Doncaster Rovers v Scunthorpe United

DONCASTER ROVERS
 - V - 
SCUNTHORPE UNITED

 1st January 2011 and off we all go, nursing our hangovers to watch a traditional New Year Derby at the Keepmoat, with Rovers entertaining the Iron.  Scunny were down at the bottom of the Championship and looking every inch the relegation fodder they became.  Donny occupied fourteenth  position but having just recruited a star centre-back on loan (Matt Kilgallon) looked like they may be planning a push for the play-offs.  

After a long delay due to the lack of an ambulance, Rovers predictably overwhelmed the Iron with a strong first half display that saw Billy Sharp, James Hayter and Joe Mills getting the 3-goals that gave Donny victory on that day.

We Rovers fans woke-up 5 months later having just avoided relegation and of course followed the Iron down to League 1 the next season.  No offence to Iron fans, but I now hope our tendency of following Scunny over the last couple of seasons is coming to an end.

DONCASTER ROVERS

I don’t think the way we are playing at home is a lot different to how we are playing away from home; we are just scoring at the right time on our travels. - Dean Saunders

OK - who writes the headlines in the Star?  "Dean backs home form" ?  Now we all know our home form hasn't been all that but I'm going to go along with Dean's obvious strategy here.  This is the "Elephant in the Room" strategy so SHHHHHHH!

Deano knows it, we all know it.  If Rovers get it together at home, with the fantastic away form  that we have, this league should be for our taking.  Like everyone else, I can only guess at what needs to be done, but one thing I would say is please keep off the player's backs.

Gary Woods - Decent Season

I noticed while participating on the Lucky Pint on Tuesday Night.  Gary Woods had done nothing wrong all evening and had in fact drawn a couple of positive comments from the commentators.  

A first slight mistake from a corner and in came the first mention of Woodsy on the match thread.  Four teams are conceding fewer goals than Donny this season.  On that Stat, Gary Woods is having a decent season.  Read the forums though and you wouldn't think it.

It's not only the written word either where Rovers' players are unduly criticized.  Listen to any home commentary and you will hear somebody with an overly big mouth voice an ill-considered opinion about what they are seeing.  So, if you're going to the match today, could you do me a favour?  Could you please tell the big-mouthed boo-boys that "Fuzzy says SHUT UP!"  - Thank you.

SCUNTHORPE UNITED

I don't think you should ever treat them (derbies) as a normal game. I think you're foolish to actually think that - Brian Laws

It looks like Brian is trying to spice things up a bit ahead of the todays Derby.  

Before he returned to the Iron for his third spell, I'd have had this fixture as a sure fire opportunity for Rovers to end the Keepmoat-Blues.  But with Laws back in the driving seat?  Just 2 draws in 7 outing before his appointment, since then, two wins and a draw in 5.  Sure, I still think Rovers should be too strong but since Laws returned, fans are at least seeing some signs of life.

Looking at the recent performances, and the first I looked at was Scunny's home defeat to fellow relegation candidates, Bury.   In an attacking sense, what struck me as encouraging was the relationship between Karl Hawley and Leon Clarke.  There were two occasions on which Hawley flicked a header on for Clarke, one was a goal and one would have been but for a good save from the Bury 'keeper.

In defence, I didn't see the disaster that was Carlisle, but did see small points in need of improvement.  WIngers on occasions suckering the centre-backs in too deep and so allowing the ball to be pulled back to for easy efforts from the edge of the area and lacks of concentration, one of which resulted in the winner for Bury.  Two players, who otherwise looked OK, had simply switched off , challenges that should have been made simply weren't made, and Scunny paid.

Mark Duffy - caught the eye.

Against Notts County, the Iron won a very creditable point.  For me, Mark Duffy caught the eye in the first half.  He ran at the County defence very strongly and brought other players into moves very intelligently.  This was never better shown than how he played a simple pass down the wing that allowed Christian Ribeiro to cut in for Scunny's first.

Their second was another clever move started and finished by Damien Mozika.

