Top Half

Devongone · 01-04-2019, 13:25

We're in the top half and Havant have to win their last five games to overtake us. We're safe. SAFE!

Boden is up to 19 goals, can't knock that. Fourth top scorer isn't he in the National League? Maybe now is his time?

Will Evans made team of the week in the Non-League Paper. The other Chesterfield player in the team was ....... Gozie Ugwu, who was apparently all together too much for Wrexham in a MOM performance. I'm still convinced at this level and maybe Division 2, he can be the real deal - but it all went wrong for him with us. I suppose we just have to wish him well wherever he ends up - the rumour is Ebbsfleet are behind on paying their players again, how that affects a loanee I've no idea.

If Ebbsfleet are in financial schtuck what about signing Nathan Ashmore? I'd take either him or Michael Cheek, but I doubt Dancing would be happy.

Dancingwilldoit · 01-04-2019, 14:41

You are not wrong there Dev. I cant stand cheats and would never want to see Ashmore anywhere near Chesterfield. He would do well at Mansfield.
I would go so far as to say it serves them all right if they lose out a few grand each because the club cant afford it. Dirty club with dirty tactics, deserve all they get.

SaltergateBorn · 01-04-2019, 15:32

C`mon, Dancing, don`t hold back. Say what you think!

Dancingwilldoit · 01-04-2019, 20:13

What? You think he wouldn't be any good at Mansfield?

Devongone · 02-04-2019, 16:20

I'm all for a no-cheats policy, but how would we find eleven of them?

Would we sign Neymar? Mo Salah?

Every week we hear about a team 1-0 up managing the game - about 50% of game management involves cheating and manipulating the rules.

Dancingwilldoit · 02-04-2019, 16:53

I agree but its wrong and its certainly not a spectator sport.
I go to watch a game of football not 11 con merchants trying every trick in the book to sway the ref and waste time.

Devongone · (This post was last modified: 02-04-2019, 18:26 by Devongone.)

I agree with you Dancing, but I don't know what the answer is except to ensure that your own team doesn't cheat. If Nathan Ashmore deliberately runs down the clock more than Mrs May, then Ebbsfleet should deal with it.

If a multi-billion squillion trajillionaire buys us and Neymar and Salah are Sheri's first surprise new signings I don't think we should boycott the game. We just have to campaign for him to tell them not to embarrass us by diving all over the pitch in the National League.

The concern with Nathan Ashmore should be whether he is a good enough keeper. If he is, we should KNOW that we are firm enough in our high standards to keep him in line. (Apparently the supposedly best keeper in England can't really be relied upon to behave properly!)

The sad truth is, however, that the cheats all too often prosper. I hate it too.

Dancingwilldoit · 03-04-2019, 11:14

The simple answer is Dev to get refs to stamp it out. Give a yellow card for blatant time wasting without a verbal warning or for going down when not even touched, then follow it up with a red if need be.
We might get a few games ending with 8 a side for a while but it will only take a week or so for managers to start stamping it out.

Devongone · (This post was last modified: 03-04-2019, 12:19 by Devongone.)

I just think there is far too much pressure on refs already. They should be enablers, but the game is turning them into gun-toting sheriffs charged with cleaning up the whole wild west.

Clubs should have codes of on-field sporting conduct by which their own players are expected to abide - but none do. Managers are under enormous pressure for their jobs too. You can hardly blame them for trying to close games down when 1-0 in front. Managing the game by perhaps deploying a couple of midfield defenders very quickly becomes committing petty fouls, cheating at every opportunity all over the pitch to destroy the opposition's rhythm and to waste time. But once you've created a culture in which results are all that matters ....... you do pay the price. Look at Darren Moore at West Brom, long-time loyal servant, almost achieved the miracle of saving them last season, sacked this time round with them in fourth place in the Championship and West Brom is one of the nicer clubs around.

Obviously refs have a role to play in cleaning up the game, but unless we can first of all imbibe the notion that football is game and fkuc Bill Shankly, there isn't much hope of stopping players behaving as if they are involved in a miniature war in which anything is fair if you can get away with it.

Dancingwilldoit · 03-04-2019, 14:16

The thing is Dev, there is no point in having a rule book for it to be ignored.
I have witnessed teams get away with absolute murder this season and go unpunished.
If a rule is there then it should be applied. If the ref cant do it because he is too busy running away from it, then give the 4th official something other to do other than hold a board up 4 or 5 times every match.