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Post by casper on Oct 2, 2015 20:03:48 GMT
www.hertsad.co.uk/sport/st-albans-city/st_albans_city_near_to_full_strength_ahead_of_whitehawk_trip_1_4255083City travel to face high-flying Whitehawk tomorrow (Saturday) in what they expect to be a tough league game. And Gray wants his side to banish the inconsistencies in an attempt to entertain the fans. He said: “We brought Harry Crawford in to try and play with two upfront. We’ve got the system we want to play but it’s so hard to try and play the same way week after week when there’s so much inconsistency through the side. “But we’ll go down there and we’ll give them a run-for-their-money. We’re not going down there to be sitting ducks. “We’ve given the fans nothing to shout about but we’ll go to Whitehawk and hopefully we’ll get three points.” A number of his team were given a run-out in the victory over Deal Town and Gray thinks that is vital. He said: “It was good to get Scott Thomas a full 90 minutes, it showed he’d been out a little while, the same with Luke Allen. “But we’ve got a pretty much full-strength squad coming back and it’s going to be difficult to pick a team.” One person missing from the squad is Simon Thomas, who was released earlier this week. The striker joined Saints in March this year and made 15 appearances, scoring three goals. A club spokesman said: “We thank Simon for his time at Clarence Park and we wish him well in finding a new club.”
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Post by Hatboy on Oct 2, 2015 21:20:56 GMT
Saturday's best available odds:
Bath City (7/10) Draw (29/10) Basingstoke Town (9/2)
Bishop Stortford (31/21) Draw (27/10) Maidenhead Utd (19/10)
Chelmsford (21/10) Draw (27/10) Oxford City (7/5)
Eastbourne Borough (9/10) Draw (11/4) Concord Rangers (16/5)
Ebbsfleet United (4/6) Draw (10/3) Maidstone (21/5)
Hayes & Yeading (16/5) Draw (3) Gosport Borough (9/10)
Margate (3/5) Draw (7/2) Weston Super Mare (5)
Sutton Utd (13/10) Draw (13/5) Hemel Hempstead (40/17)
Truro City (6/4) Draw (45/17) Havant & Waterlooville (9/5)
Wealdstone (28/17) Draw (13/5) Dartford (17/10)
Whitehawk (18/35) Draw (4) St Albans City (6)
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Post by casper on Oct 3, 2015 13:08:26 GMT
Saints Team To Play Whitehawk, Welch Kyriacou Gayle Martin Chappell Sow Thomas Comley Krans Crawford Theophanous
Subs, Gibson Yussuf Longe-King Akinde Allen
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Post by casper on Oct 3, 2015 14:44:55 GMT
1-0 Whitehawk
Kyriacou off Gibson on after 20 mins.
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Post by casper on Oct 3, 2015 14:52:23 GMT
2-0 HT
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Post by casper on Oct 3, 2015 15:13:05 GMT
Allen replaces Sow
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Post by casper on Oct 3, 2015 15:31:57 GMT
4-0 now
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Post by casper on Oct 3, 2015 15:47:56 GMT
Red card for Ben Martin.
Now 5-0
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Post by Canary Saint on Oct 3, 2015 16:00:17 GMT
"Difficult picking a team" Not sure if this makes the task harder or easier.  |
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Post by casper on Oct 3, 2015 16:05:18 GMT
Ft 6-0
From the clubs Twitter account :-
A shocking performance from the Saints thanks to all the supporters who travelled! #apologies #sacfc
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nat038
Saints Trialist
Posts: 42 
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Post by nat038 on Oct 3, 2015 16:10:26 GMT
Taxi for Mr Gray.
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Post by citycentresaint on Oct 3, 2015 16:26:09 GMT
(Swear word removed)' disgrace.
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Post by St Michael on Oct 3, 2015 16:43:59 GMT
Looking forward to Maidstone away !
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fatboy
Saints Youth Team Player
Posts: 200
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Post by fatboy on Oct 3, 2015 17:06:40 GMT
Reckon the post match interview will be good fun , John Frendo maybe the taxi driver. Not sure will beat Petersfield at this rate.
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Post by PaperSaint on Oct 3, 2015 18:16:31 GMT
That was painful viewing. First half we pressed Whitehawk and I didn't think we were as bad as I know some supporters thought - but two mistakes were costly. Whitehawk are a very strong side and have players to punish any mistakes. Second half we started brightly but then collapsed when third goal went in - total meltdown from that point. Didn't see the Ben Martin incident - Whitehawk twitter suggests an elbow? Anyway, want to quickly forget today and hope the team starts to gel soon. Montgomery will be a very important addition and I still think we have the quality but we need a convincing win next weekend to boost the confidence - especially with a difficult trip to Maidstone the following weekend.
