Farnborough FC

Farnborough boss Spencer Day seeks response

By Jon Couch
February 28, 2013

SPENCER Day hauled his Farnborough side in for extra training this week – and then backed them to recover from what he described as their “worst performance of the season”.

Furious Day looked on as lacklustre Boro succumbed to lowly Eastbourne Borough on Saturday, with substitute Darren Lok’s last-gasp strike earning all three points at Cherrywood Road.

The manager's response was to haul his entire squad in for an impromptu training session on Sunday morning ahead of what is now a crucial stage of Boro’s season, where this Saturday's home game against strugglers AFC Hornchurch is followed by five straight away games.

“We had a very good session and the players trained very hard this week,” Day said.

“We got together on Sunday and had a long chat about what happened against Eastbourne – now it’s about getting a response.

“I was angrier on Saturday than I think I ever have been at Farnborough. We were lazy, toothless and sloppy. We got complacent and it was a real wake-up call.

“Too many players didn’t turn up or wanted to play tip-tap football and we paid the price.

“Now these next few games are massive. Hornchurch will be coming here looking to do what Eastbourne did on Saturday, then we go to Billericay on Tuesday for the first of five games away with Eastbourne coming up again next Saturday.

“I do believe we can win all three of those games, but these teams are fighting for their lives – as we are now – and we have to be ready for that.”

Day has also angrily hit out at suggestions that his two new full-time loan signings have contributed to an imbalance in the side in recent weeks.

Midfield ace Tom Donegan is yet to hit top form since arriving from Premier League Fulham - being on the winning side just once in his three Boro matches thus far - while Matt Ball has lost his opening two matches since coming in from League One Stevenage.

But Day, who admits a third loan signing - also from a Premier League club - could be imminent, refused to accept that tampering with his starting line-up had contributed to recent results.

"That's incredibly unfair," Day said. "It's a team responsibility and the facts show that is not the case.

"We had a very good win at home to Hayes & Yeading, which Tom played in, played extremely well and were unlucky to lose at Welling and then, yes, we all had a shocker against Eastbourne.

"Suggesting imbalance would be an easy excuse for players to make and I don't accept it for one minute. Did Tom and Matt do themselves justice on Saturday? Probably not. But were they as bad as anyone else? No. It's a team effort.

"When you've got a small squad like we've had this season it's easy for players to get complacent and take for granted that their place in the team is guaranteed.

"Now, with Tom and Matt coming in, all of a sudden some may have to fight for their place. It's healthy to have competition for places."

Left-back Ollie Treacher, who limped off with a knock at half time against Eastbourne, is rated at only 50/50 for the visit of AFC Hornchurch, so Marcus Moody, impressive when coming on in his place on Saturday, stands by.

Day has also revealed that versatile Spaniard Alfredo Bosch has been taken off the transfer list and he is also expected to play a key part in the busy week ahead.

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Totally disagree with Spencer on this. The players that he has brought in on loan are not better in fact are worse than the ones we. already have. We had one of the best forward lines I'm the league with all four front player making and scoring goals on a regular basis. The loan players have caused an imbalance in the team. Spencer lambasts his players in thus newspaper i think he needs to look at himself and his decision making as to the poor results in February.why change the players that got the team in and around the play offs. He also states we have a small squad but releases one of our best players in Reece Jones and puts Elvis out on loan. Let's not forget he as manager should has lost for points in not doing his home work.