In respect of internet forum posters I wil be in the minority but would like to express the following: In our last 11 games under Pennock our record was Played 11 won 3 drew 3 lost 5. totalling 12 points, which if continued to the 22 point stage that Neil Smith is at would amount to a grandtotal of 24 points 3 more than our current total). Yet this was when we had the incentive of playing for the play offs and with Kedwell and Day in the team. Thevitriole from some of you towards Smith does not seem to recognise this and from very early on in the season it is as if he has been responsible for some kind of collapse of a great team. We came 8th and spent the majority of the end of the season with one player up front. Losing our two best players together with Perkins and Lewis were not the fault of Neil Smith they were not anyones fault. He has broguht in Tony Sinclair, who was performing well up to his injury. Retained Leon, and Mooro and through his dropping of JT appears to have stimulated an improvement in his performances. Who gets the credit for bringing in the excellent Robbie Ryan? Coleman is also A good signing, though I feel his track record would likely reveal an injury prone history. Mucu was also acquired and is now beginning to live up to his pre-season potetial. But hey yes there have been some shocking perfomances this year(as in every year of my 30 that I have watched Welling). The early departure from the FA Trophy was just disgraceful. But that said, there is no way we will be relegated. The difference in most of our games has been a lack of fire power by the forwards and a lack of an attacking central midfield player. We do need to sign permanent players rather than loanees, but you can understand why a manager in Smith's situation would be reluctant to do this. If he signs a player unless he has won the golden boot award for his league the postings generally question why has he signed that wally. Also it is not unthinkable that a loanee can end up signing permanently fro you (Isn't that how Leon started?) Wasn't there also a Luke someone or other who we would love to sign having seen him on loan a couple of seasons ago. Based with what Neil Smith was left with a top half position this year in reality would hae been an outstanding achievment. Clearly that is most unlikely now and therefore a 50 point target has to be the next goal and one that if acheived would demonstrate a strong second half to the season with every reason to be optimistic for 2008/09. Lets stop the berating of the team and in particular the manager, accept that this is a year we rebuild. Give positive support to ensure we don't end up in the bottom 3 by a margin. If you all agree to that i will see you at Fisher, where I suspect we will pick up 3 points CBATTOASO
I have not seen any notice of budget cuting, but I am glad that Welling wrote to you to advise you of the movement. Yes the floodlight situation could have been handled better, but I am not aware that Neil Smith was in charge of that. I do beleive though that with Bodkin Day and Kedwell at his disposal, we would have significantly more points than we do now. These were excellent players. As stated there have been some shockers this year, but most of our defeats have been by the narrowiest of margins and therefore from what I have seen combined with this fact I think it is perfectly reasonable to suggest that with perhaps 2 or 3 changes we will see a dramatic up turn. Having reviewed your posts through out the season JGFC I suspect that you are not of the same opinion and nor will fortune teller be. Thats the beauty of a forum though ! PS I tend to agree with you on Green though. If he wants to lay Sunday League, contract or not let him, but he just shouldnt be playing for us.
The 11 game (25% of the seasons fixtures) run from last season was played in 33 days. Neils last 11 league games have been played in 70 days.
Last seasons team managed 12 points, Neil managed 8.
Injuries and suspensions probably even out.
Lets try taking the last 22 games from last season and Neils 22 to date. Bodkin had gone by this time and Keds was unsettled and his goalscoring suffered dramatically.
2006/7 P22 W10 D5 L7 F26 A24 pts 35 2007/8 P22 W5 D6 L11 F19 A28 pts 21 Double the points up and Neils record = relegation.
"most of our defeats have been by the narrowiest of margins" 6 defeats by 1 goal margin and 5 by a 2 goal margin. Pretty marginal statement in my book.
"The difference in most of our games has been a lack of fire power by the forwards and a lack of an attacking central midfield player." What is there to suggest that this will change with Neil at the helm?
"Based with what Neil Smith was left with a top half position this year in reality would hae been an outstanding achievment." I would certainly agree with that and that is precisely why Neil was not the right appointment. The situation where a side had to be built from scratch demanded a Manager with experience, extensive knowledge of Kent non league and contacts from whom he might be able to call in favours. I said at the time it was a baptism by fire and I'm afraid despite every effort Neil has been well and truly burnt.
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YOUTH are the future
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"The worst thing you can do is make a committment and not meet it and I understand that." Barrie Hobbins 14 August 2010
As i said above Bruno, it was a post full of spin that the club would be proud of. At least it put the posters views in print in a civil manner and debate is good.
I really dont think there would be one supporter that would say Neil has been a success or shows any sign of being able to deal with it.
Wrong appointment, he has failed. We need a New experienced manager.
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Alexander O'Neal 1987 "I'm fed up cos all you wanna do is criticize "
I think Smith has been an "unlucky" manager. I thought the team was getting there, in terms of performances a couple of months ago, we were so much better than St Albans for instance. Injuries haven't helped - particularly to Sinclair and Coleman, nor has Ellis getting himself banned for 5 weeks. There are games when you look at the starting 11 (Wealdstone a classic example) and you know we are going to struggle. The loanees (etc) drafted in to cover have been a mixed bag to say the least (delighted to see Motague scoring for Brentford yesterday). I think Smith could be ok but I suspect time will run out for him before he proves me right or wrong.
By ok I meant that this year would be 16 / 17th place. During the summer Smith would be rather better placed to strengthen the squad (as opposed to waiting until half an hour before the season kicked off as it appeared this year) and that Welling would improve next year. At times the quality of the football has surpassed much of what I saw last year - but those times have become more and more infrequent recently. Next year we would finish 8th, reach the 4th qualifying round of the Cup, the second round of the Trophy and the semi-final of the Kent Cup.
Fair post, i would counter that point of view by saying they are his players, he signed all of them without exception and he has brought the loanees in of his choosing.
On that basis if we were to finish 17th then in my opinion he would not deserve another season. I would also suggest that we should be having managers with more experience and contacts. Neil came in after 6 games as caretaker with W*king and that just isnt good enough.
I personally feel that the club should advertise Nationally for a new manager and appoint the best man who accepts our terms of wages/budget.
Anything less is cutting corners.
Happy New You to you sir!
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Alexander O'Neal 1987 "I'm fed up cos all you wanna do is criticize "
In fairness to Smith I wonder just how easy it to pick up good quality loanees. Masters and Montague were obviously very decent but others (the subject of apparently rave reviews from their "home" clubs look very ordinary). Smith can only choose from those who are available, of course.
In my humble opinion the worst management decision made at yesterday's game was for Smith to take himself off. He played one of his best games for us and after he came off we lost the midfield and they equalised.
Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't Smith architect of his own downfall. I have seen it mentioned about his commitment in online interviews etc but was it not reported he went on holiday for two weeks after his appointment.
If that was the case, would he now believe that they may prove to be the most influential two weeks of his managerial career as, possibly, he may have been able to sign more suitable players earlier. Certainly the goodwill might have been better
In reponse to the original post assuming your arguments, what is the common denominator between the back end of last season and this if it wasn't 90% of the players or the team management or the groundsman. Doesn't leave far to look does it?
Suppose Smith does get it right and nothing else changes. Think he'd hang around if something more attractive came up? Guess we'd find out if we'd learnt anything in the last 6 months/years then.
