Cherries: Pressure mounting on boss Groves after yet another defeat

10:32pm Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in Latest Sport Photograph of the Author By Ian Wadley

UNDER-FIRE: Boss Paul Groves UNDER-FIRE: Boss Paul Groves

BELEAGUERED boss Paul Groves tonight had yet more pressure piled on his shoulders after Cherries suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Crawley.

The under-fire manager once again came in for stick from the travelling Cherries support as his men failed to make the most of a bright start before falling to a dispiriting 3-1 loss at Broadfield Stadium.

Fans again called for Groves’s head, while the Crawley contingent chanted ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ as the hosts capitalised on some poor Cherries defending to seal victory.

Groves watched as his men made a decent opening in awful conditions but was left facing further questions about his Dean Court future when the Reds went through the gears and punished Cherries’ inability to shut up shop.

Hope Akpan’s 31st-minute opener came against run of play before the lead was doubled when Joe Walsh made the most of a worrying lack of marking to head home Crawley’s second.

Cherries briefly rallied after the break and Lee Barnard looked to have provided the ideal springboard for a comeback when he netted seven minutes into the second half.

But Nicky Adams struck to put Crawley firmly in charge and it took some fine goalkeeping from ex-England star David James to deny Richie Barker’s outfit more goals in the closing stages.

This latest defeat came after manager Groves had received a much-needed boost ahead of kick-off with the return to fitness Richard Hughes.

One of three changes from the 2-1 defeat against Walsall last time out, Hughes was restored to the starting line-up at the expense of Joe Partington.

Defender Tommy Elphick replaced Steve Cook and youngster Josh Carmichael came in for fellow homegrown star Josh McQuoid, who did not feature in the matchday squad.

And although a surprise inclusion in the Cherries XI, Carmichael immediately caught the eye with his composed play and sensible distribution.

The Poole-born teenager, who played for Groves in the club’s youth set-up, was utilised on the right of a midfield diamond and featured prominently in a bright enough opening for the visitors.

Cherries’ progress was hit when striker Frank Demouge, who had made a promising start with his aerial presence, was stretchered off after appearing to suffer a heavy knock to the nose in a clash of heads.

Former Crawley star Matt Tubbs was his replacement and he was given a rapturous reception back on familiar territory and promptly went close with a curling free-kick.

The lively Eunan O’Kane went one better than Tubbs when his deflected 21st-minute cross-shot found the target and forced Reds keeper Paul Jones to hurriedly boot clear as the ball zipped off the sodden turf.

But for all their decent play, Cherries were again found badly wanting at the back as the hosts capitalised on some watchful defending to move 2-0 up before the break.

On 31 minutes, Adams broke clear on the right and was afforded far too much space to drill a low ball into the danger zone. Stephane Zubar half-cleared at full stretch but with David James drawn out of position, Akpan made no mistake to open the scoring from 12 yards.

It went from bad to worse for Cherries just before the interval when Walsh was allowed to run completely unopposed from the edge of the area to head home Mat Sadler’s inswinging free-kick.

Cherries were now well and truly on the back foot and only an excellent low save from James denied the now rampant Reds a third from Nicky Ajose.

Half-time gave Cherries valuable time to regroup and whatever was said had a quick – albeit brief – impact as Southampton loan striker Barnard fired home, via a deflection, to hand the Dorset outfit a lifeline.

But the revival was over almost before it had started as Crawley soon restored their two-goal cushion through a fine Adams finish. Gary Alexander raced clear of Elphick on the right and his low cross picked out Ajose, who cleverly teed up the onrushing Adams to hammer home across James for an excellent third.

James had to be at his best to adjust sharply and tip Ajose’s bundled effort over the crossbar as Cherries struggled to escape their own half.

Steve Fletcher was introduced from the bench and Barnard should have done better when he smashed a Tubbs cross high and wide.

But, in truth, Cherries rarely looked like threatening in a second half thoroughly dominated by Crawley.

It took a wonderful fingertip save from James to prevent further damage as Adams came extremely close with a fine free-kick.

