ETFC v Chesham

[No bull Towner]

FT 2-3 a very unfortunate loss...much improved Town but no points

[No bull Towner]

Thought the fans were better today in support but a shame more than half still walked off instead of applauding the lads....they played great today and I think that's promising for future matches. Well done to the ones who stayed to show their support

 

 

 

 

Edited October 26 by No bull Towner

[symptomless]

Pick the bones out of that! 3 dodgy pens, possibly a fourth for us in injury time. Gavin sent off for apparently walking towards the referee! Sam sent off, not sure if he knew what for. 

The highlights reel will be interesting to watch back. 

Enough positives to give hope that all's not lost. 

The ref should look hard in the mirror after all that.

[ETFC2001]

Heartbroken, worst refereeing performance I’ve seen in many years, genuinely shocking from minute 1 to 90.

So many promising signs but ultimately we got nervous and started doing stupid stuff that a team like Chesham was going to pounce on.

Thought our defense was solid, the addition of Thompson and Cox helped massively. Also, Hutchinson looked very good for majority of the game.

Overrall, lots of promising stuff, ref f**ked us over multiple times and the defense looked much better then previous.

Edited October 26 by ETFC2001

[The Crowing Cockerel]

So, 0-1 down, then 2-1 up and guess what: yep, we retreat to virtually our own goal-line. We are in desperate need of a leader in the centre of the pitch to win the second ball, put their foot on it and dictate. Without that - and with our confidence the way it is - even at 2-1 up defeat felt inevitable. Its the same every week! Sam Youngs should've been subbed 20mins before he saw red. Yes, we're improving - the new centre-half is a definite step up in calibre - but its all seeming too little too late with 15 games played. We need a striker, a midfielder, and a change in mentality when we get into a winning position.

The ref was bad - but bad for both teams! Our penalty should never have been given. Whether his sending-off is controversial or not, Gavin should never be getting himself into a position to be sent off at half-time. Maybe I'm wrong, but it kinda feels as if things are coming to a head with Gavin.

9 minutes ago, ETFC2001 said:

Thought our defense was solid, the addition of Thompson and Cox helped massively. Also, Hutchinson looked very good for majority of the game.

Yep, we only conceded 3 rather than the usual 4+ at home!

[ETFC2001]

24 minutes ago, The Crowing Cockerel said:

So, 0-1 down, then 2-1 up and guess what: yep, we retreat to virtually our own goal-line. We are in desperate need of a leader in the centre of the pitch to win the second ball, put their foot on it and dictate. Without that - and with our confidence the way it is - even at 2-1 up defeat felt inevitable. Its the same every week! Sam Youngs should've been subbed 20mins before he saw red. Yes, we're improving - the new centre-half is a definite step up in calibre - but its all seeming too little too late with 15 games played. We need a striker, a midfielder, and a change in mentality when we get into a winning position.

The ref was bad - but bad for both teams! Our penalty should never have been given. Whether his sending-off is controversial or not, Gavin should never be getting himself into a position to be sent off at half-time. Maybe I'm wrong, but it kinda feels as if things are coming to a head with Gavin.

Yep, we only conceded 3 rather than the usual 4+ at home!

Two penalties, the first one just isn’t a penalty and the 2nd one I couldn’t see from the other end, but I’m guessing it’s a last ditch attempt from Sam. If you couldn’t tell that we was much better today including the defense then I’m not really sure what to say. Not Gavin’s fault that we have a weak and nervous mentality when having a goal lead for too long, same against Weymouth, lucky to win 1-0 at the end.

[The Crowing Cockerel]

5 minutes ago, ETFC2001 said:

Two penalties, the first one just isn’t a penalty and the 2nd one I couldn’t see from the other end, but I’m guessing it’s a last ditch attempt from Sam. If you couldn’t tell that we was much better today including the defense then I’m not really sure what to say. Not Gavin’s fault that we have a weak and nervous mentality when having a goal lead for too long, same against Weymouth, lucky to win 1-0 at the end.

I agree we were better - but not enough. I'm sorry, but it has to be the manager's fault if we're weak and nervous - they're HIS players!! Which is why we need something different in the centre of midfield.

6 points off safety (and have played more games than those above). Sinking like a stone.

[No bull Towner]

2 hours ago, symptomless said:

Pick the bones out of that! 3 dodgy pens, possibly a fourth for us in injury time. Gavin sent off for apparently walking towards the referee! Sam sent off, not sure if he knew what for. 

The highlights reel will be interesting to watch back. 

Enough positives to give hope that all's not lost. 

The ref should look hard in the mirror after all that.

