Ruislip Manor 2 Enfield Town 1

[Mr Happy]

Town had far more possession in the first half but failed to make the Manor keeper save more than one shot! They counter-attacked well and deserved their 1-0 lead at half time. We were poor and used very little width at all. In the second half it took us to drop two goals down before we made any real chances and it was a great goal from PC (who came in from the wing!!!!!) that brought us back into the game. We had numerous chances after that and some of our corner kicks were superb but we left it too late. At the other end, JJ's performance was superb and he was our man of the match. Hughes looked to be a big danger when he came on as did Ritchie but Brian Hammatt dissppointed once again. I just cannot understand why our most creative and enthusiasitc players end up on the bench or not even being considered, especially when Jim was quoted as saying the likes of hughes, Ritchie etc were going to be used (they were both second half subs). I fear that we will lose some of our best players unless they are used properly at the expense of the favourites.

 

My only critisism of Manor was the state of the pitch. The slope was awful and the grass was so long and more suited to a rugby field than a football pitch. I heard from Chopper who said that in a pre-season friendly, the ref moved the game elsewhere because it was dangerous. that said, Manor well derserved their win and good luck in the next round. Town have a weekend off in a couple of weeks and let's hope the management look at things and learn from their mistakes...mind you, we have heard that before!

[Lato]

Thanks for that...and an honest appraisal. Nice touch from your guys to stay and clap the Manor team off. Also agree I thought your keeper was superb and depsite your domination of possession and corners (17-2 in your favour!) he kept the score down.

 

We can't do a lot about the slope (same for both teams after all and isn't that why teams change ends in football) but I agree with you about the grass, the pitch could have done with a cut.

[Hawkeye Pierce]

This really was an embarassingly poor performance with the exception of Jerome John who saved our blushes from an even worse scoreline.

 

Both games this week we have had to go 2 goals down before we wake up on the pitch. The first half an hour for most of this season has been a waste of time turning up as a town fan cos the players don't initially switch on. Why?

 

Creativity not great until Hughes and Ritchie came one.

 

No disrespects to Ruislip Manor but they looked like a park team with a very good striker. We didn't have an answer?

 

The best and most tesing crosses in the second half for me came from Gary Fitzgerald. Loads of corners to town but we seemed to be unable to do anything creative with them.

 

In the past we took on gutsy players with lionhearts, cos we had a tight budget. Now we make the gutsy players sit on the bench in favour of the lower work rate slower but supposedly more skillful players with less heart. In my experience Town fans will forgive a player giving 120% but not delivering but less forgiving of players giving less than 100% but more skillful. Nobody minds losing to better teams but to lose to teams that on paper we should beat hands down is not acceptable.

 

This is not good enough!

[lovely stuff]

Why not sign Manor's striker?

[OldTowner]

Quote:

lovely stuff said:
Why not sign Manor's striker?

At least something good could come from today's shambles.
Something just HAS to be done.
Today's performance is just not acceptable for a Town side.
NEXT COUPLE OF GAMES....... RATHER IMPORTANT.
For christ's sake...SORT IT OUT. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/boxing.gif" alt="" />

[Gazza]

Quote:

OldTowner said:
...For christ's sake...SORT IT OUT...

Starting with the management team!

Although as its September dont they usually go on holiday about now?

"Thanks for everything & good luck in the future" <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

[Southport - TOWNER]

not a good day at the office, for anyone, shame the Manor supporters in the bar after the game were not as gracious as out supporters (who have had a lot of flack this week)

 

on the field, well again, no can be pleased with what went on, but the solution is ...............

[Manorborn100]

Quote:

Southport - TOWNER said:
shame the Manor supporters in the bar after the game were not as gracious as out supporters

Sorry to hear that, hope it wasn't a problem there are some ar$eholes who drink down there. (True RMFC fans are found in Moons in the Manor after a game)
Thought we were good for our win but boy did you make us sweat for the last few minutes!
Now we can afford to buy a decent mower and get the grass cut (times are hard).

Good luck for the rest of the season. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

[andyetfc]

Over the course of the last five years, I have been very fortunate enough to see most ETFC games and I firmly believe that yesterday's performance was the worst I have seen from 11 individuals. Not a team, just individuals.

 

I cannot for the life of me think why we play 3 at the back. Can someone explain this to me?

 

We had players crowding each other out, giving the ball away on far too many occasions, being caught in possession and losing what shape we had. We had wake up calls after wake up calls when RM attacked and we were lucky that JJ had a good day at the office. It did not look as though there was any passion and desire to win or put on a decent performance. Congrats to RM on their performance by the way.

 

Last year's squad was good enough to finish third in the Southern League. We have been told that this year's squad is even better than the 2005 - 2006 squad. If that is the case, then I must be missing something.

 

No doubt a response to this will be, 'well what would you do?' There could also be people saying that critiscism should not be levelled at the team or the management. Well I am sorry, but this is a supporters' owned business. The team is answerable to the management. The management answerable to the the board and the board to its shareholders. Something needs to be done to halt the slide in performances otherwise some supporters will be inclined to vote with their feet, especially as the club has been very successful in the last five years and not many people associate the club with failure.

 

Mind you, it's only just September.

[Gazza]

Quote:

andyetfc said:
....I cannot for the life of me think why we play 3 at the back. Can someone explain this to me?.....

Exactly, and to dozens of more supporters too!

Also the constant tinkering! WHY?

[Steph]

We dont play 3 at the back.

 

We play 3 slow players at the half way line!

[coupwotcoup]

Just a point, but according to the match facts you had 17 corners compared to their two. So on another day and with a bit of luck, you would have mullered them.

Maybe his theory (JC's) worked but the practise fell a touch short?

[andyetfc]

Quote:

coupwotcoup said:
Just a point, but according to the match facts you had 17 corners compared to their two. So on another day and with a bit of luck, you would have mullered them.
Maybe his theory (JC's) worked but the practise fell a touch short?

No team should have to rely on luck to beat any oppposition. A decent performance is what supporters are wanting.

[Steph]

Yes and we had around 75% of the possesion. But for all that when they had possesion they looked dangerous, and JJ was man of the match, but when we had possession we were too crowded in the centre of the park without much width or bodies in the box for the crosses. Therefore the RM defenders could deal with the crosses reasonably easily - send it off for a corner.

 

It was no accident that PC scored his goal coming in from wide.

[dipple_etfc]

what we lack is a goal scorer someone whos gunna net us 25+ goals a season someone who noes where the goal is not centre halfs up front like we saw yesterday and the only 2 subs left on the bench where rudi and smith 2 players who could of got us a goal out there and he didnt use any of them come on at half time i would have got them both on sort it out

[Tom S]

Quote:

dipple_etfc said:
the only 2 subs left on the bench where rudi and smith

Eh?

[Southport - TOWNER]

so what does Dipple know?

[townerboy]

let it be true!!! although I think Mr Dipple means Deano?

[dipple_etfc]

o yea sorry boys got a bit confused although i do wish we had rudi back and my mate hughes needs 2 play fall games not just 20 mins and deano should b playin every match and talkin about goal scorers lee should play every game 2

[andyetfc]

Quote:

dipple_etfc said:
o yea sorry boys got a bit confused although i do wish we had rudi back and my mate hughes needs 2 play fall games not just 20 mins and deano should b playin every match and talkin about goal scorers lee should play every game 2

Can you please type in English rather than the text version?

Us oldies have difficulty understanding new technological advances!