Rob Ridgway's "Rat Pack"

[tenthreeleader]

Friday, October 10

I’m being linked with a player that I’ve not scouted seriously – and it’s a bit odd because it seems that for the first time all season, the “Rat Pack” is actually a destination of choice for a player.

Pacy Spurs winger Wayne Routledge told The Guardian today that he wants out of White Hart Lane, most likely due to the fact that he’s had exactly three first-team matches in two years for Tottenham.

He’s gone on loan spells to Fulham and Portsmouth since being purchased from Crystal Palace two years ago for £2.5 million.

“I wouldn’t mind playing on an up-and-coming team that has some momentum,” he said, noting that Spurs are now sliding down the table after a quick start. “A place like Reading, which appreciates fluid offensive play, would be a good fit for me.”

So due to the headline “Routledge: Ridgway, come and get me!”, I did have to answer a few questions for Weatherby and her local friends this morning.

“I haven’t identified any transfer targets for January,” I said. “Right now I’m more worried about surviving October with our league position intact. Though I must admit I’m flattered that players of Wayne’s quality are looking at us as a destination point rather than as a club to be snubbed.”

“Kalou and Maloney didn’t snub you,” Weatherby observed.

“And thank goodness they didn’t,” I said. “But we had a lot of people identified as targets who just didn’t want to come to Berkshire. The players who were already here took that a bit personally and we’ve gotten out to a strong start, partly as a result of that aggressive attitude.”

“So is there an interest in Routledge?” Nothing like a reporter who sticks to her guns.

“I haven’t seen a recent scouting report on him, to be honest,” I said. “I’m sure that in the normal course of our duties I will see one. I just know he’s a good player. In the meantime, I’m not about to incur a tapping-up charge by commenting further.”

# # #

However, for the first time since my hiring, a greater portion of my daily press gaggle was devoted to me than it was to my team. Word got out about my testimony through the Venice papers and all of a sudden the “Rob and Patty Show” was back on the front page.

“I’d really prefer to leave it go,” I said. “I had to testify, I’m sure the Venice papers had a complete summary of what was said, and frankly I’m just happy to have this whole thing over now.”

“Do you fear that this whole sad story will wind up in the papers again?”

“Only if you put it there,” I said. “And really, I’d much prefer it if you didn’t.”

# # #

[salkster2102]

just caught up after being on holiday and i have to say its a fantastic read. congragulations on the awards which are thoroughly deserved. looks like my good luck with the arsenal game worked. good luck with the cardiff game then. KUTGW

[tenthreeleader]

Salkster, thank you for catching up and following the story. Always happy to accept good wishes for upcoming matches - and as I've mentioned elsewhere, the awards were most flattering. Thanks to all!

___

Saturday, October 11

Wembley

I never played at the old Wembley, so I never got to experience the Twin Towers or any of the other great things that came with playing at football’s ancestral home.

So, as someone with a definite appreciation of the game and its traditions, I walked into the new place this evening arm in arm with Patty, feeling like a million bucks. That's about one-thousandth the final cost of the stadium I now entered, but you can't have everything.

I didn’t have a soul playing for either team. So some people were wondering why I was there. One of them, soccernet.com columnist Nigel Cross, went so far as to ask.

“Because I want to watch football with my wife,” I said. “I’m here to watch England play in person for the first time, and I love to watch football. Must I have a reason for everything I do?”

“Not really,” he admitted.

“Fine,” I said, my smile returning to my face. “Enjoy the match.”

Patty and I found our seats in the Football Association’s special seating area behind the benches and she sat prettily in her chair, adjusting her wrap against the evening’s chill. She wore dark blue, which contrasted perfectly with her red hair. If she showed up on television she would look stunning – by design as much as by choice.

She tipped me off as we took our seats. “If I’m going to make a serious try at this business I have to look the part,” she explained.

“Doesn’t matter,” I smiled, holding her hand surreptitiously as the teams took the pitch for final warmups. “You look fabulous no matter what you wear. People will notice.”

They did, sooner than I thought. While the teams prepared to start the match, the television cameras picked out luminaries in the stands and put their faces on the huge scoreboard. When they got to us, they zoomed in – on Patty.

The manager of the Premiership’s third-placed side was so much chopped liver next to his wife. She blushed bright red – but only for a moment, as the crowd showed its appreciation for a beautiful lady.

“I think I’ll take up tennis,” I laughed, and she leaned over to whisper in my ear.

“Don’t you dare,” she giggled. The match began.

# # #

To call it one-way traffic would have been kind. The first time I took Patty to an international match was to see Italy play at the San Siro at about this time last year. That had been a virtual walkover but this was even more emphatic.

The question wasn’t whether England would score but how many and when. The strike partnership of Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen was humming from the kickoff even though it wasn’t the classic “big-little” combination. Rooney was holding the ball for Owen and doing a tremendous job of it. That sounds odd, I realize, but it was what was happening – and when the United man played the Sevilla striker through on sixteen minutes, the match looked virtually done and dusted from the moment the ball hit the goal.

Wembley’s patrons showed their appreciation as much as their passion – after all, this was a match England was expected to win – and the players kept the hammer down on the visitors.

Rooney was celebrating his 50th cap tonight and marked the occasion with England’s second goal, with a trademark power finish from just outside the box three minutes before halftime. Two goals up, the question now was how many England would get for the goal difference in the group.

There was hardly a doubt – Estonia hadn’t had so much as an attempt at goal in the first 45 minutes – and I wondered if Patty was bored by it all. As we stood at halftime, I asked her.

“Did I make a bad entertainment choice tonight?” I smiled, but she simply took my arm.

“I like watching you watch football,” she answered. “There’s no shifting you.”

“If we were watching at home it might be different,” I blushed. We headed to the FA’s hospitality area for a quick cup of coffee, and suddenly I wished we were home.

# # #

The second half was as pedestrian as the first. Frank Lampard put a cap on the scoring with a twisting free kick from about 25 yards on 63 minutes as the home team decided three, for the night, was plenty.

It’s hard to imagine how over 80,000 fans can be silent for prolonged periods of time, but after Lampard’s goal the match was exercise. It ended the way it had begun – Estonia never did make an attempt at the England goal while the home team had 19 attempts at their visitors – and when the whistle finally blew for full time it felt like the school bell had rung to dismiss class for the day.

Patty and I rose and I escorted her to the aisle. “This is a beautiful place,” she said. “Maybe next time we come here the match will be a little better.”

At least she recognizes a bad match when she sees one. Hopefully she won’t see too many of them at the Madejski, at least where I’m on the losing end.

# # #

On the trip home we heard that Scotland had come up trumps away from home, with Garry O’Connor’s brace and a third goal from skipper Barry Ferguson leading the Tartan Army 3-0 over Moldova. You’d figure the Scots to do well in that match and they did.

Also, Kalou had quite a night for Ivory Coast in their qualifier against Guinea. My winger scored a hat trick in just six minutes as his team won by a tidy 10-0 count. There probably wasn’t much point in keeping him on the pitch after that sort of display but I expect I’ll get a confident player back in my training for next weekend.

# # #

[tenthreeleader]

Monday, October 13

Patty and I had a very quiet Sunday and I returned to training this morning to find a rather upset James Harper sitting in his stall.

He was the first one there, as he often is, and when I entered the changing room he asked to talk with me.

“Of course,” I said, opening the door to my office. “You want to go in here?”

“Wherever works for you, boss,” he said. “I have to get something off my chest.”

I could see it coming. Pazienza has played extremely well in the holding position and has squeezed Harper out of playing time. I wondered if he was going to ask for a transfer.

“Come in,” I said, and the player preceded me into the office. We sat, and he pulled a copy of the Independent out of his hands, the sport section rolled up into a tight baton of sorts. I wondered if he might beat me with it for a moment, until he simply handed it over.

“I have to know if you really believe this,” he said. I read:

Reading manager Rob Ridgway is ready to part with midfielder James Harper, according to a club source. The emergence of loanee Michele Pazienza in midfield is making the 27-year old Englishman surplus to requirements and supporters have also noticed a drop in Harper’s play.

I frowned. “James, I don’t believe that. Nobody talked with me about this story and even if they had, I would have talked with you first before answering any reporter. You still have my confidence and that hasn’t changed from the first day.”

“So why aren’t I playing more?” he asked.

“Your role is to close out the match, when I usually need my strongest players on the pitch,” I said. “You are a regular member of the 18 and I really appreciate the extra energy and strength you give us when we are trying to hold off an opponent. That is an important role, but at the moment it’s not a role that has you in the starting eleven as much as you’d like. But do please understand that if a player’s value ever changes on my team it’s up to me to communicate it – not the press. I wish you hadn’t gotten upset about this but I’m really glad you came to talk to me. Don’t believe everything you read.”

He nodded, and sighed heavily. “Didn’t sleep last night,” he admitted.

“Tell you what, James,” I said. “Go home. Get some rest and come back fresh tomorrow. I promise you your status won’t change and as far as anyone else is concerned you just were under the weather. If anyone asks me about this piece of garbage article I’ll tell them the truth. How does that sound?”

He rose, tiredly, and smiled. “That sounds great to me, gaffer,” he said. We shook hands, and he went home to his rest.

# # #

While Harper went home, I was left to consider the effect of another media story on my team.

Pogatetz has played much better in recent games and has quieted the speculation about his ability. So in the interests of negativity, something bad has to be said about one of my players, and Harper was the one picked.

Now I need to find out who the “club source” was that gave this information to the newspaper. So I called in Waters this morning before leaving for the ground.

I handed the paper to him. “Andrew, do you have any idea who might have been the “club source” named in this story?” I asked.

He shook his head, as I fully expected him to do. “No, I sure don’t,” he said. “And I take it this isn’t true?”

“It sure as hell isn’t,” I said. “I’d like to know who this person is. And then I want to talk to them. If there are people talking out of turn in this place I want to know who they are.”

“Do you want me to find out?” he asked, his face taking on a concerned expression.

“No,” I said. “No need to spy on your co-workers or anything like that. But if it comes up in conversation with anyone, feel free to tell them that the manager isn’t happy. But there’s no need to start World War III over this.”

I don’t expect him to actually find out. It could be a board member, for all I know. It’s enough for me, in this case, for word to get around that the manager isn’t happy. Should the person reveal himself (or herself) over that word, fine. I’ll have the confrontation myself. But if not, I’ve already made my own feelings known to the player and that’s enough in this case.

Harper understands that I have the last word on the team sheet. Madejski has never breathed a word to me about team selection beyond one question about Pogatetz, and frankly I don’t expect him to.

We’re in great shape in the table. We don’t need this extra distraction.

# # #

[tenthreeleader]

Tuesday, October 14

England’s World Cup qualifying effort will take them to Reykjavik tomorrow for a match in which two of my players will play.

Ingimarsson and Brynjar Gunnarsson will probably make up Iceland’s central defense pairing tomorrow night, even though Brynjar is in the reserves at present and has been all season.

Ivar has had an up-and-down season. He’s presently third choice at central defense behind Sonko and Bikey and when he’s played he’s made some high-profile mistakes that have wound up in our net.

But at the same time, he’s very strong and quite physical. In the main, he’s a good defender, even if he is a step below the top two. He is certainly good enough for consideration for his national squad and my hope is that he’ll play well enough for Iceland to give me a selection problem for Saturday.

I might make a couple of changes in the eleven for Cardiff. Ferreira will be the last to return to training from his latest international stint with Portugal so John Halls may get a first-team appearance that he badly wants. Same for John Oster – as Shaun Maloney has shown a bit of fatigue lately, I may choose to rest him when he comes back from his duty with Scotland.

My hope is that Maloney won’t have to play for long on Wednesday – Scotland hosts San Marino at Hampden Park and if there’s a nation you want to play if goal difference is important, San Marino could well be the one.

Still, Alex McLeish’s first goal is of course a win, and he’ll do whatever he needs to do to get it. If Shaun can’t answer the bell from overuse, Oster needs to be ready.

# # #

“John, I simply can’t have this.”

Word had indeed ‘gotten around’ regarding my displeasure about the Harper story. Now I stood in front of my chairman with my worst fears realized.

It was in fact a board member – Sidney Richmond, who had asked me such pointed questions about Gúti a couple of months ago – who had spoken to the reporter in question about Harper.

“You do realize that I can’t have my authority with the squad undermined in such a fashion,” I said. “I had the player in my office yesterday ready to ask for transfer. He’s important to me, John, but even if he weren’t in my first-team plans he is still a member of this club and entitled to hear word about his playing future from me – not from a reporter who doesn’t have all the facts.”

He nodded. “I understand,” he said. “I’ll speak with Sidney. Do you have any speculation as to why he might do this?’

“I don’t know, and I accuse Mr. Richmond of nothing,” I said. “That wouldn’t be appropriate without a lot more information than I have at present. All I know is that we’ve just taken Arsenal to the mat on their own ground and I have no desire to entertain any notion that will split my squad. That has to be the end of the story.”

“So how did you learn of this?” Madejski asked.

“I told the media staff that no one was to represent my opinion to media without my express permission,” I said. “I wanted to know who had done such a thing and the staff found out. Mr. Richmond left a note in the media department this morning.”

My chairman leaned back in his chair, obviously burdened by the thought of an unwanted distraction. “Very well, Rob, I’ll take this under advisement. Of course, the side is yours to manage as you see fit, but I need to get Sidney’s side of this. I’ll be in touch.”

# # #

[weeeman27bob]

You don't want to mess around with Rob!

Brilliant as always 10-3

[viperk1]

Fantastic stuff, 10-3.

Though I have one slight niggle - you use 'said' quite a lot. I'm not quite sure whether that is intended due to the diary format, but it'd be nice to see different words instead of 'said'. (Call me the grammar police, if you must.)

However, I still think this is a cracking story, and wish Rob Ridgway all the best for his management career at Reading.

[tenthreeleader]

Weeeman, thanks! Rob is starting to develop an edge about him. Viper, this is a good observation. I do try to change my phraseology, but I don't always catch it and this post happens to be one of them. On balance, though, it's better than that.

