Where did it all go wrong?

[Chris]

 

Well it's the end of the season now and we've finished in a relegation position. I think were all extremely hopeful that we can stay in this division through re-structuring, but the simple fact is that we should have never been in this position to begin with.

 

For what it's worth, here is where I think we made mistakes. These are of course only my opinions and are meant in no way to criticise any indivual personally, but are just my thoughts.

 

-------------------

 

Things were wrong from the beginning lets be honest. It took some quick rushing about from Gary when he was appointed club sec in the summer to put some pre-season fixtures together which should have been done at the end of the previous season (like we are organising now).

 

Then there was Wilko, awesome player, bloke and STFC legend in many supporters minds but not a manager. Wilko seemed to be of the thought that if he brought in a bunch of experienced ex-conference players in the likes of Nick Roddis, Christian Metcalfe, Dean Hooper (did not stay with us too long) and Lee Charles we would do well. He even said in the local press that we'd win this league. This despite us not knowing what you need to get out of this league.

 

It was soon very apparent that these experienced players were past it. No offence, but we were getting battered in midfield with an ageing duo of Roddis and Metcalfe, who have been good players in their time, but were no longer up to this level. Added to the fact that we had very poor players on the bench to simply make-up the numbers at the start of the season and sometimes not even filling the bench at all you could see that we would struggle from the outset. Training was also a disappointment with many players not turning-up and Wilko adding to the squad with some very average players in my opinion.

 

So eventually Betts and Barnard took over, and things looked bright to begin with. The training issue was sorted and things were a lot more professional on-and-off the pitch. Added to the fact we brought in some decent players in the likes of Gumbs and Meddie.

 

However, after that initial honeymoon period where we won a few games things started to go wrong. For me watching games some players attitudes on the pitch stunk. There were two players in particular for me (no longer at the club) who I think did us no favours at all. Thinking they were better than they were.

 

Apart from not getting rid of these bad eggs quicker there was one other thing that did not sit right with me under Betts and Barnards leadership and that was the treatment of one player in particular Chris Robinson. Robinson seemed to be made the scapegoat for everything he was always subbed when other players were having crapper games and sometimes he was dropped with players coming into his position that were not full-backs. His confidece was tore to shreads and I think it made him suffer as it took a long-while to get his confidence back after a promising start. Fair play to Robinson though for sticking around as it would have been easily to go back and sit in his parents clubs reserves like of lot of dual registration players did we signed this season.

 

As for Sweetman, well it took us a while but we've undoubtedly got the right man in charge now. A manager and coach who KNOW this league inside out and what it takes to get victories in this league. It was a decent end to the season, he signed some really good players and we played some enjoyable football having watched some right dross earlier in the season. We had a bench of replacement subs who were good and team morale was high. The only shame for me was that we could not bring in a goalscorer who would get goals on a regular basis (but they cost money!).

 

As a whole a very disappointing season. We never played the same team week-in, week-out and used 62 players through the whole of the season. We signed some very average players during the season to make-up the numbers with late goals Taunton (H), Windsor (A), Farnborough (H) also a problem. Now we just have to hope that we get a reprieve. If so great, if not we move on. But I feel with Derek in charge and if we are in this division this season we can get some good players in and challenge at the right end of the table. I really do feel we have hit rock-bottom now and the only way is up. I hope that we get good news on the ground over the summer, and have things to look forward to off and on the field next season. I think we deserve it after the past years!

[Amber Rebel]

very good assessment IMO,people are saying hindsignt is a wonderful thing but it didnt take a genius to know that we needed a manager with a knowledge and proven record of the southern league,if i know it and i dont know anything about football why couldnt others see it,anyway it is in the past,done and dusted. The future is still bright in my opinion if our support remains stable and people dont walk if we do go down to the spartan or hellenic league.