Arlesey Town 3-1 Canvey Island

[Ribbit]

Thought it a bit perculiar that we didn't already have a thread discussing today's match, so I decided to do the honours.

 

Today was my first league game of the season and I was actually quite surprised at how well Arlesey played. I don't think I had any ideas that they might be able to play a bit and was informed they could by the old chap sitting next to me in the first half. (Did you know Dave Kitson of Reading fame played for Arlesey a few years ago? I bloody didn't!)

 

I think possession must have been at about 50-50, but the difference between winning and losing came in defence today, as both teams were strong going forward and created many chances (didn't we have about 3165 corners?).

As I say, the defence is where the game was won and lost. Arlesey played well right across the pitch and defended very well and as a unit, whereas we, though good going forward, look quite frail at times at the back. I feel that the defence was doing more solo stuff, than anything as a cohesive unit.

 

I find this disappointing, because I don't actually think any of our players played badly, just that the defence could do with playing together a bit more.

As the guy next to me remarked after the second goal, if we get our defence sorted out, we could do something special in this league.

 

Based on that I thought Arlesey deserved to win and hope that we perform better at the back on Monday. A clean sheet and a 3-0 win would be fantastic.

 

Other than that, I was shocked that Arlesey had a very nice, new ground, with a great pitch. Took me forever to find the ground though. When it said 'the ground is at the opposite end of the High Street/Village to the station', I didn't think it meant that far! A good half hour walk, that was.

 

Still, it's early days and no doubt we'll have things sorted and be around the top of the table come Christmas. Roll on Tilbury...

[YELLOW]

I would have done the honours but couldn't be bothered.

[Ribbit]

You're probably busy having a social life. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

To me Arsley were not the better side, we were beaten and will be beaten this season by a team that kicked the ball in the air and used their superior physical presence and height to move us off the ball.

 

This is how the game is played in this league, big fast strikers that get on the end of a long hoof up the pitch, we will have to learn to stop getting sucked into this type of game.

 

We are a far superior football team, but lack the physical presence.

 

Rugg cannot beat a player 15lbs heavier and 4 inches taller if all we are going to do is try to beat them at their game and whack it in the air!!

 

We have to get it down and run at them, play it to his feet, when we did that they looked ordinary and we were "the best side they have seen this season"!!

 

This was compounded by an average performance by our keeper who should have done better on the 2nd and 3rd goals!

 

He is still learning and he needs to look at his distribution, while getting better he still needs to look at using the width a bit more!!

 

We will never win games in this league if we whack it up the middle!!

 

I enjoyed our performance and despite the result there were a lot of positives today!!

[boyblunder]

I tend agree with the comments made about the game and also agree about the defence, we looked very nervous. We must remember that we are a young side that is still learning about this league and we do not have the physical presence of some of these teams.

We were also a few leagues down from this level of football last season playing in a reserve league. If we play any side that wants to play football instead of being physical then I don't think we will have too many problems as we have a lot of skill and enthusiasim in the team. At least we don't give or let our heads drop.

Being realistic, we should not expect a lot this season as John and the team are learning and John will get it right. We should continue to get behind the team and appreciate the hard work the lads are putting in and we cannot fault John or the team for the effort and work rate. I am sure that the team will try their hardest to win on Monday. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[richard sparkes]

I would of liked to have seen a little more attacking options on the bench.Liked to have had both matt reade and charlie parker on the bench as for me they both impressed for the ressies last week.

[coupwotcoup]

You will be okay Monday...I have heard it's open season in Tilbury's back four...soften 'em up a bit for us next Saturday please...

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

Quote:

Ribbit said:
You're probably busy having a social life. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Hahaha I wouldn't bank on it

[Matt H]

I never expected Canvey to get anything out of this game in all honesty. I did think Arlesey would be one of the teams challenging for a play-off place, but I'm disappointed that while we lost, we were not beaten by a better team.

 

Arlesey's ground, really reminded me of Bishop's Stortford and the performance on the pitch was like re-living a nightmare!

 

I can only echo most of the comments on here. Canvey had a lot more possession than Arlesey in both halves, but with six men behind the ball, Canvey could not do anything except try to lift it over their enormous centrebacks, which dwarfed both Nicky and Leon.

 

Arlesey's first goal was dreadful to concede. Much like the Reserve game on Wednesday, the backline stood still while McKenzie rounded and poked home from a freekick.

 

Their second goal was even worse! The defence lets the player run and while they stand their trying to claim the offside trap, Ricky just stands there without trying to close down the angle so Baldock just taps it in for fun. I could see the grin on his face at how easy it was from the other end.

 

Corbell goes off injured so on comes Jon Stuart, (not even Jesus could improve today's game) to partner Dobbo in the middle with Clyde and Lee Jay on either side. However we still had no width and Arlesey had a player that never moved more than three feet from the touchline.

 

Second half we tried to play more football, but there was always three men on any player that had the ball on the edge of their penalty area, but there wasn't much support from our players. With Leon and Nicky often having to run out wide to pick up many useless longs balls there was only the other striker in the centre who had to cope with being outnumber to score goals - There wasn't anything from midfield or the other side from which we weren't attacking from.

