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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2016 20:20:02 GMT
We even beat 86 point Cheltenham Town for goodness sake and unless my eyes were deceiving me that was with James Constable in the side - please note, those who now seem, from their comments on this thread, to want to write him off. I think you may have misinterpreted criticism of the style we play with Constable in the team, as oppose to the ability of the player himself. James can only play how the team play to him as a whole, and for me that is not to this strengths, so that his not his fault. He is not a hold up/target man or channel running player, and although he works his ass of doing it, that is not his strength. His strength is as centre forward facing goal with balls across the box. He is better for it by having wingers pinging balls in across the box from left and right bylines, not back to goal and channel running taking him away from target.
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Post by tenacres on Mar 13, 2016 21:04:45 GMT
Looks like Beano will probably not be available for Bromley.
Hopefully we will be a bit more clinical on Tuesday, I doubt we will get as many chances.
Its all a bit hypothetical at the minute, but when we play Welling (who are on the brink of relegation) in 2 weekends times would playing 3 up front be a reasonable option?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2016 7:58:24 GMT
I've read twice now that Constable has already signed for next season, is that true or just guess work? In all honesty if it is true forget winning the title next season, it won't happen because how we play with him in the side makes it easy for teams to defend against us, too predictable.
On the CT front I'd imagine there was a big bust up behind the scenes regarding those two Carlisle players, there must have been quite a lot of work put in to get them on loan, yet it became clear CT said they were not as good or better than he already had in the squad. It appears those players heard it and phoned their parent club to get them back home, hence the so called emergency to leave Friday back to Carlisle and the deal called off Monday. I'm not convinced about CT to be honest, he had a fantastic honeymoon period, he's been unlucky with injuries to be fair, but nearly all the signings have hardly had many minutes on the pitch, they seem to just ensure we have numbers on the bench. What has the lad Holland done so far is a good example. Something isn't right. He made the news this weekend with four goals, Dan Holman, who with the rest of the Woking team was put on the transfer list earlier this season and therefore available, we made no move, but Cheltenham did, 14 goals with Woking, and now 9 at Cheltenham, he could end up top goal scorer. Where was our scouting network?? Oh yeah that's right, we don't have one, yet we sign boys to keep the bench warm!!!
I personally think CT is fighting for his job, apart from Luke Coulson, and Matty will come good if we play him correctly, the signings haven't come off, that has to be seen as poor judgements and harms CT in that respect. In my view the squad needs a major overhaul in the close season and that may also mean an experienced manager come in as well. It may sound harsh on CT but at the moment I don't think he's grabbed the opportunity he was given, would getting into the PO save him? I'm not sure it would, getting to Wembley and winning promotion definitely saves him so that's the target. If he stays then we need to look for a Director of Football to help him with transfers, as Martin said, John Gregory type of guy.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2016 8:04:08 GMT
I've read twice now that Constable has already signed for next season, is that true or just guess work? I seem to remember Stewart saying at the fans forum that Constable was one of a few that was already signed on for next year. The rest were asking for contracts.
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Post by hantslondoner on Mar 14, 2016 9:07:22 GMT
I said at the time that I expected a more experienced manager to be brought in when RH left, judging by the way we usually go for imported experienced players to fill the gaps rather than use what we had in-house. I was surprised when CT was appointed, although most people on here seemed to be clamouring for it - I'd have thought he was more of an ideal no 2.
Having said that I think CT has done quite well - it's been two bad runs (one under RH, one under CT) that have put a play-off position at risk. I'm not sure an experienced manager would have done much better. Also we had the Cup run, which has been a double-edged sword.
I agree that transfer deadline day/loans since then have been disappointing and there have been signs of disagreement 'up top' - it's not clear to me what the transfer/loan policy is now, nor who's driving it. I was one of those in Jan saying that we needed to get in a few players in to compensate for the fixture backlog/suspension hit, but we didn't and I think that's damaged us. My guess is that there has been some problems within the squad with frustration leading to suspensions and some players underperforming. Is it a case of player power over an inexperienced coach? Whether Strevs moving up to no 2 will fix this, I'm not sure.
Good to see someone (SunnySaturdays) at last saying what they think Beano's strengths are and where his ideal position is. We should be able to accommodate that... Coulson for me has been great so far. And he's still relatively new to the team.
The pitch is terrible but in the last three home games we seem to have worked out way(s) to play effectively on it, so we could win most of our remaining home games, starting with Bromley and Welling, Win these and we'll be in reach of the playoffs again. A bit of confidence seems to be returning, so keep the support going.....
