Ian Perkins (Page 63)

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Venue: The Racecourse
Tuesday, 18th April, 7:45pm kick-off

Pitch: A light green turf carpet
Conditions: Bright, breezy with little cloud cover

Attendance: 10106 (217 away supporters)

Scorers: Anthony Forde 59, Jamie Jones 71, Paul Mullin 76

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Cooper 42, Freckleton 44
Wrexham: None

Referee: Michael Barlow

Yeovil Town (5-3-2)

Substitutes: Grant Smith, Jordan Young (for Siziba 69), Malachi Linton (for Bevan 23), Max Hunt, Chiori Johnson (for Griffiths 63)

Wrexham: Foster, Barnett, O’Connell, Tozer, O’Connor, Forde, J.Jones, Cannon (for Young 79), Lee, Mullin (for Palmer 87), Dalby Subs: Howard, Cleworth, McAlinden


Match Report

Yeovil Town’s relegation to National League South was confirmed emphatically this evening at the hands of Wrexham.

The Glovers performed admirably but the league leader’s quality shone through as they saw off Mark Cooper’s side 3-0. Goals from Anthony Forde, James Jones and Paul Mullin put Wrexham on course for promotion to the EFL.

Here’s how the match went…

First half

The opening exchanges were even, with Yeovil keeping some nice control of the ball. In the 8th minute when Freckleton was dispossessed the Glovers got their first taste of the Wrexham attack. Mullin drilled a cross through the 18 yard box and Anthony Forde’s shot was charged down by Yeovil defenders.

Yeovil had a couple of efforts from corners shortly afterward, with Charlie Cooper drawing ire from the Wrexham faithful for his placement of the ball on the corner arc.

Wrexham nearly opened the scoring in the 13th minute with Andy Cannon’s drilled effort going wide of the post with Will Buse well-beaten.

Yeovil were forced into a 22nd minute change when Owen Bevan injured after a push in the back by Paul Mullin saw him pull his thigh. Malachi Linton entered the fray at left wing back. Despite Max Hunt being on the bench…

Yeovil managed to carve out an opportunity in the 26th minute with Matt Worthington’s effort stinging the gloves of former England international Ben Foster.

Both side traded possession with Wrexham finding gaping holes on their spacious pitch and moving the ball around nicely. 

Wrexham had a half chance through a header in box after Ben Tozer’s long throw.

After the early efforts, the Glover did find themselves under the cosh and were only able to clear the ball long and invite Wrexham pressure.

Reo Griffiths was dispossessed in stoppage which allowed Elliott Lee to turn and escape Charlie Cooper and Scott Pollock. Lee found Mullin on the edge of the box but he fluffed his lines and skied the ball into the building site behind Buse’s goal.

Half time: Wrexham 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

After the half time break it was much of the same, with Yeovil trying to soak up pressure and hit Wrexham on the counter. 

It wasn’t until the 56th minute that something gave, with Cannon having another effort from outside the box that was deflected wide as Buse scrambled across his goal.

Just before the hour mark, a slip by Pollock on the edge of the box allowed Anthony Forde time to pick up the ball and work some space and fire a deflected effort into the bottom corner past Buse. 1-0

As a response, Yeovil introduced Chiori Johnson for Reo Griffiths, moving Linton to centre forward.

Wrexham came close to doubling their lead in the 65th minute after a collision in the box fell to Mullin whose deflected effort looped over the bar.

In the 71st minute the second goal came. A scramble in the six yard box just couldn’t be mopped up and JAMES JONES doubled the league leader’s lead. 2-0.

It was nearly a third moments later but for terrific save from Buse. A sloppy touch from Josh Staunton allowed Paul Mullin the chance inside the 18 yard box but the Bristol City loanee was equal to it.

PAUL MULLIN scored his 45th goal of the season in the 76th. A cross from Barnett on the right hand side found him unmarked to nod to the far post past the helpless Buse. 3-0

Former Yeovil man Ben Tozer did his best to get a fourth but Buse made yet another impressive save.

Wrexham’s substitute Young called Buse into action again moments later as the Glovers desperately sought the final whistle.

On the 87th minute, Paul Mullin was replaced by Ollie Palmer. Depth.

