0-3 Defeat didn’t help losing Finn early on bossed second half without putting the ball in the net I must say even after only three games we’ve scored ONE goal look very light up top I’m in no way criticising Ben but we’ve no options we need another striker now
There`s been a lot of people been saying it for about 6 months now, even before we got promotion, but nothing has been done about it. If we are to stay in this league we must act now, or forget it. I know it`s only been 3 matches, but it something he should have done months ago.
Exactly my point we’ve let three strikers leave Why????? We’ve only got James hull & Ben Pope we’re now without Finn next Saturday it’s either sort it soon or we’ll be back to the likes of Ashford and lancing away again It’s Sutch a shame after working so hard to get promoted
no need to panic at this point, I know it gets emotional we all love this club and for a lot of people its going to be an adjustment from the last few years where clubs turn up to lose to us a lot of the time. We do need another striker i think as part of the squad but we need the right sort of player.
from the sounds of the fans I know that went to the game we didn't capitulate which after a early sending off other sides could have done and we competed well lost to quality goals and really had a go second half without luck, considering the Folkstone game which was a cracking back and forth fixture where we matched them throughout, thing aren't as bad as some may think
Game virtually over after 11 minutes. Finns dismissal appears to have been given by the linesman 30 yards away rather than referee about 10 feet away. 2nd goal free kick nobody was stopping. Damage limitation followed but think we gave as good as we got. Onward and upward.
Way too early for too much doom and gloom but without doubt this is not the start to the season we wanted.
We could not have had a worse start today....two goals and one player down in 11 minutes was always likely to be too big a mountain to climb and I guess we should be grateful it was only three, despite rallying well in the second half.
Clearly the big worry is 'where are the goals coming from?' Ben has been a regular scorer in the lower league but generally needs a quality supply from out wide or the 'killer pass' from midfield. He doesn't score too many solo goals and rarely outpaces his markers.....so he needs support and performances from individuals around him to create those chances. James is an exciting young prospect but it is an awful lot to ask of him to lead the line at this level.
Given our lack of genuine goal scoring chances against Aveley last week it was slightly alarming to see them hit for six at home today. That may be a good indication of the quality of the best teams in this league.
We really do need three points next Saturday.
We need to lay down the charm carvalho looks dynamite on his mazy runs as does TC and knory those three could or properly would set up chances for Ben, try Ben and James together all these things are trial and error with Dawes on his way back we are maybe two or three players from a decent team
Most of the Hornchurch side who won the FA Trophy against Hereford 2 seasons ago played today. They were a very good side so to be 2-0 down and a player down early in the match wasn't great! Gary reorganized a bit and slowly we got into the match. Just needed more clinical finishing and we might have got something out of the match. Big weekend coming up next-is there another Ade Olerunda around?
I assume that those demanding a new striker are actually calling for a change in formation instead, or as well?
I’ve only seen a handful of games since Gary took over as manager, but in all of them, we have set up in a 4-3-3 with Ben Pope as the lone central striker, flanked by a few different players out wide.
For example, in the games when I saw Kenny Pogue introduced from the bench last season, he was always asked to play on the left wing, as was Danny Parish in the games that he started late in the campaign. It looks from afar as if the likes of Gil Carvalho and Kai Brown have perhaps been signed to perform similar roles.
I suppose that the trouble is, a 4-3-3 can look more like a 4-5-1 to on days when you are under pressure and defending more deeply, but it seems to be very much the modern way of playing these days.
Sean,
I think you summed it up in your final paragraph. Last season, our two wide men were generally playing as part of a genuine front three. I confess to only having seen the Aveley match so far when we were, as you say, often being pushed back to a 4-5-1. Quite often the only outlet was a high ball to Ben's head and it mattered little whether he won it or not, possession was lost. If this is how games are going to play out we really need a Louis Saha rather than a Ben Pope !
Maybe as we find our feet in this league, perhaps get Lloyd Dawes back, hopefully compete eleven against eleven, then hopefully Ben is going to start getting some genuine goal scoring opportunities.
I'm certainly not suggesting any knee-jerk changes yet. I'm sure Gary is aware that Ben will struggle to make any impact if he is too isolated up front.
Two big performances needed next weekend to kick off the season.
If we are being fussy you could make a case for Tom having his shirt pulled by the no9 when the pen was given. And our wall wasn't the best for their second.
I’m purely just saying we need another striker in the squad,I think something needs to change soon rather than waiting for January February and we down in the bottom that being said we are still adjusting to being in this league again hopefully we’ll win soon COYUS
