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Walker’s apology to City fans after tame Vics draw

9:11am Wednesday 26th March 2008

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By Dave Flett »

YORK City boss Colin Walker apologised to the club's supporters after a Setanta Sports shocker last night.

The Minstermen drew 1-1 with relegation-threatened Northwich at KitKat Crescent, but Walker felt his side were fortunate to get a point from the televised encounter.

Richard Brodie, who gave the Minstermen an 11th-minute lead only to see it cancelled out in the second half, escaped criticism, along with fellow striker Onome Sodje.

But the City chief made the rest of the team aware of his thoughts after locking the dressing room door to hold a 45-minute inquest following the final whistle.

On his re-emergence, Walker said: "I can only apologise to our supporters and promise I will do something about it so it will not happen again.

"The players have let themselves down, the staff down, the football club down and certainly the fans down.

"I asked for our supporters to keep coming to games, but that was absolutely dreadful.

"People must have been switching Setanta off because we were shocking.

"The players have got to accept criticism even if some don't do that very well. I'm man enough to take it on the chin and deserved every little bit I got at the end of the match, as did the players.

"Some of our players weren't at the races and it's up to us to find out why and do something about it.

"The only positives were Richard Brodie was outstanding and we didn't get beaten. Sodje also worked hard, but the rest of them were totally unacceptable."

Northwich equalised just a minute after Walker switched from a 3-5-2 formation to 4-3-3, replacing right-wing back Ben Purkiss with striker Leo Fortune-West.

Giving his explanation for the change, the City boss said: "We had stopped playing through the midfield, so I thought we might as well put three forwards up there where we kept passing the ball."

Walker added that on-loan Rotherham winger Sam Duncum is unlikely to have recovered from his muscle twinge to play in tonight's reserve game at Grimsby, while Craig Farrell is due to have a scan on his foot injury.

Your Say YourPress

Monkey, Newcastle says...
8:55am Thu 27 Mar 08

Imp wrote: The "faltering" for Colin Walker was on the cards long before Redfearn started; a monkey could see that.

Eh?

yorkieboy, HongKong says...
8:38am Thu 27 Mar 08

Well put Imp.

lmp, York says...
8:14am Thu 27 Mar 08

newshawk wrote:
Yesterday I tried to make the point that hiring a failed manager, even to manage the youth team, communicates a negative message to the club as a whole. Vics get rid and their season turns around, we hire and the Walker honeymoon starts to falter.

I was derided intemperately by yorkieboy and Be for my pains, so it's interesting to read their splenic outpourings today.
Whoever derided you did right.
Hiring Neil Redfearn has absolutely no impact whatsoever on the first team.
It sends out no kind of message, as managing and coaching are two entirely different disciplines.

The "faltering" for Colin Walker was on the cards long before Redfearn started; a monkey could see that.

yorkieboy, HongKong says...
5:50am Thu 27 Mar 08

appydaze wrote:
The most successfull teams in each Div from the Premiership down to the Conference have the biggest budgets. Fact. Cutting the squad, lower wages, gives poorer players, gives poor results, gives lower crowds. We might survive in the Conference next season! Or do we look for an invester to assist the Mc Gills.Our city is a magnificent city.
appydaze,I and my family would be gutted if our FANTASTIC little Football Club was no more.It is more than just that,it is a whole way of life (topic of conversation,looking out for their results first,in the pub with family and friends after the game,seeing old footballing mates at the matches etc etc).
It can't (no matter who runs it) be allowed to fold.

yorkieboy, HongKong says...
12:37am Thu 27 Mar 08

Neil runs the Youth team,and not the first team.My own thoughts are he will do an excellent job of COACHING the kids,which is totally different to running and MANAGING a club

yorkieboy, HongKong says...
12:33am Thu 27 Mar 08

newshawk wrote:
Yesterday I tried to make the point that hiring a failed manager, even to manage the youth team, communicates a negative message to the club as a whole. Vics get rid and their season turns around, we hire and the Walker honeymoon starts to falter. I was derided intemperately by yorkieboy and Be for my pains, so it's interesting to read their splenic outpourings today.
newshawk,you were lamblasted for the stupid statement of making out NEIL REDFEARN was the reason for our recent poor form.Of which I retorted was utter C**P and you know that.It is still there for all to see.You can't argue with black and white.
So go back and check what you were pulled up for.BA Scotland also saw that your statement was PISH.

appydaze, york says...
11:49pm Wed 26 Mar 08

The most successfull teams in each Div from the Premiership down to the Conference have the biggest budgets. Fact.
Cutting the squad, lower wages, gives poorer players, gives poor results, gives lower crowds. We might survive in the Conference next season! Or do we look for an invester to assist the Mc Gills.Our city is a magnificent city.

