Daggers back to winning ways!!!

Dagenham and Redbridge came into Saturday's home came with York City on the back of a creditable draw away against Cheltenham Town.  The Daggers had led through former Robin Jamie Cureton, unfortunately the Whaddon Road club's second half pressure finally told and they managed to salvage a point with only 3 minutes remaining.  Although Wayne Burnett would have been disappointed to concede so late in the game a point away from home is always welcome, especially after being on a bad run of 3 defeats on the bounce, it was nice to stop the rot.

Saturday's was the first TBS Combo game of the season.  This is were season ticket holders who paid an extra £30 on top of their season ticket price get a chance to see their team from the best stand in the ground, the away stand.  This means that the club pick 10 games out of the season where home supporters can share the stand with away supporters.  Obviously the crowds are at separate ends of the stand so as to curtail any bad feeling between the two sets of fans, in other words the opposing fans are segregated so there is no fisty cuffs.

TBS stands for Traditional Builders Stand who of course are the name of the sponsers, this is the second name the stand as had, originally it was the MJ stand named after the former dead prince of pop Michael Jackson who died just as the stand was reaching completion in June 2009.

A Traditional Builder!!

I always arrive slightly earlier for the TBS games (this is unless we go with my mate Trigger then we turn up 5 minutes before kick off) as this gives my son a chance to eat his burger and then make his way to the front of the stand to get some autograph's from the players as they go back to the changing rooms after their warm up.  Normally my son is the only one doing this but this week he was joined by a middle aged York City fan who was intent on getting everybody's signature from either team.  My son was happy enough though and managed to get about 15 Daggers signatures which is fair play to the players, a bit of time for the younger fans doesn't go unnoticed and their kindness adds to my sons enjoyment of the matchday experience.  When my son returned to his seat with a big smile on his face I asked him if when he grew up would he still be getting autograph's like the York City supporter was, he didn't answer me but instead throw me a look that said "don't be such a twat dad" it was ever this or indigestion after just wolfing down his burger.

As the teams walked out it was good to see former Dagger and somewhat cult hero Olafemi Ilesanmi "Femi" return to his old club, the York left back had been a bit of hero at Victoria Road what with his marauding forward runs, his strong build and his sometimes inexplicable knack to do the seemingly impossible.  However he also had a tendency to think too much and decision making was never one of Femi's strong points, but it was nice to see him back getting the ball on the left handside with his mouth wide open with that concerned and slightly confused look on his face.  As I said everybody loved Femi at Dagenham but to be fair after the emergence of Jack Connors last season it was always going to be hard for the surprised one to get into this team, and although some of his antics will be missed I am sure the decision to let him go at the end of last season was a good one for all parties concerned.

Welcome back Femi!!

York came to Victoria Road a point and two places above the Daggers in the table despite this the Minstermen had  lost 3 out of the last 5 games and had only won once away so far this season, so if the Daggers could create a few chances the win should have been forthcoming.

In a first half with not many chances and not much to talk about incident wise Daggers took the lead on 35 minutes with a tidy finish from midfielder Joss Labadie, the former Torquay and Notts County man netting his first goal for the Daggers.

Daggers had set up slightly different, at times playing like a diamond and sometimes playing with five men in midfield.  From the lofty heights of the TBS stand you see the game from a totally different perspective and you notice things that you wouldn't normally from the Sieve (the terraced standing area).  What I noticed most of all was the movement, positioning and tireless work of Jamie Cureton, he may be 39 years old but he is one classy player.  He gives you everything you want from a striker, he gets out wide, he can cross, he links up play, he can play a pass, he makes intelligent run after run and we already know he can finish, by far the best attribute he has other than his finishing is his constant pestering of defenders, opposition players have to be switched on at all times otherwise one mistake and he is in.  I sometimes think we are so lucky to have players like him at our little club, the fact that he must have taken a pay cut to play for us is testament to the player but the fact that Wayne Burnett managed to get him in the first place is just unbelievable really what a coup for the Daggers this deal has been.  His play was so good off and on the ball during the game I found myself watching him more than the actual game itself, at times his football is pure poetry in motion.

The Daggers went in at half time deservedly leading as the defence and goalkeeper Mark Cousins had had little to do.

