Liam Knowles: Hopeful Stagnation

2017-04-11 17:22#241532 ScottT : Unlucky month, although you picked up a huge win against Southport and a very solid point to Boreham Wood. Also getting some progression in that totally not pointless FA Trophy.

Some decent results here and there I agree, FA Trophy is good for a bit of cash so shush with your prejudice

2nd January 2017

“... And this is important because the attacker can skip past you just like that, obviously not what you want,” I demonstrated to Adam Dugdale, the first reserve centre-back in the squad. I saw Stewart Donald, the club chairman walk onto the training pitch out of the corner of my eye.

“We all done here, Liam?” he asked as he walked towards me. “Can you pop into my office when you’ve said everything?” he said, with a very weak, very fake smile on his face.

I already knew what it was going to be about, I was replaying over and over in my head while I was sleeping. “Yeah, sure boss.” The players probably hadn’t heard me call anyone ‘boss’ at the club yet. “I’ll be there in two.”

“Great.” Donald said as he wandered back, checking up on the training field turf by scraping his brogues along the grass.

I finished up talking to the defence before handing them over to my assistant manager, James Russell. I took a knowing walk of shame towards Stewart Donald’s office, waiting for the tsunami of questions and general shit I was going to get for the Derrick Roberts picture which was plastered in every paper shop around the town.

“Take a seat,” Donald said, smoothly. I followed his instruction, slowly sitting opposite him. “I think it’s time that I got an explanation from you about what the hell is going on with this Derrick Wiliams, Roberts, Robertson – whatever his name is – I’ve given you a few days and now I want the truth, Liam.”

“Look, Stewart, it was unbeknown to me who he was. I’ve spent my entire life living up north, I’ve never paid attention to all those crime stories in the press. I had no idea who Derrick Roberts was up until now, never mind know what he looks like. How did I know that the most wanted drug lord in the south of England would pop out of nowhere when I want a drink down in Southampton?” I explained to Stewart Donald, feeling myself go red as I spoke.

“Is that what happened?” he asked, “He came up to and asked for a photograph with you?” he said, reaffirming the story I had given him.

“Yes. The man behind the camera, he was called Jamal or something, if that’s any relevance. He called over this guy called Jamal. I literally just thought that he was a fan who wanted a bit of fame on the Eastleigh hashtag?” I said.

“You better be telling me the truth, Liam. This club’s reputation has gone down the drain enough in the past few days. The last thing I want is the club putting out a false statement about your involvement. If you are involved with him with his business, tell me right now.” Stewart Donald daggered me with his stare, I knew how serious this was for him.

“I am telling the whole truth. Nothing but the truth. He came up to me asking for a picture, following up his previous question asking if I am Liam Knowles. I did not see him again that night nor any time in the future.” I said, my voice breaking slightly.

“OK. A statement will be on the club website and sent out to national and local press regarding the situation with yourself and Derrick Roberts. A draft will also be made to send to the police about the Jamal person who was with Derrick that night, see if they pick anything up on that trail.” Stewart said to me. “That’s all I needed. You can leave now.”

Ooo interesting update! Let's hope that's enough to get him off the hook.

2017-04-11 19:47#241538 ScottT : Ooo interesting update! Let's hope that's enough to get him off the hook.

We'll have to find out

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Liam Knowles has opened the Eastleigh chequebook for the first time in January, snapping up former Southampton midfielder Dean Hammond on a deal until June 2018.

In a move that has shocked many in the National League, Eastleigh have reportedly spent big money on the journeyman with several reports saying he is set to become the highest earner down at the Silverlake Stadium.

Hammond's last contracted club was Leicester City, however Hammond was loaned out to League One Sheffield United in Claudio Ranieri's Premier League winning season, so unfortunately Hammond does not have a Premier League winners medal.

Previous to Leicester, Hammond had arguably his most successful spell at nearby club Southampton - Eastleigh's parent club - where Hammond achieved two back to back promotion into the Championship then into the Premier League.

With Eastleigh low on central midfielders after the August deadline, it is a long awaited arrival at the club for manager Knowles, who has expressed his happiness at pushing the Hammond deal through.

Liam Knowles (1/1/2017):
I'm very happy to be able to welcome Dean to the club today, everybody knows how much of a professional he has been at all the clubs he has played for. We have a good relationship with Southampton and we got a very good reference on him, as well as from my scouts. He is a welcome addition to the squad.

It seems like this isn't the only activity that Eastleigh will be partaking in this transfer window, with strikers Scott Wilson and Craig McAllister released at the start of the month it seems like Knowles is after a striker this month.

