Ian Perkins (Page 20)

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Ian was at Huish Park for Yeovil’s narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of York City. Here are his conclusions.

Picture by Gary Brown

It was a tight game. The two sides, neither of which is particularly in form didn’t make much of a spectacle in Somerset. Many Glovers feared a bloodbath after Boston, but it was far from that. Yeovil set their stall out early and allowed York to dominate the ball while holding their nerve to try and repel them. For all York’s possession, they didn’t stretch Aidan Stone that much. Doesn’t that sound familiar? There were crosses into the box that we dealt with well but it wasn’t surprising that it was settled with a set piece. It was a massive improvement from the midweek defeat to Boston United in the week and the challenge now is to maintain it and ensure it’s not a false dawn.

Kyle Ferguson added some fight. I thought our latest loanee had nastiness and a bit of bite that we’ve been lacking recently. He won his headers and gave Josh Stones a rough afternoon. The son of Rangers legend Barry Ferguson certainly looks like he’s up for a scrap and if were looking over our shoulder, someone of that character is what we need. He was at fault for the penalty which Ollie Pearce converted, but I thought we looked stronger with him in the back line.

Picture by Gary Brown

Another Sonny shout out. I love watching Sonny play football. When he’s on the pitch and given the freedom he’s great to watch. He’s the type of intelligent player who can get you out of a hole. I think our biggest chance fell to him on the edge of the box after he set Kyrell Wilson away before receiving the ball back but he lost his footing at a pivotal moment. With Sonny (and a lot of our players) it’s always been the case of finding that final product, but keeping him further forward in behind  the striker is key in my mind. The extent of the injury to Brett McGavin will probably dictate how that goes.

What a week Frank’s had. To go from being on your way out of the club to being back in the starting line up and captaining within less than seven days is some story. We’ll probably never know the full picture of what’s happened here, but, in my opinion, I don’t think you can blame a 33-year-old for wanting to secure his future when he’s been transfer-listed earlier in the season. Nouble is a popular figure with supporters and for Mark Cooper to put him back in as skipper shows that, right now, Nouble is needed. Clearly, it was mutually beneficial to get over this hurdle.

Frank Nouble was back in the starting line-up and wearing the captain’s armband again. Picture by Gary Brown

It was another slow afternoon. Since the powers that be have decided the Gloverscast are no longer allowed to do media at Huish Park I’ve been able to watch Yeovil as a supporter rather than having to think about what I’m going to say and I totally understand the grumbles. Yes we have injuries, yes we’ve got had a lot of player turnover and the rest of this season will be an exercise in self-preservation. But it can’t continue like this at home next season. I’ve had conversations with plenty of rational, reasonable and real supporters who are so disenchanted with the football that they’ll do other things with their weekends if this is the status quo.

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All photos credited to Mr Gary Brown – Please contact him for permission to use any of the images below.

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An Ollie Pearce tap in penalty saw Yeovil Town fall to a fourth straight defeat at the hands of promotion-chasing York City at Huish Park.

It was a game with few opportunities for either side which was decided by a 56th minute spot kick after debutant Kyle Ferguson felled the speedy Joe Felix inside the box and Pearce stepped up to fire it home.

Substitute Ciaran McGuckin headed Yeovil’s best opportunity over the bar late in the game, but it was another defeat.

Here’s how Ian saw it under the H at HP…..

First half

Both sides exchanged possession in the opening ten minutes with neither gaining much control.

A late challenge from Alex Hunt on Marcel Lavinier earned a deserved booking for the visitors.

The first proper opening came in the 26th minute as Junior Luamba surged forward on the left side but his pass (if that is what it was) was poor, with Josh Stones free on the penalty box.

The next action of note involved a fracas on the edge of the box. A low cross into the Yeovil box was half cleared by about four players before Charlie Cooper was fouled while he had the ball under his legs. Stones was booked for the handbags in the aftermath.

Sonny Blu Lo Everton on the run. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

Stones nearly gave the visitors the lead moments later but was denied by the combination of Aidan Stone and Kyle Ferguson, with Yeovil’s latest loan signing enjoying the battle with York’s expensive centre forward.

Yeovil held their nerve at the back while York dominated possession without ever really testing Stone in the Yeovil goal.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 York City 0

Second half

 
The visitors appealed for a penalty minutes later when Ferguson felled Ollie Pearce. They didn’t have long to wait though as a minute later Joe Felix tripped over a Finn Cousin-Dawson’s leg to earn the visitors a penalty that man PEARCE tapped in. 0-1.
 