___

Wednesday, October 15

This didn’t take long.

Reports of a “board-room bust-up” are already starting to circulate in the press, so it was good that today’s training was practically empty.

Weatherby poked around the issue today as I gave a quick briefing on my way home. “We’re just trying to get ready for Cardiff, Jill,” I told her. “That’s what matters the most to us. I can’t comment on anything happening at board level and it’s not my place to do so. I’m the football side of the operation.”

I do need to know what’s going on behind my back with media, though, so I don’t regret my decision to explore the Harper matter further. The player was back at training today with a real sense of purpose and I was happy to note that he had an excellent session.

All this media speculation is a hassle, but it’s surely nothing new to me. It just hasn’t happened at the top level. It seems I have a board member who is annoyed at how a negotiation went who is trying to force my hand on a player.

That sort of thing is little better than emotional blackmail to the player, and I won’t allow it connected with my name. So if and when the chairman tells me it’s time to have the discussion, I will have it. I’d prefer not to directly confront a board member but I’ve been misrepresented and manipulated in this process and that has to stop. Now.

# # #

Tonight, still stewing over the events of the day, I watched my Icelandic central defense tandem in action against the Three Lions.

England only needed two Lions, as it turned out. Andy Johnson and Wayne Rooney were on song this evening as McClaren’s men dismissed their hosts by a 2-0 count that in the end was quite comfortable.

I had a hard time concentrating on the match. My mind was racing and not about Cardiff. That isn’t good.

I suppose the “honeymoon”, as it were, couldn’t last forever. Sooner or later I’d do something that would annoy a person in power, and even though we’re dead level with mighty Chelsea in points, when you deal with egos at a board level sometimes wins and losses don’t matter as much as they ought.

Richmond might have innocent motives. He might be upset at me over Gúti. He might not have been satisfied with my answer regarding his “step backward” comment and in that context, I suppose I can’t blame him. We’re a Premiership side and even though Gúti plays for Real Madrid, nobody likes to have their noses rubbed in it in such an emphatic way. Especially not board members at clubs with any sort of ambition.

What I may need Richmond to realize, though, is that Madrid does that to everybody. They did it to Manchester United, twice kings of Europe, when they decided they wanted Ronaldo and Tévez. They did it to Middlesbrough when they decided they wanted Stewart Downing and to Everton when they decided they wanted Leighton Baines. And they do it to us, a club with ambition but which is yet to break through on the continental stage.

It’s the nature of the game. I don’t have to like it, and Richmond doesn’t have to like it. But until we win something, it is what it is.

# # #

[tenthreeleader]

Thursday, October 16

I’ve got a bit of an issue for Saturday. Maloney won’t be able to play.

Not because he was hurt, but because Alex McLeish used him for the full 90 minutes last night at Hampden Park. The Scots only managed to beat San Marino by a 1-0 score and the Tartan Army was not amused.

Scott Brown’s 11th minute goal looked like it might open the floodgates but the home team never dented the net again, which forced McLeish to do some things he probably hadn’t planned on doing.

Also, Maloney played a wing, which he doesn’t usually do for me, and in McLeish’s tactic of an aggressive 4-4-2, he did more than his usual share of running. Oster will therefore be my raider on Sunday against Cardiff.

I broke the news to Maloney when he arrived at the ground for training today. “I’m going to let you rest a bit,” I told him. “Not because your form isn’t good because we both know it is, but having you run like that twice in a four-day span isn’t good. If we need you Sunday, we’ll bring you into the match but my hope is that we can get you a bit of rest.”

“I want to play,” he immediately protested, but I could tell from his training that he’s tired. There’s no shame in admitting that. I’m glad he wants to play and I expect him to want to play, but he can’t be as much help to the team if he’s gassed after ten minutes.

I need him to take the team approach. He hasn’t featured for Scotland over the last year because he wasn’t playing at Villa. Now that he’s playing here, he needs to realize that club form is what’s going to get him selected in the future. I love his attitude – but he needs to take the longer view.

I simply need the win on Saturday, and I need to put out the best team I can to get it. My judgment now is that Oster in the center of midfield gives us a better chance than a wiped-out Maloney.

Everyone needs a break now and again. Except for managers. We’re men of steel, right?

# # #

Patty’s commercial aired for the first time this evening. While I watched the league preview show and flipped back and forth among channels, there she was.

“Hey, look who’s the star!” I teased, and Patty came running into our modest living room (okay, sitting room. You call it what you want, I’ll call what I want!).

“Is it on?” she asked.

“Seems to be,” I said, as I watched my bride walking confidently through the mall. It really looked good – very tastefully done, with upbeat music. They didn’t even need to show her name on the screen – everyone will know who it is and now all there is to do is wait for the reaction we get.

“That’s early,” I observed. “I thought it was a commercial for the holiday season.”

“You know how holidays go,” she said. “In the States, they’ve had Thanksgiving decorations up since the Fourth of July.”

“Unfortunately,” I mused. “I’m looking forward to Christmas, though.”

“It’ll be our first together. Last Christmas didn’t work out so well.”

“Don’t remind me,” I said, and she crossed to sit in my lap.

“Tell you what,” she smiled. “I’ll make it up to you. Christmas Eve you can come home and I’ll be dressed as Santa’s helper. How does that sound?”

I tried, and failed, to suppress a grin. “I think that would be a Merry Christmas for me,” I laughed.

The commercial ended. Patty stayed in my lap.

“Unless, of course, you want me to start early,” she said, locking eyes with me.

“You can start any time you want, baby,” I smiled, holding her close.

# # #

[tenthreeleader]

Friday, October 17

Paul Marsley is guilty.

We got a phone call this morning from Inspector Cipriani in Venice, who told us that a verdict had been reached and that we should stand by for news. Patty went to work with a sense of apprehension – she remembered the split verdicts in the trials of her actual attackers – and I went to training expecting to have to talk about whatever verdict was reached.

We held media day today, with the match being on Sunday, and I outlined a couple of changes I plan to make to the side.

Halls needs a match just like Oster does, and his form in training is good enough to allow me to rest Ferreira as well. So there will be two changes to the regular eleven, with both Maloney and Ferreira making the substitutes’ bench in case they’re needed.

So after a solid full training session, I faced the media who were wondering if I could keep the Bluebirds’ unwanted streak going. They haven’t scored in seven league matches and are still looking for their first win.

“Your defensive record hasn’t exactly been sterling,” said Bobby Hopkins of Setanta.

“Really? What was your first clue?” I asked. I didn’t care for the question and cared for it even less since I knew he was right. Defensively, we haven’t been very good and the one thing I really want to see out of Sunday is a clean sheet.

“I wish I could say it was better, and if it weren’t for Lobont we’d be in a world of hurt,” I admitted. “He has been excellent and because of that excellence we are near the top of the table.”

Then Hopkins asked a much better question. “Last season your team gained a reputation for being much better defensively than its opposition. What changed, with better players here at Reading for you to work with?”

“Well, first I should reject the notion that we’re amateurs defensively,” I said. “True, we haven’t been up to scratch in every match but individually we’ve gotten solid performances from most everyone on the back line. The key to the whole thing for me is to simply get them to play as a four-man unit all the time. That does take time – we have two new full backs we’re trying to ease into regular play, and we’ve had matches against Chelsea, United and Arsenal already with a good Aston Villa side thrown in for good measure. We like to think we can go toe-to-toe with anyone in this league but what we really need is stability that time will provide.”

I then thought about my answer for a bit. “Also, let’s not forget that everyone has attacking players in this league that are a better standard than Serie C1. I have to give credit to our opponents. Somehow I suspect Manchester United might score four goals against Venezia or Cremonese just like they did against us."

“So how about Cardiff? They’ve had terrible trouble scoring goals.”

“They’re going through a bad patch, no doubt about it,” I said. “For me, the whole key to the match is going to be getting on them early and holding them down. When you aren’t winning and you aren’t scoring, piling on the pressure early can play a big role in the match. I’m sure Dave Jones will be telling them the same thing – any goal they can get now is a bonus and especially if they score early, I’m sure they’re hoping it will snowball.”

“So what’s the secret to keeping them down?”

“Same as for keeping any opponent down,” I answered. “Solid positional play, denial of service and good, hard work. We approach this match the same way we did Arsenal because if we don’t, they can take us out.”

“False flattery?” Hopkins was sticking to his guns.

“Not if I want to stay in this job,” I said. “You treat every opponent that way. I should think you might know that from your time in the media. It happens too often that teams look past an opponent – it’s human nature to do so – and then they get beat.”

Just then, Waters arrived with a note. “Marsley guilty – two years prison and deportation.”

I nodded and put the note in my pocket. Naturally, I was asked what it was.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” I said.

# # #

In fact, I almost made it out of the training ground. Before long I was surrounded by reporters asking for comment on Marsley’s sentence.

“I’m just glad it’s over,” I said. “On behalf of my wife, I can say I’m really happy that it’s over and that justice has been served. We never asked for any of this to happen and we’re just happy that it’s over.”

“What is your reaction to the deportation?”

“For all I care, he can never come back,” I said. “As long as we’re here, I don’t think he’ll be joining us and that’s just fine with me.”

So whether or not we win tomorrow, we’ve already had a success that matters much more.

# # #

[tenthreeleader]

Saturday, October 18

Reading (5-5-0, 3rd place) v Cardiff City (0-2-8, 20th place) – EPL Match Day #11

At least it didn’t rain today.

It was a chilly afternoon but it wasn’t wet, and as I nervously looked out the window after waking up this morning, I was glad to note that the predicted rain was far away.

“A good omen,” I mumbled as I headed off to the shower. We haven’t had the best weather pattern of late and I’ve been secretly hoping for a dry day that will allow us to play our game.

Frankly, I think part of our defensive defiency of late has been due at least in part to the weather. It’s no secret that with these players, I want to get the ball down and play it, which is much harder to do when the weather is crummy.

There’s little doubt that we have the skill to carve teams open – a most pleasant development – but we aren’t yet refined enough to hold the other team off the scoreboard in a “shootout” environment. So conditions that favor us are certainly welcome.

I was comparatively lighthearted at breakfast this morning, which frankly unnerved Patty. She approached with my morning cup of coffee, and she gave me an odd expression as she kissed my forehead.

“You’re up to something,” she said. “What’s up?”

I looked at her and simply smiled. “Just a nice day, babe,” I said. “Takes away one of the things I have to worry about today.”

“What are the others?” she asked. “Cardiff hasn’t beaten anyone yet.”

“And if I go to the ground with that mindset they’ll pin my ears back,” I said, adding a double helping of creamer into my oversized cup. “We’re expected to win today, they’re last in the table and Chelsea is at home against Derby County today. We need to win.”

“So how come I’m not getting the look of death from you this morning?” she teased.

“Because I think we can do this today,” I answered. “Only one way to find out.”

# # #

The morning betting line had us listed as 1-6 favorites – which meant the players were feeling a bit of pressure when we all gathered at the training facility for our morning meeting.

“Let it roll off you, fellows,” I advised, when we were all seated. “The stretch of games we’ve had lately has shown me, and shown the nation, that you can play. Today is a whole different atmosphere because your play has brought about new expectation. I just want you to stay calm, enjoy your football and do a job today. That’s all. If you do those things, we’ll be just fine.”

# # #

The thing that struck me the most before kickoff was a lack of energy. Not on our part, mind you, but from our opponents.

Having lined up in a few players’ tunnels in my career, I know the feeling. It’s an unspoken thought, a kind of electricity that helps prepare you to play and helps hone your emotions to a fine edge before the match begins. As a manager, it’s a feeling of butterflies that heightens the senses.

Today, though, I didn’t feel it, and it worried me. I could sense the visitors were flat and it affected my own mood. Even Waters’ music selection – the classic Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin – didn’t have any noticeable effect.

Thank goodness the fans were ready. They snapped me out of it with a mighty yell just before kickoff. They seem to like being in the top three and they reminded me as the match started that it was my job to keep us there.

Cardiff showed us a measure of respect by playing one striker in Roland Juhasz and dropping Stephen MacLean off him. That meant Cardiff could put ten men behind the ball and they wasted no time in doing so. The fact that Juhasz is a natural central defender and second choice striker also raised a few eyebrows on our bench, but showed that Dave Jones wanted his hulking 6’4” Hungarian international to get forward and make something happen.

Patience therefore became the watchword of the day, and on a day when it just seemed odd to have to rely on such an emotion, I could tell quickly that this would be a tactical battle, a war of nerves. And suddenly, I understood Cardiff’s approach.

Jones had set his stall out to defend, to be patient, and to be mentally stronger than we were. It was a wise decision on his part. He was playing to his strengths, especially away from home.

So we started to hammer away at them – at both their defense and their confidence. Pazienza started brightly in the center of midfield and was soon making his physical presence felt in the form of crunching tackles on Joe Ledley and Ovidiu Herea within the first twenty minutes.

Soon, we had command of the midfield and when we gained it, I figured it was only a matter of time before we’d score. Dagoberto loomed menacingly at the edge of the box and without saying so, he was really looking for the ball.

As hot as he’s been, we’d have been idiots not to try to get it to him, and on 21 minutes we finally did, with Kalou’s cross finding the Brazilian in space at the edge of the box. He took two steps in as no one in Cardiff’s colors came to close him down, and shot.

Keeper Andrei Vatca had no chance, diving desperately to his right. However, Dagoberto missed the post by an eyelash, throwing his head back in frustration after missing on a clean look at goal. He applauded Kalou and headed back up the pitch.

“Give him that shot again and he won’t miss,” I said to Dillon on one of my laps of the technical area.

“He’d better not,” Dillon replied. “I’d like to keep my hair the same color, thanks very much.”

I smiled and turned back to the touchline. My dark blonde hair hopefully won’t be going gray anytime soon. But you never know.

# # #

[tenthreeleader]

Now we were looking brighter. Dagoberto’s miss had at least showed that we could carve them open and after that miss they started to pack the middle.

