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
Webster was certainly guilty of not attacking the ball during the set piece for the first goal and he definitely wasn't firing on all cylinders, but I think he did ok in other areas. We can safely say that Webster and Reynolds are old enough to know better.
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.
I actually think the Cheek + Marriott combo is hurting us as well. As Peter points out above, they're both goal poachers. But why are we hitting long to Cheek to flick on to Marriott, who isn't that quick anyway?
I've always felt Cheek operates better with two guys just off him -- Corey/Dennis/Krauhaus/Whoeever -- buzzing around, picking up second balls (which we *still* can't do), and causing problems by dropping slightly deeper.
It makes the decision to loan out Alexander a little more confusing to me. Why give him so many minutes in pre-season if we didn't think he was good enough?
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.
Thanks for sharing that perspective, Trevor. I hadn't considered how Barnet's HT change might have altered things. Kanu had been tipped as the dangerman before the game so I was surprised to see that switch. Was it tactical? Big call, if so. On the money, too.
He's a big player for us, but in all honesty not yet come to the party in either game, too much coming inside the full back instead of running him to the touchline.
Dean took him off as he committed a couple more fouls after his yellow card, did the same last week with Gormo, concern over how quickly the officials will brandish another one, just about keeping 11 on the pitch.
Marvin didn't even make the 16 last week, we had seven on Saturday who didn't make the matchday squad, far better equipped this year I feel.
It's taken us two, nearly three years to get to that point so it's not a quick fix.
I think you'll be more than fine, the quality is there just needs to click, and until the EFL window closes in 2 weeks time there won't be much loan movement I wouldn't expect.
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.
Perhaps I was a bit harsh with my match score for Jude, but his constant needless fouling and his inability to beat his man made him stand out. As you say, he never shirks and his energy level is fantastic, which is why I hope to see him back in central midfield soon. But the fouling has to stop.
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...)
As ever it'll be back to basics vs Wealdstone. If there are to be goals you kinda sense we would have to score the 1st one.
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
Webster was certainly guilty of not attacking the ball during the set piece for the first goal and he definitely wasn't firing on all cylinders, but I think he did ok in other areas. We can safely say that Webster and Reynolds are old enough to know better.
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.
100% agreed.
I actually think the Cheek + Marriott combo is hurting us as well. As Peter points out above, they're both goal poachers. But why are we hitting long to Cheek to flick on to Marriott, who isn't that quick anyway?
I've always felt Cheek operates better with two guys just off him -- Corey/Dennis/Krauhaus/Whoeever -- buzzing around, picking up second balls (which we *still* can't do), and causing problems by dropping slightly deeper.
It makes the decision to loan out Alexander a little more confusing to me. Why give him so many minutes in pre-season if we didn't think he was good enough?
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.
Thanks for sharing that perspective, Trevor. I hadn't considered how Barnet's HT change might have altered things. Kanu had been tipped as the dangerman before the game so I was surprised to see that switch. Was it tactical? Big call, if so. On the money, too.
He's a big player for us, but in all honesty not yet come to the party in either game, too much coming inside the full back instead of running him to the touchline.
Dean took him off as he committed a couple more fouls after his yellow card, did the same last week with Gormo, concern over how quickly the officials will brandish another one, just about keeping 11 on the pitch.
Marvin didn't even make the 16 last week, we had seven on Saturday who didn't make the matchday squad, far better equipped this year I feel.
Bromley can only dream of such squad depth at the moment! Fingers crossed they get it solved or we could be in for a long season.
It's taken us two, nearly three years to get to that point so it's not a quick fix.
I think you'll be more than fine, the quality is there just needs to click, and until the EFL window closes in 2 weeks time there won't be much loan movement I wouldn't expect.
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’😂
Could well be another defeat on Tuesday as injuries will determine what we can do.
Is Cole even ready himself? Louis doesnt look ready for 60 much less 90? Miller no longer than 20.
Oh boy!!
Yeah, strap yourself in!! A couple of weeks from now things may well look a lot better but for now it’s gonna be hard going
Roll on October by which we should have players in and a settled side!!
Well said Simon
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.
I reckon several reasons for this...
It's the height of the summer holidays
Barnet arent an interesting team for the Bromley public to turn up for
It's was on TV
Here's an example when I booked my holiday I deliberately targeted missing the Barnet game as it isnt high profile
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.
Perhaps I was a bit harsh with my match score for Jude, but his constant needless fouling and his inability to beat his man made him stand out. As you say, he never shirks and his energy level is fantastic, which is why I hope to see him back in central midfield soon. But the fouling has to stop.
Pete wrote this one tbf.
I think the injuries in pre-season basically prevented any possibility to play his 1st XI
Reynolds, Kepkawa, Dennis, Passley, Whitely all picked up knocks