December 30, 2008The really annoying point in all the fiasco concerning Sixfields, is the fact that the NBC said five years ago that there was possibility of the plan being considered and something being decided. Now it turns out that there was never any possibility of any decision for the club and never likely to be. If the NBC had been honest and upfront the club could have made relevant plans of their own. But to waste all that time and the money spent on consultations with every possible agency that exists is wasteful.
Doug B
Five points dropped over xmas against a very poor southend and an inept second half against Rovers. It's there 4 al 2 c that our midfield is still our problem. Gray u need 2 stop being negative and attack these teams. Every second half of every game we seem to lose the plot. What do u say at half-time to them? Try and find somebody who can pass and hold a ball in midfield.
MP
Gray, u lost us the game at southend, total rubbish. Your tactics are shocking. Dunn is out of deh, while Akinfenwa and Constantine were awful. We can't pass a ball to save our lives. You must b running out of excuses after that rubbish. Midfield are totally inconsistent, and after travelling 200 miles 2 watch that we should b refunded. Very very poor.
December 22, 2008Could have easily ended up three nil to the Town, had Holt and Constantine had their navigational systems in order, or on the other hand it could have been one nil to Carlisle, with what must be the miss of the season from their centre half! Anyhow, a well-earned three points and the way Leeds United are going we could well finish above them, come next May. Now what odds would you have got from a bookmaker for that little scenario? Not surprised young Hughes was angry at being substituted, as the lad was having a decent game, and I reckon the only reason that Gray took him off is purely down to personal reasons. What's the betting that the lad will be one of the first out of the exit door next month! Happy Christmas everybody.
Dayn FreemanThere were a few 'Doubting Thomas's' before kick off who thought a loosing bonus point would have been a good result. Not me though, I said that if the boys played as we know they can and believed in themselves then they could win. Win they did! It was a great early Christmas present to all the supporters. Well done lads, I knew you could do it. Merry Christmas to all and keep the faith!
Jo in DustonI'm not usually an email contributor but this hasn't been a great week whether you are a Cobblers supporter, a born and bred Northamptonian, or a council tax payer. I qualify on all counts. I've read all the comments over the past few days and can't really do better, except to remind everyone that this is after all supposed to be the season of goodwill. I know because today I've received (via Royal Mail second class) a personally addressed Christmas card sending Seasons Greetings, best wishes from your local Liberal Democrat team. I'm underwhelmed. Am I the only one or are there hundreds of others? The card has a photograph of the Guildhall - I would have thought Sixfields, or the Balloon Festival, or an extract of the Council balance sheet would have been better subjects. Can we be reassured that the card was sent at the expense of the Liberal Democrat party? Perhaps the increased allowances have helped? When the Sixfields meeting was being held were the councillors elsewhere signing Christmas cards and sticking stamps on envelopes? You couldn't make it up..
Tony LDecember 18, 2008I fear the worst now for Northampton as a whole. I was born here and brought up by my wonderful family to respect and appreciate the town that I call my home. My Nan used to walk me round the town as a child and point out the old historical sites of factories, businesses, parks, old streets and tell me stories of pride and togetherness centred around the market square. That taught me to love Northampton and keep it a special place in my heart and I have done so ever since (I am now in my thirties). As you can imagine, I feel extremely upset and let down by the way this town has been allowed to go so far down hill by the so called authorities in charge. They have ruined everything that made our ancestors proud. As a Cobblers fan, I am livid at the way the football club has been treated by the council and wonder why NBC's leaders cannot support such a viable community business proposal. Of course the Cobblers is not the only issue, our town show has been wiped off the agenda and this will soon be followed by the balloon festival. Our bus station is an embarrassment and our railway station may as well not exist, as prices are high and services are awful. Our families have lost the St Crispin's street fair and many of our beautiful buildings have been destroyed and replaced by ugly boxes of flats. Our shops are all boarded up left for vandals to do their damage and any ambitious retail development offering employment to the area is directed 16 miles south along the M1. To top things off, don't you dare look for somewhere to to go the toilet. Mind you, the way things are going, Northampton is going down the pan.
Cobblers Mark, NorthamptonWe all know why the council won't let the Cobblers develop a retail add on to Sixfields now....it's because our town appears to be run by a private finance company...not the council.....
Please could somebody deliver enough sets of balls to the Guildhall to allow our council to stand up to corporate bullies.
Is it not anti competitive to have an owner of a shop dictate to the council that they will not allow any development go ahead?
I'm not a law expert...but that has to be close to the mark!!!
Glenco1967, Northampton I am a Saints Season ticket holder, and I have to agree with what the Cobblers Fans have to say, N.B.C YOU HAVE LOST THE PLOT!
Last week I did my xmas shopping in MK, because our town centre is a completely depressing place to go, so just to add to the doom and gloom, take a look at our wonderful Borough Councils record.
