The Great Eckscape Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 Well, this isn't going quite to plan! Another early goal made us play long ball once again in the first half which we're not very good at. I'd say over half of the long balls forward were aimed at Bellotti who was never going to win a header. We started the second half much better just like on Tuesday night and created some early chances. However, the red card was a shambles of a decision and seemed to knock the wind out of our sails. Bartley reacted angrily to something that was said by Lovett and the two went head to head. From this the referee wasted no time in showing Bartley the red card, but then went to speak to his assistant about Lovett before letting him off. Now bearing in mind that the two were head to head he must have seen the actions of both, and if he sends Bartley off he has to send Lovett off. The truth is that neither player aimed a headbutt at the other and yellow cards all round at most would have calmed the situation down. Having said that, if Bartley hadn't gotten himself involved in the first place the ref wouldn't have had to make a decision, so he needs to look at himself there. We had to play with 10 men for over half and hour and will now miss him for three matches, all needlessly. Vickers did well in goal, it looked as though the shot took a deflection from where we were. Brightly can feel hard done by to have lost his place based on his two league performances so far, although he could have done better during pre-season. I suppose though that Arsenal didn't send Vickers to us to have him sat on the bench like we did with Asante from Southend a couple of seasons back (who incidentally scored in Bishop's Stortford's 2-1 defeat to Bath City on Saturday). Next up we have three tough games with Lowestoft & Ricay at home before Bury Town away. All of the goals we have conceded so far have been in the first half, and in every match we have conceded in the opening 15 minutes. We need to come out of the blocks sharper, get the ball down and ensure that when we do get possession in midfield we don't give it away cheaply. Gameo and Smith are good players but their passing so far has been poor.Ah well, I've expected to win the last three games and we have lost. Truth be told I'm not expecting anything from the Lowestoft game so hopefully it will work the other way around! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lefty Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 An awful decision by the referee. Both players deserved the same treatment. Long ball doesn't work for us. The long balls up the pitch aren't reaching the man and when the odd one does they aren't being held up for supporting players. There are too many individual mistakes being made by the players. Passes are going all of over the place and we aren't winning headers. There are some moments of promise, after half-time in both the Cray and Lewes games we have played with a higher intensity but this needs to happen for longer periods of the game. I have no doubt that the individual errors will stop and the players will begin to link up better in the coming games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 What does concern me over the last three games is not that we have conceeded four goals, (Cray have conceeded eleven), but that we have only scored one and it's this that is causing us to lose by the single goal. Just one more goal scored in each game would have turned losses into draws, and we'd be sitting on three points instead of none. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Eckscape Posted August 19, 2013 Author Share Posted August 19, 2013 We look at our most dangerous when we play through teams, not over them as we seem to be trying. Sellears and Curran seem to work well down the right and we've got some joy from that wing. The left wing hasn't been as successful, and the middle of the park needs to get going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 Left-back is a position that I think needs to be claimed and settled. At the moment we've used Humphrey, Baucutt and Dumas. My choice would be Humphrey and play Baucutt in the centre next to him whilst Rio is injured. Hopefully Rio will return before Bartley's suspension and then the two will just swap over. It appears we have all the right pieces of the puzzle but haven't worked out which piece goes in what order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lefty Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 I would like to see Baucutt at left back and Alaile take Bartley's place in the middle of the back four, while he is suspended. We need to make sure the midfield has more bite which will give Ty Smith more time to pass the ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Eckscape Posted August 19, 2013 Author Share Posted August 19, 2013 I agree Matt. Apparently Humphrey isn't a left back, he only played their in pre-season for us to allow Danny to try other things. Personally I'm an Alaile fan and would have him replace Bartley while he is suspended. That would then leave Baucutt and Dumas to battle it out for the left back spot giving some much needed competition for that position. I think Rio will be back for tomorrow night but not 100% on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YELLOW Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 Agree we need more bite in midfield. Perhaps that is something James Hawes can give us. Personally I think we need a bit more width. I'd like to see us play with wingers who are not afraid to take people on and get crosses into the box. Maybe Emeka or Sheldon on the right and once Harrison is fit, play him on the left. You then could move Jay Curran to play up front alongside Simon Thomas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 I didn't think Baucutt was a left-back either? I believe he was a centre-half whilst at Southend, but he may have reverted before he was released or whilst at Thurrock. Saying that, Ellis Sands was a right-back last season and now he's been playing in midfield. I do like Alaile and I was a fan of his when he played at right-back. I wouldn't mind him slotting in there again to allow Sellears to get forward and show us more of what he was capable of in the first couple of friendlies. Either way, we need Sheldon to get amongst the goals so we can all shout "Bazinga!" when he scores. I have missed the last two games but from what I saw in pre-season I was impressed with Jay Nash and feel there is a spot for him in the starting XI if he continues to adjust to Ryman Premier football as he is. He appears to be quite tall so I wouldn't actually mind seeing him up front and how well he can work as a target man in a similar vein to Simon Thomas. I think we have enough talent in the squad to effectively have some impact subs this season; be it Curran, Nash, Bellotti, Chatting, Onwubiko, either Hawes etc. who we would tactically bring on for whatever purpose and who would slot into the side comfortably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Eckscape Posted August 19, 2013 Author Share Posted August 19, 2013 Lots of options for a change, just need to get the right combination Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lefty Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 It is nice, and makes a change, to have so many players that can play a variety of positions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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