Foster was called into his first action of the second half in the 88th minute as Jordan Young spotted the goalkeeper off his line and fired in a testing effort.

Yeovil tried for a consolation goal but couldn’t break down Wrexham whose jubilation was matched with the despondence amongst Yeovil supporters.

Full time: Wrexham 3 Yeovil Town 0

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When Seb White (Editor at Large of MundialMag.com) asks you if you want some of his old files, more often than not you say yes. This time, he’s offered Gloverscast the PDF of the special commemorative magazine ‘Slope and Glory’ celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the 1948/49 FA Cup run, including the famous triumph over Sunderland.

If you’re on mobile tap the pdf and you’ll be able to scroll through. While you’re at it, give Seb’s YTFC episode of the brilliant ‘Giant’ podcast a listen.

 

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Ian, Ben and Dave talk about the 2-2 draw with Solihull from the weekend, those half time changes and our impending relegation. We look ahead to the trip to Wrexham and take your GCQs. 

Thank you for your continued support of the Gloverscast. Remember to add Gloverscast.co.uk to your favourites and check the website daily for the latest news and views from Huish Park.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Leave us a review and share the pod with a pal.

We’d love to welcome some local businesses into the Gloverscast family through advertising. If you’re a business that would like to speak to a dedicated audience of more than 1000 monthly listeners, please get in touch. Find out more about advertising with us here.

If you have an idea for the website, want to contribute or just want to send us a message, feel free to email ian@gloverscast.co.uk.

 

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Mark Cooper stressed the importance of clarity for the future of Yeovil Town, as the Glovers look destined for National League South next season.

A second half fightback saw Yeovil earn a point against Solihull Moors but defeat at Wrexham on Tuesday will confirm relegation to regional football.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the match, Cooper said his players were fr*strated at the situation they find themselves in. “They’re frustrated by what’s happened, but like I said last week, it didn’t need to happen. But it has, and we have to see it now as rock-bottom for the club.

“I think everyone needs to look at it as a chance to rebuild. It’s a chance to put real good building blocks in place. Right people in the right positions. Recruit a really good squad on top of the boys, we’ve got some exciting players at the club for next year. The recruitment has got to be spot on because if you get it wrong at the start of the season, or during the season, it’s really difficult to recover.”

He also reiterated his desire to be at the club next season: “I get excited about the future, as I said when I came here I was desperate to build the club and to put it back where it belongs. I still want to do that, but it’s [the club] not what it said on the tin. So we all have to take a little bit of blame. We have got a group of four or five warriors that are desperate for the club to succeed and we have to add to the group.

With deafening silence around the takeover of the club (it’s been 46 days since the stewardship announcement) Cooper called for clarity for supporters and staff at Huish Park.

“If the takeover goes through, there’s a lot of us not going to be here, there’s no point beating around the bush. But I want to be here. Look, nobody knows what’s going to happen, the takeover has been going on for a long time now. For the sake of the supporters of the club and the really good people that work at the club, it’s so important that they get clarity.”

The manager was disappointed with his side’s opening 20 minutes, which saw them go 2-0 down to goals from Josh Kelly. After the introduction of Reo Griffiths and Zanda Siziba at half time the Glovers improved and on balance, should have left with all three points. 

On the changes Cooper said: “We’re having to make changes after 20-odd minutes. We were powder-puff for 20 minutes and we tweaked a couple of bits and from then on in we looked as though we were going to be a threat.

“I think a lot of it’s fear. Players are frightened to make a mistake but we haven’t got time for that. You’ve got to seize the moment, if you get an opportunity in the team you’ve got to take. The changes we made affected the game and we’ve ended up getting something out of it.”

Griffiths and Siziba, who have been used sparingly since signing for the club, made a big impact and Cooper said their absences we’re not down to their ability.

“It’s not about ability. I said to the whole group it’s not about ability, that’s only one part. It’s about application and being a really good professional. If players show that, they get opportunities to play, if they don’t, and work as hard of the rest of the players then they don’t. It’s as simple as that, it’s an unwritten rule for us that you have to buy in to the group and work hard.”

