Arcticterntalk.org

The blog of a travelling psychiatrist and football lover. Who happens to be a halfway decent photographer. Takes a cynical view of the world

Archive for the tag “walton casuals”

Molesey 1 Didcot Town 0. FA Trophy


A good game of football. A single goal separated the two teams but in relaity it could have been 3-3. The football was good. The cheeseburger was too. Am not sure of the FA rules after a player is sent off but not sure he should be watching from the touchline even if he does take his shirt off! the crowd was 95, so he made it 96.

Having checked the rules. This is what it says  “A player, substitute or substituted player who has been sent off must leave the vicinity of the field of play and the technical area.
Read more at http://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/laws/football-11-11/law-12—fouls-and-misconduct.aspx#7B9Jzt2xM5bxoOlT.99

So I guess it depends on the interpretation of what constitutes the vicintiy of play.

Molesey v Didcot Town FA Trophy

Molesey v Didcot Town FA Trophy

Goal.Molesey v Didcot Town FA Trophy

Goal.Molesey v Didcot Town FA Trophy

Molesey v Didcot Town FA Trophy

Molesey v Didcot Town FA Trophy

Molesey v Didcot Town FA Trophy

Molesey v Didcot Town FA Trophy

Molesey v Didcot Town FA Trophy

Molesey v Didcot Town FA Trophy

Molesey v Didcot Town FA Trophy

Molesey v Didcot Town FA Trophy

Craig Lewington

Craig Lewington

Molesey v Didcot Town FA Trophy

Molesey v Didcot Town FA Trophy

Molesey v Didcot Town FA Trophy

Molesey v Didcot Town FA Trophy

Molesey v Didcot Town FA Trophy

Molesey v Didcot Town FA Trophy

Brentford 1 QPR 0. A view from the cheap seats


The last time Brentford beat QPR was in 1965 and not so many of the capacity crowd last night were even born then.  This game was thus a time for celebration. A capacity crowd of over 12,000, some useful money from Sky for live coverage, and the fourth consecutive victory in a season when 2 weeks ago some wondered if we would win 4 games all season. All achieved with eseentially the same players. There is no need to give a match report and all Bees fans were there or watching on TV. A high tempo game, maybe too scrappy in parts. If I were a betting man i would place good money, and lots of it, on QPR not only failing to gain promotion this season but also failing to get in the play offs and sacking their manager certainly this side of xmas.

Some of the peripheral things around a capacity crowd caught my eye last night. How good does Griffin Park look under lights, how scary burger sellers can look ( a lovely man actually and a nice burger too) and the strange things one finds on top of cars parked in the Watermans car park .

The firework or whatever incendiary device it was certainly lit up Griffin Park after the goal. A great night. What price a second victory at Loftus road later on in the season?

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Shendish Manor


Shendish Manor is not what one expects to find in Hemel Hempstead. A gorgeous hotel set in great grounds. A few photographs to set the scene. A good place to stop for lunch, coffee or a drink. And maybe a short walk.  I was impressed.

It is set in 160 acres of gardens and parkland.

Shendish Manor. Copyright Chris Bushe 2015

Shendish Manor. Copyright Chris Bushe 2015

Shendish Manor. Copyright Chris Bushe 2015

Shendish Manor. Copyright Chris Bushe 2015

Shendish Manor. Copyright Chris Bushe 2015

Shendish Manor. Copyright Chris Bushe 2015

Shendish Manor. Copyright Chris Bushe 2015

Shendish Manor. Copyright Chris Bushe 2015

Shendish Manor. Copyright Chris Bushe 2015

Shendish Manor. Copyright Chris Bushe 2015

Was Brentford 2-1 Rotherham one of our most important games ever? A few thoughts and photos


This might sound ridiculous to the casual football observer and critic but this game rates up there with play off finals in order of its importance. The increasing turbulence and mutterings of discontent against the owner, manager,players and no doubt the programme sellers has been assuming absurd proportions. Last season was a one off. A group of committed players, playing well beyond their potential at times, a few good slices of luck  and importantly a relatively injury free season allowed the stars to align and Brentford to achieve an outcome almost undreamt of.

This season has been a disaster so far this is true. Some of the more worrying elements come in almost forgotten metrics such as a significantly reduced number of travelling fans, less vocal support from the home crowds and most worryingly for me, the reduced tempo and work rate that has been the norm this season. Of course the results are important but the manner of the performances are what dictates the pleasure or displeasure levels of the Brentford faithful.

What we saw yesterday was a spirited performance that maybe deserved the 3 points despite being at times the weaker side. The work rate was high and the effort cannot be faulted. The performance of Jake Bidwell was one of his best in a Brentford shirt.

There can be no doubt we were lucky to win and the neutral observer would have scored this as a draw. An exciting game played by two teams who found it difficult to defend well.

