They scored pretty much from the off and it was clear our whole out field team is lacking confidence, if not in themselves then in each other. More so than usual we were quiet, they weren't exactly shouting their heads off but they commanded the game so they didn't really need to get rallied up.
Starting with the negatives, we need to stop the long range shots. Sure, sometimes if it comes off it can turn a game in our favour but last night they were lazy, selfish efforts. It just gave the ball straight back to them, our style doesn't rely on much possession (quick, counter-attacking etc) and against good teams, we are usually defending most of the game but most players havent recovered enough confidence to get their first touch right and compose themselves to shoot quickly & accurately. So giving away the ball so cheapy was dissapointing as we needed to get a grip on the ball longer then 5 seconds.
Miss-communication is a constant problem this season and it continued last night. Nobody shouting "man-on", "time" or letting them know where to pass. Half the time the latter was because no one had made the space to offer themselves as an option. Seriously, sometimes you could only describe our defensive positioning or attacking support as stupid. However, it's probably just laziness and a lack of fitness for some. Too quick to give up and to slow to stick a foot in.
We play half way for a reason (how often is this said!), because it helps us prevent through balls and promotes the opposition to do long range shots (which gray will sort out). Another bonus is we can double up because we defend deep, they have to have 1 man sweeping to cover our counters. Which often means that player aint gonna be as involved attacking, so with a bit of intelligent positioning, our spare man can double up. A number of times this spare man just watched the game like a spectator, sometimes they were like 2 yards away from the ball!! Yet they just kept with their man who had no intention of getting involved. Ok sure, if they left him he could make a break but if our teams defending compact in our half, we can crowd him out and cover each other.
Positives, well we did have moments where we played good, quick passing and attacking football. That's the kind of link up play we can do, it's not about ability its just frame of mind for us at the moment. If we can start thinking more positively, bring our game down to simple passing without flair, we can cut down the basic errors and hopefully start winning again.
- Receive the ball (maybe take on ONE man).
- Pass the ball to feet or where the person asks for it.
- Move into space yourself.
Rob pulled some sweet goals out of the bag. Rod snuck a goal in the near post and could have had a few more on another day. Ken, stimo and david also got on the scoresheet. Only Burke didn't score but he did hit the bar and i thought was one of our better players again. Gray did his best in goal but a lot of their goals where from our defense loosing their man and leaving it 1 on 1 or giving too much space and letting them shoot long range.
Things are getting better though, that's the main thing.
Goals: Rob (3), David (1), Ken (1), Rod (1), Stimo (1)
Team from: Burke, David, Graeme, Ken, Rob, Rod, Stimo
3 comments:
unlucky boys obviously werent there so cant really comment next week we got green man. Lets see the excuses get in a bit earlier this week. If your not gonna play let ste know early. Better excuses if you can make them sound realistic no lame ones! maybe a truthful i dont wanna play cos these are a dirty team!
if we had a full squad every week i reckon we can beat anyone! ROB we need you to show up everyweek its only me and you at the moment who score more then 3 consistantly. When you dont show its left to me an vice verser. ste hurry up and get your ass back involved cos your gonna be rusty as fuck gonna take a few weeks for ya to get ya touch back as it is.
I'm not sure which team Green Man are anyway! Dirty or not, it wouldn't bother me anyway, but I won't be playing next Wednesday, as Liverpool are playing in the champions league semi final against Chelsea. I don't think I'll be the only one pulling out because of the Liverpool game. If it's changed to the Tuesday I'll play, but I can't do Thursday.
Last night was very frustrating, after the first five minutes I felt like some of us played as if we'd already been beaten. I know confidence is low, but that just means we have to work even harder. And of course we should, we should be determined to change things round. I'll admit I'm not a good player, but I'll give 100%. When we're playing a good team, we all have to do the same because we're not good enough to carry a couple of average players as well as players who aren't giving their all. Last nights team were decent throughout, with one or two good players. A few might have been just young lads, but they were all up for it and they weren't dirty. To begin with we lost a bit of concentration and then gave up, somehow got back into it, lost concentration again and gave up again. There's no point playing if we lose concentration, try stupid arse tricks that only lowers self-confidence and reduces teammates trust, and then give up because of our own mistakes. Last night wasn't the worst it's been, but sometimes we just beat ourselves by having the wrong attitude.
I don't want to miss the game next week, but I think it's understandable because of the Liverpool match and I haven't missed any other Hilltop game due to Liverpool since 2005. If next weeks team are dirty, it sounds like a game that we really need to be up for. None of our team goes to play footy for aggro, but we can't let it intimidate us, so when we play we have to have the right attitude and concentrate.
Likely the game will be changed to another night, will text around to see whats best.
We did seem to give up very early, was well dodgy that.
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