I motioned to Kalou that I wanted the ball wide. Taking what the Cardiff tactic gave us, we soon established regular possession in their half of the pitch. How we’d ram the ball home became the next subject for discussion, but while I was trying to figure out a tactical adjustment, Dagoberto reminded me that sometimes the best tactic is to simply shoot the ball.

The pass from Pazienza found him at the top of the 18 to Vatca’s right, and his low shot was perfectly placed to the opposite post. Just like that, Cardiff had been breached on 25 minutes, and my striker’s hot streak had continued.

The Mad Stad exploded with noise as Dagoberto celebrated his seventh goal of the season, and I had the early lead I wanted. If my observations had been correct, the Bluebirds would now begin to sputter.

Dagoberto tossed a wave toward the bench as he headed back toward his position and his confidence sent a boost through the entire squad. From that moment we were much more positive in our outlook and approach, beginning to put real pressure on Vatca’s goal.

Kitson held the ball beautifully for Dagoberto and the two of them started to cause real problems right in the middle of the Cardiff defense – beating Jones at his own game. The big redhead came close a few minutes later, scooping a half-volley just over from fifteen yards after his strike partner decided to do him a favor and pass the ball back.

The two of them were working really well together and solidifying the “big-little” partnership in my mind. This was how the tactic was supposed to work – generating chances for both men. However, our application was lacking a bit and we went to the changing room still one to the good – but it could have been more.

Still, though, considering the expectations entering the match I was pleased. We were generating chances and keeping them away from goal – not that this was hard considering they had ten men behind the ball for the entire first half.

“Remember your responsibilities and don’t let them off the hook,” I urged. “You’ve got them down and they’ve had trouble scoring goals. Keep it that way and take three points you deserve.”

Dillon went over a reminder on defensive tactics – they only had one shot on target in the first half anyway so it was difficult to criticize anything we were doing – and we headed out for the second half.

Jones went to two strikers for the start of the half and Cardiff showed some signs of life when the ball was at their feet. However, once they started beating their heads against our back line for a few minutes without result, they started to get frustrated.

And chippy, which I didn’t appreciate. After one card in the first half, they started to pile up in the second, with rash challenge after rash challenge keeping referee Chris Foy busy with a seemingly endless parade of entries into his book.

First it was Kevin McNaughton in the first half. Then it was Robbie Neilson for a hard but late challenge on Kitson. Then it was Roger Johnson grabbing a handful of Kalou’s shirt.

But they weren’t done. Ovidiu Herea went off on 59 minutes with a leg strain and his replacement, Darcy Blake, immediately got booked for a shove on Stephen Hunt as he went by with the ball. Then it was Manchester United expatriate Chris Eagles, lucky not to be sent off after a studs-up challenge on Pazienza that had my Italian midfielder chesting up to the Cardiff player and risking a card himself.

Fellow second half substitute Matt Green also was booked for a rash challenge against Pazienza five minutes from time that both crocked my midfielder and made me consider taking him off so he wouldn’t strike back.

I looked at Harper, the score still 1-0, and he nodded.

“You know what I need you to do,” I said, as he quickly warmed up. I took off Pazienza, who glowered at the Cardiff bench as he took his seat. Harper entered the game and proceeded to do one thing I didn’t need him to do – but ended up welcoming nonetheless.

I wanted his physical presence in midfield and I needed a cooler head out there after the two hard fouls against Pazienza. He gave me something extra.

He won the ball on a strong challenge against Eagles, quieting down the Cardiff player a bit, and then took off toward the visitors’ goal. As the match ticked over into added time, I was waiting for him to take the ball to the corner.

He did nothing of the sort. He simply kept running, and we all kept waiting for a Cardiff player to challenge him. The challenge never came.

Harper strode forward with purpose, absolutely unmolested, and unleashed a shot from the top of the 18 that Vatca could only watch fly into his top right corner for a clinching goal. It was Harper’s first goal of the season, and his reaction was just great to watch.

Sprinting off to the corner flag, he was mobbed by his teammates and the crowd stood as one to applaud a favorite. The match secure beyond doubt, Harper then waved to the crowd and pointed to his bench, where his manager stood applauding.

I gave him two thumbs up and we prepared to kick off. Then, things got a bit ugly as 80th minute substitute Tony Capaldi got Cardiff’s seventh and final card of the day – against seven different players – for a highly cynical challenge on Harper as he took the ball into space.

I headed toward the fourth offical Uriah Rennie. “Uriah, how many pokes do these guys get?” I asked, to the ire of the Bluebirds staff. “We’ve got high challenges, studs up – can we get an example made here?”

A voice I couldn’t catch from the bench area advised me to mind my own business, and I looked into their dugout to see who might have opened his mouth.

That drew Jones out from his bench, and he stepped between me and the Cardiff staff. “Eyes on your own paper, Rob,” he said, and I frowned. The crowd behind the dugouts was getting into the moment as I decided whether I really wanted an altercation with the opposing manager.

“Tell that to the loudmouth on your bench, Dave,” I retorted, and resumed my discussion with Rennie. Their frustration was boiling over, and mercifully the final whistle went to stop the proceedings.

I looked at Jones and he at me. Finally, sportsmanship won the day and we shook hands.

“Good luck, Rob,” he offered.

“Thanks, Dave. Keep your chin up.” I don’t know if either of us meant it.

With that, we headed to the dressing rooms.

Reading 2 (Dagoberto 7th, 29; Harper 1st, 90)

Cardiff City 0

A – 23,974, Madejski Stadium, Reading

Man of the Match- Dagoberto, Reading (4)

# # #

“No, I don’t know who said it. What I did hear was someone from their bench telling me to mind my own business after my midfielder almost got his ankles broken. I don’t react well to that sort of thing.”

“Did you patch things up with Dave Jones? What was said between you?” My post-match media briefing was in danger of sliding off in the wrong direction.

“We shook hands and wished each other luck,” I said. “I’ve got nothing against Dave Jones and I hope he’s got nothing against me. All I know is that his players picked up seven cards today and that should be a cause for concern since most of them were due to bad challenges.”

“Any injuries for you?”

“None to me, but my players have some bruises,” I snapped. “That’s unfortunate. But, it is part of football when a side tries to slow us down like that. When we move our feet and move well off the ball we can be a very hard team to stop, as our goals scored record indicates. Long may it continue.”

Jones, for his part, was more sanguine. Knowing his team faces an automatic fine from the FA for failure to control players, he chose to take a relatively high road. “These are proud players,” he said. “They want to win and they’re working as hard as they can to get this turned around. So when they see some of the things they saw on this pitch today, they get frustrated.”

“Such as?” he was asked.

“I saw an attitude among the Reading players that was a little too confident at times,” he said. “Nobody likes to have to take the mickey, especially at this level. I don’t condone violent play and Rob knows that, but at the same time my players aren’t going to let anyone walk all over them.”

# # #

There was a full slate of matches around the league today. Chelsea not only stayed second, they expanded their goal difference advantage over us by walking all over Derby at Stamford Bridge. Didier Drogba, Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard all found the range in a 3-0 stroll.

Arsenal stayed top, with a 2-0 win at the Hawthorns against West Brom. Carlos Vela and the ever-present Emanuel Adebayor were on target for the Gunners, who have rebounded quite nicely from our match.

Liverpool got goals from Steven Gerrard and Mohamed Sissoko to defeat Portsmouth at Anfield and Manchester United made it a four-for-four Big Four day with a 2-0 win at Birmingham. Wayne Rooney and Dong Fangzhuo were the scorers, but Rooney left late in the match with a mild concussion that might hold him out for the next match.

Spurs are hanging in there, getting goals from Jermaine Jenas and Nic Anelka to sink Bolton 2-0 at White Hart Lane. The Trotters are still fourth behind us, though, while Martin Jol’s side seems to have stopped the bleeding a bit by getting back into sixth place.

Dean Ashton was the man of the moment for West Ham, continuing his torrid scoring pace by picking up both goals in the Hammers’ 2-1 win at home to Everton. Andy van der Meyde got the goal for David Moyes’ men.

And Middlesbrough seemed to get sorted today, using Sanli Tuncay’s first-half goal to take the lead before hammering our next opponents, Blackburn, 4-0 behind late goals from David Bentley, Jeremie Aliádiere and Chris Riggott.

Just another day at the office.

# # #

[tenthreeleader]

Sunday, October 19

I’m glad I don’t have a media briefing today, because Jones’ words from his news conference didn’t reach me until after Patty and I had returned home.

I’m not pleased. I surely haven’t seen the ‘arrogance’ he claimed to see from my players – in fact, I frankly thought we were flat yesterday and not at our best. If we had been, we might have scored a few more.

I’ve gone from an unknown quantity to a manager who evidently teaches arrogance in the course of a few short weeks. I don’t really care for either distinction, quite frankly.

I got a message to call Weatherby, one of the very few people who I allow to try to contact me after hours, this afternoon. Nobody outside of the club has my mobile number that I haven’t expressly given permission to know it, so the call actually came from the club offices.

I called Jill at the Post’s offices, where she was working on her Monday column. “Jill, it’s Rob,” I said. “I hear you’re looking for me.”

“I am, and thank you for calling back,” she said. “Can you give me a reaction to Dave Jones’ comments of yesterday?”

“Not happy,” I said, for the record. “I don’t care for the insinuation, but I would like it known that I don’t believe he meant to disparage my players. If he did, I’ll let him be the one to say so. I thought we played well yesterday and deserved to win, but I just didn’t see the type of behavior he said he saw. If my players ever act that way, I’ve got a nice warm bench for them to sit on. We’re professionals and I expect my players to treat their opponents as professionals – all of the time.”

“Thank you,” she said. “Also, I want you to know I’ve received a letter from an acquaintance of yours, called Peter McGuire.”

My heart sank. What now?

“He says he and his wife are divorcing,” she said. “He’s blaming you for ruining their marriage. He said you’d been chasing after his wife. I’m not printing it, of course, because it’s gossip and completely unsubstantiated, but I felt you ought to know.”

My blood ran cold. “Thank you, Jill,” I said. “I do appreciate that.”

We hung up. I then called my attorney. He didn’t like being called on a Sunday, either, but then I pay him seven days a week.

# # #

[left][font=Courier New]| Pos   | Team          | Pld   | Won   | Drn   | Lst   | For   | Ag    | G.D.  | Pts   | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 1st   | Arsenal       | 11    | 9     | 0     | 2     | 22    | 9     | +13   | 27    | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 2nd   | Chelsea       | 11    | 7     | 4     | 0     | 19    | 3     | +16   | 25    | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
[b]| 3rd   | Reading       | 11    | 6     | 5     | 0     | 23    | 13    | +10   | 23    | [/b]
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 4th   | Aston Villa   | 11    | 6     | 3     | 2     | 18    | 11    | +7    | 21    | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 5th   | Bolton        | 11    | 7     | 0     | 4     | 17    | 11    | +6    | 21    | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 6th   | Man Utd       | 11    | 6     | 2     | 3     | 22    | 14    | +8    | 20    | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 7th   | Tottenham     | 11    | 6     | 2     | 3     | 21    | 14    | +7    | 20    | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 8th   | Liverpool     | 11    | 5     | 3     | 3     | 20    | 12    | +8    | 18    | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 9th   | West Ham      | 11    | 6     | 0     | 5     | 17    | 22    | -5    | 18    | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 10th  | Blackburn     | 11    | 5     | 0     | 6     | 12    | 18    | -6    | 15    | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 11th  | Portsmouth    | 11    | 3     | 5     | 3     | 20    | 18    | +2    | 14    | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 12th  | Everton       | 11    | 3     | 5     | 3     | 11    | 9     | +2    | 14    | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 13th  | Middlesbrough | 11    | 4     | 1     | 6     | 18    | 20    | -2    | 13    | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 14th  | Charlton      | 11    | 3     | 4     | 4     | 15    | 23    | -8    | 13    | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 15th  | Man City      | 11    | 3     | 3     | 5     | 12    | 15    | -3    | 12    | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 16th  | West Brom     | 11    | 3     | 2     | 6     | 15    | 21    | -6    | 11    | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 17th  | Newcastle     | 11    | 2     | 2     | 7     | 11    | 19    | -8    | 8     | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 18th  | Derby         | 11    | 2     | 1     | 8     | 9     | 19    | -10   | 7     | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 19th  | Birmingham    | 11    | 2     | 0     | 9     | 8     | 19    | -11   | 6     | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| 
| 20th  | Cardiff       | 11    | 0     | 2     | 9     | 4     | 24    | -20   | 2     | 
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| [/font][/left]

[nette000]

I didn't expect Mr. McGuire to take action so soon after Rob and Patty spotted him with his company. Oh well, I sit back and relax while watching events unfold...

[gaz_man]

Absolutely loving the story 10-3.

Incredible story telling, just to prove how addictive and immersive you've made the story and characters; I was sat at work today and my mind wandered into what was going to happen next lol

[salkster2102]

still unbeaten i see well done on that. my good lucks are working a treat . so good luck for the next match.

KUTGW

[tenthreeleader]

nette: thank you for following the story! Just remember that in the world of Peter McGuire, things are almost never as they appear...the divorce may not have been his idea. gaz_man, welcome to the Rat Pack! Thank you for devoting your first FMS post to this story. It is greatly appreciated. Salkster, considering my upcoming fixture list I'll gladly take whatever good wishes you've got. Unbeaten, yes, but still four points behind those darned Gunners!

___

Monday, October 20

Aston Villa is now our closest pursuer in the league, but that seems to be the least of my worries as we head back to training today.

We are preparing for a Saturday trip to Ewood Park to face Blackburn Rovers, a team that has been sharply up and down this season. I’m looking forward to the visit to Lancashire and frankly I’m hoping we catch them on a bad day – like Boro did on Saturday.

They’re like the “little girl with a curl” of the nursery rhyme. When they’re good, they’re very very good but when they’re bad they’re horrid.

