barker
Saints Youth Team Player
Posts: 135
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Post by barker on Apr 12, 2014 16:41:18 GMT
Really disappointing. Too many balls hoofed in hope. What happened to the passing game we were playing earlier in the season? Poole looked sharper, stronger and made better use of space. We looked so predictable. Frendo looked really sluggish and half hearted. Could have easily been more than 1-0 ... yes, the thought of being stuck in this league ... but, if we're going to go up we need to play much better than this ...
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Post by Saint on Apr 12, 2014 16:50:39 GMT
Jimmy's post match was honest. Bemoaning the lack of heart from the players, and sounding very frustrated.
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Post by davymac55 on Apr 12, 2014 17:00:43 GMT
Not much to say. if you were there you saw it. if you were elsewhere, lucky you.Lucky to get nil really.Getting a bit fed up with the 'honest' post match interviews comments. You pick the team and make the subs. And as well as missing games thru suspensions certain players been missing thru inaction. Would have been my choice to be subbed if Im honest. Would bite your hand off for 5th right now. pants
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Post by tangerineman on Apr 12, 2014 18:06:53 GMT
Hats off to Poole today, there were the better team & by quite a way in the second half. Having seen them today I think they would be challenging Hemel & Chesham, but for the fixture pile up they've suffered. Next Saturday is a must win game now especially as the others in the top 7 all play each other on the same day.
Both Frendo & Comley looked off their game today & their recent suspensions can't have helped with their match fitness. Not sure why young Sykes didn't get a run out in the second half especially as Poole won everything in the air at the back. Henry looked dangerous when he got the ball but was starved of it for the most part. We missed some good chances but the Poole keeper was excellent & his handling was faultless all afternoon. I think he may have shanked a couple of kicks, but don't they all, even at the top level.
Still in our own hands with 3 wins out of 3. Onwards & upwards to next week. The way Hemel are choking & despite Chesham's tough run-in it all seems to be pointing to a play-off semi-final at Vauxhall Road!!!!
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Post by notsorecentconvert on Apr 12, 2014 18:17:50 GMT
Yes, it was disappointing. We looked like the team that had been struggling to catch up with a fixture backlog. The first half was pretty even but the second half was very frustrating.
I know Corcoran divides people a bit and I don't like to single players out but Comley has gone right off the boil in the past month to six weeks. I can't see what Comley adds that Corcoran (or Wales in the centre) couldn't do. Comley has a lovely touch and good vision occasionally but he's often so casual. He seems to think he has twice as long as he actually does to play the ball. There was a move in the first half that was going forwards until he got the ball and he ended up going all the way back to Hall at right-back. Wales looks much better in the middle than in a wide position too so it's not like there aren't options.
Whitely did a lot of running but he didn't get the breaks. Frendo looked rusty rather than hungry to get back among the goals. Henry's pace and trickery terrifies defences but his crossing and shooting were not good today.
Fair play to Poole, they were very neat on the counter attack, they had plenty of pace up front and they over-ran our midfield and stretched our defence a lot in the second half.
All in all, it was a big disappointment and it could prove to be a costly result.
I like Jimmy Gray's honesty in the post-match interviews and look forward to hearing what he has to say but he needs to change the record a bit. I can almost hear him saying: "The lads have just said in there it wasn't good enough."
At this stage of the season you can play poorly as long as you get points. Points will mask any deficiencies in performance. Today those deficiencies were exposed.
Having said all that, if we beat Banbury, Biggleswade and Frome we will finish in the top five and then it really is just a cup competition. Home or away, whoever we play, there is a chance.
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Post by tangerineman on Apr 12, 2014 19:20:11 GMT
Agree about Comley of late. He used to be able to just shrug challenges off & sprint away from opponents but all to often he seems to be caught in possession & takes one too many touches on the ball.
Picking a starting XI myself this morning I couldn't find a place for Corcoran either. I think Wales, Comley & Marwa picked themselves & I had Watters or Henry on the left for balance. After today I expect him to be back in next Saturday.
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Post by Hatboy on Apr 13, 2014 8:01:05 GMT
I still look back at Chesham signing Purse and really going for it then look at our signings and think they are more determined to get up, no offense Whitely, Wales and Sykes all good players.
