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Post by stumpy on Feb 8, 2022 22:39:31 GMT
Told you I was starting to get worried about the play-offs.
We look jaded - long season beginning to catch up on players who have a lot of games in their legs? (hope not, because we're only slightly over half-way through).
As for tonight, individually a lot of players will probably be disappointed with their performances, but I think there were other factors as well - the usual recent ones mostly.
For me, it was an example of why we need to get back to playing 5-3-2. We had no width in attack and kept trying to thread passes through the centre of a packed defence - these generally got cut out before they reached their targets. It didn't help that our passing was way under par. Their second goal in particular was an example of how four at the back, three of them with no pace at all, can leave us exposed. When their guy got possession with only JV anywhere near him, a goal was pretty much inevitable.
You also have to ask why Heardy even came out for the second half (you could ask why he started) when he clearly was somewhere between 70 and 80 per-cent fit.
I spoke to their fans (I think there were five of them) at the end. They said that they came thinking a 3-0 defeat would be a reasonable result, but were going home disappointed that they hadn't won.
As for Jordan, it's all been said, a lot - the fact that he got our equaliser is neither here nor there.
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Post by gerryhan on Feb 8, 2022 23:40:33 GMT
Stumpy pretty much sums up my feelings about tonight.
Our main two strikers seem to have hit a loss of form or tiredness, whichever, they are nowhere near the players of earlier in the season.
I still don't get why we changed a system that had us playing highly attractive football AND scoring lots of goals! The crowds came flocking in on the back of that. We were top of the league, why change it? Tonight was not a good watch and if we are not careful we will start losing those big crowds.
We might well have lost tonight but for Jordan`s (why only three minutes for him? insulting! ) late late equalizer. And we could not have complained. They defended well and their big number nine gave an exhibition of classic centre forward play. Holdup, heading, flicks, the lot. What a good footballer.
I noticed that after the game all their players came and individually thanked their supporters. Terrific.
So we move on to a difficult away fixture at Hornchurch on Saturday, where there will have to be an enormous improvement on tonight if we are to get anything up there.
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xjr
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Post by xjr on Feb 9, 2022 9:42:12 GMT
Nothing to add regarding performance or lack thereof. But we have to change it up as it has gone stale. The way we play now means Ade and Dave have their back to goal, even in the area. Every one was poor tonight, no man of the match.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2022 9:51:08 GMT
We were top of the league, why change it? We were not top of the league. We were 3rd, 8 points off Worthing. We are currently 5th, 10 points off Worthing, both the teams who have gone above us (Lewes & Bishops Stortford) having played more games in that time. We are also still scoring more than 0.5 goals a game more in league games since changing. We do however need to start working on how we are going to get through teams playing with a bank of 5 and 4 at home because teams are going to come and play for a point now thanks to our home record.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2022 10:08:11 GMT
For me, it was an example of why we need to get back to playing 5-3-2. We had no width in attack and kept trying to thread passes through the centre of a packed defence - these generally got cut out before they reached their targets. It didn't help that our passing was way under par. Their second goal in particular was an example of how four at the back, three of them with no pace at all, can leave us exposed. When their guy got possession with only JV anywhere near him, a goal was pretty much inevitable. While we certainly struggled when trying to go through the centre, its not true that we had no width. Crosses from Alfie and to a lesser extent JV came in for most of the night, I'd be more than happy to string a video of them together. Unfortunately with them sitting so deep and our forwards not being the biggest it was never going to be easy to get through that way. If anything going 3-5-2 means you're using more players centrally and asking Alfie and another to provide ALL the width with nobody in support. Unfortunately last night they were so packed any time Alfie, Luke or Ade beat a man they were straight into another. Thankfully somebody (either Luke or Ade) managed to get a ball across the face of goal (twice if you include the near own goal moments before). But as above we need to work out breaking teams down who come for a point. Teams, especially those fighting for their lives, aren't going to come and open up and allow us to rip them open no matter what formation we play.
