Gravesend & Northfleet v Canvey Island - 20th January

[Phil Old Boy]

From what I have seen this season, though he does some good things in a game, thought that Richard was indecisive at times and it appears this has carried on and cost us.

 

Also, we seem to have enough personnel in defence now, but we are lacking up front, and in some games hardly trouble the keeper at all.

If possible, think we need some thought to this area now.

[Stu M]

Officials were rubbish! I know Johnson, the guy who got sent off, was guilty of kicking the ball away twice, but many refs would give a player the benefit of the doubt considering it was mere seconds after the whistle went that he hit the ball. And one of your players did it minutes after Johnson's first booking and the ref didn't flash any cards.

 

Thought you looked out of sorts, particularly up front, and Chenery was guilty of some bad distribution, but thought we played well and showed some great spirit... still, you can tonk our supporters' team tomorrow, eh? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Matt H]

I feel we have enough players to cover the usual injuries and suspensions but from what I've seen this season, what we're lacking is that Ollie Berquez type Midfield man, who will literally score from anywhere outside the penalty area going forward and can distribute the ball towards the corner flags for the wingers to latch onto or through a defence to put the Strikers one-on-one.

 

Minton has done it before, but seems too quiet now. Sedge is perfect in his holding role but it's his central partner that should be laying it through. I'd like to see Noto do it in the future but no disrespect to him whatsoever he just hasn't played enough in that capacity.

 

Also, with regards to elaborating Phil's post. We have five Strikers at our Club. I do not see why we have to play Clarke up front when the likes of Ibe and Tait can start games from the beginning and a simple tactical substitution could switch the creativity up front and up the momentum. If the opposition have been playing 60 minutes against one type of Striker and then we replace him with another of different 'methods' they may find him a handful. It makes me feel sorry for Tait. A profilic scorer playing in an attempt to justifying the 2K we paid for him, only to find himself now 4th choice Striker.

 

And can someone please confirm that Stuart Bimson has been abducted? Vanished at half-time against Kingstonian and hasn't been seen since! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

[YELLOW]

The game was absolute [****!!****]!!! The best thing about it was the pub before the game. And what it is it about Gravesend fans singing anti Canvey songs? Why does a section of your support continue to bait Canvey to the extent that there is very little support of their own team. You won the title that season, it's us that should be bitter!!

[David Holden]

Quote:

YELLOW said:
what it is it about Gravesend fans singing anti Canvey songs? Why does a section of your support continue to bait Canvey to the extent that there is very little support of their own team. You won the title that season, it's us that should be bitter!!

There are a number of us who have been asking the same question now for the past three years.

My theory is that they are either too lazy or too stupid to learn/write any new ones.

[YELLOW]

I'm not having a go at anybody on this forum as you've supported our views in the past. It's not even banter!!!

[FleetFanatic]

Quote:

YELLOW said:
The game was absolute [****!!****]!!! The best thing about it was the pub before the game. And what it is it about Gravesend fans singing anti Canvey songs? Why does a section of your support continue to bait Canvey to the extent that there is very little support of their own team. You won the title that season, it's us that should be bitter!!

Don't take it personally.

They sing those songs no matter who we're playing. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

[49erGrandchild]

YOUR JUST A SMALL TEAM IN ESSEX

 

 

oh and you lost 2-0 haha

 

 

oh i think weve done the double on you!!!

 

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

[Eastside Urchin]

Hannah said:

Keeling from your team played really well and was the biggest threat

 

LEARNT HIS STUFF AT THE HORNCHURCH ACADEMY!!!

UP THE URCHINS!!

SEE YOU IN THE RYMAN PREMIER SOON LADS!! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bootyshake.gif" alt="" />

[yellow angel]

yet again a performance of 11 individuals.& what a disgraceful performance it was.

the real problem is in midfield,we are far,far 2 lightweight.games are won or lost in this department.

oh,how we are indeed missing a Berquez type player.

where is the PASSION & THE DESIRE?

the fans (and King) deserve better.

[A Non E Mouse]

Think your post MOB generally sums it up plus a sprinkling of Matts comments.

 

I took a Charlton fan along last night to give him a taste of real football.

 

As he says, being a Charlton fan, doesn't make him a football expert but here is HIS neutral views on Canvey and the game.

 

Your keeper made some superb saves in one on ones. However, he seemed generally nervous and unsure especially when it came to calling for the ball and actually claiming it.

 

We looked ineffective in midfield and unsure of what was going on around them with no players making any off the ball running and using width - quite impressed with Keeling and couldn't understand why he was subbed instead of Clarke. He felt Clarke looked as though he was working hard but never won a 50/50 ball in the air or on the ground. As he put it in a 50/50 situation it was 80/20 that he wouldn't win it. He never really beat his man to the byline until the last 15-20 minutes when working with Duffers.

