Post by sandbachhatter on Dec 1, 2013 18:29:29 GMT
...were your friendly neighbourhood CH County Life contributors, as - hopefully! - representative visiting fans.
Here's a slightly annotated version, preserving our anonymity - although any of you who bought a copy of The Silkmen at the match will know who we are!
Anyway, happy reading...
*******************************************************************************************************************
‘Macc’ and ‘Sandy’ write for the Stockport programme, on behalf of the County Heaven online fans’ forum (www.countyheaven.maxforum.org), being, respectively, Hatters based in Macclesfield (well, Tytherington) and in Sandbach. They have both been supporting County for over twenty-five years.
What have you made of the season so far?
Sandy: It’s been a real struggle to be honest which, after the past few seasons, is something County fans could have done without. I don’t think any of us expected to be promoted, but we had hoped at least to avoid successive relegation scraps.
Macc: It started well enough, both in terms of results and performances against some of the early pace-setters (including Macclesfield), but turned into a ‘winter of discontent’ from which County, like the country in general, is still battling to emerge. Hopefully, spring is just around the corner...
Can you explain some of the ongoing off-field issues?
Sandy: Not within the word limit you’ve given us! We’ve had changes at Board level this season and the decision was taken to dismiss Jim Gannon in January. The Board have since accepted that his replacement wasn’t the right appointment and we had another managerial change a couple of weeks ago. On the up side, we do have control of Edgeley Park back, Sale Sharks have moved out and the pitch has never looked better!
Macc: To be fair, we are not close enough to what has gone on to comment much further than that. It will be an interesting - albeit, to the uninitiated, quite bizarre! - chapter to read when the next update of the Club’s history comes to be written, though.
What are your initial thoughts on the recent appointment of Ian Bogie as manager?
Sandy: Well, at the time of writing he’s only had one match in charge which was Newport at home last Saturday, but we picked up an invaluable 3 points, kept a clean sheet and looked a much improved side so I’m happy so far!
Macc: After Jim Gannon’s departure, Ian, given his experience at this level, would have been a good choice of replacement. He now has a lot more to do, and in much less time, than would have been the case over eight weeks ago - but the performance against Newport bodes well for our next six ‘cup finals’, starting today!
Despite the upheaval this season, are you confident that the club can get back on track?
Sandy: First and foremost, we have to stay in the BSP. If we can avoid relegation, and Ian has the summer to take stock and change the playing squad as he sees fit, then I believe next season will be more comfortable and, ultimately, we can get back to where we belong - the Football League.
Macc: We will do. But it will not be a quick fix! Subject to our avoiding the drop, a season of relatively uneventful consolidation may do very nicely, while the new Manager takes the opportunity to shape things on the playing side.
Stockport are renowned for signing or bringing through young players. Are there any players in the current squad that can make the step up?
Sandy: It depends how big a ‘step up’ you mean! A few years ago we had young players who comfortably made the jump to the top flight – Anthony Pilkington and Ashley Williams to name two – and several more playing in the Championship. We certainly have players in the current squad who could play in the League, but we need to focus on getting them there with County first!
Macc: Of our present players, I would predict great things for the two Alexes: Kenyon and Meaney. Both are products of the Myerscough College of Excellence, and have potential to go a long way.
What are your hopes for the rest of the season and what do you want to happen in the summer?
Sandy: Survival. That’s it. I fear our outside chance of making the play-offs has finally ebbed away! As for the summer, we need to go back to the drawing board and focus on getting the right squad together to make a real go of it in 2013/14.
Macc: Yes - staying up is everything right now, as falling through the trapdoor into regional football could well leave us in a place from which there might be no easy return. This summer should entail three ‘r’s’, with Ian reviewing the players we have, rebuilding our squad, and readying it for better times next term.
Finally, a score prediction:
Sandy: I would like to hope, as the second biggest team in Cheshire(!), you might let us have the points for old time’s sake?! I’ll say 2-1 to County. Please?
Macc: We do appear to have shaken off the six-nil nightmare of Boxing Day 2005, and our more recent results at the Moss Rose have been much improved. Hopefully, a combination of ‘new manager syndrome’, and Macclesfield’s sub-conscious desire for us to stay up, thereby ensuring some more cracking Cheshire derbies next term, will work in County’s favour!! I’ll also go for a Hatters victory by the odd goal in three...and hope then to be able to walk around my neighbourhood with head held high.
