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Pre-Match Thread Altrincham v Southend United, Saturday 16th November, 15:00 k.o., NL

Starting XI and poll


  • Total voters
    46
  • This poll will close: .
I would take a point. Altrincham have only lost one of their last 11 home league games and we've struggled there the last two years. Three points would obviously be nice though since this is my local away game - I've not seen us win since Col U away on Boxing Day 2015 :Blush:
 
"Didn’t you say the same before Rochdale and Eastleigh?"

Probably.

We have scored just 10 away goals in 10 games. 4 of those were in the game against Solihull, so you could say 6 in 9

The fact is we don't create enough, have any real pace to get behind teams, we play a negative system that's designed to retain the ball and keep things tight.

We look like we are playing for 0-0 or a 1-0 win.

Unless we make 3 or 4 really good signings ie a top 3 side would make then this season will just trundle along at a slow pace.

The football this season has been the least enjoyable since we joined the national league.
 
"Didn’t you say the same before Rochdale and Eastleigh?"

Probably.

We have scored just 10 away goals in 10 games. 4 of those were in the game against Solihull, so you could say 6 in 9

The fact is we don't create enough, have any real pace to get behind teams, we play a negative system that's designed to retain the ball and keep things tight.

We look like we are playing for 0-0 or a 1-0 win.

Unless we make 3 or 4 really good signings ie a top 3 side would make then this season will just trundle along at a slow pace.

The football this season has been the least enjoyable since we joined the national league.

We haven't recovered from the shock of losing Harry Cardwell really.
 
We haven't recovered from the shock of losing Harry Cardwell really.
Well it's our bad.

We knew cardwell had a release clause. They paid money for him and got him.

Apparently we as a club are unable to do the same. Plenty of clubs in our division have players that could improve the squad. Even the divisions below too.

We just aren't active in the transfer market and Bonne was a poor signing that was away from our so called mandate.

Until we start paying money for players like other clubs do and showing some clout, we will just keep treading water.
 
We just aren't active in the transfer market and Bonne was a poor signing that was away from our so called mandate.

Until we start paying money for players like other clubs do and showing some clout, we will just keep treading water.
Imo Bonne has still not played enough to be fairly judged upon. There definitely is a good No10 in him to play alongside any of our other strikers, and I think he has taken onboard the work ethos AND is getting fitter and sharper. Writing him,( GM or KAF too) off is premature.

Paying sensible money for players is something we have done, when Umbongo allowed, and I doubt if that has changed, just the right player at the right time has not been available in a deal which could be acceptable to all involved.

#glasshalffull
 
Sorry guys and gals. You have to read from the bottom up again. It's the way the echo does it.

5:24pm
On Zach Jeacock being available after having his red card rescinded, Maher says:" There's competition for that position. We think we've got two good keepers there now. We'll watch training and see who is ready to play."

5:09pm
How hard is it to go again after what happened on Saturday. The fun just seemed to be taken out of the game.

Maher: "You go home on Saturday night and it's honestly the weirdest I've ever felt after a game in terms of just being empty. The emotion drained from you a bit because it felt like that wasn't allowed. Everyone felt that, not just me. The game wasn't allowed to become what it should've become but we got the red card rescinded. Listen, I have my views but I'll keep them to myself for now. We've got the charge to respond to and we will do that in time."

5:06pm
Are any new signings close to be completed?

Maher: "It's ongoing. We're trying but it's difficult. We know what we're trying to get in but we haven't been able to do it yet. It's a difficult period but there are one or two we've identified and tried to get but we're not quite there yet. We're still trying."

5:04pm
On Altrincham, Maher says: "It's a really tough game and they've scored a lot of goals recently. They were similar to us at the start of the season. When you lose players, there's a lot of change and injuries it takes time to get back to what they were but it looks like they're doing that now. They're always well coached and well managed and you can see that coming back. They always have exciting players on the pitch so we always know this is a tough game."

5:02pm
How's Danny Waldron and Joe Gubbins?

Maher: "Danny's good and he trained this week. Everyone is nearly available and the competition for places is good. Everyone will be needed too. Joe Gubbins hasn't trained anywhere near full levels yet and we'll keep an eye on him."

5:00pm
Maher on being hit by an FA charge after his red card on Saturday: "I know what I did and didn't do. It's where the game's gone a bit but I'll deal with that in due course."

Will you be appealing?

"I believe so yes. I'll talk to the club and we'll take the right action but I don't really want to say too much right now."

4:58pm
On Gus Scott-Morriss making his 100th appearance, Maher says: "We watched him at Hemel. John (Still) went to watch him, I went to watch him and we all said yes without a shadow of a doubt. Once he adapted to full time football you could see the levels he's got to. I'm delighted with everything he's done since he's been here. He's a big character around the place and he's a good player who has been brilliant for us. I'm sure he will continue to be as well too."

4:54pm
On Saturday's game with Altrincham: "We've got a bit of form away from home but we're coming up against another tough team we've always had very tough and very close games with. They're very well coached and were a play-off team last year. They're getting going this year now too."

