Todays game

[Guest]

Is there likely to be a problem with todays match due to the F in Fog?

 

<img src="/forums/images/icons/confused.gif" alt="" />

[I.C.@G&NFC]

Yes, as it obviously affected the refs eyes. From one extreme to the other they're either iron willed nazis who blow for every infringement or lazy, blind idiots who don't know the first thing about refereeing, like today.

 

That aside we played pretty much like we did last week against Nuneaton. I think I'm safe in saying we controlled the first half, but once the fog came down in the second we lost our way except for the last five minutes.

 

'Budgie' seemed to fit in straight away and put himself about a bit, making sure the crowd knew who he was. Lew Evans was thrown in at the deep end and tried to make himself useful, but seems a little light weight, but it's early days.

 

Overall a disappointing result against a very ordinary team.

[Stu M]

I thought it the other way with Budge and Evans. Evans, I thought, showed some neat touches and got stuck in, chased and harried a lot as well. I don't think Budge was helped by Che going off and obviously it's early days and Conference football takes some getting used to for these players. That said, both of them looked an improvement on Abbot!!

 

Thought the second half swung away from us when Danny Lye went off, although FGR's midfield were dominant for the last half hour.

 

Their boys made a lot of noise for six of them in the open end! More noise than Doncaster, anyway.

[Matt (GNFC)]

Agree with what you wrote I.C. Thought Budgie hadnt a decent game upfront and looked lively. Thought we lost our way somewhat when Che went off. The game should've been sewn up at half time but we didnt kill them off and paid the penalty as we were pretty poor in the second half. I hope Che's injury isnt serious and we'll get an update from Dave as and when.

One thing i would like to comment on and thats the fact the we seem to have lost all width down the left hand side. Last year that was our strength and we had Skins marauding down the flank with Jacko. Jacko at the moment seems a pale shadow of the player he was last year. If Tostaos on the bench we're really struggling to get width and we're putting very few crosses in from which our strikers can feed off.

Man of the match today for me was Mark Bentley by a mile. Thought he was outstanding and ran the midfield. 1-1 fair result in the end.

[Slartibartfast]

Bentleys runs from midfield were about the only good thing in the second half unfortunately he was bypassed too many times by the long ball to no one in particular.

I don't want to have a go at Budge and Evans as they haven't had a proper chance yet but if Liam isn't available I'd like to see Wilko up front...at least he would win a few headers and put himself about a bit. The F.G.R. defence ( with a little bit of help from the bloke with the whistle ) had far too easy a time of it in the second half.

 

 

[jc]

I'm generally in agreement with what was written above. Although it was a huge blow to lose Che (I only hope it's not too serious, for I was looking forward to him being reunited up front with the hopefully soon-to-return Liam) in the first half and have to play two debutants together up front for the remainder of the match <img src="/forums/images/icons/frown.gif" alt="" />, we have sadly reverted to our old ways (r.e. Telford, Southport and Leigh RMI at home) - dominating the first half, not killing the game off and then being punished in the second.

 

Their goal changed everything, and Forest Green actually had the chances to win it after that, with Budge's unfortunate failure to connect from point blank range on a cross being our only real chance despite our pressure. Certainly a disappointment - after all, I had hoped that that wonderful flowing move early in the first half that led to Bentley's shot being well saved would indicate an afternoon of goals for us. <img src="/forums/images/icons/frown.gif" alt="" /> We'll simply have to sustain our performance over the full 90 minutes against Margate on Boxing Day - revenge is needed! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/biggrinangelA.gif" alt="" />

 

 

[The Doctor]

Apparently Che didnt want to be stretchered off, he hurt his back after taking his shot. from what bob gunton said, he wil be fine.

[Alan ( GNFC )]

Agree with Stu M , I thought Louie looked useful .

What baffled me was against a big strong side with a strong midfield Andy took off Danny and brought on [****!!****] .

Also a bit disappointed that we returned to long balls down the channels after an entertaining close passing game in the first 15 minutes . Ah well !

