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Post by Padz on Dec 5, 2011 10:10:12 GMT
Tuesday away to Brackley
discussion , predictions etc
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Post by Rijs on Dec 5, 2011 15:41:34 GMT
This will be a really tough match for City, who will have to up their game from Saturday's performance if they are to avoid defeat.
Reflecting on the first half of the season, I think a lot of people have been overestimating City. Mike Ford has been realistic all through. Off the back of a year fighting relegation, he said at the start that the aim this year was consolidation--he wasn't expecting a promotion bid. Mid table comfort and a bit of a Cup run were as much as we could hope for, and after our first two matches even that looked optimistic. But the 6-0 defeat did us a power of good. It shook up[ the players and made them realise they were going to have to work hard. And they did. With the exception of a disapppointing derby with Banbury, City tightened up at the back, started to keep the ball on the deck, use the wide players to create chances and put a few in the net. With the exception of a hard-won victory over an off colour Leamington, though, we were mostly playing teams from the lower half. This is how we reached the top briefly after winning at Arlesley.
Since then we have remained pretty solid at the back but have started playing more balls up in the air. We did this twice against Redbridge and it cost us potentially £18000 in sponsorship money, as their big defenders gobbled up high balls against our relatively small strikers. We did against Hitchin and Cirencester, too, with no goals the result. Defenders are usually comfortable aginst high balls played from deep. They don't like a variety of balls from different angles and heights and at varied pace, especially low balls from the goal-line. So, two very winnable home matches and six points which would have kept us on top, ended with blanks. Martin, Lyon, Heapy and Benjamin when played out wide, have not been running at defenders enough, have been crossing too early or passing back. We need to work on the wing moves again if we want to start scoring and winning.
We face a tough set of matches now, and a real possibility of a string of losses. But we also have the same players who were playing well until a month ago, so they could do it again once confidence is regained. They will need some encouragement from the fans in order to do so.
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Post by hedges on Dec 5, 2011 19:20:56 GMT
To be fair, I kinda agree rijs.
Injuries and suspensions are coming into play much more now and losing Ballard at the weekend is a massive blow (How is he by the way?)... Defensively we have again been solide at the back, Bloss has been a Gem, very vocal and commanding and Clarkey, Learoyd, who in my opinion has quietly been getting on with it and been one of our most consistant performers this season. Ashton I think is improving but still has the occasional rush of blood and makes the odd poor decision so maybe our weak link in what is a very good back 4 at this level.
The problem is and it was demonstrated again on Saturday is that the Mid field at times don't work hard enough to give cover to the back 4, there is too many occasions when the gap between the centre players and the defence is just to big and even when Malone came on for his return, we certainly played better but he looked to play much further up the pitch, almost the Pondy like attacking Midfield role, than what he used to.
One tactic and it contributes to what rijs was saying that Fordy uses which I don't agree with and that is that he never lets the fall backs go on a run or indeed overlap, its like a static back 4, I think this is wasting the full potential of Clarkey when he plays at right back and the one or two times Ashton found himself in the opposition half on Saturday he had that great shot which would ahve been a goal had the keeper been an inch shorter and generally we looked much more dangerous.
All the best footballing teams use overlapping full-backs.
Would personally like to see Malone take on the role he did before and just hang around the center circle and drop deep to cover the back 4 when necessary and Fordy unleashes Clarke and Ashton/Marvin/Heapy down the flanks to create another attacking option, if we get caught out of position, which is inevitable at times Malone can just drop back and between him, Bloss and Learoyd mop up.
This long ball tactic they are playing, to be quite frank is crap....long highballs to the massive Redbridge back 4 and to Barcelos & Steele two of the shortest blokes on the pitch....or even Bash who isn't that much taller....or indeed against Cirencester for the likes of Andy Gunn to constantly gobble up...seriously?
