A Happy,Healthy,and Peaceful New Year

[eastsax]

To all those who have contributed to this forum , making it a relative success after the closing of the official forum.

As an aside: Apart from a couple of spammers when we first opened, there has been no cause to ban anyone should any previously prolific posters be noticeable by their absence.

[IlfordEagle]

I'd echo that, it's refreshing to read other people's views without numerous swear words, insults etc which you get on many Football Forums, a good job done by the Moderators. Best Wishes to all in 2014.

[essexfan548]

Happy New Year to all - thanks again to all those responsible for getting this forum off the ground.

I hope 2014 will bring greater success to both England and Essex ....

[firehazard]

Yes, Happy New Year to all who've survived the transfer to the new forum. May your 2014 be better than your 2013. And may the same be true for ECCC.

And well done, eastsax, all seems to be safely off the ground and progressing smoothly.

[Mog]

Ditto to the above. Happy new year!

For once maybe we can collectively look forward to the long overdue, very obvious and necessary change that is needed throughout the Club.
A useful starting point would involve some honesty from the decision makers. I think most would have more patience and some acceptance of ECCC, if the tired old perennial's of "bad luck", "poor weather", suffixed with "we're a young team and getting better all the time" were put away for good. Sadly, I remember the same old platitudes/excuses being trotted out by Irani, East and Fletcher at the turn of the century.
The truth is, on and off the field the Club have, at best, stood still.

[Andy]

East sax, echo above sentiments.

[squarelegumpire]

Yes, a Happy New Year to one and all.

I look forward to April; note that Foster said on the official site that he didn't think last year had been too bad. And indeed, but for some silly mistakes it wasn't, and indeed without those errors could have been better.

[nat]

Y...

I look forward to April; note that Foster said on the official site that he didn't think last year had been too bad. And indeed, but for some silly mistakes it wasn't, and indeed without those errors could have been better.

You don't really believe that do you? Please tell me you don't...

[Valentines Park]

Foster said on the official site that he didn't think last year had been too bad.

Sums it up I'm afraid.

Legend as a player.

Bellend as a captain.

[afinetickletoleg]

Foster said on the official site that he didn't think last year had been too bad.

Sums it up I'm afraid.

Legend as a player.

Bellend as a captain.

Too much sherry last night it would seem. 

[Valentines Park]

Too much sherry last night it would seem. 

Well I certainly can't believe the opinions you hold stone cold sober.

[squarelegumpire]

Y...

I look forward to April; note that Foster said on the official site that he didn't think last year had been too bad. And indeed, but for some silly mistakes it wasn't, and indeed without those errors could have been better.

You don't really believe that do you? Please tell me you don't...

 "Hadn't been too bad". That's not dreadful, as it could well have been. Losing several points through poor captaincy count as silly errors. Probably did verity little for team morale, as well!

Poor team selection at least a couple of times were silly mistakes, but could to some extent be down to too much interference from former players.

Signing Saj was demonstrably stupid; not yet sure how signing Monty will work out; personally, assuming he's OK, I'd rather have Craddock, as a) he's one for the future, b) he can bat, or at least keep an end up, and c) he can field.

There was an element of bad luck, too, in that Qiney, Bopara and Westley got injured.

My concern is that the structure of the club encourages poor decision making! We've got the players!

[Diatribe]

We've got the players!

I'd only agree with that assertion  if you're referring to the required amount to make up a team of 11 players.

There was an element of bad luck, too, in that Qiney, Bopara and Westley got injured.

I'm not sure the 2013 team were weakened to any great extent by the injuries to Quiney and Westley and how many of the 9 CC games that Bopara missed were due to injury?

With ref. to the fact that there has been no cause thus far to banish anyone to a state of exile, I did assert on the previous forum that pre moderation was unnecessary as most, if not all of the combatants were reasonably responsible individuals and capable of self moderation.