Thanks Peter. Disappointing to say the least. Something that hasn't been mentioned is this a hangover from last season? It happens so often a team goes on a good run and gets so close then they have to begin again with big names gone.
Ok injuries. Much as I bow to AW's great record recently the team selections have been puzzling. Sam Woods hardly seen him. Sablier put on loan when we have Vennings injured. Passley suspended but no back up. Arthurs at wing back Neil Smith tried this 3 years ago and it didn't work. This means Corey playing out of position Bingham left isolated in Midfield.
Transfers. AW feels frustrated. Maybe, but seems to me it has all been left a bit late as was pre season and no away games?.
Spot on as usual. I worry about our pre-season preparation - especially this year. What benefit does it give us getting battered by Millwall? Or having our youth players get the run around by Palace? I don't think I saw anything close to our first XI on the pitch together at any stage in pre-season - so perhaps it's no surprise that we look undercooked (even taking into account the injuries we've suffered).
Wealdstone now looks a massive game, before a potential banana skin up at Kiddy (who have just kept 2 clean sheets against Woking and York...)
Frankly agree with all you say except Webster was worse than Reynolds in my view nb second Barnet goal. Ben was weak link in poor midfield. Jude must be there . Corey yet again MoM as no real competitor
Great piece and thanks for sharing. 100% in agreement on the need for more width. If Cheek is Woodman's first choice this season, then he needs more service from wider areas.
A view from the other side! I actually thought you had pretty good midfield control until we worked out how to pick up Krauhaus' runs from deep, they troubled us for a while.
I did the Bromley heads drop when Collinge poked in, as Peter said they didn't recover from that, the half time change of Armstrong for Kanu certainly tipped the balance back Barnet's way, on another day had Whitely's shot dipped under the bar could well have been a different game.
Nice summary, Barnet’s movement and quick passing was just too good for us, our lack of pace through the spine of the team was clearly evident. Personally with the players we’ve got currently I’d switch to a back four for now. We need to get Kpekawa in the middle with Callum and play Passley and Bez as full backs. Once we can get Corey playing further up the pitch and Louis is fully fit things will feel a lot more positive. We’re probably 3-4 players light at the moment so hopefully we can bring in the same level of quality loans as we did last year with the likes of Deji and Stirk. As they say ‘Trust the process’😂
Apologies for the double comment, but one thing that struck me on Saturday was how empty Hayes Lane was.
I thought given the great run we had at the back end of last season, coupled with us selling 3k~ season tickets (as per the chat with the chairman) that we'd easily have cleared 3000 in attendence.
We barely got over 2000, and that was *with* a couple of hundred from Barnet.
The injuries were one thing, however all but one game were played at home on a 3G pitch when 50% of our season is on grass.The opposition against League U21 teams arranged primarily as a way of filling Broomfields. I won’t bother with watching pre season again.
All good observations as usual Mash. Pre Season was confusing, it should be about working on match fitness and formation with your preferred first team squad, it was anything but. With regards to Jude, sure there were problems with him playing in the wing back position, but his enthusiasm, energy and sheer determination ( has he ever shirked a tackle) was an example that should be an example to his teammates and one they would do well to emulate.
Bromley 0-2 Barnet
Thanks Peter. Disappointing to say the least. Something that hasn't been mentioned is this a hangover from last season? It happens so often a team goes on a good run and gets so close then they have to begin again with big names gone.
Ok injuries. Much as I bow to AW's great record recently the team selections have been puzzling. Sam Woods hardly seen him. Sablier put on loan when we have Vennings injured. Passley suspended but no back up. Arthurs at wing back Neil Smith tried this 3 years ago and it didn't work. This means Corey playing out of position Bingham left isolated in Midfield.
Transfers. AW feels frustrated. Maybe, but seems to me it has all been left a bit late as was pre season and no away games?.
We desperately need a goal Tuesday
Spot on as usual. I worry about our pre-season preparation - especially this year. What benefit does it give us getting battered by Millwall? Or having our youth players get the run around by Palace? I don't think I saw anything close to our first XI on the pitch together at any stage in pre-season - so perhaps it's no surprise that we look undercooked (even taking into account the injuries we've suffered).
Wealdstone now looks a massive game, before a potential banana skin up at Kiddy (who have just kept 2 clean sheets against Woking and York...)
Frankly agree with all you say except Webster was worse than Reynolds in my view nb second Barnet goal. Ben was weak link in poor midfield. Jude must be there . Corey yet again MoM as no real competitor
Great piece and thanks for sharing. 100% in agreement on the need for more width. If Cheek is Woodman's first choice this season, then he needs more service from wider areas.
A view from the other side! I actually thought you had pretty good midfield control until we worked out how to pick up Krauhaus' runs from deep, they troubled us for a while.
I did the Bromley heads drop when Collinge poked in, as Peter said they didn't recover from that, the half time change of Armstrong for Kanu certainly tipped the balance back Barnet's way, on another day had Whitely's shot dipped under the bar could well have been a different game.
Nice summary, Barnet’s movement and quick passing was just too good for us, our lack of pace through the spine of the team was clearly evident. Personally with the players we’ve got currently I’d switch to a back four for now. We need to get Kpekawa in the middle with Callum and play Passley and Bez as full backs. Once we can get Corey playing further up the pitch and Louis is fully fit things will feel a lot more positive. We’re probably 3-4 players light at the moment so hopefully we can bring in the same level of quality loans as we did last year with the likes of Deji and Stirk. As they say ‘Trust the process’😂
Apologies for the double comment, but one thing that struck me on Saturday was how empty Hayes Lane was.
I thought given the great run we had at the back end of last season, coupled with us selling 3k~ season tickets (as per the chat with the chairman) that we'd easily have cleared 3000 in attendence.
We barely got over 2000, and that was *with* a couple of hundred from Barnet.
The injuries were one thing, however all but one game were played at home on a 3G pitch when 50% of our season is on grass.The opposition against League U21 teams arranged primarily as a way of filling Broomfields. I won’t bother with watching pre season again.
All good observations as usual Mash. Pre Season was confusing, it should be about working on match fitness and formation with your preferred first team squad, it was anything but. With regards to Jude, sure there were problems with him playing in the wing back position, but his enthusiasm, energy and sheer determination ( has he ever shirked a tackle) was an example that should be an example to his teammates and one they would do well to emulate.