The Season so far...

[Harry J Allstars]

We're closer to the team at the top than we are to the team at the bottom, we joint 5th in terms of away wins and we're only 8 points off the play offs.

 

However at the other end of the scale we're the only team to lose away at Tamworth, only one of three teams to lose away at both Scarborough and Dagenham and only one of two teams to lose at home to both Kidderminster and Stevenage.

 

Also just a poorly we're one of the teams that Southport has scored one of their 5 goals against on their travels, Tamworth have scored 7 at home one of them was against us and Kidderminster have only scored 8 times on the road two of them were against us.

 

On the plus side however we're one of three teams to get points at Accrington, we've scored one of the seven goals conceded by Hereford at home, one of only two teams to beat Woking away and scored three of the goals they conceded there.

 

I know what the opinion is of Daish from some of the people I stand with and it is an opinion I respect. They're not idiots that don't think things through; they probably have over 100+ years watching the Fleet experience behind them. However I'm still not to sure, we're possibly the most inconsistent side in the league, were capable of beating any team in this league but we can also lose to any of them as well.

 

As for the players he has brought in Ross Smith, Charlie Mac, Bobby Bowry and Craig Holloway have all been invaluable to us this season; with out them we would with out doubt be in a relegation dog fight.

 

Scott Gooding and James Smith from what I've seen of them I'm yet to be convinced why they were brought in. They look like they may be decent conference players in a few years but do we have a few years? Haven't really seen enough of Danny Glozier and since Danny Slatter's illness he hasn't looked the part. Today we saw yet again time after time how easily his knocked of the ball with minimum ease.

 

The loan signings I'm also not sure about. Coleman I think works hard but has the first touch of a gold fish. Bradley Johnson seems a little inconsistent to me, perfect for us then you might say.

 

As for where we are handing as a club I wouldn't say is too bad. We currently lay 10th in the league and should we manage to get the ground sorted out we'd then qualify for the LDV Vans Trophy provided we stay in that position.

 

The play offs don't look like they are going to happen and taking a look at what has happened in the past with teams like Derby County, Crystal Palace, Bradford, Swindon, Norwich plus countless others in moves to become Premiership teams it may be too early for us. Do we want to end up like a Stockport County who were, three years ago, banging on the door of the "Promised Land" (they were 8th in the then Division one) only to now be knocking on the door of the Conference.

 

So was the transition to full time really worth it? Seeing how we many never have got Charlie, Bobby and Hollway then you would have to say yes but it's really a different market, players that we may have discarded because of their part time availability may have proven to be more worthwhile.

 

As for the ground the first game the Plough End was shut was for the Tamworth game on the 19th of Feb last year, that’s 318 days (I think) and still nothing has been done. What seems to make things worse is it's now about two months since the last update, and estimate of when the work is due to commence would be good.

 

Overall I think we seem to be surviving more on luck just recently then anything else, both on and off the pitch, not counting Friday or the loss of Gladwish obviously. The generous offer made by the grounds owners to wave the rent is a massive boast to the clubs finances. Anyone know how much that will save a year? I wonder how many Scott Gooding’s you'd get for........oh never mind.

[Alan W (GNFC)]

I too think that the play offs will not be achieved this year, but then again, most sides in this league are pretty inconsistent, and we are only 8 points off that 5th place with a game in hand - if we can get where we are without playing particularly well, it is achievable if we can string a few consistent performances together, particularly at home - we actually have more away points this season than anyone except Exeter and Grays (and Hereford have the same number of points from 1 fewer games).

 

The next 4 home games could really shape our season, I guess - Grays, Hereford (may need to be moved of course)and Accrington, following on from Canvey - get decent results in these and we'll be in there fighting - collapse in those games and it would then be very difficult to finish above upper mid table.

[FleetFanatic]

Wow, some decent reading from Harry.

 

On the subject of Slatter, I think the best of yet to come from him next season.

