AFC Dunstable

[hfc08stutes]

Safe travel to those making the trip tonight. Work commitments and having to skimp on funds this month has prevented me from going this eve. I see on the club website former stutes Jackman and Langers are part of their management/coaching set-up and going off what I remember of them as players, they'll be a physical and direct side, playing "percentage football" if you will, so will need to be up for the challenge and on to them. Play some of that flowing football we did against egham in the second half and we can get a result. Time to break the mould now, COYS

[ewstute]

4-0 loss!! Seriously, what is going on with the club. Looks like being another season of struggle. I'm sorry, the players we have this season are not rubbish! A number of them played for Godmanchester last year and were exceptional!! I do not blame the players. There is clearly something toxic elsewhere and it needs to be gotten rid off. Fallon and his staff have done nothing but lose, play poor football and concede goals at will. For someone who is meant to be a top coach, he is doing a shocking job with us!! Fallon OUT!!! Get someone fresh in who hasn't been tainted. Clear out a lot of the backroom staff and bring in all new faces. No ambition, no clue from a lot of them!!!

The players are not getting a fair shift due to poor management at all levels!!!

[hfc08stutes]

From the bits and pieces I picked up from twitter it sounded like it took us a whole half to wake up again. Can't be doing that otherwise we'll be chasing games the whole season. Don't want to single players out, but, I did see their first goal online and it was totally avoidable. I'm afraid York was the culprit for that, not quite sure what he was trying to do, maybe he was in two minds about passing or clearing the ball, or perhaps he caught his own foot? But either way it was far too soft. Need to cut that sort of thing out. Also heard that their second came from a break away following our corner which was interesting to hear. Against Egham, whether it was a gamble (you'd hope not) or just lack of communication/organisation, we'd leave only one or two back, leaving them with and extra man on the counter, which nearly undid us a few times. Again that's another lesson to be learnt. My guessing is the later two came as a result of trying to chase the game.

I'm willing to be patient. A far from inspiring start, but it's been a long time since we've had one of those anyway. It's doubly important that we become competitive and avoid hidings at the very least. I don't want to start thinking about digging in from off just yet but that may have to be the case very soon unless we tidy up all over the park. Both coaching staff and players have to take equal responsibility. Steve and Matt have a job on now to lift the lads and mould them into a team that is organised and where each and every player knows their job. When we're actually doing the basics then we can move on to a more developed game plan. Equally, the players now have to stand and step up. They need to respond and ensure they, firstly, are winning their own battles and secondly understand everyone else's role on the pitch. It's going to be a big step up for many so I get that we need to walk before we can run, but they have to adapt quickly. This league is far from formidable but if you aren't organised then most teams in any division can pick you apart.

Really could do with a response Saturday. COYS

[parsnip]

Ewstute - do you think any (yes any!) coaching staff can just turn a group of individuals into a team within a couple of weeks? With a turnaround of so many players and with such limited funds (to bring in players with proven success) over the summer at HFC, means time needs to given for the coaching staff to get to know the players (and their attributes) and vica versa. By all means repost your message in 8-10 weeks if things haven't changed and I won't disagree with you.

[stevec]

I think expectations for a good start are high with all teams and because we have had several tough seasons we all want something positive to happen quickly but it takes time to knit a team together. As ewstute said we have good players but it takes much more than that and i believe the management team is as good as we have ever had and that they will find a way to develop our players into a competitive outfit so I am prepared to except a few frustrations in the short term. 

[ewstute]

Parsnip I agree with you about needing time etc, but this coaching team (except Matt Clements with the first team) has been in place for a long time and the performances from last season and the start of this are exactly the same, awful! This season we know we have good players from the core of the Godmanchester lot, who showed how good they are. But the performances have been poor.

As per last season, the team don't look organised defensively at all. They look like conceding countless goals and going forward the football is sunday league tactics. The young lads we know had a good grounding in the academy system we had (seen we have a new one, so will see how that turns out), so they can play, but the team just resort to sunday league stuff. Surely that wouldn't be happening if it wasn't coming from those in charge.

Fallon was having a shocker of a season at Soham when he walked out. It's continued with us. It can't be that hard during training sessions to work on the issues that we have seen for months and months.