A.B.Penn, York says...
8:45pm Wed 26 Mar 08

We have to be realistic York City are only an average Conference team and will never challenge for promotion with this present squad of players. We need a good quality Goalkeeper, a really commanding Centre Back, two experienced Midfielders who can pass a ball and chip in with a few goals. Then finally someone up front who can score goals and pressurise defences. All of this is much easier to talk about than to achieve, so I fear we will continue to struggle unless finances improve. The biggest disappointment for me this season has been the form of Manny Panther, once he was the first name you wanted on the teamsheet but now he is not worth selection.

mr minster, london says...
6:37pm Wed 26 Mar 08

It could be worse in that York could be in a much lower position in the table and facing relegation. Too many teams above them are consistently winning games so I think it was unrealistic to expect too much ie reaching play offs. They have secured their place in the conference so will see how next season goes. Sounds like some fans are non too happy with alot of the players. Maybe next year we can have a team we can support as a whole- but this year has been frustrating as it's felt like when they needed to fight more they have relaxed and everything has slipped away.

Be, Scotland says...
5:36pm Wed 26 Mar 08

You completley missing the point newshawk,yes Neil Redfern is a failure at management however as a youth coach and for some of our young players to look up to and learn from you wont get many better than Neil Redfern at this level.He has played in the premiership and had a good goalscoring record from midfield he worked his way up to that level from the lower leagues,something which the young yts city lads should aspire to.Give Neil Redfern a chance and im sure he will unearth the talent we used to unearth in the early 2 mid 90s of greening,murty and creswell which we have been sadly lacking the last 5 years at York.Far from sending a negetive message the appointment of Redfern is a positive message,how many clubs in the conference have there yts trainees trained by an ex recent premiership player who amonst the football fraternity is well respected for what he achieved in his playing carreer.

newshawk, York says...
5:18pm Wed 26 Mar 08

Yesterday I tried to make the point that hiring a failed manager, even to manage the youth team, communicates a negative message to the club as a whole. Vics get rid and their season turns around, we hire and the Walker honeymoon starts to falter.

I was derided intemperately by yorkieboy and Be for my pains, so it's interesting to read their splenic outpourings today.

Terry Raspberry, York says...
5:10pm Wed 26 Mar 08

Dinga wrote:
I shouted 4 times to CW to get Elliot off last night and eventually to mine and many others relief he was subbed. He is a dreadful player and doesn't warrant a place in our team. Having said that Wroe came on which I was pleased about but he was also terrible last night. This midfield needs sorting otherwise we will not be challenging for anything next season. I was sat just in front of one of the Vics players last night and he was saying that they deserved all 3 points and they did - we were appalling and lucky to get the point.
You and your dog Lenny are louts

jacklad10, north wales says...
4:47pm Wed 26 Mar 08

I made the journey from North Wales last night and could not belive that performance,we have no midfield,Panther is not fit and not a captain.Robinson is to slow and Elliot is not good enough along with Evans,the defence is not hard enough and Wooly has stopped playing,to get anywhere in this league next season a lot of these players have to go. COME ON CITY !

romfordpele, York says...
2:39pm Wed 26 Mar 08

It was disappointing to see the lack of effort last night, the squad must realise they are playing for their careers at York City. Perhaps some don't want to stay around judging by that display.

As for who stays and goes, that will be dictated by finances and what players ask for. I'd personally like to see a strong core group of a dozen tried and tested Conference performers backed up by the juniors coming through the ranks. A strong centre half, a right winger and a powerful centre forward would be key targets for me.

yorkiegirl, york says...
2:38pm Wed 26 Mar 08

My question after watching the c**p last night is were the sponsors watching something different. Manny was given man of the match. Where were they?
We are just not good enough, If col is going to play 3-5-2 they need to use the midfield not long ball. Not good enough at all

Yorkie, York says...
2:17pm Wed 26 Mar 08

Be wrote:
Ive often defended York on here,but last nights performance was terrible.Elliot made at least 20 passes to the opposition ,almost as if he thought he still played for them !! Wroe was poor as well but thats the 1st bad game he has had and was unwell before the game.LFW heart is clearly not in the club,i feel we would definatly been better keeping Beardsley,on lfw performances he will be lucky to play in the conference again or even the north/south leagues below.Only three players deserve any credit last night Mcgurk,brodie and for effort Sodje.The winger Northwich had last night was very usefull ex man untd trainee,these players from top northern prem clubs are the players York need to sign ,not players in there 30s journey men lfw,elliot and Brayson.Still think Colins done a good job and deserves a shot next year with his own squad.Out of the current squad i would only keep Purkiss,brodie,parsl ow,mcgurk,woolford,w roe,mimms,sodje,pant her and offer robinson a 6 month deal.We have to keep Rusk,Kelly as they are contracted till the end of next season.
Well said.

Col does deserve a shot at the job next year, only loosing 3 games since he took over is still a great achievement but last nights performance was awful. Still i'd rather be where we are now than where we were before Walker took over.

speaks99, Wakefield says...
2:14pm Wed 26 Mar 08

To have an effective passing game like CW wants we have to ensure the midfielders are firing on all cylindars, which clearly they are not. Inconsistant performances from the likes of Panther this season means the other midfielders have to work twice as hard in the games in which he is a spectator. Elliot doesn't look up to it. Panthers work ethic is not in question as he is one of the few box to box players in the team, and for this reason I would keep him. I'd also like to see Wroe, McGurk, Lloyd, Purkiss, Robinson, Sodje, Brodie and Farrell retained. I would look to replace Evans as a priority, he nearly cost us the match and his command of the area is so poor, thus shipping in so many dead ball goals these past two seasons.

