How I saw it.

[blueblood]

I was late to the game as usual after taking my lottery hat off, so did not see the first 10 minutes.

After I took up my usual position at the rail by the toilets I noticed the atmosphere,i looked around at the faces of the crowd, dead pan, no one was laughing or joking, everyone was anxious (were we becoming like our Essex friends near us. Serious) . I settled to watch the Game in this flat atmosphere.

I think the highlight of the 1/2 was a comment "Joseba" made to the lino about their not being a real need for him as their had been nothing for him to do and, the very odd bit of banter with some of the very serious men of Essex standing close ( we have come to accept that any goal mouth action ISN'T going to lead to a goal so, don't tend to get to excited).

I don't know whether the players have picked up on the dour atmosphere in the crowd . To me, Shaun Welford is a great striker at this level, he as lost his way. Why? What is the cause( Frustration maybe clouding the judgement)?. Why does he have to go constantly out to the flanks to find the ball? It is such a long time since he has had a good ball played to his feet that when he gets a half decent one he has lost the first touch. In fact both our strikers are anywhere but where they should be most of the time, leaving a void, as the high long midfield by passing crosses are easy meat for opposition defenders. Shaun is big and strong, in this throw back to pre conference direct football, when we had Leon Braithwaite's pace to provide for our latter day Phil Collins, Shaun has no one. Where was the man who could have used his pace down the flanks, AWOL, wandering about the pitch, Yes with energy, but little purpose most of the time.

Lack of Confidence or was it fear, manifested it self in our right backs attacking play. He was OK until he got to the 1/2 way line then what I perceived as a lack of confidence seemed to make him want to rid the ball at the first opportunity, under pressure or not.

Time after time The long ball out of defence comes straight back. No wonder we concede.Our defence which had been solid, became tired and as all castle walls, crumbled under the constant, in our case mainly self inflicted pressure.

We have the players out there who can ( indeed who have played ) play possession football, can keep it on the ground, can pass it around opposition of the standard of yesterdays opponents. We have great attacking defenders such as Curtis, Shackled to the back 5,(AT HOME) unable(may be not allowed) to express their true game.

Anyway, enough of my rants, (like Shaun maybe) borne out of frustration. Its Breakfast time.

 

Agree with the post about doing away with the bench, was it a keeper, 3 full backs and a holding midfielder at Hornchurch, similar yesterday. lets go back to the day's when we had 11 men and no subs, players carried on with injuries anything less than a broken leg and retired to a life of pain aka the great "Tommy Smith"of Liverpool who had his disability benefits stopped after being caught tapping a ball at a game. This little character sums up how I felt yesterday.

 

Nice to see the legend that is Greg Oates back at Hartsdown. Many fond memories, Bertie Brayley, moments of magic and Chris Wild who's stay was to short.

[Coffin Ender]

Playing at Hartsdown is as much about playing the conditions as it's about playing the opposition. We lost the game in the first half. To go in at half-time with no goals was a disaster having had that wind behind us. Lots of possession and pressure but not many shots on target. With a decent keeper and a giant centre-half in the opposition, the delivery had to be spot-on and it generally wasn't.

 

 

[Guernsey Tom]

Good accurate posts IMO, we have lost our way at the moment, regarding the subs not being used, do they get less money as a non playing sub?? might indicate our financial position if that is the case.