To rub salt into Cherries wounds, they were subjected to taunts of ‘can we play you every week?’ as the Reds ensured Cherries’ nightmare start continued.

Crawley: (4-4-2) P Jones; Byrne, Davis (Connolly, h-t), Walsh, Sadler; M Jones (Bulman, 85), Simpson, Akpan, Adams; Ajose (Forte, 76), Alexander. Unused subs: Clarke, Torres, Hunts, Kuipers (g/k).

Cherries: (4-4-2) James 7*; Zubar 5.5, Elphick 5, Addison 5, Daniels 5.5; O’Kane 6 (Fletcher, 76), Hughes 6, Carmichael 7, Davids 5 (Partington, 52); Demouge (Tubbs, 11, 5.5), Barnard 6.5. Unused subs: Cook, Fogden, Grabban, Jalal (g/k).

Booked: Zubar, Daniels, Addison.

Referee: Andy Davies (Hampshire).

Attendance: 2,928 (including 435 away fans)

Comments(68)

Mike Oxbig says...
10:39pm Tue 2 Oct 12

haha... Give him 'till Christmas. Right, Mitchell?!?

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Judaas says...
10:40pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Please please please - goodbye to Groves and his clan.

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Afcbpete says...
10:43pm Tue 2 Oct 12

MITCHELL OUT and take your Clan with you!! Can only keep repeating all I've said for months now...

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goatty says...
10:43pm Tue 2 Oct 12

AFCB going down
Seven Devs going down
Mitchell going down

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Football banning order yob says...
10:47pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Dear o dear Addison needs to be stripped of the captaincy and be dropped pair cook n zubar.. Drop Daniels overpaid n overrated bring in the hungry meades.. Get rid of the stupid diamond formation, and groves n brooks and that little tommy Mitchell

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afcb-mark says...
10:48pm Tue 2 Oct 12

So even the Crawley supporters were giving him stick, it must have been bad.

Never mind though cos Groves says......... .

'At the end of the season we want to be in the Championship but we don't have to be top of the league in September to do that....He doesn't even realise it's October now!!!

What a shambles.

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DansAFCB says...
10:49pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Fuc#ing rubbish!!!!!! His position is UN tenable now, Mitchell left tens mins before the end....... just got back to my hotel after waiting to speak to Groves to ask if he would tender his resignation but gave up after 45 mins as no sign of him. The player's I saw were low, very low.....
I expect to see at some point tomorrow "Breaking news" GROVES RESIGNS!!!!!

GROVES OUT

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DansAFCB says...
10:49pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Fuc#ing rubbish!!!!!! His position is UN tenable now, Mitchell left tens mins before the end....... just got back to my hotel after waiting to speak to Groves to ask if he would tender his resignation but gave up after 45 mins as no sign of him. The player's I saw were low, very low.....
I expect to see at some point tomorrow "Breaking news" GROVES RESIGNS!!!!!

GROVES OUT

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afcb-mark says...
10:52pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Breaking News................
.....

We have a player in the camp who's not afraid to say what he thinks...

'He (Groves) is a lovely bloke but I am not going to tell any fan not to vent their feelings based on how nice someone is. They pay their way and have a right to an opinion'

Well said and well done David James, this must be a first.

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goatty says...
10:55pm Tue 2 Oct 12

afcb-mark wrote:
Breaking News................

.....

We have a player in the camp who's not afraid to say what he thinks...

'He (Groves) is a lovely bloke but I am not going to tell any fan not to vent their feelings based on how nice someone is. They pay their way and have a right to an opinion'

Well said and well done David James, this must be a first.
He'll be gone soon then for not being a yes man

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Football banning order yob says...
10:56pm Tue 2 Oct 12

afcb-mark wrote:
Breaking News................

.....

We have a player in the camp who's not afraid to say what he thinks...

'He (Groves) is a lovely bloke but I am not going to tell any fan not to vent their feelings based on how nice someone is. They pay their way and have a right to an opinion'

Well said and well done David James, this must be a first.
That's because James will be announced interim player manager from midday tomorrow..

