1 nowt down to Everon

Unsworth free kick. Only thing he can do.

Distin in. Suprised there was any space for the ball to go in with him in front.

Luax 2 up front

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

Answers

We equalised with ca.10 minutes to go - Pedro Dimas. However, Screacher and I left with 3-4 minutes to go, so I don't yet know the final score.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

Yes, it's that time of year again when The Resorves strut their stuff in the wilds of Kingston Park. Without looking in the paper, turning on the radio, or switching on the TV, you could tell what the weather was going to be like by checking on the FA Premier Reserve League fixtures. Howling gales, freezing cold and driving rain. Who needs Michael Fish? (Well actually on today's performance, maybe Tommy Craig does).

The BBS was represented by Steph, Clarky and Screacher, and presumably SteveT who was spotted in the carpark both before and after the game - unless of course he was only there for the autographs?? I expect a few others were there as well in what was a pretty decent crowd (unless SteveT sneaked in and took his clothes off, in which case it was an indecent crowd).

Toon had the better of the early exchanges but were unable to make their posession count. Unlike at Croft Park in the Northumberland Senior Cup Final, there was actually movement in midfield and up front, but there was no real power to take advantage of the posession. Coppinger and Green looked good, passing the ball to feet and moving for the return, but we flattered to deceive. No doubt they got a bollicking at half-time as the movement stopped after the break.

The Toffees went ahead against the run of play when they got a free kick for a fairly inoccuous challenge outside the box in the right. The wall lined up but David Unsworth found a gap by Karelse's left post. Without the advantage of an action replay, it was difficult to say, but first impressions were that Karelse should have had it covered. It could have been 0-2 with the Toffees secind attack of the game but a header rebounded off the woodwork.

Toon were playing 3-5-3, with McGuffie, Caldwell (S) and Distin making up the back three. Midfield was Green, McClen, Kerr, Boyd and Bernard, with Coppinger and Lua x2 up front. Hardly the heaviest squad, with Karelse possibly making up almost 50% of the gross weight. Coppy was subbed by McMenamin on the hour and that increased the average height by 3". Pedro Dimas replaced Green (or was it Kerr?) and the averge height shot up to almost 5', only to be reduced again when McGuffie was replaced by Jonathan Brain.

Toon again had lots of the ball in the second half, but the movement was gone and everything seemed to be played too soft thru the middle. The game was crying out for width (so was Clarky) but rarely was the ball passed out to the wing. On one occasion when the ball was actually crossed from near the touchline, Dimas got his head to it and knocked a stooping header past Simonsen to even up the score. Lua x2 was probably the most guilty, performing the usual circus tricks (I think I saw a representative from Billy Smart's in the stand tho he couldn't have been too impressed with the clown prince who juggled his was past defenders only to fail to find anybody in a B&W shirt with his final ball. Bah!

We continued to press but were unable to find a telling ball to take the lead. Bernard had a great free kick which just scraped over the bar with Simonsen looking unlikely to reach it, but that was about as close as we came to the winner.

All in all, some decent football early on, but the second half was reminicent of the first team with little movement and nobody taking control of the game. In our HT discussion, Clarky and I felt that the Resorves should be playing the same style as the first team so that players can slot in easily. We actually had hoped that we would see Lua x2 in midfield (he's not a striker) and a flat back four with Distin in the middle rather than playing wide left of a back three. Sadly, it was a similar style to the first team, but in all the wrong way. It makes you wonder what "training" they do. It certainly doesn't appear that there is any "coaching" being done.

PS. You had better withdraw that last remark Clarky. I stayed to the bitter end, unlike some ;-)

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

What is your verdict on Distin? Does he look like quality?

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

Distin had a tidy game, but he was hardly up against much. He looked calm on the ball, which probably has something to do with his ability to play midfield. However, my one overriding memory is that he is a big fella (in the purest of terms) I'll leave Steph to comment on the rest, tho he does have a good tackle in him ;-)

Too early to say. He needs a few competiotive games in the frst team - starting next Wednesday would be my guess.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

Sorry Screach - I had a feeling you might climb back over the fence once I'd gone, but I desperately needed to attend to my chilblains!

Steph, How did you get into the Prawn Sarnie Seats? I tried pre-game and got 'chucked oot'! Roxy,
Distin was "canny" - that's Geordie vernacular for "not bad, bordering on quite good" ;o{)
He's very tall, well built and pacy - not a bad combination. He did OK tonight without really being tested. If I have concern with him it's that I have formed an initial impression that he doesn't really punch his weight, even though he has the attributes needed for a CB. We need to see him against real opposition, and I'm hoping BR will play him against Barnsley in the Worthless Cup next week.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

when McGuffie was replaced by Jonathan Brain.

