Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset
Director⭐⭐🦐
Unable to get to Palace this eve but having spent three years at Uni in Plymouth in the early 80's I decided to pop down the road to see Argyle at Layer Road.
Some observations:
- Argyle were c r a p, no idea going forward, Hayles was a donkey, and long ball was their only real idea.
- Col Ewe were far worse. They did have a couple of close efforts but had no shape or enthusiasm.
- On this basis, if SUFC don't get 12 points v these two we will get relegated. But judging by our performance v Stoke, where we were not at our best, we are a class apart.
- If Argyle could draw with Wolves and the latter beat Ipswich then that must be another 12 points for us too.
- Layer Road has seen no close season improvements aside from 'some new carpet in the club lounge' boasts the programme.
- The PA announcer reluctantly gave the SUFC half time score out just as the teams were coming on the pitch for the second half. Queue a solo celebration and a few strange looks (though thankfully I was in the away end).
- Not sure what the attendance was but Layer Road wasn't full, there were at least 200 empty seats. Their lack of support must be frightening for them.
- The Argyle end was packed (more so it seemed than when we were there last season), their full allocation was not sold in advance so there was entry on the night and a few hundred extra turned up (Argyle have a big London following).
- I still look out for Argyle with some passing interest (on a student grant at the time it was difficult to see SUFC more than a dozen times a year tucked away in Devon and Home Park served to quench the footie habit), but it is strange watching a match where you are totally relaxed, though I found my loathing for Col Ewe being the greatest motivation for wanting an away win.
- The Argyle fans have some strange chants, mostly aimed at 'northern scum' who of course everyone else is to them. 'Your just a small town in Southend' made me shudder, not sure I would like Col Ewe as a borough of our town. 'We shag more sheep than you' was one boast.
A strange evening. Back to normal at QPR on Saturday thankfully.
Some observations:
- Argyle were c r a p, no idea going forward, Hayles was a donkey, and long ball was their only real idea.
- Col Ewe were far worse. They did have a couple of close efforts but had no shape or enthusiasm.
- On this basis, if SUFC don't get 12 points v these two we will get relegated. But judging by our performance v Stoke, where we were not at our best, we are a class apart.
- If Argyle could draw with Wolves and the latter beat Ipswich then that must be another 12 points for us too.
- Layer Road has seen no close season improvements aside from 'some new carpet in the club lounge' boasts the programme.
- The PA announcer reluctantly gave the SUFC half time score out just as the teams were coming on the pitch for the second half. Queue a solo celebration and a few strange looks (though thankfully I was in the away end).
- Not sure what the attendance was but Layer Road wasn't full, there were at least 200 empty seats. Their lack of support must be frightening for them.
- The Argyle end was packed (more so it seemed than when we were there last season), their full allocation was not sold in advance so there was entry on the night and a few hundred extra turned up (Argyle have a big London following).
- I still look out for Argyle with some passing interest (on a student grant at the time it was difficult to see SUFC more than a dozen times a year tucked away in Devon and Home Park served to quench the footie habit), but it is strange watching a match where you are totally relaxed, though I found my loathing for Col Ewe being the greatest motivation for wanting an away win.
- The Argyle fans have some strange chants, mostly aimed at 'northern scum' who of course everyone else is to them. 'Your just a small town in Southend' made me shudder, not sure I would like Col Ewe as a borough of our town. 'We shag more sheep than you' was one boast.
A strange evening. Back to normal at QPR on Saturday thankfully.
