Who's going to win Rams u18s vs Margate u18s on Sunday

[CT9]

Just wondering what others might feel the result might be on, this coming, Sunday morning. Kick-off I believe 11am at Southwood, should any supporters wish to attend and cheer on their prospective teams. The 1st of many local Derbys this season.

Personnaly I thought it was going to have been a walk-over as Ramsgate seemed to have got the edge over Margate with setting up their trials and squad early as to get the better players. Yet I watched Margate in a pre-season friendly and what they might have been lacking in skill they more than made up for in fitness, determination, strength and the ability to keep a terrific shape all game. Plus all the lads encouraged one another. Not once did I here any of them chastising a mis-control or a bad pass. As a consequence they all seemed to raise their game more and more as they all realised they were all there to help one another. GREAT TO SEE. Plus the manager wouldn't fly off the hook at them he would encourage and if their was a break in play he would explain to a lad what he wanted next time. Again GREAT TO SEE and even better to watch as the same lad would use the information later on in the play. With one or two more, what I would call, skillful players in their set up I think they could really improve dramatically and that is what we all want at this level.

On the otherhand having watched Ramsgate in a pre-season friendly they seemed very good at one touch passing. Yet they all looked knackered. Plus everything only seemed to go down the left flank. As there was only one lad out on the right flank all game and as a consiquence whenever he did receive it (very rarely) he was doubled up on straight away. Nearly the whole game they had their 2 forwards, left midfielder, 2 centre midfielders and left back all on the left side of the pitch. One of their centre halves wanted to keep playing with the ball on the floor and got into a bit of bother a few times. Plus everytime the right sided lad did receive it the manager and goalkeeper would just keep shouting "keep it simple". As a consequence all he could ever really do was knock it back to the centre half who would then decide to play with it. Yet no one would tell him to keep it simple!

So I believe so long as Margate u18s keep their shape come the second half they will push on to take the win by overpowering their opposition.