Wilko

[Jimmy]

Anyone else think he is a little bit out of form? Maybe he realises that Mitten is hardly likely to play unless he gets injured after the Barnet debacle which some might say is unfair.

He just appears to instill no confidence in his defence, and probably vice versa sometimes, as well as his kicking being poor.

[chilled out entertainer]

i dont think the defence instill any confidence in him right now,it cannot be nce to think that with four defenders to beat, any opposition striker closing in on goal will probably get a shot off at you!

[FleetFanatic]

It's not jusy Wilko's kicking that is of concern - how many times this season has he started to run out towards the attacking player, only to hesitate and run back towards goal?

[Richard C]

Agreed FF shocking decision maker! good shot stopper- i think he knows his faults - needs to work on them now though!

[Bill Kent]

It's a shame really, listening to the punters around me and looking at the way he is playing lately, he looks to be dis-enchanted with the game (is he unhappy at the Fleet?). He looks a little ponderous and unless the ball comes straight at him he will not stop anything that gets into the 10 yard box.

 

I am of the opinion (for what it's worth) the reason he got lobbed was that he didn't know or care whether to go forward or back, a little worrying for the back 4. Keep punting the ball into touch doesn't help matters either.

 

I feel that the back four must be aware that they are the last ultimate and not the penultimate line of defence because of the current indecisive nature of Wilcos play, I did notice on a number of occasions that defending players were looking back over their shoulders, body language suggests lack of confidence in the goalkeepers ability. But have we an alternative?. The last runout by Mitten didn't instil much confidence.

 

But for all my whinging I did enjoy the game. The boys gave it some welly, and were physical and winning balls with their commitment.

 

I got the impression that we camped out in Carlisle half in the second half of the match, but there again I'm biased.

 

<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/yay.gif" alt="" />

[Bernard]

Quote:

I feel that the back four must be aware that they are the last ultimate and not the penultimate line of defence because of the current indecisive nature of Wilcos play

That is, in my view, somewhat harsh. At times Wilko had only one defender for company, Chris Moore, while the others, Saunders in particular, wandered forwards too often. The lobbed goal, for example, saw Moore contending with Hawley on his own, Saunders being somewhere on the halfway line. Moore didn't stand a chance, and once the striker was bearing down on goal, what was Wilko supposed to do? Had he stayed on his line, he would have been blamed for not closing the angle, so he came out and is blamed for lack of conviction. The fact remains that it was a sublime finish that would be difficult for any goalkeeper to handle.
Before worrying about changing 'keepers it might be a good time to take a look at the defence. Moore is yet to put in an assured display this season, Saunders isn't centre-back material and Porter seems a little injury-prone. However, the chants of "we want our Shearer back" were perhaps ill-advised, seeing as though we don't have the full picture of why he left and, also, it doesn't exactly instill confidence in the players if they hear such obvious discontent from the sole vocal gathering in the ground.

[Mepis]

I have said many times that Wilko's distribution and long punts upfield are disgraceful, but although i prefer Mitten, Wilko has many good points, he was left open twice yesterday where his defence should have been covering.

Look at Carlisle yesterday they defended well and the defence always covered each other, we have three coaching staff two defenders and one goalkeeper so we should get it right.

Why Mitten, i know he was a disater at Barnet, but he played well towards the end of last season and the times i have seen him at Margate & Gills he has played well, his distribution is good, he controls the 6 yard box, and his handling is good.

[Hempstead Gaz]

I too am a big fan of the big guy, but everyone is entitled to a spell of bad form. One does not become a bad keeper overnight.

I would personally give Mitts another go. It will do HIS confidence good, it will give Wilko a chance to have a hard look at his own performances, and give the defence some better distribution.

Secondly, does anyone else agree Roy is looking a little tired? Since his wonder goal against Exeter, he is looking a little lost, especially as Manny has been so poor.

