When it comes to writing for the Stacey West, I’m very fortunate, writes Richard Godson.
Not for me the pressure of a deadline or the need to put out content each and every day. I do it when I want, if I want and Gary is kind enough to accept and publish it. That’s what makes Gary the professional writer to my enthusiastic and somewhat erratic amateur. He needs to file copy within an hour or so of the final whistle whereas I can afford to wait a day even to decide whether I can be bothered to write anything let alone actually put figurative pen to metaphorical paper. Finally, I have the luxury of taking four hours to put something together, pausing to walk the dog or have lunch, reviewing and redrafting before finally sending it in. Whether it is then read, is far more Gary’s concern than mine and that, in a paragraph, is why I shall never have a blog that is widely read and respected not just among devotees of Lincoln City, but across the wider footballing world.
Gillingham Encounter
I always seem to need an hour or three after a game to wind down, something which, in normal times is eaten into during the drive home but in these days of sitting in front of a 15-inch laptop screen to watch the action (my telly doesn’t seem to like NOW TV or even iFollow), scrolling through Facebook looking for comments and reactions has become the new routine before a couple of episodes of The Last Kingdom once Mrs G has retired upstairs. Nevertheless, I go to bed with the day’s performance still on my mind and it is at this point that the kernel of an idea for an article may begin to form in my mind and when I awake the next morning I know if I can make something of it. Today is just such a day and while England ease past 500 runs in Madras (modern students of geography may refer to it as Chennai but Madras is what it was called when I was at school and so that is how it will remain to me), I find myself articulating my overnight thoughts.
Chief among them was a sense that it was considered in some quarters that this was not one of the better City performances of the season, that the scoreline flattered the visitors and here I respectfully beg to disagree. That may be what Steve Evans was trying to spin after the game but what comes out of Steve Evans’ mouth is not necessarily in particularly close proximity to reality, if you get my drift. I don’t think we were anything but good value for the result and had Jorge Grant’s second and Lincoln’s fourth goal been allowed to stand, which it should, then four unanswered goals would have been a fairer reflection of the encounter and here’s why.
Alex Palmer
Palmer was rarely stretched all night and that is not just down to those who line up in front of him. On last night’s evidence, it’s more a case of his ability to be in the right place at the right time, ensuring he can safely gather a shot or pluck a cross without it looking like a last gasp effort. An early attempt from distance dipped awkwardly as it came in but Alex judged it perfectly, making the save look a lot easier than would many keepers in this division. He has confidence in the outfield players and they have confidence in him and that mutual confidence continues to grow. The only time he was beaten was late on when the game was already won and John Akinde rose above the City defence to send a header goalward, only for it to hit the bar with Palmer grasping at thin air. Happily, he recovered quickly to tidy up the resultant fallout. This was his 25th league appearance and 34th in all competitions and it is not hard to see why the manager continues to send him into the fray.
Jackson & Walsh
I make no apology for considering these two together as they have forged such a defensive partnership as to make them the go to centre backs of late. Gillingham’s game plan was to get the ball in the box and then exploit. That they could not capitalise on repeated salvoes from one flank or the other was largely (but not exclusively) because these two did their job so well. It is frustrating for Lewis Montsma of course, but believe it or not, this was only the fourth game Adam and Joe have started together.
Edun & Eyoma
I love these two and am so glad one of them, at least, is on a permanent contract. I’m relieved also, that plans are already laid for when the other, inevitably, returns to White Hart Lane. One thing I noticed in particular last night was how, rather than roll the ball out to Jackson or Walsh, Palmer would lob it to a waiting Eyoma who was already out on the touch line just 20 yards from the halfway line. This was clearly part of the plan for the evening to overcome the hosts’ high press and proved extremely effective. I marvel, time and time again at how TJ evades his marker and surges forward at pace with the ball at his feet. He’s far too good for League One. On the other side of the field, Tayo continues to blossom and I have made no secret of my admiration of him for a good two months or more. They each link well with both the midfield and the strike force helping us flood the final third to such good effect and Friday was no exception.
Liam Bridcutt
What can I say about Liam, the man who almost single-handed keeps the team’s average age above 21? His work rate, physical presence, reading of the game and guile born of 300 senior appearances, most of them in the top two tiers of English football are the glue that binds this team together. Long may he remain injury-free but even if not, his influence will still be massive. A born leader, his captaincy is richly deserved. As for last night he ensured his presence was felt in just the right way, judging when, where and how to intervene. It has often been observed how his reading of the game enables him to plug gaps in our defence, something Gillingham’s plan and direction of attack did not require him to do to the extent other teams have.