Knowles also had to send Luca De La Torre back to Fulham, terminating his loan contract due to an injury against Boreham Wood that sees him out for the rest of the season. It wouldn't be surprising to see an attacking midfielder to arrive at the club. But with Eastleigh using all six long-term loans offered by the National League for the season, they would have to arrive on a permanent deal.

Hammond is exactly the man you needed, an experienced head and a leader. Shame about De La Torre for sure, will you be looking to replace him?

2017-04-11 23:40#241550 ScottT : Hammond is exactly the man you needed, an experienced head and a leader. Shame about De La Torre for sure, will you be looking to replace him?

I agree, Hammond is a great signing for me and I'm surprised myself that he agreed a deal with us! On DeLa Torre I will look for a replacement because that attacking midfield spot is vital in our system and if anything happens to Tom Rosenthal we'll have to switch the whole dynamics of the team

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We finish off the first month of the new year unbeaten, however we are unbeaten in the worst way possible in that we only managed to win one league match out of the four played.

We were without DeLa Torre who was sent back to Fulham due to his injury in the 6th minute against Boreham Wood, and this meant that we had to switch formation against Woking - which came to our surprise as our only league win of the month.

In terms of transfers, there was movement in and out of the club. Dean Hammond and former Manchester United youngster Josh Doughty joined the club (to replace the returned DeLa Torre). Meanwhile, on the other side six players left our ranks either permanently or temporarily in January.

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In comparison to months like November or December 2016, we go into the new year challenged with keeping our Play-Off position, rather than fighting to go further up in the standings.

York City lurk just two points behind us as we enter February, but we are one win away from potentially going ahead of Lincoln and Tranmere in the Play-Off positions, so it could swing either way. Unless Wrexham have a disastrous slip-up, I cannot see any other team overtaking them to top the table at this point.

At the foot of the table, Solihull Moors have begun a slight fightback in the league standings as they have been in magnificent form this month, going four games unbeaten in the league and banking six precious points in the process. Maidstone and Dagenham need a few wins to stave away from the drop zone, as they both lie two points ahead of 21st placed Southport.

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In a tough, gritty month for us, it is Ben Close who bags his first Player of the Month award with some positive displays in all five fixtures of the month. The Bournemouth loanee has played in almost every single match this season, showing excellent consistency. But with two spectacular goals this month, it couldn't go to anybody else besides Close this time.

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Pretty good results man and congrats on 3000

You seem to like draws Have to also say you don't seem to like Southport very much do you, smashing them again... Matt Tubbs is a royal pain in the arse, very good goalscorer so it's not a surprise to see him bag a double against you. No real surprise departures either but two very good additions it has to be said. Next month will be interesting, you play three sides you'd expect to get points from and then three sides where it will be much more difficult, all in all it would be a very successful month if you could get 12/13 points out the lot.

MJK: Cheers fella

Scott: Aye, just one of those months where you can't seem to outscore your opponent no matter how many shots you take! Tubbs is just a complete out-and-out arsehole. Happy with my recruitments, but can't see Doughty playing all too much really, especially not due to tactical reasons - one of those you get in on low wage just to cover for a bit before shipping them out at the end of the season Really need to start picking up some serious pointage this month though to escape dropping out of the Play-Offs because the title just seems out of the question now.

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There is big news coming out of Silverlake Stadium as Eastleigh FC announced this morning that Roger Johnson has joined the club on a one-year deal.

With transfer dealings seemingly all done and dusted for Liam Knowles and his first-team squad, the ex-Wolves centre-back and fan favourite signs up for The Spitfires in a surprise free transfer.

The defender's last involvement in football was a short spell at Charlton Athletic in the Championship, before mismanagement in the boardroom got hold of the club, leading to its relegation into League One when costcutting strategies were put in place meaning that Johnson was written off the payroll at The Valley.

Johnson, 33, has a rich experience in the Football League, playing for clubs like Cardiff City, Birmingham and Wycombe Wanderers throughout his career. He enjoyed spells in the top-flight with Wolverhampton Wanderers as well as a loan deal at West Ham United.

He has played alongside his to-be defensive partner at Eastleigh in previous years, too. Réda Johnson's final season at Sheffield Wednesday included an on-loan Roger Johnson in the 2013/14 season at Hillsborough.

Like Dean Hammond last month, Johnson's reputation in the English game means that he is up there with one of the biggest wages per week in the Eastleigh team, as well as the National League as a whole with Knowles making use of Stewart Donald's generous transfer kitty.

Roger Johnson is all set and registered to play for his new club in their next fixture in the league against Braintree Town in the Vanarama National League. Johnson will wear the number 25 shirt in the wake of Craig McAllister's premature exit from Silverlake Stadium.

ROGER FUCKING JOHNSON, WHAT A SIGNING.