Second half and as expected York came out a bit more but other than a few crosses into the box and at times some poor finishing the Daggers never looked like given up this lead, and probably unsurprisingly it was the home team who increased the lead just after the hour mark when a Chambers freekick was pin-pointedly placed on Joss Labadies head to score his and Daggers second goal of the game.  From where I was sitting I could see we were going to score as I said to my son just before the kick was taken, Chambers is going to put that right on Labadies head and he is going to score again.  I love it when the plan comes together, not only did we take a two goal lead but now my son thinks I am some sort of Psychic set piece caller, ever that or some sort of Psycho middle aged bingo caller, either/or I'll take it.

So it was back to winning ways for the Daggers and although not the greatest game I have ever seen it was nice to be back in the TBS and nice to see a win.

It was great to see Labadie score his first goals for the club too and it went down well with the players who were sitting out the game in the same stand as us.  Rhys Murphy, Ian Gayle, Christian Doidge and Billy Bingham were all in attendance.  A special mention for Rhys Murphy as well as he was the only one of the players to stay to the final whistle, fair play Rhys hope to see you back soon.

So on to the next match, another home game and another TBS one, but this one is on a Friday night, I love a night game lets hope we can continue this unbeaten run and get ourselves back up the table.

Come on you Daggers!!

 

How many did the Daggers score Mickey J?

Not Good Enough Ref!!

I'm the Fucking Daddy round here!!

In a week full of exciting games, shock results goals and managerial casualties, it is a bit of a shame that I reluctantly have to choose the topic of refereeing as the main body of this latest post.  Now don't get me wrong I realise that reffing aint an easy job, but when the man in the middle and his 2 assistants disagrees with everybody else in the whole wide world about a major decision then there is seriously something wrong.

I am talking of course about the two incidents in the Leicester City v Man Utd game on Sunday afternoon.

Referee Mark Clattenburg's decision that Jamie Vardy's challenge on Man Utd's Rafael was not a foul even though it was made with such force that it almost sent the Red Devil's defender careering into the advertising hoardings and then his next decision to give Leicester a penalty when the two clashed again in the box a few seconds later has to be seen as one of the worst pieces of refereeing I have seen at any level.

Now I am not a Manchester United fan and I don't care if the get beaten or whether they smash someone 10-0 I am a football fan and I like to see football played the right way, and that includes when a game is spoiled by a bad decision.  Granted it meant that the Foxes came back from 3-1 down against their much richer rivals to win 5-3 but that may have happened anyway.  On the other foot what if Man Utd had been given the free kick they should have had, what if they had taken the free kick and gone up the other end and scored and gone 4-1 up.  The truth is although its great for the neutral, it is still a poor decision that has probably cost Louis Van Gaal the match.

As a fan I have lost count at the amount of times I have left the ground not talking about the goals that were scored or moaning about a teams performance, but how poor the officials were.  I mean I watch a lot of league 2 football and I probably see about 3 good refereeing performances a season, but even at that level a decision like Clattenburg's "who incidentally is supposed to be one of our better referee's" are never made.  The thing is you can't even say it was a mistake, or he didn't see it, he just got it so wrong.

What happens next?  Nothing, I have been really surprised how it as been brushed under the carpet, I mean if I was Van Gaal I would have gone bonkers but he didn't blame the ref he just got on with it.

The thing is there will be no punishment for Clattnburg and he will continue next week reffing another big match, but if a player makes a mistake and gets it wrong, for example makes two mistimed tackles or kicks the ball away or takes his shirt off or something he picks up 2 bookings and gets a suspension, but a refereeing decision can cost a team a game and they get nothing.

It seems that referee's are above everything in football, yeah its a hard job so they say but is it, really, the thing is it is not so much them getting it wrong its the fact you never hear them come out and admit to it, If Clattenburg came out and said look, sorry fellas I fucked up, he would get more respect than some stupid global love the ref campaign that was put into place a few years ago.  Ref's aren't respected end of, well at least by the fans their not and who can blame them they spend their money travelling around the country standing/sitting in the cold and the rain only for some inhuman humorless twat to ruin the day with some incompetent decision which has cost the supporters much more than the team and the players.

It is infuriating, but what can be done?  Nothing, that's what.  I know lets help the ref by getting more assistants to help him.  Soon there will be more assistants then players standing around NOT making decisions.  I mean its bad enough that the lino don't make a decision in a game when an incident happens right in front of them, this of course is mostly the case in the lower leagues not so much in the Premiership as it appears from a fans perspective that linesman in League 1 and 2 are told by the ref "you just concentrate on offsides and throws, I will deal with all the major decisions".  In some cases I hope that is the case because some of these flag wavers have enough trouble knowing which way to give a throw.  Hopefully it won't come to a stage where there are more officials introduced like in Europe where you have men running around and crouching about by the goal with their magic sticks, I mean what the fuck??   In a few years time when the incompetence of the officials has a bearing on the amount of money the Premier league makes then maybe we will see changes, but until then the fans will have to put up with it.

