrating the opening goal, only to find that, incomprehensibly, play was still continuing. The move involved the two Davieses. Kevin’s header for once found its target and set up Mark. His shot from close in struck Schwarzer but rather than ricocheting into the goal it struck the underside of the bar and bounced back into play.
After an hour of largely aimless endeavour OC brought on Elmander in place of Mark Davies and we reverted to a more conventional 4-4-2. It made little difference; we were still awful and Fulham were worse. Things appeared to deteriorate even further when O’Brien was injured and the defence had to be re-jigged with Basham at right back and Ricketts switching to left centre back. Fortunately even this makeshift line up was adequate to contain the impotent Fulham attack.
Finally, with just twenty minutes left, Weiss replaced Taylor and things improved. Virtually all the action and excitement occurred after this substitution. Weiss made an instant impact, remained busy, and things started to happen. Cohen put Chung through but as the Korean rounded Schwarzer, the keeper thrust out a paw and palmed the ball away. Muamba almost bundled the ball in at the near post and Elmander missed a sitter when put through by Davies. Weiss himself had a shot that cannoned off a defender and ballooned over the bar. At last, in the final minute Kevin Davies scored with a header from a Chung free kick. Once again I was out of my seat rejoicing but again my elation was short lived. Mr. Clattenburg saw a push that even the Match of the Day cameras failed to pick up.
Bad as we were for most of the game we ought to have won against a poor Fulham side and, given the late rally, the win would have been deserved. However, the referee’s defective eyesight and an inability to convert chances meant that we lost two precious points. It’s ironic that under the defence obsessed Megson we scored plenty of goals but leaked them at the other end, whilst under the attack minded Coyle the goals have dried up but we have kept three clean sheets.
Individual heroes were few and far between but one man in a white shirt was outstanding. Jim was less than complimentary about Fabrice Muamba in his account of the Burnley game and in conversation his criticism was even stronger. Another friend, John, is habitually critical of the midfield player. For various reasons neither Jim nor John were at this game and they won’t believe my praise is justified. Nevertheless, he was magnificent. Whilst Mark Davies was on the pitch, Muamba lay deep and I thought this was the reason for his improved display, but later, when we reverted to 4-4-2, he was equally good. And this against a midfield that included Danny Murphy, Jonathon Greening and Damien Duff, who can all play a bit.
Another player that did well was Zat Knight. Without Cahill, Knight was the cornerstone of a generally sound defence, commanding both in the air and on the ground. My praise is only qualified by the fact that the Fulham attack was woeful and that, together with the rest of the defence, Knight’s distribution was weak. O’Brien and Robinson were the worst offenders but they all tended to play the ball in the air.
Elsewhere there was only disappointment. Chung flitted in and out, a shadow of his best. Kevin Davies had his moments and did some good things but his technique was unreliable. Cohen remains a trier, and his pass to Chung was a peach, but he isn’t really up to the task. When Elmander came on Cohen was the player that should have left, with Mark Davies dropping back into a more conventional midfield role. Taylor was once again poor and, on current form, he adds nothing to the game. The introduction of Weiss was the catalyst to improvement and the change should have been made sooner.
So, a few criticisms of St. Owen in this report. I haven’t lost the faith, I believe our play will become easier on the eye but not everyone will be patient. At a guess, there were more Bolton fans present at this game than for some time. Some of them won’t come again and there was even a faint suggestion of booing at half time.
Those of you that live in Bolton might be aware that the current production at the Manchester Exchange theatre is Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. I’m still dreaming of a golden future for the Wanderers but the title of the play is taken from a poem by Langston Hughes, which contains the ominous lines
‘What happens to a dream deferred?Does it dry upLike a raisinin the sun?’ Come on Owen. You’ve improved the defence, now trust your instincts and play those that are comfortable on the ball. Chung, Weiss, Wilshire, Mark Davies, Ricky, not a long list, but enough to make a difference.
