Dave
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Post by Dave on Apr 15, 2009 19:16:52 GMT
I should not really have been surprised when the player of the season award was coming around, not to have expected this thread to come back on the front page. Many felt when this thread was started that Steve Woods may not have been treated fairly, not befitting a player who was with us for eight years. I do wish at times I could just be Dave R on the forum, but it will always be the case that people will want to give me information, some I really value as it could come from a person really in the know, who tells me so I can have a clearer picture of whats really going on. Some will come from a person who has talked with a player and then I can see another side of things and try to take a balanced view of any event. At the end of the day none of it really matters anyway, decisions taken by the club has nothing really to do with me, I can only as a fan say if I think I agree with any action or not. I have never made a secret of the fact I'm a fan of Steve Woods, I love his cheeky smile out on the pitch and this season I have enjoyed seeing him and Mansell showing a bond and closeness that gave me the feeling that the team was united. But I do not know Steve Woods off the field, or in the dressing room, or in the managers office, therefore I can't really say he is the same person that I love on the pitch, but I would like to think he was just as a nice person has I want to believe he is. At the end of the day he has gone and will not ever return, he is history and while I had hoped a way could have been found for him to see out the season with us, it was not to be. Bucks as the manager will always live or die by his actions, his decisions, there is no one else for him to fall back on, no one he can pass any blame onto. He made his decision on Woods and only time will tell if it comes back to haunt him. Go up this season and everyone will forget about Woods, might even just start to remember him fondly. Fail to go up and also look poor defensively then you can bet some fans will want to blame losing Woods when he was playing so well for us, on Bucks and the reason we failed. My own view based on the last few games is that we have missed Woods at the back and while I can never say we have lost one game simply because he has moved on, I do feel we would have been stronger in defense if he had been in the team. That is only my view and may be total nonsense(sure Merse will let me know  ) but all I know now is that I have to put faith in the players who are still here, they are the ones who can make my dreams come true, or end up giving me the blues. At the start of this season I felt we had such a strong squad of players, they are all but one still here and if they play their very best for us we will match and beat the teams we still have left to play this season. Should we fail the play--offs and you want to post about Woods, please start a new thread  |
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merse
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Post by merse on Apr 18, 2009 19:50:48 GMT
I shan't give "Uncle" Merse the satisfaction of quoting him in my post, but he's about as wrong as it's possible to be on most of the points he makes in his post. He doesn't know Steve Woods; he hasn't had the opportunity to discuss with him his side of the matter; and he hasn't discussed it either with the only other player in this case, Paul Buckle, as is evident from his comments. And I can't be fagged to give "Uncle" Merse the satisfaction of replying to each of his witterings, but my own personal view of the Woods debacle is that, yes, he DOES have cause to go to law about his dismissal (  As the self appointed spokesperson for Steve Woods, would you care to enlighten us on his publicly abusive, insulting and (quite frankly) "suicidal" verbal attack on the manager in Marks & Spencers that Sunday morning? Would you also care to enlighten everybody how he went over the manager's head and attempted to demand a new contract from the Chairman? "Go to Law"? more like go to hell I'd say! |
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Apr 18, 2009 22:18:04 GMT
I shan't give "Uncle" Merse the satisfaction of quoting him in my post, but he's about as wrong as it's possible to be on most of the points he makes in his post. He doesn't know Steve Woods; he hasn't had the opportunity to discuss with him his side of the matter; and he hasn't discussed it either with the only other player in this case, Paul Buckle, as is evident from his comments. And I can't be fagged to give "Uncle" Merse the satisfaction of replying to each of his witterings, but my own personal view of the Woods debacle is that, yes, he DOES have cause to go to law about his dismissal ( As the self appointed spokesperson for Steve Woods, would you care to enlighten us on his publicly abusive, insulting and (quite frankly) "suicidal" verbal attack on the manager in Marks & Spencers that Sunday morning? Would you also care to enlighten everybody how he went over the manager's head and attempted to demand a new contract from the Chairman? "Go to Law"? more like go to hell I'd say! Merse I do have to challenge the part I have highlighted in red, don't know who you talk too, but that is not how I believe the meeting at Marks went. My understanding and from someone who really does know is that Bucks thought everything was sorted at the meeting and Woods excepted everything. It was after the meeting Woods went over Bucks head and there has been nothing talked or said that Woods behaved in the way you are saying he did at the meeting with Bucks at Marks and Spencers. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2009 22:44:12 GMT
You'd think Derek Draper & Damian McBride had been employed to get their spin machine working to insure Woods doesn't get player of the season.
