AFC Telford Updates

[Deleted]

I don't normally repeat rumours but...... Cornes would like to return to SGL???

[Deleted]

If we do lose Spencer RD will have to act. Without him the defence is threadbare. I hope this doesn't force him into a hasty signing.

[afcbally]

Please have Cornes back he's just what you need

[dorothy]

and a hole in the head!!!

[andy]

I wasnt impressed by Telford in the first half. Even with a strong wind behind them, they created nothing, while City created two decent chances 10 yards out. Without Smith, Price and later Wood - and with Clarke and Danks also picking up knocks - Telford were on top and were able to play some incisive football. And so they should have been. A paper-thin City squad - weakened significantly during the first 45 minutes - was exposed by a typically effective big CN side. Outmuscled earlier on, the gaps were exploited. To their credit, Telford did that well.

The lads have done remarkably during December, and have been fortunate to avoid injury and play a moreorless settled and first choice side. Unfortunately, RD hasnt yet been able to bring in the players that were clearly needed with a tough sequence of games (7 in the last 4 weeks and another 2 to come in the next week).

I'm interested to see what sort of side we'll be able to put out against Redditch and Hinckley - two important and potentially winnable games, if we are able to field a decent line-up. Five injuries, Clegg suspended and Spencer possibly returning to Kettering.

[dorothy]

Unfortunately our lack of reserve team is coming to haunt us. Seems that we were to quick to part with Burely, defence or midfield cover. The lack of cover in most positions will probably cost us 2 or 3 league positions by the end of the season.

[aj]

I thought we looked very tired. After all we have played a lot of games lately. Telford were fresh and full of pace, maybe this shows the difference in fitness between full time and part time players. I think we will still look tired on Tuesday, probably even more so, but hopefully Redditch will be just as tired as us and we will get something from it. But I'm not expecting a good game :-)

[Tony is not to despondent now.]

Mancunian_wfc was about right. The City have been riding their luck since the change in managership. And Saturday against Telford saw the luck come to an end.

About held their own in first half but ran ragged in the second half.

I would think that RD now knows the size of his problems.

[gobby cow]

dazza said:

gobbycow said:

Kevin Spencer was outstanding today.

Good to hear as i think we will be calling him back from his loan spell, we were without two first choice defenders yesterday, lost a third during the game and ended with a winger at right back

I would say Kev Spencer will be back in our squad for our New Years Day game with Solihull

That is bad news for City. Kevin has been so consistant, hard to believe he is so young.

I will look forward to seeing him play against us, hopefully he will have an off day!!

[gobby cow]

ealing said:

I don't normally repeat rumours but...... Cornes would like to return to SGL???

If that happens I will not be there, that lad is a total waste of space and his attitude stinks.

[andy]

Personally, I dont think they have been riding their luck. Nor do I agree with Barty's assessment that the players on City's books are not good enough for this league and a continuation with that squad would have meant a relegation battle.

With a small squad, the players have shown great application and commitment. Just what was needed. RD has had the good fortune that he has been able to put out a stable and mostly fit 11. With Shabs injured, the thinness of the squad was exposed before the game, forcing Kevin Spencer into the left-back role and Rapid into the right-back slot. Neither would normally play in that position. Early on yesterday we saw that we had lost our ability to build from the back as two wayward balls forward put us under pressure. It was what we had been doing before and had stopped doing.

We have seen departures, but we havent yet seen the new faces. In a sizeable squad, that wouldnt have mattered, but with the core players increasingly tired after 7 games in four weeks (including an extra-time), and knocks picked up on the pitch yesterday we were exposed.

A number of players have gone, namely Doran, Barrett, Burley and Liburd. Belford has come in for an injured Danny Mac, Jamie Price has come in (and been excellent) and Kevin Spencer on loan. RD has not seen it appropriate to start with Nic Colley and Wardy only appears in short cameos.

I agree we looked tired yesterday against a strong Telford side (in the physical sense), and strong (in the playing sense) once we were significantly weakened.

I know that RD has been looking to bring one or two players in but without success, though it was implied he was going to go back to one of the Clubs again. RD has shown great ability in getting the squad he inherited to play to their potential. I would like to see that magic work in the transfer market to follow through on the release of Burley and Liburd. And ideally soon to boost a tired squad weakened through injury and suspensions, at a stage when there is some significant momentum behind the Club.

Telford fans are saying Jagielka had a good game at right-back when he came on second-half. Wasnt difficult to keep a crocked Troy Wood in his pocket. With Clarke, Smith, Price, Wood and Danks all picking up knocks, that story was moreorless repeated across the park.

[Deleted]

It was a matter of releasing players to free up funds to acquire new faces. RD couldn't have done it the other way around. He's done remarkably well with a depleted squad and taken the pressure off having to get results. The true rebuilding starts now and shouldn't be rushed.

[andy]

I dont think so. I think it was (is?) a policy of bringing in new players where they offer improvements over what we have.

I wasnt in support of the approach of releasing players (eg Rob Warner) only to take several months to replace them.

I also noted the use of the plural in the description of players who could be brought in following the replace of Burlo.

Please dont think I'm being overly negative after one defeat. Its not that at all. The squad was thin at the time of Preecey leaving. Its just that I want to see the second side to the management team bearing fruit in the same way as their motivation and organising ability clearly has paid dividends.

[nickb303]

"The start of the second half saw the Poppies fielding all remaining ten outfield players of the first team squad who remained fit." Quote from Kettering website, report on yesterday's match.

If the Poppies were so short before the game and they could have done so they would have recalled Spencer on Friday or Saturday.

