Darts v Hemel Hempstead (Sat 31st Aug 3pm)

[Harold Handshandy]

Arty is stirring, just awakening from a heavy lunchtime session. He was so pissed today he doesn't know the score. I will let him know and see what he says

We didn't win. Again. Still, early days, eh?

[Park Life]

I did fear the worse today and with Hemel being much the better side first half it was concerning, however they seemed content to see out the second half without much intent in getting forward and allowed us back into the game. As for us, for the first 60-70 minutes we were poor lacking in confidence, spirit and belief but we did get better the last 15 minutes or so but is that really enough?

The managerial guru's having decided to chuck out the only left back in the club, Luke "Fallguy" Warner-Eley then came up with the master stroke of playing a centre half there, this didn't work last Saturday and didn't again today, no real surprise and we ended up with Flisher there a midfielder/forward who to be fair did ok. My guess is that the budget which has apparently now dried up will still have enough in it to bring in a left back on loan.

I do not share the optimism of some as i cannot see any real improvement with our performances. We are pretty much playing the same as we finished last season and it is obvious there are problems in the dressing room.

Eight games gone this season and we are 3rd bottom, we may get a result at struggling Tonbridge on Tuesday but does anybody really believe with the current set up we will improve and be challenging at the top of the table?

[Harry]

Eight games gone this season and we are 3rd bottom, we may get a result at struggling Tonbridge on Tuesday but does anybody really believe with the current set up we will improve and be challenging at the top of the table?

Based on the assumption that around 65 - 70 points will get us into the lower end of the race for the playoff places I would think we have already blown our chances.
We would need an incredible up turn in recent form i think not.
At best we could finish mid table.

[babylon]

I really hope that a midway finish comes about,because for
70 minutes we were clueless.
Yes the last 20+ minutes was a huge improvement so there is hope but we have to Get away from the two relegation places .The mood around the place is understandably low so
I hope that ryno and Wabo are both playing at Tonbridge but with our present management who knows?

[Arthur Horsfield]

Arthur here,
That peroni warms the cockles of my heart. Oh yes the game.
Firstly I enjoyed the game. I thought we were miles the better side I honestly did. The second half I particularly enjoyed. Goal mouth action which standing behind the goal I hadn't seen a lot of this season. Babylon I reckon you will get your wish on Tuesday with the starting lineup. As for the emotionless comment from slightly deceptive I dont know which bench you were watching on numerous occasions when I looked over J and A were yelling and indicating instructions. Thought the tactical switches worked well. Alex did really well at left back as the MOTM voting is showing. Haysie I thought put in plenty of poor crosses today with mainly his standing right foot, however he remains probably the one and only player who can provide chances at any point of any match. Since rob howard has come in that right back that spot has been sewn up a decent player and signing. Luke and lee look decent in matches although luke wasnt at his recent best yesterday. So lots of positives. Some negatives still exist though. Mainly this forum but let's park that for the moment. I have agreed along with nearly everyone that the season has so far been disappointing. I definitely know that Adam agrees with that when I was pointing to the league ladder in the bar afterwards. Who can deny it. But yesterday it seems that I am the only one who a) enjoyed it and b) can see some positives. After all I went into this game with plenty of trepidation believing that HH were the be all and end all but after yesterday's 90 thought we were much the better side.

[Park Life]

Arthur, if you HONESTLY believe we were "much the better side" yesterday I would stay off the Peroni's as we did nothing for about 70 mins.

[Arthur Horsfield]

I do HONESTLY Parky. Did I miss Hemel having countless chances throughout the 90 I dont think I did. You mention 70 minutes I thought the second half we battered them. Beasant who I hate with a passion pulled of 3 brilliant saves. The first half was decent. Ok not quite on a par with the second but once again they were not better than us. This was a team who were in second place before the game. PP is a difficult place to come too as the form over last and this season shows. However the true worry is away from home and indeed when away we nearly always seem to capitulate in a massive way. That is what needs to be sorted. Look we've had a poor start as the table will show but 2 or 3 wins and any team can shoot up the table. Hey Chelmsford sit miles above us in league position but simply 4 points above. Not a massive difference but would anyone say they are in trouble. Yes let's have a pint discuss whether people should do this and do that, but after some happenings in the past week I for one am sitting back and relaxing thinking do you know what, I enjoyed that and we have a good point against probably one of the title contenders but thinking in all HONESTY it should have been 3

[Park Life]

I think I'll have to try that Peroni....

[Arthur Horsfield]

It is good stuff. Seriously did I miss them having countless chances. Parky please that's not a dig matey, I just wonder if the peroni is playing tricks but did they. I can remember their goal a couple of shots from the edge of the box and one at the end when the guy was clean through. As for DFC I seem to remember us being encamped in their half for the second 45. Plenty of goalmouth action. Beasant pulling over if I remember 3 brilliant saves, Norman being absolutely bloody electric when he came on, players trying really hard. Yes that's another point I thought Ben was outstanding when put into central mid he ran his socks off. Everybody did. As mentioned earlier Alex did brilliantly apart from complete miskick of a cross. Seriously am I imagining it all. I mean it, as if I do have all that wrong then your right I've got to get off the peronis and back on the Guiness

[Ozymandias]

Lacking in confidence and for 80 minutes, clueless. Wanadio totally off the boil. Bonner, Hill and Vinty struggling. Once again, the oppo's goal came down the left. NOT Bonner's best position, and actually his injury was the best thing that could have happened (not to him) as Ronnie pretty well won everything in the air after. Not convinced on Hill, made a hash of several balls putting us under pressure. I suppose it was a good job that HH stopped playing in the second half. Flisher played well, had to, as he is no left back. Bit disappointed with midfield and when I said in a previous post that ' if the front guys hit the ground running we may beat them with pace' and also that 'we just need to sort out the defense', well, neither of those two things happened.
Totally clueless from all views, it wasn't until Norman was introduced that things started to happen, and I'm not truly convinced that he is the answer. Wanadio and McQueen disappeared as the game went on, Adam was banging his head against the wall, Nobes and Allen flakey in midfield, played better against Braintree. The back four were, first half, run ragged and if it wasn't for HH being a second rate side and in a false position, a better team would have had a field day.
Heaven help us if we get a good team playing us. Haven't seen one yet, which I suppose, considering our team, is rather fortunate.
Hard to say who get's my MOTM.