July 2008 - Posts
The new away kit will be able to buy on Saturday before our pre-season game against Leyton Orient.
The kit looks very similar to a Portsmouth home kit in my opinion. But I do quite like it. It looks very modern, and normally I am not that keen on away kits but this one does take my fancy.
It has been a while since my last post, so I thought the easiest way to get all the results across would just to do a mini round up of the scores and the players who scored the goals.
I will start from the latest game:
Borehamwood 0 v 6 Boro
Boro scorers - Mitchell Cole x2
Anaclet
Morison
Bostwick
Boylan
Bognor Regis 2 v 2 Boro
Boro scorers - Westcarr
Boylan
Boro put out a younger squad for this game, as there were a lot games played in short succession. They also had a 2 goal lead.
Boro 1 v 2 Wycombe
Boro scorer - Thomas
It was the return of Taylor, which saw Boro lose at home last Friday. We were leading in the game, so it seemed like everything was going really well. Until Zebroski and McGleish scored two goals that ended our hope.
Henden 1 v 4 Boro
Boro scorers - Anderson x 2
Bridges
Westcarr
Next up we have Leyton Orient at home on Saturday. For this game I would assume that a similar squad to Boro v Borehamwood would be played, as Westley seems to have made his mind up a bit more with players now.
You could probably guarantee that these players would be in the starting eleven.
Bayes, Anaclet, Laird, henry, Albrighton, Mitchell Cole, Morison. The centre midfield area is a bit more iffy. Not sure whether Martin would be in the team or not. McMahon has tended to start on the wing now, but it depends whether Mitchell is put up front or not.
Hopefully we will round of the pre-season games with a win, and then we can look to the start of the next season on August the 9th.
Come on Boro!
So last night we played Peterborough. I thought we played quite well, especially in the first half.
I thought Scott Laird looked like a different player. He was comfortable on the ball, and seemed to have great vision, and his tackles were spot on.
I thought Eddie played really well too. It is great to see pace like that in the back four. Mitchell also looked back to his better self.
For once, I actually felt extremely comfortable with the back line. I thought Ronnie and Mark worked well together, with both of them being very vocal in the game.
Boylan also worked hard, and once McMahon got more into the game he was also quite impressive.
We went in at half time 2-0 down, as Boyd had worked his magic twice, and set up both goals.
He had quite a quiet game in my opinion, but he just gives you that edge. He can be quiet all game but can just pull out that bit of brilliance that can set your team apart from the rest.
For me, the second half was a bit dull. We didn't have the spark that we had in the first half. The defence and midfield worked hard, but we lacked up front.
I thought Boylan played quite well, but I wasn't that impressed with Christie. He looked a bit lazy in my opinion, but did hold players off the ball quite well.
There is definately some potential there in the squad. Although it did worry me, that we rely on Moro so much. He didn't play because of his injury, and it was obvious that he wasn't on the field.
We didn't really have that many chances on goal, and I think that was more the worrying side for me. However, you can see a very good side in the making. They haven't been playing together that long, and I think once the season starts, there will be a more familar side out there, so they can gel with eachother a bit more, and start to read eachother better.
From what I have seen I am quite happy with everything.
Hopefully a few of our many strikers will get their shooting boots on so we can get to where we belong, the league.
Onwards and upwards!
Next up Boro have Peterborough. The kick off is tonight (22nd) at 7.45pm.
I would imagine that there will be a good turnout, as it is the return of Boro favourite, George Boyd to BHW.
It would be good if their were plenty of goals. It would be nice if Boydy got one too, although for obvious reasons I hope we win in the end. It will be nice to say we beat a league 1 side.
This seems to be the only pre-season that I can actually go to. Considering I got my season ticket early on so I could get a couple of free PSF games under my hat, I haven't actually been to any yet!
Summer seems to be a season of birthdays and weddings for me, so come the new season, I think I will still have to get my head around who is who. Although I have been studying my new Boro poster from The Comet, so I can get to grips with who's who. I still seem to get a bit confused though.
Even though I have seen Jerome on quite a few occasions now, he looks quite a bit like Anaclet. I am sure once I see them in the flesh rather than squinting my eyes at a poster, I am sure I will get my head around things.
Come on Boro!
Boro played QPR at the weekend at Broadhall Way. Sadly, we lost the game but it was the first time the home crowd got to see Westley back on the sidelines of the Broadhall Way pitch.
We lost the game 3-1, which is a bit disappointing, but we were not short of chances.
McMahon scored within the first few minutes, but it was ruled offside.
Christie managed to score later on from a cross from Mitchell, but we couldn’t get anything else past their keeper.
Annoyingly, Moro was taken off, after an injury so hopefully that wasn’t too bad, and I hope that he will be back soon.
Ashley Bayes didn’t play, as he was still suffering from injury.
Next up we have Peterborough on Tuesday, where we will see the return of Boyd. It should be a great game and have a great atmosphere. Hopefully there will be plenty of goals, and a win for Boro over the newly promoted Posh side.
Boro have changed one of their fixtures after the recent news that Boro's game against Grays will be televised.
Boro's home match against York has now been pushed back to Sunday 28th September, with a 3pm kick off.
Setanta have once again changed our fixtures so tv coverage can be shown.
The new televised games and fixtures are:
Grays Athletic - Away Game: Was on Tuesday 23rd September. Now on Thursday 25th September - Kick off 7.45pm
Mansfield Town - Home Game: Televised on tv on Tuesday 7th October. No fixture change.
