The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

With Winters and Jacko both out, the latter for a long time, where is our new centre half? I heard his knee wasn't a fan of 3G pitches, which explains his absence at basford. But the home games? Has something gone on? I feel the fans/members should be kept in the loop?

I still fully expect us to finish 5th, which would be enough for the management team to tick their boxes and keep their jobs. Maybe rightly so as there is at least 3 teams in the division with bigger budgets. But one question I would like to ask the management is about squad balance. If we have a few injuries/suspensions fair enough.. but ALL season?!

We have 7 senior central midfielders, and at present 1 centre half. We have one natural right back who is 18 years old, and we're not blessed with players who are out and out wingers in a 442.

The balance of our squad is poor and has been for some time.

Witton are a good team, no doubt about it. But both their goals, pretty much came from players playing out of position. Brad isn't a RB, and (I don't care what Setchell says) quiggs isn't a centre half. It needs addressing.

I hope next season, with the predicted increase in attendances that the boards expectations are 4 places higher than what they currently are and performances will be under review. Our first team, at our home games, are the football clubs biggest marketing tool, they need to improved. Nabil should've been down by that corner flag stretching his hamstrings the second that 2nd goal hit the net, not coming on cold 10 minutes later.

A possible question mark over his registration?

TwinkleToesTomlin wrote:With Winters and Jacko both out, the latter for a long time, where is our new centre half? I heard his knee wasn't a fan of 3G pitches, which explains his absence at basford. But the home games? Has something gone on? I feel the fans/members should be kept in the loop?

I still fully expect us to finish 5th, which would be enough for the management team to tick their boxes and keep their jobs. Maybe rightly so as there is at least 3 teams in the division with bigger budgets. But one question I would like to ask the management is about squad balance. If we have a few injuries/suspensions fair enough.. but ALL season?!

We have 7 senior central midfielders, and at present 1 centre half. We have one natural right back who is 18 years old, and we're not blessed with players who are out and out wingers in a 442.

The balance of our squad is poor and has been for some time.

Witton are a good team, no doubt about it. But both their goals, pretty much came from players playing out of position. Brad isn't a RB, and (I don't care what Setchell says) quiggs isn't a centre half. It needs addressing.

I hope next season, with the predicted increase in attendances that the boards expectations are 4 places higher than what they currently are and performances will be under review. Our first team, at our home games, are the football clubs biggest marketing tool, they need to improved. Nabil should've been down by that corner flag stretching his hamstrings the second that 2nd goal hit the net, not coming on cold 10 minutes later.

Thing is mate you say about bigger attendances but we continue to not perform then people won't come regardless of where we're playing, I can see it now. " I see diamonds lost at home again, don't think I'll bother".

The balance of the squad has been poor all season and even though I think we may well make the playoffs I fear once there we'll struggle to be competitive.

Last season we had wingers who could take people on move us up the pitch and pull the opposition out of shape, we have nothing like that this season, I understand that Claudio was never going to stay given his relocation but there must be some wingers around.

We are 45 mins to an hour away from several league clubs can you honestly tell me that there's no promising youngsters there that we could take a look at even on a work experience loan.

I went to watch corby on Saturday and he young lad they had on work experience from cobblers was a class above. Deservedly MoM. Joe iaciofano? I appreciate they're a step above us, but we need to be building bridges with them!

TAlking of which, Connor Kennedy was on the bench for them, he'll do for starters!

Remember when the price rise was justified as helping with the budget? Where are we seeing the rewards, we're paying at the very least the joint highest entrance and we're not getting the performances to go with it.

TwinkleToesTomlin wrote:I went to watch corby on Saturday and he young lad they had on work experience from cobblers was a class above. Deservedly MoM. Joe iaciofano? I appreciate they're a step above us, but we need to be building bridges with them!

TAlking of which, Connor Kennedy was on the bench for them, he'll do for starters!

Thing is I for one don't care that Corby are a higher step than us we can offer a youngster pretty much the same as them, a tough crowd and men's football. I really feel that it's an avenue that we as a club are really missing out on.

Speaking of young players what is the point of our u21s if none of them ever get a chance even when we have injury crises such as the couple we've had this season

sussexdiamond wrote:A possible question mark over his registration?

Peaksy said in his after match interview that Tank had dropped out at 5.40pm due to personal issues, i thought you were there when i explained this to the Radio Diamonds crew.

In addition to Bunts getting injured in the warm up it was a bit of a nightmare.

I actually thought we played quite well tonight, and with a bit of luck and some decisions going our way the result may have been different, however they are by far the best team we have played this season.

Curly wrote:Remember when the price rise was justified as helping with the budget? Where are we seeing the rewards, we're paying at the very least the joint highest entrance and we're not getting the performances to go with it.

We'll pay £9 on Saturday and look where Northwich are....

bozzer wrote:

sussexdiamond wrote:A possible question mark over his registration?

Peaksy said in his after match interview that Tank had dropped out at 5.40pm due to personal issues, i thought you were there when i explained this to the Radio Diamonds crew.

In addition to Bunts getting injured in the warm up it was a bit of a nightmare.

I actually thought we played quite well tonight, and with a bit of luck and some decisions going our way the result may have been different, however they are by far the best team we have played this season.

No I wasn't with the RD crew at that time. The feedback I heard was that it was a registration issue, but quite happy to accept your comment.

sussexdiamond wrote:

bozzer wrote:

sussexdiamond wrote:A possible question mark over his registration?

Peaksy said in his after match interview that Tank had dropped out at 5.40pm due to personal issues, i thought you were there when i explained this to the Radio Diamonds crew.

In addition to Bunts getting injured in the warm up it was a bit of a nightmare.

I actually thought we played quite well tonight, and with a bit of luck and some decisions going our way the result may have been different, however they are by far the best team we have played this season.

No I wasn't with the RD crew at that time. The answer I was given was a that it was an registration issue.

Maybe you appeared just as i finished telling them then.