Manager's notes

21st April 2008

Well we have gone and done it Ryman League North CHAMPIONS and it sounds and
feels brilliant. Although disappointed with the result I was very proud after the game on Saturday to be the manager of a league winning football club, its such a fantastic achievement for all of us on and off the field and together we can now say that DFC is on the move again.

The celebration after the game were so good and the smiles on so many peoples faces is one that I want to keep in the memory bank for ever.

Another massive bonus is that we still have a game to play at PP so for those supporters who were unable to get to Edgware we can have another celebration at home in style I hope this Saturday for you to take in and enjoy.

Without any doubt the pressure was on this season and the expectation from all of us were sky high. I said at the start of the season that we would work hard and give teams the respect that they deserved whatever there position in the league.

I think we achieved this and won over a lot of people at various clubs this season.

I have a very good back room staff at the club from the lads who wash and put the kit out to Dave Philips physio and his assistants who try and keep the players fit from injury, big John who looks after Kess, Henno and Steve who look after the U21s, all of these people I am so pleased they have been part of a title winning team

I have also got to mention the two guys who have been by my side the whole season Paul Sawyer and Steve Mosley they have been my backbone all season and I cannot thank them enough for there help in making the dream come true.

I felt we had the best squad of players in this league and the strongest I have ever had to work with and being champions they have gone and proved it. They now relies how to win a league and they must take the experience with them and remember the hard work they have put in through out the season which made them the CHAMPIONS and so many people happy.

Thanks for your support and have a great week

Tony

18th April 2008

 

Well for the second time in two weeks without kicking a ball we have strengthened our position to win the league. Yes I do realise we have,one hand on the title but all the time its mathematically possible for Sudbury to catch us on goal difference I want that point needed to make us officially Champions.

Tomorrow we have a tough game away to Edgware who will have to beat us to
try and get back into the play off positions,from our point of view we will be doing our best to get three points and like I said officially become Champions.

I know we are going to have many supporters travelling to the game tomorrow and to be in such a great position with two games to go I hope you all really enjoy yourselves and saver the moment as and when it comes.

Like I said last  Monday we will have a fully fit squad for tomorrows game something I am delighted about as it gives me so many options to choose from.

I suppose the perfect day tomorrow would be for us to get our point or points with every supporter singing at the top of their voices and to find out the U21s have won their final and are also on their way back to PP to meet us so the celebrations can get underway,but lets not take things for granted our opponents will try and spoil all that, so believe me we are going to work hard and stay focused on what we have got to do first, and if we do that the above just might happen.

Thanks for your support ,

Tony

11 April 2008

How strange this game of football can be, last week we drew a game that we
should have won, but the point still kept us in a strong position and then we
are going into tomorrow’s game in an even stronger position without even
kicking a ball in midweek. Well enough is enough!

I think I have the best squad in this league, and what ever eleven I select
for a game; it is more than capable of winning that match. We have gone
through injuries and suspensions to key players and with three games to go
I have a fully fit squad to choose from.  I don't want to hear any more excuses
about being tense or nervous, for a long time we have been in a good
position to win this league and I want the players to relax and enjoy
themselves, but above all let’s go and get the job done.

I said in my notes last Monday that I was proud of my players and I think
that the supporters should be, and are, proud of their team. I cannot keep
everybody happ,y but its now time for you all to pull together and encourage
the team to relax and enjoy themselves, so that they can put on the
performances that as got us into the good position that we are in and that
you have been used to most of the season.  With your support we can do it!

Thanks for your support.

Tony

 

8th April 2008

To say we went to hell and back during the game Saturday is an
understatement. I was disappointed with the way we played which was brought
on by conceding a goal from our first free kick two minutes into the game. By
conceding that goal we gave our opponents a massive lift and from that
moment on we chased the game and the direct football sadly took over. Having
said that, we still had plenty of chances in the first half to come in at
half time two or three goals up and I feel sure that if we had scored one
in the first half it would have relaxed the players and we would have won by
a canter.

In the second half we played a little bit better, but were still missing
chances which again gave Potters Bar another lift and when they scored the
second goal with eight minutes left the game was dead and buried, or so we
thought.

They say you are most vulnerable when you score a goal and sods law after
missing so many chances, Jay puts one away to make it 2  1 with five or six
minutes to go.

