TALKING POINTS
Chris Wade
@tufcchris
BACK TO THE CUP
After the disappointment of last week’s league defeat at Hemel Hempstead, it’s back to the pursuit for a place in the first round of the FA Cup this weekend with the visit of Hungerford to Plainmoor in the third qualifying round. It’s another opportunity to progress, win some prize money and keep moving forwards. There is no doubt that last week took the wind out of our sails. A run of 7 wins out 8 matches had given us some real momentum, but the key is now starting that run again. And the cup presents that chance.
DEFENSIVE CONCERNS
The reoccurring theme of the start of the season has been issues at the back. The unit has looked much more solid since the return of Dean Moxey in recent weeks, but the centre has continued to have good games and bad and not much in-between. Having a solid foundation is key to any successful team, and that is a little questionable at the moment. Clean sheets engender confidence in defenders in the same way that goals do in strikers, that needs to increase in the coming weeks.
JASH – LOSING THEIR TOUCH?
There was an (understandable) popular theory that Aaron Jarvis and Brad Ash would score buckets of goals this season. They have four each after 10 games in the league, which is by no means poor, but their returns probably aren’t quite what we all hoped for just yet. In the case of Ash, he has been playing wider in recent games, limiting his time in the box. But he is lively and will continue to cause problems. Jarvis has been missing chances of late, which is fine as they are being created. But I am sure that he will want to take more of them, and Saturday would be a good time to start.
RESPECT AND PLAY THE OPPOSITION
In what is the FA Play safe weekend, ensuring that United respect our lower league opposition will be key in approaching the game with the correct mentality. You only need to look at their 4-1 win at NLS team Chippenham Town to see that they are to be respected and will give us a good game. Of course, it’s a game that we should win, but the history of the Cup tells you that counts for nothing. Not going behind would be a handy start, and getting ahead of the game would be good. I expect a full team, with perhaps Rhys Lovett in goal for this one, as the first round proper is getting closer.