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Roy of the Rovers

Total Football Part 15

Melchester Rovers' second straight league win


Rovers' seventh home league win of campaign

Redpool lose seventh straight league game

Pool three points from safety

Melchester Rovers scored three first-half goals to easily beat bottom side Redpool and
move up to third place in the Premier League table.
After a slow start from Rovers, Danny Luik set up Richie Lyons to break the deadlock with a precise
finish.
Marco De Loon followed up Drew Powell's shot to make it 2-0 before William Carr headed into his
own net to cap a miserable first half for the Foxes.
Redpool belatedly replied through Lucas Urruti's late header.
Johan Seegrun's side were not at their best but they did not have to be against a Redpool side who
offered little in attack.

Rovers held off an in-form Redpool to win 1-0 when these sides met in London in September, but
there was never a hint of a similar performance from the men in blue this time.
Redpool concentrated on frustrating their hosts in the early stages and that game-plan was working
until Darryl Buxton allowed Luik to steal possession after a Rovers attack had broken down.
Luik looked up and released Lyons, who was given the benefit of the doubt by the linesman and
adjudged to be onside before he expertly steered the bouncing ball past Christian Schnedler.

Up until then, Rovers had struggled to find any fluidity in their attacks and barely threatened
Schnedler's goal.
But Pools Danish international goalkeeper was beaten again five minutes later after Luik sent
Powell running clear.
Schnedler did well to keep out the Welsh midfielder's shot, but De Loon beat two defenders before
turning to fire home from close range.
Redpool's collapse was completed in the 44th minute when Luik met Powell's corner at the near
post, and Carr could only direct his attempted clearance past Schnedler and into the net.
With the game won, Rovers did not push forward for more goals after the break and they did not
have much defending to do either.
The hosts were given a scare when a sloppy back-pass from Bobby Page almost let substitute Alan
Regal in, but Nathan Daniels was alert to the danger and cleared.
Even when Urruti headed home his first Pool goal - in his 51st game for the club - with 10 minutes
to go, there seemed little chance of any late drama.
Another Redpool substitute, Mike Worthington flashed a shot over the bar from the edge of the
area, but Rovers held on comfortably.

The victory moves them above Kelburn, at least until Freddy Sepps side host Redstoke on Sunday.
Melchester Rovers manager Johan Seegrun:
"I'm very happy because of the positive result. We lost at Kelburn on Tuesday so we had to show to
our fans that we are coming back again.
"I liked my team in the first half. In the second half we tried to kill the game because we know what
Redpool have some very dynamic forwards.
"But in second half we played the ball too much backwards, and that I do not like that as you
always need to keep your eyes open for the pass forward.
"But we also have to learn to kill the game, we may have done that more than we wanted, but it is a
learning process."
Redpool manager Dino Marcello:
"It was a hard game. We are playing against very good side, to let in three goals in a short time, it
is not good.
"The first goal is offside but I know we were beaten by a very, very good team; a team that I love
from when I was a player for the Rovers.
"In the second-half we have shown more fight and we keep the ball better. I think it was a problem
in the first half.
"It was a bad game for the forwards. We did not get them the ball. The forwards were more like
defenders. We did not create pressure to make it difficult for Melchester in the first-half."

***
A warm breath of air woke Rocky Race from an uneasy sleep. Trevor Brinsden was
crouching over him holding an English newspaper, he was panting excitedly, as if he
had run all the way up the steep hill from the village below. Its over, Rocky my
brother! Listen, Ill read:

Davenport Delight!
Kenny Davenport has been charged with the task of stabilising a Melborough in freefall after he was
confirmed as the club's new manager on Thursday night.
A short statement published on the club website at 9pm provided the news which Boro supporters had been
longing for ever since Cesare Ranas was sacked and Rocky Race went AWOL on his five-year contract.
Davenport will be presented to the media at 10am Friday morning at Enriat Stadium.
The charismatic Scot has signed a bumper deal worth more than 3million per year. On top of a hefty
compensation fee paid to Walford Rovers to release the manager who shockingly led them to the top of the
Premier League. Gazette sources suggest this could eventually cost Melborough in excess of 6million.
Davenports new contract runs for three seasons with the option for it to be extended by 12 months should he
make the progress that owners Enriat Holdings expect.
Davenport arrived in The Midlands at 5pm on Thursday, having flown into Melchester/Weston Airport on a
private jet from Lochneath, where he had been on a short break. He was accompanied on the 50-minute
flight by his family, while his trusted coaches Sean Doyle and John MacVay were there to meet him.
From there, Davenport and his entourage were taken to the plush Shermall Haven Hotel in two metallic-blue
people-carriers where, after a week of intense speculation, he signed the terms he had agreed with Enriats
representatives and Iain Briers, Melborough's chief executive.
Once the formalities had been concluded, Davenport had dinner with Director of Football Sandor Kovac,
Briers and a number of the staff whose services he will be retaining, including goalkeeper coach Mike
Brennan and academy director Viv Ellis.
Davenports first match in charge will be away at fellow strugglers Rotherton, in what many will describe as
a relegation six-pointer. Davenport will be hoping to hear little more talk of relegation.
Ive saved you from hell, Rock! You would have hated being at Melboro again, I know
it! Sometimes I know you better than you know yourself!
Rocky summoned up a rage that he had so far suppressed during his time in captivity.
He jumped to his feet and swung a haymaker at Brinsden. There was a crack as fist
snapped into jaw and a dull thud as body hit hillside. Rocky scrambled as quickly as he
could down towards the village avoiding the rough mule-tracks that formed a jagged
path. The adrenaline and exercise seemed to clear the thickness in his head, he was
beginning to think coherently for the first time in weeks. He had to get out of this
place as quickly as possible, but he could not afford to leave a trail; Trevor Brinsden
was not to be underestimated.
Trying not to look too dishevelled, the would be manager of Melboro approached the
bar, it was dark, but open, the only sign of activity in the village. The Englishman!
Where does the Englishman live? What house? The barman, shook his head showing
a reluctance to aid the filthy, ripe men in torn clothes, but still he pointed to the top

row of whitewashed houses. Rocky darted off, Seor! the barman shouted, he
reached under the counter and tossed Rocky an ice-cold bottle of water, before flicking
the dirty figure away in a friendly, but do not come back manner.
Rocky took the short walk up to Casa Brinsden at a brisk pace, he kept to the
shadows, being careful to avoid lines of sight from the old goat shed on the hill. As he
gulped the water, he devised a plan; clean clothes and money, that was all he would
take from the house, perhaps a mobile telephone if one was easy to find.
Brinsdens house was easy to identify, of the row the barman had identified only one
was habitable. The door was not locked, Rocky scanned the living room, an Eastgate
shirt mounted on the wall, next to it a more familiar one, Thats my England shirt, you
dirtbag! Rocky snatched the frame and broke it on the edge of the dining table. He
removed the shirt and folded it neatly.
He grabbed a bin bag from the kitchen area and filled it with clean shirts, pants and
shorts that were conveniently draped over the backs of the dining chairs. His England
World Cup shirt was placed carefully on top.
Trevor will be back soon, I didnt hit him that hard, Rocky said aloud. Money?
Money? Where would it be? Nothing was obvious, the mantelpiece had nothing on it,
the table just an empty fruit bowl and yesterdays newspaper. Rocky quickly glanced
at it, Daily Gazette Spanish edition. So Im in Spain, thats one question answered!
One more quick look around, then Im off, money or no money. The bedroom! Ha!
Rocky exclaimed. A pair of shorts was screwed up on the bed, a wallet sticking out of
the back pocket, Got it! he examined the contents, Blimey! The wallet was
bulging with small notes, tens and twenties, possibly as much as four hundred euros. A
bowl on the bedside table was filled to the brim with change, This should keep me
going for a while!
Rocky stood outside the house for a moment, trying to get his bearings. He could see
the edge of the village where a handful of cars were parked on scrubland. There were
road signs pointing in two directions that would be his starting point. Again staying on
the shady side of the narrow streets, Rocky made his way to the junction. He read the
signs, Salares, thats the name of the village! Never heard of it! But then relief, the
sign pointing south bore a familiar name, Lacona! Lacona! Ive been there loads of
times, 60km though, guess Ill get going and see where I end up!
***
In trendy West London, Declan McKaffree had been offered a new job and he was
struggling to decide whether to accept or not. Roy, I need you, please say yes!
Declan pottered in his designer kitchen, as his wife Diana and her father, the great Roy
Race sat on stools around the floating bar that divided the cooking area from the
lounge.
After the departure of Kenny Davenport to Melboro, Walford Rovers were without a
manager, the board approached McKaffree, the most experienced member of the
squad to become interim head-coach until a permanent replacement could be found.
Walford were still top of the Premier League, something that no expert had predicted
despite their F.A. Cup win the previous season. Kenny Davenport had moulded a team
of great spirit and not short on quality. Keen not to lose momentum appointing Declan
seemed the obvious move. But the Irishman was unsure, he had done only a few
coaching sessions with the Under-18s at Melchester Rovers, that however was under
the guidance of Roy Race. Taking charge of his peers, men he had been sharing a
dressing-room with as equals scared the life out of him.

