Dossier critical to York City as drop noose tightens (From York Press)
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Dossier critical to York City as drop noose tightens
10:33am Wednesday 20th March 2013 in Sport
By Dave Flett, Sports reporter
Nigel Worthington
YORK City assistant manager Fred Barber made a 300-mile scouting trip to Torquay last night ahead of Saturday’s crucial clash at the Devon strugglers.
The Gulls won 2-1 against Chesterfield with Barber watching on to provide a detailed dossier of the Minstermen’s next hosts for manager Nigel Worthington.
And it will need to prove invaluable after that result and others tightened the relegation battle and ensured City dipped into the drop zone for the first time this season. They are now just one spot above new anchor club Aldershot in npower Championship Two.
Against all odds, Torquay, Barnet, Plymouth and former bottom club Accrington Stanley all won their games in hand over the Minstermen to each rise above manager Worthington’s charges.
And it will mean Barber’s lowdown on City’s next opposition, the Gulls, will be vital.
Previous City boss Gary Mills was not a strong believer in studying opposing teams in advance but Worthington, his successor at Bootham Crescent, reckons players should be fully prepared for all fixtures.
He said: “You always concentrate most of all on your own performances and doing what you need to do.
“But I feel it is important you know what you are playing against to make players aware of the opposition’s strengths and weaknesses by feeding them information.
“I was always brought up being given information and it’s about doing your homework.
“That’s my philosophy but every manager is different and has their own ways and that doesn’t mean they are right or wrong.”
The Tuesday torment of the Minstermen was headed by Accrington Stanley, who thrashed previous strugglers AFC Wimbledon 4-0.
The first two goals were bagged in the opening 20 minutes by none other than former Everton, Arsenal and England “fox in the box” Francis Jeffers, who was playing ten years to the night after coming on for his Champions League debut for Arsenal to whom he moved from his native Merseyside for £8 million.
It was more humble surroundings last night for Jeffers, but Stanley won’t mind after his brace paved the way for the emphatic crushing of the Dons.
And as if to rub salt into City’s wounds, former City trialist Will Hatfield was also on target for the hosts.
City’s next opponents Torquay profited from an even more rapid one-two to shade their home clash against the Spireites.
Joss Labadie and Rene Howe struck for the Gulls to put them 2-0 up within eight minutes.
However, the Devon side were made to hang on after Chesterfield’s 77th-minute reply from Liam Cooper brought about an attack of the jitters for the Plainmoor faithful.
Torquay’s Devon rivals Plymouth, meanwhile, travelled well to bag all three points at Southend.
Manager John Sheridan’s charges secured the critical win thanks to second-half goals from Paul Wootton and Reuben Reid.
The galling game in hand gloom for the Bootham Crescent brigade was completed by Barnet.
Even without suspended player-coach Edgar Davids, the Bees beat visitors Fleetwood 2-0.
Comments(37)
hangman
says...
10:50am Wed 20 Mar 13
surely not :(
Daley Mayall
says...
11:04am Wed 20 Mar 13
Budgie
says...
11:16am Wed 20 Mar 13
ian923
says...
11:22am Wed 20 Mar 13
Yorkieroy60
says...
11:27am Wed 20 Mar 13
limbert
says...
11:29am Wed 20 Mar 13
duffy
says...
11:55am Wed 20 Mar 13
limbert wrote:Maybe looking at other new targets. My god we need them.
Why didn't N W himself go to watch Torquay as it's so vital?
duffy
says...
12:02pm Wed 20 Mar 13
rogue84
says...
12:06pm Wed 20 Mar 13
one major thing that could help us out is not gifting teams goals. this is something we've done all season. against rochdale we were excellent at the back, minus one abhoration which was only due to poor finishing that we didn't concede.
first goal v bradford, first goal v port vale, equaliser at rotherham...the list is endless. stop giving away daft goals and we will stand half a chance.
PositiveFootball
says...
12:32pm Wed 20 Mar 13
I'll start the bidding with 15 points.
The wnner will receive the acclaim and admiration of fellow posters.
Torquay v York
Bristol Rovers v York
York v Plymouth
York v Accrington
Northampton v York
York v Southend
Dag & Red v York
ADAMCUTHBERT
says...
12:36pm Wed 20 Mar 13
heartbreaker
says...
12:38pm Wed 20 Mar 13
PositiveFootball wrote:10 points...
O.K all you experts. How many points do you predict for the last 7 games?
I'll start the bidding with 15 points.
The wnner will receive the acclaim and admiration of fellow posters.
Torquay v York
Bristol Rovers v York
York v Plymouth
York v Accrington
Northampton v York
York v Southend
Dag & Red v York
CaptainCreosote
says...
12:40pm Wed 20 Mar 13
OLD - HEAD
says...
12:47pm Wed 20 Mar 13
hangman
says...
