Very pleased today, although being open and honest, I was furious at the substitutions. But it paid off with three points so no room for complaint. Did the team decide to kick towards the Rainham End in the first half as part of psychology after recent home defeats? As for that lino he was a nightmare! I felt Dag&Red were a big threat today, are these teams upping their game against us, I cannot believe their league position, although with that exceptional cool and firmly placed goal by their number three, which was quality, they were otherwise lacking the killer punch. Maybe that is because the back four of Fish, Legge, Barratt and Martin have solidated such a partnership, the opposition are being thwarted time and time again. I have taken a real liking Legge, so much so he has started to take the limelight away from Barratt for me and not just because he scored (contrary to the announcers view). Burton needed a cool head on his shoulders to take that penalty, especially as I could hear people around me voicing about the last time he took one. Where did Weston find his legs from at the end, that is the second time I have seen him do that now, the last time he scored, this time Burton must have felt under pressure in front of open goal with the incoming cross and eyeing in the corner of his eye a fast approaching defender, which was probably just enough to take his concentration, to target the post, rather than the back of the net. Back to those subs, slightly unfair to put such pressure on Dack's shoulders at such a stage of the game, but hey that's what he is paid for, I just wish people would just shut the heck up, when he makes a mistake. Good to see Legge give the lad a pat on the head in encouragement. Just a quick word about Martin. Now you all know my previous thoughts about him but wow, I've seen it several games now, what has changed, he is doing what I like to see a left back do and guess what...Yes, on recent performance alone he would be in my team and most of you never thought you would hear the day I would say that! Not everything went our way but a game is 90 minutes, so I don't expect it too. Do I think we will get automatically promoted, well today we just move one massive step closer. Well done the lads and as for MA, well I remain a critic and with those subs I could have verbally slaughtered you, but that's why your the boss and I never will be
Really brb, admittedly I was only listening on the Gillsplayer but the subs made perfect sense to me: Framps for Burton - at 1-1 we needed to make an attacking subtitution. To take Framps off, move Lee into the middle, stick Myles out on the left and put Deon up front is a way to keep the same system but increasing the attacking potential (i.e. two established forwards up front) McDonald for Gregory - the reserval of the above, same system but more defensive, plus the flexibility to play 5 in midfield. Fish for Dack - Doesn't sound like a planned decision but Fish was booked and was given a torrid time and it would be better to have a makeshift right back than no right back!!
Yeah Whelpdale went back there to cover for Fish. Happy we are top but main thing is that we won, that is just a bonus.
It's all about getting over the line now. Just keep on grinding out the results. Maybe only six or seven more wins needed for automatic?
I am thinking 7 wins and we are done but that is saying the other 7 are defeats so I would hope for more. If you look at it for us to not go up after 7 wins would take all the other teams o win like 10 out of 14, can't see that happening
I think a lot of our problems laid with the man in black and not the players and we should not be having to make subs accordingly. I even watched Charlie Lee after his booking and then later being spoken too, he was then backing out of challenges. Charlie's only wrong doing in the game imo was for not being selfish when breaking on goal. When Fish was booked I did not see what he did wrong either, he was far from being given a torrid time imho. Dag&Red were trying to open us up down that right and once he was subbed they nearly did and my thoughts are unprintable. You mentioned Whelpdale, well where was he, because all I saw was young Dack being pushed into the opposition down the flank. My thoughts are the ref could have lost us this game or at least two points. After that we just shut up shop but that can be a very dangerous game to play, Cody for Gregory, amazed.
Yes, he was limping earlier on after a slight knock, but I thought it had worn off, unless MA has stressed that point somewhere in the media which I have not read since coming home from the game, then I did not believe that was the reason. Have you seen anything that stresses that was the reason? Also Cody initially looked as amazed as me at being subbed.
Still cannot believe we are back top. Got the breaks again today. Again our best players were in defence with Legge and Barrett super. Great praise also to Weston for his tireless work. We should keep an eye on their number 3 for a signing he looked brillant. Very happy with the 3 points but still not convincing at home.
I couldn't understand why he took so long to raise his flag after Legge scored. Did he have to phone a friend before thinking there might have been an offside somewhere in the play ? But perhaps I shouldn't have been so surprised - he managed to confuse Weston and McDonald ( colour blind ) There were other poor decisions. There was a lot of shirt pulling that went 'unnoticed' - and a Barrett handball that could have cost us a penalty. I don't expect the linesman to see everything - but to miss stuff that everyone ( except the referee ) can see is bordering on the incompetent. On a more positive note - we might not be playing pretty football - but it must be better than the rest of the league over the last 32 games ?
He looked ok to me, I would not have mentioned the situation accept for gfc1234 comment. Just a few minutes to shake off. Although I was concerned it was hamstring at first.
brb- so just to clarify, you like legge, barratt (MA old boy signings) and you now like Fish and Martin who lets be honest under Hessy looked pretty dire but are now completely transformed under MA. I can almost feel the love!!! Almost.....
I think the defence has improved a lot under MA midfield is still a bit behind what it was before but Anton Robinson does look good even when others were letting Dag & Red have to much space he made sure he got to it and he kept running after it which is what we want with a midfielder, he looks like a player who could be very good and when he picked up in the second half he kept chasing nearly got through and then made them make a mistake pass the ball got it back run through and got taken down by their keeper which we scored the penalty so great work by him. I think it is now just down to the midfield to gel together as there has been a few changes now and they need to work on chasing down as the passing has got better now.
