The Official St Albans Thread

[Silent Bob]

Probably not used to putting up news so quickly after it's happened.

 

[clapham_gull]

Not the most enthralling game I've ever been to.



Jake had the best chance but skied it over the bar. Oatway? I think had a shot very well saved in the first half.

Very pissed off by some West Ham supporting chavs who were giving the "does your boyfriend know your here" , "you s*ck c*ck and you know you do" etc...for the WHOLE game, in amongst the Brighton fans..

Followed the Brighton fans to the other end in the second half and continued it.

As they were walking they gave Gary Hart and the other Brighton subs a bit of abuse.

D*ck Heads. It was totally out of place on a hot summers evening with a few fans and kids milling about. Can't believe they weren't chucked out.

 

[Race]

Not the most enthralling game I've ever been to.





Very pissed off by some West Ham supporting chavs who were giving the "does your boyfriend know your here" , "you s*ck c*ck and you know you do" etc...for the WHOLE game, in amongst the Brighton fans..

Followed the Brighton fans to the other end in the second half and continued it.

As they were walking they gave Gary Hart and the other Brighton subs a bit of abuse.

D*ck Heads. It was totally out of place on a hot summers evening with a few fans and kids milling about. Can't believe they weren't chucked out.

Thats exactly what Tank just said! Except he wasnt as polite!

They said to the subs bench etc 'oooo watch them lot they think they're hard the 'f***ing mugs'...........

 

[clapham_gull]

Thats exactly what Tank just said! Except he wasnt as polite!

He should have jumped over the fence and lumped them.

I would have been .. cough.. right behind him.

 

[Race]

He should have jumped over the fence and lumped them.

I would have been .. cough.. right behind him.

and shoved their Burberry caps down their lairy gobs

 

[fatboy]

What formation did we play?

Looks like a 5-3-2.

 

[clapham_gull]

and shoved their Burberry caps down their lairy gobs

I forgot the Burberry caps, why do they wear them ?

I was discussing with someone at the game that St Albans must be a really boring place for a teenager if you are forced to pay 9 quid and shout abuse at the sort of football fan that attends a pre-season friendly.

If they've got that sort of money to throw around why couldn't just take drugs in the park next door ?

The youth of today....

 

[clapham_gull]

What formation did we play?

Looks like a 5-3-2.

Leon / Mcphee first half

McGammon, CKR second half.

Kerry was playing in the left of midfield I think.

 

[fatboy]

Ah, how did Lynch look at left back?

 

[clapham_gull]

Ah, how did Lynch look at left back?

Sorry wasn't paying that much attention

 

[London Irish]

What formation did we play?

Looks like a 5-3-2.

No, 4-4-2 both halves, 4-3-3 in the last few minutes Jake had at the end in place of Jarrett.

 

[London Irish]

Well, I saw a really shit pre-season game at Stevenage last year when we were not very good.

This one, although 0-0, was much better. Quite an entertaining game and we looked pretty good for most of the game. It was just neither of our front pairings, Knight-McPhee or K-R/Big Mac really clicked. And the St Albans goalie, who is apparently a bit of a local legend, had an excellent game.

There were two highlights for me, the continued outstanding form of Albert Jarrett, and secondly, the good understanding shown on the right side between Dodd and Reid.

Jarrett really has to be the player of the pre-season so far. What looks to me different from last season is the confidence and aggression he is showing, leading to more accurate playmaking and passing. Towards the end of his half - the second - he was absolutely dominating the game, and only loads of fouls kept him from making a bigger impact. I think he is coming good as a player and the decision to sign him last season is beginning to pay off. He is such a talented player, with even quicker and more beguiling feet than Leon, that McGhee simply must iron out at the rough edges and get him ready for at least a bench role this season.

Much for significant for the development of the first team might be the continued decision to develop Dodd as our right-back. Thought he really looked good tonight, fine leadership guiding the other players and taking responsibility to take the ball at all times, excelllent distribution, and one fine goal-saving tackle running back when a St Albans player looked to have a one-on-one against Martin.

Dodd as right-back allows Reid to be played right midfield. Might that be his best position? Reid I thought did not get enough credit for what he did last season. In scoring the goal against Leicester and in creating the one at Burnley, he went a long way to pulling us out of that dreadful run and saving our season. As a fine McGhee free signing, he ranks very close to Darren Currie IMHO.

If we can trust Mayo at leftback (a big if), then Dodd at rightback I think could allow us to play what I reckon is our best available midfield of Hammond (LM), Chippy and Oatway (CM) and Reid (RM).

Another player who did well tonight was El Abd. He is putting his hand up to take over from Hinshelwood.

I thought the first-half team did the better tonight, Reid and Oatway had great chances but good defending/goalkeeping denied them.