Christmas Lights this year complete rubbish
Balloon Fest, Why don't you get a major sponsor like Bristol.
Firework display - GONE
Town show - GONE
Grovener Centre - Soon be GONE
Castle - GONE
Arcade - GONE
Northampton Public - GONE To MK
Only thing to be proud of in Northampton is our Sport!!
I need to be GONE Because it is our works Christmas Party in MK .
Steveps: Merry Christmas NBC
Once again the people of Northampton and the town have been hoodwinked by this so called shower known as the NBC. We voted them in hoping for better things on their pre election promises ( I was also one of the suckers who voted for them) and we have ended up going downhill since they came in power. We the public have ended up with nothing and the only winners are the NBC who are helping themselves to fatter wallets and laughing in our faces.
Can anyone really wonder why the Lib Dems don't win the main General Elections and get into power. Heaven help Britain if they ever did.
Regards
DesDecember 17, 2008I have lived in Northampton for 55 years and have seen the decline and to see a Council that are not prepared to let the Cobblers develop Sixfields. The Market Square has been ruined, Abington Street is not the bustling area that it used to be and it is no surprise that people do their shopping in other towns. If the Cardoza`s withdrew their help the Cobblers would go out of business.All that the Council want to do is give themselves large wage rises instead of making us a Town to be proud of.
Trevor ChurchDecember 16, 2008NBC councillors should hang their collective heads in shame. The decision reached not to allow NTFC enabling development is a disgrace. Why have the councils of Milton Keynes and Swansea permitted exactly what NTFC want and NBC make a negative decision and break its promises? It is not just the Sixfields fiasco but the demise of Northampton town centre that results in the local politicians being held in complete contempt by its constituents. NBC, thanks for nothing. I am off to Milton Keynes to do my Christmas shopping. That says it all.
John B1pm outside the town hall on Sat 20th Dec 2008.
The time has come when the whole town (not just Cobblers fans) have had enough of this council.
They promised so much during the elections…and they are as bad as the previous 4 councils with nothing happening except what they want for themselves.
Even the market square traders have said "do not make changes"…the council ignore them.
This arrogant council has to be stopped before they kill Northampton totally!
Make your voice heard on Saturday at 1pm!!!!
GlenMyself and my Wife lived in Northampton from birth until our retirement years, we then moved to Spain but return to Northampton at least twice a year mainly to visit family and friends, on each occasion we return we are very sad to note the general decline of the centre of the town not only the closure of many shops etc but also the general lack of cleanliness, we do keep in touch with what is going on through your website however and it is our opinion that members of the Northampton Borough Council there are like the Ostrich, do they really know what is going on?, are their heads permanently in the sand?.
Now the future of the Football club looks uncertain, how sad it is that Milton Keynes and even Peterborough Football Clubs are both having a better season than the Cobblers, one of the reasons for this is surely the backing that both these respective Councils must be giving to these clubs, not necessarily cashwise of course.
Northampton Borough Council state that the development of Sixfields would effect the development of the Town Centre, well how long has the Town been waiting for that to begin?, will it ever happen?.
Retail centres around the outskirts of the Town seemingly do well are clean and well managed, surely if Mr Cardoza was given the go ahead the development would only benefit the Town.
Northampton Borough Council need to get their heads out of the sand and take notice of the public, after all that is whom they are there to serve,
Ex Northamptonian Bernie HillNorthampton Borough Council has stooped to a new low! Thanks for nothing; their latest statement is incredulous – have they been on a different planet for the last four years and just 'beamed' back down? Speaking of which, how can a garden centre development affect town centre trade - I don't think I've yet seen anyone buying four bags of compost and a trowel from the Grosvenor Centre!
The whole sorry saga is quite frankly unbelievable and a thorough disgrace to the majority of the town who want the Sixfields redevelopment to go ahead with the proceeds being used to finance the COMMUNITY Stadium – the 45 thousand fans that went to Wembley obviously don't matter! If that wasn't bad enough, when you look down the road at what's happened at MK it just doesn't make any sense at all. I'm actually well and truly stunned by the latest events and incredibly angry.
As much as I love the Cobblers, if I was Mr Cardoza I'd be looking to sell the club. Looks like we'll be bouncing between Div 2/3 for the foreseeable future and whilst I appreciate what the council did in saving the club all those years ago, it now feels as though we are slowly bleeding to death. Yes I hope a wealthy investor will come forward and realises the potential and ploughs money directly into the Stadium but even then I have grave doubts that the council would be able to sanction anything to do with the Cobblers.
A sad day and a wasted opportunity. Again.
PaulThe Council is years behind in it's plan making to the extent that it is perhaps possible the Government should or could step in. Would it be better for Northampton and Northamptonshire if they did?
There's no news comming out of NBC or Mr Church regarding any agreement with Legal and General? No news? No future? Why doesn't the Chron ask? Has Mr Clarke now proven to be as little usefulness to the Cobblers as it seems as an MP?