 

[I.C.@G&NFC]

Steve Perrins booking was for shirt pulling on Che after the ball was out of play. And Mark Bentley was booked for retaliation I think, after being brought down.

 

Seemed as though Tostoa wasn't anywhere near 1st team fit either, today. At least three or four yards off the pace.

[Guest]

<blockquote><font class="small">Quote I.C.@G&NFC:</font><hr />

Steve Perrins booking was for shirt pulling on Che after the ball was out of play.

 

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That about sums up the refs performance yesterday...any half decent referee would have had a quiet word with him and told him not to be so stupid.

When Jimmy Strouts flattened one of the FGR midfielders it was directly in front of me and the ref had a perfect view and didn't do a thing. Obviously I don't want to see Strouts booked but it does make you think that the ref wants to sort out his priorities.

 

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/argue.gif" alt="" />

[Matt (GNFC)]

As i said earlier i thought Budgie looked ok, better than Evans but what do those players bring to the club that we didnt already have in Akpo? Perhaps im in the minority and it is early days but these new strikers look no better than Akpo (who scored for us in the conference and since gone on to score for Heybridge, nor do they look better than a rampant Craig Wilkins.

[Alan W (GNFC)]

Indeed, Matt, it is early days - Louie is only 21 for goodness sake, and has been playing at a lower level, and Budgie, has been suspended and is probably slightly short on match fitness.

 

Both, in any case, need to acclimatise to Conference football.

 

In an ideal world, theyd be broken in gradually, but this isnt an ideal world.

 

Give them a chance - after all, Budge scored a goal every other game for Heybridge, and Evans scored (I think) 8 in 10 games for Tilbury (and has scored for the reserves). On that basis, even given the lower level, they cant be too bad !

[Guest]

Budgie is a proven scorer at Ryman level and as previous posters have said he has missed a couple of weeks with suspension so is probably not at peak fitness. He will give you total commitment and although he will undoubtedly take time to settle into the team and a higher level of football he will score goals. You have a good un there.

[Guest]

What're your thoughts on Akpo then?

Have we come off better in this merry-go-round?

[Guest]

In my view its a shrewd piece of business by Mr. Ford. Akpo obviously has great natural ability but I don't see any signs of inner motivation or willingness to bond with the team. On a good day he'll be a worldbeater but on a wet Tuesday night at Maidenhead not sure if his heart will be in it. Maybe after getting to know people I'll be proved wrong, we shall see.

Our game is under threat due to the rain for Boxing Day so you'll see a few Swifters down at your place to support the Fleet and see Budgie open his account.

[Guest]

Good. The more the merrier. It'll help to bolster the crowds of late and I suspect Margate will bring less than they did for the cup game this time around.

That's very close to my thoughts on Akpo.

First impressions were of a strong, bustling forward with a powerful shot (as demonstrated by his debut and goal v Nuneaton) but this quickly became all too infrequent a sight as I don't think he was content to sit on the sidelines at all.

Seemed to go missing for long periods and generally lost his touch when he did get a chance and....well, I don't want to depress you!

Seriously, he's not a bad lad and will probably get you quite a few at Ryman level.

I hope Budgie's up to it in the Conf.......impressive enough on his debut I thought - given the circumstances discussed earlier.

 

[FleetFanatic]

<blockquote><font class="small">Quote Student scum:</font><hr />

..... and I suspect Margate will bring less than they did for the cup game this time around.....

 

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Could somebody please describe what phrase to use when it is less than 'one man and his dog'? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/biggrinangelA.gif" alt="" />

 

In real terms, that is all they brought with them for the cup game, when you consider it was a Kent derby.

 

[David Holden]

I heard that they were going to bring the same thousand that they were going to bring last time!

[FleetFanatic]

Great.....so the coppers will outnumber the Margate fans again then. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/biggrinangelA.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

<blockquote><font class="small">Quote Super Daz:</font><hr />

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Could somebody please describe what phrase to use when it is less than 'one man and his dog'?

 

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How about.... " just the bloody dog " <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/yelrotflmao.gif" alt="" />