Baird has a dig at the internet 'frienemies'

By Wendy Gee -

EASTLEIGH boss Ian Baird admits he is puzzled by criticism of Jamie Slabber by what he terms 'frienemies' of the club.

With teenagers out-numbering senior players in the squad right now, Baird has sacrificed the experienced Slabber's goalscoring prowess in order to shore up central midfield.

But that has not met with the approval of the club's so-called 'friendly enemies' who don't think ex-Spurs man Slabber - Eastleigh's top scorer last season - is suited to the engine-room role.

Having played Slabber in central midfield in last Saturday's 2-0 home defeat by Bromley, Baird is ready to do it again at third-placed Dartford tomorrow because Jamie Brown, Frankie Raymond, Danny Smith and Ross Bottomley are all either injured or suspended.

"Jamie Slabber's best position is centre forward, but I can't go to Dartford with two 18-year-olds in central midfield. We'd get absolutely trounced," said Baird.

"In any case, I think the internet gangsters are doing Jamie a disservice by saying he's out of position and not playing well.

"In my opinion, he had a good game last week and he hasn't moaned once about being asked to play there to help the team out.

"I'd like to know who these 'frienemies' think should be playing in midfield because I look on the bench and the kids are reading Jungle Book. Do they expect me to sling them in?

"I just don't understand the criticism of Jamie. The 'frienemies' must be wearing Steve Wonder's goggles because we haven't got anyone else.

"Jamie Brown's suspended, Ross Bottomley's still injured and Danny Smith has tweaked a hamstring and I'm led to believe he's out for two to three weeks.

"I can't get any more loan players in at the moment. I've made enquiries for next week, but I can't do anything now.

"We will have to play Jamie in the middle until we get some of the others back and use the pace of Andrew White, 'DJ' Spooner (Jordace Holder-Spooner) and Richard Gillespie up front."

Eastleigh will tomorrow face one of the many senior players they released during the summer to pave the way for a youth development scheme. Winger Richard Graham is part of the Dartford side who have made a flying start to the season, winning four and drawing two of their opening seven league games.

The Darts suffered their first defeat in Hampshire last Saturday, outgunned 3-2 at Basingstoke Town.

"We've done our homework on Dartford and they're a big, strong, physical Conference South side," said Baird.

"And they've got Richard Graham, who was very instrumental for us last season.

"Our inexperience does concern me, but we've got what we've got and we'll just have to get on with it.

"Dartford have got probably the best ground in the league, they get big crowds and their fans really get behind their team. Hopefully it will be a good learning experience for our young side."

New signing Mark Cooper is likely to retain his place at left-back. The former Bristol Rovers youngster was partially at fault for gifting Bromley their second goal last week, but Baird said: "It wasn't all down to Mark. In reality he was given a shocking ball.

"For 55 minutes he did well considering he'd been in bed ill for a couple of days and hadn't played for a while."