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Post by Bernie on Sept 29, 2019 8:31:53 GMT
A whole new squad has been built from scratch on a reduced budget. Full credit to the management team for that. We won't win every game and not every signing will work out. There is a healing process going on after the mistakes and hurt of last season. I love that the kids wait at the front before the final whistle, and that players come over to sign autographs and bang the drum. I'm not too bothered whether we win promotion to the NL. A cup run would be nice. Most of all, Maidstone United is again becoming a club with a smile on its face.
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Post by Nick on Sept 29, 2019 9:11:33 GMT
I guess it depends where you set the bar. Yes, this season is far better than last season in every way. For most of us at least, supporting the Stones has become enjoyable once more. It's taken a while but the players are seriously bonding with supporters again.
But what are our expectations and aspirations ? The club and its' supporters are big enough to believe that a place in the play-offs should be a realistic target. At the moment we are still a little bit short, both in some performances and results.
The difference between being 'upper middle' and play-offs is probably only a few points over a season. Our team has taken shape well and is very close to having the number of quality players needed for the job. John and Haken are great, just a tweak here and a tweak there with a couple of players probably needed. Plenty of time and plenty of room for optimism.
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Post by cowdenbeathnil on Sept 29, 2019 10:23:35 GMT
I agree with all the positive comments and we are a million miles from the horrors of last season. However....we have Bath, Braintree and Billericay in October. These will all be difficult games and determine if we are in good enough shape to attain a play off place.
There were periods early in the game yesterday where a better team would have capitalised on our indecision and errors. I personally think we will ship goals in these games with Pennell in the team. Having said that....I will be pleased to have amaluzor back creating and scoring.
Overall.....exciting times!
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Post by daveu on Sept 29, 2019 10:26:25 GMT
There were some excellent individual performances from players yesterday but maybe 2 'stand out' efforts for not showing enough quality and influence. Imo Pennell is not looking to be the commanding type of centre back to partner George in the centre of defence. Johnson looks a much better player to me despite his 'inferior pedigree'. The other player from the starting X1 yesterday who still looks a shade lightweight is Khan, who just doesn't stamp his mark on the game consistently. Nice touches at times but in and out the game. I think Khan is one of the obvious candidates as players who isn't quite there yet but JS thinks has enough about him to give him a chance to develop. This type of player is the future but needs to play to grow as a player.
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Post by jdl on Sept 29, 2019 10:56:56 GMT
There were some excellent individual performances from players yesterday but maybe 2 'stand out' efforts for not showing enough quality and influence. Imo Pennell is not looking to be the commanding type of centre back to partner George in the centre of defence. Johnson looks a much better player to me despite his 'inferior pedigree'. The other player from the starting X1 yesterday who still looks a shade lightweight is Khan, who just doesn't stamp his mark on the game consistently. Nice touches at times but in and out the game. I think Khan is one of the obvious candidates as players who isn't quite there yet but JS thinks has enough about him to give him a chance to develop. This type of player is the future but needs to play to grow as a player. After only three games, I'm still struggling to identify players, but Khan actually stood out for me as one of the better players yesterday. He may not quite be the finished article, but I would keep him in the side.
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Post by jdl on Sept 29, 2019 11:10:04 GMT
When I posted at half time yesterday, I wasn't criticising the team, just puzzled at how badly we were playing (and how we were 2-0 up when StA looked the better side!). My only other league game this season had been the excellent match against H&W, and I guess I was expecting more of the same from the Stones. But the first half was as if another team had turned up.
They improved a lot in the second half, and I was again watching the team that played so well against H&W. But it still felt odd to be walking out at full-time with a 4-0 win. I was chatting to a StA supporter as we left and he was as puzzled as me - we both wondered how different the result might have been if George hadn't made that tackle. The way we were playing, could we have recovered from going a goal down?
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Post by shamstone on Sept 29, 2019 12:36:23 GMT
When I posted at half time yesterday, I wasn't criticising the team, just puzzled at how badly we were playing (and how we were 2-0 up when StA looked the better side!). My only other league game this season had been the excellent match against H&W, and I guess I was expecting more of the same from the Stones. But the first half was as if another team had turned up. They improved a lot in the second half, and I was again watching the team that played so well against H&W. But it still felt odd to be walking out at full-time with a 4-0 win. I was chatting to a StA supporter as we left and he was as puzzled as me - we both wondered how different the result might have been if George hadn't made that tackle. The way we were playing, could we have recovered from going a goal down? FFS JDL, last season we were lucky if we had zero, nada, zip or nil by half time. A win is a win. We will make mistakes on the way,as we are a young team, but with Big George pulling the strings, the lads are gaining confidence. Hopefully Wealdstones bubble has burst. If we go on a decent run , who knows. We may even go straight up. COYS
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Post by jdh80 on Sept 29, 2019 13:37:08 GMT
When I posted at half time yesterday, I wasn't criticising the team, just puzzled at how badly we were playing (and how we were 2-0 up when StA looked the better side!). My only other league game this season had been the excellent match against H&W, and I guess I was expecting more of the same from the Stones. But the first half was as if another team had turned up. They improved a lot in the second half, and I was again watching the team that played so well against H&W. But it still felt odd to be walking out at full-time with a 4-0 win. I was chatting to a StA supporter as we left and he was as puzzled as me - we both wondered how different the result might have been if George hadn't made that tackle. The way we were playing, could we have recovered from going a goal down? FFS JDL, last season we were lucky if we had zero, nada, zip or nil by half time. A win is a win. We will make mistakes on the way,as we are a young team, but with Big George pulling the strings, the lads are gaining confidence. Hopefully Wealdstones bubble has burst. If we go on a decent run , who knows. We may even go straight up. COYS In some games last season we were lucky to have nil at full time. We seem to have a section of fans who will never be satisfied no matter what the team does. There will be times where we play well and win, times where we play well and lose, times where we play poorly and win and times we play poorly and lose. The biggest key for me is that we have a team who turn up to play and put a shift in and we have a team willing to do that this season, win or lose they are installing pride back into the team. Are we the finished article, no, will changes be made probably are john and Hak taking the club forwards on and off the pitch most definitely.