They have perhaps the ultimate single-match goalkeeper in the Premiership in Brad Friedel, and that alone is enough to give me pause. I have an awesome amount of respect for my countryman – in fact, if he hadn’t retired from international football he’d get my vote to still wear the USA’s number one shirt. On his game, there are few better – even at his age.

Mark Hughes has done a wonderful job with a limited budget and he’s got our respect. Some summer reports indicated that he was keenly disappointed not to get more consideration for the Manchester United job, but to his credit he has stuck to his guns and really done a nice job for Rovers.

This morning’s session was video-based for the morning, as we watched Middlesbrough frolic over, around and through a Rovers defense that, for this match, looked rooted to the ground. They can be beaten for pace, so Dagoberto, Kalou and Lita are licking their collective chops at the thought.

However, we’re away this weekend so we have to temper that optimism a bit. I love the attacking bent of this team but really, I have to decide when to curb their enthusiasm. This could well be one of those times.

Rovers aren’t a scoring machine, but they do have players who can hurt us. It’s time to take a “goal outward” approach this week and capitalize on the clean sheet we earned last weekend.

# # #

Yesterday in the league, Gabriel Agbonlahor found the range for Villa in a 1-0 win over Manchester City at Eastlands that has moved Martin O’Neill to fourth in the table. Newcastle, once again, stumbled at home, this time in a goalless draw against Charlton that has the Toon still in 17th place.

These were things I noted as I sat in my office at lunch, waiting for a call from my attorney. I would rather have not had to deal with such a thing, but Weatherby’s words of yesterday have me concerned.

I detest McGuire, as anyone who knows me is well aware, but the reporter’s words to me of yesterday show the type of behavior that I need to have stopped before it starts.

I’ve not spoken with McGuire – like I’d want to – and haven’t breathed a word of what Patty and I saw outside the restaurant last week. If he really is on the way out with Kate, that sort of information could be really damaging to him, but I don’t want to get involved. I can’t get involved.

I also let Madejski know, quietly, that I was having a bit of difficulty. His reply was understanding, but firm: “Get it sorted,” he e-mailed me. “You’ll have my backing.”

# # #

Weatherby’s article this morning focused on Jones. Under the headline “Royal Pains?” she examined the Cardiff manager’s claims about my players, and my replies.

Her conclusion was that Jones wasn’t watching the same match the rest of us were, and questioned how a side that could receive seven cards in a match could complain about an opponent’s attitude.

In short, it was the kind of support in the press that I was sorely lacking last season – and it showed Weatherby’s thoughts about the club and its manager were positive. That was the best thing to happen to me today.

# # #

[tenthreeleader]

Tuesday, October 21

“Rob, I’m scared.”

The tone in Patty’s voice told me she wasn’t kidding. I have never been a fan of days like today and as a result, I spent a fair amount of time in simple reassurance of my wife. Not that I minded this.

It started at her desk at work. She took a call from Kate’s firm with information on a club function at which our attendance was requested.

“Why did this not go through our representative?” she asked.

“I was instructed by Mrs. McGuire to give it to you directly,” the caller responded.

“I’m sorry, but that’s not how it works,” she said. “It goes to the club’s PR staff and if you want me there, it goes to Freddie Eaton’s firm. You should know that.”

“She said directly,” the caller insisted. “I will fax you the information.”

And she did. Patty saw red as she took the information, choosing to send it to Eaton first and all. Second, she sent it to the club.

It’s a small thing – it’s another personal appearance at The Oracle on Friday night after I give my formal interview for the club website – but it’s the principle of the thing that angers both of us.

It’s irregular and to Patty, it’s disrespectful. We understand that Kate is going through a hard time at the moment but this isn’t the right way to deal with stress.

Yet the more she thought about it, the more counsel Patty gave to her fears.

“I don’t get it, Rob,” she said, as we sat to dinner. “What is it about us that makes them think they can do whatever they want?”

“Wish I knew,” I answered, serving my wife a garden salad from a bowl. “I can’t figure it, and frankly I don’t have time to figure it. I talked with the attorney again today and his goal is to get an order put out against them so they can’t contact us in a manner we don’t want.”

“There hasn’t been wrongdoing in this case,” she said, and I looked at her with some surprise.

“When did you get the law degree?” I smiled.

“I’ve done my time in court,” she said, a touch of bitterness in her voice. “And I’m a fatalist when it comes to those two.”

I nodded. It had all seemed so strange – Kate’s defense of Peter, followed by her contrition, her attempts to engage us in conversation and finally, her e-mails and behavior at lunch. It didn’t add up.

“Do you think she wants us on her side in a divorce case?” Patty finally asked, and suddenly things seemed a lot clearer.

“I’d bet on it,” I finally said. “I think she knows what’s happening and what he’s likely to say and do.”

“The last thing in the world I need right now is more court trouble and more bad publicity,” she said. “I have things at work starting to go in the direction I want them and I can’t have my name dragged through the mud.”

“Honey, we’ve got representation,” I said. “And as for reputation, I went through all that last year, remember? I know how it feels. I’m here for you, and nothing is ever going to change that.”

Then, the phone rang. It was Martin, capping a perfect day.

# # #

[weeeman27bob]

Brilliant... as always

[tenthreeleader]

Thank you, weeeman! Your support and readership is greatly appreciated

___

Wednesday, October 22

My head hurts.

Martin wanted to chew on me a bit now that his local papers have realized that Patty is developing a name for herself. So I sat up with my father-in-law and explained the situation to him. Again.

I had to sit up, because by the time he called, it was nearly midnight our time. Sometimes I think he does that deliberately.

Finally Patty put the matter to bed – along with her husband – by telling her father that she’s running things in her own life. I was quite pleased with this, but wished she would have said so about half an hour earlier.

So as I greeted the players for training, I was rubbing sleep out of my eyes that I can frankly use. I arrived to a note on my desk.

It was in the handwriting of my PA, Paula Ryan. “Sidney Richmond would like to see you after training,” the note said.

I sighed. Well, if it has to happen, it has to happen. I walked into the office area and sought out my assistant.

“Paula, please contact Mr. Richmond and tell him I’ll be happy to meet with him over lunch,” I said. “Tell him I’ll buy, if he’ll meet me in the 1871 Suite.”

She nodded. “Good luck, Rob,” she offered. “He sounded none too pleased when he left the message.”

I shrugged. “He has to get in line,” I said. I then went to run training.

# # #

Greeting the press today was a little less fun than usual.

The questions they had for me today concerned Kevin Doyle, healed from his injury and ready to face his old club for the first time as a Rovers player.

“I really haven’t thought about what he did here very much, though his accomplishments were considerable,” I said. “You have to remember that Kevin had already been sold by the time I arrived and he was here for a total of two days after I took over. So really, I didn’t work with him as I knew he was leaving the club and all I know about him is that he’s a quality player who did well for us.”

“Any extra incentive for your players, then?”

“Possibly,” I admitted. “But really, if they focus on one player then that’s a recipe to get us beat this weekend. I want my players concentrating on the total threat Blackburn offers and what we’re going to do to meet that threat. We’re playing away from home so that means we need total concentration if we’re going to go there and get a result. I can’t have them worrying about one player, even if it’s a former teammate.”

“Don’t you think that’s disrespectful to Doyle?” I was asked.

“You know what, I really don’t have a lot of time to worry about it,” I said. “I’ve already mentioned that he’s a good player. We got £7 million for him. So that ought to explain that. I won’t publicly show disrespect to another player so I really wish you would stop trying to make me.”

# # #

I then headed up to the 1871 Suite to meet with Richmond. My day went from bad to worse.

I walked in at three minutes after twelve. He was seated at a table and rose to greet me.

“Thank you for taking the time, Mr. Richmond, I offered, hand extended.

“You’re welcome. But you’re late,” he responded.

“My apologies. The media session ran long today. Now please, can we get to the heart of the matter here?”

A waiter came to take our lunch order and when he left, the director got to the point.

“I was displeased to hear you were fishing around for information regarding James Harper,” he began. I nodded, choosing to hear him out before I got too upset.

“There are things at a football club that need to remain confidential,” he said. “I do have the right to my opinion and in future I would greatly appreciate it if you would leave me to my own opinion.”

I took a sip from my water glass. “Mr. Richmond, I understand what you are saying,” I said diplomatically. “And I’m only too happy to allow that courtesy to you.”

“Good,” he answered.

“But please, Mr. Richmond, I’m not finished,” I answered. “Your opinion ends where you attribute that opinion to me. Now is where I need to say my piece and I would greatly appreciate it if you allow me that courtesy as well.”

His face grew red, but he nodded.

“Your comments about James Harper were attributed in the press to me and my beliefs about the player,” I said. “In the interests of having my own opinion, I do not appreciate having to issue a correction to a statement that I never made. I value James Harper as a member of the first team for this club and I certainly hope that you will allow me to run the football side of the operation as I have been hired to do.”

He looked down at the table for a moment.

“As a director, I have responsibilities that you don’t have,” he said. “I hear from more people than you do about the team and how it is playing. I hear from more individuals than you do in Berkshire and they are all saying the same thing. Harper’s past it – his form isn’t showing and that is why you aren’t playing him. I still believe the player has value and if he wants to go someplace where he can play the time is now to sell him.”

“Mr. Richmond, it’s October,” I said.

“I’m aware of that.”

“We couldn’t move the player until January and even if we did agree to sell him on now, he’d be useless to me for period of two months during which time I don’t have a ready backup player for him. Pazienza is here because of the injury to Jonny Magallón and I can’t have a member of my senior squad playing unsettled for two months. Can you understand my feeling on this?”

Our food arrived and our conversation was put on hold again until the waiter had left. He left us to our meal and we began to talk again.

“Mr. Richmond, let’s come to an understanding, shall we?” I asked, and the director looked at me evenly.

“On whose terms?” he replied.

“Hopefully, both of ours,” I answered. “I suggest to you that you not attribute things to me that I don’t say, and in return I promise not to step on your prerogatives as a director.” This was an important admission for me – I had done no such thing – but in the interests of keeping peace in the family, I felt it was neessary to make the offer.

“And what’s to stop you going to the chairman with this?” he asked.

“Nothing at all, Mr. Richmond,” I answered. “In fact, I’m bound to report any independent contact I have with the directors and I think you know it.”

He nodded. “Quite true, Mr. Ridgway,” he said. “I’ll be honest with you – I was not impressed with the way you handled the whole Gúti incident and I am determined that this shall never be repeated. Do I make myself clear?”

“You do,” I answered. “And at that point I would suggest you speak with the chairman instead of making a direct threat upon my position. Do I make myself clear?”

He rose, his lunch unfinished. “You do,” he said. “Good day.”

# # #

[Marchie]

Finally caught up. Seems like Rob has another enemy...

[salkster2102]

You can never have enough enemies...

Quality stuff as always 10-3 KUTGW

[tenthreeleader]

Marchie, nice to have you back! Just goes to show that even when you're doing well, a manager sometimes has to watch his back ... salkster, thanks for your praise as always. I'll say this about conflict ... it does tend to move the story along!

___

Thursday, October 23

I met with the chairman today and recounted yesterday's conversation with Richmond.

“You really ought to have sought me out sooner,” Madejski said. “This is the sort of thing I don’t need or want to have you handle.” He didn't seem cross with me but I was definitely chastened after he had finished speaking.

“I apologize,” I said. “I did think that it would be better if I handled this myself, at least at the beginning. I didn’t feel a need to bother you with it. You’re a busy man.”

“Relations with the board are my area of concern, not yours,” he reminded me. “Still, Rob, I can’t support you if I don’t know what’s going on. You need to take steps to make sure that the next time you’re approached, I know about it before you take matters into your own hands.”

Red-faced, I agreed. “Lesson learned,” I said.

“Rob, you have enough to worry about regarding Saturday. How are things with your wife?”

I shook my head. “She’s worried,” I said. “This whole thing with her former relationship is messy and it’s going to get worse. I don’t see it getting any better. We have a very bitter man trying to make things difficult for us.”

“Am I able to assist you in any way?” he asked. That was an approach that had obviously eluded me.

“Frankly, I hadn’t considered that,” I said.

“Rob, you are an employee of this club and that means I am bound to provide you with the best working environment I can,” he answered. “Seriously, did you believe I would let you go through the same hell you went through last year in Italy if I could prevent it? Results have been good and I want to keep them good, so if I can help you in any way, you really must tell me.”

I thought it through. “Well, there are a few things I wouldn’t mind seeing happen,” I said.

# # #

Blackburn has a three-headed strike monster and a part of our preparation has dealt with getting ready to face any or all of them.

Doyle cost the club money, so he’s going to get every chance to prove his transfer value. They also have Roque Santa Cruz and Benni McCarthy to partner him, and they bring different strengths to the table.

McCarthy offers more of a physical approach but Santa Cruz is a pure talent, a silky striker with a devastating ability to strike a ball. They’re at home, so my guess is that we’ll see Santa Cruz if they want to try to overpower our somewhat leaky defense. The trick for us will be to do the small things right – space well, avoid leaving open areas for attack, and absorb their pressure – along the way.

Today, though, we prepared for everyone we might face. As a result, it was an active day. I’ve challenged the defenders to get a second straight clean sheet for Lobont, and have put my money where my mouth is, so to speak.

I can’t offer them financial incentives, or bet, of course. What I can do is appeal to their sense of food. I told the defenders that if we keep a clean sheet on Saturday I’ll take them all to dinner on our next road trip -- even if they don’t play.

I want them thinking as a team and doing something small like this might help ease things along. They seem to get along well as a unit, but instilling excellence takes time – and it involves me doing the small things well too.

# # #

The Champions League is being played at midweek as well. On Tuesday, Arsenal went to Ibrox and handled Rangers 3-1 while Chelsea stumbled at Bordeaux, falling 2-1 in a match that anyone who saw it would say they had no business losing.

However, that’s football. Last night’s matches had two surprises and a real shocker.

Liverpool struggled mightily before finally subduing Zilina 1-0 at Anfield. And after three matches in their group, United is still looking for its first win, drawing 2-2 at Osasuna. At present, they are third in their group and will need a special effort to qualify with only two points from their first three matches.

