A sad sad day. I will always love the club for affording me the chance to live out my dream of representing the badge for 6 years of my life in the centre of excellence. Today is the first day that I have felt such apathy towards the club.
Brown got it all wrong today and it was very obvious from the first kick of the game when we passed it back to hobson who spooned it in the air to their centre half on his own. I like Hobson but his weaknesses are far too weak to be in a pair at the back. I would love someone to explain to me Browns game plan of playing a midfield today, if his only tactic is to bypass them EVERY time we get the ball at the back. Having played with and known Bridgey for many years, he has always been either an 8 or a 10 who plays between the lines and causes both the defence and midfield issues. What do we do? play him out wide and refuse to give him the ball to feet. Two centre midfielders, both not great on the ball so what is the point in having them both in there? I will always have a soft spot for Atkinson but his game was always his legs and his engine which have clearly gone. Why did Brown not move Bridgey inside so we have someone who is comfortable on the ball and get an outlet in walsh on earlier (who was excellent when he came on). Egbri was bright, but will always fall down with his end product which simply isnt good enough.
A separate paragraph is warranted for the strikers. I genuinely believe that we have one of the best strike forces in the league, and a duo who would do well in the football league with the right players behind them. Dalby's touch and presence is excellent coupled with the movement of Murphy which again I thought was very good today. Another question for anyone who thinks Brown has a clue what he is doing, why do we insist on lumping it up to two players who arent the most mobile when we have previously had success going round teams and getting to the byline for these two to feed off of in the box. Where are the tactics? I did not join in with the Martin chants at the end as tonight was simply not his fault. Brown has brought in 7 of the starting XI tonight and they were beaten by a very poor Aldershot side. Something has to change very quickly as we could be with Concord next season.
Ratings
Arnold 7 - Commanding, fills me with a good degree of confidence. Great communicator and not sure he had a chance with any of the goals.
Demi 3 - Useless, always liked Demi but I think his time is up. Sloppy in possession, terrible set pieces. What is going on with Elvis?
Hobson 4 - Wins a lot in the air but cannot use his feet for the life of him. Cannot be part of a 2 at the back as his weakness is amplified.
Coulson 5 - Looks a good presence and tidy, not sure we can blame him for the goal too badly as we allowed them to play down the side of us and no centre half wants to be in a foot race with a pacey forward.
Ralph 7 - MOM for me. Was a victim of playing it long a little too often, but unlike many of the others his often found its target and had some degree of finesse. Won everything in the air. Too good for us and certainly too good for this level.
Egbri 5 - Industrious and runs a lot, some neat dribbling at times. Will always fall victim to his poor end product.
Atkinson 3 - Ran around in circles all game and had no impact on proceedings.
Dunne 4 - Put himself about, think with agogo next to him he looks more comfortable. Still a lot of huffing and puffing with little influence in the middle of the park. Reminds me a touch of deegan, but deegan put himself about more and actually offered to take the ball from the back, neither centre mids did today.
Bridge 6 - Clearly one of our best players on the ball, wasted out wide today as Brown has clearly told the back 4 to lump it every time they get the ball.
Dalby 6 - Great presence and touch, looks a real player. Wont be with us for long if we keep going like this.
Murphy 7 - Like him a lot, never stops running and his movement off the ball is excellent. Will score a shed load of goals if we actually provide any sort of service.
Subs
White 2 - Same old John. I have often been a critic of White, I have a lot of respect for him and his service but he has been a regular in a side who have been relegated twice and shipped goals in for fun. I cannot remember seeing John White ever taking more than 2 touches, the first just in front and the second a hoof up field (which never reaches its target).
Walsh 7 - Exciting, dynamic and fast, everything Phil Brown seems to hate in a player. Came on and took people on immediately, getting to the byline and winning a corner. Looked strong and skilful, if he doesn't start getting starts soon I will be convinced it's because he isn't over 6 foot, 30+ and can actually run.
Rush 5 - Feel sorry for Rushy, comes on as a small nifty forward and his first involvement is a john white special straight up in the air against a 6 foot + non league centre half.
Brown 0 - Horrendous, shocking, tactically inept. Read above for my review. One thing that annoyed me about Brown tonight is after the game. He is quick to come to the press and blame everyone but himself but when we get a big crowd out at the Hall on a Tuesday night he doesn't even bother to walk round and thank the fans. Will always be fond of the memories of his last reign but i am sorry to say he hasn't got a clue.
Rubbish, frustrating and I think we will begin to see the crowds at the hall begin to fall dramatically in the coming months if that is the dross we are served up.