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mattbo says...
10:58pm Tue 2 Oct 12

David James barmy army!!!!!

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wendycherry says...
11:01pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Oh dear... Well done to the 435 loyal fans who went to the match. We now have (on paper) a large squad of talented players, who should really be running rings around any opposition in this league? Something wrong somewhere... Surely there is only so much humiliation a man (or men!) can, and should, take - it needs to be sorted asap, or the only way is down, sadly. The heart needs to be put back into the team, which can only be done with the right people in charge...UTCIAD x

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AFCBade says...
11:01pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Couldnt believe we went in two down at half time given we largely controlled the game but without creating much. Two sloppy goals merely reinforces how we have lost our way defensively since last season. At 2:1 it was game on but another soft goal killed us. To be honest we could have gone for five if James hadnt been in good form.Dont see what Davids gives the team if Hughes is playing deep whilst the fact that after spending all that money we still end up lobbing it up to Fletch at the end says it all.

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babyduck says...
11:03pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Have some self respect man and jog on. Beyond a joke now. Taxi...

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andyjolly says...
11:04pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Time to man up and quit, you tried and it didn't work. No biggy, but be a man and quit

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pehf1rules says...
11:05pm Tue 2 Oct 12

And i thought that we would win tonight !!!! Groves might be a nice chap, but not a football MANAGER i'm afraid.

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YafcbY says...
11:08pm Tue 2 Oct 12

I'm really sorry Groves I'm adding my voice to the discontent after watching tonight's performance. The club desperately needs a fresh approach, you were never the right appointment in the first place. We need a manager with experience managing large squads with inflated salaries.

Are we Blackburn in disguise?

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lymicherry says...
11:09pm Tue 2 Oct 12

The manager appears to be in complete denial. He's just been droning on the radio about how hard his squad works in training on defending set pieces, conveniently overlooking the fact that the players are patently unable or unwilling to learn. Groves is hopeless and has to go (he's also presiding over some of the dullest football I've seen at Dean Court in half a century), though I certainly don't buy into the theory that the current squad of mediocre journeymen would automatically become worldbeaters with a better man at the helm; Addison, for example, would still be a lumbering liability, Daniels would still be laughably one-footed and Partington would still be... well, Partington. And let's not have any silly excuses about so many injuries - at least, not while the squad is so ludicrously large that it hardly fits on the match programme any more.

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YafcbY says...
11:09pm Tue 2 Oct 12

mattbo wrote:
David James barmy army!!!!!
David James barmy army!!!!!

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Football banning order yob says...
11:13pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Roffe will stay on and assist James..

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jezza24 says...
11:14pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Jog on Groves,enough is enough!!! sure you and your cronies are all nice good guys but dont drag this club back through the gutter,do the right thing and quit. Before long maxim will withdraw his funds and we will find the club in the same position as pompey!!! coyr!!!!

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newcherry says...
11:14pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Just got back,luckily crawleys a short journey for me.What an absolute waste of time and money.The man is clueless,Tubbs had to start for me along side Barnard,Hughes was the only player worth watching 1st half.Davids where do i start with that wase of space,i lost count of the ammount of times he slipped or gave the ball away,utter rubbish.This is not a team its a rabble with no cohesion or will to work for eachother.Carmichael is not ready yet to start a game of this nature.O Kane was woeful and played out of position again!!!!
Groves must go asap.The team that played at yeovil and pompey had the nucleus of promise but that seems a long time ago now.Maybe we need more players !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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pehf1rules says...
11:17pm Tue 2 Oct 12

No more of my money will be changing hands at Dean Court now untill our cluless chairman gets rid of his BIG MISTAKES !!!! Will still go to selected away games for a day out, but after 32 years, even i have had it with the circus !!!

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jezza24 says...
11:19pm Tue 2 Oct 12

YafcbY wrote:
mattbo wrote: David James barmy army!!!!!
David James barmy army!!!!!
David james should quit aswell, 2 games 5 goals conceded,,,,,,lol!!!
!!! He couldnt manage his mums laundry!!!!

