Not that I was carried away by the result today, but following the evidence before my eyes, the level of organisation, discipline and pure will to win; chatting to a few of the players after the game and looking at the table tonight I've put my money where my mouth is and backed us at
20/1 to finish outright champions.
Any horse that is put out at twenties from sixes, one furlong into a mile race and has still "got it's action" has got to be a punt at that price..................and we were twenty fives before the kickoff!
Looking at some of the "in play" quotes on here with the advantage of having been there make me laugh
.............."Thompson up front"- where do you get that from?
"need to bring on Benyon and Green" - to achieve what?
We played
4-5-1 today (just as Tisdale did against them last January!) and they started4-4-2 but abandoned that on the half hour in favour of 4-3-3. They didn't manage one attempt on target before half time and the much hyped McEvilly not one all day. Puffing and panting like a huge kebab, he was reduced to foul upon foul and spent time added on playing in the back four such was his inability to get back up front from defending a corner. Mind you he should have been red carded for sticking his forehead in Ellis' face in the first half and the composure our young centre back showed in the face of naked thuggery was immense.
We kept the shape brilliantly, soaked up their pressure and then pushed on in the last twenty minutes and there was only going to be one winner from that point on.
Some of the passing still lacks confidence and composure at times, but sides like Cambridge close you down in nano seconds and you just have to stick in there until they have blown their sails out.
Chatting to
Wayne Carlisle afterwards it was good to hear his eloquent views on the "numpty factor" in our support - particularly at home, and any of these Plainmoor barrackers, moaners and HE letter writers should take heed of the magnificent support that the Cambridge crowd give their team - 4,000 there today and a vibrant noisy atmosphere throughout......................just like last season.
Mark Ellis too was very upbeat and hopeful of his calf injury repairing in a fortnight or three weeks. Todd was immense today and Robertson too fitted in impressively thanks to the very constructive support he got from Hodges beside him.
Verdict: the team spirit is superb, the "gremlins" from the assimilation of Thompson, Wroe and Carayol are rapidly being eradicated; and the respect in which our team is held by rival teams is immense. It's coming together!
Oh, and we sported
royal blue shorts with white shirts and socks!
I wouldn't say "Stevens was really great" and as for watching a different game, of course not; the same game only through different eyes.