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Post by colash on Feb 9, 2022 10:08:29 GMT
We were top of the league, why change it? We were not top of the league. We were 3rd, 8 points off Worthing. We are currently 5th, 10 points off Worthing, both the teams who have gone above us (Lewes & Bishops Stortford) having played more games in that time. We are also still scoring more than 0.5 goals a game more in league games since changing. We do however need to start working on how we are going to get through teams playing with a bank of 5 and 4 at home because teams are going to come and play for a point now thanks to our home record. The only way is round the back meaning 2 wide players getting behind. Worthing play with 2 wide players on each wing 90% of the time.
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Post by realfan on Feb 9, 2022 10:24:04 GMT
Point well made Obertan. The three upfront was the right change when things went stale. Now the time has come where they are not firing and we need a shake up again. I feel Neil would recognise this. The one positive last night was Andy Drury. Looked a class above.
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Post by invictasaint on Feb 9, 2022 10:31:54 GMT
meanwhile our games in hand 'advantage' has sadly diminished. we still need to look up, not over our shoulder. Hornchurch will be fun , don't suppose they will play with 10 in the box!
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Post by popmaster39 on Feb 9, 2022 10:49:48 GMT
Nothing to add regarding performance or lack thereof. But we have to change it up as it has gone stale. The way we play now means Ade and Dave have their back to goal, even in the area. Every one was poor tonight, no man of the match.
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Post by popmaster39 on Feb 9, 2022 10:51:08 GMT
Can't agree with the last bit.Alfie gave 120percent again.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2022 10:56:04 GMT
Can't agree with the last bit.Alfie gave 120percent again. typical of XJR, always coming on here slagging off Alfie!
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Post by reddevil on Feb 9, 2022 11:10:57 GMT
Looks to me that complacency/tiredness is possible the cause of our problems .I can't see the manager changing his way of doing things and ,apparently, the players are happy.So on we go to Hornchurch my optimism, for a fresh approach, just about hanging in there 😉
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Post by gerryhan on Feb 9, 2022 11:42:28 GMT
I meant the top end of the league, and scoring goals but most importantly, PLAYING ATTRACTIVE FOOTBALL.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2022 12:13:57 GMT
I meant the top end of the league, and scoring goals but most importantly, PLAYING ATTRACTIVE FOOTBALL. We are still at the top end of the league and have been scoring more goals. We aren't going to be able to play the same football in February when the pitches aren't as good, teams aren't as open and players aren't as fresh. No matter what the system is. People can either continue to wind themselves up about the system every time we don't win or can just accept that, until the end of this season at least, 4-3-3 is the system being used, for reasons outlined previously. Even more so now we have brought in another winger. I also don't remember many complaining about 4-3-3 when we smashed 7 past Potters Bar or when we ripped Chichester apart in the second half having started 3-5-2 and changes because it wasn't working. As ever, everything is wrong when we don't win and it all needs changing. We've had a bad week, it happens. If people aren't happy with how things are now I dread to think what the mood will be like after a few months against much better teams in the National South.
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Post by finbarr_in_z on Feb 9, 2022 12:31:24 GMT
A few match photos
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2022 12:34:24 GMT
Ian’s absolutely superb. Top class photos from him every time he comes down.
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Post by stumpy on Feb 9, 2022 13:06:49 GMT
Anthony, I don't think the downbeat posts are a knee-jerk reaction to a couple of sub-par performances. Agreed, it does look like we're committed to 4-3-3 for the foreseeable future - Cugs is nothing if not stubborn. Nobody whinges just after we've won a game because it would look stupid - it doesn't mean a temporary change of opinion. Believe me, the current system winds me up most of the time, especially when we play too much long ball and Dave and Ade play half the time with their backs to goal, which they are not good at, especially Dave. You say that we're scoring a lot of goals; I'd say that is heavily skewed by some big wins against inferior opposition - we're no longer getting the results when we play the better teams in the league - and yesterday we can't pretend that, on paper anyway, the opposition wasn't a team we should be beating. My worries aren't about yesterday - every team can have an off-day; they are about our form which is slowly drifting, both in terms of results and, in the last 4 home games that I've seen, performance. Sure, formation isn't the only factor here; having a small squad with an average age over 30 (well over 30 if you take out Dave Smih and Alfie) where the same players regularly play 90 minutes a game, even in the relatively unimportant competitions, is going to take its toll on the players' fitness - and we're seeing that. The fact that the manager is incapable of rotating even this small squad and, for whatever reason (stubbornness? superstition? absent-mindedness?), does not use the bench unless either forced to by injury, or we desperately need a late goal, or we're four goals up with about ten minutes left and there doesn't seem much chance of the result changing if he risks a sub doesn't help at all - and is almost unheard of in this day and age. You can try and defend that if you want, but I think that you'll struggle. Believe me, I hope we can pick it up again, but it's not looking great and there's nothing to be gained by pretending that everything in the garden is rosy. You could say that there's not a lot to be gained by moaning about it on the forum - but it's better than bottling the frustration up, even if it is pissing into the wind.