Sam was sent off for handball on goal line preventing a goal I assume 

[No bull Towner]

1 hour ago, The Crowing Cockerel said:

I agree we were better - but not enough. I'm sorry, but it has to be the manager's fault if we're weak and nervous - they're HIS players!! Which is why we need something different in the centre of midfield.

6 points off safety (and have played more games than those above). Sinking like a stone.

We must have watched different games as I didn't think they looked weak and nervous at all and we took it to Chesham more. We didn't sit back when leading which I also thought was more positive but at this point some people are never going to be happy unless we start winning every game and that just isn't going to happen is it, lots of teams beating each other and only the top 3 without a loss in last 5....it's not all over yet

Edited October 26 by No bull Towner

[ETFC2001]

I don’t know how you can look at today and not see us and Gavin are taking a step in the right direction, obviously work to be done but maybe some confidence mid week against Newham.

Thought the atmosphere for large parts of the game was great today, but the ref was terrible you wouldn’t even see that in the Bostik league let alone NLS.

When it goes 2-2, the whole of the game changes and we turn nervous (hoping Thompson can sort some of that out and maybe a new midfielder) and start making mistakes which leads to the penalty at the end. 

All in all, positive performance which unfortunately got taken away from us due to the referee and silly mistakes at the end.

[No bull Towner]

4 minutes ago, ETFC2001 said:

I don’t know how you can look at today and not see us and Gavin are taking a step in the right direction, obviously work to be done but maybe some confidence mid week against Newham.

Thought the atmosphere for large parts of the game was great today, but the ref was terrible you wouldn’t even see that in the Bostik league let alone NLS.

When it goes 2-2, the whole of the game changes and we turn nervous (hoping Thompson can sort some of that out and maybe a new midfielder) and start making mistakes which leads to the penalty at the end. 

All in all, positive performance which unfortunately got taken away from us due to the referee and silly mistakes at the end.

I agree so much better all round, of course we need to keep improving but definitely not all doom and gloom

[ETFC2001]

18 minutes ago, No bull Towner said:

I agree so much better all round, of course we need to keep improving but definitely not all doom and gloom

I agree, I’m harsh on Gavin at times especially recently but today was just not down to him atall. Think he got the setup right and the formation but mistakes will cost you massively in this league and we saw that today.

Gavin can’t change mentalities or get on the pitch and order players to focus and sit in for a bit until we can soak up the pressure and counter, it’s down to the 11 on the pitch! 

[djwilf]

Haven't got to too many games but thoughts on today:

Some ratings from me:

Forster   8, solid overall, don't think he could do anything with the pens nor the equaliser which was hit low and hard

Parcell  4 Gave his all but inconsistent distribution and didn't look after the ball well enough

Benjamin  6 First time I've seen him play, went off injured after 20 and lost the ball a couple of times before his injury

Thompson: 8 Solid and organising presence, didn't see him do too much wrong.  /decent on the ground and in the air

Cox:  7.  Did what was expected of him, steady overall and competent for his full debut

Mills. 7   Great free kick in the 1st half which was headed for the top corner.   Good going forwards but think he should have done better with the cross for their equaliser

Tuck.  9 Won't see many better performances all season.   Strong on the ball, won tackles and really covered the ground.   Kept it simple but also lovely left foot to bring others into play.   Didn't deserve to be on the losing team today

Youngs:   6 Worked hard as ever, gave away the (questionable) penalty in the 1st half.   Competed but would prefer to see him higher up the pitch.   Sent off approaching injury time

Leonard 6.  Tireless worker up front but given very little service and didn't really impact a well marshalled Chesham defence

Peake 6.  Worked hard too but wasn't on the ball enough and limited quality when he was.

Huthinson 6.   As above, feeding off scraps whilst we were better going forwards still limited time on the ball and didn't get enough service other than when he tapped in the rebound for us to go 2 1 up.

Subs:

Oyenuga 7 Did well when he came on, steady performance and gave us an outlet down the right.

Ottaway 6 Limited time on the pitch and struggled to get involved.

 

Referee....I was sat next to the FA assessor and after the Youngs red card said he's going to be busy.   He replied that he'd have to look at the video although even I sensed as an ex referee that referees do act differently when being assessed and less said there the better I think.

 

My other thoughts:

A focus up front is really making us struggle.   The ball never sticks and after we went 2 1 up yes I do think we sat deeper and deeper inviting pressure onto us.

That said, despite 3 goals being scored I do think we defended better, but this has to be higher up the pitch.     The other man on the pitch was a factor today, 

Tuck was by far our best player.   Very wise head on young shoulders and thought he has two good feet, great awareness and an engine to play at a higher level.   It is clear why he's playing for w/ales U19s.