It looked a largely competent performance at the back too against a team who are one of the league's leading scorers.  The only things they failed consistently to cope with were crosses that allowed the strikers to move to attack them.  Other than that, they largely had County limited to long range efforts.

Prediction:

The Iron that I watched in those highlights are better than 23rd in this division.  But I still believe Rovers to be stronger.  2 : 0 to Rovers and Billy Paynter to open the scoring.  

Carlisle v Rovers

CARLISLE UNITED
 - V - 
DONCASTER ROVERS

The football league are obviously looking for Donny to gain some kind of sponsorship from a fuel company as in the space of just over three days, they are asked to travel 782 miles.  After Saturday's 250-mile trip to the South-Coast, now we travel the 141 miles up to Cumbria and to one of my old stomping grounds, Carlisle (I lived up there for 7 years and have many happy memories of the place).

I remember a remarkable moment in the history of the Foxes happened while I was up there.  Take a look at the vid - it explains it all.

As a back-story to that, my boss at the time was a huge Carlisle fan.  In fact, when he retired, he became a director of the club (and still is).  His name is John Nixon.  John told me that he left that match on 90 minutes.  He said a few choice words to the then Chairman, Michael Knighton that basically put a goodly round sum on the amount of sponsorship he'd receive from our mutual employer the next season.  He then told me how he couldn't understand why the bloke on his car radio was going potty and how sick he was when he realized the reason.

Jimmy Glass was at the time on emergency loan at Carlisle covering injuries to their regular and reserve 'keepers.  A picture of Jimmy Glass scoring that goal became a central feature of one of our training rooms.  I believe Tullie House Museum in Carlisle exhibit the very boots that shot that goal but Jimmy still didn't get a playing contract with Carlisle.  He did get a story to tell his Grandkids though!  

Like the story of how John Ryan rescued Donny Rovers, that story is a very good lesson  that it's never over until the fat lady sings (if a little shorter than the Rovers' story).

CARLISLE UNITED

Over four years we have been in serious situations. Probably this is as serious as it gets. Greg Abbott

It sounds like some of the Jimmy Glass spirit is urgently needed at Brunton Park at the moment.  Abbott is coming under-fire as Carlisle are having a nightmare November with just 1 point this month so far.  Just one win in the last 8 outings and Carlisle are now within 3 points of the real trouble in the bottom 3.

Saturday's match against Orient didn't help Abbott's cause at all.  Orient had only scored 5 goals on their travels all season prior to Saturday.  By half time, they were 4:1 ahead.  Abbott described the 1st half performance as the worst he'd seen in his football career.  As a Rovers' fan who lived through "that" season, I reckon I can rival it, but it wasn't good.  The defending was terrible from all concerned.  The goalkeeper was flapping and making poor decisions; the full-backs were allowing the wingers way too much space and in the middle there were bargain give-aways and missed tackles.  The stuff of nightmares.

Carlisle fans might not know this but Donny are sitting just one point shy of the play-off places whilst being the most shot-shy team in the league.  The things is, nearly 40% of the shots Rovers take end up in the back if the net.  So if presented with chances in the manner Carlisle displayed on Saturday, it could get very messy very quickly.

Against Brentford at Griffin Park and it was better but still I find it difficult to say too much positive about the Cumbrians.  Brentford scored from two corners and both goals came at the back-post.  The goalkeeper again looked flappy and the defence simply aren't good enough at retaining possession.  Another worry for Carlisle (if one was needed), when Brentford did play football (and Rovers know they can), they tore Carlisle apart.

I wish I could be positive about one of my former home towns.  But it could get messy against my real home town.

DONCASTER ROVERS

it’s a another great win and thats six wins and two draws from nine away games - Dean Saunders

Woods - Sweet Left-foot

Deano relishing yet another great result on Rovers' their away days.  We may be being forced to travel a lot this week, but at the moment, we wouldn't have it any other way.  

