So farewell........

[AFF]

.....Mel Capleton, Ammo, Bullet, the little Irish one, and Peter Afolayan.

 

Good luck for the future from me to you guys.

 

[bwn Walshe and Adam Parker are injury doubts for Saturday according to the manager in the St Albans Observer today.]

[Rob_the_Saint]

So, to recap... the current squad is?

 

Armand

Bastock

Hooper

Cousins

Roddis

Martin

Zoricich

Seeby

Parker

Marwa

Hann

Walshe

Nolan (loan)

Clarke

Beechy

A. Smith

Sarll?

Davis (loan)

 

Who have I missed? Why's George Clark still hanging round the clubhouse, or has he a double?

[Webbo MFI]

R Smith

[Woody]

Looking at the Observer today, it says that Colin Lippiatt is hinting at a defensive reshuffle for Saturday. Not before time. I think we can safely exclude Hooper and Cousins from this, they both earn their corn every week. I suppose Hooper could be moved into the middle temporarily but I am not too keen on that scenario. Doesn't leave a lot to play with in centre of defence. Zoricich, Martin and Seeby plus the possibility of playing Roddis there, maybe. Unless, of course, a new face is imminent.

 

Does anyone know exactly which players we have are on contract?

[Webbo MFI]

Smith

Zoricich

Beech

Hooper

 

at a guess

[The Caretaker]

Add Seeby and Sarll to that list

 

Strange thing all round this ..... apart from Capleton all the others are certainly seen as reserve players, who cost the club nothing. It will be interesting to see what happens for the next reserve game ......does this make sense to any one else or is it just me <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

[AFF]

Well it must be you CT. It makes sense to me.

 

I imagine that with the average home gate around 290, the budget doesn't permit the manager to retain both Mel Capleton and Paul Bastock even if Mel were to be fully fit. Goodbye and thank you Mel.

 

I guess that, whatever his view in the mid/long term, the manager has no interest in a Reserve side in the short term so what's the point in keeping a couple of players around who don't feature in his 1st team plans? I guess that the fine for withdrawal from the Capital League is a couple of thousand pounds so I suspect that the fixtures will be fulfilled using the PASE scheme players or Verulam School U14 side or anyone who has their boots with them.

 

There is no point in dwelling upon the demise of last season's Reserve side. It's history.

[The Caretaker]

I didnt make any reference to last years reserves ....thats a different issue entirely and as you rightly say is confined to the history books.

 

I suppose what I find strange is the total lack of interest in the reserves this season and the clubs approach to the whole thing. It is still a good place for young talent to progress, for squad players to retain "match fitness" and for trialists to show a manger what they can do without being automatically selected for the first team.

 

So after CL watching only one reserve game it makes no sense to me to let 4 players leave who are willing to stay and play reserve football. As for the budget, that would have no effect on these players who are only paid if selected for the first team / bench. Let 4 go who cost nothing and will play for the reserves and bring a new loan player in who will cost and will only feature for the first team.

 

Thats the point I am trying to make ... although not putting it very well maybe ... but I'm sure you get what I mean.

 

I am also sure the remaining reserve fixtures will be fulfilled and I have helped the man who used to drive the red tractor by supplying a few names to call on when needed as it seems he will be in charge.

 

I just end up feeling that the whole thing reflects very badly on the club in general and once you find yourself on a slippery slope ..... <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

[The Caretaker]

Quote:

.....Mel Capleton, Ammo, Bullet, the little Irish one, and Peter Afolayan.

 

....add Jason Blythe (read about his release in the paper apparently) and Adam Smith (has just been told despite being given a new team tracksuit after Tuesdays game) to that list.

 

Still find it hard to understand ........ <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wall.gif" alt="" />

[AFF]

Hi CT.

 

I bought a matchday programme on Tuesday [for the last time ever, but that's another story] and the chap who used to drive the red tractor [possibly ghosted by Herts Blue] wrote at some length about the 'Nationwide Conference Youth League', formerly known as the PASE League, which is run by "the club in conjunction with Oaklands College".

 

A selected list of youngsters is highlighted and the coaches, Steve Castle [that name rings a vague bell], Chris Zoricich [and so does that one] and Danny Milliken are said to be delighted with their progress.

 

There is reference to some of t'lads coming through and making the first team, which is, according to the article, "obviously, the object for us and having seen them perform......that day is not too far away". Maybe after Christmas, I thought to myself.

 

As you know, I don't know anything about football but perhaps that's the future, CT. Make 'em pay for the privelege of pulling on the yellow and blue.

 

As far as Adam Smith is concerned, good luck to him from me, too. [You wouldn't happen to know the size of the tracksuit would you CT? I'm after an XL. Probably not a likely source, on thinking about it.]

 

Returning to the thrust of your point, CT, I have strong views concerning Yoof FC, our midweek Yoof side and the Reserves but, regrettably, it's a waste of time.

[The Caretaker]

Thanks for that AFF

 

I haven't bothered with a programme for ages so I was unaware of such wonderful progress. As for the future I am sure you are "spot on", developing your own pool of young talent is the only way forward.

