. He also bemoaned the lack of progression from youth team to first team - pointing out the successes of the last couple of years, and yet none of last years intake has been retained and only Callum Evans has been taken on this time around.It’s fair to say that this was probably a lot tougher ride than many had expected for the management team. Over the course of the evening they were challenged over poor recruitment and tactics and reminded of how many times during the early months of this year that we threw points away in the closing stages of games, particularly at home, where we saw several winning positions turn into disappointing draws and draws into defeats.
The lack of options, particularly attacking ones, from the bench, in the second half of the season was also raised and the suggestion was made that this had cost us countless points as other teams had the option to bring fresh options off the bench to affect games, when we couldn’t.
In their defence, the management team were keen to point out how they managed to get the team they wanted with ten games to go and tried to bring the focus around to how positively the team had finished with GJ bringing up the reference that Wrexham thought we were “the best team we have played” after the end of season clash.
GJ also reiterated his surprise at how many of that end of season team he had managed to retain. He expected to keep maybe 5 or 6, but ended up keeping 8 or 9. Downsey also revealed that 2 or 3 of those staying had also turned down more money at clubs higher up than us to stay - because they liked the club, liked working with the gaffer and the camaraderie in the squad.
They defended their position on PSFs - it was a club decision not to play local sides. A combination of injuries suffered to the likes of Martin, Lapslie, and Jarvis, combined with the poor state of some of these pitches, meant that their focused shifted to matches against u21 sides on pristine pitches and the chance to scout players from clubs they have a good relationship with was given priority.
On the subject of Dan Martin an update was given. They really like him both as a player and as a person but it is very much a case of “wait and see” as to whether we end up offering him a deal. As Downsey explained, his 45 minutes against Reading u21s was his first competitive action for 10 months. They are encouraged by that performance and the medical reports they have undertaken. He has suffered badly from what appears to be long Covid which badly affected his breathing and damaged his diaphragm. As GJ pointed out, one of his biggest strengths was, and hopefully still will be, his athleticism. But clearly until they are sure he is back to where he was they cannot offer him anything just yet, but they remain hopeful.
One attendee, rather unfairly in my opinion, questioned GJs success rate with young loanees he has brought in during his tenure and suggested his “success” rate was about 50/50. GJ rebuffed that, and suggested he might draw up a list of the good ‘uns in his programme notes. To be fair, I reckon we have had far more better ones than duff ones since he has been here.
GJ has very high hopes for Bradley Ash and is convinced the fans will love him and his attributes. They are still working on recruitment and clearly the loan market will play a big part in filling most of the gaps. He defended criticism of his recruitment by reminding people how difficult it is to get players down here, despite being a lovely area, they just don’t want to move away from the big cities and their families etc.
The concern over artificial pitches was raised and Downsey confirmed we face 8 of them this season - but he didn’t see it as too much of a problem as we train at SDC and of the current squad only Hall and Moxey are over 32 although Dawson has just recently turned 33 to add to that list. Most of the rest, he suggested, were at or close to the prime of their playing careers.
As for full time professional teams in this League - GJ passed that one over to Downsey (along with the artificial pitches one) as he only knew of us and Yeovil, but Downsey suggested Eastbourne are another one along with a couple of others (Havant etc) who he deemed “hybrid” which seemed to throw GJ!
There were comparisons made with the team that got us promoted from the NLS as champions last time around and GJ seemed to think that our current team would compete favourably with them, albeit it’s all hypothetical.
One questioner asked of all the players that we have had under their tenure who would they most like to see playing for us again now and whilst GJ rattled off half a dozen names, it was Downsey who came up with a straight answer … Kyle Cameron!
GJ also put up a stubborn defence of Clarke Osborne when questioned on the subject. He said in all honesty, he liked him and trusted him. He has no reason to lie as he’s in a job and towards the end of his career so why would he need to. He admitted that he keeps a low profile but that’s because he is a successful businessman who in his opinion is humble and doesn’t seek the limelight, but that he is a proper football man and that both his sons are involved in football too. In what capacity, he didn’t elaborate.
Whilst blowing his own trumpet, GJ also explained why he likes to keep any potential targets under wraps as much as possible as with over 40 years in the game, it often happens that if clubs get wind of who he is tracking, that attracts the interest of others. Of course when trialists are identified by fans, then there is nothing he can do!
On a final note, whilst some have questioned the validity of the strength of the Reading team we played, GJ still referred to them as their u21s. But for those wondering what the make up of the Bristol City team will be this Saturday, there was the “revelation” that we won’t be playing BCFCs u21s now after all. The reason being that BCFC were expecting to play Reading in a first team friendly but due to problems at Reading they have had to pull out of the fixture. So Bristol City have been in touch to ask if we would mind playing their FIRST team instead!!! Albeit, still behind closed doors.
So there you have it, far from the easy ride, that many might have expected! But, as is his way, GJs light hearted approach at times during the course of the evening, with the odd gag thrown in meant that it was all pretty convivial by the end - even managing to raise a smile at the end out of his most critical inquisitor!
