At last! Some real news! [No 172]

[AFF]

While queuing at the newsagents to collect my copy of 'X-treme Sports Monthly', I glanced at the back page of the St Albans Observer. An interesting insight into the thinking of City boss, Steve Castle:

 

 

TWO weeks is a long time in football, but it must feel like an eternity for City boss Steve Castle when, during that period, your side is marooned near the bottom of the league while being booted out of the FA Cup.

 

The Saints return to Conference South action on Saturday with a trip to Bognor Regis Town in the offing, and despite the club's precarious position, Castle is upbeat about the situation. "We're glad to be back in action, but we've got a tough couple of games coming up. (how many's that, then? - Ed) "We're losing Gary Wraight and Lee Clarke to suspension but we've got Dean Hooper, Scott Cousins and Ben Martin back in contention which is a massive bonus for us. Over the next couple of games, the squad is going to look a lot, lot healthier."

 

The arrival of striker Ben Abbey has given the often-isolated Clarke much-needed support, although Abbey should be in tandem with a new strike partner on Saturday as Castle is hopeful of bringing a fresh face in. "Lets be honest, at the end of the day it's a case of putting the ball in the back of the net and up to three weeks ago we had plenty of possession but were not getting the goals. "We've been looking at ways to address a couple of problems in defence as well, and I've got total belief in this squad of players."

 

Castle concedes that City's expulsion from the FA Cup may prevent him bringing in exactly the type of players he wants, but is desperately hoping that Rob Smith finally recovers from his two-year injury hell and he could feature by Christmas. Those who have seen both Castle and Smith - both fiery midfielders with a tendency to pick up more than the odd booking - play will not be surprised to learn how highly the boss rates the former Norwich City youngster. "I can't wait to get him back in the fold, he's the type of player I like and admire and I remember when I first got here and saw him play I thought he had the makings of a top player. "He's been through a terrible time with injuries but is ahead of schedule, joining in, kicking a ball around, and I think he believes he maybe owes the club a little bit.

 

"After the kind of operation he's had on his knee, we know there's going to be teething problems and a lot of hard work ahead but if we can get him going for the second-half of the season it will make a massive difference. "There's no player in this League who could replace a fully-fit Rob," Castle added.

 

 

I particularly applauded: "Let's be honest, at the end of the day it's a case of putting the ball in the back of the net." No room for more than three cliches in there.

 

"Two weeks is a long time in football" was an eye-catching opener from the hack.

[Rob_the_Saint]

Quote:

City's expulsion from the FA Cup may prevent him bringing in exactly the type of players he wants

Eh? Oh, get it now, the sort who would want lots of money from our succesful Cup run. No harm done there then.

One week it's the defence, the next it's the attack, wish he could concentrate on the whole team at all times.

[AFF]

Yes Rob. Not that the last two weeks were any 'fun' but the article was a little like 'the morning after the night before'. The business with the F.A.Cup disqualification, the offer of resignations, Gibbo's views of the Urchin's Chairman were all headline-grabbing stuff.

 

This one was more like 'what can we print this week?'.

 

I was interested to hear that Smith could "feature by Christmas" and his return is "ahead of schedule". That contradicts the Chairmans pre-season interview [see 'At last etc No 159'] which said he would be back within a month, and an interview with the manager ['At last etc nos 161 or 162'] which said that he would be training by September.

 

Still, as someone said 'Two weeks is a long time in football'.

 

Let's get these "tough couple of games" [against Bognor Regis and Weston Super Mare, presumably] out of the way before we face the easy rides against Basingstoke, Grays and Hornchurch. Where are those three in the League, anyway? Waht have they done this season?

[Webbo MFI]

a year ago today....

 

http://www.sacfc.co.uk/tpl/thisday.php

[The Caretaker]

Quote:

although Abbey should be in tandem with a new strike partner on Saturday as Castle is hopeful of bringing a fresh face in.

 

How can the club afford to keep doing this ?

