Aldershot Town 2-2 Braintree Town - Tuesday 14th January 2025 (Match Day Thread)

[Shots Fired]

Let's face it the club on and off the pitch is rotten. It desperately needs new ideas.

In the past 10-11 years we have had 2 spells where we have done well, the first under Waddock was clearly financially ruinous and we had last season..

In between times the club has been a shambles.

Only Aldershot can make the most money financially one season and then look like a basket case the next.

The more I think about last season the more I think it was achieved more by luck than judgment. If you think about the best most consistent players (Frost, Glover, Harfield, Barham, Stokes and Tolaj) 4 of those were all at the club already.. we seemed to have 1 in a million luck with the signings of Stokes and Tolaj who were both miles too good for this level and carried the side. The rest (which we are largely left with) were NLS standard. The Theo issue is a farce.

Tommy has staked a lot on his 'recruitment' ability, well this season it has been poor, maybe he's been found out. He has gained a reputation but his managerial record doesn't back it up.

This season is a carbon copy of waddocks last. I can only assume it's financial, the club seem oblivious to the situation as they were when waddock got us relegated and I can't see anything but the same outcome.

They all need to go from top to bottom.

I was thinking about last season this morning and think you may be being a touch harsh. When I think about last season we had all of those players you mentioned, Barrett came in as a great backup option and we had James Daly on loan who is now doing well in League 2 and spent most of his time coming off the bench. What would we give to have him now?!

The issue is that the season started with Hady as our main striker who frankly would have got nowhere near last year’s team and we didn’t replace the outstanding players we lost we anything like the same quality (perhaps excluding James Henry).

Agree with everything else you say however. The management team have completely lost the plot this year and it’s absolutely bizarre.

[Old Bob]

Henry seems to get a free pass because of his goal but he spent the whole time watching the game. Tetek had a poor game and gave the ball away for the second goal, and it was a good decision to sub him off on a booking. Dewhurst seemed a bit flappy and his distribution was poor. None seem to be getting the stick Theo is for last night.

Come on now! Last night was not the first game of the season, you know. We have watched Henry, Tetek, Dewhurst and Widdrington all season. To put Theo in the same category as these others is as bizarre as recent team selections.

[MikeB]

That’s fair enough and we are all hacked off about what’s going on at the club and I totally agree there have been some bizarre decisions made regarding team selection etc.
However I was brought up not to quit when the going gets a wee bit tough, I don’t know perhaps that’s becoming a rare commodity in society these days.

It's true that resilience and endurance are valuable character traits. But only for the important stuff like relationships, difficult tasks, facing adversity. Not for something that's supposed to be entertainment.

If I start watching EastEnders and then decide I don't like it, I stop watching and do something I enjoy instead. The same with football matches. It's just a game.

Surely though as a supporter you don’t walk away in the toughest times.

But it isn't "walking away", is it? That's the language I would use for a marriage or a job. Whereas this is just deciding to prioritise other things. Things that are important and/or things that bring you joy. Watching Aldershot isn't important, and if you don't enjoy it then what's the point?

[Dom Sterlings Left Leg]

Let's face it the club on and off the pitch is rotten. It desperately needs new ideas.

In the past 10-11 years we have had 2 spells where we have done well, the first under Waddock was clearly financially ruinous and we had last season..

In between times the club has been a shambles.

Only Aldershot can make the most money financially one season and then look like a basket case the next.

The more I think about last season the more I think it was achieved more by luck than judgment. If you think about the best most consistent players (Frost, Glover, Harfield, Barham, Stokes and Tolaj) 4 of those were all at the club already.. we seemed to have 1 in a million luck with the signings of Stokes and Tolaj who were both miles too good for this level and carried the side. The rest (which we are largely left with) were NLS standard. The Theo issue is a farce.

Tommy has staked a lot on his 'recruitment' ability, well this season it has been poor, maybe he's been found out. He has gained a reputation but his managerial record doesn't back it up.

This season is a carbon copy of waddocks last. I can only assume it's financial, the club seem oblivious to the situation as they were when waddock got us relegated and I can't see anything but the same outcome.

They all need to go from top to bottom.

Unless the BOD actually put the club up for sale then they are going nowhere.

I completely understand that and agree but the point remains, the club needs new ideas.

[CH]

Tonight was a huge disappointment. Do the club realise we're in a relegation battle?