 
Aidan Stone denied York a sensational second goal on the hour mark. The Glovers’ keeper was at full stretch to deny a spectacular Tyrese Sinclair bicycle kick.
 
Captain Frank Nouble, back in the starting line-up having been seemingly on his way out of Huish Park in midweek, was on the line to clear away from the result corner too as York looked to turn the screw.
 
Yeovil brought Ciaran McGuckin in the hunt for an equaliser and shortly after Nouble had a couple of headers that were easy for the York keeper to handle. Yeovil were forced into a change in the 76th minute as Brett McGavin went off with an injury. The midfielder needed to be helped off the pitch, a worrying moment given the “war zone” in the Huish Park medical room.
 
Brett McGavin is helped from the pitch. Picture courtesy of Debs Curtis.
 
Substitute Ryan McLean had a decent effort at goal from the edge of the box which had all the sting taken out of it by a couple of a ricochets.
 
Yeovil supporters were in their feet with nine minutes left after speedy run from Kyrell Wilson who found Sonny Blu Lo-Everton on the edge of the box, but the midfielder sliced his effort. York failed to clear and gave away a corner. McGuckin nearly headed in from the corner as Yeovil tried to get level.
 
Even Stone went forward for an injury time set piece and hooked one goalwards from the edge of the box, but it went over the bar and that was that for Yeovil.
 

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 York City 1

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 15th March, 3:00pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Ollie Pearce pen 56 (0-1)

Pitch: Firm and bobbly in patches
Conditions: Overcast and chilly

Attendance: 2,862 (277 away supporters)

Bookings: 
York City: Alex Hunt 9, Josh Stones 35
Yeovil Town:  Kyle Ferguson 56

Referee: Aaron Farmer

Yeovil Town (3-5-2)

Substitutes:  Ciaran McGuckin (for Marcel Lavinier, 63), Ryan McLean (for Josh Sims, 71), Kyrell Wilson (for Brett McGavin, 77), Harvey Greenslade (for Alex Whittle, 88), Frankie Terry (not used), Jahmari Clarke (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

York City: Harrison Male, Callum Howe, Alex Hunt (for Ryan Fallowfield, 76), Ollie Pearce, Lewis Richardson (for Tyrese Sinclair, 46), Dan Batty, Cameron John (for Adam Crookes, 62), Joe Felix, Josh Stones (for Lennell John-Lewis, 76), Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Junior Luamba (for Billy Chadwick, 84).

Substitutes (not used): Rory Watson, Ashley Nathaniel-George, Billy Chadwick.

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Striker Frank Nouble is back in the Yeovil Town starting line-up and wearing the captain’s armband as the Glovers prepare to take on big-spending York City at Huish Park today (3pm kick-off).

The 33-year-old, who manager Mark Cooper said had asked to leave the club before Tuesday’s 3-0 home defeat to Boston United, replaces Ciaran McGuckin, who drops to the bench along with forwards Kyrell Wilson and Ryan McLean and Frankie Terry, the defender on loan from Colchester United.

In their place come defenders Kyle Ferguson, signed on loan from Rochdale yesterday, and Dom Bernard and Josh Sims, who appeared as a substitute in the midweek defeat.

 

 

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What a week to be a Glover.

A signing, a leader choosing to leave, a 3-0 defeat at home to the second-from-bottom side in the division, no let up from injuries and the 2nd placed team – owned by the fella who tried to takeover YTFC – coming to town this weekend. What on Earth is going to happen next?

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Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper spoke to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah ahead National League action against York City on Saturday. Here’s every word of the manager’s press conference.

JK: Mark, it’s been a while since you and I have had a sit down. A lot’s happened in the last 10 days or so. First of all, just reflecting on Tuesday night, what do you feel you learned about your team from from the defeat on Tuesday?

MC: I didn’t really learn anything that I didn’t know. I think anybody can see the team is hugely different to the team that we had when we were having our really good spell. But that’s football. We’ve ended up with some really young players in the team that are trying to make their way in the game, and they need support. You know, it’s a really difficult environment for them to come into, and they need support now. They need support from us. They need support from everybody. And, so I didn’t really learn anything I didn’t know.

JK: Was it quite a tricky conversation to have with the players afterwards? Was much said at all?

