The story so far...

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

As it was solely EFM chanting their disapproval, all the others felt they had to move away to disassociate themselves from it.

 

Can't be seen to be fraternising with EFM.

 

One person went up to GHA and asked "what would your father think if he knew you were hanging around with that lot?"

 

Had to laugh.

 

I had a chat with a couple of fans (neither of whom pay to watch games) just after half-time on Saturday, and I was astonished to hear they thought things were fine at the club. Manager just needs time. Players just need time to gel. Voicing disatisfaction proves that I'm not a real fan. Plans to chant for the manager to go makes me a "[****!!****]r". Etc.

 

 

[Laz]

I think we're going off topic!

[Laz]

I notice none of those people have made a comment since the game, Zealster!

 

They all bang the Gibbo drum and repeat the old "he saved the club" rhetoric but when it comes down to it they only like him because of the cash he sticks into the club. If he withdrew it he'd be vilified like the last bloke.

 

 

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

I think that's what a lot of these people are scared of.

 

"We can't upset Gibbo cos then he'll walk out and we'll have no club".

 

Well, fear of upsetting the boss is not a good reason to support a crap regime.

 

 

[JKiF]

Laz,

 

the point here is so some disapprove of people voicing their opinion for castle go

 

so what

 

u gonna give up that easily?

 

the solution then is get non "efm" (what is that anyway) supporters on your side?

[Laz]

JK, Zag has already suggested the protest should come from without the firm. I just don't see who would do it. It needs to be a group not just individuals. Any volunteers?

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

EFM are the other group within the club who are ever prepared to shout for what they believe. We are the 'vocal minority'.

 

I mean hell, we may have been the only ones shouting for Castle on Saturday, but we were the only ones singing supportive songs to the team also.

 

But, this is why the powers-that-be hate us so much and ban us at every possible turn. Without EFM, everyone else just lets them get on with it.

 

 

[JKiF]

thats fair enough Laz

 

surely it should be both? dont we all support st albans City

 

i'll be voicing my disapproval and of that inept/excuse of a "player" thomas too.

 

isnt it down to "efm" to cross that bridge?

sounds like your doing it already

[Laz]

The thing is any protest made by EFM is seen as EFM causing trouble. As I've said elsewhere, while the controntation was taking place on Saturday, I was walking back from the toilets (having had too many refreshments). All I noticed was freeloaders voicing their disapproval to each other.

 

That very group are the ones who won't start it, not because they are happy with the situation as it is, or because they don't care, but because they care more about their perks. So much so, that one group deemed it best to move away so not mistakenly seen to be part of the demonstration.

[Zagreus]

I don't know why, but for some reason the funky Gibson doesn't like the EFM. I think that's been made pretty obvious from various things that have been written, said and implied. But I think one thing to distinguish between when trying to change things, at the moment, is the manager and the chairman.

 

(bear with me, I will get to my point!)

 

I asked another Saints supporter, on Saturday, about what they thought about Gibson. The response was something along the lines of "who do we replace him with?" I think that's a real concern for alot of St Albans City supporters. I haven't a clue about "behind the scenes at St Albans Football club". I don't know how much money he pumps into the club, I don't know how much money we need, how much money we are losing etc etc. I guess I'm in the majority here, and I guess that we are not doing very well finanically (just a feeling)? If I am in the majority, then the prospect of him leaving, and having no one to replace him would mean ..... what? I mean, are there people interested in taking over the club? I haven't a clue. I'm not saying this is an excuse not to question the situation, but it must be the sort of things that other supporters are thinking and are worried about?

 

On the other hand, the manager leaving is nowhere as near a "big thing". A change of manager is alot more "safe" - if you know what I mean?

 

I think people hear the EFM chants of Gibson and Castle out, and instantly dismiss them. I'm not saying support (or not support) Gibson, but maybe if there are "protests" against just the manager then more people may be inclined to join in. I don't know, maybe I'm talking alot of bullsh1t. In my politics I'm usually alot more black and white than this, but maybe the grey areas are worth exploring this time?

 

I don't know anything about the relationship between the manager and the chairman, but surley Gibson can see that things are a bit sh*tty, but maybe as some on the forum have suggested, things are going to plan.

 

[AFF]

I mentioned on another thread that I was approached by, and had a 20 minute chat in the Boro' clubhouse with a fan of 30 years standing. Without any foul or abusive language, he expressed the opposite view to that of the boys on the terraces. Well for now, anyway.

