Town v Sittingbourne

[yellowperil]

Town ko the season at home to sittingbourne this saturday ,what are peoples expectations for this season /game ?

[athenian]

We have always had the sign over Sittingbourne - so let's hope it manifests itself again! I am confident enough about the new signings to look forward to a decent result; but as long as there is entertainment and comitment, I will be happy

[oap]

Hasn't anybody got anything to say about the game?

[grimrich]

With a number of key players unavailable through injury etc it is difficult to read much into the 1-0 home defeat. It was quite a shock, though, to go a goal down within a minute with the defence being sliced open through the middle. I thought that Rye had the upper hand for most of the first half and Town were a little lucky to go in after 45 minutes just one down. What struck me most in the first half was the dubious wisdom of keeping on sending high balls to Nathan Crabb, who did his best but was several inches shorter than the player marking him so the ball came straight back into the Town half.

I thought that the second half was more even. Town's defence seemed tighter but they lacked a cutting edge up front. Towards the end a couple of balls put in from the goal line caused Rye problems but I can't remember the Rye keeper having to make a save of any note. Kieron Thorp was very busy for much of the game, not in having to make many saves but in fielding back passes and cutting off runs made by the Rye forwards. He must have covered more ground than most keepers ever cover.

Positives? Some real touches of individual skill, and bags of motivation and effort. I saw enough to think that Town will do better than least season (but then I'm an optimist by nature!)

[athenian]

Jankers for this one; couldn't make it. I did hear that it was a continuationof last year in that we conceded an early goal and had to chase the game. They ought to come out kicking balls so that they are in the swing early doors!! I am surprised at the tactic of high balls to Nathan - he is capable of beating most on the ground at this level. I am not surprised by no change in the tactic even though it was not working - a lack of a Plan B has been around the first team for a few seasons now.

Did you stay up all night Grimrich? We were playing Rye on Friday evening, lol!!

[yellowperil]

i think full credit must go to sittingbourne ,they stopped us from getting behind them and closed us down really early doors so we didnt have any time on the ball , they only threatened a few times , and as the game wore on i felt we came back more into the match and had better chances .Sittingbourne though were content to sit back and soak up the pressure , we had to play long ball because the sittingbourne players didnt let us have time on the ball or allow us to play around them ,they kept their shape well and will be hard to beat ,very organised outfit ,however im more than confident come a fuly fit team we shall do our ****est to get points in the bag so we dont suffer the fear of relegation .
onwards and upwards to whyteleafe on tuesday evening .

[jontee]

Well, a new season so I wondered what had changed. First up, the ground still open to free entry through the cricket ground ! No change there then. Pitch looked great, though whoever did the lines must have watered it down 'cause you could hardly see them. Looked hard for the much needed ground improvements, but none to be seen. Inside was better. Clubhouse very tastefully decorated. Toilets had benefited from a cursory clean and a lick of paint. Still nothing to dry your hands on though.

And now to the team. Very nice new strip. Then we saw Davidson at full back which he never is, and Denton in midfield when he should be at fullback. And Sam Crabb patrolling the left flank instead of the right. Who was the goalkeeper by the way. Team board said Kieron Thorp. He must have had a body transplant then. And why does the Herald still keep referring to Steve Elliot and Owen Kessacks as new signings ? It did not bode well. Within a minute a goal down with the static defence carved open. The response ? Same old sterile play. Could have been watching last season. It was clear that nothing had changed. Bloor's usual tactics of trying to walk the ball into the net. Town one paced and second to virtually every ball. No-one to lead the line. I watched a highly predictable 65 minutes and headed for the gate to enjoy the sunshine without the irritation. Must find something better for Saturday afternoons.

I realise there were a few faces missing, but boy will they have to be brilliant to make any impression on this team. Apparently the new boys aren't used to fighting relegation battles. Well they've got a new experience in store then haven't they. That's if they are still around come October, which I doubt once they've realised what a nonse they've signed for. Then Bloor can get on with the task of dissipating the rest of the sponsorship money as he attempts to get through the maximum number of players in the smallest number of games. WAKE UP COMMITTEE !!