St Lytham,The Beach Presumably Sixfields will also be on hold awaiting development of the train/bus station interchange (otherwise how else will we get to Sixfields from the Eastern side of town). What about the Rapid Transit System that was proposed back in the early nineties ?
This is a town where nothing EVER gets done, but we are No 1 in the country for talking about doing things.
desktop What is wrong with our Borough Council. Thought the lot before were bad enough but these lot are taking over from where they left off. I was born here and I am fearful of what future this town has with the twits in charge. If the Cobblers fold we all no who will be responsible. The Cardozer's have been given false promises for years. Other council's back there football team, MK and Swansea to name two, but what do ours do, put the boot in. If this town is struggling then it is because of poor management.
lilThe 2006 District Auditors report was scathing of the those at the top of NBC, Has anything changed ?I fear not.
It also revealed that NBC received a substantial amount in respect of a Brownfields site, which is presumably the land adjoping the stadium, I wonder what that has been frittered away on. Notwithstanding the money surely it is better to achieve development of this land rather than the continual erosion of greefield sites around the town.
The town centre is in decay and Legal and General have seen their investment increase considerably in value without doing anything so there is no reason to take any action whatsoever.
In the meantime the residential element in the area and adjoinind districts is expected to rise considerably and as a result people shopping facilities need to be increased pro rata. I fail to see any reason whatever why people will want to go into the town centre for there weekly needs.
F Baker,Towcester December 15, 2008The 2026 date is merely another way for the council to stick up two fingers at the Cobblers. Meantime at MK it's all been done nicely with development money while our council was having pathetic political point-scoring arguments in their ill-run meetings.
It's fair to observe that the Cobblers are not alone in suffering at the hands of NBC (all major political parties have been guilty) - other businesses have been/ are being treated badly, BUT the Cobblers were definitely given the "come-on" by NBC. Even the sensible revised plans of Sixfields' landowners have been ignored - we can't even have a garden centre at Sixfields because we're going to build one in the town centre, are we? Like heck, we are!
This is nothing short of a scandal, and everyone who wants a proper future for our town must now push for this bunch of idiots who pass as councillors to be properly investigated from top to bottom. If they're allowed to continue with a "do nothing except waste taxpayers' money" policy for our town, we are doomed. Let's now have some action from influential people who can get something done. There MUST be channels of action open, the alternative doesn't bear thinking about. Get rid of the NBC mutts.
Countyman Not being a great fan of the game, my views on football are limited, BUT you may think this email to Libdem members on 14 NOVEMBER 2007 is a bit opportunist?
Dear All
At the recent Northampton Town Football Club Supporters Trust AGM Denis was introduced as a Cllr who we had asked to join their Committee as our Representative. There was a ripple of surprise and possible concern but I feel that the one comment I hreard ie "At least they are taking an interest" shows that we have a way in to changing their perseption of A, the Lib Dems and B, Cllrs as we show an interest in what is important to them. Something few of them were expecting.
Tony Woods and I will be going to the FA Cup match at Northampton Town on the evening of 20th November and would like to make more of a Lib Dem presence of it. If anyone would like to be able, if necessary, to stand up at Council and say that they have been to a match at the Cobblers, then please come along with us. Just let me know by the end of tomorrow (Thursday the 15th Nov) and I will book the tickets. They will cost you the grand sum of £12 each.
DavidYou do not need a crystal ball to see what is going to happen to the Cobblers. They would certainly go into administration if Mr Cardozza (dont forget he is a business man at the end of the day) pulls out. They would be in the same position as Luton and we already know there fate is next year . The only, and I mean only solution to this is for the Cobblers to move to Franklins Gardens and share with the Saints. This was readily agreed by Mr Barwell 3 years ago at a meeting I attended when I posed the question.
It is economical sense and both clubs could work together and perhaps supporters on both sides may take an interest in the 2 sports and visit Franklins every week both teams are playing. It would certainly help the parking and Police arrangements. Wigan football Club and the Rugby League team both play at the JJB Stadium and look where Wigan FCposition is in the Premier league?
Alan BerwickThe reality of the situation is that the Councillors who run NBC want full control of everything that goes on in the Town. I can recall an incident a few years ago when an organisation called Local Alchemy came into Northampton. They chose an area and set up workshops in that area to see if there was enough interest from the local residents to start up and run a series of projects to stimulate improvements within their area. When the Local Alchemy guys asked for volunteers to come forward to set up a committee, NBC immediately jumped forward and assumed control. I heard the comment 'gate keepers' whispered by one of the Local Alchemy guys, whose sole purpose was to encourage the local residents to get actively involved in developing their own area.
