Todays Game

[enfieldiansr]

ETFC 0 - 4 East Thurrock Utd. Well what wrong today. A drubbing is what I would call it.

[MTHead]

ETFC 0 - 4 East Thurrock Utd. Well what wrong today. A drubbing is what I would call it.

 

 

What went wrong ! As I have said before, the quality of the midfield is so poor, none of them were able / are able to control the ball, pass the ball to one of our own players and faced with a team which chased and harassed all the time, they do not have the skills to hold the ball safely. Three of the goals came from mistakes in the centre of the pitch which exposed our defense, which wasn't good anyway, to relentless pressure.

 

We need to have players in midfield who have the skill to hold and distribute the ball to our players without being pressured into panic measures, giving the ball away our half is a recipe for disaster ! This is not the first time this has happened so we shouldn't be surprised. I still maintain that we are not really a top 6 team, good teams will expose our fragility. Mid table team no better I'm afraid !

[Mr Happy]

Agree re the midfield but we are still a top 6 team. However, that will not be good enough. We failed to take our chances earlier on and the game would have been far more different if we had. We have the strick force up top but midfield we are poor and lacked speed in defence. However, what really concerned me was the lack of anything from the management. Even in the first halfwhen we were still in the game Steve was giving no directions to the players nor any encouragement. I sincerely hope this was an off day for him and not one that wil be repeated.

 

It is one loss and we have the players to bounce back. they need the leadership and encouragement.

[MbrunoB]

Why when a result goes the wrong do people think that the manager should suddenly start ranting and raving from the dug out when that is not their style and never achieves anything for those that do.

 

The problems need to be sorted out on the training pitch and in the dressing room,not on the pitch.

 

This was the first bad performance of the season and NOT the normal as it was last season so lets not panic and back the management that habe done well so far.

[Steph]

It was one game.

 

I still believe that we are a top three side. In the first half we had more clear chances than Thurrock. Indeed Thurrock did not have that many chances except they took what they had.

 

The analysis by MT head is about right - I think that the result may have been different if we had a fast player at the back who can cover for the centre halfs.

[MTHead]

Why when a result goes the wrong do people think that the manager should suddenly start ranting and raving from the dug out when that is not their style and never achieves anything for those that do.

 

The problems need to be sorted out on the training pitch and in the dressing room,not on the pitch.

 

This was the first bad performance of the season and NOT the normal as it was last season so lets not panic and back the management that habe done well so far.

 

Don't agree, this performance was perhaps the worst we have seen but it certainly wasn't the first bad performance turned in this season. Indeed I have not seen many good ones, perhaps four or five have been acceptable, but the general performance is poor.

 

The standard of ball control, passing and collaboration needs significant improvement otherwise I fear we will be humuliated next week. I really hope not.

[thecoldend]

To call the result a drubbing is wrong. We had out chances to make the game more competative and East Thurrock seemed to take all their chances. With West and Higgns up front you can't give them that much space or they will punish you as they did yesterday.

 

Steve and Del will know where the team needs improving or strengthening and I'm confident we're a play off team in the making. Denis Maharjan returning from injury in the next few weeks to make his debut may make a difference in the midfield.

 

We've played 11 league games and lost 2 (and when you think of it we should of beat Ilford)

 

UP THE TOWN!!!!!

 

 

http://www.thecoldend.blogspot.com

 

 

 

[BRAMLEY]

I am confident that Steve & Del will have identified the areas where improvements need to take place.

Every team takes a tonking at some time in a season and the Town lads will bounce back as they are strong characters.

It may sound like I have rose tinted glasses on, but supporters do need to continue to back the players and get behind them big time. Wish that the Club I watch regularly had your level of support every week, they would just love it.

Best wshes for Tuesday at Northwood and keep the faith.

[Father Jack]

Thank you for a bit of common sense Bramley and friends. I propose that this thread is used for sober analysis of the team, while the "Woeful" thread left for those who feel like a good rant.

 

Suggestions for a quick fix; a fit Craig McKay may be an option at the back, as he seems to be the best we have at covering behind the centre half/halves. How about three centre halves with McKay sweeping behind Wild and Edwards. The risk of being exposed on the flanks may be minimised by using Blower and Bastian in the wing back roles. Andy Jones and/or Jordan Lockie in midfield to give us a bit more physical presence. I'd like to see Matt Thomson starting games as well, although this would be pointless if there was no-one to win the ball for him.

 

Finally, I'd love us to have a left back who can play more than two games without getting injured/going to University/going on a school trip!!

[Mr Happy]

Why when a result goes the wrong do people think that the manager should suddenly start ranting and raving from the dug out when that is not their style and never achieves anything for those that do.

 

The problems need to be sorted out on the training pitch and in the dressing room,not on the pitch.

 

This was the first bad performance of the season and NOT the normal as it was last season so lets not panic and back the management that habe done well so far.

 

 

My comment re the managment was not about ranting and raving. I wanted to see more dorection and encouragement. I still think we can mount a challenge for promotion but without a better midfield and pace in defence I feel it will be a long shot.

[ORACLE]

Both Marks and Morton had a bad game and I'm sure they would be the first to admit it. Gio is returning from injury and with Dennis Maharajan he would surely strengthen the team.

 

Not sure Ross Edwards is up to it, no pace and his only answer seems to be a big boot upfield, Stuart Blackburne will score hatfuls of goals if the ball is played through to him but even he can not out jump the big backs he is usually up against.

 

Adam Wallace is an obvious partner to Stuart and holds the ball up well, but he is struggling with injury, so the ball has to come through midfield to give the strikers a chance.

