Sunday, October 26, 2008

Sunday morning coming down

The good proprietor of BDHS should be happy today, with the sad-sack Spurs sacking their manager, assistants and director of football and then picking up their first win of the season against Bolton. Such is life in a results-oriented business.

When I was in London a couple of weeks ago, I took in a match at White Hart Lane, a 1-0 Spurs loss to the improbable Hull City Tigers. Afterwards, I popped into one of the pubs near the ground for a pint and was forced to show the large men at the door my match ticket to prove I was a home fan and not some away fan there to stir up shit. I think a policy like that is one that needs to be embraced here, because after taking in last night's stinker of a loss for the Oil against the fucking Canucks at the local Edmonton expat bar, I was ready to glass the first person I saw in a Luongo shirt.

But who am I kidding? The real culprits aren't the smug bastards who cheer for a franchise that has accomplished somewhere between dick and squat in its 40-plus years in the league, but the sad fucking crew wearing the oil drop. Garon, Grebeshkov and Gilbert in particular deserve a sound paddling for their work last night and I'll throw in a few choice words for Hemsky as well. And, to bring it back to the news from north London, when is it time to follow Spurs' example and take a hard look at the men behind the bench? MacT arguably has the horses to at least make a run at the NW title this year, but seven games in and this team has yet to play a complete game. Can you lay some of this on the coach? Is it MacT's fault that Grebeshkov is total chaos or that Garon is looking more and more like a Andre Racicot? I'm pretty skeptical about how much effect coaches actually have on the game outside of setting line combinations and working the match ups. I've heard criticism from some corners that the Oilers' efforts or lack thereof attest to a lack of preparation or inspiration, which seems fair enough, but how much is on the coach and how much on what's between the ears of each player? These are questions I can't pretend to answer, but I hope someone does. Because a few more games like the last three and the rumbles of discontent are going to swell to a crescendo.

8 comments:

Black Dog said...

Goodbye Ramos! Bring back Jol! He only happens to have Hamburg at the top of the German league.

How did you like White Hart Lane?

You know me, blue skies, but I look at the commitment Ron Wilson is getting here in Toronto out of his sad sack crew and sometimes I have to wonder.

Jonathan Willis said...

Garon is looking more and more like a Andre Racicot?

How many bad games has Garon had now? One?

I'll admit a little frustration with MacTavish, but it's early. The knives will really come out after they fall below five hundred on this nasty road trip.

raventalon40 said...

Before the expulsion of Cole, we were looking really really good. I think the pieces on this team are just starting to come together.

LittleFury said...

How did you like White Hart Lane?

Narrow concourses, cramped pissers, dingy and grimy and located in the middle of nowhere. I loved it.

How many bad games has Garon had now? One?

Two in a row. In both Denver and Van, with his team already down by one, he gave up softies that sucked the life out of the team and squelched any hope of a comeback. I think that's cause for concern.

Anonymous said...

Narrow concourses, cramped pissers, dingy and grimy and located in the middle of nowhere. I loved it.

So. Literally. Crush?

Chester-not said...

Hamburg is now 2nd in the Bundsliga... Sorry to hear you support Sp*rs.

Black Dog said...

darren - you're sorry? not as sorry as I am

Why they canned Jol after he had that team near the top of the league for consecutive years is beyond me - Levy is getting what he deserved now but its the fams that suffer and maybe, like Peddie, he is a teflon man

meh

yeah lf - White Hart Lane is a beauty - we were there two years ago - great experience

Chester-not said...

I am sorry because I am an Arsenal fan. I have taken great delight in the incompentance from the other side of North London. Hopefully it countinues!