Senior v Intermediate

[Basil-Don]

Throughout the summer this forum has electrified by the Senior v Intermediate debate,which clubs are better run? ESL or Olympian? who has the better facilities? can park players produce the goods when they face Senior players? i have decided that theres only one way to settle this dispute-invite a Intermediate side to play against a Senior side in a Step 5 Stadium.Call me a lunatic but folks next week i bring you:

 

 

Basildon United v Runwell Hospital

Saturday July 30th 3pm

The Stadium

Gardiners Close

SS14 3AW

 

Admission is only a fiver for what promises to be not just a football match but also a social experiment,will Boycies boys give the step 5 lads a bloo dy nose? will Larkey's new look Bees put the Olympian upstarts in their place? will i take enough on the gate to pay the refs ? will doyley go into the right dressing room?be there next Saturday to find out,if you only see one match this season make it this one !!!!!

Edited July 24, 2011 by Basil-Don

[Eastside Urchin]

Having seen a few Olympian league games,mainly kelvedon,I believe there is not much difference,in fact from what I have seen of kelvedon,they are a better side than the majority of ESL sides

[Hookey]

Will the outcome be a true reflection? Given that both sides will be using the opportunity to look at new players, maybe try different formations and with multiple substitutions throughout.

 

I think that if Boycie puts out anything like his best XI, then it will be a good test for Larkey's boys.

[Eastside Urchin]

This whole argument may be somewhat irrelevant shortly as I hear the FA are trying to restructure some leagues and the Essex Senior League being one which they are getting their teeth into by dropping them down to the next step down,anyone have more details of this??

[Silencer]

Also, if I was going to pick a representative for Senior football, Basildon wouldn't be my first choice

 

Fiver for a friendly, wow thats a bit stripey aint it?

[Talk_Is_Cheap]

Having spent most my time playing in the ESL and then the final third of last season in the EOL - these are my thoughts.....

 

- The BETTER sides in the EOL (Kelvedon, Frenford, Rayleigh Town) could easily compete with the majority of the ESL sides in a one off competative fixture, although, week in week out, Saturday - Tuesday , This may come into question.....their is a big difference in the pace of the game.

 

- The ability of the average player (Passing, touch etc) is not much different, however, the average ESL player is fitter and more competative - also, the weakest player in the EOL side is weaker than that of the weakest player in an ESL side.

 

- Last year, when RT played Kelvedon they had Wallis (I think thats his name) playing for them who has played for Eaton Manor, Concord and Bethnal Green as well as Danny Demetriou and a few other recognised players, Kelvadon in my opinion could COMPETE (I'm not saying win or challenge) in the ESL if dedicated and comitted to that level - Top 8 finish.

 

- In general, I would say more football is played in the EOL than the ESL - although, I think this has a lot to do with the stigma in the ESL of late which seems to be that you cant play 'football' to win games at that level, not that the players aren't capable. Obviously this excludes some ESL teams - S Manor, BGU, Enfield, Stansted try to play, but again this is sometimes made hard by the competition.

 

- ESL teams are better at grinding our results, in the game above, I wouldnt be supprised if Runwell dominated for 80 minutes but lost 2-1..!!!

 

 

 

 

[Silencer]

Great round up Rossco!!!

[Stop Whinging]

Having spent most my time playing in the ESL and then the final third of last season in the EOL - these are my thoughts.....

 

- The BETTER sides in the EOL (Kelvedon, Frenford, Rayleigh Town) could easily compete with the majority of the ESL sides in a one off competative fixture, although, week in week out, Saturday - Tuesday , This may come into question.....their is a big difference in the pace of the game.

 

- The ability of the average player (Passing, touch etc) is not much different, however, the average ESL player is fitter and more competative - also, the weakest player in the EOL side is weaker than that of the weakest player in an ESL side.

 

- Last year, when RT played Kelvedon they had Wallis (I think thats his name) playing for them who has played for Eaton Manor, Concord and Bethnal Green as well as Danny Demetriou and a few other recognised players, Kelvadon in my opinion could COMPETE (I'm not saying win or challenge) in the ESL if dedicated and comitted to that level - Top 8 finish.

