Lafayette our MOTM by a million miles - but due to the formation he was our only outlet. Our full backs would receive the ball and their only option was to play it over the top into a wide channel for Ross to chase after. He did a brilliant job at it, but nobody could sustain sprinting from one side of the pitch to the other for 90 minutes - and when he did receive the ball in those positions, we had nobody in the box as a result.
We appeared to move Clarke onto the right wing in the second half whilst Baker was playing dead central - why? No balance and no width, which allowed their goalkeeper/centre backs to ping the ball out wide to a free man whenever they pleased.
Thought Franks had a decent second half attacking wise, but due to him having to push forward to give us some much needed width we would then have our lack of pace exposed on the counter.
I don't know why we continue to be so negative as a team? We did so well last season playing 4-3-3 so why have we suddenly started to fear opposition and play 4-5-1 long punts to the big man and hope players get in and around him! This is not sustainable with our midfield as they are too slow to get up with the forward. We also tend to play hoof ball when playing this formation with Martin and Achempong having the grace of elephants when passing the ball.
Going back to the midfield maybe we've missed daisy over the last few games but so far I have to say making Clarkie the captain was the biggest mistake we could have made. Been the worst player this year so far, off the pace, giving the ball away, going missing in games very very poor and it hasn't just been this year he was like it for the majority of last season too. Looks way out of his depth at this level now but can't be dropped because of his captains responsibilities!!
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All opinions expressed are my own and are likely to be labelled bollocks!
Going back to the midfield maybe we've missed daisy over the last few games but so far I have to say making Clarkie the captain was the biggest mistake we could have made. Been the worst player this year so far, off the pace, giving the ball away, going missing in games very very poor and it hasn't just been this year he was like it for the majority of last season too. Looks way out of his depth at this level now but can't be dropped because of his captains responsibilities!!
I totally agree Muzza and was saying this at the game yesterday. To be fair I thought it before the season as well.
I am worried about Fraser Franks. He is not a right back, he is not a midfielder - he is a central defender. He is probably our best central defender. I am concerned that moving him around is going to effect his confidence as he is not doing well. I don't agree he had a good game yesterday. He made himself available on the right but his end product was poor. I would have had him the centre of defence - Anthony and Ben looked like they had never met each other before. I hope Faz is nearing a return.
Otherwise Mark X has it totally right. This was awful stuff. We were poor at Tonbridge and in the first half against Sutton. One good half in three games is not good enough.
Franks is a better full back than anyone else apart from Faz whove been there in the last few years, granted he looks an excellent center half. How did Barney do when he came on yesterday?
Agree about the gaffer, hes definitely up there as being one of the best players at the club and we are usually noticeably weaker when he is unable to play. The rest of the time he should be starting. We tick a lot better when hes there every single time, We always seem to have less movement and tempo when he isnt there.
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Alexander O'Neal 1987 "I'm fed up cos all you wanna do is criticize "
Barney put a decent shift in but he's very young and got bullied a bit. He's not exactly a giant and the opposition targeted him a lot with crossfield aerial balls, much like they do when Faz plays, except Faz has the strength to cope with it. Unfortunately when they target us like this a quick forward will invariably pick up the second ball and then have the opportunity to run at Martin/Acheampong.
Barney didn't get much support it seemed to me. Lack of tracking back to help him meant he ended up 2 on 1.
And Frank may be the best right back after Faz but still doesn't make him a full back. It shows the lack of cover we have in this area. We are missing two utility players from last year - Parkinson and Sambrook. I know there are good reasons why they left but imo we have not replaced them with anywhere near the same calibre of player.
Like most I was very disappointed with the display on Saturday and I agree that the only three to emerge with any credit were Lafayette, Healy and the young lad off the bench (Barney) The loss of Cumbers and now Obo is a massive loss - two players who most/all clubs in this league would struggle without.
Clarkie has not started the season well. However I don't understand the role he is playing. He should be the one breaking from midfield as he is the most likely for me to score a goal. In the first half it was Kinch and the start of the second half it was One Joe - neither of which makes sense to me?
However the main conundrum for me is Main. If we go with him then I think it needs a radical change of formation to 4-4-2 and give him and Lafayette a run of games together. If we persist with 4-3-3 then I fail to see how Main will influence the game at all....
Having said all of that I think we should give H and Y some credit. They were sharper and hungrier all over the pitch, had lots of pace from front to back and were comfortably the best of the five teams we have played so far. If they play like that week in week out they will be a play off team without doubt.
Wingnut - I agree with a lot of what say. My worry with Clarkey is that I am not sure that he has the legs to make those runs into the area. I hope he proves me wrong.
The problem will arise when Daisy becomes fit enough to start games. Who will he drop from that midfield?? Should be Clarke but won't be so that leave Healy or Kinch neither of which deserve to be benched. No doubt it will be Kinch who gets hooked and Daisy will make some excuse like fitness etc.......
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All opinions expressed are my own and are likely to be labelled bollocks!
