Fareham Town v Hayling United

splodge · Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 8:43 am Post subject: Fareham Town v Hayling United

Just a reminder that tomorrow's game is a 3pm kick off.

With no new injuries/suspensions/unavailabilities, Town will have the following squad to choose from:

Brown, Douglas, G Jones, Birmingham, Buckland, Stone, M Jones, Chapman, Turner, Middleton, Hayes, Woodward, Cotton, Mckie, Stevens, Lindsey, Spicer, Austin, Collis, Moore

splodge · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 5:18 pm Post subject:

Well it was never going to be pretty was it? with too many rivalries on either team.

They say it's a sign of champions to win when playing poorly but win we did, courtesy of Dan Turner's outstretched boot on 9 minutes.

Luke Douglas made 3 superb saves and commanded his area superbly and was my personal Fareham MOTM. Torr Spicer came on and was flattened for an obvious penalty which the referee failed to give. Other than that not many other highlights except our new PA announcer - well done Phil, I could hear you bright and clear behind the goal and the new flag that was draped over the Mobile Phone mast box - impressive stuff.

Green Curtains · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Posts: 38 Location: Fareham

Fareham 1- Hayling Island 0, third in the table, 4 out of 5 wins at home in the league, a very good crowd of 170, two more players in the pipeline, so why did I leave the game today feeing slightly disappointed.

The truth is I am not so sure. It was a really hot day, the players gave there all, the pitch was bone hard and rutted in places. Am I being unreasonable to expect more football than was played. Well am I? What do you think?

Interested · Joined: 05 Jul 2007 Posts: 7

Overall, a win is a win!!! another 3 points, but I think its now obvious that the pitch will not be suited to total football, which in turn will suit matt parrs style of play!!! Having said that, sitting in 3rd place ill always take 3 points over any performance....pretty teams dont always get the rewards, so as long as the wins keep on coming, who cares???? Sad to hear the rumour at the ground today that Darren Watts has been given permission to leave the club, and that Matt will be releasing a few more this week!!!!

REDEYE · Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 13 Location: Fareham

luca · Joined: 20 May 2009 Posts: 21

Not a great game on not a great pitch

Would 6/7th be an improvment on the last 3 or 4 years and with a smaller budget than in previos season's would that not mean the team is going in the right way.

My Dad was speaking to one of the players who is out with an injury and he said the players are not on big wages and in terms of the league the wage bill would not be in the top 10 .

I am going to stay postive.

Green Curtains · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Posts: 38 Location: Fareham

The quality of players assembled at the club are definitely not here for the money as the budget is just that a budget, with the majority of players keen to play for Matt. It is also thus far in Matt’s time as a manager fair to say that he is not only a winner but he gets 10 % more out of his players than others.

So on a lower budget than last year we have an enhanced squad with nearly half of the current first team, capable experienced Southern League players. All of which I understand came to the club to play for Matt, a successful manager and the challenge of playing in a side capable of challenging for promotion. Rather than settle for a probable mid table Southern League position with extra travelling.

So to finish 6th or 7th is creditable but not what the Players, Manager or Fareham Directors want to achieve? Is it?

Bob · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Posts: 7

Very disappointing game. If its Matt Parrs style to play the long ball game then it might suit our suddenly very poor pitch but as a spectacle its very unattractive. A lot of my pre season optimism is fading ...and is Birmingham a better bet than Simon Stone? i'm not so sure he is.

splodge · Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:08 pm Post subject:

For the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever and to avoid people starting more malicious rumours either at the ground or on this forum.

It was made perfectly clear in yesterday's programme that Matt did not tell Darren he was no longer wanted at the club. Darren has decided to retire. I can assure everyone that the crap about Matt telling Darren he can leave is just that. crap.

Darren decided to retire - End of Story.

