One Step Forward?: Walsall (Away) 14.12.2019

Jen Kelly – a.k.a. Cheshire’s Revenge / The Word Nerd – brings ilovemacc her own take on the highs and lows of The Silkmen

So, we managed to get some football played this week. Halle-fucking-lujah!

It’s ludicrous that there should even be a question of a game going ahead, of course. But that’s the world we now live in, where each week the club puts out a ‘statement’ to assure its long-suffering fans that they’ll have something to support for another week. Each ‘statement’ is short and to the point, but always with a slight pleading undertone from the man with the pen.

“We really need your support tomorrow…”. You’re not wrong Bob, you’re not wrong…

Because aside from all of this, we’ve still got the small task of trying not to get relegated. As it stands we’re solidly mid-table, clocking up draws like they’re going out of fashion. And with the general feeling around the club from every direction more negative than it’s ever been, I think it’s fair to say mid-table is a good place to be.

The Daryl/Darrell Derby

For the trip down the M6, our Daryl stuck with pretty much the same team that held Bradford 2 weeks ago. The only change was to swap the suspended Kirby for MWH. For the uneducated, it might’ve looked like we had a triple goal threat on the bench in Blyth, Gomis and Ironside. Sadly, we all know that’s nonsense. The 3 Stooges are sadly not the answer.

Turns out, MWH is*. Popping up with his very first goal for the club after only 7 minutes, I couldn’t quite believe my eyes. Finding himself in acres of space on the right, he controlled the ball beautifully, steadied himself and fired home with the confidence of a 25-goal a season man. 

Celebrations can often offer a small insight in the player, or group of players. Whether its a comedy cartwheel, a point to the heavens or snorting the white lines, it gives a hint into the personality of one or more of your heroes on the pitch. Their sense of humour, passion or perhaps their questionable extra-curricular activities. 

The celebrations for MWH’s goal on Saturday were nothing special to an outsider. Air punches and hugs all round; business as normal right? The noticeable thing was where those celebrations were directed. Well and truly in the direction of the ecstatic Silkmen behind the goal. As Miles was mobbed by his team mates each one of them roared towards the fans in turn, a clear demonstration of just how much the support means both on and off the pitch.

By all accounts, we played well for most of the game. The goal-keeping prowess of Evans continues to save us from sticky situations, and we peppered the Walsall goal with speculative shots from all over the pitch. Alas we weren’t able to hold on to the slim lead and the home team equalised with 15 minutes to go. A familiar story of the last month or so, but certainly not a disaster all things considered.

Courts, Punishments and Negotiations – must be Christmas!

So with another point in the bag we press on. It seems the players are back to training for the moment, although by having to do so at the Moss we could have a quagmire of a pitch to deal with ahead of the Plymouth game next week. But ahead of that worry we’ve got the small case of yet another court hearing on Wednesday.

It’s becoming that regular an occurrence that there’s barely any mention of it outside of the SLE Facebook page. We go to court, tell them we’ve definitely paid the bill and have NO idea why HMRC haven’t received the money. The court seemingly roll their eyes, nod their head and kick it to the curb for another few weeks. This groundhogging just means no-one is actually dealing with any of the issues we’re facing, just brushing them under the carpet and hoping they go away. The courts, the EFL, Captain Charisma himself….surely someone has to twitch soon in this ridiculous game of musical statues?

Of course, there is potentially one person doing something. That person is Joe Sealey, who is alleged to be in the middle of discussions to buy Amar’s shares and therefore the club. Of course, that’s assuming that the person(s) mentioned in the recent statement from the club are the Sealey’s. The reference to “…various third parties…” could be anyone, or no-one, so until I see something signed on the dotted line I’m not holding out much hope that this will all come to anything.

Call me a doom monger if you like. I call it learning from years of experience.

But look, maybe we COULD be on the verge of a Christmas miracle. Our very own Amar-neezer Scrooge, after years of refusing to give his workers coal for the fire and food for their children, might be receiving 3 ghostly visitors this Christmas season…. 

“MTFC was dead; to begin with…”

First up would be the ghost of MTFC past. A friendly chap dressed in a Zeneca shirt who would take Amar-neezer back to 29th March 1997. Standing in the middle of the Silkmen masses, the ghost would guide the old miser through the emotions of the famous game. The highs of Woody’s scrambled first goal, the lows of Askey’s red card, and the utter carnage that ensued after Stevie Wood converted the free kick to win the game in the dying minutes.

Secondly, the ghost of MTFC present would appear. A withered, pissed off looking fella, perhaps with the face of Andy Worth**, would simply show Amar the crying children who can’t understand why games are being called off and the players desperately digging down the back of the sofa in the hope of some spare change. He’d show him the message boards, take him to a few pubs and let him listen in to the conversations of concern and anger that have become commonplace.

And finally, the ghost of MTFC yet to come. This ghost would be completely see through, faded and almost invisible. It wouldn’t speak; instead it would just point to a development of new executive houses halfway up London Road. The only evidence that there had ever been a football club there would be a singular sign – “Askey Avenue”. He would then take Amar-neezer to Tesco, where a thin bald-headed man would be stacking shelves wearing a very worn-looking football kit and definitely no magic hat.

After these 3 ghostly visions, Amar-neezer Scrooge would see the error of his ways and resolve, there and then, that things were going to change. He would get straight on the phone to Sealey and agree a workable, sensible deal that would secure the future of the club we call MTFC. Amar-neezer would walk off towards the horizon, knowing that he done the right thing in the end. And MTFC would look towards a happier, more positive future.

Stranger things have happened, right?!

*I know that this is a huge overstatement and is utterly ridiculous. But if Miles does go on to be a prolific goal scorer and singlehandedly wins us the league, you definitely heard it HERE first!

**Sorry Andy, I’m not saying you’re withered. I’m saying you’re the face of MTFC. Please still be my friend?!

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