BN's northern based contributer, Harwood Bull, watched the game at Macclesfield.
I really don’t like the orange away kit. In fact I don’t like the idea of an ‘away’ kit at all. Call me old fashioned, but I think a team should have its normal kit, which it should wear whenever possible, and a change kit to be worn if, and only if, there’s a colour clash. On that basis, assuming Wikipedia is correct, we would only need to change at Gateshead, Dartford and Salisbury.
And while I’m banging on about colours, does anyone play in black boots anymore?
Martin Foyle’s substitutions are baffling. All three of the players he took off last night had had fairly good games, far more effective than Smith or Walker ever looked likely to be.
When I was buying my (very average) meat and potato pie, the girl in the tea bar said “I’ve never heard of Hereford before”. I decided against a quick geography lesson and just assured her that it was a lovely place.
What is it with Brodie? He seems to attract (and enjoy) abuse from opposing fans. It’s not as if he’s a big name with a reputation that precedes him wherever he goes, although according to Wikipedia, he was described as "one of non-league football's hottest properties" in 2010 by no less an authority than the Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Praise indeed.
Sam Gwynne had a good game until he was subbed. He played the midfield terrier role well, snapping at everything that moved, and played one or two good attacking balls as well.
The team just isn’t balanced. We finished up with a 4-2-4 formation, with the front four all centre forwards, with no natural wide players. I appreciate that Foyle is struggling with a lot of injuries, and has to juggle things around, but we have to have more in midfield to have any chance. 4-5-1 worked last season, but the one was Bowman.
Is there a special school where they teach football managers how to speak to the press? If so Foyle must have been top of the class. Players are referred to as ‘Bushy’, ‘Sharps’, ‘Kings’. He says things like ‘Have they really hurt us Macclesfield, no not really.’ Whaaat? You could play ‘Cliché bingo’ with his interviews. I’m just waiting for ‘a difficult place to go’ and ‘set their stall out’ and I’ve got a full house.
Why on earth is the Macclesfield ground called the Moss Rose? I know I’m showing my ignorance here, but I have no idea. I thought a quick Google would provide the answer, but it didn’t. Even the Macclesfield Town official site doesn’t help. Anyone know?
Update: Yes, Ian Faulkner does - The
answer is that in 1891 Macclesfield moved from their previous ground at
Bowlfield Lane to a new site next to the Moss Rose public house. The
moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora) was a variety very popular with the Victorians, apparently.
There
seems to have been some opposition to the club playing so close to a
public house, but clearly this was overcome. The pub was demolished many
years ago – I’m afraid I don’t know when.