 

At the end of the game he could not tell me who our centre forward was and said we didn't seem to have a game plan when we got to the last third of the pitch - once I pointed out who our forward was he couldn't understand why he spent so much time being drawn wide when we had two wingers to do the work.

 

He didn't feel that Gravesend were much better as a side but had more movement and created more pressure by getting the ball into the area or slotting the ball through for their forwards to run onto.

 

What concerned me was Duffers performance. I didn't rate him last year but at the beginning of this season he combined well with JK. He didn't look happy last night and his performance seemed a little lack lustre. I cannot understand why he starts as a left back? In the whole of the first half I cannot remember him getting past the half way line. He didn't even attempt to close Mcdonald down after Mckinney had produced a superb save allowing him to lob the keeper. Our formation just doesn't seem right - we have the players but they just don't seem to be clicking at the moment. I preferred Duffers when he combined with JK on the overlap during the earlier part of the season. He didn't seem happy playing in that role with Clarke in front of him.

 

I wouldn't say it was as bad as Burnham but it mirrored Salisbury where we didn't look like scoring. Hallett is not the complete article yet but is definitely a talented player - we gave him absolutely no service or any through balls during the Gravesend game - we rarely looked like troubling them even when they went down to 10 men. I don't think it would have been any better if Lee had been playing. We just completely looked lost in the last third of the pitch; midfield were losing it, we were losing it when just passing it around as no one seemed to want the responsibility, we lost it when it went wide to the wings and when we did manage to get the ball into the danger area there was no one there.

 

On a positive note Dolan looked strong and seemed to slot in very well. Once he gets a few games under his belt and a feel for the squad he will become a regular - we do have some talent in defence at the moment but their hard work and effort is being undone elsewhere.

 

Rant over............... <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/argue.gif" alt="" />

[Matt H]

Central defence is our strongest position in terms of personel - Ward, Dolan, McGhee and Sterling. All fit and on form that would be the most difficult position for me to decide to fill. Natural full-backs are Bimson and Chenery for the left and right respectfully, plus Conroy if he comes back.

 

Midfield is full of talented individuals, but a central partnership that can also manage distribution to the wingers is needed. Clarke on the left, Kennedy on the right. Duffy and Keeling can play on the left or right and Noto on the right or central. Minton and Sedgemore run the middle of the park.

 

Up front can be anyone from Ibe, Tait, Boylan, Hallett and Gregory as can in goal between Potter and McKinney and Ash if/when he returns.

 

You look at those players in those positions on paper and we have a first rate squad. It's getting them all on the same frequency that seems to be the problem. Plus like I said, another central midfielder to marshall as Stimmo and Tilly did should be our next target, OR as another possiblity - Put McGhee in there and give him the armband.

 

Quote:

A Non E Mouse said:

He seemed generally nervous and unsure especially when it came to calling for the ball and actually claiming it.

 

If that was the case last night, I'm sure Horney will have him on the pitch for an hour after training catching ball after ball, after ball. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Take no prisoners.

[LEWIS JAMES HARKER]

what i dont understand y did only keize run back, and no one else

[jc]

Quote:

David Holden said:

Quote:

YELLOW said:
what it is it about Gravesend fans singing anti Canvey songs? Why does a section of your support continue to bait Canvey to the extent that there is very little support of their own team. You won the title that season, it's us that should be bitter!!

There are a number of us who have been asking the same question now for the past three years.

My theory is that they are either too lazy or too stupid to learn/write any new ones.

Precisely - 'support' is a somewhat loose term to apply to the youths pressed up against the segregation barrier at our end.

[Spursman]

Why was Danny dropped? I was surprised to see McKinney start in his place to be honest as I think Danny is the far better keeper of the two.

[yellow angel]

also,where was Tait? is he injured?

[Matt H]

Both Potter and Allan were named for the travelling squad so I just suppose Jeff fancied a change of Goalkeeper. Unless Danny injured himself in the warm-up or something, while Ibe was prefered to Tait for the bench although he could well be injured if he didn't feature for the Reserves yesterday.

[The Great Eckscape]

Quote:

MOB said:
Ibe came on and looked lazy and slow, but we where treated to two moments of class which left us wondering what he could do if he worked hard.

Sorry MOB, but I have to disagree with that one. Ibe ran the length of the pitch to try and stop the second goal going in. He showed exceptional hard work and pace, and I thought that he played well upon coming on.

[The Great Eckscape]

Quote:

A Non E Mouse said:
I took a Charlton fan along last night to give him a taste of real football.

Just got back from Chelsea v Charlton after being in the Charlton end, they certainly gave Chelsea a lesson in effective counter attacking play. Saying that, failing to sell their allocation at Stamford Bridge was embarrasing.

[YELLOW]

Ibe seemed to be the only player who showed any real skill on Friday. Looked like he might create something but never really got the back up from his team-mates.