Dartford v Wingate & Finchley Sat 19 Oct 2024

[Kermo18]

Let's suppose we do what some on here are asking for and got rid of the entire board tonight. What would happen tomorrow? Who is it that's taking over? When will they come? Next week, next month? What are their credentials and how do we know they will be any better? Do they even exist? Most people on here couldn't even name more than a couple of board members, let alone what their roles are, so how do we know whether they are individually doing a good job? I myself only really know 3 of them and the rest are fairly anonymous. I've always thought it harsh that the two most prominent directors are the two that get all the stick. In my view, Steve Irving is the man who has held this club together and now he's moved so far away it's all as starting to fall apart. Even the pitch is looking substandard now and we don't even have a groundsman. It's the absence of accountability that worries me and the lack of clearly defined roles and responsibilities. I've no problem with a revolution if it's going to be for the good of the club, but you have to have an alternative plan before you scrap the current one.

In terms of accountability, we have an ex manager who now works Mon-Fri who should be overseeing all these issues.

[Park Life]

Well we're fifteen games in now (ten of which have been in the league) so seen enough to get an idea of how things are working out, which in all honesty is not encouraging. Seven of these have been at home (W-2, D-1, L-4) so no surprise crowds are also down.

We had a decent start to the season but are now going backwards but i did say pre season i didn't feel the the squad was strong enough and we would be mid table after a couple of months and would have to strengthen the squad to make the play offs. So whilst I'm not surprised where we are in the league, our current form is very concerning and we are not improving as I'd expected.

After watching every game the league is not as strong as i thought it was going to be so it's even more disappointing, as a result i now feel we should be challenging for the title and certainly not where we find ourselves atm.

Last week we were unlucky with some terrible decisions going against us so i was expecting a good performance today, but as usual we gave away sloppy goals and after 20 mins the game was all but over. We did change it at HT and got slightly better second half but even if we'd equalised it would only have papered over the cracks imo. The team looks unbalanced to me with a lack of width and quality/experience in certain areas. But the main one for me is why for the last 18 months we have p****d about with young loan keepers in goal?? I firmly believe had the Buffoon not completely f****d up that position we would have stayed up if we'd had a decent experienced keeper in goal.

I go to work on a Monday and get asked by my colleagues how we've got on and who we'd played and obviously they'd heard of the Torquays and Yeovils of this world. But no disrespect to the likes of Potters Bar, Bowers & Pitsea and Wingate & Finchley who have ALL beaten us at home this season, they've not even heard of them!! The only word i can find to describe how i feel at the moment is EMBARASSED.

On the pitch we're still well short of where we should be but off the pitch everything has gone a bit stale and it just seems we've got complacent. Whilst it's daft to demand a complete cull, clearly some things need to change and the sooner the better.

MOTM - Callum again, never quits.

[rambo]

My take on this disaster. I think we have four strikers , the three that started plus yusuf. ( someone correct me if I’m wrong but I feel Callum is a striker and not a wide player.
All four want the same ball but there is not a single winger in the squad to provide supply. Duwayne is a good player but without wingers he won’t get goals. I think it’s lunacy to start with three of these strikers.
The midfield doesn’t really exist. Samir is reduced to playing 35 yard balls as he has no one to give the ball to. I can see Pinder is in midfield , he is tidy but us very young and inexperienced and no way should he be playing every game at this stage of his career. I honestly don’t know who else plays in midfield
Any midfield needs to help out the defence otherwise it’s 3 v 4 every time we defend
When wingate attacked I see our four defenders in a line across the pitch and three wingate players attacking them. I then see 3/4 of our midfield jogging behind the three attackers. Effectively all the midfield are out of the game at this stage
Contrast this when we attack wingate have 7/8 players in front of the ball all prepared to put thier bodies on the line to knock the ball away.
I would go as far as saying if we stay with this squad we will not win a game that Ollie does not start in
It is imperative that Ade finds a couple of decent wingers and midfielder that is all action mouthy and mobile
This could be a long and dreary season I fear

[Disco Stu]

But the main one for me is why for the last 18 months we have p****d about with young loan keepers in goal??

Mentioned the goalkeeper position to my brother recently. We counted 13 keepers since Wilks stopped being the regular choice around April 2022!

Charles-Cook
Young
Mair
Wray
Dudzinski
Beeney
McInytre
Sandford
Terrell
Byrne
Marsden
Kerbey
Aziaya

[M1 South]

I truly believe a revolution is needed sooner rather than later to save the season (and the club!!)
No more old pals act where once a Blazer always a Blazer is the rule!! If they can’t individually explain what they bring to the table then out them!!
This is 2024 not 1954, we have to move with the times!!i
If Parky & Spike are venting their anger then something is seriously seriously wrong throughout the club!!

[Mark Sweet]

At least we have half time shuffle board and a Pizza refreshment that's never there!!!!!!!