The result on Saturday allows me to give a shout out to Martin Woods.  Woods put his cross on a sixpence for Iain Hume to fire home Rovers' only goal on Saturday which is great news.  He's a player who has championship quality but the injuries have sadly curtailed somewhat what could have become an excellent career.  Woods' left foot is one of the sweetest lefts around and if he starts swinging to anything like the effect he had on Saturday, it could start feeding frenzies among Rovers' sharp-shooters.  It has not been the best season for the midfielder so far, but here's hoping that he continues to gain his confidence.  In this league he could be a match-winner and perhaps there's championship football once more for Woodsy.  Hopefully at the Keepmoat.

On a happy note, for me at least, tomorrow's match will be the first I'll listen to  in its entirety fora while.  No Swiss activity tomorrow night but on that subject, the season is hotting up nicely for both my teams.

Donny are looking good for a play-off place at the moment (well away from home at least) while Winti have moved into second spot, four point off the top with the leaders to play in their next fixture.  It could be a very exciting season.

Prediction:  Sorry Carlisle, but you're going to get a hammering 0:4 - Billy Paynter to score the first.    

Pompey v Rovers

PORTSMOUTH
 - V - 
DONCASTER ROVERS

After being visited by one South-Coast team last week, Rovers' now travel down to face another.  We last met Pompey at the Keepmoat in a match that confirmed Donny's relegation last season.  

Dean Saunders questioned all four of Portsmouth's goals in the 3 : 4 thriller.  Two ridiculous penalties, the first of which resulted in an equally ridiculous red card and a hand of God incident had kept Pompey in a game that the Rovers had won.  Its true that refereeing errors sometimes turn games, but this is the only time in a match that I have effectively seen a ref present a team with three goals erroneously.  

But that was last season.  This is this season - a different season and a different competition.  Rovers fans aren't bitter.  The fact that the result confirmed Donny's relegation was purely academic anyway and a victory would have only prolonged the agony. 

I'm not doing a good job of the "putting it behind me" bit am I?...moving on.

PORTSMOUTH

I’m happy with the two players we’ve got. I think they’ll make a difference and I’m looking forward to working with them. - Guy Whittingham

With Michael Appleton leaving to take up the reins at Blackpool, Guy Whittingham has once again taken up a temporary position in the Portsmouth hot-seat.  And Whittingham has already achieved somethings that he could not achieve during hi last spell as manager.  He has signed two players, albeit on loan somthing that the financial situation of the club and league rules precluded him from doing on the last occasion.

Should he have been allowed to bearing in mind Portsmouth remain in administration?  Again its academic.  They have been allowed to sign the players and as all Portsmouth players are on month to month contracts, I can't see it makes too much difference.

Akos Busacky - Class

Then again, when you look at some of the names Portsmouth have on these short contracts, you have to wonder what kind of wage budget is available.  

Akos Busacky for instance is a classy player and he really showed in the highlights that I watched.  So skilled that he was once known as the white Pelé, he has also got an eye for a shot, coming close on a couple of occasions against Sheffield United.  

But Pompey have lost their last four and you could see why from the highlights.  Seemingly innocent attacks become situations mainly due to very sloppy marking.  With Rovers having one of the least forgiving strike forces in the league, they should be able to make something of the sloppiness I saw.

Going forward and I have to admit, Izale McLeod, anoth name that jumps out at you from the Pompey personnel list seemed wasteful as I watched him.  He had some great chances in the matches I watched but never got the thing on target.  Still, he will keep Rovers busy today.  Other than him and Busacky's opportunism Rovers must look out for midfielders with the ability to run at defenders....and playing against these type of players is not our strong point this season.

DONCASTER ROVERS 

Rob headed the ball for the first time since the Crewe game and he’s back to himself and he was out there leading the players in training. - Dean Saunders

Welcome back, Rob

...and that's probably the best news I've had today.  After suffering concussion early on against Crewe, Jones missed most of that game and all of the next one.  Without him, Rovers lacked the drive they needed and rolled on to another two home defeats.  

