Topics

1

The B-Ark / v Doncaster

« on: July 12, 2023, 07:34:56 AM »

Much the same observations as Saturday in terms of our style of play. We started well and scored a good goal (Ward again) from a quick incisive move. Donny then had a good patch. Given that they constantly exposed our wing back system (particularly on their left, so I felt a bit sorry for Essien) and Cully did nothing about it, I can only suppose he was determined to try it out. The right back trialist in the second half and consequent change of formation made us more secure. Jake L in goal in the second half was excellent in his distribution and composure (and made a couple of first-class saves). What I liked was that the ball was not just going wide every time when building from the back which is what happens so often, but players in the middle were making themselves available. Again, we had plenty of movement. Gyasi looked lively when he came on for 30 mins. I certainly think we are going to enjoy watching this team and its brand of football. The players are hard-working as well as trying to play the game in the right way. UTP.

PS I started think during the second half (dangerous, I know) how many of those players whose loss we bemoaned at the end of last season (rightly, in many ways) would have been comfortable playing in this system. Answers on a postcard, please.........

2

The B-Ark / V Boston Town

« on: July 09, 2023, 07:40:52 AM »

I suppose one of us ought to write something on here! Very interesting. The most obvious observation is that we know what style we will be playing - possession-based, to feet, with movement. I'm struggling to remember any long ball. The players (and there were two different sides in each half, giving every member of the squad and, I think, four young trialists - that in itself an improvement on the usual numbers in pre-season - a go) are clearly buying into this approach. Players looked comfortable on the ball, and although one or two particularly took the eye this is not the time and place to start making claims for X and Y etc. Time will tell. From what I saw and have heard, Cully and his staff are providing the right conditions and atmosphere for the players to progress and do well. I like the style, feel things are going in the right direction and am glad I drove over yesterday!

3

The B-Ark / Non-League Finals Day

« on: May 22, 2023, 08:31:02 AM »

I had a great time at this yesterday, and can thoroughly recommend it if you haven't been (it's only £25 for both games, and just a tenner for me having hit a certain age). The finals were interesting rather than riveting, and if the Trophy final was indicative of the level in the NL I don't think we need to be too worried about the standard when and if we get back there. Well done to both Ascot and Halifax.

Half the fun was having time to look around the 'new' Wembley (it was my first time) without excessive crowds, and it was great to mix (in the neutral supporters section) with fans of QPR, Reading, Chelsea etc. It would be even better to go back next year with the Pilgrims in the final again!

4

The B-Ark / BPA

« on: March 19, 2023, 05:48:56 AM »

Well, it wasn't pretty but I suppose that's to be expected in these relegation tussles. After we were distinctly second best in the first half, at least Cully was decisive enough to change the system that wasn't working at half time and not wait any longer. Am delighted that Ben Pollock was finally MOM.

5

The B-Ark / Abbott leaves

« on: October 11, 2022, 01:22:00 PM »

Boston United have terminated the contract of midfielder Brad Abbott by mutual consent. https://www.bostonunited.co.uk/news/abbott-makes-united-exit-2735271.html

I wondered where he was on Saturday.

6

The B-Ark / NLN Managerial Merry-Go-Round

« on: September 29, 2022, 07:49:50 PM »

.... has got going. Brackley have ditched Kevin Wilkin and replaced him with Roger Johnson, Gloucester have got rid of their manager, and now James Rowe has been charged it seems he's resigned at the vanity club Fylde (I still haven't got over their announcer's complete lack of class when we beat them in the play off semi-final - a sad comparison with the much lamented Mick Fixter).

7

The B-Ark / V Telford

« on: September 25, 2022, 07:42:09 AM »

Not as pretty as the previous 2 games, but we rode our luck (fortunately Telford's shooting was poor and we made some excellent blocks) and held on. Davies had a good game in goal. Our full backs were rarely allowed to get forward and we lacked width as a result. But we battled and still tried to play to feet. UTP.

8

The B-Ark / Alfreton off again!

« on: March 01, 2022, 01:31:47 PM »

As it says! https://www.bostonunited.co.uk/

9

The B-Ark / The perils of going full time

« on: January 28, 2022, 01:48:22 PM »

I see Gloucester's experiment is finishing. I particularly like the line about them going back to it if onfield fortunes improve. Rather daft if you do better part time. We seem to have played some of our best stuff against full time sides.

https://www-gloucestershirelive-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/gloucester-city-abandon-full-time-6562695.amp?amp_js_v=a6&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16433772951802&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gloucestershirelive.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Ffootball-news%2Fgloucester-city-abandon-full-time-6562695

10

The B-Ark / Newsham v Middleton

« on: January 23, 2022, 05:40:06 PM »

For reasons with which I won't bore you, I watched Sheffield FC v Cleethorpes yesterday. Cleethorpes won 1-0 with one of the rare moments of class in the game. It was an extremely competitive and full-blooded game, marred only by play-acting which led to one player on each side being sent off. For BUFC fans it was notable to see Marc Newsham being patrolled most of the game by Ben Middleton. They pretty much cancelled each other out on a heavy pitch. Just for good measure Ryan Cresswell is now the manager at Sheffield and Jamie Yates is player/coach (he stayed on the bench yesterday).