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Post by gerryhan on Feb 9, 2022 15:00:12 GMT
I think Stump's post pretty much sums up the feelings of most of the fans around me and in the bar last night. Not enough rotation team wise or tactically during games, if things are not going right. At least we know we can rely on Anthony for managements` view.
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xjr
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Post by xjr on Feb 9, 2022 15:33:56 GMT
Can't agree with the last bit.Alfie gave 120percent again. typical of XJR, always coming on here slagging off Alfie! Ha ! No rose tinted specs here. He should have attacked the right back more. Seemed happy to stop and pass central or back. And he was guilty of giving the ball away a few times. Everybody was below par unfortunately.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2022 17:13:31 GMT
Anthony, I don't think the downbeat posts are a knee-jerk reaction to a couple of sub-par performances. Agreed, it does look like we're committed to 4-3-3 for the foreseeable future - Cugs is nothing if not stubborn. Nobody whinges just after we've won a game because it would look stupid - it doesn't mean a temporary change of opinion. Believe me, the current system winds me up most of the time, especially when we play too much long ball and Dave and Ade play half the time with their backs to goal, which they are not good at, especially Dave. I don't think that's true. long before we lost at Carshalton people were moaning about plenty until they could finally say "I told you so" after that defeat. But I think you've missed the point. It has become an laughing matter between supporters who browse but don't post on here that it's always very quiet after a win but very busy here when we don't. Thats not something I can disagree with. Indeed there was very little said post-Potters Bar but before I had even got home last night this thread had more posts. Regarding Cugs being stubborn, he was also stubborn playing a back 3. We went for 3 games without scoring before it was changed to a back 4. It works both ways. If results drop off and he thinks it needs tearing up and changing I'm sure he (or to be more exact: the management team) will change things. He's also nothing if not loyal to his players and it is that stability and consistency that sets us apart from many other clubs that are constantly chopping and changing both managers and players. Also, Dave and Ade playing with their back to goal has nothing to do with any system. Theres little else they can do last night with a defence sat so deep and packed, there's nothing in behind to run onto.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2022 17:27:55 GMT
You say that we're scoring a lot of goals; I'd say that is heavily skewed by some big wins against inferior opposition - we're no longer getting the results when we play the better teams in the league - and yesterday we can't pretend that, on paper anyway, the opposition wasn't a team we should be beating. My worries aren't about yesterday - every team can have an off-day; they are about our form which is slowly drifting, both in terms of results and, in the last 4 home games that I've seen, performance. I'm not talking opinions here, you can't just simply say "we were scoring more goals before" when that just is not true. You can have an opinion on how good the football is or try and make caveats about the quality of opposition but and claim that we were scoring more goals before we changed system is just incorrect. It's that simple. And it's not a small sample size, we played 13 before and have played 14 since so pretty much half the season playing each way and we've scored more than 0.5 goals a game more in the current system. As above though teams are going to come here more than ever now and sit in and play either for a draw or on the counter. conceding soft goals early on or letting teams back level once we finally get. breakthrough isn't going to help that. We need to start much better than last night and get in front and make teams come out at us.
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Post by stumpy on Feb 9, 2022 19:59:49 GMT
Anthony, I'll reply to both your posts in one, as long as I still have the will to live I've watched Spurs v Southampton.
