Surprise! Surprise! What Surprise?

Last updated : 28 February 2002 By Tigers Co-operative
Many of you out there were amazed by the sudden mutual agreement sacking of Brian Little and Co on Wednesday but no one can be surprised by anything that happens in football. The 'United We Stand' statement in the HDM on Monday was probably the kiss of death for Brian. The worst thing that can happen to any football manager is to get a vote of confidence from the chairman!

On behalf of all City fans we must thank you Brian, Dave and Kevan for all that you have done for the club especially during the crisis last year when you not only stuck by us but took us to the play-offs. Anyone can see that you've left us with the nucleus of a good team. Thanks lads and good luck in the future. We're certain you'll all be fixed up somewhere soon.

So surprised but not surprised has got to be the conclusion after recent events. Just look at some of the things that have happened. In the Macclesfield game City looked like a team facing the drop into the Conference not "fighting" (wrong word) for an automatic promotion place or, at worst, a place in the play-offs. There was no one, with the possible exception of Mark Greaves, who looked willing to go the extra yard, to take the chance. Had they been told to be patient? Trouble was, patience allowed Macclesfield to get all eleven behind the ball. A bit of impatience might have helped especially early on but not the kind displayed by Ryan Williams.
Throughout the season strange things have been happening. Players have been signed and then ignored: Lee, Bloomer, Price and Morley (released then re-signed). The signing of more defenders when everyone could see that a battling midfield general was needed to organise things in front of the beleaguered back line. This is not Richard Sneekes. There was a lack of ideas at set pieces, both defending and attacking. Strange team selections such as Theo and Sneekes in the centre of the team at York in what was going to be a scrap and strange substitutions such as replacing Van Blerk with Theo against Macclesfield. One would have guessed that Brian was hoping that Theo would do something magic to turn the game but even Harry Potter couldn't have turned things around.

Now we go into a period of silly season speculation as to who will take over the hot seat. We can expect the world and his dog to be linked with the job. Let's rule out one or two possibles. The team is lacking in heart, so Dr Christian Barnard would have been an obvious candidate but unfortunately he died last year. Long John Silver would be no good for the play-off semi as it involves two legs!

According to Adam Pearson the obvious candidates are in jobs. On the Radio Humberside phone-in Brian Laws' name kept appearing. City is the only local club he hasn't managed! Someone phoned in with a hands off message but one can't help but remember Scunny fans phoning in at the start of the season wanting to be rid of him as fast as possible! Another favourite was Rotherham's Ronnie Moore or was it Roger Moore? Motivation by the raising of an eyebrow? We certainly want someone licensed to thrill.

Billy Russell, who has done a fantastic job with the juniors this season, is in pole position. Perhaps under him we might see the return of Gary Bradshaw, a player who has been totally ignored in the first team by Brian Little. Not ready, he looked pretty good under Warren Joyce's management. What about the return of Warren? He saved us before when we looked dead and buried. Anyway the list of possibles is endless and undoubtedly you will be discussing them all in your pubs and clubs, at work, over the internet and in the letters columns of the HDM.

Anyway it's over to you now Adam.



Wouldn't you have guessed it? The week when something dramatic happens our chairman Dave Medcalf had to go to the United States on his firm's business. He said he was going to Chicago but we think he was just going to Dodge City!



Footnote: Did anyone notice in the Macclesfield game that Ryan was sent off by Mr Ryan? The consensus was probably that the wrong Ryan left the field.



Our next Open Committee Meeting will be held on Thursday 14th March at 7.30 p.m. at the Duke of Cumberland, Cottingham, and not on the 7th March. All Tigers Co-operative members are welcome. New members may join on the night or by contacting us at: P.O. Box 145, Brough HU15 1XP; E-mail: committee@tigersco-op.org.uk; Website: www.tigersco-op.org.uk