Christmas Statement from Guildford City

[Kenda]

Following previous speculation in another thread on the Forum, some members might be interested in this statement from Guildford City.

 

http://guildfordcityfc.co.uk/2014/12/23/a-christmas-message-to-all/

 

[duncs]

Hmmmm are you sure your committee understand this league normally when youth teams get to 18 its time to see who can hack it in senior football the vast majority don't,so this notion that youth players are gonna somehow take the league by storm just don't hold water,you will need mostly senior players mixed with a couple of the youths who want to play on saturdays,when these lads are playing for themselves and not their mums and dads the real world of senior football is daunting and also quite scarey.Youth teams come and youth teams go very quickly,the 1st team will always be there make it your priority.

[Jeff Hamnett TSF]

yeah, you win nothing with kids...

[duncs]

yeah, you win nothing with kids...

oh yeah of course you hear that all the time at this level.......so you think you can win the CCL Prem with kids,i've said it before and i'll say it again to you,we have one of the best scouting systems in the world in the uk if a kid is remotely any good they are snapped up by league clubs, nobody gets through the net let alone the 20 you would need to run a 1st team at this level.My opion is once little johnny has flown the nest then so do mum and dad and all the offspring,Fact. 

[Regan]

In another statement the club announced that matches will kick off at 1.30pm to allow our players to get home in time for their paper rounds.

 

The committee has certain taken a brave step with this approach and I don't anyone is unrealistic enough to expect much in the short term, but why not give it a go? Guildford has a huge catchment area for young players and with the right coaching it might just be possible to sustain a competitive team at Step 5 or 6 while the club tries to improve its situation off the field.

 

Kevin Rayner's work in introducing young players to senior football was important too. In fact the relationship with the youth teams (which the committee now hopes will feed the senior club) was almost non-existent before Kev got involved. It's a shame that seems to have been forgotten.

[duncs]

I would like a pound for every time i have heard this I would be a rich man by now,did you not take in a single thing i said,it don't matter how big Guildfords catchment area is,the kids that are any good have already been snapped up,big clubs cannot afford to let the best youngsters get away it is a multi million pound loss if they do.

[Regan]

Duncs, I don't think I was contradicting you. If anything quite the opposite.

 

When City first won the CCL it was due to the 'maturing' impact of some of the older players that Kev had brought in that season - but that's not to take anything away from the younger players in the side.

 

No-one at Guildford City is expecting to win the league with a bunch of 16-18 year olds (I doubt many are even expecting to stay up), but if you can keep them playing together for long enough then they will be much stronger as they mature.

[duncs]

No they won't,many many many teams have tried it and always end up with the clubs getting relegated and the manager gets sacked,it really is naieve to think it will work,this league is for hairy arsed fit men who don't take a liking to cheeky kids.Kids who don't make it are often disregarded because of their physical prowess not just their lack of skill 

[Smudge]

Thing is Regan they will not stay together,history tells you that.Croydon is a better catchment area for decent players than Guildford,Dixon Gill nurtured Stefan Payne for years,then Sutton turned his head,then Fulham nicked him,then released/loaned him,now at Dover,be on the telly soon.Name me a decent side with 1 or 2 of their ex Youth team in it,although Windsor/Ashford Town are not doing to bad at this level,but for how long will they keep these players

[Jeff Hamnett TSF]

Yes the top pro sides get the cream but they also dismiss plenty

 

A kid who has had 6 years pro coaching but not made next stage may well be a better player or at least prospect than many ccl players

 

No I wouldn't play 11 of them each week but playing some is beneficial on many levels

[Smudge]

Academy's are killing lower level Football,but at the same time making a great living for the clever few who run them.Whyteleafe Academy been running for 3 years,how many players in their 1st Team,its the roundest number you can get 0.Similar all over the Country,but it at least keeps the Youth Unemployment figure down.Maybe this is why it gets Government Funding

[Regan]

Sorry, you're right, I'll call the committee and tell them to abandon all hope and to fold the club.

 

Seriously though, I think you've all missed the point I'm trying to make. It's not an ideal solution and it's a very brave decision from the club but honestly what other options are there? Maybe they could get Dean Thomas back? Andy Lunn?

 

I'd love to have seen Kev turn things around as he's put so much into the club, but that task was made much trickier having lost so many key players from his previous tenure. It's disappointing that the committee has glossed over his previous achievements in their eagerness to promote their new approach, but perhaps I am being nostalgic.

 

No-one is expecting to suddenly find an unexplored pool of world beaters, but if they can field a team each week - and maybe find a few hidden gems along the way - then that's better than no team at all. The club has made their bed and now they have to lie in it, and you're writing it off after three games. If it all goes wrong you can come back and say "I told you so"... but 3 games in?

[Lazy Sod]

This approach has not done Windsor any harm and, with the exception of this Saturday of course, wish Guildford City all the very best for the future.

[duncs]

I do wish your club well and do hope you can prove me wrong but you see i am a realist who has won many things at this level and never just with kids,your new manager could have his reputation knocked to feck so he better be ready for the CCL Prem thats all.Please do not underestimate this league it is very difficult to win, just ask teams like Windsor cos they aint exactly filled their trophy cabinet lol. 