Ok Jimmy just throw ins and offsides,.  This is my show!!

Don't get me wrong I don't think every Ref and Linesman, oh sorry "assistant referee" are shit, credit were credit is due I have never seen Sian Massey get an offside decision wrong and the two officials who used to work with Howard Webb were pretty good as well, but unfortunately for every Howard Webb there is another 8 Stuart Atwell's or in the lower leagues a Gavin Ward or a Darren Deadman.

Oh well I hope you enjoy your football this week and I hope it doesn't  get spoiled by the man in the middle or the men on the touchline.


In other news.


Arsenal beat Villa this week with 3 goals in 3 first half minutes, Ozil and Welbeck answering their critics with two of the goals.
Alan Pardew looked as if his head was on the chopping block as Newcastle went 2 down at home to Hull with only 20 or so minutes remaining, luckily for the Toon boss a double from Cisse earned the Geordie Boys a point.  West Ham surprised Liverpool with a 3-1 win, and although Brendan Rodgers bemoaned his defensive deficiencies the Happy Hammers were the better team and totally deserved the points in this one.
Spurs got turned over by the Baggies and Palace stunned Everton.

In the Championship Felix "Penfold" Magath finally put all Fulham fans out of the misery and  lost his job.  Leeds spanked Huddersfield 3-0 in a Yorkshire derby and Middlesborough tonked Brentford 4-0.

A surprise loss for Peterborough at Yeovil meant they dropped to 3rd in league 1, whilst a 3-3 draw between Fleetwood and Bristol City gave the The Robins a 5 point lead at the top of the table.  Crewe stay rooted to the bottom after a 6-1 drubbing from MK Dons, who rose to second place.

Bury went top of  league 2 with a 3-1 win of second placed Burton and in a 9 goal thriller at Northampton The Cobblers lost 5-4 to Accrington, Carlisle lost narrowly 3-2 against Mansfield and are bottom.




Goal of the week:  Angel De Maria's left footed chip for man United against Leicester to put the Red Devils 2-0 up.

Time To Bring Back Trumpet Boy!!

The Daggers were at home for the second league game in a row on Saturday, and yet again after seeing the team sheet I was feeling confident of a win over Cambridge United as I walked to the ground.

After a pleasing first half performance with some nice stuff being played and some chances being created The Daggers went into the break comfortably leading by a Luke Howell header and as the garbled noise came over the PA at half time me and my mate were discussing all things Daggers.

We were discussing the fact that Ashley Chambers (who incidentally had returned to the team after injury) was starting to impose himself on games and that he was showing a lot more confidence then he did last year when he was loaned to us from that days opponents Cambridge.  It looks as if he has been given the number 10 shirt by Wayne Burnett and told you are my number ten go and make things happen and I have to say that every time I have seen him this season he has done just that.  We also discussed a topic that has been mentioned a lot on the forum and that is about the atmosphere in the ground at matches, especially in the sieve.  We both agreed that there used to be a lot more noise and a happier atmosphere when the drum that is sometimes played in the terrace was accompanied by a trumpet.

The atmosphere has definitely changed and it seems more angry and abusive in the last few years, if you add that to the performances on the pitch as well it is hardly surprising we all walk out of the ground moaning and groaning.  People seem to think that if everybody was singing and starting new songs all the time that things would be better, maybe, but in all the years I have been going over there I have never started a song or have rarely joined in with the singing but I remember there still being a cracking atmosphere, one that had a bit of fun to it , a sense of humour if you like, and I seriously think that had a lot to do with the trumpet player.

There would be times in the game when it would  hit a lull and the trumpet would start playing a tune and it would give everyone a chuckle, if one of the opposing players was mouthing off then the trumpet player would give out a rendetion of Steptoe and Son, my personal favourite was the theme tune to One Foot In The Grave, which used to get an airing every once in a while, it used to keep the punters amused and also I very rarely used to hear the abuse our own players seem to get nowadays, I'm sure that went on though because even when we had Danny Green playing for us there was always some twat calling him a CUN* but that is because some people are just brain dead, that I'm afraid can't be helped.