Sixfields is suffering the same scenario, but on a much bigger scale. I read with interest the comments about Ikea, and the reason they went to MK. Interestingly enough, MK Dons FC now has a fantastic stadium next to Ikea-I think Ikea (and ASDA) helped them out with that. Coventry City FC has a fantastic stadium next to Tesco-I think Tesco helped them out with that too. The help they gave the clubs was to make the development of the land feasible by building their superstores on the adjacent land. I know NBC were not responsible for the Ikea debacle, but they should be willing to learn from it otherwise Northampton will be doomed for years to come.
KeithI live in Norfolk, but fully sympathies with the good people of Northampton. your incompetent council never ever will support the cobblers, as the same thing happened in the 1960,so when you went into the old first division, then plans were submitted for a new stadium but turned down.
as an outsider I wish all of you that support the cobblers success an you are a club with lots of history.(not like Milton Keynes). hang in there and fight you,re incompetent council.
M V ConnollyNot being a Northampton resident I don't know what businesses the Northampton Councillors represent but it looks like they are protecting their own interests.
I understand that between 3000 to 4000 houses have or will be built close to Sixfields. Do the Councillors really think that those residents will travel into Northampton for their shopping - NO WAY - they will travel to Central Milton Keynes or even Kingston local centre where they can park with ease.
I have supported the Cobblers for over 40 years, home and away, travelling 50 miles for each home game and have been in business in Milton Keynes for the same amount of time. If I had conducted my business in the same way as the Councillors run Northampton Council I would have long ceased trading.
Disgusted Supporter
Chalky WhiteAs I see it...
RAILWAY BYPASSES TOWN AS COUNCIL FAIL TO AGREE ROUTE!
RAILWAY STATION FINALLY BUILT - ON SITE OF GREAT HISTORIC INTEREST! TRAMS TO GO IN FAVOUR OF "CLEANER" BUSES SAY COUNCIL!
"BEAUTIFUL" EMPORIUM ARCADE TO BE PULLED DOWN BY COUNCIL!
NEW THEATRE PULLED DOWN REPLACED BY SUPERMARKET!
COUNCIL ALLOWIMPRESSIVE NOTRE DAME SCHOOL TO BE REPLACED BY NON-DESCRIPT SHOPS!
COUNCIL AGREE DERNGATE BUS STATION TO BE RAZED AND REPLACED BY MODERN
INTERCHANGE!
COUNCIL BUILD MODERN THEATRE ON SITE OF FORMER BUS STAION COUNCIL SAY " A FINE REPLACEMENT FOR THE MUCH MISSED NEW THEATRE"!
"MARKET SQUARE COBBLES MUST GO" SAYS COUNCIL!
"ITS NO TO IKEA" SAYS COUNCIL!
MILLENIUM BRIDGE SCHEME THROWN OUT BY COUNCIL!
NATIONAL FAIRGROUND MUESEUM REJECTED BY COUNCIL!
GUIDED BUS /TRAM SYSTEM IS THROWN OUT BY COUNCIL AS CAMBRIDGE SCHEME GETS GO-AHEAD!
TOWN SHOW TO BE MERGED WITH BALLOON FESTIVAL BY COUNCIL!
FISH MARKET CLOSED BY COUNCIL!
MARKET SQUARE RENTS INCREASED BY COUNCIL!
COUNCILS MILLION POUND MARKET SQUARE REFURBISHMENT CREATES 50% MORE OPEN SPACE AND 50% LESS STALLS!
BUS STATION BECOMES NATIONAL JOKE AS THE BUILDINGS OWNERS (THE COUNCIL)MAKE NO DECISION!
GROSVENOR CENTRE REDEVELOPMENT DELAYED AGAIN AS LEICESTER, MILTON KEYNES, DERBY, NOTTINGHAM,BANBURY,CAMBRIDGE AND EVEN CORBY OPEN BRAND NEW CENTRES!
COUNCIL DECREE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AN HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARD DESPITE EVERY OTHER KNOWN TOWN IN THE COUNTRY HAVING THEM!
COUNCIL THROW OUT PLANS TO REDEVELOP SIXFIELDS!
It's no wonder I moved away
pattcobb - NOW LIVING IN LEICESTER You ask "What do you think of the decision?" Well, What decision???
Yet again the council have shown what a stupid old bunch of dross they are. They made no decision on Ikea, Ikea went away. They made no decision on the Grovsnor centre. That might happen – by 2026! They made no decision on the bus station. That's tied up with the Grovesnor Centre.
Now, after wasting everybodies time about the Sixfields redevelopment, they come up with an "Explain this now, immediately and fully" question about the way the development is contemplated with things outside the immediate control of the Cardozas and, since they did not get a full, instant response, they can sit back and smugly say that they fully support the Cobblers but the Cardozas should go away and come up with a plan on a way forward.
How on earth do they get up in the morning? Are all their socks the same colour to avoid making a decision?
