SMERSH/SPECTRE rejoice as Bond meets an end stickier than a sapling…

By: Martyn | August 13th, 2008

Naff lager, naff cup. I’m sure Chester fans will concur with me at the very least. Seriously, if anyone, anywhere lists this competition as their absolute favourite please make yourself known. Now now, don’t all rush at once… this isn’t the opening of a Primark flagship store y’know! As was entirely appropriate to a competition of such minimal stature, interest and effort, the game at the Fitness First stadium placed quality second (in the second half, anyway). Disconcerting aside, Kevin Bond’s AFC Bournemouth were the team eliminated, and we live to fight another day (perhaps an apt advertising slogan for a competition sponsored by the drink of louts UK-wide!).

No Bourne Supremacy

Darren Anderton appears about as often as Soviet Union submarines surfaced on US waters during the Cold War. Alas, play last night he did, and in the second half we allowed him to get on the ball more often than perhaps we should have. I know he’s the oft-cited key Bournemouth man as he’s the only one anybody knows. Regardless, he has played at the very highest level and we should have cut the supply to him more readily than we did. McPhail and Rae must be more ruthless in their suffocation of the opposition’s go-to guy. Others seemingly worth of mention for the Cherries last night (both of whom conforming to their rather unflattering stereotypes in the process) were perennial dodgy ‘keeper Shwan Jalal, and Jo Kuffour, who seems to score 9 or so brilliant goals a season and then proceeds to do naff-all for the rest of it.

6 Positives To Take From Coming Through This Encounter

- Parry scored twice. This not only boosts his confidence but also piles immediate pressure on the other strikers in the squad to start netting and fast.
- The realisation that this team may be good at gathering Cup football momentum. It helps the coffers at the very least, although Sky might soon start overselling our achievements and give us the ghastly prefix ‘Cup Giants’ or some such codswallow.
- Early goals. Signs of alertness and professionalism.
- Team-building momentum. Another game together will breed familiarity, functionality, formidableness and link-up’s.
- Bothroyd running the channels and stretching the defence. Another striker taking on this role shows that the team are adhering to Dave Jones’s tactical discipline.
- Ledley and Whittingham didn’t remain isolated or disinterested. They were integral to the attack-minded nature of the side, and gave us 6 attacking options rather than 3 or 4. This makes a helluva difference gents, so keep it up!

As we let them gently get back into the game it became a case of discarding your fag on the floor and letting it burn itself out rather than giving it the ol’ twisty-foot stubbing motion. Thankfully, the tossed cigarette didn’t cause a fire and its Cardiff City FC not AFC Bournemouth who can now go on and become real fire-starters in this competition!