I for one would love to hear the trumpet back at Victoria Road, I had a little look about to see if it was illegal to play instruments in the ground but apparently it is down to the clubs discretion.  So if indeed the Trumpet boy wanted to come out of retirement I say Trumpet Boy he is obviously a man now, then I am sure a word in Steve Thompson's shell like could get this to happen.  Again this is only my opinion about things and maybe I am totally wrong but I just remember it being better with a trumpet, if it don't happen I may just go over there with a megaphone and start "Wap, Wapping" one foot in the grave by myself in my distinctive pub singing voice, maybe that will change the atmosphere.

Anyway in the second half we lost our way and what looked to be an easy 3 points ended up being nothing. First of all we gave away a soft free kick outside the box again, that they scored from, then we failed to cut out a cross and they scored from a header, again and them Cambridge scored the most bizzare goal I have seen in a long time Liam O'brien our goalkeeper comes to collect a ball in the air, the opposition forward looks at him twice jumps into him and the ball ends up in the net.  The thing is it should have been a foul but when I saw it back the goalie has just got to clean him out and win the ball, instead he does nothing and gets caught out, technically its still a foul but again we put ourselves in a position.  The Daggers did manage to get back into it  through George Porter and for the final ten minutes they threw everything at Cambridge but alas to no avail, a great save from Dunn stopped debutant Ade Yousuff from equalising late on but in the end The Daggers came away pointless.

Keepers!!!

So on to yesterday and a chance to get back to winning ways away to Portsmouth.  It sounded like quite an even first half with both teams attacking but also both teams giving the ball away to often, Pompey went into the break with a lead although near the end of the half Chambers had been denied by the crossbar.  Into the second period and rash tackle from Daggers playmaker Andre Boucard earned the former Notts County player his marching orders after a second yellow.  Matters got worse in the 69th minute when Daggers conceded a penalty which Jed Wallace converted, Portsmouth later had a goal disallowed for offside but then in stoppage time The Daggers were caught on the counter by substitute Andy Barcham who finished the game off and sent The Daggers back to Essex with a 3-0 loss, their 3rd defeat in a row.

Boucard will be a big miss on Saturday.

After Saturdays game against Cambridge Wayne Burnett had been pissed off to say the least with certain players performances and had promised changes for last nights game.  The changes did come and the most notable was the dropping of keeper Liam O'Brien who was replaced by Mark Cousins, but none of the changes seemed to make much of a difference and we go into tough away game against Cheltenham on Saturday without Boucard and a team that must be low on confidence after such a promising start.

Hopefully the enforced changes that Wayne will have to make will bring a different outcome on Saturday, we live in hope.

Come on you Daggers!!!

LVG, Diamond Geezer.

After what seemed like ages the premier league returned this weekend and with it came a first chance to see many of the deadline day signings.

The most anticipated game would have to be Manchester United's home game against QPR on Sunday.  Louis Van Gaal had been busy over the transfer window bringing in big names and spending obscene amounts of money, on the other side of the fence 'Arry had not had as good a transfer window as he normally does, only bringing in the likes of Sandro and Kranjcar on deadline day added to Leroy Fer and Rio Ferdinand who Redknapp had brought in earlier in the window.

Rio was returning to Old Trafford for the first time in a QPR shirt after spending 12 years with the Red Devils, it must have been quite an emotional feeling to come back to a club were you have had so many good and successful times.  Obviously Rio would have been looking to go there to help the R's to a positive result against his old team.  It was always going to be a tough game for the visitors but when LVG shook hands with Harry and then sat in the dugout and unpacked his team selection on the pitch like a Fortnam and Mason luxury hamper, Harry, Rio, Stan Bowles, Bob Hazel, Rodney Marsh and Gerry Francis all know they could be getting a pasting in this game.

To be fair Harry did everything he could to avoid a mauling, he set his team up in a 4-5-1 formation and tried to nullify the creative and talented Man Utd midfield, but alas it was all in vain as the super hoops crashed to a 4-0 defeat.

Van Gaal had decided to try a new formation in this game he had ditched the 3 at the back and had gone for the ever increasingly popular 4-4-2 diamond formation.  To be honest though with the quality of players at LVG's disposal he could have played a square, circle, rectangle or any other sort of shape on Sunday and the result would have been basically the same.