For those of you that didn't realise it, Woods is also soley responsible for the global recession as well as being chief suspect in the nicking Merse's hat !
Let's hope that when we look back at the key moments of this season we don't decide that m&S stands for Managerial Suicide.
Committed by casting aside a fine defender at a key stage of the campaign.
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Enzo
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Post by Enzo on Apr 19, 2009 0:58:58 GMT
I shan't give "Uncle" Merse the satisfaction of quoting him in my post, but he's about as wrong as it's possible to be on most of the points he makes in his post. He doesn't know Steve Woods; he hasn't had the opportunity to discuss with him his side of the matter; and he hasn't discussed it either with the only other player in this case, Paul Buckle, as is evident from his comments. And I can't be fagged to give "Uncle" Merse the satisfaction of replying to each of his witterings, but my own personal view of the Woods debacle is that, yes, he DOES have cause to go to law about his dismissal ( As the self appointed spokesperson for Steve Woods, would you care to enlighten us on his publicly abusive, insulting and (quite frankly) "suicidal" verbal attack on the manager in Marks & Spencers that Sunday morning? Would you also care to enlighten everybody how he went over the manager's head and attempted to demand a new contract from the Chairman? "Go to Law"? more like go to hell I'd say! Why dredge this up again? Why even bother to speculate? You must really dislike the guy and be a bitter person to keep twittering on.........which basically undermines anything which you have to say on the matter. Who cares?? If Buckle had a problem with Steve Woods then fair enough......let him take the appropriate action. Just spare me your puppets interpretation. I don't care either way about Woods, although I must admit, I do find it strange that the Manager's two preferred centre backs for the successful part of the season have been discarded for the partnership of Robbo and Toddy. Ever heard of a Manager doing this during a crucial run in? Despite todays excellent result our defence again looked shaky. I went with two non gulls and they could not believe how nobody form our keeper to our complete back four would take charge and talk to each other. Whatever you think of the Woods situation, and unlike you, I don't even pretend to know the rights and wrongs of it, we are missing a leader at the back. |
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merse
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Post by merse on Apr 19, 2009 6:26:55 GMT
I do find it strange that the Manager's two preferred centre backs for the successful part of the season have been discarded for the partnership of Robbo and Toddy. Ever heard of a Manager doing this during a crucial run in? Despite today's excellent result our defence again looked shaky. I went with two non gulls and they could not believe how nobody form our keeper to our complete back four would take charge and talk to each other. I thought it was perfectly obvious why Todd has been missing for much of the season, whilst there has been a plethora of "advice" from these boards to use this central defender, that central defender; utilise the squad ~ you name it, it's been on here. How would your friends know who was "taking charge"? With all that noise going on yesterday only a "stander and pointer" would have been noticeable and I don't think that for a minute that "standing and pointing and bawling out team mates AFTER the moment has passed would have enabled us an equal share of a match against a side that has just one defeat in almost thirty games , and on their own patch to boot. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2009 7:20:39 GMT
....verbal attack on the manager in Marks & Spencers that Sunday morning? I've never professed to be in on the gossip loop so this is quite the first I've heard of anything ever happening in Marks & Spencer on a Sunday morning. So is this what footballers do on a Sunday? If so, that's my morning sorted as I think I'll head up the hill to the High Street, Exeter branch. Dave talks of the "meeting" at Marks - was this over a latte in Cafe Revive? Should I see Paul Tisdale chatting over a mocha today it's sure to be with a representative of Southampton and I'll report back to you as soon as I get home. A knocked-over pile of briefs and socks - with Tisdale and Rob Edwards nearby - and I'll know there will have been a major bust-up which promises to undermine their promotion effort. To see Paul Buckle and Steve Tully simultaneously shopping for slippers means The Big Deal will be back on. Or following last summer's sighting, should I head to Sainsburys at Penn Inn and nobble Chris McPhee at the deli before he gets in our way again? It's opening up a whole new leisure activity.....I'll keep you posted. |
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merse
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Post by merse on Apr 19, 2009 7:31:47 GMT
