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We were very poor yesterday and I thought both sides were evenly matched, with neither keeper really being tested. As Neal says, the pitch was awful but we just couldn't adapt to it, with Davis and Wynter both trying to pass the ball down the channels along the ground. Time after time, however, the ball bobbled on the uneven ground and very rarely made it to the intended target. This doesn't excuse our passing in general yesterday though, which was often inaccurate and underpowered with Chippenham players frequently intercepting.

I think we'll struggle against St Albans what with them really having something to play for.

I appear to be in the wilderness on these so called 'meaningless' games. There was me thinking after the Chippenham game there was a slight shift in the landscape when all along it was just managerial speak. Johnson just blowing hot air. Really! Maybe we are so wrapped up in promotion celebration that we forget what this advancement means for Johnson, the players and the club- more work, rebuilding and preparing the squad for the coming challenge of a season on a much higher level, and possibly a change in some players career trajectory.

We underestimate Johnson if we think his interview was just managerial speak. He is clearly telling us after promotion was secured the remaining games are very important - not meaningless. It is his time to assess if the players are good enough to keep the team afloat in a higher division. Since the team managed to pull off promotion, we presume at least a fair number of the players will have a particular skill-set that will serve them well on a higher level, but we also need to assume that there will be players in the squad who cannot make that step.

I am not advocating we burn the bridges we have built, but Johnson is clearly assessing the quality of his current squad, not with with the objective to just survive the next season but to title challenge. He spelt out load and clear to the players that these remaining games will be used to assess the qualities and potential of the current crop of players accordingly.

So if anyone want's the analytical analysis (known to some as whinging) to stop, I suggest you write to Gary Johnson to explain to him that these remaining games have no bearing on our destiny and to keep his points of view to himself.

Rhys1991 wrote: ↑20 Apr 2019, 09:27 So you were the guy behind me holding his mobile up in the air =D I was the guy who forgot his cap and ended up wearing his hoodie as a hat/cape. Good vlog thanks for posting.

That was me glad you liked it cheers!

fred wrote: ↑20 Apr 2019, 11:28 Enjoyed that again and agree with your comments at the end. You were stood behind me and the view was terrible. Your recording showed what an uneven pitch it was. We missed Hall and Janneh. It did have the feel of an end of season nothing to play for match. Looking at the club statement today they seem to imply there was trouble before, during and after the match. Apart from a couple of flares I didn't see to much else.

I didn't spot much trouble yesterday either - I saw a couple of flares go onto the pitch and heard of one going off in a pub but nothing else, seemed very calm yesterday overall which was obviously a good thing! Agreed, we really missed Hall, Janneh and Keating. Our back two got bullied at times I think.

I know nothing about the trouble at the pub earlier, but the five or so that were escorted out after the second flair were borderline needing to have their mums in attendance so I cannot see it was them in the pub. Actually in recalling the events one of those that were asked to leave was sat on his moped down from the ground so I do not imagine he came all the way from Torquay on that, well unless he left the day before.

Just like to say I thought it was a nice gesture by the Chippenham Team to clap our players onto the pitch.

Never seen a championship winning side lol so not sure if this is standard practice or not.

Mellow Yellow - good post. But GJ's post-match interview revealed something I didn't feel too happy with.
Don't get me wrong - GJ has been fantastic - PLUS - but his record shows he can both, take the Players with him, and lose them too.

Threatening to sideline the Players who have achieved a 70% win rate since his arrival, was unedifying IMHO.

I hope IF he gets us back in L2, he can show the class to stay the course. Today, what reason was there to NOT say, ''can't win 'em all'' and ''these Players have done an amazing job for me''. Sometimes it's better to be quiet . . .

It's pretty obvious to me that GJ was missed right off with that performance, he gave them the nod of approval for a celebratory drink or 2 after securing the championship, if some players abused that privilege then I'm not happy about it too.
There were over a 1000 fans again yesterday for an away game, to suggest it didn't matter is ludicrous & anybody who endorses that Kind set is a thick as pig shit.
Next season started yesterday, we have an advantage over a lot of opponents next season already as we now now our destination whilst others still don't know theirs. To stand still & let this season peter out is criminal.
It doesn't hurt to let your employees know their continued employment is based on 100% effort every day & if your not prepared to put the effort in then you're services won't be required.
GJ did state that he is proud of the efforts that won the league, but now is the time to cement your place in the side next year, now what's wrong with that ?

