I went over to Lokeren this afternoon and saw the team arrive at 6.15. It was easy to get in to watch. I thought there would have been some Mags there, but I think everyone except me were Lokeren supporters. It's a nice little ground and the pitch looks in very good condition. We're going to be up on the terracing on the half way line and the Lokeren supporters are going to be in the opposite main stand in padded armchair style seats - never seen ones like that before. Very comfortable when I tried them. Bobby Robson was in charge of the training himself, with help from John Carver. Andy O'Brien just jogged around so he's definitely out. Marcelino's there to take his place. We had two whole teams there, if you count O'Brien as the 22nd player. They spent about 90 minutes out on the pitch, with a fair bit of time spent on a long warm-up of jogging / turning / sprinting in a line up and down one half of the pitch. Then lots of drills using half the pitch practicing crosses, break-outs from the goal-line, laying off the ball, wing play. Then two sets of back fours practiced on one half while the midfielders and forwards practiced on the other half. Bobby drilled the back fours while John Carver took the rest. Ameobi, Solano, Dabizas, Gavilan, Bellamy, Speed, and Elliot, Lua Lua, Bernard all looked sharp, especially Solano and Gavilan. Karelse made some good saves and seems popular with all the players. Marcelino actually looked pretty good - he looked keen and had some good headers when Bobby was drilling the defence and some good shots on goal during the shooting drills. Robbie Elliot looks really pleased to be back. And Bellamy seems to be a good bubbly character and fitting in very well. Before the team arrived, I met the people from Sky and Tyne Tees and they're both going to have "five minute" reports they said. The local supporters think we're going to win pretty comfortably - they've been selling their best players during the summer. One interesting thing : the 2 metres tall Jan Koller of Anderlecht whose now going to Dortmund used to play for Lokeren. They bought him for (the supporters said) a couple of thousand pounds in a package deal with two other Czechs, and they have a sell-on clause which gives them a good share of the 8 million he's just been sold for. So that makes a big difference to a little club. Lokeren were still selling tickets at 18.00 so I don't think they're sold out. Lokeren's a very nice little town (about the size of somewhere like Morpeth) with a small tree-lined square with a few bars and restaurants, so a good place to spend the afternoon if we are allowed to. Apparently the police want everyone to park out by the motorway by 6 o'clock and then bus everyone straight to the stadium and straight back afterwards. Pity they can't show more trust & respect, but I think they're shell-shocked after Euro 2000. I saw Bobby at the end and asked how he thought we'd do tomorrow - he said we HAVE to do well. All of this in warm sunshine - let's hope for more of the same tomorrow.

-- Anonymous, July 13, 2001

Answers

Great report Barry! Really nice to read something like this, it takes your mind of the (lack of) transfers.

Hope you have a pleasant day tomorrow!

-- Anonymous, July 13, 2001

Thanks for the report, Barry! Sounds like they're going into this with the right attitude. Very heartening! :-)

-- Anonymous, July 13, 2001

I alsways said that Marcelino was a star - a class above the rest. I'm reaslly pleased Barry has confirmed this*. Sod the rest of you and your opinion of the guy. He'll make you all eat your words this season.

Sounds like the rest are up for it as well. Great report Barry. Best so far this season. Keep up the good work!!

*You have seen them before haven't you? Marcelino is the little short one with the blond hair you know.

-- Anonymous, July 13, 2001

Brilliant to get such a report direct from Belgium. Cheers.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

Thanks Barry - great report! (:o)

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

Excellent, cheers Barry. I'm sitting here at work with my Asics Blue Star shirt on circa '93 and I'm starting to get excited over the prospect of the game.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

Great to hear! Thanks Barry.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

Cheers Baz, As I have stated on another thread if Marcellino gets the nod over Caldwell it will reinforce excactly what I think of YBR`s policy at present and it will in my opinion be a unwise move on here if the majority of postings ring true, the promising Bairns type,Gee Whiz he is a young man , get real , and his rival the "Malingerer" who 99% are critical, interesting one.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

Great report from "Our man in Lokeren" - only sorry we can't put more work your way Barry.

The tension is mounting now - I haven't felt this kind of excitement since the glory days of our Anglo-Italian Cup triumph or the great days of the Texaco Cup.

Howay the Lads - Enjoy the game Barry - you'll obviously have nee bother from the home fans - they are clearly a bunch of soft sh*tes judging by the armchairs. In their defence, at least they get out of the armchairs in the bliddy front room.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001

Great report Barry, thanks.

-- Anonymous, July 14, 2001