SMALL MERCIES...
Each week Snopper Street is on tenterhooks awaiting the outcome of the football matches followed by neighbours who support different teams. There are a few peripheral supporters who follow Premier League clubs, but the true football fans among us are content to leave that make-believe fairyland to its own devices and instead follow our own clubs in the `lower divisions.`
Our goal is simple - one week to achieve the maximum of three wins by the three teams we follow; Charlton, Gillingham and Southampton (alphabetical order.) That would secure the maximum of nine points out of nine but so far this season that ambition has eluded us. We`ve come close - last week we managed seven points out of nine and yesterday there were high hopes that our goal would be achieved. After all, Charlton were at home to Brighton and their supporters had the added incentive of a matchday programme featuring our street`s local hero, Scott (`Charlton`s top scorer this season`) Wagstaff; the Saints were on a roll, unbeaten in five games but facing a stern test away oop north at Huddersfield whereas Gillingham made the journey to Vale Park to take on promotion contenders Port Vale determined to end their record breaking run of 32 away games without a win.
Charlton went and lost 4-0, not helped by Waggy being confined to the bench for much of the game with a foot injury. Southampton went and lost 2-0 with a sub-standard, below par, hapless performance, leaving only Gillingham to salvage a little pride for our street with a hard fought 0-0 draw away in the Potteries. They may not have ended their away win drought but at least they provided the one point out of nine that we managed yesterday.
Small mercies indeed.
3 comments:
Small mercies indeed. I wonder if that dreamy day of nine points will happen this side of another new year. My boys will have to be at home of course! But let's look at the facts; there are 10 days between now and 2011 when our three clubs play on the same day. So far this season, we've collectively played 36 matches and won 11 of them, less than one in three. So the chances of a 3 in 3? My boys haven't won on their travels in 33 attempts. Of those 10 opportunities that remain in 2010, five would require that record to end. What conclusion does this lead us to? Well, nothing, because the unpredictability of the 'beautiful game' (it's anything but of course) is what captivates us, annoys us, and keeps us hoping. And hope is just about all we've got down in the basement. Hope, that one day, we'll climb back to our giddy height of mediocrity. Since we lost the regional divisions of Divs3 North and South, our average position in the league is 61st out of 92. Or 17th in the third tier. So when hoping for mediocrity, we're not asking for much. Are we?
And another thing ......... it's time to invest! Slightly's on-line betting account is in rude health. If I start with a 10p treble (OK, rude health is relative) and then increase the bet each time to make a 10% minimum return on the cummulative stake, I wonder how long / much I would have to start waging to recover previosu losses. That's the road to ruin I hear you say, so I'll do it as a 'paper exercise'. I'll keep you posted!
I can tell you`re an accountant, Slightly, but please bear in mind that only 27% of people believe in statistics. As for betting, I`m afraid I can`t help you there, as I`ve never placed a bet in my life and wouldn`t know how to, so I`m relieved that `virtual betting` may be the path to our enlightenment. Look forward to it (winky smiley thingy) :-)
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