You havent said yes, yet have you Dec? Diana asked, wanting him to confirm what
she already knew, Ive until tomorrow morning to decide, thats what I agreed with
the lads, they need to know first. Diana nudged her husband, Go on then ask him!
Declan looked sheepishly in the direction of his father-in-law, Remember when you
helped Rocky out at Baltimore and your side went unbeaten and won the MLS? Well,
he improved as a coach and manager so much with you by his side. He hesitated,
Roy appeared not to anticipate the question as Declan hoped.
Dad! Diana intervened, Will you be Decs assistant at Walford? See it wasnt that
difficult was it? Declan put his arm around his adoring wife, Go on, Roy, please do it,
Ill mess it right up without your help!
Back in the early 80s, Roy Race had been manager of Walford Rovers, it was his first
footballing adventure outside the familiar surroundings of Melchester Rovers. While his
love of Melchester could never be questioned, he held a soft spot for the Rovers of
North West London.
Ill do it. But there are conditions; Im not to be paid, Ill only observe training, I will
not take over. It was the same deal in Baltimore with Rocky and it worked well. You
need to develop your own methods, Ill advise, but I will not pick the team and I will
not tell any of the players what to do, on the field or on in training.
Diana yelped with delight, Dad, this is great! Your London apartment is only round the
corner, you can come for dinner and see my shop, maybe get me another one! Father
and daughter settled down to chat, while Declan called his captain Andy Church to tell
him the news.
Right, Declan! Roy beckoned to footballs newest player-manager as he completed
his call, Tell me your first eleven and then tell me the strengths and then the
weaknesses!
Im not sure, Roy, I guess I go with whats been working so far! Roy shook his head,
You cant afford to be uncertain, the boys will pick up on it straight away, youll lose
respect. You have to show them that you are the boss, you are in charge. Now tell me
that eleven!
Declan remembered when Steve Wootten had been given the big job at Melchester
Rovers, he made many mistakes; trying to be one of the lads, joking, joining in training
and playing hard. Perhaps it is easier to avoid repeating the errors of his past bosses
than trying to be a Roy Race or Kenny Davenport clone, he thought. Now he was
clueless, Roy Race would be his saviour or at least set him off on the right path.
OK! 4-3-1-2 Scarlett in goal; Parky at right-back, Armand at left-back; centre-halves,
Churchy and Olu; in midfield Ive Warren, Chemin and Cuatro; me in the number ten
role; Baines and Morris up top.
Roy nodded, Dec continued, Strengths; solid spine, we play narrow and stifle the
opposition in midfield, we press high up the pitch, we give away few chances. The
midfielders are creative, but Warren and Chemin get stuck in too. Nicky Morris is one
of the most natural finishers Ive played with, almost as good as Rocky was!
Weaknesses; we lack width, while being narrow is a strength, we dont spread play,
we can get bogged down against teams who dont want to attack us, which at the
moment is everyone!
Roy agreed, A narrow approach works well when youre the underdog, when teams
expect to beat you and score goals. Early this season, it worked spectacularly, but I

see problems at the back end of the season. When teams are nervous about
relegation, for some reason they set themselves out not to be beaten rather than win
games! It makes no sense, but thats why those teams are at the bottom! But were at
the top, lets worry about how to stay there. Any more weaknesses?
Of course; individually we dont have the quality, the technical ability, the raw skill of
the other top end clubs. Kelburns players are on a different planet, Melchester have
Cheetham and Powell. Id take any of Everpools, Tynecasters or Portdeans first
choice players to add to my team.
Roy nodded, but then began to shake his head, Ah, Declan, chum! Skill is overrated;
its something people on television want to talk about, to say weve got the best
players in the world in our league. We dont and Walford dont have any of the best
technical players. Sorry, I lie, they have the player with the best technique, you! But
organisation, preparation and fitness are what win titles! Skill only gets you so far, only
the very best teams can combine the highest levels of skill with the kind of
organisation required to lose only a handful of matches a season. But it is the manager
who is the most important member of that team because he is the link between
preparation and performance, without correct preparation performance can never be
consistent!
Roy thumped the bar excitedly, Thats where Ill help you. I will make sure that you
have clear thoughts, that you are sure of your plans and most importantly that you
take them onto the training pitch and actually see them through! Now, I want one
more big weakness, one that youve completely ignored!
Declan looked puzzled, No, Roy, Im blank! Diana slapped him lightly, shed always
been an unwilling football fan, but her upbringing meant her understanding of club
management was far superior to most football club chairmen, Dec, youre daft! Its
you, youre the weakness! He looked stunned, Shes right, chum! How are you going
to react to managing the team? You dont know! How are you going to manage and
still be the key player? You dont know! Uncertainty; the thing we first talked about,
thats your biggest challenge!
Storky Knight
NEXT The Easter period is a busy time in Melchester and Walford!

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