Can't make it tonight, but sing Happy Birthday for Lenny. He's a bit down after I showed him this <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2017/feb/07/david-squires-on-the-football-career-of-frank-lampard">(The panel with Roman Abramovitch)</a>.
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That bloke over there. "Bulverhythian" at https://twitter.com/Colin_Davey
Line-up: Hastings United
1
Lenny Pidgeley
2
Stephen Butcher
3
John Akoto
4
Jack Evans
5
Jerrome Sobers
6
Ollie Rowe
7
Kiernan Hughes-Mason
8
Simon Johnson
9
Jack Harris
10
Frannie Collin
11
Harry Stannard
12
Sam Cruttwell
14
Steve Watt
15
Bradley Stevenson
16
Jordan Harley
17
Curtis Beale
Just wonder what everyone else thought of that ? Personally I thought in some respects that was the worst I have seen us play this season. For long spells in the match we were simply incapable of putting three passes together and gave the ball away out of defence time and time again. Inevitably this just encouraged them onto us and they must have had 75% of the ball through the match. So what happened to that entertaining passing game that made us so impressive earlier in the season ? It was nowhere to be seen tonight.
Fortunately we scored two good goals and one slightly freaky one (thanks, Josh.....safe hands but not so safe feet) and might even have had more....what a total injustice that would have been !
Even more fortunately we defended pretty well with all the back line and Pidge doing a good job. I must mention Butcher here...he has had some criticism from some but I thought he was in line for MotM today.
However the degree to which we gave the ball away and at times were overrun in midfield hasn't sent me home as happy as the score might suggest.
I hope we see an improved team performance on Saturday even if the result isn't as good.
To be fair Mick second goal not Josh's fault tbh as his Centerback was shouting 'time, time,time' at him but he barely had time to take a single touch in reality!
Not a vintage performance by any means but can't argue with three goals and a clean sheet at this stage of the season. Just need to stay consistent with results for a while now which is not something we've been great at so far.
Would imagine Horsham feel pretty aggrieved after last night as they probably deserved a point from a game that looked like a relegation fight at times. Very little quality at all on show and surprisingly quiet games from our big players last night with Frannie, Harry and Johnno all having very quiet and ineffective games. As Mick points out our superb passing game has completely disappeared this year and more often than not we resorted to aimless long balls up to poor Harris to flick on to no one as Frannie was just too deep most of the game. Defensively we looked okay with all four having strong games and I do like the look of Sobers but our problem undoubtedly lies in midfield where last night an increasingly frustrated Johnno was left to fight a lone battle in the middle. There is next to no defensive work from Harry or Kiernon and not sure on Jack Evans yet. We certainly have issues there and are being over run almost every game.
But a wins a wins and we cannot be too critical with a 3-0 win and a clean sheet but for anyone not there last night don't be fooled by the score line and think things are all rosy once again in the Pilot Field garden.
However badly we played last night I had the feeling that Horsham were never going to score. We were careless with possession and seemed to lose most challenges and on another night the result might have been another East Grinstead or Molesley. If fit, Sam has to be in our starting line up somewhere. As others have mentioned we surely have too many players who cannot contribute when we haven't got the ball. Hope we play better on Saturday.
I think we MUST get Crutts back into midfield.
We moved him back to shore up a leaky defence but by doing so lost a lot of quality in midfield and that was when our passing game began to disappear. The defence now looks OK without him so its a total no brainer for me.
Mick, I agree. I too would want a fit Sam Cruttwell to start in midfield every game. It must enormously frustrating for him that events seem to conspire endlessly to stop that happening.
Yes, a pretty poor performance yesterday with a flattering scoreline. But there were positives - most obviously that we won emphatically when playing pretty badly. We got a result even though Bodkin was suspended. Jerome Sobers is playing well, as is Stephen Butcher and Akota. Lennie Pidgely is showing consistent quality (but, please Lennie resist the temptations of over-confidence!). I was disappointed for Bradley Stephenson - he looked good against Hythe when he came on - but yesterday he seemed very uncertain.
It is all about results now. We have approximately a third of our games left. We need to do better than par to stand a chance of the play-offs - I would suggest 33 points as a minimum. That is some ask, but it is something we can aspire to so long as we win games like yesterday's.
Agree with most of what has been said but would like to make an extra mention about John Akoto . I thought he had a great game at left back . I know the opposition wasn't as good as it may be but he looked very comfortable to me . He looked fast and has a decent left foot. I'm guessing that having a decent game at right back too recently shows a rare quality in young players of a good two footed player . I hope he gets the chance to show that he could make that position his . I spent sometime watching him and his awareness of the attackers was very good . He made a few decent tackles . Yes he got booked and maybe the tackle was near to the penalty area , but I thought he had a sound game ! Something that hasnt been said about left the back position for sometime .
I wasn't there last night so can't comment. But end of the day to me a win is a win if horsham was that good or better why didn't they win just shows you don't matter how you play if you get a win that will do
With regard to Akoto incident the referee gave a foul so he should have seen red as the attacker was through on goal. It was 5 yards outside the area. However to a lot of us who sit at that end of the ground it was doubtful whether it was a foul. So my belief is ref got both decisions wrong.
ChrisB ... yeah I was up the other end and initially thought it was a good tackle but once the ref called it I thought he was going to show a red ... he didnt ,so maybe was a good idea to sub him just in case . The lino on your side of the ground was awful. Also ,why the ref didn't book their number 2 for shoving Stevenson right under his nose though is a complete mystery , usual rubbish . Although I guess it was sensible to carry on when the lights went out. After all it was still lighter than the floodlit games of the 70's . I'm sure Horsham thought they deserved a draw .... one word ... Bothered !
You`re dead right Chris, I was above you in the stand, so good view, it was never a foul, so not getting a red was OK, but as you say, if the ref gave it, he should`ve walked. Another great display by a typical ref in this league, S***
Good man Windy - didn't think anybody was going to mention Akoto. He was outstanding. 18 years old and putting in a performance like that? Tremendous. And Sobers wasn't far behind him. Overall team performance was nothing special but that's all part of the inconsistencies a side that's not quite got everything falling into place shows. Seen it sooooo many times in years past.
Player wise we are just about right now, it's getting them gelling and putting in constent performances now. Talking players, it's never good to see one of yours on crutches but seeing Sam Cole hobbling about last night was fine as that confirms he's had his op at last. Nice one Sam.
I think Sam was all set to come on for Harry but with the Horsham management team going on non-stop to the ref and linesman trying to get John Akoto sent off, Sam ended up replacing him. Thought all our back 4 did well yesterday. Must remember, 2PM start Saturday!
