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The Thoughts of OB
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Tuesday, 20 April 2010 12:27 |
There isn’t the usual dose of “THE THOUGHTS OF OB1”. That’s because that in a very special GREENIE CHATS TO… your programme editor has sat down with the Chats boss to talk about the highs and the lows of his first season in management. So for the last time this season, Greenie chats to OB1 – CHATS BOSS ALEX O’BRIEN…
We started by talking about the season in general, and OB admitted, “I have enjoyed it,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed trying to get the best out of players; I’ve enjoyed putting on sessions an trying to get wins wherever possible – I’ve enjoyed the football side of it immensely. It has proved to me that I still miss playing and that I still want to be a winner but unfortunately it hasn’t worked out as we’d have like it to work out for one reason or another. Lew and myself are down yet we accept that we could be in a worse position and be involved in a relegation battle! But we’re still in good spirits on the whole going into next year. But overall I’m am disappointed; I am down as its not what we set out to do!”
Hearing the first response we probed a bit deeper and asked why he hadn’t pulled on the red shirt this season. The reply was as honest as usual. “It went too long without me playing to make a comeback. I know that especially in the position that I played you do need your fitness. I didn’t do a preseason as myself and Lew put everything into making sure that the boys were right, and the boys were fit. It doesn’t matter if they’re still here or have moved on – many of them have said to me that they’re the fittest that they’ve ever been.” OB went on, “With a home life and working at Wembley it has been frustrating that I haven’t been able to get fit, but with a little bit of luck, who knows I may well play Cup games or when needed next year. That has been one of the hardest frustrations to deal with knowing that I want to get out there but my legs and my body wont let me and that’s my mistake – that’s my fault.”
“A lot of people have said that you’ve got to get yourself fit just to give the rest of the squad a boost and this that and the other. But I didn’t do that and now in the end I wish, like Lew, I could have played some games, because when Lew plays he thoroughly enjoys himself and the hardest thing that I’ve had to do is to tell him that he’s dropped the following week. I desperately miss it, but we’ll have to see what happens over the summer if I can get myself fit!”
Given the experience OB has had through his career, we asked him what he thought he’d brought to the Maidstone Road “hot seat”. “I think that the way that we’ve tried to deal with players, I’ve always said that man management in Non League football is poor. And believe me in most places it is poor,” exclaimed OB. “I’ve taken that on board going into the dressing room trying to be as honest as I can even if I’ve got decisions to make myself and Lew have always said just tell them straight. And I think if you ask any player that they’ll probably agree with that and that’s a positive that we’ve brought to the club. We’re approachable and we’re straight talking.”
But what are the main difficulties that he’s face. OB thought and said, “Its difficult at times because when we arrive at the ground for 1:00pm we doing water bottles; we’re sweeping changing rooms; we’re hanging the kit; we’re trying to get the side together; we’re taking calls from the players saying that they might be late or are crying off – it’s the silly things like that that we’ve got to deal with as well as trying to get the players motivated – there’s been a lot of work to do but in all honesty if we didn’t want to do we wouldn’t have stuck it out so long.” OB stopped briefly and then continued smiling, “We’re extremely happy in the football environment but its frustrating that we haven’t got a training facility; its frustrating that there are still little things that are crying out to be addressed, and we’ve got a meeting with the Chairman soon where he’ll give his side and we’ll give ours, and I do genuinely hope that we come to an agreement. Its difficult as you want to get the boys training, mixing in and blending and I think that we’ve lacked that through not having the facilities, and we we’ve lacked the continuity of knowing how each other play and just the straight forward banter and mickey taking that comes with training. That’s something that is right at the top of my priority list, so if anyone knows of a training facility please please please let us know!” - a point echoed by everyone at the club!