The three points are like gold dust. They give us some breathing space, introduce a winning mentality confidence and importantly consign Rotherham to at least another week below us in the relegation zone. That we are beating the weaker sides is actually very important. All the three sides we have beaten represent sides that will be in bottom 8 places come the end of the season. Relegation for Brentford would herald another difficult mountain to climb to escape League 1 and we can see how difficult that is for large clubs such as Sheffield United. However this season ends we need to end it in the Championship and one can argue that the re-building process can now resume. I personally think some of the new signings will be successful at Brentford and some will not. I also think based on yesterday that Lee Carsley is moulding a unit in his style of play, more rugged and physical than maybe we have been used to. Let us see how that works out.

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Molesey 2 Carshalton 1


A few photos from an entertaining game that really might have been a draw. The floodlights were the poorest I have personally ever photographed under and their variability of light meant the pitch was in essence a huge chessboard where only some areas could realistically be used to get photos from. A crowd of 96 souls braved the chilly evening to watch the game.

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Luke Colquhoun

Luke Colquhoun

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Luke Colquhoun

Luke Colquhoun

1K4A5017 1K4A5018 1K4A5021 1K4A5025 1K4A5033 1K4A5034 1K4A5035 1K4A5036 1K4A5037 1K4A5038 1K4A5039 1K4A5040 1K4A5045 1K4A5046 Bad Hair Day best.JPG Bad Hair Day best best2

Craig Lewington

Craig Lewington

No goal

Fall Out Boy SSE Wembley


An amazing concert full of energy and great music. Thats all that needs to be said. Support bands were all of an interesting kind. Matt and Kim were fairly unique but made good sounds. Charley Marley had good energy. Fall Out boy were simply amazing.

Charley Marley

Charley Marley

Matt and Kim SSE London

Matt and Kim SSE London

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Fall out boy SSE Wembley 2015

Fall out boy SSE Wembley 2015

Fall out boy SSE Wembley 2015

Fall out boy SSE Wembley 2015

Fall out boy SSE Wembley 2015

Fall out boy SSE Wembley 2015

The Hersham Caterpillar


There is only one real car park in Hersham and this is where this caterpillar decided to try and cross, luckily saved from a squashing demise by the good eyesight of a 15 year old. Rescued and placed on a leaf. These humble I Phone photos try and capture the brave if impulsive caterpillar.

Hersham Caterpillar

Hersham Caterpillar

Hersham Caterpillar

Hersham Caterpillar

What is going on at Brentford and what is needed right now


After the farcical events of the last month we need to briefly recap.

  1. We employed an unknown manager and he has been sacked after 8 games.
  2. The results were not the issue but other factors which have not been specified.
  3. Mitigating factors include an unforseen series of injuries
  4. The new manager given the role till the end of the season does not want the job permanently.
  5. Brentford are heading for the relegation places, potentially this saturday.

What has gone wrong? Last season the fans were all together as a unit. Crowds were growing. The ground was sold out most games. Away travelling fans increased in numbers. This season that is all in reverse with 126 fans travelling to Middlesboro for a midweek game. My own view is this. The results have been poor but the performances poorer. A definite lack of tempo compared to last season ( this translates in my language to lack of effort), lack of leadership on the field. Would any away fan during the game be able to spot who the captain was? The quality of the play has been poor. The new players have mostly failed to be as good as the departing ones and certainly not better. And the defence has got worse, and frankly it was bad last year. Brentford are regularly conceding two or more goals each game.

So we need this

  1. A clear statement from the board about the long term managerial situation
  2. A statement from Matthew Benham regarding these matters, his plans and an explanation for what has happened
  3. A new captain on the field.
  4. A new defensive coach
  5. A far higher tempo to the play
  6. some stability for the next 6 months such that we can avoid relegation.

Anyone who thinks we are immune from relegation please think again. We have beaten only two of the poorest sides in the division so far and lost to sides that frankly are mediocre. But importantly we need to see something from the players. management team and board that we as fans can identify as an explanation for what has happened. We need to be able to get behind the team again and give them support. This is not easy when we have no clue what is going on.

Putting out the fires at Griffin Park?

Putting out the fires at Griffin Park?

Putting out the fires at Griffin Park?

Putting out the fires at Griffin Park?

The sun going down on Brentford dreams?

The sun going down on Brentford dreams?

Supermoon 2015 In Sequence.


Supermoon 2015 UK Copyright Chris Bushe

Supermoon 2015 UK Copyright Chris Bushe

Supermoon 2015 UK Copyright Chris Bushe

Supermoon 2015 UK Copyright Chris Bushe

Craterseclipse 3eclipse 4eclipse 6eclipse8red moon 2Red Moon

The Last Redcurrants of 2015 from UK


One single plant has produced around £100 worth of redcurrants this year. I was somewhat amazed to find a few more the other day at the tail end of September. Tasted amazing. Thoroughly recommend a redcurrant plant for 2016.

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

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