Some real news. AT LAST!! [No. 153].

[AFF]

While queuing in the newsagents to purchase a copy of The Butler Report, in vain, as it turned out, I glanced at the back page of the St Albans Observer.

 

The Manager is still looking for strike power.

 

According to SC, the Worms tour was 40% football and 60% social, apparently. [i haven't the faintest idea. You ask him.]

 

Two more Pre-Season friendlies have been announced. Thursday, July 22nd away at Hatfield Town, and Wednesday, July 28th away at Romford. [That must be some kind of record. It's a good job t'lads are finely-tuned athletes.]

 

Err...That's it.

 

 

[EFM's Librarian]

Quote:

AFF said:
While queuing in the newsagents to purchase a copy of The Butler Report, in vain, as it turned out,

Just in case you're bored this afternoon
http://www.butlerreview.org.uk/report/

[Rob_the_Saint]

I'm assuming the Hatfield game is a reserves/squad game.

 

We don't want our Conference (sorry, Nationwide) starlets damaging their ankles on some park field now do we.

[GHA EFM]

Would you not construe yesterday's match as a reserves/squad game, Rob?

[Rob_the_Saint]

For us or Luton?

[GHA EFM]

For us, using 22 players (although only 3 were from last season's reserve side, not including Seeby).

 

No?

[Rob_the_Saint]

OK, call it what you like. I think most of our expected first team squad had a run-out. There are obviously a few places left to fill which is why these games are used to 'have a look' at some of the reserves and the new faces.

[GHA EFM]

Do you think we'll therefore be sending a weaker side than last night's to Hatfield?

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Quote:

I think most of our expected first team squad had a run-out.

Wow! So we've accumulated those "21 quality players" with a month to spare! I'm impressed!!

[Rob_the_Saint]

Yes, but what do I know?

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Or any of us?

 

<img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

 

 

[Rob_the_Saint]

I'll re-phrase that!

 

I think most of the players who can expect to be in the first team squad had a run-out last night. At a rough count, about 10.

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Good stuff!

 

Now, in all honesty. Is there any chance we can avoid finishing bottom next season??

 

 

[Claire!]

I met Rambo last night!!!!!

 

Seemed a nice enough bloke, although a little taken aback by me, but who isn't?!!!!!!!!

[AFF]

Hi Rob.

 

Now that is a very interesting observation, indeed.

 

Before I make a further comment, please confirm that you think that "about 10" of the Saints players who we saw last night "can expect to be in the first team squad".

 

I have nothing 'clever' in mind, Rob, truly. I have a comment but I don't want to misunderstand your view.

[Rob_the_Saint]

Hi AFF

 

Just my uninformed opinion, that's all.

 

Yes, probably about 10, maybe more. I haven't had time to work it out exactly. 2 or 3 were also absent or didn't play.

[AFF]

So Rob.

 

From the pre-season publicity campaign, surely we can assume that Sarll, Rydeheard and 'Matty' Hann have been signed as memmbers of 'the 1st team squad'. If press reports are true [sic], Capleton and Robbo have been/are being signed and only one of them can play at a time, of course. So we can call that 4.

 

We should ignore Castle as a player for this exercise. De Souza and Thomas are part of the Management team.

 

That leaves 18 players last night, from whom, in your uninformed opinion, only 4,5 or 6 "can expect to be in the first team squad". Is your view based upon your opinion of the ability of around 12 of them?

Or do you simply guess that the fall-out rate will be of that order?

 

I don't know anything about football but I assume that the Manager has in mind a '1st team squad' of around 15/16, plus 3/4 fringe/squad players who will play in the Reserves and be called upon when required, plus another 10 who will be happy to play Reserve team football.

 

Do you picture a "Reserve team squad", Rob? If so, I wonder how many of the 18 players turned up last night hoping to make the Reserve team squad?

 

If you're right Rob, and we saw only 10 '1st team squad' players last night, presumably there are another half-a-dozen 1st team players to be found from somewhere. It's a good job we have all these Pre-season friendlies arranged.

 

I disagree with you, Rob. I think that we saw the bulk of the '1st team squad' last night and that we are likely to see only 2 or perhaps 3 new signings before we are there. That view has nothing to do with my opinion of their ability, I should add.

 

 

 

[GHA EFM]

Robinson, Capleton

Zoricicicich, Thomas, Butler, Campbell, Sargent, Seeby

Sarrl, Hann, Parker, Wraight

De Souza

 

That makes 13.

 

Plus Deacon, plus Rydeheard.

 

That makes 15.

[Rob_the_Saint]

Hmm, another 2 or 3 or 4 more required I think. Butler and Sargent I would class as 'fringe' players.

 

Another centre-back and a couple of forwards would definitely come in useful.

[AFF]

Hmmnnn. If I didn't know you better, Rob, I would have said that you have amended your earlier view, you rascal, you.

 

Two strikers and one centre back required. we may have seen a couple of those last night. Ask me again after the next game. Plenty of time, yet anyway.

 

An interesting issue is that of the Reserves, Rob. Team selection and management for Saturday week when both teams are playing away from home will be fascinating in itself.