 

Pre season friendly gates were way below expectations, regular home cowds are only around 50% of those budgeted, so can someone please explain why the club lets all the younger players (who are obviously cheaper) leave and constantly "brings someone in" who will be a mate of a mate type of thing and cost the club a considerable sum of money. The only home grown talent left is Chris Seeby who must be well chuffed at the imminent return of Dean Hooper, Scott Cousins and Ben Martin. Should leave him about 8th in line for a defensive starting place.

 

££££££££££££££££ <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />

[Woody]

Do we really have to put up with this bullsh1t from Castle every week?

 

 

AFF said

 

Quote:

Castle concedes that City's expulsion from the FA Cup may prevent him bringing in exactly the type of players he wants, but is desperately hoping that Rob Smith finally recovers from his two-year injury hell and he could feature by Christmas. Those who have seen both Castle and Smith - both fiery midfielders with a tendency to pick up more than the odd booking - play will not be surprised to learn how highly the boss rates the former Norwich City youngster. "I can't wait to get him back in the fold, he's the type of player I like and admire and I remember when I first got here and saw him play I thought he had the makings of a top player. "He's been through a terrible time with injuries but is ahead of schedule, joining in, kicking a ball around, and I think he believes he maybe owes the club a little bit.

 

"After the kind of operation he's had on his knee, we know there's going to be teething problems and a lot of hard work ahead but if we can get him going for the second-half of the season it will make a massive difference. "There's no player in this League who could replace a fully-fit Rob," Castle added.

 

 

This wouldn't be the same Rob Smith that Castle was trying to get rid of a few weeks ago would it, by any chance?

[GHA EFM]

The same Rob Smith who assaulted a Saints fan in the clubhouse a while back?

[Woody]

While I don't disagree with what you say GHA, the incident, bad as it was, is history and we are in danger of veering <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/offtopic.gif" alt="" /> here. We need to be concentrating on the current situation and the future of this football club.

[Webbo MFI]

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

[AFF]

Hi Woody.

 

I have said elsewhere on here that we must put the past in the past and try to find a way towards unity in order to move forward, but, with little of my tongue in my cheek, I spotted something in those last couple of exchanges that I would like to share with you.

 

GHA referred to 'incidents' in the clubhouse which, on the assumption that the centre spread in a random match day programme that I have handy is accurate, took place on March 6th, 2004. Thats about 32 weeks ago. [And don't forget. Two weeks is along time in football. ©Marc Dodd]

 

You then mildly cricised GHA for bringing up a matter that is 'history'.

 

Now. Your first contribution on this thread referred to rumours that the manager 'was trying to get rid of Rob Smith a few weeks ago.'

 

[i think you might know what's coming next, Woody. Smile please!]

 

Tell me. At what point between a 'few weeks ago' and '32 weeks ago' does an item become "history" and, thus, should not be mentioned on here?

 

And as for you, Webbo. You're a lapdog!

[Woody]

Morning, AFF. It is very simple. It would have to be, I am a very simple bloke.

 

It is pretty common knowledge that Castle was trying to ditch Smith a few weeks ago. I was merely pointing out that in this week's Observer his comments indicate that, when fully fit, the player is the best thing since sliced bread. Why the 180° turnaround? Just feel the bloke has completely lost it and doesn't have a clue what he is doing. Nothing more, nothing less.

[AFF]

It is just possible Woody, that the manager is shrewdly manipulating a gullible media.

 

Talk up the player in the press and when Alex Ferguson and Roman Abramovich scan the St Albans Observer over their toast soldiers and marmalde on a Thursday morning, well toast soldiers and caviar in the case of Roman, they look and say "Ah-ha. Steve Castle thinks that Rob Smith is a player of quality unparallelled in Non League football. We should bid a couple of mill and see if we can tempt him away from Fortress clarence Park."

 

I might be wrong, of course, and I don't know anything about football. We'll see.

[Woody]

You're probably right.