Home v Hashtag United 23rd November

[El Matador]

Well that was dreadful. Was always unlikely to be a classic given the weather conditions, but doesn't excuse a completely abject display by Hamlet.

Created next to nothing all game. We're so reliant on Wanadio and Jeffrey for creativity that if they're not firing, we offer no threat.

Could easily have been more than 2-0 with Horlick twice making decent blocks when Hashtag were clean through on goal.

For the first time, I'm really starting to doubt Hak. He's had two summers to build a team and I can't see any progression. Also, given his reputation for getting teams organised, it's incredible how often teams get in behind us from one long ball over the top.

 

[JoeBoy1959]

Absolutely rubbish. Passing was appalling. Team still can't deal with windy conditions - and it's not as if the weather was a surprise or that Champion Hill isn't open to the elements.
And why did he keep Hassan Ibrahiym on the bench?

 

[FHW]

I didn't want to go today. Don't know why but I thought the weather might encourage a truly dire performance and as soon as Hashtag scored my mate and I agreed that the game was already lost. Think I must be a jinx as matches I've made it to are Leatherhead, Hashtag x 2 and Billericay

 

[lwrs79]

Don’t even know where to start with that. I’ve seen some really bad performances under this management team, sometimes they’ve managed to turn it round with magic from Luke or AJ, who we’re so over reliant on, but this was something else, something really rotten.

We’re actually regressing. Terrible archaic football, no tactics, strange team selections, a rigid formation that doesn’t suit the players we have, were so easy to play and score against, concede the same counter attacking goals week after week and the players look absolutely devoid of any confidence. Every one of those things for me have to sit with the manager.

 

[Pink Panther]

It was painful to watch. The blustery wind and persistent light rain didn't help, but Hashtag coped a lot better than we did and created most of the chances. We didn't have a decent shot until just before half time, when Scott's effort from the 18 yard line deflected straight into the keeper's Arms, at which point we'd already been behind for nearly half an hour.

The first goal had an element of misfortune. Horlick seemed to have covered a decent strike from the edge of the box aimed towards the far post, but SBJ stretched to intercept and diverted the ball straight to an unmarked forward on the opposite side of the goal area for an easy tap in.

We huffed and puffed but our passing was so wayward we rarely threatened in open play, and our set pieces were ineffective too. Our first free kick in a good position was wasted with an elaborate routine that nearly led to us conceding on the break.

Ross Marshall returned from his long injury lay off in a holding midfield role, but I barely noticed he was there before he was substituted early in the second half. Hand and Ibrahiym were both benched, although the former was well below par (like most others) when he came on. The one bright spot was a commanding performance by Sam German.

Even at our best, we seem to play quite a frantic high tempo game that leads to a lot of turnovers, meaning we have to chase a lot to regain possession. Most other teams now seem to place more emphasis than we do on retaining possession and building pressure slowly. It's a reversal of what we faced in our previous stint in this division under Gavin Rose from 2013-18. In those days we really stood out in trying to play that way in the Isthmian League. I don't especially advocate one style over the other. There were times under Gavin when we dominated the middle third of the field, seemed to have the ball for two thirds of the time, but tried to walk it into the net instead of shooting and ended up having our trousers pulled down. Ultimately though we were well in the promotion mix up to the final game of the season every year in those days, whereas we're now at risk of falling short again.

The next two league games are both away (Cheshunt next Saturday, then Lewes the following Tuesday) and, unless we can arrest our weak away form by winning one of them, we could have slipped into the bottom half of the table by the time we contest further league points at Champion Hill.

 

[El Matador]

Also the decision to play Bonnett-Johnson at right back and Ross Marshall in central midfield was weird. Why not play them both in their usual position?

 

[Pink Panther]

Also the decision to play Bonnett-Johnson at right back and Ross Marshall in central midfield was weird. Why not play them both in their usual position?

I believe SBJ was originally a right back, although he's primarily played in midfield in recent years, and I feel he's capable enough there. Ross looks a more natural centre back to me, although I suspect lack of match fitness may have been the bigger issue there.

