PASSIONLESS, clueless, utter dross and Foote’s Lane will never make a football stadium. Just a few of the criticisms levelled at the 2007 Cimandis Muratti.
The football fan is the hardest man in the world to please but those who forked out a tenner or more to watch the third Muratti at the new home of football, had every reason to feel very short changed.
This was poor fayre, as are so many of the big games these days, and with every Muratti yawn fewer and fewer fans will get out of their holiday armchairs to watch.
Another concerted advertising campaign brought 2,000 plus to the much-maligned Lane, but how much more will have to be spent if this is the sort of entertainment we can expect?
CI football at a senior level is on the ropes and buckling at the knees.
Just how much longer can it avoid the canvas?
Tactical methodology, fine for the professional game but overstated at our low amateur level, is stifling the passion.
The paucity of skill in the final third of the pitch is screaming out.
Sadly, freedom of expression on the ball died along with so many of those Muratti heroes of yesteryear.
They would have taken one look at our modern game, cocked a snook at it and ask where did it all go wrong.
This is not a snipe at Steve Ogier. It’s a critique of the CI game as a whole and a sport not so much unwilling to change but not knowing how to.
As for the game itself, the best players lay in both central defences.
Kevin Graham justified the coach’s willingness to give him to the very last minute the chance to prove himself fit, with an assured display until his legs would carry him no longer.
Graham promises to be a pillar of green-and-white Muratti defences for years to come.
Ogier deserves credit for backing a player who had hardly kicked a ball for two months, but I believe he hamstrung himself by the decision to take off Gavin Le Page when he did.
The Northerner was enjoying one of his better games in a Guernsey shirt until, much to his obvious disgust, he was hauled off to be replaced by young Piers Ockleford, who appeared to be given exactly the same role and performed it no better.
At least Le Page was in the game which could not be said for fellow midfielders Dominic Heaume and Dave Rihoy who was said to be so embarrassed at receiving the man-of-the-match trophy he left it at the ground.
But with Le Page needlessly replaced and Graham running out of steam and giving way to Sam Cochrane on 74min., the coach had only one substitution left in the one very area where the greens needed extra pep - attack.
Ryan Tippett got his chance for the totally ineffective Marc McGrath, but Jon Veron was wastefully left on the bench.
No coach should have to justify any decision to someone sitting 30 metres away in the stand, but the Le Page decision was a boob.
So what next? How does senior football get to inspire its top players to IMPROVE their skills and fitness merely by playing Priaulx football?
The decision - the right one - to withdraw from the South and West Counties League has been made, but what will motivate those youngsters moving out of under-18 football to stay focused, build on their skills, improve their fitness and make our senior football proud again?
Urgent surgery is required.
Article posted on 12th May, 2007 - 12.00am
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