barker
Saints Youth Team Player
Posts: 135
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Post by barker on Oct 25, 2014 16:29:40 GMT
Bad performance today. Very disappointing, particularly in the 2nd half - too many long hoofs, not enough accurate passing. Concord used the ball better and, if they could shoot better, would have won 3- 0. We never really got going in the 2nd half.
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Post by EFMTFTV on Oct 25, 2014 16:29:50 GMT
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Post by asaintreborn on Oct 25, 2014 16:30:35 GMT
The performance or your previous statement?
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Post by EFMTFTV on Oct 25, 2014 16:31:15 GMT
Why do we always play so poo poo second half??
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Post by cheshuntsaint on Oct 25, 2014 16:34:19 GMT
The performance or your previous statement? And which statement is that then?
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Post by Canary Saint on Oct 25, 2014 16:39:46 GMT
My first home game of the season. If that was typical of what you regulars have put up with this season. You have my sympathy.
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Post by notsorecentconvert on Oct 25, 2014 16:41:44 GMT
Trying not to be grouchy in the immediate aftermath of the defeat but my Wealdstone-supporting mate warned me about Concord and he was not wrong.
To be fair, they were okay in the first half but as the second wore on they used all the tricks. Dawdling to get the ball at throw-ins and goal-kicks, running in front of the player to prevent quick free kicks from being taken, falling over. Perhaps I'm allowing the result to cloud my judgement but there was some cynical stuff on show.
As for the match, it was the classic smash and grab. One shot from out of the blue, from an unmarked player at the far post, after multiple opportunities to clear the ball were spurned.
The first half was more open, entertaining and pretty even. I felt we just about shaded it, although most of our threat came from set-pieces or Chappell's long throw.
In the second, we were second best as they stepped up the physical aspect of their game and dropped eight, nine, sometimes ten people behind the ball and made it very hard to break down. It was a well-worked game plan.
The big question is, where was Frendo? I don't want to pry into his personal life but it seems odd that he wasn't there for arguably the most important game of the season. Let's be blunt about it - we're not going to get into the play-offs and so an FA Cup first round appearance represents a significant payday. To lose one of our best players for an undisclosed reason is one thing but the fact that our friend Benny03 appeared to know about it last night seems a bit strange - as if it was a pre-arranged absence.
I don't like to criticise Clarke but he was anonymous. Frendo would have given their two centre halves a taste of their own medicine and the ball might have stuck up front a bit longer at times.
Once we were in a position where we had to chase the game it was as good as over.
Concord were smart. They let us play and pass and do the little touches in 'safe' areas. So it gave the illusion that we were on top in midfield when the reality was that as soon as we advanced towards the final third, they were well in control and they made their challenges at clever times.
I had my doubts that Corcoran was the right player to bring on for Kaloczi at the time but he was sharper and more composed than we had a right to expect following two months out. But, in general, we threatened far too little up front, except when Martin and Ward went forward for corners and throw-ins.
It feels like a missed opportunity. On the positive side, it was a lovely day and a big crowd. Let's hope we can have a little run in the FA Trophy instead.
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Post by Hatboy on Oct 25, 2014 16:42:01 GMT
We were very very poor today well below par (they are not a great side)and after getting a settled side then Frendo is missing, if the rumours are true about him he should be kicked out of the club after the way we've stuck by him recently and like EFMTFTV said bring in a proven striker at this level who wants to play.
Frendo never got goals at this level before and if he doesn't want to be a team player because of not getting his goal bonus's on top of his wages and a well paid day job then he should whoopsie off
The only good news was Corcoran returning.
And yeah how did you know Frendo was on a jolly benny03
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Post by notsorecentconvert on Oct 25, 2014 16:49:10 GMT
Having read the other comments, perhaps I'm trying too hard to be reasonable.
I'd be very interested to hear from the management why Frendo was absent. Hopefully Dave T will ask in the post-match interview.
I know non-league football is 'different' to league football and that the players are part-time, have other commitments and sometimes those commitments have to come first but, by the same token, a bit of transparency from the club when key players are absent would be welcome.
I can definitely sympathise with EFMTFTV's point of view.
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Post by COYS on Oct 25, 2014 16:49:22 GMT
Looking forward to hearing what Jimmy has to say about Frendo's absence...
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Post by Hatboy on Oct 25, 2014 16:54:00 GMT
Concord fly on as Saints crash out of FA Cup Richard Mills
St Albans City failed to secure consecutive FA Cup first round appearances after suffering a 1-0 home defeat to fellow Vanarama Conference South side Concord Rangers.
