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Schadenfreude, a load of Cobblers and A Miller’s Tale
“Schadenfreude”, according to the Oxford Dictionary, is a word meaning delight in another’s misfortune. A sort of Teutonic “There but for the grace of God/Why I like watching big Brother” word much loved by Germans.
It’s a word that immediately has me thinking of harassed mothers in Supermarket queues. It conjures up images of blokes not being able to make the regular Sunday morning four ball because they’re looking after the Grandchildren for the weekend and of fans who follow teams like the Shots whenever they have to come clean on what Club they support. In my book it’s a nasty word fit only for people who are planning to stay indoors watching the tele next Friday.
Nevertheless, as much as I disapprove of Schadenfreude in action, this Friday night finds me travelling the few miles from Old Timer Towers to Sixfields Stadium to savour the atmosphere as the Cobblers attempt to halt their seemingly relentless slide into the Conference (and of course to see whether the Millers can keep their fading play off hopes alive).
For the first 70 minutes Northampton are terrible. Rotherham go two up. The home supporters are in a state of increasing gloom. Mid Table mediocrity must seem to them like the ultimate Nirvana.
Forest Green Rovers and Rushden and Diamonds beckon. “This” I think, could have been us. Schadefreude reigns supreme.
Then all of a sudden Andy Scott, the new Rotherham Manager, inexplicably takes off Law and Taylor, his two best players on the night, and his team promptly falls apart.
Leon McKenzie, a half time sub, scores from close range and the game is turned on its head. Rotherham get an absolute battering and, in the last minutes of stoppage time, just as it looks like they’ll hang on, Northampton score again.
The away end is distraught. The rest of Sixfields goes mental.
Tomorrow Barnet are away to Gillingham whilst Burton take on the mighty Shots. Don’t worry you Cobblers. Safety is just around the corner.
Saturday 4.50: The Rec.
Slight miscalculation there! Sorry about that. In fact “ Shots unbeaten run goes for a Burton” could have been the headline as the Shots faithful are reminded of our almost complete lack of nous up front.
Zola and Pearson have both been in and out of the Burton side this season but either of them would have been big improvement on what’s currently on offer for the Shots.
Burton deserve to stay up and were the better side by a mile. Watching their ecstatic supporters celebrating was the only joy of the afternoon and left just one unanswered question. What exactly is the opposite of Schadenfreude?
Next week will be very interesting and should provide a few answers for the likes of Barnet and Northampton. Nevertheless (and as a lower division man I’m almost ashamed to admit it) game of the week (or even the season) has to be on Wednesday night.
I have a sneaking feeling that it will be a United v Real final although as any Northampton supporter reading this will tell you. What do I know!
Posted by Aldershot fan Old Timer
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