I completely concede that are always more comments on here after we have had bad results than good ones, but that's just the way of the world - for every complaint that the BBC get about a telly program there are probably a thousand people who are happy with it - they just don't write in to say so. Anyway, I dispute (as you know) your perception of the forum as negative - constructive criticism isn't the same as negativity, and there wasn't any cticism until there were things to criticise. I'll be back.
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Post by stumpy on Feb 9, 2022 20:35:00 GMT
If the second half is anything like the first, I'll be topping myself rather than posting. 1-1; should be about 4-1 to Southampton.
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Post by invictasaint on Feb 9, 2022 23:23:03 GMT
Please post something John! I seek not to gloat but reassurance.
OWTSGMI
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Post by stumpy on Feb 9, 2022 23:32:38 GMT
I'll top myself shortly, but here goes: long before we lost at Carshalton people were moaning about plenty until they could finally say "I told you so" after that defeat. Sorry, but that's complete bollocks - I'm sure because I've just re-read all the match threads. the first time there's anything like a moan is the home game against Potters Bar, which is kind of understandable when you spunk a 3-0 lead against a side who are relegation fodder, but even then it's really mild, more disappointed than hostile. Even now there is no severe criticism and there is actually plenty of praise for good performances. There are basically three criticisms that are pretty much the same every season and are, imho, completely valid: (1) the squad is too small - it is. (2) we don't make use of even the small squad we have - we don't, there is no rotation, the same eleven players start every game if fit and some our our subs are just as much spectators as those of us who pay to get in. (3) We don't use the bench properly - we don't, our use of the bench is a joke. The net result of all this is that we run out of steam in the second half of the season - that's what happened the last time we had a whiff of promotion and it's beginning to look like it's going to happen again. I really want to be wrong about that. As for the formation thing, that's a matter of opinion. For me it's more about the long ball game that we've fallen into, maybe that's down to tiredness too? But I think you've missed the point. It has become an laughing matter between supporters who browse but don't post on here that it's always very quiet after a win but very busy here when we don't.Already answered this one. Regarding Cugs being stubborn, he was also stubborn playing a back 3. We went for 3 games without scoring before it was changed to a back 4. It works both ways. If results drop off and he thinks it needs tearing up and changing I'm sure he (or to be more exact: the management team) will change things.Well, it's not working too well at the moment, so I look forward to another change He's also nothing if not loyal to his players and it is that stability and consistency that sets us apart from many other clubs that are constantly chopping and changing both managers and players. Yep, and of course that's a good thing. But I think it's fair to say he's more loyal to some players than others and that when that loyalty includes playing players who are well short of full fitness or totally out of form (both of which have happened at times in the past - not too much this season) then it can be a bit counter-productive. Also, Dave and Ade playing with their back to goal has nothing to do with any system. Theres little else they can do last night with a defence sat so deep and packed, there's nothing in behind to run onto. [Of course it has something to do with the system; if you're playing with three up front, two of them fairly centrtal, one slightly wider, then you aren't going to get behind the oppo's defence very often and things are going to funnel through the centre. You say that JV and Alf get wide - yes, sort of, but they are not often getting behind the defence (pretty difficult if you're coming up from full back) and are tending to hit crosses that are curving ahead of the forwards, which are very hard to score from, even if Dav and Ade were good in the air, which they aren't particularly. 2nd post.... I'm not talking opinions here, you can't just simply say "we were scoring more goals before" when that just is not true. You can have an opinion on how good the football is or try and make caveats about the quality of opposition but and claim that we were scoring more goals before we changed system is just incorrect. It's that simple.
