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Post by pinewalker on Sept 2, 2023 20:04:28 GMT
We have heard so far: 1/ Key players missing; 2/ some new signings not-match fit; 3/ Still early days, a new squad still to find out about their colleagues. What was this week’s excuse?
As most posters have observed – the plan A tactics are failing. Today Inniss and Welch for FGR had the beating in the air of Smith and O’Brien, that was established early and was not going to change. Rose’s kicks all went the same distance and were met by the FGR heads. Sutton fans had 70 minutes out of Groundhog Day until the U’s forwards were replaced by two more – but they had no more success with the aerial punts. Sutton had possession on the ground only through interceptions and throw-ins. At least Patrick succeeded in rounding the full back half the time, but his centres on the ground never reached a U’s player willing to shoot, and his crosses in the air met the same fate as the keeper’s punts. Sutton put on plenty of pressure, though it was apparent several players would rather pass than attempt a shot. There was no building from the back, on the ground and through midfield. When Sutton had the ball some of our players did make good diagonal runs in behind the FGR defence, and even indicated where the wanted the forward pass played. It seemed to me they were wilfully ignored by the man on the ball.
Where a team wants space on the field is in the gap between the opposing keeper and his back-four (or three). So far this season Gillingham and FGR have left with the points because as they sat back and U’s pushed up - eventually that gap appeared between Rose and our defence.
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Post by Andy K on Sept 2, 2023 20:26:58 GMT
I think the reality is we are in the relegation scrap. Part of the problem today was we should have played with more causion and got a point, everything we can grab is needed and clearly we are not going to win many games this year. We need to start being hard to beat and see if we can just add points and nick the odd win. No one is in a relegation scrap after 6 games of a 46 game season. We're two wins and a draw away from a play off spot, and 3 wins and a draw away from top spot. We're also the only side to beat the team currently sitting in first. |
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Post by Amber Aleman on Sept 2, 2023 21:28:28 GMT
Hopes were raised after the win at Wycombe, but today's performance, featuring just two changes from that starting XI, was back to the standard we saw against Gillingham and Newport. Not terrible, just not good enough either. Jack Rose kept us in the game until he was beaten by a shot from outside the area. O'Brien had a couple of shots just wide, but otherwise we barely threatened.
Our next three matches are all against top-half sides.
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Post by Del on Sept 2, 2023 21:48:22 GMT
I would have liked to have seen the same starting eleven as the one against Wycombe. Matt says in his interview that he wanted to freshen things up a bit. Well i thought that Harry was back to his best against Notts earlier in the season but now i'm starting to wonder if he can still be that midfield dynamo he used to be.He was poor today.
Jackson didn't start and that may well be Matt protecting him from further injury.
When eventually Matt changed it around he brought on the two forwards who hadn't struck up a good understanding in the last few league games.I'm not sure what he was expecting from them!
Swindon will be a good test but which Sutton team will turn up on the day?
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Post by brisfitboy on Sept 2, 2023 22:17:49 GMT
Insanity again, high balls straight to keeper, no goal kicks down centre just to left or right depending on which direction playing. Will it still be like this after 10 games?
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Post by FaultyyearsaU on Sept 3, 2023 6:46:30 GMT
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at all concerned at the moment. That's just natural. However on a positive note, how well is Jack Rose playing at the moment?! Unfortunately, he has actually been MOM in a number of games already this season in my opinion.
We'll get there .... #Forever Amber
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Post by halftimet on Sept 3, 2023 7:42:58 GMT
One for those who like stats.
“One win (against 10 players) in our last 16 league games. No clean sheets in our last 13 league games”. Make that 17 and 14 now.
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Post by scorpioeyes on Sept 3, 2023 8:58:19 GMT
On those stats, most managers would have been fired. Not saying Matt should lose his job, but how long do you give him to get it right?
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Post by sufc1898 on Sept 3, 2023 8:58:49 GMT
Thanks for the negative stats. Not sure that’s really needed.