[parsnip]

From the two games I've seen so far I'd agree about 'Sunday league' comments Ewstute. Defence needs an experienced strong commanding player/voice (not seen York add his presence - yet) and a similar hard tackler in midfield (it was good to see how Erkan played for CCFC - with money maybe he would have come back).
Can you tell me who is the coaching team apart from SF and MC ??

[parsnip]

From the two games I've seen so far I'd agree about 'Sunday league' comments Ewstute. Defence needs an experienced strong commanding player/voice (not seen York add his presence - yet) and a similar hard tackler in midfield (it was good to see how Erkan played for CCFC - with money maybe he would have come back).
Can you tell me who is the coaching team apart from SF and MC ??

[eggandpeafoot]

ewestute what is wrong with you every year our position gets worse not because of Steve Fallon but because of lack of money the Gody players last year were playing two levels lower than they are this year do you not think that this makes any difference? the players are very young too many in one team they however are all working their socks off for the team against teams with experienced players come on ewestute we need unconditional support when things are not as we hope

[ewstute]

Godmanchester are 1 division below us, they finished second in it last season with a huge points total. We'll be in that league next season if we get relegated.

I'm sorry, but money has no bearing on the team's playing style and launching the ball forward, anybody at any price can do that. That style comes from direction from the top. Defensively, the team is all over the place. St Ives don't have much money, but they showed last season what can happen when the team is organised.

Management team is Fallon, Simon Day, Matt Clements and it looks like we have 2 physios, why more than 1?! Some new people running the under 18's after the shocking season they had last year compared to previous seasons.

[parsnip]

I didn't ask who the management team were Ewstute, but who are the the coaches, is it not just SF and MC - therefore what actually is SDs' role? If the God'ster players were so good last season then not one of them have shown up yet this season IMO. Finally - you acknowledge a team needs to be organised - not sure what job you have but how long did it take you to get in tune with your manager/coachs' expectations?

[ewstute]

I've never said the team doesn't need to be organised, I've been saying it does for ages. It's all over the place!

I've no idea what Simon Day does, he stands on the sideline next to Fallon during games a lot and shouts stuff out now and then. Whereas Fallon just stands there looking bored and fed up.

Then you have to ask the question, why could the Godmanchester players play so well and look like such a well organised team and played nice football, but this season they don't, at all. The answer is the manager is different!!! Fallon should be the one saying how he wants the team to play and what he wants them to do, so it's a reflection on him (If he's not doing that then why the hell is he manager).

[cliveh]

Matt Haniver is a superb coach, and a terrific influence on the sidelines. I witnessed this a few times when visiting Goddy over the last couple of seasons.
All coaches have their own attributes. I am not comparing them. Just trying to explain how Goddy have been so successful over the last few seasons. Not intended to be a detrimental comment on any other individual or club.
Things are not right at Histon FC, but don't blame Fal. I'd like to see him as Manager, with an active, younger, influential coach conducting operations from the bench. Dare I suggest it, someone like Haniver, plus Clements as his assistant.

[hfc08stutes]

I think everyone is making valid points! And to be fair I know someone who holds the view that so many players come to Histon only to leave and up their performances at other clubs, so make of that what you will. I think the long and short of it though is that it will take time. You can tell the team has not fully jelled although there are signs that suggest that we can improve. Of course while trying to work out how best to get the team playing together, the basics will suffer, which they evidently have. That's why I think it's a good starting point for the coaching team to work on. Man marking, shape, knowing when to press off the ball and physicality are my main concerns. When these are solid then we can move onto more in-depth game plans and final third work. I see Fall is trying to get some more experienced heads in. How we can afford that I'm not too sure but if the funds can somehow be found and does not make the club (further?) indebted then I'm all for it as that would be a huge help.

I must also add that having played under Matty H for the u16 and u17 hornets, he would indeed be another good coach to have on the sidelines. Very good at keeping things simple and not over complicating the game, which at times is a much needed view-point.

[histonfan01]

Agreed HFC08, valid points are being made by all. Whatever our views we all want the same thing, for Histon FC to be successful at whatever level we are at.
Whilst supporters have little control over events off and on the field, we do have control over getting behind the club and the team on match days!
So get down to the Glassworlds, make the effort to attend away games and show positive support for the lads!
Up the Stutes