So Jones is back and we should also see Dave Cotterill today.  Add the fact that we are not at home and perhaps a good afternoon is promised.

Last week, I missed listening into the match but please don't think I was enjoying myself any more than you lot who did.  I watched my Swiss team, FC Winterthur knocked out of the Swiss Cup on penalties by regional league opposition.

But from what I read and heard afterwards, I do think I made the better choice in terms of entertainment so I'm not going to dwell on it any more.

Gavin Baldwin - Admission

Off the pitch and I've been monitoring a thread on the VSC "Something Rotten in the State of Denmark" It makes an interesting read once you get past the not so inspired opening comments.  I haven't yet contributed to this one and may never do...I'm mulling it over but one of the points made in the opening post does concern me.  After John Ryan's four promises were so brilliantly achieved we have been the "now what?" club.  The lack of new goals I think is one of the reasons for our relegation.  The other was the lack of any kind of long term thinking at board level.

Whilst I still don't see strategy or future goals, I do see acknowledgement that the club did get the championship years wrong from the business point of view.  Its no surprise for me that this admission came from Gavin Baldwin,  who in his short time at the club has shown more business sense than his predecessor did over an 11 year tenure.  Its good to hear that the club have learned some lessons.  Hopefully our return to the championship will be on an even more permanent basis.

Prediction:  Rovers away from home against a defence that will give us chances...0:2  Dave Cotterill to score.

  

Rovers v Cherries

DONCASTER ROVERS

 - V - 

BOURNEMOUTH

Bournemouth.  A team that eight years ago, gave Rovers a 5:0 stuffing that so impressed John Ryan, that he made a mental note to poach their manager.  The manager was duly poached and taught Doncaster Rovers and the residence of the town what football was.  

Sadly, Dean Saunders was not a resident of Doncaster at the time so he missed the lessons.  But, at least Deano has us winning games.  OK - you have to be prepared to travel to see it but there are wins!

DONCASTER ROVERS

Aren't Donny bloody infuriating this season?  There's lots that is good.  A great defence,  a great spirit, strikers that can not only hit barn doors, but can kill passing insects that have rested on the barn doors.  The problem is they do it away from the Keepmoat.  The home fans see them sweat, toil and gain little.  Gaining little being defined as being the 16th best team at home in League 1.  Sure, the away fans have seen some great performances but not everyone can afford to travel.

And so it was on Tuesday.  Crewe Alexandra, 18th placed in the league visiting a 5th placed Donny end up winning 2:0.  Obviously Crewe, like Donny have an excellent away record.  Don't be silly!  Before they came to Donny, they were in the bottom four teams away from home.  Bloody infuriating!

No over-reaction from me though.  Its just annoying that the Rovers' away form isn't maintained at home.  Losing to Crewe does not mean that after 8 matches unbeaten, we have become relegation candidates overnight it just means that there's some kind of mental block that needs attention because its bloody infuriating.

They’ve got some good players and are a good footballing team, but I won’t be adjusting our team - Dean Saunders

Cotterill - Starts surely....pleeeeaaasse!

He won't?!! What even with David Cotterill threatening to be fit?  Somebody talk to him - I'm sure he doesn't mean it!  Or perhaps he's just blown his bluff on the Cotterill fitness thing!

A lack of creativity on the flanks was one reason blamed for our lack of success against Crewe.  With Cotterill and Kyle Bennett out of the side, its easy to see why.

On the subject of Kyle, its interesting that Saunders has stated that Bennett will be out for several weeks due to a knee injury sustained in training.  I seem to remember Kyle asking to come off in the game against Notts County and not being allowed to do so due to all substitutes being used.  This was despite the fact that in the game, County had already been reduced to 10 men so would not have had an advantage.

At the time Dean said that players come off too easy these days and in his day, they ran it off.  This was going to be his new instruction to physios "run it off".  I was in two minds about the instruction at the time.  I know what Deano means about players crying too easily but when you're 2:0 up and your opponents are down to 10 men anyway, is it worth risking being macho?

