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The Battle of Hastings, as summarised by Roy Keane

Greg Freeman

Tuesday, February 9th, 2021

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 Look at it not so much as a game
of two halves – although it was that,
too – but the result of fixture congestion.
Pure and simple. Two crucial matches,
far too close together. A great win up north,
despite Tostig’s last-minute transfer
to the other side. Then the rush south.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 Even then, the game could have been won.
Tight defensive set-up worked well
up to the break. It was a good plan,
if only they’d stuck to it. But they got
carried away, thought the Normans
were there for the taking, lost their shape,
got bogged down in midfield, left themselves

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 wide open at the back. Those tricky Normans
took full advantage. I don’t blame the keeper,
he never saw it coming. But there was no need
to celebrate in that way. Everyone here at Sky
condemns the scenes that followed,
the repercussions of that defeat.
These foreigners coming over here

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 bringing in new rules. Droit de seigenur?
What’s that all about? The bastards.
Excuse my French. It’s the ordinary
fan I feel sorry for. I might get
into trouble for saying this, but October’s
far too early in the season. No need
to dismember the manager, in my opinion.

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/the-battle-of-hastings-as-summarised-by-roy-keane/