v Weymouth

[epicrebel]

Very interesting reading on the Weymouth forum.Bit of a mixed bag on what they really thought of our team.One thought we should have lost 8-2 !

 

On the whole,though,Bakes and Unders will be pleased that the majority of Weymouth fans thought we were a well organized,hard working team who are one of the better teams they've seen this season and that we certainly have a decent goalkeeper between the sticks,who was obviously our man of the match.

Suppose that tells the story of the game.

 

I was intrigued by their formation, that according to Twitter, they was playing Chris Shepherd who is down on their website as a wing back,in the 'hole' behind their front two strikers.Was this true?

Whatever the truth he sounded like a right handful to our defenders on the day.

 

If true,I like Weymouth's manager spirit of adventure.Not many managers would adapt a wing back to such a role.

That's what you get when you add up your own chances and not the other teams.

IE We could of won that 4-3 if we'd put our chances away(and forgetting they had some).

We could of sneaked a draw just as Hereford and Biggleswade did,,,,,, but far result in the end.

Much better second half than first looking up.

[Reading Rebel]

Firstly, credit to our players for not giving up and making a fight of it.

 

I thought Weymouth got their tactics spot on and a lot of the time over ran us in midfield which in turn put our defence under a lot of pressure.

 

Weymouth were an OK team and on the day had a couple of exceptional players in Yetton and Shepherd.

 

We do have some big players missing and until they return I think we will find it difficult when we come up against the better teams in this division.

 

MOTM for me was Jake Sommerville who kept us in the game with some excellent saves.

Edited September 7, 2014 by Reading Rebel

[Reading Rebel]

Mr Rebel, my post wasn't aimed specifically at you,I just used your message as it happened to be the last one posted.

I  just felt that some fans are delluding themselves with their over ambitious aims for our current squad[on the 6/9/2014].

 

Bakes and Unders are right to be positive and of course,they want to win games.We all want them to, but sometimes the fans need to be realistic about what can be achieved and what can't.

As soon as I saw the team sheet for yesterday's game,I knew we would be lucky to get a draw.

 

Obviously,fluke results happen and there are upsets.That's the beauty of football.Unfortunately,yesterday's match wasn't one of them and never really looked likely to be.  

 

 

What team was you expecting to see 3spirit?

[3spirit]

What team was you expecting to see 3spirit?

 

What do you mean,RR? 

[Reading Rebel]

What do you mean,RR? 

 

 

Only that you say that when you saw the team sheet you knew we would be lucky to get a draw.

 

The squad was announced prior to the match day and the only change was minus Guy Hollis.

 

Just wondered what you meant by 'once you saw the team sheet you knew we'd be lucky to get a draw'. 

[GarySTFC]

Fair result in the home side winning and the margin could have been more had it not been for Sommers pulling out some saves, although most were relatively comfortable. That midfield needs some attention in the middle of the park. Seems to tire in games and later on in the halves we seem to find opposition players getting in behind our midfield very easily. Not sure if we remove a forward to give an extra midfielder? 

 

Did have an issue with their admittance policy of children having to go on their own through a turnstile without an adult. Not good when you've got two little ones with you but didn't sour my experience of the day/weekend for too long. 

[Reading Rebel]

I forgot to say that one of our major faults on the day was to continually give the ball away.

[Reading Rebel]

I forgot to say that one of our major faults on the day was to continually give the ball away.

 

I didn't really mean for this to sound so negative, just thought we could have passed the ball better.

[3spirit]

Only that you say that when you saw the team sheet you knew we would be lucky to get a draw.

 

The squad was announced prior to the match day and the only change was minus Guy Hollis.

 

Just wondered what you meant by 'once you saw the team sheet you knew we'd be lucky to get a draw'. 

 

No offence mean't to Tom Moran but in my opinion we needed Guy Hollis to play against Weymouth. Also think George Frith is yet to prove himself in a Rebel's shirt.Both have great potential but are not finished article's yet. Not shit stirring but when we play the best teams in the division,I hope to see our proven players take the field and a full subs bench.