Selection was all wrong. I know they both scored but tonight was another example of why Barrett and Henry should not play in the same XI. Far too slow and we lacked any ability to hold the ball up. To be fair at least Josh runs about and gets involved with play and creating chances, but Henry probably watched more of the game than most of the supporters. I know he took his goal well but Henry was a passenger for nearly all the game.

The back three was puzzling. Maghoma's strength has been dealing with big experienced strikers, and he has little ability on the ball, so is much better suited in the middle of the back three than on the right. Conversely Armitage was playing his first game for us, so let's give him John Akinde to deal with rather than on the right which was a better match-up for him.

I didn't think Theo was as bad as is made out, but with both Henry and Barrett on the pitch we needed more mobility. I thought Jones and Akpan worked very hard and put serious shifts in. Dewhurst was a little disappointing for me, particularly his kicking.

Next game has to see Stuttle start alongside Barham. We've been crying out for a striker to hold the ball up for a while now, yet now we have one we refuse to play him? Absolutely madness. I'd play him alongside Barham with Barrett in behind.

Credit to Braintree, I thought they had their moments with some nice moves, and they made us work hard for our point.

Polite question, having watched him as closely as possible this evening.

What am I missing?

I thought he made a couple of important tackles, and some important passes to start off attacking moves. He had his blunders e.g. the swing and miss in the first half, and his periods of passivity, but I don't think he deserved to be singled out. Maybe it seemed alright compared to what I'm used to seeing with him.

Henry seems to get a free pass because of his goal but he spent the whole time watching the game. Tetek had a poor game and gave the ball away for the second goal, and it was a good decision to sub him off on a booking. Dewhurst seemed a bit flappy and his distribution was poor. None seem to be getting the stick Theo is for last night.

Fair enough and thank you for replying. For what it's worth i agree with your points on Henry, Tetek and Dewhurst. All very poor.

The difference is that those three all bring something to the team and last night were very poor, but in contrast to some of their other performances and have won us points over the season with their 8 and 9 out of 10 games.

With Theo it's a release of frustration that every week it's the same, his jogging about, niggly fouls and atrocious passing are the same every week, and enduring it is getting incredibly tiresome.

I watched the Chertsey game, where he had the chance to shine and really boss a midfield. It was telling that his name wasn't even mentioned in the match report after that game.

[Sean Chambers]

It's true that resilience and endurance are valuable character traits. But only for the important stuff like relationships, difficult tasks, facing adversity. Not for something that's supposed to be entertainment.

If I start watching EastEnders and then decide I don't like it, I stop watching and do something I enjoy instead. The same with football matches. It's just a game.

Surely though as a supporter you don’t walk away in the toughest times.

But it isn't "walking away", is it? That's the language I would use for a marriage or a job. Whereas this is just deciding to prioritise other things. Things that are important and/or things that bring you joy. Watching Aldershot isn't important, and if you don't enjoy it then what's the point?

Well for me if you stop coming then it is, also probably for some watching Aldershot is important.

So you only support a team if you enjoy it got to admit that's a new one to me.

[Turnkey]

Surely though as a supporter you don’t walk away in the toughest times.

But it isn't "walking away", is it? That's the language I would use for a marriage or a job. Whereas this is just deciding to prioritise other things. Things that are important and/or things that bring you joy. Watching Aldershot isn't important, and if you don't enjoy it then what's the point?

Well for me if you stop coming then it is, also probably for some watching Aldershot is important.

So you only support a team if you enjoy it got to admit that's a new one to me.

Watching Aldershot is important to me, but it’s getting harder to justify £50 and five hours of my time after watching the tripe I saw last night.

I can cope with the poor performances, I’ve been watching for 53 years so seen enough of them, it’s the nepotism and picking the same poor players who’s face fits when there is a far better alternative on the bench that gets my goat. Watching Theo again stroll about with the game passing him by all at night really isn’t good for my mental health, but some some reason I popped along thinking maybe tonight in a must win game it may be different.

I think I’m like Alex, I’ll be at the Tamworth game but if it’s still the same, I’ll be done until Widdrington and his cronies are gone.

[MidlandsShot]

Polite question, having watched him as closely as possible this evening.

What am I missing?

I thought he made a couple of important tackles, and some important passes to start off attacking moves. He had his blunders e.g. the swing and miss in the first half, and his periods of passivity, but I don't think he deserved to be singled out. Maybe it seemed alright compared to what I'm used to seeing with him.

