BLUES 4-1 FOLKESTONE

[Ryan.c]

Into the play-offs we go!

[Rick the Dick]

Just what the Doctor ordered. Good all round team performance in very difficult conditions. Special mention to Blackie, who had his best game for us that I've witnessed, and Macca. New loanee made a good impression as well (despite his miss!).

 

Thought it was a better than expected turnout as well, considering the lousy weather & recent performances.

 

Onwards to Ramsgate to consolidate that play-off spot.

[finisterre]

Completely agree with you Rick. Black was my man of the match and I also thought Tommy looked a bit handy when he came on.

[Brightside Bloke]

Black played a blinder tonight, was surprised at him taken off but in hindsight a probable good move. (well done the management)

Tommy was Sooo close.

 

Was chuffed that my man of the season (BWG) started to smile again smiles = goals. Well done Bradley.

 

Immense performance on an orrable night weather wise.

 

Nice few people turned up to support Folkestone must have been at least 25, well done lad's & lassie's.

 

Play off's again...Sorted

[jl]

Hooray back on the bus with four goals as well.

 

I thought the application of the team was much much better tonight especially going into the game without Dorms and then going behind to a "massive" deflection.

 

I thought Jack's handling was superb last night and other strong performances from Blackie, Leon and Macca (our new left winger?). The new lad looked rapido that's for sure.

 

It's difficult to understand how there was so many chances in total last night compared to so few on Saturday in similar conditions. Answers on a postcard please.

 

Let's hope we can carry this kind of result into Saturday.

 

Well done lads!!

[GazzaBTFC]

A great performance by the lads and I would agree, back on track. If only they applied the same against Ashford and Margate.

 

I would agree that Leon, Macca and Blackie had a great game, Leon especially well for deputised for Dormer on the night. Having mentioned those three, lets not forget BWG who took his goals superbly.

 

Last night we proved that we can stamp our authority on a team, no matter what the conditions, no matter what methods the opposing team try to break our play up. More of the same at Ramsgate please.

[Keith.P]

Josephine worked her wonders then ! On a night that was incredibly awkward for both sides we at last got that elusive win. Agree that Black(y) was outstanding down the wing. Also think Macca deserves a load of credit. So, there we were being the more dominant team but falling behind to one of those deflections that you only see on tv when a politician is answering a question. The comeback though was much better. The lads stepped up a gear and from a Black cross Hunter nipped in, (although i actually thought it went straight in from where i was). Their keeper i think bottled it when he conceded the spot kick by going with his feet instead of hands, but a confident tuck away from Bradders. Then, (i thought) we just stepped off the gas a little but we got through to halftime looking the more menacing. Second half we had (i think) the swirling wind in our favour and the effort levels went back up again. Brad was tormenting his marker and kept a cool head to cut in from the side nip round the keeper before playing the "which way will i go" thought with their defender on the line

 

Cue the entrance of Hodgie as mom Black was given a well earned rest. As we said on the terrace "only Hodgie could do what he did with that strike at our level"

 

The new guy Tommy could be an interesting kettle o fish, superb cross as soon as he came on.

 

I thought Heffs did well as a holding midfielder and Shave was useful in those conditions (he dont hold back does he)

 

But it was a whole team effort and all that we ever ask is for a performance and last night they delivered one for us.

 

Cheers lads.

[Sticks]

Much better display last night all round. Massive deflection for their goal but we were back on level terms straight away which stopped any heads dropping. I agree Black was excellent last night with a great cross for the equaliser.

 

Tommy looked useful when he came on, despite the miss.

 

Another three points Saturday would be lovely. COYB!

[Top Cat]

Great result, and a good game, keep it up for Saturday (a tough away game), now looks like we are fighting for 3 spot with AFCH for a good play-off position, the table is still very close, any slips could mean a big positional change for a number of play-off challenging teams.

 

lets just make the play-off first though.

 

Away the Blues

 

 

[Barry_T]

What a difference a day makes.

Yesterday, somebody pointed out that we are only 9 points ahead of a relegation place.

Today we are challenging for 3rd place!

 

Agree with many of the comments, particularly about Black.

However, I did feel with 10 to go that we were not going to hold on.

Maybe my natural pessimism, but yet again we were devoid of options when trying to clear from the back.

 

I'm not a fan of one up front anyway, but often the best form of defence is attack.

Although last night's changes worked, they so often don't.

Surely we could just try 2 up front for a period of time?

Our defence were clearing the ball well and defending stoutly, only to find the ball coming back at them time and time again because there was nothing up front to hold on to it.

 

I think that 2-1 would have been a fairer result last night and, although we dealt with the wind better and played immensely better than recent outings, I cannot see us getting in the play-offs with the current structure.

 

Look forward to seeing more of Tommy - preferably with shooting boots next week!