 

[lwrs79]

To play him in cm after 4 months out was a shocking decision from Hak. Can’t understand any thinking behind it. Just shows how little he seems to care about building anything through midfield.

I believe SBJ was originally a right back, although he's primarily played in midfield in recent years, and I feel he's capable enough there. Ross looks a more natural centre back to me, although I suspect lack of match fitness may have been the bigger issue there.

 

[KPMG]

Opponents get forward quickly and put our defence under pressure, and get back quickly to stop us playing. We are slow both ways.
We hoof the ball forward to Millsy, who is usually on his own and surrounded, so even if he manages to get free of the players hanging on him and win the ball there is nobody to take advantage.
When we see video of training sessions it seems there is a lot of running. Players should get and keep fit in their own time. Training should be used for one touch games, set pieces and tactics.
I agree that management have a lot to answer for; I just hope we don’t go up (or down!)

 

[Al Crane]

Big performance needed on Tuesday against Leyton Orient in our only remaining cup competition!

 

[El Matador]

I believe SBJ was originally a right back, although he's primarily played in midfield in recent years, and I feel he's capable enough there. Ross looks a more natural centre back to me, although I suspect lack of match fitness may have been the bigger issue there.

Maybe I'm being unfair then, but I've only seen SBJ play central midfield (where he's always looked very capable) and before his injury, Marshall played at right back.

Marshall looked completely lost in the middle of the park today, but willing to give him a free pass as he'll be well short of match fitness.

 

[Pink Panther]

Maybe I'm being unfair then, but I've only seen SBJ play central midfield (where he's always looked very capable) and before his injury, Marshall played at right back.

Marshall looked completely lost in the middle of the park today, but willing to give him a free pass as he'll be well short of match fitness.

Not necessarily unfair, as those are certainly the positions they've generally played for us. SBJ is 35, so he's played a lot of games over the years, and I believe a good many have been at right back for other clubs.

I don't think I've seen Marshall other than in his few games for us, which were previously all at right back, but my impression is that he's a more natural centre back who can fill in at full back or as a holding midfielder, and has done for previous clubs. Two of our 5 substitutes were central midfielders, so it seemed odd to play him in there for the first time in our colours after his long injury lay off. I'm sure there will have been a specific logic for believing him to be the best available option, but it didn't appear to work out.

 

[Al Cunningham]

Agree with most of the above. We were well beaten today and a fair score would have been at least 0 v 4. I have seen most of the games home and away and it is clear we are a very one dimensional team with a set way of playing which centres on 2 wingers and and a target man home and away. If you stop our wingers you stop Dulwich . You can see the extra attention they get now.
In the majority of away game we have not just been beaten, we have well beaten with teams running through at will from the KO. I would have thought due to our record away from home, keeping it tight early on would be a prerequisite.
We also seem to replace like for like rather than trying something different ...Lynch for Mills, Marshall for Jeffrey. Why not try Lynch for Porter who continues to be completely lost in his role between midfield and attack.
My conclusion is that we are good attacking team when other teams don't do their research. When they do ...ie keep tight on Wanadio and Jeffrey and use the space in midfield and attack our back line with pace rather than height/strength, it is more likely they will triumph.

 

[Pink Panther]

The next two league games are both away (Cheshunt next Saturday, then Lewes the following Tuesday) and, unless we can arrest our weak away form by winning one of them, we could have slipped into the bottom half of the table by the time we contest further league points at Champion Hill.

Just correcting myself, the Lewes trip is on Tuesday fortnight, not Tuesday week. We play leaders Dover at home after Cheshunt, then it's away to Lewes, then away to Dartford 4 days later. That block of fixtures could make or break our season and push us back towards the top 5, or leave us well adrift in the lower half of the table.

Hak interview after the game. On Ross Marshall, he "threw him in". Obviously there were other factors, and if other players had done better it might have looked less of a gamble, but I'd have thought Tuesday would be a better opportunity to do that myself.