Enough is Enough - Noble Out.

[jj123]

Played 9 won 0

Bottom of the league and 6 points from safety

Dumped out of the cup by a pub side

The worst start in the clubs history

David Noble - your time is up

Thanks for the memories but do the honourable thing

Anyone want to try and defend this?

[saintsdad]

Apparently the Wealdstone 'mafia' element of their fan base forced Noble out of there

Wonder if any of them were at our game today

[citycentresaint]

Sept 28, 2024 16:06:11 GMT saintsdad said:

Apparently the Wealdstone 'mafia' element of their fan base forced Noble out of there

Wonder if any of them were at our game today

Gordon Hill runs the Wealdstone mafia. He is a man you don't cross if you value your life.

[saintsdad]

Sept 28, 2024 16:50:45 GMT citycentresaint said:

Sept 28, 2024 16:06:11 GMT saintsdad said:

Apparently the Wealdstone 'mafia' element of their fan base forced Noble out of there

Wonder if any of them were at our game today

Gordon Hill runs the Wealdstone mafia. He is a man you don't cross if you value your life.

And if he says Noble is done...

[lagerman]

The thing is, l still just can't see Noble going yet, as it stands, irrespective of whether he should or shouldn't go.
The owners haven't had a lot of experience of managers leaving and coming in.
A bit, but not a lot.
So, l just can't see them sacking Noble any time soon, and l just can't see Noble standing down any time soon either after his Wealdstone debacle, he'll want to stabilise at this NLS level l would've thought.
So, where does this leave us ??
Well, we just have to hope that the results turn around, and soon, unless there are changes

[Boomer]

Sept 28, 2024 20:03:13 GMT lagerman said:

Well, we just have to hope that the results turn around, and soon, unless there are changes

Hope is not going to turn the results around.

[sideshowbob]

Appointing someone who can do the job would be better, its blatantly clear noble isn't up to it.

[lagerman]

Sept 28, 2024 21:03:51 GMT Boomer said:

Sept 28, 2024 20:03:13 GMT lagerman said:

Well, we just have to hope that the results turn around, and soon, unless there are changes

Hope is not going to turn the results around.

Hope is all we've got unless there is a managerial change, fortunes may change then, we can't do anything but just see what happens

[bowsaint]

Surely, and clearly, it’s not sustainable that David Noble remains manager?

It’s wholly reasonable and appropriate that the club makes a change. Our worst start to a league season in our 116 year history, plus one of the worst FA cup exits in our history is reason itself. There should be a correction from the interviewer in yesterday’s post match interview, Gorleston are not ‘a level’ below us, they are two levels/steps below us.

There seems to be a sycophantic element to some of the posts on here and on other social media channels. A weird obsession by one poster in denigrating Shaun Jeffers at the expense of Ken Charles and suggestions that the players take the blame not the manager. On the latter point, that isn’t how football works. David Noble has assembled this team and it’s his responsibility to carry the can for performances. It’s worth remembering that Noble only turned around last season after a recall of Jeffers (and some easing of injuries).

This team feels unbalanced but ‘on paper’ should not be relegated. But I get a sense there is a complacency that we will ‘turn the corner’ and escape trouble. We can do that, but only by the club taking a firm grip on the football side of the club and making a change in management that gives a new appointment time to make changes.

[nat]

Sept 29, 2024 7:08:52 GMT bowsaint said:

Surely, and clearly, it’s not sustainable that David Noble remains manager?

It’s wholly reasonable and appropriate that the club makes a change. Our worst start to a league season in our 116 year history, plus one of the worst FA cup exits in our history is reason itself. There should be a correction from the interviewer in yesterday’s post match interview, Gorleston are not ‘a level’ below us, they are two levels/steps below us.

There seems to be a sycophantic element to some of the posts on here and on other social media channels. A weird obsession by one poster in denigrating Shaun Jeffers at the expense of Ken Charles and suggestions that the players take the blame not the manager. On the latter point, that isn’t how football works. David Noble has assembled this team and it’s his responsibility to carry the can for performances. It’s worth remembering that Noble only turned around last season after a recall of Jeffers (and some easing of injuries).

This team feels unbalanced but ‘on paper’ should not be relegated. But I get a sense there is a complacency that we will ‘turn the corner’ and escape trouble. We can do that, but only by the club taking a firm grip on the football side of the club and making a change in management that gives a new appointment time to make changes.

Well said.

[livo]

Yesterday was coming from a mile off. Players not built to win games at all. Showed yesterday against another physical side who waited and waited for a whoopsie up from JJ and MJ to pounce on. After that, they seem to keep gaining confidence hitting us on the break.

As for Noble. Absolutely silly choice to get him back. Oxford made a mistake going with inexperienced Sam cox. Definitely need to get rid of Meakes and Noble. I’d be really disgusted if Noble gets another game at Salisbury. Expect the announcement hopefully to be today so we can at least sort at Wheeler as interim and look for a manager over the next month.

