Woking game

[Guest]

Come on Andy lets face it you have had your time and I can't continue watching my team go down and down. Your players have no respect nobody will sign and the fans are getting restless.

 

Go now while we have a chance to save ourselves you know it makes sense.

[GaryFB]

Well Mr Remould, you must have flown back from Woking if you can post that quickly after the game. I wasn't at the game either tonight but from what I've read on Cardsweb we could have been dead and buried before half time. However football is a funny and fickle game and who knows we may have sneaked a point but somebody who was at the game will no doubt confirm or deny that..............

 

Oh and by the way how can you see your team go down and down when its in the highest league it's been for 20 years (or so)

 

Get behind the team and the manager,we're only 1 point worse off than last season at this point in time, and we're only 1/21st of the way through the season.

 

 

[Alan ( GNFC )]

We were very poor against a poor side and gave away a penalty and a Matt Gubbins style [****!!****] up , ball runs past the keeper outside the box , goal.

After Rob Owen came on we played better and Pinnock added the bite up front lacking before he came on .

In conclusion the last 20 minutess were our best , but we still appeared to be carrying a couple of players who will struggle to make the grade .

Desperately need a forward , step forward Keith Scott as identified by Nols1974 .

[Roy gnfc]

My son phoned me from the ground to tell me that Andy didn't go into the dressing room at half time,but sat on the bench,so who gave them a rollicking to give an improved second half show?And why didn't he go in.The team needed him at that time!

[The Doctor]

their penalty was a mystery to me, our players appealed for a handball, Woking did nothing, the ref blew and i thought he had given us a free kick, but then he pointed to the spot! We got our justice though, our 2nd goal was a blatant handball, but the blind ref nor lino didnt see it! and yes we could have easily been 6 or 7-0 down before half time! But the last part of the game looked more promising because we werent hoofing and we were playing ball to feet. But Andy please dont persist on playing Huggins, hes poor, Louie or even Pinnock is much better! And to my amusement, but kind of relief, Andy did actually put Shearer on as a centre forward! And it worked <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />.

[FleetFanatic]

Quote:

FleetMan said:
their penalty was a mystery to me

we were even more mystified as to why the ref did not order it to be retaken, after their player paused between run-up and strike of the ball.....

[The Doctor]

yes especially after lecturing O'Reilly about moving before the ball was struck!

[Jessica]

Have just returned from the match. am totally mystified at the team selection tonight.

 

Dropped Skinner and Trott, apparently blamed for the first goal scored against us last Saturday, so nothing to do with the crap substitution then.

 

Kwashi in starting line up ahead of Rob Owen, James Pennock etc etc.

 

Matt Lee playing but out of position.

 

First half we should have been four or five down but for some luck and poor finishing.

 

Andy did go to the dressing room at half time, but quickly came out again, so he either decided to leave it to someone else or he was told to go away.

 

He sat for most of the second half in the dug out looking totally lost.

 

We improved greatly in the second half but then that wasnt difficult seeing as how awful we played first half.

 

Rob Owen was magnificent, which will probably mean he goes back to the sub's bench on Saturday. Huggins was awful, sorry to say it but he is not good enough, Also Mc Clemence gets caught a lot pushing up and not getting back.

 

Our keeper made an absolute howler, but did redeem himself and make some good saves as well.

When Huggins went off and Pinnick played we started to gain some momentum and when Shearer came on as the target man, we looked a bit better.

 

I still get the feeling that Andy Ford has not idea who he thinks his best eleven player are. I think the formation that ended the game was almost a mistake or else they ran out of ideas, but at least it made us look better.

This is not criticism of the players at the Fleet.

But we look like a team without a real leader and I do not mean the Captain. We also have players that have been signed and in all truth are just not good enough.

 

Andy I think must take a real hard look at what occured tonight, before he loses the fans as well.

 

I felt totally humiliated for the first 45 mins, I love GNFC , I am passionate about the club it makes me very sad to see the way we performed tonight, especially as the lads showed when the right selections are made we can do it.

