David Peace - Red or Dead

In the house, in their front room. In the evening and in the silence. Bill got up from his chair. Bill walked over to the television. Bill switched off the television. Bill walked out of the front room. Bill walked into the hallway. Bill picked up the telephone. Bill dialled a number. In the house, in their hallway. Bill listened to the telephone ring. And ring. And then Bill heard Peter Robinson say, Hello?

And Bill said, Hello, Peter. Hello. It’s only me. It’s only Bill. Now did you just see the games? The games on Match of the Day?

Yes, said Peter Robinson. I saw them. I watched it.

And so what did you think, Peter? What did you think? I mean, I think that’s a good result. A very good result for Everton, don’t you think? I mean, I think many folk will have been surprised by that.

Yes, said Peter Robinson again. It’s a good result.

But I can’t say I’m surprised, Peter. I can’t say I’m very surprised. I mean, the way Gordon has set them up.

Yes, said Peter Robinson. They looked very efficient. Very well organised. But I was surprised he kept McKenzie on the bench …

Oh well. I can’t say that surprised me, Peter. Not really. Not the way Gordon is. Not the way he has got them playing as a team, Peter. You can see he believes in the importance of the team. In the importance of the individual knowing their place within the system. Within the team. Now McKenzie is skilful, I agree. Very skilful, I agree, Peter. But he has a tendency to show off. And to be that wee bit too greedy. And to not know his place, his place in the team. And so I can see why Gordon did not use him, why he kept him on the bench.

Yes, said Peter Robinson. He can be a little showy …

That’s it, Peter. Exactly. That’s it. He can be a little bit showy. And they were doing well enough without him. Without him and his bag of tricks. So Gordon had no call for him. He did not need him. Not when they were playing so well. I mean, I thought they took Chelsea for a walk in the park. To be honest with you, it was something of a stroll for Everton. I mean, they were happy enough to let Chelsea run. But only as far as the penalty area, mind you. Because they knew Chelsea would get no further. They could get no further. Not with Higgins, Jones and Pejic. Higgins, Jones and Pejic were very solid. Very strong, Peter. I mean, they even allowed Cooke a yard start.

He did have two good chances, said Peter Robinson.

He did, Peter. Yes, he did. You are right, Peter. You are right. But his shooting is never up to his passing. And they know that. They knew that. Their eyes were more on Wilkins, I think. Now he was a danger. He’s always a danger, is Wilkins. He does everything. He chases everything. He’s a terrier. A terrier, Peter. But I mean, Buckley, Dawson and King always had control of the midfield. They never relinquished control of the midfield. But still, as you say. As you say, Peter, Chelsea still had their chances. Two good chances. And it might have been a different game. A very different story. If they had taken one of those chances. If Everton had had to chase the game. It might have been a different story. But to be honest with you, Peter, I could not see it. I could never see it happening. Because Chelsea need a man like Latchford. A player like Latchford. A player who will always take his chance. I mean, Chelsea lack that kind of player. That kind of man.

Did you think it was a penalty, asked Peter Robinson.

No, no. I did not, Peter. No. I mean, the lad Pejic said it was not his hand. It was the hand of the keeper. The hand of Wood. And the way the players protested. The way the Everton players reacted. I am sure it was never a penalty. And it would have been harsh if the lad had then scored. So I think justice was done. Justice was served.

What did you think of George Wood, asked Peter Robinson. I thought he made two very good saves, did he not?

Yes and no, Peter. Yes and no. Yes, they were good saves. Yes. But they were saves he should have made. That’s his job, Peter. I mean, he was just doing his job. But you saw the other match, too? You watched the Birmingham — Forest match, Peter?

Yes, said Peter Robinson. I did, Bill.

Well now, then you saw a very good save there. An exceptional save by Shilton. I mean, Francis flicked it up beautifully. He volleyed it beautifully. He did everything right. But there was Shilton. With a glancing save, with a brilliant save. Not many keepers would have got to that, Peter. Not many men, I can tell you. That was going in, that was heading home. No danger. No danger at all. But there was Shilton. At full stretch. Incredible. I mean, for him to reach that. For Shilton to save that. Bloody unbelievable!

And Forest are still top, said Peter Robinson. And Peter Robinson laughed. And Peter Robinson said, I find that pretty unbelievable, too. If I’m honest with you, Bill …

Well, you know, Peter. You know what I think. I think they can go all the way. I think they can win the League. I really do, Peter. The way Brian has got them playing. The way he has set them up. As a team, Peter. As a team again. Not individuals, Peter. But as a team. A very balanced team. And Birmingham were no match for them. No match at all. And I mean, Alf will know that –

I do wonder why Sir Alf agreed to step in, said Peter Robinson. I mean, why now? Why would he, Bill?

Alf Ramsey is a football man. He loves being in football. After he was sacked, I know many clubs came knocking on his door. But they were either foreign clubs or Second Division clubs. But Alf always said he wanted to continue working. He said he still had a lot to give. And so when Birmingham offered him a directorship. He said yes. Because he wanted to be involved. And then when Willie Bell was sacked. And they asked him to be the caretaker manager. Again he said yes. Because he wanted to help. But they were never going to beat Forest. Alf knows that. Birmingham were lacking in the very basics. They have Francis. But just Francis. One man. An individual. And you can’t win a game of football with just one man. Just one individual. No matter how good he is, how skilful he is. You can’t win a game with just one man, Peter.

But it must have been galling for Sir Alf, said Peter Robinson, the way Burns played today. For Birmingham to have sold him to Forest before Sir Alf had even taken over. That must be very galling?

Oh well, I don’t know about that, Peter. I don’t know about that. Burns is a very difficult character. By all accounts. A difficult man to deal with. And so I’m not sure Alf would have got on with Burns. And then Burns is Scottish, of course. And Alf has never had any love of us. So I’m not sure he would have been able to get the best out of him. Not the way Brian has. I mean, Brian has reformed him.

And so you think he’s the man to reform England?

I think he could, Peter. In fact, I’m certain he could. But I’m not sure he will be given the chance. I mean, I can’t see the FA ever appointing a man like Brian. I mean, Brian would want to do things his way. Not their way. And he’s never been one of them yes, sir, no, sir, three bags full merchants. And Brian never will be.

But they have invited him down for an interview, said Peter Robinson. They didn’t do that the last time …

Aye, but I think it’s just a sop. I think it’s just for show. A show for the press, a show for the public. I mean, I think they’ve already made up their minds. I think in their minds they know who they want. And they want Ron. Ron Greenwood. And he may be fine. Ron may do very well. And I hope he does. But I think they are just wasting Brian’s time. Inviting him down, interviewing him. They are just wasting his time. As I say, I think it’s all for show. It’s just a sop. And I think that’s a shame, Peter. A very great shame. Because I think they could do with someone like Brian, with a breath of fresh air. I think they need a breath of fresh air.