I watched the West Ham game at our house in Norfolk. This is normally not allowed by the Ruler, who quite rightly sees the house in Norfolk as a change from the house in London. In Norfolk we go out (together even), we take long walks on beaches and through woodland with our dogs, we watch television together. Watching football on the television is not in the brochure.
I watch football (usually) in the company of member(s) of my family - my elder daughter, Jessica, my two sons, Joel and Jack (all named in chronological order with no implication of any favouritism). As well as sharing the delights or - more usually - pains of a West Ham performance there is the constant commentary and opportunities to express jointly profound derision for the referee, opposition, and most often, it has to be acknowledged, the efforts of several West Ham players. On my own I do my best to keep up the volume, frequency and amount of bile, but often lapse into fatalistic acceptance of the general incompetence of the referee, opposition and several West Ham players (although I try to make an exception for Spector).
Despite the numerous abominations Sky television has brought to football coverage (along with, I admit, a degree of passion and expertise in the coverage that the BBC never did and hasn't yet managed), a match at Saturday lunchtime while eating in front of the telly alone is not the way it should be done. The fact that my two dogs are quite willing to be excited when I am does not compensate for their need to slink away when the incompetent defending leads to a relatively short-lived tirade of abuse.
And, of course, for this game the Manager was absent for reasons of religious observance. As was one of his purchases (on loan) requiring a fourth centre back partner for Matt Upson in as many games. Since the absolute foundation for teams to be successful is to have a strong defence and build from it, as the brilliant efforts of Roy Hodgson at Fulham demonstrated, and that very ordinary players (John Pantsil, Aaron Lennon, Paul Konchesky) can, if well coached, be a good defence, so many changes do not bode well.
But, above all else, the biggest disruptions to the natural order were that West Ham didn't concede three goals, were not bullied out of the game, and gained a first point of the season.
Good job I'm not superstitious - it would be impossible to replicate those circumstances.
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