Football, ......but not as we know it .

[OldTowner]

It may have been a football match, but it was not football as we know it Jim.

God help whoever had to pick the Town Man of the Match !!

 

I thought the least The Commitee could have done was open the turnstiles and "refund monies paid" for the excuse for a football match.

 

Was that a poor performance, or was that POOR !!

[Steph]

It is difficult to ascertain the reason for yesterday's performance.

 

Edgware were clearly faster and fitter than us but there was a period in the first half when our only method of attack was the long boot forward.

 

I trust that those who suggested that Andy Edmunds should get a full 90 minutes will keep their traps shut in future. His body language was all wrong, as if he didn't really want to play.

 

Again Paul Campbell was wasted at the back.

 

As Edgware had pace the defence looked a lot stronger wheh Dave Allen came on. Why was he not playing from the start?

 

Bryan worked hard ........... again. But he must wonder what is going on around him.

 

Our players want too much time on the ball and do not move looking for space.

 

The manager of Edgware knew our game plan. From the start he was shouting keep close to 7 and 8. (Valendia and Hall) With that line up and without clever wingers (PC and where oh where is Dean Nyman with Matt Negus unfit) all our attacks are funnelled through these two. It is so so predictable.

 

It may have been so different if one of DN, AJ or MN was available but they weren't. In those circs you need more bodies in the middle of the park prepared to take responsibility.

 

Still it is early days and I have little doubt that the side will get better through the season.

[Southport - TOWNER]

poor, pathetic, paceless, performance,

 

if that is what Jim and the team think will win anything this season they need to think again

 

The only good thing in the entire evening was to see some new young supporters, but they won't be back too often if we carry on being cr&p at home

 

That is the second game of football I have left in 35 years of watching football

 

god help us on Saturday.

 

 

[Hawkeye Pierce]

I heard it was the fans fault we lost (from the bench). Three Edgware fans sung their hearts out and we didn't sing and that is why we lost! Was there anything to sing about?

[Arkwright]

Originally Posted By: DonkeyHotTea

I heard it was the fans fault we lost (from the bench). Three Edgware fans sung their hearts out and we didn't sing and that is why we lost! Was there anything to sing about?

Yes, the tin of Cream Soda I got from the hanger was lovely.

[lovely stuff]

No wide players,and a seeming lack of fitness/pace/composure during the early games of this season.

 

Keeping a settled squad from last year in order to get off to a flyer,seems to have backfired.Jim stated that he would resign if we don't acheive promtion this season.Lets hope we get lucky in the play-offs (if we make them),because the chance of winning the league looks almost impossible now.

[The Invisible Man]

The reports I received from my spies were pretty depressing. The words 'poor' and 'very poor' featured prominently. The defence was described as hopeless and lacking confidence.

 

I have no reports on the crowd noise but the contribution from bench was described as - well no, perhaps I had better not repeat it, but it had little to do with tactics or indeed football other than to 'get in there'. Two other words I am told were repeatedly used but cannot be posted here.

 

Very disappointing.

[Barney]

Let's have a bit of perspective here, I don't think we played *that* badly, we were beaten by a very fit, very well organised side, who had to work very hard to deny us the space to make anything happen. No point in criticising individual players, collectively we started second best, and to give a soft goal away to a side like Edgware is always going to make life hard for us chasing the game. I can see them winning a lot of games by one goal this season, and I was very impressed with their number 5 (sorry, don't know his name), who was the best player on the pitch, and organised their defence from start to finish. I still think that if we'd taken the lead, we'd have got a lot more space, and things could have been very different. I'd like to see the whole squad back to fitness, as the likes of Crace, Negus (and Campbell from an attacking perspective) were sorely missed.

 

I can see why he swapped Campbell to sweeper in a back 3 though, they had pace to burn up front, and he's quick enough to deal with it. He's also got the ability to play the ball out of defence, which none of our other centre halves have... it's just a shame that we've not got 5 Paul Campbells in the squad! Anyway, it's not the end of the world - we were beaten by the better side on the night, who I'm pretty sure will finish there or there abouts in the league. Based on our squad, and the strength of the league, I still see no reason why we shouldn't be competing towards the top of the table as well. One poor result doesn't ruin a season.

