I might as well be first...

[Coffin Ender]

On possession, a game we should have won. From the seats the pen looked harsh but others who were closer said it was fair. Bodkin and Rook got the hook at half time. Murphy equalised early in the second period and we probably should have won it but not enough bite up front. Thurrock didn't look like a bottom of the table team.

[Coffin Ender]

Oh, and if there were 320 people there I have an 18-inch penis.

[Dutch_Mike]

Were a long way from our best today. They didn't create much, apart from the penalty (absolutely ludicrous decision from whoever the defender was: to go lunging in when a player is going away from goal, you're just asking for the referee to give a penalty, so no complaints there) and one effort tipped over from Holloway in the second half. We had at least two very decent chances in the first half, both of which Long and Rook probably should have done better with.

 

Played a bit more crisp football in the second half, but we hardly bombarded their goal. Not too sure if I'm a massive fan of the system, personally. Far too often Long and Murphy (the two wide players in the 4-3-3 / 4-5-1) weren't supporting the frontman, and weren't bolstering the midfield; they just ended up getting caught out in no man's land. Rooky was often challenging for a ball with no-one within 15 yards of him - it's difficult for the striker to have any sort of impact in those situations. And one ball from their full back to their wide men often left us far too exposed, with their winger suddenly one-on-one with our full back.

 

Thought Stubbs looked effective when he came on at half time, really driving the team forward at times. But I'd like to see Whitnell starting up top with Rook, with us reverting back to 4-4-2: Long, Murphy, Stubbs, Avery in midfield. This was winning us games earlier in the season, and think that was then we looked at our most effective.

 

But then, I do love being an armchair manager!

 

All in all, although ordinarily a point away from home is not a bad result, I am slightly disappointed. They're bottom of the table for a reason, I didn't see much out of them at all. And I think we certainly had the chances to come away with all three points. Oh well, onwards and upwards, I'd take a point on Tuesday now if it was offered

[michael]

'I'd take a point on Tuesday now if it was offered'.

 

steady on DM-your beginning to sound like me-but yep-so would i.

 

Not there -so can't comment on todays game specifically-but looking at the 'wider picture'-thats a very good point won today imo; as i reckon thurrock are in a falsely low position and will be in top 1half by end of season..

great result-well done

[marksandwell]

Dear Mr 18 inches and others...

I still do not go away from these games thinking we've played well..quite the opposite. I am often very confused (easily done) as to the method/tactic to scoring goals or attacking. I still very confused about player selection & substitutions, and I still wonder what it is that is missing since we lost to Maidstone.

RSVP

[Vinegar]

Think I have found the winning formation. If we start with 4-5-0, we then have 4 players to come on, like American football, the shooter can be brought on when Long and Murphy decide he is needed. What I saw yesterday from both Murphy and Long was sheer utter greed. Rhodes and Bodkin are far more experienced and better, and both playing in their natural positions. Centre forwards will never look good in this team with wide men that will not join in with the TEAM

 

There is no I in TEAM.

[michael]

its very difficult-no right/no wrong-your point about team is well made-but then again-how many of us cry out for the players to shoot/have a go-rather than try and 'walk it in' and overplay things.

 

to be fair-we can't have it both ways !

 

to me-there does seem a bit more of a shoot on site pholosophy this season-and i for one applaud that-strikers are by nature slightly selfish