An Apology: My failure to arrive by the 1.30 KO time didn’t help, puncture or not it messed up the start of the game. Also Dan T should have perhaps started in front of Gregor as he played the week before. It’s really difficult to juggle all of the attendee’s and game times and I will get it right and wrong. Sorry all. So this weeks game. Well it wasn’t great was it?! With a nearly 4 week gap, we weren’t as fluid or determined as we were at Langlebury. The wind hammering us back in the first half didn’t help matters, but we lacked the shape to deal with the overloading from the defenders onto our midfield. This in turn meant that they were running in pairs at our defence, and it really was only a matter of time. A word about MOM. This would have been Christian, who’s tackling and will to win was evident to all. Unfortunately it overspilled, and only an excellent refereeing performance kept him on the pitch. Christian - you should have walked. More than once. We love the passion, but I think it intimidates some and creates a panic, not least of which being that we are going to be 10 men soon! Passion but not Serial killer please Christian???!!! Steve Hewitt was my MOM as his tireless running and desire was there for all to see (that’s the passion we need). I think possibly unlucky to be substituted, but I think maybe had run himself out a bit. I thought we’d get the boost of the wind in the second half, but it dropped and that meant they didn’t have to deal with it. Shame, as it was tough first 45, and would have given us a higher pitch position had it held on. We were a little under in a lot of places! I missed several tackles, Chris and I got beaten for the killing second goal too easily. Keiran and Ben didn’t impose themselves like they did the game previous, though it is a fledgling pairing. Gareth, Dan & Robbie didn’t get fed or feed as they can, and we just didn’t get forwards enough to create. I can’t look and say - INSERT NAME you were shit and this is why we lost. We had 13 great performances at Langlebury, and one and a half today. If you think you had a good game and take exception to this then I’m sorry (but you didn’t !). Sometimes the better team doesn’t win. This week it did. What can we do about it? I’d suggest that we try and pull out whatever it was that we found at Langlebury. I didn’t hear the buzz and drive from the get go in this game. Also be intelligent: Fullbacks - don’t be centre halves or wingers. Centrebacks - don’t get dragged out or drag FB’s in CM’s - Pinch your wingers in if necessary, force them wide. Run the middle. Don’t become forwards! Wingers - Pinch in where necessary offer protection. Ppass early. You are the creative engine. Forwards - If we are getting 5 in midfield level the playing field come in - don’t wait to be asked. Always have one on their last man! COMMUNICATION - THE ABOVE WORKS but only if you CONSTANTLY talk to each other ALL GAME……… A LOT !!!! None of the above is rocket science, and we should all know this. We have a cup game that is against a good side to test this out and have an experiment. Lets enjoy it and play our football. Keep it Rotten.
