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BartonRaz wrote:I don't agree with many of the comments made about ELJ, both on here and things I overhear at games. For me, he's one of our best players.

Of all the problems yesterday I don't think team selection was one of them. I didn't look at the team yesterday and think an error had been made in that regard.

Agree on paper the team selected was more than capable of beating Oadby, so wasn't concerned at the start. If they had applied themselves and actually played some football rather than hopeful long balls all the time they could of one. Alas we missed our chance.

However on the subject of ELJ he is always poor against half decent sides on less than ideal pitches and in cold, wet and windy weather. Thurnby he was poor, Hullbridge he was poor, yesterday he was poor.

Some games he simply doesn't fancy it. His final ball is often lacking and he rarely ever beats the final man and gets to the line ( to quote John Barnes). Now that Gearing is back he must start on Tuesday. He offers so much more his delivery is better, he beats players and can shoot on site. I would get behind and support ELJ but he is a stroppy little child, and when things don't go his way he throws mini strops and commits silly little fouls. Yesterday he was no where to be seen, you may as well of played with 10.

For all his supposed talent it is clear to see his attitude is lacking. Hence why other youngsters rise up the football pyramid and ELJ finds himself in the UCL.

All that said yesterday's result was in no way ELJ's fault. Oadby wanted it more and in he final 3rd were more ruthless and clinical. They made our defence work, we created nothing. Their keep could easily just pack his kit back up in his kitbag and use it next game without washing it, he had no serious save to make all game.

It's now in Holbeach's hands and they are on a roll just at the right time. Failure to WIN there on he 24th and it's game over!

I totally disagree regarding dropping ELJ, he is the most direct and exciting winger we have. You only have to look at earlier in the season when he was unplayable. The whole team has lost a bit of sparkle not just one player. As for gearing I have never seen him beat a player, he brings something different though and plays more inside. As for dolman the comments are crazy, of course he is not going to win a one on one race however he doesn't need to due to his fantastic positional sense and reading of the game. As a point how many goals have been scored against us due to his lack of pace. Pure quality player.

It's interesting to note that yesterday's match was the first time I can recall for a very long time where any of the 'Long Buckby Three' ie Bunting, Dunkley and Koriya didn't feature in the squad. I know Bunting and Dunks have been injured recently but surely Koriya should have at least been available on the bench?

fentiger79 wrote:I totally disagree regarding dropping ELJ, he is the most direct and exciting winger we have. You only have to look at earlier in the season when he was unplayable.

So do you suggest we keep playing because he was good against teams like Sileby, Kempston, Harrowby?

He hasn't been "unplayable" for a long long time

I agree with what you've said Dowlo, I don't blame him for yesterday's defeat and I recognise he is a young player who needs support, but we're in a race for the title now and need performances week in week out - it's not about his personal development and showing patience, it's about performances and results, as harsh as that may seem.

For me on Tuesday, a match we must win, I'd have Faz alongside Tom (assuming Dunks isn't fit) upfront and Matty in place of Elliott - I'd go with rest of yesterday's starting line up, but put a rocket up all their arses and make sure they understand what is at stake. Elliott and Jason on the bench to change things if needed - Scott dropped for this one!

They have now heaped massive pressure on themselves, we just can't afford to drop any points now and Holbeach has become a must win, whereas as draw would have not been the worst result before.

Things can change quickly and I'm keeping the faith and still believe we can do it, but we've got to kick on now and get some consistency in our play and results.

Although unable to be at last weeks match against Oadby I was "tuned in" and having since read all the comments for what was obviously a very disheartening game, I couldn't help but notice that no mention was made of the Ref and the allowing of a goal that I am lead to believe was off-side!! Clearly everyone has been feeling so despondent about the result that the Ref has escaped any possible criticism!

sussexdiamond wrote:Although unable to be at last weeks match against Oadby I was "tuned in" and having since read all the comments for what was obviously a very disheartening game, I couldn't help but notice that no mention was made of the Ref and the allowing of a goal that I am lead to believe was off-side!! Clearly everyone has been feeling so despondent about the result that the Ref has escaped any possible criticism!

I can only speak for myself obviously, but we got what we deserved from that game/performance so can't be bothered about a refs mistake in all honestly, the abject performance from our players seriously outweighed the error!!

What has surprised me, after all the furore about our floodlights in the past few weeks, is the fact that the match was played almost in semi darkness in the 2nd half with so many bulbs being out on their floodlights. I'm sure that won't be picked up anywhere as it's not our lights ;)

Well I was actually at Oadby to watch the match and really couldn't believe what I was seeing. Everyone in the seating area had it down as an "easy win" and all I could think was "banana skin then".

Seems the ref had to call over Dolman and Confue at one stage for what seemed to be constant arguing. Whether it was between the 2 players or at the ref I couldn't say. Hopefully it was at the ref rather than between the 2 players :?

Either way and I hope I'm wrong but I think Holbeach will now go on and become champions. Two defeats in three games seems to have taken the wind out of our sails. Let's hope it's just a blip and we can move on.

So 48 hours later, and I still hurt. No doubt it was awful, the management and players have said the same.

However haven't we been here before in 2000/01, and in our Ucl div 1 season how many times has promotion been out of our hands, only to come back again.

We have 17 games left and until it's awarded anywhere I'm not giving up this league and this promotion, even if we don't get a positive result on 24th. Holbeach are a team of human beings just like ours who are playing at this level for a reason. They will have off days and dips in form just like everyone. Did anyone watch Man Utd lose to Southampton yesterday it looked very familiar to Saturday to me.

If at the end of the season we don't do it, it certainly won't be for a lack of effort from everyone and whoever beats us to the title will have flipping well earned it.

So starting from tomorrow we go again.

I'm glad we've got a match tonight and can "get back on the bike" quickly - just need the right response now !!