ETU match comments

[Chris1]

First half was fairly even, with not too many chances. It should have been 1-1 at half time but for the ridiculous decision to let Standen take the penalty that Jimmy had won.

 

What is the thinking there, can anybody tell me? Right lads, penalty, chance to get back in the game, lets give it to someone who has never had a shot on target, let alone scored a goal?

 

Second half was more exciting, both sides hitting the woodwork and plenty of goalmouth action. ETU had the better chances, and the final score was not an injustice.

 

Our substitutions were a bit hard to understand, especially Akinde coming on for a defender at the end. Perhaps it was just desperation stakes. Or maybe this is what happens when you have the manager and coach both on the field of play and nobody in the dugout taking a balanced view of what is happening.

 

Player ratings:

 

SCS 5: too much short passing to defenders, putting them in trouble. Not to blame for the goals.

 

Harte 6, Young 6: gets his head to the ball well, Saunders 5: shouldn’t be in the back 4 except in an emergency (perhaps this is one!), Skinner 6

 

Coleman 6, Standen 4, McKimm 6, Jackson 7

 

Pinnock 5, Howarth 7

 

The pitch was better than usual, and they actually have a PA now, although I couldn’t understand what was being said.

 

Well, we need a central defender pretty badly, and someone to take penalties (oh how we will miss Danny H, who never missed one). Also a bit more tactical savvy.

 

[michael]

I think we were saying from about mid may that we needed a quality central defender.

Young is obviously a good prospect,but needs an experienced brute of a defender alongside him.

It has always been evident, and after releasing so many defenders-about 5 defenders released-we replace with two, but up front where you only play at most 2 strikers, we sign about 5.

 

Just a bit unbalanced to me.

[P.W.]

Although we had a very similar team to Saturday, they looked completely different. We miss Jay in midfield, Standen should be regarded more as a reserve full back, as he hasn't the strength in midfield. The first half was pretty even, they took the lead from one of their only shots on target. We fought back, but currently don't look like scoring - the penalty was properly justified as Jacko was brought down as he was shaping up for a cross into the box. It was as if it had been pre-decided that Dean would take the penalty, he made a bee-line for the ball and no-one seemed to object. I'd have elected Pinns / Macca / Jay / Jacko / Rob ahead of Dean - he struck weakly at the keeper and heads went down.

ETU have a lot of wise heads in their team and will probably be the surprise team this season. We, on the other hand, had little shape or organisation. Too often Rob was chasing down the flank when he should have been running through the middle. Pinns is currently a shadow of last season.

In the second half Dan Young got a nasty looking head injury (swollen /brusied cheek & stitched eyebrow) was replaced by Trott - so Louis looks out of favour at the moment. In order to shake things up Side came on for Coleman (who didn't look as good as on Saturday) & later Akinde on for Harte. Neither looked the part. We had a Haworth header hit the post (they too hit the post in first half) but you have to ask where are the goals going to come from? Their second was well taken (and well deserved) as Trott, Jay and SCS were too casual in their defending.

It may be the early start of a long winter.

[Pagey]

Didn't think the team performed as well Saturday.

 

Jacko and Rob ran relentlessly as normal

 

Standen has passion for the team, but really needs to control it

 

No one so far has mentioned the ref, so I will. There were just too many times when we played the ball long, to the feet of one of our players and then the ref blew up for a gate free kick back in our own half !!!

 

It seemed that every one decision he gave to the gate he gave ten to ETU. to Credit to him he didn't book many players

[Coffin Ender]

Hmmmm, just wasn't our night, was it? Apart from the penalty, their keeper made three good saves at the start of the second half and we hit the post. They also had some very good chances and we did look rather exposed at the back at times (that may have been because we were chasing the game). ETU looked quite useful, maybe a top half finish for them.

