Ossett (H)

[Dean]

2-0 defeat and that's the end of the play off charge i'm afraid. We're 10 points away now, and with only 10 games left, it's too much to make up. Especially as there are so many other sides in the mix.
We were poor today i'm afraid. We didn't really create anything all game, and the sponsors must have been scratching their heads for a man of the match. I don't think anyone stood out. Up front we were toothless, there was nothing creative in midfield, and whilst the back were solid enough, their distribution was poor.
All that said, they didn't really create much either (it was a poor game), and really we should have had a late penalty to make it 1 a piece. (their 2nd goal came from the last kick of the game).
They took the lead from a corner early on when someone lost their man, and we were slow to react to a bobbling ball on the line. I can't think of anything else of note in the game at all, apart from the possible penalty when the ball hit the hand of a defender. The defender didn't try and move his hand, and it wasn't like the attacker's shot was from that close to him either. He had time to pull his hand away if he wanted to.
They had a man sent off late on for a melee after their 2nd goal i think. it was all over by then though.
Onto next season. Gregg Smith's signing looked like possibly being a catalyst to push on. As it is, his 40mins and sending off has been pointless.
All we can hope for now is the squad gel together in these final 10 games, and the decent ones stick together for next season. Haystead, Miller, Eggy, Armstrong, Morgan, Smith and maybe Duffy / Burgess could form a core of a decent side. I don't think the rest are good enough though for us to win a league. I may be wrong, but that's how i see it.

[justin]

I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT WAS THE WORST PERFORMANCE I HAVE SEEN IN 2 YEARS SURELEY NOW THAT THE PLAY OFFS ARE OUT OUT SITE THE BOARD SHOULD START LOOKING AT CHANGES IN THE DUG OUT I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT THE TEAM THIS SEASON IS NO WERE NEAR GOOD ENOUGH

[StamfordShrew]

No chance with the playoffs, most of that team just not good enough.
Yes we should have had a penalty before they scored the second, but that would have papered over the cracks.
2/3 of the back 4 just not good enough, midfield lightweight, front 2 starved of any service.

[Gordon]

On a purely statistical basis 40 points in 28 games translates to 54 points come the end of the season. Don’t need to be Einstein to realise that that will not be sufficient to get into the playoffs and will probably produce a mid-table, or just above, finish at best. Once again ‘goals for’ seems to be our archilles heel as 40 goals, or just over one a game, will not produce many wins, and so the table shows. To stand any chance of making the playoffs and possibly salvaging the season I would, personally speaking, get rid of every single substitute who sits on the bench and who rarely gets match time, and could therefore be reasonably considered superfluous to necessity, thus paring the squad down to the absolute bare bones...and then spend the money saved on another top drawer striker who is able to complement Greg Smith and force the pace and the opposition onto the back foot. May mean getting rid of six or seven players, or having a squad of only 13 or 14, but to stand any chance of making a playoff place another seasoned striker who can take this undoubtedly talented team by the scruff of the neck and drag them forwards and upwards is, for me, the only way we stand any earthly chance of redeeming a rapidly diminishing promotion season. Only my thoughts though.

[anon]

Agree with much of what has been said. Mathemtically the playoffs are still well to play for, but realistically, doesn't take a genius to work out that probably isn't going to happen considering our remaining fixtures include teams like Morpeth, Brighouse, Sheffield, etc all teams above us. Had to follow the game via twitter as once again work commitments rendered me unable to attend.
I disagree with Justin, getting rid of Drury now will definitely ruin our chances of any decent finish. A new gaffer will have to come in and get a new set of players. I would let Drury see out the season and then let the board assess how they want to start the summer. The only way I could be convinced of a managerial change is if it was given to someone like Jon Challinor (who lets be honest is guaranteed to be a permanent manager of ours in the future) and if he does well let him have it for the start of the next season. Out of the ones that started today however, I reckon Eggy, Seal and Miller need to go and let that starting 11 plus Gregg Smith constitute the core for next season (remember the majority of that squad got to the playoff final last season too)
Gordon raises a very good point and one I would definitely be in favour of about potentially freeing up some cash but lets be honest I doubt the board would even think about that. Dont get me wrong there is the odd person higher up who is absolutely faultless (I would be in favour of one of them even going to the top) but some on that board could definitely be questioned and I would support sorting that out before we rung any managerial changes this season.
Like I said earlier though, mathematically we can still do it but im not holding any hope. The only realistic thing we can try now is to try and ruin some other teams promotion parties. 330 there today and would be great if we could see out the season with those sorts of crowds. I know I will still be getting to games home and away when I can right up to the end of the season even if they do end up being meaningless.
10 points a big gap to close but its not impossible yet.