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PaulWimborne says...
11:25pm Tue 2 Oct 12

BLAME THE PLAYERS!!! ALL THE MANAGER DOES IT PICK A TEAM TO PERFORM AND DO THEIR JOBS......ITS THE PLAYERS WHO ARENT DOING THEIR JOBS AND FOR WHAT THEY ARE PAID TO DO!!! ITS ONLY A BIT OF THE MANAGERS FAULT! BUT HE'S NOT ON THE PITCH, THE PLAYERS ARE......MAYBE THE PLAYERS SHOULD BE THE ONES SACKED, IF ONLY THAT COULD HAPPEN......

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molbol says...
11:27pm Tue 2 Oct 12

He's been sacked!
Maybe the echo are saving the story for tomorrow when they reveal the 'breaking news'? Or maybe they aren't as well informed as they think....

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TedMacsCherryPants says...
11:30pm Tue 2 Oct 12

YafcbY wrote:
I'm really sorry Groves I'm adding my voice to the discontent after watching tonight's performance. The club desperately needs a fresh approach, you were never the right appointment in the first place. We need a manager with experience managing large squads with inflated salaries.

Are we Blackburn in disguise?
Funny you should mention Blackburn there was a bit of Keano, Keano for manager singing at the away end, Saddam and Osama were also mentioned as preferred manager options to Groves.

I must say Supa looked fit and strong when he came on, the only shame of that was it didn't look like he and Tubbsy had trained together much so his efforts were wasted.

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TedMacsCherryPants says...
11:30pm Tue 2 Oct 12

YafcbY wrote:
I'm really sorry Groves I'm adding my voice to the discontent after watching tonight's performance. The club desperately needs a fresh approach, you were never the right appointment in the first place. We need a manager with experience managing large squads with inflated salaries.

Are we Blackburn in disguise?
Funny you should mention Blackburn there was a bit of Keano, Keano for manager singing at the away end, Saddam and Osama were also mentioned as preferred manager options to Groves.

I must say Supa looked fit and strong when he came on, the only shame of that was it didn't look like he and Tubbsy had trained together much so his efforts were wasted.

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gameon says...
11:35pm Tue 2 Oct 12

jezza24 wrote:
YafcbY wrote:
mattbo wrote: David James barmy army!!!!!
David James barmy army!!!!!
David james should quit aswell, 2 games 5 goals conceded,,,,,,lol!!!

!!! He couldnt manage his mums laundry!!!!
Agreed we can see now why he couldnt get into Exeters side well done Harry the old Jobs for the Boys again silly comments on here James for manager!! what good will that do ?? what will change?? we need a proven Manager of which untill Mitchell goes we have no chance

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YafcbY says...
11:43pm Tue 2 Oct 12

gameon wrote:
jezza24 wrote:
YafcbY wrote:
mattbo wrote: David James barmy army!!!!!
David James barmy army!!!!!
David james should quit aswell, 2 games 5 goals conceded,,,,,,lol!!!


!!! He couldnt manage his mums laundry!!!!
Agreed we can see now why he couldnt get into Exeters side well done Harry the old Jobs for the Boys again silly comments on here James for manager!! what good will that do ?? what will change?? we need a proven Manager of which untill Mitchell goes we have no chance
DAVID JAMES BARMY ARMY!!!!!

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Any hole's a goal says...
11:45pm Tue 2 Oct 12

