Today’s Game & Thoughts for the Future

[Phil Old Boy]

We’ll, not quite what we expected today. So what happened? Was it a number of things?

 

Was it that 9 out of the 11 who started today played just two days ago. It looked like they were at least a yard short at times. Did Yeading have a day off on Saturday?

 

Or was it that Yeading were warming up from 2pm and our lads were just knocking the ball around as usual. I saw just one token run from our team from one side of the pitch to the other whereas Yeading were very busy and I thought by the time kick off came that they would have worn themselves out. How wrong!, and was our pre match build preparation a pre-cursor to what would happen on the pitch. The lads just weren’t wound up enough and the attitude was wrong. Was it a “we just have to turn up”.

 

A comment from the stands was that Yeading looked something like Canvey all those years ago with their commitment.

 

Today’s game was worse than Slough and the ball up to Gregory was just as ineffective today as it was then. There may have been reasons why that day we played so badly, a virus going around and a lot of injuries to key players but at least we scored in that game and featured a little more. What were the reasons today and how comes a team that has just scored 108 goals in the league cannot score against a Div 1 team?

 

What concerns me however is that Glen has mentioned that the club will only make a couple of signings for next season as they believe the squad only needs a couple of new players. When it really matters, has our team got the right players for next season. When it really matters, we have seen a team like Aldershot cancel us out with their pace and commitment, and even today, that’s what most had us in trouble from Yeading.

 

To progress next season, we need to sign players who are all commitment and pace. Glen & Jeff may believe that the squad will win the division next year if they start just as strong as we finished this season. I am not convinced however. Unless we get the right players in before the start of the season then yes we should have the stability of starting the season with the best players we know can do the job. But I feel we just need that extra something to go that one step further. We really lack pace overall and there is just no one like Wardy who can get us out of trouble at the back when he is not there. We need a number of new players who can bring the pace to our squad as well and a bit of the old 100% commitment would help as well. Aldershot had players who looked like they would die for the cause. We need some of the same calibre of players to progress or again we will be the bridemaids. We need to employ that edge in our team which will be different to what we have come to expect to take our club further.

 

Today, the warning signs we already out that we will not achieve much next year without some very good new blood in the squad. It will take more than two signings next season as things looked very stale out there.

I was all for stability for next season but after today, “The fire and the edge have gone and needs to be replenished”!

 

[Matt H]

Just look at the players that didn't feature yesterday though...

 

Cowan & Berquez both cup-tied - They would most certainly have been in the starting line-up...I hope.

Mark Graham - We know has walked out on the Club.

Michael Lee, Lewis Lilley & Craig Davidson - All three left on the bench, all three got us here by playing at Hayes.

Danny Potter - Left on the bench, even if that wasn't Harrison's last game for us as it has been rumoured then Potter won't have much to worry about next year.

Steve Ward - missed him but we can't always rely on Wardy being there!

Ross Johnson, David Gregory, Matt Jones, Mark Brennan, Spencer Knight & Scott Forbes with his crutch were all sitting in the stands.

 

If we had a Midfielder playing Right-Back and a Central Defender sitting in the stand, two Left-Backs sitting on the bench, then surely favouritism is coming into it somewhere here? I'm not saying that Dobbo was selected through favouritism, far from it but why did he play at the back? Yesterday proved that we have nothing down the left, Duffy - not interested, Brayley - useless and Parms not suited didn't work! and how many times did our back line change in the second half yesterday? We had three different players play at Right-Back yesterday, possibly four.

 

Duffers and Gregors wouldn't feature in my starting line-up for while, but I bet Duffers is picked first for Jeff's selection!

 

Matt CIFC <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

[CanveyFan]

I agree with Matt and I think that Berquez will soon force Greggors to retire. In my opinion Greggors has a poor work rate for the team. However, to his credit when he scores it is normally important, but I can't see Jeff and Glen continually playing him when Berquez is a better player.

 

Personally Potter, Cowan and Berquez would start in my Canvey team week in and week out. But one thing that puzzles me is that Bertie is a striker, when Jeff brings him on he almost invariably plays him in midfield, Look against Enfield, Bertie played upfront and scored. Yesterday he played in midfield (not very well In my opinion), Perhaps someone could tell me why Jeff and Glen continually play him out of postion?