[justin123]

We did not have one shot on goal in 90 mins

[charlie]

Too many players going in and out the door. It is like Stamford station in rush hour. Time for a new broom cos this one is not working well enough.
Just noticed Corby had 933 to watch them lose to PSLFC

[StamfordShrew]

Yes but Charlie your a Sports fan, I take it you made up 1 of the travelling 20, I think your just worried that we’ll have you manager next season

[Gary]

Not sure Anon what the board have to do with who is on the playing staff and getting rid of players last time I checked I’m sure that was the managers job but hey I’m just the groundsman

[anon]

Make a quality point there Shrew, as much as I’ve hurled abuse at him in the numerous recent games we’ve had with Sports I’d love Jimmy Dean to be our gaffer.
I made that point Gary in reference to Gordon’s comment when he said let 6/7 players leave to free up funds for a new striker. The board would just let that pass if drury asked? It was under my impression a number of strikers were presented to the board earlier in the season but they wouldn’t take any of them on?

[StamfordShrew]

With reference to Jimmy Dean, surely he wants to push on as a manager, Sports may well get promoted this season, but without a few million to redevelop their ground they will never go higher.
I’m guessing we have a bigger budget that them and far greater potential.
However he hardly set the world alight last season

[justin]

I really do think we did a change there is a lot of discomfort in the stands today the problem with the club I believe they dont listen to the fans we all want to see Stamford playing at a higher level Graham has had the opportunity to fo this put it's not happening

[Gordon]

Not really talking about Board members dipping into their pockets or the kitty, anon, although that would obviously be helpful to the cause. Talking more of freeing up money spent on fringe players, bench-warmers and non-contracted misfiring forwards and spending it on a top quality striker with a proven pedigree two or three leagues higher. Not sure what our highest goalscorer is on but I doubt if he’s in double figures yet, which for a team with promotion aspirations is untenable and incompatible, unless of course a multitude of others are contributing too, which unfortunately they are not. Plus, am not au fait with what the budget is or who earns what but would have thought that since Greg arrived and home gates have risen correspondingly another top class forward would have a similar effect so he would, to all intents and purposes, be essentially self-financing. 10 games left and 10 wins needed concentrates the mind. A new striker, one with a high degree of league pedigree and experience is needed. Not difficult to see and not difficult to budget for but to have any chance we need to ditch all the deadwood right down to the bare bones and get in somebody who really can light up our goals tally, and quickly too. Again, only my thoughts.

[swjfc]

All this talk about strikers, what about shoving the midfielder up front who is joint league top goal scorer and was in double figures last year

Just a idea if the cash not there

[StamfordShrew]

As Justin eludes to the fans on the terrace are a little frustrated that 3 years on we are further behind than when he took over. If truth be told we should never have gone down, at one point that season we were 5 points outside the relegation zone.
But the sides Graham’s put together here in his previous two stints have been one of the best in the respective leagues, it’s just doesn’t seem to have clicked this time. The NPL south and now east are tough leagues with clubs with big budgets, but I bet ours is up there.

