2019-20 National League South

[Aberstone]

That pretty much sums us up this season.

The team has no consistency whatsoever, we will play brilliant one game & I think wow we might actually challenge for promotion, then the next one we're the drizzling shits.

I'm surprised at Maidstone's inconsistency now we're into November, it was always going to take a bit of time with a largely new squad and full-time training for results to bear dividends but for those exact reasons coupled with Torquay's resurgence by this time last season, I'd have thought that you would have racked off a few successive wins at this stage.

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In other news, as suspected on Saturday it's utterly criminal that the referee misses the foul on Sanchez Watt from which Dorking retrieve possession and score on the break. DB is hardly pulling any punches on it either judging by his pre-Eastbourne presser.

 

[iron4ever]

Q

I see Glenn Driver has quit as your manager? Bit of a surprise.
My understanding is that he suffered some abuse from a small but ignorant group of (so called) fans after the Hungerford game and considering he was working with possibly the lowest budget in the league he thought WTF do they expect from me! If l was being abused that way after putting my heart and soul into producing a competitive team with such limited resources l too would wonder if lt was all worth it. That said both Glen and Tony leave the club with the vast majority of fans good wishes and sad to see them go.

 

[#Beebot]

Watch out Chelmsford!

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/1...n-talks-numerous-clubs-itching-get-back-game/

 

[#Beebot]

Q

Braintree are probably the most consistently overachieving club in non-league over the last decade. It seems like some fans are drunk on that and think the club should be in the NL when actually on your budget you're still doing better than you should be.

 

[Kim Mitten]

Watch out Chelmsford!

https://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/1...n-talks-numerous-clubs-itching-get-back-game/

Not just them - numerous clubs, watch out anyone in the entire South East non-league pyramid. Note he also says he paid out £150k to cancel the contracts of players, just shows what ridiculous sums he was paying.

If it is Chelmsford they are a more sustainable club at NL level, or even League 2 without actually pumping in loads of money but Tamplin won't do that, he'll start the circus again.

 

[Luke Imp]

Not just them - numerous clubs, watch out anyone in the entire South East non-league pyramid. Note he also says he paid out £150k to cancel the contracts of players, just shows what ridiculous sums he was paying.

If it is Chelmsford they are a more sustainable club at NL level, or even League 2 without actually pumping in loads of money but Tamplin won't do that, he'll start the circus again.

How many did he pay off at the end of his reign in the end? I know there were 3.

 

[Raymondo316]

The lack of news coming out of Chelmsford denying this Tamplin rumour would have me very worried if I was a fan. Also with the news coming out of Braintree that they're struggling financially I wouldn't be surprised if Tamplin could be targeting them as well.

 

[Raymondo316]

Well Chelmsford have said the club isn't for sale https://www.chelmsfordcityfc.com/news/club-statement-2484679.html

 

[Aberstone]

In other news, speculative journalism from a local presser shocker. That said, with family members and an old work colleague living in Chelmo, it made my morning very entertaining.

At lunchtime we announced the signing of Jack Jebb from Welling United which they're taking really well going by Twitter and their forum.

I spoke to a mate of mine who occasionally goes to Welling games and he said "he's alright" before laying into a massive tirade on Mark Goldberg so in reality he should be very good for us. I'm not sure where he fits into the midfield dynamic unless somebody goes but hey, it's a nice problem to have - Wealdstone FC, going for it!™ (2019/20 special)

 

[Aberstone]

I see Glenn Driver has quit as your manager? Bit of a surprise.

Braintree press has him leaving for a lack of ambition with them on the lowest budget in the league. I'm not ruling that out to be fair but Concord, Hungerford and Oxford City will be small payers too.

Or maybe Mr. Tamplin is heading further north into Essex and he jumped the ship?

 

[Raymondo316]

Braintree press has him leaving for a lack of ambition with them on the lowest budget in the league. I'm not ruling that out to be fair but Concord, Hungerford and Oxford City will be small payers too.

Or maybe Mr. Tamplin is heading further north into Essex and he jumped the ship?

