I unfortunately couldn't be a curious observer at the Maple Leaf AGM, however, I was just wondering what was said concerning substitutions - in respect of how long a substitute should have to make his mark on the game??

The two substitutes on Saturday had less than 30 minutes between them - I was wondering if this contravenes the agreements made at the AGM??

Yours Curiously

Mr Curious Observer

Gary would be your most likely bet on getting hold of whatever was agreed at the AGM.

He did a most studious taking down of the minutes that a Maple Leaf AGM has possibly ever seen. :D


Can't remember myself what was agreed back then, but it's always amusing when the final sub is stripped off ready to come on and the referee blows up for full-time...



'All We Are Saying Is Give Subs A Chance'

Mr J Lennon

Nothing mentioned about length of time subs get as far as I can remember.
What was said is that anyone not performing well will be substituted early in second half, if not at half time.

I agree that players should be given a fair crack at playing in a game but them the substitions have got to be the right one. Moving players forthe sake of it cannot be a good thing.

As has been noted elsewhere, the Homer/Kettle axis upfront is paying off dividends and they have had the run on both defeces we have encountered so far. When they are doing this it seems a little odd that Alex is moved back into midfield, especially as he has already scored two goals and is linking up well.

Agree about substitutions to a point.

Regarding other subs (££)

In closed season it was £5 at every training session.
Now it's still £5 but some will pay on Saturday (first 11, sub and reserve).
For those that don't attend Saturday, £5 is due as normal on Thursday.
The only exception is non-team members like Gwyn and Wootton.

This may seem unfair (regarding people who get 10 mins on a Saturday) but everyone has been paying £5 for 1 training session for weeks.

The Club has accrued more money than it's ever had.
We have purchased a nice new kit, have a good quality second kit (although colour is dodgy), seem to have to buy a matchball every second week as losses over fence at home games, top quality goal nets, kit bag, pumps, bibs etc etc.

At the end of the season we will hopefully have enough cash in the pot to either:
put towards the following season
have a kitty for end season party (maybe pay for a few rounds?)
who knows-it'll be a team decision.

I will be more than happy to email the minutes of the meeting to anyone who requests it.

Just email me on my usual email address for them.

Yours in the name of football administration.

Gary

Yep, would agree with Mr Anonymous regarding substitutions.

While it is true that we wish to see all players (regular 1st teamers, squad members & subs) getting their money worth and a decent run out - there seems little point in breaking up/disrupting the areas of the pitch that are doing well just for the sake of it.

After all, the aim of everyone involved with the team is to win the match! - thus splitting up the strike partnership by moving Alex back into midfield for the second week running for the final period of the match (after he has been effective in the striking role throughout) effectively lets the opposition off the hook! Surely the idea of substitutions is to replace/strengthen the areas of the pitch that aren't so effective to ensure a good result??

Would be good to get everyones opinion considering substitutions in what hopefully will be a season with the possibility of pushing for promotion.

Any thoughts???

What is up with the everyone discussing each and every substitution and when it happens and where that player goes. We cannot make 11 subs a game and everyone cannot play 90 mins each week. Yes, there needs to be a balance as everyone is paying £20-25 per month to play football and deserves a decent chance to play on a Saturday. But equally everyone wants to be part of a successful team and get promoted this season. Not everyone is going to be happy all the time.

We had an AGM at the end of last season that was attended by barely half of the team and covered any raised issues then. We have a training session every week where we can raise ideas and concerns, but this doesn't happen. Surely there are better ways of airing our grievances than anonymous replies on the website.

There again I have played 90 mins twice now so I may be biased. How about having 10 mins at the start of training to go through the previous match and actually try formations in training??

Matt

Yep, good call Matt.

Whilst we wanna keep everyone happy & keep a good size squad we also wanna get promoted & I reckon that should come first! Without wanting to sound like that w**ker Ferguson I'm sure everyone will get a chance with injuries & people away etc.

I also agree it would be a good idea to have a chat about the previous match at the following weeks training too where everyone can discuss tactics, substitutions etc...

'Up the Leaf!'