The poor form that the side have endured since Christmas has disappointed players, officials and fans alike, but nowhere has the pain been felt more than in the managers “office” – well broom cupboard! “Its been a disappointment Me and Lew always had a fear that, not that the bubble would burst but that we still need to strengthen and we still need to tighten and we still need to teach the boys but then again without a training ground, when games do get called of and you’re dying to get an hour with the boys to work on something all that we could get was at Goals in Dartford – which is a five a side centre – and there’s not much that you can teach players about game plan and whatever on a five a side pitch so that was frustrating. We had a real bad run of results and losing is like winning – if you’re winning week in week out it becomes second nature, but when you’re losing week in week out, everything’s stacked against you – you get no luck, goals going in left right and centre; you might have dominated a game for 93 minutes and then concede in the 94th and lose one nil. It’s the same sort of thing. We’ve been on a hell of a run as in a negative bad run and its been really difficult in that sense to lift the boys; trying to tell them, trying to give them the belief you know that they are good players and if they weren’t they wouldn’t be here.”
So with that in mind whats been the worst part for OB. “The hardest part of it is that myself and Lew want to win at doing everything we do and going on such a bad run really got us down but its not all doom and gloom. We now know what to expect for next year and what to address and what to try and work on. Someone said to me that the first couple of years in management are the hardest – and this guys been in the Kent game for a long long time and is no mug. We take on board what we’re told – we’ve had other managers telling us that we’re doing a fantastic job and that the boys are doing really well, you haven’t had any luck. If me and Lew had two pound for every manger who have told us “You’ve got a good side there and they work really hard for you!” I’d be able to buy the club if I’m honest but its been frustrating in that sense but I’m positive that it will pick up and that we’ll get the wheels going and we’ll get into a position where the whole club is a lot stronger – the players are more together; what’s happening off the field is coming along; fans are coming in their numbers to home and away games – I know that results bring fans in though the gate, but I can honestly say that there have only been three or four games all season when I wouldn’t have paid to watch the game. Whatever happens we’ve been in some entertaining games this year. Make no mistake, we’ll dust ourselves down and we’ll enjoy our summer and then go again!”
OB has always been a very positive person for as long as I’ve known him, and even through the dark times post Christmas he’s still maintained the same demeanour. He admitted that “Its been strangely rewarding since Christmas as I can honestly say that things cant have gotten much worse. So I’ll take that as a positive as whatever happens any run that we go on cant be worse (I hope) than the one that we’ve been on. That’s what I have to do as if I’m the one walking round with my head down, the players will walk round with their heads down and that’s not what we want. We need everyone to be positive regardless of what happens, and that’s on and off the field. I know that the fans will go on the forums and be saying this that and the other, home and away you’ll always find me in the bar after the game and I have been and will always be happy to talk sensible football with anyone.
“And I’d like to finish by thanking Chris Henry for all his efforts whilst at the club and hope that his parent club Ebbsfleet stay in the Conference this afternoon. And one final finally, to every single one of you – thank you for sticking with us through the bleak mid winter. Enjoy the summer and hopefully England winning the World Cup and we’ll see you all back here in August… hopefully!” |
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Saturday, 03 April 2010 18:19 |
Just ONE will do!
All I’m asking as a manager is just one lousy goal!
In Tuesday’s game against Eastbourne Town, we wasted chance after chance – we knew they would be difficult to brake down, but I truly believed if we could get one, three and four would follow. But it wasn’t to be, and ended another game where we deserved more from it. I was however pleased with the clean sheet and no bookings!
Today’s game we will prepare in the same way. We know all about Walton Casuals, as it still hurts me the way we lost our FA cup game over there! I hope if players have learnt anything this season is that losing games should hurt! Lets hope we can do the job right today.
Player news isn’t good. Matt Rowe has had a bad fall at work and damaged his knee, and will be out for 3 months. He had just got over his ankle injury he picked up away to Whitstable and must feel like he has upset someone up there! Avo is still not right – Avo can run but just can’t strike a ball; I have tried to tell him that sums up my playing career! Justin now starts his 35 day ban, which is such a shame as he got sent off playing on a Sunday, he will be a loss over a silly thing for much of the rest of the season! And then of course there’s Razor who was sent off against Fleet here two weeks ago and starts his ban today…
On the brighter side though, we welcome Bobby Dixey to the club – a lad who we have been watching for the last 2 months. Bobby has scored a hell of a lot of goals in the reserves at Tonbridge (27 he keeps telling me!) so we hope to see him take the next steps.
And finally to you our fans, PLEASE keep supporting!
OB |
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Saturday, 27 March 2010 09:32 |
You think you’re frustrated? You should try being me and Lew!!!