Ken Bryant · Joined: 15 Jun 2007 Posts: 4 Location: Fareham

Bob,

A disappointing game? A disappointing performance, granted, but we picked up three points to keep us two points off the pace. If we can win when playing poorly, what will we do when we play well?
The pitch has not "suddenly" become poor. it was poor last season and then was subjected to endless local cup finals meaning that it was not given sufficient time to be re-seeded and prepared before the first games took place this season. It may look nice from the stand, but take a walk across it sometime, then talk to the people at Bemerton and Christchurch and find out how a pitch should be treated.
If Matt ever switches to a long ball style I'll be the first to quit. He has never insisted the team play long ball as the first option. Players hit long balls when they may lack a little confidence, or when they're not sure if a pass on the deck will run true and is likely to "bobble".
One player better than another is fair play for debate and is one of the most commonly debated subjects at any football ground at every level. I've no problem with the question being raised as long as the guy who gets the nod gets the support, too.
Finally, Bob, if your pre-season optimism is fading after six league games in which we've only lost once........then you could never have had much to start with.

Keep the faith.
_________________
I know it's only rock n' roll.......but I like it!

Interested · Joined: 05 Jul 2007 Posts: 7

As Ive said on threads before, points should always be put before performance, and anyone who is losing the faith already has blatantly never played/managed a side at a decent level.

The quality of"long" ball has been very high and I agree that this ball is used more often on a pitch that doesn't encourage passing!!

Matt is building a very strong squad, but I don't think he would consider himself a winner just yet, I would expect he feels he has to actually win something 1st, like Pike has at Gosport !!!

May I wish Wattsy all the best in retirement, though Im sure he'll pop up against Fareham at some point!!!!

Bob · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Posts: 7

Ken, do you know me ?? How do you know what optimism I had at the beginning of the season?
I have watched every home match and I have seen what i've seen and it hasn't been very entertaining. Yes i know there is a win 'ugly' mentality which has seeped into SOME peples minds over the last decade or so but i make no apologies for not being one of them. Of course i dont want us to be relegated but i'd rather see some entertaining football and finish mid table than a top three postion achieved through unattractive football. A minority view perhaps but one i'll stick to ,thankyou very much.
The pitch, i cant be bothered to argue with you over , i thought it had improved in recent seasons , if i'm wrong ,my most humble apologies.

griswold · Joined: 26 Aug 2009 Posts: 3

I agree with Ken and Green Curtains. Matt is certainly not an exponent of the long ball game. As regards paying players it is my understanding that players will only receive a win bonus. Fareham fans should appreciate you have a strong squad of players who want to play for both Fareham and Matt. So give them your support As a spectator the pitch looks ok but it is my understanding from players that it is bumpy and full of divets. Rumour has it that the club are paying a lot of money for a groundsman who as far as I can see isnt doing much. Perhaps the club should make it a matter of urgency to get whoever it is to roller the pitch, then perhaps we can play the football Matt and the players want to play and the spectators want to see.

Ken Bryant · Joined: 15 Jun 2007 Posts: 4 Location: Fareham

Bob,

I'm not having a go here. I don't know you and, therefore, I have no idea how much 'ugly' football you've had to endure in previous seasons. It would certainly have a bearing on anyone's optimism if they had been starved of entertaining football. My reasons for posting are to clear up any questions over Matt's style of play, i.e. long ball, win ugly, etc.
There is no getting away from the fact that, overall, the football played in the last six games has been patchy, to say the least. There is nothing deliberate about this, no instructions to hit long balls at every opportunity or use spoiling tactics and play ugly. It is simply because we are not playing at our best. There is a tremendous amount of ability in this squad and it is just as frustrating for the management, if not more, when we don't click as a team. There is work to be done on the training ground to improve certain things, but I can honestly say that Matt will stick to the style of play he believes in and, when it does come off, it will not be ugly.
I'm not sure I could go for a mid-table finish on the basis of only playing entertaining football but, likewise, I would'nt like to achieve a top three position after a season of boring everyone to death. I just accept that there are going to be games where the result has to be ground out.
It goes without saying that we need as many supporters coming to matches as we can possibly get and, hopefully, your optimism will get a timely boost in the coming weeks, Bob.
_________________
I know it's only rock n' roll.......but I like it!

Bob · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Posts: 7

Ken, i hope your right! There is something not gelling with the present team and i could identify several players who appear to me to be the main culprits, but i will trust your belief in Matt's ability as a manager and he will sort things out.
I do welcome your indication that maybe entertainment does have a place in football still!