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Post by Gas Go Marching In on Jan 16, 2018 6:54:35 GMT
Aldershot Town supporter Will Brown on the sadness but inevitability of losing 'special player', forward Bernard Mensah, to Bristol Rovers...
Inevitability can be boiled down to a collection of certainties. Life has a solid framework that we follow, rarely strafing from the centre line. The usual death and taxes come flying through the doors first, joined closely by heartbreak or, their close relative, knowing a person who puts milk in before removing the teabag. We learn to accept these inevitabilities because there is no halting them.
The news of Bernard Mensah leaving Aldershot Town to take up a spot at League One Bristol Rovers was one such inevitability.
It was predictable that a player who stood out alongside Idris Kanu and Kundai Benyu last season joins that pair in League One at their respective clubs Peterborough United and Oldham Athletic. Nonetheless, losing a player that gave us unforgettable memories and some of the biggest smiles on supporters’ faces for half a decade was always going to be a mixing pot of sadness and equal parts future nostalgia.
That trio of Benyu, Kanu and Mensah not only seemed to work symbiotically at the back of last season to yank us into the play-offs, but they looked happy to be doing it in our red and blue.
If we’re pointing out inevitabilities, Benyu and Kanu leaving would’ve been higher than buses running late. Mensah was the next victim of Gary Waddock’s unwavering ability to craft sheet metal into gold.
The result was a man, a player and a character that gave this Aldershot team a personality that finally engaged with the fans. Jake Gallagher and Callum Reynolds may have pioneered that relationship to the fans but it’s Mensah who added the biggest of grins, the slinkiest of legs and the most assured of touches to this Aldershot team.
The interaction with fans had been lacking from 2013 all the way through until 2016 – save for a few magical moments – before Waddock took control.
Finding, unearthing and breeding young talent is precisely what he does best. Mensah is a special player that seems to save his most daring brilliance when it’s needed, when ideas are beginning to run out.
Select from York City away when he burst through one-on-one to score, the Play-Off Semi Final when something godly happened to his right foot and brought five minutes of pure, gut-wrenching hope to the tie, and last, but not least, his whipped, bent and wicked goal away to Bromley earlier in the season, he had a knack of providing something useful or mind-blowing with the ball at his feet.
Bernard Mensah thanks Aldershot Town for support admitting it was a 'tough decision' to join Bristol Rovers
After recovering from his pre-season injury, he immediately looked mature; like he was pre-emptively preparing us for his departure. His running was smarter, his pace was controlled but still rapid and he looked so composed on the ball, he may have started rivalling Manny Oyeleke.
Bristol Rovers will provide Mensah with the tools to make his mark on the game at a higher level, something we should never try to stop. His aspirations of playing for Ghana may not come initially, but this step up will certainly tip toe him closer to the frame of the Black Stars’ picture. His future is not inevitable anymore.
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Post by bluegas on Jan 16, 2018 7:32:59 GMT
I hope BM is all this - we badly need it. Sounds like we owe GW a lot of thanks. And maybe a job....
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Post by Gas Go Marching In on Jan 16, 2018 7:39:22 GMT
I hope BM is all this - we badly need it. Sounds like we owe GW a lot of thanks. And maybe a job.... Funny you say this. Just reading about him and hearing what BM and others have said about him did make me wonder if we could make use of him here.
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Post by WeAreTheGas on Jan 16, 2018 7:41:56 GMT
Sounds promising.
Have barely heard a bad word from Aldershot fans on Mensah - which has got to be a good sign.
Looking forward to seeing him play. Think he’ll come off the bench on Saturday.
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Post by Gas Go Marching In on Jan 16, 2018 7:44:50 GMT
Sounds promising. Have barely heard a bad word from Aldershot fans on Mensah - which has got to be a good sign. Looking forward to seeing him play. Think he’ll come off the bench on Saturday. I'm looking forward to it too. Think it depends on the circumstances. It'll be nice if we can get mid table security and just try and bed him in and any other signings we make this window. Football isn't usually that simple though. Seen he scored 14 in 19 in Watford's U18s in 2012/13. Intrigued how we will use him, can imagine him being versatile from what I have heard. Maybe on the right or left of a front 3?
