Thoughts on todays team and individual performance

[michael]

I thought a 'patched up' side did well today and deserve credit for the performance and result.

 

I thought Trott had a very good game and for me-mom would be between Trott and Ricardo who had a great game at left back (and if he plays like that everyweek should keep Skinner out of the team when he is fit.

 

Martin and Peters also played particularly well.

Pleased about Martin as i did have doubts but proved to me he can do it at this level to me.

 

I also thought Smith played quite well.

Hope Young is ok but looks about 4 weeks out to me.

 

Dean and Morris struggled a bit in midfield and have played better, but Ramsgate-very sensibly imo- crowd midfield-don't play it wide too often-and Dean and Morris were usually outnumbered.Did reasonable enough though i thought.Thats the problem we have with playing 'wingers'and frankly, the way the Wards play it ,is the way that i would play it at this level-not pretty-but effective.

 

Scott-not to much to do-but at fault with the goal.

Not solely his fault though-having defended the free kick-you could see margate think they had overcomme the danger and just relaxed at the corner-so yes-SCS at fault but everyone cupable.RT and Haworth ought to have been screaming blue murder prior to the corner to get everyone to concentrate.No-one was.

 

Pinns and RH-worked hard individually, but did not combine too well.

Well taken pressure penalty by Pinns.

 

Overall, i thought i saw some green shoots of recovery out there today,and took encouragement from the performance and result.

Unlike many-i thought the quality was ok aswell-not sure what people expect at Ryman level in a tense local derby.

 

Now all sorts of things can happen between now and August next year, but i would happily accept now that we will not make play -offs this season and RT is concentrating on building a side for next season.

 

Here's a team to win the Ryman league in 2008/9:

 

SCS

 

Peters (if only we could sign him) Young, A.N.Other, Ricardo

 

Yianni, Saunders Morris Martin

 

Pinnock Haworth.

 

Frankly, i think for a few of our sidelined players; next season could be a season too far at this level

 

Let the likes of the above gain experience together for rest of this season, and win the league,Trophy and FA Cup next season.

 

 

[Porka]

Disagree with you placing Young in a potential championship winning team. At this level it is too dangerous to let the ball bounce over his head and he does this the majority of the time when the high ball is coming (unless it's a cast iron certainty the keeper is ready to handle the situation and has given a call). On the occasions he has to win a header against an opponent he regularly fouls by jumping on the opponent. So many free kicks given away just outside the area this way this season. Very frustrating and I imagine this is why he didn't make it at Derby. He has time on his side but at the moment Young has work to do.

 

As you say MM Ramsgate crowd the midfield - which says little for Ward's confidence in his players technical ability. Morris however I thought had a decent game, and Trott and Joseph played well also. Peters did ok, Smith ok. What worries me most is the tactics. We do go very direct at times, when I would rather we tried to keep hold of the ball more. Sometimes we are lumping it long too quick.

 

When the game opened up Martin showed his class. Very talented lad here.

[Cookie]

Arrrrr,yes that bouncing ball.All too many times it gives opponents a split second more to win the ball.Mind you there are others out there who do the same. Dan Young(apart from that minor flaw) has been a good player for us this year.

As for your post Michael.A agree nigh on 100% with your comments on each player as you saw things.Goodness me we both saw the same game eh?

[Wellsie]

Hold on, hold on! Cookie, you're banned from agreeing quite so much with anyone person. Retract your agreement as a matter of urgency or we'll think we're on the wrong forum!

[Cookie]

My goodness Steve.You can talk! Well,when my posts are concerned anyway. I do notice you know!!

No apologies for agreeing.I do if more often than you think!

Don't bar me please don't bar me. What the F*** would I do then!

[Wellsie]

Good point. Stay where you are!

[Cookie]

[BlueGate Alan]

Can I bar him instead Wellsie

[ooh!!bodyform]

nice to finally meet you michael michael faces to names and all that

[michael]

Cheeers-same here and happy new year

[Dutch_Mike]

Don't know where all these 'defence has improved' comments are coming from - we still cannot defend at all! One of the inbreds (Schulz perhaps) had a free header in the first half that he should have clearly buried but somehow put over the bar - shocking defending to let him in. Awful defending for the goal and, had Ramsgate actually realised said weakness and put the ball in similar positions, they would have had success time and time again.

 

I have no idea why Trott practices his passing in the warm-up; he never utilises it during matches! Smith still looks a very nervous centre-back and I thought Steffan Ball gave both the centre-backs the run-around all day.

 

Our wingers (Quain and Martin) looked terrified every time they got the ball at their feet. Too afraid to commit players, probably conscious that the Ramsgate thugs would simply 'take them out of the game'. Our 'tactics' were very predictable as ever - big punt down the field. Haworth flick on. And repeat.

 

Scotty, despite his obvious talent as a shot-stopper, HAS to be more comanding. We were so deep at set-pieces - he should be telling his defenders to push up.

 

Overall, I thought a draw was a fair result. Referee got both red cards right IMO, and Haworth was probably lucky to stay on the field for that first-half lunge.

 

I felt Trotty should have gone in the summer, as there is no doubt that we should have been promoted with the team we had, and I have seen little to suggest we have progressed. I am still yet to be convinced by him as a manager or defender.

 

Nice can of worms has, thus, been opened...

[buzzgate]

The injury problems have been horrendous - surely highlighted by having sunday league players on the bench; pretty unacceptable I agree but appears all other avenues exhausted. Hopefully Saunders and Jackson back on saturday will strengthen the squad. And yet we are still in touch with the play offs; other teams may have capitulated with such an injury list. Trott and Saunders as centre-back on sat with Smith as cover on bench should be pretty solid while we continue the search for a QUALITY centre-back.

[Paul H]

In my opinion we are lacking the following:

2 strong centre backs that win all long balls and clear up nicely.

I'd like to see Saunders in the middle of the park.

I think have the ability to score enough goals but concede far too many.

I think that better inteligent passing is needed.

I saw in the second at least half a dozen long balls that lost possesion where our right winger or right back was screaming for it. He had time to put in crosses creating chances.

The players just need to look up a bit quicker.