H, Bootham says...
1:07pm Wed 26 Mar 08

I've always seen York as a League team playing in the Conference, but last night it hit me that we are a Conference team through and through now.
Elliot needs to go.
Northwich got the ball on the floor and passed it to feet quickly and effectively and closed us down as soon as we touched it. We sat back, put the ball in the air and looked terrible.

Very disappointed.

the gunslinger, York says...
1:02pm Wed 26 Mar 08

Having seen all the teams this season, I would rather watch the youth and reserves as they at least pass the ball on the floor and try to play football. Some of these kids should now be a given a chance, surely they must be better than the so called professionals currently in the first team playing without any pride.

Be, Scotland says...
12:53pm Wed 26 Mar 08

Ive often defended York on here,but last nights performance was terrible.Elliot made at least 20 passes to the opposition ,almost as if he thought he still played for them !! Wroe was poor as well but thats the 1st bad game he has had and was unwell before the game.LFW heart is clearly not in the club,i feel we would definatly been better keeping Beardsley,on lfw performances he will be lucky to play in the conference again or even the north/south leagues below.Only three players deserve any credit last night Mcgurk,brodie and for effort Sodje.The winger Northwich had last night was very usefull ex man untd trainee,these players from top northern prem clubs are the players York need to sign ,not players in there 30s journey men lfw,elliot and Brayson.Still think Colins done a good job and deserves a shot next year with his own squad.Out of the current squad i would only keep Purkiss,brodie,parsl
ow,mcgurk,woolford,w
roe,mimms,sodje,pant
her and offer robinson a 6 month deal.We have to keep Rusk,Kelly as they are contracted till the end of next season.

yorkieboy, HongKong says...
12:51pm Wed 26 Mar 08

The way things are going off the pitch we won't need to worry if we are NOT GOOD ENOUGH to get out of the Conference.
We will certainly get out of it,just not the way we wanted or expected to.RIP YCFC.
We were expected to mount a challenge this season,which by now would have meant gates of 3500-4000.Not the 1700-1900 they are getting at the moment due to the C**p constantly being served up as football.
This is another catastrophic season both in terms of finances and the history of our once proud club.
I believe we are seriously looking at either a minute squad of players (crap signings like this year)with kids as back-up,or a part time Football Club next season.
It's like an Elm street scenario.A NIGHTMARE.

Dinga, specsavers says...
12:24pm Wed 26 Mar 08

lockie wrote:
After watching the game last night I can honestly say that I have seen a better standard of football played in the Leeper Hare York and District League. Everything about last nights game was poor, forget the apologies Colin, simply put, York are just not good enough to get out of the Conference.
Couldn't agree more.

lockie, york says...
12:18pm Wed 26 Mar 08

After watching the game last night I can honestly say that I have seen a better standard of football played in the Leeper Hare York and District League. Everything about last nights game was poor, forget the apologies Colin, simply put, York are just not good enough to get out of the Conference.

Dinga, specsavers says...
12:11pm Wed 26 Mar 08

I shouted 4 times to CW to get Elliot off last night and eventually to mine and many others relief he was subbed. He is a dreadful player and doesn't warrant a place in our team. Having said that Wroe came on which I was pleased about but he was also terrible last night. This midfield needs sorting otherwise we will not be challenging for anything next season. I was sat just in front of one of the Vics players last night and he was saying that they deserved all 3 points and they did - we were appalling and lucky to get the point.

peter gildener, penzance says...
12:06pm Wed 26 Mar 08

the team were spineless, gutless, witless and brainless

samtheman, says...
10:56am Wed 26 Mar 08

Elliot has been nothing short of dire since the Trophy game at Torquay. Couldn't agree less about Purkiss though; he, Wroe, Parslow and McGurk have been our best players since Col took over and i reckon if Purkiss had stayed on the pitch last night, we would never had let that goal in.

dickbell, York says...
10:50am Wed 26 Mar 08

Elliot's comical move of the match was easily his 'brazil' turn for the cameras when he was completely unmarked and in plenty of space, only to balls it up and lose the ball in a dangerous area. His distribution was absolutely DIRE

drs1706, York says...
10:13am Wed 26 Mar 08

If we were playing 3-5-2 why wouldnt Purkiss go forward, I dont recall him ever running at defenders or overlapping round them, he hasnt played very well recently. Lloyd plays far better in that role, he attacks more, gets back to defend and can play down both wings (As at Rushden in FA Trophy).
As for Elliot, I wish he would stop trying to play the killer ball all the time. He is a good tackler and can play well but his passing really lets him down.
Walkers team selections seem to be going backwards, thank god Brodie has stood up the plate and is starting to play well.

Come on Boys, lets pick it up til the end of the season.

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