This Ground is Coming Like Goal Drought.
All the nets have been thrown out,
This place is coming like a goal drought.
Fans won’t sing no more
Too much passing in the back four.
Do you remember the good old days before the goal drought?
We danced and we sang and the music played, then Danny walked out.
La, La, La La La….you get the picture, writes David Agnew, with immense apologies to The Specials. Maybe it was the recent sad passing of Terry Hall or watching a documentary about the art of drumming and the art of the ska beat, but for some reason, The Special’s Ghost Town is, for me, starting to force its way into my psyche, when I think of Lincoln at home. It’s not deliberate. I’m not being down, but whilst I’d rather have the very un REM-like Shiny Happy People blasting around my mind, I am filled with dread whenever I go to LNER’s Sincil Bank Stadium. I know my hatchet-like reworking of a Special’s legendary song will upset some, but I did go about it somewhat tongue-in-cheek. As, to be fair there have been a few around who may have echoed the same sentiments.
It never used to be this way, but a part of me can second guess the game, now. We will not score more than 2 goals. In fact, we have only done that three times in the league, at home, all season!
We will, no doubt, have a turgid like build up to the opposition’s box and then have it all break down in one split second…..and the only way we are getting bums off seats, to quote our head coach, is to relieve themselves of a few jars consumed earlier, or to buy a rather tasty double cheeseburger.
Hang on Agnew, I hear you call. You’re not being fair. And that’s my problem, I find myself arguing with my views every game. I know there are so many positives this season has brought. We have finally a defensive line to be proud of. We are exceptionally difficult to beat. We are unbeaten at home, and yet…..yet….I’m a little less happy than I should be.
Why on earth is that? Why am I not satisfied? Have I turned in to one of those types? You know “the entitled”? Hmm, no. Not by a long chalk. I just feel that we’ve begun to accept mediocre draws at home as the norm. We have a scale. Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday, being at the top of the pile for entertainment. Charlton and Cambridge being the benchmark for insomnia-curing bad draws. We’ve had no thrillers. No last-minute winner for a dramatic 4-3 win. We’ve scored 14 goals in 15 home games. A draw is our expected result. I’m not saying that it is a bad thing, being unbeaten at home, but when I compare it to Keith Alexander’s time Part 2, but without the flair, I think something needs addressing. We need some excitement. Hell, even with John Beck, we had goals a plenty. Yes the build up was often taxing on our upper spinal discs, but we had goals galore and even when the entertainment was lacking, he managed to get himself nicked before the start of a game.
Yes the resultant 1-1 draw with Orient was dull, but news of the Customs and Excise swoop was thrilling.
I know we can’t score three goals every game, I know we used to leak goals like a colander. That has thankfully ceased, but I do want something that is going to get me off my seat and enthused. A few performances like I witnessed at Pride Park last week, would be good. Just something that seems a bit more passionate for the home fans. Our best performances have been for the away games. Not uncommon for Lincoln, in recent years. I do feel, though, that regulars at Sincil Bank have been left somewhat the poorer relatives when it has come to entertainment in recent times. One away league game, this year, is responsible for a fifth of our goals scored. We’ve played 30 games, by the way.
Mark Kennedy is our Head Coach. He is going to use the resources he has to try and get the best results for the club and its fans. Mark was a very attacking player for Man City and boy, would I love to see some of his flair and attacking style transcend on to the pitch at LNER.
I love Lincoln City FC, with all of my heart. I’ve been with them through their largely average times, their worst times and now their great to transitional times. I will never stop loving them. Just like I shall never stop loving the music of Queen, mind you – I can take or leave Hot Space. Maybe this season is our ‘Hot Space’ season and we’ll soon have a season akin to stealing the show at Live Aid.
Yet, the issue is….I just feel that we are missing something, that little spark of ingenuity. That missing ingredient that will take an ordinary steak and ale pie and transform it into an epic dish. That little, minuscule soupçon of flair that really will get people off their posteriors, instead of jippy haemorrhoids.
I feel like I am Oliver Twist bravely asking Mr Bumble for more, and yes I feel bad about it. I do, however think it is nevertheless necessary though. So much so, that I don’t apologise for it. Well, maybe a smidgen.
So please, when you come to bellow at this poor boy, whom dared asked for more, please just ask yourself these questions. How many times, at Sincil Bank, this season have you truly felt excited? How many times have you felt bored or frustrated? Then finally, how many times have you felt you’ve seen a thriller? I’d really be interested to know.
Until then, the argument continues in my head.
Take care, everyone.
Until next time.
UTI
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