Bedford Updates

[Neil]

Symo or no Symo, updates from the Bedford game will be available from here (http://livescores.co.uk/myTeamLive.jsp?account=3&match=949) from 3pm :smile:

[rogermellie]

I absoulty guarntee symo will not be playing spoke to him a minute ago travelling to forest green

[NI-Branch]

1-0 Down with 15-20 mins left

[NI-Branch]

Lost 1-0 to Bedford (Definately our bogey team)

Fluke of a goal. They had 2 shots.

We had several plus Sykes missed a penalty which would have given us a 1-0 lead.

Hey Ho, onwards and upwards. All is not lost, keep the faith in our guys.

[Clifty]

third game in a row i have seen us loose agianst a flookey bedford team. definately a bogey team for us! they were a boring team who blatantly came for a draw and scored from a cross that "went wrong". IMO opinion we have nothing upfront now symo has left and that needs 2 b sorted and quick!

[NI-Branch]

And Jody Bevan scored again.

I disagree with most probably on this but I think he would still do a good job for us, he's a different sort of striker. He's knocking them in regularly at Cinders. So I think realising him so early was a MISTAKE, okay if he hadn't done a job for us by the new year and other strikers were available that would have been the time.

The last post said we had nothing up front. Jack Pitcher has not been prolific for us, not given us 20 goals a season, he's not a bad player and if fit has some pace. But strikers are judged on their goal scoring ability.

I think we need a different sort of striker, Symons was scoring when he was fresh but with playing for FGR reserves, training with us, playing for Hartpury College etc I think he was knackered. Plus if you read the FGR forum they were not at all impressed with him, the words "out of his depth" were mentioned various times.

[Clifty]

NI i completely agree about bevan!

[Matt]

We were unlucky today. Dominated the second half and lost to a fluke goal. Thought Matt Rose had a good game but we need a big strong centre forward. We would have won today if Symmo had been playing.

[NI-Branch]

We would have won today with Jody Bevan playing.

He might come up short against some of the better sides, but would be an asset against the majority of teams in this division.

[Pablo]

I disagree, I think Jody used to try his hardest but he isn't Premier standard, but we definately do need another striker (ideally symo back) to give us some goals. I just don't think Bevan is going to score us 20 goals, if any.

[NI-Branch]

But I think Jody Bevan or Will Morford would add something extra to our squad and either one would give us an alternative option up front.

Jody was in terrific form for us before he got injured, scoring many times, if you care to remember that period. If fit he will score goals, this is a fact, just look what he is doing at Cinderford. I believe he would have been able to do this at our level too, let's just wait and see how many goals he scores for Cinderford this season. Even if he doesn't score in a game you are nearly 100% sure he would have worked tirelessly for the team.

[Neil]

I disagree, I think Jody used to try his hardest but he isn't Premier standard.VOTE PABLO!

What he said is right on the money, effort and desire only gets you so far. We need quality.

A fit Jason Welsh would do a decent job.

[Neil]

Boris's interview is here (http://www.cityladies.co.uk/spf/dm200908.mp3) :smile:

[Pablo]

Yeah, there is three players that we have mentioned there that would give us what we want but all of them have different reason why they can't;

Symons - gone to FGR
Morford - moved back home
Welsh - is not fit

I'm sure that the management team will have someone lined up.

Neil, in the interview the Banbury game was mentioned as our next game, is it not Chippenham at home?

[NI-Branch]

I think against a team like Bedford - Jody would have done a good job for us.

Against the better teams like Farnborough, Halesowen, Chippenham he may have struggled but against the majority of teams in this league he would have scored goals. Therefore he would have been a good squad player.

But he's gone and it will be interesting to see what is brought in to replace Symons ? Any idea of what quality we can expect to lure to our great club, given budget restrictions etc. Any ideas who we should go for (other than Bevan of course:wink:)?

[Neil]

Neil, in the interview the Banbury game was mentioned as our next game, is it not Chippenham at home?Looks as though. I'm useless with forthcoming fixtures and it looks as though Boris isn't that hot either!

[Neil]

Therefore he would have been a good squad player.So he can come and play until we get something better? Thats not fair on him and he was told that he would only be a bench player.

[Joe]

Disappointing. I overheard one of their directors talking to a fan in the toilets after the game about how they'd pulled off another 'smash and grab'. Very frustrating.

I can't think of many players to criticise today, but despite having a good game, I think that's the fourth time that Sysum has been culpable for giving a goal away in his short City career. He's got great potential, but he just can't afford to keep missing clearances and passes like that. Games are too close at the moment to give away soft goals. If he doesn't cut out the errors soon, I'd considered loaning him out to pick up some experience. It'll make him a better play him in the long run. I also wonder if he'd be better in a midfield role?