MC: No, they just need support. It’s clear as to the situation. And this is what happens. You get into a situation where you lose a whole load of players, and you try and put a new group together, and it takes a little bit of time, but and they need support.

JK: As I touched upon a moment ago, the last few days, a lot with regards to players as well, in terms of incomings, outgoings, start off with an update on Frank. Obviously, got the news before the last game that the plan was for him to go to Gateshead. That then fell through. How did that all come about? And what’s the latest on that situation now?

MC: It came about like I spoke about last weekend, Frank spoke to me and said, ‘Look, I’ve had an offer from Gateshead I want to go’, which I completely understand, because it’s securing his family, and a better deal than we could probably offer. And then I asked him if he could play at the weekend, which he did. And then Sunday, Monday, we tried to contact Gateshead as of Frank’s wishes to get the deal done, but we didn’t get any response.  As I mentioned, what’s happened in the end, is a person that’s trying to buy Gateshead has agreed a deal with Frank, but these people don’t yet own Gateshead and Gateshead can’t push the deal through with Frank, in case the deal doesn’t go through to take the club over. So it’s a mess, really. And I think when agents, or supposedly agents, get involved, it can become a mess. And the person that has been left is Frank.

JK: Will Frank be available for this Saturday. Is he involved with the squad? At the moment,

MC: I haven’t seen Frank yet, like I haven’t. I’m hoping that he’s in today. But, you know, it’s that’s that remains to be seen.

JK: We’ve touched on before, the amount of players that have gone out of the door, whether that buy it, be by it or out injured. At the moment, I think it’s eight in total. In the last few weeks, you had four come in. How happy Have you been with with the incomings this month, and they’re settling into the squad?

MC: Well, whenever you, and as a necessity you bring players in, it’s going to take a while for them to bed in. Now, people, of course, are going to say, why did you sign this player? Why did you sign that player? Why did you let this player go? Why did you let that player go? Sometimes we have to take into account the player in talking about their wishes. We can’t do anything about the injuries, but it’s just a moment in time. If you take Tottenham, for an example, looks as though they’re gonna have a really good season. They lost the core of their team straight through the middle. At our level it’s difficult to replace that. That isn’t an excuse. That’s just fact. So we have to then react by bringing bodies in. And you have to be honest that we’re not at the top of the food chain when it comes to recruiting players. So these players that we bring in are going to need a little bit of time. We’re hoping that at some point we get Wannell, Williams, Jarvis, Smith, Maddox, we get those kind of players back into the group.

JK: Are any of those players? I mean Jacob Maddox when we spoke previously, we’re hoping the short term injury. Are any of them any closer to being involved in first team action?

MC: I think the first one back will be probably maybe Michael Smith. There maybe Wannell, then maybe maybe Williams and Jarvis in that order.

JK: And we’re still talking weeks away in all those cases as well?

MC: They won’t be available for Saturday.

JK: With regards to York this season, obviously, having a very, very good season on the football side of it. What have you made of them and how difficult will they be on Saturday?

MC: Yeah, good football team. They’ve got good players. They’ve recruited heavily, and they’ve got money to burn, but they’ve recruited good players. The manager there, I think the recruitment that he’s done has been really good and tough team to play against. They’ll be disappointed that Barnet have got so far ahead of them, but they’ll want to cement their place in the top three to make sure if they are in the playoffs, they get a home tie.

JK: For some Yeovil fans, and I’d imagine other people involved in the game, there’ll be a bit of added spice, given that the former relationship between the now owner of York and Yeovil Town. Does that play into any anybody’s mind? Does that make any difference to what was going to happen on Saturday?

MC: Certainly not for me, it’s, I don’t have to explain that everyone knows what went on and listen people, people mature, people grow up. It is what it is. Seems to be the nature of football. 

JK: And I know from our conversations over the course season, you’re always looking at individuals to bring into the club. We’re now chatting on Thursday. Are you optimistic there may be another name through the door before, before play begins on Saturday?

MC: Yeah, ideally, we’d like to sign a couple of experienced players to help the group, because, like I said, it’s difficult to replace the boys that we’ve lost. And that’s not to say that the players we’ve brought in are just makeweights in their own rights. They’re really good players, they’re finding the way in the game, and if you put yourself in a young player’s position coming into the other night, and the atmosphere and the negativity, it’s a really difficult place. Now, of course, we’d love to bring in two experienced players wit physicality that can help us, but that’s a tough, tough job to get those kind of players at this stage of the season to come to Yeovil at the moment. All I’d say is the players need support. That’s all we’re going to be focusing on is, is supporting the players. 