Conor McGrandles
Lee Hendrie said several times that the ball fell kindly for him in the fourteenth minute, implying, unfairly in my view, that he was lucky to have scored. Rubbish. You make your own luck in football as much as, if not more than, in other walks of life. Conor’s goal was the climax of an outstanding move that showcased the abundance of riches in terms of talent available to Michael Appleton and displayed here for our entertainment and delectation. That he seized the opportunity presented to him with such alacrity was down to his own efforts, ability and cool head. He was in the right place at the right time and wasn’t going to fluff his lines in a million years. That move pretty much summed up the difference between the two sides and was in marked contrast to the ineffectiveness of the Gills’ attack which we were able to deal with all evening whereas they could not cope with our pace, skill and invention.
Jorge Grant
Look, I know I am only rehearsing what you already know but this man really has come of age this season. I marvel at his skill with the ball, his strength and his ability to conjure something out of almost nothing. He has a confidence born of his ability that is almost arrogant and I don’t mean that in a derogatory way. He is such a skilful and creative architect that he should be a member of RIBA. Harshly judged to have been offside when he netted what should have been the Imps’ fourth goal, he had previously made no mistake with what I hope Michael Appleton was joking when he said he had one more chance from the spot. Bing Crosby would have been proud of the way he sent the ball straight down the middle, even if there wasn’t a fairway in sight.
Johnson & Rogers
A couple of weeks ago, I referred to these two as the Johnson-Rogers twins and given the almost instinctive relationship that is building between these exciting youngsters it’s almost as if they were. What is also remarkable is how little time they have been working together since the 18-year-old from Manchester City only walked through the door last month. The way they are improving together, is it any wonder that two forwards with 15 goals between them this season found themselves warming the Priestfield visitors’ bench. The highlights package I have seen confirms that in many of last night’s marauding moves into the home defence they were working as a pair, causing terror to the men in blue shirts and combining well when Brennan nearly took the crossbar off the uprights. I’m surprised Steve Evans’ heart could take it. Is there a defibrillator close to the away bench at Sincil Bank because I think it may be called into action if they repeat this performance in the return game?
Tom Hopper
I have to declare an interest here. I know Tom’s family quite well. His cousins were at school with my kids and their parents are close friends. So I have to be careful to take a disinterested view when it comes to Tom’s game even though I rejoice more at his goals than any other. The fact is though, that he is in the side on merit. Yes, I’d love him to have ten goals to his name by this stage in the season, but I also believe he is doing exactly what his manager wants him to do and we saw recently how unselfish he is. We also saw last night how effective he is in defence, thwarting Vadaine Oliver in the first half when another aerial bomb was sailing into the six-yard box. It was from a similar position in the same box in the second half that he nodded home the rebound from Rogers’ parried shot. Unlike Gary, by the time I write this I have had the benefit of watching the replay enough times to say with absolute certainty that when Morgan hit his shot, Tom was very much onside. He will score more goals, of that there is no doubt and when he does, I shall be cheering the loudest.
The Right Stuff
Gillingham aren’t a bad side and they are very much at home in League One, but that’s as far as it goes. On last night’s performance, I certainly don’t see them remotely challenging for a playoff place. Lincoln, on the other hand, were a class above and the gulf between the two sides was all too visible. Whether it was stout defending, a patient build-up switching from one flank to another or a lightning thrust into opposition territory with a succession of slick passing and one-touch football culminating in a bulging net, City showed they have the tools necessary to make the jump to the next level. A week ago, we had three-quarters of possession but came away with nothing and only time will tell whether that will make a difference to the outcome of this strangest of seasons. This week, from the fifth minute, we had the majority of possession and took full advantage. The Sky commentators seemed to be implying we had all the luck and Gillingham had none. No actually, we had all the goals.
This is a great weekend for armchair sports enthusiasts. Channel 4 are screening the test match in India, ITV has the Six Nations rugby and according to my son, he is taking tomorrow off so he can stay up to watch the Super Bowl. And it all got off to a perfect start on Friday evening with a comprehensive Imps victory and a return to the summit of League One. What’s not to like?
Gary: I’m sure the title of this article refers to a joking piece I did where I compared Steve Evans to the Dangermouse villain Baron Greenback a few years ago, purely as satire. I can’t think what else Richard may have been referring to.