For me that was the moment when the never say die attitude that this squad
have got kicked in, and they believed that they could salvage something from
the game.

I think you all know by now how passionate OB is, and for him to score his
first goal for the club and our 100th league goal of the season will be a
very defining moment in this clubs history.

So we salvaged a point and yes it was two points dropped, but it may turn out
to be the best point we ever got.

We now have three games left and have another massive game Saturday. We did
not play well at Potters Ba,r but I am very proud of my players for the
position that they have put this club in so far this season.

Thanks for your support

Tony

04th April 2008

Another week has gone and again we have a very important game tomorrow away to Potters Bar. We have trained a couple of times this week and I have to say that I am delighted with the response that I have received from the players in them two sessions, they have worked very hard and are all very positive and focused on what as to be done to achieve our goals.

I have to say that I am delighted with the squad of players that we have put together this season and just for the record I was at the final the other night and in my opinion I think my team would have more than held its own against two very good sides that I hope to play in the same league next season.

On the injury front Steve Norman has declared himself fit, Brad is still out with a similar injury to Eddie who as been out for two months but has come through two training sessions this week and will be added to the squad for tomorrow. Tom Bradbrook had another two wisdom teeth removed Tuesday and spent two nights in hospital he did not train last night but may play for Paul tomorrow if he feels better.

The only other injury problem we may have is there was a player last night who was instrumental in the session who won 50/50s with OB went round Jamie as if he wasn't there, beat Guesty in the air before scoring the winning goal sending Kess the wrong way and right now I can hardly move my body but should be ok for Saturday.

Getting back to the more serious stuff I mentioned a month or so ago again about sticking together through thick and thin on and off the field regardless of what eleven players I may select. We are in the last month of the season and for me the supporters are going to play a major part in the next four games. The support as been great but for the next four games starting tomorrow its got to be the best its ever been. I am never going to keep everybody happy but this is the most important month since the club reformed and its not about keeping everybody happy its about DFC achieving its goals for this season with the best help possible

Thanks for your support

Tony

31st March 2008

Its been a long time since we lost a game but it happened Saturday and I have to say it was not a good feeling after the game in the changing room or for that matter for the whole weekend.

I don't want to take anything away from Brentwood as they played well and got their reward but from our point of view and for the first time in a long while we had too many players who put in below par performances which also meant the team performance wasn't that good.

After watching the video on reflection maybe we could have got a draw from the game but it wasn't to be.The players have worked hard to get us into the position we are in and it was an excellent undefeated run which has come to an end.That's football.

Steve Norman took a blow to the face on Saturday and had to come off at half
time slightly concussed he spent the night in hospital and was back home recovering yesterday. We will have to see how he feels later on in the week regarding selection for Saturday.

I have let Phil Williams leave the club,without going into to many details Phil has had one or two personal problems which have nothing to do with me or DFC.He has joined Kingstonion which is a lot closer to were he lives and I would like to thank him for his help and wish him all the best for the future.

I have signed Kevin Hudson to add some cover and experience to the goalkeeping position until the end of the season.Kevin as kept himself fit and I am delighted to welcome him back to DFC.

We are all upset with the result Saturday but we must  now move on and concentrate on the next game which is Saturday against Potters Bar.

Thanks for your support

Tony

28th March 2008

We had another good training session last night with a number of the players
who have been injured in recent weeks joining in the session, Brad is still
not quite ready and Eddie started kicking through the ball without any
problems although he feels he may need a couple more training session before
he is 100% ready.

I have not signed any new players at the moment, but that might change over
the weekend, with the deadline on Monday, I feel that I should cover any
unforeseen circumstances before that deadline.

Regardless of any results that occurred this week our situation has not
changed. We have five games to play and we will do our best to win
them, starting with the most important game which is tomorrow against
Brentwood.

I have spoken to the players and stressed to them that football can be a
fantastic game and a very cruel game, especially if you start taking things
for granted. I have told them that they must be as professional as a non
league team can be. They have worked so hard to get us into a good position
and must continue with their good habits to achieve their goals.

I hope many of you can get to the game again tomorrow, for another very
important game, 3 points is the aim so lets try and get them on and off the
field.

Thanks for your support

Tony

 

24th March 2008

 

All in all it has been an excellent weekend to pick up six points from two difficult games over the Easter period was a credit to the whole squad.

