Match Report

Why?

Why did we allow ourselves to be lulled into the naïve belief that confidence was permissible after Thursday? Why did Roeder look at a side that had gained easily our best result of the season and see fit to make six changes? Why was there a crushing inevitability about the ‘decision’? Why take the ‘soft’ option and drop Taylor and Ramage for Babayaro and ‘honest pro’ Stevie Carr? Why was the only contribution I witnessed from the latter a foul-mouthed tirade at a ball boy? Why are we always on average six inches smaller than any team we play? Why do we have no fight, no heart and no guile to break down teams that show the Premiership up for the garbage that it really is? Why are we no better (let’s stop kidding ourselves) than Sheffield United, Charlton or Middlesbrough?

Why did we create nothing whatsoever for the first half? Why did we do the impossible and get even worse in the second? Why did we have not one chance, not one moment of excitement in the entire game? Why are we getting beat off the dross of the league at home? Why was Milner shamefully taken off despite looking like the only one that gave a toss? Why was Duff left on instead? Why was Duff bought? Why was Emre fit enough to play a full game on Thursday and be on the bench today and yet not fit to start? Why wouldn’t you just think ‘Fuck them’ if you were Albert Luque, or Steven Taylor or Peter Ramage or (and I can’t believe I’m actually saying these words) if you were taken off ahead of the stupifyingly inept Scotty Parker (God, this is going to hurt) - Nicky Butt? Why, if you were Alex Ferguson, would you let Guiseppe Rossi stay one minute longer in this car crash? Why was a kid who had the game of his life and brought a glow to our hearts with his hopelessly misplaced unbelievable post match interview that had us grinning from ear to ear dumped out of the squad today?

Why couldn’t the players see the heartbreaking support pouring out in the second half and do something to even come close to deserving it? Why was this game played today after a few hundred grand was dangled in front of the board, regardless of the detriment to the team? Why does the man who is supposed to be running our club think that this is a good time for a jolly little break in Mallorca? Why do certain players at our club think it is acceptable to carry themselves in a frankly disgraceful manner off the pitch (no names, draw your own opinions)? Why do we look to the bench and see a joke of a coaching team headed by a failure of a manager? Why don’t the local press do their duty and tell the truth about NUFC? Why isn’t the utter revulsion of Shepherd being reported? Why has this happened?

Why did my Dad walk out before the end for the first time in 50 years of supporting NUFC?

Why don’t you just fuck off Shepherd and take Roeder with you?

Shepherd Out! Keep the Faith – You can have both!

GH