I thought 'Lawro' was Mitch - thought he was talking far too much sense of late



It's up to Ste (the manager) to sort out and make the substitutions as he sees fit.

What is pleasing to see over the past couple of seasons is the squad grow and have more quality options on the subs bench.

Personally I could only suggest that people start asking him for his views and make suggestions or their views known to him.

Players have his email, mobile no, and can personally ask him anything on their minds twice a week at footy.

Everyone is more than welcome to discuss all things footy on here - but if they wish to get a definitve answer on a question, then it is from the manager that they will receive it from.

Matt played in the last two games?????

Really???

Don't remember seeing him........

Good to see Rob making a valuable contribution.

Matt is spot on that 10-15 mins CONSTRUCTIVE chat about previous game is good idea before training.

Find the comment about moving Alex back from Centre Forward to Midfield a little bizarre though. We have won both games right? Did we concede when Al was moved back either time? Point is that Al is fit and knows how to play footy. So if that is the case, he should be able to have a good effort at playing anywhere on the pitch at our standard. We had a lead, so I would guess the best thing to do in that situation with 20 mins left may be to have the strongest back four poss, then the strongest midfield, and worry about attack if we concede. There was no need to chase the game either time, and with sureshot/sueshot up front, we will always get goals......I think.

I want to win and I also don't mind not playing (I used to but a couple of years holding the linesman flag soon breaks you...)

What I do object to is a sub (often in the past me) having less than 15 minutes at the end of a game - who in there right mind wants to get changed, psyched up and excited about playing to just come on in the last 10 minutes. If you haven't experienced this you should try it - it's really depressing.

What I would like to see is a bit of common sense - after 60 minutes we're generally a spent force apart from a few notable people who are fit (despite playing for maple) so swapping out a tired player for a fit player could be an idea.

I'm not trying to say that we should bring people on for the sake of it, but the fact of the matter is that after 60 mins not many of us could compare to anyone on the bench as we're knackered (or we should be...)

I've come on for 5 minutes in the past and it's horrible... as big john lennon (and sag) says...

'all we are saying, is give subs a chance'

Stu
the barn

P.S. That brett character looked quite handy tonight - maybe he could be Maple 'Luxury Player' whilst Mitch is injured...

Players should be subbed if knackered or not making a contribution to the game where someone else may.
It may be because that player got completely pi**ed the night before or that he's just having an off day.
An alternative to this-may need to switch with opposite number and have more success on other side of pitch-pro teams do it all the time!

Regarding Brett,

Yes we can tell he's got good control, passing and is fast.
How he get on in a proper game (pint size) is another matter.
Could be good for the future but would we want to put him in the squad when we've already got 19-20.
Just look at all of these emails!
Yes we want to win and get promoted but we are also a good friends and an 'outsider' may disrupt the balance?
John Warr may be an exception to this as he came training throughout close season and nearly every Sunday morning training session.

For this season there is a 21 man squad - giving possibilites, options and cover for all positions.

The past couple of seasons have seen many new and welcome faces to the Maple fold - bolstering the squad numbers, and bringing added quality with it.

However, with posssibility of being able to pick from nearly 2 complete teams of players it may be time to concentrate on using the players we have - rather than adding to them.

It would be a shame if there came a time when because of the thirst of a victory that players were omitted from playing football because a friend of a friend knew someone who was better than what we had etc. Eventually we'd end up with a team of strangers, or small fragmented groups with no real attachment to the team, club or each other - other than winning.

Let's enjoy playing TOGETHER - as the squad is now - for the next few seasons...

Damn you Sadler!!!!

Now I'm gonna have to abandon my cunning disguise as the 'Blow Dryed One'!

As for the mention of a second 'Luxury' player Barney..............??? All I can say is 'I'll be back!' Again. Soon. Hopefully.

Definately agree with Ade & Matt that we should be having a quick chat before every training session to discuss the previous match & also I think we've got a big enough (& good enough!) squad to now get out of this league into the lofty heights of Division 8.

'Up the Leaf'

I was not proposing that Brett be in the squad - it was merely an opportunity for a quick bit of banter with our injured luxury player.

Maybe he could play at right-back???

More of a right midfielder