[Andy Y. (G&NFC)]

This was the first time I have seen the side this year.

 

The first half was dreadful, possibly one of the the worst performances by a side wearing the club colours, in the ten years or so I have been going. Anyone remember the Harrow Borough game a few years ago? We were THAT poor.

 

That said, there were some positives to be taken from a game that Woking almost did enough to lose two points. The performances of Owen, Strouts, Lee and McKimm almost saved us. I wouldn't have a go at Huggins, as he and Abbey are just too similar, and Abbey did work his socks off. O'Reilly, with the exception of the 2nd goal did well and his kicking is better than Wilkos. (Couldn't be any worse actually!) Pennock looked like a man on a mission as well WHEN HE EVENTUALLY CAME ON!

 

But what is blindingly obvious is that we have NO DIRECTION GOING FORWARD!!!! My girlfriend's 11 year old asked me halfway through the first half why we weren't playing with a centre forward!

 

Its not rocket science this.... The defence may well be stronger, (and I would question that on tonights performance.) but if we don't score goals we won't win a bloody game all season.

 

At least we showed a bit of spirit in the 2nd half, but by then it was too late. But we were carrying at least two, possibly more players tonight who were showboating, I wouldn't name and shame, as its an opinion I would rather keep to myself, but those who were there tonight would know who I mean.

 

I so desperately want to be proved wrong, and thats why I haven't been posting much over the summer but it looks like its going to be a long, long season on tonights evidence.

[Andy Y. (G&NFC)]

On another note. Just how did the ref not show an automatic red to Selly for that awful challenge on Tostao? In all the "excitment" of the match, that seems to have been forgotten? Hope he was OK, some may disagree but I always value his contribution, and he did look badly hurt.

[Alan W (GNFC)]

Certainly given the run around for the first 45 minutes, but whoever did the talking at half time clearly said to slow it down and getthe ball played to feet.

 

Woking actually only had a few chances in the second half and we probably had slightly more of the possession, but we still managed to conced another poor goal which really started from losing the ball in the Woking half.

 

As someone else said, cant believe the ref and lino failed to spot Francis punching the ball in to the net for our second goal!(Mind you, even the BBC Teletext report says itwas "a fine header by Abbey" - their reporter must have had his sight impaired by a stanchion in the stand or something similar!)

 

The ref flashed cards as though they were confetti - Abbey's booking, I presume for not retreating 10 yards, was ridiculous as the ref didnt even appear to warn him to move back - yet 10 minutes later, he allowed the whole Woking wall to stand no more than 7 or 8 yards from a free kick just outside their box and took no action against them.

 

Shearer's booking was also farcical - if that warranted a yellow card, Selley's diabolical, high and studs showing, challenge on Tostao after just quarter of an hour, was worthy of a red.

 

Overall, I believe 8 players were booked - 4 from each side (apart from Abbey and Shearer, Lee was justifiably booked for hauling down a Woking player, and Perkins was booked for the handball from which they got their penalty (if you jump with arms in the air you are asking for trouble)).

 

Pinnock definitely livened things up when he came on - he should definitely be in the starting line up on Saturday. Matt Lee should play at right back not left - it seemed daft to leave out Skins, when he had done well on Saturday, and had actually put in some decent crosses - something we could have done with in the last 10 minutes tonight.

 

On a more positive note, Francis played much better tonight, albeit that he seems to struggle to cope with the twisting and turning of the quicker forwards in the league. Ade had another storming game - calm and in control almost all the time - although he regularly told his fellow defenders what he thought of them when the forwards somehow got to the byline on 2 or 3 occasions.

 

If we had played as we did in the second half tonight, throughout the whole game, I'm sure we would have got something from the game - equally, had we played that way against Burton last weekend, we would have got something there as well.

 

Things may not be totally right at the club at the moment, but the difference between having 0 points and 3 or 4 points is not much.

 

And we're still not bottom of the league - Dagenham are below us again !!

