Enfield Town 1-0 Hampton & Richmond

[Shep]

Rhys is a great keeper but don’t think you can drop someone after a clean sheet.  

[The Crowing Cockerel]

21 minutes ago, Shep said:

Rhys is a great keeper but don’t think you can drop someone after a clean sheet.  

I also think Joe is a bit more inclined to come off his line for balls into the box than Rhys.

Well, that was ugly, but worked. I guess thats what you have to do in a relegation scrap. The really good teams (Worthing, Borehamwood, Dorking, Eastbourne etc) will be able to outclass us, but the rest might just struggle. Gavin has long since decided that we're not going to out-play anyone in this league, but we might be able to out-scrap them. I think its fair to say that the likes of St Albans and Salisbury are playing better football than us, but that might not be enough to ensure survival.

I still struggle with Chukwu. He's clearly a physical presence, and I appreciate that he puts in the hard yards. But 9 times out of 10 his touch is atrocious.

Right, now its about time we picked up some perhaps unexpected points against Truro. They're a very direct team - and expect a barrage of very long throws.

[No bull Towner]

2 hours ago, 55 seasons said:

I won’t be surprised if Joe keeps his place for Saturday. The defence is looking more confident at the moment and It may be wiser to keep things settled for now. Not a criticism of Rhys at all but all about team consistency and confidence. Let’s see. 

Defence was fine for Rhys since New Year with the changes. Lost 3 games in last 10, 6 run unbeaten with 3 clean sheets. Joe has lost 3 in last 5 and 1 clean.....I know whose roll I prefer but we are all different 

[No bull Towner]

3 hours ago, andyetfc said:

Joe’s on a roll as well. Decisions, decisions. Who would be a manager?

What a fickle bunch we are

53 minutes ago, Shep said:

Rhys is a great keeper but don’t think you can drop someone after a clean sheet.  

He didn't have bugger all to do so quite easy to keep a clean sheet when there's nothing to save 

[Rebel Dani]

What a result that was. Hampton were a shadow of the team we played early doors but we still only just scraped it. Our finishing is dire. If we don't start netting more we won't survive. It would appear our keeper seems to be attracting all the attention for some reason though instead and I'm mystified. I'll stick my twopence in and state that Forster has done a fantastic job and would not have been replaced had he not been injured. If he's fit he should be back in for that reason alone.  It's hard with keepers when they don't get subbed on and off so you are either in or you're out. Wright has performed well in Forster's absence and is a valuable no2 but Forster is our no1. To do otherwise would be pointing the finger of blame at him and that just isn't the case at all. The whole team was poor for the first half of the season not one person. If we had played pre Xmas like we have post Xmas we wouldn't be in a relegation battle and Forster has done both sides so it's not him! Maybe I'm just soft and don't like what appears to be injustice. Any way that's enough of that I've said my bit and rarely say anything but in  Gavin we trust apparently so let's see.

[No bull Towner]

47 minutes ago, Rebel Dani said:

What a result that was. Hampton were a shadow of the team we played early doors but we still only just scraped it. Our finishing is dire. If we don't start netting more we won't survive. It would appear our keeper seems to be attracting all the attention for some reason though instead and I'm mystified. I'll stick my twopence in and state that Forster has done a fantastic job and would not have been replaced had he not been injured. If he's fit he should be back in for that reason alone.  It's hard with keepers when they don't get subbed on and off so you are either in or you're out. Wright has performed well in Forster's absence and is a valuable no2 but Forster is our no1. To do otherwise would be pointing the finger of blame at him and that just isn't the case at all. The whole team was poor for the first half of the season not one person. If we had played pre Xmas like we have post Xmas we wouldn't be in a relegation battle and Forster has done both sides so it's not him! Maybe I'm just soft and don't like what appears to be injustice. Any way that's enough of that I've said my bit and rarely say anything but in  Gavin we trust apparently so let's see.

Can't disagree but think whoever is in goal Sat will get a hiding

[55 seasons]

Certainly not blaming Rhys for anything rebel dani, just think Joe will be left in for now but let’s see.