Both games were pressure games for the players and I feel they have had to cope with the pressure all season,the mental strength in the squad is second to none and I think we deserved our six points from the two games for effort and the will to win alone.

I think the captains notes in the programme on Saturday summed up the mood in the camp brilliantly,we are not going to take anything for granted we have five games left and the most important one is Saturday because it the next game.

The support the team had for both games in terrible weather conditions was excellent but I think we must all agree that the icing on the cake from the weekend was the news that Dave Skinner was allowed home yesterday after suffering a heart attack after Saturdays game. Great news.

Thanks for your support

Tony

 

21st March 2008

Again this week the players have trained very well and the sprit in the camp is excellent. Luke has had his first weeks training  with us and as looked very sharp and Nick Barnes trained last night after signing from Ashford. Yes I was disappointed with Nick when he left the club but I think he will be a good addition to the squad and gives me the fourth player in the middle of the park to choose from, which I think at this stage of the season is very important. We have a week before the transfer deadline and I may be bringing in one or two more players to strengthen the squad further simply to cover for any unforeseen circumstances.

On the injury front Alex as been nursing a calf injury but will be fine for tomorrow,Tom Bradbrook will be added to the squad after having two wisdom teeth removed last week, Brad Potter is still not quite right and will be out for another week,and then we come to Eddie who as been out of action for five weeks now to say its been frustrating for everybody is an understatement but the fact is that he is close to being fit but not close enough to take a chance and in my opinion if it goes wrong we could lose him for the rest of the season.

I have to say I am really looking forward to the Easter programme and in particular tomorrows game I hope again many of you can get to the match and get behind the team to help them get three points. I want the players to enjoy themselves they have worked very hard to get us into a good position and with your great support I think we can maintain it

Thanks for your support

Tony

 

17th March 2008

I think Saturday was a very good performance away from home against Enfield and we deserved the three points from the game. It was also nice to play in a game that was not spoiled by the windy conditions unlike the two previous Saturdays.

What was also very good on Saturday was our set pieces which enabled three of our back four to score goals.Set pieces are very important to a team and carried out correctly can be a major asset to the strike force.We have been very strong all season in this area with a return of 31 goals from the back four which is fantastic.

We got what we wanted on Saturday which was 3 points we have to move on now
to the weekend.Easter is always an important date in the football calendar with two games in a short space of time.We have a squad that is more than capable of reaching its goals,we will stay focused on what we have to do and again at this moment in time Saturdays game is the most important because its the next one.

Thanks for your support

10th March 2008

For the second Saturday in a row we have had to deal with the windy conditions, which from a footballing point of view completely spoiled the game for both teams. I don't think any team on Saturday deserved to win the game or infact lose the game so a draw was a fair result.

We went to Bury to get three points and came away with one, so by our own high standards we have dropped two points. The team did not play that well and that is why we dropped two points, but what we have to give them credit for is the ' never say die ' attitude and spirit that is in the squad at the moment, which earned us a deserved point away from home to a good side.

There are going to be more twists and turns in the coming weeks and even more strange comments ,which I have been warned about from many quarters.

We will stay focused on what we want to achieve and not worry about any one else.

Last Saturday's game is now history , we now move on to the next game, which is Saturday away to Enfield where again we will do our best to get three points.

Thanks for your support,

Tony

 

7th March 2008

Its been a bit of a busy week with training Monday and Thursday and being able to see a couple of games for myself Tuesday and Wednesday,but I have to say it was all well worth it.

You may have read in the local papers that I have been trying to bring in another player to add to the squad, with the transfer deadline at the end of the month I feel I need to keep all my option open incase of any unforeseen circumstances. I have had talks with a player at a higher level but no deal has been struck so I will move on to the next target.

I have said before that I am happy with the squad we have put together but we also have two players out tomorrow in Jay May and Eddie Maclements and it could have been three had Brendan not passed a fitness test last night in training.

Tomorrow we have a tough game away to Bury but with nine games to go they are all going to be tough games, no one is going to give us three points we are going to work hard in fact very hard to achieve our aim which at this present time is three points in tomorrows game.

It is a long journey to Bury but I hope many of you can get to the game and get behind the team as per usual

Thanks for your support

Tony

3rd March 2008

I have to admit that  it was not a very good game of football on Saturday,the windy condition and firm pitch did not help to play any flowing football and maybe that's the reason one or two players found it difficult to stamp there authority on the game.