James Kaloczi went closest for the hosts with two well saved headers in a closely contested first half.
A much improved Rangers dominated the second half and their pressure told from a spectacular volleyed finish from Joe Gardner.
Despite a late surge from the Saints the defensively sound away side secured a deserved victory against an under-par St. Albans.
The home side, looking for back-to-back first round FA Cup appearances, made two changes from last weekend’s league victory against Weston-Super-Mare with Lee Clarke and Tom Ward replacing the unavailable John Frendo and Darren Locke.
The Saints were seeking a third straight win in all competitions with the visitors, looking to reach the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history, suffering just one defeat in eight games.
A minute’s silence was held before the game for club historian Andy Porter and Christine Hollingsworth who passed away this week,
A raucous home crowd were almost silenced early on as the host’s lacklustre and nervy opening paved the way for a succession of early corners for the more alert Rangers.
James Comley went close within the first ten minutes for the Saints but his shot was blocked just as he was about to pull the trigger.
Reminiscent of Rory Delap, Lee Chappell’s torpedo throw-in towards the penalty area caused havoc for the away side and following good build up play from the Saints, an unchallenged Kaloczi could only head over the bar from eight yards out.
St. Albans were beginning to gain the upper-hand and they almost took the lead after 22 minutes through a Steve Wales header that only the acrobatic reactions of Joe Wright managed to keep out.
Charlie Gorman’s speculative, curling 35-yard strike whistled past the post in a game of limited chances. At the other end Kaloczi’s alertness denied Rangers snatching the lead after 30 minutes.
Now it was the away side that were looking more threatening with two quick fire chances, firstly from a Steve Cawley piledriver going narrolwly over the bar and a Lewis Taafe header that just went wide.
St Albans fired some warning shots of their own in the half’s dying embers, from a tame Wales shot when seemingly through on goal and soon after a Kaloczi header again forced Wright into a smart save, but it was all square at half time in an evenly matched first half.
A luke warm second half start ensued but Taaffe almost broke the deadlock in the 50th minute but his well struck shot soared just past the wrong side of the post. A few minutes later the striker went close again but his looped effort went agonisingly wide.
Their pressure eventually told in the 64th minute with a superbly taken volley through Gardner from a tight angle just inside the penalty area after the City defence failed to deal with an innocuous floating cross.
St. Albans needed a spark in order to halt the irrepressible advance of the away side who only looked like doubling their lead and Gardner almost did in identical fashion but he sliced his volley wide.
The physical presence of David Keenleyside gave the hosts a greatly needed composure and the big man almost levelled proceedings but failed to hit the target. Moments later Rangers almost secured the win from an audacious long range volley from Jeremy Walker.
As the game headed into injury time, the urgency from the Saints and the crowd reached a crescendo as they poured on in search of an equaliser.
But it was Rangers who held on to secure the win and their first ever appearance in the first round of the FA Cup,
St Albans City: 1) Joe Welch (2) John Kyriacou (3) Lee Chappell (4) Charlie Gorman (5) Ben Martin (C) (6) Tom Ward (7) James Kaloczi (Corcoran ‘59) (8) James Comley 9) Lee Clarke (Mitchell ‘67) (10) Sean Shields (11) Steve Wales (Keenleyside ‘73)
Subs: (12) David Keenleyside (13) Danny Green (23) Geoff Mitchell (16) Sam Corcoran (17) Joel Watson (GK) Mayson Tewkesbury
Concord Rangers: 1) Joe Wright (2) Jeremy Alexander (3) Danny Glozier (4) Alex Woodyard (5) Jack Lampe (6) Matt Fry (C) (7) Joe Gardner (King ‘81) (8) James White (9) Lewis Taaffe (Stokes ‘70) (10) Sam Collins (11) Steve Cawley (Ogilvie ‘87)
Subs: 12) Steve King (14) Cheye Alexander (15) Taylor Miles (16) Gary Ogilvie (17) Tony Stokes (18) Riggers Kabashi
Attendance: 953
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oldgeezer
Saints Youth Team Player
Posts: 248
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Post by oldgeezer on Oct 25, 2014 16:56:21 GMT
Very disappointing. First half was pretty even, and we might have got on top. Second half was a joke. They were going for it and the mighty saints wanted to go for a cup of tea.
On the day, the best team won. We just didn't seem to try. As for Frendo - I hope he has a good excuse......
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Post by Saint on Oct 25, 2014 17:03:29 GMT
Jimmy has already said post match that Frendo has let the side down (Herts Ad reporter)
But our lack of striking options at the moment might just save Frendo...
