Away from the playing field, as usual there has been much happening at Posh.
Defender Tommy Williams’ page 3 model girlfriend failed to become a success in the jungle, and amazingly came across as an ever so slightly annoying Jordan wannabe, and her feud with pop star David Van Day was the most noticeable contribution she made to the ITV reality show.
Chairman Darragh MacAnthony felt it necessary to make it public the reasons behind releasing fan favourite Micah Hyde. Apparently a number of fans sent abusive e-mails to the man who just so happens to be best thing that has ever happened to the club. On a personal level I think it’s time certain fans learn to trust the people that we have in charge at the club. I may not have been around for as long as some Posh fans, but I can pretty confidently say that the club is in the best state it has ever been in. This is not only on the pitch, but with the entire management, and backroom staff.
Fans who do question decisions that are made at the club is fair enough, but when the club is in the middle of its best run for god knows how many years then surely it would be best to get behind the men who are the reason for this, e.g. Fergie and Darragh.
Fair enough Micah was a good player, I was a big fan myself, but we have some superb midfielders, Charlie Lee and Dean Keates are as committed as players get. Add to that Paul Coutts who has amazed everyone with his start to life at Peterborough, and Andrew Crofts who looks a good enough player, there is no real reason for fans to be too disappointed with the departure of Micah.
Peterborough are sitting in 4th in the league, and have a massive chance of a cup upset at a Premiership side in the 3rd round. Come on Posh fans...is there really any reason to be anything less than ecstatic at the moment?
11 December, 2008
Match Catch Up
Since the last post on the season so far back on the 25th November there has been plenty of action going on at Peterborough.
A 2-2 draw away at Swindon was a bonus for Posh who trailed in the game until Shaun Batt scored a goal of the season contender in stoppage time to extend the unbeaten league run. Posh twice trailed in the game, with the first equaliser being an own goal by the unfortunate Swindon defender, John Paul McGovern.
After that tricky away midweek fixture, Tranmere visited London Road on the Saturday in the F.A Cup 2nd round encounter. The match was somewhat of a letdown, with Peterborough putting in a less than impressive performance and eventually having to settle for a 0-0 draw, much credit on the day went to keeper Joe Lewis for a string of great saves.
The midweek rest seemed to do Posh the world of good as they travelled to fellow promotion contenders Stockport the week after. In one of the most important, and impressive performances of the season, Posh took all the points in a 3-1 victory. Own goals from Raynes and Tunnicliffe for the home side may have seemed to suggest a fortunate victory for Posh, but this was far from the truth. Peterborugh dominated the game, and along with the two own goals, Craig Mackail-Smith continued his superb season by scoring his 15th goal of the season.
With the prospect of an away trip to Premiership West Brom on a cold Tuesday night in Tranmere in the F.A Cup replay, Posh put in one of the bravest and committed performances for many years. After falling behind early in the second half Posh were in serious trouble, and as the clock ticked away and stoppage time began, Posh showed their amazing fighting spirit. Aaron Mclean struck home from close range four minutes into injury time to give Posh a lifeline, and take the game into extra time. The tired legs were beginning to show for both sides, and it was a case of who wanted it more as the second half of extra time began.
Once again Posh found their saviour in one of their forward men, leading scorer Craig Mackail-Smith’s instinctive touch from a wayward Charlie Lee effort sent the ball past the keeper, and earn Posh their big day at the Hawthorns in the new year.
A 2-2 draw away at Swindon was a bonus for Posh who trailed in the game until Shaun Batt scored a goal of the season contender in stoppage time to extend the unbeaten league run. Posh twice trailed in the game, with the first equaliser being an own goal by the unfortunate Swindon defender, John Paul McGovern.
After that tricky away midweek fixture, Tranmere visited London Road on the Saturday in the F.A Cup 2nd round encounter. The match was somewhat of a letdown, with Peterborough putting in a less than impressive performance and eventually having to settle for a 0-0 draw, much credit on the day went to keeper Joe Lewis for a string of great saves.