Yes we left it late to win the game but in my opinion we were not lucky at all in fact I think we were unlucky not to have had a penalty in the first five minutes for hand ball and I felt we should have come in two or three goals up at the break.Our opponents worked very hard and made it difficult for us which we have to give them credit for.In the second half for a team finding it difficult to play football we created a lot of chances to again score at least two or three goals.There's was only one team who wanted to win the game and I felt we more than deserved  the three points.

The spirit in the squad is there for all to see, the stats show that we score goals we got one Saturday but on another day it could have been more, but you only get three points for a win which we got , we now move on to the next very important game away to Bury Saturday.

Thanks for your support

Tony

29th February 2008

We have again had two good training sessions this week in preparation for tomorrows game at home to Waltham Forest. Our opponents have had a bit of a rough time lately off the field with chairman and managers, leaving but now they have a manager in place who has got a couple of good results in the last few games.

Regardless of anyone's position in this league we will approach the game in the same way, although we have ten games left the most important one is tomorrows, whether we put in a good or bad performance we want three points at the end of the game, and believe me we will do our best to get them.

On the injury front Eddie is out of the game tomorrow which is a blow but it was good to see Mark Green, Yo Lewis, Dave Moore and Brad Potter getting ninety minutes in with the U21s on Tuesday. Jay May still as two games left of his ban.

I have been making some inquiries about players coming in, but this has not come off yet. Having said that I am more than happy with the squad I have got.

I hope you can get to the game tomorrow and again support the team as loud and vocal as you can

Thanks for your support

Tony

22nd February 2008

It always nice when you have a long trip away from home in midweek and start your journey back home after the game with three points. I and the players were delighted that again so many supporters were able to travel and give the team so much support during the game and in my opinion that was repaid by the performance of the whole team on a cold and foggy night.

Although I did not feel we played that well last Saturday we still got our three points which many of you know at this stage of the season is such a good sign, but on Tuesday I felt we played well in the first half and in the second half we completely controlled the game from start to finish with some excellent football which again give us our three points.

This week I have let Richard Avery go to Chatham on a months loan. I have known Richard since he was sixteen and he as done a tremendous job for us over the last 3/4 years all at the tender age of 21 in my opinion he is going to be an excellent player in years to come and I hope its going to be at Dartford, even if I do let him go out on loan now and again.

On the injury front Eddie has a slight pull to his knee ligament and may be touch and go for the game tomorrow, John Guest will be added to the squad after serving his one match ban.

Basically I asked in my last notes for all of us to stick together on and of the field and give it our best shot for the next twelve games it was more than evident on Tuesday, and we now have eleven games to go, I think it is fair to say that you have a team with a squad of players that will give you 100% if they add the quality to that I think we will achieve our goals.

Please don't forget the most important game at the moment is tomorrow's, where we need your help to get three points

Thanks for your support

Tony
ps
On a personel note my daughter Danielle was back at the hospital today and everything is ok and going very well. She is hoping to start back at college [Miskin Theatre]on a part time basis in the next couple of weeks. Well pleased

 

18th February 2008

I did not think the game was that good on Saturday and I felt we gave Redbridge too much respect in the opening twenty minutes or so. They are a difficult side to play against as they get the ball forward early and close you down very quickly in your own half. After watching Redbridge twice in the last two weeks, I felt my team selection was spot on, although we did not get the ball down and play football as much as we have been lately, but that is nothing to do with where I may or may not play certain players, that was just lack of concentration and being closed down by our opponents.

Before the game I also felt that Ryan was going to be main our outlet, and he produced two moments of magic which created both of our goals, but on the day we did not give him enough of the ball like we have been so that he could cause even more havoc to our opponents. We also felt that after two draws regardless of how we played or my team selection, the most important thing was to get three points and move on to the next game and that is what the whole team achieved.

Tomorrow we have another difficult game away from home without Jay May and John Guest who are suspended. There are another three points at stake and I hope we can bring them back with us after the game.

At the start of the season I asked for everybody at the club on and off the field to stick together so we could achieve our goals. Overall this has happened so far but we are now going into twelve very important games  and the doom and gloom merchants, who we still have at this club, have had a bad time lately and are desperate to upset the feel good factor that is around the club at the moment. Lets stick up for our club and lets give the players 100% support regardless of what eleven out of eighteen players that are selected to start the match. I cannot stress to you enough how important this is going to be over the next twelve games.