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Post by baboonfish on Sept 3, 2023 9:28:15 GMT
Thanks for the negative stats. Not sure that’s really needed. LOL. How dare someone present solid facts. Here's some more negativity for you. We're the worst form team in the football league. Our style of football hasn't been this ugly since the rains/ggl mud and sand bath era. Our tactical system is no longer working. I dont think anyone is seriously suggesting gray should go, but if he continues to stubbornly persist with tactics that are not effective, that may change. If we were trying different things and attempting to play decent football and losing, it wouldn't be half as bad as the dirge we've seen in the past 3 home games. For me there's one reason we're not as effective as we were and that's bugiel. The job he did tiring out the opponent's defence, softening them up was utterly key for our high press system and a huge contributior to our excellent defensive record. Without that type of player, we need a more dynamic midfield, which probably requires 3 centre mids, or perhaps N Guessan as he looked tireless and very mobile. We have the players, now find the system for them. They say madness is repeating the same action and expexting different results. If so, gray might need to see a doctor. 442 high press does not work with this squad. Angol and kashket does not work. Sowumni up front does not work. Try. Something Else. |
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Post by sufc1898 on Sept 3, 2023 10:14:48 GMT
Another one kicking the team when they are down 🙄
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Post by Andy K on Sept 3, 2023 10:59:27 GMT
Thanks for the negative stats. Not sure that’s really needed. LOL. How dare someone present solid facts. Here's some more negativity for you. We're the worst form team in the football league. Our style of football hasn't been this ugly since the rains/ggl mud and sand bath era. Our tactical system is no longer working. I dont think anyone is seriously suggesting gray should go, but if he continues to stubbornly persist with tactics that are not effective, that may change. If we were trying different things and attempting to play decent football and losing, it wouldn't be half as bad as the dirge we've seen in the past 3 home games. For me there's one reason we're not as effective as we were and that's bugiel. The job he did tiring out the opponent's defence, softening them up was utterly key for our high press system and a huge contributior to our excellent defensive record. Without that type of player, we need a more dynamic midfield, which probably requires 3 centre mids, or perhaps N Guessan as he looked tireless and very mobile. We have the players, now find the system for them. They say madness is repeating the same action and expexting different results. If so, gray might need to see a doctor. 442 high press does not work with this squad. Angol and kashket does not work. Sowumni up front does not work. Try. Something Else. Our defensive record has never been excellent. In 21/22 we sat 10th in goals conceded and in 22/23 we sat 17th in the same table. Both times lower than our finishing positions. And as I've said before, we've always started the season poorly. With such a turnover of players, plenty who didn't get a full pre-season, it's not surprising we started slowly. |
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markf
Top Performer
Posts: 3,113
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Post by markf on Sept 3, 2023 10:59:53 GMT
Aah. We lost. Matt has become Gray again.
And as suggesting he needs to see a doctor, what an absolute disgrace you are. An appalling attempt at humour or just a nasty comment?
I note the poster made no comment about our win at Wycombe.
FGR deserved the victory yesterday. Defended well when they had too and looked a constant threat going forward.
Elsewhere in this thread, OS suggests Milsom isn't a defender. Is that the Milsom who was our first choice left back when we won the NL, finished 8th in L2 and got to Wembley?
What was he then? A figment of imagination?
I agree with the comment about Bugiel but then I pointed out on countless times to those who mocked his goal return how integral he was to the team's success.
He has gone now and we have to move on.
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Post by paz on Sept 3, 2023 11:02:05 GMT
Thanks for the negative stats. Not sure that’s really needed. LOL. How dare someone present solid facts. Here's some more negativity for you. We're the worst form team in the football league. Our style of football hasn't been this ugly since the rains/ggl mud and sand bath era. Our tactical system is no longer working. I dont think anyone is seriously suggesting gray should go, but if he continues to stubbornly persist with tactics that are not effective, that may change. If we were trying different things and attempting to play decent football and losing, it wouldn't be half as bad as the dirge we've seen in the past 3 home games. For me there's one reason we're not as effective as we were and that's bugiel. The job he did tiring out the opponent's defence, softening them up was utterly key for our high press system and a huge contributior to our excellent defensive record. Without that type of player, we need a more dynamic midfield, which probably requires 3 centre mids, or perhaps N Guessan as he looked tireless and very mobile. We have the players, now find the system for them. They say madness is repeating the same action and expexting different results. If so, gray might need to see a doctor. 442 high press does not work with this squad. Angol and kashket does not work. Sowumni up front does not work. Try. Something Else. I agree that our tactics have passed their sell by date and need to change, 4 draws and 1 win in 17 league games shows us this. IMO I do not think Bugiel not being here is one of the issues. Things were the same while he was around last season. In fact I think Smith is more effective. He wins more headers and also does a similar job to what Bugiel did. I also think our wingers look better or at least as good as last year. But this further highlights a struggle to make a certain system work. Perhaps Matt is trying to change the system but with so many new players its proving a difficult task. We need 47 points from 40 games, which if we become more mean and hard to beat we can achieve with around five or so draws and one win every 10 games, and if we can nick the odd extra win then great. From this point of view I think its realistic to turn a good few of these defeats into draws as most of them are close games. |
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Post by Andy K on Sept 3, 2023 11:02:34 GMT
On those stats, most managers would have been fired. Not saying Matt should lose his job, but how long do you give him to get it right? Exactly the same as the time we gave him when we started like this, back in the 19/20 season. The number of people on here suggesting he should be sacked then was shocking, and look what happened when he wasn't. Becoming a football league team for the first time in our history and a Wembley final where we were 90 seconds away from winning. If we finish 22nd this season (which I don't believe for a second we will finish so low), then that's an achievement. Staying in league football is a huge achievement for this tiny club. |
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