Padiham Saints J.F.C

Well, I've watched two Saints teams today and what cracking games they were, emphatic wins both and some great football.

What an improved side this is to last year, looks like you've all been working hard in training and the passing at time is brilliant. There are goalscorers galore which is a plus in any side but there's one flaw carried over from last year that showed it's face a couple of times today. You go to sleep!!!!!!!!!!! Not one of you, all of you at the same time, I've never seen anything like it. It's as though you're all wired to the same circuit board and someone throws a switch and you all go into doze mode. That's the danger time for you because you get punished as their disallowed goal showed.

That said, when you are playing football, running and passing the ball, you're going to trouble every side in the league this year. The tackling was good making the challenges where needed. Efforts at goal were also good, if you get half as many chances in the rest of your games and stick them away you'll win more than you lose. Following up the ball into the box is something you didn't do last year, got a goal from it today, well done. A fine all round performance from a Saints team, well done to all.

Got to single out Tyrone, what a star today. Three great goals but goals aside at last a true left winger that can run, cross, shoot, position himself and most importantly never gave up running. In my opinion todays performance by him should be the benchmark for this Saints team and I'll tell you what lads, you'd never get beat. What you have to appreciate is that he's not going to play like that every game but if there's four or five others that can achieve the same level of skills you're going to push everybody in the league.
There's a lot of strengths in the side from Tyrones speed and power to Fletch's ball skills, you won't all achieve the same skills to their level but it shouldn't stop you trying, merely not being afraid to get your foot in for that all important tackle can mean the difference between winning and losing.

I know I've singled out Tyrone and I think he thoroughly deserves it but really you were all stars today, an emphatic win and three points on the board.

Well said Jon. I totally agree with you. I think defensively we were strong but I feel that the midfielders do need to come back and help as well. Today we played one of the weaker teams in the league and we looked good but we will have to work more in the midfield and not leave it to single players if we are going to win the better teams. All said we did play well today but like I said we have tougher opposition to come so going to sleep at times will be where we lose out.

Tyrone I too thought you had a good game along with fletch whose skill is awesome. Tyrone you just need to pass a bit more at times but overall you were fantastic and a real pleasure to watch. But we haven't to forget that one person doesn't make a team and today you all worked well if the ball hadn't been passed to Ty then we wouldn't have had the goals we did.

Well done to each and every one of you let's hope we can do this and more agaion next week.

Thanks for that Jon and Paula, you've pretty much covered all that needs to be said about the team at the moment. An 8-1 win is a great way to start the season, I couldn't have asked more from the team on our first game, It really gives us something to build on for the rest of our games.

This was one of the only times I've watched one of our games and it's looked to me like we're not just 11 players having a kick around, but like a proper football team. All the signs are there - the passing, closing down, movement, and hard work all showed and if we can try not to take any steps backward and continue to play like we did then we'll do ourselves and the club proud.

Of course as everyone's pointed out, Ty clearly was the man of the match, finishing with 4 goals. But it's not just about goalscoring, one of the key reasons why he played so well was the fact he never stopped running, constantly chasing the ball and pressuring the defense. Work rate and fitness is sometimes what this team lacks and when players run out of energy its one of the factors that can lead to them losing concentration and switching off, which Jon noticed while watching the game.

The twins and Ben also had a great game up front, scoring 4 goals between them, and Fletch did his usual thing, walking the ball past their left back so many times I lost count and delivering some great crosses. The defense also had a good game today. When they were switched on they controlled Darwens attack excellently, being first to every ball their midfield sent forward.

Well done to everyone who played today, you all deserve praise for the way you played, but lets not get complacent and show the rest of the league how much we've improved since last season!

I'M GOING TO STICK UP FOR THE DEFENCE HERE WHICH I THOUGHT PLAYED BRILLIANTLY ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE GAME IT WAS ACTUALLY THE MIDFIELD WHO WEREN'T COMING BACK IN HELPING WHICH I KNOW PHILIP WAS TRYING TO GET ACROSS TO THE MANAGERS YESTERDAY. BUT HEY THAT'S MY POINT OF VIEW. I PERSONALLY THOUGHT SAM, NATHAN, CALLUM, PHILIP AND ANDY WERE GOOD AT THE BACK AND CONSISTANT. I THINK OVERALL IT'S THE WHOLE TEAM THAT GO THROUGH A GOING TO SLEEP PERIOD AND THAT IS WHAT LET US DOWN LAST SEASON. IF WE ARE TO GAIN RESULTS THIS SEASON WE WILL HAVE TO BE ON THE BALL THROUGHOUT THE GAME AND GO TO SLEEP LATER.

