Reflections on last nights game

[Guest]

As it is only our first defeat,maybe I should not be so hard on our management team.But last night showed us once again that for Sammy to prosper and the team as a whole he needs support of a robust type,a centre forward who is going to take the pressure off,some one big and strong enough(also obviously good enough)to unsettle centre backs,to hold up the ball and lay it off,but most importantly some one who can play with his back to the oppositions goal.I know I have mentioned it before,but the best tried combination so far has been Winstone and Hale,but having played exceptionally well against Northwood have been split up.Not only that but the players brought in while probably having good skills do not have the stature or physique for this role.

You only have to look at the highest level Michael Owen-to see he is a far better striker when playing along side a "workhorse" type player-Heskey comes to mind lol.

[GarySTFC]

Certainly the best pairing is Hale and Winston together upfront as it's been proven this season with Alvin to come on for the last twenty minutes in place of either as it then gives us another dimension to our play.

 

I felt that both the Bubb's did OK last night without standing out.

 

Now is the big test for the team as we've not played well for a few games now, and we'll see how good a team we are as to how we respond to defeat and with such a big game on Saturday in the Cup, it will really test the sides resolve.

[Paul Stephens]

I feel that we had the wrong balance of players last night. Whilst Hakki, and the two Bubbs are talented and have good control of the ball (sticky feet as I like to say) they are not the tallest on the park. Add Gilks and even Sammy and you have a very short front six. Perhaps the Bubbs are beter players than Spencer (perhaps not) but the blend was not right. We can't hoof long balls up for Sammy to try and win because his enthusiasm leads to bookings. We need to play a more patient passing game (What get it in the middle I hear you cry) WE HAVE TO LEARN (and that includes the supporters) that possesion is what the game is all about. Make an opening and then, and only then strike. Make the 38 year old centre back run about for half a match then release the pace at him. A back pass to a forward player is not a sin as long as we are probing the defence and looking for a scoring opportunity.

When the long ball opportunity does arise the ball needs to be played past the defence so that the pacey players can run on to it.