[weareleeds]

Can't see the point in changing manager now this season is over absolute rubbish today not 1 shot on target or even worth mentioning constantly playing needless sideways passes that just got us into trouble. Maybe drury was made to look good when Danny hussey was assistant don't know how he's getting on at holbeach but

[fatlambert]

Poor game today. Thought Greg Smith was the solution to getting playoffs and for 40 mins he was. I dare say he could have been the difference in the last two games.

Thought the ref made mistakes but we have no one to blame except ourselves for the result against a team that also created little.

Danny hussey is doing very well at holbeach. Unbeaten. Manager of the month. Proving he can be a number one. If Drury isn't the manager next season (and i'm not saying he shouldn't be) then a hussey/chally combo sounds good to me.

[chewy]

Ninety plus minutes of frustration.

[Gary]

Anon again I refer to my earlier point playing staff is nothing to do with the board or believe me there would be changes

[anon]

I’ll take your word for it Gary, not going to dispute anything you say considering your position at the club, im the average supporter nothing to do with the club so can only go off things I hear/overhear etc that are probably more often that not, wrong.

On another note regarding next weeks game at Brighouse, is it likely any coach would be running?

[philb]

Mar 3, 2019 11:45:19 GMT anon said:

I’ll take your word for it Gary, not going to dispute anything you say considering your position at the club, im the average supporter nothing to do with the club so can only go off things I hear/overhear etc that are probably more often that not, wrong.

On another note regarding next weeks game at Brighouse, is it likely any coach would be running?

Anon,, yes a coach is going next Saturday, leaving the ground at 1015. Cost of seat £15 per person

Let me know if you want to travel please mate

[anon]

Thanks for that quick reply Phil, was that advertised on social media? I will let you know, just need to confirm If i can get out of some other pre arranged commitments.

[Dean]

I don’t see the point in bringing in another star striker now. It’s gone for this year. No point chasing after something that we can’t achieve.
I don’t think we should get rid of GD.
Yes, Hussey is doing well, but that level is different. Arguably so is Peterboro Sports. I don’t think those managers would necessarily do a better job than GD.
We will move leagues south next season. That should be easier. Give Drury until Christmas in that league in my opinion.

[StamfordShrew]

Personally I would get rid of the majority of the team now, we’re not going up or down, I’d keep 4 players who should be here next season if we move south and give the youth team a go, save a huge amount of this seasons budget and put it into next seasons.

[anon]

Dean makes a good point, we shouldn't be too hasty to get rid of him but anything other than a strong start next season (top 3/top 5 by October/November) and he will probably need to be worrying. Plenty of non league twitter accounts trying to predict next seasons league setups already and most if not all have us transferring to the southern central division one. As we've said so much before in theory it'd be a good move and I reckon we see how Drury fared in the opening games (if he is given the chance)

Have to say I disagree with Shrew, I would leave mass changes till the summer, it may free up some money yes but again doubt anyone at the club would consent to such drastic measures. I think even if playoffs are out of reach we need to push on anyway and get the best finish possible. It is surely certainly in Drury's interest to finish as strong as he can. Interesting to hear the only 4 players you would keep, I can think of at least 8/9 I think should stay on.

[StamfordShrew]

Unfortunately by going south, a fair few of the current players live too far north to want to take trips to Oxfordshire and around the top of the M25, I did mean keep 4/5 players that will be here next season.
Gregg has to stay and the team built around him, Morgan, Boachie and Armstrong.
Playing in south central could see the return of Eze and possibly Sam Donkin, just a thought.

[stillfatoldgit]

I think Shrew meant that the four players he would keep if we went South would be those who don't live too far North, as the extra travelling would become a real problem. I would keep Gresh but am not sure whether his contact list is very strong South of Stamford. He should at least be given the chance IMO.

[anon]

Ah apologies, now see what you mean. Depending on his finish this season I would be open to letting Drury start next season.

[justin]

How long do you give a manager I feel drurry has had long enough we have not progressed this year which I feel it's not acceptable at any level I agree with strew let's save some money and then invest it next year and let's give it a go

[safc1896]

It's gradually got worse year by year