WAbbey 1 Towners 0

[Barney]

LS - that pretty much is what I'm saying...

 

I think that if we'd played Abbey yesterday and performed like we did at the start of the season, then we'd have been stuffed. They were fit, strong and bang up for it, and I thought our midfield worked very hard to match them. We certainly didn't boss the midfield, but then again neither did they, and I think that's testament to an improved spine of the team.

 

I don't want to be accused of just looking at the positives - I think we can and should be a lot better (and we will need to next season if we're serious about the play offs), but yesterday wasn't all one way traffic, and we were playing one of the tougher / more competitive sides in the league. If we don't dominate proceedings from midfield next Saturday against Ilford, then I'll be on here questioning things too.

[lovely stuff]

EU..So its ok for our midfield to go missing when we play a team in the play-off places?? Christ! Aren't these the very players who you insist will be challanging for a play-off place themselves next season???

 

Also,lets not forget this is Wabbey we are talking about.Not bloody Man utd..That have most of the same players they have had for ages.The only reason they are doing so well this year is because of an fairly injury free season and the fact that the league is so poor in standard this year.

 

PS..So the form of MCoy and Edgar are not part of the problem? So would you like to tell me which of SM/SB's signings playing all around them ARE the problem then??? Or will you pick on the only couple of players left from the non-SB era,as you normally do.

 

PPS..I think only one non-SM/SB signing played the 90 minutes yesterday.Dave Allen

[Steph]

LS But you appear to be forgetting Andy Jones to add to McCoy and Edgar.

 

I have heard good reports of McCoy on the basis of the game against Wingate which I missed.

[Barney]

I can't speak for EU, but I'm certainly not saying that our midfield went missing - I'm saying that they had their work cut out, and spent most of the time working to negate Abbey's midfield, who were also very strong and hardworking. It's almost impossible to get the ball down and play when you're being closed down / hassled and sometimes all that can be done is dig in and work hard (which is what I thought we did yesterday). Do you think that any neutral would say that Abbey's midfield were all over us? I think that it was pretty even on balance, with us having slightly the upper hand in the first half, and them having the upper hand in the second.

 

I know that Abbey aren't the best side in the world on paper, but I was impressed at the way they all worked for each other and by how competitive they were. I think a lot of this comes from the fact that they've been together, in the most part for quite a while, and know each others game and what's expected of them. Us going through 90 odd players this season is the complete opposite, and I think you can see from some of our performances at the start of the season that this isn't the way to go about things. Over the last month or so, we've had a more settled side, and I think that performances have improved considerably (even if our results, perhaps haven't been play off form).

 

I don't disagree that the league is poor, but we are always going to come up against hard-working, organised sides like Abbey / ETU / Aveley and despite losing by the odd goal in two of those games, I don't think that we were outmuscled / outworked / outplayed. The Man Utd comment isn't particularly helpful, as we're not (and have absolutely no right to be) head and shoulders above the rest of this league ourselves. We're a well supported club at this level, and if all goes well, we'll have a decent ground, and good revenue streams, but this doesn't mean we have a right to beat all and sundry. We need to earn that right by getting a settled side that work for each other, and for me, we are moving in the right direction in that regard these last few months.

 

If we were to make wholesale changes right now, or even at the end of the season, then we would be back to square one, with a load of players coming in who would take time to get to know each other, settle, and play as a unit. Why not take the spine of a side that we have now, add some more quality in key areas and build on what we have? There are some players playing at the moment who are as good as any I've seen in a Town shirt for a few years now, so let's stick with them.

 

As a side point, Edgar probably wouldn't be my first pick in centre midfield, whereas McKoy definitely would - I think he's been excellent for us after a slow start, and well up to the standard needed / expected. Also, I'm a big fan of Dave Allen, and I certainly don't have an agenda against the pre Browne & Margolis players, I want to see the best 11 Town players on the pitch irrespective of when they joined the club and who signed them.

[Enfield United]

Originally Posted By: lovely stuff

EU..So its ok for our midfield to go missing when we play a team in the play-off places?? Christ! Aren't these the very players who you insist will be challanging for a play-off place themselves next season???

