OPPOSITION Q&A
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Michael discusses the Saints
SEASON SUMMARY
The start of the season was indifferent – with some decent wins but also some losses and we also picked up quite a number of injuries, especially to the defence and an established forward player, Zane Banton. Not being able to select a consistent backline ultimately had it’s impact and we had a poor run of form in the Autumn that saw us slide towards the relegation zone. However, an important 2-1 home win against Chelmsford City in mid-December coincided with some key players returning, including Banton, Clark, James, Brown, Johnson (GK), and the impressive Cambridge United loanee, George Hoddle (second cousin of THE Hoddle!). So far, 2024 has been excellent – winning every game except Saturday’s fixture at home against Yeovil but we still grabbed a respectable point following a very impressive second-half performance in front of 2,500 fans (500 or so away fans).
MANAGERIAL CHANGE
It was certainly a shock to lose David Noble – who had been a highly respected player for the Saints before he became Head Coach. It’s Swansea City’s fault(!) – as they sacked their manager and took Williams from Notts County, who took Maynard from Wealdstone, who took David Noble from us… I understand the club has had a lot of candidates already but will be keen to make the right choice and go for a manager/head coach who will continue the same style of football implemented by Noble (and which was defined by our previous Director of Football, Dean Austin, before he departed to Coventry City). Therefore, I don’t think it will be a quick/rushed decision – especially as they will also want to have a coach in place who can attract players to the club in the same way that Noble did. A former interim manager of the Saints, Harry Wheeler, (also previously managed Maidstone United and Billericay Town), is a highly qualified coach and will be in the dugout on Saturday with Noble’s former assistant, Jon Meakes.
RECENT FORM
Unbeaten in 2024 and 4 wins out of the last 5 league games – so definitely an in-form team currently!
KEY PLAYERS
Zane Banton is in great form now and can really punish opposition defences, Shaun Jeffers is back to goal-scoring form, George Hoddle provides plenty of energy in the middle of the park, and it’s great to also have our first-team keeper, Michael Johnson, back between the sticks.
HIGHLIGHTS
The season’s highlights have to include our New Year’s Day win over local rivals, Hemel Hempstead Town at their place. We were 2-0 down inside the first 15 minutes but went on to win 3-2 with the winner coming in added time in front of the 1000+ Saints fans who had made the short journey to Vauxhall Road! Our fans should also get a mention as – despite some poor runs in form earlier in the season – the fans have kept getting behind the team and we are averaging over 1600 and keeping us in the league’s top 4 best-supported clubs.
AWAY FOLLOWING
Away attendances do vary – typically 80-120 travelling. The last time we visited Plainmoor was a Tuesday evening and think just 14 made that journey! I expect it will be a low-ish number on Saturday as there are train strikes but we always seem to get a few ex-pats attending our games in the South West.
POSSIBLE LINE-UP
Johnson
Clark, Partington (C), Carlyle
2 wing backs: James and Banton
Smith, Blackman, Hoddle
Weiss, Jeffers
BEST OPPOSITION
In both games, Yeovil certainly looked well organised with enough physicality and pace to take the title this season. Worthing were fantastic going forward but had a few defensive frailties (we drew 4-4 at their place which was actually one goal less than the previous season’s encounter when we won 5-4…). Not sure there are really other stand-out teams apart from maybe Dover Athletic – but that was because they were markedly poorer than anyone else we’ve played so far!
PREDICTION
Does seem to be that Gary Johnson collects his points at Plainmoor. so I’m going for a 2-2 draw.
COYY
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