PaulWimborne wrote:
BLAME THE PLAYERS!!! ALL THE MANAGER DOES IT PICK A TEAM TO PERFORM AND DO THEIR JOBS......ITS THE PLAYERS WHO ARENT DOING THEIR JOBS AND FOR WHAT THEY ARE PAID TO DO!!! ITS ONLY A BIT OF THE MANAGERS FAULT! BUT HE'S NOT ON THE PITCH, THE PLAYERS ARE......MAYBE THE PLAYERS SHOULD BE THE ONES SACKED, IF ONLY THAT COULD HAPPEN......
Disagree. A decent manager with the right tactics, system, charisma, enthusiasm and respect from players and staff can take the most average / poor side and win a league. A Terrible manager with none of the above can take a squad of galacticos and get them rellegated.
.
You could go to war with the finest group of battle hardened marines ever to have held a rifle, with bountless experience and fierce determination. Unbeatable. If their commanding officer orders them to empty their clips, formate in a diamond and throw sticks of celery as cover, then your aren't going to survive.
.
Any company, team or organision that is managed well doesn't need decent employees, just willing ones.
.
Groves has taken a group of decent players and turned them distinctly average.
.
The promotion team from league 2 we had had absolutely no right to get promoted. It was largely the same squad that should have been relegated the season before. The difference was that we were finally managed well and EH got the best out of our players and taught them their strengths and got them playing. The same players under Groves would have been relegated. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO POINT IN ASSEMBLING A DECENT SQUAD AND SPENDING VAST AMOUNTS OF MONEY, IF THEY ARE NOT GOING TO MANAGED WELL.

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The Renegade Master says...
11:50pm Tue 2 Oct 12

NO MORE EXCUSES!

GROVES & BROOKS OUT!

We were sh*it this evening and everyone knows it.

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jezza24 says...
12:01am Wed 3 Oct 12

YafcbY wrote:
gameon wrote:
jezza24 wrote:
YafcbY wrote:
mattbo wrote: David James barmy army!!!!!
David James barmy army!!!!!
David james should quit aswell, 2 games 5 goals conceded,,,,,,lol!!! !!! He couldnt manage his mums laundry!!!!
Agreed we can see now why he couldnt get into Exeters side well done Harry the old Jobs for the Boys again silly comments on here James for manager!! what good will that do ?? what will change?? we need a proven Manager of which untill Mitchell goes we have no chance
DAVID JAMES BARMY ARMY!!!!!
lol,must be david james boyfriend!!!

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AFCBade says...
12:03am Wed 3 Oct 12

jezza24 wrote:
YafcbY wrote:
mattbo wrote: David James barmy army!!!!!
David James barmy army!!!!!
David james should quit aswell, 2 games 5 goals conceded,,,,,,lol!!!

!!! He couldnt manage his mums laundry!!!!
did you go tonight? Thought James did ok, one save from a late free kick showed he still has amazing reflexes. He cant bail out defending that is just pathetic.

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jezza24 says...
12:07am Wed 3 Oct 12

Cant believe im going to coventry this sat and they are even worse than us!!! there maybe trouble ahead!!!!

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YafcbY says...
12:09am Wed 3 Oct 12

AFCBade wrote:
jezza24 wrote:
YafcbY wrote:
mattbo wrote: David James barmy army!!!!!
David James barmy army!!!!!
David james should quit aswell, 2 games 5 goals conceded,,,,,,lol!!!


!!! He couldnt manage his mums laundry!!!!
did you go tonight? Thought James did ok, one save from a late free kick showed he still has amazing reflexes. He cant bail out defending that is just pathetic.
David James will organise that defence but he does need a bit of time to bed in. The defending was non-existent leaving him high and dry.

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YafcbY says...
12:10am Wed 3 Oct 12

jezza24 wrote:
YafcbY wrote:
gameon wrote:
jezza24 wrote:
YafcbY wrote:
mattbo wrote: David James barmy army!!!!!
David James barmy army!!!!!
David james should quit aswell, 2 games 5 goals conceded,,,,,,lol!!! !!! He couldnt manage his mums laundry!!!!
Agreed we can see now why he couldnt get into Exeters side well done Harry the old Jobs for the Boys again silly comments on here James for manager!! what good will that do ?? what will change?? we need a proven Manager of which untill Mitchell goes we have no chance
DAVID JAMES BARMY ARMY!!!!!
lol,must be david james boyfriend!!!
If he were that way inclined I'll happily ask him out on a date :-)

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jezza24 says...
12:16am Wed 3 Oct 12

AFCBade wrote:
jezza24 wrote:
YafcbY wrote:
mattbo wrote: David James barmy army!!!!!
David James barmy army!!!!!
David james should quit aswell, 2 games 5 goals conceded,,,,,,lol!!! !!! He couldnt manage his mums laundry!!!!
did you go tonight? Thought James did ok, one save from a late free kick showed he still has amazing reflexes. He cant bail out defending that is just pathetic.
No i didnt go.Maybe he did show good reflexes but a few good saves doesnt make him a manager to get us out the ****, does it mush!!!!

