Following an enthralling 4-2 after extra-time victory over Bashley in the FA Trophy on Tuesday night, Worthing welcome former boss Danny Bloor to Woodside Road as the Rebels take on Eastbourne Town on Saturday afternoon.
Manager Chris White will be hoping to close the gap on leaders Dulwich Hamlet as The Reds play their first league game in just over a month.
The Rebels, having played eight straight cup games, sit four points ahead of Bloor’s Eastbourne side although Town have played three matches more and will be eagerly anticipating a return to league action in their first home Sussex derby of the season.
After thrilling performances from Rebels duo Tom Manton and substitute John Lansdale saw The Rebels overcome Bashley on Tuesday, the Worthing fans will no doubt be looking for more of the same when the two local rivals meet, and two-goal hero Manton believes the draw for the next round has been kind to Worthing, saying, “We’ve now got a home draw against a side the same level as us, so it’s a good opportunity to go further.
He added: “It’s a really good result. We felt after Saturday that we had a good chance to go through.”
Eastbourne were unlike their Sussex compatriots unable to progress in the Trophy, and manager Bloor will be looking for a reaction from his players after their 3-1 home reverse at the hands of Evo-Stik Premier Division side Hitchin Town last weekend. The game is sure to have a bit of extra spice as the Town manager has often had run-ins with sections of the Worthing crowd following his controversial time at the club, and the loyal Rebels faithful will undoubtedly remind him that he has never beaten the Rebels as a manager at Woodside.
The Saffrons will also be looking to avenge two defeats to their Sussex counterparts after Worthing won both meetings between the sides last season, with the Rebels running out 4-2 winners in the corresponding fixture in the 2010-11 campaign.
The Woodside faithful will hope to see the return of legendary midfielder Paul Kennett who missed the game against Bashley with a back injury.
Friday 28 October 2011
Tuesday 25 October 2011
Why Vidic's retirement from international football may be more crucial than you might think....
Theres' no doubt in my mind and i'm sure in the minds of other United fans around the globe that Nemanja Vidic is one of Fergie's best ever signings. Plucked from relative Russian obscurity in 2006 for a seemingly miserly fee of £7m he has established himself as one of the best centre-halves in the world. Yet yesterday, at the age of 30, he called time on his illustrious international career, citing criticism from fans about his attitude as his main reason. I find it hard to understand why Serbian fans would question Vidic's attitude, especially as he fought tooth and nail to show the world what the Serbian national team were capable of. He also claims that on several occasions he played through injury to captain his side. Lack of commitment? I think not.
This news although harmful to the Serbian national team would have been greeted with joy in the red half of Manchester. Fergie is a renowned figure in the on-going club v country row and this news will no doubt delight him. No longer will Vidic have to travel to the likes of Japan and Australia for supposedly pointless friendlies. No longer will Fergie be worried about his captain's fitness on his return from international duty. And no longer will United fans fret on whether he will pick up an injury playing for his country days before a big game.
With a fully-fit Nemanja Vidic few will argue that United possess the world's best current centre back. With this in mind I genuinely feel United's title chances have dramatically increased, particularly with Rio Ferdinand's defensive frailities being ruthlessly exposed by the likes of Mario Balotelli in the drubbing at Old Trafford on Sunday as well as Jonny Evans's apparent lack of discipline after that red card.
Many people underestimate his leadership as well and I can guarantee that United would not have lost 6-1 on Sunday with him in the team. His passion, desire and committment to the cause are second to none. Would he have let that first goal go in? Would he have dealt with Balotelli better than Evans and Co. did? Questions that would no doubt have been posed by United fans after the shock defeat to the "noisy neighbours."
I for one now hope that Vida potentially forms a partnership with Phil Jones, who has been immense at the back for United and further proof that Fergie still has the eye for a future superstar. Don't get me wrong I haven't completely forgotten the likes of Evans and Ferdinand but to me there is no question that Vidic is the best we have, and his decision to retire from Serbia is a definite blessing, and one that will leave United in good stead to lift the title for the 20th time on May 13th.
