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No complaints about that, we were dreadful. If I had 50 guesses at what Wilkinson was doing for the second I probably still wouldn't get close.

What worries me the most from today is how tactically inept we were. It didn't take a genius in the second half to work out that the wind was blowing ridiculously from right to left (from the DeBanke). Royston used that really well, yet we were insistent on playing it down the right and quite often the ball went straight out for a throw-in. Had we attacked down the left more second half, like when Shanks put a great ball in across the six yard box, we might have been a bit more fruitful.

Outplayed by a better well-organised team that adapted to the conditions much more than we looked like doing. They held us in the first half, knowing we were there for the taking in the second half. They deserved the win, we need to let this one go, and get back to basics, knocking the ball around, pushing on the opposing team, and creating chances.

Not happy, but, we are not a bad team just because we've lost at home.

COYD

sussexdiamond wrote:Its that December curse again.
Eynesbury, Boston, Thurnby now Royston.

It was a setback, but the good thing about this league is that nobody looks like running away with things, and there are the playoffs as a consolation prize. Perhaps its better to have a big defeat like this than several narrow defeats.

It was also good to see a couple of the U18 team getting a cameo appearance, even if there wasn't really the time for them to show us what they are capable of. I noticed that the U21s didn't have a game today, yet we didn't include any of their regular players, preferring two U18 players who don't normally appear for the U21s.

BartonRaz wrote:The squad is being stretched to the absolute limit and beyond it seemingly. With Dolman, Ashton, Butt, Hall, Harris, ELJ and Joseph missing, not to mention Quigley leaving, there's far too many first team players on the sidelines. I may have missed some!

We actually played quite well in the first half but the weak links were ruthlessly exposed after the break.

Cannot understand for the life of me why Berwick dived when he appeared to have easily rounded the goalkeeper. Had he just walked that into the net the final outcome may not have been the same.

I thought the first half we were good. No complaints about the 2nd half, we were outplayed and deserve nothing, it the tricky windy conditions. It's tight at the top, and we still in the hunt.

I agree with you, that I don't understand at all why Berwick dived when all he had to do was a simple tap in for a goal (after going around the goalkeeper) and the game would have completely changed.

Let's make up for it on Tuesday and bag the 3 points at Hanwell.

Not the best of days and our threadbare squad was exposed tactically and physically in the second half and the Crows played the conditions better.

However, at the beginning of the season I think we would have readily accepted our current league position, certainly after the first three draws.

http://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/southonecentral

Although the Egham/Northwood score is not shown it finished 1-1.

Reflecting on yesterday's performance, the back four obviously have taken some criticism and at times in the second half it looked like the Red Sea parting with the lively Royston forward play.

However, where was the cover from the front players? There was zero cover from the wide players, too often Lorraine only wanted to attack so it was left to Bunting to fill the mid field. Leslie failed to track back and that badly exposed Wilkinson. Defending starts from the front and that was frankly sadly lacking most of the time. Let's hope our management redress this on Tuesday and Harris and Hall are available.

SwildAFCRD wrote:No complaints about that, we were dreadful. If I had 50 guesses at what Wilkinson was doing for the second I probably still wouldn't get close.

What worries me the most from today is how tactically inept we were. It didn't take a genius in the second half to work out that the wind was blowing ridiculously from right to left (from the DeBanke). Royston used that really well, yet we were insistent on playing it down the right and quite often the ball went straight out for a throw-in. Had we attacked down the left more second half, like when Shanks put a great ball in across the six yard box, we might have been a bit more fruitful.

May be a controversial opinion, but of the games I've seen I haven't been convinced by Wilkinson, to be honest. He's done nothing to show me he deserves his place in the team.

diamondgeezer1 wrote: May be a controversial opinion, but of the games I've seen I haven't been convinced by Wilkinson, to be honest. He's done nothing to show me he deserves his place in the team.

Agreed. My back four, when all players are available would be Gordon, Dolman, Ashton and Brown. Based on yesterday's performance I don't see Leslie as any more than a squad player. What is his preferred position?

May be a controversial opinion, but of the games I've seen I haven't been convinced by Wilkinson, to be honest. He's done nothing to show me he deserves his place in the team.[/quote]

not controversial at all,,,,just being honest,,,,,too many times he lets us down at the back post,,,third goal was an almost carbon copy of the second,i even shouted at Ollie to be aware of the chap that scored, he ran down the left wing while everyone was watching the right side and popped in at the back post,,,cue my exit,,,,Merrill used to listen and put his thumb up
I'm not one for posting on here,putting the team down(I do that privately ) heres the but--the team I saw yesterday(second half)are not going to get us promoted,if that's the plan,when I looked at the bench ,the first thought that came into my head was hu ho this is going to be bad .we are so threadbare its unreal (no disrespect implied to the bench) we miss a spine , we have injuries I know , I'm going to say,for me we miss a player like Quigley(there must be others out ther like him, bossing and harassing in the middle,which seems to lift the entire team also a prolific goal machine ,,,,,,fancy football dosent win games,may look good on the eye,but goals count more, see you all Tuesday coyw

Trek wrote:

diamondgeezer1 wrote: May be a controversial opinion, but of the games I've seen I haven't been convinced by Wilkinson, to be honest. He's done nothing to show me he deserves his place in the team.

Agreed. My back four, when all players are available would be Gordon, Dolman, Ashton and Brown. Based on yesterday's performance I don't see Leslie as any more than a squad player. What is his preferred position?

Said in his interview that he's a box to box midfielder and hasn't really played on the right. Wilkinson seems to be hit and miss. Where as he had a shocker yesterday, he was excellent against Leighton. Doe's make you think if Peaksy considers recalling Joe Merrill at any time