[Matt H]

Bertie can play as a left winger...or so his profile states <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Trouble is it's not a left winger he can play, it's a left sided Attacking Midfielder - completely different from a Winger!!

 

Matt CIFC <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

Well now I have calmed down, I guess it is time to make my comments known. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

 

Can anyone please explain any of the following:

 

1. Why we played like a bunch of 5 year olds on Monday.( Sorry - no offence ment to 5 year olds)

 

2. Why the management just sat on the bench, legs crossed and gave no input to the players, no guidance, no orders or instruction, NOTHING !!! ( I was under the impression that the manager / trainer were there to gee everybody up, all the other managers / trainers do - are we that elite ?)

 

3. Was there a hidden agenda of - Can't be bothered today.

 

etc, etc , etc.

 

I have a lot of admiration for Jeff, Glen & Co. Canvey FC would probably not be where it is today without them. But come on, the only chance of crowning the season with some silver and we dont even try. That is absurded, pointless and a complete waste of Player and Fans time.

 

My girlie summed it up on the way out - why are we so good one week and so crap the next ? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

 

Merv was complaining / stating about the so called cup only fans.( I am not one of them by the way) Why they dont turn up for the other games. Well Merv - I think we have found the answer. With performances like that, we could well end up fighting relegation next season and not promotion.

 

Lets hope that sunny Greece and a few weeks off - makes the lads hungry again, and we can have a great newseason of football at the lane.

 

 

 

 

 

[Matt H]

The Glory Hunters come our for Aldershot - We lose!!

Some Glory Hunters come our for the Yeading game - We lose!!

 

Maybe we are better with just the Canvey faithful down at Park Lane on a wet and windy Tuesday night next February! All the regulars know each other through some way or another and I still don't recognise half the faces I see at Away games, yet they have a Canvey scarf or a Yellow shirt on!!

 

Matt CIFC <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[YELLOW]

Quote:

The Glory Hunters come our for Aldershot - We lose!!
Some Glory Hunters come our for the Yeading game - We lose!!

Maybe we are better with just the Canvey faithful down at Park Lane on a wet and windy Tuesday night next February! All the regulars know each other through some way or another and I still don't recognise half the faces I see at Away games, yet they have a Canvey scarf or a Yellow shirt on!!

Matt CIFC <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I think you've got a point there Matt. Season 2001/2 we didn't play as well in front of a big crowd. That season in the league we had four attendances over 1,000 at the lane. Against Aldershot and Gravesend we lost, we beat Braintree 3-2 (Dicksy's debut and most of his fan club turned up) but didn't play particularly well and beat Billericay. Even against Northampton we could have played a lot better.

I don't know what it is but we seem to play better when there is just the 400 regulars on a cold Tuesday/Saturday. Perhaps it is because all the regulars group behind the goal and get behind the team. I noticed this when we played Aldershot.
Some of the regulars in the first half were on the North Bank, some to the side and some at the sea wall end so it was difficult for everybody to get together as one and get behind the team.

This was the problem on Monday. You just couldn't get behind the goal and really get behind the team. Half of our support was scattered all over the ground. In the first half most of our vocal lot was in the terracing bit, whilst I was standing near where you were. It's a ground that really lacks atmosphere and I hope there get rid of that running track and sand pit!

[PKNEESH]

Quote:

The Glory Hunters come our for Aldershot - We lose!!
Some Glory Hunters come our for the Yeading game - We lose!!

Maybe we are better with just the Canvey faithful down at Park Lane on a wet and windy Tuesday night next February! All the regulars know each other through some way or another and I still don't recognise half the faces I see at Away games, yet they have a Canvey scarf or a Yellow shirt on!!

Matt CIFC <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Matt, you probably don't recognise me and my daughter too well, but we are pictured behind the goal at the Kingstonian game, just above the K's keeper as Berquez makes it two ! Didn't make it to the Yeading game in the end, but judging by the report from Merv and all the other comments, I'm glad I saw our last good performance this season.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

[Ian_W]

Why didn't you wave then, as I pointed the camera towards you?

