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Post by cheshfan on May 14, 2023 19:22:26 GMT
HSC, I was just about to issue the very same stern warning. What a preposterous state of affairs. Make the team with by far the bigger fan base wait until Thursday morning to buy while home tickets are freely available already! But I mean, how would they know? Smacks to me of a club that knows it hasn't really got many options and wants to collect as many £14 as possible and then eject people if it's obvious they support the visitors – which really is totally against the ethos of non-league football. I mean, 3500 or whatever it was – supporting both clubs – went to Chesham nine years ago and there was no trouble whatsoever. Great Stewarding on the day meant no need for segregation
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Post by bowsaint on May 14, 2023 19:38:52 GMT
As a Saint in exile in Bristol I've only seen us play 90 minutes 4 times this season (the home opener v Oxford at CP, the play-off QF and S/F online and in person today at Oxford City). Some observations:
1. The opening minute chance for Weiss/Cooper was important but it's still tricky to see how we could have ended up winning the game, given the gulf in the two sides over the following 89 minutes. 2. The physical size of Oxford City was more akin to a Conf National side - they out-muscled us throughout. I wouldn't be that surprised if they stay up next year with 2-3 new additions. 3. We need more flexibility and options with our play. We over elaborate all over the pitch, including in our own third which was our downfall with at least 2 of Oxford's goals. We need to be able to mix up our play, as Oxford did. Oxford were concise with their passing and played mainly on the floor, but they didn't over elaborate with purely possession in mind (as I think we did across the play offs) 4. We need to create more chances. We created very little in open play over the 3 play-off games.
To get over the line next season we will need some new players, and not just because of loans ending. I feel we need:
- A dominant centre back in the mould of Dave Winfield from Chelmsford City - A dominant, tall and strong central midfielder - A direct running winger with pace and the ability to beat his man on the outside - An additional striker capable of 15-20 goals per season - A talkative and organising GK (assuming Berry leaves because of his loan ending).
Assuming the loanees all go, I would be more than happy building a side targeting promotion around Devante Stanley, Tafari Moore, Ryan Blackman, Shaun Jeffers and possibly Zane Banton. Ben Smith looks promising but whilst he's very tidy with sharp short passing, he needs to be more effective defensively and offensively. I'm not convinced the rest of the squad is strong enough if we are looking at a real promotion challenge.
Overall though - discounting when we were at Step 1 itself in 06/07 - this is our most successful season since 05/06 and so a huge well done to the whole club. I really hope we can keep pushing and keep our attendances increasing as well.
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Post by citycentresaint on May 14, 2023 20:21:43 GMT
As a Saint in exile in Bristol I've only seen us play 90 minutes 4 times this season (the home opener v Oxford at CP, the play-off QF and S/F online and in person today at Oxford City). Some observations: 1. The opening minute chance for Weiss/Cooper was important but it's still tricky to see how we could have ended up winning the game, given the gulf in the two sides over the following 89 minutes. 2. The physical size of Oxford City was more akin to a Conf National side - they out-muscled us throughout. I wouldn't be that surprised if they stay up next year with 2-3 new additions. 3. We need more flexibility and options with our play. We over elaborate all over the pitch, including in our own third which was our downfall with at least 2 of Oxford's goals. We need to be able to mix up our play, as Oxford did. Oxford were concise with their passing and played mainly on the floor, but they didn't over elaborate with purely possession in mind (as I think we did across the play offs) 4. We need to create more chances. We created very little in open play over the 3 play-off games. To get over the line next season we will need some new players, and not just because of loans ending. I feel we need: - A dominant centre back in the mould of Dave Winfield from Chelmsford City - A dominant, tall and strong central midfielder - A direct running winger with pace and the ability to beat his man on the outside - An additional striker capable of 15-20 goals per season - A talkative and organising GK (assuming Berry leaves because of his loan ending). Assuming the loanees all go, I would be more than happy building a side targeting promotion around Devante Stanley, Tafari Moore, Ryan Blackman, Shaun Jeffers and possibly Zane Banton. Ben Smith looks promising but whilst he's very tidy with sharp short passing, he needs to be more effective defensively and offensively. I'm not convinced the rest of the squad is strong enough if we are looking at a real promotion challenge. Overall though - discounting when we were at Step 1 itself in 06/07 - this is our most successful season since 05/06 and so a huge well done to the whole club. I really hope we can keep pushing and keep our attendances increasing as well. Interesting take, agree with what you say. With the larger attendances and sponsorship at the club, it would be good to see this additional revenue reinvested into the playing squad. Time will tell if this happens. Who is actually responsible for player recruitment at the club?
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Post by lagerman on May 14, 2023 21:02:11 GMT
Noble will have to sit down with the owners and see what next seasons playing budget will be and where we are going, likewise the owners are going to want to listen to Noble, to see what he wants to do. But even thou we drew in some decent crowds last season, drawing in extra revenue, you just can't help thinking that we won't just have those extra shillings to take us that extra mile. Noble was the easy fix to bring in as Manager when Allinson left, but he's done bloody well. Other managers would've come with too many demands for the owners, l think. Noble probably already had some idea of the clubs finances when he way appointed, and wasn't going to rock the boat, asking for what wasn't there or wasn't available, and likewise, the owners would've known this, so it's comfort all around. What happens for next season remains to be seen, but l just can't help thinking that next season won't be much different, that we'll have the budget of a decent team but not one that is going to just step up to that next level. Of course l genuinely hope that I'm proved wrong!
