Match Day - Vs QPR (Away)
“Alright Lads, how’s everyone feeling today?”
Quiet murmurs fled across the dressing room, too quiet for my liking.
“I SAID, how are we all feeling today?”
“Good boss” “Good gaffer”
That’s more like it fellas, it’s the first game of the season in the Barclays Premier League, you should all be excited. I remember playing…
My Assistant Manager stopped me from carrying on and said, “Err..boss, there’s a time and a place, this is match day.”
You’re right, basically today, we’re going to go for a bit of a change in formation, a flat four-four-two. We’ll be starting off with, Robin in nets, just kidding lads, don’t panic. Woj, you’ll be keeper, Bacary at right back, Aly, left back, two centre back will be…Kos and Jan, this will be a test for you Jan, its your first game in the Premier League, its physical, so stay strong and don’t let Zamora or Bothroyd throw you about. On the right wing we will have Alex-Oxlade, show me what you can do boy, I know Arsène had a lot of faith in you and I do too, over pre season you’ve been playing really well, take that onto the pitch. On the left Willian, I know this isn’t your favoured position and you would prefer to be much further up, but we are a team and sometimes you have to make sacrifices. Centre of the park? Marek and Alex Song, talk to each other in there, make it work, you have to control the game, especially away from home. Up top we have Robin and Theo, Midfielders will always be looking to play you two through on goal, so make those runs. Subs are: Lukasz, Schwaab, Ramsey, Mikel Arteta, Gervinho, Park and Thomas Rosicky.
I’m going to shut my mouth now, all you guys know what to do, you’ve been playing football all your life, you know how to win right? So go do it!
The players made their way onto the pitch and I took my seat in the technical area.
The referee blew his whistle to signal the beginning of the first half.
We were around the ten minute mark, when Sagna played the ball down the line to Alex-Oxlade, beat one, beat two, and slipped the ball through to Van Persie only for him to screw it wide. So close!
The 29th minute approached us, and QPR had the ball at their feet, Barton attempted a through ball to Zamora only to hit off his heels, the ball bounced back and landed kindly at Mareks feet. It could not of landed any more kindly. Marek turned and spread the ball to the left wing, picked up by Willian he burst forward to the byline, looked up and pulled it back towards Van Persie, but Anton Ferdinand got a foot to the ball to knock it out for a corner.
Marek ran over to take the corner, and was just about to take it when, what looked like the linesman telling him to move the ball back as it was outside the corner area. Marek replaced the ball and swung a right footer into the box, with the pace on the cross, it juggled about in the area and kindly landed at Theo’s feet for a simple tap in. We were 1 up at Loftus Road.
It was the 37th and Willian needlessly gave the ball away in our own half, Faurlin advanced and played it through to Bothroyd, one on one, but he skied the effort. We were still in the lead.
The ref signaled the end of the first half and we made our way into the changing rooms.
“Jan and Kos, tighten up in there, Bothroyd is running rings around you two, you’re better than that.”
“Song, you need to start picking up Faurlin, he’s a quality passer and needs to be closed down more. Hit him hard at the start of the next half.”
“Let’s go and get another few lads.”
The second half had started and Alex Song did exactly what I told him, went in hard on Faurlin taking the ball and the man. The tackle resulted in the ball rolling free for Walcott to pick up in the centre of the pitch; he laid it wide to Chamberlain and whipped a ball to the edge of the box to Van Persie. RVP struck the ball with his left, there was only going to be one outcome. The net rippled.
“Song, Walcott, chamberlain and RVP, well done lads, that’s what we needed, keep going”
“Subs, go warm up, you never know what could happen, be ready!”
The players had finished their warm up, and it was time to make two substitutions. “Ramsey and Arteta, you’re going on”
We were deep into stoppage time and QPR had a throw in, in our half. The ball was played to Zamora’s’ feet who then played it off to Taiwo. Taiwo played it into Barton who turned skillfully and thread a through ball into Tommy Smith who had just come on at the same time as Aaron and Mikel, but he screwed it wide.
At that point, it was over, the ref blew for full time and we were ecstatic. We’ve come to QPR and took the three points back to the Emirates. Goals from our two forwards had won us the game.
(Voted by commentators) Man of the match: Paddy Kenny - it says it all really, we dominated from start to finish, restricting them to 3 shots all game, none of which were on target.
(Voted by Me) Man of the match: Theo Walcott - he was everywhere at QPR today, and a truly deserved award for his efforts. He deserved his goal and maybe more.
To be continued..
Comments/Constructive Criticism and Feedback are all welcome..
Thank you for taking the time to read so far..Plenty more updates to follow.