A 5th minute left wing raid by Ryan leading to Sam's lob over the bar disguised a casual, indisciplined start. Twice in the first 10 minutes we failed to show any urgency at the back and were pressed into back passes to Revill when we'd had time and options to clear and play. In the 11th minute the 3rd back pass to Revill invited more pressure once too often and Revill lost the ball as he tried to round the closing player gifting them a 1-0 lead. He should have done better but the original sin was the indecision and casual play in front of him.
Mark was tasked as the screening/holding player but spent the first 10 minutes drifting behind Kyle giving no protection to the back three, deepening the offside line and generally causing confusion. Josh and Daz lacked the drive and energy to pick up the runners and we were repeatedly exposed in 2 on 1 situations. The top three were instructed to play close together but made it easy for Bentfields by stretching themselves across the entire width of the pitch. They were also instructed to cover the wide areas when out of possession but never made any real attempt to put a shift in off the ball.
After the goal Jack was dropped into the hole and Mark moved out wide and we did regain some shape and composure. At times we flickered into life and created some half chances; in the 20th Sams pressing created a opening for Olli which fizzled out,, in the 30th Jack played Olli in but he shot wide and as the half drew to a close Josh and Sam combined well but Ollis reflex diving header cleared the bar.
At the turnaround we reverted to 3-5-2 to give us an extra body in the middle and Andy's pace at right back but we showed little improvement. Within 5 minutes of the restart Andy was caught in 2 minds and played a blind cross field ball. The play unwound with a cross into the box, an unchalleged header and an overhead kick past a stranded Revill for 2-0. It took until the 65th minute for us to show any real signs of life when Josh went on a driving run but his 20 yard drive was a bit too close to the 'keeper - the only save he had to make in 90 minutes!
With 10 minutes to go Ryan released Jack, his measured ball found Josh at the back post and he netted from close range. We huffed and puffed for the last 10 but we lacked the guile and strength to create a meaningful opportunity to square the game.
We said that last weeks practice game was a missed opportunity for players to show that they know how to (try to) turn a game when the odds are stacked against them. It was pretty much the same today no leadership or drive around the middle of the park with players waiting and relying on others to spark their game instead of working at it themselves.
If we get beat after putting in a decent shift (eg last season 0-1 in the County Cup) its one thing but its quite another to lose like we did today. Its no use saying that it was just a bad day at the office when there were more fundamental reasons for the result.
Preparation/Organisation/Discipline
- everybody gets full notice of kit details and meeting time so we can prepare together at the same time as a team. Each player has to take responsibility for this small part of organising for the game ahead.
Focus
- our own players are arguing about the match ball and using it as an excuse for their own poor play. Its ridiculous. Not only is the ball the same for both sides but with the quality (we think!) we have we should be able to beat most opposition at this level playing with a tennis ball. The players making the most noise are those furthest behind with paying subs which helps pay for (not even half) of the kit/equipment/pitch & match fees. The balls incidentally are identical to mitre match balls. Its just one small example which demonstrates a failure to stay focussed on the game and the objective of winning.
Discipline
- players are instructed what broad shape the team is to play and what is expected of them within that shape. Changes within the context of the flow of the game or as instructed by the Manager are one thing but on field decisions of individual players to do their own thing outside of the structure of the team are a non-starter.
Earn The Right To Play
- winning one week doesn't confer an automatic right to win the next week. As soon as we start to believe that we can win games without doing the basics first we are exposed as just another bunch of Sunday Herberts just as we were this week. Every player should ask themselves these questions (and more) about today and if each player is honest they will understand why we lost :-
did i play blind one touch or other passes that cost us possession?
did i try to shoot from distance without setting myself and without any real chance of scoring?
did i throw my arms up when something didnt go exactly as i wanted?
did i argue with the referee?
did i argue with/confront the referee when i wasnt even involved with the incident?
did i take a wild swing at a ball which was never under my control?
did i find myself attacking a ball which was clearly going over my head?
did i call for balls which i had no chance of winning or when other players were better placed?
did i go for a ball that my team mate had already called for?
did i find myself watching my team mates defend knowing i should be behind the ball?
did i fail to make myself available/provide an option for a team mate in possession?
did i allow myself to be pressed off the ball too easily?
did i fail to track/run/cover when i know i should have done?
did i not notice the leagues biggest 'keeper before i played arial crosses and shots?
did i knowingly drift out of position passing responsibilty for my position to others?
did i knowingly fail to meet the physical challenge of this game?
did i shake hand with the referee after?
did i shake hands with the opposition after?
did i shake hand with my team mates/managers after?
Leadership
- last weeks practice game was a missed opportunity for players to show that they have the heart, drive and leadership to try to turn around a lost cause. That missed opportunity was mirrored today with too many players failing to take charge and responsibility and looking instead for the soft option - ie either waiting for a team mate to spark their game or looking for something to blame - the ball, the ref, team mates basically anything but themselves. We're not perfect, if we were we wouldnt be playing Sunday football, but we're better than this.
At each Wednesdays training we only want a max of 10 minutes spent covering the previous game so as a team you need to cover all of the above between yourselves and convince me its out of your system well before Sundays game.