Cox was steady in the back three and Thompson also seemed to be a composing player in the middle of three.   

Midfield and up front are more where I would say our problems are funnily enough.   Apart from Tuck, we don't hold the ball well enough and an 18 yr old can't do it all by himself.....I couldn't tell our formation, it was either 3 1 4 2 or what looked like a box formation that we were setting up with during the warm up.   

Where we play has to be addressed:   Defending is one thing but after the 2nd goal we probably spent 60 or 70 % of time camped in our own half and as the half went on we retreated deeper and deeper.   I thought Thompson would try to get us higher up the pitch....and i also don't think the earlier injury to Benjamin helped.

No lack of effort but again lacking in that extra quality apart from our Number 4.

Thought on another day there may be no penalties....be interesting to hear Gavin's thoughts as his job isn't getting any easier is it.

 

 

 

[cufcgeneral]

3 hours ago, ETFC2001 said:

Two penalties, the first one just isn’t a penalty and the 2nd one I couldn’t see from the other end, but I’m guessing it’s a last ditch attempt from Sam. If you couldn’t tell that we was much better today including the defense then I’m not really sure what to say. Not Gavin’s fault that we have a weak and nervous mentality when having a goal lead for too long, same against Weymouth, lucky to win 1-0 at the end.

Chesham fan in peace

 

Our first penalty is 100% a pen - it's not shoulder to shoulder, it's a barge in the back of our centre back

 

You should have had one first half for handball but it's not given, the ref then makes up for it with the dubious handball decision for your penalty - it's far too close for a penalty to be given, it's less than a yard away

 

Our winning penalty is definitely a penalty but feel the red card is harsh - Sam's arm does stop it going into the net but it's not deliberate - feel that a pen and yellow was the sensible outcome there but I'm guessing the ref felt he had no choice

[ETFC2001]

The first penalty you get is outrageous in my opinion. He barely makes any contact and it’s soft. Also, it’s how it happened.

1. Our player has to go off to the sidelines to put his boot back on, because your player has just smashed into his back. The penalty comes from the left side, where he would be playing.

2. When your player was on the sidelines he was allowed to just come back on whenever he wanted to, when it was ours he had to wait and that was after the penalty was given where he would of been to help Parcell.

Your winning penalty is 100% a penalty, red card is never needed. But then, we go up the other end and Ottoway our striker shoots and it hits your defenders arm, the referee is standing right next to it and he ignores it and it’s a corner. It’s a blatant handball and I can’t believe he hasn’t given that. Sure our penalty was soft as your first one but going off that we should of had 3 penalties today.

Even then, pens aside, there’s multiple times where he calls the game back while we are on the attack and kills all our momentum. It was a complete farce today whatever way you look at it.

36 minutes ago, cufcgeneral said:

Chesham fan in peace

 

Our first penalty is 100% a pen - it's not shoulder to shoulder, it's a barge in the back of our centre back

 

You should have had one first half for handball but it's not given, the ref then makes up for it with the dubious handball decision for your penalty - it's far too close for a penalty to be given, it's less than a yard away

 

Our winning penalty is definitely a penalty but feel the red card is harsh - Sam's arm does stop it going into the net but it's not deliberate - feel that a pen and yellow was the sensible outcome there but I'm guessing the ref felt he had no choice

 

Edited October 26 by ETFC2001

[ETFC2001]

38 minutes ago, djwilf said:

Haven't got to too many games but thoughts on today:

Some ratings from me:

Forster   8, solid overall, don't think he could do anything with the pens nor the equaliser which was hit low and hard

Parcell  4 Gave his all but inconsistent distribution and didn't look after the ball well enough

Benjamin  6 First time I've seen him play, went off injured after 20 and lost the ball a couple of times before his injury

Thompson: 8 Solid and organising presence, didn't see him do too much wrong.  /decent on the ground and in the air

Cox:  7.  Did what was expected of him, steady overall and competent for his full debut

Mills. 7   Great free kick in the 1st half which was headed for the top corner.   Good going forwards but think he should have done better with the cross for their equaliser

Tuck.  9 Won't see many better performances all season.   Strong on the ball, won tackles and really covered the ground.   Kept it simple but also lovely left foot to bring others into play.   Didn't deserve to be on the losing team today

Youngs:   6 Worked hard as ever, gave away the (questionable) penalty in the 1st half.   Competed but would prefer to see him higher up the pitch.   Sent off approaching injury time

Leonard 6.  Tireless worker up front but given very little service and didn't really impact a well marshalled Chesham defence

Peake 6.  Worked hard too but wasn't on the ball enough and limited quality when he was.

Huthinson 6.   As above, feeding off scraps whilst we were better going forwards still limited time on the ball and didn't get enough service other than when he tapped in the rebound for us to go 2 1 up.