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barker
Saints Youth Team Player
Posts: 135
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Post by barker on Oct 25, 2014 17:11:04 GMT
Lee Clarke seemed to be played in Frendo's position, which isn't his strength - maybe big Geoff would have been better there. If Jimmy has said publicly that Frendo has let the side down then that's not good. He's been unavailable in a some other games - and he's sometimes seemed a bit disengaged in some matches he's played. He's also let the fans down ...as for the play offs, recent convert - you are usually not so pessimistic: we are only just outside the play off places, and - when we play - we have enough quality and commitment to get there ... let's see what happens in the next 2 games.
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Post by bowsaint on Oct 25, 2014 17:12:27 GMT
Maybe there are good reasons why Frendo was away today, however it doesn't look like it.
If there's a way we can rip up his contract I'd be inclined to do so. Absolute joke to the 950 who could be bothered to turn up.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2014 17:21:35 GMT
Very,very upset about the 'no show' of Frendo. I am right with EFMFTV with this - Frendo has to be put on the transfer list and never play for us again. Nine hundred City fans turned up on our biggest day of the season, dozens of us spend our hard earned cash and travel all over the country cheering him on and paying him £500 or so a week and he can't be arsed to play for us. ?? Well -@&-- him
As for the game I thought they were the better team throughout and fully deserved the win.The number four Woodyard (?) was one of the best midfielders I seen all season.
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Post by EFMTFTV on Oct 25, 2014 17:31:02 GMT
I would also love to know what is said at half time in the dressing room
We were all over Sutton, Chelmsford and, arguably today Concord, in the first half and we've come out every game and looked dreadful in the 2nd half Are their managers just better at noticing our weaknesses and setting up the team different in the 2nd half?
Colin Lippiat used to be great at this, we'd play crap first half or be under the cosh but he'd sort it out at half time and we'd be a different team, worrying this doesn't happen with these managers
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Post by Saint on Oct 25, 2014 17:42:20 GMT
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Post by St Michael on Oct 25, 2014 17:51:40 GMT
Very disappointing, and it will lead to some changes I expect. The playing budget will be reduced sooner or later, and perhaps that is a good thing in some ways. Frendo, Clarke, Pires must be costly and are not productive. I never thought Clarke would fit in, but it is clearly ridiculous to have your main striker missing for key games.
From a financial perspective a good FA Trophy run is essential.
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Post by Saint on Oct 25, 2014 17:55:48 GMT
So it seems that Frendo's wife bought him tickets for El Classico (For his birthday), and the match was scheduled for Sunday, but it was moved forward 24 hours.
The management had received prior warning of his absence, but are not happy.
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barker
Saints Youth Team Player
Posts: 135
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Post by barker on Oct 25, 2014 18:01:42 GMT
Maybe just unfortunate. Maybe someone's life is bigger than a football match. Let's not get too down and critical of everyone - we are still a long way from the days of Owsy and Steve Castle - now, there were some crap performances! There is still lots to play for ... it's not yet November.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2014 18:20:30 GMT
As somebody who occasionally travels to Spain to watch La Liga matches, I can state categorically that The 'Classico' was not brought forward twenty four hours. It was only ever scheduled for today. At the start of the season when the fixtures are released every game is a Sunday, then similar to The English Premier dates and times are allotted to fit around the T.V. schedules and Champions League/Europa Cup. These are usually released six weeks before the matches are played.
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Post by Saint on Oct 25, 2014 18:26:36 GMT
As somebody who occasionally travels to Spain to watch La Liga matches, I can state categorically that The 'Classico' was not brought forward twenty four hours. It was only ever scheduled for today. At the start of the season when the fixtures are released every game is a Sunday, then similar to The English Premier dates and times are allotted to fit around the T.V. schedules and Champions League/Europa Cup. These are usually released six weeks before the matches are played. It would seem that way, but I guess that when these tickets would have been bought, the date that his wife would have expected would have been tomorrow's date, the date for the Clasico which was announced on fixtures day as presumably they were purchased longer than six weeks ago. However, it's still not an excuse really. It doesn't sound like that he gave Jimmy and Graham too much notice.
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Post by davymac55 on Oct 25, 2014 18:55:08 GMT
Well done to Concord Rangers. A thoroughly deserved victory against a very impotent Saints. I hope they get a great draw in 1st round. They could have won comfortably as we were very sloppy at the back. However, two great saves by their emergency loan goalkeeper were crucial first half even though I felt happy at nil all half time. Every time they attacked I felt they could do something. Every time we attacked I hoped we could do something. Too many wasted free kicks today as well-high lobs with no pace or real direction, and often given straight back to Concord, as happened with their goal. Free kick to us on our left, straight at a defender , they break, and 5 seconds later we are defending a free kick!!!! 30 seconds later we are one down. And I for one don't think we missed John today as he has not had a great deal of good service this season and I don't think we have played to his strengths. And after an enforced period in the reserves I think he may come back hungrier for goals.
