The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

I see on here and facebook the managment team are getting a bit of a hammering, whats the general consensus on this.

I feel yes thave made mistakes in the players brought in and some team managment in a game.

But I still feel like the rest of us they are learning the game and level. After seeing starmer in tears at ashibgton I know hes heart is dedicated and I think in time they will have it sorted.

I do feel that some fans after 15 or so games are being a little alarmist whenbit comes to our club. But I sure it comes with the territory with a support as big as ours.

Calm down people, a lose is lose nothing more, it just makes the wins more fun.

What if dont go up this year., lessons learned and be stronger next year.

There seems to be a fair bot of 'I'm not sure on the players bought in' but no names are mentioned and no better alternatives given.

I feel that some of us have still to realise that this is a new club, with a new direction and new values and a LONG term plan in which it is crucial that the foundations are basics are done properly and correctly so that the progression, when it comes is sustainable and we don't end up with an organisation built on a house of sand.

That said, most teams at any level would be delighted with two losses and two draws in the league at the beginning of January.

Starms is still learning, this season is his first proper experience of senior management, and its a lot different to managing under 18s I'm sure.

SouthRushdenJFC wrote:There seems to be a fair bot of 'I'm not sure on the players bought in' but no names are mentioned.

I could give you 3 or 4 that aren't good enough but what's the point? I've slated individuals on here previously and in hindsight it's unfair and unjust to start hammering players who are playing for the love of the game rather than as their profession.

The decision to put Alfie on the bench was a desperately poor one IMO and left many of us scratching our heads, but aside from that the side pretty much picked itself given the players available. I've no idea what the budget is and don't know what players are available to us, but given the side we've currently got I think MS is doing a reasonable job. I wouldn't say he's doing a great job because these players shouldn't be losing 4-1 and 5-1 in this league under any circumsrances but clearly not everybody is of that opinion.

Why not do some basic research - e.g. read the match report - to find out why Alfie didn't start yesterday? Perhaps the names on the subs bench in the Northampton Spencer game might have given a clue - or the fact that Alfie clearly didn't look match fit in that game ?

Formic wrote:Why not do some basic research - e.g. read the match report - to find out why Alfie didn't start yesterday? Perhaps the names on the subs bench in the Northampton Spencer game might have given a clue - or the fact that Alfie clearly didn't look match fit in that game ?

I'd read the match report and it says that MS was 'forced' to play Alfie against Spencer. Was somebody holding a gun to his head? Could have kept Ben Morgan up top and brought Okechukwu in couldn't he? Or am I missing something?

The lad has been fit for a month now after coming on against Ashington early last month. He's not going to get back fit unless he plays. Judging by his Twitter account he was clearly gutted that he didn't start.

The issue for the Spencer game was more at the back - hence why he had to play with three at the back with Morgan and Allen as wing-backs - not an issue yesterday will Gilly available. Clearly the heavy pitches at the moment are an issue to get a player ready to play for 90 minutes when he hasn't played a full game since September (which is the case for Taylor or Okechukwu).

I'd rather have Alfie playing a few minutes here and there until he is 100% fit, rather than risk him playing a full game, only for him to be injured again.

Cryptic comments by Oadby General Manager Jeff Stocking on our Facebook page:

Maybe you need proper managers at this level? Your fans deserve so much more fantastic day.

Followed by:

We don't even pay. Silly money.

I am informed that Alfie Taylor prefers to play up front with Dev Ellwood. He laid many goals on for Alfie at the start of the season It appears Dev has fallen down the pecking order. Like Sean McBride Dev will run over every blade of grass during the match. Much of this would go unnoticed. If Alfie is to start scoring goals on a regular basis, Mark will have to decide which pair of front-men are the most lethal. Newman/Morgan or Taylor/'Ellwood. I also think Dev could be a good midfielder for us