People before the game I kept hearing ‘we’re not in a relegation battle’ ‘we’re too big to go down’. I’d tell you now, we better start fighting for these points otherwise we’re down! This league will spit u out of it (shown by Dartford and Havant) and doesn’t care if you’ve been here 10 years!

We need to show better fight. Cause I didn’t see any fight/creativity in the final 3rd to get back in that game. Hoddle played too high so couldn’t drive us forward. Deadfield and Rasulo were deep and just sprayed ball to Akinola who delayed putting the ball into the box with a million cut ins. Too many players in this side who just DO NOT GEL WHAT SO EVER.

[lagerman]

The owners will just have to spend what it takes to get in a decent manager, more investment in the playing side and team management side is whats needed now, rather than concentrating on "Chicken George and co" around the pitch.
We've had injuries, sure, but everybody gets them, the sQuad hasn't coped with covering those adeQuately enough, it needs a bit of freshening up, a decent manager with a decent knowledge of the non league game now would be useful

[minty]

By the sound of things from his interview he isn't going anywhere and I can't see the owners taking any action.This is part of a bigger problem these days where people refuse to take responsibility for their failures.
The owners might start taking notice once the food and drink outlets start pulling out due to decreased takings because of reduced crowds.
It will undo the good work they have done off the pitch, but ultimately what happens on the pitch should always come first.

[sideshowbob]

To much emphasis on food and drink at home games, I only want to see the football,which is dreadful.once crowds drop all the food outlets will pull out. Will noble still be manager? Yesterday we played as if it was training match, not much interest from the players. Quite shameful and embarrassing.

[Boomer]

Sept 29, 2024 11:59:31 GMT sideshowbob said:

To much emphasis on food and drink at home games, I only want to see the football,which is dreadful.once crowds drop all the food outlets will pull out. Will noble still be manager? Yesterday we played as if it was training match, not much interest from the players. Quite shameful and embarrassing.

Of course there is room for food and drink etc, especially if it helps with the crowd numbers and matchday experience etc - but not at the expense of the quality of the football on view and the subsequent results we have been subjected to so far this season . This needs to be sorted post haste or we are going to be in serious trouble.

[citycentresaint]

Sept 29, 2024 11:59:31 GMT sideshowbob said:

To much emphasis on food and drink at home games, I only want to see the football,which is dreadful.once crowds drop all the food outlets will pull out. Will noble still be manager? Yesterday we played as if it was training match, not much interest from the players. Quite shameful and embarrassing.

The focus has gone from signing a crafty midfielder to serving craft beer.

That is the underlying issue the club has. Look what happened to Dulwich.

[bob666]

The expansion of food and drink provision is a good thing. But the main reason it a good thing is that it should create resource to improve the team. The increase in attendance is a good thing but again it should create resource to improve the team. Of course its better that we get 1200 rather than 600 fans but why is the team worse now than when we getting half the supporters through the gate. It should be better.

By all accounts there was a decent bump in the playing budget over the summer. I don't believe the owners expected us to be bottom league and out of FA cup against a team two levels below us at the end of September. When increasing the budget I think they must targeting playoff qualification. I think they like to get rid of Noble but don't know how else to appoint. I know its not going to happen but I like to see a older man appointed as a firefighter figure to get us through to the end of the season- keep us up. I think Allinson would be prefect for this role if he take it. Then in the summer appoint a longer term manager to take us forward and develop the team.

[saint68]

I agree with a lot of what’s been said above, but I cannot accept the now well-worn argument that the owners aren’t interested in promotion but only in selling chicken-wings and craft beer. I sat near LL and other officials at the Play-Off Final and if you’d seen their expressions at half-time you wouldn’t doubt their feelings.

Bob666 is dead right when he says that the improved match-day experience is a good thing. I personally don’t drink often in the ground and never eat, but it’s undoubtedly one of the main reasons that our crowds have doubled since Lockdown. He’s also right though when he says that increased gate money and an increased budget should have helped improve the squad and the results when so far this season it’s been the complete opposite.

I’ve generally supported Noble this season and, feeling that the last two League games were a definite improvement, I hoped we were close to turning the corner. Based on that, I admit I didn’t see yesterday coming.

At any other Club Noble would be sacked, but as it’s generally accepted that the owners like him and by all accounts the team too, I’m not sure that will happen. If it does, then I believe we must recruit from outside. If Noble was to be replaced by Meakes and/or Wheeler then there’d be little change in approach. If we are to make a change it has to be a completely fresh start and it has to be now. We have five League games coming up in October and it’s vital we start winning soon. Three wins from five would be a start, otherwise we could be marooned at the bottom of the table.

[bowsaint]

I agree with much of what saint68 says.

Whilst the hospitality advertising, Chicken George etc, social media domination feels tiresome and very often seems prioritised over team news, it can’t be argued that our owners have vastly improved the appeal of attending Clarence Park on a match day.

