One Chris Hughton?
Posted on February 21st, 2010 | 69 Comments |
For his sins, Chris Hughton is now in cahoots with Ashley and Co. and inevitably suffers by association with his employer and the lasting ill-feeling between board and supporters. But even the most cynical of supporters are conceding that whatever their opinions of what the relationship between Hughton and the board represents, whether he’s just an extension of them or his own entity and doing his own thing, what he’s delivering is winning football. Not always pretty, not always elegant but generally, winning.
So I guess it was inevitable that by it’s nature, the more vocal element in black and white would recognise his contribution in song. That it happened in yesterday’s game was still perhaps a surprise to some, certainly yours truly, although arguably it was already overdue. And that it happened on a day when a new Coloccini ditty was given some air time by the lads and lasses of Level 7, was perhaps just a happy coincidence, or is it that the mood is just slightly brighter all of a sudden?
The mood was far from bright at kick off, as most of us uninformed about Routledge’s absence discovered that Guthrie had been forced onto the right with Smith back in the middle with Nolan. Otherwise the team was unchanged but there was that inevitable foreboding that without a combination of our two wing wizards, we were going to be in for a long afternoon.
We didn’t have to wait long for the mood to match the bright sunshine though, as Smudger won a loose ball and found Lovenkrands in behind the full back just inside the box. The Dane teased a cross towards Carroll at the back post but the flight of the ball took it over the despairing keeper and into the top corner. The striker at least had the decency to look sheepish, shrugging as he headed towards the corner to celebrate.
Despite the pre-match feeling being that it would be a tight affair, the early goal got the juices flowing as the home crowd sensed another goal feast. But it wasn’t to be, and when Lovenkrands pulled up with a hamstring pull, the natives were distressed to see the thus far slightly underwhelming Leon Best replace him. But Newcastle saw saves from a well-struck Smith volley and when Williamson’s header was well saved, the ball just wouldn’t come down quick enough for Best. Preston had their own chances and Parkin had a couple of decent opportunities to equalise for the visitors. First being denied by a point blank save from Harper and then volleying wide a few minutes later.
The play was predictably narrowed with Guthrie’s natural instinct being to tuck inside and effectively leaving Simpson to provide the width. In fairness, the full back did that quite well and demonstrated an ability to mix the type of cross he can throw in, which was something I’ve not seen him do that often, but which was a welcome sight. The middle of the park was too static though, and on a number of occasions, frustration both on and off the pitch could be sensed as the options available to the man on the ball were minimal.
By this point, Level 7 were amusing themselves with their own aside as the new Coloccini ditty did the rounds for the first time with any gusto. Coloccini has been one of the standout performers this season, so perhaps surprising that it’s taken this long but then it’s not the easiest name to get into a song. Or so I thought…
Struggling at first to understand just what the feck they were singing, it soon became clear that the lyrics were as thus –
Sung to ‘I love you baby’ by Frankie Valli
“Oh Coloccini,
You are the love of my life,
Oh Coloccini,
I’d let you shag my wife,
Oh Coloccini I want girly hair tooooooooooooooo…” (though I’m not convinced it wasn’t ‘curly hair’)
much to the amusement of the uninitiated and obviously it didn’t take long for it to spread. And when a Preston supporter trussed up in a lovely summer dress and sporting a glamorous blonde curly wig made himself known, it seemed there might be a theme to the afternoon. The subsequent banter between the man in question, was in keeping with the general mood and after a rendition of “One Lily Savage”, when Level 7 demanded that he “Get his t*ts out for the lads”, of course he generously obliged. Perhaps, as per, we overstepped the mark with “Do you take it up the ****” though…
The second half started well enough and within ten minutes, we had our second goal. Smith seemed at times, bizarrely, to be the more offensive of the midfield partnership but when he and Nolan combined well in the box, the Scouser was left with an easy slotted shot past the keeper to make it 2-0. And yet, there was again a failure to capitalise on that impetus and when Gutierrez came off for Ryan Taylor, we effectively lost any wide outlet.
And with little to shout about on the pitch, it was the man in the hot seat who became the subject of Level 7’s attention as cries of “Hughton give us a wave” started. An apparent reluctance was unfortunately-timed, give the swift response from Harper who had received similar attention after another decent save. The most obvious explanation being that Hughton isn’t a name easily pronounced or duly heard in song, and let’s face it, he’d hardly have been expecting it.
But eventually he cottoned on and duly gave a wave in the direction of the Leazes and thus, songs which have been on the lips of many but rarely been whispered formulated. Versions of “One Chris Hughton”, “Chris Hughton’s black and white army” gradually emanating from the ranks, some with more universal consent and others with the obvious enthusiasm of a few die-hards with great willing.
Either way, when Pancrate came on for Guthrie and set up an almost carbon copy chance for Ryan Taylor to steer in the third, it effectively put the cherry on the cake. And while some question his tactics and others worry about his ability and pedigree should we be promoted, there was a clear nodding of gratitude and acceptance to Hughton yesterday. Because if promotion and the dreamy world of Premiership football is your bag, then we may indeed, at least for now, be walking in a Hughton Wonderland.
NUFCBlog Author: bowburnmag
bowburnmag has written 234 articles on this blog.
. But what else can you do when you’re trying to represent supporters who now, more than ever, are often poles apart in their feelings and opinions.
Fair play, not been Hughtons biggest fan but credit is due where credit is due!
Chris Hughtons black & white army! ;)