1:01pm Wed 20 Mar 13
bristol rovers loss
plymouth draw
accrington win
southend draw
dag and red loss
hope im wrong though
A user
says...
1:05pm Wed 20 Mar 13
limbert
says...
2:15pm Wed 20 Mar 13
pip007
says...
3:22pm Wed 20 Mar 13
pip007
says...
3:23pm Wed 20 Mar 13
duffy
says...
4:09pm Wed 20 Mar 13
PositiveFootball wrote:Can't see more than 5 although I still think we may see further additions that could boost that and we have the hoped for Cresswell effect.
O.K all you experts. How many points do you predict for the last 7 games?
I'll start the bidding with 15 points.
The wnner will receive the acclaim and admiration of fellow posters.
Torquay v York
Bristol Rovers v York
York v Plymouth
York v Accrington
Northampton v York
York v Southend
Dag & Red v York
Yorkie41
says...
4:29pm Wed 20 Mar 13
pip007 wrote:They where my sentiments at the beginning of the season, I can't see them ever changing and I have been following the since the last war.
There's no question that historically (over many seasons) teams settle into what seems to be their natural position in the league. When I started watching City in the late 1960s they were always near the bottom of Div 4. And here we are again 45 years later, via a few peaks and valleys along the way. When you think of York City you think League 2 (Div 4) team, just like win you think of Boro you think Championship (Div 2) and Arsenal Premier League (Div 1). Always was that way, always will be. The only way to change that is to have a rich benefactor step in and spend millions. You can change it just by playing better football. Player wages, and nothing else, is the strongest predictor of a team's league position.
pip007
says...
4:34pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Yorkie41 wrote:WW2? Hats off to you Yorkie41.
pip007 wrote:They where my sentiments at the beginning of the season, I can't see them ever changing and I have been following the since the last war.
There's no question that historically (over many seasons) teams settle into what seems to be their natural position in the league. When I started watching City in the late 1960s they were always near the bottom of Div 4. And here we are again 45 years later, via a few peaks and valleys along the way. When you think of York City you think League 2 (Div 4) team, just like win you think of Boro you think Championship (Div 2) and Arsenal Premier League (Div 1). Always was that way, always will be. The only way to change that is to have a rich benefactor step in and spend millions. You can change it just by playing better football. Player wages, and nothing else, is the strongest predictor of a team's league position.
duffy
says...
4:36pm Wed 20 Mar 13
pip007 wrote:True, I'm just not convinced we have the second lowest playing budget in the league. Given our position now something has gone badly wrong.
There's no question that historically (over many seasons) teams settle into what seems to be their natural position in the league. When I started watching City in the late 1960s they were always near the bottom of Div 4. And here we are again 45 years later, via a few peaks and valleys along the way. When you think of York City you think League 2 (Div 4) team, just like win you think of Boro you think Championship (Div 2) and Arsenal Premier League (Div 1). Always was that way, always will be. The only way to change that is to have a rich benefactor step in and spend millions. You can change it just by playing better football. Player wages, and nothing else, is the strongest predictor of a team's league position.
Yorkie41
says...
4:39pm Wed 20 Mar 13
pip007 wrote:I watched Dixie dean play for York
Yorkie41 wrote:WW2? Hats off to you Yorkie41.
pip007 wrote:They where my sentiments at the beginning of the season, I can't see them ever changing and I have been following the since the last war.
There's no question that historically (over many seasons) teams settle into what seems to be their natural position in the league. When I started watching City in the late 1960s they were always near the bottom of Div 4. And here we are again 45 years later, via a few peaks and valleys along the way. When you think of York City you think League 2 (Div 4) team, just like win you think of Boro you think Championship (Div 2) and Arsenal Premier League (Div 1). Always was that way, always will be. The only way to change that is to have a rich benefactor step in and spend millions. You can change it just by playing better football. Player wages, and nothing else, is the strongest predictor of a team's league position.
when he was stationed in York Brilliant memories.
limbert
says...
4:45pm Wed 20 Mar 13
1 Roger Jones
2Chris Evans
3Alan Hay
4Ricky Sbragia
5John McPhail
6Derek Hood
7Gary Ford
8Malcolm Crosby
9Keith Walwyn
10John Byrne
11Brian Pollard
pip007
says...
4:49pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Yorkie41 wrote:You might enjoy this if you can get hold of a copy. http://bit.ly/YoRvOQ
pip007 wrote:I watched Dixie dean play for York
Yorkie41 wrote:WW2? Hats off to you Yorkie41.
pip007 wrote:They where my sentiments at the beginning of the season, I can't see them ever changing and I have been following the since the last war.
There's no question that historically (over many seasons) teams settle into what seems to be their natural position in the league. When I started watching City in the late 1960s they were always near the bottom of Div 4. And here we are again 45 years later, via a few peaks and valleys along the way. When you think of York City you think League 2 (Div 4) team, just like win you think of Boro you think Championship (Div 2) and Arsenal Premier League (Div 1). Always was that way, always will be. The only way to change that is to have a rich benefactor step in and spend millions. You can change it just by playing better football. Player wages, and nothing else, is the strongest predictor of a team's league position.
when he was stationed in York Brilliant memories.
pip007
says...
