Todays Game

[Margate Martian]

Frustrating to watch I thought.

[BLUEBOYBLUE]

long ball game between both sides,seen more exciting games but kind of happy with the result.

[Gringo]

Well my neck is aching long ball by both teams. And how scared were we to shoot allways worth a go.

[BLUEBOYBLUE]

also thought the opposition went down to easy.

[Cookie]

Happy with the point but at the same time,as you say MM,frustrating.Frustrating that we cant seem to show more aggression.A game of few chances all round..AFC had the better ones but some inspirational goalkeeping yet again from Scott in goal kept the score to nil.But even they were limited to a few clear cut chances apart from those Scott saves.Our one best chance fell to McKimm who wanted one too many touches before getting in a shot.The defender to his credit did well there.

We are still giving away too many free kicks again on the edge of the penalty area.

Danny looked like he had a groin problem. Pulled up pretty sharpish. Bertie came on & did o.k. Nice to see a player with nimbleness in them.He looked fit whereas the others are still looking too static too often in my view.

Trotty, very good again at the back.Scott AGAIN has to be my man of the match for some excellent saves.

Just would like to us see push up a bit more & be more assertive.

A good crowd with no trouble as far as I could see.Security was good too,a nice day weatherwise.

We need to start believing in ourselves a bit more & not give opponents so much respect.

A point but I am not too unhappy about it.

Would be good to take Bromley in their current good form on Tuesday. Now that WOULD please me if we were to take their scalp.

[Margate Martian]

totally agree with you cookie about scott. MOM for us definatly.

[MargateMan]

Cookie, could I ask you to do the MOTM poll this week? I'm having trouble accesing the site's server, so I need to move the site to a new host.

 

Also, as for Trott playing well, I thought he was the one that caused us all the problems at the back, I think he should stick to managing the side

[michael]

How did Jay play ?

[ooh!!bodyform]

nothing special mm not bad but it must have been dificult for him first game back for us and got the impression he kinda didnt know where he should be which imo is out of character for him but i'm sure he will come good

[Gate Watcher]

Quote:

MargateMan said:
Also, as for Trott playing well, I thought he was the one that caused us all the problems at the back, I think he should stick to managing the side

Disagree. Nobody else who can fill in at centre back and have the responsibility to do a good job. Trotty's talking is a massive boost to everybody else on the pitch and this is most effective when he's out there playing. He's the first centre back on the team sheet for me.

Scott MOM again. Players looked very tired towards the end. Lots of games lately and yet another on Tuesday. Will really help us when we go back to one game a week very shortly. Maybe then we will see a fresher performance from the lads. Tuesday will be tough.

[Andy .]

Mckimm should have burried that shot in the net but froze at the last mo giving there defender enough time to clear .

Should have played Greg at the back , giving Proths the midfield slot next to Jay, thus putting Mckimm on the bench . Think Mckimm needs to get his head round his game more , will admit that this was his best game he`s played though , winning a few headers in midfield but he knew himself ( the look on his face ) that he should have done better with the goal attempt. All in all a points a point against a team like the Dons ... roll on Bromley tuesday night.

[Gate Watcher]

Think we should put the same team out on Tuesday if Hockton's injury clears up.

[Cookie]

With Trotty its not just about his form on the pitch its about his presence out there.Mightily important that.I'm with GW on that one.The amount of headers he won today was manyfold & that has to have a mention too.Yes he made the occasional error but so did others.Trotty for me as first on my list also!

[seasidesteve]

good report cookiealso agree we need prothero in midfield as we created very little today,brayley is an option there as well now.wild is not up to it im afraid and as slow as he is mabe donovan has to return or perhaps oates can plat there with trott.scs man of the match pinnock not far behind works tirelessly

[Cookie]

I seem to be agreeing a lot today. I know.. a "first".

Steve,you may be right.Donovan to put a bit more bite into it.Yes his speed concerns me but Wild is not showing anything like the form he showed agasinst Chelmsford. We only have those two as choices so maybe Donovan will be rested enough now & have done some speed work in trainig to get his place back for the moment.Theres certainly nothing to choose between the two of them really. McKimm also might be needing a rest as Andy mentions.Good point to perhaps bring Oates back & push Proths back up into the middle.Proths did well there at full back today though I thought but McKimm isnt on song at the moment & that isnt just because of his lost opportunity to score.A bit of tweaking here & there & who knows?

AFC didnt impress me enough to think that they, despite being the current favourites for this division are anything better than a midtable outfit.What chances they did get we gifted to them,they didnt really create them.But thats how we are playing at the moment as a midtable team too.Time to get back to that magnificent football that we know the boys are capable of.Its coming though,its coming.Lets hope it comes back completely v Bromley.Time to peak again on Tuesday I think!

[Chris1]

0-0 and the keeper is man of the match. Tells you something, doesn't it?

 

I thought Trott had a pretty good game, if not as inspirational as last Tuesday. Made a couple of errors, but hey.

 

Jay brought class to the midfield. Competed for everything, won a lot, especially in the air.

 

I know Proths played at right back before he joined us, but he has been so influential in midfield he seems almost wasted back there.

 

How does it work with the captain and manager both playing in the back line, and the coach on the touchline? How do they discuss things if we need to make changes?

 

Brayley brought a lot of movement to the front line, and I thought worked well with Pinnock. After initial caution I thought they started looking like a good partnership.

 

That's not to take anything away from our star goalscorer (hope his injury is nothing serious), but it will certainly give us another option, especially against sides with a slow back four.

 

Personally I would give Louis Smith another start at right back, where he did nothing wrong last Tuesday, and put Proths in the mid with Jay. Different types of player, but that's what you need.

 

Unless we can find a quick central defender I would also be inclined to put Donovan alongside Trotty, because we don't half look slow with both Wild and Trott in there. Still I suppose you can't go changing too much just before you take on the league leaders.

 

Any thoughts anyone?

[Chris1]

There's a strong level of agreement on this thread!

 

Remember a couple of years ago when you couldn't even work out where players were supposed to be playing, let alone figure out what went wrong?

 

I reckon Cookie is right: it's coming!

[Boney Crisp]

Thought we were ok today and a draw was a fair result with the way both teams played. Had Mckimm had that chance at the beginning he would have buried it, but he was just knackered by the end and had nothing in him. We lost out on pace today which prevented us from having shots in decent positions as we were not quick enough to get round the defence. I would have taken a point before today and that is what we have got, so i am reasonably happy. Great crowd and lets hope the Bromley game is a lot more entertaining, well i am sure it will be. UP THE GATE!!!

[Gate Watcher]

Not a lot between Wild and Donovan I agree but would go with Wild for Tuesday purely for his height. He does give away a lot of free kicks though. McKimm was shattered by the end so like the idea of trying Proths and Jay together with Smith at right back. Smith over Oates definitely sounds good. No harm in trying. Bromley will make us pay if we keep giving things away at the back.

 

Then again as I suggested earlier I wouldnt be too disappointed with the same team as today. Just depends how tired McKimm is and if Hockton will be fit.

[Andy .]

think the Bromley game is going to be the real test , so need Proths to stay at the back for this one ,going to need some pace at back for definate then should if Danny is ok replace Mckimm with Bertie to help feed Hockton & Pinnock upfront ,full asault from back to front as soon as the ref blows the whistle for kick off ( up the Gate).