Only once before have The Association suffered three competitive defeats on the spin - that was back in the first half of season 2008/09 when we were really shit - are we shit again!!!.
Pre-match instructions went out of the window and it was the sort of performance and on field behaviour that pushes managers to step aside and players to move on. This management retains a commitment to have a last season tilt at the premiership and all the senior cups but the jury's out on whether or not all of this group of players has the individual and team ability, commitment and ethic to reach see the journeys end and to reach the very top.
On my count there were 5 or possibly 6 yellow cards (we were also lucky to escape at least 2 reds). If so, this leaves me and Gary as club officials having to face a "disrepute" or "failing to control" charge from County FA and it wont rest there for the players concerned. For all the lovely football we think we play thats a disgrace we can do without.
In the 1st minute Kyle let the ball bounce, an error repeated across the game and we were saved only by Revill and the post (twice) as the back four just stood and watched. In the 3rd Neil crossed the entire width of the pitch chasing man and ball - a point dealt with at training but with only 4 turning up the coaching point was lost. In the 4th Billy took a throw and the switched off standing still as the ball and play came back past him. In the 7th Andy stopped, appealed a decision and flapped his arms (any harder and he'd have taken off) whilst play continued around him in what would have otherwise been a good position - too long with the kids maybe! In the 10th Neil released Olli centrally, a run past 3 men ended without a shot, in the 11th Mark's lofted balled has headed by Jack releasing Andy, again no shot. In the 17th Andy had a Bowles moment attempting a 35 yard hopeless shot. It took a full 18 minutes until we had a realistic worthwhile shot on goal - that came from Neil breaking 40 yards from the holding hole! Straight down the other end and a needless handball from Billy gifted them a freekick on the edge of the box which we just about dealt with.
In the 25th Kim sprang into life with a couple of towering headers and Ryan and Chippy combined well down the left. That foothold was given up easily when Neil and Bowles twice each passed up the easy positive ball options and insisted on trying to hit 35 yard diagonals conceding possession. In the 35th it could have got a whole lot worse when Mark went in with a wild two footed lunge in a safe area of the pitch - ridiculous and it should probably should have been red. From the resulting freekick the ball ends up in the opposite corner and an undefended header gives them a 1-0 lead.
Within 2 minutes of the restart Billy made no real attempt to get off the ground in an arial challenge - just a poorly disguised barge - and we were under pressure from the off, a minute later he repeated the trick. In the 7th Jack closed down a defender Olli struck it well but not well enough to beat the post and Jack was poor in his follow up. In the 10th Kim was stuck in an awful 20 minute period and caught flat footed he hung a leg out and toe poked them clear to make it 2-0 (Revill had no chance). Andy's 57th minute foul throw was his last "contribution" and he made way for Sam.
In he 65th minute with the red mist rising Chippy kicked out and was unbelievably lucky to escape with a yellow for a red card offence. He was subbed for the teams protection. Its a game of tackle and get tackled not get tackled and get even. He's not the only one but this a real issue for us all to address. You have to earn the right to play. You do this by competing. Too many players go out with the attitude that they should be allowed to stroll around without being tackled. Get tackled and get on with it - leave the rest to the referee. No arguement, no discussion.
In the 22nd Kim was still out of sorts when he needlessly pushed a player going nowhere on the 18 yard box. He took the end of the wall but the best i can think to say is that he spotted a ten pence piece at his feet!
In the 71st Sam was booked for swearing, so much for pre-match instructions. In the 28th Jack was strong in the centre and released Sam who drove wide. In the 75th Ryan was needlessly booked for dissent. Neil walked off the pitch injured in the 76th and walked home without so much as a word! Down to 10 men we finally got going. In the 80th Jack was on the end of a slick 7 pass move but badly scuffed his shot. a minute later Jack met Ollis corner but his header was saved. A minute later a well uted volley from Glen was saved at full stretch and another minute later Jack's header whistled just wide. With 5 minutes to go Jack caught Bowles desiese and attempted a useless 40 yard shot with options left and right - very poor. Bowles dragged us into the game when he headed home Ollie corner and then undid our momentum going short with his throw when we were 7 men in the box - we dont need a left back taking short throws opposite their 18 yard box - thats just wasteful. We peppered their goal for the last 5 minutes, Kim coming closest when he was denied by the post but we couldnt find the leveller.
The team has possibly only got one more game and just 7 days to decide what it wants to do and where it wants to go. Me and Gary can't commit to training with a turnout of just 4 - its a been a season long issue and an expensive one for me paying the hall. No training means weaker ball skills, lower fitness, reduced team spirit etc etc - generally a slide into "pub-side" territory and it shows in the generally poor performance levels across the 2nd half of the season. There's little me and Gary can do for you at this stage of the season except organise and set you up. The ability is largely there but this is no good without a will to win, a strong team purpose, mutual respect and belief until the final whistle.
Are we The Association for more game? If yes, let's make it two more games.
MOM Revill.
