We’ve been giant-killed! The FA Cup dream is over after a disappointing late defeat at the hands of lower league Chesham United yesterday. Dave was one of the approx 250 in the away end(s) in Buckinghamshire and here are his thoughts on the match.


The Cup should mean something more:
Mark Cooper called it “unacceptable”, Frank Nouble apologised for it and both responses were warranted. For long periods of yesterday’s match we seemed like we were happy to settle for a draw and a replay back at Huish Park on Tuesday. As on so many occasions in matches under Mark Cooper, it was when we moved the ball quickly and positively that things happened and yet it just didn’t happen often enough. Controlled, yes, but even without that control Chesham United are in the First Round Proper of the Cup. Call me an old fogey, but with our history in this competition, the very mention of the FA Cup should raise our players. Yesterday it didn’t appear to.

There was no conviction in front of goal: We have spoken so often about the array of attacking talents we have. This season they are simply not doing it. Okay, we were missing Aaron Jarvis yesterday and whoever decided allowing Dylan Morgan to get Cup tied whilst out on loan at Weston-super-Mare needs to take a long, hard look at themselves, but we should have had enough. Josh Sims had an opportunity  you would expect a player of his pedigree to do better with, Jordan Young was back to his old trick of taking another touch (and another), and Frank Nouble was, by his own admission, out of sorts again. It is good to hear the players take responsibility and say they need to do better, but there’s a point when words have to become actions. Is two goals in seven games that point it becomes time for change? Probably not, but probably not far off it.

Raphael Araoye attempts to “do” his marker.

Araoye is not a full-back: If I heard one person call on Raph Araoye to “do” his defender yesterday, I heard a million. Truth is, he is not Alex Whittle, he is a left-sided centre-half and, whilst he is capable of putting a decent ball in, he is never going to pound the touchline. That said, he’ll probably be more disappointed at being outjumped for Chesham’s winner.

Good luck to The Generals: After my pre-match chat with Chesham joint manager James Duncan, I don’t mind admitting I have a bit of a soft spot for The Generals. Everyone I met at The Meadow seemed genuinely nice folk and whilst I don’t think I could say their performance necessarily earned the result, they kept themselves in with a puncher’s chance and landed the knock-out blow when it came. Sometimes that is all you need in the FA Cup and good luck to them in the competition this season. 

The Meadow, the home of Chesham United.

Time to concentrate on the league: The lack of a Cup campaign is a disappointment, but it isn’t the end of the world. We can all agree (well, possibly not) our league position is not too bad right now. In the coming weeks we have games  which present serious chances of getting points on the board. Wealdstone and Tamworth away and Maidenhead United at home, all feel like teams we should be looking to get points off. That said, if they look at our goal-scoring record and think the same.


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Mark
3 months ago

Four strikers leaving during the summer (two being proven goalscorers) being replaced by one, or possibly two (depending on where Harvey Greenslade ends up playing), was always going to be a recipe for disaster.
Mark Cooper is the one who allowed Dylan Morgan to get cup-tied.
The biggest surprise this season was Cooper’s decision to recall Morgan, when he clearly had no intention of ever selecting him again. Remember Linton, Pollock, Maguire-Drew & Buse.

David Coates
3 months ago
Reply to  Mark

Whilst I agree that we have not strengthened in attacking areas sufficiently, but would take issue with the suggestion Cooper has “no intention of ever selecting (Morgan) again.” He has started every match since he returned and was only not involved at Chesham as he was Cup-tied. A bonkers decision to let him play for Weston, as I say.

Mark
3 months ago
Reply to  David Coates

David,

I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say, or, perhaps I didn’t explain it very well.
I meant that when he sent him out to Weston-Super-Mare on a three month loan & allowed him to play for them in the FA Cup he had no intention of ever selecting him for Yeovil again.
Something clearly happened between the two of them. I don’t know whether it was words spoken, the player not doing what he was asked to do, or, possibly he (Morgan) stated he was fit to play in one of the early season games & he wasn’t.
If it was really a fitness issue as the manager stated at the time, it would’ve been a one month loan not three months & he wouldn’t have allowed him to play in the FA Cup.
Prior to the Aldershot game Cooper did his usual televised interview. I didn’t watch the interview myself but my brother did & told me that Cooper was asked about Morgan & Jordan Thomas & was evasive. A couple of days later & Morgan’s back in the team!
Manager’s rarely tell the truth when a player goes out on loan. The reality is they’ve decided they don’t want/need them but for obvious reasons they don’t say that publicly.
What has Cooper signing Will Buse done to be refused a squad number this season? Clearly, Cooper has no intention of ever selecting him for Yeovil again. He clearly hasn’t done anything wrong or else Yeovil could sack him. We must therefore conclude the manager just doesn’t like him & hopes by freezing him out he can get him to move. This is a terrible way to treat any player.

Essex Glover
3 months ago

Couldn’t hit a barn door with a banjo. Cooper said all the right words after the game but there is
no way we can just go out and get a proven goal scorer.Bitterly disappointing to say the least and if we carry on like this crowds will dwindle dramatically.

Jon
3 months ago

I’m all for ‘In Cooper We Trust’, but he seems incapable or unwilling to shoulder any of the blame. There is no reason at all that Frank should be the one taking the pelters alone. It was disappointing and very, very poor. I think we are in for a very long season, and I’m not confident that we’re good enough to survive in this league. We just aren’t ruthless enough.