Post by Ade Plimmer on Dec 1, 2003 15:41:27 GMT 1
Well sitting here @ college when I should be writing my assesed assignment for my course, it's heart breaking to read the comments of fans, but I think it shows just how frustrated we all are.
As you know last season, and with hindsight quite wrongly, I backed Kevin Ratcliffe right to the bitter end.
I know a lot of people did, and those who were on this message board, will remember some really interesting 'conversations' I had with one or two of you.
I ist here today honestly thinking that we aren't going to do. I base this on not the fact that we are sixth, with 36 points from 20 games, being definite promotion form, but because you can tell the players just don't wont it.
As a team we seem just as we did last season. There is no real team spirit, and no togetherness. Many people have highlighted the removal of Jags, Drysdale, Dunbavin, Murray as being the reason. That might be true, but all I will say is this. When those players were given the chnace they failed to perform.
Somebody close to the club said to me a few months back, everyone thinks that just becuase the likes of Jemmo, Woan, Redmile etc, have left, everything will be rosy. He then initimated that actually it was more to do with the youngsters causing problems than the owds.
On paper our team is good enough. At this stage of the season being sixth, 36 points from 20 games, is about the minimum I would have hoped. But as ever Town fans expectations have got the better of us, and the flip side to the coin, is a big downer.
We should be beating times like Leigh RMI, and Tamworth. We should, but we are not. That leads to doubts about whether we are good enough not only to win the gong, but actually reach the play offs.
The trouble is we are in a catch twenty two sitaution. We get rid of Quinn, and we have to start all over again! We can't afford to do that. People will say, but Ade, you said excatly the same with Ratcliffe, and that is ttrue. But come on, how many of you really thought at the time that we would loose 14 out of our last fifthteen games.
If we get rid of Quinn, the new manager would have to work with the same players and a reduced budget. People will say, give Chic a chance, but hang on isn't Chic the first team coach, of a team that for the most part is performing to where we expect them.
The Conference is a hard league, and I think people like Colin Cramb, Martin O'Connor and the first teamers from last year are struggling to come to terms with it. But this is where hard work, and eventually our quality should shine through. It has only done so for one and a half games this season.
Still, we can only get better. Hereford set the standard. The question to ask now is why do we only play well for 1 and a 1/2 games out of twenty, rather than say 15 out of 20.
Still all is not lost. 20 games, 36 points. Forget about having to beat these and that. We still have more than a fighting chance to do it. BUT the players are the only ones who can change it, the players are the only ones who aren't performing, the players are the ones who have to stand up and be counted. And over the last twenty nine years, on far too many occcasions STFC players have failed to stand up and be counted, and let the managers and boards take the flack.
Be proud to put on the blue and amber shirt lads, and start doing it for us, because to be honest, as much as I love non league football, going to places like Tamworth is just the pits.
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As you know last season, and with hindsight quite wrongly, I backed Kevin Ratcliffe right to the bitter end.
I know a lot of people did, and those who were on this message board, will remember some really interesting 'conversations' I had with one or two of you.
I ist here today honestly thinking that we aren't going to do. I base this on not the fact that we are sixth, with 36 points from 20 games, being definite promotion form, but because you can tell the players just don't wont it.
As a team we seem just as we did last season. There is no real team spirit, and no togetherness. Many people have highlighted the removal of Jags, Drysdale, Dunbavin, Murray as being the reason. That might be true, but all I will say is this. When those players were given the chnace they failed to perform.
Somebody close to the club said to me a few months back, everyone thinks that just becuase the likes of Jemmo, Woan, Redmile etc, have left, everything will be rosy. He then initimated that actually it was more to do with the youngsters causing problems than the owds.
On paper our team is good enough. At this stage of the season being sixth, 36 points from 20 games, is about the minimum I would have hoped. But as ever Town fans expectations have got the better of us, and the flip side to the coin, is a big downer.
We should be beating times like Leigh RMI, and Tamworth. We should, but we are not. That leads to doubts about whether we are good enough not only to win the gong, but actually reach the play offs.
The trouble is we are in a catch twenty two sitaution. We get rid of Quinn, and we have to start all over again! We can't afford to do that. People will say, but Ade, you said excatly the same with Ratcliffe, and that is ttrue. But come on, how many of you really thought at the time that we would loose 14 out of our last fifthteen games.
If we get rid of Quinn, the new manager would have to work with the same players and a reduced budget. People will say, give Chic a chance, but hang on isn't Chic the first team coach, of a team that for the most part is performing to where we expect them.
The Conference is a hard league, and I think people like Colin Cramb, Martin O'Connor and the first teamers from last year are struggling to come to terms with it. But this is where hard work, and eventually our quality should shine through. It has only done so for one and a half games this season.
Still, we can only get better. Hereford set the standard. The question to ask now is why do we only play well for 1 and a 1/2 games out of twenty, rather than say 15 out of 20.
Still all is not lost. 20 games, 36 points. Forget about having to beat these and that. We still have more than a fighting chance to do it. BUT the players are the only ones who can change it, the players are the only ones who aren't performing, the players are the ones who have to stand up and be counted. And over the last twenty nine years, on far too many occcasions STFC players have failed to stand up and be counted, and let the managers and boards take the flack.
Be proud to put on the blue and amber shirt lads, and start doing it for us, because to be honest, as much as I love non league football, going to places like Tamworth is just the pits.
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- can't dis-agree wiv much of it. Even if we dont make it back to football league. I'll still be proud to say that i follow the town...