I was also disappointed with Sykes' penalty. I was right behind it and the keeper had already committed himself 2 seconds before the ball was struck. I couldn't believe he didn't stroke it into the empty half of the goal.

Either way, we'll come good. A new striker for the Chippenham game and we'll be fine.

[Neil]

I call this photo "Oh Bollocks!"

bedpen

[Clifty]

does anyone else not think that the same thing happened today as what has happened over last couple of weeks, it wasn't until we missed the penalty that we sparked to life. once again the first half was pretty much pointless!!:exit::exit:

[Neil]

This is why we struggled to break through their defence.

outnumbered

[Neil]

Thwunkage

eyesclosed

[Young Alfie]

At the supporters A G M Boris stated by releasing Jody and Palmer gave him finances for other options , Now with Simmo gone I would think hes pretty flush .With three wage packets saved should be able to bring in a decent striker for the chippenham game

[Neil]

Dean Brennan from Halesowen will probably be available!

[Pablo]

Dean Brennan from Halesowen will probably be available!

Now that would be a signing!

[NI-Branch]

I thought he was travelling until January and then was looking to return to the Gloucestershire area. I don't think he has gone back to his home.

[bully74uk]

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u128/bully74uk/_9200889web.jpg

[bully74uk]

One more from my football photography lesson with Neil.

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u128/bully74uk/_9200890web.jpg

[bully74uk]

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u128/bully74uk/_9200860web.jpg

[Neil]

My version of the one above..

pitcher_lawley

[ItmustbeCity]

Some excellent photos from both Neil and Bully :biggrin:

Well another bad day at the office but this time unlike the last couple of games we could easily say City deserved more. Bedford came for a point and looked as surprised as everyone else when they got all three. By the time that shot/cross went in we should have been 3 up but its all about creating and taking chances which we seemed incapable of doing and paid the price. Hopefully someone can be brought in before the Chippy game to bolster our forward line.

[bully74uk]

My version of the one above..

pitcher_lawley

Yep, looks better cropped in tighter.

Enjoyed using the camera yesterday, only kept about a dozen from over 100 shots taken which for me was quite a lot !

Neil is definitely the master when it comes to football photography. My slower (and much cheaper) camera and bad timing meant I got quite a few shots where the ball wasn't close enough to the players :frown:

[Neil]

12 from 100 sounds about right. The better camera, the more keepers. Thats why I ain't buying a 1D cos I'll be here all week rooting through what I've taken!

[SHANDY LOVE MACHINE]

Jody was in terrific form for us before he got injured, scoring many times, if you care to remember that period. If fit he will score goals, this is a fact

I'm disappointed with his input this season, he's been pretty anonymous in my humble opinion. Has he scored for us?

[DRAKEY]

Those two pictures ar so close were you holding hands :puke:

[PeTe]

I thought our support was pitiful yesterday. Outsung by the Bedford 5. and nothing to do with where you sit, stand or lie down; just no getting behind the lads.

[Noah]

This is why we struggled to break through their defence.

outnumbered


That really is a picture telling a story. I don't watch games from behind the goal generally, but you learn a lot from it. First half, as I wandered around behind the goal and stopped to chat with Exiled, it was as if Bedford had built a red brick wall - with at least fifteen men behind the ball.

It will happen with other visitors too, of course, and we are going to need some imagination / creativity to get through the barrier (thanks to TigerTrev who was explaining this to me)

[Pablo]

I thought our support was pitiful yesterday. Outsung by the Bedford 5. and nothing to do with where you sit, stand or lie down; just no getting behind the lads.

Yeah, it was bad and we were outsang. It's not often we can say that is it?

But second half a couple of us were left on our own in the stand where we have been singing from this season and everyone went behind the goal again, where nobody sings!

[PeTe]

respect to you Pablo;

we were the two stood in front of the stand and singing - in the sun!

[Clifty]

sorry but i was enjoying and making the most of the sunshine and to be perfectly honest when the players give something on the pitch to sing about then i will be happy to join in, but they aren't!:exit:

[Neil]

sorry but i was enjoying and making the most of the sunshineclifty

[SHANDY LOVE MACHINE]

Hey Clifty - I don't know about John Terry, you look more like Duncan Norvelle on that picture

[Tiger Andy]

Agree with Clifty. The team can't really expect the usual vocal support a week after going out of the FA cup in such a pathetic fashion. They buck their ideas up, and we buck ours up. Also the weather lent the day the air of a pre-season friendly which didn't help.

Bedford were a pretty average team, but they were strong, big and good in the air. We had NO aerial presence at all at the back or up front and given the number of free kicks and corners someone like Jody B would have made a significant impact. Really think it may be worth taking a punt on getting him back - he was strong, burly and could hold the ball up. The number of times I saw the ball whacked up front using Ballinger as a target man was ridiculous...