Whatever the result, any Silkmen supporters who may wish to join us in the post-match discussion on County Heaven will be made very welcome. No excessive gloating, if things end up going your way, mind!
Here's a slightly annotated version, preserving our anonymity - although any of you who bought a copy of The Silkmen at the match will know who we are!
Anyway, happy reading...
*******************************************************************************************************************
‘Macc’ and ‘Sandy’ write for the Stockport programme, on behalf of the County Heaven online fans’ forum (www.countyheaven.maxforum.org), being, respectively, Hatters based in Macclesfield (well, Tytherington) and in Sandbach. They have both been supporting County for over twenty-five years.
What have you made of the season so far?
Sandy: It’s been a real struggle to be honest which, after the past few seasons, is something County fans could have done without. I don’t think any of us expected to be promoted, but we had hoped at least to avoid successive relegation scraps.
Macc: It started well enough, both in terms of results and performances against some of the early pace-setters (including Macclesfield), but turned into a ‘winter of discontent’ from which County, like the country in general, is still battling to emerge. Hopefully, spring is just around the corner...
Can you explain some of the ongoing off-field issues?
Sandy: Not within the word limit you’ve given us! We’ve had changes at Board level this season and the decision was taken to dismiss Jim Gannon in January. The Board have since accepted that his replacement wasn’t the right appointment and we had another managerial change a couple of weeks ago. On the up side, we do have control of Edgeley Park back, Sale Sharks have moved out and the pitch has never looked better!
Macc: To be fair, we are not close enough to what has gone on to comment much further than that. It will be an interesting - albeit, to the uninitiated, quite bizarre! - chapter to read when the next update of the Club’s history comes to be written, though.
What are your initial thoughts on the recent appointment of Ian Bogie as manager?
Sandy: Well, at the time of writing he’s only had one match in charge which was Newport at home last Saturday, but we picked up an invaluable 3 points, kept a clean sheet and looked a much improved side so I’m happy so far!
Macc: After Jim Gannon’s departure, Ian, given his experience at this level, would have been a good choice of replacement. He now has a lot more to do, and in much less time, than would have been the case over eight weeks ago - but the performance against Newport bodes well for our next six ‘cup finals’, starting today!
Despite the upheaval this season, are you confident that the club can get back on track?
Sandy: First and foremost, we have to stay in the BSP. If we can avoid relegation, and Ian has the summer to take stock and change the playing squad as he sees fit, then I believe next season will be more comfortable and, ultimately, we can get back to where we belong - the Football League.
Macc: We will do. But it will not be a quick fix! Subject to our avoiding the drop, a season of relatively uneventful consolidation may do very nicely, while the new Manager takes the opportunity to shape things on the playing side.
Stockport are renowned for signing or bringing through young players. Are there any players in the current squad that can make the step up?
Sandy: It depends how big a ‘step up’ you mean! A few years ago we had young players who comfortably made the jump to the top flight – Anthony Pilkington and Ashley Williams to name two – and several more playing in the Championship. We certainly have players in the current squad who could play in the League, but we need to focus on getting them there with County first!
Macc: Of our present players, I would predict great things for the two Alexes: Kenyon and Meaney. Both are products of the Myerscough College of Excellence, and have potential to go a long way.
What are your hopes for the rest of the season and what do you want to happen in the summer?
Sandy: Survival. That’s it. I fear our outside chance of making the play-offs has finally ebbed away! As for the summer, we need to go back to the drawing board and focus on getting the right squad together to make a real go of it in 2013/14.
Macc: Yes - staying up is everything right now, as falling through the trapdoor into regional football could well leave us in a place from which there might be no easy return. This summer should entail three ‘r’s’, with Ian reviewing the players we have, rebuilding our squad, and readying it for better times next term.
Finally, a score prediction:
Sandy: I would like to hope, as the second biggest team in Cheshire(!), you might let us have the points for old time’s sake?! I’ll say 2-1 to County. Please?
Macc: We do appear to have shaken off the six-nil nightmare of Boxing Day 2005, and our more recent results at the Moss Rose have been much improved. Hopefully, a combination of ‘new manager syndrome’, and Macclesfield’s sub-conscious desire for us to stay up, thereby ensuring some more cracking Cheshire derbies next term, will work in County’s favour!! I’ll also go for a Hatters victory by the odd goal in three...and hope then to be able to walk around my neighbourhood with head held high.
Whatever the result, any Silkmen supporters who may wish to join us in the post-match discussion on County Heaven will be made very welcome. No excessive gloating, if things end up going your way, mind!