I'm actually very disappointed in KM to be honest. Does he think he's some kind of Alex Fergeson not playing his strongest side!!! 850 fans attended today and he probably knew they wouldn't win. The away and home support this season I didn't expect considering where we are, this cup (though I have no interest in) could have been a thank you to the fans to try and take us nearer to the final.....
I'm bloody angry for the fans who spend hard earned money.
I think he played the strongest side he could. The only question mark would possibly be Lopata over Kensdale or Hobson, but as KM said post match, neither Lopata nor Clifford have trained since Tuesday and they needed to protect them a bit, Murphy's injured, Neal cup tied... As others have asked (which I haven't seen you respond to), who do you think was on the sidelines who would have strengthened this so called weakened team?
It's all well and good being critical but without putting forward an alternative proposal doesn't give you a lot of credibility to be honest, especially if it's a serious suggestion that we must have had a weaker side as we lost. Quite simply, we didn't score when we were on top and in the end, they were better than we were.
I'd be more bloody angry at the "fans" who have tarnished what is usually a decent reputation we have for travelling support. Absolute idiots. Although not as much of an idiot as the two stewards who opened the bloody gate... what on earth did they think they were doing?
Anyhow, back on topic... as for the game itself we started brilliantly and should have been a couple of goals up before they got back into it after about half an hour. From that point on you could see what was coming and actually, Dagenham looked a really decent footballing outfit; lots of short, accurate passes and one touch stuff. We had to defend really well to restrict their goal scoring opportunities to the two they had.
Rush showed a ridiculous piece of skill in the corner early on that wouldn't have been out of place in the Premiership. Sadly, that was it from him. The defender who brought him down was booked and should have been thoroughly tested as he wouldn't have been able to touch anyone without risking a red card. We didn't do that.
Dennis was man marked with another in very close attendance every time he got the ball and looked very average, although he did have our only real chance in the second half which their keeper tipped over.
As for Kensdale... anonymous in the first half and poor in the second... caught out of position a couple of times, gave the ball away countless times and played a delightful long ball to absolutely no-one at one point. It was so astray it was difficult to see who he was actually trying to get it to. KM said he was happy with him so he must have something about him. I'm personally yet to see it. Happy to give him the benefit and he may well grow into fans favourite. Let's hope.
Coulson - was clearly a great guy once upon a time but just looks like a pub footballer now. The fastest he ran was off the pitch when he was subbed.
Egbri - I'd forgotten why he wasn't a more regular contender. Then he came on and I remembered. Not NL standard.
Gard - For me, he didn't do enough to be knocking on the door of a regular spot. If keeping him and Atkinson as well as bringing others in is an option, then great, extend his contract to the end of the season. But we still need people who are better than what we have so if we can't bring anyone else in without someone leaving, then unfortunately he and Atko will have to make way.
Ralph and Hobson I thought were decent for the whole game, Dalby showed some nice touches but was never a threat, Demitriou started ok but for the last 20 looked like it was his third game in a week and Ferguson was, well, Ferguson. Always looks like he is unaware anyone else is on the pitch and I don't mean that in a good way. Some players always look as though they have tons of time and are brilliant at making space. He just thinks he has tons of time and doesn't.
Arnold did well, couldn't have stopped either goal and his distribution was quick and accurate.
The ref was the best I have seen at this level and let the game flow well I thought.
Anyway, back to the league...