Cambridge City

[ewstute]

All in all, a fair result today. Seemed to be the general consensus amongst people after the game. Both teams had spells on top and both had chances. 522 people, with the majority being adults, so a fair amount of money into the club today as well.
Much better than the first game from the Stutes. Gerrar in goal was excellent (Can we keep him for longer and not go back to Enol?), I thought the back four in general did well. Midfield three played well and moved the ball around well at times, Matt Lowe was excellent and Rogan just gets in the right place at the right time constantly. Salim must have had his best game today, worked hard. Freeman, Tye and Kuzimski did well too. 
Good for the youngsters to get something against the much older and probably a lot better paid City players. 

Some other thoughts. 
City must have been watching us last year. They constantly just hit the ball forward looking for their forward to hold the ball up. Not good to watch at all, boring in fact. At least the Histon lads just hit it long to clear the ball, they tried to pass it around when they could. 
Their fans weren't the best. Someone should tell them that singing "there's only one team in Cambridge" doesn't work when they play in Impington and are moving to Sawston, neither of which are in Cambridge. The woman and the bloke screaming at the ref when the City player crashed into the goalpost in the second half were a disgrace. I'd be embarrassed and ashamed if Histon fans did that. It wasn't even a foul! (On another note, Brian seemed quieter today). Typical football supporters, drunk and wanted to shout abuse.

Thought the ref had a very good game. Only gripes I have were that the City number 8 should have been sent off. The other gripe linked to that is when Even Key got booked (rightly so, bad foul) it actually came after the City number 8 scissored one of our players and it was almost as if the ref saw who it was and didn't want to do anything, knowing it would have to be a second yellow. It was a bad foul from their number 8, from behind and a scissor, so he would of had to have gone as he was on a yellow already. 

All in all a lot more positives than negatives from the game. Good to show the City lot, and Charlie Day especially, that not having lots of money and playing youngsters can bring positive results.

[cliveh]

I think a lot of what you say , ewc999, speaks volumes. Sums up several issues.
But I thought Brian Page's sensible, eloquent, accurate, and honest assessment of not just the match, but attitudes and outlooks in general was a delight to listen to afterwards on Radio Cambridgeshire.
Clearly, here is someone not going anywhere, and totally committed to his football club, a man acquainted with reality.
I reckon the Stutes have got a diamond in Brian Page, who doesn't demand money to compile a squad of players, nor boringly, every week, blame everything and everybody except himself for poor performances.
Against all odds, Histon have begun to really compete against other teams in this pretty mediocre League, with much much larger budgets and resources, and Chairmen with money to throw away. Pity local football fans don't support real effort and talent on their own doorstep.

[hfc08stutes]

Thought we were well worth our point today. Was a little disappointed we didn't push on after our goal. We were well on top but sat back as soon as we scored. Cannot fault the effort though everyone fought hard so good job there. Feel we need to work on our shape a little more but overall we matched a good city team.

Mixed opinions about the ref. tried to keep the game flowing which was good but he let a lot go, especially from the city back four. Grappled, pulled, held and jumped all over our lads. No 8 Martin I think he's called should have been sent off. Raised his hand to lowes face, so had to go but ref bottled it. He had a right mouth on him as well, but he's off to Slough now so we will see him again, hopefully we beat them!

Well I said it would be nice to be on 30 points by chrimbo but think 29 is not a bad return considering our start to the season. Corby will be a tough test but if we battle like we did today then we won't be walked over. Good att aswell today so that will be a little bit into the coffers !

Hope To see many of us at steel park on the 1st coys

[ewstute]

Their number 8 probably didn't like the fact that an 18/19 year old teenager (Lowe) was showing him up. I wasn't sure if he did push him in the face, if he did then he should have gone, no excuse for the ref to not send him off. The centre half for City who had been in the paper in the lead up to the game wasn't that good. For all City's money you'd think they could have got someone better in. I thought Key and Rumens were a lot better than their two centre backs and probably a quarter of the weekly cost.

[doctorhiston]

A great game with both teams having chances to take 3 points, Matt Lowe man of the match, I though we should have targeted the city right back more as he had the least skill and control of the defence. Dave Livermores love child had a great game for city in defence.

