4-1 defeat !!!!!!!????

[bromlee]

Will be really interested to hear the verdicts of the supporters who were able to make the game today. I listened on commentary and it sounded as though we had the better of the first half even though one down at half time. Then they said that 2nd half we switched Harding from left to right and they said that the Dartford player Hayes was than able to "run riot". Whats your thought Guys and Girls?

Also sounded as though we did not capitalie on having a strong wind with us in the first half, but thats what Dartford did in the second half.

Ho Hum. Time to reflect on what might have been!

[bern]

Please don't let anyone kid you that there were positives out of the game. We were poor. The conditions were the same for both teams and they adapted we didn't. To bring England on for the full back was a joke. Sobers was on the bench and would have at least have tried. Hope Bird has gone by next season and many of the underperforming players. Well done to Harry and Harrison but I think they will be off, and no-one can blame them.
A crowd of 2025, the best of the season, and we didn't make a game of it. Shame. At least we can now focus on our future, without a Kent Cup Triumph, which might well have blurred our decisions.

[Mash]

Sobers was injured...

Harry will be off because hes on loan

Harrison will be off because he deserves to be in pro football.

[Swaine's Ginger Cat]

That pretty much sums it up actually. 1st half we could just as easily have led 2-1 as had I think more chances than Dartford & just shaded it. We missed the height of McKenzie & Sobers, & needed a Mckenzie/Vines style of player up front, but couldn't complain at all with the effort the players were making & went in at half time still thinking we could turn it round.

Then 2nd half we were dire. One of the goals was very sloppy from the corner but really it was over when the 2nd went in. Got no major complaints other than bringing England on seemed to throw away any chance of a comeback as it pushed Dunk further back which I couldn't see the point of, & even when he did get forward & make some space, no one would pass to him anyway - maybe a tactical ploy to ensure he's still at Bromley next year, because Charlton/Gillingham wouldn't have taken him on this game. minor complaints are that we dwelled on the ball too much, seemed to want an extra touch every time & too often Dartford robbed it back & were just that bit slicker & purposeful & accurate with their passing.

Great venue for the final though, sunshine, decent atmosphere & sadly the best team on the day won.

Bit early to think about next season I know, but I think we can do better than Ide. he does have some nice touches, but doesn't score & doesn't do the Vines role that we need in the league against big ugly defences. I assume we also saw the last of Finn on Saturday - what a shame such an amazing start to the season turned out so poorly. I'm also a bit uncertain about Holloway now. I do think he is a good shot stopper & wouldn't be at all upset to see him next year, but if Butler was a cheaper option, I wouldn't be gutted to have him back & free up some budget given Holloway seems to be a bit injury & gaffe prone. We're only 3 players short of a play off postion team, but they'd need to be very good players at this level & depends if we have the budget for it whilst paying our bills still......

[bromlee]

Cheers Guys, i have added a poll to the thread, will be interested to see the results.

[bern]

May 2, 2011 16:58:47 GMT Mash said:

Sobers was injured...

Harry will be off because hes on loan

Harrison will be off because he deserves to be in pro football.

If Sobers was injured why even have him on the bench? It's this sort of mentallity that tells me Bird is out of this depth at this level. Even the academy players would have performed better. I am very disappointed but not surprised, and whats makes you so sure Bird will be here next season? His judgement in bringing in one of his old boys in Ide was poor. His judgement in getting rid of Vines was poor. When did we last see one of our strikers win a header?........um .....much to consider.

[Mash]

Sobers was carrying an injury from Saturday he was touch and go for today, my understanding is that he wasnt suppossed to be on the bench but we're that low on numbers he had to be.

You do realise that its fairly common in non league football to have people on the bench just for numbers...?? If we put an academy kid on the bench did you expect that kid to then come on and change the game?

You do know Vines was released because the club couldnt afford him? He was the highest paid player!!!

[Mash]

This is why I said the club should let fans know the real score cos otherwise we'll all speculate like we deliberately wanted Vines to go, the club (my understanding of it) wanted Finn to go to free up budget but no one wanted him (unsurprisingly). Therefore Vines had to go instead.

I am not knocking Vines, his workrate was fantastic and he deserved to stay (in my mind) but he wasn't troubling the onion bag, when you're paid so well you best be doing more than just winning headers...

[bromlee]

I agree 100% on what you say about Vines mash, would have been far better for Finn to do the off, but why are you so sure Bird will be here next season?

[Mash]

Basically I just reckon Jerry will say..you have the summer to build 'your' team....

Also because Bird is employed within the club (football in community etc) its the cheapest option....

