My thoughts on yesterdays game. Presumably it was a starting 11 influenced by John North, nothing wrong with that as probably the sensible option even if JW has seen the team play on several occasions. What it would of achieved is to enable JW to evaluate that squad of players in a competitive situation. Without wanting to be harsh my view on what was out there is quite simple, We need the keeper situation sorted, preferably a keeper who is signed on, if Beven regains full fitness then thats fine by me. At the back Kenneth is a liability and for what ever reason cant seem to head the ball, when he does it usually balloons straight up in the air, he looks clumsy and slightly over weight, on the other hand I thought Bolger was good yesterday, solid mobile and great with his head, could teach Kenneth a thing or two, I would make it a priority to get him signed on if possible as part of our future centre defensive pairing along side Parkes, I like Smith on the right and feel he has a future there with Woodards, Brown needs to be first choice on the left side of defence, I like Pattison he has a football brain but unfortunetly has lost any pace he may have had but still a good back up. Midfield is a mess, of all the combinations of players played there it never looks any other than light weight, thats not to say there are not some promising players playing the role, we just lack a presence in there, I feel we require at least 1 very good player at our level in the middle someone not to disimular to Cambell, the right man would have an impact on the others around him and improve the midfield significantly, I am happy to see Norburn, Clucas, Lund & Clarkson compete for the midfield role and even feel Gill could benifit from a tough uncompromising addition alongside him, I like Clarkson the only issue with him is he seems neither a midfielder nor an out and out striker so in my opinion he is abit of a luxury player which may be a price to much to pay in order to get the balance of the team correct, Broghammer and Anyinsah are fine for the wide role, although the jury is out on the latter who I feel might have a more productive game up front if anywhere? We have to get back to basics and play 4-4-2 (I understand why we played 5 across the middle) but the one man up front role is a thankless task and makes me cringe for the player asked to fill the position, Eaves huft and puft yesterday, you lose count of the times when he and indeed Harold flicks a ball on to the invisble man which inevitable brings the pressure straight back, shame Eaves is about to go back to Bolton, if it was possible I would bring him in perminately if not at least on loan until the end of the season, but he has to have a partner alongside, if young Elliot can get his head in gear thats fine, same for Anyinsah, but I can only see a very productive forward line if Eaves was to pair up with a Jamie Curiton type player, am I asking too much? In reality I would bring in only the very minimum to try to ensure league survival, the last thing the club needs to do is blow good money on panic measures, there wont be much worth investing in come January, unless your willing to part with very good money to poach players away from other clubs (thats if they will be willing to come) then you will be lumbered with big wages and long contracts something we really dont need especially if the worse was to happen, how hard can it really be for the current players to get us out of the mess were in, perhaps a phone call to Barnet might help give a few pointers!! Also yesterday I have always hated musical instruments at football matches, if you happen to be next to the person playing the things it must be murder, but that drum yesterday was class I thought it really got the atmosphere going, if their fans started to make a noise also they would most definetly be the extra man, would it help improve the atmosphere for us to have a drummer in the Blackthorn end?
brilliant thread and surprised by the lack of replies the game sounded poor on the radio but the thing that sticks out for me is what the radio said that the players looked like they were fighting for each other which has been missing all season. JW has managed to get this installed in a week! for me walker is poor and needs to go. think he concedes more than he saves. WE NEED A NEW KEEPER ASAP. a keeper that the defence can be confident with. i too happy with smith and woodards at RB. i think paterson needs to go as too slow for a LB and brown been disappointing this season. i would also now prefer bolger and parkes at CB. kenneth needs time out and decide where he wants to be. he obviously was close to MM sharing car journeys etc and was together when MM got the call from higgs saying he was sacked. and with kenneths outburst at the fans recently and looking disinterested, i can see him wanting out in the summer although he has a 3 year contract. midfield has been a shambles all season. we have no regular in midfield which explains why we have a lack of goals and why we are easily bullied there and over run. JW needs to address this issue URGENTLY. strikers.... no riordan now, eaves will go, harrold injured, and now clarkson injured. this leaves richards and anyinsah which wont keep us up. WARD has alot of work to do
Cheers CJS I thought the thread might provide good discussion, one thing that was in no doubt the team looked far more interested and got stuck in, the very least I wanted to see on the day whatever the result, a draw was a positive because it gives us something to build on, credit to the lads they looked like they wanted to go on and win the game, a dodgy decision after getting back into it late on, Aldershot could have easily broke away and scored a third, the point was vital to us, a loss would have been disasterous.
it would, but the forum in general is quiet, not just our board though. time of the year i guess keep posting, dont give up. im always here from 5.30 onwards as working all day. we rely on everyone to get involved to keep this board going and fresh
Another key issue, if I've got it right, is that was another game without bookings!! That allows the side to play together more consistantly.