 

Fabio is a class act, equally good on right or left foot, play him just behind the front men and he will also give you plenty of goals.

 

Totally agree about Matt Thompson, a star in the making.

 

So all that said, it is not all doom and gloom, I’m sure Steve and Del are well aware of where they need to change things and with continuing support from the club and supporters they will improve the team. Lets put yesterday behind us and go – ONWARDS AND UPWARDS.

[Enfield United]

Unfortunately (or fortunately) I was'nt at the ETU game. Some Comments on this thread are a little panicky in my view. Yes a 0-4 is a drubbing but its still only 3 points dropped and we have a very long injury list with many players missing. If we continue with the average of 2 defeats every 10 matches(ish) then we'll be in the top 5 this season.

 

I agree our football is very basic and we do not have some of the quality players we had last season, but what we do have is a well constructed team plan and shape, good team spirit and willing players to put their bodies on the line for the cause.

 

our game plan seems very much a percentage approach of boot the ball away, throw in long balls, harrass and battle and hope that stuart, roberto or adam wallace get opportunities to put away.

 

I agree we need more presence in central midfield and that playing rudi wide right is just accommodating him hoping we get a penalty or free kick for him to get involved with. I like Paul Marks and Fabio but feel we have 2 midfield positions to fill. Dave Edwards is a very good defender and is worthy of a Town shirt. Wild, blower and ellams when fit are a formidable back 4, they just need a balanced midfield in front of them.

 

Northwood will be a big challenge on Tuesday night i'm expecting us to put on a better performance than i've read from saturdays game, hoping it will be enough to bring in the 3pts.

[GIO]

You have a left back on your books, Steve only needs to pick up the phone!!!

[Father Jack]

Sorry - forgot about the best left back in non-league football. Our problems are solved!!

 

[Jim Cunneen]

Well his dad thinks so...

[The Invisible Man]

 

agree our football is very basic and we do not have some of the quality players we had last season, but what we do have is a well constructed team plan and shape, good team spirit and willing players to put their bodies on the the cause.

 

our game plan seems very much a percentage approach of boot the ball away, throw in long balls, harrass and battle and hope that stuart, roberto or adam wallace get opportunities to put away.

 

Not sure I understand: the red bits seem to contradict the blue bits. If indeed our game plan is to boot the balla way and knock long balls about, it is no surprise that we lost, but I don't think my spies have reported that that is our general approach.

 

After the Leyton heroics this was a very disappointing result. Obviously I wasn't there but my spy tells me the defence was awful.

 

OK let's bounce back big time at Northwood.

[Barney]

First two goals came from two mistakes in midfield. We gave the ball away twice, and ETU punished us twice with some incisive play. Prior to that, Minniti should have done better with a very good chance that he blazed over, and had we took the lead, things may have been very different. That said, ETU were well worth their win, and on that showing, I expect them to be up there challenging at the end of the season.

 

I tend to agree with people in that we do play quite direct, but with Stuart's running and Wallace's pace, that's probably playing to our strengths. When we do get the ball in good areas, the likes of Fabio and Rudi (despite him playing out of position) can give us that little bit of extra quality to make goals. In my view, the biggest problem comes from ball retention in midfield, which is why I like Thompson playing there, as he rarely gives the ball away. You don't have to have a massive physical presence if you know how to keep the ball (just ask the likes of Modric, Fabregas etc.)

 

Anyway, for what it's worth, I don't think that our defence can be singled out for too much blame - we need to defend better as a team, and that starts with keeping the ball all over the pitch, and not getting caught out of position / exposed. Any defence is going to struggle with midfield runners coming at them unchecked, especially the ETU number 6, who I thought was a class player and had a big hand in their first two goals on Saturday.

[Father Jack]

 

I tend to agree with people in that we do play quite direct, but with Stuart's running and Wallace's pace, that's probably playing to our strengths.

 

And if we try and build from the back, the crowd jump on their backs immediately. Then a pass is slightly underhit, resulting in a player under pressure booting the ball hurriedly upfield or into touch. Give the strengths of our forward line, I feel that hitting the front two early is the best approach - if, and only if, the midfield win more than their share of secondary possession, something that was not happening on Saturday. I should point out that one of the greatest Enfield sides of all time, the 1986 Alliance-winning team, played in exactly the same way.

[Arkwright]

 

I tend to agree with people in that we do play quite direct, but with Stuart's running and Wallace's pace, that's probably playing to our strengths.

 

And if we try and build from the back, the crowd jump on their backs immediately. Then a pass is slightly underhit, resulting in a player under pressure booting the ball hurriedly upfield or into touch. Give the strengths of our forward line, I feel that hitting the front two early is the best approach - if, and only if, the midfield win more than their share of secondary possession, something that was not happening on Saturday. I should point out that one of the greatest Enfield sides of all time, the 1986 Alliance-winning team, played in exactly the same way.

 

So a ball winning defensive midfielder is a must then?

[Barney]

And if we try and build from the back, the crowd jump on their backs immediately.

 

Yeah, I noticed this too... It's no bad thing to be able to play our way out of trouble from the back, so long as our decision making is good enough to know when to just get rid. Certainly some sections of the crowd are very quick to criticise. We're not going to win every game, and there are some good sides in this league but so long as performances and results like Saturday are the exception, rather than the rule (unlike the first half of last season), then the team and the management get my full support, and my full encouragement for 90 minutes. If there were 250+ people at every game being positive about the team, and not picking up on mistakes (which teams at any level make), then the players would draw confidence from this and play better. We're one of the better supported clubs in the league, so we should use this to our advantage as much as possible. The only time I think criticism is deserved is if players aren't trying, and I don't think that this has been a problem this season.