The weekend rewind is so far behind this week that we’ll call it the weekly rewind and get cracking to quickly review the major, and mostly forgettable, events of the past week, on the footballing battlegrounds of the TractorHawks.
Beginning in the land of the Blue Tractors, maybe we should just hit the fast-forward button and forget it all, writing it off as a bad dream. More like a bloody nightmare that I doubt the likes of Stephen King could concoct. Last weekend saw the first match in the 2008-09 of the second-most fierce local rivalry in England, according to the Football Rivalries Report 2008 study. The Ipswich-Norwich matches are circled on the calendar by fans the day the fixtures are released. With the Town being mostly inconsistent this year but playing much better on the road than last season, most Tractor boys and girls were quietly confident as we headed north into the hated lands of Norfolk to face the struggling Naarwich, looking to improve on our winning record against our rivals.But, yet again the lads were not motivated and sank to a pathetic 2-0 defeat leaving Town fans to contemplate the inevitable ridicule and general taking the piss that was sure to follow. I arose eagerly on Sunday to check-in on the match and like the rest of the Tractor Nation was horrified as the game progressed. I’ve held off on being too harsh on Magilton this season, as I truly want him to succeed but enough already. Jim complained that the team produced their most inept performance of the season in front of the cameras in one of the biggest games of the season.
So, whose fault is that Jim? Yes, the players have to be accountable but if Magilton can’t motivate the team to step up for a match that means so much; a rivalry that he should be more than familiar with from his playing days, then I seriously doubt he can mould a promotion contending team out of this lot. The team that took the field are not fit to wear the shirt producing crap like this and it starts at the top Jim. A year and about 12 million quid later and we are no closer to the Promised Land of the Premier League than when we started. It makes you wonder what his predecessor, big fat Joe, might have been able to do with a transfer budget. Regardless, this consistently inconsistent rubbish is not cutting it at Portman Road, and while Magilton may claim to have the full support of the owner, he surely must be on very thin ice.
And so with Sunday off to the worst start possible, I had some serious second thoughts about tuning into the Seahawks match-up as the New England Patriots came calling, scrapping for their playoff lives. Heading into the game at 2-10, the ‘Hawks season is the proverbial exclamation point on a miserable sporting year in the Pacific Northwest (more of that in another post), and it looked to be a routine hammering as four more Seahawks offensive players were hit by the injury plague, that wrecked this season before it began.Matt Hasselbeck’s back was aching again after the Thanksgiving Day pounding he took at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys, so for the 6th game this year Seneca Wallace was called into action to run the ‘Hawks offense, starting under center. Almost reluctantly, I switched to the game in time for kick-off. I guess I can’t turn away ‘Hawks, regardless of how bad the season has been - no bandwagon or fair weather fans in this house.
So the flag was raised and the 12th Man jersey pulled on per the normal tradition during the
NFL season. And, surprisingly, it turned out to be a bloody good game. Although the Seahawks once again came agonizingly short of pulling out the victory, the practically reserve offense gave the Pats all they could handle. Seattle led from the off, carrying an 8 point advantage into the final quarter, as Seneca put in a great performance tossing a career high 3 TDs on 20-28 passing for 208 yards and running for another 47. Ex-Patriot Deion Branch exhibited some of the form that garnered him a Superbowl MVP award as he tore up his former team mates, but it was not enough.Once again the defense crumpled like wet cardboard in the Seattle rain. A third quarter 11 point advantage evaporated and, the Patriots in desperate need of a victory to stay in the running in a tightly contested AFC East, took a 3 point lead with just over 2 minutes remaining. Still there was hope, particularly with the performance that Seattle’s deputy quarterback had already put in. But, with the field goal that would tie the game within striking distance, New England stacked the box on an all-out blitz that incredulously the ‘Hawks O-line did not recognize. The rush wasn’t picked up, Wallace was flattened and fumbled the ball and subsequently the game away in the process. Another close one that we watched slip in the dying minutes. At least the effort was there for the packed home stadium of the loyal Seahawks faithful to witness – especially on the offensive side of the trenches. The second-stringers played their hearts out and, although once again the boys in Seahawk blue grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory, the ‘Hawks fans, for the most part, have to be pleased with the effort. Big Mike Holmgren is taking a year off from the NFL after this season – maybe he could pay a visit to Portman Road and show that lot what heart and pride is all about.
Weekend TractorHawk Grade: F
Despite a good performance by the 'Hawks, the lack of effort from the Town as they succombed to a miserable defeat in the Anglian derby guarantess a second straight F on the report card.
Tractor Driver of the Week:
Actually a close call between 2 standout Seahawks offensive players, Seneca Wallace at quarterback and Deion Branch at wide reeiver. I'm giving the Tractor keys this
week to Deion - though he might lend a drive to Seneca if he fancies it! Injuries have seriously limited Deion's contributions since leaving the Superbowl Champion Patriots to join big Mike's Blue and Green army in Seattle, and he has come under considerable fire from fans expecting more from the player that cost the team a first round draft pick. But credit where it's due as he had an outstanding performance last Sunday against his old mates, lighting up Qwest field. He finished with just under 100 yards receiving but hauled in 2 TDs; the second one a spectacular effort in the corner of the end-zone that capped an incredible 63 yard catch and run reception.Great job Deion - I hope we get to see more next year.
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