[BigLeftToe]

The first half was an absolute embarrassment. Getting at them in the 2nd showed they were beatable, so the first half showing was clearly down to fear and mentally conceding that they were better than us. Shocking defending for both of their goals. Butler’s time is running out if that’s how he’s going to be setting up at home against the so-called “better” sides.

[BigLeftToe]

Absolutely pathetic. Brennan looks like a lost little boy. It’s not just Jones who concedes shots from outside the box then.

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lesgeo

[BigLeftToe]

Hard to watch this. Acting as if Borehamwood have the quality of Barcelona and just letting them do whatever they want!

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Like Stan Ashbee who looked a class act on Saturday.

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Campbell still had a couple of heart-in-mouth moments (the fumble in the 1st half mentioned above, and hesitating off his line for the 1-on-1 save in the 2nd) but thought he did ok and looked more assured and calmer than last season.

[BigLeftToe]

Felt for Brennan at the end…was trying to play on one leg injured for the last 15 mins of the game.

MK – regarding your point no.2 I don’t think Dec on the right wing or Hurst as a centre mid is playing players in their natural positions.

4-3-3 is definitely the way to go though. Just a shame we only have left wingers and zero right in the squad.

[BigLeftToe]

He’s a fox in the box though and a nuisance in and around the penalty area as a striker, I definitely don’t expect him to be dribbling down the wing and providing crosses (Butler clearly does though which is bizarre).

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Rene Artois

[BigLeftToe]

Better. Rowley more like his last season self. Ashbee looks very good. Hopefully this kick starts our season. Clean sheet was nice to see too.

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iron64

[BigLeftToe]

What a strike by Hursty! Really hope we can build on this, had lots of possession but no real cutting edge other than the goal. Also looking mightily dodgy at the back for every set piece.

[BigLeftToe]

No it’s not 4-4-2, it’s 4-3-3. Hurst is playing in a midfield 3 as the furthest forward and Dec is on the right wing (sigh).

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Tinkerman is at it again I see. Dec back out on the right wing (maybe try not to sign 4 left wingers and zero right). Hurst playing out of position as an 8/10 in a midfield 3 (no confidence in Beestin then who looks like one of our only goal threats, or his self proclaimed no.10 James Gale). Denton dropped who’s our best left back.

I just don’t get it. Butler’s dart board picking the team and formation again.

[BigLeftToe]

He’s a midfielder…from the Beeb:

Harrogate Town have signed Leyton Orient midfielder Michael Craig on a three-month loan deal.

The 23-year-old made 32 appearances for the O’s last season but has not featured this campaign.

He could make his debut for Town against Tamworth at home in the National League on Saturday.

“Having that authority in central midfield can help us deliver more controlled performances going forward,” boss Simon Weaver told the club website.

[BigLeftToe]

And they’ve lost their superstar Abdulmalik. Easy pickings!

[BigLeftToe]

A game I went to last season but I have zero interest in entertaining a 6 hour round trip to endure the absolute dross we’re serving up at the moment.

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alcazar, Rene Artois

[BigLeftToe]

I can’t understand Butler half of time during his interviews…he can barely grasp the basics of English in a cohesive, non-mumbled manner.

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Iron-awe wrote:

Why was it entirely predictable just because his wife was expecting a second child, are you saying we shouldn’t sign players who wives or partners are expecting children?, where is your rationale on this one?

What are you on about? I was referring to Smith’s personal situation being entirely predictable for himself and his wife, what with her being 5 months pregnant and already having another child. Wasn’t saying the club should have predicted him downing tools, I’m questioning his decision to sign a 2 1/2 year contract with a team in England when this situation with being away from Scotland with 2 kids was entirely predictable.

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saleiron wrote:

Not everyone has a wholly predictable personal life, AWG. It’s a shame it didn’t work out, but I wish him well. There seems to be no ill will between him and the club.

The thing is, surely this was indeed entirely predictable? He already had a young child and his wife was 5/6 months pregnant with their second when he signed a 2 1/2 year contract. Not exactly like this situation came out of the blue!

[BigLeftToe]

I’ll join in on the pedantry…SUFC do get money from DAZN. This is a copy and paste but all is explained here. Boreham Wood would be peeved because they have about 20 fans so will earn far less from this model than the “bigger” clubs with larger fanbases.