[Deleted]

A quick comment. Brian Page is the most loyal manager in English football. His expressions and passion sometimes open eyes. But every inch of his body has HFC written on it. There are certainly other managers that can come in, change things, want to sign-up others, struggle, throw their toys out and leave. Brian just gets on with what he gets and given this, he does a great job in which more experienced managers would walk away.

Second point - David Livermore - he still follows HFC passionately. There is no way we could keep someone with that capability and he had to move on for various internal reasons. But he is still positively affects HFC with the loan of a superb goalkeeper and his supportive tweats. Good on you David.

Well done guys. Have a great Christmas and 2015.

[marke]

Enjoyable match, a bit lacking in quality (ha - isn't it always?). Either side could have nicked it in the end although City had the better chances. When you consider how poor we were in the 6-0 loss early in the season, this is a great result. At least we can now scrap and hold our own in this league.

[cliveh]

Agreed Paul. Season before last, whenever I went to Bridge Road I got there half an hour before kick off, just to watch David Livermore's pre match warm up of his players. As most of you know, he coached the back 4 , whilst the rest were elsewhere on the pitch, and it was quite eye opening. This was real coaching. He was indeed a magnificent coach, and he is a valuable asset still, clearly. Obviously he and Neil Harris were instrumental in Gerrar coming on loan. Surprising with Neil's City connections, that City didn't snap him up while Barrett is out injured. But no, not surprised, in all honesty.
And yes, as I've said before, Brian Page has been the perfect successor.
I think there's a lot to look forward to for the Club, just as long as problems can be sorted out 'upstairs', and those who want out, do so as quickly as possible without throwing any more of their expensive toys out of the pram.

[ewstute]

Agree with you guys, the one thing that sets us out from other clubs is that we are attractive to young players looking to develop and progress up the footballing ladder so to speak. Young players coming to the club at any age will get coached and improve and then probably get an offer to play at a higher level. We can't compete financially for players, especially older players who probably won't get any better, but younger players for whom money isn't as important can come to the club, learn from Brian, develop and then move on to somewhere higher as a result. It's a great selling point.
Look at City on Boxing Day, clearly a lot older than our players and probably at the correct level (more or less) for their respective abilities. Many of them have probably hit their peak in terms of getting better as players, but because they are "experienced" they will cost more to pay. Our lot on Boxing Day were a lot younger, looking in the programme I think Eugene Liberuci was the oldest at 23 with many 20 or younger. They've got loads of time to get even better and when they do they'll get an offer from a higher club and be off. Then it'll be down to Brian and his team to repeat the process.
Having a look at the local teams near the top, Corby bought in some older players and St Neots signed older players, so that means there will be young players in the area looking for their chance and it's something for us to take advantage of.

[cliveh]

More condescending, arrogant nonsense on the Lilywhites Soapbox.
Content with a mid table finish? What, with the money they pay their players?
Why do their fans continue to believe their Club is so superior? It hasn't been for a long long time.
These sort of attitudes were what I objected to, and a little gang and their chief had me evicted!!

[sooty]

I luv u Clive...if its any consolation!x
*
/\
@@
~
LUV
SOOTY
X

[cliveh]

Cheers Sooty. Don't need consoling though. Just happy to enjoy the company of nice people at matches at Bridge Road, and escape nasty little pricks like Warne.
From now on I shall put my faith in the Stutes, together with a few others who have defected. We must meet for a drink before a forthcoming match, Sooty, eh?
And I promise everyone on here that I will not mention Cambridge City again, though no doubt my name will continue to be discredited on their forum.

[Deleted]

No discredit at all cliveh. You are thought of favorably by some for your direct talk from the heart.

[cliveh]

Bloody hell Paul. Had no idea my reputation followed me to Histon FC!!!
Many thanks. Perfect example of what I've said. Cheers,

[ewstute]

Don't worry Clive. Had a look on their board and someone thought they played excellent football, when all they actually did was hit the ball forward and hope the centre forward could hold the ball up or flick it onto someone running forward. Doesn't say much for them if that's what they class as good. You've made the right decision by joining the Stutes family.