TALKING POINTS

Mark Hirst

@MarkAHirst

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Mark discusses the loss at Hemel

FINE MARGINS

Let’s be clear, this wasn’t a disastrous performance. Last month, I came away from Slough perplexed at how we’d won – we were awful and should have suffered a heavy defeat. I had genuine concern, as if we played like that too often, promotion hopes would go up in smoke.

Yesterday was much better, even in defeat (I’ll elaborate in later points). If we aren’t going to dominate games, usually it all comes down to fine margins – brilliant keeping (Halstead at Slough), a piece of individual magic (McGavin v Chelmsford), or defensive howlers. Sadly yesterday there were a couple of the latter, Marshall’s inability to deal with the corner for the first goal & Martin’s dreadful pass, which left a chasm of space  behind him. GJ knew straight away – his hands were on his head even as the ball was being played into the area behind his hapless full-back.

We’ve got to cut those mistakes out. We’ve won only once by more than one goal in the league & we can’t afford to hand out gifts in games where we’re struggling to create chances ourselves.

FORMATION & SQUAD FLAWS

We seem to have settled on a 433 formation for the last few games and despite yesterday’s result, I hope it’s one we stick with.

Sure, it’s not perfect, but offers a better balance – every other system we’ve played exposes flaws in the squad. We started the season with 3 at the back, but it became apparent that the Collins/Stobbs solution that ended last season was really only a short-term fix – we don’t have proper wing-backs & were leaving huge gaps that were being exploited. Next came 442, but the problem area switched to central midfield – we lacked control and the consequence was hoofball to bypass it entirely.

The 433 fits the make up of our squad – we have forward thinking players to play either side of Jarvis, even being the best system to suit Dillon De Silva, should he be sighted again. And we’ve plenty of central midfielders (when all fit), so will be a case of getting the right combination.

THE MCGAVIN ROLE

I found yesterday fascinating from a tactical point of view, particularly the first half. We were trying so hard to not to hit aimless balls up to Jarvis. And central to the plan was the re-energised Brett McGavin. In the summer, many wondered if his days at Plainmoor were numbered, but injuries have thrust him back into consideration and this current system has made him a key figure.

The one thing I’ve seen with Brett is that he’s always near the ball. Sometimes what he’s done with it has been open to question, but he’s never been anonymous and I like that in a player. Yesterday his role was orchestra conductor- Hemel weren’t pressing and that gave him the time to pick up the ball from Marshall/Tomlinson and attempt to start the moves. It didn’t always work, Lapslie and Jenkins Davies often ran away from him, rather than coming to pick up the ball on the half turn and run at the defence. Or the full backs weren’t getting ahead of him so he was left with a sideways pass. But I found it refreshing.

He’s only 23 and I get the sense this is a role he enjoys. If he grows into it, is brave on the ball and is given some slack when he gives it away, he could be the surprise element in the promotion push.

IN-GAME COACHING

My local team is Walton & Hersham, who after 3 straight promotions are going well in Southern League Premier South – there’s every chance we could be meeting next season. Their manager is Scott Harris, who I suspect you’ve never heard of. His philosophy is win or bust. A bit Bazball. They build from the back, occasionally conceding horrendous goals as a result. But they stick with it and when they beat the press, they can play some thrilling football. He’s very instructional on the sideline, it’s a fascinating listen.

So yesterday I decided to get myself as close to GJ as I could, to see how he compared. I heard

‘Ross, any chance of winning a header’

‘Luke, get yourself in the game’

(My favourite, at 2-3) ‘Balls in the box’

This is all observational and to be clear I don’t blame him for the way in which we conceded the 3 goals. But it seemed very passive, leaving players to work it all out for themselves, even when players came over for a drink. I’d have thought players in the 6th tier need more guidance. It certainly works for Walton & Hersham.

JUDGING AFTER 10 GAMES

So here we are, at the mythical 10 game point. Two points off the top, but it doesn’t feel as if we are playing well enough to be that close. 1.9 points-per-game will get us to 87, which is 16 points short of Ebbsfleet’s total last season, but would be enough to have finished 2nd.

The good thing is that no team wants to take the league by the scruff of the neck, some of the results are baffling. How have Worthing lost 4-0 twice? So we’re very much in touch, but fancy we’ll have to improve just to even maintain the current return. And we’ll have to play significantly better to take us to a 90+ point finish which will give us a chance of winning the title. Is this squad good enough to do that? Is the manager capable of sorting out the obvious deficiencies? I have my doubts – my pre-season prediction was 3rd and I’ll stick with that.

COYY – MARK

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