You're right, but I haven't claimed that and don't understand how you think I have (I mght have said something like it a couple of weeks ago, but that's because I was counting the formation switch from a different game - I think I've said that already). What I said is that the goals for are skewed by the three big wins we have had against weak opposition - what I didn't say, but I think it's equally true is that the pre-4-3-3 goals for are skewed by the three consecutive goalless games up to and including the 0-5 at Carshalton which had nothing to do with formation and everything to do with running on empty with four games in nine days coming on top of the Eastleigh cup-ties. Putting goals to one side, what is more important is the number of points we are picking up: in the first 13 games, it's 2 per game, which equates to 84 over a season, which is typically going to put you in the top 2; over the last 14 games it's 1.78, 75 for the season, which is borderline - usually 4th or 5th. It's also worth considering the standard of the opposition. In the first 13 games, we played 7 against teams that are top half, won 3, drew 3, lost 1 (Carshalton), scored 13 conceded 9 (5 against Carshalton). In the last 14 games we have played 6 against teams in the top half, won 1, drew 2, lost 3, scored 6 conceded 12. I don't want us to miss out any more than you do, but I'm worried that it might happen if we keep playing the way we are, which isn't working all that well. As above though teams are going to come here more than ever now and sit in and play either for a draw or on the counter. conceding soft goals early on or letting teams back level once we finally get. breakthrough isn't going to help that. We need to start much better than last night and get in front and make teams come out at us. /quote]Yep, completely agree, but maybe we need to change something to make that happen. Right, now to find that Stanley knife and roll my sleeves up....
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2022 0:24:11 GMT
I'll top myself shortly, but here goes: long before we lost at Carshalton people were moaning about plenty until they could finally say "I told you so" after that defeat. Sorry, but that's complete bollocks - I'm sure because I've just re-read all the match threads. the first time there's anything like a moan is the home game against Potters Bar, which is kind of understandable when you spunk a 3-0 lead against a side who are relegation fodder, but even then it's really mild, more disappointed than hostile. Even now there is no severe criticism and there is actually plenty of praise for good performances. There are basically three criticisms that are pretty much the same every season and are, imho, completely valid: (1) the squad is too small - it is. (2) we don't make use of even the small squad we have - we don't, there is no rotation, the same eleven players start every game if fit and some our our subs are just as much spectators as those of us who pay to get in. (3) We don't use the bench properly - we don't, our use of the bench is a joke. The net result of all this is that we run out of steam in the second half of the season - that's what happened the last time we had a whiff of promotion and it's beginning to look like it's going to happen again. I really want to be wrong about that. As for the formation thing, that's a matter of opinion. For me it's more about the long ball game that we've fallen into, maybe that's down to tiredness too? But I think you've missed the point. It has become an laughing matter between supporters who browse but don't post on here that it's always very quiet after a win but very busy here when we don't.Already answered this one. Regarding Cugs being stubborn, he was also stubborn playing a back 3. We went for 3 games without scoring before it was changed to a back 4. It works both ways. If results drop off and he thinks it needs tearing up and changing I'm sure he (or to be more exact: the management team) will change things.Well, it's not working too well at the moment, so I look forward to another change He's also nothing if not loyal to his players and it is that stability and consistency that sets us apart from many other clubs that are constantly chopping and changing both managers and players. Yep, and of course that's a good thing. But I think it's fair to say he's more loyal to some players than others and that when that loyalty includes playing players who are well short of full fitness or totally out of form (both of which have happened at times in the past - not too much this season) then it can be a bit counter-productive. Also, Dave and Ade playing with their back to goal has nothing to do with any system. Theres little else they can do last night with a defence sat so deep and packed, there's nothing in behind to run onto. [Of course it has something to do with the system; if you're playing with three up front, two of them fairly centrtal, one slightly wider, then you aren't going to get behind the oppo's defence very often and things are going to funnel through the centre. You say that JV and Alf get wide - yes, sort of, but they are not often getting behind the defence (pretty difficult if you're coming up from full back) and are tending to hit crosses that are curving ahead of the forwards, which are very hard to score from, even if Dav and Ade were good in the air, which they aren't particularly. 2nd post.... I'm not talking opinions here, you can't just simply say "we were scoring more goals before" when that just is not true. You can have an opinion on how good the football is or try and make caveats about the quality of opposition but and claim that we were scoring more goals before we changed system is just incorrect. It's that simple.