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Post by WeAreTheGas on Jan 16, 2018 7:58:26 GMT
Sounds promising. Have barely heard a bad word from Aldershot fans on Mensah - which has got to be a good sign. Looking forward to seeing him play. Think he’ll come off the bench on Saturday. I'm looking forward to it too. Think it depends on the circumstances. It'll be nice if we can get mid table security and just try and bed him in and any other signings we make this window. Football isn't usually that simple though. Seen he scored 14 in 19 in Watford's U18s in 2012/13. Intrigued how we will use him, can imagine him being versatile from what I have heard. Maybe on the right or left of a front 3? Yeah, I think he’ll mainly play LF or RF in a 433. Maybe on either wing in a 442 once we sign the other wide player DC is after. Agree about bedding him in slowly in an ideal world, but I think our side could do with his pace, skill, direct running etc sooner rather than later. We’re a very industrious team now we’ve lost Bodin, which might be OK for grinding out some more 0-0 away draws, but I fear isn’t going to achieve much at home against Blackburn, Wigan, Shrewsbury etc. Hopefully Mensah and another new winger can provide the ‘stardust’ we lack atm.
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Post by Gas Go Marching In on Jan 16, 2018 8:10:55 GMT
I'm looking forward to it too. Think it depends on the circumstances. It'll be nice if we can get mid table security and just try and bed him in and any other signings we make this window. Football isn't usually that simple though. Seen he scored 14 in 19 in Watford's U18s in 2012/13. Intrigued how we will use him, can imagine him being versatile from what I have heard. Maybe on the right or left of a front 3? Yeah, I think he’ll mainly play LF or RF in a 433. Maybe on either wing in a 442 once we sign the other wide player DC is after. Agree about bedding him in slowly in an ideal world, but I think our side could do with his pace, skill, direct running etc sooner rather than later. We’re a very industrious team now we’ve lost Bodin, which might be OK for grinding out some more 0-0 away draws, but I fear isn’t going to achieve much at home against Blackburn, Wigan, Shrewsbury etc. Hopefully Mensah and another new winger can provide the ‘stardust’ we lack atm. It's a catch 22 situation. I totally agree with you about needing someone like that now but I wouldn't want to be putting too much pressure and expectation on him too quickly. We were a good option for him from the fact that he can get regular league one football but that can also have it's downfall with the weight of expectancy on him. Yes, looking forward to another winger too. May get shot for this but surprised Byron Moore hasn't been used at all lately. I don't rate him like others but he is at least direct andcould have been useful on Saturday for example near the end. That for me tells you all to need to know about his future at the club. (cue him coming on or starting Saturday lol)
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Post by bluegas on Jan 16, 2018 8:27:28 GMT
I hope BM is all this - we badly need it. Sounds like we owe GW a lot of thanks. And maybe a job.... Funny you say this. Just reading about him and hearing what BM and others have said about him did make me wonder if we could make use of him here. I always liked GW - always seemed to play with a huge smile on his face. I guess he wouldn't fancy stepping down to work under another manager though. Maybe replace DC eventually, if & when the need arose....
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Post by William Wilson on Jan 16, 2018 8:33:42 GMT
I hope BM is all this - we badly need it. Sounds like we owe GW a lot of thanks. And maybe a job.... Funny you say this. Just reading about him and hearing what BM and others have said about him did make me wonder if we could make use of him here. And me.
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Post by gasincider on Jan 16, 2018 10:00:16 GMT
I always liked GW - always seemed to play with a huge smile on his face. I guess he wouldn't fancy stepping down to work under another manager though. Maybe replace DC eventually, if & when the need arose.... Why not Chris Hargreaves? He's done wonders with the development side. No need to look further.
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Post by stevek192 on Jan 16, 2018 10:22:13 GMT
Whilst slowly bedding players in may be ideal in certain situations we are in the position where if it is too slow a progress then he was not the right player to sign. We need four players ,maybe 5 or 6 who are capable of being regular first teamers NOW. The midfield three or four need either replacing, mixing up or pressure for their places. The slow, painful to watch build up needs an input of pace and excitement. The forward line needs the same and IMO another striker preferably one with a bit of physique would not go amiss. Only if these players are capable of going straight into the team will our season be transformed into a safe one rather than a flirtation with relegation. the signs have been there far too often this season that we lack boith experience and that bit of class and in many ways a couple of leaders. The truth is that we do have some good players who are being held back by having to play either out of position or all over the place and some have been having to play when they should have beenh on the bench.