They expressed regret when Ikea went to Milton Keynes, saying that they had done their best to reach an agreement. Will they express regret when the Cobblers simply die from strangulation caused by the Council, but which will surely be laid, by them, at the feet of the Cardozas along the lines that, if only the Cardozas had come up with some plans to save the Cobblers, the council would have bent over backwards to help them.
Perhaps they are now bending over so far backwards that their heads are disappearing into surprising parts of their anatomy – they certainly seem to have learnt to speak from there!
Yours, more in sorrow than anger,
David KrampfWant your say? Post a comment below or click here to email the Chron with your messageSo NBC have rejected the Cobblers redevelopment plans until 2026, that's only 18 years away!!! They simply have no clue and should be removed from office. I am going to write to anyone in Government who will listen to request Northampton Borough Council are called in by Westminster and run by Whitehall until we can elect INDEPENDENT councillors who aren't Lib, Tory or Labour. The Sixfields development is being run for the community good & they have no interest in us.
I think the people in this town have had enough of their mis management and sheer arrogance. Lets be 100% crystal clear the Cobblers will now go bust over the next 2-3 years once the Cardoza's are left with no option but to walk away, but you mark my words, if that happens planning applications will flood in and get fast tracked to allow Sixfields Stadium to be demolished and a huge retail centre built in its place all within 3 years. You read it here first!!!
John Whelan, NorthamptonThe news that Northampton Borough Council will not support a publicly enabled stadium at Sixfields comes as no surprise, and I can understand many of the arguments that have been put forward. However, in an admission of their mind boggling ineptitude, one can only wonder at a council that states that nothing can be decided until after 2026. What on earth do they think they are going to be doing for the next 18 years? Dithering, vacillating, and navel gazing? Wasting more taxpayers' money on inane and useless traffic schemes? Building yet more houses and flats that no-one can buy or wants? Northampton's elected representatives and appointed employees involved in this fiasco should hang their heads in shame; they are a national disgrace and if ever there is a scenario where a local authority should be dismissed and taken over by central government, it is here in Northampton. The three parties have all now had a chance at running Northampton and they've all abjectly failed.
What the town needs is bold and decisive action to address its malaise and corrosive degeneration: offer up the land for free at Newlands and Greyfriars to a John Lewis or other flagship store - exactly as they have done in Preston - and make it the centrepiece of a new town centre. Put some pride back in the town instead of insulting us with derisory public works of art. And last of all let the people of this town decide what sort of town they want, not one imposed through the John Prescott nominated, unelected WNDC.
Kevin Simons Knew it, absolutely knew it! This is the most predictable decision about the cobblers future! There is a unholy alliance acting against the football clubs future here! I am angry beyond belief! By contrast, Milton Keynes just gets on with the job of improving their shopping facilities AND giving their football club decent backing! But us? We turn down IKEA, we fart about the bus station, road infrastructure, shopping facilities etc etc! We need a common vision here about Northampton's future here.! Time for our politicians,and others,to get a grip!
RayWant your say? Post a comment below or click here to email the Chron with your messageYet another pointless decision from a pointless and incompetent set of disorganized individuals who in the recent past have been proven to be so incapable of holding office that to organize a funfair was beyond them – remember the Crispin fairs we use to enjoy in October ?
I have never been in favour of local rule being given over to central government but Northampton is now so shockingly leaderless that the residents and tax payers of this borough are losing their jobs and their community through what can only be described as criminal neglect. It is now time to ask central government to come in and take control of running Northampton giving the town and its people the opportunity to have a future.
Andrew Whelan, DustonYou may think i am all for the Cobblers but what is going on to the town i was born and raised in. Northampton used to be a place to be proud of. What have we now no Christmas lights, shops closed, we have a dying = town center we used to have an open air market to be proud of and a very = good fish and meat market "again gone", The saints ground built no problem This administration at the town hall are a joke what have we got to show from this administration lumps of stone (Art) in the parks. Now it seems they want to kill off the football club to (a great club with history to be proud of).
The Cardoza family have invested heavily to make the club great again with no help from the council, it's a disgrace.
Colin a cobblers fan of 45 years and season ticket holderIf you printed my thoughts on the local council we would both be prosecuted.
Steve RodhouseWant your say? Post a comment below or click here to email the Chron with your messageDecember 10, 2008Much and all as Mr Cardoza, and of course the conflicted Mr Clarke, would like the well being of his business to be a Public issue it isn't. It's only one of many businesses including sports and leisure businesses (eg Silverstone and the town centre retail regeneration by Legal & General) that are being delayed in their investment plans by the inability of the WNJPU or more precisely the Councils behind the JPU to create plans in a timely fashion.
St Lytham,The BeachMeanwhile, MK Dons go from strength to strength.Do we really want to concede regional status so easily to Milton Keynes? Like turning away IKEA, we seem to have a death wish about Northampton! Personally, I blame the lionising of Charles Bradlaugh, that well known atheist, for much of the troubles we face as a town!Or perhaps it is the owner of the Saints rugby team?