 

Arlesey's third goal was just atrocious! Colin Wall, who had a poor game for the Reserves Wednesday, so God knows how he made the starting line-up, literally plays their man on and lets him pass him, to fire deep into the corner of the goal, and once again Ricky stood there and let the ball pass him without making an effort to reach across the goal to try and claim it.

 

Ricky needs to learn to adapt to the opposition. If attacks are gonna start from him, he cannot keep hoofing the ball towards the centre circle all game. His throwing is much better than his kicking and while Canvey play football, it would've seemed a better option to play it wide to Crow or Clyde.

 

Crow was particularly good yesterday, as was Nicky, Clyde and Leon battles very hard but has looked a tad slow the last two games.

 

A bit miffed that Jay Curran didn't feature though, not even on the bench like Tuesday night, is there a reason for this?

 

John Batch was understandably livid after this game, as were most of the Yellow Army. I hope now that yesterday's post-match de-briefing has got the result and performance out of their system and we can look forward to better things tomorrow.

 

Line-Up for tomorrow:

 

Goalkeeper - Undecided, do you drop Ricky after yesterday and give Glen the chance, or do you play Ricky in a hope that he'll learn?

 

- Blewer -- Creamcake -- West -- Crow -

- Jay -- Roberts -- Dobbo -- Reade -

- Rugg -- J. Curran -

 

SUBS: Lamb, Stuart, Batch, Gordon, GK.

[YELLOW]

Would like to see Matt Reade given a run out.

 

Yesterday was very dissapointing. The defence looked very fragile and we had nothing in attack. Ruggy and Leon played their hearts out but got little or no service. We really missed Ryan Edgar's creativity in midfield. His surging runs were sorely missed yesterday.

 

When we did get the ball down and play we looked OK but didn't really do enough of this.

 

Arlesey had quite a decent ground to be honest.

[Gary Dover]

Very, very dissapointed with y'days performance. We know if we get the ball down and play we will play most teams of the park but yet we decide to go down to the opposing teams level and play hoof ball? just like the 2nd half of tuesdays game.

 

It was easy to see after the first 20 mins that thier no.5 was swallowing everything up in the air but yet we have a goalkeeper who decideds to aim everything towards him instead of using the wings.

IMO there were only 3 players to come out of y'days game with any credit and that was crow, ruggy and Leon who is apparently playing with shin splints so its not suprising he looks a little bit slower than usual.

 

Was mithed with the bench aswell. We had 2 right backs on the bench in Blewer & Lamb, then to defensive players in Batchey and Stuart. There was no attacking options so was always going to be hard to come back when going behing. Glad to see John has put a sub keeper on the bench.

 

This is game we all have to put behind us now as move on quickly as it was a bad day at the office but we know we are alot better than that and im sure we will put things right against Tilbury.

 

With Mondays game in mind i would definitely drop Ricky and put Glen in goal and would put Matt Reid in centre mid & if match fit Jay Curran to start with Rugg as Leon will be feeling the effects of his injury.

 

GK - Johnson

RB - Blewer

LB - Davidson

CB - Kreyling

CB - West

RM - Roberts

LM - Lee Jay

CM - Dobbo

CM - Reid

S - Curran

S - Rugg

[The Great Eckscape]

Quote:

Matt CIFC said:
A bit miffed that Jay Curran didn't feature though, not even on the bench like Tuesday night, is there a reason for this?

Jay was suffering from a flu like bug yesterday and therefore for the sake of the squad did not travel.

Disappointed with yesterday's performance, felt we were too long ball. When we got the ball on the deck we looked threatening, but we must amend our defensive frailities. Still, roll on Monday and let's get back to winning ways!

[Canvey Fan 1926]

Quote:

Gary Dover said:

GK - Johnson
RB - Blewer
LB - Davidson
CB - Kreyling
CB - West
RM - Roberts
LM - Lee Jay
CM - Dobbo
CM - Reid
S - Curran
S - Rugg

that looks a good line up

[Eastside Urchin]

5 points behind the urchins already!!

[Matt H]

Cheers Glen, as you say, don't want to to risk all of the squad coming down with anything.

 

Lets hope it's just a 24 hour thing and he can play tomorrow! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Matt H]

Quote:

eastsideurchin 030crew said:
5 points behind the urchins already!!

Now for once I'm glad we're not playing you tomorrow, like I would've originally preferred! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

[Eastside Urchin]

i am glad it isn't tomorrow as i would like to see as many people at both games and that wouldn't be the case this bank holiday as i know a lot of people who are still on holiday this week!!

[Matt H]

Likewise, plus we need another good performance at home to get us back on track! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[YELLOW]

Quote:

The Great Eckscape said:

Quote:

Matt CIFC said:
A bit miffed that Jay Curran didn't feature though, not even on the bench like Tuesday night, is there a reason for this?

Jay was suffering from a flu like bug yesterday and therefore for the sake of the squad did not travel.

Looked at times yesterday that most of the players were suffering from a flu like bug!!!! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Matt H]

Apologies that it's blurred, (he was moving pretty quick!), Dobbo scoring our penalty yesterday...