Ashford Eagles V Bocca - 14.10.07 league
It was mentioned to the manager on the Saturday that there were a few players that wanted to revert to the 4-4-2 formation to be able to cope with the attacking capabilities of the Ross Father & Son act. (What happened about the "let them worry about us" not us worry about them scenario. Where as the manager wanted to go for a 3-4-3 to try and score some goals. So to begin with we started 4-4-2
within 30 minutes we were 3-0 down.
Half time 0-3
System changed to 3-4-3 and we were getting more of the ball and pulled a goal back, and it had started to look like
game on as we were still getting more possession, then an error at the back gifted Bocca a 4th goal.
Game finished 1-4
Team: Phillips - Reed (Morrison)(Tynsley) - Dunn-Dorsett-Head - Aglony(Schryver) - Ireland - Pratt - Ward - Moffat - Baker
Managers Comments.
We lost mainly to giving away 3 silly goals by mistakes - everybody makes mistakes as you know I have always said this
but these were needless. NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SYSTEM BEING PLAYED
The team has some problems which I see as follows.
We have players - that can play much better than they are showing
We have players - that are not as fit as they should be
We have players - that do not track back
We have players - that must do their little bit on the ball no matter how much a simple pass is on. or the opportunity to
clear the ball.
We have players - that find it difficult to simply control the ball when it is passed to them
We have players - that do not talk and players when we do talk just do not listen or listen to instructions but do not do it
on the pitch
We have players - that seem a little concerned they may get hurt when playing.
None of the above can be helped during 90 minutes of football but with a little self discipline can be vastly reduced
Also I feel that me as the manager has lost the respect of some players,
Look at the above, and if you feel you fit into any of the above categories, no one is being named or the finger being pointed. You have to as individuals works on these aspects of your game, we cannot do it at training any more.
These aspects lead us to all not pulling together, and losing games
Bazza
We have players - that listen to instructions then go out and not do it.
Charing v Ashford Eagles 07.10.07 League.
Well well lads, what can we do to win games in which we dominate so well, again we were much the better side, every body played well.
The game started with Eagles passing closing down and tackling well, with some half chances being created, and being well on top, it did look as if it was only a matter of time before we scored. However this has been mentioned, the problem of playing 3-5-2 we do not concede but we also do not score.
First half finished at 0-0 with Eagles definitely having the better of the exchanges.
Second Half Eagles began to get more on top, with good passing football, and the defence not being troubled, our approach work was very good, but more often than not our final pass or cross into the penalty area let us down.
From one corner Dorsett was on the far post and the ball arrived at his feet, the angle was tight but not impossible, but he had to be quick, and shot just wide followed by his usual audible self cursing. Eagles continued to push forward with some neat football, then I think the turning point came in the game.
Twice good passing ended up with Baker being through on goal with just the keeper to beat definitely, both occassions on side, only for the defence to shout offside and the Charing home linesman to immediately raise the flag - Now this was either complete lack of knowledge of the rules regarding offside or just being completely unfair. This in a way started to knock the stuffing out of Eagles, and our game did drop a little with approx 15 mins to go Charing had a corner which they converted by firmly heading past phillips 1-0 shortly afterwards it became 2-0, and with a few minutes to go 3-0. 3 goals conceded in the last 15 minutes.
Yet for 75 mins we were the better team.
All played well special mentions for Terry Ireland first full game this season coming back from suspension, Eagles MOM completely dominated the midfield. Dennis Dunne a further superb game in central defence - Michael Aglony worked very hard - Grant Moffat first game this season after bad hamstring injury, worked hard did a lot of running and will improve fitness levels the more he plays.
Team: Phillips - Smith - Dunne - Dorsett - Aglony - Ireland - Pratt - Ward - Tynsley (Richard) - Baker - Moffat
Managers Comment
As a Manager I could ask no more than for us to play and work the way we did- but as we know we are not scoring, could be the system we are playing
Just as food for thought lads what about 3 -4 -3 put an extra man up front to see if it makes a difference,. any body wants to ring me (Not Text) with their thoughts I am open to any ideas.
