Got out of my sick bed on a beautiful afternoon arrived at the ground and was informed that Trav was not in the starting line up. Not a problem as we have a good looking side on paper. then informed that no defender amongst the subs although there was Trav stripped and ready for combat looking as fit and lean as the proverbial "Butchers Dog"
Three quality subs Tom Widdoson, Tom Williams & Scott Blainey, an attacking formation if ever I saw one but no defender!

Guess what, within the first quater heanor suffer a setback as the central defender has a knock and has to leave the field. On goes Tom Widdoson to play at center half. I am a great fan of his and I am sure he will give 100% wherever he is asked to play, but he isn't a defender and the clubs most experienced defender is not on the team sheet although there he is sat in the dug-out!!!

We lost 3-2 against a side who were reduced to 10 men half way through the second half and further reduced to 9 in the last 5 to 10 minutes, we gave away two silly penalties, both arguably poor decisions on the part of the Ref but two goals resulted.

What were you thinking of Messrs Rodgers and Kelsey? I think you lost the plot yestyerday.

An even worse performance on your part as the debacle at Nettleham the week before.

I feel time is running out for you to prove yourselves.

o dear stevey boy, at it again? i'm glad you can take time out of your busy schedule to comment but then comes the question, wots the flamin point! you only seem to see the bad games, or at least comment on them. granted the prims game werent fantastic but we we're strong and played good football, i weren't at yesterdays game, i was watching the reserves get thru into the latter stages of a cup, but surely, a team cant have got bad in 3 days, was trav there on time? was he expecting to be at the game and eventually managed to get there? its all good and fair commenting on him being there but not playing, but do we have a reason why. tom widdowson can play at centre 1/2 we all know that. calling for the heads of rogers n kelsey is un-needed and to be honest i'd take it back, they're not gonna listen to negative comments so why bother giving them. come down to training on tuesday steve, and see just how commited this little team are, you can even stand with me if ya want, we can have a nice long chat about the rate of inflation, price of fish, and even why ur suddenly so down on such a great little club. come on boys, lets concentrate on it and get down to some good football next saturday, congratulations to the reserves too, decent win, hard grinding football and all infront of the club chairman!

100% spot on Steve with your comments, Heanor Red we cannot believe how often you contradict yourself [see previous comments on training & other issues] are you sure your not injecting yourself with drugs or taking any other medication.

sorry red gotta agree with steve and the rest.never known a lions side so inconsistant at the moment. we have the players to beat anyone when we have them all, this site enables us to air our comments be it good or bad . mr kelsey has come on before and gave reasons and im sure he will this time but we have had excuses for so long now it gets a bit boring after a while, we need a regular 11 and if injuries occur, which they will, a good set of back up players, but that only happens in a dream world, cant wait to hear reasons for trav n tom. chairman at the reserves game eh?? must be half price in the social club!

Very good point regarding Trav. I did expect this reaction if we lost but losing wasn't on our agenda on Saturday.
We left Giz out due to a knock against Prims, so resting him for the cup game on saturday. Trav was a different matter and one I expect to get stick for.
We had two recent signings in Chris Davies and Andy Vickerton whom we wanted to look at. Most of you know these players but not us. As they're both cup tied for next week it was a good opportunity I think you'll agree.
The club captain was rested and asked to stay with us on the bench so we could give games to others. We felt the team was still strong enough and if an injury occured we had Aled, Patch and Tom Widdison who could fill in at centre half. Tom was put on as we had cover up front on the bench with Tom Williams. Blaney obviously out wide or in centre midfield.
The hamstring injury to Chapman was early and ideally Trav would be the man I admit but Tom is an extremely capable centre half and he did well so no blame could be down to him or his selection.
However I thought we played well. We attacked virtually the entire second period and lost to two extremely dubious penalties. I liked our spirit and honestly feel that despite the result we are getting a much better squad. Please see where we're heading. We have not had the results I expected since Christmas which surprises me. So we improved the squad with Andy, Chris and now James Perry a centre half who will be availlable in a couple of weeks.
We all want the same thing, to win trophies and this is what we'll do i'm sure. There was no way Radcliffe should have won Saturday, we played some good stuff without the finish and were very unlucky with probably there only two attacks of the second half resulting in penalties.
Still, this is football and you get everything you deserve. I had the same at Sports and turned it around the following season. Stick with us guys this team is young and getting stronger and more experienced. We need to keep them together for the long run.
Kelsey

kelsey you always seem to have an excuse at the ready,maybe you would be better off being a politician than an assistant manager.

