merse
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Post by merse on Aug 16, 2009 10:56:33 GMT
every1 goes on about the defence and how poor they were,i was there today and noticed very quickley there was no help from the midfield,yes robertson wasnt the best but the same as nicholson they had no help from any midfield,everyone is singing charnocks praises but if u had kept an eye on the left nicholson always had a spare player to be watching and charnock and todd were just lost with each other.when u watch the other teams we play they always have there wide midfielders supporting and getting back to help the left/right full backs but for some strange reason torquay most the time dont.  I think this is a very valid point and particularly so regarding the left back rather than the right back. This is even more accentuated when Danny Stephens plays and his appreciation of the need to protect Nicho was non existent yesterday which is why (I believe) the manager switched him and Carlisle before half time and then took him off during the half time interval. Whilst we can all appreciate the exceptional value of Kevin Nicholson's usual quality of ball delivery into the strikers, we must also be aware of his certain (not disastrous) lack of pace when being "run at" and the player who is selected to play in front of him must be mindful of that at all times and play accordingly. I thought Chris Zebroski was particulary adept at that whenever he played on the left, and I think Wayne Carlisle is too and it's something I hope Mustapha Caryol will bring to his ever improving and expanding repertoire as his physique and thus his career developes in the coming months. Experienced players like Nicho and Hargreaves can bring the best out of young Muzzy, who let's not forget is barely 20 years old and has been long highly rated by Paul Ince, his mentor at Swindon, Macclesfield and MK Dons. I'm sure "The Guvnor" will be keeping himself up to date wth his progress with us now that he is re-installed back at the MK Dons as emerging talent at clubs like ourselves are just the sort of players clubs of their staure would be looking at with an eye for a purchase. As for Stephens, I think his future will prove to be in off the flanks where he played so successfully as a young lad in North London. He neither has the pace nor the body strength to hold off a full back if the opponent has the nous to "show him outside" ~ for that is the way to nullify Danny................stop him getting inside you, because from there if he can work himself a little bit of room he can be devastating. What did people think of young Wesley Thomas yesterday when he came on as sub for The Daggers? I've followed him with interest since his Fisher Athletic days and was trying to push his name to Paul Buckle early last season through a third party who claimed to have the manager's ear. Thomas's first touch of the ball when he came on yesterday was explosive and his goal at the end showed just what he is all about..................there are loads of young lads like him in non league football in London; lads who have all the right attributes and good habits, ball skills and awareness taught them at Community Acadamies, and Professional Development Centres and even then do not make the Premier or Football League Academies for one reason or another. Those that aren't strong enough, focussed enough or determined enough drop out of the game, but those of character, determination and ambition find the focus to drop into a level that will acccomodate them and begin the long climb upwards towards the full time professional game and are often all the better types for that trait. It's THE place for a club like us (as Dagenham do) to be scouting. You know it makes sense! |
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merse
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Post by merse on Aug 16, 2009 14:14:44 GMT
Anthony and Olivia accompanied me to the game yesterday and we watched from the "Sieve" terrace just opposite the players' tunnel. It wasn't long before the first match ball of the day was wellied over the stand roof and with that Anthony took off like a dog out of trap one and returned from rooting around out the back with a grin like a water melon and clutching the ball! He naively believed it would be "finders keepers" and I had to break the news to him that the Football club would want it back. No-one came looking for it however, so it made a perfect "step" so that he could stand that little bit higher and see more clearly over the peimeter wall. Interspersed with little "wall pass" games, nut megging his ever sacrificial little sister and "Cruyff Turns" it was half time before he tossed it onto the pitch to Mustapha Caryol and once our goalscoring sub appeared in the bar (the only player to do so, he had someone to meet) after the match; Anthony was straight after him to congratulate him on that "wicked" goal as he described it; and to inform him that it was he who gave the ball for his half time kick about! Watch out Muzzy, Anthony's only twelve years behind you! 
