Looking back

[Chris]

What a day yesterday and what a reward for the fans after so much work was put in by everybody last week.

 

Before the match it was fantastic - the beer tent outside the Stag and Hounds looked great and it was just such a marvellous day. The Windsor groundsman has done wonders with the pitch.

 

As for the game, well I thought we battled so, so hard - eveybody was shattered come the end of the game. I've never seen Josias look so tired running up and down the wing!

 

Thought whoever chose man of the match got it spot on. James Saulsbury was awesome. Never gets the praise he deserves as he just quietly gets on with his job. Followed closely by Alex who also had a stormer.

 

Yes they had a hell of a lot of posession, but what did they really create. Nots of nice football, but no real end product. Merson had a shot saved by Allaway first-half and they had a header which clipped the top of the bar second, but what else. On MOTD their best highlight of the second-half was two blocks from Murph. We had better chances with Harris on the break and Seedel's low shot saved.

 

Just one point, I thought we could have kept the ball better yesterday. We were a bit too worried about them at times and what they could do rather than play our own game. First fifteen minutes of the second, we were just lumping it - not keeping the ball. At that stage we missed Veli big time as he would have kept the ball for us. But hopefully he'll be fit for the next round.

 

Anyway who cares the boys were fantastic - can't wait to see pics in the local papers, great atmosphere after the whistle and the minutes remaining up to it.

 

Do feel sorry for Jake though, must have seen the result and been gutted to miss out. Although I do, and did at the time agree with Eddie's decision and my view's similar to what Gary said about crosses with Jake, but you gotta feel sorry for him.

 

Wilko and Mets had Merson in their pockets - if you do get the sack Mers, don't come round Stag Meadow looking for a game, not good enough to get in our side! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

 

Roll on Worthing!

 

Chris

[GarySTFC]

Whilst some might feel some pity for Jake, I think he showed his true colours in his posting on here. Don't think he'd be welcome back by the management now, especially now he's gone back to work with a 'real' manager.

 

Allaway had a great game, and was a masterstroke by Eddie. No doubt Merse would have seen how shaky Jake was on crosses and built something around that. They were throwing everything down the wings, and whilst Jake may have buckled Allaway was awesome.

 

Every single person in that squad has made a name for themselves in STFC history alongside the team which beat Millwall just over 20 years ago.

 

It's moments like this which show why Corinthian Casuals, Tilbury, Bracknell and Chelmsford away have all been worthwhile. Yes there were over 2,000 there, but this result was so much for the regular 300 which turn up week in, week up come rain, shine or hail.

 

Managed to sneak in a few pics and videos but will not be publishing them just yet until I've had confirmation from the club. Not that I really got the first goal with it being down the other end.

 

Here's hoping for another league side in the draw today. Don't care who or where, just a league side please.

[Chris]

Yeah, you say that about Jake's posting, but surely that's frustration? Imagine you have been with a club since the start of the season - seen them overcome all kinds of hurdles in order to get this far in one of the biggest matches you are likely to play in and then 48 hours before kick-off told you are know longer wanted. I'd be pretty gutted as well...

 

Saying that though Eddie DID get it right, Allaway was superb and the back four looked so more confident. Hope we can keep him for a long time!!

[Paul Stephens]

I think we should all show some sympathy for Jake. It must have been a total heartbreak for him not to play. His posting should be read in that context. I would prefer to remember the blinding reflex save in the last minutes at Croyden Athletic without which we might not have even got past the first round. Personally I wish him all the best in the future.

[Burnham Lad]

Quote:

I think we should all show some sympathy for Jake. It must have been a total heartbreak for him not to play. His posting should be read in that context. I would prefer to remember the blinding reflex save in the last minutes at Croyden Athletic without which we might not have even got past the first round. Personally I wish him all the best in the future.

I agree with this - the issue as far as Jake is concerned is not Eddie's decision - he showed he was right by Allaway's performance (although I must admit, I was very worried it could go pearshaped) - but telling the guy over the phone 48 hours before is not how one would like to see such things done. Bad news is best broken face to face, and clearly we must understand Jake's frustration and disappointment, being told like that. I wish Jake well in his career and only hope we can hang onto Allaway long enough not to have to go looking for yet another keeper!

[PJ-STFC]

Agree with all points made by Andrew, and others above.

 

But I think I am right in noting that Jake lives north/east of London, and doesn't Eddie live some distance from Slough too (Oxford?)

 

For them to meet face-to-face would have required a long journey from one of them, at least. Maybe a phone call was not the ideal way to break the news, but was it really worse than Jake driving all the way down to Slough for a training session on Thursday, only to be told he wasn't wanted? The phrase 'lesser of two evils' springs to mind.

 

 

That point aside, it was clear that Eddie knew what he was about with his choice of Allaway. Well done!

 

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