[zeke]

Just out of curiosity, what is the legal limit for the number of away supporters when segregation is implimented? I'm sure I read on here a while ago that safety regulations limited it to 450?

[andy]

I think it was upped to 550 for the Huddersfield game.

[Deleted]

The squad wasn't bolstered during the summer when needed. Maybe this was due to financial restraints or maybe because the management's interest was waning? I've no idea, but hopefully things will change in the coming weeks. If we made the play offs this year I'd be delighted, but I believe we have to think in terms of "work in progress" and look forward to next season - the year we walk away with the Blue Square SOUTH title

[afcbally]

aj said:

I thought we looked very tired. After all we have played a lot of games lately. Telford were fresh and full of pace, maybe this shows the difference in fitness between full time and part time players. :-)

I don't want to spoil your theory but Telford players are part time as well.

[aj]

sorry, I read that they went full time but obviously I got that wrong. Anyway I stand by my comment that Telford looked fresh and we were tired, even if I got the reason wrong! But thanks for the correction.

[niels]

I think the squad was found out on Saturday, and Wednesday to a certain extent. It seems to me, and I have only seen 3 games under the new management, that we were playing on team spirit and the enthusiasm of the Dryden,Heeley, Carty and when we came up against a good team we were exposed. I think the squad Preece left was a mid-table side and I'm not without hope that we can make it to the play-offs with some new signings to bolster what we have already.
Ironically I thought we were getting the upper hand, after a slow start, on Saturday when they scored and then put their collective foot on the gas. Second half they played nice football and were first to almost every ball. Also Belford went punching air for the third goal in exactly the same way he did in pre-season against Evesham. That is why I was a bit worried about signing him but he has generally been excellent.
Lets hope the management can get the team back to their passing game and collect 6 points from the next two games.

[Deleted]

Telford also had several players able and willing to run at our defence from around the half way line. We don't have that in the side. Danks takes on players in the box - but that's it.

[wcfc2006]

niels said:

I think the squad was found out on Saturday, and Wednesday to a certain extent. It seems to me, and I have only seen 3 games under the new management, that we were playing on team spirit and the enthusiasm of the Dryden,Heeley, Carty and when we came up against a good team we were exposed. I think the squad Preece left was a mid-table side and I'm not without hope that we can make it to the play-offs with some new signings to bolster what we have already.
Ironically I thought we were getting the upper hand, after a slow start, on Saturday when they scored and then put their collective foot on the gas. Second half they played nice football and were first to almost every ball. Also Belford went punching air for the third goal in exactly the same way he did in pre-season against Evesham. That is why I was a bit worried about signing him but he has generally been excellent.
Lets hope the management can get the team back to their passing game and collect 6 points from the next two games.

At last .... someone who has thought about what they are saying before actually typing!!! Yes I agree with most of what you are saying and in terms of a good squad we are still on the short side, you only had to compare Telford's substitutes to see the strength in depth needed to be serious promotion contenders. Having said that the players & the management team have really done themselves & the club proud in December and I'm sure with a few additions to the squad we have a great chance of making the play offs. ** Happy New Yr ** Up the city!!!

[Tony is not to despondent now.]

There we see it, the problem with loan players is that they can be called back by their club whenever they want them.

[wcfc2006]

aj said:

sorry, I read that they went full time but obviously I got that wrong. Anyway I stand by my comment that Telford looked fresh and we were tired, even if I got the reason wrong! But thanks for the correction.

When you have the strength in depth like Telford have then you are going to look fresh. 4 of Telfords starting line up did not play in their previous game, whereas our players have played how many games in 2 weeks without a rest ..... hello!!!??

[wcfc2006]

ealing said:

Telford also had several players able and willing to run at our defence from around the half way line. We don't have that in the side. Danks takes on players in the box - but that's it.

What are you talking about Ealing!!! Able and willing ... what about our so called International or Troy Woods, surely they are able?? Willing now thats a separate issue, personally players have to take a chance now and again, dribble at the opposition and commit players that will create more opening for the strikers and other players!!

[Tim Munslow]

Ah well - the honeymoon period is over for RD now! Well beaten by the better side on the day, though if we hadn't conceded that goal just on half-time and the wind hadn't dropped it might have been another story.

Our squad looks a bit threadbare at the moment and we need another two or three players just to cover injuries alone. That said there seems to be an awful lot of breast-beating on here about one defeat. Do I not recall that Hereford lost 0-3 at home to Morecambe and promptly won their next two games away from home? What is important is not the defeat, but the players response to it. I shall be there at The Valley tomorrow to see what we can do.

I do hope Kevin Spencer is not recalled by KTFC as he was great on Saturday - and those long throws of his!

C'mon City!

[wcfc2006]

timmunslow said:

Ah well - the honeymoon period is over for RD now! Well beaten by the better side on the day, though if we hadn't conceded that goal just on half-time and the wind hadn't dropped it might have been another story.

Our squad looks a bit threadbare at the moment and we need another two or three players just to cover injuries alone. That said there seems to be an awful lot of breast-beating on here about one defeat. Do I not recall that Hereford lost 0-3 at home to Morecambe and promptly won their next two games away from home? What is important is not the defeat, but the players response to it. I shall be there at The Valley tomorrow to see what we can do.

I do hope Kevin Spencer is not recalled by KTFC as he was great on Saturday - and those long throws of his!

C'mon City!

I couldnt agree more Tim well spoken!!! Yes indeed the response is vitally important tomorrow. The fact that we are all upset by one defeat just shows much the spirit has improved recently ... dare i say it since the days of AP & AM reign in charge!! Up the city!!