Taylor ‘walks away’ as Waddock and Kuhl Waltz into Wycombe

A whirlwind weekend in Wycombe Wanderers’ history has developed into a fresh mini-saga complete with a soap storyline accompaniment. Peter Taylor and his assistant Junior Lewis left the club by mutual consent on Friday afternoon leaving youth team coach Richard Dobson to take charge of the 3-2 defeat away at Gillingham the following day. Dobson was quoted as stating that his tenure would last for just one game and that he expected to be coaching the youth side on Monday.

On Tuesday afternoon it emerged that successful Aldershot Town boss Gary Waddock and his assistant Martin Kuhl are to take charge of the Chairboys in a chain of events that leaves many fans questioning Taylor’s departure and the quick-fire appointment of the new team at the helm. The official line coming out of the club has been that the decision to relieve Taylor of managerial duties was one made mutually with head of communications Alan Parry describing the former boss as an ‘honourable man’ who had seemingly taken the team as far as he possibly could.

Despite a disappointing start to the season, Taylor remains only the second manager to win promotion with the Blues during their Football League history and after just twelve games perhaps Chairman Steve Hayes’ patience was quickly wearing thin. Hayes has made it no secret that he is eager to transform the club into a force to be reckoned with in League One and no doubt the start to this campaign had left him, along with a section of the fan base, disillusioned. There are those however that subscribe to the belief that the problems lay not with the personnel but with the tactics employed and that this factor, combined with Taylor’s stubbornness or perceived reluctance to change the system, contributed to his exit.

When he resigned following the play-off defeat to Stockport County, former boss Paul Lambert insinuated that there were a few things that were not quite right behind the scenes at the club. It will interesting to see over the next few days and weeks whether lightning has struck twice and will Gary Waddock be able to change the team’s fortunes on the pitch?

New Government, New Dawn?

By the end of June 2010, it looks increasingly likely that Britain will be led by a new Conservative government faced with old questions; the economy, Afghanistan, confronting crime and the environment to name a few. Then there are those issues that will come to the forefront in subsequent years. Will Britain align with the United States on the world stage and agree to co-operate on solving problems in the Middle East and quelling the threats from Iran and North Korea? How will the Western superpowers deal with voracious China and the simmering veiled menace of former foe Russia? Energy and food security combined with climate change (man-made or part of a natural cycle, you decide) are also increasingly complex subjects for Britain as a member of the internatonal community to contribute towards solving.

This week at their annual party conference in Manchester, the Conservatives have been busily outlining their vision of the future. There is a focus on work, graft and the neccessity for massive cuts and public sector pay freezes. Critics have labelled the Tories bleak, the counter argument is that they are merely offering a heavy dose of realism that the country appreciates having been forced to swallow the soundbites of spin that have emmanated from New Labour for far too long.

Not completely enamoured by the Tories or David Cameron but seemingly desperate for some form of change, the British public need to know what changes they can expect, if any, from a new government. It is not entirely clear whether the new dawn will be positive or disasterous, not just for Britain but for everyone.

The Season So Far

Given the club rhetoric, long-suffering Blues fans could be forgiven for having entered this campaign with a sense of optimism, one that if it existed before, has since been severely diluted. The protracted 'takeover' (coup d'etat?) by local financial monolith and the self-proclaimed philanthropist (in terms of portraying himself as the only solution, the saviour, the bloke doing us a favour) Steve Hayes finally went through, halting manager Peter Taylor's advances in the transfer market. Supposedly this was going to usher in a new era of prosperity and limitless ambition with the Championship and the promise of a shiny new identikit stadium to house Wanderers and current tenants, the successful rugby union side, London Wasps. This sporting union would surely lay the foundations for an unstoppable enterprise that would ensure High Wycombe becomes the envy of the Home Counties. First, let us get on with the nasty business of dispatching with fallen giants Leeds, Charlton and Southampton then we can concentrate on the important task of plotting the downfall of the European greats.

Of course, things never do quite work out as those intended had hoped and after the 'bail out' was voted on, the bitterness and division amongst the fan base lingered and events on the pitch so far this season have done little to lift the cynicism. Languishing in the relegation zone with problems conceding goals and scoring them, the recipe for success is missing key ingredients including the notable absence of Tommy Doherty, struggling with injury and unable to participate in his own indomitable manner.