LIKE YOU QUITE RIGHTLY SAID TOM IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO SCORES THE GOALS AS LONG AS WE SCORE THEM.

PAULA

paula sykes wrote:I'M GOING TO STICK UP FOR THE DEFENCE HERE WHICH I THOUGHT PLAYED BRILLIANTLY ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE GAME IT WAS ACTUALLY THE MIDFIELD WHO WEREN'T COMING BACK IN HELPING WHICH I KNOW PHILIP WAS TRYING TO GET ACROSS TO THE MANAGERS YESTERDAY. BUT HEY THAT'S MY POINT OF VIEW. I PERSONALLY THOUGHT SAM, NATHAN, CALLUM, PHILIP AND ANDY WERE GOOD AT THE BACK AND CONSISTANT. I THINK OVERALL IT'S THE WHOLE TEAM THAT GO THROUGH A GOING TO SLEEP PERIOD AND THAT IS WHAT LET US DOWN LAST SEASON. IF WE ARE TO GAIN RESULTS THIS SEASON WE WILL HAVE TO BE ON THE BALL THROUGHOUT THE GAME AND GO TO SLEEP LATER.

LIKE YOU QUITE RIGHTLY SAID TOM IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO SCORES THE GOALS AS LONG AS WE SCORE THEM.

PAULA

Now now Paula, shouting at us in capitals is unbecoming of a lady (wait for it). I'm not just sure why there's a need to stick up for anyone especially the defence, they all played well for 90% of the game.
If there is a critisism to be made construtively about the defence it's that the players have to look accross the line. On several occassions yesterday we had one player playing three attackers onside when two strides forward would have broken down their attack. You can forgive this because they are lads and that's a technicality of the game but it's a technicality that can take the pressure off.

The offside rule really is a pain at proffessional level so how on earth are amateur officials supposed to get it right. How many times was the offside flag raised yesterday for both sides when the offside player wasn't taking part in play? It made it fair because it was consistant for both sides in that there was a player/s in an offside position but my understanding of the rule is that if he isn't actively taking part in the play then he won't be given offside. I stand to be corrected. The old ruling that if you are in an offside position irrespective of where you are then you would be penalised is clear and not open to interpretation.

I know you didn't really mean to shout at us Paula and you are forgiven. We all see a slightly different aspect to a game and that's a good thing especially if it's used in a positive manner. I have every faith in all Saint's coach's and managers to make use of how others see the games, where others see a weakness and indeed a strength. The clubs achievements bear testiment to their ability to get the best out of the lads.
IF WE ARE TO GAIN RESULTS THIS SEASON WE WILL HAVE TO BE ON THE BALL THROUGHOUT THE GAME AND GO TO SLEEP LATER.
Agreed

Sorry Jon, It wasn't actually all supposed to be in capitals it was just the way I was typing. I actually agreed with all the comments you made. It was the comment of Tom's I was referring to about the defence being the ones asleep which just annoyed me a little because it was actually the whole team. This is where we do tend to let ourselves down. Please don't feel I was getting at you because I wasn't. James and I think your write ups are spot and fair in fact somethimes there is nothing else that you can say as you have hit the nail on the head.

Didn't think for a minute Paula that you were getting at me, my post is a little tongue in cheek. I do agree with you Paula it is the whole team that just seems to stop playing but I didn't see Tom's remark as just singling out the defence?
I've read Tom's comments again and unless senility has finally set in I still can't see reference specifically to the defence????

Apology accepted for the capitals but don't apologise for your point of view, if we all thought the same wouldn't it be boring. The fundemental aspect of a forum is that people can put their points of view forwards controversial or not. The only time I'd disagree with that is as happened in the guestbook when a comment is anonymous.

You voice your opinion Paula, lower case please.

Maybe what I wrote was taken out of context, but I never meant to single out the defense for anything. I just made a comment about work rate sometimes letting the team down, which applies to the whole squad, not just the back four.

Personally I felt the defense had a good game like I mentioned in my first post, just the one goal conceded and other than that I can't remember Crabby having anything to do in goal.

And about typing in capitals Paula, I know you like to be heard by everyone but try and keep your voice down - I swear I could hear your voice as I was reading your comment!