Looking at Tonbridge's squad & how they struggled recruitment wise, I'd have them as the team with the lowest budget in this league.

As for Tamplin, now Chelmsford have turned him down I wouldn't be surprised if he turns his focus to Braintree.

 

[Aberstone]

Looking at Tonbridge's squad & how they struggled recruitment wise, I'd have them as the team with the lowest budget in this league.

As for Tamplin, now Chelmsford have turned him down I wouldn't be surprised if he turns his focus to Braintree.

There's always one I miss!

 

[iron4ever]

Told you all several posts ago we are inconsistent. Lose 3-0 at home to bottom of table Hungerford at home last week then win 3-0 at high flying Hemel today and it should have been more. Aint footie great!

 

[Seventyseven]

Breaking news: Angels undefeated today.

 

[Raymondo316]

Should be interesting what comes of this http://www.maidstoneunited.co.uk/2019/11/come-and-share-in-the-stones-future/

Its kind of been expected, they've mentioned a fair few times now that they haven't got the money to finish the stadium or fund a squad to challenge in the league above. So if they actually sell up I just hope/pray we don't end up with some egomaniac similar to Tamplin.

 

[Aberstone]

I'd have thought that they would undertake their due diligence so that shouldn't be an issue?

Stones have this evening signed Fumnaya Shomotun following his release from Barnet in the summer. Second time round with him here after his successful loan spell with us last season.

I'm always a little bit wary about players who return for a second stint and who knows what shape he's in having not been playing regularly (as far as I'm aware) but it's further competition in the wide areas.

 

[Raymondo316]

I'd have thought that they would undertake their due diligence so that shouldn't be an issue?

You'd imagine so, but you always hear about these so called ''good people'' buying football clubs and then they turn out to be the exact opposite.

 

[Aberstone]

You'd imagine so, but you always hear about these so called ''good people'' buying football clubs and then they turn out to be the exact opposite.

Potentially look to bring in more than one partner then and minimise the risk. I take it Maidstone have a Supporters Trust? If so, perhaps it's worth collating some funding to invest in the club and own a stake in doing so?

For what it's worth, I'm a shareholder in Wealdstone as I'm fairly sure the two other Stones supporters on here are too. Good thing about our club constitution is that no shareholder has more than 33.3% voting rights.

 

[#Beebot]

I'd have thought that they would undertake their due diligence so that shouldn't be an issue?

Stones have this evening signed Fumnaya Shomotun following his release from Barnet in the summer. Second time round with him here after his successful loan spell with us last season.

I'm always a little bit wary about players who return for a second stint and who knows what shape he's in having not been playing regularly (as far as I'm aware) but it's further competition in the wide areas.

He looked good on trial at Maidenhead in pre-season but didn't sign, despite the fact that we desperately needed a player like him (and still do).

Great player to watch though. Very technically gifted.

 

[Aberstone]

2-0 defeat at Hampton yesterday. Give the hosts their due, they didn't give us time to settle for the entire 90 minutes and even when we did break the press their defenders seemed to be in the right place at the right time.

Not going to dwell too much on it since we always seem to play poorly at the Beveree.

 

[joethegill]

Should be interesting what comes of this http://www.maidstoneunited.co.uk/2019/11/come-and-share-in-the-stones-future/

Its kind of been expected, they've mentioned a fair few times now that they haven't got the money to finish the stadium or fund a squad to challenge in the league above. So if they actually sell up I just hope/pray we don't end up with some egomaniac similar to Tamplin.

Makes sense really. The current set up have done wonders for the club and town, but unless the ambition is to knock about the upper reaches of the National South then a few more quid needs putting in. No idea how much the re-developments to the ground would cost but they'd be worth it - Stones get good gates and the place is always pretty vibrant on a matchday. A few years treading water and I wonder if the numbers will stay the same, so the time to strike is now.

Interesting that the suggestion is the new changing rooms would be put in the Town End - would that indicate that the Spitfire Lounge & changing room set up could potentially be torn down to extend the main stand the full length of the pitch? Or is there another plan for that space?

