Looking Back (and foreward too)

[Guest]

I agree with all points below, but the fact that Canvey can get so many points and still not go up must be addressed.

 

The same situation happened in the DML with Tamworth comfortably in second with far more points than third.

 

With the strength of sides coming up and down into our feeder leagues surely it must be time to reward that extra bit of quality with a second promotion spot.

 

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="images/icons/cool.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="images/icons/cool.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="images/icons/cool.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="images/icons/cool.gif" />

[carjam]

One conference, with two feeder leagues. One north one south. Two up from each would help.

Even thats not far enough the reginalisation shouls start with the Football League division 3.

Until something actually happens football at our level is often going to be sterile for a whole load of us after only 10 or 12 games in a season

 

carjam

[Cressing Toad]

I agree with everything Carjam says nowadays, he's magnanimous in victory. Yet at the start of the season i could swear he was a jumped up yob.

I reckon G&NFC will acquit themselves ok in the conference, particularly if they can pick up a couple of players with recent experience of the conf. Dover might be a fair place to start looking. Good luck it could be said GNFC are our Ryman league representatives for next season.

[carjam]

Certainly never a yob Mr Knob.

Seriously though its nice to get the recognition at last. I will start work right away on the 'Carjam On-Line Fan Club' and makethe 'I Think Like Carjam' T-Shirts available.

 

True about Dover, they do have one or two players that may like to come back. Thats about all though as their Geographical location has always ben a hinderance in attracting quality players.

 

CarJam

[Guest]

Which is why Dover and Bedford wish to switch Leagues perhaps? (ssshhh). The loss of the Bognor weekend may yet be recovered in the cheap cafes of Calais.

[SteveP]

Hopefully when the league is re-jigged it should help matters on clubs like Dover.

 

Mr Carjam I was wrong, on the Chesham games I saw I thought Canvey would do it. But I have to say I never thought Gravesend would be the ones to go up and I hope you do this league proud by not going going straight back down, but I don't think you will. And yes we did fail to live up to our promise I have to agree.

 

For next season though, it's going to be difficult, I am sure Chesham won't do it, dwindling fanbase and finances prevent any huge investment, though I think Colin Lippiat was a good choice for us.

 

I also have my doubts about Aldershot, Terry Brown is a nice guy but I just don't think they will have enough to do it next year, didn't I say that about GNFC????

 

Favourites have to be Canvey, but I can see some dark horses like Bedford and Grays emerging already.

 

Hayes did not look a good team when I saw them last season, mind you they were playing Yeovil at the time. I don't think they'll make an immediate challenge.

 

I hope we get a 4 or 5 horse race next season, I think it would make for a much more interesting experience.

[Guest]

Did I just read that right CarJam?

 

"I still say Sutton will run away with it"

 

You crazy guy you!!!!

 

Hopefully we'll improve on this season, but I seriously can't see us being involved in the top.

[carjam]

Steve P, nice to know your still here. I fear what you say about Chesham is about right. Hope you can get a good start next season. It makes all the difference.

I dont agree with your thoughts on Canvey though. Canvey may well have a great future. The new ground must come first though. To generate the fan base for long term league success. Third or fourth place I think. Aldershot should do it, and will in the next three or four seasons. Good luck to them..there fans deserve it.

 

Its gonna be Sutton though, only a slight improvement needed. They have everything else in place. Mr Sutton Fan.......watch this space.

 

Goodnight

Carjam

[SteveP]

I think there's no doubt Aldershot should be a conference team, maybe even higher, but I don't think Terry Brown will be the man to do it.

 

As for Sutton. Well, if we can do the double over them??? I don't rate their chances. But I think next season will be the year of the surprise package and it could end up very open.

[SteveP]

Well, I would'nt mind seeing Dover or Folkestone in the Ryman, it does make a bit more sense. But who ever said the Hearts and Minds behind the league had any idea of logic??

 

But hopefully Proposal C would put them in a Southern Conference. The changes are supposedly happening the season after next and it would seem that most Ryman Prem teams have voted that way, (well I know we did).

 

GNFC probably left the league at the right time, the authorities have made the league bigger, not better which it desperately needs to be. When a number of the higher leagues have seen the benefit of going down in number we go up. Which is especially non-sensical when every winter the postponments mount. But that, like the one above is another rant.

[Guest]

A reply to your request Carjam.

