Simply not good enough

[SteveB]

Once again tonight we underperformed horrendously in my opinion and did not even deserve the point we got. The thing is, though, that I do not think any player played particularly badly, just that the was very little creativity. In fact I think Donovan and Standen (who I have not rated before in the latters case) both had their best games that I have witnessed and had it not been for another oft-pilloried player in Charlie we may well have not even got a point.

The questions I have to ask are why are we struggling to create chances when earlier in the season we were relentless up front; and why is it the urgency only seems to come in the last five minutes. If we started each half like we ended tonight there is a good chance we could out the wind up teams before they settle and start threatening us.

We did not have an attempt at goal until the 69th minute and in the end only had 7 (5 in the last 6 minutes) to Horsham's 17. There has to be some reason why we go from such extremes as putting 5 past Leyton (admittedly they were poor) and 3 past the like of Bromley and Chelmsford to waiting over two-thirds of a game for a chance.

Steve

[Dutch_Mike]

Thought we were very poor tonight and, in the end, were lucky to get a point. As Steve has said, what happened to the team who played such sweeping passing football at the start of the season, and just blew teams away? We lack creativity and any idea at all tonight. We had a so-called target man upfront, so we thought that gave us licence just to play the long ball all night, and it was very ineffective.

We didn't start passing the ball until the last few minutes, which is when we actually created some chances! If it had not been for some very good saves from Mitten, and some last ditch defending (notably from Donovan on one occasion) we would have got exactly what we deserved tonight: 0 points.

I am normally very positive and upbeat (even following a defeat), but I found it very hard to draw anything positive from the performance. Personally, I think that even the playoffs are out of our reach now.

[Boney Crisp]

We are crap and it just seems as if most of the players do not want to play for the club. If i am wrong the prove me wrong between now and the end of the season.

[Cookie]

Charlie my top man tonight without a shadow of a doubt. If I thought the players in front of him might not be as assured with him in goal then after tonight they will be. Oates tried & tried as did Sappleton.Pinns is wasted out wide & I forgive him for not being able to show his best.I'm sorry but the man in charge tonight has to take the blame more than the players.

Mike Flannagan could & should have changed things around once he saw things werent happening but he didnt.The formation was all to [****!!****] from the beginning.Only two in midfield,whats all that about?

Agree Steve we were so so lucky tonight.If it weren't for Charlies miraculous saves we would & we SHOULD have been dead & buried a long while before we scored the "lucky break" goal.

We should then have been able to hold on but we couldnt though to be fair it was an excellent worked equaliser.

Still,a point & a valuable point,even though thoroughly undeserved.

Where is that team of old? We need to see them back & playing again.This isn't the same side.The same players but not the same team. Get a grip Margate!

Time to earn your dosh Trotty & get it sorted out before we are utterly humiliated on Saturday.

[P.W.]

I believe the answer is the lack of depth to the squad. We've played the season with a nucleus of 15 regular first teamers, and the average age is quite a lot higher than recent seasons. I think we're just knackered.

Earlier in the season when we were putting together some good performances we were running on adrenaline for much of the time, but since the H&R match we have been covering suspensions and have spiralled into decline - we just haven't been able to regain that momentum. Now we're back to what's nearly full strength but can't regain that spark or momentum. Around Christmas we could have done with a sprinkling of new blood, but couldn't sign anyone to refresh the squad - not even on loan. Now we're paying the price.

[Boney Crisp]

I think Oates should have been taken off for Protheroe and Bagley should have been taken off for Donovan when there was about 20 minutes to go. He should have pushed Jimmy up and put pinns in up front with Hockton and Howarth and have Bagley attacking the right flank.

[djw]

Well...Firstly Chaz had a blinder well done !

 

Lucky tonight with a point, we scored against the run of play ! We can harp on about the depth in squad and to a point I agree. But we havent used the squad to the best we could of dine (Whisker,Donovan etc havent played enough games IMO). I think we have looked tired for the last 4 games Pete ? The urgency and movement have been non-exsistent. Agree TC Pinns should be upfont with Danny making runs of him so he can feed him in to score. Danny has scored 30ish goals this season from centre foward yet the last 3-4 games he has been running the wings - this should be JJ and the full backs job. Keep Danny in the middle to aim at, thats how he has scored goals.

 

I hope Trotty hasnt panic bought in Rob, havent seen enough of him yet to be fair but he is a "target man" ? Hope we dont get it to the long ball habit upto him - as we did tonight. Margate play there best footy on the floor (last 10 min) with Oates Pinns comes to mind !

 

I just hope the worst thing doesnt happen - Rams make playoffs Margtae dont !

[Cookie]

I'll put my mortgage on Ramsgate getting there ahead of us Danny.(I only say this to prevent it happening) l.o.l. Others will know what I mean if you dont!

[Boney Crisp]

Mitten played superbly, and i am undecided on Rob he showed a bit of creativity, but i think he will just be good as a back-up striker or if we need to get a goal to bring him on for a defender or a midfeilder for an extra target up front. I think it is a shrewd buy.

 

We have more of chance then Ramsgate to get into the play-offs we just need to use that chance to our advantage. If we play like what we did from late October to Late January we CAN qualify for the play-offs.

 

(I have calmed down, hence my increase in optimism)

[Porka]

I just hope we're still in with a chance once we've played Chelmsford. After that, we have two games in two weeks. How it should be and players will have adequate time to get over knocks. If we can somehow sneak into the play-offs then who knows. Playing against top sides suits us in my opinion. Let's see some optimism. If we've not made it come May then fair enough, theres plenty of time to reflect. But for now I think the only way to go is to be positive. Frustrating tonight yes, but understandable to me. The players gave it everything. There's no doubt we need to string some results together so lets start Saturday.

[Boney Crisp]

I think had the games been played when scheduled we would have been in the top 3, but when you play 5 games in a space of 2 and half weeks it is asking a lot of a part-time team. Now i am thinking more and now that i have calmed down i honestly can't see us losing another game this season.

 

Football really is a roller-coaster and at times it is going break down, but it starts up again it does stay there forever and i have a feeling it is going to start up again on saturday and run well into next season.

 

 

COME ON MARGATE!!!!!!!!!!

[Coffin Ender]

Horsham have had some very good results away to the better teams in the league. Wins at Bromley and Tonbridge and draws at Wimbledon, Hampton, Heybridge and now us.

 

I think it is fairly obvious why we are struggling - missing players. No McKimm, Skinner or Abbo last night. My MotM would be Sappleton, I thought he was immense.

 

Unless someone has mentioned it elsewhere, Boylan is suspended for our game at Chelmsford.