Thanks for your support

15th February 2008

With no midweek game the players have had a chance to recharge the batteries and clear up one or two minor injuries after two difficult games the previous week. We had a very good training session last night and I can tell you that the mood in the camp is very good and focused on the game tomorrow.

Our opponents Redbridge are tucked nicely in fifth place with a game in hand on the teams above them and have taken three points from us earlier on in the season. I expect a tough game but the next thirteen games are going to be tough and at this moment the most important game is tomorrow in which we will do our best to try and pick up three more points and then move on.

This month I have been involved one way or another with the club for the last thirty years and for the last three years as manager and in my opinion we have put together the strongest all-round squad not just over the last three years but for a very long time. Good squads turn into great squads once they have achieved something we still have a way to go but the players are more than capable of becoming a great squad.

With such a strong squad and with everybody fit I might be in for another sleepless night but what ever team I pick I will be 100% behind it to do the the job.

Thanks for your support

Tony

11th February 2008

For the second time in a week the mood in the changing room was that we had dropped another two points. Even though we have played two very tough away games we felt we had done enough away from home to win the games. The pitch on Saturday was a burden to both sides and the flanks were practically bad which affected Ryan and Phil when they attempted to run with the ball down the wings. I felt we were the better side in the first twenty five minutes and Sudbury were the better side in the last twenty minutes of the first half but in the second half we were the better side.

We felt that Kess had been fouled for there second goal but it was not given, but our second goal was not over the line but was given by the referee. From the dugout we could not tell and I don't think the referee from his position could tell if the ball had crossed the line. When I spoke to the referee he was 100% sure that the ball had crossed the line. This decision went for us but remember there have been plenty that haven't.

I have to say I was delighted with the amount of support that we took to Sudbury on Saturday it is a fantastic achievement for a club at our level of football to have such a great following.

Thanks for your support

Tony

 

8th February 2008

Its been a bit of a hectic week with quite a lot to talk about after Tuesday's game against Brentwood. First of all Jay's sending off, at the time I felt it was a bad tackle which deserved a yellow card. It was not a two footed stud's showing over the top of the ball tackle, in fact I think he went for the ball hence the player involved in the tackle's reaction to the incident. I feel the refs card colour changed after the reaction of the Brentwood players as his position for the tackle was not good enough to be
100% certain of a straight red.

For fifteen  minutes after Jay's sending off we were not at the races and conceded a goal from a set piece, but after that I felt we could not only get a point but go on and win the game even with ten men.The support during the game for the team was fantastic, but I have to tell you that the players were so disappointed that they did not manage to get three points after everybody had put in so much effort on and off the field.

Although we see it as two points dropped there were a lot of positives to come out of the game the sprit and over my dead body attitude of the players is a pleasure to work with and I think it has won some of you over in the last few month.

Tomorrow we face one of the better sides we have played this season and will no doubt be after revenge for the defeat at PP.Whatever the result of the game it will not decide who wins the league and who doesn't and that is why we must stay focused on getting another three points which will add to our tally and move on to the next game which is equally important.

On the injury front as you may well know Alex played the whole game on Tuesday with a calf strain received in the warm up before the kick off and Adam came of with a similar injury just before the end of the game.Both players were on the treatment table last night and flan will be ok and I have given OB until the morning to see if he is fit to play as the signs today were a lot better.Another boost today was that Eddie done some light training last night and has had no reaction so far today and he will be added to the squad.another piece of good news was Brad Potter had a scan
last Sunday and has been given the all clear to start playing after some two
months out so he starts his comeback with U21s tomorrow.

The support that we are taking with us tomorrow is fantastic, some four coaches and many many cars to follow is something special.I hope you all enjoy the day out whatever team or formation I select.One thing is for sure the players in this squad will work very hard to get the three points we want to add to the tally.

Thanks for your support

Tony

4th February 2008

After playing Northwood twice and conceding another goal from 25 yards I started to wonder if they were practicing  this type of finish in training leading up to games against us. We all want to keep clean sheets but if you are going to concede a goal let it be one that you could not do much about, the strike for there first goal was just that.