Eastbourne Borough - Away Game: Was on Saturday 11th October, Now on Sunday 12th October with a 1.30pm kick off.
It angers me that once again the fixtures have been changed. But I suppose at least this time they have given us plenty of notice, so money doesn't go to waste on travel etc, as last the amount of fixtures that got moved was a joke. Whether Setanta will continue to give us this amount of notice each time is another question....
We did it, we actually beat Gillingham! Hahahaha! I can't believe it, I know it was only a friendly, but it is just nice to say that we beat them after everything that had happened.
Boro beat the Gills 1-0. We fielded two different squads, one in the first half, and one in the second half.
The first team was as follows:
J Russell – L Wilson, L Oliver, L McDevitt, J Martin – T Youngs (Sub; L Cole, 28), P Vincenti (Sub; G Mills, 38), S Balderson, C Westcarr – E Buchanan (Sub; Z Burke, 28), I Christie
The second half team:
A Bayes – E Anaclet, M Bostwick, R Henry, S Laird – M Cole, G Mills, D Bridges (Sub; J Bradshaw, 85), D McMahon – S Morison, A Thomas
From the reports that I have read and seen, it seems that the second half side performed better than the first.
From the training open day video that we had on The Comet a week or so ago, I liked the look of Anaclet. He was running up and down the wing really well, and defending when necessary. It seems he impressed quite a few fans in last last nights game, with a similar performance.
Moro got the goal, so you can't ask for much more than that.
Hopefully this could be the start of something big, and by winning these pre-season games, it can only build our faith in the team and in GW, and build the confidence of the players.
I am not sure who the first choice eleven would be, but I think mine would be:
Bayes
Henry
Laird
Anaclet
Albrighton
M Cole
McMahon
Martin
Mills
Morison
Thomas or Willock
We definately have a strong squad, and there could easily be other players that I could have chosen for my first eleven. I haven't even seen some of the players play, so there is a definate sense of improvement, and competition for places has to be a good thing.
I am certainly hopeful that we can build on performances like last night, and that this could be THE year!
So we face Gillingham tomorrow night, in our first pre season friendly of the 2008/09 campaign.
God I hope we beat them!
It is a chance for Westley to showcase the team, and a chance for us to get experience against a league two side, which could be great for us, mentally and physically.
Ok, so who am I kidding? It is a chance to stuff the team that our ex manager has gone to. I really miss Stuart Lewis and the others. The team has moved on a lot since them, but I am sure members of our current squad, will enjoy the experience to play against them.
I really hope we beat them. I mean REALLY REALLY hope we beat them. As you can tell I am not bitter at all. I know I shouldn't dwell on the past, but I really did respect him as a manager. I didn't mind the fact that he left. Well I did, but I understood that everyone has an ambition, and I could understand why he left. But it was the way he did it. He took OUR players, and denied any knowledge that he was approached by the Gills.
A lot has happened since then, and to be honest, I wouldn't want him back now anyway, but just to beat them would be amaaaaaazzzinnnggg!!
I am a bit gutted that I can't go, what with work and everything. To get down to Kent is a bit of an effort on a Tuesday night. I hope some of the Boro faithful can go, but I am sure there would have been a lot better turn out, had it been at Broadhall Way.
Hopefully we can do the business, which will make everyone extra positive about the season ahead.
There have been busy times at Boro lately. There was an open day on Saturday where fans could meet the players and management team. The event went down a storm and you can view a video and gallery of the afternoon by clicking the link below.
http://www.thecomet.net/content/comet/boro/default.aspx
The club has also announced the captain for the 2008/09 season. The lucky player is....
Mark Albrighton.
Good choice in my opinion. He has a lot of experience under his belt and as a result he should know what works and what doesn't work within the team. As a defender he will be able to see everything that goes on within a game, and as a result he should have a great understanding of the game. Hopefully he will be able to lift the team in hours of need, and push the squad to fulfil their full potential. Good luck Mark!
Boro have also announced the final member of the management team. Steve Greaves has come from Ipswich and is the new head coach. A new goalkeeping coach and fitness coach have also been appointed.
And finally... the squad numbers are out. Only a few players have managed to retain their numbers, which does seem a bit strange because players like McMahon have been issued a new one. Morison, Henry and Martin are the only ones to keep their numbers.
The numbers are as follows:
1 – Ashley Bayes
2 – Lawrie Wilson
3 – Scott Laird
4 – Eddie Anaclet
5 – Luke Oliver
6 – Mark Albrighton (Capt)
7 – Anthony Thomas
8 – Gary Mills
9 – Iyseden Christie
10 – Lee Boylan
11 – Craig Westcarr
12 – Luke Cole
13 – Daryl McMahon
14 – Elliot Buchanan
15 – John Martin
16 – James Russell
17 – George Brinkman
18 – David Bridges
19 – Callum Willock
20 – Steve Morison
21 – Mitchell Cole
22 – Zak Burke
23 – Andy Drury
24 – Michael Bostwick
25 – Ronnie Henry
26 – Liam McDevitt
27 – Jerome Anderson
28 – Jack Bradshaw
29 – Scott Balderson
So we have Wrexham away first, and Mansfield on the last game of the season.
Here is a link to the full list of fixtures:
http://www.thecomet.net/content/comet/boro/default.aspx
Fixtures are to be announced today at 11. Hopefully we get a good even spread of teams home and away this season. Rather than 5 home games followed buy 3 away games. It would also be nice not to have a really difficult month like we did in October last year.
I am rather excited!