I thought he was a keeper?

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

....help me Clarky. They PA guy did say it was Brain didn't he? Or was it Brain-fade?

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

Phew, Biffa comes to my help. He's listed as a DEF on .COM That's a pint you owe me Dan (and a clean pair of undies) ;-)

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

Jonathan Brain IS a goalkeeper though

Have a look on either of the official site (reserve team photos) or Championship Manager :)

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

Yeah - it was Champ Man I remembered it from! Mystery deepens...maybe he's converted. Steve Howey started as a striker remember.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2001

Maybe our reserves are like David Willets (?) the Two-Brain conservative guy

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2001

It was David Cowan who replaced Ryan McGuffie.
At times neat and tidy but our midfield were all very similar. Same size, same build, same age, similar ability.
I saw a little improvement in LuaLua but 70% of his contribution ends up in zilch. This time last year it was 80%. Bernard can't be far away from first team comsideration he has good qualities. Distin is big and fast but at resorve level it is very difficult to assess central defenders.
I like Karelse, he wouldn't let us down if called upon.
All in all quite good at times but nothing to jump up and down about.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2001

The commentator mixed up all our subs. He said Dimas was Cowan!

Clarky, I just nipped up there when the rain started! No chance of getting in before the game, they ask you for tickets. LKD, Nobby and Carl Cort were in the stands with Bobby.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2001

Can we have someone to report on the resorves who knaas whats what?

You naaaa nowt! I just read on icnewcastle that Distin played well enough to start next week.

Noo buck up ye ideas or get new jobs. Screach is excused cause he had some wool ower his eyes, and steph, well steph only gaans to look at the lads and take photos, but the rest of ye have nee excuses!

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2001

Gus,

Ref Distin:

"He needs a few competitive games in the frst team - starting next Wednesday would be my guess".

-- Screacher (screacher@genie.co.uk), October 01, 2001.
------------------------------------------------------------

"We need to see him against real opposition, and I'm hoping BR will play him against Barnsley in the Worthless Cup next week".

-- clarky (al_k_traz@yahoo.com), October 01, 2001
------------------------------------------------------------

I rest my case! ;o{)

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2001

Hopefully got photos of Distin, Bernard and Bobby sat with LKD! '-)

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2001

I din't even have bait on me hook!

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2001

Where were you lot all hiding anyway? I am guessing on the same side as the dugouts. I was on the opposite side in the stand / marquee /mainsail which threatened to blow away all night. And imagine my delight when it started raining and we discovered that the back flaps (ooh err...) hadn't been fastened and the water came blasting in.

Not the greatest night's entertainment but value for £3 I thought. Lots of kids where I was which is encouraging given the concerns everyone has about SJP and kids ticket prices etc. Annoying little buggers though...

First time I'd seen Luax2 live in action. Definitely has a touch of the Tino about him as regards to ball skills but as Screacher says he's not a natural finisher. I'll go with what everyone else has said regarding Distin - looked pretty good but wasn't exactly pushed.

Without doubt I'll be back when I'm next home at Christmas. My next treat is Bedlington Terriers at the Dr. Pit park tomorrow night. That's my football rations up till I'm reduced to watching Barca at the Nou Camp again.

The sad thing is, I enjoyed watching the reserves 10 times more....

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2001

We need a "Resorves Clique" to make sure we meet up next time rather than bump into each other in the carpark/dugout/ladies loos.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2001

SteveT,

Steph was in the Prawn Sarnie Stand - actually, more like prawn cocktail crisps - near to Bobby Robson's entourage. The stewards wouldn't let me in there!

Screacher and I were sitting in same stand as you - waiting for "lift-off" as the wind got stronger & stronger. We were slightly to the north of the halfway line, and about halfway back to the high tide line!

As you suggest, there is something refreshing about watching the Reserves - there seems to be more honest endeavour and less cynicism. This is even more obvious watching the under-19's.

Pity we missed you - next time maybe.

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2001

I always stand just along from the away dugout. Handy for the bar at half-time and also to see who's in the posh seats. Nipped into the seats when it started raining but it didn't make much difference with the usual KP horizontal rain!

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2001

Steph,

Are the photographs available yet?

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2001

...not pestering, like.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2001

Not yet cos it's only the start of the film. I haven't got one of those posh digicam thingys like wot Screacher has!

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2001