THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF LIGHT

As dawn broke this morning I rejoiced in knowing that at long last myself and many more would be looking forward to visiting Twerton Park this afternoon.
No longer will we have to endure the clueless management team (just an opinion). As they sit or stand motionless in and around the wrong dugout, yes they even got that wrong. While on that point, a previous post on another topic referred to and asked as to whether or not we would revert to the correct one. I can confirm that the only reason for this change was indeed in an attempt to influence the linesman. a pathetic move and almost childlike.
Perhaps if they had tried to communicate and maybe influence the players they would have earned some respect, even from me, well maybe not.
I make no secret of the fact that I had absolutely no time and very little respect (in the end) for either Adie or Archie. They drained me dry over the years with the same old excuses and ridiculous post match comments.
They stayed far too long and are partly responsible for where we find ourselves today.
I say partly because of course the Board of Directors have a great deal to answer for and should do just that.
But then again the management team could have forced the issue by resigning long ago.
Just so glad to see the back of them and will never understand what Manda Rigby was all about and will never forget the way she treated The Foundation, a disgrace, to put it mildly.

Anyway today is not about what has gone, it's about The New Dawn.
Gary Owers  is in my opinion very much the correct appointment and I have no doubts whatsoever that he will succeed in pulling us well clear of the drop zone. So well done to the board on that one.
We now have a genuine football man in charge of team affairs. A man that has played at the very top level, coached and managed and of course played at this level. Probably, if we are talking long term, then his experience with coaching at youth level will be invaluable.
So to quote my topic title-  today is The First Appearance Of Light for a very long time.

My optimism and confidence are reborn.

Good luck to Gary on his return to Twerton Park.

Horrah!

Well, not exactly a blinding performance but did the job against a hard working St Albans.  Awful conditions and the ref didn't help by being somewhat pedantic. Defence looked a bit more sound.
Pulled off 2 attacking players toward the end to be replaced by midfielders.  Isn't that what the previous management tended to do?

You're spot on SASCHA. The one question that needs to be asked now of the board is 'why did you take so long?' There's even that air of hope back at the club, fans seemed genuinely happy to be there.
The players are, not only enjoying the training, but turning up. Professionalism has return to the club!
Forget the performance, it's the points we need at present. Brazilian football can come later.

He's spot on to have no time or respect for Adie and Arch? End of their time in charge was dismal, but to dismiss them both as some sort of awful human beings who ruined this club is wrong, in my opinion. They did their best and worked damn hard during their tenures and did a lot of good.

If in a few years time Owers is still in charge and is overseeing a dreadful run I hope he's shown a bit more respect than his predecessors were by some. Great start thus far, helped a bit today by St Albans looking like a doomed side. Four points from the next two will be a decent return, too.

Big win. Just make sure Liam Kelly takes the penalties from now on.. (looked like he was the designated player, but Nick was determined to fluff it).
2 missed pens at home to H&Y and then 2 more missed today..needs some work. Got to be converting those sort of chances.

Seen both games since Owers returned and am loving it.

The players seem determined, McCootie has improved to be a danger again and the dugout is lonely for not having a manager gracing the seat.

A few negatives at the moment, but won't comment as Owers has only had a certain number of training sessions so far and general feeling is positive and professional.

Onward and upward!

Matty_the_Roman wrote:Big win. Just make sure Liam Kelly takes the penalties from now on.. (looked like he was the designated player, but Nick was determined to fluff it).
2 missed pens at home to H&Y and then 2 more missed today..needs some work. Got to be converting those sort of chances.

Nick didn't fluff it. It was saved. Big difference.

Elmore James wrote:

Matty_the_Roman wrote:Big win. Just make sure Liam Kelly takes the penalties from now on.. (looked like he was the designated player, but Nick was determined to fluff it).
2 missed pens at home to H&Y and then 2 more missed today..needs some work. Got to be converting those sort of chances.

Nick didn't fluff it. It was saved. Big difference.

Saved, but incredibly poorly taken..but anyway, thankfully it didn't turn into a crucial missed opportunity.

I think Liam is going to add a lot to our game whilst he is here. Didn't stop running. Cracking shot that smashed off the wood work. Some key set-pieces and generally adds some flair. Looks like a great acquisition.

Yes, the improved work rate has been very noticeable in the past couple of games and there seems to be better organisation. But let's not get carried away as that was pretty dreadful today. St Albans are clearly heading for relegation so we shouldn't be replacing strikers with midfielders and playing the ball in the corner against such weak opposition.

Did anyone hear the final gate?

