TALKING POINTS

Chris Wade

@tufcchris

WIN IS A WIN

Let’s be honest, we aren’t exactly playing brilliantly at the moment are we? The performance against Braintree on Monday was an improvement on previous home displays, but it still lacks the level of control and dominance that many expected. The trait of conceding the first goal is also a little concerning. But what the team have already shown is the ability to breathe, recover and fight for the club and the shirt. The territorial dominance that we had was always going to pay off, although the goals were both from dead ball situations. As I pointed out to some fellow TT contributors after the game, points are given out for wins and not performances.

LOOKING UPWARDS

Despite the inconsistent performances, the league table looks pretty good after six games. 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss isn’t at all bad. But as yesterday’s TT poll showed, here are some fans that are far from convinced. You can view it one of two ways for me: we are either papering over the cracks and they will burst soon, or good sides pick up wins they aren’t playing at their best, and when we do click we will really get motoring. I think it’s somewhere in the middle, and September will be an important month as the players not signed by EFL club s will be available for National League loans.

HIGH FIVE

The consecutive habit is contagious in sport, and we are seeing it for the better at the moment. With the way the National League is structured, a lot of matches take place in August and September, including two in three days over the Bank Holiday weekend. Once you get into a habit, it can be hard to break without adequate time to recover, coach and prepare. The habit we have at the moment is a positive one, with wins becoming a habit. Gary always talks about getting “ a run going”. This is now a significant run. Saturday is an important game, as another three points would set us up beautifully for consecutive home games next week. Five out of five would be perfect.

WIDE AMMUNITION

Watching the club Goal of The Month competition, what’s clear is we are scoring goals from quality balls into the box. Jack Stobbs has been a constant threat, and provided several good balls into the box on Monday. He has an excellent delivery from open play and a dead ball, something that he evidenced with his direct free kick curling into the top corner. But he is providing goals dating back to the end of last season. The front men must be licking their lips at the thought of this ammunition all season. It will be interesting to see who plays on the left, with Lewis Collins limping off on Monday.

TT PLAYER RATING LEADERS (AVERAGE RATING)

SURPRISE PACKAGE

I bet that nobody would have predicted that Aveley would have been where they are now after six games. They have had a cracking start by anybody’s standards, let along a side just promoted. And their home form is good, so Saturday is going to be a real test. We lay the fist artificial pitch ghost to rest at Slough last week, and we will need to do the same again on Saturday. But as Gary said at his weekly press call, we don’t need to talk about it and get hung up about it. Just turn up and win.