The irony is Matt that Chadwick probably benefitted more from that game than the rest because he played well and came out and dealt with crosses, but I agree, in our situation we might have played some experienced players alongside our youngsters. That might well have won us the game.
Do you really think a couple of knocks is about to jeopardise our chances of winning the league? We would have to lose EIGHT more matches even to put ourselves in range of Bromley or Barnet ..... and even then they would have to improve. Only Chesterfield or Newcastle United could throw away such a lead.
The structure of the National League is bizarre. 24 teams in the top division, 24 in each of the two below. Wouldn't you think 20 in each of the divisions might be marginally more sensible? As a result the fixture list is a monumental grind which encourages the thinking that has prevented us attempting ever to compete properly in the FA Trophy. What would happen to the twelve teams my plan takes out? Well you'd only need to add another 8 and you'd be able to divide up a bigger National League into three more sensibly regionalised divisions - maybe Gloucester might not have to be in the North then!!!
The size of our squad and its ability to cope with a tight fixture list has been determined by loaning players out who were good enough to compete for places and transferring another player who showed plenty of promise. The real problem, as you've pointed out Matt, is that above a certain size our squad will contain players to whom we cannot give games, because we lack any B team set-up ..... even if we can afford the wage bill.
Do you really think a couple of knocks is about to jeopardise our chances of winning the league? We would have to lose EIGHT more matches even to put ourselves in range of Bromley or Barnet ..... and even then they would have to improve. Only Chesterfield or Newcastle United could throw away such a lead.
The structure of the National League is bizarre. 24 teams in the top division, 24 in each of the two below. Wouldn't you think 20 in each of the divisions might be marginally more sensible? As a result the fixture list is a monumental grind which encourages the thinking that has prevented us attempting ever to compete properly in the FA Trophy. What would happen to the twelve teams my plan takes out? Well you'd only need to add another 8 and you'd be able to divide up a bigger National League into three more sensibly regionalised divisions - maybe Gloucester might not have to be in the North then!!!
The size of our squad and its ability to cope with a tight fixture list has been determined by loaning players out who were good enough to compete for places and transferring another player who showed plenty of promise. The real problem, as you've pointed out Matt, is that above a certain size our squad will contain players to whom we cannot give games, because we lack any B team set-up ..... even if we can afford the wage bill.