Hampton 2-3 Saints

[Claire!]

Exactly! I've tried to get this point accross, but i didn't do a very good explination of it! I seem to go off the point a bit and then i confuse myself as well as others!

 

[Colin Zeal EFM]

Eh??

 

 

[Woody]

Quote:

I was amazed to be told that not one of the management team has ever been to watch the youth team play, despite it being the only part of the club to win any trophies in the last two seasons ( three to date with a final to come next week ).

 

You don't seem the type of bloke to lie down and die, Caretaker. If the management team are unable see the folly of their actions, surely those in charge of the reserves and youth set-ups need to speak direct, and I mean direct, to the powers that be about the problem. Nothing wrong with criticism whatsoever, as long as it is constructive. Only way to progress.

 

We simply cannot afford for this talent to go to waste.

 

 

 

 

 

[GHA EFM]

A couple of brief points.

 

[*]Surprisingly enough, whilst I'm sure that 99% of the youth team players or reserves would bite your hand off to pull on the yellow and blue of SACFC 1st XI, I'm not sure that too many of them would enjoy the experience of travelling with the squad, and sitting on the bench for 90 minutes. I won't go into too many reasons (for reasons of my own) but whilst it is good to bring the youth and reserves through, it is not good for them to be sitting on the bench for the majority of the time, wondering where their next 90 minutes is coming from, and simply getting disillusioned. Although, come to think of it, I think AFF would love the chance of sitting on the bench for 90 minutes. He does need a seat.

 

[*]I had a conversation along these lines with a chap in the bar the other week, a couple of days after Real beat Man Utd. Casillas and Raul, to name but 2 out of the Spanish side, came through the youth set-up. They must be given a chance. Deacs showed that on Saturday. He was given a chance by Cookie, he grabbed it, and when he walked back into the changing room (no doubt with his head held high) he was able to say 'Cookie, two assists and a goal, how do you think I did, and what can I do to improve?' Ditto Craig. That's his first 90 minutes for a long while. So, give them their chance.

 

[*]RTS. Whilst I disagree about your point that we were pushing for promotion so shouldn't use too many ressies and youth, I do agree that Seeby (and maybe Stannard too) should get a run-out on Saturday.

[AFF]

There are several good points here.

 

I'm surprised at Venables comment that the 'Coaching Staff' have not seen the Yoof play. Presumably they have watched the Reserve team, though.

 

As far as 'bringing on' the youngsters, I think that Rob is right to the extent that we were challenging for a place in Europe until the last few games and on that basis, the Manager is going to rely on experience rather than youth. 'On paper' the starting line-up has been the better players. Greg might have been brought on rather than Ryan at Canvey, say, when we were clearly getting stuffed if Cookie wanted to, as I believe they say, 'have a look at him'. However, when the experienced players aren't performing, get them off and give youth a go.

 

Woody is right. Those chaps who manage the Reserve and the Yoof teams should be clear of their place in the grand scheme of things. However, surely they had discussions with Cookie at the start of the season?

 

I'm not entirely with GHA. If any of the Reserve team says "I'm not travelling to sit on the bench", fine. There's a place for him at London Colney next season.

 

Rob is right. I was amazed when we only had 3 subs on a couple of occaisions. Cookie has no imagination. Food poisoning. Picture the scene. We are 5-0 up after 30 minutes. 3 players and 2 subs go down with acute food poisoning at half time. What then? I volunteered to sign Ryman League forms and sit on the bench [for free - 'Doin' it for the City' etc.] but it wasn't taken up. There might be one or two in the crowd, well one anyway, better qualified than me but I thought of it first. The offer still stands for next season.

 

And no GHA. I don't need a seat. I don't like to sit down to watch but I would sit on the bench.

 

And another thing. Memo to Cookie. Widen the pitch for next season.

 

And one last thing. How many members of the Martin family voted for Simon as the site's PotS? Don't you thing that gave the boy an unfair advantage over Gary Crawshaw?

 

 

 

 

[GHA EFM]

Quote:

If any of the Reserve team says "I'm not travelling to sit on the bench", fine.

AFF. I never said that any of the reserves said that they weren't travelling just to sit on the bench. My point was, and to some extent still is, that in my opinion a reserve player would become dis-heartened if he travelled to 10 away games, and sat on the bench through all of them, without getting on the pitch.