My understanding and from someone who really does know is that Bucks thought everything was sorted at the meeting and Woods excepted everything. It was after the meeting Woods went over Bucks head and there has been nothing talked or said that Woods behaved in the way you are saying he did at the meeting with Bucks at Marks and Spencers. Woods was asked for an assurance that although he was not being offered a contract for next season (and it was HE who kept pushing for the decision before the end of the season and therefore whether or not we will be a BSP or Football League club) he would give the rest of this season his all and "put himself in the shop window". His response was "disappointing" and the manager was therefore asked to have one last attempt at getting him "on Board". this was done and again the response was not forthcoming so the player was duly left off the Altrincham trip and arrangements made for his departure. I'm sorry if this bores Enzo, but he is at liberty to scroll on or utilise the "threads" if he so wishes. The reason I mentioned it is because of the seemingly relentless efforts of some people to berate the manager for having "player issues" when the guy is merely getting on with the job any manager has to do at a football club. i.e. carry out the directive's of the board, organise, coach and manage a SQUAD of players and at the same timed deliver results. Those who deliver AND stay on board with the spirit and ethos of the project will have a future at Plainmoor, those who haven't have been disposed with...................it's as simple as that! |
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Post by Budleigh on Apr 19, 2009 7:33:00 GMT
I bumped into Shaun North and his wife in Sainsbury's (Penn Inn), after the Crawley game but have to report that all seemed fairly amicable at the time (although I believe there may've been a slight raising of voices over what yogurt to have as pudding....)
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merse
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Post by merse on Apr 19, 2009 7:56:56 GMT
I bumped into Shaun North and his wife in Sainsbury's (Penn Inn), after the Crawley game but have to report that all seemed fairly amicable at the time (although I believe there may've been a slight raising of voices over what yogurt to have as pudding....) You sure it wasn't short bread?  |
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Enzo
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Post by Enzo on Apr 19, 2009 8:01:01 GMT
My understanding and from someone who really does know is that Bucks thought everything was sorted at the meeting and Woods excepted everything. It was after the meeting Woods went over Bucks head and there has been nothing talked or said that Woods behaved in the way you are saying he did at the meeting with Bucks at Marks and Spencers. Woods was asked for an assurance that although he was not being offered a contract for next season (and it was HE who kept pushing for the decision before the end of the season and therefore whether or not we will be a BSP or Football League club) he would give the rest of this season his all and "put himself in the shop window". His response was "disappointing" and the manager was therefore asked to have one last attempt at getting him "on Board". this was done and again the response was not forthcoming so the player was duly left off the Altrincham trip and arrangements made for his departure. I'm sorry if this bores Enzo, but he is at liberty to scroll on or utilise the "threads" if he so wishes. The reason I mentioned it is because of the seemingly relentless efforts of some people to berate the manager for having "player issues" when the guy is merely getting on with the job any manager has to do at a football club. i.e. carry out the directive's of the board, organise, coach and manage a SQUAD of players and at the same timed deliver results. Those who deliver AND stay on board with the spirit and ethos of the project will have a future at Plainmoor, those who haven't have been disposed with...................it's as simple as that! You write as if you were present at this meeting. Was this the case? As I've said before either side can go on and on putting the particular side of the story which puts their man in the best light. I just don't care - I just want our best possible defence playing. I'm perfectly aware why Toddy has not featured previously, however it has not been ideal to change both centre backs during a crucial run in. With respect, I think you miss the point about a potential lack of leadership at the back. I don't need to hear what is being said, I don't need to see pointing by a particular player - the hesitation and lack of organisation in and around our box that has been evident during the last few games is a clear indication that no one is taking charge - that includes Bevan. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2009 8:26:44 GMT
I bumped into Shaun North and his wife in Sainsbury's (Penn Inn), after the Crawley game but have to report that all seemed fairly amicable at the time (although I believe there may've been a slight raising of voices over what yogurt to have as pudding....) Good sighting, Budleigh, although I suppose - in your neck of the woods - spotting a hungover Steve Flack in Waitrose in Sidmouth wouldn't be so newsworthy now he's playing for Tipton St John. But if you do... I wonder if footballers and managers do garden centres on Sundays? Perhaps we should keep our eyes on those as well? |
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Apr 19, 2009 9:40:37 GMT
Merse the news of this meeting at Marks & Spencer is such old news and I'm surprised you of all people would want to post about it at a time when we are in a critical part of our season.