 

Easy to be wise after the event and don't know the full facts as the manager's do but I would have recalled Jake Parsons and Scott Harris for at least the bench for the Weymouth and Poole games,regardless of their match fitness.

 

I hope Guy is available for Poole game,as they are supposed to be a big,strong, physical side.I would also play Tom Moran and put Sean Fraser as a sort of right wing back as added protection.

Gary STFC makes a valid point about our centre of midfield.Think we're all waiting to see a fit Luke Knight that could play along side ANY two of the midfielders we have at our disposal.

 

For the Poole encounter I would start with a 5-3-2 formation,if Guy is fit.

[Jon Underwood]

Just a couple of quick comments from me in response to what have been some very fair and balanced comments on here.

 

To take on a side like Weymouth with Foulser, Guy, Knighty and Warren sitting in the stands is a very tough ask. That is no disrespect in any way to the lads who played on Saturday but it's no secret that if we had been able to add those lads to the squad we would have had a far stronger feel about us. Our aim is to be able to compete with this sides though no matter who is missing and I didn't feel we were a million miles away even with a depleted squad.

 

Scott Harris and Jake Parsons played for Ascot on Saturday with Jake playing 90 mins and Hatchet managing 55 I think before he ran out of steam. We had very positive reports on both of them from the Ascot manager in terms of their attitude and performance which was great to hear. Both of these lads have had a difficult time with injury and fitness in recent times and I know they both want nothing more than to be fit and challenging for a place in our starting line up which is something they are both more than capable of doing. What they need now though is a run of 3 or 4 games and it will do them no good to pull them back to sit on the bench for us (unless we have no option) and stop the momentum they are building up. Not having them on the bench on Saturday did not cost us the game and it was 100% the right thing to do.

 

We must also consider the managers of these clubs who do us a great favour in giving our lads the opportunity of a game. In doing so they run the risk of upsetting one of their own players who is left on the bench to make room for our player. I know our lads wouldn't be happy if we dropped them for a one-off game for no reason other than to play a lad from Woking, for example, to help him with his own fitness. That's why we try to give them a settled spell of 2-3 weeks at a club to give their manager some continuity in his side.

 

Adrian Sear is another one to add to the list. He trained twice with us last week, was at a wedding on Saturday but we are hoping to get him a game somewhere tomorrow night. We have some challenges in terms of numbers for the FA Cup game on Saturday so he may well be involved with us then for the first time.

 

It's a constant balancing act at the moment, trying to get everyone fit and available whilst also competing at this level week in week out, and it's one that takes a lot of time, energy and thought from Bakes and I. We would like nothing more than a settled team/squad but with our injuries it's just not happening at the moment and we can only hope that sooner rather than later things will turn for the better.

[Jon Underwood]

Ok so maybe they weren't QUICK comments after all....got a bit carried away!

[3spirit]

Of course,I've taken in what you've said,Jon,and can understand the logic of getting unfit players, match fitness, at other teams,even if it is at a lower level.

 

I just find it strange the timing of letting Hatchet and Jake P go out, as I believe both make excellent impact substitutes and I want to see Slough have a go at quality opposition.My reasoning is that Jake Parsons is a winger and utility attacking player.His game suits summer pitches and not the heavier ones.He is a clever footballer that I would rather watch 10-15 minutes as a Slough player when we're playing the top sides than not at all. Scott also scored against Bigglewade and looked sharp and keen to impress, so bit surprised when he was sent on loan,given the forward situation at the time.  

I appreciate that it's a Catch 22 situation.

 

I'm not advocating not playing younger inexperienced players against good sides,as how do they ever get experience if they don't ?

 

My observation is wholeheartedly a fan's view,that I want us to field the best team available and that we have 5 subs to choose from but this doesn't take into account the financial restraints you're under or of course, your superior football knowledge/management skills and the balancing of the squad difficulties/injuries.

Just another way of looking at the options that are made and hopefully,may start a discussion !