[Richard C]

Agreed with most postings here. I think we need to start Skins, Trott and Owen, and Tostao is always better when hes bought on in the last 20minutes as opposed to starting. Defensively we looked frail first half and much better second half. As for wondering who gave the half time team talk I think its obvious to me, it must have been Ade. Rob, Macca, Stroutsy, Lee were all immense last night and when it was at 3-2 we had a few decent chances to get a totally undeserved point. Notice that all the players who played well or ok have been at the fleet for a few seasons, not many of the new players are impressing as of yet. I was though impressed with Pinnock when he came on and Shearer looks like an option upfront. Perkins was very obviously affected by the crowd calling him everything under the sun and I still think he will show himself better than last night.

 

Up the Fleet with the loudest drum in the land – lets just see how things pan out with Andy………

 

[Jessica]

Sorry in all the heat of the moment I forgot abou the awful tackle of Kwashi. I really hope he is OK. Perhaps someone from the Club could update us please.

As has been posted before if Shearer and some others deserved a yellow that was a sure fire Red

[James]

Several conclusions after last nights match Huggins isnt good enough

Abbey is adequate at best

We need at least 2 more forwards

If Andy has dropped Skinner we need a new left back

McClements would be better in midfield as his defensive qualities are very poor

 

And the ref was awful but I dont think we can blame him for the defeat.

 

My team for Saturday

 

OReilly

Lee Trott Pennock Duku Skinner

Owen McKimm Strouts

Perkins Abbey

 

Subs Evans Shearer [****!!****](if fit) Slade Pinnock

[Alan ( GNFC )]

I'd give Pinnock a starting place .

[FleetFanatic]

So would I - and definately in front of Perkins (Perkins up front - what a strange thought.....)

[Richard C]

without doubt the following...........

 

O'Reilly

Lee Shearer Trott Pennock Skinner

Owen Strouts Mckimm

Abbey Pinnock

 

Together abbey and pinnock looked very good....... huggins isnt up to it i dont think...... Tostao should always be used for the last 30mins ish and not start.. dropping skins is ridiculous as one of the best players there..... i think andy was trying to accomodate both mcclements and lee in the same side and i cant see how!!!!!! possibly push mcclements into midfield as he has the talent.... if you think we have drury and wilkerson to slot back in and with a couple of urgent signings... i fell we can do this..... remember when everyone said we were a big side that put ourselves about!!!!! That has not been evident so far... we need to battle hard 90minutes (plus the inevitable 4 injury time)

 

ps: at the moment i think duku has lost the plot....... he needs a couple of games out of the frame......

[Alan W (GNFC)]

Away from our own situation, I know, but talking of awful tackles, did anyone else see that "challenge" (and I use the word in its loosest sense) by Nathan Jones (what is it about that name "Jones"??)of Brighton last night. Absolutely no attempt to play the ball and all but stamped on the opponents shin - luckily he only caught the side of the guys leg, but it was one of the worst challenges I can recall seeing for some time.

[Matt (GNFC)]

On a weeks holiday in greece at the moment and this is very depressing reading guys of last nights performance. I cant believe either Jessica the side he put out, its unbelievable. We are in a lot of trouble already. U can joke about Dagenham being below us but u know they will quickly surge up the league. We are poor, and we cant sign a striker. Charlie McDonald is a highly rated player who was at Stevenage and Margate last yr and he has signed for Crawley. We just cant sign anyone of note and are hoping all the time that players from the Dr.Martens eastern will make the grade. Shearer has to play center half not center forward and we need to play five at the back every match...Im sorry but from afar i think we need a change of manager as he doesnt seem to know what he's doing with this team. We all ranted in pre-season, most of us saw this coming.......

[Guest]

Without wanting to sound patronizing I think that you can take a few positives out of last nights match. Apart from the howler that led to our second your keeper played pretty well and I was impressed with Pinnock (was he only named as a sub?)O.k. we're not exactly world beaters but in the second half we hardly got a kick.Good luck for the rest of the season.