It’s worth remembering that in our 05/06 promotion season, with an exceptional team, gates barely got close to 1,000 until the last couple of games of the season. Average attendances I would guess were closer to 5-600. It’s a great achievement of the regime to have improved attendance so much, especially with often poor home form.

But that makes it all the more galling to see us where we are. It would be an unbelievable shame, per Dulwich Hamlet as mentioned earlier, if we were to be relegated within this context of improved off field activities, attendances and community awareness of the club. Unfortunately that’s why I feel a change of manager and coaching regime at the club is urgently needed.

The Chesham management team would be an interesting option to explore.

[sideshowbob]

You recruit from outside the club, that's the only way forward, but that won't happen, so I will have to be satisfied with a chicken and wild mushroom pie and a pint of mad squirrel.

[jj123]

And Southern League football!

[norfamptonsaint]

Someone has to finish at the bottom of the league and this season it appears to be our turn, disappointing though it is after reaching the play-off final previously.

City need to find their level and it occurs to me that National League South is a step too far for the current set-up on and off the field.

So relegation wouldn’t be a bad thing and perhaps that’s why there has been no apparent move to change the coach.

[jj123]

Sept 29, 2024 17:11:13 GMT norfamptonsaint said:

Someone has to finish at the bottom of the league and this season it appears to be our turn, disappointing though it is after reaching the play-off final previously.

City need to find their level and it occurs to me that National League South is a step too far for the current set-up on and off the field.

So relegation wouldn’t be a bad thing and perhaps that’s why there has been no apparent move to change the coach.

Not sure I agree with the National league south isn’t our level.

This season aside, we’ve proven that we can compete against anyone on our day.

If noble doesn’t walk ahead of the next league game - will be an absolute disgrace.

[saint68]

Sept 29, 2024 17:11:13 GMT norfamptonsaint said:

Someone has to finish at the bottom of the league and this season it appears to be our turn, disappointing though it is after reaching the play-off final previously.

City need to find their level and it occurs to me that National League South is a step too far for the current set-up on and off the field.

So relegation wouldn’t be a bad thing and perhaps that’s why there has been no apparent move to change the coach.

I can’t agree with this at all. For the last six (completed) seasons we’ve finished 11th, 6th, 9th, 9th, 8th and 10th. That doesn’t suggest to me that we’re punching above our weight and that our natural level is the Southern League.

Also, if that’s the reason we haven’t changed our coach then that’s back to the old argument about whether the owners really want promotion. In fact, this takes it one step further by suggesting they actively want relegation, which I can’t accept.

[Boomer]

Sept 29, 2024 17:11:13 GMT norfamptonsaint said:

Someone has to finish at the bottom of the league and this season it appears to be our turn, disappointing though it is after reaching the play-off final previously.

City need to find their level and it occurs to me that National League South is a step too far for the current set-up on and off the field.

So relegation wouldn’t be a bad thing and perhaps that’s why there has been no apparent move to change the coach.

This is loose talk - once you are in a downward spiral into the league/s below, it can be very difficult to turn things around - Dulwich, Basingstoke, Dorchester, Dartford and Havant are prime examples. The National League South is nowhere near a 'step too far' for us but it needs sorting out NOW, before it gets totally out of hand.

[sideshowbob]

It won't be sorted out by noble, the owners should realise that. Still if we are relegated we will have the best food and drinks available in the southern league.

[lagerman]

I agree, National League South is our League, but no higher.
I've felt for a long, long time, before this season ever started, that the National League is just one step to high.
I disagree that NLS isn't our level, l think it is, but clearly things have to change and be improved on if we are to stay in this League
Incidentally, l know I've touched on (as others have too) the spending of money for the various food and drinks outlets, and l also said that more should be be spent on the playing staff and team management, but l do completely get that the owners have to make us as sustainable as possible, and as far as food and drink outlets go, arguably, they seem to have done well in that respect.
l guess it's a very fine line between what you spend on the playing side and what you spend off it, but to me it just seems that our sQuad just hasn't been adeQuate enough in coping with players out injured, as much as it has been in the past. Perhaps we've had more injuries at a time than we've had in the past, l don't know, but it's a sQuad game and you have to try to build as good an all round sQuad as you can and I'm not sure we've done that this season

[bowsaint]

I can’t agree at all that the NLS is a step beyond our current set up.

On the pitch, currently yes, but we have an average gate of over 1,400 this season (6th highest in the league). This is remarkable given we are bottom of the table. The district of St Albans has a population of 140,000 people in an excellent catchment area for players. If we can’t sustain NLS level football at the very least I’ve got no idea who can.

My worry is there an excess of rose tinted glasses from the people/fans (some on this forum it appears) who are closest to our ownership. Lawrence and team deserve enormous credit for the general health of the club, however it would be an utter travesty for this approach to result in relegation.

[sideshowbob]

If we lose to Salisbury Saturday,which is quite likely. He will still be manager,people are wasting time even giving an opinion on here,it will fall on deaf ears!

[hoofit]

"IF we lose" ??