We levelled the score shortly after and I felt the game was there for the taking because we were creating chances but were just a little bit unlucky not to score. If there first goal was good the second goal we conceded was not. Our back four have got into some good habits recently but to try and play offside from the original ball played into the striker was the wrong decision and it cost us.

At half time I felt it was very important for the players to stay focused on what we had to do. We felt it was a matter of time before we created another chance and this time we would convert these chances and there was a belief in the dressing room that this would happen, I did not send the players out early they just wanted get out there and get the job done.

It was to blow to loose Eddie to injury but it is a bonus to be able to bring in a player like Junior, you have not seen the best of him at the moment but if our opponents first goal was good then Juniors first was very special.

We deserved the three points and even through we conceded two goals I felt the players determination through out the whole game was spot on.

We won all our games in January and have started February with a win, we have many games this month but the most important game is the next one and that's tomorrow night away to Brentwood. I am expecting a tough game but I would not want it any other way. There are three points up for grabs and we will do our best to come away  with them three points after the game.

I hope you can make the short trip to Brentwood to cheer the team on.

Thanks for your support
Tony

28th January 2008

For entertainment value on Saturday the game was not that good, our opponents closed any space down quickly and stopped our wide players getting many crosses in which they would normally do. This stopped any flowing football and made things a little frustrating to say the least, but we do feel that we are very strong on set pieces and we have a belief that we are going to score which a is a massive plus to our play. This happened with our first goal great delivery and good finish.

I would have liked to have increased our lead before half time as I feel the
game may have opened up a bit but it wasn't to be. The players deserve a lot of credit from the game on Saturday as at 1 nil there's always that chance your opponents could equalise but their concentration through out the game was excellent.

Good or bad game at end of it we gained another three points and that's what matters.

Tomorrow we have a local derby in the Kent Senior Cup against Ebbsfleet it will be my first visit to Stonebridge rd since our return to PP in what will
be a very tough game. I will be making changes to the team from Saturday to help players who have not made the starting eleven get ninety minutes
football and keep their fitness up. It is a very difficult tie but I am looking forward to it. Hope to see you there.

Thanks for your support

Tony

 

25th January 2008

Firstly I would  like to thank all the supporters who travelled to Heybridge on Tuesday night knowing before the game that I was going to make many changes from Saturdays starting line up, and gave the team such good support.
As expected, we played against a very strong Heybridge side and we did not have the best of starts going one down in the first minute. I felt for the last thirty minutes of the first half and first thirty minutes of the second half the team played very well, and with some better finishing on one on one situations, we may of troubled our opponents a bit more if we managed to level the score. In the end Heybridge finished stronger and deserved their win and in no way did any of the players let us down.

Tomorrow we have another tough game and I don't care what position or how many points our opponents have, its a game that if we win we will stay at the top, regardless of what anyone else does around us. The message is quite clear, work hard and stay focused on what we want to achieve, and at this moment in time its three points from tomorrows game.

Thanks for your support

Tony

21st January 2008

I was very pleased with the result and the performance on Saturday in which we gained another three points, I also have to say the condition of the pitch was a lot better than I was expecting after so much rain in the previous couple of days.

Our main message to the players before the game was that we are in top position at the moment but we have not won anything yet, but if we win the match  1 - 0 or 6 - 0 we stay top and we do not have to worry about anybody else's results lets go and work hard and get three points.

I think the players did just that they worked very hard and in periods during the game when the quality came through some of our play was excellent and in the end we got our reward and stayed top.

Tomorrow we have a second attempt to play our cup game against he Heybridge Swifts a competition that I would like to progress in. It is going to be a very tough game away from home to a team in a higher division, but gives me an opportunity to play some of the players who are good enough to play in my starting eleven but find themselves on the bench at the moment.

Hope you can make the game tomorrow

Thanks for your support

Tony

18th January 2008

 

All in all I think it was very good day on Saturday. We started the day in third position and finished it moving up to top spot simply by getting the job done and that was to get three points. Scoring another five goals was again a bonus but not unexpected with the chances we create, and to keep another clean sheet is another step in the right direction if we want to achieve our targets this season.

Tomorrow we are in League Cup action away to Heybridge who play in a division above us so we are in for a very tough game.I have a squad of eighteen fit players at the moment and I need to give some players a place in the starting line up to get some much needed match practice under there belts but please be assured we will be doing our best to get through to the next round of a competition that we would like to win.