[PKNEESH]

Sorry mate ! I'll being looking next season for your sharp-shooting !

 

p.s have been well impressed by the shots ... sorry pictures this season, brings back good memories etc. Well done that man ... keep up the good work !

 

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Ofiicial]

I agree it is hard to get an atmosphere going at the stadium....if we can get the stand behind the north end next year it will make all the difference...hopefully that will happen....having said that......

 

there were enough of your fans in there to make a noise...(we do with 300 from the riverside)......if the team had played anything like.... perhaps they would have done....

 

I wondered around the ground before and during the game on Monday and have to say that most of the Canvey fans I spoke to thought it was gonna be all to easy......I could 'ave told 'em different...Yeading are a well motivated and difficult side ....we had two very hard games against them.....inconsistent...but on their day.....well...now you know....

 

I thought your team gave Yeading far to much space....something they are not used to and something that allowed them to use their skills ...space which is rarely on offer in Div 1....they played at Div 1 tempo and gave you no space at all......something I would suspect that your skilful players need....

 

anyway.......nice to see you guys at our humble abode.....very colourful and well behaved bunch of fans and we're looking forward to having you here next year....

 

hopefully you'll play the way you played on Monday but I somehow doubt that very much.....good luck.... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Phil Old Boy]

Matt & Co.

 

What’s all this about things being better with the fans you know only being there. Just because the team were scared to commit and make a tackle, and the fact that they were probably knackered from playing two days previous anyway, how does this make things worse when the fans you don’t know turn up. I am probably one of those you don’t know with the scarf and a yellow shirt.

 

I have seen quite a lot games since the turn of the year, which is a lot more league games than I have seen in previous years. In reality, I have a family to look after and there is much more money going out than coming in each month. This situation won’t change but I have still decided to come and watch the team. I shouldn’t do so in reality but I choose to as I enjoy on the whole watching our team play very good football and feel that such quality should be watched by more.

 

I have provided observations and discussion on this board on many games for several years now. I would not class myself as a fly by night, but I am not one of those who attends every game because in reality, I cannot.

 

Having a go back, what I must say is that I bring my young daughter to these games, but within the more vocal support, there is an element who take pleasure in constantly effing off. It’s not even funny and there are some who just like to hear their own voices either slagging off the ref or the lino or even our own players. Rather than encourage and support players that may be going through a bad time/spell, you must drive their confidence even lower. That’s real supporters! I really cringe when all that garbage comes out for my daughter to listen to but I would rather stand as a cluster than on the other side of the field. At least when I air my views of dissappointment in the team, they are on this board and not on the pitch where it matters for 90 minutes.

 

There is on the whole very good comments and banter on this board but still some of the more regular posters can post absolute c**p at times and think they are immune and special in some way being the more regular supporter.

 

I will come to more Canvey games next season, yes with my scarf and yellow shirt to try to add some relevant colour to the occasion, but as and when of my choosing. But don’t go blaming me and the fly by nights on last Monday’s performance, it wasn’t our fault, only the reasons known to the team and management..

 

Right what’s next on the agenda, the admission prices for next season?

 

 

 

[Matt H]

I wasn't trying to have a go at the 'fair weather' supporters.

 

I was just saying that these two games attracted larger crowds than normal and with those performances on the pitch, there's no way of attracting those fans to stay and watch a few more games that we do, do well in!

 

I remember my first game being at home to Collier Row, I was about 8 at the time and I thought it was quality. I returned the season after as a regular supporter. That is what the Club should be trying to do now! The big games, in front of more than average crowds the Club should be able to up their game. This season they've failed to do that and our crowds are dwindling...time to attract the fans back to Park Lane and the first option - knocking £2/3 off the admission price for adults!!

 

Matt CIFC <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[The Great Eckscape]

If the 'regulars' are anything like I am, they're not just supporters of the team, they're addicted. It's almost impossible for me to miss a game, and the same faces that have been to the likes of Croydon etc are surely the same. That is where the extra passion comes from, and this can lead to bad language. However, there are plenty of locations within the ground where the atmosphere is much friendlier, so it isn't like you can't escape from it.