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Post by yorkroader on Oct 3, 2015 19:06:39 GMT
A very fair assessment from AppySaint.
We actually had a decent chance to get back into this immediately after the restart but Crawford shot into the side netting,his only contribution in a woeful performance.he was not alone in that respect though. The only players I would excuse are Martin,Comley and Theophanous.
It is easy speaking with hindsight but we set up far too open against a side with their attacking quality,time after time we lost it in midfield and in a flash they were bearing down on our defence. Comley started wide on the right then went to right back when Kyriacou was taken off. Comley is our best midfield player by a street,he must play there,if Kyriacou isn't thought to be good enough then bring in a full back who plays like one. Kyriacou looks good charging up the wing but he can't defend.
We seem to be signing plenty of forward and midfielders - Sow,Krans,Gibson,Montgomery,Crawford,Yussuf,Akinde but only one defender - Gayle.
Before today I had thought that we had enough quality in our squad to avoid a relegation battle, after today I have changed my opinion.
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Post by PaperSaint on Oct 3, 2015 19:55:47 GMT
I would also excuse Welch. Second half he did stop a few certain goals. I missed the 6th goal however..
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Post by notsorecentconvert on Oct 4, 2015 9:10:58 GMT
I was at a wedding yesterday so I could only check the scores sporadically. I looked once and we were 1-0 down, then checked at around 5pm to see the full and final damage.
It will be very interesting to hear Jimmy's interview after that result. He's sounded pretty downbeat for weeks and keeps saying we won't go anywhere to roll over but 6-0 does suggest something is wrong beyond just not playing very well.
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Post by builder on Oct 4, 2015 9:48:27 GMT
On the subject of James trust me you want get anyone who works hardy , he's constantly at games during the week ,approaching / pandering to players negotiating loan deals and discussing budgets with the hierarchy , be aware the playing budget is probably one of the lowest if not the lowest in the league , 3 players wages at ebbsfleet make up his whole facility . The club is a fantastic institution with an envied fan base for those that were fortunate to be at the play off games against Stevenage and chesham it brings the hairs up on the back of your neck but it is where it is and would be lower if James wasn't involved
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fatboy
Saints Youth Team Player
Posts: 200
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Post by fatboy on Oct 4, 2015 10:18:37 GMT
I wonder what the budget is compared to other clubs. I thought the owners put in £50.000 in each then they is the money coming in from our above average crowds then cup money , money raised by adverts in the ground, other money is added by the trust and the new supporters group. I know we have two full time staff and peppercorn rent on the ground and other outgoing expenses. Would be nice to know the players budget but bet we are not that low.
Please stop blaming the budget for the players performances these players we have are more than good enough for this league.
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Post by notsorecentconvert on Oct 4, 2015 10:37:57 GMT
On the subject of James trust me you want get anyone who works hardy , he's constantly at games during the week ,approaching / pandering to players negotiating loan deals and discussing budgets with the hierarchy , be aware the playing budget is probably one of the lowest if not the lowest in the league , 3 players wages at ebbsfleet make up his whole facility . The club is a fantastic institution with an envied fan base for those that were fortunate to be at the play off games against Stevenage and chesham it brings the hairs up on the back of your neck but it is where it is and would be lower if James wasn't involved Is that you Jimmy? Just kidding. For the avoidance of confusion I don't blame the managers really. The players are responsible for their level of performance once they cross the white line. I do think, though, that sometimes things get over complicated. There's always a desire from fans and players to be seen to be playing the beautiful game. Of course we all want to see the ball zipping over the surface, straight to feet, with one touch precision and slick movement. But football is a battle that needs to be won first. Dominate the middle of the pitch, stand firm at the back and you've got a strong foundation. I'm not certain part time players with jobs and only a couple of evening training sessions a week have the time to be all that sophisticated. It strikes me that the job of a part time manager is to keep reinforcing the simple messages, especially when new players come in. Can we really aspire to mimicking the 4-2-3-1 formation so beloved in the premier league at the moment? Jimmy keeps talking about going back to basics and that sounds sensible. Defend tight, and as a unit. Win the ball in midfield, don't give it away cheaply, get some width, move opposition defenders into areas where they are uncomfortable, exploit space and force mistakes. Sounds simple and, when you're in good form and winning, it can be. At the moment, with confidence low it must be hard to commit to the work required on the pitch, but that is what they must do. |