The opening day brought a courageous 3-2 defeat away at much fancied Charlton, a game and result which appeared to boost morale rather than dampen spirits. Even a subsequent defeat to Leeds was dismissed as par for the course in what was already regarded as a difficult beginning to the season. A point at home to a slick Southend side was given a mixed response. Whilst it was nice of the visitors to afford Wycombe their first notch on the league scoreboard, the manner in which Southend outclassed the Blues suggested that points were going to be exceedingly difficult to come by unless the team proved that they too have the ability to compete in the third tier. A 5—2 mauling at Norwich did little to prove doubters wrong and the critics were already starting to dissect the team's notable weaknesses. A home win against Bristol Rovers provided a brief respite as did a valuable away point at Hartlepool however the latest result, a 1-0 defeat at home to rivals MK Dons in the faux Bucks derby leaves Wanderers rooted near the bottom of the table and looking increasingly devoid of ideas.

The aforementioned Tommy Doherty's midfield presence is paradoxically essential to ensuring a better chance of success. The skill and graft he exerts on proceedings is often offset by a formidable temper that is also capable of contributing to the team's downfall in matches. Peter Taylor is also presented with a front line dilemma. At the other end, although the inclusion of ex-Chelsea and Stoke man Michael Dubbery has shored up the defence, putting the ball in the opposition net has proved difficult and the manager's selections have not always met with approval. Jon Paul-Pittman would do well to take note of Jermaine Defoe and remain a persistent goal scorer coming off the bench to perhaps one day merit a chance from the start. Matt Harrold is doing his best targetman impression however despite a goal against former club Southend, he has looked lacklustre in leading the line however the tactic employed of knocking the ball over his head cannot help. Meanwhile Stuart Beavon waits eagerly for an extended chance in the first -team, one that he may be afforded following his goal against Hartlepool.

The Tragedy of Afghanistan

The whole country is in a solelm mood as it reflects on the deaths of several more young men, heroically fallen in their prime. As Operation Panther's Claw, designed to surge forward to clear what were believed to be only remnants of Taliban insurgents, continues, it becomes more apparent that throughout its duration, we will be hearing daily of similar tragedies.

We will lament the woefully inept hand that the Armed Forces have been given by the Government and surely the in-fighting and bittnerness between politicans and those associated with the Forces will intensify. A few leaked excerpts from one solider depict a sorry tale where those 'in theatre' (what a callous and reductive phrase) are often misguided and hopelessly under-equipped to carry out the tasks given to them.

Operation Panther's Claw, combined with the U.S military offensive, Operation Strike of the Sword, is supposed to be winning the hearts and minds of the Afghan people. They have become weary of air strikes felling their countrymen so a strategy aimed at taking on a malleable and evolving enemy head-on was sought. What of the thoughts of the British publiic? Confronted by the latest losses, there has been a remarkable stoical resillience. Support for the Armed Forces has reached a fresh high. How many hearts and minds across the world will have to undergo untold physical and mental anguish before this bloody war is over?

Promotion, Shares and the Summer of BB

Hurrah! We finally did it. Wycombe Wanderers achieved what had eluded them for the past five years and won promotion to League One. Congratulations to the whole squad. The Chairboys can now look forward to visiting the thrilling fields of fallen giants Charlton Athletic, Norwich City, Leeds United and Southampton. This next season could be one of the truly memorable ones with so many exciting fixtures to look forward to, including re-uniting with old sparring partners, Colchester United.

When examining the finer details of the forthcoming season, it is fascinating to consider that a few short years ago, Wycombe were facing Charlton at The Valley when they were a Premiership side and now we will be playing them on an equal footing. Our first pre-season fixture saw us beat AFC Wimbledon 1-0 with none other than former Premier League 'star' Carl Cort on trial for the Blues. Swings and roundabouts.

Changing tack completely, I have recently attempted to get involved in the murky world of share dealing. Unfortunately I've fallen at the first hurdle and lost interest already. If anyone can provide a layman's guide to share dealing for dummies, please get in touch.