Chesham's record since Purse joined: W 13 D 0 L 1 F 42 A 11
Hungerford are going to go into the play-offs as the form team and the team to beat by the looks of it
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Post by Hatboy on Apr 13, 2014 8:08:25 GMT
Next Saturday is a must win game now especially as the others in the top 7 all play each other on the same day. Still in our own hands with 3 wins out of 3. Onwards & upwards to next week. The way Hemel are choking & despite Chesham's tough run-in it all seems to be pointing to a play-off semi-final at Vauxhall Road!!!! Hungerford and Poole both play twice before next Saturday so there will be a lot of pressure on us. If Chesham beat Poole (which i expect) then i think Hemel will be done for
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Post by St Michael on Apr 13, 2014 8:48:38 GMT
On current form we are not going to win 5 games in a row, and that is almost certainly what we will need to do. Stourbridge are in the mix too, and Poole might be tired etc. but they have spirit. It really is depressing to contemplate another season of Arlesey and the like, but, look at Hungerford, no fans, almost no town and yet right in the hunt.
We rely too heavily on Frendo for goals, and have done all season, our only other threat is Lee Chappell's long throws. The other contenders all have 2/3 regular goal scorers, although you could argue that Cambridge rely heavily on Marriott.
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Post by davymac55 on Apr 13, 2014 10:44:08 GMT
The lord and Coms not been in form all year IMo. Agree that cant see us win 5 in a row but hope springs eternal. And its easter so maybe miracles do happen. We were truly clueless yesterday. When we go off the boil we do it as a whole team!Glad Poole were tired yesterday otherwise they would have really hammered us.Off to see u 16 play. COYS
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porkypig
Saints Youth Team Player
Posts: 245
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Post by porkypig on Apr 13, 2014 12:03:38 GMT
at least my prediction was correct,can't see us making the playoffs our form is to poor!might need a rethink for next season.
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Post by Hatboy on Apr 13, 2014 19:52:31 GMT
at least my prediction was correct,can't see us making the playoffs our form is to poor!might need a rethink for next season. So you take comfort in our loss then !!!
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porkypig
Saints Youth Team Player
Posts: 245
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Post by porkypig on Apr 13, 2014 20:11:16 GMT
i take no comfort from that result,at least I don't put silly scores on here like some posts! we have muddled our way through recently with some poor displays,but basically we aren't up to making the playoffs! and if we do there is not much chance winning.
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Post by notsorecentconvert on Apr 13, 2014 20:29:46 GMT
Just listened to Jimmy Gray's post-match interview on the club's site and he sounds downbeat. I have to say, it's fine and dandy criticising the players for not giving their all but there wasn't much constructive to take out of his comments. The difference in body language between the Hemel game and the Poole game was noticeable and it's interesting to hear Gray say again that the players were given a task to do at Hemel and stuck to it, to a man.
Perhaps that's the difference, I don't know. At Hemel, the players fought for each other. They covered their team-mates' backs, encouraged each other and generally pulled in the same direction. It wasn't a pretty game but there was a definite sense that they had a plan and were prepared to give everything to the cause.
When things started to go wrong against Poole, there was a lot of standing around with hands on hips and a little bit of arm-waving and complaining to each other. Yes, it's frustrating when things aren't going right but that definitely doesn't help.
Was it a case of the team and management knowing more about Hemel than Poole and so their pre-planning could be more specific and more effective? Perhaps it's one of the realities of football at this level. Is it tricky for managers to watch opposition teams? Perhaps Gray and Golds were much more familiar with Hemel's players and style and could draw up a plan. That's pure conjecture on my part so if anyone knows, let me know.
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Post by Hatboy on Apr 13, 2014 22:24:49 GMT
at least my prediction was correct,can't see us making the playoffs our form is to poor!might need a rethink for next season. Our form is poor !?! We had won 4 drawn 2 and lost 0 before this game ! Yes we have had some poor displays but i don't see with our form and Pooles form (1 win & 4 defeats) that those predictions were silly apart from Davymac's let's give someone a good gubbing prediction but he puts that every week.
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Post by Hatboy on Apr 13, 2014 22:26:23 GMT
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Post by citycentresaint on Apr 14, 2014 7:37:44 GMT
Recent form has been poor, but if we make playoffs everyone knows form goes out the winner.
Just a test over who can hold their nerve.
We are the biggest team in this league, lets hope this is our year to escape.
COYS
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Post by Canary Saint on Apr 14, 2014 8:59:03 GMT
We may (or not) be the biggest team in this league but unfortunately we are most certainly not the best.
I also hope that this is our year to escape (or scrape) out of this league. However if we do not, it will be because the team and/or the tactics were simply not good enough.
