Enfield Town 2 Wivenhoe Town 0

[Wivenhoe Urchin]

We won the ryman north league last season because we had tremendous consistency and a very solid defence. Our new management team brought a lot of players who had played under them at Thurrock FC, a conference south club. All players were totally comitted in every game and deserved the title and the Essex Senior Cup was a fantastic bonus for us.

 

However the ryman premier league is completely different. More classy players all over the field makes it harder for us to score goals and you really need the money in this league if you are going to win it.

 

You should be happy enough with your result, consider the place Wivenhoe find themselves in at the moment.

[the_wise_one]

if jim toke on board everyones opions he would never form his own and the stick his team gets on here is a disgrace we could all manage in hindsite but doing it on the day is all together much harder we should back his disitions get behind the team and start getting possitive if we wish to accomplish something this season.

[Mr Happy]

No, the criticism (not abuse) is not a disgrace. The supporters pay their money to go to a game. Football is in the entertainment business and if people are not being entertained for theior money they have a right to complain. In addition, many posters on here are also society members and, as such, have ownership of the club. If they feel that management is not doing a good job they, again, have a right to criticize.

[lovely stuff]

I personally travel 150 miles to watch every Town home game.Which costs me £25 in petrol per game.Not to mention the £7 getting in.So if i see a unexceptable performance,i feel entitled to comment on that fact.

[Southport - TOWNER]

It is absolute bo££ix to suggest that as owners of the club we can not complain at the lacklustre performances we have had to endure so far this season. just look what other owners of football clubs do!

 

If the performances, as well as the results, improved then the criticism would cease.

 

It is surprising that the inner circle and their mouth pieces have been very quiet recently, maybe there is another banning order which prevents them from commenting on the clubs slide in form?

 

 

 

[Father Jack]

Slide in form? Our record over the past 6 League matches reads: won 3 drawn 2 lost 1. Not exactly disastrous is it?

 

Yes, I know I'm being playful with statistics, but it does suggest that comments on the lacklustre style of play in the last 3 or 4 games, or on the bizarre team selections are far more valid than those about our league form.

 

The 'Inner Circle's mouthpieces'? Now there's an image I'd rather not contemplate!

[Barney]

What worries me is that people don't seem to realise that there's a time and a place for criticism, and a time and a place for encouragement. Criticism of the manager and players during a match, especially when we're not playing particularly well in my eyes can only be counter productive, as players heads will drop. It’s clear to me that this will lead to more nervy performances, which in turn will lead to more criticism – an be honest – what good does that do anyone?

 

I know that every town supporter that posts on here is passionate about the club, and wants the club to do well, so why can’t we all get behind the team and the manager for 90 minutes on a Saturday/Tuesday and do our bit, as fans, to try to raise the team’s performance, and breed confidence. No player tries to misplace a pass, shoot wide, or lose possession, but I know that a player will react much better if someone tells them to keep their head up / keep trying, rather than hearing criticism. The latter will most likely mean the player loses more confidence, and ends up hiding / not showing for the ball as much, which hurts the team.

 

The time to talk about these things is after the 90 minutes is up, when you can talk to players / management / board members in a constructive manner if you’re not happy about something. It really has been quite depressing at times this season to hear people let their frustration get the better of them at games. I know we’ve not been playing particularly well, but let’s at least do our bit to help OUR club improve those performances by supporting the 11 players on the pitch for 90 minutes. The argument of “I pay my money, I’m entitled to criticise” doesn’t stand up, because all you’re doing is hurting the team / club – why don’t we all try to channel that energy into some encouragement for the team?

 

[Mr Happy]

I just about fully agree with you there. the only thing is that I can understand a fan exploding (metaphorically speaking of course) when a player makes a [****!!****]-up. After all this is a fast and emotional game where passions do run high. However, after the outburst, fans then have to rally round and encourage the team.

[Barney]

Well said Mr Happy - that type of thing is always going to occur... I for one get massively frustrated with some of the decision making of the players, but let's be honest, if they made the right decisions all of the time, then they'd be playing in the Premiership, not the Ryman Div1 North. That said, I do my best to try not to shout anything negative out.

 

What gets to me is people moaning when we go backwards, or even back to the keeper, as if this is bad play. Surely they'd rather we did this than lose possession, or just hit (another) aimless ball up to our forwards for them to lose the header? Same applies to when we hit a long clearance out of defence when under pressure, it's the percentage thing to do, and clears the danger. It seems that some people don't appreciate the difference between this and a long ball game, the latter being a calculated decision to get the ball forward quickly even if there is time and space to play a short pass.