BOURNEMOUTH

It has surprised us how well the lads have performed, I have to say. In the majority of the games, we have been excellent. - Eddie Howe

Not such a surprise to me though.  Eddie Howe became Luke Skywalker to Sean O'Driscoll's Obi-Wan Kenobi, starting his education as a member of O'Driscoll's youth team.  His career has seen him move away from Bournemouth on several occasions both as a player and as a coach.  But his best work has always been carried out at Dean Court.  Home again since October, has the young padawan become the fully blown Jedi?

Marc Pugh - Teaser-in-Chief

Well looking at Bournemouth, I saw the type of football that Dean Saunders should be bringing to the Keepmoat.  They move the ball quickly with plenty of really good "give and go's".  All attacking players look prepared to attack defenders just enough to make them commit and then pass the ball into space created.  Marc Pugh, who Eddie Howe is trying to persuade to sign a new contract is teaser-in-chief.  Expect Paul Quinn to receive an examination today.

Finally, I would also say the style is quite direct.  In the highlights I watched, two of the six goals scored came from long balls forward with one that was pure route 1.

But I wasn't so fond of the defending.  The first goal Carlisle scored was a disaster.  A weak, off balance header from a centre-back falling to an unmarked striker in the penalty area.  If it hadn't been a goal, Carlisle also had an excellent shout for a penalty with one of their strikers forced to give the other Bournemouth centre-back a piggy-back ride.  

Another striker arrived sadly unmarked at the far-side of the penalty area for Carlisle's second.  Half-hearted challenges were made, but nothing that was going to stop the excellent finish.

My expectation today is a game similar to the one Rovers had against Brentford.  We're not going to get much possession but if we do, there's a defence that will allow chances.  Away from home, we don't need many of those but at home?

Prediction

Donny's defence is going to get a real examination and we're not going to get lucky as we did against Brentford.  because Bournemouth shoot better.  0 : 2

Swiss 36 No. 15: Stadio Communale, Bellinzona . AC Bellinzona

AC Bellinzona v FC Winterthur

Stadio Communale.....Community Stadium....it's hard to be inspired isn't it?  But should people judge books by their covers?  Well, the cover says "Grey, characterless multi-sport facility designed by a committee of bureaucrats who believe it is possible to play football and crown-green bowls on the same surface and hell, they are going to prove it!"  In reality, could you have read the first paragraph and saved a lot of time? (and do you really think I will reveal this information now?)

Glorious sunshine in Winterthur as we left and we enjoyed the good weather most of the way down and so had a very picturesque trip.

By the time we arrived in Bellinzona, the weather had changed to a cold drizzle, that was to get steadily worse as the evening went on.

Its not immediately clear how to get to the Stadio Communale but it isn't far either.  We found the way, which took less than 10 minutes by following two of our fellow Winti fans.

At first sight, the stadium looks like a pretty typical, small-club stadium.  By Swiss standards, Bellinzona aren't really that.  Two seasons ago, they were in the Super League.  OK, that's not English Premier League by any standards, but still, this is a leading second-flight club.

Luckily the staff on the gates spoke German and were able to direct us around to the away-supporters section.  No souvenirs  were available.  "He's normally there", said the guy on the gate. "But not today."  Strange.  Perhaps "He" saw the weather forecast and didn't fancy it!

So around we went to the away end and for a very reasonable 15 SFr we were in after a polite search of our rucksacks, and a belated decision to confiscate two Burger King Coffee mugs, we'd received as a freebie.

Points Time

Getting There 

8 / 10.  A couple of signposts from the station would have been nice, but it isn't far to walk so easy enough.

...and this is the Ladies

Friendliness

6 / 10.  No problems at all with the Bellinzonans although we only spoke to stadium staff.  This was no fault of ours or the Tessiners.  

That toilet is a mess though.  The gents wasn't much better and there were no lights.  Certainly way less than you would expect in Switzerland.  Also the amount of facilities has to come in question.  One ladies toilet plus two urinals and a toilet for the lads for all away fans (Winterthur brought about 150 with them).