I hope many of you can get to the game tomorrow as I feel for a change we are the underdogs in this game and the pressure is on our opponents. But your vocal support as always will be appreciated

thanks for your support

Tony

 

14th January 2008

 

All in all I think it was very good day on Saturday. We started the day in third position and finished it moving up to top spot simply by getting the job done and that was to get three points. Scoring another five goals was again a bonus but not unexpected with the chances we create, and to keep another clean sheet is another step in the right direction if we want to achieve our targets this season.

Tomorrow we are in League Cup action away to Heybridge who play in a division above us so we are in for a very tough game. I have a squad of eighteen fit players at the moment and I need to give some players a place in the starting line up to get some much needed match practice under there belts but please be assured we will be doing our best to get through to the next round of a competition that we would like to win.

I hope many of you can get to the game tomorrow as I feel for a change we are the underdogs in this game and the pressure is on our opponents. But your vocal support as always will be appreciated

thanks for your support

Tony

11th January 2008

After my mid season break which you all know about it was nice to attend
training last night and see the players for the first time this year.

At this moment in time we have 18 players fit and raring to go ! A good position to be in for the difficult couple of months ahead .Our only injury problem at this moment is Brad Potter who's ankle seems to be taking time to heal, so we may have to send him for a scan within the next couple of weeks.

Although I was not at the game last week I was in contact via phone and although it seems we were a bit fortunate in the first 10 minutes, we then took control of the game to gain an excellent 3 points away from home.

Tomorrow we face Ilford who we played earlier in the season and managed to gain 3 points at their place. It is very important and I have stressed to the players that we must not be complacent with any team regardless of what position they are in the league. We have got to stay focused on what we want to achieve and I am very determined to see our ambitions realised.

I hope you can make the game tomorrow  and help the team gain another 3 points.

Thanks for your support ,
Tony

Thursday 27th December 2007

Before last Saturday if someone would have offered four points for the two
games may be we would have taken it, but I felt against Maldon we dropped two
points. I felt there was an opportunity to win the game and we did not take
it simply because we did not stamp our authority on the game for longer
periods.

Yesterday looked like it may be one of those days, but in the end we got
there. Before the game Flan went down with flu and it gave me a chance to
recall Guesty for his first game for six weeks. I felt we started the game
well and yes we did miss a number of chances, but at least we get in the
right places to miss them. One thing is for sure is we need to cut out the
individual sloppy defending and get back to having some clean sheets. We will
always create chances and more than enough times we will convert them so
defending well is so important.

Being the manager and one of the sponsors yesterday I felt my captain and
leader on the pitch Alex O'Brien was excellent. His drive and determination
in my opinion is second to none and although he did not score any of the
goals yesterday he made sure we came off the pitch winning the match.

Saturday we have another tough game away at Aveley a team that are very much
inform at the moment, after changing their manager and a number of players
recently, so we will have to be at our best and work hard to get a result
from the game.

On a personnel note on Monday New Years Eve my daughter Danielle will
undergo a second major operation on her spine, not the best way to see the
new year in, so I may not be available for comment next week.

We have a tough couple of months coming up, so I hope we do not break the bond
on and off the field in the new year. I hope we stay focused on our goals for
the end of the season, the expectation will be more intense so it is so
important for all of us to stick together through thick and thin in the new
year.

Happy New Year to you all

Thanks for your support

Tony

Friday 21st December 2007

Tomorrow we have another very tough away game at Malden, a team who we played
at PP at the start of the season. I think our opponents have been one of the better sides that we have played so far, and it does not surprise me they are in the position they are in the table.

We have had two very good training sessions this week in preparation for the games coming up, and we all realise the importance of results over the festive season. I want the players to stay focused on what we want to achieve, and I am also pleased with the position we are in at the moment going into this very important period .

On the injuries front John Guest and Junior Kadi are close to fitness but not quite ready for tomorrow's squad, which I was hoping for at the start of the week. Brad Potter has done some light training last night but will still be out for another couple of weeks.

Although it is the last shopping Saturday before Christmas and for a peaceful life I know many of you will have to do your duties !! but if any of you can escape we would appreciate your support as always, at Maldon tomorrow.

On behalf of myself, coaching staff and all the players may you have a Merry Christmas .

Thanks for your support,

Tony

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