[GRS67]

I thought you put a fair ammount of pressure on us towards the end of the first half, and during most of the second, but you lacked any killer finnish, mainly due to our superb defence. Also you had trouble with the pace of our side (as many do) not only do we posses two fast forwards, but we have to very speedy wing backs that cause havoc to defenders.

 

You were the best team we have played so far and I still expect you to be there or there abouts, and I would go as far to say that If Edgware finnish above yourselves then we will be in the top 3 or 4!

 

Good luck for the rest of the season, everyone was very nice to us last night, BTW myself and my two mates were the guys behind the goal singing

[GRS67]

Originally Posted By: DonkeyHotTea

I heard it was the fans fault we lost (from the bench). Three Edgware fans sung their hearts out and we didn't sing and that is why we lost! Was there anything to sing about?

When you say from the bench do you mean your manager said it was the home support that let the team down?

[Squadron Leader]

By the way, how many players do we have out injured at the moment? Stop whinging you lot for goodness sake!!!!

 

 

PS: Where has our "choir" gone anyway?

[Squadron Leader]

Originally Posted By: Arkwright

Originally Posted By: DonkeyHotTea

I heard it was the fans fault we lost (from the bench). Three Edgware fans sung their hearts out and we didn't sing and that is why we lost! Was there anything to sing about?

Yes, the tin of Cream Soda I got from the hanger was lovely.

Plenty more where that came from!!

[lovely stuff]

Jim has assembled yet another squad of players who are/would-be well capable of winning the title.That is Jims main managerial strength.He has always had the ability to bring in plenty of quality and options into the squad.

 

What needs to improve slightly (and this seems to have been a running theme throughout the seasons),is the managements ability to gell that squad of players in a settled/efficent/fit/motivated unit that can consistantly perfom to its ability.Jim is a big Arsenal fan.If only he could install a bit more of Wengers approach to getting the best out of his squad.

 

I would start with getting a settled back four (yes,four).I feel you can only play one of Tickner/Dickie/Magona in the back four.I would plump for Tickner.We need to find a suitable partner for him.One with pace.The options are currently Allen/Campbell/Stephens unless we bring new players in.And if playing four defenders means the likes of Gant/Magona/Dickie..etc fail to get into the team,so be it.We can't continue to play five in defence just because we have so many competent experienced defenders in the current squad.

 

That would leave us with an option of playing four in midfield.Which is essential to allow our ball players enough room to hurt opposing defences with quality service.I would play Jones all the time when available in the centre with either Velendia of Rudi playing alongside him (maybe give them a half each until the best partner for Jones emergers).We need two genuine wide midfielders.The options at present are Allen/Campbell/Negus/Nyman/Georgiou.It would be very heplfull if two of those 5 could find fitness/form to make themselves our permanent wide midfielders.

 

Crace/Hammett up-top with Edmunds/Foster pressuring their places when their is injury or lack of form from the front two.

 

Of course,i understand we would still need to rotate somewhat through injury/availability..etc,but if you look at most other teams 1-11 line-ups compared to ours,you will find that most (especially the teams doing well), have far more settled line-ups than we do.I do understand than going for this approach will probably means those players not regularly playing might leave the club,but i feel the benifit of a settled side would more than outweigh that.

[Southport - TOWNER]

Originally Posted By: DonkeyHotTea

I heard it was the fans fault we lost (from the bench). Three Edgware fans sung their hearts out and we didn't sing and that is why we lost! Was there anything to sing about?

people are already voting with their feet, another couple of performances and there'll be no supporters there, just the 82 season ticket holders and bored members.

[waggamick]

Holy cow...first couple of reads I could have sworn you went down 10-nil not 1-nil.

Lovely Stuff's and Barney's constructive analysis good to see and matches with Gavin's observations.

