TALKING POINTS

Chris Wade

@tufcchris

Chris discusses the NLS game

BACK IN THE GOALS

One of the positives from the last two matches has been our ability to find the back of the net again. The lack of goals coupled with defensive woes have meant four successive defeats, and the scale of the problems at the back can be seen by us having scored five goals in the last two games and still not getting a point. One of the main issues is the lack of goals from the forward line. Incredibly, the last goal scored by a centre forward in a League game was Brad Ash against Weymouth on December 5. That is a classic reason as to why we have been struggling so desperately. But the attack had a different dimension with Duane Ofori-Achempong up there last week, as a physical edge has been desperately lacking, and the return of a certain somebody may well help too…

THE RETURN OF JARV

The reappearance of Aaron Jarvis as a 71^st minute substitute was one of the few positives from last week. We have desperately missed our talisman since his serious knee injury at Weston in October, and his return has been eagerly awaited. There were some trademark flicks, spins and battles in his twenty minutes on the pitch and he can hopefully build on that this week. With him, Duane and Ash now all available and ready for action, it surely won’t be too long before one of the strikers is back on the scoresheet. The presence, fighting qualities and leadership of Aaron in this final phase of the season could be crucial in the battle for our frankly ever decreasing chances of reaching the play offs this season.

DEFENSIVE PROBLEMS

The amount of goals that we have conceded this season (54) is incredible really. It is worth noting that whilst individual positional areas are no doubt part of the problem, the lack of a shield (or midfield as it is called) is another massive issue in the goals going. Last week against Slough, once they beat the front five press, they came flooding through the midfield like animals in Noah’s Arc. This repeatedly left the defenders 3 on 3, 4 on 4 on 4 on 3 depending on the situation. Given that Gary talks of all of the analysis and work that they do on matches, how he cannot see the problems in midfield that have existed for 18 months I find incredible, and with the absence of Asa Hall again now, I can’t see that changing.

BIG FEW WEEKS

It feels like we are always saying this but this is the start of a vital few weeks. This season has lurched from one problem to the next, one defeat to the next, and recently one protest to the next. But if there is anything to come out of this season, this group of players have to stand up and be counted. NOW. RIGHT NOW. Being five points off the play off places having played a game more than most of those teams in there, is starting to have a feel of the point of no return for this season. This coming week has 9 points available with trips to Braintree and Farnborough before Aveley come to Plainmoor next Saturday. You would think that we need at least 7 points from those matches to get our play off hopes back on track. But who can see that actually happening? I am naturally optimistic but with the way that we are playing, I just can’t see us being able to turn up away from home and deliver. I hope to be proved wrong.

THE OPPOSITION

The other issue this weekend is that we are running into another team that are in form. Braintree have won 4 of their last 5 games and are hitting their straps at just the right time to make a charge for the play-offs in a way that we aren’t. It won’t be an easy place to go to as they have an impressive home form, and we haven’t turned up to one away game, played very well and got a good result. It simply hasn’t happened. And it’s time that it did. RIGHT NOW.