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Matthew
Jones |
Bio
I'm Matthew Jones and I've supported Tranmere
since I was five, being lucky enough to see
Rovers in the three F.A. Cup quarter finals and
one League Cup final, as well as countless
wonder matches, including wins over Bolton,
Everton and Southampton.
I live on the
Wirral, but as of September 2009 I've been at
Sheffield Hallam University studying Sports
Development with Coaching. When money allows,
I'm still trying to get to as many Rovers games
as possible and still feel as passionate as ever
about the team.
Favourite
ever player for Rovers: Andy Parkinson -
I grew up watching him terrorise defences with
his pace and skill.
Favourite
Rovers match: Worthington Cup Final; though
we lost, seeing Tranmere play at Wembley, when I
was nine, was just incredible, an experience I
pray I'll get again.
Favourite
Tranmere goal: Andy Parkinson vs.
Middlesbrough |
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29/12/2009
Matty's musings
Football's
festive famine
Well
welcome back. I hope you enjoyed my first attempt at a
blog two weeks ago and will continue to enjoy this feature in
the coming months.
Firstly, I would like to pose you all a question. Is this
Christmas period losing it's importance in the Football
calendar? Managers and fans often comment on how crucial a
period this part of the year is in every teams season'; make or
break time for a team as to whether they stay up, or a time when
a team can pick up several wins very quickly as they suddenly
find some form and turn their season around.
In previous years, I'd say this has definately been the case.
Tranmere have faced six or seven games over a less than three
week period, often with three games between Boxing Day and New
Years Day alone, followed by a game only a few days later too.
This year, however, Rovers have had only four scheduled games
for the Christmas period, starting with Bristol Rovers on the
19th December and ending with Leeds United on January 2nd,
although this game has been postponed due to Rovers and Leeds'
involvement in the F.A. Cup.
To me, this isn't such an important period. It's just like
playing midweek league games in two successive weeks, and I
think it certainly takes some of the edge and excitement out of
what could be not only a very full period in the season, but
also a very fruitful one too.
I think it's a great shame that we've missed out on a bit of
football this Christmas, as it's often a time when fans want to
get out of the house and go and to watch a match, whilst it
would also mean that clubs wouldn't need to play as many midweek
games through-out the season, such as no Tuesday night away
trips to Wycombe!!!
I was pleased to hear earlier in the week that Les Parry, along
with Shaun Garnett and Wayne "The Chief" Allison had been
appointed as the Tranmere management team until the endof the
season. Since they've come in, they've changed the club around,
from the league's whipping boys, to a team who is now able to
compete with every team we come up against.
Our defence has improved hugely, with four home clean sheets in
a row after the 0-0 draw with Carlisle, whilst we're now
certainly picking up points more regularly than we were at any
point under John Barnes and Jason McAteer. Terry Gornell and
Craig Curran have continued to improve under the team, now
scoring goals on a much more regular basis, whilst John Welsh
has begun to show the potential he once had as a graduate from
the Liverpool academy.
Les certainly wouldn't have been my first choice for the job
when Barnes and McAteer were sacked, I'd have loved it if the
club could have appointed somebody like Keith Hill from
Rochdale, but our legendary physio has proved he has a good
knowledge of football and in my opinion has earnt the job.
His next test though is certainly a tough one, and that is to
pick up a couple of bargains in the January transfer window,
which may mean a couple of players leaving the club. It will be
interesting to see though whether Les has a good eye for a
player and is able to bring the kind of players to Prenton Park
that will be able to keep us up.
Rovers have already made a valuable signing until the end of the
season though in securing the services of Zoom Zoom Bakayogo
until the end of the season. The former Paris Saint Germain
player has been crucial for us since his debut against Stockport
in October and it's great that we've been able to tie him down
until the summer.
Anyway, that's all from me for now. I hope you had a great
Christmas and you all enjoy your New Year. Let's hope next time
I write, Rovers are in the F.A. Cup fourth round.
Until next time,
Matthew
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