Today's Observer.

[AFF]

While queuing for my copy of "Embroidery Monthly" in the newsagents this morning, I quickly scanned the back page of the Observer. That chap that ghost writes for Cookie in the programme and the local press is quoted along the lines of "We have left them [the players] to their own devices so far, this season".

 

For Heavens sake!!

 

These people are footballers. Left to their own devices, they hoof the thing at the first opportunity - see Hitchin. Left to their own devices, they play far too deep. Left to their own devices they play one up front against Canvey for the final 25 minutes of the first half when we are 2-0 down.

 

Cookie. I think that you are a really nice bloke, but please, get a grip, kick ar$e and get them to do it your way. Don't, under any circumstances, leave them to their own devices. Stop being so nice.

 

A couple of positive suggestions.

 

a). The away shirts are white. You could write instructions on the sleeve of each shirt with a felt-tip pen. "Ball to feet" etc. My advice is: keep it simple, stick to no more than two instructions because if you stretch to three, they might forget the first.

 

It's more difficult with the yellow home shirts but you could give that idea a try for the Basingstoke and Bedford games next week. We could experiment with different coloured pens on the home strip if it works.

 

. James Alexander Gordon doesn't say much on the P.A. during the game. He is just behind the dug-out in the Press Box in the main stand. If you are struggling to communicate with some of the players from the technical area on Saturday, you could go up the steps and call your instructions over the tannoy.

 

c). One more thing, and you know what's coming. Stick to 4-4-2. Let the opposition worry about us.

 

I'll waive my usual commission in the event that these ideas are adopted. Doin' it for the City etc. Always pleased to assist.

 

 

[mdetaylor]

Not convinced by the Gibson quote either which was something along the lines of "we expect to lose to Hitchin and get stuffed at Canvey and we never do that well against Hayes so it really isn't a suprise"

 

 

[Colin Zeal EFM]

I support the reserves now. That second half against Waltham Abbey was 45 of the best minutes of football I've seen in yonks.

 

The first team are just painful to watch.

 

 

[herts blue]

I don't go near the Observer! It's nothing to do with me!

[Colin Zeal EFM]

Quote:

mdetaylor said:
Not convinced by the Gibson quote either which was something along the lines of "we expect to lose to Hitchin and get stuffed at Canvey and we never do that well against Hayes so it really isn't a suprise"

You serious??

Christ, if we're expecting to lose against Hitchin, what's the point of bloody turning up?

[Woody]

From the Observer -

 

" There is still a long way to go," he said, "I think Canvey had only two or three points at this stage last season, and they finished runners-up. We've had some difficult games and it's shown in the results, and some of the games we've lost are the games we traditionally lose"

 

Difficult games? Ford,Hitchin and Heybridge are three of the easiest games you are going to get all season. Ford and Hitchin are very average sides with a high work rate and Heybridge are no better than a Div 1 team. Hornchurch, Kettering, Kingstonian and the returns against Canvey and Hayes - now they are what I would call difficult games.

 

 

[Colin Zeal EFM]

"and some of the games we've lost are the games we traditionally lose"

 

I don't consider that an acceptable excuse for defeat.

 

 

[Saint Michael]

Looks like a thoroughtly mediocre season in prospect....the left back problem continues,endlessly, the midfield looks spineless without Challinor,and actually we can't attract the really good players ( Lynch, Brennan etc. ) but then again perhaps we don't want to go and play with the big-boys next season ( and the big boys might be Gainsborough Trinity and Runcorn.. is that possible ? )

[ESG]

Quote:

Saint Michael said:
but then again perhaps we don't want to go and play with the big-boys next season

we do....
....it just seems the players and management have a problem with that

[AFF]

A little bit strong there M&S?

 

I don't know anything about football but Glynn did well in the Hayes and Heybridge games, and he is returning from a back injury which meant that he didn't play in any [?} of the pre-season games. Graham has consistently been the most threatening of our players in every game, particularly when playing on his preferred right.

 

McDonnell looked the part pre-season and works hard but he desperately needs a goal. Murray had a fine game at left-back at Heybridge.

 

Oakes has all the class but is way off the pace at the moment. That, surely, won't last.

 

Deacon and Seeby have done really well with very limited opportunities.

 

Challinor has gone but we can't dwell on that.

 

Tuesday night was dreadful but we shouldn't write off the season on the back of one nightmare?

 

[Hi ESG. Chris Piper was rubbish that night. Where have you been?]

[ESG]

Hi AFF,

work (un)fortunately!

 

forwards and onwards eh

[mdetaylor]

No matter how well some of the players have performed, or how injured/unfit they have been, it still seems a strange comment to make that we would expect to lose to some of the teams that we have played early this season. Even if that is what is believed, to give that message to the fans (and the players) is not very encouraging

[monkey boy]

do you think deacon and seeby should start on saturday?? we need players to show the effort!both had fine games tues nite!even tho deacon only played 45mins! his effort was what we are looking for and seeby looks calm at the back!!

Canvey are best side in league lets move on and hope for better things like the performance against heybridge!!

 

Lets back the team 100%!

[Woody]

Quote:

Perhaps we've left them to their own devices a bit this season

 

 

Of all the statements in the Observer today, this is by far the most worrying, if it is indeed accurate. Just who the fk is running this team?

 

As far as Seeby and Deacon are concerned, of course they both should start with Seeby playing next to Brown in the centre of the defence instead of Campbell.

[Saint Michael]

I wonder if there is a confusion about who is doing what on the coaching/managing side.... i was close to the "dugout" at Hampton last season and Castle was running it, not Steve Cook....anyway....just a thought.