Gonna be tough month, but one thing is for sure, we always up our game for the bigger teams, so who knows.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2011 10:22:42 GMT
I think City are doing very well considering injuries and suspensions. It could have been a nightmare two losses, to below par opponent's, that is not the case. Confidence is the factor. But results went our way on Saturday we could go top if only for a few days with a win at Brackley.  |
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Post by hedges on Dec 6, 2011 23:45:09 GMT
Despite everything quite enjoyed tonight, certainly an entertaining game of football thats for sure. I don't feel too rough about losing it either thought everyone put a shift in and continued to do so even at 4-0 down....the team showed effort and ultimately thats all you can ask for. Heres afew points I posted on the Evostik forum, some perhaps harsher than I meant them to be...gives any opposition fans false hopes you see  .
Good points from the night....
We still tried to play football despite being 4-0 down and the team kept going.
The 1st and Second goals were very lucky - Silly Freekick on the edge of our box to give away - kicked to the backstick where a scramble occured and the ball popped up for a brackley player to smash home - Second even luckier as our keeper made a save with his legs just to see the ball bounce off a city defender into the path of Brackley player who duly slotted into the empty net.
5-2 Flattered Brackley, we were on top for most of the 1st half and parts of the second.
Our Team is decimated with Injuries and Suspensions - Mooney,Pond,Lyon, Basham, Bell all unavailable - Ballard, Clarke, Malone, Blossom all played despite carrying some ailment...Malone being the one who really shouldn't have played.
If we played as we did Tonight on Saturday we would have definitely beaten Cirencester.....
Despite Brackleys 5 Goals - Ballard's goal was the best of the night, 20 yard lob over Billy Turley - Even Turley said 'Very good goal that, definitely didn't expect it' and when he says that it can't have been bad....plus it puts an end to our 4 game Goal drought.
Bad points -
Our Defense forgot they were in a football match at the start of the second half and conceded 3 (not including the lucky one described above) piss takingly simple goals.... looked like it was going to be a second half cricket score...
Final Balls that never even look like they are going to find a striker.
Confidence is low, along with a depleted squad, Some players clearly Discontent - Chesham, Bashley, Totton etc now is the time to have some fun with us
We seem to have noone that can put a freaking penalty away...Turley Saved Barcelos's but he got the rebound by luck...Steele & Basham have both also missed penalties this season.
Suddenly we have non-existent midfield...Defense always play the long ball.....utter crap.
Now if you don't mind im actually going to go and acclimatise to a reasonable indoor temperature.
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Post by Radman on Dec 7, 2011 22:08:08 GMT
I don't think the defence went to sleep at the begining of the 2half it was mid field that had stayed in the dressing room, how many times did the defence clear the ball out for it to come straight back at them .This happened on saturday they must have defended for 75mins of that game the midfield did not do there job and have not been doing it for sum time now, they can not keep defending like this they need sum help from the middle of the park they are good going forward but don't seem to want to get back and help .fordy need to sort this out or we have a big problem
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Post by Rijs on Dec 7, 2011 23:28:08 GMT
'Some players clearly discontent'--which ones, hedges? And if Basham was unavailable, why was he on the subs' bench?
Thanks for your comments, though--very interesting for those of us who couldn't be there.
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Post by hedges on Dec 8, 2011 1:47:12 GMT
I don't think the defence went to sleep at the begining of the 2half it was mid field that had stayed in the dressing room, how many times did the defence clear the ball out for it to come straight back at them .This happened on saturday they must have defended for 75mins of that game the midfield did not do there job and have not been doing it for sum time now, they can not keep defending like this they need sum help from the middle of the park they are good going forward but don't seem to want to get back and help .fordy need to sort this out or we have a big problem Maybe I was abit harsh on the defence last night and have indeed stated this rather obvious problem of ours previously in this thread. For me the 4th goal summed it up as our two major 'weaknesses' came together to give Brackley what was ultimately a simple goal....Ball comes to Clarkey, he plays the Longball into the middle which is picked up by a Brackley player who passes wide to another player in space...all our midfield have gone forward (as stated) leaving the defence hopelessly exposed, The Brackley player on the ball runs at pace at Clarkey with another player running parellel inside, giving a 2 v1 situation against Clarkey...simple ball inside, shot on goal...Goal....Knife through butter stuff. 'Some players clearly discontent'--which ones, hedges? And if Basham was unavailable, why was he on the subs' bench?