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Post by davymac55 on Apr 14, 2014 9:27:39 GMT
We are fortunate in some ways as our fate is still in our hands to a great degree. win all our games and we are in play- off spot. In all probability, two wins will be enough, but no less. We do need to win next two games to get those six points as dont want to have to go to Frome needing a win, Others in top 7 play each other by next Monday so the destination of the league could be decided by Hemel v Chesham. We are too narrow going down the centre and not using the wings to get in behind. Players out of position. Lee makes great runs but exposes us on that side and warren was played out of position. Chris henry needs to be on early and brought off if need be. No point bringing him on late and not giving him any service. One run he made to the line , there was no one near the area, no one running in. We have a player on loan. Then play him! At times Lord was halfway back into our half on the left. Who was up front? Lord needs to be up front to be effective. Coms is a bit of a liability at the moment and Lord's touch seems to have gone AWOL. Where is Tom Ward? Saturdays loss was due to sloppy, slack careless play with too many extra touches misplaced passes and aimless hoof balls. If we are going to hoof it from the back, do mi first time, not after two attempts to give the opposition the ball. On another point,watched the under 16 team yesterday. Unbelievable fracas at end. verged on a riot. Game abandoned with two minutes to go at 2-2.
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nat038
Saints Trialist
Posts: 42
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Post by nat038 on Apr 14, 2014 19:23:40 GMT
Hmmm perhaps Jimmy Gray is not the saviour after all. Neanderthal player ...neanderthal manager? How many goals has Frendo scored from open play? Not that many I'd guess. I get the impression that Frendo is a bit 'billy big b******s'. Maybe he has a more negative than positive effect on the team.
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Post by Saint on Apr 14, 2014 20:06:05 GMT
It's Gray's and Gold's first season of management at this level for goodness sake, and IMO, for their first full season, it's been impressive.
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Post by Saint on Apr 14, 2014 20:08:57 GMT
But, of course, there are areas that need improving on.
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Post by notsorecentconvert on Apr 14, 2014 20:24:14 GMT
Absolutely, Saint. I was attracted to Clarence Park by the results and I kept going because of the results and performances until I was hooked.
Although I don't have any frame of reference, really, I think it's been a very good season and, for the most part, very enjoyable. The problem is, supporters tend to have their opinions shaped by the way their team finishes a season and it has stuttered and stumbled since the beginning of March.
The key will be how Gray and Golds respond now and rally the team for the final three, and hopefully five, games. Then it's all about retaining the good elements of the squad and adding enough for next season, whatever league we happen to be in.
Criticism of Frendo is a bit much. Admittedly, it can be the case that a striker who scores such an overwhelming quantity of a team's goals shapes the way that team plays to such a great extent that when he's not in form the whole team suffers.
But let's face it, we'd struggle to replace his 30+ goals and those 30+ goals are what have pushed us into the top places.
Having said that, it's noticeable that both Hemel and Chesham have two pretty prolific strikers.
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Post by COYS on Apr 14, 2014 22:08:13 GMT
Hmmm perhaps Jimmy Gray is not the saviour after all. Neanderthal player ...neanderthal manager? How many goals has Frendo scored from open play? Not that many I'd guess. I get the impression that Frendo is a bit 'billy big b******s'. Maybe he has a more negative than positive effect on the team. I probably shouldn't rise to what is obviously a troll but I feel the need to respond to this particular comment. I'm not sure if anyone from within the team itself reads this message board, but I wouldn't want them to come on here and see comments like that sit unopposed as if it were an opinion we all agreed with. Calling James Gray a neanderthal is downright offensive. Everyone has their flaws and Jimmy is still very much a student of the game, but I'm willing to bet he has more footballing knowledge in his little finger than you could muster up in a lifetime. Of course, if I'm wrong and it's Sir Alex Ferguson behind that keyboard then I will gladly bow down to your superior judgement. With regard to John Frendo, he may not have been at his best for a couple of months but I know if we do go up a large part of it would be down to him and his goals. If he can rediscover his goalscoring form between now and the playoffs I think we stand a great chance of promotion. He could be playing at a far higher level than this and I understand he stayed part-time because of his work commitments, so to call him a 'billy big b******s' is a little unwarranted. Personally, I'll be going to Banbury with a lot of optimism as I still see a team, for all their faults, who want to get this club promoted. We haven't been at our best for a little while, maybe, but we still have nine points on offer and the opportunity to find that spark and form to take us over the line. Come on you Saints.
