Margate 1 Carshalton 0

[Blues with Soul.]

I was behind Scotts goal and those saves were brilliant - especially the 2 saves down low at the left hand post - couldn't see CM getting down to those.Kept us in the game before we scored and certainly why we gained 3 points.Would have won at Harrow if Scott had been playing.

Our Red Card last night was a blessing in disguise and confirmed where our weakest link is - with PA off the pitch,it showed exactly what a fast,direct,decisive player could do for us down the right flank.

[seasidesteve]

you got home ok then robert a bit late i bet

[Blues with Soul.]

Round about midnight SSS - atleast the M2/A2 were clear with no problems at Gravesend - see you Saturday !!

[Andy .]

the weekest link to us having a title winning squad is the right side alright . Trotty has to start with Standen on saturday so JJ is free for the runs down the left . Pinns went slightly out of place but seemed to fill the spot Abbo left with some ease .Having Pinns there as well seemed to give Greg more oppotunity to get forward hence he scores a blinder , so maybe sit Pinns just a bit , only a bit behind Danny to the left to cover the area and help whoever Trotty puts on that side of Midfield , I THINK.

[michael]

Who is this fast ,direct player on the right.

 

In fairness, the nearest we get to that is probably Sesay-he ripped Hampton apart in that role 12 months ago.

 

I've never seen Stellion play

[seasidesteve]

sessay seems to have gone throu the bermuda triangle

[michael]

I thought he was on loan at Walton until end of season, but don't think he was in their squad last saturday

[Blues with Soul.]

Spoke to Sesay at Harrow on saturday - he's now back with Margate.

[michael]

Now that is interesting.

 

He could be our fast, direct , decisive player on the right;if RT allows him to be.

 

If nothing else, i would welcome him as a sub to offer something different.

 

Could give some competition to Abbo, but we must not forget Abbo's qualities of always being available in the right position to take the pass-invaluable.

 

Sesay needs to apply himself and commit to MFC though i guess,and vice versa

[michael]

I may be wrong, but did someone post last week that the Thanet Times reported that Yiga had signed for Walton permanently, and that Sesay's loan with them was extended until the end of the season ?

[BlueGate Alan]

No it was Yiga had signed but Sesay was back to Margate

[Cookie]

Well we certainly left it late but better late than never.I must admit I never thought we were going to get that goal. In fact it was looking dangerous at certain points in the game that we might even lose it,though I have to say Carshalton weren't that good. They are definately in the correct position in the league table from what I could see.We should be putting these teams away though.

 

Continued below:

[Cookie]

Anyway a great goal from Oates. Great pass from Danny but the credit has to go to Greg,not only for a great finish but moreso for the run into space as it was he who & was yelling like mad for the pass. A pinpoint pass it was too.Skinner was everywhere & was magnificent.Scott in goal only made those 3 or 4 saves all game but they were all match winning saves.Superb reflexes & shot stopping.He needs to be more vocal within his area but I'm sure that will,come.Trotty really laid into him at one time about that. How good will he be then?

continued below:

[Cookie]

Pinns ran & ran & as usual played his heart out.I was actually praying for Standen to come on.(Check with SSS).Standen came on & I was impressed.He did what I thought he would do.Good on him.Dolton does need games under his belt & if he gets them I'm sure he will be an asset to us however on the night we were missing Jackos flair & crossing of the ball down that wing.We cant afford to lose him on that flank.Jacko seems to tire in the second periods of games so I've noticed so really we missed out there. The header from Trotty that Danny headed over from close range was a cert goal had Danny not got his head to it.I too was right behind the header from Trotty. Still we shall never know now will we?

We need to do much better on Saturday though or we will get punished severely. Elated at the win no matter how it came about but oh the agony on the night waiting for it!

[Roadrunner]

Our weakness this season has been Abbott, however i thought that Dalton was even worse than Abbott was on Tuesday night.

Why we did not start with Standen in the middle and leave Jacko out wide i will never understand. Jacko has been great this seaon playing wide and looked total ineffective in the middle of the park. The good news is at least Abbott will be missing for 3 games which will save us all the stress of him wasting so many good opportunities or passing to the opposition on a regular basis.

 

--------------------------

Much more sand on the pitch and Tam will be selling buckets and spades!

 

[michael]

Agree re:Standen-in middle with JJ out wide-you always play as few people ot of position as possible.

 

Who plays at left back this saturday though-Standen or JJ (or someone else?).

 

I think its got to be JJ with Standen in midfield-need his bite and creativity- and Dalton at left wing.

 

Abbo-good bits and poor bits.Due a blinder-and a couple of goals- this saturday

[Cookie]

Jacko at the back is a waste I feel. We need him supplying Pinns & Danny up front.We have already lost some "bite" from midfield with Jay reverting back to help out in defence without nullifying our attacking play by having Jacko back there as well.Realistically Smith in at full back(yes left side)& Standen in midfileld.Maybe Dolton in midfield or even Abbot in CENTRAL midfield(to get him involved more) but we must have Jacko out wide,at least for the first half anyway.

My team would be as follows,or similar to start with:

 

Chalmers-Stevens

Oates-Sappleton-Saunders-Smith

Standen-(Abbot)-Protheroe

Pinnock-Hockton-Jackson

[michael]

I'd go with that team Cookie, but just changed midfield round a bit to have

 

Abbott, Protheroe, Standen

 

Standen and even JJ can then help Smith out as they can both play at full back aswell

[Cookie]

I'd put Abbot in central midfield Michael because it might gee him up a bit.Hes not an outright flank player in my mind & there probably lies his lack of form. Standen can cross a ball & is just as nippy,can shoot on occasions with more acccuracy & yet can still use his mobility down the right by helping in midfield too.Abbot would more than likely up his game in the middle of the park by being involved more. He can rise to head a ball quite well & his shooting abilities will be from head on rather than from out wide.I do question his tackling abilities though but in the middle he wouldn't be able to shy from tackles so easily. Its all very easy thinking about it hyperthetically & maybe on the actual field it wouldn't work but I'd give it a go.I really would. It could be the move that Abbot needs to shine for once.He's got the ability but out wide he isn't showing it.Maybe its the position he has been filling that has prevented us from seeing the real Abbot rather than him being seen as just being out of form.

[michael]

Good points made Cookie-you could be right