RANT

[John FW]

Quite right Dave. Everyone was saying how well the side had adapted to the Conference after Scarborough at home and Barnet away, even talking about getting into the play-offs! As ever, confidence is a major factor. Nuneaton had confidence after their result last week, we lacked it and match fitness in many areas (see Andy's report on this forum prior to the match). Most of the contributors to this line of the forum seem to have very short memories. About four seasons ago the criticism of Andy's management included many of the comments made by contributors above, but still the side improved season by season. The next 21 matches will be a severe test for the squad, the management and the true supporters. As supporters we can do our part by cheering on the team and helping boost the players' confidence. Some of the above contributors, with their extensive experience gained in watching the side for a whole seven years, seem to think they know how to run a football team that is operating in the top level of non-league football. I have some surprising news for them - they don't!

This IS a forum for discussion, I agree. Criticism is valid only if it is constructive. Much of the above was pure abuse (see the number of words with asterisks in them) and therefore irrelevant petulance.

I was disappointed, but i shall back again to SUPPORT the team against FGR.

[Richard C]

I have definitely already said i was sorry and if there was a hole big enough nearby i would be in it trust me. I dont think that the word C*** is very abusive and i certainly didnt mean it that way - i was implying that the players were not up to standard and maybe that would have been a better adjective to have used. Once again sorry - And I was wrong - i know that and its taken a lot to come on here and say it.

[Bate'o]

AS an ex season ticket holder with Crystal Palace, I am used to poor performances.

I can understand in a way where Richard C is coming from, although he did go a bit OTT and I think he is starting to regret going on the forum after a couple of Shandys.

It was very frustrating watching Saturdays game, as we all know the team are better than that as great performances like Woking away (for me the performance of the season) and Barnet Away. Confidence plays a huge part in all teams, and we are currently very low on this.

Hopefully, we will be able to get a feew filthy 1-0 wins over the Christmas period and start to move away from the dreaded 'R' zone.

Good luck for Saturday lads, I will be there cheering you on, (so will Richard for that matter and if he starts moaning again I will punch him up the head and remind him of the good performances)

[Guest]

<blockquote><font class="small">Quote Super Daz:</font><hr />

To be honest, I'm bored with it all now.

Like I said - roll on Saturday and my next 'fix' of The Fleet.

 

<hr></blockquote>

 

Well said. I'd considered adding my penny's worth on here too, but thankfully reserved my savage and (potentially) libellous bile and will save it for the next time I hear/see a Gareth Young or Will Gates clone....

 

"We played awful." Yes. But I have seen us play worse, and in a worse standard of league than this.

"We lost to a "worse" side than us?" No, and we can't afford to have that sort of attitude. On the day, they were better because they took the chances that were offered to them, and we couldn't.

 

Every club is in the league on merit. Indeed I would be happy to finish the season just staying up, and I'm sure that any Kettering or Burton fan will tell you the same.

 

Don't knock individual players on here (they might actually HAVE computers y'know!)and leave the constructive criticisms to Andy in the privacy of the club.

Stick with it Andy Ford - "You know you're rriiiight!"

 

Roll on Nuneaton Boro.

 

 

"The air was dark above Gravesend, and farther back still seemed condensed into a mournful gloom, brooding motionless over the biggest, and the greatest town on earth." "Heart of Darkness" - Joseph Conrad

 

 

 

 

 

[Dave T (DFC)]

<blockquote><font class="small">Quote Richard C:</font><hr />

 

I have followed this club for 10 or more years......

 

 

<hr></blockquote>

 

Ten years supporting the club???? My [****!!****]!

 

Blimey lads - honeymoon over already is it? I think we all knew that a few hangers amongst you on would give up the ghost after a couple of set-backs, but this is amazing!

<blockquote><font class="small">Quote Alan ( GNFC ):</font><hr />

 

 

Never lose sight of 23 May 1988 for us ,or Maidstone or the Darts .

 

<hr></blockquote>

 

Alan's right - grow up and keep it in perspective. Call yourself supporters? Some of you lot don't know just how lucky you really are!! Some of us would give anything to see our team performing at Conference level again, but in the meantime, we just keep waiting, hoping and SUPPORTING.

[Richard C]

Thanx Dave. YES TEN years. Portway, Wayne Sweisho and all the old greats like Cotter are all still memories when my dad used to take me down - Sittingbourne in the fog and games years before this i remember. My uncle DIED at Gravesend and northfleet whilst watching us in the Villa cup run, I have a lot of reasons for loving this club - PLEASE i have apologised three times now. I meant nothing i sadi in the first post - just utter frustration - a truly great team with good support the Fleet.

[Bate'o]

we best forgive him or I wont be able to get a lift to Nuneaton!!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool_shades.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

You should have been there for Dave ( Basil ) Boynton mate. Now he was a player who didn't know the meaning of the word failure.....come to think of it Basil didn't know the meaning of very many words at all and certainly none of over four letters.

 

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/yelrotflmao.gif" alt="" />

[David Holden]

<blockquote><font class="small">Quote its so unfair:</font><hr />

I hear a rumour that a certain popular player is about to leave the club, is refusing treatment and has had fisticuffs with another player (or maybe two even). Anybody know anything or is somebody winding me up.

 

 

<hr></blockquote>

 

Sorry Complete [****!!****]!

[Richard C]

Dave GNFC

 

I apologise once more for what i have started here!

