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Post by steve on Oct 10, 2017 11:29:08 GMT
Obviously I want entertaining football and loads of goals from EFC, watching a winning team regularly and mounting a challenge. But if I am truly honest with myself, would I have cared if we were battered, the opposing team hit the woodwork three times, missed a penalty, had two cleared off our line, and the goalie made four world class saves, yet come the 93rd minute we nicked the only goal and won ,I'll take the three points all day long.
3 wins in 14 isn't really taking 3pts all day long...
As I said in a previous thread, I don't think it RH should step down until March/April time (unless we are in a relegation battle OR on for a play off place). Unlucky with injuries yes, but meant to have a squad capable enough of competing?
Is the manager really building a side for the next few seasons? some of his signings suggest not... what happens when these players retire or ultimately aren't fit/good enough to compete anymore? Same problem. I wouldn't write this season off just yet, but this has got to be the rebuilding season to compete next year or even the following year...
A lot of responsibility rests with the players, but I do wonder if the centre halfs and full backs are happy whacking it long into channels and the strikers feeding off scraps..
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Post by steve on Oct 5, 2017 8:39:37 GMT
Last year was a complete fiasco, we will improve on last season; support the club and leave RH alone to get on with the job. Okay he doesn't know all the answers, but he knows a lot more than most of us do, which is why he is a professional in football and we are not. Do you believe Richard Hill is the right man to take us forward in the long run then?
As I said, right decision to bring him in last season to steady the ship but don't feel we can progress under him.
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Post by steve on Oct 4, 2017 11:42:26 GMT
Do I think Richard Hill should step down/be sacked now? No, Do I think Richard Hill is the right man to take us forward? No. I will be honest I am not a Richard Hill fan, I never have been and he knows that. What he did to win the Conference South was incredible and there is no disputing his record in his first stint was impressive. He left the club with the quote ‘I’ve taken this club as far as I can’. Was Richard Hill the right man to bring in midway after last year’s shambles? Yes. Stewart made a mistake in allowing Chris Todd a full summer of recruitment with a decent budget only to sack him 4 games into the season. Ronnie Moore was an interesting one, his character and experience seemed to fit the club. The best Eastleigh performance I have ever seen (since 2001) was Swindon away last season, for whatever reason if it was the commute, the changing room, something wasn’t right and he ‘left’. Martin Allen let Stewart, the club and fans down – he was the man who could take us forward, if there are two managers you’d want to get you out the league its Allen or John Still but let’s face it, it was a disaster... So Hill was the right man to come in and steady the ship, he knows the club and Stewart trusts him – that’s ultimately why he came back. Is he the right man to take us forward? No. In his own words he’s taken the club as far as he can... so why allow him a decent budget and chance to take the club forward? We have been incredibly unlucky with injuries so far this season and because he’s had a full summer of recruitment I think he should and positive he will get the season to keep the stability (unless we are in a relegation battle – which at the moment is possible). We are over ¼ of the way into the season and already 10pts off top & 6pts off the play offs, not out of reach but that’s simply not good enough is it? As pointed out going forwards we haven’t got much attacking threat, we are a typical Richard Hill team... Big, Organised & Physical... we have a squad full of ‘hard workers’ with not much flair or talent – our most talented player is Sam Matthews IMO and he’s been thrown out on the wing. Our top goalscorers since being in the conference is 10 (Mandron), 15 (Constable), 18 (Constable). So we haven’t had a player score 20+ since being in the league. We have been unable to replace Andy Drury, possibly the reason why we seem to bypass our midfield... Going forward, I think Richard Hill should stay in charge but should walk towards the end of the season if we are out of contention to allow the club to move forward... Allow a new manager, the right character the back end of the season and a full summer to give us the best chance of competing at the top which ultimately is where the owner and club wants to be. But I didn’t apply for the manager’s job when it was available, so my opinion is that of a supporter...
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Post by steve on Sept 11, 2017 2:01:21 GMT
Reda Johnson at left back? this is the best thing RH has done since putting Will Evans there! What must Greener be thinking?
The quicker Andy Hessenthaler takes over the better
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Post by steve on Aug 29, 2017 21:10:17 GMT
As much as I dislike watching football on the 3G I agree with everything both Doswell & the Maidstone chairman said in their joint statement.
When we played Maidstone in the trophy a couple of years ago you could see their plans and how the stadium was used by the community and what role the football club played in the community.
Sutton have built similar foundations and with their cup exposure last year have created something very good. Fair play to the both of them and hopefully the football league sees sense and allows it very soon...
I think more clubs should look at what these clubs have done and how it would benefit the community & more importantly the football club to get valuable income.
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Post by steve on Aug 25, 2017 19:24:19 GMT
BTTS, take a point now..