The DAZN partnership: A revenue-share experiment

Abandoning the traditional rights fee model with TNT Sports, the National League signed a seven-year deal with DAZN covering 2024-2031. This deal is global, offering over 600 matches to over 200 territories.

The Commercial Mechanism:

Unlike the EFL’s guaranteed millions, the National League deal relies on a revenue-sharing model driven by subscriptions.

Revenue Split:
– 60% of net subscription revenue is allocated to the specific club the subscriber supports.
– 15% is retained by the League for administrative/production costs.
– 25% is pooled and distributed among the 72 member clubs (weighted 70% to the National League, 15% each to North/South divisions).

Implications: This model effectively gamifies broadcast revenue. A club with a large fanbase (e.g., Southend United, York City, or historically Wrexham/Notts County) can generate significant direct income by driving fans to subscribe to DAZN. Conversely, smaller clubs with few subscribers will see minimal benefit beyond the small pooled pot.

Guaranteed Payment: While specific figures fluctuate, estimates for the central pooled payment (the 25% pot) suggest a figure in the region of £100,000 – £125,000 per club for National League sides. This is a fraction of the League Two Basic Award (£800k+), emphasising the massive financial leap required for promotion to the EFL.

[BigLeftToe]

We’ve been porous enough in the centre of midfield as it is without going 4-4-2 and leaving us even more exposed there.

[BigLeftToe]

Really don’t understand what people are seeing in Pat Jones. He can run quickly in a straight line and that’s about it. Has no skill, can’t cross, can’t shoot, and runs with his head completely down like a headless chicken. What’s he done since signing? Nothing of any note other than latching onto a shocking back pass at Halifax. TSF is a better winger/footballer.

[BigLeftToe]

He excelled for us last season as the left sided wide forward in a 4-3-3. I would prefer if we went back to that formation but Butler’s genius has led us to having 5!!! left sided wingers and 0!!! right sided ones.

Butler clearly doesn’t know our strongest formation or our strongest starting lineup to fit into said formation, but he’s brought this on entirely by himself with his lopsided signings and overloading us in certain positions (left wing and right back). So I think he’ll be sticking to this 3-5-2 (or 5-3-2 depending on how you interpret it) and utilising him as one of the front 2.

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cassidystash

[BigLeftToe]

Oh we do love a left winger or 5.

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alcazar, Rene Artois

[BigLeftToe]

Clearly not! I feel it’s the saga that will keep on giving until Butler is gone. This is Campbell’s 3rd season with us which is bizarre. Jones was given a go last season after Mahady dropped multiple clangers and Campbell was seemingly frozen out after returning from injury and sent out on loan. Jones did OK but nothing to suggest that he could take us to the next level. How both keepers got new contracts in the summer is beyond me.

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RoamingBull

[BigLeftToe]

Which poses the question in itself, what’s changed so drastically?

When we beat York 3-1 in their own backyard last season we played a 4-3-3 with the following starting lineup:

Mahady (making his men’s football debut)
Starbuck, Boyce, Evans Denton
Rowley, Ewing, Beestin
Roberts, Whitehall, Howe

So we can play that same system and largely the same team today minus Roberts and Ewing. Roberts didn’t do anything of note during that game either from what I remember, so the players are capable.

It’s the system and set up for me. It’s just wrong and lopsided.

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alcazar, cassidystash

[BigLeftToe]

Not to be pedantic….but it is indeed pronounced Da-zone (intended to sound like “The Zone”).

[BigLeftToe]

Sellars-Fleming and Farrell vs this Parker donkey…like night and day.

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mistertonmick wrote:

To answer Lesgeo, 2006/07 season we won 0, drew 3 and lost 2 of the first 5 games, then went on to walk the league, so though doubtful anything can happen before the end of the season

Massive difference was that we were also playing very well in those games and massively disappointed to come away with only draws and losses.

This season we have been taken to the cleaners by Southend and Carlisle (and to a certain extent Eastleigh where we didn’t deserve to get anything from that game either) who both looked twice the team we are. That’s a worry!

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alcazar, IronIronIron

[BigLeftToe]

Not sure you can tarnish Maynard’s achievement just because he had a larger budget than most in the league. We had the biggest budget by a country mile for two seasons in the NLN and still couldn’t win the league!

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Awaywego, alcazar, Rene Artois

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And deservedly so…a promotion doesn’t make you sack proof.

[BigLeftToe]

No, but Russ Wilcox did in two divisions higher than Butler, so what’s your point?

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alcazar, Rene Artois

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