roy of the rovers - a new beginning - week 6

7/29/2019 Roy of the Rovers - A New Beginning - Week 6

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Roy of the Rovers A New Beginning

Week 6

Roy Race sat in his office at home. It hurt when Rovers lost, it hurt just as much now as it did when

he was leading the line. Of course they had been there before, in the 1978/79 season, Melchester

lost their first three games of the league season and that was with a far better side than the one

they had today. In fact that team had reached the European Cup Final only two months before. ButRoy was worried, his vast experience told him something was really wrong with the Rovers. They had

lost both games two-one, but they had not played that badly. This was the worry, whenever his sides

went on bad runs they were not playing to their potential, individuals were making mistakes that

cost games. This was not happening in the first two matches of this season, Melchester were being

beaten simply because the opposition were better than them.

Roy asked himself the big question, How is Vernon Eliot going to get Melchester to win? He logged

onto his desktop computer and glanced at the Premier League table.

Back in Roys peak the press never botheredto print a table until three or four games had

been played. But now Carford and Walford

had already celebrated sitting in first place in

the Premier League. Roy found himself

cringing as he recalled watching The Big

Match a week ago. The Walford fans chanting

We are top of the league! Roy had enjoyed

his brief time as player-manager of Walford

Rovers in the early eighties. He found the

supporters to be genuine and old-fashioned,real working-class Londoners. Now all

football fans seemed the same, the

traditional chants replaced with mundane

drum banging and greatest team songs,

there was no variety.

But Roy was drifting as he often did these

days. He wanted to examine the fixtures list,

Walford were next for the Rovers, away in

London. Roy used to pride himself on his

football general knowledge, he knew every

player in English soccer, their strengths and weaknesses. Now he could only name one Walford

player, Andy Church, the veteran captain and centre-back.

Roy clicked the link to show a report of Walfords match against Eastgate. He needed to have some

ideas in case Vernon, Gerry or any of the board asked his opinion. Two-all! Roy skipped the report

and scrolled down to the line-ups and statistics section.


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Roy had never read much into statistics, he believed that they can misrepresent the complex events

of a football match. Walford had 56% of possession, nothing strange or insightful about that.

Corners, fouls: nothing again. Aha! Nineteen shots to eight, Walford were very wasteful. Eastgate

scored with their only two shots on target. To me that suggests a solid Walford defence, they stifled

Eastgate. I suppose Id better read the report!

24th

August 2013

By Jack Prestwick

The Big Match

Eastgate's record signing Olivier Roux's superbheader rescued a point in a thrilling Londonderby with Walford Rovers.

The Dockers took the lead against the run ofplay after the break when Lothar Pfeffer shothome from a tight angle after his initial strike hitthe post.

Ross Warren capped a superb display to levelfrom long range and Kyle Homer tapped in to make it 2-1.

But Roux, who cost 8.5m, nodded in Bernard's sliced cross.

The France international striker's towering header into the top corner will have given plenty ofencouragement to an Eastgate side whose eagerness to improve on last season's 13th-placed finish


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was clear from their hectic summer transfer dealings.

Having spent around 25m during the close season, manager Claude Lefebvre could have a difficulttime tempering the rising expectations in the East End.

Most of the strengthening came in attacking areas with Lefebvre clearly mindful of the need to bolstera side who managed just 41 league goals last time out - the third worst in the top flight.

All five of their new faces started, and both Roux and winger Nathan Weekes made promising debuts.

However, the visitors, inspired by a sensational performance from 19-year-old Warren, showed thegreater control and quality in a match that exploded into life after the interval.

Gary Greenham may have been taking charge of just his second competitive match as Walford boss,but the line-up and performance had all the hallmarks of his predecessor Jim McNally.

The midfield had a familiar feel with Leonardo Poquito, Samuel Stephane and Kevin Stevens typicallybusy and tidy.

But the classy Warren caught the eye for the West London side, finding space with impressive easeand linking up brilliantly with his more experienced colleagues.

Warren blazed one shot over and Jorge Caceres headed over from a corner but Walford's best first-half openings fell to Caceres, who dragged one shot just wide and had another goal-bound effortblocked by Kieran Bryant.

Eastgate's only noteworthy chance of the first half saw Roux mistime his leap and make a mess of anJos Ubedas cross..Caceres again went close soon after the restart after excellent work from Bernard.

