A few views from today's game

[SteveB]

There seemed to be a bit more width to the side today but they really weren't in the races, with AFC adjusting much better to the wind, until they stepped it up in the last 20 minutes. From then we created a lot of chances and went close on quite a few occasions but you do have to wonder why they did not press on like that a bit earlier on.

The referee was one of the best I have ever seen at Hartsdown. And by best I mean entertaining. And by entertaining I mean embaressingly rubbish.

Both sides got a few decisions which so so wrong it was unbelievable. To name but a few.....Hornchurch won a throw towards the end of the first half when the ball had clearly come off their players back and Margate got a couple of corners towards the end which were nowhere near touching a visiting player. The corners were worse as the linesman was level at the time and you thought he would have seen it.

All in all disappointed but thinking that if we could introduce that last 20 minute blitz a bit earlier (kick-off?) we would be picking up more points.

Steve

[P.W.]

Would say we lost the match in the first half as we did not really attack the Hornchurch goal, and take advantage of the strong wind(we should have peppered that goal with shot after shot, but the keeper had little to do). Whereas by contrast Hornchurch took just 4 minutes to make the most of it.

I'm sorry to be negative, but Coleman should not be playing up front, he's totally ineffective as a front runner.

To make a positive point Kenny Pratt was magic, showed he really wants to play for us, and deserves a starting place ahead of Coleman, Power and (to some extent) Peters. What he lacks in height & build is more than balanced by his determination to get stuck in.

[margateshot]

It appears that we need to go two goals down before we start to play attacking football. I think 95% of our shots were in last 20 mins. The team still appears very immature in its approach. A front targetman is still needed. However there were still encouraging signs.

[Andy .]

It worked much better in the last 20mins because Micheal Power and kenny Pratt played up front with Ryan sitting just behind them enableing him to run each wing and open up there back 4 . Ryan has to play in this position then we can win games he ripped them to pieces playing where he wants to and bringing Arron into the game helped Ryan out . Maybe BA should start with Ryan behind the front 2 at Tooting on tuesday then we could carry on from where we left off today , disapointing but thats football . Up the Gate .

[BluePineapple]

It was a shame that we did not take our chances today. I agree that Kenny Pratt made a difference when we came on and you have to wonder why Barry doesn't give him a chance for 90 mins. As above at least he looked like he wanted to play for the club and go out there and get something. Power really doesn't seem to know what is expected of him and I have seen little to presuade me that he deserve a first team place.

 

As always thought that Stubbs run himself into the ground and never gave up.

 

Lets not get down by today's performance & hope the lads learn from playing in windy condition.

 

Up the Gate

[Cookie]

Agree with all the above posts.It was mainly the last 10 minutes that we actually peppered their goal. Could have(with more luck), had 3 or 4 or even 5 goals in that spell. Up to then though it was as mentioned above.Dire from our point of view'. Two of the softest goals you could ever see. Naive defending sure was evident with those two goals. Hornchurch disappointed me today somewhat but they were unlucky on several occasions too & yes they did use the wind to their advantage more than we did. Two shots on goal in that first half from us from what I counted.Oh well, another learning curve.

If we can put this jigsaw together,a half from one game,another half from another game,10-20 spells at the end of games etc etc over 90 minutes then we will be in for a run of victories.Heads up it wasn't all bad today thanks to those last 10 minutes.The best team won on the day.

[Cookie]

Just to add that Power has had his critics this season & yes he does need to get involved more than he has done but when he came on today he DID get involved & showed great glimpses of what his footwork can be like.He also nodded on some good balls too. Just the once did I see him give up on a ball that the keeper eventually spilled.Had he been alert then something might have come of it.However,on the whole he did well when introduced as did Pratt.Both should be leading that front line with Peters dropping into midfield. Do this & we WILL see a big improvement i.m.o.Quain on the left of midfield(great cross into the box-no one alert to it) instead of Morris (who continually creates nothing).Peters in place of Coleman in midfield.Good show at the back by Taylor too it has to be mentioned.

[Porka]

Disagree with HDF's opinion that we should play Peters behind a front pairing at Tooting. I don't see that as a viable system let alone away from home. I've been completely unimpressed with Power every time I've seen him, while Kenny Pratt has always made things happen when he's been brought off the bench. Peters and Pratt up front for me at Tooting.

 

On the positive side I thought Maskell had a pretty good game before he was sacrificed for a third striker.

[Cookie]

Peters in midfield going at defenders I maintain will show a big improvement,not only in his workrate & skills but results for the team.

Peters sharp today in the last 10 minutes & showed what he IS capable off.Very unlucky twice,but up till then poor.

A winning team IS there if only B.A would select it.

[Porka]

But at the moment Cookie who else will partner Pratt up front if Peters drops back into midfield? I dont agree with pushing for the selection of Power. Today yet again I thought Power was lazy and didnt get into the areas expected of a target man striker.

[Cookie]

I thought Power showed some excellent touches today. Were we at the same game today Porka? I know,its a matter of opinions! We will just have to agree to disagree on this one.

Anyway, even if you take Power out of the equation Pratt alone could do a good job up front & play with the extra advancing & supporting midfielder......Peters!

With Peters coming on to defenders it will improve those playing around him also,including Power.It will also get Peters interested again! Despite his undoubted ability,for most of the time he dosen't seem to be.

[SteveB]

I do not think anyone was getting into forward areas today as there were a couple of times that when there was a cross on but absolutely no-one in the box.