4:57pm Wed 20 Mar 13
limbert wrote:Mine (from 45 years) would be:
Best team in 30 yrs as a supporter
1 Roger Jones
2Chris Evans
3Alan Hay
4Ricky Sbragia
5John McPhail
6Derek Hood
7Gary Ford
8Malcolm Crosby
9Keith Walwyn
10John Byrne
11Brian Pollard
1 Graeme Crawford
2 John Mackin
3 Phil Burrows
4 Ian Holmes
5 Denis Smith
6 Chris Topping
7 Dennis Wann
8 Chris Jones
9 Keith Walwyn
10 Paul Aimson
11 Albert Johanneson
Not sure I've got a very balanced team though. But I think they'd score a goal or two.
pip007
says...
5:00pm Wed 20 Mar 13
duffy wrote:You're right. I think the wage thing only holds up over the long term. In any given season other factors play a role. You could shovel in a ship-load of money right now and it wouldn't make any difference to our league position. A Win on Saturday gives us a chance though. Let's hope that dossier does the trick ... and that someone actually reads it!
pip007 wrote:True, I'm just not convinced we have the second lowest playing budget in the league. Given our position now something has gone badly wrong.
There's no question that historically (over many seasons) teams settle into what seems to be their natural position in the league. When I started watching City in the late 1960s they were always near the bottom of Div 4. And here we are again 45 years later, via a few peaks and valleys along the way. When you think of York City you think League 2 (Div 4) team, just like win you think of Boro you think Championship (Div 2) and Arsenal Premier League (Div 1). Always was that way, always will be. The only way to change that is to have a rich benefactor step in and spend millions. You can change it just by playing better football. Player wages, and nothing else, is the strongest predictor of a team's league position.
Budgie
says...
5:07pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Yorkie41
says...
6:06pm Wed 20 Mar 13
Yorkie41 wrote:As for the great Alf Patrick I have never seen a player as good at City.
pip007 wrote:I watched Dixie dean play for York
Yorkie41 wrote:WW2? Hats off to you Yorkie41.
pip007 wrote:They where my sentiments at the beginning of the season, I can't see them ever changing and I have been following the since the last war.
There's no question that historically (over many seasons) teams settle into what seems to be their natural position in the league. When I started watching City in the late 1960s they were always near the bottom of Div 4. And here we are again 45 years later, via a few peaks and valleys along the way. When you think of York City you think League 2 (Div 4) team, just like win you think of Boro you think Championship (Div 2) and Arsenal Premier League (Div 1). Always was that way, always will be. The only way to change that is to have a rich benefactor step in and spend millions. You can change it just by playing better football. Player wages, and nothing else, is the strongest predictor of a team's league position.
when he was stationed in York Brilliant memories.
OLD - HEAD
says...
8:46pm Wed 20 Mar 13
cambersdad
says...
9:20pm Wed 20 Mar 13
duffy
says...
9:28pm Wed 20 Mar 13
cambersdad wrote:The usual post was about people panicking for no reason. Think everyone is now in panic mode.
dosn't seem to be many posters on here now telling us not to worry and how near we are to the play offs,and agree with them now there is no point looking over your shoulder cos there's no one there (except Aldershot for now ) still keep the faith lets hope its onwards and upwards starting saturday
PositiveFootball
says...
12:36am Thu 21 Mar 13
PositiveFootball wrote:For the record:-.
O.K all you experts. How many points do you predict for the last 7 games?
I'll start the bidding with 15 points.
The wnner will receive the acclaim and admiration of fellow posters.
Torquay v York
Bristol Rovers v York
York v Plymouth
York v Accrington
Northampton v York
York v Southend
Dag & Red v York
Positive football 15
Adam Cuthbert 12
Heartbreaker 10
Hangman 6
A User 7
Duffy 5
Old Head 5.5
Budgie 1
CaroleBaines
says...
9:08am Thu 21 Mar 13
legend7
says...
10:06am Thu 21 Mar 13
PositiveFootball wrote:i see a maximum of 5 points given current form
O.K all you experts. How many points do you predict for the last 7 games?
I'll start the bidding with 15 points.
The wnner will receive the acclaim and admiration of fellow posters.
Torquay v York
Bristol Rovers v York
York v Plymouth
York v Accrington
Northampton v York
York v Southend
Dag & Red v York
Torquay v York 2-1
Bristol Rovers v York 3-0
York v Plymouth 1-1
York v Accrington 2-0
Northampton v York 2-0
York v Southend 1-1
Dag & Red v York 1-0
ADAMCUTHBERT says...
10:40am Wed 20 Mar 13