The Gaffer
Ashford Eagles v Ham Street - Ashford Charity Cup 30.09.07
As the previous week the team had played so well, the manager named an unchanged team.
The team was unchanged, but the performance was nowhere near the same. Ham street started the game very lively with good inter passing, which was leaving Eagles
chasing shadows, one or two of the Eagles players were trying hard, but we were second best in most areas. we lacked cohesion, accuracy of passing and the to even control the ball properly. Continuous pressure from Ham street, led to a hand ball by Mark Pratt in the area, penalty to Hamstreet 0-1.
Half time came still at 1-0, and from the Eagles side nothing to report on the first half, I am not sure if we managed a shot on goal.
However the game was still there to be won 0-1 is nothing to pull back. Eagles started the second half as they left off the first, they seemed to have no fight, no will to win, We did however seem to be tighter at he back with Dennis moving back into the central role, and he had the pace to contend with their very pacey, main striker.
After about 15 mins. Bobby came off with strained stomach, replaced bt Jnr. Reed, and 5 minutes later, Tynsley and Aglony were replaced by Head and Ireland.
We made no difference with these changes except Ireland who was trying to win the ball, and whose passing was much better.
Dennis then made his only mistake with not clearing the ball properly and Ham Street made it 2 -0. The game then for the last 20 minutes really became boring, with
Ham street sitting on their 2 -0 lead and Eagles unable to produce anything to be able to do any thing about it, and whats more Ham Street knew we couldn't do much
about it. The game petered our 0-2 to Hamstreet.
Team Phillips - Smith (Reed) Dunne - Pratt - Aglony (Head)- Ward - Dorsett - Schriver - Tynsley (Ireland) - Baker - Bebell - other sub Moffat
Eagles M.O.M. Dennis Dunne
Managers Comment
Well main points we have to get back to basics after this performance - All of you know how to control the ball and to pass it accurately, but except for the rare occassion that was not evident. on Sunday
As manager I have time and time again said we must play into feet as we have the players to be able to do things. So we play a team who are a big side at the back with 3-4 tall players and what do we do keep thumping the ball up in the air, playing straight into their hands or should I say onto their head, We take throw ins and throw it to them, we take free kicks and place it straight onto their heads. and so on so on. Mind you there could be the argument that when we play into feet, the pass
either is inaccurate or the control when receiving the pass is also lacking.
Bazzer
Bocca . V. Ashford Eagles 23.09.07
League game, away to the much fancied Bocca. Immediately from the start Eagles set about Bocca with good passing running tackling and closing down, with the result that Eagles dominated the early exchanges. Bocca then settled down and began to spasmodically put pressure with one or two attacks, but Bobby Smith and Dennis Dunne took well care of the main danger man Ross, and he did not manage one worth while shot on goal . a string of chances then fell to Eagles, as they continued to play well and put Bocca inder pressure, with Aglony doing very well as right wing back. half time ended 0-0 but could have easily been 3-0 to Eagles.
Second half Eagles continued to press, and in a goal mouth scramble Baker half back heeled the ball towards goal and it trickled over for the line 0-1 to Eagles.
Bocca then enjoyed a bit of pressure forcing several corners but nothing came of them, Eagles still enjoying the better of the game, with Dorsett playing out of his socks in the midfield, mid way through the half Bocca latched on to a clearance just inside our half, evaded the tackle from Wardy, and shot from about 30 yards which evaded phillips into the net 1-1 Bocca had achieved an undeserved equaliser. Eagles continued to push with several opportunities not taken. then with ten minutes to go Bocca made a poor cross which some how came down under the bar behind phillips and floatewd into the net 2-1 to Bocca, Eagles continued to try and get the equalizer with Baker and Ward going close, but it was not to be. Final whistle 2-1 to Bocca
Managers Comment.
This was by far our best performance with everybody playing very very well - we continue like this and we will start to win games and pick up points.
We did not deserve to lose this one, but as it was said we can gain a lot of good things from this game, and our performance