[yellowperil]

jontee , iv waited since saturday night for your reply and tbh im not disappointed in you , you came back with the exact same answer i thought you would do lets address a few points .
1, yes the cricket nets are still open ,but lets face it the cricket season was still on , and i myself was standing waiting for spectators to jump the fence so to speak , the fencing will be in place come the next match so dont worry about that .
2, the pitch , my domain im afraid and there was nothing wrong with those lines so next time ,please take off your sunglasses .
3 you will be able to dry your eyes ( sorry hands ) in the toilets a meer oversight on our behalf as we forgot to put out the towels in the dispensers (but thanks for bringing it to our attention )
4 please take time to enjoy your football rather than be upset ,il stick by the team through thick and thin , because that is what a true supporter really does .
5 and i hate to say this jontee , if you dont like what you see then im afraid thats just life ,we run the club as we see fit ,we may mistakes but doesnt everyone we can only but do our best as supporters , sometimes for some people it just isnt good enough , need i say more ?

[jontee]

Yellow Peril, I'm glad you were not disappointed. I just wish I could have said the same on Saturday afternoon.

By the way, I meant to say good health and safety, closing the cricket side to spectators.

I have never said I was a supporter. I am a spectator. I pay my money for entertainment, and I reserve my right to criticise the team, the management and the facilities when I feel they are substandard. The entertainment has been very poor since Danny Bloor was appointed and I simply cannot understand why the committee cannot see this when the same dross is served up week in week out.

My impression is the club is basically well run. It wouldn't be where it is otherwise. The same cannot be said of the team, and this is my big gripe. I was surprised to see Danny Simmonds back, but does that not make the next move a rather obvious one ? Here is a highly respected ex player ready and waiting to step into the hot seat.

So lets see where we are by October/November and then tell me I'm wrong.

[kentownie]

Jontee you claim you are not a supporter merely a spectator For someone who is not a supporter you have a lot of time on your hands to make 33 posts most of which are quite lengthy. For someone who is not a supporter you seem to care a lot about the team to make all of these posts.

Or is it more that for some reason or another you really dislike the manager and the way he runs the team and that of course is your choice to do so. Also for some reason you do like to have a dig at the club and facilities. As it is run voluntarilly and you have all this time on your hands to make lengthy posts as a Spectator perhaps you should spend some time volunteering to improve things as all the other committe members do. Who knows you may even become a supporter ;D ;D ;D

However the manager is picking a local team made up of mainly local players and now has a victory to add to his opening defeat. I would also like to assure your that playing Crabby on the left is certainly not out of position as when you have a talented player able to run at the opposition with pace and no mean skill he is equally adept doing this on the left, on the right or down the middle. ;D ;D ;D

I am sure if we are lurking near the bottom of the table in November your postings will continue in an "I told you so manner". But if we do make progress and end up being mid table or better will your posts continue as after all you are a mere spectator, or will you find something else or another club to moan about or will your postings just disappear ;D ;D ;D

[jontee]

Well Yellow Peril, I like to see flowing attacking football of the type we got used to under Ady Colwell who was very shabbily treated in the end. But he has been replaced with a poor manager who seems unable to stick with a settled side.

In fact I am a very busy person. The 33 posts you mention are over quite a long while. I have a bit to say because I used to enjoy watching Town. There were some great games, win or lose. Now we see a very stifled, sterile brand of football, and the manager has dispensed with the flair players like Baitup, Brockwell and Salvidge, and the honest endeavour of Putland and Cooper.

You could watch a game and see where the manager was coming from even if it didn't come off. Now you are left wondering if there is really a game plan at all.

As regards Crabby, I agree he is very talented. But one of the first things I ever learned about soccer is that you want to pull the ball back and away from the keeper and defenders, and towards the incoming forwards. So if you are right footed, you need to be on the right to get to the bye line and pull the ball back. On the left, you invariably end up with inswinging crosses which are gobbled up by big defenders and keepers. Currently Town don't have any big forwards to challenge, making it even more important.

I will be the first to congratulate the team if they do reach the top half, the more so as it will be their achievement rather than the management. I just hope the 'Saffrons complex' doesn't continue from last season.

[jontee]

I meant to add that I can neither like nor dislike Danny Bloor. I have never met him, but have no reason to believe he is anything other than a regular gent. My criticism is merely off the back of his performance as a manager.

As for having a dig at the club, I am merely making constructive criticism of the facilities as I see them, as a paying customer. Most organisations welcome feedback of this sort, as an objective detached view.

And congratulations on the win at Whyteleafe. Let's hope there is soon a home win to celebrate.