So, following on from http://beesotted.co.uk/?p=12354, it feels like I’m that kid on the way to Disney but stuck in traffic to be honest. Stuck in traffic which isn’t moving and if I look outside the window, I’m in Shepherds Bush. Er, yeah, that would mean the driver’s going the wrong way, but I’m just trying to paint the picture of being agitated in the back seat, looking out of the window and not being impressed.
It’s been a slow week for the Brentford football fan. No signings, (“these things take time,” @MarkDevlin7 to a fan with perhaps even less patience than me), the website having to just review the last season (ok, what a fine season it was though) and probably the biggest joy being the fact we didn’t have to make our way to the national stadium on Sunday.
However much I enjoyed us winning at Brisbane Road, the manager interviews afterwards and then all the fun of the #RussellSladeCup, I personally feel for him and his supporters right now. While I still continue to think you have to make the most of mocking your rivals, I just feel taking the piss is out of bounds while their wounds are so raw.
It’s strange because for Fulham, if I hadn’t been on the Ealing Road terrace when they were relegated, I’d gladly have travelled to Stoke and sung, “Bees Up Fulham Down” right in Tarquin’s face. I don’t know why I feel so different to the two teams’ woes. I guess Fulham are THAT team who I really do just want to struggle. I’m probably deeply patronising but I feel a bit sorry for “little old” Orient and at the end of the day, probably a whole heap of empathy I’ll never find for those losers down the Thames.
Are we nearly there yet?
Sunday’s penalties brought home just how massive that win at Brisbane Road was. How massive? We’re talking bigger than winning ten FA Cup Finals but not quite as big as Steve Evans’ gut. I think we all faced the worst ever way to miss out on promotion twelve months ago but penalties down your end at Wembley Stadium has got to be quite close.
The poor buggers were even ahead in the shootout which actually saw some very well take kicks along with the three easily-saveables. I guess the Rotherham miss for them was like the ref pointing to our spot in the 95th minute. Snatching defeat from victory, League One football from the Championship, is so painful.
However, O’s fans don’t have a monopoly on feeling the sickness of a parrot this morning. Remember Terry Butcher? England football legend with the bandage draped in blood? Went into management? Totally clueless when with us but seemed to do alright over the border? Well, Hibernian poached him from Inverness Caley Thistle with thoughts of him leading them into Europe.
He subsequently took them on such a bad run they ended up in the second from bottom position of the SPL which means a Play Off with the second placed team from The Scottish Championship.
Playing away from home first, his HibBEES took a commanding 2-0 lead from Hamilton Academicals so were in a pretty decent position to secure their safety. He can’t have calmed his players down too well before the game because they conceded an early goal so now only held a one goal advantage. A lead Butcher held until the 90th minute until the Rottweiler of his incompetence tugged and he feebly let go. The Accies were level and the game eventually went to penalties.
Obviously, having a former no-nonsense England centre half in charge of a team taking penalties isn’t ideal and true to form Hamilton won, condemning Hibs to join Edinburgh’s other team Hearts in dropping out of the SPL.
Are we nearly there yet?
You see, although there hasn’t been too much happening from Bees fans this week, it’s more a case of looking out of that window and thinking, “fuck me, I haven’t got things too bad at the moment”.
There was the opportunity to feel sorry for ourselves on Saturday when Bobby Zamora secured Premier League football for Arry and his OAP team. Sorry, that must have been predictive text. I mean for Arry and his QPR team. Again, seeing those Derby fans brought back all too familiar emotions.
Yes, it would have been nice to have had the Hoops with us and the Lillywhites in a West London Championship Triple Threat (© WWE) next season. I think this could be better though. With reports they’re considering signing Lampard, Rio, Cashley and even Joe Cole, they clearly haven’t learned their financial lessons and Arry seems intent on them becoming the new Portsmouth. Let them crack on with that.
It means the Fulham rivalry next season will be special. Tarquin can’t think, “ooh, well, actually we don’t see you as rivals, it’s Queens Park Rangers,” they have to accept us as their official enemy. This will make the whole #BeesUpFulhamDown theme so much more fun.
Are we nearly there yet?
The traffic is starting to move and at least I’ve had a few things to take my mind of the boredom of pre-season. I’ll continue to look out of the window because I’ve been told to look out for something soon. Oooh, there it is! It’s a ‘teaser’ campaign starting on the official site today for the NEW adidas Brentford home kit (http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/article/201415-home-kit-26.05.14-1573180.aspx).
Mr. Devlin has tweeted that the club have had more input into this and it will be a “bespoke” kit. Anoraks will tell you that this is quite a big thing. Most non-Prem teams have to ‘make do’ with templates available to Sunday League Pub teams so this one is highly anticipated. Right, 2nd June ticked off in the diary as that’s where it’ll be unveiled and available to order. #HappyFathersDayToMe.
Right, that has got my excitement levels switched up another notch. No real sign yet if Trotts or Judgey will be joining us on our trip to The Championship. I’m sure we’ll be taking a few more with us who will bring something exciting. It’s a shame that George Sav wants to go on holiday with someone else but never mind. Even if he ends up going somewhere supposedly more exotic then I doubt he’ll have anywhere near the fun we will.
Are we nearly there yet?
Luis Adriano