The formation meant he could play Rooney and Van Persie up front with Mata just behind the front two Daley Blind as an anchor man in midfield with Di Maria one side of midfield and Herrera the other side, it worked a treat and I reckon this could be the way United set up at home for most of the season.  With RVP and Rooney up top it did mean however that the eagerly awaited introduction of Falcao was not forthcoming till the 67th minute when he replaced Jaun Mata.

At last the fans got to see Falco in action.

Manchester United fans will no doubt be happy with the performance of their team this weekend and so they should be.  Louis Van Gaal has come in for a lot of criticism lately but if I were a Man Utd fan I would be beside myself with excitement, with no distraction of European football or League cup they can just get on with their business in the league and if they can get some positive results against the big four this season they could and really should be back in European football next season at the very least.

Manchester United will not win the league though as Chelsea will win the Premier league by a country mile and then some, Jose's boys went 1-0 down at the weekend to a then unbeaten Swansea City, but turned the game on its head with a Hat-trick from Diego Costa and a debut goal for new signing Loic Remy to run out 4-2 winners.  I will say it now I really believe that this Chelsea team is one of the best football teams I have seen.  I don't like Chelsea I am not a fan but even I can't help purring at some of the stuff they play at times it is just magical, I wouldn't be surprised if they go the whole season without a defeat to their name, I really think this team is the real deal, it is head and shoulders above any other in the top league.

It looks like Alan Pardew is getting flack again at Newcastle and yet again his job looks under threat, personally I think he has a half decent team there and I think he is a bit unlucky that it hasn't gone for him yet, unfortunately for him its a results business and if he doesn't get a decent result at home to Hull on Saturday you fear for his job.  Newcastle sit bottom of the pile at the moment with just 2 points.  I think he should be given a chance but unfortunately that is not how football works these days.

Another manager who always seems to be under pressure is Big Sam at West Ham after a poor game at home to Southampton last time out the Irons were looking for a win at Hull last night it was a good game to watch with plenty of new signings for both teams taking their bow.  The game ended 2-2 with West Ham being denied at the death by a goal line clearance from new Hull boy Michael Dawson.  Ah Michael Dawson when he was at Spurs I used to think he was nothing but an average player, if you looked up average in a picture dictionary there would be old unreliable Daws looking back at you. but not last night as far as I could see he was almost exceptional at the back for the Tigers and his last ditch defending was a fitting end to a very good display from the centre back.

Average:  The usual or ordinary Michael Dawson.

In other news Leicester got their first win of the season, Villa went to Anfield and beat Liverpool again and Arsenal got a good draw with Man City.  In the Championship Forest and Derby County shared the points in the Brian Clough derby and Norwich beat Cardiff 4-2 to stay 2nd.  In league 1 Bristol City went top with a 3-0 win over Doncaster as Peterborough couldn't score against Notts County, and in league 2 Burton just keep on keeping on with a 2-0 win over York.

Goal of the week:

Has to be Enner Valencia's wonder strike against Hull last night an absolute beauty.

Save of the week:

Chris Dunn for Cambridge against Daggers the keeper tips the ball over the top of the bar to foil daggers debutant Ade Yussuf's chest control and volley to keep the U's 3-2 up.

Pass of the week

AC Milan's Jeremy Menez's pass to himself as he runs round the keeper before back heeling the ball into the roof of the net.  If you haven't seen it it is on vine watch it it is amazing.

Danny At The Double As Roy Gets It Spot On!!

After a less than convincing 1-0 win against Norway at a half filled Wembley stadium in a friendly last week, it was crunch time for England and for their manager former docker Roy Hodgson.   Roy was under pressure and it was beginning to show after his Fucking Bollocks outburst in front of the media last Wednesday night.

Switzerland away was as every one was telling us the hardest game in these qualifiers on paper and a positive result was a must.  Before the game "Rude word" Roy threw in a curve ball that most fans and pundits alike weren't expecting.  Roy set his England side out in a Diamond formation with Jack Wilshire at the base of it and Raheem Sterling at the very tip of it.  He decided to play Danny wellbeck and captain Rooney up front and have debutant Fabian Delph and Jordan Henderson narrow in midfield.  No wide men but a left footer on the left of midfield and a right footer on the right.  Although it was not the greatest of performances it proved to be a shrewd bit of tactical thinking from the England boss, as his team were set up perfectly for counter attacking, and so it proved with two quick breakaway goals both scored by pacey new Arsenal signing Danny Wellbeck.   England had a few shaky moments and Joe Hart was called into action a few times but he did his job and a fantastic Gary Cahill clearance at 1-0 up made sure the 3 lions didn't concede.  The Swiss were adamant that Cahill handballed it in the clearance, it did hit his arm but the replay showed that the bloke who had the effort was offside anyway, so there was a bit of justice there.  To be fair the Swiss didn't really offer much and although they were billed as favourites before the game due to their lofty FIFA ranking of 9th in the world England won with a bit of a canter in the end.