[Big J R]

Interesting times at Guildford City, then !

Edited December 26, 2014 by Big J R

[BAD GUY]

Sorry, you're right, I'll call the committee and tell them to abandon all hope and to fold the club.

 

Seriously though, I think you've all missed the point I'm trying to make. It's not an ideal solution and it's a very brave decision from the club but honestly what other options are there? Maybe they could get Dean Thomas back? Andy Lunn?

 

I'd love to have seen Kev turn things around as he's put so much into the club, but that task was made much trickier having lost so many key players from his previous tenure. It's disappointing that the committee has glossed over his previous achievements in their eagerness to promote their new approach, but perhaps I am being nostalgic.

 

No-one is expecting to suddenly find an unexplored pool of world beaters, but if they can field a team each week - and maybe find a few hidden gems along the way - then that's better than no team at all. The club has made their bed and now they have to lie in it, and you're writing it off after three games. If it all goes wrong you can come back and say "I told you so"... but 3 games in?

 

 

I know why Kev Raynor won the league.....ask the club and his pocket !!!   Obviously Raynor has not been doing it this time round hence Guildford's league position by not attracting the same players as before.... 

 

Duncs is right, but what is the new Guildfords managers brief ? Obviously the priority is to stay in CCL Premier, if they achieve that.. whats next to win the league next season ? With kids you will not achieve that, so maybe to stay in the CCL Premier and build up a team for 2-3 seasons them have a go at winning the league, but I will inform you Regan that the better players will be snatched away with the offer of some pounds, shilling and pence.

 

Take heed...you heard it here first !

 

Talk to Raynor he will fill you in, or infact you may already know !

 

Windsor in their first season tried to buy the league but failed hence they apparently don't pay players now, but they have excellent facilities for youngsters, especially a nice pitch.which can be a nice attraction for new players to join them...

[Redskinblack]

Sorry, newbie so please be gentle. 

 

I know very little of this level of football, so I dont know what it takes to win this league.

 

The manager is a highly qualified, successful coach/manager. That has had a core team from a very young age. 

 

I got to say that some don't understand about the standard of youth football. Yes, I can see that this level has some hairy arsed players. However, some of these youth players have experience playing against players of similar physical stature and in addition to are use to playing against quicker and technically better players. They haven't been picked to make up the numbers.

 

Its a nonsense to say that all the best players have been picked up by acadamies. If that was the case, you wouldn't have scouts coming to Ryman Youth and FA Youth Cup games. Lots of players have been overlooked for whatever reason.

 

I could help but have a little chuckle, when someone mentioned about Ashford Town being a good example of a team bringing through their youth (which is a good thing). Especially as at least 3 of the Guildford City starting line up today where part of a team that destroyed Ashford Town in the FA Youth Cup earlier this season.

[duncs]

Sorry, newbie so please be gentle. 

 

I know very little of this level of football, so I dont know what it takes to win this league.

 

The manager is a highly qualified, successful coach/manager. That has had a core team from a very young age. 

 

I got to say that some don't understand about the standard of youth football. Yes, I can see that this level has some hairy arsed players. However, some of these youth players have experience playing against players of similar physical stature and in addition to are use to playing against quicker and technically better players. They haven't been picked to make up the numbers.

 

Its a nonsense to say that all the best players have been picked up by acadamies. If that was the case, you wouldn't have scouts coming to Ryman Youth and FA Youth Cup games. Lots of players have been overlooked for whatever reason.

 

I could help but have a little chuckle, when someone mentioned about Ashford Town being a good example of a team bringing through their youth (which is a good thing). Especially as at least 3 of the Guildford City starting line up today where part of a team that destroyed Ashford Town in the FA Youth Cup earlier this season.

Now this is the type of person that i mean,he is deluded to think that youth team players have already played against better players than are in CCL Prem,he also questions the fact that all the best players have already been hand picked by football league teams,my guess is the manager has no other contacts apart from these kids so it is them he has to play,that is not a youth policy its a neccessity theres a big difference,believe me Redskinblack if it was so simple to win the CCL with a bunch of kids then it would of been done hundreds of times already,1 thing i have to admire you for is that you are big enough to admit you don't know what it takes to win this league,please don't tell the youngsters any different 

[Redskinblack]

Like the CCL, they are not gentle with newbies on here.

 

I agree that you cannot win anything solely with kids. Its a brave person that makes that call. However, I cannot agree that some of these young players cannot play at this level.

 

There is no magic formula to winning any league. Its a long slog and with the turnover of some teams you don't know who you are playing from one week to the next.

 

In regards to the guildford city manager's contacts. I don't think he would struggle to find players. However, as a manager you know who you can trust in terms of ability, attitude and commitment.

[duncs]

Can you answer me this,are you one of these lads parent or guardian ?nobody said they can or can't play at this level,all I am saying to you is please don't underestimate our league or you and your lads will be in for a shock, you have lit a fuse by saying your lads are better and are more technical and quicker,be careful what you say or you will be doing the oppos managers team talk for him.