[ETFC2001]

Debating on which keeper starts when we’ve just won a game and gone 5 points clear of St Albans is certainly interesting..

There is really nothing between them in my honest opinion. I would upgrade on Rhys/Joe next season if possible also. 

[No bull Towner]

25 minutes ago, ETFC2001 said:

Debating on which keeper starts when we’ve just won a game and gone 5 points clear of St Albans is certainly interesting..

There is really nothing between them in my honest opinion. I would upgrade on Rhys/Joe next season if possible also. 

Need to upgrade the whole team but it ain't going to happen so yet again singling out the keeper as if he carries the fortunes of the club solely on his shoulders (which ever gks shoulders).....laughable 

[ETFC2001]

3 minutes ago, No bull Towner said:

Need to upgrade the whole team but it ain't going to happen so yet again singling out the keeper as if he carries the fortunes of the club solely on his shoulders (which ever gks shoulders).....laughable 

Of course the whole squad needs upgrades, especially if we can’t hold onto a few players. And I’m not just digging out Rhys because that wouldn’t be fair on him because he’s been alright for the most part this season. But I personally think there are better keepers out there that are playing at lower levels that are very good with the ball at their feet/can kick long and can shot stop. 

I do agree a new goalkeeper is one of the lowest of the on the long list of needs that we need to upgrade if we get extra money for staying up in the Vanarama next season, but it was just an opinion.

[No bull Towner]

3 minutes ago, No bull Towner said:

Need to upgrade the whole team but it ain't going to happen so yet again singling out the keeper as if he carries the fortunes of the club solely on his shoulders (which ever gks shoulders).....laughable 

There's no more than 4-5 players in the team worth keeping if we scrape staying up as despite giving their all they fall short.  But we can't afford '12 plus upgrades' so we have to choose wisely and not rush head long in to upsetting the ones that are this level and I fear we could be doing that. But that's fine coz they are two a penny these top upgrades eh?? Good job it's not down to us. Opinions differ which is absolutely  fine because as they say 'opinions are like arseholes, we all have one'

[The Crowing Cockerel]

5 minutes ago, ETFC2001 said:

I do agree a new goalkeeper is one of the lowest of the on the long list of needs that we need to upgrade if we get extra money for staying up in the Vanarama next season, but it was just an opinion.

Can we please just concentrate on staying up! The '5 point cushion' we currently have is likely to evaporate very quickly over the coming games unless we pull off something special. I repeat: the odds are not yet in our favour.

[The Crowing Cockerel]

2 minutes ago, No bull Towner said:

There's no more than 4-5 players in the team worth keeping if we scrape staying up as despite giving their all they fall short.  But we can't afford '12 plus upgrades' so we have to choose wisely and not rush head long in to upsetting the ones that are this level and I fear we could be doing that. But that's fine coz they are two a penny these top upgrades eh?? Good job it's not down to us. Opinions differ which is absolutely  fine because as they say 'opinions are like arseholes, we all have one'

Lets be realistic, I don't think we can afford 'upgrades'. If you listen to that interview with the Eastbourne owner you'll hear him mention a player in the division recently who was offered the equivalent of £85-90k/yr. Gavin will have to make the best of the bargain basement rack we're shopping in!

[No bull Towner]

4 minutes ago, The Crowing Cockerel said:

Can we please just concentrate on staying up! The '5 point cushion' we currently have is likely to evaporate very quickly over the coming games unless we pull off something special. I repeat: the odds are not yet in our favour.

🫡

[No bull Towner]

2 minutes ago, The Crowing Cockerel said:

Let's be realistic, I don't think we can afford 'upgrades'. If you listen to that interview with the Eastbourne owner you'll hear him mention a player in the division recently who was offered the equivalent of £85-90k/yr. Gavin will have to make the best of the bargain basement rack we're shopping in!

I agree we can't afford what some aspire to have and that has been said repeatedly this year. I'm not sure I would refer to our players as bargain basement as that's derogatory, more suited to a step below yes, but I understand where you're coming from. Our pool of suitable affordable players is more a puddle but that is the same challenge we've faced all year. It won't change next season either!