St Albans

[1F in Enfield]

An important fixture this Saturday. Do we know if Kirby and Elmes will be playing?

[Chase Side Towner]

I would hope both will be in the squad. Easy way to check is to watch them training tonight!

[The Crowing Cockerel]

Did they make it to training then??

[CD Towner]

I would expect Kirby to come back in for O'Brien. Perhaps Elmes will get the nod as well, for who though? Perhaps Lockie with Wallace moving out wide and Hope on his own if we go back to 4-3-3?

 

We shall see!

[Chase Side Towner]

If offered a draw now I would take it. Heart says Town, head says Saints.

[seemgee]

An important fixture this Saturday. Do we know if Kirby and Elmes will be playing?

Kirbys playing Elmes on the bench

[seemgee]

goal for the Saints after 32 mins

[seemgee]

a second for Saints after 39 mins

[seemgee]

Half time 2-0 for the Saints

[seemgee]

its 3-0 after 50 mins

[seemgee]

its 4-0 after 54 mins

[seemgee]

5-0 85 mins

[seemgee]

5-1 Dave Kendall 87 mins

[seemgee]

6-1 90 mins

[seemgee]

Full time 6-1

[Steph]

Well I saw Brechin City v Dunfermline 1-1. Not so mamy goals but not so depressing!

[CD Towner]

Just when will the cocky management take responsibility? Are the club really happy with these performances?

 

Our performance today was pathetic. We were 2nd to everything. Back 4 awful and caught out time and time again. Midfield outclassed, wingers ineffective and missed some chances as well going forward.

[Chase Side Towner]

2 nil at HT so why take off Lee Allen who was the only player we had at that point who would control the play and look for a pass?

 

Elmes came on at HT and got injured. It's not midfielders or forwards we need to change. The defence is beng found out far too often.

 

Going forward we do look good. Admittedly SAC gave us a lesson in how to defend on the goal

line with two off he line, but they were scoring with shots outaide the box.

 

We're too slow at the back. We need some quicker players at right back. Get Jordan back there and Kirby back with white in defence.

[The Crowing Cockerel]

Where to begin...?

 

The defence. Chris Wild's lack of pace is being cruelly exposed - and not just today. No centre-half is then up to covering two players when the ball is played on the floor through our defence. St Albans were far too mobile for us today - particularly with Frendo up top. At least, for once, we weren't caught-out at the back post. Imber also needs to up his game. He needs to start marshalling his defence better and taking control in the box. Perhaps he can even come and claim the occasional cross?! I'd actually like to see the sub keeper given a go.

 

The midfield. The system we played didn't work. Lockie is not a winger. He didn't play like a winger in the first half. If he was trying to tuck in and keep things compact, well that didn't work either because, time and again, we played the ball forward to an imaginary wide man who simply wasn't there on the right hand side. On the other side Corey Whitely didn't fare much better. In fact he spent most of the game in the St Albans right-back's pocket. Kirby and Lee Allen worked very hard, but there was just no 'out ball' for them.

 

The forwards. I still do not think it is working against the better sides when we play Wallace as a kind of 'target man'. He strikes me as a winger who needs to be free to run at full-backs with his strength and pace. He's nowhere near as useful when he has his back to goal. Tyler Campbell was probably our best player when he was brought on - direct and got in behind the St Albans defence.

 

I know nothing about our budget for playing staff, the fitness of players available etc. However, I am beginning to wonder whether Steve Newing is the manager to take ETFC forward. This season we don't seem destined for anything more than survival in the Ryman Prem and early exits from the Cup competitions (- we missed out on £3,000 today!). Is there any sign that SN has the tactical ability to mould a group of good 'Ryman North players' into a team that can challenge for promotion in the next couple of years? Can he attract top quality non-league players to come to ETFC when others will offer them more money? Hmmmm...

 

All that being said, St Albans were simply much better than us today. They wanted the ball more, were stronger in the tackle and combined very very well at times. Yes, we could have scored a couple more - but they were cleared off the line by totally committed St Albans players.

 

One positive was that the ETFC Ultras put the rather conservative St Albans support to shame. A great new addition this season!

Edited September 14, 2013 by The Crowing Cockerel

[CD Towner]

Agree on the point regarding Wallace. He needs to be out wide running at full backs using his pace and strength. I also think Liam is better higher up. If he'd have played there today instead of Lockie, we could have had an extra midfielder and possibly got hold of the game. The game was screaming out for us to make a tactical change and go with 3 in midfield but instead we just did straight swaps with the subs. I see no tactical nouse from our management.