Kent Senior Cup

[Guest]

Just a Dover perspective about last nights game.

 

Alot of Gravesend fans dont seem to of realised just how far Dover have dropped over the past few seasons. While that was virtually what we can call our first choice eleven last night (except maybe a couple of players), it is a team that is virtually wholly made up for our reserve team of the past couple of years.

 

We had at least 9 or 10 players who are under 22 out last night. I would infact say that is you take away our keeper, the average age of our team was virtually comparable to you. Certainly the impression on this forum that Gravesend kids were up against a big, strong, experienced side could not be further from the case.

 

Looking at your side I dont think you can take many positives out of the game. If you wanted to give you kids a run out, then fair enough, however you didnt show enough in the 120 minutes of football to show that you wanted to win the game.

 

Still, all the best for the future. Have you got any spare players we could borrow?? Were desperate!

[Stu M]

You're making a damned good effort of avoiding relegation though. Is it only four points adrift now...? Quite an improvement from a couple of months ago.

[Guest]

When Clive Walker was reappointed as manager back in January we were something like 15 points away from safety. We have now managed to claw that back to 4, with arguably a weaker team.

 

The big money London based players have all left, and Clive has brought in the kids which he coached when he was here before. That squad last night only included two players who were not brought up through the youth system. The players now want to play for us, and thankfully their determination in giving us results.

 

We still have alot to do do stay up this year. Our off the pitch problems are now solved with a new board in place, so hopefully we can move forward.

 

I have alot of time for the Fleet after what you have achieved over the past 5 years. A brilliant effort, and I wish you the best for the future.

[Guest]

yes u maybe right but our kids are doin sixth form at school this means there ages range from 16 17 year olds god give the kids some credit at least

[Guest]

What do you want me to say, oh your kids did superbly and they didnt deserve to be beaten?? Well that isnt the case.

 

Do you not have a reserve side? I see that your reserve fixture was cancelled which was due tonight - why didnt they play against Dover.

 

Seriously if you had used maybe one or two senior players more you should of easily beat us. Never mind!

[Slartibartfast]

Never mind for you mate, you get to cheer your boys on in the final but mind a bit for us as we get nothing.

The point you make about the reserves is an excellent one and I would agree 100%, a few of the senior players that did not play last night will also not be playing on Friday, so what are they being saved for?

Of course none of this reflects on Dover, you can only beat the side that is put out against you.

Good luck in your big match with Folkestone and I hope you enjoy the final...I am just a bit jealous that it won't be me there.

[Robbo]

Quote:

Anonymous said:

I have alot of time for the Fleet after what you have achieved over the past 5 years. A brilliant effort, and I wish you the best for the future.

Thought I'd just say something about this as I don't think a lot of people realise it. Now I admit that I only really started coming to the Fleet regularly when we won promotion but I still appreciate that the club is currently at the highest point in it's history and we must be grateful for where we are at the moment. A lot of other 'new' supporters from the past few years don't seem to realise this and seem to want us to be finishing near the top of the league. Lets be realistic and make sure we at least maintain what we've worked so hard to achieve so far.

[John@TheFleet]

Wouldn't it be excellent if we had Dover, Margate and Dartford in the Conference with us all at the same time? Good luck in the final, mate.

[Guest]

I take it most of your players have had a least a seasons experience. For all, but four last night, it was their first senior game. I wonder how your present youth team would fair against your side last night. Would they draw the game? Must admit when I heard the team announcement, I thought we were in for a hiding, so I think there were a lot of plus points

[Stu M]

Quote:

John@TheFleet said:
Wouldn't it be excellent if we had Dover, Margate and Dartford in the Conference with us all at the same time?

As long as it's 'below' us rather than 'with' us, John!!

[Guest]

I dont know whether you are interested but the Dover team included, Vallance ar right back wo is in the Kent under 18 squad I believe and played his first first team match in January. Also Hamshare, Hickman and Wright who have really only got involved this season and Matata who I think is 19 or 20 and who has only started one Dover match with 2 or 3 subs.

 

Players such as Cloke, Readings and Rogers are only about 20 or 21 but they have had Conference South experience.

 

The truth is that with our off the field problems we have had to focus on fast tracking our youth and reserve players. In many ways this has worked to our benefit as although some of them arent the most skillful, at least they are comitted and want to play for the club.

 

The gap between our reserve football and first team football as in the past been massive, the Ryman league this season hasnt proved such a gap.

[Guest]

well said robbo least someone knows what there talking about