SACFC Members Q & A Evening -  Wednesday 8 February 2023

In attendance; David Noble (DN), John Meakes (JM), Shaun Jeffers (SJ), 13 Club Members.

Tony Colbourne opened the event and invited questions from the floor.

Q.   Is there a psychological reason why we seem to play better away from home?

The panel replied not at all and consider we have a good home record, SJ said he loved playing at home, due to the support.

Q.   Is the pitch affecting home performances?  

DN said he thought the pitch was one of the biggest in the league and, as a player, he found it tiring with the amount of room to cover.  He added that the pitch plays better when it is wet, as the ball runs more accurately.

Q.   Loan players - has the use of loan players improved the side and how do we get loan players and, also what effect does it have on players already in the squad?

DN explained the club have a recruitment team in place, which Dean Austin had set up.  They regularly watch other teams and a database has been created on potential new signings on loan or otherwise.  He spoke about Mamadou Jobe as an example, saying we are building relationships with clubs like Cambridge United.  

The process is only 3 months old.  He said the that Jobe’s move to Maidstone was not his choice but dictated by the parent club. Regarding the question of loan players coming in and possibly displacing someone in the team, SJ said it is accepted as part and parcel of the game.

Q.   Do players who are carrying an injury sometimes not reveal this and the performance suffers as a result?  

DN said that he finds his players are honest on this issue and the way match statistics are used shows this.

Q.   Do you look for a particular type of player when choosing one?  

DN said the database has a number of players for each position listed.    He is always looking to improve the side.

Q.   Riccardo Di Trollo - are you disappointed that his move to Coventry City will not result in the club getting a transfer fee?

JM said that we are happy to see the player progress and we have him for the rest of the season.  Around 15 teams had made enquiries about signing him.  DN added that the bad part is the current ruling that allows under 18 aged players to move for no fee.

Q.   You inherited this team - what changes did you make?

SJ said he found as a player he had a more identified role.  JM said that Ian Allinson had a way he wanted the team to play.   It was a different style - we wanted to play out from the back and in a different style.

DN said that in the first 3 or 4 games, he did not change things.   At Welling United, he changed the formation to better suit the the players we have, adding that we did not have any wingers playing.

Q.   What have you found to be the biggest challenge stepping up as manager?

DN said talking to a forum like this was something he was not used to and that his first few team talks had been a shambles, as it was not something he done before.  He still finds it difficult telling players they are not in the team or the squad.

Q.   Added time in games - do you get frustrated, if you think it’s too much or too little? 

DN said he would like to be 2 goals ahead, when added time is shown. He said that at his first game v London Colney, he was very nervous and still is today at games and related a story from his own career.

Q .  How is Michael Johnson progressing in his recovery?  

JM said he has trained twice and, in response to a question, said he may start playing in the B team as part of his recovery.

Q.   We have a good disciplinary record.  Do you impress on the players about not getting involved in on field disputes?

DN said he tells players not to argue with officials.  He has found that if this is continually happening then 50/50 decisions can go against you.

Q.   Do you watch what opposing managers are doing in games more now in your role?

DN said he paid no attention, as he is focused on his team and added he felt the same way about match officials.

Tony Colbourne thanked the panel for their time and closed the meeting.