WE GOT OFF LIGHTLY

Absent

• Hannaford - holiday

• Foster  -   holiday

• Abbott - Inj

• Bissell - Inj

I think to say we got off lightly may be the understatement of the season.  I don’t think the woodwork has ever taken such a battering and other than our resolute defence, goalkeeper and 1 or 2 midfielders we could have been on the end of our most embarrassing defeat for years.

I will attempt to keep this report in context as we did only have the bare 11 and it was by know means our 1st choice team.  Add to that the fact that we were playing against a confident side who hasn’t lost many league games in the past 2 seasons and all in all 3-0 may have been just about as good as it was going to get.

Even though the odds were against us I still believe that 11 vs 11 we have a fair chance against anybody.  That is why I am so disappointed with the nature of our performance.  We never played 11 vs 11.  Only 7 of our players can walk away from this game confident that they gave there all.  Of those 7, 2 or 3 did not have good games.  I can cope with poor performances – it happens.  I cannot cope with lack of effort.  It shows great disrespect to me and in particular you team mates.

I will be doing most of my talking at training so I wont go into individuals on this report but leave no doubt that I will be talking to everybody who needs talking to.  I am going to be very honest about what is expected and if that doesn’t happen, people will not play.  It’s that simple.

We are in a 9-team division.  That means we have 16 games only.  We cannot afford slip-ups if we are going to push for a top 3 finish.  I have been turning new players away all summer as I am confident that this bunch has the tools to push the best teams in our league.  Yes we are unlucky to have lost Rob and Henners through injury but we should have enough in reserve to cope.

Lets just put this one down to a bad day.  We had players away and we were unlucky to play one of the better sides in our league away on the day that we were under strength.  We can move on.  BUT!

Be very clear that poor performances I can handle.  A lack of effort I can’t.

Steve