Subs:

Oyenuga 7 Did well when he came on, steady performance and gave us an outlet down the right.

Ottaway 6 Limited time on the pitch and struggled to get involved.

 

Referee....I was sat next to the FA assessor and after the Youngs red card said he's going to be busy.   He replied that he'd have to look at the video although even I sensed as an ex referee that referees do act differently when being assessed and less said there the better I think.

 

My other thoughts:

A focus up front is really making us struggle.   The ball never sticks and after we went 2 1 up yes I do think we sat deeper and deeper inviting pressure onto us.

That said, despite 3 goals being scored I do think we defended better, but this has to be higher up the pitch.     The other man on the pitch was a factor today, 

Tuck was by far our best player.   Very wise head on young shoulders and thought he has two good feet, great awareness and an engine to play at a higher level.   It is clear why he's playing for w/ales U19s.

Cox was steady in the back three and Thompson also seemed to be a composing player in the middle of three.   

Midfield and up front are more where I would say our problems are funnily enough.   Apart from Tuck, we don't hold the ball well enough and an 18 yr old can't do it all by himself.....I couldn't tell our formation, it was either 3 1 4 2 or what looked like a box formation that we were setting up with during the warm up.   

Where we play has to be addressed:   Defending is one thing but after the 2nd goal we probably spent 60 or 70 % of time camped in our own half and as the half went on we retreated deeper and deeper.   I thought Thompson would try to get us higher up the pitch....and i also don't think the earlier injury to Benjamin helped.

No lack of effort but again lacking in that extra quality apart from our Number 4.

Thought on another day there may be no penalties....be interesting to hear Gavin's thoughts as his job isn't getting any easier is it.

 

 

 

Agree Wilf, much better and needed performance today.

When it goes 2-2, you just know they are gonna score, we just looked completely and nervous and once again mistakes start coming back in. 

Weren’t winning the second ball in midfield a lot I must say though, but so many positives moving forward. If I must say, I thought we was the much better side and definitely grew into the game much more until we started sitting back and inviting pressure.

[Benjrider10]

Lots of positives to take from yesterday’s performance.

We kept the ball well, especially in the first half, which we haven’t been doing in other games I’ve seen.Thompson looks to be an astute signing, his experience and game know-how is just what we needed. Tuck was very good for such a young player, really hope we can keep extending his loan from QPR. The likes of him, Mills and Cox will learn more from playing at our level than either playing for their league club’s development teams or sitting on the bench.

The game turned with Chesham’s second goal - very well worked and such a clinical finish. That’s the difference in quality that we somehow need to overcome.

Still think we look short of options up front. I can’t see a proven NLS goal scorer joining, so hope we can unearth another young Marcus from lower down the pyramid and see what happens. Plenty to build on and still a long way to go.

Off the pitch, it looks like we will hit the £35k crowdfunder target which says a lot about ETFC and how much the club means to so many of us.

[symptomless]

14 hours ago, ETFC2001 said:

Our player has to go off to the sidelines to put his boot back on, because your player has just smashed into his back. The penalty comes from the left side, where he would be playing.

That's a really good point and I'd forgotten that was when the penalty had happened. Oyenuga was missing from the right back position. Should the ref have waited till he was ready? Could he have rejoined himself without permission because it wasn't an injury?  

Cufcgeneral, you probably had a better view than most for that pen but it looked soft from where I was standing. Shoulder charges get interpreted in a variety of ways by referees even when they're not shoulder to shoulder. Maybe it wasn't the best place or time to test this refs interpretation.

All round it was a decent performance by Town. A more competent defensive display for long periods. Benjamin, Thompson and Cox would be a decent back three playing together. Maybe more security at the back will lead to a better base to build on.

Edited October 27 by symptomless

[The Crowing Cockerel]

Re the first Chesham penalty: Xavier Benjamin had been unceremoniously dumped off the pitch. The ref went to check on him but didn't award a free kick - fair enough. Benjamin then decided to change his boots. I have no complaint with the ref not allowing him to immediately rejoin the game - particularly because the ref did exactly the same thing when Mitchell Weiss went to change his boots shortly before! Its unfortunate that Chesham were able to take advantage, but thems the breaks!

'Interesting' day for Sam Youngs - scored a penalty, but managed to concede 2 penalties and get himself sent off!

[The Crowing Cockerel]

16 hours ago, No bull Towner said:

We must have watched different games as I didn't think they looked weak and nervous at all and we took it to Chesham more. We didn't sit back when leading which I also thought was more positive 

Yep, we were definitely watching different games - and I'm glad others have agreed with me.