Ray Douglas, NorthamptonBut they did all agree that they wanted a cupper of tea and i'm sure that didn't take 4 hours to agree on.
If it wasn't for the stadium i'm sure most of those businesses around there wouldn't get much business.
Michael SDecember 8, 2008Why all the hype on the stadium? It will b a shock 2 everybody if it happens. There are other landowners involved, not just the Cobbs and this council is dire, they can't b Northamptonians. Gray, u want 2 stick 2 the football matters. You have a budget, we have 5,000 break-even gates 2 run on. U want 2 sort the shambles on the pitch week in week out. another dire match on Saturday, what's goin on?
MPDecember 7, 2008Fairly decent first half, plus getting off to a cracking start with the early goal, then a pretty dour second half, until the final ten minutes, when yet again the Town suddenly woke up and realised that there were three points to be gained.
However, it wasn't to be, and Orient travel back to the Capital with a share of the spoils, and also their away supporters summing the whole thing up with "We've only had one shot" ringing around Sixfields.
Interesting to hear the voices in the West Stand echoing the thoughts of many, that the councillors were just a short distance away at Franklin's Gardens. If this was the case then it's really no surprise that this tumbleweed scenario, just rolls on and on. Just wonder how long it takes the Saints to get planning permission to improve and achieve certain re-developments. Not too long, I would have thought!
Dayn FreemanDecember 1, 2008Typical "After The Lord Mayor's Show", and it certainly was, as after an outstanding performance against Leeds a few days earlier, the Town put on a first half performance that was nothing more than dire.
For the first forty five minutes, they had an attitude of we've beaten the mighty Leeds United, so you guys will be a pushover. Well that game plan didn't work, as Colchester got into the Town's faces, and basically stopped them from playing. Pretty simple really.
The Town woke up in the second half, and had enough chances to at least get something from the game,but poor finishing allowed Colchester to go home with the spoils which they deserved.
All in all, pretty poor!
Dayn Freeman November 28, 2008Super Gray does it again. Hopefully this will be the turning point in the season with two home games coming up. If we can snatch four points from them it could be a good few months to come. With the loan signings the squad is looking good also. With Doig, Larkin, Osman and Bayo back soon, there will be good competion for places, which is very important. Against Leeds in the Cup we were down to the bare bones and without players breathing down your neck, its hard to get solid performances week in, week out. Gilligan is on his game now and fighting for his place, Coke is back and has talent abundant and Crowe gave the defenders something to think about. If we can keep the lads injury free, who knows. Play-offs!!! Maybe its too early for that YET?
Shady CobblerNovember 27, 2008Super first half display. Leeds caught with their pants down. Gray's team selection about right. Davis in midfield and Jackman at full-back balance rite. Just wish McGleish was as good as two years ago. Todd and Crowe outstanding. Fielding needs 2 b signed full-time. Just need that pace up front and a fit Coke. Well done Town
mpWhat a difference a week makes. Cobblers clobber Leeds after a masterstroke from Gray bringing in Andy Todd and playing him alongside Jason Crowe at the back. The Cobblers looked assured for the majority of the game and made up for last week's disappointment. Every player was on their game and showed just what we are capable of. Leeds didn't look at it until the last 25 minutes but the Cobblers held firm and had some luck, something we didn't have last week. Back-to-back wins will restore the confidence and we now look forward to another home game on Saturday. Bring it on...
Wadey CobblerNovember 26, 2008Reported on Cobblers website it was one of the club's most famous victories, why? When will people realise Leeds play in league one not the Premier League? They may have big support, but they are no longer a big club.
Vince BattamsTwo texts yesterday, both moaners, one saying wheres the signings we were promised, the other saying the cobblers are greedy for putting the prices up, poor old Cardoza, he doesn't stand a chance. Well done cobblers on a great win against leeds and well done david cardoza for supporting the cobblers.
The Oundle CobblerNovember 24, 2008What a difference a week makes. Cobblers clobber Leeds after a masterstroke from Gray bringing in Andy Todd and playing him alongside Jason Crowe at the back. The Cobblers looked assured for the majority of the game and made up for last week's disappointment. Every player was on their game tonight and showed just what we are capable of. Leeds didn't look at it until the last 25 minutes but the Cobblers held firm and had some luck, something we didn't have last week. Back-to-back wins will restore the confidence and we now look forward to another home game on Saturday. Bring it on.......