 

A couple of points (maybe webbo will have to help on the first one) -

 

Can we get a section on the web site featuring the PASE / Conference Youth League team as it would be nice to see how that is developing. The only link to any youth team is with the midweek side run by City Youth FC which looks as though it is a waste of time continuing with.

 

As with any new venture the PASE / Nationwide youth team will take time to come to fruition, I would imagine it will be a while yet before a player comes out of that system and is ready for first team selection. On the other hand they could be "blooded" in the reserves ... oops sorry ..... didn't we try that at Watham Forest earlier this season where the result was a heavy defeat....so maybe not ready just yet.

 

As for SC and his views on these young players just think back to the talent he has been provided with over the past 18 months and see where they are now .....so ....??

 

Finally I have to agree with your last point. It is now obviously a complete waste of time trying to resolve any of these issues for the club and I for one have accepted defeat.

 

I will not be trying again ..... <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wall.gif" alt="" />

[Webbo MFI]

you can find the fixtures at

http://www.footballconference.co.uk//youthfixtures/12.html#youthm

 

not sure on the results but I think we lost 2-0 to Kettering on Wednesday

[AFF]

Just a couple of point of order, CT.

 

Firstly, it wasn't Steve Castle who forecast that the "day is not far away" [when some of the PASE side...err Nationwide Conference Youth League side, 'make the first team'], it was the chap who used to drive the red tractor. Perhaps a couple of t'lads may feature as early as the Grays game tomorrow?

 

Secondly, the point I was suggesting was not that the way forward is to develop a pool of young talent, it was that the way forward is to attract players to the club who are prepared tp pay for the honour of wearing the shirt. I seem to recall that youngsters who join the PASE scheme pay £3000 per term [or perhaps per year?] in order to be trained in citizenhood and the finer arts of the beautiful game. No demands for a club Ferrari from them.

 

Some members of the 1st team could learn from that level of dedication.

 

Hi Webbo.

 

Just out of interest, what is the team called? Does it play in the name of St Albans City FC or is it Oaklands Hotspur or some such?

 

Oh, by the way. What do you mean 'we', Paleface?

[Woody]

If all these departures are right, TC, why are we reading this on the message board and not the main website? Are there no communication lines at all from the club to Webbo or Rob? Very professional.

 

I realise that the new manager is going to have his own plans and ideas of how to get us back on track and we can all go with that but I do find the departure of Adam Smith, if it is true, very puzzling. He showed huge promise and I felt he would eventually make it in the first team, especially if guided in the right way. There are others still at the club, who I feel should be moved out ahead of him, whether they are on contract or not.

[JKiF]

Quote:

Just a couple of point of order, CT.
. I seem to recall that youngsters who join the PASE scheme pay £3000 per term [or perhaps per year?]

is that true?

i'll do it for 2.5k

[The Caretaker]

I stand corrected on the first point ... but whoever said it / wrote it I asume they did so in an official capicity and therefore clearly demonstrates the attitude of the club <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

 

On your second point, the boys don't pay, it is a government (I believe) funded scheme where the college receives £3000 for each boy on the course. Roughly speaking the boys study half the time towards some form of "Sports Science" qualification, which is tailored to their individual academic abilities, and the remaining time they are indeed coached the finer points of our beautiful game, playing games throughout term time aginst other such clubs / colleges.

 

The money covers the costs of the college lecturers and football coaches, the kit and equipment needed on the course, transport costs for away fixtures, pitch hire (as we play at Harpenden Towns ground I asume we pay) etc etc. So these chaps lead a privileged life where all is provided for them.....I also asume that the club gets some share of the money for its use to cover its own costs.

 

So .... the basic idea is ......develop your own pool of young players and get paid to do it ....all sounds good to me but I thought we had a system similar to this already set up .....oops sorry again, I missed the being paid to do it bit ....now I get it.

[JKiF]

blimey that sounds great

 

1st time ever i wish was a "yoof" again...

[AFF]

Hi Woody.

 

The 'news' of the departure of Ammo, Bullet, Jason, and Mel Capleton was 'announced' by me on here, but came from my reading of the St Albans Observer. Perhaps we should arrange a special fund raising project to raise 30p per week so that Webbo or Rob can buy the paper, get the news, and put it on the Official Web-site.

 

The news of Adam Smith came from The Caretaker.

 

Hi JKiF.

 

Do you mean that you would pay £2,500 to play for The Mighty Saints, or do you mean that you would run the course for £2,500? Do you have the UEFA Grade A Coaching badge?

 

Hi CT.

 

Yep. You are beginning to get it.

[AFF]

Hi JKiF.

 

It doesn't sound quite so great if you pay tax, mate!

[JKiF]

Hi AFF

ive got a cycling proficency badge and have been to europe, if thats any good.... so 2.5k seems a fair deal to me

... ..then again if Ardiles walked out of one those UEFA badge course things....makes you wonder

 

 

as for TAX?

 

:-)