[Alan W (GNFC)]

After todays booking, Slatts now has 4 yellows, so would be suspended if he picks up another one. 5 others have 3 yellows apiece.

 

Not sure of Ross Smiths position now - he has 3 yellows and a red - I suspect that may mean he misses the Exeter game? A shame if that is the case, especially in view of the way his booking came about today.

 

Should also note that we are second in form tables over the last 6 games - in stark contrast to our awful form at this time last season - and we are 5 points ahead of last season at this stage. - mind you we've scored 8 fewer goals albeit that we've conceded 4 fewer as well. The big concern is that after Charlie's 12, the next highest scorer has 3!

[UP FLEET]

Harry, i take me y1d cap off to you, i,m impressed, thats one of the first decent write up's with more than one paragraph youv'e put together, that i've actually agread with. well done. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

[Hempstead Gaz]

A good read,Harry. I'm sure most of us will agree with your summary of the season so far.

[David Holden]

Quote:

Not sure of Ross Smiths position now - he has 3 yellows and a red - I suspect that may mean he misses the Exeter game? A shame if that is the case, especially in view of the way his booking came about today.

 

Don't be silly! Red cards don't count in totting up.

[Jimmy]

Reds only count against other reds.

 

A convenient example of this is Dino Maamria's 5 game ban for 3 or 4 red cards in a season.

[Unrecognized Genius]

Quote:

Harry J Allstars said:

However at the other end of the scale we're the only team to lose away at Tamworth, only one of three teams to lose away at both Scarborough and Dagenham and only one of two teams to lose at home to both Kidderminster and Stevenage.

Hang on, Harry you were at Dagenham yesterday. You really did see a different game to everyone else! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Seriously, a well thought through appraisal. Don't think many people would disagree. I think Chatham Gary's about right on Liam's strengths & weaknesses, but all jobs are about learning. People who don't admit to their mistakes never progress, they just get defensive when challenged; others welcome setbacks as a learning process & develop in their field. If Liam has the capacity to do this, we will go forward. After all he's reasonably young & his management experience is limited so he's hardly classic dyed in the wool stubborn old codger material.

Going full time is a learning curve for everyone - Terry Brown at Aldershot has said how it can bring many difficulties - & we have to strike a balance between bringing on the players who can train every day & not alienating the Jackos, Maccas, Skins, Protheroes et al.

In my opinion, we should only look to sign full time players from now on & avoid too many loan signings unless hit by severe injury problems. We should play the part timers with valuable experience like we did yesterday but accept that in 2 to 3 seasons time they will have moved on & all the players will be out there on the training field every day. After all that's where yesterday's winner came from.

EC

[Harry J Allstars]

Quote:

Unrecognized Genius said:

Quote:

Harry J Allstars said:

However at the other end of the scale we're the only team to lose away at Tamworth, only one of three teams to lose away at both Scarborough and Dagenham and only one of two teams to lose at home to both Kidderminster and Stevenage.

Hang on, Harry you were at Dagenham yesterday. You really did see a different game to everyone else! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

EC

Oopps. I was going up and down the league seeing who had done what and then adding it together. I think we may be one of three teams to have lost to Dagenham on their travels.

[Alan W (GNFC)]

Just wasnt sure if a Red counted as 2 yellows, as the FA seem to make up their rules as they go along!

[Alan W (GNFC)]

Also interesting to compare same matches as las season - away from home we had taken just 5 points from the games we have already played this season (excludes Grays who we didnt play last year of course). At home (excluding games against Cambridge, Altrincham, Kidderminster and Southport) we have 10 points compared to 11 last season.

 

To make a full comparison - assume Barnet & Carlisle were replaced by Cambridge & Kidderminster, Northwich & Leigh by Altrincham & Southport, and Farnborough by Grays.

 

Leaves us with 17 points at home compared to 15 last season, and 15 away compared to 8 last season - overall 32 compared to 23.