During Summer '06.........

[PatMan]

......... if someone had offered you Fleet being guaranteed a top 10 finish, would you have been happy?

Bearing in mind, a play-off place is top 5, Fleet have had the most amazing and surprising season so far - the last couple months are going to be one big rollercoaster of a ride!!

[Hempstead Gaz]

In July 2006 I would have snapped up the chance to finish in the top 10.

However, LD unearthed a few gems in the side such as Ricketts, Opinel, Long, DeBolla and Keeling, who, with the talent already at the club such as Moore, the Smiths, MaCarthy and MacDonald, a top 10 finish was probably the minimum expectation.

A play off place has been a realistic target since November.

However, if our season collapses as it has done in the previous 2 years, we could potentially still finish 11th - nt that bad, but a whole lot worse than it should be with the squad we have.

[Stu M]

I think what will be really disappointing is not so much where we finish, but if we bow out of play-off contention in one fell swoop by losing a whole bunch of matches together. If we are/were to fail, I was at least hoping to keep the fight going well into April.

 

But enough of that, let's see what happens against Burton first! Maybe we're just getting a bit of crap out of our systems this month and will be on fire for the last six weeks.

[jc]

Originally Posted By: Chatham Gary

However, if our season collapses as it has done in the previous 2 years, we could potentially still finish 11th - nt that bad, but a whole lot worse than it should be with the squad we have.

However, our current form with more and more key players missing games suggests the squad may not have as much strength in depth as we may have thought.

[Hempstead Gaz]

Do you not agree that a lack of reserve team football also hampers the development of the fringe players - those not getting on the bench are probably better off, in terms of finding form and maintaining match fitness by going on short term loans.

[jc]

Absolutely. Indeed, this very subject was discussed at length on the way home on Tuesday night.

 

Mark Ricketts, in particular, looks like he would have benefitted from some more reserve team football before his return to the side - although being played in all kinds of positions in recent weeks hasn't helped his recovery either.

[Hempstead Gaz]

Sadly, the lack of decent crowds reduces income which could be used to fund a reserve side - a subject close to my heart and something which needs to be addressed ,certainly for next season

[Slartibartfast]

Originally Posted By: Chatham Gary

In July 2006 I would have snapped up the chance to finish in the top 10.
However, LD unearthed a few gems in the side such as Ricketts, Opinel, Long, DeBolla and Keeling, who, with the talent already at the club such as Moore, the Smiths, MaCarthy and MacDonald, a top 10 finish was probably the minimum expectation.
A play off place has been a realistic target since November.
However, if our season collapses as it has done in the previous 2 years, we could potentially still finish 11th - nt that bad, but a whole lot worse than it should be with the squad we have.

Or a whole lot better than it should be with the budget we have... depending of course on whether you like to praise the team and management for a fantastic season or whether, and I just throw this in as a possibility, you are far happier whingeing.
We where, as you rightly point out, in an excellent position to push on for a play-off place, personally I disagree about the strength of the squad and I think we are probably going to miss out due to not strengthening during the transfer window. Since the board have always said that they will not spend money that we don't have, a policy that I agree with 100%, and given the problems at so many other clubs who have gambled on success and lost I would have to say that not strengthening was the right decision.
It isn't over yet, we still have a chance albeit less of a chance than we had a month ago but I am certain that we will manage the top ten finish that you and I would have snapped up in July.

[ColtheJock]

I post on here every so often, and I recall saying on secveral threads during the season that I felt that if the Fleet could finish in the top 10 this season, it would be an achievement. Ok, the team have hit a blip in the last couple of game and need a win tomorrow at home to Burton to get back on track and keep in the hunt for a play-off place. I think Gary raises a very valuable point, in that no reserve football means that fringe players do not get up to match fitness or sharpness and this maybe has hurt the team a little at times. Liam Diash has built a strong small squad, and maybe the comment above about not strengtening may be the crucial point in the end. But at the same time, surely it is sensible for the club not to spend money which it does not have. What do we want to see the club achieve in the end? Long term stability and the chance to move forward forward, or financial hardship amd maybe one season in the football league!!!!! :-)

[thatguy]

I personally feel that some people forget that this years budget was cut compared to last years, and yet, we are in a better position than we were last year. blimey we were looking at relegation.

[Alan W (GNFC)]

You only had to look at the squad without McCarthy, De Bolla and McDonald on Tuesday, to realise that we are still players short at present - we dont have someone as yet, who can guarantee us goals in Charlie's absence, or even playing alongside Charlie - ok, Luke, Sodje & Varney can get goals, but not regularly enough.

Also, despite his excellent start to the season, De Bolla has barely scored since Sept/Oct (I know he has been injured regularly, before anyone says, but even when playing, he doesnt often look like scoring.

 

The defence really needs a solid experienced player there and this has been evident whilst McCarthy has been absent - Ross is solid enough, but even he doesnt look the same when Macca is missing.

 

The midfield is mainly young & wont always produce the goods consistently.

 

On Tuesday, there was no-one over about 21 on the bench (apologies if thats slightly wrong) and whilst they are promising individuals, Tuesday was a game where we probably could have done with the option of a more experienced head on the bench.

 

I suspect our average age must be one of the lowest, if not the lowest, in the Conference (particularly if you took McCarthy out of the equation).

 

It will be disappointing if we die quietly now after we built our hopes up so much, but I have enjoyed much of this season & even when we've failed to win, there have been decent performances - Weymouth 1st half and Stevenage throughout spring instantly to mind. These were the games really where our lack of goalscorers outside Charlie, showed up - if we'd gone 2 up against Weymouth, I'm sure it would have been game over & similarly against Stevenage, one more clinical finsh would surely have won the game (Again, I know most sides could point to games like this, but they are good examples of our shortcomings - the main reason Daggers are going to win the league has been their ability to find several goalscorers, even after selling players)

 

Lets hope the lads prove us wrong now though & go on a storming run, scoring at will in every game - the ability is there, but is the confidence still there?

[jc]

That post sums things up excellently, Alan - good work.

[The Truth]

Originally Posted By: thatguy

I personally feel that some people forget that this years budget was cut compared to last years, and yet, we are in a better position than we were last year. blimey we were looking at relegation.

You must have a good pair of binoculars there mate, despite only managing one win and one draw from the last nine matches we still finished eleven points clear of the relegation zone.
In fact it is more than likely that it was because we were in absolutely no danger of relegation that we only managed two wins from our last fifteen games.

[thatguy]

I personally though a mid table finish would of been a good finish, so pushing for playoffs, is beyond my wildest dreams. For the budget we have, its brilliant.

If we do not make the playoffs, will it stop me turning up next year, hell no. Guaranteed, the first friendly, home or away, i'll be there.

[eufckev]

Hope we have an away/home game with Canvey in the summer. Really miss playing them!

[thatguy]

I'm hoping for a folkestone friendly, on a hot summers day, sitting on the terraces, supping a pint. Lovely.

[eufckev]

Yeh, I'll be 18 next season, so I'll have a pint on the terraces as well lol.

[StuThompson]

Yeah you can't beat the trip to Folkestone, both previous psf's have been in glorious sunshine sitting on the terraces beer in hand trying to work out who's who.