RYMAN PREMIER DIVISION
Att: 652
SUTTON UNITED – 0
CANVEY ISLAND – 1 [Vaughan 47]
Ah you bastards. After the flowing football of Tuesday night, we thought that an entertaining & competitive game might possibly also ensue today. But sadly we were wrong. It was the second rate 5-3-2/3-5-2 ‘scared of our opponents/un-adventurous’ shite that saw us relegated last season that greeted us at GGL instead. Shame.
What I don’t get is why?? We play 4-4-2 with 2 out and out wingers in the previous home game (WHICH WE WON!) and then suddenly switch to fucking wingbacks in the next, when it’s not worked so far and we don’t really seem to have the players to do it?? I’ll tell you why. Because we were shit scared of Canvey and the money they’d spent this summer and the players that this gives them. Simple as that. Still, it guess we only ended up getting done by one goal, so it sort of worked.
The U’s started brightly enough, but with the first touch twins of Ekoku and Salako up front leading the line, we were never going to get much joy out of a big strong typically Essex shithouse back four. On 3 occasions in the first 45 we broke into wide positions, only for our low crosses into the box to be cut out. Meanwhile the Islanders more direct style of play was causing difficulties for our back 4. There was no playing out from the back with this lot. It was get it forward and then go do your playing where it matters, in our final third!
The defence dealt with most threats well to be fair, despite the constant supply of passes to the No11 who seemed to enjoy the freedom of most of Sutton and ran most of what the visitors did. If his passing had been better and his forwards finishing been almost as good, we’d have been 3-0 down at the break easy. Thankfully, it wasn’t and it seems Gareth Howells hasn’t forgotten the nightmare of last season’s defending and pulled off one outstanding save in particular to deny a Canvey forward from converting his diving header. Apart from this, the visitors seemed all huff and no puff despite that large financial outlay on the pitch. Still, I guess it’s early doors in the season, so they may improve. Us? Not so sure.
Naturally, the old half time jinx struck for the first time this season. But for a change it was the other side of the break that the oppo goal came, which was at least a nice surprise. Some dozy defending after the restart sees a 20 yard run unchallenged and the resulting cross finds a Canvey forward at the near post in enough space. Despite a desperate last ditch tackle the ball still sneaks past Howells and it’s 1-0.
By now, our skipper Harlow is leading by example (once again!!) and giving the ball to any bugger NOT in Choc & Amber. Bit like last season really. Quite how his second rate ‘leadership’ is allowed to continue is beyond me as he dives into tackles and is increasingly bypassed by Canvey attacks. Subs arrive and we FINALLY switch to 4-4-2. Not that I’m going to point out that we should have been playing this from the start.
Despite the change, the U’s manage little in the way of attacks. Nko’s touch is letting him down big time with the Canvey defence all over him like a rash. Even sub forward Thompson can’t even find a Yellow shirt with his passes and he ends up setting in motion more Canvey attacks that their own midfield.
Our one and only shot on goal of the day comes from Danny Bolt. A corner falls to him on the edge of the box and his hooked shot sails way over the bar. Yep, this is genuinely the closest we get to ‘testing’ their ‘keeper. And if you think I’m gonna go on, you’re mistaken…
The performance this afternoon was quite frankly crap. I really do wish JR would stop fucking around with our systems. Why we have to ‘adapt’ our tactics to other sides at home is beyond me. We’re a 6th division club, we can’t do it. Here’s a suggestion….if we find something that works and gets us a result, how about we stick with it for a couple of weeks eh?
Right, I need a pint after that.
MAN OF THE MATCH : Gareth Howells. For that 1st half stop. None of the others got CLOSE………
ENTERTAINMENT : 2. Utter crap. Canvey = Direct shite. U’s = Clueless 2nd rate direct shite that got us relegated.
TEAM : Howell, Berry, Palmer, G