 

[norbert]

Current structure? is that the team or the management, if its the team, this structure has taken us from 2nd from bottom to within 3 points of 2nd place. we started with 2 up front on sat but went 1 zip down and had to change back. It might not be everones choice but its been introduced on the back of the defeats that took us to the bottom and the need not to lose. If we could afford to drop points and still be in the play offs i,m sure we would revert back to the the more familiar 442. AFC went 6 games without a win so our dip of none from four whilst not enjoyable, with last nights win has put us back inthe mix and that was without Jamie Dormer. However if you were talking about the management structure perhaps theyll get the heave ho eventually

 

[Barry_T]

I was referring to the team structure, which is a result of the management structure.

I don't think it's necessarily about the familiarity of 4-4-2, or even that that's my preference.

I am more concerned about the seeming inability to make changes to hang on to points.

After last night, my arguement holds no volume, as it worked, but I don't see that the way we are playing is going to get us into the play-offs.

We definitely have good enough players, so why are we not able to change things when it's not going our way?

 

We were playing against a very poor side last night.

By my reckoning the only team that are now in play-off contention that we have beaten with this management is Horsham, and that was hardly a game to remember.

We have lost or drawn with Margate, Ashford, Harrow, AFCW, Staines, Chelmsford, AFCH and Hendon.

All that says to me is that they are not getting the performance out of the players when it matters.

My personal feeling is the formation is wrong because I don't think we have any individual player who is not good enough.

[norbert]

What formation would you adopt

[Blue fan]

Thats much better, excellent win , i thought there was just one small moment when we took the lead and just sat back but unable to cope with that situation, this happens from time to time instead of holding the ball up and moving it around which ,this team can do, anyway great win lads and well done to all including jason and grant. Blue fan.

[Barry_T]

I'm no manager, for which many would be thankful!

However, I would start with Bill and Ricky up front (not only for the name entertainment!).

But the important thing is realising when it is not going our way and trying to do something about it.

Usually, swapping a left-sided midfielder for another exactly the same won't stem the flow against us.

 

[norbert]

yes to your first point but formation whats your formation we cant play with 2 players

 

[The Town Crier]

Firstly Barry can I say, I respect your opinion, and I have no problem at all with you arguing it.

 

This is how I see it

Our current management have taken us from 2nd bottom to a playoff position in little over 3 months, which imo, is good stuff.

If you take a look at the graph on the link it, shows just how far we have come since the end of November.

http://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/index.jsp?team=225

 

I know that the preferred formation for both management and supporters is 4-4-2, but, our current crop of players struggle when we play it, and it was the player performances whilst playing a 4-4-2 formation that took us to the bottom of the division.

 

so I for one would prefer to be in league position 5 playing 4-3-3 than a lower league place playing any other system.

 

Its a very big ask for us to make the play offs now, and If we do manage it, there will have been a certain amount of luck involved, ie other results going our way. But if we don't, again, just my opinion, it will be the games we lost early on in the campaign that will have had the biggest contribution to us not getting there.

 

As much as we want and expect to win every game, it's not going to happen. I'm just happy that we are no longer getting smashed

2-5 4-1 0-4 3-1 by the likes of East Thurrock, Ashford, Borehamwood and Harrow.

 

 

I think we are doing ok, but we can always do better.

 

 

Right, back to last nights game, a top effort by our lads, and given the conditions, I thought they played some good football.

 

 

 

 

[Barry_T]

I'll go further than the formation and offer you a team, Norbert, assuming all fit except Flack and Game (for the next two weeks!)

Jack (another excellent performance from him last night)

Macca Heffer Blewitt Kerrers

BWG Dormer Shave Black

Bill Ricky

 

With Hodges, Alaile and Hunter as great options depending upon preference.

I also remember that BWG played as an out and out striker originally and scored for fun.

Pushing him more central is a very good option if needs be, which hasn't really been utilised of late.

 

TC - appreciate your comments.

However, you seem to have quickly forgotten the results AND performances under Jones at the latter end of last season, as well as the 6-0, 2-0 at AFCH, and 4-0 wins in the league early this season.

Add to that having a Cup run that did the entire club proud, I think I am justified in being slightly disappointed that the change of management hasn't been as good as I had hoped for.

 

I have no intentions of bringing up the old issue of whether or not Jones should have gone - the decision was made for, I am sure, the right reasons.

But I, for one, got far more enjoyment out of the style of play and the performances previously, and always felt that Jones knew how to get a result whether we were playing well or badly by adapting to the situation - remember the play-off semi down the road?

I, too, think we are doing OK but with the players we have I would have hoped to be doing better than just OK.

 

[Blue fan]

Spot on TC, steming those thrashings we got and to turn it around and lay 5th in the league at this moment is beyound my dreams this season, i do think it will need a lot of luck to make the play offs i hope i am wrong but if we don't i would settle for just staying in this league its been a real roller coaster ride this season, and to Barry i know you only want the best , but some times you can only do so much, with whats in front of you, i think Jason and Grant have done a good job.Blue fan

[Bill of Shenfield]

I don't care 4-4-2 4-3-3 or 4-5-1. last nights performance was excellent. I thought everyone played well. We coped better in the conditions than they did. Their goal was a wicked deflection and our goals were probably helped by the wind and the players taking a chance. Well done to the whole including the management.