[ Sat 14th Sep ] Cockfosters v AFC R&D FA CUP

[BartonRaz]

I'm a bit confused by some of the recent comments. Are we as fans supposed to ignore repeated mistakes because our players are amateur? And be thankful our players aren't better because otherwise they'd be playing elsewhere? I can't understand the logic.

The players have set their own standards by beating Deeping, beating Dunstable with 10 men, smashing London Colney etc. Nobody's expecting anything unrealistic.

Our players have raised their game to try and please the fans, but whatever they do, they can't win.

Eh? :?

[FOOTYMAN]

how can you say the team haven't played well for a couple of games, last tuesday was the best we have ever played I thought.

I don't recall saying the team haven't played well, I said they haven't gelled for a couple of games. We have played well in patches, the 6-1 win was the best performance and a solid display at Northwood.
My concerns are the defence looked dodgy against a couple of players who were so crap, they would only make the bench at KTFuC, so against decent forwards, we could have been turned over.
The players who have performed in these convincing wins are not starting, McBride is a shock absentee for one. Dent is another, and Grainger has obviously moved on.
It will be interesting to see when Lance gets a shout.

[Brownie]

how can you say the team haven't played well for a couple of games, last tuesday was the best we have ever played I thought.

I don't recall saying the team haven't played well, I said they haven't gelled for a couple of games. We have played well in patches, the 6-1 win was the best performance and a solid display at Northwood.
My concerns are the defence looked dodgy against a couple of players who were so crap, they would only make the bench at KTFuC, so against decent forwards, we could have been turned over.
The players who have performed in these convincing wins are not starting, McBride is a shock absentee for one. Dent is another, and Grainger has obviously moved on.
It will be interesting to see when Lance gets a shout.

Not sure who the 2 crap players were :?: if we are talking about Cockfosters as thought the big Lad looked useful, Blackburn the No 10 was not a bad player & Ali's goal record this season is useful.
Our best performances this season appear to be accepted as Deeping, Colney at home, Northwood and Dunstable at home. If this is correct then in answer to your points above worth noting, Deeping Dent came on in 90+1, Colney Sean went off on 65mins, Northwood Dent went off on 75 Sean came on 90+1 Dunstable Dent came on 90+1 Sean 90+3. We have a lot of football to play between now & May so line ups will have to change & more than 11 will need to perform on a regular basis, though that said Deaks is nowhere near where he was last season and a match fit & available Parky could be crucial in the coming weeks.

[Brownie]

Now this is all getting a bit odd. On arrival at Dunstable I got chatting to one of their board who said they had raised their prices at our request. I asked around the rest of our board and nobody knew anything about it.

Formic queried this with me at the Dunstable match as he thought 'lower prices' had been displayed. He knew that I arrived early and I was the first through the turnstile and I actually paid the 'lower price'. It would appear that the prices were then changed by the turnstile operators. It does seem that some of these clubs are doing things on the 'hoof'.

There's no doubt that when I arrived at Dunstable the sign boards were displaying different prices than they were when I entered the ground a while later. I was only glad I didn't post the lower prices on here (as I was tempted to do when I saw them), as I'm sure there would have been a few grumbles when people were confronted with the higher price later. It might be difficult to complain about the Cockfosters price, as it will match what we charge for the replay, but I certainly think there were many aspects of the Dunstable game that were questionable, as they also seemed to be offering reduced prices for members - which isn't expected for a shared gate. I think we were a bit surprised with how London Colney issued their complimentary tickets too - especially given how our committee don't take advantage of such things.

Do the rules of both the Cup & Vase state, the ground entry has to be agreed between the Clubs? So if we agree to £6 at Cockfosters which after all is what we pay every week then the fact they charge £4 for league games is irrelevant. Though calling the natives members and charging us more is I'm sure you would agree taking the piss.

[bozzer]

how can you say the team haven't played well for a couple of games, last tuesday was the best we have ever played I thought.

I don't recall saying the team haven't played well, I said they haven't gelled for a couple of games. We have played well in patches, the 6-1 win was the best performance and a solid display at Northwood.
My concerns are the defence looked dodgy against a couple of players who were so crap, they would only make the bench at KTFuC, so against decent forwards, we could have been turned over.
The players who have performed in these convincing wins are not starting, McBride is a shock absentee for one. Dent is another, and Grainger has obviously moved on.
It will be interesting to see when Lance gets a shout.

Ah ok, in that case I thought last tuesday was the best we gelled all season IMO

King got MOM on tuesday and Harris did yesterday which I would guess is why Dent and Mcbride aren't starting and Grainger is behind them in the pecking order I would expect.

Of course we have failed to deal with some high balls into the box on saturday and against other teams and have therefore conceded more than we thought we would, but we are playing step 5 football now, the teams were bound to be a bit better.

[sussexdiamond]

Ruddy Hell Guys. Just what is it you want from our players.?

We have lost just one game this season out of 10 with only three additions to last seasons squad and we have played every game against teams that were above us last season.

The lads are playing twice a week and will be for some weeks yet. lets not forget they are very much part timers, some are quite young and have not played at such a high level.
The away games have been a bit dreary at times but boy do they make up for it at home 18 goals in 4 games!!!!!
Starms knows what he is doing and he is always honest in his post match assessments.

We have some really exciting times coming up in the next few weeks. Just stand by and enjoy.

Incidentally Dan Grainger is no longer with us.

[Trek]

Incidentally Dan Grainger is no longer with us.

http://www.thediamondsforum.co.uk/viewt ... f=2&t=6167 ;)

[Brownie]

Ruddy Hell Guys. Just what is it you want from our players.?

We have lost just one game this season out of 10 with only three additions to last seasons squad and we have played every game against teams that were above us last season.

The lads are playing twice a week and will be for some weeks yet. lets not forget they are very much part timers, some are quite young and have not played at such a high level.
The away games have been a bit dreary at times but boy do they make up for it at home 18 goals in 4 games!!!!!
Starms knows what he is doing and he is always honest in his post match assessments.

We have some really exciting times coming up in the next few weeks. Just stand by and enjoy.

Incidentally Dan Grainger is no longer with us.

Lost one in the last 32 :!: :!: and yes stepped up with minimal changes. Hopefully given a couple more seasons people will be comparing what we have in 2016 to where we were in 2012, as at present to many memories are still fresh from NP. When as much fun as it was we watched a team of very well paid pampered full time professionals not many of who ever left through choice even for a higher league :!: That was then this is now, yes we could be stronger, that`s easy just sign some of the players who want to come and play for us, only down side we have to pay them what they want/others will give them. But in 2050 when we are all sitting watching tv in a wrinkly farm probable on another planet debating the good old days, the will still be a AFCR&D back on earth playing football at some level, all because it`s sustainable and done correctly and at a controlled pace. I`m happy watching what in predominantly a very young squad all of who want to be at our Club & not for financial reasons, and having watched possibly more Step 5 & 6 football than many over the last 4 years not doing a bad job of it. Not sure it`s just the next few weeks that could be exciting, to all the supporters every game could and should be.

[Formic]

Having watched the Southampton v West Ham game on Sky yesterday, I'd certainly want my money back if I'd paid £6 to watch that game. I'm sure our fans enjoyed the performance against Dunstable on Tuesday far more than if they'd stayed at home and watched England. We will see some patchy performances at this level - but at the moment the overwhelming trend is positive.

[rushdenman]

I think we need to look at the bigger picture - most supporters would have agreed before the season started that a successful season this year would include a top 6 League finish plus a decent run in the F A Cup and /or the Vase.
I think we are ticking all the boxes so far.