Yesterday was frustrating, but when you look at it overall we should have won, 2 quality saves from their keeper and a few goalmouth scrambles, on another day we'd have won by a couple of goals, lady luck has deserted us at the moment.....she'll return.
Personally I'm delighted to see Justin sign a contract extension, I think he's a real prospect for the future and I'm sure he has a clause in his contract to say he can leave if a League club comes knocking, as I'm sure they will eventually, but why the secrecy over the length of contract?? He performed miracles for us last season and at the start of this, he had the heart of his sided ripped out, lost Stoney his number 2, and still we made a decent start to the season - our luck will change, keep the faith. Before a ball was kicked I said we'd finish 10th, I still think we will be there or there about.
We are still suffering from Dale's passing, no doubt about that. We all know we need to draw a line under it and move on, but its easier said than done when there are so many young players in the side. For many, if not all, this will be their first experience of death, it'll take some getting over. I actually think there are a few players out there "trying too hard" at the moment and its making them anxious and prone to mistakes - what they now need is everyone getting behind them and urging them on.
On tactics I don't like the 4-3-3 line up personally. I think it makes us play far too narrow and we don't get the width or supply into the front men, it makes them play further apart and the attack isn't as "tight" as it should be as a result, Gash is winning headers but there is no-one there to pick up on the flick-ons. 4-4-2 is my preferred strategy, I can understand why Justin wants to play 4-3-3, in theory we should be able to dominate the midfield by having 4/5 there when in posession, but its just not working, the boys don't seem to understand the system well enough, for me its a failed strategy.
Confidence throughout the squad looks shot to pieces at the moment and we desperately need that first win under out belts. Hopefully we'll be able to field enough players for a side on Tuesday and it will come them, get one win and I think the confidence will start to flow back, I fear if we go 2 or 3 more games without a win and lose to lower league opposition in the Trophy we'll start to feel real pressure from sides below us.
The massive positives for me yesterday were Prosser and Thorne, who I thought looked quite solid, once they've developed a bit of an understanding I think they'll be great additions to the squad - Thorne in particular impressed me (mind you, I think he should have walked, definate red card I thought, got away with that one).
A win and we'll all feel differently, it will come, keep smiling, we have a club still
