[Pendle Red]

Originally Posted by Oldgobbin

I have to say I sometimes wonder if I watch the same club as some of you people on here. Please tell me, first off, why you can’t expect a team of professional footballers to play two games a week. It must be great to “work” for three hours a week! Secondly, why the “lurve” of Chris Turner? He’s started a couple of games this season and, in my eyes, has shown little to suggest that he is the answer to all our problems. Thirdly, how can we persist in starting games with a goalkeeper who has consistently proved a failure at a number of Conference clubs? Bouzer didn’t have a bad game against Rochdale – in fact, I doubt if he was to blame for any of the goals – even the last one where he was clearly trying to do his bit for the team. I wonder, but doubt, if he’ll be back on Tuesday.

First point is a fair one


Chris Turner is the by far the best thing to come through the academy at Stanley, he has natural a ability to take players on which in turns draws admiration from the crowd, he has skill, pace & trickery something the rest of the "wing players" at Stanley don't have.


Until his injury he was a regular first team choice, fair enough you have to wait your chance and it is hard when the team are playing well and getting results but over the last five or six weeks we have been crying out for natural balance in midfield but twenty minutes here and five minutes there are asking a lot of anyone.

I am not in favour of the current rotation of the Keepers.

I said after the Rochdale game that our biggest “miss” would be Symes, as Grant has neither the bottle nor the ability to lead the line – and so it has proved. We can’t do anything about this, as we have nobody suitable to do the job – and going on about PM scoring for Morecambe is pointless. Paul has done his job for us and, rightly in my opinion, moved on. Towards the end, he just wasn’t good enough, as Symes has so clearly shown for the majority of this season.


To be able to lead the line you have to either have somebody who is going to play off you or a midfield who are going to create chances for a frontman to strive off.

Symes has been a revelation and his play with Grant at times this season has been the best since Mullin & James but of late it has beeen patchy at best.

Now to matters off the field – you all go on about lack of transparency, especially with regard to the ground developments (Sorry this bit is slightly off topic). Have you no confidence at all in Ilyas? I know I certainly have – in fact I would say he is one of the most openly honest, passionate and transparent characters connected with any club in football today.

I think all fans trust Ilyas as he is one of us which is a fan first and foremost and he did what others said they were going to do and didn't do, which was save the Club.

If you’re not happy about things, then, as he regularly says, CONTACT HIM by text or e-mail and I’m sure he would be only too happy to attempt to give you an explanation (How many other FL chairmen would offer that opportunity?) Surely this would be far better than constantly sowing seeds of discontent - or am I just an incredibly simple soul? Maybe some of you just get pleasure out of being negative.


You summed up how it should be dealt with or nipped in the bud with your previous paragraph which is Honesty, Passionate & Transparent that would deal with most problems and keep people onside.

For my part, I’m happy that we’re still in existence, that we’re having our best season on the field since the 1950’s and that I can still say with pride, wherever I go, that I am an Accrington Stanley fan – and long may it continue.


I think we all agree with that OG!

Sorry about the rant, but sometimes the amount of negativity on this board is hard to come to terms with!


Nothing to be sorry about football is all about opinions and passion without it football would be a pretty dull game and we would have nothing to debate on here

Good discussional post