Tonights Game

[geoff pay]

First back for hot chocolate! I saw a nil nil draw cos i did not get there till half time. saved myself 8 squid.

 

It was nil one at the break.

 

second half started with G on the attack but creating very little. Then serious injury to Jimmy jackson resulted in us coming into the game more. Danny had a shot blocked and a volley that jus t missed the goal. G then had few attacks but had a goal disallowed. gate finished strongly looking very comfortable and indeed played good football on the ground. Yiga had some excellent touches and looked class a t times. JK had one of his better games. The ballance looked good save midfield which went missing at times. CM made a great save near the end and generally i was quite impressed. The players did not look too down heareted at the end and all came over to the gates travelling 30 or 40 fans who made loads of noise. The attendence was woeful, pittiful probably only 350. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

[Gate Watcher]

Just back, bitterly cold there tonight. About 70 Margate fans with 40 or so down the side including the singers who were quite loud at times and the rest spread around the ground.

 

First 10 minutes was all Margate with Brayley looking v sharp with new bleached hair! Ziepe in midfield with Yiga and Keister. Keister excellent, tracked back and made several key interceptions. G&N goal, someone played their striker Moore onside when everyone else pushed up, lack of communication and awareness, and after taking an age to control the ball he beat Mitten after what seemed like hitting Mittens arm as he tried to stop it.

 

Hockton came into the game more in the 2ND half and had volley from the edge of the box just miss the post and another couple of shots straight at the keeper, plus one shot straight at keeper from Yiga. Brayley shot over too late on.

 

Good atmosphere from both sets of fans considering the crap attendance but G&N bossed the midfield and we looked stretched as they always pushed their full backs on and really tested our 3 man midfield. They had a couple of youngsters but other than that it was first teamers.

 

No subs used was a bit of a surprise but we have more important matters.

[geoff pay]

My worry gate watcher brayley always starts well then fades. Strange. have to agree midfield looked shy. Liked Yiga though and when we played the ball on the ground we looked sharp.

[Gate Watcher]

The midfield struggled. Whenever Yiga got onto the ball he was harried by Jay or someone else, they always had more than us. Just didn't give us any time. Can't fault the effort though, they kept going right til the end. One positive was it looked like CK dropped Brayley a bit deeper in the 2ND half however this didnt really have too much effect. Gravesend always had their full backs out wide plus their 4 across the middle up against our 3 midfielders - and it didn't help that our wing backs were v defensive and out of the game for long periods of the game.

[michael]

We will inevitably lose against any team with 4 in midfield(i.e most teams) as we are outnumbered AND it also allows the opposition full backs to press on as appears to be the case tonight.

 

I really cannot see why CK continues to play just 3 in midfield.Its a system destined to failure and we must be the only team in the world playing just 3 in midfield (and losing with this system)

[Gate Watcher]

It is puzzling why we are playing two wing backs lacking in pace as they do not have the confidence to provide us with any dimension. If you play 5-3-2 your wing backs are meant to be your advantage. Once we get the players back from injury we should have the balance back again.

[Cookie]

I have to query reports that JK had a good game. I lost count on the amount of bad & inaccurate passes he made. Always in the thick of things I admit but his distribution was diabolical & he needs to really sharpen up on his passing game. My worst player by a mile tonight.

My three best players tonight were Trott who once again won everything in the air and on the ground might I add. Yiga played really well tonight. Always running & not giving up. Displayed strength on the ball and some good skills. My other star tonight was Oates who played much much better than I have seen for a long while.We only really had about 4 good chances tonight but an understrength Fleet side showed their class & had much more of the play. Having said that we stuck in there but just didnt have enough to trouble them. A good account made but in the end we were beaten fair & square. No complaints on the score.

Zeipe didnt get into the game at all except to get booked. Didnt contribute at all and always seemed to look lost & unable to know what to do or where to go.I'll give him more time though.

But going back to JK, disastrous game especially for his passing game. Kept giving it away & putting us under pressure because of that.

[Alan W (GNFC)]

"Took an age to control"? "Struck Mitten's arm"? He hit it first time across Mitten & straight in the corner! Watch the goal clip on our message board!

 

Gravesend Goal

[BlueGate Alan]

Thanks for clip Alan,still feel a lucky goal as ricohet of our defenders but I agree he did hit it well.

[Gate Watcher]

Cookie I think you are being harsh on Keister. He had to do a lot of work, as you say young Ziepe didn't really get into it, and Yiga was having trouble getting the ball out of his feet sometimes too so there was v little quality distribution. Although they were v defensive Oates and Standen were our most reliable outlets with a ball from deep over to Hockton or Brayley which surprisingly worked quite well. Shame their defence wasn't put under the cosh more as they didnt look convincing in that area.

[Cookie]

On last nights performance I DONT think I am being too harsh on Keister.In fact I would say I had toned it down.His lack of finding a player on our side just gave the impetus back to the Fleet everytime.He wasnt the only one to misplace passes & give the ball away but he most certainly made more errors in midfield than others did...on last nights performance & from what I saw in front of me on the pitch, and I can tell you I had a good view of things from where I was looking down onto the pitch, he was awful.

[BlueGate Alan]

One thing I would like to say on last nights game was the vocal support our young lads gave to the team along with drums. Competed well against the G & N fans who also had a drum. Must have been one of their noisiest games I am sure!

[Drummer]

Absolutely agree. They really never let up and I think that the players realised that as well judging by their acknowledgment at the end.

[blueblood]

"Tony", i agree JK's distribution let him down, though i could'nt fault his work rate/chasing the ball down. Second 1/2 formation is how i would like to see us start on saterday with LY replacing BB upfront and allowing him to play in the mid field, it looked to work. That flip over the shoulder by LY and defender and the way he skipped past that defender was brilliant. I would say it will have opened Daishes eyes.

[BlueGate Alan]

Yes I said that on another thread BB, they both looked more at home I thought

[geoff pay]

yes i agree

[blueblood]

here is a question Alan. How long before Lawrence either goes out on trial or the club get a seven day.

[BlueGate Alan]

Yes was wondering that myself Graham. He actually helps coaching youths at Charlton & Tottenham too! A great lad!