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Any hole's a goal says...
12:24am Wed 3 Oct 12

Anyone seriously considering David James for manager needs to have a cold shower and take a long look at themselves in the mirror, whilst reflecting on what they just said...

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jezza24 says...
12:30am Wed 3 Oct 12

Any hole's a goal wrote:
Anyone seriously considering David James for manager needs to have a cold shower and take a long look at themselves in the mirror, whilst reflecting on what they just said...
Well said!!!

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Exiled Red says...
12:33am Wed 3 Oct 12

I would like Alan Curbishley as manager

just to put it out there

but in fairness I would like Coco in preference to the current clown

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lionheart says...
12:53am Wed 3 Oct 12

Just got back. Narrow diamond shape in the middle pear shaped at the back.

We started OK and it was even stephen for most of the first half. Our formation was disrupted when I think it was O'Kane who went for the same ball as Demouge and elbowed him in the nose.

His relative was sitting next to us in the stand and took a call to say go with him to hospital as his nose was broken.

Two basic defensive mistakes were the root cause of shipping two first hald goals.

Second half was more promising. Daniels perseverence to the by-line and cross caused confusion and Barnard took advantage.

Just when we got back into it and nearly equalised our diamond shape and shambolic defending ended our comeback.

Daniels, who was effectively our left winger was up supporting the attack. Crawley broke with the ball with two on Elphick and Addison. Elphick's tackle wide right was woeful and the forward skipped around him by which time Crawley had a man over who finished with aplomb.

James had no chance with the three goals, made 3 or 4 excellent saves and a number of times went apoplectic with Elphick and Addison whose defending and distribution from short goal kicks was like giraffes with left feet and other time like statues.

To be honest your marks for them are much two generous. The midfield was also poor with ball retention especially in the second half pretty poor.

With this side and manager I would say diamonds are for never.

Taxi for Messrs Groves and Brooks. They are truly clueless.

After Swindon another £60 wasted.

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lionheart says...
12:56am Wed 3 Oct 12

Any hole's a goal wrote:
Anyone seriously considering David James for manager needs to have a cold shower and take a long look at themselves in the mirror, whilst reflecting on what they just said...
Maybe not for manager but is the only one who seems to know how the back four should defend and speaks his mind.

He's a winner not losers like Groves and Brooks.

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poolepaul says...
1:13am Wed 3 Oct 12

molbol wrote:
He's been sacked!
Maybe the echo are saving the story for tomorrow when they reveal the 'breaking news'? Or maybe they aren't as well informed as they think....
Based on what facts exactly???...As much as this would make my day less miserable you have to be able to prove this.

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redster says...
6:09am Wed 3 Oct 12

Think for me after all these years of loyal support and that familiar excitment just before a match has turned into a quiet boredom.Even past the bewildered stage now.I work abroad and all my fellow Brits are keen football supporters and the game unites us,but I just cannot bring myself to talk about my beloved Cherries.I am due home mid October and yes will go to the first home match but more out of nostalgia.Re Mr Groves I think of the old joke about a leadership report (Royal Navy) "The only reason anybody would follow this man would be out of curiosity"

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pokesdown1 says...
7:05am Wed 3 Oct 12

Solent just will not get it will they.

Willo and all the others are so polite its cringeworthy.I can understand this paper looking over their shoulder but Radio Solent have got free reign to really criticise if they want to.

Willo is just annoying now.The ultimate ex-pro.

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cheeriedriteup says...
7:25am Wed 3 Oct 12

jezza24 wrote:
YafcbY wrote:
mattbo wrote: David James barmy army!!!!!
David James barmy army!!!!!
David james should quit aswell, 2 games 5 goals conceded,,,,,,lol!!!