I have to admit I wasn't expecting to see such a positive England set up nor was I expecting us to win without conceding, so credit where credit s due to Roy he got it spot on.

I hope he keeps the same formation in the up and coming qualifiers, because we should really be winning this group with a lot to spare especially now after defeating the group favourites in their own backyard.  With some of the games coming up we can really build up some confidence before we qualify for the Euros in France 2016.  If Roy keeps this formation it is likely that Wayne Rooney will be England's record goalscorer by the time we reach the end of the qualifiers, with 2 games against Estonia and San Marino to come Sir Bobby Charlton's long time record could eventually be up for grabs, I don't think Wayne will get a better chance, this could be his moment.

The thing is we shouldn't get carried away after a good win although it seems like a long time ago since it last happened, but as long as we arrange the right friendlies against better teams during this qualifying campaign to gauge our progress it could be a good time for English football, at last.  It is all very well qualifying from a group of 3rd world footballing nations but if you don't play against anyone with any pedigree during that time then there is no way of knowing at what level we really are, and the FIFA rankings wont help, as if we do like I think we might qualify with a 100% record then they will place us up in the top 5 of the world which to quote Roy would be Fucking Bollocks!!

FUCKING BOLLOCKS!!!

It was a good start also for some of the other home nations, Northern Ireland started with a very impressive 2-1 away win at Hungary, and although they are not technically a home nation Eire also won 2-1 away to Georgia.  Scotland  put up a brave and fighting performance against world champions Germany but unfortunately they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat.  Its a funny thing with Scotland as much as I don't really care whether they win, lose or draw when I watch them play I always feel sorry for them when they lose.  I think it is a Gordon Strachan thing, as I pundit I think he talks a load of shit but as a manager and as a player he has that fighting spirit that I really respect and for some reason I just want him and his players to do well.  I think it stems back to the 1986 world cup when yet again they didn't qualify for the latter stages and they played a game against Uruguay and Strachan was taken out by a Uraguayan within the first couple of minutes, they played against ten men for the majority of the game but couldn't get the goal that would have put them through and out they went.  I remember being really pissed off after watching that game almost taking it personally in some way yet I don't have a single bit of Scottish in me.  I felt a bit like that on Sunday night when they lost to the German's as in the second half especially, Scotland at times were the better team and if they had taken all 3 points I don't think the German's could have had any complaints but yet again they found away to win and Scotland came away with absolutely nothing.

James Morrison and Christophe Kramer playing paper,scissors, stone
some footballers are human.

With more teams qualifying for these European Championships then ever before I for one would love to see all the home nations qualify even wales, because surely players like Bale and Ramsey deserve to play at the highest international level possible, I mean the fact that Ryan Giggs never played at a major tournament and Tony Cascarino and Danny Mills did is just ridiculous.

Danny "Fucking" Mills

Portugal without the winking wanker succumbed to a shock defeat to Albania, proving without a doubt what a one man team they are, Spain beat Macedonia 5-1, Russia were 4-0 winners over Liechtenstein and Poland beat Gibraltar 7-0.

Wales travel to Andorra tonight to get their campaign underwayand it will be interesting to see if Bale is fit, because he and Ramsey are obviously key to any success that they have.  Italy start with a tough game away to Norway, Holland take on the Czech's and Count Kovac's Croatia start off with a home game against Malta.

The road to Paris 2016 has begun and lets hope England can keep up this winning habit.
Good luck to all the home nations and Eire.

Come on England!!

Richard's Brace Sinks Under-strength Daggers

Dagenham and Redbridge came into their home game against Northampton Town undefeated in 3 games.

After an epic 3-3 draw away to Oxford United in their last game The Daggers were looking to add to their 7 point tally against The Cobblers, a team they had never beaten.