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Post by hammerstone on Sept 29, 2019 13:41:50 GMT
George’s tackle and then keeping the ball in play was the best bit of individual defensive play I’ve seen for a very very long time. It was a great achievement getting a clean sheet particularly the way Pennell played. His indecisiveness almost cost us early in the first half and it appeared to infect a few others, particularly with the passing back and forth which almost saw us caught out.
Corne grew into the game and I think we saw what he is capable of, but the midfield in the first half were fairly overrun and didn’t produce too much for the forwards. St Albans must be kicking themselves they weren’t clinical because other sides wouldn’t think twice about some of the openings offered to them.
I think it’s an important win to generate some momentum, with two wins on the bounce with hopefully a third this coming weekend which sees us in a good place heading to Bath.
I’ve said something positive, please remember the day!
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Post by shamstone on Sept 29, 2019 13:44:49 GMT
George’s tackle and then keeping the ball in play was the best bit of individual defensive play I’ve seen for a very very long time. It was a great achievement getting a clean sheet particularly the way Pennell played. His indecisiveness almost cost us early in the first half and it appeared to infect a few others, particularly with the passing back and forth which almost saw us caught out. Corne grew into the game and I think we saw what he is capable of, but the midfield in the first half were fairly overrun and didn’t produce too much for the forwards. St Albans must be kicking themselves they weren’t clinical because other sides wouldn’t think twice about some of the openings offered to them. I think it’s an important win to generate some momentum, with two wins on the bounce with hopefully a third this coming weekend which sees us in a good place heading to Bath. I’ve said something positive, please remember the day! What was the score in the first half, again ?
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Post by Nick on Sept 29, 2019 14:07:13 GMT
Fair enough hammerstone, I was chatting with St Albans supporters after the match and they felt the scoreline was harsh on them But accepted that we played much better than them, both defending and attacking in the boxes.
George's special last ditch tackle was great, if it had been an attackers strike we would be talking about a wonder goal.
The only downside in the game was that there were times in the match when we were being well beaten in midfield Seems crazy with a 4-0 scoreline but true nevertheless Corney does look the real deal but it is the midfield that needs to improve if we want to get into those play off places.
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Post by rockstar on Sept 29, 2019 14:30:15 GMT
This season it seems we have players who care about actually playing for the club and interact with the fans. Last season no one cared about the club or the fans. Like previous posts have said, we will win some and we will lose some. We can’t win them all but what I do want is 100% effort and we are getting that this season. Last season no one could care less.
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Post by jdl on Sept 29, 2019 16:32:39 GMT
Here we go again. Why is it not possible to discuss something on here that isn't 100% manic positive without being jumped on?
I loved the fact that we won 4-0, and yes it's wonderful and so much better than last season (but we are in the NS...), and I want to have JS2's child, etc, etc. But, FFS, does that mean everything's fine and there's nothing to talk about?
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Post by daveu on Sept 29, 2019 16:38:59 GMT
Here we go again. Why is it not possible to discuss something on here that isn't 100% manic positive without being jumped on? I loved the fact that we won 4-0, and yes it's wonderful and so much better than last season (but we are in the NS...), and I want to have JS2's child, etc, etc. But, FFS, does that mean everything's fine and there's nothing to talk about? Bit paranoid there pal. Can't see where anyone's jumped on anybody to be honest. Just people expressing honest opinions of the game.
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Post by shamstone on Sept 29, 2019 16:39:35 GMT
Here we go again. Why is it not possible to discuss something on here that isn't 100% manic positive without being jumped on? I loved the fact that we won 4-0, and yes it's wonderful and so much better than last season (but we are in the NS...), and I want to have JS2's child, etc, etc. But, FFS, does that mean everything's fine and there's nothing to talk about? Language. When we go up to the NL with this squad then we will add strength to the team. Steady as she goes. COYS
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