It's never an excuse, simply the reason.
I always answer honestly and always will. I didn't see an excuse in my response?
Kelsey

I can understand the moaning regarding the decision to leave Trav on the bench, but on the face of it we didn't lose on Saturday because Trav was not at centre half. We were by far and away the best side footballing wise, but the only criticism I'd make is that we attempted to play too much football on what was an appalling surface. we scored our second goal by being a bit more direct and breaking quickly, and overall we didn't turn their defenders often enough.

The penalties were poor decisions, but you have to say that we should have learnt that any challenges of those sort were asking for trouble, (particularly after he had given the first one).

I don't know Mark or Mick, but I am pleased that someone is happy to come on and explain their thinking and offer an insight into what we're trying to achieve, and I feel we should remember (although I'm not saying people can't or should'nt question or complain) that they aren't exactly extracting Sven's salary so it's as much for the love of football (like the rest of us) as anything.

Now then Mr Kelsey, Iv'e read your comments regarding the starting lineup and have no arguements over that but you appear to have missed the point over the people on the bench.

You have 4 players available for three places 2 strikers one defender and one midfielder., all quality players, Probably the only time this has happened this season.

So you in your wisdom leave out the recognised defender who we all know will do you an excellent job anywhere across the back line and in his place you choose a recognised striker, and a terrific one at that, to fill in at centre half, but to my knowledge he has not had many games in the middle of the defence and to be fair to Tom although he had a reasonable game we lacked experience in the middle. As I see it a big gamble which didn't come off.

It is true we had most of the game but still lost 3-2 to a team who finished with 9 men, yet you brush it off as though the league programme is now unimportant and go on to talk about next weeks cup match.

This club and the supporters expect to win every match, League, Cup or friendly for that matter and will tell you if they are not happy with the standard on show.

UP THE LIONS

This post is just for you Heanor_ Red.
As you obviously were not at the first team fixture on Saturday, as you were watching the Reserves, I can tell you that Trav was on time, fully fit and ready to go but as I understand it was not selected.

You are better placed than me regarding the Prims match as I was ill and unable to attend but I understand that you also missed the Goal from Mr Travis.

I cannot say if the team had "got bad" as you put it in three days but the team lost 3-2 to a pretty average side who were down to 9 men at the end.

I am sure Tom can play centre half a can a number of others but we are talking about leaving out probably the most experienced defender at the club for whatever the managerment teams reasons but in the end it didn't pay off.

I know Mick and Mark listen to what I and others have to say because I speak to them after most matches over a pint and I tell them what I think and believe me or not I am usually on their side but not always.

As for training I might remind you that I attended almost all of the preseason training sessions, how many did you get to?

If Mick or Mark feel that I have been unfair to them then I will gladly apologise if they think that is necessary but that wll be for them to decide not you.

I might take you up on the invite to training tomorrow and we could talk about important things in life like how you can best use your time in finding gainful employment and perhaps a lesson or two in spelling and grammer might be useful.

Pleased for the Reserves as you know I have seen a number of their matches this season probably more than the Chairman but I dont go shouting the odds about it.

Finally Red, I would ask that you view all my 118 posts to on this site to date and you will see that there as many complimenting the Management team and players as not.

UP THE LIONS!!!

i'd be pleased to see you steve, yet again, i've not been let down maybe a few of my comments are too great, but the comment i made a week before is now wrong, people are using the site. no hard feelings hey mr p

well, your point has been proved mr p! about my spelling and grammar, my past lost was meant to read "maybe a few of my comments aren't too great" not "are too great".

past lost? hmmmm............

can anyone explain to me what that heanor-red is on about.

EVEN HE CANT EXPLAIN WHAT HES ON ABOUT.