Thanks for your comments, though--very interesting for those of us who couldn't be there.Body Language says alot, as for Basham, he was in the stands with Dave Savage before the game and not warming up,someone said he was injured and mid way through the second half Steele was Subbed not for Basham, in that game in particular when we needed a touch of class in the and around the box im sure he would have played a part, if fit. P.S Padz how do you put multiple quotes in a post on this forum, I think im being Thick  ? |
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Post by Padz on Dec 8, 2011 12:27:42 GMT
I think you just need to use the [ quote ] [ / quote ] brackets without spaces to do multiple quotes.
On the defensive side of things, i've heard, and this is purely rumour at the moment that we're signing Brackley captain Chris Willmott who is a centre half and if the rumour is true will be a cracking capture
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Post by hedges on Dec 8, 2011 14:00:33 GMT
Can't deny this will be a quality signing, however what effect will it have on the rest of the team particularly the defense, will it upset them or will it kick them up the arse and improve competetion for places.
I think there seems to be global agreement that its the midfield where we have problems, not the defense and who exactly would be dropped to fit Chris in, bearing in mind we also have Heapy who isn't a half bad player himself already warming the bench.
I presume Bloss has picked up a more serious injury than just his ongoing broken thumb problem as he has taken alot of knocks in the alst few games and was subbed against Brackley and in that case, then Chris is an outstanding replacement.
However if Fordy is intending to Drop Learoyd to fit Chris in then I think thats harsh on him because in my opinion he isn't the most vocal of players by any means but he has been one of our most consistent performers and appears to be steady improving his game.
The other option of course is that there has been fall out from Clarky's reaction after the 90mins when he stormed off the pitch with a look of thunder on his face....though he does have an ongoing foot problem and that may have been arranged previously for him to get treatment from the physio as soon as the game is up.
But yeah good signing, how it affects the team remains to be seen, I can just see another Josh Green situation here though.....
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Post by In the know on Dec 8, 2011 23:05:42 GMT
Why bring in someone like Wilmot who will not be cheap when you could bring Andy Gunn back and pair him up with Clarky they played well together also Wilmot has seen his best days and is only after the money from our cup run
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Post by city watcher on Dec 9, 2011 0:17:57 GMT
I believe if we bought back andy gunn we could push on again. i watched him on saturday and he was terrific never lost a header and organised very well. if we had him bloss clarkey and learoyd as a four a force to be reckoned with. what do we think??
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Post by dodge on Dec 10, 2011 16:20:56 GMT
If Gunny never missed a header, which he didn't what was the pont when we had Lee steel playing and Liam Malone. A high ball is stupid. We have started to hoof the ball, we need to play football. The team did well because they played as a team, The spirit has been brilliant and they play for each other, we always mess about with the team around November, then we end up with a weaker team than we started with. Happens every single year. What's the point of bringing players back unless they are better than we have. I don't get it, we will be playing one up front next. HINT - it doesn't work
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Post by billy on Dec 10, 2011 16:35:31 GMT
And blossom dropped for willmot
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Post by hedges on Dec 10, 2011 16:48:41 GMT
And blossom dropped for willmot For me thats not totally unexpected that Blossom has been dropped for a game or 2, He's had afew knocks recently, has had a broken thumb which is simply not healing because he's not had a break playing (I presume for a kitchen fitter which is his job this is a problem) and was subbed against Brackley and we all know Fordy never replaces a defender unless he's dying...or has more than a minor injury. Though I agree with what your getting at, would hate to see Blossom out the team for an extended period if he is fit to play. |
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Post by Padz on Dec 10, 2011 23:33:04 GMT
Jack Ashton has left so I'd expect to see Clarkey RB, Motty and Bloss CB and Learoyd LB, once with injuries/suspensions Marvin and Heapy will get games too.
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