WadeyCobbler
November 19, 2008Its no good picking on Stewart Grey or David Cardoza the truth is it costs a whole lot of money to run a football side in Div 1 and anyone who can remember the dark days with the tarket on the wall at sixfields to raise which i think was somthing like £200,000 to stay alive should be more than gratefull for what the Cardoza family has done for the Cobblers without their support and hard work the Cobblers would long since ceased to exists
Les Weatherley DaventryNovember 18, 2008it was men against boys. cadoza we cant go on much more with performance like this. 5.2 could have been double. why why dont u glve gray some money. u cant keep havin loanees week in week ou t no wins in 6. every thing on the cheap. keep this up and its division 3. also gray your tactics are poor. the crowds are disapearing. people are not goin 2 come 2 get ripped off 2 watch what we are serving up. the performances are dire. why dont we look at players in non league. 2. 3 we have would not get in a parks side.
m.p.no disgrace beaten by a better and wealthier team
west stand regular come on gray give the lads a chance. Morale and confidence is low. Leeds out classed us. Constantine was poor, stick him in the stiffs for a month to get him motivated. We still created at times but lack the killer punch bayo offers. Its gonna be a very long season if we carry on like this. Scotty on his own at home wont help matters. Throw the negative attitude out the window and go for broke. Id rather see us losing by playing attacking fluent football than backs to the wall. Ive always admired grays tactics, but even im getting worried. Up the town. Lets chalk 3 points against hereford and doleeds in the league. Ever the optimist.
Shady cobblerSo ticket prices were upped by 14% but the effort from some of the cobblers players was less than the ticket rise. Having done the hard work away we duly went out and got truly thrashed by an average side, certainly not a side as good as Bolton or Sunderland where we didnt lose either game during normal playing time. Against Leeds we just gave up, Constantine might as well wore a blue shirt as it looked like he was still a Leeds player!! We desperately need another centre back as poor old bully is to slow for this division. Frankie gets a call up for England U21 then makes a gaff that Gomez would be proud of. Our most potent forward was Jason Crowe and he's a full back. If we dont start at least trying soon we will be back in league 2 next season. This is the worst performance I have ever seen at sixfields, I trust the players will put it right in the league game against Leeds next week and give us hurt fans something to cheer about.
Pete32,NorthamptonHow different can 2 games be? At Elland Rd the whole team defended superbly and made you feel proud to follow a team with such magnificent fighting spirit. Tonight was Sunday morning pub team at best. 4 of the 5 goals Leeds scored tonight were gifted to them by Dolman (letting the ball bounce and allowing Beckford to nip in ahead and score) Hughes (falling over instead of putting the ball in to row Z) Fielding (not getting his body behind a shot from all of 25 yards which he could have seen all the way) and Dolman again (ball watching and not picking up Beckford's clever run)
Having said all of that I believe that it was totally against the grain in that we normally defend pretty well. I also think that we have to give great credit to Jermaine Beckford, fantastic pace, positioning and movement, and I was very pleased that he was given a generous round of applause, if not quite a standing ovation, from all sections of the ground when he was substituted - this shows that genuine NTFC fans are not always miserable bunch of ingrates that we are sometimes accused of being.
My big fear is that the shambles we witnessed tonight will have a massive negative impact on morale and confidence. Stuart Gray needs to pull out all the stops to get the team fired up to put this game behind us and go for the win at Hereford on Saturday. Anything less than a win will leave us too close to the relegation zone for comfort.
I was determined not to say anything about Constantine but couldn't quite achieve it - I think Stuart should just accept that he has made a mistake, in signing him, and just leave him on the bench. I am convinced that he is being played only because he must be on a decent screw and the Manager is hoping that by playing him he will somehow run into some form. Forget it - he has no pace, no agression, no goalscoring instinct and worst of all no commitment. However I still don't believe that he should be booed and heckled by Cobblers supporters though.
I wish I could say that I feel happier after this rant but I don't so I'm off to drown my sorrows.
Stuart TaylorI was at the home game against Leeds on Monday night, they thoroughly deserved the win. we were played off the park, however that doesn't give our fans the right to Boo our team off as some fans were doing in the West Stand behind me at half time!! Do people really think that helps the lads. yes, we were poor, but I think any team with a lot of its 1st team players sat in the stand would've struggled against Leeds the way they played. Beckford was awesome, and deserved his applause from the whole ground. well done Leeds, you deserved the win, now can we get behind the team and march on in the league. I've learnt since I started following the cobblers that your a fan through good and bad, not always pleasant, but they are my team and so be it. and yes I stopped to the bitter end aswell, and applauded our lads as they came off!
Michelle RawlingsNovember 17, 2008crowd for replay vs Leeds less than 4,000, half of them from Leeds. well worth gold Game for cobblers. What difference would good home crowd have made?! its hard time for fans and 2 home games in 4 days could have done with cheaper tickets and probable made more money for cobblers. Think next time.
PJ, AbingtonSo Stuart Gray maintained that the side he picked for Saturday's game had no bearing on tonight's FA Cup replay against Leeds!
I sure many who witnessed an abysmal performance on Saturday would beg to differ.
There's no doubt that some of the "bigger" names were deliberately kept on the bench, I presume to keep away from injury, and also keep fresh for tonight.