Since Drury appeared to link up so well with Pinns, and both looked very hungry, is it worth starting with those two up front, giving a line up thus:

Mitten

Gledhill Porter Moore Skinner

Protheroe Saunder Surey Lovell

Drury Pinnock

[Mepis]

If fit Macca for Lovell.

[Hempstead Gaz]

Agreed, Mep, but Macca will be out for at least another week, so I've left him out for Saturday.

[American FLEET FAN No1]

From the reports i have read, it seems Wilko has lost his confidence...........IN HIS BACK FOUR!

[Hempstead Gaz]

I think it's a two way thing AFFNo1. The back 4 are ever changing at present, which does their confidence no good, and we are conceding a lot of goals, which does Wilko's confidence no good.

Somewhere along the line the cycle has to be broken.

It behoves me to say it, but Andy has made a couple of mistakes recently.

We do not fully know what went between him and Shears, but I suspect the relationship between beer and professionalism made have had something to do with it. Fair play to Andy if that was the case.

But you a) do not then play your only other injury prone centre half in a midweek freindly, and you do not release your only reserve centre half the following day.

By his own admission Ade Pennock could donate his knees to medical science. 1 more injury at the back and he will be in the starting 11.

I am a big fan of Ade, he has brought a massive amount to the club, and he works his sox off for the club, but I fear he will be caught out by the sheer pace of the Conference this year, as it seems a whole lot more than in previous seasons.

We MUST splash out on 1 if not 2 new centre halves.

[Andy Y. (G&NFC)]

Although I still think that Mitten is slightly the better keeper overall, I think this criticism of Wilko is a little harsh. If you were to analyse the performances of the back four on Saturday only Gledhill comes out of the game with any real credit.

 

Moore is a good Centre half but is obviously struggling for form and playing Saunders who is a journeyman Centre Back at best, is hardly likely to help matters. This is no criticism of Saunders who shouldn't be doing that job in the first place. But for all his pace and flair, he was often out of position and was occasionally outmuscled by his opponent. Moore doesn't deserve any baracking from the crowd, Everyone has bad patches, and I think he needs a confidernce boost big time!

 

As for Skinner? All the goals came from the left side. He was well at fault for the second and provided no cover for the third. The combination of him and Rouse/Lovell just did not work, that left side was horribly open at times. If he was carrying an injury, should he have started in the first place?

 

Am I the only person here who thinks that Skins is a far better player with Jacko (when fit) in front of him as,

 

a)He has more confidence in going forward.

 

b)He links better with the midfield and we dont keep getting those awful long high balls punted forward, and

 

c) Jacko's experience and positional play provides much better cover for Skins, and makes him think more about what he is doing. At times on Saturday, Skins judgement was hopeless. The first goal being an example.

[American FLEET FAN No1]

Well if there is personality clashes going on in the dressing room(as it seems), the Chairman had better get to the bottom of it quick, before The Fleet slide to the bottom of the League!

[old git]

I Say bring back shearer for these reasons

moore and shear's were very efective partnership last year .This season when they have played togeather i.e barnet we looked the better side until the elbow to his nose and last but not least if there was an argument between ford and shears he has now served his punishment he could come back after next saturday from his loan spell and given a chance to prove his worth and if any suggestions like those from chatham gary were true surely he should of been sacked not loaned out and apart from that when fordy has used him this season he was said to be on this forum our best centre half!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

so come on Mr Ford listen to your supporters

[Guest]

I don't think anyone has raised the point- would he want to come back??

[jc]

Well, we can only speculate on that, of course.

 

As for Andy Y's point about Jacko, it is of course academic at the moment with him injured, but I too would like to see him given a go when he returns - that point about positional sense is certainly a pertinent one.

[meldrew]

Obviously,Andy has seen a problem ,hence today`s signing from Peterborough.Wilko has not been at his best for most of the season,That is why Mitten got his chance at Barnet earlier on,and we all know how that ended!Wilko`s a big man and should be the guv`nor of his six yard box.We`ve been caught too many times by corners and other dead ball situations in the past for this to continue and perhaps a period on the sidelines would change things for the better!