Pre-Season: York City (A)

Hello and welcome back to Seeing Red for the 2010/11 season. Hope the Summer has treated you well, and suitably whet your appetite for another 9 months of torture, agony, excitement, drama, tension, and unbridled ecstasy.

In typically stubborn fashion, I'm gonna sweep the World Cup under the carpet and pretend it never happened. We've all debated to death just who let us down and how. We've sat in pubs until the early hours, drowning our sorrows and frantically trying to piece together the last remaining fragments of our nations shattered pride. And we've watched Spain lift the fabulous, imaginatively named 'FIFA World Cup Trophy' and conquer the world, an honour we'd all love to see England earn once more.

No more watching prancing, flouncing, wailing, flailing jessies waving their imaginary cards at some Korean referee. No more listening to that incessant drone, that constant, unmissable noise which prompted t.v. viewers all over England to press their mute button for some peace and quiet (no, not Mark Lawrenson, the vuvuzela's). And no more England flags waving dejectedly in the wind, no more pubs full of half-cut Englishmen (and women) urging the team on, clinging to the faint hope that we CAN win the World Cup, that we're destined for glory. No more.

It's over now. For another 4 years, our World Cup dream sleeps. Wake it up in 2014.

The proper stuff, back again

Now we're back into the proper stuff. And there's nowt more proper than a wet, miserable Tuesday night stood on an open terrace watching the Reds. Top notch.

I'd never been to the York ground before this friendly, but I'd been looking forward to it. Last season, with York still in the FA Cup draw, I was praying to any higher being that would listen, hoping their number would be paired with ours. Sadly, we ended up with Scunny and that was the end of that, so when the pre-season fixtures were announced, and Bootham Crescent was up first, I was pretty chuffed.

The day seemed to be dragging at work, as the excitement built up. I know most people wouldn't get excited about some meaningless pre-season friendly, but I can't help it. I spent most of the morning frantically checking the official site, hoping for some good news on the 'new signings' front. And then we got some. Hugo, back home where he belongs. Sure, he left to find himself a new challenge, to see if the grass was greener, and quickly realised it wasn't, and came crawling back, eager to continue his love affair with Barnsley. Just like Michael Boulding. In all seriousness though, I welcome him back. He's a good player, and we would've missed him this season. Mark Robins clearly thinks a lot of him. Why else would he have given Hugo so much leeway, when Boggy was kicked out on his arse for stalling?

I was anticipating a nice, pleasant journey through to York, despite the torrential downpour which lasted the whole way there. I've been plenty of times, and was planning to park in the hospital car park, about 5 minutes away from the ground. So I made the fatal mistake of leaving the sat-nav at home, boxed up. I was so sure I knew the way. In my defence, I DID know the way, I just hadn't reckoned with a road being closed. It totally threw us out. So our nice, pleasant journey to York became a desperate drive around the city centre, marauding through taxi routes and nearly running down pedestrians. Eventually, we did manage to find our way back onto a road I knew, somehow, and made it to the hospital in plenty of time.

We asked a local where the ground was and walked with them, chatting about the upcoming season. These particular York fans just didn't fancy the disappointment of another Wembley heartache. I had to have a giggle when one of them said "It's a horrible feeling, getting to Wembley and just not turning up". I can relate with that. I reckon Kayode Odejayi can too. Anyway, we followed them towards the ground, then followed the huge police presence to the away end. It seemed a bit over the top, but given what happened with those Hull fans, rioting in a pub in the city centre, the old bill were clearly taking no chances.

One of the away stands

The ground was pretty much what I was expecting, and I liked it. Since Peterborough last season, I've had a real soft spot for these rare, standing terraces, which was partly the reason I was looking forward to this game so much beforehand. I can imagine the atmosphere in the away end being electric in a competitive match. I know who I'm hoping for in the FA Cup again this season.

The game then. It wasn't the best, naturally, but we did well. The new boys were a mixed bag. McEveley, O'Brien and Lovre all started slowly, with O'Brien in particular failing to get into the game. But it's early days, so it can be forgiven. The stand out performer from the newbies was Jason Shackell. He was immense, and slotted perfectly into the back four. He looked like he'd been playing there for years, rather than months. He tailed off as the game wore on, which could be down to fitness, but he looks an exciting prospect and if we can keep him fit, he could turn out to be a huge player for us next season.

Some of the newbies warming up

As for the others, it was solid, rather than spectacular. Steele made some good saves, and showed a few glimpses of the erratic streak which got him, and us, into trouble at times last season. Bobby was his usual, solid self, and Humey worked hard as he always does, and put in a fantastic cross for the second goal. Disco ran at people, but showed no desire to pass the ball, and missed a couple of glorious opportunities to slide people through. Fozzie looked ok, although he took a knock early and needed treatment for a blood injury. Hopefully, without the burden of captaincy hanging over his head, Foster can kick on and get back to being the player he was when he first signed. Doyle was also steady, although it'll be interesting to see how prominently he figures in MR's plans, especially now Colace has re-signed.

I'll save a special mention for Andy Gray, who scored two very good goals, despite taking yet more unnecessary flak from some Reds fans. His first strike especially was real quality, and a glimpse of what he can do. It's no coincidence that many managers have paid good money to sign him in the past, and I hope he can shove some taunts down a few throats this season.

The rain clouds were gathering...

At half time, someone nearby pointed to a rather angry looking sky, with a black cloud hovering menacingly close to the ground. Suddenly, I found myself wishing I'd bothered to bring a coat, but luckily the weather held out until just after full time. Not that a bit of water bothers me, of course...

The second half kicked off, with the Reds playing towards their own fans massed behind the goal, although there seemed to be Reds fans all over the ground. I could see flags to the left and right of the away end, to the point that it was beginning to feel like a home game. Players who hadn't performed at their best in the first 45 minutes began to settle down a bit, and by the end everyone had put a decent shift in, including the lads who came on (rather late) as subs. Jamil Adam looks a tidy little prospect, and Dicko Mk. II also had a couple of decent touches, so both showed some real potential. Andy Gray took his second goal well, and we probably could have had a couple more, although York could have scored themselves. Overall, it was a decent workout for them, and they showed enough to excite me further about the new season.

My favourite moment was Disco screaming and shouting at young Jamil Adam for not supplying him with a pass in the box, blatantly ignoring the fact that earlier in the half, he himself missed a much simpler pass to a totally unmarked Iain Hume. The reaction from the crowd said enough. I particularly liked the shout from one bloke of "Tek no gorm lad, he never bloody passes". The look on Disco's face after he clearly heard this: priceless.

When the full time whistle went, the clouds which had been threatening to unleash all night did just that, and the heavens opened, so it was a mad dash to the car, making sure to smile and wave for the police cameras which filmed out exit. No time to even exchange pleasantries with the home faithful, who I do hope can get back into the Football League this season. It was a nice ground, the folk seemed decent and I wouldn't begrudge them some success. And it'd take us one step closer to playing them in a competitive game too, so come on York, make it happen.

Huddersfield will be a much sterner test that York provided, especially for our newly assembled defensive unit. They have some good, young goalscorers at the Galpharm, and I'm sure they'll want to impress against a Championship club, particularly Theo Robinson, who might well see a chance to persuade MR to part with some cash and bring him to Oakwell. But after last night, the signs look good.

Thanks for reading. It's good to be back.