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2016 9:29:40 GMT
I think Beano strenghts & weaknesses have been widely discussed many times on here. And in reply to John - Im not for one minute discarding Beano, i just wouldnt be starting with him with the current squad right now, we dont play with any wingers, so we dont suit his style, no matter which way you dress it up. I would keep him & have him on the bench for the majority of games, but the problem with that is, he is going to be an expensive bench player and at this stage in his career, he wont want to just be a bench player. Under 20 goals per season isnt good enough for your main striker, as ive said many times, that goal ratio will not win you the league and that has to be the aim, doesnt it. Agree with Keith that we need a far bigger squad overhaul at the end of the season, we really cant be too sentimental with players who have been with us a while. They have proved 2 seasons running that they are coming up short, so its time to move them on and bring in new. I'm a bit surprised that the Shaun North appointment is being defended. He was Todd's choice and it was a choice that Todd took a long time to consider who to bring in as his No.2, he certainly didnt rush into making an appointment, and unfortunately it just hasnt worked out, so you cant really defend that appointment, it has to go down as a Todd failing. Make no mistake, Todd wil get a few signings wrong, every manager does. I like Todd, i want him to stay and i want him to grow & improve in the role, which he will if given time, but he needs to start getting his signings right, as that is the big black mark against him for me. The suggested idea of a DOF will not work at this level, as its generally a big wage. We just need to improve the way we bring players in. Taking calls from agents or asking agents to go get you players that you really haven't scouted and researched yourselves, just results in the agents giving you players that they will earn well out of, you dont get the best players that will suit your club. Agents will never tell you if a player has a bad temperament, or are not going to be the right fit for our club & they certinly wont admit that the player is not good enough for the level, they wil just tell you the player is the best thing since sliced bread, or will tell/show you that he once had a good season at this level 5 years ago, which isnt a reflection on what the player can offer at this level now....
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Post by nobadspitfire on Mar 14, 2016 10:31:34 GMT
I'm a bit surprised that the Shaun North appointment is being defended. He was Todd's choice and it was a choice that Todd took a long time to consider who to bring in as his No.2, he certainly didnt rush into making an appointment, and unfortunately it just hasnt worked out, so you cant really defend that appointment, it has to go down as a Todd failing. Make no mistake, Todd wil get a few signings wrong, every manager does. I like Todd, i want him to stay and i want him to grow & improve in the role, which he will if given time, but he needs to start getting his signings right, as that is the big black mark against him for me. The suggested idea of a DOF will not work at this level, as its generally a big wage. We just need to improve the way we bring players in. Did it take time for CT to bring in SN? As far as I recall they were both appointed on the same day. CT couldn't bring him in before being appointed to the job, really, could he? SN was surely appointed on the basis that CT played under him in the past & liked his style or whatever. The fact that he didn't fit in with the current Spitfire set up may be down to many factors. Every Manager makes mistakes with signings. Look at how much money has been wasted in the Premiership by highly regarded managers. If we knew as much about all other National League clubs as we do about Eastleigh, there would be similar mistakes in signings made by all the managers in the division. It could be argued, maybe that we have a DOF already in the form of SD, but he probably wouldn't agree with that. I couldn't see any logical sense in bring down 2 players from Carlisle on loan, any loan players should surely come in from clubs in the southern half of England, and Wales. Yes we do need to improve the way the club (because it's not just down to CT) brings in players, just like every club would say the same.
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Post by back4more on Mar 14, 2016 10:48:07 GMT
Another well ground out three points. But, can we please please PLEASE, for the love of God, not play that Piranhas song when we score? Anything but that. Anything. Even f***ing Adele. ANYTHING. It's been done. Everywhere else. It's naff. It's embarrassing. Please. We're better than that. Playing any sort of "music" after a home goal is totally no class.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2016 11:03:01 GMT
Yes you are right Martin, they were appointed on the same day, my mistake. I guess as Todd was first used as a caretaker manager for about a month, that that was what i was thinking of in regards to taking his time to name a no.2
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Post by back4more on Mar 14, 2016 11:36:44 GMT
Re the striker debate, some fair points are being made but it's worth having the option to vary style and selection.
I know that there's a very valid case to be made for stability and a settled side, but that needs to be balanced with not being too predictable. We also have to have the ability to adapt our playing style especially when we get the injuries and suspensions that we are now seeing. Keep it simple yes, but football teams like any other organisation have to be able to adapt or they die.
If I were Chris Todd I would be thinking that the fact that we are currently able to put out a strong winning side when the spine of the team is missing is testament to having a good well balanced and diverse squad. These circumstances provide the ideal opportunity to try the things that might help us improve and that chance seems to be being well taken.