The midweek rest seemed to do Posh the world of good as they travelled to fellow promotion contenders Stockport the week after. In one of the most important, and impressive performances of the season, Posh took all the points in a 3-1 victory. Own goals from Raynes and Tunnicliffe for the home side may have seemed to suggest a fortunate victory for Posh, but this was far from the truth. Peterborugh dominated the game, and along with the two own goals, Craig Mackail-Smith continued his superb season by scoring his 15th goal of the season.
With the prospect of an away trip to Premiership West Brom on a cold Tuesday night in Tranmere in the F.A Cup replay, Posh put in one of the bravest and committed performances for many years. After falling behind early in the second half Posh were in serious trouble, and as the clock ticked away and stoppage time began, Posh showed their amazing fighting spirit. Aaron Mclean struck home from close range four minutes into injury time to give Posh a lifeline, and take the game into extra time. The tired legs were beginning to show for both sides, and it was a case of who wanted it more as the second half of extra time began.
Once again Posh found their saviour in one of their forward men, leading scorer Craig Mackail-Smith’s instinctive touch from a wayward Charlie Lee effort sent the ball past the keeper, and earn Posh their big day at the Hawthorns in the new year.
Helgi Danielsson
Around the turn of the century Peterborugh United had some exciting talents, Jimmy Bullard was beginning to show why he is now a regular in the Premiership, Leon Mckenzie was scoring goals for fun, and David Farrell was in the middle of his memorable stay at London Road.
Also at this time Posh had another talent, Swedish born, but Icelandic by nationality, in the form of Helgi Danielsson.
Helgi is especially a memorably player for me personally, as he scored the winner in my first ever trip to London Road, in the F.A Cup against Bournemouth. Incidentally this was the year that saw Posh go all the way to the 4th round, and had that amazing tie against Bobby Robson’s Newcastle United, where Posh eventually lost 4-2.
The tall bearded midfielder was always the most recognisable player on the pitch, and it is easy to forget that when he was at London Road, Helgi was still very young. He made a total of 57 league games for Peterborough between 2000 and 2003, and remains somewhat of a cult figure among many Posh fans.
Helgi’s career has gone from strength to strength in recent times, and is now playing at a very respectable level for Swedish Premier side Elfsborg, a side that regularly plays in European competition.
I was lucky enough to get in touch with Helgi who was happy to talk about his time at Peterborough, and how life has gone for him since he left five years ago...
So Helgi, how did you find yourself playing for Peterborough in the first place?
My youth team coach in Iceland knew an agent with some contacts in England and he sorted me out with a couple of trials, the first one of which was at Posh. There I spent two weeks and played a couple of games and was offered a contract. It was very tempting for me to move to England, mainly because of the academy set-up and the big teams we played against every week. Also, the fact that I could focus so much more on the football than back in Iceland was enticing.
What is your best memory from your time at London Road?
It was probably the game against Tranmere at home when I scored my only two league goals. It was a great game where Leon McKenzie scored a hat-trick and I scored two. I’ve never been much of a goalscorer so it felt great to bag two in the same game.
Who was the best player you played with at Peterborough?
I would have to say Jimmy Bullard because of his energy on the pitch. He runs around like a madman for 90 minutes every game, screaming for the ball and irritating the rest of us, but he always has been a class act when on the ball.
Do you still keep an eye on how Peterborough are getting on, and are you still in contact with some of the old players?
Yes, I’m always going to follow the Posh and I saw a couple of games last season over the Christmas period. I still have a lot of contact with Peterborough the city because that’s where I met my girlfriend and her family all lives there. I have been in contact with Gareth Jelleyman and some of the other guys on the internet but it’s much less than I would like to.
How has your career gone since leaving Peterborough? How is the Swedish style of football different from English?
First I went back to Iceland to go to University and play part-time, and the standard of football there is nothing to write home about, but now I’ve been in Sweden as a professional for three years I feel like I’ve taken a few steps up in my career. My current team, Elfsborg, has been in European competitions every year for the last four years and we finished second in the league this year. In terms of the type of football played in Sweden it is quite a bit different than the English way. The football is a bit more relaxed than in England, where the tempo is sometimes too fast for its own good, and the better teams generally try to play from the back and get a good passing play going, for better or for worse. It’s definitely more continental football but the tempo and atmosphere is nowhere near as good as in England, and that probably has a lot to do with the fans and the passion for the game being so great in England.