In a nutshell it didn't work, and although Oldham were nothing special, we never gave their Keeper a shot to save!
The old nutshell of the direct ball to Andy Holt, is now becoming so obvious and lethargic that a local park side could soon work that system out, so Mr Gray, although the carpet is somewhat threadbare, be a little bit more innovative with what you have. Use the talents of young Walker at full back, who looked impressive both in defence and attack, get more quality on the deliveries to the front men, and get the players communicating with each other, instead of two, or three going for the same ball!
Hopefully we may just be able to get through tonight, and the income from another televised game will keep the wolves from the door, but League One football is the main dish on the menu so let's get that right by playing the best of what you've got!
Dayn FreemanWant your say? Post a comment below or click here to email the Chron with your messageNovember 13, 2008The Media may be looking at next Monday's replay as a foregone conclusion, but I can assure you that many sane Leeds fans are not!
We lost our FA Cup 1st round replay last year, which was both at home and against a League 2 club (Hereford) so an away tie at Northampton is by no means an away win!
If we play to the best of our ability then Leeds United really should be in the next round, but if things were that simple then football wouldn't be the game we all know and love!
Tony Hirst,LeedsI note both clubs" Cobbler's and Leeds" wanted to reduce the ticket prices for the FA CUP replay, but the FA and there rules prevented them from doing so. Surely one way of reducing the costs to supporters is giving fans who attend the game a FREE match day programme, the FA cant object to this simple cost saving plan for the fans, who both clubs say they want to help. It's only a small gesture, but a gesture that will be appreciated by all the fans who attend and fires a salvo across the FA bows about there rules. With the game due to screened on TV, something needs to be done to get as many fans as possible into the ground, especially as Santana only have to pay each club a reduced TV fee of £37500, and not the full £75000 for screening a replay. There is nothing to stop the clubs agreeing to give free tea and coffee to the fans as a way of reducing costs, lets see both clubs being proactive for the replay and thinking of the fans. The FA dont control everything, so lets see the clubs back-up there wishes to reduce costs, or is that just bluster we hear about ticketing rules.
Chicago CobblerStill losing money every day says cardoza, lower ur ticket prices play football and fans may return
tmhWhat football club lets another club dictate the ticket price for games. apparently leeds set the price for the fa replay.
credit crunched cobblerNovember 11, 2008So FA rules won't allow the Cobblers to charge standard prices for the Leeds replay. Is the FA so bureaucratic and inflexible and lacking in common sense? Obviously they are. The attendance for the first game was less than half the crowd Leeds normally get and this was with reduced prices. The Cobblers have a Gold league game against Leeds the following week so all this ruling will achieve is to ensure a half-full stadium lacking in atmosphere. Thanks FA for sweet FA.
Lee WadeNovember 9, 2008Ref didn't av a clue about the game. Coke was a bit silly to get second yellow and well done Fielding for keeping us in game. Doig unlucky 2 get injured and I hope its not 2 bad. And Bignall lookd very good. We need to play a lot better a week on Tuesday, even if it goes 2 extra-time and pens.
Just back from a hard-fought trip from Leeds. Well done the 10 men. Where was all the support, armchair fans? Hughesy magnificent, make him permanent captain.
MPNovember 8, 2008Excllent defensive display from Town. Dubious penalty and stupid sending off would have made any other team crumble at Elland Road. Ref was a disgrace, homer if ever I saw one. Cant wait to get them back to Sixfields and show em what were made of. Big Bayo and Scotty up front will scare their defence to death. We actually could have nicked it near the end. Bignott showed glimpses of what he's about, strong and pacy. A younger version of Bayo baybe? All in all a great performance and I just hope for once we can fill Sixfields. And please Mr Sixfields money man, dont make it a GOLD game! Knock the admission price down, maybe a BOGOF. Seats on bums will help the team more than cash in the bank. Had plenty of that with sale of Johnson, Gypes and Bunn, so maybe its the FANS turn.
Shady CobblerGreat rearguard action from Town and deserved a replay for their commitment and hard work against the odds. To have 5 or 6 players missing through injury, a player sent off, the captain go off injured, a dubious penalty against and come away with a draw is a massive achievement. Well played all and well managed Stuart Gray. Hope MP watched this and agrees.
WadeyCobblerNovember 7, 2008Worked socks off to frustrate leeds, onlyspoilt by sofftest pen ever seen. What a diver. Well dun cobbs, now finish the job at 6fields.
PatNo more than Town deserved. Nice tippy-tappy football Leeds but we had as many chances as you.ets all turn out 4 replay.
GazzaTerrible crowd. Whats point of charging £20 and getting under 10,000? Cobs, you did us proud tonight, wore shirt with pride. Get injured players back and we can do it at Sixfields.
Bozeat CobblerWant your say? Post a comment below or click here to email the Chron with your message
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