 

- In general, I would say more football is played in the EOL than the ESL - although, I think this has a lot to do with the stigma in the ESL of late which seems to be that you cant play 'football' to win games at that level, not that the players aren't capable. Obviously this excludes some ESL teams - S Manor, BGU, Enfield, Stansted try to play, but again this is sometimes made hard by the competition.

 

- ESL teams are better at grinding our results, in the game above, I wouldnt be supprised if Runwell dominated for 80 minutes but lost 2-1..!!!

 

 

 

 

[Stop Whinging]

I am new to the forum but do watch a lot of EOL and ESL. I think that the trouble with a lot of sides in the EOL they improve when there are no ESL fixtures which makes it a tough one to gauge with all the end of season games. That said ,there are a number of useful teams in the EOL that would give ESL teams competitive fixtures. Having seen Rayleigh on a few occasions ,I certainly don't rate them as one of the best three sides in the League. They were fortunate to say the least in beating Runwell in the cup final and only a couple of weeks before were outclassed by Buckhurst Hill who are not a bad side having done the double over Kelvedon and they play good football but are not strong physically.. Harold Wood's run towards the end of the season (and their past)also proves they would be able to compete. TIC's summary though is pretty good . Some of the sides in the EOL can getaway with playing football but need to be physically stronger to compete at ESL. Kelvedon and Frenford are both equipped to play ESL and I think they would finsh in the top six. I think that we need to see more movement between the two leagues. The last was Takeley who have developed off the field very well but have not done as well on it. It is sad that the champions of the EOL are not able to progress on a more regular basis. We would then know! Perhaps a rep game could be arranged ? The other point from what I am hearing a number of ESL players are signing for the EOL sides because there is less of a commitment and fewer games.

Edited July 25, 2011 by Stop Whinging

[Basil-Don]

yes you all make some excellent points and indeed Saturday will see many of these questions answered once and for all,its a fiver admission,gardiners close,sky sports in the bar,fine selection of wines and chilled beers,see you all there cheers.

[piper]

yes you all make some excellent points and indeed Saturday will see many of these questions answered once and for all,its a fiver admission,gardiners close,sky sports in the bar,fine selection of wines and chilled beers,see you all there cheers.

 

 

So Basil-don based on the result of this game what is your view?

[Novice]

Although I am not new to the forum, I usually remain quite tight-lipped. A few people know who I am (so i by no means am controversial) and I am interested to read some of the posts between senior and intermediate sides. In my humble opinion, having spent 20 years in the Senior league when the standard was very good, and the last few years in the Intermediate League, the main differences are a) there is a saturation of senior teams now, from Conf South down to the Olympian League, which means the standard of play is not as strong as it used to be and the facilities of a number of Olympian league clubs, notwithstanding floodlights, are similar to senior League teams. As a manager and coach of olympian sides, it is also frustrating as not many opportunities are given to manage senior teams. Look at how Stansted improved when they appointed an Olympian League manager, but often jobs are given to individuals within the club with little experience and so the same group of players float around the League. These are merely observations, as I have always had the utmost respect for both Leagues, however, the review of Steps 5 and 6 will be interesting, as i can see either the Senior League being classed as a Step 6 league, which may harm promotion to a Step 4 League, or a number of clubs may have to slip downwards to, possibly, move forwards.

[Return of Benchwarmer]

Although I am not new to the forum, I usually remain quite tight-lipped. A few people know who I am (so i by no means am controversial) and I am interested to read some of the posts between senior and intermediate sides. In my humble opinion, having spent 20 years in the Senior league when the standard was very good, and the last few years in the Intermediate League, the main differences are a) there is a saturation of senior teams now, from Conf South down to the Olympian League, which means the standard of play is not as strong as it used to be and the facilities of a number of Olympian league clubs, notwithstanding floodlights, are similar to senior League teams. As a manager and coach of olympian sides, it is also frustrating as not many opportunities are given to manage senior teams. Look at how Stansted improved when they appointed an Olympian League manager, but often jobs are given to individuals within the club with little experience and so the same group of players float around the League. These are merely observations, as I have always had the utmost respect for both Leagues, however, the review of Steps 5 and 6 will be interesting, as i can see either the Senior League being classed as a Step 6 league, which may harm promotion to a Step 4 League, or a number of clubs may have to slip downwards to, possibly, move forwards.

 

 

I see Southminster beat Bowers.