11

The B-Ark / Elliott gone!

« on: January 04, 2022, 04:36:36 PM »

See club website....

12

The B-Ark / Alfreton off

« on: December 26, 2021, 10:43:44 AM »

Alfreton game off - waterlogged pitch!

13

The B-Ark / v Darlington

« on: November 24, 2021, 03:01:58 PM »

Whilst I'm very happy about last nights' result, I have a lot of reservations about the performance after 11 minutes of the game had elapsed, during which short period we had looked at the races (and credit to Duxbury for clearly being up for redeeming himself after Saturday).

I imagine there will be the usual clichés about the difficulties of playing against 10 men, but it doesn't help if you play into their hands for 79 minutes. Our build up was desperately ponderous and static, which gave the 10 men all the time in the world to get organised behind the ball (the same tactics, if they can be called that, that were unsuccessful against the 11 men of Stratford). We seemed to have absolutely no ambition to see the game off or to make up some of the deficit in our goal difference after those disastrous away results. I think I heard JMcD shout 'quicker' at one point, but without much conviction and I don't think he did it again, and I don't recall seeing CE call for a more urgent approach. At least Ayina tried to bring the ball forward from defence rather than just pass it sideways, which led to one or two chances in the 2nd half. And why, against 10 men, did we have 3 defenders marking one striker? I assumed this would be changed at half time, but it wasn't.

I wouldn't mind this negative approach so much if we had a squad of cloggers, but we don't. We have a number of fast and skilful players, but they are given little chance to show this. Why get them into the club if you're not going to play to their strengths? I have no confidence that our management team know their best team or organisation.

CE's reaction to our keeper being made man of the match (mocking disbelief, unless I've misread him, for those of you who were not sufficiently near the dug outs) says it all. The keeper made an excellent and crucial save when it was 1-0, and a series of others later in the game. For the keeper to be made, rightly, MOM after we played for 79 minutes against 10 men also says it all. If the management can't see this as an indictment of our performance, then we have a problem. Perhaps CE will say something different in interviews.

Am I being too critical? Periods of tedious football won't stop me from driving 50 miles each way to come to games, but I am worried that others less committed may not be encouraged to come as often as they might. I don't go in for calling for managers' heads, but I just wish we'd play with more confidence in our own attaching qualities - as we showed we can do in the first 10  minutes last night. I haven't seen us dominate another team this season for more than about 20 minutes at a time.

Rant over......

14

The B-Ark / V Telford

« on: October 13, 2021, 06:27:04 AM »

Well, we managed it but the scoreline flattered us. If someone had left after the first 20-25 minutes and seen the final score they probably wouldn't have been surprised, as we played some good stuff. But once we gave them the goal things changed. I thought they played the better football for a lot of the second half and found their players well. Too often we were careless in good positions. But we stuck at it. Garner and Shiels were outstanding. A good attendance, too, for midweek with England on the box.

15

The B-Ark / Lockdown thoughts (and some sentimentality....)

« on: November 05, 2020, 08:09:17 AM »

I spent Tuesday and most of yesterday in Boston keeping an eye on my parents, as my 92-year-old father had a hernia op (he may be known to some posters - Ken Whittle, Head of Maths at BGS for many years). On the way home I stopped to have another look of the new stadium. Whilst it is already clear that we have a team to be proud of this season, it is increasingly clear that we have a stadium that will be the envy of more or less all teams at our current level, and a good few in higher leagues. The main stand looks magnificent, and now that the area around has been cleared and the car park laid it seems even better. And to think that this was a club that 15 years or so ago had been brought to its knees by people we don't need to mention. We all know the extraordinary debt we owe to David Newton and his people, and the ground personifies this. I appreciate that I was in the fortunate position to be able to buy a season ticket recently to try and do my bit to support them after what they have done for us. It will be a proud moment for all of us when we are eventually allowed to watch a game there.

So that should be something to hold on to for the moment. I retreated to Rutland last night for the next x weeks a proud Bostonian and a very proud supporter of BUFC for the past 55 years!

Keep well everybody. UTP!

PS Sorry for the sentimentality - it must be an age thing.........