Henry seems to get a free pass because of his goal but he spent the whole time watching the game. Tetek had a poor game and gave the ball away for the second goal, and it was a good decision to sub him off on a booking. Dewhurst seemed a bit flappy and his distribution was poor. None seem to be getting the stick Theo is for last night.

Fair enough and thank you for replying. For what it's worth i agree with your points on Henry, Tetek and Dewhurst. All very poor.

The difference is that those three all bring something to the team and last night were very poor, but in contrast to some of their other performances and have won us points over the season with their 8 and 9 out of 10 games.

With Theo it's a release of frustration that every week it's the same, his jogging about, niggly fouls and atrocious passing are the same every week, and enduring it is getting incredibly tiresome.

I watched the Chertsey game, where he had the chance to shine and really boss a midfield. It was telling that his name wasn't even mentioned in the match report after that game.

Thanks, I do agree with what you've written, I just think Theo was being blamed by many for last night when he was far from the worst culprit. I wouldn't have him in my starting lineup, and for Saturday I'd be keen to see Frost alongside Hargreaves, and then Barrett linking them and the strikers...

[ShotOnTarget]

Let's face it the club on and off the pitch is rotten. It desperately needs new ideas.

In the past 10-11 years we have had 2 spells where we have done well, the first under Waddock was clearly financially ruinous and we had last season..

In between times the club has been a shambles.

Only Aldershot can make the most money financially one season and then look like a basket case the next.

The more I think about last season the more I think it was achieved more by luck than judgment. If you think about the best most consistent players (Frost, Glover, Harfield, Barham, Stokes and Tolaj) 4 of those were all at the club already.. we seemed to have 1 in a million luck with the signings of Stokes and Tolaj who were both miles too good for this level and carried the side. The rest (which we are largely left with) were NLS standard. The Theo issue is a farce.

Tommy has staked a lot on his 'recruitment' ability, well this season it has been poor, maybe he's been found out. He has gained a reputation but his managerial record doesn't back it up.

This season is a carbon copy of waddocks last. I can only assume it's financial, the club seem oblivious to the situation as they were when waddock got us relegated and I can't see anything but the same outcome.

They all need to go from top to bottom.

Unless the BOD actually put the club up for sale then they are going nowhere.

I completely understand that and agree but the point remains, the club needs new ideas.

But where will new ideas come from? If they were available from within, they would have come to light by now. If they come from sources considered external, history shows they are steadfastly resisted. The Club is set in it's ways and what is worse is that many supporters believe that it's something to be celebrated.

[Jason]

I thought he made a couple of important tackles, and some important passes to start off attacking moves. He had his blunders e.g. the swing and miss in the first half, and his periods of passivity, but I don't think he deserved to be singled out. Maybe it seemed alright compared to what I'm used to seeing with him.

Henry seems to get a free pass because of his goal but he spent the whole time watching the game. Tetek had a poor game and gave the ball away for the second goal, and it was a good decision to sub him off on a booking. Dewhurst seemed a bit flappy and his distribution was poor. None seem to be getting the stick Theo is for last night.

Fair enough and thank you for replying. For what it's worth i agree with your points on Henry, Tetek and Dewhurst. All very poor.

The difference is that those three all bring something to the team and last night were very poor, but in contrast to some of their other performances and have won us points over the season with their 8 and 9 out of 10 games.

With Theo it's a release of frustration that every week it's the same, his jogging about, niggly fouls and atrocious passing are the same every week, and enduring it is getting incredibly tiresome.

I watched the Chertsey game, where he had the chance to shine and really boss a midfield. It was telling that his name wasn't even mentioned in the match report after that game.

Thanks, I do agree with what you've written, I just think Theo was being blamed by many for last night when he was far from the worst culprit. I wouldn't have him in my starting lineup, and for Saturday I'd be keen to see Frost alongside Hargreaves, and then Barrett linking them and the strikers...

Theo may not have been the worst player on the pitch last night, but does his ineptitude sometimes contribute to others having dreadful games? Tetek was really poor last night, but is that because he was very often crowded out by a packed Braintree midfield who knew they only really had to focus on him, whilst Theo was several metres away as a passenger watching the game go passed him. And Braintree hardly had to worry about whenever Theo was near the ball considering he jumped for two unopposed headers and missed the ball completely and passed the ball away more times than to our own players.

