That was clearly a good point away from home last night, something we would have taken at the start of the season. Not sure it’s a terrific result though, as some are claiming, that would have been 3 points which we need, badly.
I think the overall negativity comes from not just one game.
We are rock bottom of the form table (2 points in the last 5) with the sides around us Tonbridge(8 points) Hungerford(6 points) and St Albans(5 points) all doing better than us and picking up points.
Only Dulwich keeping us company. And we don’t look like turning it around anytime soon. Our best striker is out of favour for an unknown reason and we can’t score.
I’d think you’d agree  it’s pretty hard to join the optimistic army right now.
The Chelmsford and Dorking games will be telling, come out of Xmas with 9 games without a win and the Chairman maybe forced to act. Shame but nothing is forever.

But what do I  know, I’m not a proper supporter as I don’t travel away much(like the other 500 plus fans) ;-)

Last edited by Wellard (11/12/2019 2:19 PM)

Well I never, a rational and well constructed counter argument!! Yes 3 points would have been ideal last night, same as Saturday and the same as any other day but the easiest way to address the form table conundrum is just look at who we have played. Aside from Eastbourne and maybe Welling you would argue every side that we have either drawn or lost too, should be expected to beat us and we would have gone in as the underdog in those games, Dartford at their place a draw was a result they were lucky to get but such is life, beaten by Slough and Havant which is something that unfortunately we have to accept. Slough were 2nd at the time and we all have our opinion on how Havant got their W when we faced off. 

With the Nat Jarvis situation, this is going to come as a bit of a shock to the system for us both but, I completely agree with you! Nat is our best striker and for whatever reason at the moment, he is not playing, the reasons it would seem run deeper than just being "out of favour" but until they are confirmed by the powers that be, I suppose it's all just speculation and he said, she said. 

Optimism is a choice mate, you could look at whether last night was a turning point, away at a big side, picking up the much needed result for the confidence to suggest we can compete against the leagues best ahead of a very tricky run of games in December. A few goals here and there and maybe we are the team that looks difficult to beat again. We are not miles away from being what we need to be to survive another year in this league and whilst I concede that changes need to be made in order to achieve that goal, I don't feel those changes are monumental, maybe a couple additional players, a little extra care with the football at times and making sure we make our chances count and I think we are OK. We certainly don't need to be ringing any wholesale changes in terms of management or the nucleus of what has made us a solid National League South over the past 3 seasons, I fear if we hit the panic button things become pressured and that is when bad form becomes detrimental. 

In some 7 seasons this is the first real "rough patch" I can recall and that is primarily down to a lack of wins not even a lack of results, we are picking up the odd point or two but winning seems to be a struggle right now and I think that is where the whole "Jarvis" complaint is coming from for most. The gaffer has earned the right to manage how he sees fit and bring about this run of results, if nothing else out of loyalty to a man that has repeatedly defied the odds at Chippenham and is a large factor of why we are in this position to begin with, he's earned our support and maybe this is where optimism derives from. The ability to see that is harder yet more rewarding to support through the difficult times making the good all that more sweeter because we didn't give up, we fought hard and we achieved together.

Our race is far from run, Chelmsford, Bath and Dorking are all going to be incredibly tricky games for various reasons, all winnable yes but also all very easy to slip to defeat. It's an unforgiving league and none of these teams are going to feel sorry for us, least of all Bath so we need to rally and get behind the troops, at the end of the day they are the only ones who can affect the change. Positivity will see them home. Up the Optimistic Army  

You don't need to ask the Manager what is going on with Nat Jarvis Sir, it was the talk of the terrace at Havant and I am sure after a good result albeit a non scoring one last night, it will be again come the game against Chelmsford!

I understand where you are coming from maybe we should re-brand and be known henceforth as the Realistic Army coupled with Optimistic Enthusiasm. We are smaller than the majority of these sides but I am always confident in our ability to get something but at the same time, quite forgiving when we do not. 

I do believe that at times we have under performed this season sadly when it also seems that fate and all manner of luck is conspiring against you also the microscope tends to burn as well as magnify the issues, a couple of goals either way and we are in a different chat but then that is football I guess. 

We need some fresh blood in the playing squad that much is evident, with injuries and suspension etc, this is clearly going to be a key time for us, fingers crossed that the manager is supported in the market as in the past signing and loanees tend to have always been a hit under Collier.