For the final impression of friendliness, consider that the refreshment stand for the away fans is outside of their pen.  Refreshments are served through a hole in the cage.

However, Bellinzona won a point back.  After we had forgotten our coffee mugs, someone called to us as we were going around the front of the stadium on our way out and handed them back to us.  Nice of them!

Safety

Oh Boy!

3 / 10.  That mention of pens and cages kinda gave things away didn't it?  Going into the away end at Bellinzona was like going back in time to the away terraces of English football in the early 80s.  The away fans are penned in like animals with high fences and locked gates all around.  

Add the toilets and the refreshments, poked through the bars of the cage and you have the bloody awful treatment of the away fan that contributed to the massive problems English football did have in the bad old days.

Terrace height is OK and they didn't put barbed-wire on the top of the fences but come on Bellinzona!  You obviously have no clue on how paying customers should be treated!

The Football is over there - somewhere

View

2 / 10.  So, we have the fences the athletics track and then there's a TV tower.  Sure, the view  would be better at the sides of the ground, but our view was sadly poor.  The only way to see anything was to stand at the top of the terrace.

I have no idea why the Burger King mugs were taken away from us.  An Olympic Javelin thrower would have struggled to throw the mug onto the pitch from where we were.

Atmosphere

7 / 10.  Excellent from the Winterthur fans who were as fun and as vocal as ever despite miserable conditions.  I didn't hear too much from the Bellinzona fans.  Although the reason for this was apparent, there were around 1700 Tessiners in the stadium, so I'd have hoped for more.

Refreshments

3 / 10.  Only sandwiches were poked through the bars of our cage.  Again - not much effort for the visitors.

Overall

29 / 60.  About as bad as I've seen on the tour!

Redeeming Feature

Frankly, I'll give it about as much thought as Bellinzona give their visitors.

On the first impressions?

Grey - Not really in fact (good for Bellinzona) they do use the stadium to advertise the club with a large "Forza Bellinzona mural on the main entrance.

Characterless - Not at all, although I tend to avoid people with this type of character!

The rest - sadly, I think I was spot on!

Celebrate in Style

The Match

Aha!  I knew there was something enjoyable about the evening.  Bellinzona were on the end of a 5 : 1 stuffing at the hands of Winterthur.  I suggest all visitors to the Stadio Communale do that to them, at least until they learn to improve their facilities for away fans.

It didn't look like it was going to be so one-sided in the first half.  The visitors took the lead on 15 minutes.  Emir Lenjani played in Luca Radice.   Out came Alain Bieri and fouled the midfielder.  No mistake from the spot from Kristian Kuzmanovic.

But the Tessiners are not second in the league for nothing.  They rallied and eventually equalized.  On 33 minutes, the ball came off Christian Leite's post for George Ivanischwili to poke home a rebound.  A good game with the home side in the ascendency at the break.

So at half time, was it an inspirational team-talk from Boro Kuzmanovic or was it motivation gained from attacking a soaked but happy band of away fans who never shut up all match.

Well, it took Winti until the 67th minute to get back on the scoresheet, so sorry Boro, I'm going with the fans.  Emir Lenjani put in the perfect cross to Patrick Bengondo, who, realizing that all defenders had tracked his run, headed back across for the unmarked Kris Kuzmanovic to double his tally.

10 minutes later and Bengondo and Lenjani combined again to put the game beyond doubt.  Bengondo's clever ball over the top allowing the Kosovan to finish impressively.

In the final 10 minutes, Winti really put that gloss on the scoreline.  Sven Lüscher made it four before Kris Kuzmanovic was credited with his hat-trick after firing in a free-kick.

Great stuff from Winti and a very reasonable pay-back to the fans who suffered the elements and that stadium. 