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Guest Blog by Jake Gallagher

If social media is any barometer there’s been a clear feeling within the fanbase that the club’s recruitment this season has been truly abysmal. And I agree. We all agree. Even the people doing the recruiting agree.

I wanted to understand how you can possibly get it so wrong, ask who is responsible and ultimately look at what the bones of the squad will look like next season.

Now if you include all the players who’ve been named in the matchday squad at least once – then the club has had forty-five (45) players on its books this season. Forty-fucking-five.

It’s a genuine shambles but I’ve tried to make sense of it. Here goes…

Yeovil Town Football Club signed thirty-six (36) players since the start of 2022/23. I’ve unpacked this into segments. It isn’t a perfect exercise but it’s enough to make conclusions thinking about these questions:

  1. Who Signed Them?
  2. How Many Have Been Successful?
  3. Where Are They Now?
  4. Will They Be Here Next Season?

Who Signed Them?

Believe it or not, eighteen (18) of the players were signed under Chris Hargreaves and eighteen (18) were signed under Mark Cooper. A perfect 50/50 split. Or is it?

It’s obviously more nuanced than that given the club has had a change of ownership or ‘stewardship’ since the beginning of March and a new recruitment process/mess has been in flight.

Therefore, the pie chart looks more like this with new owner Matt Uggla taking responsibility, as stated on social media, for six signings since SU Glovers’ arrival in town.

How Many Have Been Successful?

Very few is the short answer.

The chart below demonstrates that just four (out of 36), in my opinion of course, have been successful and remain playing for the club today.

Some that I’ve deemed successful aren’t at the club anymore. The likes of Alfie Pond, Sam Pearson and Jamie Andrews are all examples of good talent identification and go down as good signings despite the short impact they had. It’s just a shame we couldn’t keep hold of them.

These players are now playing at a higher level – you could argue if we were fortunate enough to hold on to them for the full campaign, we’d be the handful of points better off to be out of the relegation zone.

Overall though the recruitment has been bordering on incompetent. The process resembles a blubbering drunken lady walking out of Neo nightclub looking for a 2:00am barrel-scraping shag and turning up with Matt Grivosti. Just one single match scouting this player would’ve told you he’s not good enough for National League football. Certainly not right now anyway.

I’d suggest that just four signings can be deemed successful and for a couple of these you could accuse me of being kind. Owen Bevan, Charlie Cooper, Scott Pollock and Jordan Stevens are the names I have in the successful bucket. Bevan has bled green and white while Cooper is clearly good enough for this level – if you can ignore his persistent whinging at the referee which annoys me so greatly. Stevens and Pollock are similar types of players and are certainly ones for the future given their age.

So how then can you get it so wrong that just 11% of this season’s signings can be considered successful? That’s a hit-rate of just over 1 in 10!

I genuinely hand on heart believe that I, a person who works at football statistics website WhoScored.com, could’ve overseen recruitment at Yeovil Town and had a better strike rate than 1 in 10. I could’ve used Sports Interactive’s Football Manager game as my only scouting tool and had a healthier hit-rate.

Where Are They Now?

The revolving door at Huish Park is knackered but still we had new players joining into late March. I’m aware that’s not unusual – but needing to make six signings in March is surely not a sign of a settled squad.

Most won’t be here next season, of course, due to the nature of their deals while some were just not good enough for the level required.

Of the thirty-six signings made, fifteen played first team games and found themselves leaving via the A303 just weeks later. Gime Toure, Jake Scrimshaw and Louis Britton are examples of players were awarded permanent contracts and left by mutual consent after not making the grade.

We made two permanent signings that are currently out on loan. Ben Richards-Everton and Ollie Hulbert. You can file these under ‘didn’t work out’ I suppose.

Will They Be Here Next Season?

This is up for debate and in some cases will depend on relegation clauses and other information I don’t have access to.

The likes of Jordan Maguire-Drew, Zanda Siziba, Will Dawes, Alex Fisher, Malachi Linton, Charlie Cooper, Scott Pollock, Jordan Stevens and Jordan Young have been signed on contracts that should see them here next season. Whether they want to or not is another matter.