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An incredible month. February earned us seven points out of a possible twelve, with some great wins on the way. Our league match against Guiseley was postponed due to the poor state of the Nethermoor pitch in West Yorkshire. That match will be played in March.

In the FA Trophy, we have made major strides. Beginning with our first match of February, we beat league rivals Gateshead on the Silverlake turf in a 3-1 victory with Jake Pickard helping us to advance. The Fourth Round brought us Vanarama South outfit Hemel Hempstead who we decimated with attack after attack, defeating them 3-0 to go through to the final four teams in the tournament.

In terms of injuries, we have finally got Darius Henderson back from his three month injury due to a torn hamstring, he started a few games this month. However, we had to stop using the change in formation of 4-2-3-1 as Calaum Jahraldo-Martin suffered a broken leg against Braintree, putting the winger on the sidelines for nine months. Ryan Cresswell is also out for ten weeks with a lower back stress.

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After gaining a lot of the available points over the February period, we have allowed ourselves to get a few points ahead of Tranmere Rovers who sit just outside the Play-Offs. The main worry from outside the Play-Offs is Sutton United, who are level on points with Tranmere but with a game in hand on The Rovers. We have a chance to go seven points ahead of Tranmere with our game in hand versus bottom of the table Guiseley.

Our involvement in the FA Trophy Semi-Finals against Boston United means that we will have more games in hand to play by the time April comes around, giving us a headstart in terms of knowing where we need to be.

At the top of the table Wrexham have gone through a period of disastrous form, the The Red Dragons have failed to win a league game in the past five matches, including losses to relegation zone teams such as Guiseley and Solihull Moors as well as a draw against North Ferriby. This has given the Play-Off sides hope going into the final stages of the season.

At the bottom of the table, Solihull Moors have gone through another brilliant phase of matches to push them further to survival, but still stand eleven points away from safety. Guiseley remain at the bottom but with two games in hand, including one against us in March. North Ferriby also have a game in hand to go ahead of Solihull Moors. Southport sit seven points behind an escape in 21st place.

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It's a second Player of the Month award in the 2016/17 season for Réda Johnson as the Beninese centre-back storms through another great month. With the welcome addition of Roger Johnson to partner him, Johnson has been a rock at the back in all six fixtures, winning 72 headers throughout February as well as a series of good tackles.

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It is FA Trophy heartbreak for Liam Knowles' Eastleigh side tonight as they go down to Vanarama North Play-Off contenders Boston United on penalties in the Semi-Final.

With Jake Pickard and Tom Rosenthal securing a 2-1 win at York Street in the First Leg, Eastleigh went into the home tie at Silverlake Stadium as heavy favourites to go through to the FA Trophy Final at Wembley on 21st May.

The Second Leg began disastrously for Eastleigh as Boston United went one goal up just after the ten minute mark of the game, with Warren Clarke squeezing in a rebounded shot at the far post to give Boston a goal lead.

It took Jerry Yates 25 minutes to respond to Boston's opener, with the young on-loan forward netting his twelfth goal of the season with an equaliser, also putting The Spitfires ahead on aggregate.

It didn't take long for Boston to reinstate their lead after the second half began, with Peter Skapetis hitting Boston United into the lead on the day on the 47th minute.

Jerry Yates put Eastleigh back into the aggregate lead with fifteen minutes of normal time left on the clock as he hammered home a rebound into the bottom left hand corner.

The game seemed to be all but done, with Eastleigh in the reckoning to go through to Wembley thanks to Yates' 76th minute finish. That was until Peter Skapetis struck home a lethal blow to Eastleigh's Wembley dreams with three minutes to go to take the game into extra-time.

Extra-time ended with no goals to separate the 4-4 aggregate scoreline, meaning the match had to be decided in a penalty shootout.

Henderson, Pickard and Yates all converted their penalties for Eastleigh. However, Sam Togwell had his effort saved by Severn in Eastleigh's second penalty. Meanwhile Peter Skapetis' miss leveled the scoring, it was Dean Hammond who ruined Eastleigh's chances as he struck the post with the final penalty before sudden death. Alex Flisher put Boston's last penalty past Ryan Clarke to send Boston to Wembley in May.

Knowles defended his team in the post-match interview when challenged about being defeated by a team in the league below their own.

Knowles said "In cup games there is always so much pressure, particularly this late in a competition. When we have been performing as we have been lately in the league, the fact we have reached a Semi-Final is a big achievement for any team."

With Eastleigh's involvement in the FA Trophy ended with the penalty defeat, Knowles and his squad will turn their focus onto putting pressure on table-toppers Wrexham, who have not won a single game in their eight most recent fixtures. Eastleigh's final day match against Wrexham could be one of the most important days in the club's 71-year history.