Post by Jon on Feb 25, 2023 13:44:52 GMT
What a disappointment that was. A golden opportunity wasted.
Looked like we were still on the bus for much of the first half. Jarvis’s wonder strike meant we got to half time on level terms - and were lucky to do so.
By the way, I have seen it mentioned that Jarvis came back from an offside position. He was offside when the ball went up to Fadahunsi but that is totally irrelevant. He was well onside when Fadahunsi laid it off - which is relevant.
When Lapslie put us ahead the game was ours for the taking.
Watching live, I wasconvinced that the Evans second booking was wrong. On watching the replay, it was clearly right.
Why does Gary Johnson spout such nonsense? Subconsciously, he is giving the players an excuse for losing by always blaming the ref even when the ref is right. We threw the match away not the ref. Accept responsibility and address our shortcomings, don’t cop out with baseless excuses.
When Evans went off, Fadahunsi pulled wide left for a minute or so to fill in a 4-4-1, but he was quickly replaced by Wyatt.
It is never easy to play with ten men and often requires a reshape. It means you need ten men to knuckle down - no room for passengers.
Dorking are a very poor side but totally different to most poor sides. Against any other poor side, stopping them scoring would be the obvious strategy.
Dorking are always likely to score but always likely to concede - even against ten men.
Both Jarvis and Fadahunsi hold the ball up well and are a goal threat. I would have been desperate to keep both on.
I would have removed McGavin and De Silva as unaffordable luxuries. I’d have left two up front, put Donnellan in centre midfield with Lapslie, played three at the back and Hanson and Wyatt as wingbacks with mostly defensive duties.
Johnson decided to sacrifice Fadahunsi to put Wyatt in on the left in front of Moxey.
You can sort of follow yet the logic. We have seen how our 3-5-2 formation regularly left oceans of space for opponents to run riot down our flanks. The two games with Barnet clearly showed how much more effective two banks of four can be in limiting opponents’ crossing opportunities. Sticking Wyatt in front of Moxey may have seemed the best way to shore up that side of our defence. Even if it meant losing Fadahunsi and with it the chance of grabbing another goal or two.
How annoying then that the two goals both came down the very flank we had tried to shore up. It shows formations can help, but bad players lose matches. I said no room for passengers. Ten men required not seven (genrerous?) plus McGavin, Wyatt and Marshall unfit for purpose.
Wyatt offered no more protection for Moxey than if we had left Fadahunsi wide left - but zero attacking threat. I always say you need two workers in the middle in a 4-4-2. Lapslie’s superhuman exploits carried McGavin against Barnet but could not on Tuesday. Then if you allow crosses to come in, you need the big centre half to do his job - which Marshall failed to do.
Lack of quality and lack of balance on the bench has thrown away so many points this season.
We finally got Donnellan to replace McGavin, but that meant a left footed centre back coming on at right back. I do wish we had signed a right back instead of yet another centre back. Moxey also went off with Wyatt dropping to left back, De Silva switching to the left and Hanson slotting in front of Mensah.
De Silva looked to have license to join Jarvis further forward, but was ineffective and lightweight compared to Fadahunsi.
Just too many players not good enough.
With Lawrence, Lapslie and Jarvis we look not quite good enough.
Take any one of those out and God help us.
I’m sure Lapslie must be near to another breakdown. Cross fingers and hope not.
Looked like we were still on the bus for much of the first half. Jarvis’s wonder strike meant we got to half time on level terms - and were lucky to do so.
By the way, I have seen it mentioned that Jarvis came back from an offside position. He was offside when the ball went up to Fadahunsi but that is totally irrelevant. He was well onside when Fadahunsi laid it off - which is relevant.
When Lapslie put us ahead the game was ours for the taking.
Watching live, I wasconvinced that the Evans second booking was wrong. On watching the replay, it was clearly right.
Why does Gary Johnson spout such nonsense? Subconsciously, he is giving the players an excuse for losing by always blaming the ref even when the ref is right. We threw the match away not the ref. Accept responsibility and address our shortcomings, don’t cop out with baseless excuses.
When Evans went off, Fadahunsi pulled wide left for a minute or so to fill in a 4-4-1, but he was quickly replaced by Wyatt.
It is never easy to play with ten men and often requires a reshape. It means you need ten men to knuckle down - no room for passengers.
Dorking are a very poor side but totally different to most poor sides. Against any other poor side, stopping them scoring would be the obvious strategy.
Dorking are always likely to score but always likely to concede - even against ten men.
Both Jarvis and Fadahunsi hold the ball up well and are a goal threat. I would have been desperate to keep both on.
I would have removed McGavin and De Silva as unaffordable luxuries. I’d have left two up front, put Donnellan in centre midfield with Lapslie, played three at the back and Hanson and Wyatt as wingbacks with mostly defensive duties.
Johnson decided to sacrifice Fadahunsi to put Wyatt in on the left in front of Moxey.
You can sort of follow yet the logic. We have seen how our 3-5-2 formation regularly left oceans of space for opponents to run riot down our flanks. The two games with Barnet clearly showed how much more effective two banks of four can be in limiting opponents’ crossing opportunities. Sticking Wyatt in front of Moxey may have seemed the best way to shore up that side of our defence. Even if it meant losing Fadahunsi and with it the chance of grabbing another goal or two.
How annoying then that the two goals both came down the very flank we had tried to shore up. It shows formations can help, but bad players lose matches. I said no room for passengers. Ten men required not seven (genrerous?) plus McGavin, Wyatt and Marshall unfit for purpose.
Wyatt offered no more protection for Moxey than if we had left Fadahunsi wide left - but zero attacking threat. I always say you need two workers in the middle in a 4-4-2. Lapslie’s superhuman exploits carried McGavin against Barnet but could not on Tuesday. Then if you allow crosses to come in, you need the big centre half to do his job - which Marshall failed to do.
Lack of quality and lack of balance on the bench has thrown away so many points this season.
We finally got Donnellan to replace McGavin, but that meant a left footed centre back coming on at right back. I do wish we had signed a right back instead of yet another centre back. Moxey also went off with Wyatt dropping to left back, De Silva switching to the left and Hanson slotting in front of Mensah.
De Silva looked to have license to join Jarvis further forward, but was ineffective and lightweight compared to Fadahunsi.
Just too many players not good enough.
With Lawrence, Lapslie and Jarvis we look not quite good enough.
Take any one of those out and God help us.
I’m sure Lapslie must be near to another breakdown. Cross fingers and hope not.