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Post by chipnicker02 on Aug 16, 2009 14:27:30 GMT
Firstly, thank you to rjdgull and Dave R for the kind comments on the success of my winning the Poster of the week 2 weeks ago. Apologies for not posting sooner but we have been away on holiday – which we returned from to be welcomed with yesterday’s Dagenham game. The ground is in urgent need of a refurbishment, to put it nicely. It was reminiscent of visits to non-league grounds last season, such as Histon. Well done to our enthusiastic fans who kept the songs going pretty much throughout the game, I thought they very much out sung the home fans. It seemed to fall apart for us during the second half – two goals from Dagger’s Danny Green within sixty seconds of one another seemed to put the game beyond us – but the final ten minutes or so were certainly interesting. I was surprised at the substitution of Nicky Wroe for Brough – I thought he seemed to be having a better game than most players. A good decision?? Wroe certainly didn’t think so. I am quite new to this, but I would question the decision to change the formation to 4-3-3 at half time? Three Dagenham goals quickly followed, prompting a return to 4-4-2. Hopefully Bucks learnt that 4-3-3 didn’t really prove successful in this game. Congrats to Carayol for his absolute cracker of a goal  – surely a strong contender for Soccer AM goal of the week? Bevan obviously didn’t have a very good day  – however, I am sure that for whatever reason this was we will see a return to his usual top form very soon. I was disappointed with Danny Stevens’ performance, and agreed with Bucks decision to substitute him for Elliot Benyon, whom I thought played well, and that there was a notable difference once he had joined upfront. Real shame about their final goal – I’m sure I wasn’t alone in willing the lads to take 4-3 to 4-4, which Carayol very nearly managed, however Dagenham were the ones to score again and walked away with a deserved 5-3 win. Overall, I think that yesterday’s outcome was a one-off, and hopefully not a sign of results to come. |
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tufc01
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Post by tufc01 on Aug 16, 2009 15:31:16 GMT
Blimey what it is to have different experiences of the same thing (matches, journeys etc.) My journey through London on the way was like hell on earth and took over 2 hours 30 mins from the M4 junction with the M25. It was a funereal pace and served to remind me how lucky I am not to live in London. My return to the same spot via the M25 North was serene and took just over 1 hour. Yes quite a difference. We were staying at Heston Services on M4 and our Journey took 3 hours 30 minutes from there, but included a 2 hour 'shop-over' at Westfields. On the way back we got caught at the Dartford crossing for what seemed an eternity and it took over 90 minutes to get to M3 turn off. |
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Enzo
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Post by Enzo on Aug 16, 2009 15:57:56 GMT
1) Bevan has either not recovered from his injury or has picked up another one, as he was clearly struggling to get down to save low shots. If I were the manager, I would be on the phone to Southampton as soon as possible. Michael Poke's services should be obtained again until Bevan has regained full fitness. Poke has said that he enjoys playing for this club and I believe that it could be fairly easy to arrange. Very good point. Bevan's fitness was mentioned on the radio. You just cannot get away with being slightly less than fully fit - it will sow a seed of doubt which will make a huge difference to a player's effectiveness. Like you, I would love to see Poke return. Fair point about Bevan. His kicking has been poor also. It is a tricky one as he also seemed to be limping against Chesterfield, but still pulled off two saves which Rice would not have got near......and was very commanding with crosses. This brings me to a question that, like the Woods issue, will never be far away from TUFC forums - what is the point of Martin Rice? Despite yesterday, I'd rather have a semi fit Bevan in the side rather than the terribly indecisive Rice. It would seem the Manager also feels that way, if indeed Bevan is carrying a niggle. A few people have mentioned getting Poke back - has anyone mentioned starting with Rice on Tuesday? I think yesterday also demonstrated how much we miss Mansell at right back. He finished last season very strongly and was good against Chesterfield. He has far more agility than Robertson and also helps the wide men out more - his delivery into the box has also improved. There are certainly some interesting decisions to be made for the Burton match - on yesterday's performance you would think that Muzzy has to paly ahead of Stevens. However, if there is one player who hurt Burton last year it was Danny, having scored a cracker at their place and set up one of goals on the last day of the season. With the exposure of our defensive frailties there is also the question of Hodges. The inadequate support that the midfield gave the defence has already been touched upon - maybe we will be less adveturous in the next couple of away games and use Hodges league experience. I'd have him in the team, probably centre back to be honest. Up front, the day is fast approaching where Benyon is given a starting place. Do you drop your new signing or the man who has scored you 20 goals in the last couple of seasons? The doubts are all over the park - can Hargreaves manage two games a week? Other than Carlisle and Bevan (due to a lack of an alternative) surely nobody can be sure of their place on Tuesday. |
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petef
Match Room Manager
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Post by petef on Aug 16, 2009 17:25:27 GMT
A disappointing result but not totally unexpected. We have a squad that has just emerged from non league and it's only right to see if they can step up to the mark, time will tell.
The euphoria after opening day win and consequent stuffing at Dagenham yesterday is more or less what we should expect in the coming weeks. Only in around three months time will we really know where we are as squad and whether we able or unable to compete on a regular basis at this level. I would like to think that both Dagenham and Chesterfield are two of the better sides in this division but who really knows who the top teams will be and who will to be the whipping boys this season. There may be a few surprises in that respect.
Mid table is all we can realistically expect and patience amongst us lot is key , what we do lack in pace and ability is more than made up for in team spirit and a determination to do well from players and management alike.