 

Anyway, I think we've done this to death now - it's heartening to know that there are at least a few people out there that agree about giving encouragement to the lads for 90 minutes. Here's hoping for a good performance and a win tonight helped by lots of positive vocal support from the fans.

[waggamick]

I've been involved (playing/coaching/administering) with Rugby clubs at a 3rd division level in Sydney and country rugby clubs which would equate to a 4th/5th Division level in Sydney.

Good times, bad times.

The tendency to criticise players and coaches is a natural response to the disappointment of poor performances given the emotional investment you make as a follower of a team.

The reality is that the players/coaches/administrators you are criticising are in fact playing at a relatively low level of the sport...as are ETFC.

We watch top level games and unconsciously raise our expectations for our lower level games and this unrealistically intensifies our disappointment.

Technical weaknesses and poor decision making on and off the field should be expected to increase as you make your way down the divisions.

Players/coaches who don't make these errors are in a division above and are probably heading higher.

Even at the highest level, those who are deemed the most skilful and wise are often criticised for their poor performances or decision making.

in my experience, at the lower levels of sport the best you can hope for is the elimination of the more fundamental technical errors on the field and off field decisions that maximise your returns given the talent available within your particular club.

Of course you should always be looking for improvement and criticism is valid if it is constructive.

Most of the discussion regarding individual performances, both on and off the field, on this Forum, appear to be honest, heartfelt observations and in the main consist of constructive suggestions.

Its just that, the reality of some expectations need looking at.

 

[lovely stuff]

Quote:

but let's be honest, if they made the right decisions all of the time, then they'd be playing in the Premiership

 

I think that totally misses the point.We are playing against average players most of the time (THEY are certainly not of premiership standard either).In those circumstances, panicing,losing the ball,and consistantly making the wrong decision is NOT acceptable.Especially when we have got rid of many dozens of players in the past who could generally play without those traits.(And those currently making the wrong decisons..etc,are also capable of playing without those traits.So why should we accept sub standard displays.If we do accept it,it could become the norm and that is something that can not be allowed to happen.Although i do accept that over criticism during the match can negatively affect the players confidence.I for one try not to berate individual players during a match.

 

 

[waggamick]

I agree that panicking, losing the ball and consistently making the wrong decision is not acceptable.

You would hope the coaching staff would work on individual player's weaknesses and formulate a game plan that takes the element of panic out of the game at hand.

Must be tough getting any sort of 'chemistry'..understnding between players in a squad of 30 that is hit with injuries and suspensions.

At the same time a generic system that can be tinkered with against different opposition and is flexible enough to change within a game to counter opposition tactics would go a long way towards overcoming any confusion and poor combination.

[Barney]

Originally Posted By: lovely stuff

I think that totally misses the point.We are playing against average players most of the time (THEY are certainly not of premiership standard either).In those circumstances, panicing,losing the ball,and consistantly making the wrong decision is NOT acceptable.

I reckon if you came along to a Town game, watching/supporting the opposition then you'd end up more frustrated than if you were watching us play. My point was more that players at this level don't always make the right choice, although I agree with you that against a less well drilled opposition, we should get more possession and time on the ball, so we should make fewer mistakes.

At the end of the day, I've rarely seen much polished, passing football played at this level, and most of the time I have seen it has been when Velandia / Hall / Campbell have been given time to get their foot on the ball and dictate things. I think it all comes down to confidence - when we've got our best 11 out (whatever that is), and we're getting space, and winnings games, generally we'll play better, and make less mistakes. Confidence breeds confidence after all. When the players are struggling, and feel pressured, the opposite is true, which seems to me to be partly the case at the moment. This is where it's up to the manager and players to turn things around, and get a winning mentality which breeds more confidence. My point was that the fans can play a big part in making this happen by backing the players, rather than jumping on them when things don’t quite happen as we’d like.

[andyetfc]

It's not just supporters who 'jump on them' when things don't go right.

[the_wise_one]

the fundimentals of football to score one or more goals than the other team, team = together everyone achieves more. lets not say enything negitive for three weeks then see if the players management get more right in 90mins and the fans start smiling again. BET IT WORKS

[Gazza]

Oh jesus Im sure ive sat through many a management course with you as the tutor!!

[the_wise_one]

put your hand up if you want to say something

[Gazza]

PMA!

[Hawkeye Pierce]

Originally Posted By: the_wise_one

lets not say enything negitive for three weeks then see if the players management get more right in 90mins and the fans start smiling again. BET IT WORKS

More chance of pigs flying over Brimmo!

Let's not exasperate the fans for 3 weeks now there is a challenge!

[Mr Happy]

Trouble is, the few vocal fans who were there last night did try and encourage the players. Those sat on the bench didn't!