There are others such as Jamie Reckord who have an option for another year should the club and player wish to renew. Chiori Johnson has a contract up for renewal and could be given a new deal if the new management believe he’s at the required level. After Saturday’s needless and naïve second yellow card, I’d think twice about renewing.

On the ‘definitely won’t be here next season’ list are mostly loan players such as Miguel Freckleton and Will Buse and I’m going to confidently predict that Callum Harriott (too good for this level) and Ben Richards-Everton (fans haven’t warmed to him) won’t be playing for Yeovil Town come August despite being permanent members of the playing staff right now.

As it stands, we have twelve players on contract until at least 2024 and two with options to extend beyond the summer in Reckord and Hulbert. Any notions that we should ‘rip up the squad and start again’ are foolish. Clearly a reset is required but there are players at this club who should be here next season irrespective of what league we find ourselves in.

In among those twelve under contract are players who will be ready for football in the National League South and can develop as the club progresses. Players like Stevens, Pollock, Young, Linton. We need hang on to them – they are the young, exciting forward players we must get behind in 2023/24.

Conclusion

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that the recruitment has been embarrassing. It’s the main reason (though there are so many reasons) why we’re going down – we can all see it.

In true ‘An Inspector Calls’ fashion, absolutely everyone running the club is to blame. That’s everyone who dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s on the incoming transfers.

Chris Hargreaves’ summer signings of Jake Scrimshaw and Ben Richards-Everton didn’t give the team a solid start back in August and we’ve been playing catch up ever since. Mark Cooper’s early dealings bringing in Anthony Georgiou and Louis Britton were complete failures and left us short of quality. More recently our deadline day call to opt against bringing in Frank Nouble, a player who had all but been announced as a Yeovil Town player, showed a lack of joined up thinking between the management and new ownership.

All in all, our impending relegation has been compounded by the Uggla versus Cooper handbags that have been increasing in viciousness as each weekend passes with another L next to Yeovil Town’s form. The pair have continued to stoop to take swipes at each other, through the media usually, with a clear disagreement across the board including the abilities of our latest signings Reo Griffiths and Zanda Siziba.

It’s time for the people running the football club to put their egos away, put their big boy pants on and start showing some leadership without plastering their thoughts on social media. I believe we should part ways with Cooper sooner rather than later, he’s a bad egg whose obnoxiousness and goading behaviour is bleeding the fanbase of optimism in what should be an exciting time under new ownership. The only way is up from here.

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Ian and Ben chat through the Aldershot draw, talk about today’s huge match and take your GCQs.

Come on you Glovers – it’s the biggun today!

Thank you for your continued support of the Gloverscast. Remember to add Gloverscast.co.uk to your favourites and check the website daily for the latest news and views from Huish Park.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Leave us a review and share the pod with a pal.

We’d love to welcome some local businesses into the Gloverscast family through advertising. If you’re a business that would like to speak to a dedicated audience of more than 1000 monthly listeners, please get in touch. Find out more about advertising with us here.

If you have an idea for the website, want to contribute or just want to send us a message, feel free to email ian@gloverscast.co.uk.

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Yeovil stopped a run of three defeats in a row to get a point at Aldershot. Ian was at the EBB stadium in the sunshine…

A draw was tough to take. This was the epitome of a six-pointer and one where in hindsight we could have really done with three points. York, Halifax, Gateshead and Torquay all got wins with Gary Johnson’s side leapfrogging Yeovil after their third win in a row. We’re now in 22nd, five points behind Aldershot in 19th. In truth, I didn’t have a clear enough view for our penalty appeal, but many think it should have been. Aldershot had a golden opportunity to grab victory from the spot and they didn’t. Maybe lady luck is on our side for the run in…

We improved from Tuesday. The bar was low right? But we looked more like a side yesterday. Defensively we looked okay, although giving the tallest man on the pitch a free header in the box was less than ideal. In midfield were still trying to find a combination that clicks, is fit enough to last and can create chances. I wouldn’t describe us at outstanding, but from the very low standards on Tuesday, we’ve pulled out a performance and arrested the slide.

Everything good came from Matt Worthington. As important as Staunton is at the back of the pitch, Worthington is at the front. He’s a leader on that pitch, setting an example to all his teammates. He assists the equaliser, is always an option for a team mate and was the legs getting in behind the Aldershot defence on plenty of occasions. He’s really stood out for me this season and when we’ve not had him in the side, we’ve missed him.

