Taylor Wimpey
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PATIENCE, PATIENCE

Posted on: Wed 18 Feb 2009

The postponement of two games recently prevented the team from getting some football in and denied this reporter the opportunity to see something he so badly wants to: A match played with an orange ball.
There is something romantically nostalgic about a game played on a snowy top, with swept lines and glow-in-the-dark Mitre but sadly, I don't think it is a spectacle any of us will be witnessing any time soon.
In these times of 'health and safety' away fixtures in Narnia are going to be put on the backburner as the liability (in both senses of the word) of supporters falling over on their way to the ground takes precedence.
My opinion is that such a ruling is probably about right. The safety of the fans comes first, if only because they are paying to keep the game afloat at this level.
Increasingly, it would seem, they are finding it harder to do so, and in these times of uncertainty it is difficult to blame people for not wanting to put their hand in their pocket and shell out to go to football matches.
I use the word 'uncertainty' instead of 'recession' deliberately; I personally do not feel the global credit crisis is having that much of a direct influence on the majority of the men in the street, but people are making cutbacks in case they find themselves in a worst-case scenario - and by this I mean losing their job.
The club's decision to offer season tickets in the Dave Bowen stand for £250 has to be applauded because it shows they understand the hardships facing people and are trying to make the sport as accessible as possible to them.
Some supporters have commented that they'd like to see the club bring in new players - ideally expensive ones - to help lure supporters to the ground on a regular basis.
This is not an argument which holds much water in the current financial climate and didn't either when times were better. On the opening day of the 2003-04 season, after a summer when the club signed players like Martin Smith, Josh Low and Ashley Westwood on big bucks, 5,675 turned out to see the brave new world lose to Torquay United. The next home league game saw the gate down to 5,020.
To spend now would be crazy and could lead to a Luton scenario further down the line, where the supporters are outside the ground doing bucket collections on matchdays while the players arrive for training in 4x4s.
Nobody wants that, so in the meantime there is going to be a need for patience, both on the club's side and the supporters'. In the press box, I'll remain patient in my mission for that game with an orange ball.

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It was heartwarming to see Eduardo back in action for Arsenal the other night, scoring two goals in the Gunners' really rather straightforward FA Cup win over Cardiff City.
It has flown by, but it was actually 12 months ago that the Croatian striker suffered that horrific injury at Birmingham City, where his foot was seemingly hanging off his leg.
That he's back in competitive action is a major tribute to his own spirit but also to the competence and skill of the medical team who have administered his rehabilitation. Too often physios are the unsung heroes of football clubs - without them managerss simply wouldn't have fit players to put out every Saturday - so it was very pleasing to see Eduardo celebrate his goals with Arsenal fitness coach Tony Colbert.
"I think Tony has spent more time with him than his wife," joked Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after the game. Hard work on both parts then, and praise is duly deserved for both men.

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