However, the shock of the night came from Parkhead, where Celtic dismantled Bayern Munich 3-0 to put themselves in great position to qualify for the last sixteen. Gordon Strachan’s men put on a clinic and as a result they will go back to the Allianz Arena in Munich in Round 4 with all the pressure placed squarely on their hosts.

It was nice to watch a little football over the last couple of nights, to be honest. It’s better than playing politics.

# # #

[tenthreeleader]

Friday, October 24

We left this afternoon for Lancashire and an overnight stay prior to tomorrow’s match.

The papers are buzzing with reports of meetings between Madejski and the board. There is a leak somewhere in the organization and my guess this time is that it isn’t Richmond.

If there have been meetings involving the chairman – and the owner – of this club, leaking knowledge of those meetings is not really a wise thing to do if you happen to be on the wrong side of the guy who signs the checks.

So in that regard, it was a pretty good day to be out of town. On the way to Blackburn, I read about Everton’s long voyage in the UEFA Cup last night, to Greece for a 1-0 win over Panathinaikos. Their group is surprisingly difficult – it also includes the current leaders of Serie A in Atalanta, Turkish power Fenerbahce and Eredivisie contender PSV Eindhoven. Two pretty decent clubs are going to be on the outside looking in after another few weeks.

That’s of course none of my concern. Everton is where we’d like to be, even if the competition they’re in isn’t quite what we’re striving for. It’s Europe, and after coming close in the last two seasons the club’s goals are getting a little more ambitious. And sitting in third place in late October is starting to fuel those expectations.

We took a charter plane to the northwest this afternoon. Despite our lofty league position, we don’t have the highest-profile match in the northwest tomorrow, though – the first Northwest Derby of the season is tomorrow as Manchester United hosts Liverpool. That should be quite a tilt – both teams are off to comparatively disappointing starts and emotions will run very high.

We really don’t have a high-profile derby match and at least for my first season I can’t say I mind that. Our biggest rivals are all below us in league stature so I can concentrate on simply doing my job and learning the league without the added distraction of having to nail a rival to the wall twice a year.

The distraction with Dagoberto is enough. The national media are starting to heap the praise on my leading scorer, who now has seven goals and has found the net in three consecutive matches. He’s playing brilliantly, of course, but he won’t be playing next midweek.

We are hosting Villa in the League Cup next Wednesday and I’ve played a younger, basically second eleven throughout. If Martin O’Neill decides to start a strong squad, we might have trouble, but I’ve promised playing time to certain players in this competition and I won’t go back on my word.

The board said they wanted us to reach the fourth round – fine, we’ve done that. It’s time to reward the players who got us there. They need games and as long as they keep winning, they’ll get those games. It’s up to them.

But I digress. Dagoberto is attracting a lot of media attention and he’s in excellent spirits as a result. I’m doing nothing to discourage this – Mark Hughes himself today said that they have to stop him if they want a result – and my striker seems to feed off the attention.

Wenger said the same thing, and Dagoberto was brilliant in response. Dave Jones, although he didn’t say it in so many words, surely felt it and Dagoberto burned him anyway. So it seems as though the man thrives on respect. Which he’ll get plenty of from me as long as he’s banging in a goal a game.

We had a very brief kickabout today on the Ewood Park ground to get ready for tomorrow and loosen up legs from the trip. For me, it was then time to talk with the match broadcasters while my players did juggling tricks and horsed around on the pitch.

We’re a confident bunch. Some, especially those from Cardiff, might call us cocky. But I don’t see that and I won’t let my players express those kinds of emotions under pain of demotion to the bench or worse. We got here by working our rat tails off and I’m not about to give up what we’ve earned.

# # #

[tenthreeleader]

Saturday, October 25

Blackburn Rovers (5-0-6, 10th place) v Reading (6-5-0, 3rd place) – EPL Match Day #12

If you’re looking for the only English club outside the “Big Four” to have won the Premier League championship, there are plenty of people here who will remind you just who that club is.

Kevin Keegan’s side won all the marbles in 1994-95, so it’s not surprising that the players from that group are the stuff of local legend. In fact, Blackburn and Leeds are the only clubs not named Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea to have hoisted the trophy since 1987.

Such has been the Big Four’s dominance that the last club outside their ranks to even finish second was Newcastle – in 1996-97. So to have topped the charts as Rovers did is quite an extraordinary thing.

Speaking of extraordinary things, I got a special treat today that really appealed to my sense of history. That would be taking a look around Ewood Park, which is the longest-serving home to an English Premier League club.

Our coach rolled up the ironically named Bolton Road, dropping us off outside the visiting entrance. While the players changed into their kit I took a look around.

Blackburn has played here for 108 years, with the grand old ground opening in 1882 before hosting Rovers for the first time in 1890. Obviously, it’s been redone a few times since then, but the brickwork around the outside of the pitch appeals to me as one of the truly fun things about a great place to watch a match. There’s atmosphere in this place, as there is in all the great old cathedrals of the English game.

I took a quick look around the place, with the exception of the home dressing rooms under the Jack Walker Stand of course, and indulged myself for a few moments. I was accosted by a reporter as I simply looked around.

“You look like you’ve never seen a football stadium before,” he said, and I chose not to take offense at his tone.

“I like looking around,” I said. “I do this wherever we go. From my point of view, this is where I want to be and I want to experience everything I can about the Premiership including the visiting grounds.”

“While it lasts?” the reporter asked, and I frowned.

“What, you know something I don’t?” I asked, turning on my heel to leave.

# # #

I suppose it was the wrong time to mess with me. I’m still in a bit of a bad mood over McGuire, and the reporter’s tone didn’t help things. Frankly, it was pointless.

After warm-ups, the players sat to wait for my pre-match teamtalk. I saw from the preliminary team sheet that I had guessed right – Santa Cruz would partner Doyle up front for them – and made it stick in my comments.

“We’re prepared to face this team,” I said. “You are coming off a good defensive performance against Cardiff City and I expect another good defensive performance from you today. Success away from home starts at the goal and works its way forward. You know this – now don’t forget it. Santa Cruz and Doyle are quick and I want you to make sure that your old mate doesn’t get on the scoresheet today. Deny them service, use positioning to your advantage and let’s get this job done.”

The teams lined up, with Friedel standing next to Lobont in what I figured would be an excellent matchup of goalkeepers – and I shook hands with Mark Hughes at the back of the tunnel.

He trails us by eight points in the table and knew that he needed a win. Still, he was reasonable to me as the teams prepared to do their work.

“Good luck,” he offered. “We’ve got a job on to stop your Brazilian.”

Mind game? Perhaps. But I was equal to it. “Well, you’ve got three I need to worry about,” I said. “Hopefully we guessed right, huh?”

The lines of players began to move and we took the pitch for the start of the match. I headed to the visitors’ dugout and sat, for the time being, under the protective canopy until the match started.

Then I was out in a bit of a raw October wind. Blackburn is a fair bit inland from, say, Blackpool, and if I had had to manage at Bloomfield Road today I might well have stayed under glass.

What the English call winter is fast approaching, but for a Midwesterner like me it’s hardly worth noticing. Yet as the wind began to blow and the match kicked off, I soon realized that I am going to miss certain things about Italy quite a bit.

# # #

It was, as they say, a “man’s game”.

Rovers knew full well that since we’ve been scoring a ton of goals lately the best way to knock us off our stroke would be to play a tight, physical style. Kalou’s raw pace was worrisome in the early going and it was obvious that the Ivorian had his good legs with him. Rovers’ back line of Vasilis Torosidis, Javier Piniola, Julio Cesar Caceres and Aaron Mokoena was immediately under pressure – and not from Dagoberto.

Kalou shaved Friedel’s left post with a blistering shot thirteen minutes into the match and the keeper was forced into a smart save from Maloney, restored to the eleven, a few minutes later. Friedel parried the shot but left the rebound in front of him. Torosidis nearly ruptured himself clearing the ball into touch, looking for a moment like the River Darwen was his intended target.

That was the start I wanted to see, but the home team soon made it harder for us. They took a bit of a dangerous tack by bringing their fullbacks up to double our wing players. That took Kalou out but was a bit of overkill against Faé, who wasn’t having his best match against the pressure Blackburn was putting on him. It also gave Maloney space, and given how he’s played this year I thought it a calculated risk on Hughes’ part.

Now the home team started to come to life, through a player I have long respected. Morten Gamst Pedersen, who makes a habit of scoring the most annoyingly huge goals an opposing team can concede, nearly did it to us.

He skinned Faé with a wonderful little drop-shoulder move and cut sharply to the inside, testing Lobont with a rocket that fizzed just over the bar. I shook my head at Pedersen’s skill and turned to Dillon, who sat on the bench with his mouth agape. He had very nearly made something out of nothing and the crowd “oohed” its appreciation of another fine play.

“If this is the 85th minute,” I said, “he buries that.”

“Don’t doubt it,” my deputy replied, as he tried to figure a defensive adjustment.

However, the half soon degenerated into a tactical struggle. We were indeed playing from the goal outward but Kalou’s good work down the flank was negated by their combinations. Maloney was having a difficult battle against skipper Robbie Savage, which was as interesting to watch as it was frustrating.

The second half would be all about finding space. They were doing a nice job on us and I was frankly quite pleased with our own positioning on defense, which was giving Rovers equal difficulty in generating scoring chances.

We got to halftime scoreless and I headed to the board at the front of the room. “Time for a bit of a different tactic,” I said, to the interest of my squad. “You know I like to play down the flanks but they’ve taken that away from us. We need to be quicker in our execution, because when we hold up the ball they’re all over us. Let’s pick up the pace a little bit and don’t be afraid to look to the middle if the play is there.”

I looked at Lobont with a hard stare, and my keeper looked at me as surprised as if I had just kicked him in the goolies. “Now, it’s nothing like that,” I laughed. “But you can help us here. Longer distribution, to the wings, and we’ll hit them on the break. Get the ball to Kalou and to Faé and let them run with it. Don’t let them bottle us up in the midfield and take away our wings so easily. When the play is there, let’s get the ball wide where we like it – but on our terms and above all at our pace.”

I then looked at Dagoberto, who looked frustrated. “The service will come,” I told him. “Just mind your runs and don’t be afraid to get wide and support. As fast as you are, if you take the ball wide and get it into the 18, you might just get it back in a position to do something with it. We need better ideas, gentlemen. Let’s break them open.”

# # #

[tenthreeleader]

It hadn’t been an especially artistic first half, to be sure. Santa Cruz and Doyle had been covered like blankets by Sonko and Bikey and other than the chances I mentioned, no one looked like scoring in the first 45 minutes.

As we headed out for the second half, I saw on a monitor by our changing room that Charlton held a shock first half lead at home to Chelsea through Luke Varney. Our chance was there to leapfrog the Blues and find even more rarified air above us.

I shook my head – after all, we had led Chelsea too until the last ninety seconds of the match – and decided we’d be much better off simply tending to our own business.

The second half began and immediately Blackburn’s tactics changed too. They stopped doubling Faé’s side of the pitch and locked down hard on Kalou. He could only do so much, and when he had two and three defenders around him, what he could do wasn’t as much as he wanted.

His frustration was starting to show, but what I was seeing was an opportunity. Getting the ball into the space left by the “lockdown” on Kalou was of increasing importance.

An hour into the match we nearly made it work. Pogatetz took the ball deep in his own half, looked up, and saw Kalou covered like a blanket at the midfield stripe. So he went up the middle for Maloney, who took the ball at full flight into the Rovers’ half of the pitch. He then threaded an inch-perfect ball to the right to find Kitson on the move.

Usually Dave holds up the ball for Dagoberto but now that we had the ball in open space he was determined to do something with it. He bore down hard on the defense and was picked up by Pedersen who was running back for all he was worth.

Pedersen slid in and tipped the ball, steering it to safety, but caught his ankle as he did. The Rovers player rolled on the ground as the ball skipped out of play. He was in a bad way, and after a few minutes of treatment it was obvious he couldn’t continue.

David Dunn came on for Pedersen and it was the first substitution of the match, still without a winning goal anywhere in sight. The teams were locking each other down very well and I started to think about end-game substitutions as the match neared seventy minutes.

I turned to Dillon and he simply nodded. He knew I was strongly considering 4-3-3, and we both knew that it was probably against my better judgment. His nod was therefore not one of agreement but of deference.

Then, Pogatetz tried again. He tried for the mob of players hanging around Kalou, but was fortunate enough to find him for the briefest of moments down the left. Kalou flicked on – right into the diagonal run of Dagoberto, who had sprung free and into space.

Now it was a race. Torosidis raced frantically to cut down the angle but Dagoberto’s pace was too much for him. However, the chase had sent the Brazilian wide to Friedel’s right and the keeper came out to cut down the angle.

It didn’t matter. Dagoberto fired in one smooth motion and beat Friedel high, the ball rebounding down off the bottom of the crossbar and home on 71 minutes to put us into the lead.

It was a moment of brilliance in a match that needed it. Thankfully, the brilliance fell our way and almost as soon as the ball had flashed home, Hughes was making a substitution.

Onetime Ranger Kevin Thomson was on in place of Savage and I was busy planning my endgame when a very bad thing happened. Dagoberto went down in a clash of heads while pursuing a high ball from Pazienza and came up bleeding.

He headed to the touchline for repairs and Lita sprung up off the bench. Dagoberto headed back to the changing room for a couple of stitches and I knew we couldn’t afford to play with ten while waiting for his return. So while he was still back there, I brought on Lita to run wild at their backline.

Now needing a goal, Hughes brought on McCarthy in place of the tiring Santa Cruz and once he was out of substitutions I made a double move a few minutes later.

I liked the stability of the 4-4-2 and so my decision was made to combat the 4-2-4 I knew was coming. Harper came on again for Maloney and I brought on Rosenior for Faé, so Bikey could move to the right of midfield while Pogatetz slid to center half to allow Rosenior’s entry at fullback. I loved the defensive strength we now had in the midfield with three holders and Kalou daring Rovers to break through.

