Ardley Out

[MAD_MAGPIE]

I don't think our owners have seriously "considered the manager's position" at any point this season, regardless of the different opinions amongst the fans. They have a completely different mindset to their predecessors Ray Trew and Alan Hardy, and I think it would take a catastrophic run of form for them to contemplate changing the manager. Even if we were to fall short of promotion this season I suspect they will continue to be patient, keep things stable and continue to build.

I must admit, 0-1 down at half-time at Halifax I was beginning to wonder how much longer I could go on defending the manager, but the second half turnaround could yet prove to be Neal Ardley's equivalent of Mark Robins' goal for Alex Ferguson and Manchester United at Forest all those years ago. The momentum seems to have shifted again and we're back in the play-off picture where we hoped to be.

I agree and also think that Neal Ardley has been given the season from the start of it. The subtle clues have been in his interviews throughout the season where he says about judging after 46 games and recently about winning a few in a row and loosing a few in a row.

I am also like you and have been willing to be patient with Ardley and not get too downbeat after the past couple of months and likewise not getting too carried away after our recent improvement. However I was also the most concerned at half time in the Halifax game. I don’t know what happened in that dressing room at half time but it’s ignited something. Long may this continue.

We all know this team is capable of beating anyone in this league. We need to play with belief and confidence in that every time we take to the field. What I like is that those who have come in have took their chance and these three wins in a row really is a squad effort. Let’s see where it takes us and review at the end of the season.

[i961pie]

I agree and also think that Neal Ardley has been given the season from the start of it. The subtle clues have been in his interviews throughout the season where he says about judging after 46 games and recently about winning a few in a row and loosing a few in a row.

I am also like you and have been willing to be patient with Ardley and not get too downbeat after the past couple of months and likewise not getting too carried away after our recent improvement. However I was also the most concerned at half time in the Halifax game. I don’t know what happened in that dressing room at half time but it’s ignited something. Long may this continue.

We all know this team is capable of beating anyone in this league. We need to play with belief and confidence in that every time we take to the field. What I like is that those who have come in have took their chance and these three wins in a row really is a squad effort. Let’s see where it takes us and review at the end of the season.

I know no team or manager likes injuries to their players but to me it's been a blessing in disguise.
Ardley kept on playing the same '13' every game with the usual predictable subs after 75 minutes, now he's been forced into giving game time to the likes of Kelly Evans, Bird, Crawford, Osborne and Dennis etc. which seems to be working.
Why have one of the largest squads in the league and only use half of them?

[KintoreMagpie]

I know no team or manager likes injuries to their players but to me it's been a blessing in disguise.
Ardley kept on playing the same '13' every game with the usual predictable subs after 75 minutes, now he's been forced into giving game time to the likes of Kelly Evans, Bird, Crawford, Osborne and Dennis etc. which seems to be working.
Why have one of the largest squads in the league and only use half of them?

I said last week I did not think we, necessarily, had a squad which should be ripping up this league. However we clearly do have one which has depth and is able to overcome injuries to key players which might have more adversely affected other NL teams. It may be NA master minding the players brilliantly or could, even he, be surprised by the way others have come in and taken their opportunities. Whichever, I am pleased at the position in which we find ourselves and, clearly, the spirit of the team is, currently, spot on. The test now is to continue with this ethos throughout the remainder of the season and see where we end up if we succeed in passing this examination.

[LaxtonLad]

It must be so confusing for our poor manager. Week after week he's played his best eleven, his really BEST eleven, and got nowhere, now these upstarts come along and start scoring goals and worse - winning! Well it's not his fault but he's just going to have to put up with it and suffer along with the rest of us until his BEST players recover and show us how it should be done. You just cannot beat experience and know how, can you Neal?

[laddo]

Maybe he's started taking direct advice from NCM on team selection, tactics etc? That's the reason for a 'good' Christmas lol.

Although if that was the case, Thomas and Tyson wouldn't of started and Bird would of been the first name on the team sheet ahead of Lacey.

And where's KCNotts gone? We are going to need him to spark an upturn in fortunes the next time we are a goal down and playing poorly.

[Mark_Ross]

Playoffs is absolute minimum. This is non-league FFS. Look at how bad Yeovil are - and they are pi55ing on this league.

[laddo]

"Pi55ing on this league?" They aren't even the league leaders lol.

Play offs, play offs, play offs

[Mark_Ross]

True they are not top, but they are a long way ahead of us; plus they beat us easily earlier in the season.

Strangely enough I see our very last game is at home to.... Yeovil.

[laddo]

They aren't p!55ing it Mark but yes are the second best side in the division currently.

They are definitely one of the better sides in the league as results show so surprised they lost to Sutton.

[i961pie]

They aren't p!55ing it Mark but yes are the second best side in the division currently.

They are definitely one of the better sides in the league as results show so surprised they lost to Sutton.

If you look at the football league most teams near the top have lost a few (except Liverpool) or dropped points by drawing plenty.
WBA have only lost 2 but drawn 9, Coventry have lost only 3 but drawn 10. Everyone seems to be taking points off each other, there seems to be no logic. Even Man. Utd. are beating the top sides but have lost to sides like Watford etc.