Updates today

[TonyM]

Agree MM,but that word MONEY plays a large part,dont you think?????.

[I am Spartacus]

This was the worst display I have seen since Trotty took over. Infact I rank todays performance along with that against Redbridge away last season.

 

Donovan was lucky to stay on the pitch after a terrible tackle from behind just before half time. Infact if it had been a competive match a straight red would not have been argued with. Skinner was also lucky to stay on. Mckimm was only saved when the ref chickened the decision and blew the full time whistle.

 

Scott did not exerte much confidence and was subbed at half time. The centre back pairing of Donovan and Trotty was inept and if there were 2 decent centre backs on the bench I would have subbed them both. Greg did not look on top of his game and was subbed with what looked like a back strain 2nd half. Proths had quite a good game but looked frustrated most of the game. Abbo tried his best but was not on his game today. Jimmy could have had an influence but people forgot he was there and did not pass to him. Pinns and Danny both left there shooting boots at home. Charlis made a couple of saves and stood no chance with a well taken penalty. Sessay looked dangerous when he came on for Jimmy and had a couple of good shots.

 

Overall I hope this was just a hiccup and maybe it is a good kick up the backside for the season.

 

I will be looking for a vast improvement on Tuesday night or else we could be in trouble.

[Boney Crisp]

We would have learned from today and that is the main thing about pre season. What is the point of pre season friendlies if you dont learn from your mistakes.

[Gate Watcher]

Poor in the final third today and too much sloppy passing. Just too complacent out there. We had loads of the possession for long periods but didn't look too switched on when it came to the killer move to create the clear chance. A lack of urgency although the heat was stifling. Hopefully RT and MF gave them a kick up the backside after that. We created quite a few half chances but nobody had their shooting boots on. The scoreline did flatter Erith although there's no denying that was poor and that must be corrected quickly.

 

Erith were very switched on and defended in numbers to make things difficult. They took advantage of some of the lazy passing and only had a couple of chances but took them. The second goal was a penalty after half time and I thought Mitten could have done better.

[michael]

Being positive-its good to get a bad game out of the system,and i remember saying before the psf's got underway, that i hope we lose a few,because as Alex Tuckers

post say's , you do learn alot more when you lose.

 

I am boring myself aswell as everyone else by repeating it, but the squad is just too thin.

It looks as though it showed today, that when things go a bit of, with the thinness of the squad there are no other options.

 

I take Tony's point that it is all about money, but my point is that Brayley, Yiga, gradley and Deen were all initially in the squad(and thus one assumes the budget) and not been replaced.

I would anticipate Brayley,gradley and deen were on reasonable contracts so surely, the funding is there.

 

Time for RT (along with MF)to show his management skills /contacts and get some players in.

 

We are desperate for another striking option and a defender, and probably a midfield player.

 

( i would add that had we have won 7-0 today, i would still have thought the same.

Hopefully, our thiness of numbers has been exposed just in time to do something about it.

[Boney Crisp]

We need another keeper aswell.

[upthegate]

You lot really are hard to please. One bad game and it's all doom and gloom. Friendlies are for experimenting and it wont always work, as it clearly didn't yesterday. (I couldnt make the game but clearly the reports arent good).

Be patient, be positive and get behind the team, not on their backs.

[Andy .]

well said no pleasing some people ,ha ha , good that Trotty found out that, this system did`nt work for us in a friendly rather than a proper league game { what would some people have said then}. come on you blues .

[Reading Rebel]

Because your pre-season has been so good I was acctually beginning to believe all the hype on this forum and put you lot down for the play-offs in our prediction league.

 

You've been playing so well in the friendlies to date it does seem a bit strange to start messing around with the system at this late stage.

[Jeff Trice]

I personally think that Manny Omoyinmi was good for us before and would be again and the stats about him earlier up aren't right.

 

He actually made 15 appearances for us, one of them as sub, and scored 5 goals which doesn't seem too bad to me, especially as all but one of his games, and all his goals, were in the Conference and the standard there was way higher than the Ryman.

 

Don't think you can really judge how a particular player performed by the team's results when he played but for the record the correct stats for Manny's 15 games were W 6 D 3 L 6.