[David Holden]

<blockquote><font class="small">Quote Richard C:</font><hr />

Dave GNFC

 

I apologise once more for what i have started here!

 

<hr></blockquote>

 

That's OK Richard I know you are just trying to up your posts by apologising every hour on the hour, but this nasty little rumour was nothing to do with you. (At least I hope not)

[Guest]

The worst Home performance by the players that i have seen in recent years matched only by the desertion of the crowd far to early before the end... We all have a responsibilty to the club as paying spectators, or paid employees.

 

 

[David Holden]

If you are still searching for solace after saturday's match, don't forget to Ask Jeeves!

[Guest]

I think we all need to calm down and put things into perspective. Yes we were bad yesterday (all 11) but this happens on football.

 

We all have different oppinions on different players. Thats what makes football the 'beautiful game'.

 

Our injury crisis has been extraordinary to say the least. As for the red

and yellow card situation, some can put down to rank referring but a

good proportion down to indicipline, which the players need to look at.

 

Personally, much of what has been said on this thread may be true but is negative. This is a Club, it our Club. We all need to pull together and get ourselves out of this mess. We must do our part by turning up and giving the team (and the Manager) our support. Quite frankly, the so called 'fans' that have slagged off individuals players after all we have achieved in the last five years should bugger off, we do not need them.

 

Lets get behind the team, starting at Nuneaton, and we can pull this around. I calculated we need 50 points to survive. We have 23 from 21 games. We are not that far off schedule.

 

So come everyone, lets get back on track.

 

 

[Guest]

I tried asking Jeeves a number of questions earlier which clearly baffled the besuited butler....

 

"What the **** are you looking at?" flummoxed him. As did "Why do people rate Phil & Gary Neville?"

 

But he did respond with a cheery "Next Saturday" when I asked him when we'd next win away.

 

Come on you reds! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smilie_switch.gif" alt="" />

[Bate'o]

<blockquote><font class="small">Quote James_M:</font><hr />

the desertion of the crowd far to early before the end...

 

 

 

<hr></blockquote>

 

ONe thing in Richard C's Defence he was there till the end, gluten for punishment?

[Alan ( GNFC )]

Yes , much respect for you and your club Dave T (DFC ) .

I found a newspaper report from 1988 , when I was clearing out our cellar ( we live in an old pub ), with much reference to our old rivallry ; the success of ( the much hated ) Maidstone etc .

Then establishment of a new board with Chas , Peter , Richard Anson etc ; a long slog and we reach a threshold of standard where our attendances double in a year .

Reversal of fortunes or what, albeit a thin line between success and overspend .

Keep the faith , mate .

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wavey.gif" alt="" />

[CC]

Forgive me if I'm repeating what someone else has already said (I read the first few messages on this thread, then got bored and stopped reading them).

 

This is my opinion on things.

First of all I think some people take it for granted that we're in this league in the first place. Did anyone truly believe at the start of last season that we would win the league? I doubt many did - I didn't, simply because our squad wasn't necessarily as strong on paper as others in the league.

The reason we were champions was due to a little bit of luck and a lot of hard work from the whole team, including the slightly 'weaker' ones. So to turn our backs now on those players, such as Hatch, Burton, Barnett, etc. and say that they're not "conference standard" is totally wrong, because we wouldn't be in the conference if it wasn't for their hard work last season.

O.K. so maybe some people would argue that just because these players did well last season doesnt mean that they have to picked this season. But financially-speaking Gravesend is a relatively small club in the conference, and our squad is relatively small. And then, on top of that, think of the injuries we've had, and still have. These players must play, and so let's get behind them.

 

So considering that we got promoted probably before we were ready to, at the start of this season all I hoped for was for Gravesend to stay up. I still believe we will. Let's take heart from the fact that we're not bottom, we're not even in the bottom 3. And let's also remind ourselves that Duku, our player of the season last season, will return shortly. I'm sure he'll make a difference.

 

I cant comment on recent performances as I havent been able to see any games recently, but one thing's for sure, the next few weeks are vital and when I get home next week, I'll be straight down the fleet and I'm gonna get right behind them. I only hope that others remain as faithful as I have.

 

Come on you reds. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/let_it_all_out.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

<blockquote><font class="small">Quote Student scum:</font><hr />

I tried asking Jeeves a number of questions earlier which clearly baffled the besuited butler....

 

"What the **** are you looking at?" flummoxed him. As did "Why do people rate Phil & Gary Neville?"

 

 

 

<hr></blockquote>

 

I tried " Why do people hate Phil & Gary Neville? " and I was up to 61,527,443 pages when my computer crashed.

 

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/yelrotflmao.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

If any of you that left before the end on Saturday were wondering how Andy felt about defeat, I can tell you that the dressing room door remained firmly locked long after the game. The inquest went on so long that Radio Kent's Andrew Gidley was unable to get hold of Andy for an interview for the sport programme that ended at 6.p.m. and, without a Fleet representative available I had to interview Carl Shutt and Simon Parker for my report for the Non League Paper which had to be filed by 6.15.

 

Well done Kettering, they deserved their win.

 

The Oxford English dictionary defines "support" as: 1. carry all or part of weight of; 2. keep from falling, sinking, or failing. 3 provide for; 4.strengthen; encourage; give help to; 5. corroborate; bear out. 6 speak in favour of.

 

I still think we will be playing Conference football next season, but this is when the team, the club and the manager need and deserve our support more than ever.

 

PS I will be doing reports from Nuneaton for Radio Kent on Saturday,