Saturday 5th February: League & FA Cup

[Greenacres]

I think Cooper definitely had an eye for talent to fall out with but we're lucky in our DoF etc that they're not just window dressing, think two or three of our current best performers were their picks from relative obscurity.

I think the signings of Nicky Cadden from Greenock Morton and Regan Hendry from Raith Rovers suggest we are spreading our scouting network a little wider than previously...where the majority of our signings seemed to have featured for one or more of the West Country clubs...either way, I'm pretty happy with our recruitment of late, far more hits than misses.

 

[Agombar stool]

Looking forward to Swindon next up. We’ve got a pretty poor record against them and had to work hard at their ground for a point.

Our home record is bizarre. 11 wins against teams outside the playoffs but 4 losses from 4 against teams in it. A win Tuesday to change that will settle any seeds of doubt still lingering from the FGR game.

With the return of Tom Davies Tuesday our defence should be a lot tighter too.

I'm not confident personally given the last few matches. We'll play some nice stuff but won't defend properly and you'll probably win 2-0

 

[Robshep]

I'm not confident personally given the last few matches. We'll play some nice stuff but won't defend properly and you'll probably win 2-0

Us. Score twice. Not our thing.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Just read about Neville offering to pay supporters travel costs, players costs, donation to charity, blah blah blah.

Does this mean they are feeling a bit guilty about the state of the pitch? All that dosh and they can't spend a few quid on something like that.

 

[Koumas’Right-Boot]

Just read about Neville offering to pay supporters travel costs, players costs, donation to charity, blah blah blah.

Does this mean they are feeling a bit guilty about the state of the pitch? All that dosh and they can't spend a few quid on something like that.

Have you been to their ground?

While on TV it looks a nice lower league ground in reality it’s a s-hole and like a few other grounds new to the league doesn’t have the infrastructure to cope with the support of more traditional EFL clubs.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Have you been to their ground?

While on TV it looks a nice lower league ground in reality it’s a s-hole and like a few other grounds new to the league doesn’t have the infrastructure to cope with the support of more traditional EFL clubs.

No i haven't. But having a s$#$ ground doesn't necessarily mean a poor pitch. Especially if you are able to spend a lot of money on the playing staff

 

[Koumas’Right-Boot]

No i haven't. But having a s$#$ ground doesn't necessarily mean a poor pitch. Especially if you are able to spend a lot of money on the playing staff

Was slicing up like butter when we played there a few weeks back, don’t think there was particularly heavy rain that day.

 

[Chris FGR]

Think our improvement from last season is down to a few things, firstly Edwards has been brilliant in terms of man management plus coming from coaching at Wolves under Nuno he was already pretty used to coaching a 3-5-2 with wing backs which suited our squad perfectly. Secondly we’ve been very lucky with injuries, last season the likes of Wilson, JMT and Matt had long spells out, a few others seemed to have a lot of niggles plus we never replaced Winchester (Stevenson has done that very well this season) who tended to tie everything together in midfield. This year our key players have largely stayed injury free and we’ve been able to pick a consistent line up.

Putting Stevens up top with Matt has also been a huge success, last season we tended to use Collins just off Jamma and although he’s a skilful player he’s not a natural striker, his finishing is very hit and miss.

Obviously if we do go up, it will be interesting to see how things go, keeping the whole squad happy is easier when your winning most weeks so it will be a good test of just how high he can go in the game. Edwards has built a great relationship with the fans unlike Cooper which should help on that front.

And it certainly looks like he’s the type not too arrogant to keep learning and improving, a couple of Telford fans I know didn’t really rate him from his fairly brief time there and were surprised he got the job here, shows he’s obviously come on a long way coaching at Wolves and the England u16’s.

 

[Gassy]

Young and new managers also need time. When Matt Gray was first appointed Sutton manager many Sutton supporters were underwhelmed with his appointment and those feelings were amplified when we went on a run of 1 win in 14, leaving us 2nd bottom of the National League table going into November 2019. Honestly, I was one of a significant number of Sutton supporters who wanted to see a managerial change. Thank goodness I was wrong!

From November of 2019 Gray found a style that worked, had a settled core of players and our results on the field have been impressive. We’re now at the highest position in our 124 year history and I don’t think that would have happened if our board was trigger happy or if they listened to social media moaners like myself.

