Good luck in the final

[SteveR]

Good luck in the final, no doubt in my mind that the better team won the tie. You are by far and away the best team I've seen this season going forward, but defensively you seem a bit wobbly, and that looks like being your downfall this season.

 

As for tonight, was an entertaining game, although the result of the tie wasn't really in doubt after you equalised despite us having the bulk of the possession in the second half.

 

That's 3 entertaining games we've had this season - can we make it 4 next week? I hope so.

[The Great Eckscape]

I'd settle for a boring 1-0 win!!!

[Merv]

Thanks Steve. I enjoyed the game and agree with all your comments. The situation at the back was rather unusual in that we were without -

 

Steve Ward (played with us for quite a few years and very, very reliable, fast and decisive),

 

Gavin Cowan (8' tall at least and totally dominates the air),

 

Micky Bennett (used to give fans the collywobbles every time he played at the back but this season is in the running for Supporters' Player of the Year on his defensive work alone. Very strong and can bring the ball forward), and,

 

John Kennedy (playing wing-back for England on Tuesday night, what more can I say?).

 

Of the players out there last night, Ben Chennery was a typical example of our more normal defence and I made him my Man of the Match.

 

Good luck with your fixture pile-up and pleased that we were able to save you the problems of playing a Bryco Cup Final ;-)

 

All the best for the rest of the season

[CANV EFM]

cheers steve.. and er your bang on with your first paragraph.. heres to another good game next week

[SteveR]

We had a similar situation at the back, in which we played an on-loan striker in central defence due to the absences of Lee Harvey (cup tied), Paul Towler and Steve Butler (both injured).

 

Can't argue with the choice of Ben Chenery for MOTM for you, although even he admitted he was fortunate not to give away a penalty when he handballed the ball out for a corner!

 

See you next week (again!!).

[Matt H]

What is our injury situation like at the minute? I couldn't make last night's game, but I notice Lewis Lilley was on the bench was that tactical or a case of having to?

 

We have:

Wardy out

Benno out

Cowan out

Spencer Knight out

Forbes out

Parms out

 

That's two defenders, two left wingers and two midfielders out!!

 

It also doesn't help with having not only Cowan, but Berquez and Mark Graham cup-tied and JK playing for his country.

 

Matt CIFC <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[pabird]

Worth a look at our defenders when at home we gave away 4 goals to the same opposition and on a far better playing surface

 

[Matt H]

Wasn't that Ollie Adedeji's last game for us?

 

Matt CIFC <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[pabird]

Yep alongside JK Wardy and Chenners

No blame attached to any of them but recent points have been failure to score when the pressure (by us) has been on for long periods in a game

If we are to look longer at the goals against than the goals for then we need to organise in front of the defence

Not really our style is it?

Lets also remember that the end of season condition of pitches makes life tougher for defenders (bad bounce etc) where mistakes show up as goals against than forwards where the same mistakes only show as opportunity missed

We have fared poorly against worse sides than Hendon with our "first choice" defence but is that due to them being poor defenders? no its because we are an attack minded (very) team

Too late to change now, UP AND AT EM one game at a time

[CANV EFM]

pabird makes the quote of the year..

'not really our style is it?' ..nice one!

 

and hopefully our 'style' will always remain the same...

[pabird]

Worth considering Matt that we really do need a wide spread of players and to date that spread has proven that we can play and win against any opposition with the back mid-field and forwards playing as a unit, our style requires the team to function as a unit, check out the key individuals who played in league games we have lost.

Bedford,

JK.Matt J.Benno.Wardy.Ross J.

Hayes.

JK.Parms.Chenners.Proths.Benno

Stortford.

JK.Parms.Chenners.Proths.Benno

B-Stoke.

JK.Ollie.Chenners.Proths.Benno

Saints.

JK.Duffers.Benno.Wardy.Ollie

Shots.

JK.Duffers.Chenners.Wardy.Benno

Bedford.

JK.Matt.J.Benno.Wardy.Ross J

Purfleet.

JK.Proths.Wardy.Chris P.M Brennen

Food for thought Matt

 

 

[Matt H]

Well I'm not exactly sure where you're going with this pabird perhaps you could enlighten me? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

 

However,

 

With the list you have given us it's interesting to see who from them above still play regular first team football.

 

JK, a key member of the squad, has only missed three games all season. Duffers seems to be going through a bad patch at the minute, when was the last time he played a really good game? Before Northwich definately and that was Jan 31st!! Wardy didn't feature in the first three losses, Parms and Proths aren't exactly commanding first team places right now although with Rudi gone Proths might feature more, but the same could be said for Benno, but not while he's covering for Cowan!

 

Ollie Adedeji went, Chris Perkins went and Brennan & Matt Jones hardly feature in the First XI anymore!!

 

Is that what you mean pabird?

 

Matt CIFC <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[pabird]

Its in response to the implied suggestion that we have a key back three and the oft made statement that we played with a weakened side when certain players are not available

I do believe that we have more than 2 or 3 defenders that have proven their worth

I do firmly believe that those defenders pushed as our only back three of worth are excellent players of character and no little skill

But we must retain a "heads up" atmosphere for the other squad men who in my opinion perform in a most professional manner when called

Ross came on recently and from cold in the dugout jumped straight into a central CH performance of some class that I suggest some regulars would struggle to achieve

Where we are going (I believe) is the development long term of a group of defenders who can fit in anywhere across the back (some into MF also) and are encouraged to be part of a group wider than three

Why because the way we play demands more from defenders as can be seen by the names that repeat more than others on the list plus we should also be able to offer the ability to change for a game or in fact during a game to differing pattens of play

[Matt H]

Permitting that all our defenders are staying with us next year, the main back three for League games will be Ward, Chenery and Cowan. Covering players will be R. Johnson, Crow and maybe Benno if he's not playing in the middle.

 

All these players have strengths and weaknesses, that I'm not going to exploit on this board.

 

JK will undoubtedly be the right wing-back, but what about the left? Duffy? Graham? Knight? Forbes? All these too have strengths and weakenesses, I will have to study Graham more to realise his, he'll be playing for Real Madrid otherwise!

 

It's all about finding the right blend ASAP and knowing how when presented with a challenge how to deal with it tactically rather than a last gasp change that you hoped wouldn't happen. Switching formations during a game is common and even if it doesn't involve using a substitution all the players should know their place in the side despite the situation, ie set-pieces from the left, from the right. Attacking, defending, 4-4-2, 3-5-2 etc, etc.

 

Matt CIFC <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[The Great Eckscape]

Can you imagine having Gavin Cowan, Peter Smith, Ollie Adedeji and Steve Ward as a back 4? Surely that would have been as solid as they come, and it could have happened under different circumstances!