Also,lets not forget this is Wabbey we are talking about.Not bloody Man utd..That have most of the same players they have had for ages.The only reason they are doing so well this year is because of an fairly injury free season and the fact that the league is so poor in standard this year.

PS..So the form of MCoy and Edgar are not part of the problem? So would you like to tell me which of SM/SB's signings playing all around them ARE the problem then??? Or will you pick on the only couple of players left from the non-SB era,as you normally do.

PPS..I think only one non-SM/SB signing played the 90 minutes yesterday.Dave Allen

Agree toatally with Barney.


As you asked-Its the best question I can remember you asking to date certainly the most relevant-I'd keep Blower (right back only), Mckie(as a left back only), May (either side full back) Wild, Allen and add another able disciplined C/Half as well.

In the middle I'd keep McCoy, Edgar and Jones (with a strict one more ridiculous red and your out agreement).

Upfront I'd keep Remy, Deane and use Healy as a squad player

The others i'd let go and try sign more effective players. I like Sherwin Stanley, and the ETU goalscorer too.

We need to add effective wide players and add a couple more midfielders.

There you go boom boom, however, easier said than done thats why i'm appreciative of what I have rather than what I dont have.

[lovely stuff]

With the likes of Mckie/MCoy/Remy..etc we need far more consitancy from them.At the moment,for every decent game they have ,they always have at least one poor/average dispay.

[Arkwright]

Originally Posted By: Enfield United

Originally Posted By: lovely stuff

EU..So its ok for our midfield to go missing when we play a team in the play-off places?? Christ! Aren't these the very players who you insist will be challanging for a play-off place themselves next season???

Also,lets not forget this is Wabbey we are talking about.Not bloody Man utd..That have most of the same players they have had for ages.The only reason they are doing so well this year is because of an fairly injury free season and the fact that the league is so poor in standard this year.

PS..So the form of MCoy and Edgar are not part of the problem? So would you like to tell me which of SM/SB's signings playing all around them ARE the problem then??? Or will you pick on the only couple of players left from the non-SB era,as you normally do.

PPS..I think only one non-SM/SB signing played the 90 minutes yesterday.Dave Allen

Agree toatally with Barney.


As you asked-Its the best question I can remember you asking to date certainly the most relevant-I'd keep Blower (right back only), Mckie(as a left back only), May (either side full back) Wild, Allen and add another able disciplined C/Half as well.

In the middle I'd keep McCoy, Edgar and Jones (with a strict one more ridiculous red and your out agreement).

Upfront I'd keep Remy, Deane and use Healy as a squad player

The others i'd let go and try sign more effective players. I like Sherwin Stanley, and the ETU goalscorer too.

We need to add effective wide players and add a couple more midfielders.

There you go boom boom, however, easier said than done thats why i'm appreciative of what I have rather than what I dont have.

So you wouldn't keep Dave Walton & Luke Marshall?

[Barney]

Originally Posted By: lovely stuff

With the likes of Mckie/MCoy/Remy..etc we need far more consitancy from them.At the moment,for every decent game they have ,they always have at least one poor/average dispay.

I think a lot of that comes down to settling in - for me, McKoy started slowly, but has been one of our best players each time I've seen him in the last couple of months. McKie is usually solid and consistent, but didn't have a good game yesterday (have I just contradicted myself there?)

Remy can be hard work to watch - on his day, he's as good as anyone, but you're right, he isn't as consistent as he should be, and should contribute more than he does at times.

[MbrunoB]

Remy is not a solo front player as has been shown over the last few ganes where he has created a few chances with Billy in the first half before for some unkown reason Billy has been sent out wide after the break.

[Gazza]

Originally Posted By: Gazza

I wasnt there but let me pre-empt EU's analysis, I reckon it will go something like.......

"A good performance against a top 5 side & only a free kick in the last minute robbed a spirited Town team a well earned draw"

Originally Posted By: Enfield United

..... for goodness sake we got beat to a free kick in injury time. DISASTER!!!!!!!!!!

Priceless!

