Positivity.

[RaidenYeltz]

We still have 2 games in hand over Leek. Win those and we'll be 7 points behind. Granted it's a big total given they're still unbeaten but doable, it's 3 wins...Pardon the ignorance but I'm not aware who those two games in hand are? Again, granted, we still have to win those games!

Once we get over the seemingly hectic period players should start returning to full fitness and injury, that'll provide us with a boost.

Lait is back Saturday, isn't he? After serving 3 match ban due to the saft sending off -v- Marske. Good player IMO who we've maybe missed? Have only seen the 5-0 win v Gresley!

Despite conceding 4 last night we still have the joint 2nd best defensive record in the division!

We were on a 7 game unbeaten run in the league before last night, drawing 1 and winning 6...we can do it again.

Going out of the FA Cup & Vase competitions means we can now concentrate on the league fully.

Ben's due a goal, also. Two games without on. Massive dry spell by his standards!

We shouldn't fear anyone in this league!

Come on you Yeltz!

[HalesowenHarry]

Lait's ban starts this Saturday (it's two weeks after the original offence), so he misses the Goole game and The Dingles at home. This is useful to find out about our league: http://nav.thefa.com/sitecore/content/T ... 473A6&_z=z

I notice that Jordan Hempenstall will miss the game at Halesowen for Coalville and he's scored a hatful for them this season (then again they've scored two hatfuls!!!). So with him and Ben missing that'll be 0-0........

I'd say the games in hand are Romulus on 9th December away, and the fact we'll be playing when others aren't on the 2nd November away at Rainworth.

[RaidenYeltz]

Very winnable games then, no disrespect to those teams.

Also, has Lait been injured then? Thought the ban would have started immediately?

[HalesowenHarry]

Also, has Lait been injured then? Thought the ban would have started immediately?

Yes he picked up a knock in the FA Cup defeat. Afraid not, this is real football where they process paperwork etc and don't have appeals like the Prem or Football League where it's instant.

[old git]

Firstly, before anybody accuses me of moaning about refs, can I say that I rarely criticise them as they have a very hard job to do. All I ask for is consistency meaning that decisions,even if they are bad, are evened out between the two sides.However, having been unfortunate enough to witness both recent red cards I can't help thinking that refs aren't helping themselves.
Last nights decision I thought was correct. If you launch in two footed, whether you get the ball cleanly or not, then you are walking a tightrope. My complaint last night was not with that decision, but with the fact that he let an identical incident by a Leek player go in the early stages with only a chat and no card at all, and also that he was having pleasant chit chats with the Leek bench all night.!!!
The Marske red card decision really left a bad taste. It was that bad it isn't even worth discussing, except to say that when you saw the ref's other decisions on the day they were all awful, but strangely all of them were against us !!!!

[RaidenYeltz]

Christ, just recalled Laity went off against Marske. Presume it's that injury keeping him out.

What exactly did he get sent off for, was it the handbags at the end with the fans?

[RobYeltz]

I think it's important to be positive, but it's also important to keep a sense of perspective. By all accounts, Leek not only played well as league leaders last night, some of their followers believe it was their best performance of the season. For Marske, it was their biggest day in years and despite some great vocal encouragement from the away support they performed for their huge crowd. Against St.Neots I thought we looked a little off the pace and struggled with their higher calibre of players. I also thought two of their goals were down to individual mistakes. It was no disgrace at all to lose to a higher division side let's be honest.
From what I know of football at this level (not as much as many on here admittedly) the gaffer has bought in players from clubs lower down in the pecking order. Not only have they been gelling as a team but also making a step up in class. Every player that has come in to Halesowen has improved us without doubt, if the management team see fit to bring in a new face or two I'm sure they will, and do so well.
I also don't think we've had the greatest of luck with injuries this season. JMG, Winsper and Brady would all have played their part for us over the last couple of weeks and it looks like one or two have also played with niggles too. As for our rub of the green with referees decisions... Let's not go there.
If the seasons work so far was a half term school report I'd be saying we'd had a positive start to the term, the class has shown a great togetherness, and the work produced has been, on the whole very good. There might well be room for improvement, however, there are plenty of lessons still to be learnt to improve their outcome.