Folding like a deck of cards is starting to become a pattern now. Like it or not boys we have shipped 6 goals plus far too many times this year for it to be anything other than our own fault. We need to all take a good hard look at ourselves and ask the tough question: Am I doing enough? Personal responsibility. I will only say this: Do you ever feel Nolan or Gregor are giving anything less than all they have? Neither are Pele (& they know it). Simply put they play at the limit of their talent - on the line every game. Yes they make mistakes (you will when you are playing on the edge & in the 3rd division!), but never will they leave you short of effort. Wise old bastards for a reason boys! 12, twelve, yup, a dozen players turned up for Saturdays game - I had eighteen the week before. Whilst we ended up getting spanked, kudos to those who took the abuse. Its not good enough really is it? Thats the third time this year we have been left with a bare 11. I don’t want to hear a single person mutter about subs or playing personnel for the rest of this season - age - ability - mistakes or otherwise…… short for the third time out of 10 games is the last word END OF. So, the match itself…… We gifted the first goal, and Gareth fair play held his hands up for letting the guy get the wrong side of him. He didn’t make the same mistake again, despite playing in an unfamiliar CB role, he went on to have a MOM performance for the team. Keiran back in the middle with Ben commanded as a pair for the first half. Dan T patrolled the left with me whilst Gaz/Alkie marauded down the right. Up top Steve H and the Machine looked to trouble a very slow defence. The pitch was very heavy, and we sussed that moving the ball out of the middle would give us joy fairly quickly. We levelled through a great ball from Ben, Dan running home and finishing with great composure. We now had a period of utter dominance, at least three one on ones came and went. During this time we had a great build up move from defence to attack, Ben myself, Keiran, Dan and finally Stevie all involved, with the latter firing home from inside the six yard box. 2-1. We pressured more and more, with one attack costing me a knee high tackle on my operated foot putting paid to my afternoon. Gregor coming on to replace, we juggled the pack moving Gareth to full back. Dale ran into a huge challenge and got badly winded for his bravery, leaving us with ten and a half players for the rest of the game. Would have been nice to have some subs eh? Unfortunately, their equaliser came whilst we were resetting and getting shape, so we entered halftime all square. The second half has to be one of the worst I can remember. Sorry. Three goals came in 8 minutes, and in pain and freezing cold, I confess to loosing my sense of humour. Nothing went right, our shape had gone (3 forwards), Keiran had changed his boots at half time, and I think he got them on the wrong way round! Winning loads of ball and working his socks off, he just couldn’t buy a pass. I asked at half time to hit the strikers and get the ball in behind as they were slow. It took unitil 75 minutes before Ben attempted the first over the top ball. It was a quagmire in the middle and it simply wasn’t a game for playing it in there. I must confess I should’ve communicated this better at the time, but I was feeling a bit gay and sorry for myself and my foot. I did feel for Dale plugging on, and chaps we rely on the Machine to dig us out of holes too much. What do we do on an off day or with an injury? Who carries his lunchbox to school? We have a cup game this weekend. A chance to play against a good Hemel side (Dave cup remember them?). Think about your discipline, the instructions given, your personal pride and the guys who you have relied on being paid back. All I ever want is to feel that we have given a good account of ourselves. I don’t care if we win, but we normally do if the first bit happens (funny that?). Keep it Rotten. Gaffer.