4:53pm
Maher: "It's important to put Saturday to bed. It's hard to reflect too much on a game like that. The sending off made a huge impact on the game but credit to the players for how they responded. We were tough and hard to beat but it was one of those things that went against us. It's since been rescinded which tells you about the decision."

4:51pm
Next up is Blues boss Kevin Maher

4:44pm
You always seem to enjoy your football so much. Do you think that's down to coming into the full-time game later on in your career?

Gus: "Yes for sure. Coming into it late and now training every day puts a smile on my face. Behind my closed doors I get angry with myself a lot of the time because I know I've had a lot of time where I've missed out on stuff and I put pressure on myself because I know I don't have long. I'm 27 so that's a fact. I put a lot of pressure on myself to get out there and do everything that I can. But as long as I'm playing football for a living I'll be smiling.

"I was working in a college camp before and I loved that job as well but every day I would think I'd love to be playing football."

4:40pm
Gus is also one of the Blues players joining in with Movember

He says: "It's for a good cause and for once I've actually been able to grow something. A few lads have been doing it and we're giving it a good go hopefully.

"Macauley Bonne is joining, Cav is too and Danny Waldron. Harry Taylor was thinking about it as well but I think he's bottled it."

Who has the best tash so far then?!

"In rankings, I'd go Macca first because his one is outstanding. I'll go second, Waldron then Cav. Cav is struggling big time, I think he might have to draw one on soon!"

4:36pm
What have been your highlights here?

"Personally, scoring on my home debut. I had a lot of doubt in myself and didn't know if I was good enough for the level. I had an injury in pre-season too but I got chucked in after that and was a bit scared what might happen. That goal against Maidenhead at home settled me straight in. Ever since then I've not really looked back."

4:32pm
How has the club changed since you've been here?

Gus: "I've seen it go to its lowest in stages in a short spell and come out of that too. Seeing the new owners coming in, going to the new training and you can see they're trying to make things better at Roots Hall too. They're trying to help the team and those small one percent things all add up. It's refreshing to see people who are trying to help a football club because there are so many good people here. That's the fans and people who work over at the ground. It's nice to have that belief that it's actually going to get back to where it should be."

4:27pm
More from Gus: "I think we had a slow start coming together in the last window but it's definitely gelling. I think over the last month or so we've been playing a lot better. We're an honest group and before that we hadn't been playing very well. Recently we've been playing well and if you carry that on it's only a matter of time before we start picking up some wins."

4:06pm
Reflecting more on Saturday's defeat, Gus admits: "It was a real shame how the goal happened and when. The management were ready to pull the trigger with the changes to go and win the game. It snuffled what was going to happen. But we're never down and out and we'll take that into Saturday. Yeovil are in the play-offs and we matched them when we only had 10 players."

3:55pm
On facing Altrincham, Scott-Morriss says: "They're a good sides and it's one of the toughest places to go and play at. It's always tricky and they make it hard for you. They're kind of off the cuff but they have a lot of talent in their team. If you catch them on a good day it's a long day at the office but we know what we need to do and hopefully we can go there and get a result."

3:54pm
Asked about his future, Scott-Morriss says: "Hopefully I can get another 100 appearances. I must be doing something right to have got there. Touch wood, you're keeping fit and playing and that's all you want to be doing as a footballer. Hopefully I can carry on, keep on scoring goals and keep on playing."

3:50pm
He adds: "When I first joined I remember it was just about getting that first start in the team. I knew JD (Jason Demetriou) was here, what a player he is and what a servant he had been to the club as well. I was so nervous coming in because I knew I had to try and get him out of the team. But he's been great with me and collectively so have the whole coaching team with me. They've looked after me, fed me information I've needed but also let me do what I do on the pitch as well."

3:49pm
On making his 100th appearance for the Shrimpers, Gus admits: "I'm really proud. It's come around really quickly and it only feels like yesterday I signed here. It's been a great time with a few ups and lots of downs. But on a personal note I would say it's been the best time of my career. "

3:47pm
Scott-Morriss adds: "This is a crucial time for us. We're down the wrong end of the table to where we want to be so we need to make sure we put some victories together. It's still very tight and a couple of wins here or there will definite shoot us up the table. "

3:45pm
On Saturday's game with Yeovil, Scott-Morriss adds: "It was disappointing. I think we actually played quite well with the 10 men but their goal was disappointing with how it went in. It can go one of two ways after a red card and sometimes you just need that little bit of luck on your side but we didn't have it on Saturday."

3:44pm
Asked about the mood in the camp ahead of this weekend's game Gus says: "The mood is very good. I have to say it's always very good though. It's no secret we've had some dark times here but the mood stays positive. We're just looking to good a performance in this weekend and, most importantly, get the three points."

3:40pm
First up is Gus Scott-Morriss who will make his 100th appearance for the club this weekend.

3:40pm
We will be speaking to both top-scorer Gus Scott-Morriss and Blues boss Kevin Maher today.
 
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