•Editorial
•Fan Profile – Steven Spencer
•The Premiership, Another Planet
•A View from The West Stand
•Fans Forum – #2
•Book Review – 'Soccer Czars'

EDITORIAL

Welcome to a new edition of Hello Albert in still a (fairly) new curate’s egg of a season (Good in parts). Not surprisingly, City have badly missed the leadership of Shaun Reid, not to mention Peter Jackson on the pitch. Both not only relish the involvement of a tough tackling game but have the ability-to rouse other players around them too. We are at least aware that Kevin Ratcliffe knows the problem. He spoke recently of getting the right blend of “ham and eggers” in the side to do battle for us when the chips are down - if that’s not too messy a mixed metaphor.

I for one have admired the way that Kevin has got Chester trying to play good football. He has assembled a squad of skilful players and they do like to play the ball around. There was a classic contrast in styles with City’s first opponents this season – Lincoln. The latter managed of course by John Beck, who applied for the vacant job here at one stage. Most of us agree that fairly successful though John Beck has been, there is little to admire in the method of his teams. True to form Lincoln booted the ball high and handsome and often out of the ground as well. Though we beat Lincoln on the day, after nine games we are side by side with them in the League table so its debatable which is the more productive system but there’s no doubt which is more pleasing on the eye.

Yet, at times Chester’s pattern of play gets a little too predictable as well. As we saw in the play offs last season, Chester still find it difficult to break down a team that string five across midfield, closing the game down and putting pressure on City’s central defenders to play the ball. Many a time the Sealand End moans in frustration as the ball is played to and fro across the back line with out getting anywhere. Though externally Spencer Whelan resembles Brazilian doyen Carlos Alberto, he doesn’t have quite the same mastery on the ball. Ironic then that John Beck is reputed to have offered Ratcliffe £80,000 for Spencer’s services.

But Spencer Whelan is a wholehearted player and City desperately need that sort as well as the gifted but often lightweight mid field without Reid. To be fair to them, Richardson is making his way back into the game after a cruel injury, Priest has been back to brilliant form at times, and Neil Fisher – who the crowd often cajoled last season – not for lack of skill but for seeming lack of effort, has also improved and appeared to have recovered his appetite for the fray at the beginning of the campaign. Fans will forgive no end of mistakes as long as a player appears to be trying – what they can’t stand is players who seem to be hiding.

Steel and backbone are still needed, however skilful a side, and Ratcliffe has been trying to entice Barry Horne among others to play that kind of role. Mysteriously Chester papers report that Birmingham City would not let Horne go but the Brummie press say that Chester couldn’t afford the fee and his wages. There are those who say that teams have to kick their way out of the Third Division to get promoted. Former City star Colin Greenall - certainly no clogger - issued a caveat to Kevin Keegan recently on his arrival at Fulham that those who come down from on high and think that football in the Second and Third Division’s is kids play are in for a rude awakening. Yet it would be a pity if the creative skill and good movement which Kevin Ratcliffe has tried to instil into City were sacrificed on the altar of the god of promotion-at-all -costs. Mind you, at the moment there isn’t any sign of that either.

HAVE A BREAK – HAVE A NEW KIT

Now we know that we can expect a new kit every season, the manufacturers will settle for nothing less, at least it won’t be long until this season’s effort is superseded. In principle the home kit isn’t too bad. Blue and white stripes and blue shorts is a classic Chester combination. And the patch for the numbers is really good for identifying the players down at the far end on a murky midweek Deva fixture –though the empty patches on the replicas make them look a bit vacant.

The club appears to be missing a trick here – it could offer an extra service of numbers on the shirts for an extra bob or two. What I don’t like about the home shirts is the powder paint effect on the blue – looks like dandruff – and the club badge – a poor substitute for the excellent quality of recent years (Though I believe this has been put right recently and the new batch of replicas has an embroidered badge not just a printed one. City’s crest is a brilliant feature and was demeaned by the cheapo version available at the start. As for the away kit – I know some people like it but isn’t it just an expression of rebellious bad taste – like punk.

Black and green squares was always going to be bordering on the disgusting but the design also includes a smudged effect giving the impression that a lorry ran over the shirt at the factory before the paint was dry. I know these designs must be all the rage at raves or on the beach but I favour a bolder pattern for playing football in – something that’s clearly visible. Oh yes! and when Albert were a lad there was none of this sponsorship nonsense on the shirt neither!

BLUE & WHITE

City’s new programme is much improved this season. It’s good to have the reserves and youth reported on more fully. The feature on women’s football is also welcome – though in the Carlisle programme its influence seemed to stretch even to the visitors team sheet which featured a certain STEPHANIE POUNEWATCHY in their back line. Also in a typing error worthy of Hello ABlett itself an advert in the Shrewsbury programme extolled the features of the supporters lounge which is available for hire: “There is ample car parking and the room can accommodate up to 12 people.” Wow that would be some party – at least I assume that’s a typing error.

TEN YEARS ON

What price Gary Bennett’s insurance premium now? It seems amazing that it has taken so long for the courts to hear Ian Knight’s case against him for that tackle which shattered his career over ten years ago. A judge ruled in 1992 that proceedings could begin against Bennett and Chester City so why did it take so long? A out of court settlement with which Knight is “delighted” seems to have resolved the issue once and for all. Let’s hope it’s the insurance company and not the club who will have to cough up.

Albert