Crappy Sunday afternoons

[Matt Hallam]

I know it's a bit of a stupid question but when I get home and constantly think about what we could have done differently. Or what we can do to change this wretched run of results it feels like a very lonely place.

Just wondered what everyone else thought?

[Gareth]

Having watched the last 3 games from the sidelines, I can easily say that it is depressing and at time comical to watch.

We appear to struggle with the basics of passing when we have the ball and we struggle even more with marking our man and tackling.

For the past 3 weeks I have hardly seen a crunching tackle put in on an oppenent, we don't appear to have a nasty or competative streak. We don't make it difficult for the opposition to score, and in recent weeks we have more or less helped them to score - with some of our decision making, mistakes and lack of concentration.

Some of the goals conceeded on sunday highlighted this point, when their guty waltzed through from the half way line without a proper tackle put on him, he was able to walk the ball in the net. Other goals saw us just not put out foot through it and clear it, whilst other were simply down to not tracking our man!!

Another problem we have is ball retention, when ever we have the ball, we rarely pass it more than twice before it get hoofed forward. We have become a long ball team over the past season. This isn't just because we don't have the ability to pass, because we have all shown we can pass either at training or at some stage in the season, it's just that we don't move enough without the ball to be in a position to receive a pass, thus leaving the passer with no option.

We can all improve individually and more importantly as a team, we need to bring more hard work and more agression into our matches and then perhaps we might win the opportunity to play football in the opponents half of the field.

[Dave from Samba]

Shame you lads didnt get a result against dynamo or run them close but u didnt do too bad against Bestwood did u some weeks ago.

I dont mean to be telling ur club wat to do or anything and Samba arent perfect themselves(sometimes we are), but surely looking at your goals against column is obviously ur main problem, 109 goals conceded in what 18 games? averaging 6 goals conceded per game.

5-4-1, 4-5-1 anything to keep that tally down will help you a lot in my opinion. I remeber when we played yourselves opening day, you werent bad going forward but get ripped to bits at the back. We all hope u change results and move up the table as you one of a few teams in this league who actually want to play football and not just fight like a few that come to mind

Sorry if my opinion seems harsh but ive given it!

[Matt Hallam]

Well I'm not going to argue with anything that has been written by either Gareth or Dave. Both of them make valid comments. The only thing I would pull Dave up on though is that we DID play 5-4-1 against Dynamo and still got thumped

At the moment Dave we could have 10 players in defence and it wouldn't make a blind bit of difference.

I hate to say it lads but, having been involved with this club from the start, we really are in danger of, statistically, being the worst team ever. And believe me we've had some bad seasons in the past.

The points that Gareth made about our tackling, passing, off the ball movement, marking, are all valid. I would say though Gareth that being a 'long ball team' still requires an element of skill and we don't even possess that at the moment. We are more a 'hit it and hope team'.

Dave is not a tactical genius when he points out that we concede too many goals a game. It's bleedin' obvious.

BUT. And it is a big but.

What are we going to do about it?

What can we do about it?

This thread is the third one in as many weeks about the teams short comings and still there is no improvement. How bad do we have to be before there is a fundamental shift in the way we approach each game. It's easy to point out what IS going wrong. How do we change it without changing six or seven players (assuming that were possible).

I know that I did not enjoy yesterdays game one bit. It was painful to be part of from start to finish and I desperately want to change that.

By the way Dave you, and anyone else for that matter, are welcome to post on here. As long as the post is constructive and polite we are happy to hear what you have to say.

[steve wednesdays]

Just a very quick comment having not watched your team play but i'm a big believer in playing your best players at centre half. They should pass on confidence to your other players and they will be guaranteed to be involved in the game. If you play them up front or on the wing they could be stood there for 5 minutes at a time not involved which is a waste of talent. It might mean a postional change for a few players but it might work.

[GIBBONS SAMBA]

Chins up lads. The ultimate reason to play Sunday football is to enjoy it win, lose or draw. Not so easy understandably when victories are so few and far between.
Maybe an idea to concentrate on re-building for next season and trying one or two new things for the remainder of this and getting back to enjoying matches.

It's great that you all want to win and annoyed when you don't but possibly you could try an attitude "if we lose, we lose but if we do we'll do it always trying to pass short, always encouraging teammates, always giving 100% and keep tackling until the final whistle blows" even if you concede a few goals trying to pass the ball it's more fun that hoofing it and chasing it all day

If any of us Sunday players were that good we'd be playing league football so don't be too hard on yoursleves. There can only be one best side in the world and one worst side. Everyone else is somewhre in between. Good luck with the rest of the season.

Now any advice on how to motivate myself at work instead of trawling football websites for conversation?

Samba Dave - Look at you with you dishing out the managerial advice. Following in your father's footsteps!!!

[Matt Hallam]

Very wise words Gibbo.

I think we need to use your post above as the blueprint for the 2005/06 season.

As for work motivation. If anyone gives you the answer let me know as well.

Cheers

See you on the 20th March!!!

[Badger]

If you are all big lads with a bit of flair for being acrobats, you could see if you could fill the goal with 11 outfield players and take the pain of a ball being smacked at you!? Stop the goal going in!!