Tonbridge (H)

[Lord Elpus]

Absolutely dreadful, and Tonbridge were the epitome of very ordinary.
Not heard or witnessed the Bev quite so quiet and resigned in a long time either. Yep...sorry but something needs to be done and quickly.

[TW10]

Alan Dowson?

[Sparky]

Very poor. I just don’t get it. Let me give you an example. During one part of the match, they had a back five. We put three forwards up against them and pummelled long balls towards them, with no joy - instead of thinking, hey, they’ve left the midfield empty, we should exploit that by progressing the ball that way.

But no, we just kept going with the long balls, which their defenders just lapped up.

[BevereeMaster]

Alan Dowson?

would take him back in a heartbeat

[Lord Elpus]

Alan Dowson?

would take him back in a heartbeat

He's done almost nothing of note in the last 2 or 3 years.

[Sparky]

And another thing. On the rare occasion we did try to pass it short, players would pass and then watch, instead of moving into space for another pass or creating space. Unfathomable.

[Adam]

Very very very poor. We have lost several games lately were I have seen promising performances even with the injuries. But today was so lacklustre you have to start questioning the management. With the run we’ve been on and you can’t manage to get the players up to try and perform you do think is it time to start looking elsewhere. 4 points from 36 in the league tells its own story.

[Tony]

On another day it could have been four or five, but Tonbridge settled for just three. Tonbridge carved us open too easily within three minutes for their first and looked the better side until we asserted some pressure later on in the half. Again very little created from open play, just a couple of shots off target. Julian took off Deadfield at half time for Fasanmade but after a reasonable start Tonbridge scored their second with their first attack with a low driven cross to the back post. Game over as far as I could see, later confirmed as Thomas earned a second yellow card after having been caught in possession and tripping ex Beaver Babajide. Massey then set up Tonbridge’s third with an intercepted pass in his own box giving Babajide an easy tap in.

Big pressure now on Julian after three straight defeats following the end of the injury induced slump. We don’t seem to know what our best side is with players coming in and out and lasting half a game before being hauled off. No discernible pattern of play, body language terrible apart from a couple of exceptions and individual errors undermining performances. The team look bereft of confidence at the moment just when we have key games against our relegation rivals. Our last league win was 30 August.

[HamptonMad]

Alan Dowson?

Wash your mouth out.

[TW10]

Sparky - you were spot on in what you say we should have tried to exploit the space in midfield left by them dropping deep. Think someone said it seems a lifetime ago when we had Alfie Tuck getting on the ball, showing composure and making us play attractive football. TBF at Conf south when panic sets in then teams smash it long. Look at Mel Gwinnett and he on paper had good players. Gary Mccann the same. Alan Julian has showed us he likes to get the ball down and play but doesn't think we are good enough to do that hence revert to type.

We will be relegated by January unless something changes. Dowson should be under consideration. He would change the mentality and would know quickly which players can get us out the mess and those who can't and would act accordingly.

[Sparky]

That was me missing Mr Tuck too. This is the strange thing. Under Julian, we’ve started both seasons playing smart football. And in both seasons we’ve descended to lumping it forward and losing it.

if you’re low on confidence, play it simple and keep moving. We’re just giving it away constantly lumping it long and making other teams feel good.

Does this panic come from the manager? Does he abandon his principles as soon as he loses a couple? I don’t know.

But last night felt particularly clueless.

[Lord Elpus]

We will be relegated by January unless something changes. Dowson should be under consideration. He would change the mentality and would know quickly which players can get us out the mess and those who can't and would act accordingly.

They say never go back, lightning never strikes twice etc. I say again...Dowson has had his day. He has done nothing of note over the past few years but if you want to see more player turnover, more loanees and interviews that blame the players then yep, he's probably your man.