 

 

 

[Pagey]

just remembered the worst bit

 

NO FOOD

 

nothing, Zilch, sweet FA

[Frankie100]

But the barmaids were nice, Lloydy was most impressed with the young one who forgot to get dressed properly!!!!!!

[BlueGate Alan]

What did Joseba and AB do

[AncientBlue]

Originally Posted By: Taffy_Alan

What did Joseba and AB do

Is that a question about the barmaids or the food Alan?

Barmaids for me (as you know I am not all that fussed about food), for Jim is must be the double burgers he was missing,

[BlueGate Alan]

Originally Posted By: Frankie100

But the barmaids were nice, Lloydy was most impressed with the young one who forgot to get dressed properly!!!!!!

Perverts

[Frankie100]

There was food in the bar at half time as the barmaid was offering sausages to the locals, honest no preversion this time!!

[Pagey]

I feel that I missed out, didn't go into the bar at all, but I did hear that Frankie was offering a small sausage to the barmaid

[I am Spartacus]

Well 12 hours have passed since the end of the game so I will now try to give a level headed assesment of last night.

 

It seems that we need to be inspired by the opposition and after a very easy victory over ETU last season we seemed to underestimate a very efficent large unit(Is that what the U in ETU stands for). We some how got suckered into a long ball game which made me think CK was back again. The squad that Robin has assembled this year does not suit this game and, when we did play it on the ground we looked a lot better.

 

The team spirit and camaradere does seem there and all the players look out for each other and, attempt to help each other so this is a good positive to hold on to and continue building on.

 

As for Dean's penalty, I was standing behind the goal (infact he could have used me as the target) and it appeared to me that he did nothing but stare at the spot he was going to shoot at therefore, it did not take rocket science for the ETU keeper (nice new boots by the way keeper) to work out where it was going. He was also unlucky that the rebound did not go a couple more inches to his right as he would have scored from it.

 

Finally I put last nights performance to a terrible night at the office and Robin and Macca mustlearn from it and, put it right.

 

We all know that this is not a bad squad and WILL make the playoffs at least.

[I am Spartacus]

Originally Posted By: AncientBlue

Originally Posted By: Taffy_Alan

What did Joseba and AB do

Is that a question about the barmaids or the food Alan?

Barmaids for me (as you know I am not all that fussed about food), for Jim is must be the double burgers he was missing,

Never saw you in the bar AB did have 2 sausage rolls though. But what chance do have of food when the Pagester also turns up.

[Drummer]

Talking about the goalkeeper's boots, the ETU goalkeeper last night was the first keeper that I can remember for a long time that looked like a proper goalkeeper; plain green jersey, black shorts etc.

 

Memories of Bert Williams, Ted Ditchburn, Gil Merrick etc.

 

Alright so I am sad but who cares!

[Pagey]

ha ha and subutteo, the keepers on there had green tops

[BlueGate Alan]

Thanks for the assessment Joseba. Sounds a bit better imo.

[Drummer]

Yeah but on my 1954 edition the players were two dimensional and if you flicked them too hard their heads came off!

 

Anyone got any 1954 Newcastle United or Manchester United Subbuteo players they don't want? (I liked Wolves better anyway).

 

Mind you, they did have proper goal nets on the 1954 edition.

[Boney Crisp]

I seem to remeber last season beating Worthing 5-2 then drawing at home to ETU when we could have lost, maybe we just don't like Playing ETU in second game of the season.

[candc]

Lets be honest,,,,,, long ball up to big front man,,, knocked down, ETU back in possesion.

why have Jacko playing and not get the ball out wide for him to cross.

Rob was working the channels when he got the ball,,, no one in the box to cross to ????

 

Trotty exposed for pace for 2nd goal,,, why did he come on when in the friendlies Louis has been playing there?

 

Tactically we had no idea.

 

Penalty even i at 21 stone would have saved that effort.

Then Standon,,, lucky to stay on in my opinion.

 

Cant wait for staurday tho,,, oh damn Wealdstone away,,, oh well its a day out