This news although harmful to the Serbian national team would have been greeted with joy in the red half of Manchester. Fergie is a renowned figure in the on-going club v country row and this news will no doubt delight him. No longer will Vidic have to travel to the likes of Japan and Australia for supposedly pointless friendlies. No longer will Fergie be worried about his captain's fitness on his return from international duty. And no longer will United fans fret on whether he will pick up an injury playing for his country days before a big game.
With a fully-fit Nemanja Vidic few will argue that United possess the world's best current centre back. With this in mind I genuinely feel United's title chances have dramatically increased, particularly with Rio Ferdinand's defensive frailities being ruthlessly exposed by the likes of Mario Balotelli in the drubbing at Old Trafford on Sunday as well as Jonny Evans's apparent lack of discipline after that red card.
Many people underestimate his leadership as well and I can guarantee that United would not have lost 6-1 on Sunday with him in the team. His passion, desire and committment to the cause are second to none. Would he have let that first goal go in? Would he have dealt with Balotelli better than Evans and Co. did? Questions that would no doubt have been posed by United fans after the shock defeat to the "noisy neighbours."
I for one now hope that Vida potentially forms a partnership with Phil Jones, who has been immense at the back for United and further proof that Fergie still has the eye for a future superstar. Don't get me wrong I haven't completely forgotten the likes of Evans and Ferdinand but to me there is no question that Vidic is the best we have, and his decision to retire from Serbia is a definite blessing, and one that will leave United in good stead to lift the title for the 20th time on May 13th.
Monday 24 October 2011
A United reaction to events yesterday....
Now i have calmed myself down I can now react on the devastation and shock of City's 6-1 win at Old Trafford. Ish. I still can't come to terms with the scoreline, mainly because through my red-tinted spectacles I actually thought the score flattered City immensely, but also because of the massive hyper-reaction from some pundits after yesterday's game.
Yes, we conceded 6 goals. To City. But people seem to forget that City's first goal came out of absolutely nowhere, and definitely against the run of play. Then, not to make excuses, 2 minutes into the second half we lose Jonny Evans and we are up against some of the best players in the world with 10 men. Surely there's only going to be one winner? Our undoubted quality 10 players v City's mega-bucks megastars.
As soon as the game finished, every pundit and even the most common of Joe Bloggs ripped into United like we deserved such humiliation. Really? Admittedly City in the second half were streets ahead of us but that mainly led down to the way we played after the sending off. Instead of trying to perhaps snatch an equaliser by containing and frustrating City we played our usual game at home this season; open, stretched and with the midfield providing little cover for the defence. So of course the likes of Aguero, Silva and Balotelli are going to, using the cringeworthy cliche, cut through us like a hot knife through butter. But that was a tactical mistake and not really a lot to do with the personnel wearing a red shirt yesterday, and surely not worthy of a 6-1 hammering anyway?
It is extremely hard for me to say this but City, when they got going, looked pretty good; although I think United contributed to their own downfall with the poor tactics at times. I hope City fans remember that Manchester will always be RED.
Yes, we conceded 6 goals. To City. But people seem to forget that City's first goal came out of absolutely nowhere, and definitely against the run of play. Then, not to make excuses, 2 minutes into the second half we lose Jonny Evans and we are up against some of the best players in the world with 10 men. Surely there's only going to be one winner? Our undoubted quality 10 players v City's mega-bucks megastars.
As soon as the game finished, every pundit and even the most common of Joe Bloggs ripped into United like we deserved such humiliation. Really? Admittedly City in the second half were streets ahead of us but that mainly led down to the way we played after the sending off. Instead of trying to perhaps snatch an equaliser by containing and frustrating City we played our usual game at home this season; open, stretched and with the midfield providing little cover for the defence. So of course the likes of Aguero, Silva and Balotelli are going to, using the cringeworthy cliche, cut through us like a hot knife through butter. But that was a tactical mistake and not really a lot to do with the personnel wearing a red shirt yesterday, and surely not worthy of a 6-1 hammering anyway?
It is extremely hard for me to say this but City, when they got going, looked pretty good; although I think United contributed to their own downfall with the poor tactics at times. I hope City fans remember that Manchester will always be RED.
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