Panic merchants this early in a season look silly later on.

Any chance of getting a program?

[Southport - TOWNER]

Originally Posted By: Squadron Leader

PS: Where has our "choir" gone anyway?

I think you will find it may return on saturday, but it is hard work to keep trying to encourage the team when we are consitently poor at home.

people are voting with their feet, and the board need to do something to get more people in, and the team need to start scoringgoals, not keep looking to pass the ball aroud the 18 yard area

[Arkwright]

Originally Posted By: waggamick

Holy cow...first couple of reads I could have sworn you went down 10-nil not 1-nil.
Lovely Stuff's and Barney's constructive analysis good to see and matches with Gavin's observations.
Panic merchants this early in a season look silly later on.
Any chance of getting a program?

PM me your address & I'll post one out to you next week.

[Southport - TOWNER]

Originally Posted By: waggamick

Holy cow...first couple of reads I could have sworn you went down 10-nil not 1-nil.
Lovely Stuff's and Barney's constructive analysis good to see and matches with Gavin's observations.
Panic merchants this early in a season look silly later on.
Any chance of getting a program?

it had to be seen to be believed!

[lovely stuff]

Originally Posted By: Southport - TOWNER

Originally Posted By: Squadron Leader

PS: Where has our "choir" gone anyway?

I think you will find it may return on saturday, but it is hard work to keep trying to encourage the team when we are consitently poor at home.

people are voting with their feet, and the board need to do something to get more people in, and the team need to start scoringgoals, not keep looking to pass the ball aroud the 18 yard area

I agree that our habitual unentertaining/poor home form since our formation has been one of the main reasons our fanbase hasn't increased as we would have liked.I still disagree that our attendances have fallen this year.They havn't.255 for a Tuesday match is as good (or bad depending on your point of view) as its has ever been.

I still maintain that if we started playing watchable football/got promoted into the prem (and prefurably played at a better venue in Enfield) we could attract a regular 450 fans.At Brimo 300-350 is more realsitic if we were playing good football and in the Ryman Prem.The fact that our fanbase remains so constant considering the depressing venue and the dire entertaiment on offer on the pitch,is testament to the loyalty of our longterm hardcore fanbase.

[Gazza]

Originally Posted By: lovely stuff

....I would start with getting a settled back four (yes,four).I feel you can only play one of Tickner/Dickie/Magona in the back four.I would plump for Tickner.We need to find a suitable partner for him.One with pace.The options are currently Allen/Campbell/Stephens unless we bring new players in.And if playing four defenders means the likes of Gant/Magona/Dickie..etc fail to get into the team,so be it.We can't continue to play five in defence just because we have so many competent experienced defenders in the current squad.

That would leave us with an option of playing four in midfield.Which is essential to allow our ball players enough room to hurt opposing defences with quality service.I would play Jones all the time when available in the centre with either Velendia of Rudi playing alongside him (maybe give them a half each until the best partner for Jones emergers).We need two genuine wide midfielders.The options at present are Allen/Campbell/Negus/Nyman/Georgiou.It would be very heplfull if two of those 5 could find fitness/form to make themselves our permanent wide midfielders.
.......i feel the benifit of a settled side would more than outweigh that.....

Could not agree more LS, exactly what I & others on here have been posting for ages, S-T-A-B-I-L-I-T-Y is what is needed, I find it hard to understand the continual tinkering, if we the mere fans from various vantage points around the ground can see it why can the management team not?
Your 100% right a back four is needed & I also make you right that Tickner is the first name on the team sheet with either Dave Allen or Robbie Carroll(remember him?) partnering him.
Andy Jones is without doubt another definate starter & I agree Rudi & Stevie V are too alike & it should be one of these playing alongside him.
Although not at his best yet this season Campbell is also a starter on the right, I would like to see Edmunds given a start as Crace is clearly not 100% fit yet.
It can only get better as from the reports Ive read & been told we were woeful.
Lets start Saturday in the FA Cup.