TALKING POINTS
Dom Roman
@DomRoman
Dom discusses the NLS game
TIME TO FIGHT
10 points deducted, 3 points above the relegation zone, time for the Gulls to fight. We need to see bottle from these guys, it’s okay managing one win against a struggling Dartford team, but there’s no excuse for getting turned over by Taunton only a few days later. Did these guys suddenly believe in the hype and get complacent playing the Peacocks? I’m not sure, but you can’t just turn up expecting to win, you have to be mentally ready to take the game to the opposition and simply push harder in every area of the pitch. Taunton looked motivated and organised, scored the first goal and we reacted like scared cats. Show the same against Tonbridge and we will get turned over. We live in hugely unsettling times at Plainmoor, but these professional players have to do better, and a win tomorrow would be huge.
THE LINE-UP
Going by Aaron Downes’ interview, we will hopefully have a fully fit squad (the exception being Finley Craske). Austin Booth had a poor game against his former club and also picked up a foot injury (caused possibly by a horrible air shot at the ball in the 1st half!), whilst Dan Martin returns into contention after a knock before the Dartford game. Ross Marshall may return in place of Booth, the centre back gives us more aggression and could be a better option, even with all his faults as a player. Otherwise Ethon Archer has not been picked recently and I don’t know why – he certainly doesn’t shy away from the action and can give us something different with his quick feet. Tactically I’d assume Downes will stick to a 3-5-2 – which is imbalanced with a right footer on the left – and hope that his team can rebound with a performance more akin to his first 3 games in charge.
ANGELS
Ex-Maidstone manager Jay Saunders has been in charge of Tonbridge Angels for almost 2 years, and has done a good job in Kent, with the team currently sitting in a comfortable 12th place on 49 points (yes we were above them a couple of days ago!). Their form has been patchy, with a 2-1 loss away to Aveley on Monday (we know that feeling), before that they drew against Havant and beat Eastbourne. Players wise their squad includes experienced midfielder Scott Wagstaff, and ex-Gull Ryan Hanson, though he’s been missing recently through injury (shocked!). Tonbridge are the sort of team that our 18-19 version beat for fun, but this time around on our travels – more often than not – we’ve been getting turned over. The first goal has so often been vital in United games, as shown in the last week, let’s hope we’re the ones scoring it.
NEEDING MORE FROM ASH AND COLLINS
Brad Ash had a hugely frustrating game on Tuesday. The striker runs and runs, but sometimes you just need to compose yourself and let the game come to you. For much of the 90 minutes, he seemed to be in front or behind the ball, slipping and sliding around the pitch in a frenetic way. We’ve seen this season why Ash has never made it at a higher level, don’t get me wrong he’s not a bad player but when you need intelligent movement and quick decisions on the ball, you’re not getting it. We need better from him at Tonbridge and most importantly I want him to get into the opposition box, where he can find a finish or assist. As for Lewis Collins, I just need to see him play with more heart. Often it feels like the attacker floats around in games, instead I want him dashing into the action and making things happen. Take the initiative and show us you are a player Lewis.
9 BIG GAMES TO GO
The next three games will be testing, with Tonbridge and Yeovil (a) plus Hampton at home, and I think we’d probably take 4 points now from those if it was offered! Weston-super-Mare and Welling follow that, two winnable fixtures, but WSM have already beaten us and Welling have been improving, so getting points early and beating Tonbridge would make for a massive weekend. I’m sure the Yellow Army will travel in great numbers to the ‘Halcyon Wealth’ Stadium and make their voices heard. The part we have to play is bigger than ever, whilst Aaron Downes needs to get the players to dig deeper like they are fighting for their futures, which they pretty much are. Overall this squad should (should) have enough to keep us in the NLS, anything else is simply unthinkable..
COYY – DOM
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