 

So far we have lost: Steve Tilson, he joined Southend United as Joint Assistant-Manager. Both Peter Smith & Mark Stimson have joined Grays Athletic, Stimson as Player/Coach.

 

There have also been strong rumours that both Lee Boylan & Wayne Vaughan will also leave.

 

As for players coming we haven't signed anyone yet as far as we know.

 

But rumoured to be coming are: David Gregory, (Colchester) Jason Dozzell, (Colchester) Scott Forbes (Southend) & Craig Davidson (Braintree Town).

 

Justin Edinburgh was also rumoured to come but he has now retired with an Achilles injury. Plus the former Bristol City striker Steve Jones has been down to the club for "talks".

 

Pumpkin <img border="0" title="" alt="[smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

[David Holden]

Sticking to the Youth policy then Pumpkin

 

LOL <img border="0" title="" alt="[big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

[carjam]

Agreed on the Aldershot bit. Im surprised at your tipping Canvey though. I have grown to like that club now, and wish them the best. There supporters are plagued by fans of other clubs. They dont deserve it. Sadly some come from my own team. It cant be much fun having to put up with it especially after loosing the title race on the last day.

From what I can see though they seem to be loosing too many players and gaining few. Perhaps a Canvey fan could tell us just who has gone so far, who looks like going and who is likely to join.

I would also like to know if there is any truth in that note further up relating to Bedford and Dover.

 

CarJam

[Cressing Toad]

Pumpkin

 

Yeah Craig Davidson is definitely back in Canvey colours next season (same as ours of course). Scott Forbes we hope is going to make a return to Braintree. Though i did hear you were in for him as well. The biggest surprise of all is the release of our veteran ex Southen midefielder Nicky Smith. Weird one that considering what a huge season he had for us last season. Riccay or Heybridge take note!!!!

[carjam]

Thanks Pumpkin, thats made things a greal deal clearer. I may have already said though that seing so many 'star names' would worry me. Canvey have been down that road before. Still time will tell and it must be 'jolly' exciting having such names linked with your outfit.

 

Oh and thanks also to Dave. Your one liner there was most constructive. That should keep the remainder of this thread to a minimum.

 

And Mr Knob, why are you UP (sorry about the pun) and typing at 4.35 in the morning. Training for the World Cup perhaps.

[Matt H]

Thanks for that Iron Knob, Crow becomes a Gull again. The story still hasn't been confirmed by our club yet!

 

Playing Grays will be interesting next year. So sad to see Buzz go. If Boylan leaves too I will only be happy if it's a Division 2 club or higher!

 

As for the Youth Policy, well Scott Forbes is still only 25. (Southend stole him from us in the first place during the 2000/2001 pre-season).

 

Plus we may pick up a rogue Tractor Boy or two. A friend of JK's (that's John Kennedy, not Jeff King) is also rumoured to be in the pipeline.

 

Our midfield will be very interseting next year. No Stimson or Tilson, which leaves us with a relatively young Midfield: Adam Miller (21), Steve Parmenter (26), Chris Duffy (29), Danny Bolt (26), Spencer Knight (23), John Kennedy (23) & Ian Thompson (21).

 

Matt CIFC <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

[Alan W (GNFC)]

How did you know we were going to sign Jimmy Strouts, Iron Knob ?? Good prediction that we'd look to Dover !!

 

<img border="0" title="" alt="[big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

[carjam]

Ok Matt, that sound quite encouraging. If you can keep that line-up you just may give Sutton Utd some opposition next season.

 

Jimmy Strouts isan excellent signing for the 'Fleet'. Thay seem to be doing just fine strengthening their squad. Mr Bentley from Aldershot looks as though he should slip straight into Conference soccer. Mr Strouts is already proven himself at that level

[Guest]

Actually the new Enfield Manager Terry Back, gave Scott Forbes to Braintree for nothing whilst he was the tyrannical Blues Manager for just 3 weeks. We all still loathe him for doing that.

 

I see 'Oooooooh' Terry Howard has also left Braintree in an 'oldies for youth clear out'. But what good younger players are they going to bring in?

 

The Bedford swapping for Dover thing is as real as these things that are rumoured can be. Both are in their resepective Premier Divisions so no disruption will be caused, they both apparantly want the swap to happen now and it makes geographical sense. However, the mistrust (nay hate) twixt Ryman and DML may yet scupper the proposal.

[carjam]

 

 

<small>[ 21 May 2002, 07:40 PM: This message was edited by: carjam ]</small>