But the home side took the lead when centre-back Pfeffer made the most of a lucky ricochet to scorefrom a tight angle after his initial strike rebounded off the left-hand post.

Walford responded in fine style and it was no surprise that Warren provided the inspiration. Theteenager, making just his fifth league start for Rovers, crashed his side level with a fabulous 25-yardstrike that flew across Wicinski and into the far corner.

And within five minutes it was 2-1 to the visitors when a delightful pass by Poquito found Nicky Morrisinside the box and, although the Irishman's shot was saved by Jacek Wicinski, Homer followed up toknock the ball in from close range.

It was the home side's turn to show their spirit and although there was another slice of luck about theirgoal, the finish from Roux was wonderful as he rose to head Bernard's mis-hit cross into the topcorner.

Both sides threatened in a frantic finale, but the visitors came closest to taking all three points when

Leroy blocked a Cuatro shot moments after Wicinski had thwarted Steven Jackson from point-blankrange.

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The Melchester Rovers squad had travelled down to London on Saturday afternoon. Their match

against Walford Rovers was the lunchtime kick-off on Sunday and again they were live on television.

Vernon sat uncomfortably in his room, he had a press conference downstairs in fifteen minutes and

knew that he would face some tough questions. Rovers were still the biggest club in the country.

They made headlines and drew television audiences all over the world. The likes of Kelburn and

Melboro were more successful on the pitch now, but they could only dream of Melchestersworldwide popularity. A fanbase of millions built up through decades of success. Vernon had

promised these fans that he would lead Rovers back to the top. At the moment they were not

heading in that direction and he would be asked why. He had no desire to give honest answers to


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such questions. If he was to say what he knew, that his players just are not good enough, that would

hardly improve moral in the squad.

There was a sharp knock at the door, Its open! Vernon mumbled. It was the Executive Media

Relations Advisor, Joey Goldfield, Time to meet the press! Remember any questions about the

ownership of the club are to be ignored. Its not the time or place. Just say ask the chairmen and

theyre not here okay? Im sure you can handle the rest!

Vernon did not feel at ease around Goldfield. Joey had lots of nervous habits, like picking his fingers

and he talked way to fast. Gerry Holloway had said that they were polar opposites, what with

Vernon being so laid back and chilled out. Earlier he had been practising his relaxed look. Right now

he did not feel relaxed and did not want any of the press to notice. Yeah, man! Lets get this over

with. Then we can all have a drink or two! Is Gerry coming down?

Mr Holloway is not required at this press conference. Hes watching his videos again. Does he ever

stop?

The two very different men continued with their discussion as they jogged down the stairs and intothe conference room in the rear of the hotel. Pre-match press conferences were compulsory for

Premiership managers, Vernon had enjoyed them as an assistant, but now he had to give his own

answers, they were a stress he could do without. As Vernon took his seat he scanned the room. All

the usual suspects were there, John Lucas perched in the front row, leaning back against a table, old-

fashioned Dictaphone in hand. This veteran of sports journalism had caused a lot of trouble in the

past. He seemed to delight in exposing the dark secrets of England internationals days before or

even during major tournaments. Rumours were he even tried to besmirch the great Roy Race, but

not even a dirty rag like The Daily Gazette had the nerve to risk such a story. Vernon knew he had to

tread carefully and say as little as possible in response to John Lucas questions.

With transfer deadline day tomorrow, will you be splashing the cash? The squad certainly needs

some fresh players! Vernon had no plans at all to sign anyone, he h ad no money to spend, that was

clear from the moment he asked David Roth at his interview. Ive no targets! Can we concentrate

on the Walford match now? Lucas was excited, So you think this team is good enough to challenge

for a European place, that was your promise? I dont even think this squad can stay up! God knows,

they may not even win a game! Has Roth not given you a transfer kitty, is that what youre really

saying?

Im not here to answer questions on the financial plans of the club. Youll have to ask the chairmen

and theyre not here! Vernon repeated what Goldfield had told him, almost word for word. Nextquestion then? he said smugly.

Lucas was fuming, but he would not show it now. He hated standard responses, those scripted by PR

men, they ruined his planned stories. He had failed to lead Vernon Eliot down the path of criticising

his chairman. He would have to rewrite his entire piece for the Sunday issue and his own deadline

was just two hours away.

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Storky Knight

Next Week: Rovers players join their international teams

roy of the rovers - a new beginning - week 6

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