They couldn’t do it.

Blackburn Rovers 0

Reading 1 (Dagoberto 8th, 71)

A – 24,428, Ewood Park, Blackburn

Man of the Match – Dagoberto, Reading (5th)

# # #

“How’d Chelsea come out?” I asked, upon entry into the changing room.

“2-2,” Dillon said. “Varney got both for Charlton but they had to come from 2-1 down to get a point.”

“Well, we’re still third,” I said. “No matter. We picked up points.”

“And we’re only one behind Arsenal now,” he reminded me. “Match in hand, of course.”

“Of course. Still, we’ve got reason to be pleased.”

# # #

“I am quite pleased, thanks for asking.”

Varney’s second goal, seven minutes from time, had pulled back Chelsea’s lead gained by second half goals from Florent Malouda and Giuseppi Rossi. United and ten-man Liverpool had played to a goalless draw, which obviously helped us relative to both high-profile competitors. United completely dominated their visitors but couldn’t find a route to goal, which I’m sure has Coppell in a bad mood this evening. Three of the Big Four lost points relative to us and the fourth one plays tomorrow. That’s not a bad week.

“You really ground out this win today,” Weatherby observed.

“We did,” I answered. “Rovers played a tough and clean style today and made us earn every chance we got. I’d like to think we did the same for them. There really wasn’t much between the clubs today if you look at the statistics but we have the man in form in Dagoberto and that was the difference.”

“Mark Hughes said he had a plan to get Dagoberto stopped but he beat you anyway. He wasn’t too pleased.”

“I shouldn’t wonder,” I said. “The thing about Dagoberto is that it only takes one step for him to do something special. When he’s in form like this I don’t know how he’s stoppable and frankly I’m not about to make any suggestions.” That drew a chuckle from the gallery.

“Is he player of the month?”

“For me he is,” I said. “He’ll have scored in all our Premiership games this month and we’ve won them all, so I can’t complain. He’s been terrific, Lobont has been terrific in goal for us, and things are starting to roll our way.”

# # #

We flew home one happy bunch. We were almost as happy as Cardiff, which not only scored today – but actually won.

The Bluebirds got goals from Roland Juhasz and Roger Johnson to offset Chris Brunt’s penalty four minutes from time to beat West Brom 2-1. They may have real trouble staying up, but now that they’ve broken their scoring duck in the league, maybe they’ll be more competitive. Good for them. They rebounded from their loss to us in the best way they could.

My time tomorrow will be split between Patty and the Derby/Middlesbrough match. Those clubs are our two next opponents and I’ll want to watch closely.

I know which option will be more fun for me, though.

# # #

[SCIAG]

Is Kevin Dunn any relation to David?

[tenthreeleader]

Brothers under the skin.

___

Sunday, October 26

Okay, so the “split” wasn’t as fair as I hoped it would be, for reasons other than I had thought.

Patty spent her day on the phone, ironically enough. Unfortunately, it seems that the best way for our representatives to do business with us is on weekends, so as not to disturb Patty’s work.

It seems like such an odd fit – Patty wants to take advantage of her new-found success, I make more money than either of us need, and yet she goes to a work situation which doesn’t seem healthy for her. It is strange to me.

As a result, she spent the day holed up in her downstairs office while I watched Derby and Boro on television, while keeping an eye on Arsenal’s home match against West Ham.

The Gunners got on the board first through Eduardo in eleven minutes and soon showed they were in the mood to dominate play. Frantic defending by the Hammers kept Arsenal from extending its lead, but there was little doubt who was the better side.

Looking away from that, I saw ex-Rangers, Celtic and Wolves striker Kenny Miller get Derby a goal to the good moments later. Yet before halftime, that lead had been erased through strikes from Jeremie Aliádiere and Mido, as Boro took a 2-1 lead to half.

Meanwhile, Patty was still talking. At half, I got up from my chair and decided to see what was going on. She was talking with Freddie Eaton and I walked in at the wrong time.

“I’m not sure about Los Angeles,” she said. “I mean, I love Hollywood but I’m not sure I’d want to work there.”

I turned around, left the room, and shut the door.

# # #

[O\'Hara_fan]

One of those moments where you walk in, hear the conversation, realised your not wanted, leave within 5 seconds.

Intresting developments 10'3, looking good

[tenthreeleader]

O'Hara, it's safe to say Rob has received a "wake up call" ...

___

Monday, October 27

I didn’t sleep. Patty knew.

At 2:45 this morning, she finally broached the issue. “Rob, it’s not like I’m moving there,” she said, rolling over in bed to lean her head on my chest.

“Darned right it’s not,” I snapped, in a rare display of temper. “Mind telling your husband what offer he made you?”

“Photo shoots, magazine shoots, you name it,” she said. “It’s starting to get a bit overwhelming.”

I sighed heavily and leaned back into the overstuffed pillows on our king-sized bed. She lay silently at my side, and waited a minute before replying.

“Rob, if you’re worried that I’d leave for my career…”

“No, I’m not worried about that," I replied, calming down a bit. You know I support your career and I want you to get what you want. I’d just like some resolution. Surely there’s enough work for you in London, if you really want to make a go of this?”

“I think so,” she said. “But Hollywood is where the offers are coming from.”

I nodded, unknown to her in the dark, and thought things through.

“Do you have any idea how this is going to look?” I asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Kate and Mini-me are going through a divorce, during which time he will presumably try to show that I was involved in their breakup, which you know I wasn’t. You then jet off to Hollywood. Now if media doesn’t find out about the divorce, or doesn’t put two and two together regarding my past relationship with Kate – or worse yet, yours with Peter – can you imagine what might happen?”

“Oh, no,” she whispered. “I hadn’t thought about that.”

“Freddie Eaton should have advised you on that,” I said. “I’m surprised that he didn’t.”

# # #

She called Eaton this morning before leaving for work and set things straight – no Hollywood, at least for the time being. Not until we’re both ready for it.

I got a few hours of nervous sleep after our conversation and woke to the morning papers as we prepare for two matches this week. At midweek we host Villa in a League Cup fourth round match. Considering how our match at Villa Park went, I’m hoping for a good match even out of my second eleven.

Then on Saturday we prepare to host Middlesbrough. As well as the first choice squad is playing at the moment, we should be favored. Hopefully, we’ll have some mid-week momentum as well.

The morning papers highlighted Arsenal’s win over West Ham yesterday that took their lead over Chelsea and ourselves back to four points. However, even that took second place to a bust-up on Manchester City’s training ground late last week between goalkeepers Joe Hart and Andreas Isaakson. Hart has had the lion’s share of the playing time at Eastlands so far, and Isaakson doesn’t care for that. So they had words on the training ground and before long Sven-Göran Eriksson’s Scandinavian calm was tested to the limit. It’ll be interesting to see how that plays out.

Elsewhere, Villa moved to fourth place in the biggest match of their season – a 1-1 home draw with Birmingham in the first Second City derby of the season. John Carew scored nine minutes from time to give Martin O’Neill the lead, but it was squandered five minutes later when Enzo Maresca put through his own goal.

Bolton and Newcastle left it very late at the Reebok. Both teams scored in injury time, with Demy DeZeeuw’s goal one minute after the ninety being cancelled out by Juan Pablo Garcia’s strike with the last kick of the match in a 1-1 draw.

Raúl’s loan spell at Everton hasn’t been what David Moyes had hoped. That’s doubly true when the player can’t stay on the pitch for ninety minutes. Chris Foy sent him off after 22 minutes against City yesterday for a two-footed tackle and now he’ll get a match on the sidelines to think about it. Despite a man advantage for 68 minutes, City couldn’t score and the match ended goalless.

Spurs didn’t have that problem and I’m sure they wish they had. After Aaron Lennon opened the scoring at Fratton Park on 22 minutes for the visitors, Spurs succumbed to a blitz from Silvain Distin (scoring for the right team this time), Matthew Taylor’s penalty, Jermain Defoe and Landon Donovan as Roland Nilsson’s team won at a canter.

It felt nice to be concentrating on football again, frankly. The night hadn’t been so kind to me.

# # #

We spent the morning watching the video of our first match against Villa. When we were done, the players knew full well the parts of our first performance I didn’t want to see repeated.

I’m going to make lots of changes. It’s quite possible I may change out the entire eleven so the rest can prepare for Boro this weekend. Murty is going to get a game at right back, with Cathcart up from the reserves again and Ingimarsson penciled in as his partner. Federici will play goal and Harper is going to get a badly-needed, and well-deserved, ninety minutes in the holding position.

Dillon is handling most of the work for the mid-week match while I prepare for Boro. He deserves the opportunity and he’s anxious to show that he knows what he’s doing. I guess he’s looking at it as a sort of audition for the big time, and he knows also that I won’t knock his preparation if we lose.

He could have caused a lot of trouble for me when I was hired, but chose not to. I appreciate that and I intend to repay that kindness, especially if we win on Wednesday.

Long and Lita will be the strike partnership, with my Irish striker itching to get back onto the pitch. Lita has been very effective when brought on as a substitute – sort of our Ole Gunnar Solksjær, if you will – but he wants to show he can perform well for ninety minutes too.

Then there’s my midfield. Oster and Halls were starting to get noisy about wanting playing time this morning. So I took both players aside after the video session and told them the good news.

However, I tempered that news with a warning. “I can promise you one thing, fellows: being belligerent about playing time will cut no ice with me. You’ve got a role in this squad and I expect you to play it. Now, if you are able to change my mind through your play on Wednesday I’ll be more than happy to re-evaluate that role, but I don’t like some of the things I’m hearing. Work hard for your place. That is not a request. It is a requirement. Got it?”

I received two nods of understanding, and I released them back to their day.

# # #

[mark wilson27]

Top quality stuff 10/3, keep it up mate

[Marchie]

Fantastic! Keep it up!

[tenthreeleader]

Mark, Marchie ... thank you, gentlemen!

Tuesday, October 28

Dillon gave me the team sheet he wants to use tomorrow night. I have no objections.

It’s going to be a second eleven for sure, which means we’ll be up against it if O’Neill starts a first-choice squad. I’d be surprised if he did – Villa is at Liverpool on Saturday and my guess is he’ll want all hands on deck for that.

Naturally, though, that’s not my decision to make. So we’ll await events.

# # #

Our match is going to be televised tomorrow night. So the nation will get a chance to see how my squad players look. That might not be such a good thing.

However, on paper it’s a matchup between third and fourth places in the Premiership so I guess there’s a bit of added attractiveness to the tie. I have every confidence in my players putting on a good show, but they may have some added incentive if they know the bright lights are on them.

Oster is one. He’s pushing hard for a first-team place as I’ve mentioned, and when he learned the match would be televised he made no effort to hide his satisfaction. Maloney’s ongoing brilliance in the raider position has sharply limited Oster’s playing time, and now that he has a stage on which to perform he’s determined to make his impression.

Maloney, for his part, is nonplussed. I know what his skills mean to this club and I took him aside after training today to remind him.

“I know, gaf,” he answered. “I’m not worried about it.”

I returned to my office to find a present for me on my desk. It was a jeroboam of champagne with a card attached to it.

“With apologies for causing discord,” the note read. It was signed Freddie Eaton.

# # #

[tenthreeleader]

Wednesday, October 29

Reading v. Aston Villa, Fourth Round, League Cup

One of the delightful complications of last season for me was cobbling together starting elevens during the middle of a wonderful cup run.

Padova’s overall excellence in claiming the Serie C Cup meant an extra dozen matches for my small squad last season. I would love to have the same difficulties here, with a much larger and much more talented squad of players who need matches.

Unfortunately for me, Martin O’Neill’s philosophy was a bit different. I looked at his preliminary team sheet during the warm-ups and saw that he was putting out a very strong side.

Agbonlahor, Carew, Young, Maresca -- they were all there. I chose to stay positive in the pre-match team talk.

“You’re Premiership players just like they are,” I said. “You’re at home and you tell me you want the chance to shine. Now go do it, and take their scalps tonight. I think you can do it. Show me I’m right.”

I then stepped outside to let Dillon finish the tactical portion of the talk. I met O’Neill outside the rooms and again, we shared a handshake as the players filed out to line up.

“We aren’t underestimating you this time, Rob,” he laughed.

“I should say not,” I said, motioning to his players. “We plan to give you a game.”

“I’m sure you do,” he said, as the players moved onto the pitch. “Good luck.”

# # #

It didn’t take me long to realize we had a serious flaw in our tactics.

The 4-1-3-2 I’ve been playing has been a terrific formation – provided the players utilizing the tactic have enough match experience using it.

My second eleven, playing against a first unit with an evolved approach, was swamped. Despite Harper’s heroic efforts in the holding position, he was still busier than a one-armed paper hanger with the flying hives.

Agbonlahor went close, followed by Young, followed by Fabio Grosso. In the first five minutes. Federici made a superb save on a second chance by Agbonlahor nine minutes into the match, somehow hacking his drive off the line while falling backwards for Cathcart to drive into touch.

The back line wasn’t playing badly. We were just getting carved open. Too much space, too much freedom for the wings to provide service – it added up quickly in more ways than one.

I counted ten attempts at goal in the first twenty minutes before I had finally seen enough, signaling for a switch to a flat 4-4-2 so we wouldn’t get overwhelmed. So far, I was underwhelmed – by the performance of my players who said they wanted their fair shake.

Feeling a little more secure in 4-4-2, I then watched Agbonlahor skip around Murty on the right, give a shoulder dip to Ingimarsson, and ram a shot past Federici two minutes after the formation change to give Villa a richly deserved 1-0 lead.

I turned to the bench where Dillon sat with a sheepish expression on his face.

“Well, that’s much better,” I said sarcastically.

However, after the shock of the slow start had hit the players, we did start to play a bit better. The formation change did help. We were much more stable, and Harper and Oster started to play as a better tandem in the center of the park.