Teigngull wrote: ↑20 Apr 2019, 15:42 It's pretty obvious to me that GJ was missed right off with that performance, he gave them the nod of approval for a celebratory drink or 2 after securing the championship, if some players abused that privilege then I'm not happy about it too.
There were over a 1000 fans again yesterday for an away game, to suggest it didn't matter is ludicrous & anybody who endorses that Kind set is a thick as pig shit.
Next season started yesterday, we have an advantage over a lot of opponents next season already as we now now our destination whilst others still don't know theirs. To stand still & let this season peter out is criminal.
It doesn't hurt to let your employees know their continued employment is based on 100% effort every day & if your not prepared to put the effort in then you're services won't be required.
GJ did state that he is proud of the efforts that won the league, but now is the time to cement your place in the side next year, now what's wrong with that ?

Amen to that, well put.

Gateman - because, he didn't say it quite like that ! It doesn't come over that way.
Maybe with TUFC, as he reaches, maybe, the later stages of his career, a bit of rethinking for him . . . .

He can lose the Players quite quickly with this Macho stuff.
Calm down Gary - your strength is in taking the Players with you.

Teigngull wrote: ↑20 Apr 2019, 15:42 It's pretty obvious to me that GJ was missed right off with that performance, he gave them the nod of approval for a celebratory drink or 2 after securing the championship, if some players abused that privilege then I'm not happy about it too.
There were over a 1000 fans again yesterday for an away game, to suggest it didn't matter is ludicrous & anybody who endorses that Kind set is a thick as pig shit.
Next season started yesterday, we have an advantage over a lot of opponents next season already as we now now our destination whilst others still don't know theirs. To stand still & let this season peter out is criminal.
It doesn't hurt to let your employees know their continued employment is based on 100% effort every day & if your not prepared to put the effort in then you're services won't be required.
GJ did state that he is proud of the efforts that won the league, but now is the time to cement your place in the side next year, now what's wrong with that ?

Swatcat wrote: ↑20 Apr 2019, 15:29 Mellow Yellow - good post. But GJ's post-match interview revealed something I didn't feel too happy with.
Don't get me wrong - GJ has been fantastic - PLUS - but his record shows he can both, take the Players with him, and lose them too.

Threatening to sideline the Players who have achieved a 70% win rate since his arrival, was unedifying IMHO.

I hope IF he gets us back in L2, he can show the class to stay the course. Today, what reason was there to NOT say, ''can't win 'em all'' and ''these Players have done an amazing job for me''. Sometimes it's better to be quiet . . .

As a supporter, given our success this season, I could easily have brought into a 'can't win 'em all' statement and I agree the players have done an amazing job this season.

Nonetheless, Gary Johnson jovial manner is all a front for a man who is actually a ‘ruthless football manager’. Johnson is a very shrewd operator. Behind the smile there’s a ruthless football manager, a guy who is happy to make big decisions, including moving players on. That is something we are going to have get use to if we really want back to back promotions.

For. me, I prefer a manager to tell players as well as supporters as it is - as ruthless as it may sound. But I guess managerial style is all down to individual preferences.

MellowYellow wrote: ↑20 Apr 2019, 13:31]
He spelt out load and clear to the players that these remaining games will be used to assess the qualities and potential of the current crop of players accordingly.

After 30 matches in charge I would be more concerned if Johnson didn't already know who is good enough and who isn't.

Plainmoor78 wrote: ↑20 Apr 2019, 20:28 After 30 matches in charge I would be more concerned if Johnson didn't already know who is good enough and who isn't.

Valid point - maybe its just down to Johnson's ethos - “effort is non-negotiable”. The very ethos that has allowed him to construct a team that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Yesterday's performance was unacceptable and Gary Johnson spoke from the heart and said it how it is. It's now up to the players to respond, after all it's their profession. Either do as the manager expects or move on. That's the reality of football.