The previous game against Oxford must have felt a bit like a win as the Daggers had equalised late on to take a share of the spoils.  Skipper Abu Ogogo scored the leveller with an absolutely fantastic lobbed, long ranged effort.  It was the midfielders 3rd goal in as many games.  Ashley Hemmings got his first league goal of the season and Jamie Cureton also netted.  It was the veteran strikers 3rd goal in all competitions.

Abu Ogogo scores against Oxford
He is under there somewhere.

As I walked to Victoria Road on Saturday I was feeling very confident of getting our first win against Northampton, that was until I got into the ground and heard the Daggers line up.  With 3 major first teamers missing from the team sheet the early optimistic expectations had suddenly dropped to a lower level, I was now thinking a draw would be a pretty good result, but deep down I was readying myself for a disappointing defeat.

Ashley Chambers and Scott Doe were out with injuries and everyones favourite scapegoat Jack Connors was on Irish under 21 duty.  George Porter came in for Chambers and rookie defender Ian Gayle made his first start of the season in place of  Doe at centre back, Matt Partridge kept his place at right back and in came right back Damien Batt to play at left back in place of Connors.  The Injuries and international call up also meant that The Daggers were only able to name 6 subs, the last of which was youth team player Mason Bloomfield who according to manager Wayne Burnett had been playing for the under 18's that morning.


When you take in to consideration the strength of the squad and then look at the strength of the opposition this game was always going to be tough, and so it proved.  It took 8 minutes before we went a goal a good passing move which was started off by Northampton's 18 year old starlet Ivan Toney with a clever flick that left our midfield flat footed and eventually ended in a goal by experienced striker Marc Richards.  By the 24th minute the game was all but over, Richard's heading home his second of the game when he outjumped Ian Gayle from a Joel Byrom cross.

Daggers had a few chances in the game and on another day Cureton puts one or two away but it just wasn't to be for the Daggers and in the end the best team won.  Daggers definitely missed Ashley Chambers and his positive runs, and no doubt Scott Does pace at the back may have made a difference as well, but all afternoon we were second best though and the finishing of Marc Richards, the clever and quick play of Ivan Toney and Kaid Mohammed, not to mention the experienced head at the back in the shape of 26 year old Ryan Cresswell, were the big difference.  What a signing Cresswell could prove to be for The Cobblers, he could be a big player this season and could help push Northampton further up the league.  Northampton are the best I have seen at Victoria Road so far this season and the way they play and with the players they have there is no reason why they cant be right up there at the end of the season.

As for the Daggers there were a few positives, other then not being strong enough for the second goal I thought Ian Gayle had a good game and started to become more confident as the game went on.  It was also good for Bradley Goldberg get 20- 25 minutes of football under his belt and that can only be a good thing for a young striker in his first season in league football after a very successful loan spell last year in the Conference South, on another day he too could of scored one of the half chances he had.

#What a moment for young Mason Bloomfield who came on to make his debut in senior football, the boy must have been so proud.  Congratulations Mason and good luck for the future.

Debutant Mason Bloomfield up against new Cobblers signing Ryan Cresswell.

So it may have been a disappointing result but these things happen.  The way some fans react to defeat though is just embarrassing, slagging off young players, getting on the players back if they make a mistake.

Some of these players we have at Daggers at the moment may well be some of the best we have ever had, players like Andre Boucard are far to good to be playing for a team like us yet the fans want him out of the side just because he might lose the ball once in a while.  Daggers fans be grateful for what you have got, because you will miss it when its gone.  If you think it is frustrating now you obviously never saw Dagenham in the mid 80's when our main striker George Dolarto used to regularly trip over the ball on the goal line and the only way we were saved from relegation each year was because we would bring Billy Lansdowne in on loan from Swedish side Kalmar FF every season just to keep us up.

We have the makings of a good attacking footballing side, so just enjoy it.

We will get better and keep improving and no doubt it will be a much better performance this Saturday when we entertain Cambridge in another home game.

COME ON YOU DAGGERS!!

Welbeck, Blind, Falcao And A Dildo

What a busy old week it has been in football, It seems like ages ago that Man Utd were being thumped 4-0 by Mac Dons and dumped out of the league Cup.