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Post by steve on Aug 4, 2017 13:56:07 GMT
GK
1. Graham STACK 2. Ross FLITNEY 3. Mark CHILDS
DF
4. Gavin HOYTE 5. Michael GREEN 6. Reda JOHNSON 7. Ryan CRESSWELL 8. Ayo OBILEYE 9. Andrew BOYCE 10. Harvey READ 11. Paul REID
MF
12. Sam TOGWELL 13. Sam WOOD 14. Mark YEATES 15. Jason TAYLOR 16. Danny HOLLANDS 17. Ross STEARN 18. Cavaghn MILEY
ST
19. Ben WILLIAMSON 20. Craig MCALLISTER 21. Paul MCCALLUM 22. Chris ZEBROSKI 23. James CONSTABLE
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Post by steve on Jun 13, 2017 21:53:05 GMT
1. Tranmere Rovers 2. Leyton Orient 3. Dag & Red 4. Hartlepool United 5. Aldershot 6. Ebbsfleet 7. Gateshead
21. Torquay 22. Solihull 23. Woking 24. Guiseley
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Post by steve on Jan 17, 2017 16:59:30 GMT
I would prefer we get a decent sell on clause. The difference between getting say 30K & 50K for a 1 of deal isn't that great in the bigger scheme of things, but a smaller fee with 20% or better sell on clause could bring us a much bigger wedge, with no disruption to our squad.
Spot on US, hopefully a decent sell on clause has been put in place.
If Luke can shine at a level or two above his value will obviously increase a substantial amount.
You only need to look at Charlie Austin from Poole - Swindon - Burnley.
Was it a 25% sell on for Swindon? Burnley bought him for £1M so Poole netted £250,000.
Wherever he goes, good luck to him - deserves to be playing league football, just a shame its not with us.
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Post by steve on Jan 10, 2017 10:53:36 GMT
So with the FA Cup out the way, no FA Trophy it's time for Martin Allen to get a settled side and build a squad...
Plenty of decisions to make this evening, does Stack keep his place? will Coulson play? Partington back in the middle or at full back?
If I was to guess..
Stack
Odoffin Dugdale Essam Green
Reason Partington Togwell Garratt
Mandron Constable
Childs Ayo Stearn Wilson Bird
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Post by steve on Jan 8, 2017 19:27:49 GMT
Even if we had a settled side and in form we would have struggled yesterday, the passing and movement of Brentford was to much for us.
It was always important to stay in the game as long as possible, unfortunately going 3-0 down after 25 minutes and 5-1 at half time the game was dead and buried.
Fair play to the players to keep fighting, could have been easy to throw in the towel and get a 8/9-1 thumping all be it Brentford taking their foot off the gas.
Little surprised at the team selection, top goal scorer on the bench? Wilson on the bench?
Still, what an incredible day for the football club. As MA stated in his post match interview, that's a little taster of what this club could achieve.
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Post by steve on Jan 6, 2017 16:01:18 GMT
Tough decision for MA regarding the goalkeeper, whoever he choses It won't be a wrong or right decision. Mark Childs has been excellent - very talented and will certainly have a good future, It wouldn't surprise me if he starts tomorrow...
However in my opinion I think Stack will/should play.
A big factor in us beating Crewe & Swindon was the experience of our side, on both occasions (correct me if I'm wrong) as a squad we had more football league appearances than the opposition.. it wouldn't surprise me if its the same with Brentford tomorrow.
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Post by steve on Jan 6, 2017 13:09:31 GMT
Who's excited about tomorrow then?
Absolutely nothing to lose, hopefully the players can put in a good performance.
No flares, no trouble, 1,400 enjoying the day!
team?, assuming they are available my XI would be...
STACK
HOYTE ESSAM DUGDALE GREEN CONSTABLE REASON TOGWELL COULSON
MANDRON
WILSON
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Post by steve on Jan 5, 2017 12:34:17 GMT
Any more in's & out's & we can ''probably'' write this season off. Any football team needs a settled first eleven & all I see is too many changes. A clear out is/was required and we are in the process of that, It won't be settled until that's been done...
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Post by steve on Dec 28, 2016 18:57:45 GMT
My thoughts...
Childs did very well on debut, showed some promise.
Hoyte & Garratt had steady games, defensively did well and Garratt put in a decent ball for Beano's goal.
Togwell cleared things up nicely in the middle, what happens to Taylor when fit? Strevens did ok, but again - feel he would play that DM role.
Great to see Beano on the scoresheet, showed a little bit of the player we know.
Only question is why Pipe came on for Reda when we have Dugdale on the bench? Was Dugdale not fit to play? I thought Hoyte was offering us something down the right. As much as I like David Pipe, he's not the quickest and got done a couple of times in the second half.
Andy Drury is also clearly missed...
I said on a previous thread I think it will take until March, possibly the end of the season for Martin Allen to sort out the squad...
With the In's & Out's results won't be consistent.. as he said last night in his interview - ideally he will have a squad of 18-20 players.
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