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Post by peterparker on Jan 16, 2018 10:31:31 GMT
Whilst slowly bedding players in may be ideal in certain situations we are in the position where if it is too slow a progress then he was not the right player to sign. We need four players ,maybe 5 or 6 who are capable of being regular first teamers NOW. The midfield three or four need either replacing, mixing up or pressure for their places. The slow, painful to watch build up needs an input of pace and excitement. The forward line needs the same and IMO another striker preferably one with a bit of physique would not go amiss. Only if these players are capable of going straight into the team will our season be transformed into a safe one rather than a flirtation with relegation. the signs have been there far too often this season that we lack boith experience and that bit of class and in many ways a couple of leaders. The truth is that we do have some good players who are being held back by having to play either out of position or all over the place and some have been having to play when they should have beenh on the bench. I would imagine that if DC is after experience, the idea is for them to go into the team straight away
Mensah may well start Saturday as one of the attacking 3. He had one brief session with the team and the in game situation last Saturday, may well have meant Telford was a better option to come on.
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Post by stroudgas93 on Jan 16, 2018 11:05:28 GMT
Yeah, I think he’ll mainly play LF or RF in a 433. Maybe on either wing in a 442 once we sign the other wide player DC is after. Agree about bedding him in slowly in an ideal world, but I think our side could do with his pace, skill, direct running etc sooner rather than later. We’re a very industrious team now we’ve lost Bodin, which might be OK for grinding out some more 0-0 away draws, but I fear isn’t going to achieve much at home against Blackburn, Wigan, Shrewsbury etc. Hopefully Mensah and another new winger can provide the ‘stardust’ we lack atm. It's a catch 22 situation. I totally agree with you about needing someone like that now but I wouldn't want to be putting too much pressure and expectation on him too quickly. We were a good option for him from the fact that he can get regular league one football but that can also have it's downfall with the weight of expectancy on him. Yes, looking forward to another winger too. May get shot for this but surprised Byron Moore hasn't been used at all lately. I don't rate him like others but he is at least direct andcould have been useful on Saturday for example near the end. That for me tells you all to need to know about his future at the club. (cue him coming on or starting Saturday lol) I think Moore should be used too, when he plays on the right hand side I honestly believe he's a handful. It's where he stood out when I saw him playing for Crewe, having Bodin play in his position hasn't helped him, he's a much better option than Broom imo
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Post by stevek192 on Jan 16, 2018 11:15:26 GMT
Tend to agree with you that Moore should be given a chance on the right.
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Post by Gas Go Marching In on Jan 16, 2018 11:26:55 GMT
Moore had his best game vs Oldham at home on the right.
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Post by stroudgas93 on Jan 16, 2018 11:32:55 GMT
Moore had his best game vs Oldham at home on the right. That was the game, I couldn't think if it was that or Walsall at home, but he played on the right and Bodin on the left, Moore was fantastic and Billy was poor. On the left, he will pretty much always be ineffective because he can't cross with his left and he's not the type to cut it, his delivery is brilliant with his right and he keeps possession smartly, I think he should be given a run in the side but I can't help but feel DC has already decided on him.
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Post by Gas Go Marching In on Jan 16, 2018 11:36:45 GMT
Moore had his best game vs Oldham at home on the right. That was the game, I couldn't think if it was that or Walsall at home, but he played on the right and Bodin on the left, Moore was fantastic and Billy was poor. On the left, he will pretty much always be ineffective because he can't cross with his left and he's not the type to cut it, his delivery is brilliant with his right and he keeps possession smartly, I think he should be given a run in the side but I can't help but feel DC has already decided on him. Long term he isn't good enough. Just think we can make use of him at the moment as he offers us something different.
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Jan 16, 2018 11:42:13 GMT
Jesus, I hadn't realised things were so bad that posters think adding Moore to the squad is a good idea.
I knew the January window makes people a bit crazy, bit this is getting serious.
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Post by markczgas on Jan 16, 2018 11:48:34 GMT
Stevek- we have a forward with physique - it's Ellis Harrison - some CBs don't fancy playing against him theses days.
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Post by lmgas on Jan 16, 2018 13:11:26 GMT
Mensah is bound to be useless because DC doesn't have a clue what he's doing and never makes any good signings, and the club has only ever gone backwards under his leadership.
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