Re the accusation of player power over an inexperienced coach I think nothing could be further from the truth. CT is proving very assertive in his team selection and in his on and off field direction from what I can see from my seat behind the dug out and bench.
On another note it is worrying when you get posts from one regular forumite guessing at the worst possible scenario on a range of recruitment related subjects (eg Carlisle loan players and a Woking fire sale) and then judging the Eastleigh manager on what he thinks might have happened. I would add that CT's decision not to sign the Carlisle players on loan should be seen as the mark of someone who will back his own judgement.
I don't agree with the point being made that the squad needs a complete clear out. There do need to be some changes but we saw the folly of bringing in too many new faces in Ian Baird's final days at the club. We do anyway have one of the best groups of players in our league.
Re the idea of a "Director of Football" I have to admit that I don't see how that concept would work. You need one man at the top of the football department. That at the moment is CT. If you make the suggested appointment Todd then becomes number 2. You demote people when they are not performing and are unable to offer any signs of improvement, not when they are doing very well as he is, in my opinion anyway.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2016 12:44:13 GMT
Plenty of clubs at a higher level have a DOF and it doesn't make the manager a no.2 at all. A DOF is there to look at the whole footballing set up on behalf of the club, from the youth set up to first team, and are more able to spend time & effort on the scouting network & recruiting side of things. That in turn then lets the manager just get on with managing his first team, without all the other "hassles" that come with the job. I do agree though that the manager should have final say on who comes into the club IMO, It would not work at EFC though, & you really do not need one at this level of football. The proviso to not having a DOF is, that you have a good footballing network of contacts, both in a knowledgeable perspective & in a wider geographic sense, so that you do not miss any gems that might become available. At the moment, i dont think we quite have this and that is why we have seen a number of disappointing signings, who have quickly been identified as "not good enough". If we keep bringing in players like this, who then either leave or get pushed out on loan, we will very quickly gain a reputation as a club who have a very bad transfer policy and players will think twice before coming to us..
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2016 18:13:37 GMT
Another well ground out three points. But, can we please please PLEASE, for the love of God, not play that Piranhas song when we score? Anything but that. Anything. Even f***ing Adele. ANYTHING. It's been done. Everywhere else. It's naff. It's embarrassing. Please. We're better than that. I would like to hear "Come on Eileen" by Dexys Midnight Runners played when we score, but only because it sounds a bit like " Come on Eastleigh".
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Post by back4more on Mar 14, 2016 18:20:49 GMT
Matt Fanimo is the only player I can recall who was signed, remained fit to play, then was let go out of choice while Chris Todd has been in the role.
I agree we'll benefit in our recruitment as the club develops. I'm not convinced though Paul re DOF's at any level.
Can you think of any successful (eg top 5 or 6 in their league) English league or premier league club that achieves its success with a DOF in place?
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Post by hantslondoner on Mar 14, 2016 18:21:50 GMT
"Come on Eileen"
Isn't that the song that Bristol Rovers use?
Is '633 Squadron' used by another club? Failing that, the Benny Hill theme ;-)?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2016 19:12:14 GMT
Matt Fanimo is the only player I can recall who was signed, remained fit to play, then was let go out of choice while Chris Todd has been in the role. I agree we'll benefit in our recruitment as the club develops. I'm not convinced though Paul re DOF's at any level. Can you think of any successful (eg top 5 or 6 in their league) English league or premier league club that achieves its success with a DOF in place? Kaid - Sent out on loan for remainder of season Lafayette - sent out on loan for remainder of season (although he was a Hilly signing) Poke - Will sit on the bench for the remainder of the season. Holland - Hasnt set foot on the pitch yet Shaun North - Appointed as Coach, but released (assumably wasn't fulfilling his duties that well?) Add the 2 Carlisle lads, that were "scouted" and brought in, only for Toddy to tell them they weren't good enough (if you believe that version of events). Q. Who scouted them?, as that was awful scouting!! 2 young lads from that far north, are never likely to settle that far away from home. I agree with you about the DOF role, i cannot think of one instance where it has worked in English football. It seems to work well in Europe, as they go about things differently with their academy set ups etc. I think European manager's accept that someone in a DOF role above them will do all the recruiting, but its unlikely that any manager over here will accept that, Lnd rightly so IMO. But are we just being ignorant to change...? And as you have pointed out elsewhere, there are plenty of top Premier league managers who have signed expensive players who haven't worked out. If English clubs were winning all over Europe you could say we have it right, but we are not...and lets face it, all the English club managers that compete in European competitions are foreigners anyway, who maybe are more accepting on the European model?
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