 

[Farleigh]

Current plan is to put four covered rows of seats along the Riverside with a pathway behind (cost £650,000?). Which is a shame, as this adds nothing to capacity. We have recently bought a strip of land behind.

Standing in the Spitfire, I reckon they could demolish the changing rooms and keep the bar which is just beyond the goal line, allowing a main stand extension. In reality this won't happen for the same reason the Riverside won't be bigger; money.

A decent sized Town End that brought ground capacity up to EFL standards would probably be a couple of million.

If the Genco stand became the away end, you could bolt more seats along the front few rows.

The stadium was built for Ryman League football. Converting it on a tight site is tricky and costly. There is a plan online somewhere, but can't find it right now.

 

[Raymondo316]

This is from a few years ago so things have likely changed, but the plan for the town end is a 2 tier stand

 

[Farleigh]

The Football League years are a curse. There are only a handful of clubs in this league with EFL pretensions, plans to expand their ground to achieve that, and fans who want that to happen. All based on a couple of disastrous seasons back in the 90s. As long as it fails to materialise, a minority will always be disappointed.

 

[simonfromsurrey]

Maidstone can do what they want to the ground to get league ready

But until you remove that shiny plastic abomination its all a waste of time. Or are 'fweeeegee 4 us' still telling us how they are saving football ?

 

[joethegill]

Current plan is to put four covered rows of seats along the Riverside with a pathway behind (cost £650,000?). Which is a shame, as this adds nothing to capacity. We have recently bought a strip of land behind.

Standing in the Spitfire, I reckon they could demolish the changing rooms and keep the bar which is just beyond the goal line, allowing a main stand extension. In reality this won't happen for the same reason the Riverside won't be bigger; money.

A decent sized Town End that brought ground capacity up to EFL standards would probably be a couple of million.

If the Genco stand became the away end, you could bolt more seats along the front few rows.

The stadium was built for Ryman League football. Converting it on a tight site is tricky and costly. There is a plan online somewhere, but can't find it right now.

Surely adding rows to the river side would add capacity seeing as it's currently just hard standing? Always thought just a couple of steps would be fine personally, rather than seating.

I think I remember hearing the Genco stand was originally due to be the away stand anyway, and unless the new Town End was of a similar size and style I'd be surprised if the kids at that end were that keen on moving away from the away fans they seem to love so much. Double Decker stand looks good saying that, and would improve the overall look of the ground no end.

As long as the pie hut stays, I'll be happy enough.

 

[Farleigh]

Maidstone can do what they want to the ground to get league ready

But until you remove that shiny plastic abomination its all a waste of time. Or are 'fweeeegee 4 us' still telling us how they are saving football ?

These days most players train on 3G anyway. It saves a ton of money on renting a training pitch. It gets used by the women and disability teams. And in a town that lost a generation of young fans, it gets played on by hundreds of local schoolkids. Every evening I walk past the ground, the floodlights are on and the pitch is being used. It's not for every club, it shouldn't be compulsory, but there is a place for modern synthetic pitches in football. I would rather forego a place in the EFL than give it up.

 

[simonfromsurrey]

Well that's good news then because Harrogate and Bromley have both accepted they'll have to go to grass if they go up.

So yourselves and Sutton can continue the plastic alliance.

 

[joethegill]

Reaching the EFL was the death knell for Maidstone last time, and with the current grass/3G rules as they are, would probably have the same outcome should they reach League Two anytime soon (however likely or unlikely that is). They're a great community club who are doing nothing wrong by playing on 3G. I doubt there's a footballer in the land who hasn't had reasonable playing time on 3G these days, so while it's different, yes, it's not quite the same as the plastic pitches of the 80s.

 

[simonfromsurrey]

There's a reason the EFL wont allow it, Clubs outside the league cannot dictate to a competition they want to join about anything. 3G is shit, always has been, whatever variation you have its just a shiny, slippery shitshow

We've got two players who don't play on it at all due to knee injuries