Right on the half hour, we made our first real foray ahead and wound up getting a free kick just outside the box from referee Uriah Rennie. Oster grabbed the ball and put it down, signaling his intentions to all. He then lived up to his intention, beating Thomas Sorenson with a perfectly placed free kick over the keeper’s left arm to get us level.

We hardly deserved it – but we would certainly take it. Oster celebrated his equalizer but had the good sense to pick up the ball and carry it back to the center circle. We wouldn’t want to be accused of arrogance.

From a stability standpoint, we were a lot better especially after the equalizer. We carved out one more good chance with Hunt missing an overhead kick from about ten yards out just before halftime, and on the whole I was certainly satisfied with 1-1 at half considering how we had started the match.

I took the responsibility for the poor start during the team talk. “Tactically, I think we’re sorted now,” I said. “I’m much happier with your play in 4-4-2 and my expectation is that you’ll pick up your responsibilities – especially on the defensive side of the ball – in this fashion.”

I then sat, choosing to watch Dillon’s tactical work at halftime. He knew I was watching him and even though I had fallen on my sword with regard to the opening formation this was his team selection out there and he knew it.

His plea was therefore impassioned – close down the midfield and watch the spacing between the midfield and defense – but still it was a plea given mindful of the score. He could have torn them apart as much as Villa had done in the first twenty minutes. But knowing there was still a match to be won, he chose not to. I thought it a wise choice.

# # #

[tenthreeleader]

The second half was much more balanced than the first half had been. 4-4-2 was definitely the answer against Villa, and I made notes to that effect for the Premiership rematch we’ll have on this ground later in the season.

Slowly, we clawed our way to parity with them – not on the stat sheet, mind you, as that idea was blown when we were in the 4-1-3-2 – but in overall play. Our chances started to get better and Long barely missed putting us into the lead on 63 minutes as he flashed a header past Sorenson’s left post.

The longer the match stayed in a draw, the better I liked it in case of extra time. Unlike our opponents, our bench was very strong. Kitson, Kalou, Pazienza and Bikey waited if they were needed either for an extra half hour of play or for penalties.

The minutes dragged by and extra time loomed large. Ten minutes from time I nodded to Kitson and Kalou. A half hour of their time wouldn’t wreck them for Saturday and I thought some fresh pace up front might enable us to steal a late win.

They warmed up just in time to see our best counter-attack of the match. Cathcart, of all people, started it, hitting Halls in full flight down the right. Having had a quiet game so far, Halls was determined to make his mark. He moved ahead, found his path blocked, and chipped the ball ahead to Murty on a very nicely executed overlap.

The skipper found the byline and hauled the ball back to the middle where Lita was waiting. His shot was low, hard – and directly into Sorensen’s chest.

Leroy threw up his hands in frustration as the keeper quickly started play back up the pitch. I turned to Kitson and Kalou with quick instructions for their entry into the match and looked up to a howl of disappointment from the crowd.

Enzo Maresca had slipped between Harper and Cathcart, and placed a perfectly taken volley beyond Federici to give Villa a 2-1 lead on 86 minutes. Their bench went wild, and my Australian keeper sat on his haunches on his goal line, muttering in disgust.

Now I had no option. I brought on both Kitson and Kalou, taking off Lita and Hunt while moving to 4-3-3 with three pure strikers.

Four minutes from time, we had to hurry, and piled men forward into the box in search of a late equalizer. Villa stayed compact, though, and our first blast was parried with some ease by their defense as Sorenson collected easily from Rosenior’s cross.

The defender was caught up the pitch and Sorensen’s quick outlet down the right side caught him out. Sprinting for all he was worth while Harper did his best to slow the play, Liam finally caught up with the Villa counter at the edge of our own penalty area.

He clattered into Villa’s Fabio Grosso as he did, and Uriah Rennie wasted no time pointing to the spot. Disaster.

Howls of disappointment rose from the crowd as the decision went against us and Shane Long started to protest. He was as close to the play as the official had been and my screaming for the striker to stay away from the official went unheeded. Rennie put him into the book for dissent and all the while, the clock was ticking.

It hardly mattered, though. Grosso sent Federici the wrong way from the spot and moments later, it was all over.

Reading 1 (Oster 1st, 25)

Aston Villa 3 (Agbonlahor 8th, 22; Maresca 2nd, 86; Grosso 2nd, pen 90)

A – 10,116, Madejski Stadium, Reading

Man of the Match – Fabio Grosso, Aston Villa

# # #

“You do realize this is Reading’s first loss under your management.”

This was Weatherby and she was trying to be nice. I wasn’t in a very good mood after the match – we had come very close with a second eleven only to fall short.

“I do, yes, and thank you for noticing,” I said. “I’m not upset with the effort from the players. I’m frustrated that they came so close and had to settle for second tonight. That’s no reflection on these players, though. They played their hearts out and I’m proud of their effort against a strong side.”

“Why didn’t you play a stronger eleven?” she asked.

“We have a match coming up on Saturday that will be pretty important by most peoples’ measurements,” I explained. “We have used the League Cup as a way to make sure our players are all ready when called upon. But now we no longer have that option, and that is to our detriment.”

“What about the penalty? What did you see?”

“I don’t have any objection,” I said. “The foul was from behind and the referee was actually between me and the foul so I didn’t get a good view. I have to trust Uriah on this one. I know Shane Long feels differently but he called what he called and I can’t change that. Eventually we may start getting some of those calls but right now all we can do is hold up our hands. It wasn’t the winning goal and as such I have to let it ride. Not that I like losing 3-1 any better than I like losing 2-1. Let’s get that clear.”

# # #

[tenthreeleader]

Thursday, October 30

The obvious headline of "Royal Pain" greeted me as I turned to the back page of this morning’s Post. I couldn’t argue with it. We hadn’t played well enough to win but the scoreline of the match really was a bit of rough justice on us.

Once the tactics were sorted we were just fine. They nailed us twice late on in the match and they’re through to the fifth round as a result.

It also means that I reached the absolute minimum expectation of my board for this competition. They said I needed to reach the fourth round and I did. However, in my short career I haven’t grown used to simply meeting expectations. I want to exceed them wherever possible so today was a bit of a lesson in humility.

Maybe Dave Jones had a point. I did expect us to win last night and we were fairly beaten by a better side. Yes, we were missing most of my first-choice players, but my expectation that our squad players could pull on the shirt and win was not met. The trick for me is to help those players recover from the setback even as we get ready for a league matchup in 72 hours.

The first team, in mid-week preparation, was not affected by last night’s loss. But those who played the ninety minutes weren’t in a very good frame of mind when they reported to training this morning. It was my job to get their chins off the floor and as a result I kept things light today.

“We’ll do video of this match the next time we play them in the league,” I said by way of greeting when everyone had reported to the practice pitch. “No sense dwelling on it now. We’re out and that’s that. But we do get another shot at these guys and we need to make it count. And we will – at the right time.”

Federici was especially low. He knows full well that Lobont is first choice for the league, so he was hoping for a long cup run to stay sharp for what he hopes will be a shot at the Socceroos.

He felt he let his team down, and to a lesser extent himself. From my point of view it’s important that his areas of disappointment stay in that order. He’s a good young man, though, and after a brief conversation his head was screwed on a little straighter. There wasn’t really much he could do about any of those goals, and the last one coming from the penalty spot was as rough on him in terms of justice as it was on our team.

Yet we move on. That is what professionals do, and as the morning wore on we started to warm to the next task at hand – as a team.

# # #

[tenthreeleader]

Friday, October 31

I got a surprise today and Waters was the man who let me in on it.

The media man entered my office just as I had finished giving my interview for the club website and told the staff in the room that they needed to keep the camera set up.

“Good news,” he said. “Rob’s been named Manager of the Month for October and we need to do something before tomorrow’s match. Lobont copped Player of the Month too, so we’re going to do a little trophy ceremony prior to the match.”

I reacted with surprise. I was happy for Lobont but surprised for myself. We only played three league matches in October – winning them all, yes, but only three matches nonetheless.

“Any ceremony needs to be well prior to the match,” I said. “Nothing interferes with our preparation for this match and that’s my final word.”

Waters’s reaction was what I would have expected. On matchday, I am the boss and I expect anyone and everyone wearing blue and white to understand and respect that. It’s my job that’s on the line if we blow it, and even when we’re patting ourselves on the back it is my responsibility that it not interfere with the job at hand.

That said, Bodgan’s form has been superb, and I shudder to think of how many goals we might have conceded already this season without his brilliance. Yet as we talked, the camera wasn’t focused on Lobont, it was focused on me.

Waters took the chair opposite my desk and the interview began all over again.

# # #

My emphasis on defense in the league will get another test tomorrow. After the hiccups of the Villa and United matches, we’ve kept two straight clean sheets and held Arsenal to one goal away from home. We’re playing a lot better from the goal outward and it’s no surprise that we have won three on the spin in the league since we started doing that.

We’re keeping one eye on a couple of the other matches tomorrow as well – even though it’s far too early to be scoreboard watching. Chelsea hosts Bolton in a battle of second against fifth, with Sammy Lee’s Trotters starting to live up to their pre-season billing.

Liverpool, still needing wins, hosts Villa as I mentioned earlier. I’ll be curious to see if O’Neill’s playing a strong side against us in the Cup will hurt him in the league.

Leaders Arsenal travel to Manchester this weekend to face City. Meanwhile, United will take on Spurs at White Hart Lane, a place where they traditionally play well.

Meanwhile, the upstarts from Berkshire still refuse to go away. Tonight, as I returned home from training, I noticed a change in the wind direction – it got colder in a hurry as I got out of the car. Tomorrow’s conditions may not be ideal and we’ll have to be prepared for that.

Oster is going to get another start, having the hot hand from the Villa match. Faé will drop to the bench, a victim of slightly slipping league form. I think Oster deserves another shot and he gets it, to show me he belongs.

I stayed late, to prepare for the match, and called Patty to let her know where I was. I don’t like to keep her waiting and by the time I had finally satisfied myself that I was ready to leave the office, I was ready to go home.

As I got home, though, I got a surprise.

# # #

I arrived to a darkened house. I was home a bit late, but it wasn’t like Patty to not be at home – or not call if she would be late – so I was a bit worried when I entered our sitting room.

“Honey?” I called.

“In here,” she said, and a sense of relief flooded through me. “I’m in the dining room.”

I entered to find my wife seated at the table, wearing a white dress. Candles flickered in a centerpiece placed on the table and the rest of the room was completely dark.

“What happened today?” I smiled. “Do we need to make up?”

“Smarty,” she said, rising from her chair and extending both her hands to me. I took them softly and wondered what could be on her mind.

“Did something bad happen today?” I asked. “What’s happening?”

The flickering of the candles bathed her soft smile in a wam glow. “Don’t be paranoid, Rob,” she said, sliding into my arms. “There’s nothing wrong.”

Holding her close to me and feeling her sweet warmth against me soon sent any bad thoughts far away. Finally, I decided to simply stop guessing.

She kissed me. “Now sit down, I ordered dinner in,” she said, and I moved to her side at the table.

“You really outdid yourself,” I said. “So tell me, do I get this kind of treatment every time we play Middlesbrough?”

She giggled in response. “This has nothing to do with MIddlesbrough,” she said. “I just wanted you to know that I have decided to make a career change.”

I was, as the English say, gobsmacked. “Honey, what gives?” I asked. “We were just talking about you going to Hollywood or London or wherever you wanted to work!”

She poured me a glass of wine and took a small sip out of her glass. “I want to propose a toast,” she said, raising her glass. “While I can still drink.”

“While you can still drink,” I said, raising my own glass. I stopped halfway to hers, and nearly dropped mine into my lap.

“Baby, you don’t mean…”

She locked eyes with me. “Yes, Rob,” she said. “Baby. I’m taking a sabbatical. From model to mother.”

# # #

[O\'Hara_fan]

Didn't see that one coming , loved this line

“So tell me, do I get this kind of treatment every time we play Middlesbrough?”

[viperk1]

10-3...when the hell did this happen? Ridgway you naughty b*****....

Nah, I'm messing. Brilliant stuff, as usual. Hopefully you can continue your unbeaten start to the league against Middlesbrough, eh?

[Marchie]

Haha! I knew this will happen!

[nette000]

Sometimes you wonder how often fact creeps into this fiction....

[salkster2102]

fingers double crossed for the boro game. good luck

[copperhorse21]

6000 views! A tremendous milestone. Congratulations!

[tenthreeleader]

Thanks, everyone .... I am out of town on business until tomorrow night so will post again then. And we will see if, as was one said about Joe DiMaggio, a man can try to be a success in two national pastimes

[Infonote]

tenthreeleader: Great story. Just caught up with story. You are keeping me entertained while I wait for Football Manager 2009 to come from play.com

It shipped last Saturday but did not receive yet. Hopefully tomorrow.

[tenthreeleader]

Infonote, welcome to "The Rat Pack!" Great to have you here and I am glad you are entertained!

___

Saturday, November 1

Reading (7-5-0, 3rd place) v Middlesbrough (5-1-6, 11th place) – EPL Match Day #13

My head has been spinning all day.

On match day, the one thing I demand of all my players is total concentration for 90 minutes. After last night, I’m lucky I still have the ability to tie my own shoelaces. It’s about all I can manage mentally.

I suppose from a purely work-related standpoint I’d have preferred that Patty waited to tell me until after the match. But then if all I thought about at the moment was work, I wouldn’t be a human being.

I’m going to be a father. For last night and this morning, that was all that mattered in my world. Everything was different – the thought that at dinner and in our bed last night there were three people present is something that fills me with an indescribable joy.

Patty’s due date is near the end of June. After a quiet and very happy dinner, we talked things through.

Item number one is that she is going to be the one to tell her father. I think it would be better that way. I like my head just where it is, thanks very much. On my shoulders and fully attached.

One would think that the idea of being a grandfather will appeal to Martin. I sure hope so. I need something positive in my household to change his mind around a bit. I’d much rather have his support than his enmity.

So my mind raced a bit last night as I watched my wife sleeping to my immediate right this morning. I don’t know if the wee one was asleep or not – sort of hard to tell at this stage – but Patty certainly was and it was just a beautiful sight.

