OldTowner Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Town now sit in 20th place, just one above the relegation zone.Town have played 14 with just 3 wins and 3 draws and 8 defeats ( including ALL away games played )Leiston, one place below Town, have just sacked their Manager and back-room staff and are one point behind with a game in hand. Town last won a League match back on 31st August.Massive improvements required, before it is too late. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1F in Enfield Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 I couldn't agree more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Crowing Cockerel Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 IMO the Manager has to turn around this run of very very poor form otherwise the board should make some tough decisions this side of December. Yep, I've just said it: the board should sack Steve if he isn't able to propel us up the league following games against our immediate rivals after Saturday's very tough fixture against Maidstone away. Let's be honest, no-one thought Ryman Prem football would be a walk in the park for a club with our limited finances, but we've now been in the league for a season, and there's little sign of improvement on the pitch. The Trophy victory against Lowestoft was a welcome relief, but I'd say we were incredibly lucky to win, and the team's performance in cup competitions over the last couple of years has otherwise been fairly woeful - just look at what happened at St Albans. I fear the Manager's luck that dragged us through the Ryman North play-offs (- penalty shoot-out Vs Grays & scraping past an exhausted Needham) is finally starting to desert him. Let's hope he can turn things around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Newing Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Don't you think a little bit of luck was deserved back then after all we did finish 2nd only a point off winning the league and 10 points clear of third. Plus I would say it was more a case of tactically playing for penalties against Grays as we had players out of position due to injuries and only ten men if my memory serves me right. We beat Grays twice in the league and took 4 points off Needham so I'd say we deserved to win the play offs . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
behind-the-goal Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 This is what I wrote after the Billericay game: "Realistically, it’s unlikely we’ll get anything from our next two matches, so we’ll probably slip into the relegation zone, but the three matches after that look more winnable". Although I was hopeful we might get a point, I don't suppose I was alone in thinking that we weren't really going to get anything. Come on guys, losing away to Lewes isn't exactly an earth-shattering shock, is it? Look at the home form table: they're doing pretty well on their own patch. We, on the other hand, have loads of injuries and are not playing with the confidence that a good run brings. Remember also that it's a long trip to Lewes in a cramped coach and that many of the team will have been working earlier on. So, no surprise at all that we lost as far as I'm concerned. Next up is Maidstone, and I think we all know what's going to happen there. What I'm more concerned about are the matches after Maidstone: if we don't start picking up points in those games, then I might start to get worried. We certainly shouldn't be rocking the boat in terms of the management at this stage of the season - it's still relatively early, and in any case I think that once we start picking up those points after Maidstone the table will start to look a little healthier. By the way, OT, it's not the case that we've lost all our away league games - we got a point at Bury! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 And we were unlucky at Bury with a homer ref. It is my belief that the team is playing better than last season it is just that we have had a difficult fixture list. Yesterday we conceded two goals from corners which should have been better defended and then we got a goal. Towards the end of the half Lewes went three one ahead. In the second half it was good to see the spirit in the lads and Steve did bring on some new faces. The problem as I see it is that our attack is not capable without Guns or Corey of introducing sustained pressure on our opponents. Anton is starting to show flashes but Kirbs had a poor game and as a captain it is no good complaining to the ref all the time or holding your arms out in a shrug. He should be put back into defence we have better midfield players than Kirbs available and the defence is very shaky. However I agree with the cockerel "IMO the Manager has to turn around this run of very very poor form otherwise the board should make some tough decisions this side of December." End of November after, on paper, an easier fixture list is the time to look at the management team. We may progress further in the trophy and if we pull our sleeves up should be in a more comfortable position. Also I dont go to Maidstone expecting defeat and neither should the players. When we play with spirit and attitude we are a match for anyone! I also dont think that Steve will be expecting the players to roll over against Maidstone but play their guts out for a result. If Steve does consider that we go to Kent with defeat on our minds then he should resign now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chase Side Towner Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 The officials cost us the game against Billericay. If we were sitting on 15 points and 14th place would people still be so worried? Maybe, but just have a look at the league table and see how tight it is from 13th to 21st? Lots to pay for in the next 6 weeks, as said above let's see where we are come the end of November. I agree about the defence though, it needs tightening up drastically. I can't believe the goals we're conceding from set pieces, we should be more than capable of clearing these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldTowner Posted October 23, 2013 Author Share Posted October 23, 2013 Well, let's hope some of the above actually happens over the next 5 weeks. Defence get a grip and actually mark the opposition - particularly at set pieces - to prevent goals going in with ease. Some of the injured players get fit and can play / make a difference. Elmes, Wallace, Whitely etc - by the way - What has happened to centre back Turpin ? Could he make a difference ? We get a boost and progress past Grays in the Trophy in our next home game. Points and Wins are collected off Harrow, Hampton ( or trophy ), Dulwich and Leiston ( or trophy ) during November. I do not see this as easy as some above have suggested. Apart from possibly Carshalton, December does not look clever !! Players gain confidence, Supporters gain confidence in Management and Squad. There you are then - not much to ask for - Sorted ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chase Side Towner Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Matt Turpin is also injured from what I heard. Having said that we now have 7 centre backs so there must be a partnership that will work: Kirby, White, Wild, Turpin, McCluskey, Kendall and MacKay. Maybe just play all 7 with Gunz, Liam and Corey up front? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CD Towner Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 We were "going to be bigger and stronger this year" - we haven't been. An unbelievable amount of goals conceded from set pieces. And whilst we're talking about set pieces what about our own? Our corners are generally shocking. The management seem to have an excuse for everything but an answer for nothing. All we ever seem to hear is negativity, cursing and criticism from the sidelines and if not its uninterested silence. I am coming to the conclusion that this management team have reached the end point and arent cut out for this level - much like some of our players. Are they going to take us any further over the next year or 2??? Some of the substitutions and tactical decisions are baffling. Will the board act though? Certain players just arent good enough at this level and we've kept faith with too many of the promotion squad for too long. If they were a squad player when we were promoted, how are they still in the squad at a higher level? We need to streamline the squad into core existing players with new players. Not one single clean sheet all season and the run of games without one stretches back more than 30. MORE THAN 30! I REPEAT MORE THAN 30!!! And to answer the question on Maidstone (and Lewes). The manager has already stated that anything from the 2 games is a bonus so that to me is accepting defeat already and is unacceptable. On top of all this, opinions on things or not, its a dull atmosphere around ETFC at the moment and something needs to change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Crowing Cockerel Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Couldn't agree more, CD Towner. Jim Chandler got us as far as he could - and now Steve Newing has promoted us as far as his abilities allow. If ETFC are going to progress and improve as a footballing side then I firmly believe we need a change of both manager and some of the playing staff. Better results = more fans through the turnstiles = more revenue. I appreciate just how young a club we are, but our sights MUST be set higher than the Ryman Premier and at the moment it is no exaggeration to say that our status appears in jeopardy already this season. Defensively we are abysmal. I lay the blame for that at the feet of the management team and players. Noel Imber seems clueless at corners and generally remains on his line. He also struggles when it comes to marshalling his back line. More than 30 games without a clean sheet is ridiculous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
behind-the-goal Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 The 'since the last clean sheet' tally now stands at 34 games. In that period we've conceded 84, which equates to an average of 2.5 goals per game. Puts a bit of pressure on us to score a few, doesn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldTowner Posted October 23, 2013 Author Share Posted October 23, 2013 Blimey, 34 games since our last clean sheet, must be some sort of record at this level. A record we obviously do NOT want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Newing Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 Forgetting pre season Friendlies the clean sheet stat is actually that we have gone 18 games this season without one , when you add last season it is only 4 games ( 0-0 at Uxbridge ) so that is 22 competitive games. League games alone it is 21 the 14 this season plus 7 last season (1-0) v Leiston on Easter Monday. Still not good that's for sure but not quite the 34 some are going on about. What is also a fact is that in those 22 games when we have conceded only 1 goal ( on 6 occasions ) we have lost only once , drawn one and won four times. We generally tend to score goals and create plenty of chances so if we can't keep a clean sheet if we can keep it to 1 conceded we will give ourselves a chance of winning games more often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the viewer Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 I must agree with other persons in that we must change the Manager asap. I have heard that he will be given more games to get results but feel that will be just papering over the cracks. We should have changed manager and players last year as although we just about survived it was piteful to watch some of the games Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldTowner Posted October 24, 2013 Author Share Posted October 24, 2013 Forgetting pre season Friendlies the clean sheet stat is actually that we have gone 18 games this season without one , when you add last season it is only 4 games ( 0-0 at Uxbridge ) so that is 22 competitive games. League games alone it is 21 the 14 this season plus 7 last season (1-0) v Leiston on Easter Monday. Still not good that's for sure but not quite the 34 some are going on about. What is also a fact is that in those 22 games when we have conceded only 1 goal ( on 6 occasions ) we have lost only once , drawn one and won four times. We generally tend to score goals and create plenty of chances so if we can't keep a clean sheet if we can keep it to 1 conceded we will give ourselves a chance of winning games more often. Okay. I take back the 34 comment ( repeated from others ) However, are we not just playing with numbers v the fact that we are leaking goals every game. General comments from the "few supporters" on here do not make good reading. All very frustrating for Management, Players and certainly Supporters. As many state, something ( who knows what ? ) needs to change to improve weekly performances. ==================== Looking at the LEAGUE STATS - I make it 20 games since the last "zero against". 14 this season and the last 6 last season. Last 0 against was v Leiston 1st April 2013. Previous to that game it was Lowestoft Away 23rd February. ==================== Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the viewer Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 As i have commented on the Lewes last night thread. The Board, please show some guts and do what needs to be done sooner than later. New Manager/ New players otherwise we will continue to lose fans, income and also our status. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
behind-the-goal Posted October 26, 2013 Share Posted October 26, 2013 I was right that we didn't get anything at Lewes and Maidstone and I was right about slipping into the releagation zone. I don't take any pleasure out of that, but I'll take a heck of a lot of pleasure if my next predictions turn out to be right: We'll beat Grays and extend our stay in the Trophy, and from Hendon onwards we'll start picking up points on a fairly regular basis until, by the end of the year, we'll be comfortably mid-table. Come on you Town!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big guy Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 As i have commented on the Lewes last night thread. The Board, please show some guts and do what needs to be done sooner than later. New Manager/ New players otherwise we will continue to lose fans, income and also our status. the thing is you you just hit copy and paste the viewer try typing something new for a change!!!!!!!! like something positive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chase Side Towner Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 As i have commented on the Lewes last night thread. The Board, please show some guts and do what needs to be done sooner than later. New Manager/ New players otherwise we will continue to lose fans, income and also our status. It's a supporters owned club, we all have a say, so what players should we let go, who should we bring in, and who should be our new manager? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.