To get yourself back into a game with 9 minutes to play, and then with 3 minutes to go fail to clear your lines properly and lose the game is just not good enough, I’m sorry but its just not good enough!
The game on Tuesday showed that young Ryan Laker is more than comfortable being around the 1st team. For those that don’t know he played 90 minutes on Tuesday for me at left back. Both Ryan and Tom Hill are on the right path in making big steps, but still need time. So please give them that.
Injury wise and Ash missed the game through the knock he picked up against Fleet, but is getting more movement in his foot day by day. Avo still is not right and as frustrating as it is, will I’m sure he will be missing again on Saturday. We’ve also just got confirmation on Justin’s ban – he was sent off playing football on a Sunday with his mates. In all honesty I hate players playing Sunday’s. They should be tired from working there nuts of for Chatham on the Saturday! Players who don’t play week in week out will play Sundays, I know, but sometimes you have to think I could be in the team Tuesday and prepare the right way. Justin will be a miss to us!
We have to keep going for points and wins, as I really don’t want us to plod along. So don’t get down and give up. There’s still games to be won starting at Horsham on Saturday… |
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Sunday, 21 March 2010 10:51 |
A huge welcome to everyone at Fleet Town FC, a club that again are firmly placed in the play off positions, and are run by a man that achieved what every boy dreams. Andy Sinton had a fantastic professional career, which was climaxed by playing many times for England. It really is a honour going head to head with him and his side.
Last Tuesday saw us play some of our best football, Godalming were a very strong, physical side with amounts of pace throughout their side. When managed to get the game level at 1- 1, we looked like scoring every time we went forward. But as the case in many of our games players switch off and 1 mistake costs us, players need to concentrate for the WHOLE game, successful teams have that, WE will get there, I’m sure we are not far of, the players AND management are learning all the time, I’m sure soon some one will take a huge beating from us! Today????
The latest player news is that unfortunately, with Welling’s injury troubles, this has meant Jake Hobbs has had to return to them, we did want to keep him and will for sure keep a close eye on the situation. Chris Henry plays the last game of his initial loan today, but we’re working to try and keep him until the end of the season.
Another huge loss to us has come is that, on Thursday Mike Scott started a 6 week trail at Coca Cola League Two side Barnet. I know that Editor Greenie had a chat with Scotty after Tuesday night and you’ll be able to read that elsewhere today. Of course this is great news Mike, and I hope this is the start of a long carer in football for you. But MIKE it’s just the start – football is, as you know being a Chatham player, all about highs and lows! It is with a heavy heart we let him go, but what a fantastic opportunity, and how can we stand in his way? It’s a chance that I’m sure he will grasp. Well done Scotty!
“Mad” John Wilf is back from his ban today, which is great news, but Avo is still out with ankle ligament trouble. Ben Payne is also unavailable suspension.
Finally a word of congrats to everyone who has taken part in the Maidstone Road Mile this lunchtime in aid of Sport Relief. It really was good to see so many youngsters enjoying themselves in another great event organised by the Community Scheme. Lets just hope that we can match your effort this afternoon on the pitch. Right time to upset a party!
OB |
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Friday, 26 February 2010 17:35 |
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 Well as you know we have brought in a few new faces this last week. One of the faces was to be Tommy Osborne from Cray Wanderers.
I have known Oz for many years and jumped at the chance to sign him. He signed on Thursday, but on the Friday let us know that he earns good money working on a Saturday afternoon – no where near what we could offer him! Oz was still happy to sign, but said it would limit his games as he has a wedding to pay for – and lets face it many of us have been there! So we left things as they were so that he’d be available when he could.
Problem is that on Saturday, Tommy rang me to tell me that again Thamesmead Town rung him and told him that basically they can cover his work money if he’d sign for them. Now please don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with players wanting to chase money! I do however think that “Mead” have shown a lack of respect to Lew and myself in the way you go about things…
Lets be honest it’s not the 1st time its happened! So in the end, I’m sorry to say that I would imagine Oz will sign for them in the next couple of days, and wont be coming to Maidstone Road after all, and through gritted teeth, and a hearty pat on the back to an old friend wishing him well! |
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