[Kermo18]

If we are being brutally honest I think it’s fair to say the majority of this squad are miles off the standard.

Keepers - once again we’ve had two loanees already, it’s also quite clear that Pennock doesn’t fancy the contracted keeper that HE signed.
Lb/Rb - no backup or competition, if theg are fit they start.
Cb - Josh hill is struggling, he is far too slow. The new lad looks half decent, Luther isn’t good enough and I’m not sure how much we will see of the fella who signed last week after being retired for 5 years!
Midfield - massive concern. Centre midfield is getting outrun and outplayed every week. Pinder probably needs a break, and I haven’t seen anything from denzel to suggest why he starts every week. My biggest dissapoint has to be Samir, he should be playing this level with his eyes shut. All we seem to get at the moment is him waving his arms around moaning.
Forwards - aside from Olly and Callum the rest are average.
Liked what we saw from Ade yussef today, hopefully he gets himself fully fit.

Gloss it up however you like, this is Pennock squad and it’s clear he’s already trying to rip it up and start again.
Still though, at least changing dugouts has worked out well so far.

[Skip]

I truly believe a revolution is needed sooner rather than later to save the season (and the club!!)
No more old pals act where once a Blazer always a Blazer is the rule!! If they can’t individually explain what they bring to the table then out them!!
This is 2024 not 1954, we have to move with the times!!i
If Parky & Spike are venting their anger then something is seriously seriously wrong throughout the club!!

Perhaps each of the directors and club employees (non footballing) could explain what they are responsible for; what attracted them to the club; what experience they bring. How about a page in the programme on each person similar to the one dedicated to the supporter profile? Possibly even someone interviewing each director with questions from supporters?

[Paulcanary]

At least we have half time shuffle board and a Pizza refreshment that's never there!!!!!!!

Glad I stayed in Derbyshire this weekend to
miss this further embarrassment

If the board look at this forum then please get this situation sorted …..and soon. This whole thing is becoming unbearable

[Lol]

No need to panic. We're only 6pts away from the play-offs.
Unlike Alan Dowson, who was a staggering 7pts adrift when he got the boot.
Seriously though, according to our very own excellent commentator the first half was the worst performance he'd seen in the last two and half seasons and stated that to say we looked a bit shakey in defence is the understatement of the century.
Tomorrow's derby against Ebbsfleet should be a far better game and the results of the excellent coaching the players have been receiving is there for all to see.
I honestly think the players out there today should club together and donate part of this weekends wages to their female counterparts who are playing really well or atleast get them some gift vouchers so they can treat themselves at Blue Water.
Ko 3pm tomorrow at Princes Park. Only a fiver (which the girls see none of as they don't get paid, unlike bloody league rivals Fulham) and beer at very competitive prices.

Fully agree with all of this. Please come along to PP this afternoon to watch Dartford FC Women run out on to the main pitch and play their hearts out for each other, the fans and their (and our) club. As Ajaxman states, the girls don't get paid, they play because they love to, they enjoy playing and they love our club. Champions Bar is open early, throughout and after the match. Give it a try, bring the other half, bring the kids. You have nothing to lose. And you never know, you will enjoy it.

[Kermo18]

No need to panic. We're only 6pts away from the play-offs.
Unlike Alan Dowson, who was a staggering 7pts adrift when he got the boot.
Seriously though, according to our very own excellent commentator the first half was the worst performance he'd seen in the last two and half seasons and stated that to say we looked a bit shakey in defence is the understatement of the century.
Tomorrow's derby against Ebbsfleet should be a far better game and the results of the excellent coaching the players have been receiving is there for all to see.
I honestly think the players out there today should club together and donate part of this weekends wages to their female counterparts who are playing really well or atleast get them some gift vouchers so they can treat themselves at Blue Water.
Ko 3pm tomorrow at Princes Park. Only a fiver (which the girls see none of as they don't get paid, unlike bloody league rivals Fulham) and beer at very competitive prices.

What’s this constant need for some to keep comparing the men’s team and the women’s team.
We have a fantastic women’s team who should be judged in their own right, suggesting giving them gift vouchers for a shopping trip is the exact type of stereotype womens football is trying eradicate.

[tommytollbooth]

Watching us get overrun in the first half was painful, was it that long ago we were beating Wrexham, Mansfield and Luton at Princes Park now we're getting turned over by Potters Bar, Bowers & pitsea and Wingate, I bet Cray valley can't wait to pay us a visit. I know we are not Real Madrid or Man City but surely Dartford must be able to maintain a decent level in the non league game. Second half with the subs coming on we made a fight of it and with luck may have got a point. Callum Jones continues to run and try and got a bloody nose for his efforts right in front of the linesman but the officials in this league are pretty hopeless. It was bad enough watching Bromley, Sutton. Ebbsfleet and Maidstone go past us but now we are looking up at bloody Tonbridge Angels and Welling.