757

Surely no team has ever missed two penalties 3 times in a season? Scrappy win today but we needed that

Owers has inherited a squad of players who were losing week in week out. After 2 games he is unbeaten and that includes a tough first assignment at Sutton. That's a pretty excellent start. It will be more telling next season, when presumably the team will reflect his choices much more.

I think this worries me more.....

"The Bid team has met in recent weeks to provisionally assign responsibilities for an interim Board and management structure in the event of a successful conversion to community ownership. This will help to ensure a smooth transition from the current structure, ahead of the new community club’s first Board elections."

Could be a time for some Animal farm quotes....

Steve Whites Missus wrote:I think this worries me more.....

"The Bid team has met in recent weeks to provisionally assign responsibilities for an interim Board and management structure in the event of a successful conversion to community ownership. This will help to ensure a smooth transition from the current structure, ahead of the new community club’s first Board elections."

Could be a time for some Animal farm quotes....

Yeah, think they're talking about the Board/Admin side of things rather than the football manager.........

Yes, Elmore, that is correct. And don't worry, Missus, you won't see Bladud up a ladder painting out the club's name.

comrade powell wrote:Yes, Elmore, that is correct. And don't worry, Missus, you won't see Bladud up a ladder painting out the club's name.

Of course I'm right. I always am!

The Chronic has Batten as MOM. I thought Nick did well today - lasted longer than usual. Perhaps a sign of the more determined attitude the team looks to have now.

comrade powell wrote:Yes, the improved work rate has been very noticeable in the past couple of games and there seems to be better organisation. But let's not get carried away as that was pretty dreadful today. St Albans are clearly heading for relegation so we shouldn't be replacing strikers with midfielders and playing the ball in the corner against such weak opposition.

Exactly. Obviously four points in the two games under Owers is a great improvement but the performances certainly haven't been. I can imagine the abuse Howells would have got had he taken of Watkins, Kelly and Richards off for three more defensive players against such a woeful side.

And I agree with the Chronicle that Jack Batten was superb today.

2weirdtown wrote:I thought Nick did well today - lasted longer than usual.

Steve Whites Missus wrote:McCootie has improved to be a danger again

Really?? Well I must have been watching a different player this afternoon then!

I think his form over the last couple of months has been woeful. This could be down to fitness/injury problems but it seems like this is always the case with him. As someone who I assume is expected to hold the ball up for the rest of the team he does this appallingly and despite usually being one of the biggest guys on the pitch wins virtually nothing in the air. Noted one incident today where the ball was played up to him in the air and he didn't even attempt to jump for it.

I don't mean to have a go at the guy, but it has been really frustrating watching someone who I thought had great potential when he first arrived disintegrate in to little more than a passenger in recent weeks. In the predicament we're in the sooner Pratt returns to fitness the better, even if he isn't scoring he at least gives defenders something to think about.

I'm not so sure St Albans are doomed. 3 matches under Ian Alinson. Ist one a draw after going 2 up. 2nd one a 1-0 away defeat to Ebsfleet.
Alinson got the most out of a rather ordinary looking Borehamwood last season and up they went.

I think over the last couple of games Nick has made a bigger contribution to the team as a whole, he still lacks goals but looks more confident and his game seems to have gone up a notch - he has also won several important headers back in his own penalty area.
I am not the biggest fan of Gary Owers, I have always found him a nice enough person but he never stays anywhere very long and I don't think he has ever achieved much as a manager. Having said that a change had to be made as the previous duo seemed to have lost all fight and were prepared to accept relegation and blame anything and everyone except themselves. Not knocking Adie, he has done a lot but he needed to stand down from the football side for both his sake and the clubs. At least he has shaken things up a bit and given us a bit more belief and organisation.
Today was poor, St Albans were there for the taking and we made hard work of it. The little lad in midfield is a good player and the return of Dan Ball makes us more competitive at the back. The new centre back should also make a difference when match fit.
The result was all important today and we just about managed to get it but this awful record from the penalty spot must be sorted, against better sides than At Albans it will cost us.

2weirdtown wrote:I'm not so sure St Albans are doomed.  3 matches under Ian Alinson.  Ist one a draw after going 2 up.  2nd one a 1-0 away defeat to Ebsfleet.
Alinson got the most out of a rather ordinary looking Borehamwood last season and up they went.

19th placed Weston are 7 points ahead of St Albans with 3 games in hand. They will need to equal their points tally from 30 games in their remaining 12 to have any chance. Their feeble performance today wouldn't fill me with any optimism. A pity as its my favourite away trip.