You're right, but I haven't claimed that and don't understand how you think I have (I mght have said something like it a couple of weeks ago, but that's because I was counting the formation switch from a different game - I think I've said that already). What I said is that the goals for are skewed by the three big wins we have had against weak opposition - what I didn't say, but I think it's equally true is that the pre-4-3-3 goals for are skewed by the three consecutive goalless games up to and including the 0-5 at Carshalton which had nothing to do with formation and everything to do with running on empty with four games in nine days coming on top of the Eastleigh cup-ties. Putting goals to one side, what is more important is the number of points we are picking up: in the first 13 games, it's 2 per game, which equates to 84 over a season, which is typically going to put you in the top 2; over the last 14 games it's 1.78, 75 for the season, which is borderline - usually 4th or 5th. It's also worth considering the standard of the opposition. In the first 13 games, we played 7 against teams that are top half, won 3, drew 3, lost 1 (Carshalton), scored 13 conceded 9 (5 against Carshalton). In the last 14 games we have played 6 against teams in the top half, won 1, drew 2, lost 3, scored 6 conceded 12. I don't want us to miss out any more than you do, but I'm worried that it might happen if we keep playing the way we are, which isn't working all that well. As above though teams are going to come here more than ever now and sit in and play either for a draw or on the counter. conceding soft goals early on or letting teams back level once we finally get. breakthrough isn't going to help that. We need to start much better than last night and get in front and make teams come out at us. /quote]Yep, completely agree, but maybe we need to change something to make that happen. Right, now to find that Stanley knife and roll my sleeves up.... I'm confused: is it "complete bollocks" that people were moaning for weeks before the Carshalton defeat or did moans start after Potters Bar? That's more than 6 weeks of moans, that continued to get louder as people predicted our downfall before eventually they were correct. Stopped clock, etc. Incidentally it's funny that there were so many moans back then about how we needed to change now so many seems to want it all changed back. That grass is always greener. You're right to say you haven't claimed in this thread that we were scoring more before, but you did previously which was why I first looked at it, as I did again when Gerry claimed it earlier. Regarding your stats: interesting that you want a caveat for the 3 games when it definitely wasn't the system at fault but in fact was because the players were tired, but apparently the players are all knackered now but its still the system's fault. can't have it both ways. FWIW the system was completely at fault as we tried to soldier on without Jordan fit to play and with Kieron attempting to play both as a left and a right wingback which didn't work. As I've said in the past, it exposed how easily that system fell apart when you only have to lose either Jordan or Alfie and you have to tear it up. Incidentally if you believe the current PPG should have us finishing 4/5th and don't think that's good enough maybe expectation needs adjusting. clubs around us are spending absolute fortunes on players, being given players be Premier and Football League clubs and playing in much better locations to attract players. To be competing with them is a testament to all the work that goes in from both the management team and players and, as I said above, if people aren't happy with this they are in for a massive shock if we do end up getting promoted.
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Post by stumpy on Feb 10, 2022 1:27:49 GMT
Yes, it's complete bollocks that people were moaning for weeks before the Carshalton game - there are hardly any moans, just the the usual concerns about lack of rotation and use of the bench, and there really aren't that many of them. Like I said, I re-read all the match day threads before I replied - you could as well, but it gets pretty boring after a while.
I don't particularly want a caveat, I'm just stating a fact; the three blanks came at the end of a very tiring run of games - we could probably have played any formation and still struggled. If we lose at Hornchurch (let's hope we don't) then that will be no different from that run - more goals scored, sure, but the same number of points - and points are what really matter, so should we change the system again? Some of the players are knackered, or appear to be, and the system isn't working all that well - those two things aren't mutually exclusive.
Incidentally if you believe the current PPG should have us finishing 4/5th and don't think that's good enough maybe expectation needs adjusting. I haven't said it's not good enough; I've said that it's borderline for making the play-offs. That's all. That's a fact, not an opinion.
I really don't understand why you feel compelled to jump down the throat of anyone who doesn't think that everything is perfect, to the extent that you defend people against criticisms that aren't even being made.
In case you haven't noticed, nobody is criticising any of the players, we've been watching most of them for years (decades in some cases) we're fond of them. No-ones going to complain if we give it our best shot and fall short and, of course, if we do get promoted then it's going to be tough at the next level up. It's been a really good, enjoyable season so far with some real highlights - but that doesn't mean everything's necessarily perfect and that we can't theoretically improve in some areas, and it's not disloyal to express that opinion.
