jr
1st team skipper
Posts: 2,166
|
Post by jr on Oct 2, 2022 9:53:51 GMT
We are competitive in L2. We're still closer to a play off spot than we are to a relegation spot. As supporters although we hate losing like any would, we need to manage our own expectations. We should therefore be happy with a mid table position. The frustration is that we're losing games we shouldn't be losing. It should have been 3 points instead of 0 at Doncaster, the same at home to Salford and at least 1 point at both Swindon and Gillingham. Without silly mistakes we should be sitting in 4th rather than 14th. Iron those out and we'll be fine this season. Play like we did yesterday and we won't be. But I doubt very much we are going to play like that very often. Don't forget Crewe. No idea how we lost there
|
|
|
Post by Andy K on Oct 2, 2022 9:58:18 GMT
We are competitive in L2. We're still closer to a play off spot than we are to a relegation spot. As supporters although we hate losing like any would, we need to manage our own expectations. We should therefore be happy with a mid table position. The frustration is that we're losing games we shouldn't be losing. It should have been 3 points instead of 0 at Doncaster, the same at home to Salford and at least 1 point at both Swindon and Gillingham. Without silly mistakes we should be sitting in 4th rather than 14th. Iron those out and we'll be fine this season. Play like we did yesterday and we won't be. But I doubt very much we are going to play like that very often. Don't forget Crewe. No idea how we lost there Oh I didn't. I left that one out on purpose because it was one of those rare games where we everything we hit at goal just wasn't falling for us and they took a well taken goal. It was just one of those nights so although they were a poor side I can't really say we lost that because of silly mistakes.
|
|
|
Post by paz on Oct 2, 2022 10:03:31 GMT
I was not at the game against Layton Orient but was yesterday and for me, while we were terrible yesterday, it's the only game where we have been really bad so I think some are overreacting. We have leaked some soft goals, and yes and it's irritating considering the the defence overall looks solid. But in general our performances this year have been decent to very good.
Yesterday I think we were outworked and kind of beaten at our own game. Gillingham was and needed to be bang up for it and played like it was a cup final. They closed us down and did not give us time on the ball and I just think they had more in their tank.
I don't think we need to panic just yet. Although we could do without Stevenage on Tuesday.
|
|
jr
1st team skipper
Posts: 2,166
|
Post by jr on Oct 2, 2022 10:05:08 GMT
I think that was the worst performance so far under Matt. Worse than Billericay. Gillingham are a really poor side but we were worse yesterday. There was, of course, plenty of effort which you would expect from a Gray side but the lack of quality was tad surprising. I expected a better second half as we tend to respond to the half time team talk but we didn't. If anything it was worse. The players that did ok for me yesterday were Ward, John, Rowe and Eastmond.
Do we need to question the new strength and conditioning coach? We seem to be picking up quite a number of injuries in training and the amount of goals we're conceding late in games, while not creating ourselves, is extremely worrying. Sides will know that come the last 5 mins of games plus injury time that they will get a good chance or two to score. Gillingham knew that yesterday and had a right go at the end and I think we all knew what was going to happen.
It's disappointing of course but we're in L2, somewhere where we never expected to be.
We will probably do something stupid and win on Tuesday against a really good Stevenage side and we'll all be rubbing our heads wondering how we lost to sides like Gillingham.
|
|
|
Post by is4 on Oct 2, 2022 10:42:25 GMT
Just out of interest. Does Matt or Jason read any of these threads and posts.
|
|
|
Post by baboonfish on Oct 2, 2022 11:22:39 GMT
I wonder how much of our injury time woe is down to a tired midfield getting overrun. I'd like to see us bulk out the midifield with three just for the closing stages if nothing else. Harry and easty are giving it their all but without Smith to rotate in we have a real problem keeping it fresh.
|
|
|
Post by swedishchapter on Oct 2, 2022 11:35:46 GMT
Just out of interest. Does Matt or Jason read any of these threads and posts. Matt stated early on that he has no interest in social media, I do not think he reads what is on this forum...
