Maidstone Shrimper
Old Fella⭐⭐
Saturday highlighted just how big the problems are facing whoever is in charge of the team. Defensively we fall well short as a team in open play. At corners our defensive resources were stretched beyond breaking point. We had some height in Lennon and Kiernan but they can’t be everywhere at once. Humphrys headed clear a couple of times but currently is not going to go for a head to head challenge. Elvis is OK for his height. You need contributions from the likes of Hutchinson and Hamilton but they don’t have the necessary experience or awareness. That applies equally in open play. Blackman .... no more needs to be said ... and Mantom is always going to be outjumped/outmuscled.
As an attacking force we were much improved. OK at 2-3 down it looked more like Fleetwood would get a fourth than we would equalise but at 1-0 up we looked more likely to make it 2-0 than Fleetwood equalise. “Creativity” didn’t seem so important as the players were clearly under instructions to get the ball forward quickly and we must maintain that impetus tonight. That would suit Goodship rather than Cox so that’s one change I would make to hopefully make us a counter-attacking side. In the absence of Milligan I would move Kiernan into midfield and bring back Shaughnessy in defence. Maybe not having to worry about playing the ball backwards and sideways in his own half will turn him back into the tough, no-nonsense defender he was reputed to be. I think Mantom will keep his place, rightfully. Waddock obviously rates him, handing him the captaincy, and not having to do the work and graft of three men should help.
If Ralph is back that will be great as he’s pretty good in the air as well as a real threat going forward. I’d keep Elvis at right back and move Demi into midfield to hopefully stiffen that up.
So ideally for me:
Oxley
Elvis, Shaughnessy, Lennon, Ralph
Demitriou, Manton, Kiernan, Macca
Humph, Goodship
If Ralph is not ready then Demi at left back and Hamilton midfield.
As an attacking force we were much improved. OK at 2-3 down it looked more like Fleetwood would get a fourth than we would equalise but at 1-0 up we looked more likely to make it 2-0 than Fleetwood equalise. “Creativity” didn’t seem so important as the players were clearly under instructions to get the ball forward quickly and we must maintain that impetus tonight. That would suit Goodship rather than Cox so that’s one change I would make to hopefully make us a counter-attacking side. In the absence of Milligan I would move Kiernan into midfield and bring back Shaughnessy in defence. Maybe not having to worry about playing the ball backwards and sideways in his own half will turn him back into the tough, no-nonsense defender he was reputed to be. I think Mantom will keep his place, rightfully. Waddock obviously rates him, handing him the captaincy, and not having to do the work and graft of three men should help.
If Ralph is back that will be great as he’s pretty good in the air as well as a real threat going forward. I’d keep Elvis at right back and move Demi into midfield to hopefully stiffen that up.
So ideally for me:
Oxley
Elvis, Shaughnessy, Lennon, Ralph
Demitriou, Manton, Kiernan, Macca
Humph, Goodship
If Ralph is not ready then Demi at left back and Hamilton midfield.