I can't really see what good it will do and I thought we had moved on from the Steve Woods saga.
I knew of this meeting only a few days after it happened but did not post it on here and only because as I have said I could not see what good it would do at a time we need to be supporting the team and the manager.
As you have tried to paint Steve Woods in a very bad light I Will give my take on the situation at that time. yes a meeting took place and Bucks I'm told left that meeting happy that he had come to an understanding with Woods.
Woods then phoned Alex Rowe and by doing so went over Bucks head and that fact along sealed Woods fate at the club. Maybe he was wrong to do that after making Bucks feel everything was sorted between them, but once anyone goes over Bucks head and undermines his authority, then that person can forget ever playing for TUFC again.
That I believe is a far more accurate account of events and not the nonsense you posted and done so only to make Woods look a bad sort of person. For the record I felt Woods was wrong to make the phone call, but I can understand why he did.
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nigep
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Post by nigep on Apr 19, 2009 14:02:08 GMT
The lack of communication referred to earlier is one of the problems we currently have at the back but not the main one.
Merse has been critical of the distribution offered by the Woods/Todd partnership last season. To my mind, that was not so much an issue because the tactics were one dimensional hoofball.
This season with the likes of Nicky Wroe in midfield, we need to be more constructive with our distribution. This happened most consistently with the Woods/Hodges partnership.
I am afraid to say that Toddy's distribution remains dire. He rarely takes more than one touch and just whacks it, no composure whatsoever, even when he has a little time. The enforced change against Barrow, with Hodges at Centre Back and Robertson at right back will allow Hodges to talk to Toddy and offer him a bit of guidance but the downside is that the Mansell/Carlisle partnership will be lost.
The interplay between Carlisle and Wroe yesterday albeit with a poor finish from Wroe showed what we are capable of when the ball is on the deck. We are never going to get the most out of Blair Sturrock unless we try and pass it better.
I defy anyone to suggest that Woods' distribution was any worse that Todd, Robertson or Ellis but that is history because he is gone so lets move on.
Mark Ellis should be thinking that he could oust either Toddy or Chris Robertson if he make his own game less 'agricultural'
Talking of Mark Ellis, hats off to him, (no pun intended to anyone in Stevenages's social club yesterday!) this is a guy who gets changed, helps Kenny get the keeper warmed up, collects balls, bibs etc rather than sulking in the stand. Squad Man of the Year surely?
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Post by ospelgull on Apr 19, 2009 19:11:08 GMT
Merse the news of this meeting at Marks & Spencer is such old news and I'm surprised you of all people would want to post about it at a time when we are in a critical part of our season. I can't really see what good it will do and I thought we had moved on from the Steve Woods saga. I knew of this meeting only a few days after it happened but did not post it on here and only because as I have said I could not see what good it would do at a time we need to be supporting the team and the manager. As you have tried to paint Steve Woods in a very bad light I Will give my take on the situation at that time. yes a meeting took place and Bucks I'm told left that meeting happy that he had come to an understanding with Woods. Woods then phoned Alex Rowe and by doing so went over Bucks head and that fact along sealed Woods fate at the club. Maybe he was wrong to do that after making Bucks feel everything was sorted between them, but once anyone goes over Bucks head and undermines his authority, then that person can forget ever playing for TUFC again. That I believe is a far more accurate account of events and not the nonsense you posted and done so only to make Woods look a bad sort of person. For the record I felt Woods was wrong to make the phone call, but I can understand why he did. If Steve Woods has done this than the club was 100% right to offload him as fast as they could. Now we can put this to bed and focus on our quest for the play-offs! |
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) but all I know now is that I have to put faith in the players who are still here, they are the ones who can make my dreams come true, or end up giving me the blues.