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Post by citycentresaint on Apr 14, 2014 22:30:32 GMT
Well said COYS.
We need to get behind the lads and make a final push.
Jimmy has done a great job.
The club is moving in the right direction.
The attendance for this level of football has been great.
If we go up think we could be a real force.
COYS
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Post by Boomer on Apr 15, 2014 0:00:15 GMT
Hmmm perhaps Jimmy Gray is not the saviour after all. Neanderthal player ...neanderthal manager? How many goals has Frendo scored from open play? Not that many I'd guess. I get the impression that Frendo is a bit 'billy big b******s'. Maybe he has a more negative than positive effect on the team. I probably shouldn't rise to what is obviously a troll but I feel the need to respond to this particular comment. I'm not sure if anyone from within the team itself reads this message board, but I wouldn't want them to come on here and see comments like that sit unopposed as if it were an opinion we all agreed with. Calling James Gray a neanderthal is downright offensive. Everyone has their flaws and Jimmy is still very much a student of the game, but I'm willing to bet he has more footballing knowledge in his little finger than you could muster up in a lifetime. Of course, if I'm wrong and it's Sir Alex Ferguson behind that keyboard then I will gladly bow down to your superior judgement. With regard to John Frendo, he may not have been at his best for a couple of months but I know if we do go up a large part of it would be down to him and his goals. If he can rediscover his goalscoring form between now and the playoffs I think we stand a great chance of promotion. He could be playing at a far higher level than this and I understand he stayed part-time because of his work commitments, so to call him a 'billy big b******s' is a little unwarranted. Personally, I'll be going to Banbury with a lot of optimism as I still see a team, for all their faults, who want to get this club promoted. We haven't been at our best for a little while, maybe, but we still have nine points on offer and the opportunity to find that spark and form to take us over the line. Come on you Saints. Clearly a troll, COYS. Take a look at this little lot. Pretty much 100% negative with every post. Every club has one, I guess. saintschat.proboards.com/user/87/recentA great pity he didn't take his £12 and spend it elsewhere. All mouth and trousers.
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Post by davymac55 on Apr 15, 2014 7:44:34 GMT
Troll or not John has given us 30+ goals but not of late when chips have been don. Also AWOl for a few crucial games . An in form Lord could easily have doubled his tally as he scored more at Hitchin last season. But our problem was not heavy reliance on John as was seen on Saturday. Too many players off form at same team. As regards the managers they have done well in the circumstances but have made some very strange decisions at rtimes persisting with players who are clearly not up to it and having on loan players who dont play! As said still in our hands and at start of season we would all have taken this position at this point in time so lets see two wins in next . COYStwo games
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Post by St Michael on Apr 15, 2014 7:58:09 GMT
I did not expect us to be promoted this season, but now we are so close it would be very disappointing to miss out, but the fact is that there are 4-5 decent sides in the league and it is very, very competitive. Even the poorest sides can rough you up a bit and cause you problems. I saw Biggleswade playing Corby recently and it was ugly stuff, but both sides undoubtedly had 4-5 decent players, especially in midfield. For me this where we are deficient. We lack the right balance, and as Jimmy Gray has said we lack goals from midfield. Perhaps we have depended too much on John Frendo, fine player though he is, and this has lead to us playing a rather limited attacking game ? He has had to carry the attack at times, as target man and goalscorer, this can work if the midfielders are getting goals in support. The best sides in the league have at least 2-3 regular goalscorers, Chesham and Hemel both have 3 with more than 20 each, and Cambridge have a very good goalscoring midfielder, Josh Beech to go with Adam Marriott, who for me is the best player in this league. So, we might have to wait another season, but Gray and Golds are doing a great job so far, and so are the owners. We were going nowhere fast with Howell.
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Post by citycentresaint on Apr 15, 2014 9:50:23 GMT
Without Frendo, we would be mid table.
He is a great player, who has had a slight dip in form.
Lets hope he finds his scoring boots again.
We are the biggest team in this league and we need to back in the Conference South.
COYS
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Post by stanj on Apr 15, 2014 10:47:26 GMT
City saint, look at the gates this season ..only Weymouth with an average so far of 531 beats Saints of 505, Hemel`s average is only 483 and that was helped by the largest gate of their season against the Saints.Even the saint lowest gate of 266 was higher than all the other low gates.and higher than some clubs highest.. This shows that a higher league is needed for the potential crowds that would bring in... St.Albans City F.C. must look and think big to achieve this.
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