Post Mortem - Today

[Chris1]

Take it you weren't at Billericay teamster?

[MargateFan]

Protheroe was outstanding, and I liked the way he linked up in the second half with JK, Greg, and Lawrence. I would like to see him play with Pat.

JK had a very good game today, probably the best I have seen him this season. Lawrence was the most inventive player on the park. If we had had Hasim in the mix it would have made a difference. Spencer has a good left foot on him, and I was quite impressed with him. Darren Behcet made some cracking saves.

Heybridge did not run all over us this time, which they did last time, because we used the width of the pitch. Standen was effective wide in the first half, and put some very good crosses in.

James Donovan was actually goalside of the forward for the 'penalty', which was soft, as the fella went down a bit easy. Darren nearly saved it too, certainly got a hand on it.

Their goalie made some heartstopping saves to keep our lads out. Another time, we could have ridden some luck and got in there.

'Twas not all bad. Bummer we lost tho.

[Hempstead Gaz]

Quote:

cookie said:
I noticed you are on a downward spiral Gary. Sounds like you are getting similar performances and results to us at the moment.Proth stays...I hope!

It's all down to Daish.
My bet is he will be sacked before long.
Thank God!

[Dutch_Mike]

Thought we looked good going forward at times and, were it not for several good saves from the opposing keeper, the scoreline could have been very different. A few minutes of defensive madness was our downfall as we conceded 2 goals in a very quick time. Sorting out the defence has to be our main priority - where were Kola and Damoah today? I was not impressed with Heybridge at all today - cannot see how they are in the playoffs. Having said that, a team that wins when not playing well is a sign of a good team. Tuesday is a vital match. Windsor had hit a bit of good form lately, but being beat 3-0 at home must have dented their confidence (live in hope!). I am confident that we will pick up 3 much-needed points on Tuesday. Come on you Blues!

P.s - wasn't it sweet to see AFC Dons thumped 4-0 at home by Hampton! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> (although saying that, we've got to play Hampton next weekend <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> )

[seasidesteve]

another very poor display just like many others.apart from hocktons couple of shot we created nothing and to be honest we could have been at least 2 down at the break.prothero was our best player even tho it was obvious he was out of position.standen was pathetic cant tackle cant pass cant cross and cant even keep in position.tuesdat we will lose again 2-0.bye bye im off to spain now so sod the lot of it

[MIKE PERRY]

Yet again the defensive gremlins have struck! How many more games are we going to throw away with comic book defending? Donovan and Edwards have no pace at all and have no chance when exposed to pacy strikers. What is wrong with Kola? Surely he is worth another try. It was a definite penalty and the referee could have shown a red card as Donovan was the last man so it could have been worse. I feel sorry for Behcet - a decent keeper who is constantly exposed by the basic mistakes from those in front of him. It could easily have been another four against today but for him and two glaring misses. We did ok coming forward and their keeper performed well but was only really tested with long range shots (albeit good ones). Yiga showed some exciting enterprise on the right - we need more players like him running at opposing defenders. Hockton scored but did not do enough for me over the 90 minutes and his partnership with an out of sorts Bertie just didn't happen today. At least we have another striking option with the new signing. Protheroe was the midfield general we need but his distribution was poor at times and he tired badly towards the end. With him and an improved Keister we weren't overrun in the centre like we have been. If we could just get through a match without the schoolboy defending then we will give ourselves a chance. Here's hoping for a nil against on Tuesday! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

[BLUEBOYBLUE]

How did you work out 4 at the back?Today was the usual set up.

New coach may help but we are desperately crying out for a tactician,CK hasn't got a clue how to change a game due to circumstances.What was the point in swapping brayley for knight?Why not drop a defender and push on with 3 up front or go 3 at the back and 5 in midfield?If we go behind by 2 we know the games over,players too.

[Blues with Soul.]

Mike Perry - Your comment "Donovan & Edwards have no pace at all " sums up the the two defensive errors which resulted in two goals.

