Match Thread vs. Aldershot 04.09.21 [NL]

[jackal2]

Going into the game I was hoping for a far more comfortable victory, but in a strange way we might have learned more from it being a rollercoaster. We've still got the three points, but I also think we've seen enough now to conclude that five at the back in home games is too many. The switch to 4-3-3 in the second half made us play quicker and a little more directly, whereas the three centre-halves seemed to be having a game amongst themselves in the first half, much to Aldershot's relief!

In the second half I thought Ruben Rodrigues showed he is no lightweight if he's put in the thick of the action. He looked really comfortable in his (forward looking) central midfield role and clearly isn't averse to putting his foot in and winning a tackle, which is a real bonus in addition to his known attacking threat. Kairo Mitchell also impressed me again with his pace down the left-side, and Cal Roberts became a real threat once we started getting the ball to him quicker out wide, as opposed to the first half where we played like a team on sedatives.

All in all, a handy little exercise in terms of learning how best to use the undoubted talent we've got, and which formation we should play at home. There may still be a role for a back five away from home, where you want to have a strong defence and sometimes take the heat out of games, but at home you need a more attacking formation and a quicker, more intense tempo to get the crowd excited and really put the opponents under pressure.

[the_anticlough]

All in all, a handy little exercise in terms of learning how best to use the undoubted talent we've got, and which formation we should play at home. There may still be a role for a back five away from home, where you want to have a strong defence and sometimes take the heat out of games, but at home you need a more attacking formation and a quicker, more intense tempo to get the crowd excited and really put the opponents under pressure.

I'm lapping up all of that, Jackal...

...or you do a better job of playing 3-5-2? But it seems to me that there's perhaps only one specialist 'wing-back' at the club. Not good if you've committed to playing that system!

I think this is more on recruitment than the coaches and it's interesting that it's gone by half-time in game 4 (after a different drastic action was needed in game 2). Maybe IB can get it to work. But rest assured it won't take 10 bad games like it would under another manager, IB's far better than that and he wouldn't let it happen.

[applepie2]

Kyle, Kyle, and Cal: thank you.

[Davy500]

I'm lapping up all of that, Jackal...

...or you do a better job of playing 3-5-2? But it seems to me that there's perhaps only one specialist 'wing-back' at the club. Not good if you've committed to playing that system!

I think this is more on recruitment than the coaches and it's interesting that it's gone by half-time in game 4 (after a different drastic action was needed in game 2). Maybe IB can get it to work. But rest assured it won't take 10 bad games like it would under another manager, IB's far better than that and he wouldn't let it happen.

All in all, got the 3 points against a poor side, so job done

However conceding 2 goals at home is not good enough, we have got away with it today, but going forward we must address this, otherwise we will drop points.
And in both home games, against Torquay, and Aldershot we have been behind in some point of the game

Weymouth up next, where we need another 3 points

What did cheer me up was Solihull moors losing at home to Weymouth, As Ardley is a great manager haha

[Freeman25]

Going into the game I was hoping for a far more comfortable victory, but in a strange way we might have learned more from it being a rollercoaster. We've still got the three points, but I also think we've seen enough now to conclude that five at the back in home games is too many. The switch to 4-3-3 in the second half made us play quicker and a little more directly, whereas the three centre-halves seemed to be having a game amongst themselves in the first half, much to Aldershot's relief!

In the second half I thought Ruben Rodrigues showed he is no lightweight if he's put in the thick of the action. He looked really comfortable in his (forward looking) central midfield role and clearly isn't averse to putting his foot in and winning a tackle, which is a real bonus in addition to his known attacking threat. Kairo Mitchell also impressed me again with his pace down the left-side, and Cal Roberts became a real threat once we started getting the ball to him quicker out wide, as opposed to the first half where we played like a team on sedatives.

All in all, a handy little exercise in terms of learning how best to use the undoubted talent we've got, and which formation we should play at home. There may still be a role for a back five away from home, where you want to have a strong defence and sometimes take the heat out of games, but at home you need a more attacking formation and a quicker, more intense tempo to get the crowd excited and really put the opponents under pressure.

"the back 5" wasn't really the problem, DKE and Taylor spent most of the first half in line with Kyle Wootton on the last man, you could barely call them defenders. The problem was that they're not as effective in attack as someone like Kairo Mitchell (who Burchnall spoke to and was giving instructions to in the 41st minute) and Cal Roberts can be. I don't think people should see it as a defensive formation, especailly with the way we play it.

Most of our downfall today was through our own sloppy touches or passes but I thought Aldershot looked alright in spells and both goals were well taken. Our slow build up won't change as it's how we find gaps in the opponents, as Cal Roberts said in his post match interview, the players missed chances to make that more direct/cutting ball a few times and thats when you saw Burchnall getting frustrated but quite often we made a pass that caused a few groans only to immediately be on the attack in space, including for Roberts' goal.

It's a patient game and we need fans to be patient with it.