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merse
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Post by merse on Aug 16, 2009 17:33:57 GMT
Sensible attitude Pete and something for all the drama queens to take on board!
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Post by aussie on Aug 16, 2009 17:36:33 GMT
I`ll second that Merse!
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Post by chrish on Aug 16, 2009 18:24:05 GMT
Thats a pretty good post Pete. I was going to post some comments last night but it would've made for despressing reading. Yesterday was my first game of the season and the first time I've seen our new signings. Rendell I thought worked quite hard and looks like he could be a more than useful addition. Charnock also looks like he's going to be a quality signing. Dagenham are a very good side and have pace, effort (especially in closing us down) and no little technique. Josh Scott up front was a constant threat (signed on a free from Hayes and Yeading back in June). Solomon Taiwo in midfield was also excellent.
As for our lot. Wayne Carlisle, in terms of technique and ability, looked the most accomplished player we had on the pitch. The players who really concerned me were Todd, Hargreaves and Stevens. I think its far too early to tell if Nico's poor performance yesterday will be indicative of this ability to perform at this level but he was awfully exposed at times. I don't think playing Robertson at right back is a good idea either at this level. I think you could get away with it in the BSP.
Todd's performance was worrying, he was very hesitant and his positional awareness was awful. I'm not sure whether Chris Hargreaves is mobile enough to really get in and break up the oppositions play. He wasn't able to get near the Dagenham midfield yesterday. Wroe. Awful first half, slightly better second half. Danny Stevens? He had a poor game. Carayol looked the part in his little cameo role near the end. The problem is that he'll look good enough to warrant a place in the next starting line up and then he'll have an absolute shocker.
So Burton next. Is it me? Am I a bad omen? We'll get better I'm sure.
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Post by romfordkev on Aug 16, 2009 19:19:57 GMT
I heard last year that we had acquired a London based scout ( Simon Pullein, formerly with Exeter City) and would wonder tonight if (a) he is still working for us? and (b() if he is, just what are his contacts and knowledge base? Simon Pullen also did a bit of scouting for Swansea City, Millwall and Grays Athletic - and was based in the Sunbury and Feltham areas (ideal for scouting around the M25). He no longer has a link to Torquay United, to the best of my knowledge. |
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Post by bhamgull on Aug 16, 2009 20:18:45 GMT
certainly a very poor performance yesterday, and hargreaves' post recent blog worries me...
In saying that we have recovered well before and i hope that come burton we show our skills of recovery once more.
I really hope the likes of Hargreaves, Todd and Nicholson do go on to prove me wrong but I honestly don't see them as league two players. I fully appreciate their efforts in the conference but whether they can translate those abilities into this league is a real doubt. This is not to say I think we should ship them out, their experience is vital to the talented young players we have.
As for the Danny/Mustapha debate...well I would side with Carayol. As has been mentioned we look solid down on the right, because Carlise offers great protection to Mansell. I think Carayol has greater defensive abilities than Danny, and then on top of that has more threat and unpredictability (a good thing in my mind) that scares the defender he is attacking.
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Post by capitalgull on Aug 16, 2009 20:29:53 GMT
I was wondering about the entry on Greavsie's Blog as well, but sat across from me here, Stepho has come up with his one interesting point of conversation for 2009, with a suggestion it could well be something to do with Damien Davey's departure from the club.
I believe he and Greavsie were pretty good friends, and having played three times in a week, was it our fitness that was found out perhaps?
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Post by romfordkev on Aug 16, 2009 20:34:54 GMT
Just out of interest Dave, are there no "matchday pics" for this game?
Or was the photo deal with Pinnacle just for home games?
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Post by bhamgull on Aug 16, 2009 20:40:25 GMT
Perhaps it is, would certainly make sense. I hope it's not too bad anyhow.
Onto Burton for me, i'm in danger of getting worried about the mighty Gulls, and after seeing us promoted thats the last thing any of us would want!
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Aug 16, 2009 20:46:00 GMT
I was wondering about the entry on Greavsie's Blog as well, but sat across from me here, Stepho has come up with his one interesting point of conversation for 2009, with a suggestion it could well be something to do with Damien Davey's departure from the club. I believe he and Greavsie were pretty good friends, and having played three times in a week, was it our fitness that was found out perhaps? That sounds a good shout, Andy. The only thing I would counter is that Greavsie sees the potential for "it" to be ongoing throughout the season. I do think Buckle is crying out for some form of scouting network from his recent remarks and wonder if that is something Greavsie is privy to in terms of it's "thorny issue" status. |
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– surely a strong contender for Soccer AM goal of the week?
– however, I am sure that for whatever reason this was we will see a return to his usual top form very soon.