The Swiss 36 No. 14 Kleinfeld Stadion - SC Kriens

SC Kriens v SC YF Juventus

Another member of the Swiss first promotion league and another one of the victims of the season of death last season.   While I'm on the subject of the Swiss first promotion league, I'd like to point out how initially, it is looking like a good initiative for the regional clubs who became national clubs.  At the moment, the highest-placed club that was relegated from the Challenge League is Kriens, and they sit in 6th position.  I think that very statement is a wake-up call for any Swiss Challenge League side finding themselves visiting a first league promotion team in the cup. 

Mount Pilatus  - The Normal Reason to go to Kriens

Kriens is a small town, not far from Luzern.  The normal reason for visiting Kriens is to get on a cable car that takes you up the magnificent Mount Pilatus where the views over the Vierwaldstätter See (Lake Lucerne) are breathtaking.  

So when in Kriens, should you go up the mountain or go to the match?

After a single bus ride from Luzern station and a short walk we found ourselves at the Kleinfeld Stadion.

Getting tickets and entrance were no problem at all with no intrusive security.  

Just inside the gate and there's a pleasant area for socializing.  Here you find food stalls, drinks and nice places to consume them, including Stehtische (Standing Tables) right at the side of the pitch.  These tables are by no means rare at Swiss grounds and do provide a very pleasent way to watch the game.

But like the football fans we are, Mrs. Duck and I made our way around to the Kriens Kop behind the goal.

Points Time.

Getting There

7 / 10.  A single bus ride from Luzern station takes you to within 10 minutes walk of the ground.  It is signposted, though not from all directions, so we did have a little guess work.

Friendliness

12  / 10.  Friendly catering staff and we had a chat with the Kriens faithful after the game.  Good guys who even invited us to go to the local Kriens Town Festival that was going on that weekend.  We thought better of it, only because Kriens gave us the rare opportunity of getting home early after a Swiss 36 visit.

Stop press:  We met those guys in Friburg a couple of weeks later.  We enjoyed the second half with them, they gave us a lift to the station and even got us in first class for the trip home.  3 more points to Kriens!

View

Executive Areas

9 / 10.  Kleinfeld means "Small Field"  and that is quite apt.  But it is a proper football ground so there's good viewing to be had all the way around the ground.  Kriens, although a small club, seem to cater for all pockets and there is even what looks like an executive area.

Safety

7 / 10.  Nothing, like fences to get really upset about.  Very relaxed security.  The only issue would be that the terrace steps are a touch high for my taste.

Atmosphere

5 / 10.  Only 400 spectators in the stadium, but at least about 20 of them behind the goal were giving it a go!

Refreshments

7 / 10.  Sausages and Burgers - standard fare.  But everything was barbecued and I did like the way they did the burgers (you paid your money, received a burger in a bun and then added the additional stuff like onions, garlic etc. yourself).  Very tasty too.

Ice Cream was also available and made a welcome desert.  Despite the game being in late October, the weather was gorgeous.  We actually attended the game in shorts and T-Shirts.  I mention this because now, one week later, I am looking out of my window at about 9" of snow.

Nice Kit!

Overall 47 / 60

Redeeming Feature

Now there's something about that Kriens home kit that I likle (for Swiss readers, it's identical to my home town team of Doncaster Rovers' away kit).

The Match

Absolutely no classic I'm afraid.  The highlight came with the Visitors first attempt at goal in the 16th minute.  And a successful attempt it was too.

Ndoy Balu received the ball from a poor Kriens headed clearance on the edge of the 18 yard area.  He picked his spot perfectly and the visitors had the lead.

The rest of the game saw Kriens try and fail to get back from that strike.  Juventus did a very good job in limiting Kriens time and space in midfield.  For the rest of the game, both sides limited each other to half-chances, which neither were capable of converting.

A typical lower flight game, where defences dominated and there wasn't much to get excitided about.

To answer the earlier question that I posed.  If you're in Kriens, and you have never done it before.  Go up Pilatus on the Cable Car.  If you have done it before, go up again if the weather is nice.  But if the weather is not so good, there are far worse ways to spend and afternoon than watching a game of football.