 

Surely, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and should be free to express it, without resorting to foul and abusive language, of course. That's one of the attractive things about non league football.

 

As far as the manager is concerned, the views of only one person will determine his future. From my limited knowledge of John Gibson, I don't believe that he will be swayed one way or another by chants from the terraces or views expressed on here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Laz]

I think there is more wrong with this club than just the football. Steve Castle isn't running the whole place. It has to come from the top. There is a cancer running through this place and it needs sorting out.

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Zag.

 

I think the majority of the problems on the pitch can be attributed to Steve Castle.

 

However, the club is rotten the core. Without even considering what's going on on the green stuff, just about every other aspect of the club is badly managed and poorly maintained.

 

Just one example - the disgusting treatment of last season's reserve side.

 

Another - the way the brutal physical assaults by players on fans was swept under the carpet.

 

I could go on.

 

This is why a growing section of people have no faith in the board.

 

 

[GHA EFM]

Quote:

Without John Gibson and Steve Castle we wouldn't have a team to support...

Just one comment I overheard on my Eastbourne travels on Saturday. What a load of rubbish.

If 'the funky Gibson' hadn't stepped in when he did, other people would've done. He's no saviour of this club, he didn't come in on a blazing chariot, take over and lead us to new pastures of glory. He was brought in by Robbo and Cook, and repaid them by sacking them for reasons mostly unbeknownst to us. If Gibson leaves tomorrow, that is not the end of SACFC. Moving to Park Street could be the end of SACFC. Steve Castle still in charge in a month or two could be the end of SACFC as we know it (one level below the Conference).

Last season under Castle we finished 19th in the Ryman Premier. We avoided relegation by way of two play-off finals, 4-3 in the first and 5-4 in the second, against teams that were also in the lower echelons of the Ryman. We were crap last season. Surely it was obvious that a large-scale overhaul was needed in order to rectify the problems, including major squad changes.

2 months go by. Nothing. Then Steve Castle gets a two-year contract 'because players won't sign whilst his future is in the balance.' What a load of rubbish. Sarll signs, he shows himself to be a waste of time. Rydeheard signs, then gets released before he's played a competitive match. Hann signs, and is still sitting on the bench, having only started once. The McBreen shambles? He wasn't very good anyway, in my opinion. Crawshaw's gone, again. Spencer Knight did the off, along with Parys Okai (Dunstable Town?!?!).

That's not an overhaul. It's just got worse.

Referring back:

Quote:

Without John Gibson and Steve Castle we wouldn't have a team to support...

I, for one, disagree.

[Webbo MFI]

Sarll is on the transfer list by t'way

[Canary Saint]

Quote:

Zagreus said:

I don't know anything about the relationship between the manager and the chairman, but surley Gibson can see that things are a bit sh*tty, ..........

This is the bit that worries me. The building industry is a tough game you don't get to be important in a construction company without being a bit 'street wise'. A contracts manager who keeps employing the wrong people and kept building houses that fell down would soon get the bullet.

[Canary Saint]

Sutton - won 2-1 - current position 19th

Welling - lost 2-5 - current position 22nd

Hayes - lost 0-1 - current position 9th

Stortford - lost 0-2 - current position 15th

Havant - drew 1-1 - current position 10th

Lewes - lost 2-3 - current position 5th (eh?)

Carshalton - won 3-1 - current position 20th

Eastbourne - lost 0-1 - current position 17th

Redbridge - lost 1-2 - going above city

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

[Palomino]

Events of the past 12 months.

 

Steve Cook sacked.

 

Steve Castle is caretaker manager for one game. A goalless home draw against Braintree Town.

 

Was enough to impress the chairman and Castle gets the job on a permanent basis.

 

First match in charge we are narrowly beaten 1-9 at Grays.

 

End of first season in charge we finish 19th, qualifying for new set-up by beating two other relegation contenders in a play-off and leaking seven goals in the process.

 

The reward? - a two year contract.

 

He's here to stay, guys.

[JKiF]

He's here to stay, guys. ><>

 

he doesnt have to be,

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

Quote:

Palomino said:

Steve Cook sacked.

Steve Castle is caretaker manager for one game. A goalless home draw against Braintree Town.

Was enough to impress the chairman and Castle gets the job on a permanent basis.

I seem to remember Gibson at the time saying he wouldn't rush the appointment! Glad he gave it a good week!
Anyway as one previous employee said after Cookie was sacked "It's hard to run a football team when there is somebody stabbing you in the back all the time", I wonder who he was talking about.