MFC vs Maidstone United

[Porka]

Ben Clarke easily the best player on the pitch yesterday. JK marshalled the defence well and won some key headers. He looks far happier in the sweeper role. Lloyd did a lot of work covering for others that didn't go unnoticed. Duncan was solid, works hard.

 

A little worried about AJ and Charlie Read. Sounds like Read's loan is up anyway but we really could do with AJ being fit for Tuesday night.

 

As mentioned elsewhere Maidstone's experience at the back really controlled the game. We seemed to stop hitting the channels for AJ and tried to be too intricate. Not enough bodies in the box, not enough shots on target. Seems obvious with AJ in the side that we should be playing to his strengths - we did at Homelands. It might not be pretty but it's worked for us in the past so why not again.

 

Probably the worst news of all - but not exactly unexpected - is the budget. Can't see how we would sustain a play-off push with such a thin squad so really MB's hands are tied with the budget cut. Even more reason to turn out in force on Tuesday to try and swell the coffers a bit.

[Cookie]

Good point about the crowd Porka. Agreed we need to see those that were there & more to attend on Tuesday. A big "well done" surely must go those that went & despite & as so often happens with the result going against us with a decent crowd in attendance those that did go DO turn up again on Tuedsay night & don't stay away. Another effort required from us all.

[MRP]

Hess and our chairman were allegedly at the game yesterday, any likely targets on either side?

[I am Spartacus]

Hess and our chairman were allegedly at the game yesterday, any likely targets on either side?

 

Target & the 'P' word in the same sentence

 

Hess was there I believe he was trying to get us to sign a certain centre half that is not loved by a certain section at Crap Hill.

 

[I am Spartacus]

Regarding the Goal. I did not agree with "Joseba "(tongue in cheek ) at the time that, our keeper was fouled.

 

 

So I had an Alex Fregusson moment/ And whilst I am still in my Fergie mode I cannot see how the ref only played 3' 43" extra time for the second half.

 

There were 3 subsitutions , 1 sending off, Trainer on pitch for at least 1 minute to deal with a player who headbutted thin air + other talking to players & time wasting. Sir Alex would have demanded & got at least 5 minutes.

 

 

[TonyM]

A few other posts have said about us playing against 10 men,WELL untill we play the ball on the ground...IT DONT MATTER....because we will never find that gap untill we do,dont get me wrong here because SOMTIMES we play good football,but ONLY SOMTIMES,we NEED to play for 90 mins,ball to feet and not just thumping it 20 yards down the pitch.I feel sorry for Ben Clark who put his heart and soul in only to see others let him down.

[Dutch_Mike]

Personally, although I was very disappointed at the final whistle, on reflection, we were maybe a shade unlucky not to get something out of the game. Although we were nowhere near our best, we still created more than enough chances to win the game comfortably: Blackman's effort tipped onto the post; Blackman being forced wide by the keeper then sending the ball wide; Healy's (I think) shot at the death well-saved; keeper denying Clarke at his feet; Joseph running through and trying to turn inside when maybe a chip was a better option (not a criticism, though, as thought he had a good game); Groombridge / Reed firing over from close range from a corner in the first half; not to mention a couple of set-pieces that flew across the face of the goal and only required a touch, and a stone-wall penalty on Blackman somehow denied.

 

With perhaps a bit more luck or composure in front of goal, we would surely have nicked a point at least. Clarke had another very good game (hardly put a foot wrong since he joined us) and thought Duncan battled well all game - he is a real asset for us. Still not too sure with the formation that we play that we can afford to play both Healy and Wilson - two attack-minded midfielders in a three-man midfield is a bit of an imbalance, I feel. Maybe drop one and bring in Stubbs to give us more of a combative edge in the middle. However, as I've said, not too downbeat, and still feel that, on the whole, we are making progress on the field. Tooting on tuesday will be a tough tough game (providing it's on) but I have no doubt that if we play to the best of the ability, we can beat anyone in this league.