TheVoice wrote:

I don’t think that the takeaway from that is never critique. But just look at the responses to a 3-0 win against a Hungerford side that were playoffs last year. We go away, win 3-0, clean sheet, 3 points and all this after a crushing defeat to Bath. And not one person is out here going “Well done to the staff” they’ve picked the troops up and got them ready for a game 48 hours after being beat. No one is saying “Great football” we are picking holes in it suggesting it was undeserved the way we “claim” Bath were undeserving of 4-1. We have a real issue with negativity at the club, nothing is good enough, even a 3-0 win away from home at a tough Hungerford side! I personally like Mike, I’ve got to know him well and if you speak to his players, a vast majority really have faith in what he does and what he brings to the table. I don’t think it’s beyond expectation from him as our manager, selected by our Chairman to be backed by our supporters. Bad results hurt, bad games hurt but let’s not forget as supporters we aren’t alone in that hurt. The gaffer, the board, the players, they feel that hurt. We are too small a club to be divided, we are stronger together! Now let’s go to Bath and get our revenge and if it goes right, rejoice in it, celebrate it. If it doesn’t, keep faith in what we can do. Loans will come and go. More than ever I would suggest we aren’t reliant. We have an academy streamlining good young players like Hilly and Ola into the first team. When Ricky and Harry go back, we may miss them. However, imagine the time we would have had without them. Loans are part of football at this level. As for Sol, Sol was looked at whilst at Slimbridge, he was about 3 inches shorter and a stone lighter and a total lightweight. He has bought his physicality up through hard work but had we signed him, would we have sat through a year of him being pushed off the ball and bullied? No, we would be calling someone an idiot for signing him. Are we starting to see how it’s impossible to win sometimes? The only way to succeed is by chucking a more positive approach to our support, our work at the club and CTFC in general! Frustration and rage are easier to find following a football club, it’s true supporters that can ride the bad times and stay supportive through hard times. Come on blues, we got this!

Good points.
For the record I think overall we played well against Hungerford, rode our luck first 20 mins but from then on looked comfortable.
Credit to all involved. I also like Mike, think he is 100 times more professional than others who have gone before and clearly has many contacts. Could work on his relationship with the fans but overall not really bothered by that if the results come.
I keep hearing this ‘true supporters’ comment being banded about…who are we talking about?. Those that go away or those that support at home? We regularly get +400 at home so is it those we need to please or the other +400 that came to Bath. Ideally Both I guess. But we need to increase gates and we are so reliant on punters through the turnstiles. Could we do more on this?
Given that we are playing a lightweight  Ola regularly I’d rather us take a punt on the young Sol type player as expectations will be less. than someone who’s been to loads of clubs and commands +£250 a week, where expectations are higher due to the wage they command.
Don’t think I’m alone in this.

Anyway on to Bath. Feeling optimistic

Space Raider wrote:

Wellard wrote:

.
Plenty of young hungry players out there in the lower divisions.
Just look at Sol Wanju-Smith, camefrom Slimbridge.

We've got some very decent young players in the academy. Doesn't hurt to have a few on loan from professional clubs as well, do any of us regret having Scott Twine a couple seasons ago?

Not disagreeing, just making point about the Journey men they haven’t worked out the last couple of seasons, Jackson, Stearn etc…they command a high wage and offered very little.
It can workout, like Jarvis for example.

Cutting Mike Cook and his management team a bit of slack is long overdue, and I include myself when I say this. I've made it one of my New Year resolutions. 

Well this thread has left Hungerford well behind! However, lots of interesting comments. I was never one to call for the managers head, but did say things needed to change. To be fair, the introduction of loanees and under/23s has had the desired effect.
It seems to me the only difference in most of the games we play is caused by the team that takes its chances. We can now do that (sometimes ). Fair play to the management/coaching team.

Last edited by Chipp54 (30/12/2021 9:28 PM)

Reginald74 wrote:

Best loans, Twine and Andrews both Collier.
 

Twine’s most profitable spell with us came in 2020 and was actually under Mike Cook.

Aguiar’s record of a goal every other game would certainly put him in contention of “best loans” category, and that’s without adding assists.