[exiled]

In fairness I think we shaded the first half, if Harry's shot had been an inch lower it MIGHT have been different. At half time I was fairly upbeat and thought we still had a good chance. The second half was frankly embarassing. I think the only attempt at goal we had was when Warren scored. As soon as they scored the 2nd it was obvious that not enough of those on the park were willing to give the extra effort that would be required. At the end I couldn't join in with the half hearted clapping of the team, a shame because there are still a few players who I would like to thank for their contributions this year: Harry, Harrison, Tutu, Jerrome, Graves, Leon - thank you for at least putting pride into your work. Also to a lesser extent (due to number of peformances) Harwood, Nanami and Fray did what could be asked. I won't say what I think of the others.

Bird will be around next year and I can only hope that given a full budget (not one restricted by a number of mercenaries on contracts) he can build something more meaningful than his acquisitions to date indicate that he can. He has my backing to ruthelessly cull.

[martinr]

Trust me, if you heard what was coming out of Jerry's mouth after the game, i would be far from certain that Mr Bird will be in charge next season!

[exiled]

Also agree with Mash's comments re the club's position. The club has taken too much unjustified flack from people who don't know some of the tales from behind the scenes and it's time the flack was redirected to those who have really cr*pped all over our season.

[bromlee]

Do tell more please Martinr

[Swaine's Ginger Cat]

I'm quite happy for Bird to stay, at least until November, where anything around midtable will be ok with me. I'm sure many of us play football manager on the pc, try playing it with no budget & players on the highest salaries playing rubbish & unhappy at the club, so you're scrapping round signing lower league players coz you can't afford anyone else until end of season when contracts expire. And you have to release a player like Vines to free up some more money to pay the bills. It's not great for us fans, but it suggests the club is being run prudently & we're not going to take stupid financial risks.

I don't agree with some of his decisions, like pushing Dunk further back today, but I'm sure I used to moan about some of MG's too. I suspect if we want a bigger name manager, we will need to get more fans in the gate, or release another player, & I felt once Bird had the courage to finally give up on Finn & stuck McBean on the bench (or not even that) for a while, that we picked up nicely & looked like a real team again.

[mikeyh]

what big name manager would come to us ? if you pay big money to a manager you have less to spend on players so it defeats the object a bit .If Bird can put a commited team on the park he has my support ,fair enough he brought a couple of duds in but thats down to cash or lack of it .For what its worth i think he will be in charge in August whatever a poll result on a board says.

[kwb]

On the subject of managers did anyone else notice that Mr George Wakling was at the game today ?. Perhaps he would like a third stint in charge.

[martinr]

Lets just say his expressed displeasure wasnt just aimed at the players!!

George Wakling has been at numerous games this season, i would imagine he is just enjoying his free time watching a local team but wouldnt be upset if he did come back!

I would like to add, I dont think we would pay big for a manager, and if honest it doesnt really bother me too much who would be appointed should HB leave/fired!

I cant understand though why he should be given until next Nov?? I understand the "build his own team" mentality but I think we have seen more than enough in his sole charge that he is not right for the job???!
Granted maybe the likes of England was a squad filler (though he did start numerous times!!) but the names he has brought in havent exactly been great! Harwood has been a great addition but hasnt he also been brought in by numerous other managers over the previous few years so no real "Bird Coup"!

[Mash]

The other thing which needs to be highlighted is, if he was going...that would have needed to have happened already....

Someone new coming in now would more than likely just bring in players they know as they wouldnt have time to assess squad etc...

[col]

Like him or loathe hime Bird is here to stay, he works full time for BFC and everything apart from the first team is apparently going really well. Bromley FC the business is all good, Bromley Fc the first team no so.
He'll have until at least Christmas I reckon to prove the doubters, (including me) wrong. Let's hope he does...

[bromlee]

My issue with giving HB until OCT/NOV is the position we could be in based upon the form and results under him after MG left this season. HB was there with MG for the opening 20 odd games and should be given some credit for the cracking results at the beginning of the season. Equally he should take the flack for the poor results after MG left, along with certain players who were obviously just there to pick up a wage. We could be in real trouble come Oct/Nov, then replcing him would be even harder than now and turning it around to avoid what could be a disaster woud be a very up hill struggle.

[steve119]

If bird is doing well behind the scenes let him go and do that and make him stand down as first team manager, I'd love someone with either experience at our level or an up and coming pro trying to get into management.

After mondays performance FOR A CUP FINAL, no effort players didn't seem that interested even though, Charlton, Gillingham and Fulham scouts were there.

You have to question both the managers and players comittment to the game if they can't raise themselves for a final and a chance to be scouted to a pro club.

I think Bird and a fair few players should look at themselves and question whether they really want to play football at this level and whether they are commited enough if not then I do not wish to see them anywhere near the pitch.

That will be all for now,

ps. predictions for date of first preseason friendly?

[bromlee]

I wonder how the poll will look if we had AV