[Neil]

There's a subtle difference though, players of Ballingers ilk (Jimmy Cox was one) like the ball knocked over the last defender to use their pace to get onto.

I don't agree with all this Jody Bevan talk. If he was good enough to have an impact in this team he'd still be here and not in the forest. We should look forward to Jack and Will rekindling their partnership from last year. I know I am.

[bobcarolgees]

I think if we're going to be 100% honest if it was just the atmopshere that won games we'd be in the bloody football league by now. I can only remember one club in my time as a city supporter bringing a decent vocal support and that was Aldershot in 1995 or 1996, and we still outsang them (winning 5-1 helped mind). Yesterday was flat on and off the pitch, although I did sing (a bit) there was next to nothing on the pitch to get excited about really, plus the fans were looking for a positive reaction from the players afer the FA Cup debacle and this never materialised.

We were toothless up front, since Symons has gone we have absoultely no aerial threat now and have no strength at all to hold the ball up. Yesterday they tried to walk the ball into the back of the net at times. Very frustrating afternoon, especially when you consider Bedford shouldnt actually be in this league yet took all 3 points and are looking foward to a big time pay day next Saturday when AFC Wimbledon come to visit.:frown:

[Neil]

I can only remember one club in my time as a city supporter bringing a decent vocal support and that was Aldershot in 1995 or 1996, and we still outsang them (winning 5-1 helped mind)Great game. I was quite pleased when they scored (down at the T-End) cos it was a fantastic sight to see the delayed reaction of their fans going mental over in the far corner. They were one of the best supported teams ever to visit MP.

[bobcarolgees]

Ahh Aldershot. I remember it was chucking it down when they scored to make it 1-1, they had 400 or so along the covered side but there must have been 50 or 60 behind the goal (car park open end) despite the fact it was pissing it down going absolutely mental, then them all pointing at the T-End singing who the ****ing hell are you.

Then a minute later we scored and the whole T-End did precisely the same back. Sadly we dont get many days like that anymore :frown:

[DRAKEY]

I thought our support was pitiful yesterday. Outsung by the Bedford 5. and nothing to do with where you sit, stand or lie down; just no getting behind the lads.


Wrong imo, you have got to stand together, we were talking about this during the game, there is a divide between the supporters now more because of the way Ciren is laid out, go to any ground where you spread yourself around the ground ie. with no terracing and you get what we have now. Have trracing ie. where you can see over each other and we stand together and sing together.

[DRAKEY]

sorry but i was enjoying and making the most of the sunshine and to be perfectly honest when the players give something on the pitch to sing about then i will be happy to join in, but they aren't!:exit:


You were just enjoying the BEER! :biggrin:

[Stuart]

I was always a fan of Jody as he always worked his socks off.
Would love to see him back and in his words after the last game of the season
'I'm the best vollyer in the league'

[Darran]

Having experienced the Aldershot fans at home a few times last season I can tell you they still make an amazing noise. I bet they outsing ever club in League 2 this season. We have had very differing fortunes since that game.

[DRAKEY]

I was always a fan of Jody as he always worked his socks off.
Would love to see him back and in his words after the last game of the season
'I'm the best vollyer in the league'


I doubt Cinderford would give him up easily....

[Neil]

And so they shouldn't. They're second in the league, going well and I'd imagine that Jody is enjoying his football too.

[Exiled]

It was as if Bedford had built a red brick wall - with at least fifteen men behind the ball.

.
I think every team we have played this year, with the exception of Charlfont, play with four across the back, flat back four.
Then when they are under pressure,like Bedford, Farn,Tivvy, Oxford, Bashley and all the rest,the midfielders and even their forwards come back and help out.

Unfortunately we do not play with a flat back four, I cannot make out sometime how our defence operate, they seem to go off on gardening leave too often!

Then when the opposition break away and score against us, the way to our goals is wide open,like at Evesham, and the first at Farn, and about three at Charlfont,.

I would like to see Ash T and Tom H played together, so that if one is pulled wide like Ash was at Evesham, the whole game, the other is still in position to clear any crosses!

Far too often the opposition have a clear run and shot at Kevin, from which they score than should be the case!

.

[SHANDY LOVE MACHINE]

I doubt Cinderford would give him up easily....

And more to the point why we would he come back when he's just been released. He probably a bit sore.

Things could be worse for City. I dreamt last night that Tom Webb started in goal for us at home to a team in blue. We were 1 down in minutes before my dream erm changed direction as Liv Tyler entered the ground and invited me to rate her out of 10.

[PeTe]

Shandy, did you give her 1 ......... out of 10.

Predictable posting I know, but still necessary.

[SHANDY LOVE MACHINE]

As many a lady will know Pete, I gave her several.