Would you consider coming back to England if the right offer came in?
Absolutely! At the moment I’m very happy here in Sweden but England is the home of football and every player would like to play there at a high level. My girlfriend being English, I know she would love to sometime move back there and since no one knows what’s around the corner it is definitely possible.
I’m sure if he ever did make the move back to England, many a Posh fan would love to see him back at Peterborough, including myself, it’s clear that the years he has now spent at a good level of football in Sweden, and at International level would have done him the world of good. Also, at 27 years of age he is around his peak, and I for one hope to see Helgi back playing in England in the future, whether it be at Posh or not.
.
Also at this time Posh had another talent, Swedish born, but Icelandic by nationality, in the form of Helgi Danielsson.
Helgi is especially a memorably player for me personally, as he scored the winner in my first ever trip to London Road, in the F.A Cup against Bournemouth. Incidentally this was the year that saw Posh go all the way to the 4th round, and had that amazing tie against Bobby Robson’s Newcastle United, where Posh eventually lost 4-2.
The tall bearded midfielder was always the most recognisable player on the pitch, and it is easy to forget that when he was at London Road, Helgi was still very young. He made a total of 57 league games for Peterborough between 2000 and 2003, and remains somewhat of a cult figure among many Posh fans.
Helgi’s career has gone from strength to strength in recent times, and is now playing at a very respectable level for Swedish Premier side Elfsborg, a side that regularly plays in European competition.
I was lucky enough to get in touch with Helgi who was happy to talk about his time at Peterborough, and how life has gone for him since he left five years ago...
So Helgi, how did you find yourself playing for Peterborough in the first place?
My youth team coach in Iceland knew an agent with some contacts in England and he sorted me out with a couple of trials, the first one of which was at Posh. There I spent two weeks and played a couple of games and was offered a contract. It was very tempting for me to move to England, mainly because of the academy set-up and the big teams we played against every week. Also, the fact that I could focus so much more on the football than back in Iceland was enticing.
What is your best memory from your time at London Road?
It was probably the game against Tranmere at home when I scored my only two league goals. It was a great game where Leon McKenzie scored a hat-trick and I scored two. I’ve never been much of a goalscorer so it felt great to bag two in the same game.
Who was the best player you played with at Peterborough?
I would have to say Jimmy Bullard because of his energy on the pitch. He runs around like a madman for 90 minutes every game, screaming for the ball and irritating the rest of us, but he always has been a class act when on the ball.
Do you still keep an eye on how Peterborough are getting on, and are you still in contact with some of the old players?
Yes, I’m always going to follow the Posh and I saw a couple of games last season over the Christmas period. I still have a lot of contact with Peterborough the city because that’s where I met my girlfriend and her family all lives there. I have been in contact with Gareth Jelleyman and some of the other guys on the internet but it’s much less than I would like to.
How has your career gone since leaving Peterborough? How is the Swedish style of football different from English?
First I went back to Iceland to go to University and play part-time, and the standard of football there is nothing to write home about, but now I’ve been in Sweden as a professional for three years I feel like I’ve taken a few steps up in my career. My current team, Elfsborg, has been in European competitions every year for the last four years and we finished second in the league this year. In terms of the type of football played in Sweden it is quite a bit different than the English way. The football is a bit more relaxed than in England, where the tempo is sometimes too fast for its own good, and the better teams generally try to play from the back and get a good passing play going, for better or for worse. It’s definitely more continental football but the tempo and atmosphere is nowhere near as good as in England, and that probably has a lot to do with the fans and the passion for the game being so great in England.
Would you consider coming back to England if the right offer came in?
Absolutely! At the moment I’m very happy here in Sweden but England is the home of football and every player would like to play there at a high level. My girlfriend being English, I know she would love to sometime move back there and since no one knows what’s around the corner it is definitely possible.
I’m sure if he ever did make the move back to England, many a Posh fan would love to see him back at Peterborough, including myself, it’s clear that the years he has now spent at a good level of football in Sweden, and at International level would have done him the world of good. Also, at 27 years of age he is around his peak, and I for one hope to see Helgi back playing in England in the future, whether it be at Posh or not.
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