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Post by Boomer on Oct 4, 2015 11:05:04 GMT
On the subject of James trust me you want get anyone who works hardy , he's constantly at games during the week ,approaching / pandering to players negotiating loan deals and discussing budgets with the hierarchy , be aware the playing budget is probably one of the lowest if not the lowest in the league , 3 players wages at ebbsfleet make up his whole facility . The club is a fantastic institution with an envied fan base for those that were fortunate to be at the play off games against Stevenage and chesham it brings the hairs up on the back of your neck but it is where it is and would be lower if James wasn't involved I agree with all of that, builder. To blame James 100% for yesterday is inane. He also has a substantial back room staff . Yes, they are his responsibility but they have to share just as much of the onus, as well. |
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Post by Hatboy on Oct 4, 2015 13:26:48 GMT
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barker
Saints Youth Team Player
Posts: 135
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Post by barker on Oct 4, 2015 14:12:26 GMT
Not really much to add that hasn't already been said about that woeful display. With the exception of Comley and a very brief period at the start of the second half the players didn't look comfortable with the ball or with each other. I should also say that Whitehawk were quite average for much of the scrappy first half when it was more entertaining watching the sheep on the downs opposite. Just as well they didn't play in the first half like they did in the last 30 minutes.
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Post by PaperSaint on Oct 4, 2015 18:42:33 GMT
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Post by Boomer on Oct 4, 2015 19:03:26 GMT
The interview seems to shut off at about 2:20 and go back to the beginning as if on a loop.
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Post by ex-saintswebbo on Oct 4, 2015 20:48:53 GMT
The interview seems to shut off at about 2:20 and go back to the beginning as if on a loop. the whole site is a bit broken at the moment... why are there are 3 interviews on the page? - a blurred video? a map the size of Everest? Stats that don't mean anything? The front page has a massive image of a head and something else... |
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Post by bob666 on Oct 4, 2015 22:19:37 GMT
[/quote]
I do think, though, that sometimes things get over complicated. There's always a desire from fans and players to be seen to be playing the beautiful game. Of course we all want to see the ball zipping over the surface, straight to feet, with one touch precision and slick movement.
But football is a battle that needs to be won first. Dominate the middle of the pitch, stand firm at the back and you've got a strong foundation.
I'm not certain part time players with jobs and only a couple of evening training sessions a week have the time to be all that sophisticated. It strikes me that the job of a part time manager is to keep reinforcing the simple messages, especially when new players come in. Can we really aspire to mimicking the 4-2-3-1 formation so beloved in the premier league at the moment?
Jimmy keeps talking about going back to basics and that sounds sensible. Defend tight, and as a unit. Win the ball in midfield, don't give it away cheaply, get some width, move opposition defenders into areas where they are uncomfortable, exploit space and force mistakes.
Sounds simple and, when you're in good form and winning, it can be. At the moment, with confidence low it must be hard to commit to the work required on the pitch, but that is what they must do.[/quote]
I don't disagree with a lot you say. But approach it from a slightly different perceptive. I don't think you differentiate as clearly between the battle and playing. All the things you say (dominate the middle) become harder if you constantly giving away possession. Basic accurate pass and move as important a basic requirement as anything else. You not going to win that many matches if you only got 30% possession.
My main point is that if you only got a couple of training sessions a week than managing player turnover becomes more important. Every week, it seems to me, we have players coming and going. So most matches we literately have players in our team who have spent 90 mins training together . There has to be some balance between being active in market to improve the squad and seeking a certain stability. We seem to be constant state of flux, its a recipe for chaos. I know turnover at this level is generally high but for us this season it has been ridiculous and counterproductive. Also there must be something wrong with our system if we keep bring in players who we then decide a few weeks later are not good enough. When Grey talks about confidence how does it help if a player knows a couple of bad games and he is released?
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Post by Canary Saint on Oct 4, 2015 22:29:10 GMT
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Post by PaperSaint on Oct 5, 2015 6:35:38 GMT
I don't think you'll be seeing much more turnaround now if any. Simon Thomas was released as they want to develop the young Sam Akinde. Hilliard in my opinion was just not going to work out - and getting Graeme Montgomery for at least 3 months could be a fantastic move (the winger that we require)
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