I think our biggest problems are the same as for a lot of last season. A lack of leaders in the squad and of a winning mentality. Granted we are presently missing Cameron, Slocombe and Rawlinson, but we have a major problem if the loss of just 3 players destroys all semblance of leadership or organisation within the team. Either the rest of the squad step up and take some responsibility, or the recruitment team need to get some leaders in.
If our problem were just rubbish players, we wouldn't have dominated Woking for 70 minutes or been 2-0 up tonight. Both games we largely played well, did the hard work and took the lead, before the other team scored and came at us. Instead of rising to their challenge, keeping calm under pressure and either forcing back control of the game or professionally seeing things out, we lost our heads, disintegrated as a unit and threw both games away.
I am reminded of Ardley's final interview, ranting about having to work far too hard to motivate the players and not being able to play the game for them. Seems like Burchnall faces similar problems. I think we badly need another Ellis and a younger Doyle. How we draft in such players at this stage of the season though, I don't know.
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