I also feel Henry has looked really disillusioned recently. I wonder why. Perhaps the same reason that Willard and Glover often looked disillusioned last season, because they saw a really poor player getting game time either ahead of them, or ruining what positives we had in our team.

Let's be honest, if it were not for his dad, Theo would be playing Isthmian Premier level (at best) and even then he wouldn't be a stand out player at that level. And to think, we wasted a fee and are probably wasting a decent wage on him every week.

[Dom Sterlings Left Leg]

Unless the BOD actually put the club up for sale then they are going nowhere.

I completely understand that and agree but the point remains, the club needs new ideas.

But where will new ideas come from? If they were available from within, they would have come to light by now. If they come from sources considered external, history shows they are steadfastly resisted. The Club is set in it's ways and what is worse is that many supporters believe that it's something to be celebrated.

I'm in agreement the status quo seems to have 'seen off' enough directors in the past... wonder why that was ?!!!?? I'm in the process of resigning myself to Aldershot being a National League South standard club, it was fun while it lasted etc as I see no real positive outlook for the future under the current regime.

In my dream world I would like to see the club put up for sale in which ever legal way that is possible and take our chances.. I appreciate this will never happen because the club is worthless saddled with debt unless that is prepared to be written off (understandably won't happen)

[Fuggletim]

But it isn't "walking away", is it? That's the language I would use for a marriage or a job. Whereas this is just deciding to prioritise other things. Things that are important and/or things that bring you joy. Watching Aldershot isn't important, and if you don't enjoy it then what's the point?

Well for me if you stop coming then it is, also probably for some watching Aldershot is important.

So you only support a team if you enjoy it got to admit that's a new one to me.

Watching Aldershot is important to me, but it’s getting harder to justify £50 and five hours of my time after watching the tripe I saw last night.

I can cope with the poor performances, I’ve been watching for 53 years so seen enough of them, it’s the nepotism and picking the same poor players who’s face fits when there is a far better alternative on the bench that gets my goat. Watching Theo again stroll about with the game passing him by all at night really isn’t good for my mental health, but some some reason I popped along thinking maybe tonight in a must win game it may be different.

I think I’m like Alex, I’ll be at the Tamworth game but if it’s still the same, I’ll be done until Widdrington and his cronies are gone.

I have a couple of enforced breaks from watching in the next few months with Family commitments for the Tamworth game and a couple of months out of the UK (I’ll be back before the calendar end of the season).

However, for me watching Aldershot is a way of life and I never forget my old Everton supporting Uncle who told me that a true supporter follows their club thought thick and thin (and it Aldershot’s case, “transparent” it seems). I follow this mantra and always will, but that said, ATFC are just clueless at the moment.

Interesting watching a very distant Shahid Azeem by himself at HT just staring out over onto the pitch.

[Sean Chambers]

Well for me if you stop coming then it is, also probably for some watching Aldershot is important.

So you only support a team if you enjoy it got to admit that's a new one to me.

Watching Aldershot is important to me, but it’s getting harder to justify £50 and five hours of my time after watching the tripe I saw last night.

I can cope with the poor performances, I’ve been watching for 53 years so seen enough of them, it’s the nepotism and picking the same poor players who’s face fits when there is a far better alternative on the bench that gets my goat. Watching Theo again stroll about with the game passing him by all at night really isn’t good for my mental health, but some some reason I popped along thinking maybe tonight in a must win game it may be different.

I think I’m like Alex, I’ll be at the Tamworth game but if it’s still the same, I’ll be done until Widdrington and his cronies are gone.

I have a couple of enforced breaks from watching in the next few months with Family commitments for the Tamworth game and a couple of months out of the UK (I’ll be back before the calendar end of the season).

However, for me watching Aldershot is a way of life and I never forget my old Everton supporting Uncle who told me that a true supporter follows their club thought thick and thin (and it Aldershot’s case, “transparent” it seems). I follow this mantra and always will, but that said, it is just clueless at the moment.

Great post

[Fuggletim]

I added a little bit too it!

[Brianb]

Our beloved chairman has lost the plot if he cannot see what is happening on the field. Perhaps he is hoping that there will be four clubs worse than ours and we will be safe this yea. I cannot remember how long TW's contract is but surely the cost of replacing him and staying up is worth it. Our neighbours having changed their manager haven't lost a game yet(may Saturday). Rumour is the players were ok but just being played out of position and their results suddenly get better when played in the right position. A friend told me our chairman was at a recent WFC game, wonder if he learnt anything.