I let her sleep. I got out of bed and prepared to start my day.

# # #

“Ladies and gentlemen, at this time we direct your attention to the home dugout area.”

The tannoy announcer was speaking about ten minutes before warm-ups. Lobont and I sat in the dugout while we waited for the PR staff to set up a table and allow photographers onto the pitch.

Waters approached and placed two identical figurines on the table. They were small crystal footballs with a Barclay’s logo attached to them. Madejski stepped out of the tunnel area and stood at the touchline, next to the table. Waters took a microphone next to the table into his hand and began to speak.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this afternoon we honor two members of the Reading family who have won special honors from the Barclay’s Premier League. Please, let’s have a warm welcome for manager Rob Ridgway, named as the Premier League’s Manager of the Month for October for Reading’s three league victories over Arsenal, Cardiff City and Blackburn!”

I stood and stepped onto the pitch to a nice ovation from the half-full stadium. Fans were still streaming in – but my insistence that the ceremony take place far ahead of the kickoff meant the place wouldn’t be full.

I raised my arm to acknowledge the crowd and applauded them in return. Waters and a corporate type from the league advanced with the trophy, which I thankfully didn’t drop. Carefully, I hoisted it over my head and posed for pictures.

Lobont’s ovation was bigger than mine – as it should have been, since virtually everywhere I’ve gone players are more popular than management – and finally the two of us posed for a snap for the official website.

Then it was over. I was glad.

# # #

It was cold. Even for a prairie kid.

Kickoff saw a light mist and a heavy, wet chill that put the players into long sleeves and nearly put me into the dugout for the match. The first day of November was not a real good day from a meteorological point of view.

From a footballing standpoint, though, it was a bit better. The weather played a significant factor – it slowed everyone down in equal measure – but the teams got off to a competent if slightly frozen start.

Chances were few and far between. A developing battle between David Bentley of Middlesbrough and the effervescent Kalou on my left was the most enticing part of the first twenty minutes.

If I had Salomon’s energy I wouldn’t worry about being cold on a day like today. Of course, if I had Salomon’s energy I’d still be playing, so I wouldn’t have to worry about it. Kalou carved out the first chance of the match fifteen minutes in, swerving past Bentley and then past Luke Young before blasting a knuckleballing shot at Oswaldo Sanchez’s goal.

The ball dipped sharply as it neared the keeper – but Kalou had fired too high, and the ball sped over the bar in any event. The dip just made the miss look closer than it was.

Kalou’s industry woke us up a bit on a day when it might have been easier to simply mail in the effort. A few minutes later we threatened again with a cross from Oster being headed behind by Luke Young for a corner. John seemed to be making the most of his extended stay in the eleven and his energy level seemed to match Kalou’s.

In fact, he was so industrious, he went to take the corner himself. His ball into the six-yard box was promptly headed home by the leaping Sonko, who beat Sanchez cleanly by heading the ball into the ground and into the net on the right on the first bounce.

The 24,139 at the Madejski now had something to do with their hands besides blow on them, and the celebration of the first goal of the match made us all feel a little warmer.

It was Sonko’s first goal of the season and it was good to see him cash in. I’ve been using him to challenge the opposing keeper all season from corners and though that challenge has helped his teammates score goals from dead ball situations, it hadn’t yet happened for my central defender.

His grin seemed to light up the place as we headed back to the center circle to restart the match. From that point, we proceeded to play keep-away from Boro for the next fifteen minutes.

The only player who was having any problems with it was Bikey, who has been a rock in central defense all season long. Clearly he was not at his best and it showed. Jeremie Aliádiere flashed right by him on 37 minutes to sting Lobont’s hands with a bullet from a sharp angle to the keeper’s left.

I looked for signs of fatigue or injury as Bikey trotted back up the pitch. I couldn’t see any, so I looked at him with a fellow center-half’s eyes. Technically, he just wasn’t very good. Positionally he was just a fraction off and Aliádiere was beating him for pace. The fast striker was also in good form, and I made a quick note to make a change at halftime.

The whistle blew and we headed to the changing rooms a goal to the good. It hadn’t been an artistic first half of football but I would certainly take the lead. The players sat and the heat of the changing room allowed us all to thaw a bit.

“Keep moving after the team talk,” I advised. “Otherwise when you get back out in the cold you’ll stiffen up. Be sure you’re warmed back up when the half starts. We don’t want strains and sprains out of this match.”

“Now, let’s get to the business at hand. Well done out there but now it’s time to make them work in this weather. Close them down. You’re doing just fine and I especially like how you’re handling their wing play. Deny them that service and let’s get a win today.”

I then walked over to Bikey and Sonko. One had played a lot better than the other. “André, I need to know if there’s something wrong with you,” I said.

“No, boss,” he answered. “I’m just having some trouble today. I understand if you need to take me off.”

I shook my head. “Anyone can have a bad half,” I said. Then I looked at Sonko, who had had quite a brilliant first half by comparison. “But I want you two to switch sides. André, you take Pavone and Ibrahima, you take Aliádiere unless they substitute. Watch me for instructions. André, I do need to see better from you but I have every confidence that you can get this done.”

With that, I prepared for the second half.

# # #

[tenthreeleader]

Bikey’s struggles continued in the second half.

It didn’t take Boro long to figure out where he was, and they started to pick on him. That was a sad thing to see. He was just having a poor game. When Pavone beat him for pace five minutes after the restart, I turned to the bench.

“Ivar, get ready,” I said, and Ingimarsson got to his feet. “I’m going to need you today.”

Just then, Boro’s Lee Cattermole went down on a hard challenge from Pazienza. Mike Riley approached at a run and I wondered if the referee was considering a rash judgment.

He stopped, his breath now appearing in clouds as the temperature kept dropping. He showed Pazienza a yellow card and inwardly I breathed a sigh of relief.

However, Cattermole wasn’t as impressed. He was still down, and had to be helped off with a strain to his calf. Julio Arca came on in his place and wound up over the ball for the ensuing free kick.

Arca’s first touch of the game was the free kick – right around our wall to Pavone, who turned Bikey to his right and beat Lobont with a well-taken volley to get them level.

“Amazing,” I muttered. I motioned to Ingimarsson. I had seen enough.

“Get in for Bikey and let’s lock down their strikers,” I said. The fourth official put Bikey’s number on the electronic board and he immediately ran to the touchline.

I wasn’t even terribly upset with him, though he had certainly been abused on the goal. I extended my hand and made sure he knew my feelings.

“It’s just time to make a change,” I told him.

Now that the scores were level the match opened up for a few minutes – just a bit, as both teams sought the sucker punch that might make them a winner. I was watching Ingimarsson particularly closely. He has struggled in the Carling Cup matches we’ve played and I needed to see some real improvement over both those matches and over Bikey’s performance on this day.

He didn’t disappoint me. He did a fine job playing man-up on Pavone, making a crucial intervention six minutes after the goal that broke up a counterattack and gave the defense time to regroup in our own area.

It started to rain, and that took the starch out of both teams for a few minutes. Yet as the home side, my side was expected to show a little more initiative than our guests. I motioned to Faé and Long just after the hour mark.

“Get stretched and ready,” I said. “We may need you to give us extra pace. You’ll be entering for Oster and Kitson. Close down hard in their defending third and see if you can free up a ball.”

I was very pleased with Pazienza’s play, and he started our best chance of the second half right on seventy minutes. First, he won the ball on a firm challenge against Arca. Then he looked up for the pass and found Maloney’s run through the center circle.

Shaun hadn’t done much to that point, but he then earned his salary for the match. His angled pass to Kitson was absolutely perfect, catching my targetman to the inside with his body between the ball and defender Andrew Taylor. Kitson took two steps toward the goal as the crowd behind the goal got to its feet.

Kitson moved in aggressively – but didn’t shoot. He squared the ball, unselfishly, to the middle where Dagoberto was waiting. Neither player missed.

The Brazilian’s ninth goal of the season flashed past Sanchez to put us ahead 2-1 with twenty minutes to play. His hot streak continued and right now if there’s a better striker in the league I don’t know who it is. He and Kitson showed great understanding and in fact, the four-way passing play that set up the goal was our best work of the season in the buildup.

Now I had something else to think about. Fortunately, the two players I had going in were equally adept for 4-5-1, and it was that formation I switched to now.

Once the goal had been scored, the changes took effect. Gareth Southgate pulled Aliádiere off in favor of Mido right after our goal, and took off Bentley, of all people, for Nathan Porritt nine minutes from time.

Neither strategy helped, and even his foray into 4-2-4 was handled by our five-man midfield. The cold and rain took the starch right out of the visitors and when the full-time whistle went, we were golden.

I felt golden, too, in more ways than one.

Reading 2 (Sonko, 1st, 20; Dagoberto, 9th, 70)

Middlesbrough 1 (Mariano Pavone, 4th, 55)

A – 24,139, The Madejski Stadium, Reading

Man of the Match – Dagoberto, Reading (6th)

# # #

Things are a little more complicated at the top of the league.

Elano’s goal at Eastlands gave Manchester City a 1-1 draw with Arsenal this afternoon and now the Gunners’ lead is shaved to two points. Emanuel Adebayor opened the scoring but Arsene Wenger’s men couldn’t finish the job.

We are still third – Chelsea hammered Bolton 3-0 at the Bridge today behind goals from Shevchenko, Drogba and Ballack – and they actually increased their lead over us in goal difference in the process. But now, we’re only two points back of the summit.

Liverpool needed a goal from Dirk Kuyt fourteen minutes from time to subdue Aston Villa 2-1 at Anfield, so they remain in hot pursuit of the pack as well. Meanwhile, Manchester United used an artful goal from Carlos Tévez in the first half to sink Spurs 1-0 away. They aren’t going away either.

But that hardly matters now. I’m going home to a growing family and I couldn’t be happier.

# # #

World summary – November 1

Championship (Promotion and playoff places only)

Wigan 35, Sunderland 29, Blackpool 29, Ipswich 29, Sheff Utd 29, Coventry 28

League One (Promotion and playoff places only)

Leeds 36, Stoke 33, Walsall 31, Bristol City 31, Bournenouth 30, Carlisle 28

League Two (Promotion and playoff places only)

Rotherham 35, Cheltenham 34, Swindon 31, Lincoln City 31, Grimsby Town 31, Brentford 31, Leyton Orient 30

Conference National (promotion and playoff places only)

Rushden 37, Aldershot 36, Halifax 34, York 34, Kidderminster 31

Ligue One – Lyon 43, PSG 34, Sochaux 30, St Etienne 30

Bundesliga – HSV 29, Bayern 25, Aachen 24

Eredivisie – Roda JC 28, Feyenoord 25, Sparta 23

Serie A – Atalanta 26, Lazio 24, Inter 23

SPL – Celtic 33, Rangers 32, St, Mirren 20

La Liga – Real Madrid 28, Espanyol 26, Valencia 21, Betis 21

# # #

[SCIAG]

Curtis Elano? That's a very Brazilian name. Is he as good as Elano Blumer?

[tenthreeleader]

SCIAG: actually, no he's not.

___

Sunday, November 2

Some parts of impending fatherhood aren’t so palatable, I guess.

I woke up expecting to see Patty’s sleeping form next to me. I had no such luck. I woke up alone.

I got out of bed and saw the light on in the bath next to the master bedroom. I walked over and was greeted by my wife approaching me, tying her robe at the waist.

“Rob, I feel awful,” she said, weaving her way back to bed.

“Morning sickness?” I asked.

“Bright boy,” she moaned, in a feeble attempt at humor. She climbed back into bed and pulled the covers up to her neck. I thought it might be a good idea not to kiss her good morning. She managed a smile.

“Don’t even think about it, babe,” she said. “You want no part of me for a little while.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” I said bravely, but realizing at the same time that she really didn’t want me around. “How about I go into the kitchen and you let me know if and when you feel like eating something?”

“Fair enough,” she said. “I’ll talk with you about noon, okay?”

I hope this doesn’t last long. I already feel badly for her.

# # #

While Patty got her stomach underneath her, so to speak, I headed into the sitting room and flipped on the television while I poured myself a cup of coffee.

I watched highlights from yesterday’s “other” matches – including Kenny Miller saving Derby’s bacon with an injury-time goal at the Valley to get a 1-1 draw with Charlton. The Addicks couldn’t hang on against Arsenal last week and again lost a late lead at home yesterday.

West Ham cuffed Cardiff City around with some ease, ending the Bluebirds’ win streak at one. Oscar Zamora, Dean Ashton and Craig Bellamy all found the range. And West Brom played to an entertaining 2-2 draw with Blackburn. Steven Reid and Roque Santa Cruz scored three minutes apart just before half for Rovers but Roberto Colautti and Omar Bravo got the Baggies a split in the points.

Finally, at about ten o’clock, I heard signs of life from the master bedroom. Patty emerged, fully dressed and looking much pinker in her countenance.

“Much better,” she said, with a feeble smile.

“I’m not so sure,” I said. “Here, hon, let me get you something light to eat. Is that okay?”

“I think so,” she said. I prepared a light fruit breakfast for her, without a lot of acids. She tried it, and found after a few minutes that she would be able to eat without additional trouble.

“I hope every morning isn’t like that,” she said.

“How could you hide that from me?” I asked. “How long have you known?”

“So far, all my trouble with morning sickness has been at work and I’ve been able to hide it,” she said. “I got suspiscious last week and went to the doctor on Wednesday. You had other plans Wednesday night so I was just waiting for the right moment to tell you.”

“Other plans,” I said, thinking of the Carling Cup loss at Villa.

“You couldn’t help it, honey,” she said. “But really, you had other things on your mind.”

That hurt. However, in perhaps the ultimate display of understanding, she chose not to tell me of our new situation.

“Just let it go,” I thought to myself. “This argument would be absolutely senseless. Just enjoy today.”

# # #

[salkster2102]

glad you didnt get any poisened chalice from motm. good luck for the next game