[Coffin Ender]

But RR, what else are friendlies for but to experiment? Whether you win or lose is irrelevant.

The only question mark I have over yesterday is why weren't some of the other subs brought on?

Why take David Cory and Robinson all the way up to Erith and not use them?

Finally, credit to Erith - they look a very good side for the Kent League. I'm sure they'll be challenging for the title.

[Cookie]

Quote:

Reading Rebel said:
Because your pre-season has been so good I was acctually beginning to believe all the hype on this forum and put you lot down for the play-offs in our prediction league.

You've been playing so well in the friendlies to date it does seem a bit strange to start messing around with the system at this late stage.

Dont fret sir,you will get a good run for your money. This is just a "blip". We are getting it out of the way BEFORE the season begins. Better now than later though there are no guarantees that there wont be others. More than likely there will be but rest assured that with the personnel we have here this season we have an outstanding chance of progressing this season. There are other clubs out there in a similar position so this division isnt going to be a walk over for anyone.Even our local rivals Ramsgate cant be dismissed(another signature for you FF,for goodness sake change it FF).
This defeat isnt a setback its a learning exercise.Tuesday night will see a return to form that we have shown prior to yesterday.There are also days when EVERY player is switched off or has a bad day.Maybe that was one of them yesterday.. Believe me, your first impressions will prove to be near the mark come the end of the season.If not spot on you will be very very close.You will get value with this team this year.

[michael]

The fact that we lost is fairly irrelevant, and agree that psf's are for experimenting.

 

The point was that whilst not there myself, there appears to be little experimentation.

i.e we are short of quality players now, but no-one else seems to be on trial.

 

That is a concern.

 

As it stands, everyone can pick the starting eleven against Worthing, but if anyone gets injured, where do we go from there.

 

The players know the starting line -up and effectively there is no competition for places.

 

Will that make the players perform to the ultimate every game knowing that they have no competition for their position.

[Coffin Ender]

Michael, you cannot have quality AND quantity if you want to stay within budget (unless you are Chelsea of course).

Since last season we have signed McKimm, Protheroe, Skinner and Jackson - they aint playing for peanuts. Yes, players have left, but those four will be commanding big wages. We don't want to go the way of Crawley, Telford, Hornchurch etc, etc, etc. Let's be realistic.

[Cookie]

I dont think we should under-estimate Trottys desire to succeed this year. No matter who they are if they aint doing it he will sort it. I see where you're coming from MM but there is a budget & though other players as back up will undoubtedly be to our advantage Trotty has spent the majority of the budget on these classier players already.Cant imagine there be much left in the coffers.

Lets trust Trotty to get things right at the time when its required.Lets not have one reversal have us quivering in our boots.I'm sure that when the season begins Trotty will have his desired SQUAD, enough in numbers & with the right expertise & talent that you so fear we are lacking at this time.

[seasidesteve]

im sure trotty has this covered and will sign some more decent players.there are a lot on trial with conference and league clubs who will not get contracts and will therefore look to lower leagues for employment.

[Cookie]

Posted unanimously Steve. Eerie!

[michael]

Totally agree, but Brayley, Yiga,Gradley and Deen were originally retained by RT,and were in the squad assembled after the others joined.

 

As RT says-he did not want to lose Gradley, Deen and possibly Yiga.

 

My simple point is that they have not been replaced;and it looks as though the initial budget did cater for them to be in the squad alongside the new signings.

 

In addition, Edwards,Keister,Kola,Egan were released.

 

If the budget is not there, its not there, but from the way things were in mid-June, it looks as though it was there at that stage.

 

Anyway, we will still have a decent season, and in reality, having said in June a top half finish was my sole expectation from the season; i started to look at the depth and quality and thought that top 5 could be on afterall.

As it stands, there is no depth of squad to do thast, but heck, there is still 2 weeks to go, and then 9 months of torment .

 

Up the 'Gate

 

That may be because someone got their sums wrong in the first place,perhaps because the right players are not available-who can tell.

[Cookie]

Exactly "Who can tell". Ask Trotty on Tuesday Michael!

[Boney Crisp]

but Deen, Yiga and Brayley are still under contract but they are just up on the transfer list. Not to sure about Gradly, so if we cant replace them by the start of the season then take of the transfer list. Problem solved.