Whilst I really agree with this statement, the problem is that it assumes that they’ll always come good if you give them time - and that simply isn’t the case. Unless they fall so far when they eventually start winning lol

 

[Chris FGR]

Remember when we gave a young up and coming manager called Dave Hockaday a job and gave him years to get it right despite being bloody awful to start with (on a small budget tbf). In the end best he ever managed was 10th in the National League with a top budget. It’s not always about being patient, if you ain’t got it you ain’t got it.

I would actually say that the only inexperienced manager who’s done properly well here in the last 20-30 years is Rob Edwards. The others all failed by and large. For example experience like Colin Addison and JIm Harvey did a lot better then the likes of Gary Owers, Tim Harris or Alan Lewer.

 

[FGR Stroud]

Whilst I really agree with this statement, the problem is that it assumes that they’ll always come good if you give them time - and that simply isn’t the case. Unless they fall so far when they eventually start winning lol

I agree that it is usually best to go with a proven winning manager but for the past two seasons Cheltenham & FGR have employed 1st time managers and look at the success they've achieved at either clubs.

Cheltenham under Duff won the EFL2 title for first time in their history and FGR under Edwards are hoping to so same this season.

 

[Robshep]

Boreham Wood supporters singing "Your support is fucking shit". OK.

 

[JaredSUFC]

Boreham Wood supporters singing "Your support is fucking shit". OK.

That’s Boreham Wood who have the lowest average attendance in the National League despite currently sitting in 5th with games in hand.

 

[JaredSUFC]

Whilst I really agree with this statement, the problem is that it assumes that they’ll always come good if you give them time - and that simply isn’t the case. Unless they fall so far when they eventually start winning lol

Obviously there is a limit, however that isn’t 10 or 15 games in for the most part. One of my biggest problems with Football fans is the massive short termism

 

[Chris FGR]

That’s Boreham Wood who have the lowest average attendance in the National League despite currently sitting in 5th with games in hand.

Those fans singing it are probably Spurs/Arsenal/Watford/Man U fans though tbf. Towns full of people who support other clubs.

 

[Robshep]

That’s Boreham Wood who have the lowest average attendance in the National League despite currently sitting in 5th with games in hand.

Bankrolled by Arsenal.

 

[Essex2Wessex]

I'm all in favour of supporting the underdog (pleased there were big sighs all around the Green Man at FGR yesterday when West Ham very belatedly equalised against Kiddy).

But I draw the line at cheering on Boreham Wood.

 

[Robshep]

Those fans singing it are probably Spurs/Arsenal/Watford/Man U fans though tbf. Towns full of people who support other clubs.

They took 1,500 to Wembley in 2018. A 3 mile journey. You took a fair percentage of your village.

 

[Robshep]

I'm all in favour of supporting the underdog (pleased there were big sighs all around the Green Man at FGR yesterday when West Ham very belatedly equalised against Kiddy).

But I draw the line at cheering on Boreham Wood.

Creates a dilemna if they go through and play Everton. Who to dislike the most.

 

[chipmunx]

Well Boreham Wood have just knocked out Bournemouth - and some chairman will ignore the style of play and look that Garrard has got a NL team to the FA Cup 5th round - so he will be in demand.

 

[Deepcut Cobbler]

I cashed in at 80 minutes...expecting a payout for a draw as well...

 

[BarraMatt]

Disgusting watch that.

 

[RLC]

Creates a dilemna if they go through and play Everton. Who to dislike the most.

Second biggest game in their history.

 

[chipmunx]

Second biggest game in their history.

biggest Boreham Wood have had for a while too

 

[Robshep]

Second biggest game in their history.

Unless Everton have a player sent off in the 1st minute and use all their subs by half time its not even worth acknowledging a win for them.

 

[Gassy]

I agree that it is usually best to go with a proven winning manager but for the past two seasons Cheltenham & FGR have employed 1st time managers and look at the success they've achieved at either clubs.

Cheltenham under Duff won the EFL2 title for first time in their history and FGR under Edwards are hoping to so same this season.

Oh don’t get me wrong, our most successful managers recently were fairly new to management in DC & GC.

Then again, there was also Garner

 

[chipmunx]

Disgusting watch that.

still a better match than Egypt v Senegal though.... apart from Boreham Wood winning of course.

 

[GTFCfish]

Obviously if we do go up, it will be interesting to see how things go.

If?

 

[Chris FGR]

If?
View attachment 16647

Learnt my lesson fish.

 

[GTFCfish]

Learnt my lesson fish.

You have a 14 point cushion to 4th place and it seems that every time you play a promotion rival you demolish them, I think you’re pretty safe mucker.