The second-half team played less fluently as a team despite Jarrett's great runs - and St Albans had a few chances to snatch an undeserved but still embarassing winner. McCammon got on the end of our best move but there was another fine save from the goalie. Jake Robinson came on for an angry Jarrett (he was getting chopped every time he got the ball) only to put another slightly embarrassing shot over the bar after his pen at Worthing - this one from about 4 or 5 yards out

I saw the West Ham burberrys as I was leaving, looking for a fight with any much smaller group of fans who'd take 'em on. Obviously the embarrassment of their Premiership team being done by us at Upton Park still rankles

 

[clapham_gull]

I agree with LI, that Jarret was probably the highlight of the game. But does still go on these amazing runs that just loses the ball when he could perhaps pass to another player ?

Thought he did well to keep his cool tonight, was getting hacked to bits,

 

[dougdeep]

Nice report LI. Sunday's game should give us a better idea of the squads progress, as Lewes have signed some good players in the last month or so.

 

[Zebedee]

Well, I saw a really shit pre-season game at Stevenage last year when we were not very good.

This one, although 0-0, was much better. Quite an entertaining game and we looked pretty good for most of the game. It was just neither of our front pairings, Knight-McPhee or K-R/Big Mac really clicked. And the St Albans goalie, who is apparently a bit of a local legend, had an excellent game.

There were two highlights for me, the continued outstanding form of Albert Jarrett, and secondly, the good understanding shown on the right side between Dodd and Reid.

Jarrett really has to be the player of the pre-season so far. What looks to me different from last season is the confidence and aggression he is showing, leading to more accurate playmaking and passing. Towards the end of his half - the second - he was absolutely dominating the game, and only loads of fouls kept him from making a bigger impact. I think he is coming good as a player and the decision to sign him last season is beginning to pay off. He is such a talented player, with even quicker and more beguiling feet than Leon, that McGhee simply must iron out at the rough edges and get him ready for at least a bench role this season.

Much for significant for the development of the first team might be the continued decision to develop Dodd as our right-back. Thought he really looked good tonight, fine leadership guiding the other players and taking responsibility to take the ball at all times, excelllent distribution, and one fine goal-saving tackle running back when a St Albans player looked to have a one-on-one against Martin.

Dodd as right-back allows Reid to be played right midfield. Might that be his best position? Reid I thought did not get enough credit for what he did last season. In scoring the goal against Leicester and in creating the one at Burnley, he went a long way to pulling us out of that dreadful run and saving our season. As a fine McGhee free signing, he ranks very close to Darren Currie IMHO.

If we can trust Mayo at leftback (a big if), then Dodd at rightback I think could allow us to play what I reckon is our best available midfield of Hammond (LM), Chippy and Oatway (CM) and Reid (RM).

Another player who did well tonight was El Abd. He is putting his hand up to take over from Hinshelwood.

I thought the first-half team did the better tonight, Reid and Oatway had great chances but good defending/goalkeeping denied them.

The second-half team played less fluently as a team despite Jarrett's great runs - and St Albans had a few chances to snatch an undeserved but still embarassing winner. McCammon got on the end of our best move but there was another fine save from the goalie. Jake Robinson came on for an angry Jarrett (he was getting chopped every time he got the ball) only to put another slightly embarrassing shot over the bar after his pen at Worthing - this one from about 4 or 5 yards out

I saw the West Ham burberrys as I was leaving, looking for a fight with any much smaller group of fans who'd take 'em on. Obviously the embarrassment of their Premiership team being done by us at Upton Park still rankles

Terrific, informative report LI, as usual.

It's great to see that Jarrett is making a good impression at last. I've always thought that he had bags of skill. It just needs to be channelled properly.

What's happened to Molango? He doesn't seem to have taken part in any of the pre-season games. It appears that McGhee may have given up on him although I don't think he has actually been given much of a chance.

 

[The Great Cornholio]

Terrific, informative report LI, as usual.

It's great to see that Jarrett is making a good impression at last. I've always thought that he had bags of skill. It just needs to be channelled properly.

What's happened to Molango? He doesn't seem to have taken part in any of the pre-season games. It appears that McGhee may have given up on him although I don't think he has actually been given much of a chance.

The problem is, as anypne who went to Lewes last year will testify, Jarrett looked great pre-season last year. In the Le Havre game - the only decent opposition he has played so far - he looked very pacey but lacking in final ball. I wonder if he has found his level. I really hope I am proved wrong.

 

[Zebedee]

The problem is, as anypne who went to Lewes last year will testify, Jarrett looked great pre-season last year. In the Le Havre game - the only decent opposition he has played so far - he looked very pacey but lacking in final ball. I wonder if he has found his level. I really hope I am proved wrong.

Sometimes, players seem to be able to play well above their natural level. Charlie is a prime example of that. Let's hope that Jarrett is in the same mould (or better).

 

[Dandyman]

Sometimes, players seem to be able to play well above their natural level. Charlie is a prime example of that. Let's hope that Jarrett is in the same mould (or better).

I suspect many of us thought Jarrett looked good, last night. The problem seems to be connecting with the rest of the team.

 

[fatboy]

Good report LI.

Was Molango an unused sub?

Really is not looking good for him.

 

[clapham_gull]

Good report LI.

Was Molango an unused sub?

Really is not looking good for him.

I didn't see him, but someone said he was there.