[DA Mikey]

What’s this constant need for some to keep comparing the men’s team and the women’s team.

It’s just a bit of a sitter I suppose. But akin to comparing road scrapings to rib eye steak at the moment.

[Kermo18]

What’s this constant need for some to keep comparing the men’s team and the women’s team.

It’s just a bit of a sitter I suppose. But akin to comparing road scrapings to rib eye steak at the moment.

fantastic comparison

[Lars Resort]

Have I missed something? What's all the talk about part time management?
Nothing wrong with road scraping, stun a pheasant with the bumper and you have a meal for two.

[Ajaxman DFC]

So according the book of Kermit it's now sexist to offer to treat a lady to a trip to Blue Water. Does that also mean he wouldn't buy a woman a box of chocolates with a bottle of prosecco on the grounds it's a stereotypical thing to do which women have been fighting to eradicate?
I think she'd tell him he's a tight git to be honest and leave him writhing on the deck clutching his groin.
Also, in no way could this light-hearted alternative gesture be described as patronising, when the chances of the men forfeiting a fraction of their wages will probably break every single rule in the club's financial playbook.
And here's the thing. Women have been fighting for equality for years and not just for a level playing field when it comes to pay but there's other challenges women are facing in sport more recently too. And I'm still waiting for my lunch date with Jo Rowling by the way.
So ok, if Blue Water gift vouchers are going to be interpreted as derogatory then that is typical of the times we live in which involves taking things out of context to avoid tackling the real issues which urgently need addressing.

But really, does Kermit honestly think I'm comparing the women to the men? That would be an insult to the women. It's not about a constant need for comparison at all. Raising awareness yes.
Promoting the brand of football they are playing, constantly raising their profile is necessary in view of the attendances they are getting, which are currently not reflective of their performances on the pitch.

I will continue to put them on the map without complacency. And what a word that is too. Because isn't it complacency over the past few years that's got the club in the shit it's in now?

I don't even mind if anyone wants to publicly slag me off about the ladies, because it's the wrong thread (Kermit's fault, he started it) or whatever.
Because this is not about me. It's about them.
And by criticising me you're still inadvertently keeping their profile out there.
And I tell you what, if the club carries on like it is and we end up with one team in the Isthmian South East and one in the women's National South East, possibly as early as next season, then this club will seriously have to look at the business model applied to the men and women's teams at Lewes FC. A community club that's unified from the tea lady all the way through to the boardroom by doing things the right way, with both teams on equal pay too.

[ozymandias]

I'd like to ask, how many changes have there been since the heady days of the National league Premier and the Board today?
You also have to ask why did Wingate & F resort to the tactics of the second half after thoroughly walloping us in the first?
Tweaks at half time hardly instilled confidence in the crowd or in the Dart's performance, and getting two goals back against them was something I didn't see coming.
Probably putting Luther on was the better substitution at half time as we contained them to one chance second half. Although, but for a last gasp challenge, the game would have been truly over for us had that gone in.
We are a shadow of our former selves and we are definately languishing in the wrong half of the table now and for good reason.
Blame it on the Board? Blame it on the Manager? Blame it on Dowson (my favourite) or blame it on the signings this Summer? We do seem to be a football club of the Jethro Tull hit 'Living in the Past'.
As for Spikes prod at the state of the pitch are we blaming that on having no Groundsman? or is that another excuse? As I have always said, both teams were on the same piece of grass yesterday but in yesterdays case, only one team was playing.
We are all now saying there has to be a change or at this rate we could be playing Faversham next season. No disrespect to Faversham only they do seem to have a Board that likes spending, a manager that get's wins and a growing attendance. Although they do also have a plastic pitch.
And, dare I say it, they are only South East Counties League at this time.
We may have gone full circle in 19 years should we get relegated this Summer.
Tempus Fugit.

[Kermo18]

I do believe it’s yourself “Ajax” who continually reverts back to the women.
You don’t need to lecture me on women’s football either, I’ve been a supporter of the ladies team for a long time now.
Your post stated that due to the ladies not being paid the men should possibly donate some of their wages or gift cards towards them, correct me if I’m wrong?
You cannot actually be serious when trying to defend that as a genuine comment.
This is the men’s forum thread regarding yesterday’s result, the ladies have their own on the forum page I believe?
Keep up the great support and clear passion you have for the ladies, just give it a rest with ramming it down everyone else’s throat.

[Matt85]

Josh Hill currently at the bluewater concierge desk.

Obviously a coincidence

[Babylon]

No disrespect to other teams in this league.but we are fast becoming the sick man of kent football.
Dartford fc were once a big name in non league football.but now we are big joke.
The downward spiral Continues and another relegation cannot be ruled out.
Blame directors blame the manager ,blame the player's or even the tea lady
One thing is for sure.......
This present management and team are only going in one direction and it ain't upwards.