!!! He couldnt manage his mums laundry!!!!
You could put Joe Hart between th sticks I won't make an ounce of difference

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eaststandman says...
7:36am Wed 3 Oct 12

PaulWimborne wrote:
BLAME THE PLAYERS!!! ALL THE MANAGER DOES IT PICK A TEAM TO PERFORM AND DO THEIR JOBS......ITS THE PLAYERS WHO ARENT DOING THEIR JOBS AND FOR WHAT THEY ARE PAID TO DO!!! ITS ONLY A BIT OF THE MANAGERS FAULT! BUT HE'S NOT ON THE PITCH, THE PLAYERS ARE......MAYBE THE PLAYERS SHOULD BE THE ONES SACKED, IF ONLY THAT COULD HAPPEN......
You clearly dont know what a managers role is, not only in football but in any walk of life.

Installing confidence, belief, passion and ORGANISATION.

Idiot.

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molbol says...
7:47am Wed 3 Oct 12

poolepaul wrote:
molbol wrote:
He's been sacked!
Maybe the echo are saving the story for tomorrow when they reveal the 'breaking news'? Or maybe they aren't as well informed as they think....
Based on what facts exactly???...As much as this would make my day less miserable you have to be able to prove this.
I got a text late last night from let's just say 'someone very close to the top, - You will soon have.the news you want to hear, you see.

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Nickolai says...
8:24am Wed 3 Oct 12

lymicherry wrote:
The manager appears to be in complete denial. He's just been droning on the radio about how hard his squad works in training on defending set pieces, conveniently overlooking the fact that the players are patently unable or unwilling to learn. Groves is hopeless and has to go (he's also presiding over some of the dullest football I've seen at Dean Court in half a century), though I certainly don't buy into the theory that the current squad of mediocre journeymen would automatically become worldbeaters with a better man at the helm; Addison, for example, would still be a lumbering liability, Daniels would still be laughably one-footed and Partington would still be... well, Partington. And let's not have any silly excuses about so many injuries - at least, not while the squad is so ludicrously large that it hardly fits on the match programme any more.
Exactly. This is a squad of overpaid, average players who could not care less about our club or the shirt they are wearing Unfortunately, neither does PG or EM and his clan.
All rotten to the core - who do any of us have an empathy with on the pitch ?

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Piston_Broke says...
8:26am Wed 3 Oct 12

YafcbY wrote:
I'm really sorry Groves I'm adding my voice to the discontent after watching tonight's performance. The club desperately needs a fresh approach, you were never the right appointment in the first place. We need a manager with experience managing large squads with inflated salaries.

Are we Blackburn in disguise?
I think we bear more resemblance to Northampton Town than Blackburn. I seem to remember The Cobblers chairman stating a while ago that it had cost them £8million to make their way to 24th place in League 2!

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West moors 1 says...
8:36am Wed 3 Oct 12

We have an experienced manager, he was aweful at Grimby and he is aweful with us!! At least he's consistant but that's the problem, he will stay on because no one else will give him a job!!
Up the cherries!!!

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Awayfor247days says...
8:53am Wed 3 Oct 12

So no breaking news article that he has been relieved of his duties - the shambles continues - I fear for the long term future at this rate - I am shattered after watching again more sh+t served up last night - enough is enough!!!!!!

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new cherry says...
8:53am Wed 3 Oct 12

It's very quiet from afcb today... Something must be brewing. Normally we have had a player telling us it will all be alright by now

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Awayfor247days says...
8:56am Wed 3 Oct 12

"A third successive defeat leaves Groves' men with just one win in 12 league and cup games this season".

New Cherry We can only hope some real soul seraching is taking place, dead wood binned and a leader appointed to save AFCB!!!!

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ASM says...
9:41am Wed 3 Oct 12

goatty wrote:
afcb-mark wrote:
Breaking News................


.....

We have a player in the camp who's not afraid to say what he thinks...