[chalky]

been reading the posts all day and it's been interesting to read your comments not only on the game but also the of the ins' and outs at ETFC, firstly on the game, first half very much had that end of season feel, we created a couple of half chances but the only real chance was ellis one on one, which richard saved and i expect him to as thats what he is there for. second half i believe we upped the tempo and controlled the game keeping the ball alot better and being more creative in attack, the goal well that speaks for itself...

 

All in all there has been a lot of change at ETFC this year both on and off the pitch, i have never played in a WAFC vs ETFC game (and i have played a few now) where the crowd/fans of ETFC have been so quite!! throughout a 90 minute game..

 

As for WAFC i am pleased to have secured a play-off place (even sweater to have done it in a derby game) and i hate to bring up the past but if you look back to our ESL days when we won the final 4-1 2/3 seasons ago we had 6/7 players playing yesterday that played in that final as well, with the exception of the 2 fall backs, keeper and our number 9.

 

Take out me, jordan and Hayward (who are 27,27 and 30 respectively)out of the side and the avarage age is still only 22.. Not bad, but speaks volumes of the players commitment to one another..

 

 

[Albury_Walker]

Congratulations to WABBEY A play off place was well deserved .

[andyetfc]

I stand by what I said earlier. We did beat a classy side on Saturday but were devoid of ideas yesterday, especially when the substitutions were made, and was unimpressed with the after the final whistle issues. Surely someone has to take responsibility for the players whilst they are still on the pitch and in front of supporters.

 

 

[Mr Happy]

Originally Posted By: chalky

been reading the posts all day and it's been interesting to read your comments not only on the game but also the of the ins' and outs at ETFC, firstly on the game, first half very much had that end of season feel, we created a couple of half chances but the only real chance was ellis one on one, which richard saved and i expect him to as thats what he is there for. second half i believe we upped the tempo and controlled the game keeping the ball alot better and being more creative in attack, the goal well that speaks for itself...

All in all there has been a lot of change at ETFC this year both on and off the pitch, i have never played in a WAFC vs ETFC game (and i have played a few now) where the crowd/fans of ETFC have been so quite!! throughout a 90 minute game..

As for WAFC i am pleased to have secured a play-off place (even sweater to have done it in a derby game) and i hate to bring up the past but if you look back to our ESL days when we won the final 4-1 2/3 seasons ago we had 6/7 players playing yesterday that played in that final as well, with the exception of the 2 fall backs, keeper and our number 9.

Take out me, jordan and Hayward (who are 27,27 and 30 respectively)out of the side and the avarage age is still only 22.. Not bad, but speaks volumes of the players commitment to one another..

Lee, you are totally right there with your comments. Since we were promoted we had amanager who wasn't interested in loyalty and that cost him! We lost some good players who could have done a very good job at this level. When jim finally stepped down our board bottled it and gave the job to a low cost guy who has gone through more players than Fruitbat's had lagers, has a rubbish track record as a manager and needs to either cut his teeth at a lower level (and prove himself) or coach at this level under soemone more qualified by experience to succeed. I remeber all the posts about nappies and dummies about WAbbey back in the ESL days (and they were fun). However, we have stagnated and WAbbey have steadily continued to progress.; A consistant side is vital and I have no faith that this will conitnue with what we have at present. I have no love for WAbbey but I have no hate either (apart from some of your foul mouthed and rascist scum fans (and I empahsise SOME) but I wish you good luck in the play offs. Just one thing. why do you keep on playing someone as ugly as your nuimber 4!!!!! Hi Jordan!!!!!

[AbbeyMan]

Originally Posted By: Mr Happy

we have stagnated and WAbbey have steadily continued to progress.; A consistant side is vital and I have no faith that this will conitnue with what we have at present. I have no love for WAbbey but I have no hate either (apart from some of your foul mouthed and rascist scum fans (and I empahsise SOME) but I wish you good luck in the play offs.

Fortunately, they only seem to crawl out of the woodwork when we play you guys...

[MbrunoB]

And you're proud of that?

[lovely stuff]

I think he meant, 'fortunately' they don't attend more regularly.

[MbrunoB]

I meant that he was proud that they came out at all.

[AbbeyMan]

Originally Posted By: MbrunoB

I meant that he was proud that they came out at all.

You know what I meant so don't be pedantic! Get your own house in order before knocking others...

[MbrunoB]

After you...