Even worse than last year

[Neil]

Admittedly, this was my first game of the season, but I was disappointed at the poor quality of the team. There are quite a few players who are not good enough for step 3. It’s early days, but I’m hoping that things improve. As it stands, it looks like another battle against the drop. I hope I’m wrong.

[Stuart]

Sadly Neil, I believe you may be proved right, at the moment we seem to be well out of our depth. Still a long way to go so I’m hoping that we can turn it around and have the reverse of last season,

[Brian Parker]

Have to admit that I was dismayed by the lack of quality in this team. After an almost wholesale clear out since last season we appear to be no better off. Thumped 4-0 by a team that previously had only one point from its’ first four games doesn’t bode well for the future. Why is it that this club which is surprisingly well supported, has a supporters trust and a number of sponsers seems unable to field a competitive team?

Our supporters have not seen us win at home in the league since October. And ten months is an incredibly long time to test their patience. A chat with my friends revealed that it’s only each others company that drives us to come to matches these days. In other words they would no longer bother to attend matches on their own as the standard of football is so poor.

[KEITH]

Brett said pre-season that he'd rather win 5-4 than 1-0. Well we've perfected the 4! I've no doubt the players are giving their all but, as stated above, the quality isn't there. They are of division 1 standard, sadly. There are a few players still missing but I fear now they will also be of the same standard. 2 or 3 may well step up to premier division quality over the next few weeks to join Toby Syme, Ciaran Jones & Stephen Gleason but most are miles off. Luckily we are only 5 games in & not 5 games to go so time is on our side. It's not for me to say but if it were my first priority would be to stop conceding goals so easily. We have 2 quality central defenders in Toby & Ciaran but our all out attacking policy is leaving them exposed. Build the team from the back & become hard to beat. Add another quality central midfielder who can pass a ball as well as stop the opposition playing & who knows the strikers & wide players might well develop from there. If not then seek out a couple to bring on those with promise. I know wages are an issue here but 2 or 3 premier divison players in the right positions, offloading maybe 3 or 4 who won't make the grade may balance the books.

[Oldyeller]

One positive, Brett has continued the open, honest and transparent communication.

I agree with the previous comments on performance but would like to add one further point. For a team managed by Brett I am amazed the team is so quiet, I appreciate it is related to confidence but please be more vocal, it makes a difference!

[anthony.brown]

On paper we have a squad who should be able to pick up the odd point. 'Unfortunately we play on grass (or 3G) not paper' and we have several injured players and others who have not played with each other regularly. Too early to panic?

[MarkC]

Even if there are questions about the merits of the penalty, the reality in the FA Cup today was that the best team won. The question now for me is: does the club have a Plan B? If the next two league games show no progress surely the club needs to move on, providing the budget to employ a manager with experience of coaching at this level and to bring in 5-6 players who can really improve the team.

[MarkC]

Another very disappointing performance today. The club needs to be ready to act. I’m now even more convinced that the committee/owner needs to fund a new manager and 5-6 players with the right experience to keep us up. If they don’t why did they take the relegation reprieve?

[russell]

I might be wrong but I know if you decline promotion you get relegated another, so I'm not sure if there was a similar punishment in store should we not accept the reprieve.

Personally I'm amazed it's still talked about as a factor with regards to our form. I doubt most players care whether it's step 2 or 7 it's the profile of the club and the way they're treated.

[KEITH]

There's no doubt in my mind that it's going to be extremely difficult for Brett to mould this batch of players into a mid-table side this season. Too many players are struggling at this level. So here's a radical suggestion. Burkey is still heavily involved in this club so why not use him as a director of football so as to speak. He has the contacts of premier div standard players & a good relationship with Luton for loan players. His problem last season was that he couldn't motivate them enough to get us out of trouble, those same players, don't forget, that were pretty good for the 1st 3rd of the season. Brett, on the other hand, is a motivator &, if they work together, with the right players this could be the answer.