'He (Groves) is a lovely bloke but I am not going to tell any fan not to vent their feelings based on how nice someone is. They pay their way and have a right to an opinion'

Well said and well done David James, this must be a first.
He'll be gone soon then for not being a yes man
mitchell told him to say that, to show the fans james wont be a yes man when hes given the job

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ASM says...
9:43am Wed 3 Oct 12

"WE WANT GROVESY OUT" then boycott you silly mugs

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Nickolai says...
9:46am Wed 3 Oct 12

ASM wrote:
goatty wrote:
afcb-mark wrote: Breaking News................ ..... We have a player in the camp who's not afraid to say what he thinks... 'He (Groves) is a lovely bloke but I am not going to tell any fan not to vent their feelings based on how nice someone is. They pay their way and have a right to an opinion' Well said and well done David James, this must be a first.
He'll be gone soon then for not being a yes man
mitchell told him to say that, to show the fans james wont be a yes man when hes given the job
Spot on.

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goatty says...
9:54am Wed 3 Oct 12

Nickolai wrote:
ASM wrote:
goatty wrote:
afcb-mark wrote: Breaking News................ ..... We have a player in the camp who's not afraid to say what he thinks... 'He (Groves) is a lovely bloke but I am not going to tell any fan not to vent their feelings based on how nice someone is. They pay their way and have a right to an opinion' Well said and well done David James, this must be a first.
He'll be gone soon then for not being a yes man
mitchell told him to say that, to show the fans james wont be a yes man when hes given the job
Spot on.
Another bum licking yes man in the making

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Afcbpete says...
10:36am Wed 3 Oct 12

Exiled Red wrote:
I would like Alan Curbishley as manager

just to put it out there

but in fairness I would like Coco in preference to the current clown
EXACTLY!!! get the man in who will actually do the job we all want, OR Mick McCarthy. Mitchell has wasted enough money on clowns...

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Cambs Cherry says...
10:50am Wed 3 Oct 12

Well last night was very poor, not as poor as Swindon and I did stay till 87 mins this time. Luckily we found a good Real Pub and good Food in a village near Crawley beofre the match so all bad. But Groves has to be sacked, so EM please man up and accept he's not good enough. I beleive the players are good enough. I have bought a ticket for Coventry but that's more to tick off the ground rather than see a good AFCB performance if Groves is still the Manager. Why do Crawley get such small crowds, amazing.

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Any hole's a goal says...
10:53am Wed 3 Oct 12

Cambs Cherry wrote:
Well last night was very poor, not as poor as Swindon and I did stay till 87 mins this time. Luckily we found a good Real Pub and good Food in a village near Crawley beofre the match so all bad. But Groves has to be sacked, so EM please man up and accept he's not good enough. I beleive the players are good enough. I have bought a ticket for Coventry but that's more to tick off the ground rather than see a good AFCB performance if Groves is still the Manager. Why do Crawley get such small crowds, amazing.
I was thinking the same (About Crawleys crowd). I guess because it's a fairly small area a bit too close to Brighton. Given their history is non-league, they haven't been able to build a following?

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SUFFERINGBJ says...
10:55am Wed 3 Oct 12

From frying pan to fire if we are daft enough to go with David James, nothing against him personally but totally no experience that would be a great decsion.....not. We need someone to come in with lots of experience, a proven record and lots of passion.......

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Awayfor247days says...
11:26am Wed 3 Oct 12

Echo very quiet today nothing to report 24 hours after this match report..... I hope something is brewing at Dean Court and the Breaking News story arrives soon!!!

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Afcbpete says...
12:40pm Wed 3 Oct 12

Awayfor247days wrote:
Echo very quiet today nothing to report 24 hours after this match report..... I hope something is brewing at Dean Court and the Breaking News story arrives soon!!!
SKY saying Groves sacked... :)

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joncon says...
12:52pm Wed 3 Oct 12

Cheer up. At least poole Town won

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robman says...
4:41pm Wed 3 Oct 12

No one should have more than a 5 for that performance, 7 for Charmichael. is that a point for every time he gave the ball away. Way to soon for a game in this league. Don't get me started on O'Kane and Davids

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