Matt Worthington. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

We came out in our numbers. 529 Glovers made the trip on Good Friday to try and roar the team to victory. It was an amazing effort after the dismal showing on Tuesday and it shows, even when times are tough, the amazing support this club has. SU Glovers were on the terrace in the thick of it and will have felt that support and hopefully have a plan to harness that energy when they complete this protracted takeover. 

Admittedly I’m struggling with this one, but we have to try and believe. There are still games to go, and it’s not over yet. We could still do it. Aldershot weren’t much of a side. If we can build on this point and get something from Dorking, confidence can grow and we may do something. Its the National League after all. If Elon Musk can crash twitter once and for all we may actually shut down all this ridiculous noise that is not helpful in a fight for survival. On social media many have gone from ‘supporting the team, not the regime’ to supporting the not-yet regime rather than the team.

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Venue: EBB Stadium
Friday, 7th April, 3:00pm kick-off

Attendance:

Pitch: 
Conditions:

Scorers: Cordner, 50 (1-0), Harriott, 68 (1-1)

Bookings:

Yeovil Town: Cooper 12, Young 48, Staunton 54
Aldershot: Corndner 31, Campbell 77, Klass 96

Referee: James Durkin

Yeovil Town (4-3-3)


Substitutes: Hunt, Reckord, Harriott (for Law, 58) Pollock (for Young, 58) Oluwabori (for Worthington 88)

Aldershot: Ashby-Hammond, Barham, Campbell, Cordner, Glover, Harfield, Jordan, McQuoid, Mnoga, Ochieng, Partington

Substitutes: Amaluzar (For Partington 66), Klass (for McQuoid 69), Hutchinson (For Barham 75) Rowe, Thomas.

Match Report

Yeovil Town earned a point at Aldershot this afternoon in a game of expected quality between 20th and 21st in the National League. Results around the Glovers mean that Mark Cooper’s side fall to 22nd this evening.

A nervy first half never saw many chances, but Grant Smith was forced into action in the 26th minute. 

In the second half, former Weymouth man Tyler Cordner headed in from a corner to give Aldershot the lead.

In the 65th minute the Glovers equalised. Malachi Linton released Matt Worthington on the right wing and his cross found Callum Harriott in the box to give the Glovers hope.

Linton found space on left of the box but could only put his effort into the side netting.

Drama ensued before the final whistle when Aldershot were awarded a controversial penalty. Yeovil lost out on the edge of the Aldershot box and as Campbell broke, in seemingly an offside position, he was brought down by Chiori Johnson.

Fortunately for the Glovers, Jake Hutchinson skied his penalty but a point doesn’t feel enough right now.

Full time: Aldershot 1 Yeovil Town 1

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We’re trying, honestly, to be hopeful! Dave, Ben and Ian are here to talk about the aftermath of the 4-0 defeat at Gateshead, and somehow look forward to Aldershot today.

Thank you for your continued support of the Gloverscast. Remember to add Gloverscast.co.uk to your favourites and check the website daily for the latest news and views from Huish Park.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Leave us a review and share the pod with a pal.

We’d love to welcome some local businesses into the Gloverscast family through advertising. If you’re a business that would like to speak to a dedicated audience of more than 1000 monthly listeners, please get in touch. Find out more about advertising with us here.

If you have an idea for the website, want to contribute or just want to send us a message, feel free to email ian@gloverscast.co.uk.

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On this month’s episode of the Gloverscast, Ben and Dave speak to a goalscoring hero, Kirk Jackson. What we’d do for him eh?

Thank you for your continued support of the Gloverscast. Remember to add Gloverscast.co.uk to your favourites and check the website daily for the latest news and views from Huish Park.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Leave us a review and share the pod with a pal.

We’d love to welcome some local businesses into the Gloverscast family through advertising. If you’re a business that would like to speak to a dedicated audience of more than 1000 monthly listeners, please get in touch. Find out more about advertising with us here.

If you have an idea for the website, want to contribute or just want to send us a message, feel free to email ian@gloverscast.co.uk.