Sooner or later one of us has to resist the urge to respond to the other's last post, or we'll end up repeating ourselves ad infinitum and I'll have to ban both of us from the forum for everyone else's sake.
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Post by simondo on Feb 10, 2022 6:16:40 GMT
Keep going Stumpy & Anthony!
This thread has been highly educational and entertaining. But alas you are correct, metaphorically you are both travelling on parallel railway tracks that will not intersect in a thousand years.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2022 11:41:30 GMT
Yes, it's complete bollocks that people were moaning for weeks before the Carshalton game - there are hardly any moans, just the the usual concerns about lack of rotation and use of the bench, and there really aren't that many of them. Like I said, I re-read all the match day threads before I replied - you could as well, but it gets pretty boring after a while. I don't particularly want a caveat, I'm just stating a fact; the three blanks came at the end of a very tiring run of games - we could probably have played any formation and still struggled. If we lose at Hornchurch (let's hope we don't) then that will be no different from that run - more goals scored, sure, but the same number of points - and points are what really matter, so should we change the system again? Some of the players are knackered, or appear to be, and the system isn't working all that well - those two things aren't mutually exclusive. Incidentally if you believe the current PPG should have us finishing 4/5th and don't think that's good enough maybe expectation needs adjusting. I haven't said it's not good enough; I've said that it's borderline for making the play-offs. That's all. That's a fact, not an opinion. I really don't understand why you feel compelled to jump down the throat of anyone who doesn't think that everything is perfect, to the extent that you defend people against criticisms that aren't even being made. In case you haven't noticed, nobody is criticising any of the players, we've been watching most of them for years (decades in some cases) we're fond of them. No-ones going to complain if we give it our best shot and fall short and, of course, if we do get promoted then it's going to be tough at the next level up. It's been a really good, enjoyable season so far with some real highlights - but that doesn't mean everything's necessarily perfect and that we can't theoretically improve in some areas, and it's not disloyal to express that opinion. Sooner or later one of us has to resist the urge to respond to the other's last post, or we'll end up repeating ourselves ad infinitum and I'll have to ban both of us from the forum for everyone else's sake. I don't need to reread any threads, I remember it all, from reading it myself and from other people talking to me about it. You can say this place isn't negative all you want but it's not just me. even in my time away I was send screenshots of daft moans and whinges on here. I was told it was negative before I ever used it, I've found it to be nothing but negative since. Plenty of supporters who don't post but browse (or used to browse) think so and even some players do too. I'd advise them never to read it but obviously some will and you can say "nobody is criticising any of the players" if you like but clearly some don't think that's the case. But no, if we lose on Saturday's it's unlikely the system will change, maybe the personnel will. There's only so many times it can be said that this squad isn't set up to play 3 at the back. We only have one player that can play wingback on either side and we saw what happens when one gets injured already. Theres nowhere for either Luke or Kieron in that system either. With the current system everybody has a place, we can play with our midfield set up either with a 10 or a 6, can play wingers on either side. Current forum flavour of the month Jordan Wright can play in 4 different positions in it, he played right wing twice in the last few weeks, albeit to greater effect at Chichester than against VCD. Again, nobody was complaining when we put 7 past Potters Bar, but people need to accept that other teams can effect the game too, not everything is about what we do right or wrong. We are coming up against good teams who are fighting for their lives and they aren't just going to open up and let us play the way we want to. that's before you get to the way the pitches or the weather affect games at this time of year. Our pitch isn't great at the moment, it hasn't been since Bishops Stortford unfortunately. not that I think we would have won but the wind on Saturday killed the last 10 minutes. nobody has suggested everything is perfect, but if you were an outsider looking in you'd think everything was going to ****. Take a look at Kingstonian's form and it might make you feel a bit better about ours
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2022 14:02:47 GMT
Anyway, here's the reaction from Edgy and JV. Highlights later, I went out today and left the GoalCam video at home
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