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Post by citycentresaint on May 14, 2023 21:42:59 GMT
Yes, lets see what happens during the closed season.
Be good if Berry was to return on loan.
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Post by sideshowbob on May 14, 2023 22:17:56 GMT
Why? Has Michael Johnson left the club?
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Post by middxsaint on May 15, 2023 7:53:31 GMT
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Post by Boomer on May 15, 2023 20:31:34 GMT
Post match interview with David Noble -
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Post by notsorecentconvert on May 15, 2023 21:27:12 GMT
The one problem with in-house club media - and this is not knocking St Albans because it applies to almost all in-house club media from the top of the game to the bottom - is that time and again the obvious questions do not get asked. The production values and logo sublimated on the screen and the club badge on the microphone foam are all very nice but the substance is totally missing.
The one question - the ONLY question - the manager should have been asked is to explain the decision that left the league’s top scorer, a man with 29 goals, out of the starting XI for a knock-out tie. Especially when the striker then came on at 3-0 down before half time.
That question doesn’t have to be framed as a criticism or a dig. Noble doesn’t have to be asked in a confrontational way to justify the decision but he should at the very least be asked to explain it.
To not ask the only journalistic question is to fail the supporters who, frankly, do deserve to have team selection choices like that explained.
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Post by citycentresaint on May 15, 2023 22:30:22 GMT
The one problem with in-house club media - and this is not knocking St Albans because it applies to almost all in-house club media from the top of the game to the bottom - is that time and again the obvious questions do not get asked. The production values and logo sublimated on the screen and the club badge on the microphone foam are all very nice but the substance is totally missing. The one question - the ONLY question - the manager should have been asked is to explain the decision that left the league’s top scorer, a man with 29 goals, out of the starting XI for a knock-out tie. Especially when the striker then came on at 3-0 down before half time. That question doesn’t have to be framed as a criticism or a dig. Noble doesn’t have to be asked in a confrontational way to justify the decision but he should at the very least be asked to explain it. To not ask the only journalistic question is to fail the supporters who, frankly, do deserve to have team selection choices like that explained. Totally agree fella, was a strange decision. Hopefully it doesn't result in SJ jumping ship. You can't blame him if he does, he has been treated badly considering the goals he has scored.
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Post by lagerman on May 15, 2023 22:33:36 GMT
The one problem with in-house club media - and this is not knocking St Albans because it applies to almost all in-house club media from the top of the game to the bottom - is that time and again the obvious questions do not get asked. The production values and logo sublimated on the screen and the club badge on the microphone foam are all very nice but the substance is totally missing. The one question - the ONLY question - the manager should have been asked is to explain the decision that left the league’s top scorer, a man with 29 goals, out of the starting XI for a knock-out tie. Especially when the striker then came on at 3-0 down before half time. That question doesn’t have to be framed as a criticism or a dig. Noble doesn’t have to be asked in a confrontational way to justify the decision but he should at the very least be asked to explain it. To not ask the only journalistic question is to fail the supporters who, frankly, do deserve to have team selection choices like that explained. The thing is, he's been asked that before, about Jeffers, and he said it was a system thing or something, the data suggests ... Well, whether it would've been any different yesterday, had Jeffers started, is open to Question, personally I'm not so sure, cos Oxford were simply much the better team all over the park, they just had too much for us. Defensively they were so solid. Although his experience might've been useful yesterday from the first whistle. I'm sure Jeffers can't be very happy starting on the bench all the time and he'll be of the thinking, that he didn't sign a new contract just to be kicking his heels on the bench. l can't understand why he isn't starting games as much as a lot of people on here and if this is how it goes next season, l wouldn't be surprised if Jeffers starts to think he'd be better off somewhere else. I don't think anyone could blame him for thinking like that either
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Post by middxsaint on May 17, 2023 8:02:32 GMT
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Post by notsorecentconvert on May 17, 2023 8:51:36 GMT
Anyone know if Dave, Lee and Jake are doing a final Podful of Saints for the season? I've not seen one yet. Perhaps it was all too deflating to re-live in 45 minutes of audio-visual technicolour but I'm sure their take on the final game would be interesting to hear. Perhaps they didn't get tickets (!) although I think I saw Lee in the away section, trying to look incognito.
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Post by casper on May 17, 2023 10:25:09 GMT
Released last night
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Post by notsorecentconvert on May 17, 2023 11:28:05 GMT
Ah brill. Thanks.
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Post by Hatboy on May 18, 2023 22:09:42 GMT
The production values and logo sublimated on the screen and the club badge on the microphone foam are all very nice but the substance is totally missing. That club badge isn't very nice anywhere
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