In the Premier League it was an action packed weekend.  A 6-3 win for Chelsea at Everton, a six goal thriller between Newcastle and Crystal Palace with the Eagles scoring a late injury time equaliser. Manchester City who never lose at home, lost at home to Stoke, Burnley got their first point of the season with a nil niller with the mighty Manchester United and Southampton showed West Ham a footballing lesson at Upton Park as the visitors won 3-1.  I was at this game and the players must have stunned by the thundering sound of collapsing seats as a mass exodus ensued when the Saints scored their third with 10 minutes remaining.  Liverpool and their new signing Mario Balotelli traveled to White Hart Lane and ended the Spurs 100% record with a comfortable 3-0 away win, QPR managed to get their first win of the season against Sunderland and Swansea thumped West Brom 3-0.

In the Championship Managerless Leeds got a well earned and hard fought win against Bolton, Psycho's Forest stayed top of the league with a win at Sheffield Wednesday and Fulham followed up their League cup win in the week with a creditable draw against Cardiff.  Peterborough and Fleetwood still lead the way at the top of league 1 and in League 2 Morecambe finally lost.

Although there was no Monday night football last night it was the final day of the summer transfer window, deadline day, a day when sky sports reporters rock up at all the big football grounds around the country awaiting news of the big ins and outs of the day, as the day drags on more and more supporters arrive to get themselves on the telly.  Where there are fans there is normally mayhem and last night was no different, if it wasn't at Upton Park where the sweary Hammers fan told us in no uncertain times how to have sexual intercourse with a woman, or at Carrow Road were two blokes pretended to bum each other, or the piece de resistance (and the real reason Tom Cleverley didn't join Everton) at Goodison Park where a supporter decided to wave around a purple dildo before poking it in the sky reporters face.  Unbelievable Jeff.

What a Dildo!!

It was an exciting window though Welbeck to Arsenal was a shock, Blind and Falcao were great signings for LVG as he starts to build his red machine, Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea had already finished their business, although there were a few loans out notably from Chelsea who sent out a few of their sprogs.  'Arry was at it again as he brought in a couple of triffic players and old flames in Sandro and Krancjer.  Palace signed James Mcarthur from Wigan, Zeki Fryers fom Spurs and Kevin Doyle from Wolves, Leicester brought in 2 Man Utd players Nick Powell on loan and Tom Lawrence on a permanent deal, Burnley, Southampton and Swansea all strengthened Spurs bought Stromboli and West Ham signed Morgan Amanellyfurtado, but Steve Bruce was the star of the window bringing in Mo Diame, Gaston Ramirez, Hatem Ben Arfa and spending 10 million on Abel Hernandez from Palermo, fantastic business from Bruce it was like going back to when he was Birmingham boss and he somehow convinced Christophe Dugarry to join the Blues.

Stromboli signs for Spurs

Winger Furtado in for the Irons.

In the Championship Glenn Murray joined Reading from Palace, Fulham brought former time lord Matt Smith from Leeds, but it was Wigan who got the most done bringing in 4 new signings including William Kvist from Stuttgart and Emyr Huws form Man City.  League 1 Petrborough stole another striker from League 2 this time not from Dagenham though as they took Hartlepool's main man Luke James and in Leaguie 2 left back Ryan Cresswell signed from Fleetwood for Northampton.

Matt Smith was delighted with his move to Fulham.

Its going to be an exciting season, and I can't wait to see the likes of Falcao and Blind Strutting their stuff and  i think Hernandez is going to be great for Hull.  Stangest deal of the window has to be Javier Hernandez move to Real Madrid.  The little Pea has traded the bench of Old Trafford for the Bench of Madrid, obviously it is more about being known as a Real Madrid player than actually anything to do with playing any football.

Any way enough of the transfers and back to the football, here are my best of the week.

Goal of the week
 Former Spurs striker Cameron Lancaster's amazing long range effort from the left touchline for Stevenage against AFC Wimbledon in League 2, some people questioned if he meant it, I have to ask why didn't he do anything like that when he was on loan at the Daggers a couple of seasons ago.

Save of the week
Marco Sylvestre's double close range reflex save from Bolton's Jermaine Beckford in injury time for Leeds in the Championship, that ultimately sealed the points for the Yorkshire club.

Pass of the week
Ben Reeves Henryisque look the other way and pass to set up Beneik Afobe for his first goal for MK Dons against Man Utd in the Leaguie Cup.

Controversy of the week
The failure of the officials to spot Tim Howard's blatant handball outside the box for Everton against Chelsea.  Although he should have been sent off though I am glad he wasn't as the game would not have been as exciting without 11 a piece, so for once a shit decision from the ref actually benefited the game.  Well done to John Moss and your assistant  for being shit.

Handball!!!