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Post by citycentresaint on Oct 25, 2014 19:03:51 GMT
Don't know background to Frendo, but lets not forget without him we would not be in the Conference South.
Have been a few absences from him this year. Don't know what is going on.
Is a great shame, as Recent Convert says we won't get playoffs and should be strong enough to avoid relegation fight.
Apart from playing the parasites up the road, that will be the biggest game of the season for us.
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yellowalf
Saints Reserve Team Player
Posts: 301
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Post by yellowalf on Oct 25, 2014 19:14:27 GMT
Very,very upset about the 'no show' of Frendo. I am right with EFMFTV with this - Frendo has to be put on the transfer list and never play for us again. And how will that benefit St Albans City FC? Were I a millionaire (and I can categorically state that I'm nowhere near it) and had we lost in the last round and had we not had a league game already scheduled (blimey that's a lot of conditionals!) I would have sourced 25 tickets to El Classico and taken the entire squad over plus coaching staff. Watch and learn, I would have told them. I can't imagine that Frendo will come away from watching that game a worse player and I would hope that he might pick up some hints. He's our best striker and throwing the proverbial baby out with the bathwater by suggesting he is discarded by the club is ludicrous. Yes, we might decide to greet his first few touches in his next game with an "Ole!" or three but, really, we need him more than any other player in our squad. Why weaken the squad by chucking out his ability in a fit of pique?
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Post by notsorecentconvert on Oct 25, 2014 19:15:11 GMT
Barker, I'm not being pessimistic, far from it. I'm being realistic. Look at our games played and our points tally. We've taken very few of our points against the top half sides and the great majority against teams in the bottom 8. That tells us something: that we are a mid-table side. Nothing wrong with that. I think that's admirable. A top 10 finish would be a great achievement and with good leadership might be a platform to build on to push for play-offs next year.
As this thread has expanded it strikes me that I have far less right than the like of EFMTFTV and Lonecrank to be upset about Frendo. They are long-standing fans and voices of passion and reason. They have every right to be livid of it's true that Frendo went to El Clasico instead of play in the FA Cup today.
Okay, so it was Frendo's 30th birthday. Now, I don't know about you, but I went to work on my 30th birthday. Of course, everyone is entitled to a day off but we're talking about a guy who is paid around £500 a week, if quotes on here are accurate, to play matches. There are players in League 2 on less.
As Lonecrank says, the supporters, by and large, pay that money. They put the tickets up to £15 to support a significant investment in playing budget. Frendo must be one of the highest earners. El Clasico is not confirmed as the reason for his absence yet but the fact that one of the top players decided not to play reflects badly on the owners.
We are paying for you guys to play for the team. The great majority of the squad get that and, for our part, we support unconditionally as long as we see the required level of commitment.
None of this criticism in some way detracts from Frendo's contribution last season, by the way.
Finally, the Herts Ad has published an 800-word report and there is not a single question asked as to why Frendo did not play, and no answer given.
For any newspaper, national or local, that is a total embarrassment.
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Post by Saint on Oct 25, 2014 19:25:29 GMT
Recentconvert- I'd expect that the Herts Ad will do a wholly separate article on Frendo later this evening/tomorrow... Also to note that today's report was written by a trainee reporter, his first Saints match. (That's what I've gathered, anyway)
Having heard the post match interview, the manager does not give any indication as to 'why' Frendo is away, only saying how disappointing it is.
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Post by cheshuntsaint on Oct 25, 2014 19:36:12 GMT
Very,very upset about the 'no show' of Frendo. I am right with EFMFTV with this - Frendo has to be put on the transfer list and never play for us again. I can't imagine that Frendo will come away from watching that game a worse player and I would hope that he might pick up some hints. He's our best striker and throwing the proverbial baby out with the bathwater by suggesting he is discarded by the club is ludicrous. I hope he took a pen and pad of paper and took notes on Messi and Ronaldo's movement - will really benefit him.....
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2014 19:46:45 GMT
Also to note that today's report was written by a trainee reporter, his first Saints match. (That's what I've gathered, anyway) What do you mean, that's what you've gathered? It either was or it wasn't. The trainee reporter needs to work on his attendance estimations, by the way. The idea that Frendo might come back a better player by just watching El Clasico is frankly ludicrous. And taking the whole squad too! It's not under-9 football.
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