[Chris1]

Quote:

BLUEBOYBLUE said:
How did you work out 4 at the back?Today was the usual set up.
New coach may help but we are desperately crying out for a tactician,CK hasn't got a clue how to change a game due to circumstances.What was the point in swapping brayley for knight?Why not drop a defender and push on with 3 up front or go 3 at the back and 5 in midfield?If we go behind by 2 we know the games over,players too.

We DID have 4 at the back, most of the first half and all the second half. Usually it was Oates/Donovan/Edwards/Trott. When Oates went forward Standen dropped back on the left. Standen played a good positional game as it happens.

The substitution was to give the new guy a chance to fit in, and Bertie was tiring badly.

Drop a defender?? And you think we played 3 at the back, so you are asking for a 2-man back line? No.

The comments I do agree with are about our lack of pace in defence. Mobility I would call it because speed is usually associated with forward play. We had two statues in central defence, which cost us the game. Same thing happened last week.

[I am Spartacus]

What I cannot understand is that for the last 10 minutes or so Trott was absolutley dead on his feet (result of Flu maybe). Now as I agree Chris he was playing more as a left back why was he not replaced by Allman who is a left back.

 

Why was Bertie replaced? Did he say something to CK who seemed to go in a rage just before he told Knight to strip? Not even a glimmer of a look passed between them as he came off, or am I just imanaging it.

[Gate Watcher]

Totally agree with comments that Edwards is coming to the end of his career. In all truth this is Bill's last season with us and we should give him his testimonial at the end of this season. It is sad to see his decline and it is costing us nearly every game now. A sweeper with no pace alongside a slow defence rings alarm bells and leaves massive holes for attacking teams.

 

Donovan regularly falls asleep and is not mobile enough for this level. If he is still here next season then I will be suprised.

 

I thought the tactics as some have mentioned were to tell the wing back not involved in play to drop back which was as good as we could get with the formation. It worked a lot of the time and generally we did well. Other than one or two poor balls I thought Protheroe's distribution was excellent and Keister was also given a bit more time due to the strength of our midfield pairing, the opposition knew they couldnt just shackle Keister because we had other good options. Oates linked up well with the midfielders, Yiga was good, shame Allman wasn't given another chance - hope he was being rested for Tuesday.

 

If we had Mitten in goal we would have conceded from that free kick in the 1st half and it could have gone badly wrong if that had gone in then. Mitten in goal 0-4 defeat possibly. But with Behcet he kept us in with a shout and it was anybody's game until the defensive comedy of errors.

[Chris1]

A perfect summary GW, totally agree except about Charlie. I think you are hard on him and remember he has been carrying a long-term problem with his back or whatever.

[geoff pay]

well put together gw <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[BLUEBOYBLUE]

no we played ck's usual set up with 5 at the back,yes the so called wing backs did both move up on occasions,which is why the backs shuffle across.if it was four at the back one would stay up all the time,as this didn't happen you would have to pressume that it was 5 or did standen just drift as usual so they had to move over.

i questioned the sub because ck never pushes for a result,why not keep brayley on and introduce another forward?

[geoff pay]

To put all this doom and gloom into perspective see Slough sight one year on from Syko!

[michael]

Is,nt Donovan one of the ones with a contract for next season.

 

In fairnes, we wer calling for a tall centre back and he's the man.

Sacrifice is of course mobility, but at this level we will be lucky to find the perfect combination.

If we can survive in this league, i think a summer break ,followed by summer training and a fresh start will see the likes of Donovan prosper next year

[Gate Watcher]

I think we could be ok with Donovan as a squad player if we have a new sweeper in place in the summer, MM. Trott, Donovan and Edwards together is a no no.

[michael]

Agree that T,D and E is a no no.

 

Why do we want a sweeper-back 4 only for me please with 4 in midfield.

 

Can a few remember Warren Ryan in defence at start of season-thats when we looked most acomplished.He is starring in midfield it appears these days, but Ryan gave pace to the defence plus he could head a ball.

Trott and Ryan would have been a good combinatin.Need to find another like Ryan or Sodge in my opinion.

Unfortunately Guest went to Welling

[Drummer]

Oh come on, stop criticising people who were not even on the pitch.