The summer of Big Brother (am I the only one watching it this year?) continues with some pleasant surprises. Narcissistic Kris has been given the boot by the voting public, proving that there is still human decency in the wider populous. Please take Marcus with you before he sexually assaults 'cock-blocker' Noirin who has already succeeded in casting a spell over the ever so respectful and well educated Sree and continues her man-eating spree unabated.

Oh, there is also something called The Ashes going on as well. Summer is here.

Radio Ga Ga, Football Crazy

It has certainly been a while since I 'blogged'! Back in late 2007 when I last posted, the recession was a mere blip on the horizon, not yet having thrown the world's economy into turmoil. Though a few months on in January 2008, I felt the pinch and a sign of things to come when I lost my job in a call centre, creating leads to sell onto mortgage advisors. The housing market was one of the first areas of a fragile economy to implode and we've all been crunched.

Alas, I digress. Now here we are already hurtling through 2009 at light speed and many find themselves struggling to find any form of employment, let alone something in a field that that they are interested in. Having graduated in 2007 and a few months later packed my bags for Bournemouth, I thought it was difficult enough when contacting media companies to get a foot in the door. A new wave of graduates this summer are no doubt going to find things even tougher. It might sound simplistic to say so but those graduating now really do need to assess their options in advance of leaving university if they hope to find suitable employment. Those lucky souls who will leave with 'vocational' degrees (i.e-those that are generally essential and valued in society, such as engineering, teaching etc) will probably be lucky enough to ride the storm and discover that there are an abundance of employers who need their specialised skills. For the rest of them, those like me who studied English for example, they need to hone their CVs, have completed some form of volunteering or work experience already or have something that they can claim as their niche to wave in front of employers to enable them to stand out from the rest of the crowd.

Having presented a few radio shows for the university station in Bangor, I now want to take that experience further. Last July I got involved with Hospital Radio Bedside, a community station for those staying in the Royal Bournemouth, Poole, Poole Maternity, Christchurch and Wimborne hospitals. It's a fantastic opportunity to help those in the local community, gain new skills and give a little something back. I'd recommend Hospital Radio to anyone, there is so many rewarding and fulfilling tasks to carry out that don't just involve being on-air.

This time of year is also a crucial one in domestic and European football. The team I support, Wycombe Wanderers might not be gracing the finest footballing cathedrals of Europe this spring but there is the extremely important matter of a promotion race in England's League 2 (the fourth tier in the national pyramid). For those who take a keen interest in matters further down the ladder, they will know that Wycombe have an unenviable recent history of failing at the last hurdle to clinch promotion. This season has been another rollercoaster, having been 9 points clear at the top at one point, now clawing desperately to the last automatic promotion spot with around 7/8 teams in the mix. This blogger wishes all at WWFC the best of luck and hopefully this will finally be our year. I'm hoping that there will be cause for celebration come the final whistle against Notts County on the last day of the season.

How to Act In Modern (Polite) Society

Without meaning to add any religious bias, I am a self-confessed sinner. Some may not believe in the idea of sin so for them I'll call myself a 'wrong-doer'. Certain things have come to light in the past few days that have made me evaluate my own past and current behaviour whilst also looking at accepted modes of behaviour in society. Is one to take the prevailing approach, that borders on hedonism and nihilism; a lifestyle of 'camp' reverie that screams 'who cares'? Or is it possible to take a stiff line and adopt an antithetical viewpoint on modern society. In other words, can one maintain a standpoint of high-seriousness and sincerity, displaying concern for the ills of the world in a virtuous manner? It would appear that both modes of thought ultimately only lead to two things-soul destruction or insanity! To continue to indulge in modern society's trough of self-absorbed moments of pleasure can bring misery and heartache when one ponders the fruitlessness and meaninglessness of it all. Though to strive to reconcile the problems that lie within society may result in rejection and madness, with yourself left baffled and confused as to why, despite the problems we face, the world is shouting you down as the party must go on. These of course are undeveloped and simplistic musings as yet. I'm not trying to set myself up as a righteous polemicist. I am merely attempting to comprehend some of the questions that accompany the everyday. Perhaps though, I am just wasting web space. Certainly, modern society may come to this conclusion. After all, 'who cares'?