On the subject of Power, to me he looks miles away from match fitness. From what I have seen of him he seems to have a good touch but seems a few yards off the pace.

I would have liked to see Parkinson return at right-back today. Presumably he has not fully recovered yet, which is why he remained on the bench.

Steve

 

[Porka]

Amazed by your opinions on Power, Tony. Yes he had one or two nice touches in areas where he was posing little threat, but several times he gave the ball away, and also took far too long when presented with a good chance not long after coming on. His demeanor isn't good, and for me he doesnt work hard enough to win the ball. Much rather have Pratt and Peters up front, and Coleman dropping back into midfield if any of the current crop of forwards drop back. I like Stubbs in his current role so I'd happily persevere with the midfield shape for now, but just start with Kenny and Ryan up top.

 

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree re Power and Peters then Cookie

[Boney Crisp]

Dissapointed with the result and for about 70 mins of the game dissapointed to with the performance. The last 20 mins we looked completely different and we looked so dangerous. Michael Power has been very poor, he must be the only striker that doesn't want to get in the box. Luke Coleman was very poor aswell today. It see as if we weren't playing with any strikers with those 2 pairing up together. Quain and Pratt made a big difference and i would like to see Pratt start on Tuesday, not sure if Quain is quite good enough yet i need to see more of him.

 

 

We were so unlucky not to score today. Smith could have had a couple and Peters could also have had a couple, it was miracle of how we didn't score today. I didn't think much of Hornchurch either today. Ref was terrible for both sides, i think he forgot that football is a contact sport.

 

 

We desperately need a goalscorer though.

[Andy .]

What we really need and have stated many times is an experienced man up front , play him with Coleman up front and Ryan behind them at start of game then replace Coleman with Power for last 20mins this is when Coleman really seems to run out of steam . Power has 20 mins in him and im sure that if Ryan can do all the donkey work as he did towards the end of today we will see results . Kenny Pratt could be used to create problems anywhere up front so having him around would make it easier for BA but at the mo i can`t see to much happening up front but keep it up boys , just a blip today , corrected on Tuesday . Up the Gate .

[Robfiveo]

Re Power against canvy thought he was there to make up the numbers,Today when he came on he did at least put himself about a bit. My main concern tho is Scotts reluctance to come off his line for crosses he semed lead footed for the first goal although not a lot he could do for the second.

[Drummer]

Yes, I thought that some of the decisions were strange, especially the one where Ryan Peters was backing off from a high, dropping ball and the Hornchurch defender behind him, somewhat of a larger build, fell over and Ryan was penalised.

 

I generally put it down to the fact that the rules and perhaps interpretations change but do wonder how some of the refs would cope if they had to referee some of the games years ago. What would have happened to Nat Lofthouse in the Man U Cup Final when he charged Harry Gregg for example?

 

And I do get annoyed when players go down like a sack of potatoes for no seemingly real reason, lay there curled up in absolute agony and within minutes are running about again. I know that the ref has to be careful, especially in today's climate, but surely a word here or there might be appropriate ("Oi sunshine - I thought you were in agony a few minutes ago").

 

Personally I thought that Michael Power looked quite reasonable for the short while he was on, possibly not match fit but OK. In fact I thought that the substitutions were quite effective, well, almost effective.

 

 

[Iris's Tea Hut]

My view is that Stubbs 10/10 for commitment every time I've seen him, 5/10 for effectiveness, but think he should be coached and encouraged as I feel its in him, but he just seems like he can't express it at the moment. Surely he shouldn't still be nervous?

 

Power - I'm afraid I'm in the camp that just doesn't get it.

 

Pratt and Quain made a real difference when they came on - I felt that with the benefit of hindsight, when we went in all square at half time, they should've come on then.

 

Which brings me on to my main 'gripe'. How many matches over the winter do we have that wind here? It amazes me that year after year, no matter who the personnel are, we always fail to capitalise on it. Surely we should've peppered the goal from range in the first half. We really needed to go in with the advantage.

 

Also, its incredible how well we played in the last 20 minutes when we used the full width of the pitch, kept the ball on the ground alot more and PLAYED FOOTBALL! I feel that when we play like this, we are a really good footballing side. It also showed to me that we need a good old fashioned goal-scorer. Or anyone that can hit the target!!

 

As for the referee, he really was bad. And I don't just mean from a fan-of-the-losing-side perspective. He booked 3 of our players when I felt there was no justification for it at all - funny that their number 4 was the 'victim' each time, which stinks. That infurited me. That aside, he gave as many howlers our way as theirs, but the free kicks count was against us as I think we like to hassle a bit more (ie closer contact).

 

All in all, I think the talent is there, but we need consistency now.

 

AND WE NEED TO LEARN TO USE THE WIND IN OUR FAVOUR................

[CT9]

All very well but I think what really gave us chance, in the last 15-20 minute spell, was Hornchurch taking off their No 6. He had TOTALLY run the game up to his substitution.

After that it was our fresh attacking lads and Hornchurch just trying to defend what they already had.

A shame that we never pulled it off because we certainly had enough chances to do so.

[vic pain lives!]

maybe power isnt the best maybe he is lazy but colemans not worth a start either at the moment and as for peters dont get me started,did he buy the choir a packet of crisps once or something for he it appears can do no wrong in their eyes. They wanted him further forward than last year and have their wish and still the blokes not delivering lets not forget hes 0/7 this campaign hardly impressive is it.