|
|
|
Post by scorpioeyes on Oct 2, 2022 12:02:41 GMT
Just watched Dorking highlights-they certainly know how to score!
|
|
|
Post by Del on Oct 2, 2022 12:24:42 GMT
Matt stated early on that he has no interest in social media, I do not think he reads what is on this forum... That's a shame because he could certainly learn a lot from some of the experts who post in here. Billy ,you don't have to be an expert to understand how to win a football match. I'm sure you have watched enough games over the years to see what is working and what isn't. What we don't see is the training and know what players are carrying injuries.Yesterday we needed to utilise an additional player in midfield but of course that all comes as a trade off. Hopefully we will get a response on Tuesday night at Stevenage.
|
|
|
Post by is4 on Oct 2, 2022 12:27:31 GMT
Hi Billy. I don't think it's the "experts", more of observations. Yes I suppose that we all think that we are amateur managers. But as I said it's observations.
|
|
|
Post by ambertaff on Oct 2, 2022 15:34:14 GMT
Matt stated early on that he has no interest in social media, I do not think he reads what is on this forum... That's a shame because he could certainly learn a lot from some of the experts who post in here. Billy, I think your attempt at irony hasn't fallen on fertile ground........
|
|
|
Post by boomboom on Oct 2, 2022 18:46:13 GMT
I wasn't at today's game so can't say much, but note that this season we've now conceded five goals in or after the 90th minute. The number of goals that we've scored at that stage is zero. Any argument that there's no imbalance here is delusional. What all those very late goals have in common is that they were conceded in away games. So there's something not right about the way we see out matches on other grounds. Is this down to game management? Fitness? Or is it a failure to appreciate how a home team, needing a goal, will push hard for one in the closing stages? Whatever the explanation, we need a counter-strategy. Over to you, Matt and Jason! Nothing on the bench while others send in 5 good players at game ends. It’s that simple. Lost 7-8 good players (Wyatt, Davis, Olaofe, Benett, Ajiboye, Korboa, plus Goodlife and Smith) and brought in only Neufvile - all others are not EFL level, at least so far.Maybe worth noting that three of those we've lost are now playing at a level below EFL2. Goodliffe has been a huge loss IMO.
|
|
nonsuch
Youth Team Player
Posts: 131
|
Post by nonsuch on Oct 3, 2022 9:20:11 GMT
Nothing on the bench while others send in 5 good players at game ends. It’s that simple. Lost 7-8 good players (Wyatt, Davis, Olaofe, Benett, Ajiboye, Korboa, plus Goodlife and Smith) and brought in only Neufvile - all others are not EFL level, at least so far.Maybe worth noting that three of those we've lost are now playing at a level below EFL2. Goodliffe has been a huge loss IMO. This is true. And Benett is not even on the bench at Barrow. But they were GOOD here. And the summer arrivals are far from that. And the Olaofe for Kendall switch ain’t even worth a discussion. I know - we didn’t have a choice for the first part (losing Olaofe).
|
|
|
Post by Andy K on Oct 3, 2022 9:38:15 GMT
Maybe worth noting that three of those we've lost are now playing at a level below EFL2. Goodliffe has been a huge loss IMO. This is true. And Benett is not even on the bench at Barrow. But they were GOOD here. And the summer arrivals are far from that. And the Olaofe for Kendall switch ain’t even worth a discussion. I know - we didn’t have a choice for the first part (losing Olaofe). Bennett is injured. Ajiboye is now playing for the U21s and has played less than 45min of league football. Bouzanis has had very limited game time. Olaofe has played 10 mins of league football this season. None of the players we've signed (aside from perhaps Thomas and certainly Neufville) have had any significant league minutes behind them. I don't think we're really in any position to judge the quality of the new signing with such limited exposure.
|
|
|
Post by brisfitboy2 on Oct 3, 2022 17:37:02 GMT
Maybe one good thing to come out of the past week, Lewis Ward is in the EFL/Sky Team of the Week so somebody must have played well😀
|
|