JK: You talked about pressure on the players and supporting them. What about yourself? Do you feel the pressure at any times? How do you deal with pressure yourself?

MC: Of course, you feel, as a man, as a proud person, you feel pressure, and you don’t want to let people down, certainly the players. You just have to keep going. If you’d have said to us at the start of the season, if we could finish the top half, or near the top half or mid table, I think we’d have took that.  Now we have to make sure that we do that, finish that off, and we put things in place next year, loads of things in place, and the infrastructure that make things better.

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Mark Cooper spoke to BBC Radio Somerset’s Mark Stillman after the Glovers’ 3-0 defeat to strugglers Boston.

Mark Stillman: Mark, just your immediate thoughts to tonight’s defeat?

Mark Cooper : Disappointed, disappointed. We committed Harakiri. Gave three horrendous goals away. Obviously, when you’re 2-0 down from nothing, it then puts the pressure on the players, and it gets from bad to worse, really. There wasn’t a lot in the game, three mistakes, really, every time the ball went in our box it looked like they were going to score.

MS: Has there been a problem recently that changes you’ve been forced into making. It feels like, building up those relationships, partnerships on the pitch. It just hasn’t clicked because of all the changes you’ve had to make?

MC:  No one’s really interested about injuries or people leaving the club or transfers. No one’s really bothered about that, they just want to see a performance. And I take responsibility. I sign the players, I take responsibility for the performance. We’d love to have Jake Wannell, Aaron Jarvis, Morgan Williams, Frank Nouble in the team, but they’re big chunks out of the team, and we’re relying on young boys like McGuckin, Wilson, McLean. We’re relying on them to try and get us through.

MS: Is it fair to say it’s not a lack of desire. It’s just not happening at the moment. You don’t see a lack of effort out there?

MC: We’re just immature. Another team, you know, like I said before, we’re trying to bring in the best players that we can to replace the injured players, but there’s only so much that we can pay, plus you’ve got, at this stage of the season, you’ve got to try and get players to come to Yeovil and it’s, it’s really, really tough. I mean, we spent days on the phone to try and replace the players that are missing, and it’s tough.

MS: You said about the manner of the goals conceded, we agreed with it on radio, is it saying you almost feel helpless as a manager when there’s individual to have mistakes?

MC: Yeah, the first goal, their centre forward runs straight through middle. The second one is a back pass, and the third one, a long throw bounces on our six yard box. So listen, it’s what it is. I take responsibility for it. Players tried. You can’t say they didn’t try. They worked really hard, but [there’s] been a lot going on in the last couple of days.

MS: It feels like the last week must be one of the most difficult you’ve had at the club?

MC: Yeah, like I say we lost the players that we’ve lost, and trying to replace them has been really tough, and we just have to give support to the boys that come in and are new. We have to try and get them through that. We have to try and resolve the situation with Frank Nouble and see what happens with that.

Frank Nouble Leads The Glovers Out
Pic Gary Brown

MS: Can you give us the latest on that, you were very open, and we’re grateful for that. Pre match. What’s been going on with Frank Nouble?

MC: So, Frank wanted to go to Gateshead. Somebody from Gateshead approached him that we’ve now found out, have got no influence or don’t own the football club. I think this person did a deal with Frank’s agent, which obviously then unsettled Frank, which it would do because he had a good deal going to Gateshead, and then it went quiet, and we then found out that there was no deal, and the person that was doing a deal with Frank’s agent, and Frank had no jurisdiction to do the deal, because as far as I’m aware, he doesn’t yet own Gateshead, so, really disappointing from Gateshead’s side of it, and feel sorry for Frank, really, but you know, he wanted to go.

Frank wanted to go, and he made it clear that he wanted to go and play for Gateshead. So, we granted that wish, but it’s fell through. So we wait to see now what happens. We’d have loved Frank to be in the team tonight, because he would have made a big difference for us,

MS: Do you think he’ll play for Yeovil again?

MC: I don’t know, I don’t know where it is. As far as we’re aware, we’ve been told that Frank’s deals off, so he’s still our player. So we’ll have to see what happens in the next couple of days.