So rarely have I agreed with you completely. This is one of those strange occasions. But I also worry about the type of game we set out to play. Some players try to adapt, but our system seems so rigid. However, if we get to 72 points in the league it'll still be our best season ever - that's just 3 wins and a draw, or two wins and 4 draws from our final 11 games! Isn't it strange how hope and desire turns to expectation?
Thanks Machel. Yes it's difficult when there is a slump like this. For me it doesn't work bringing Charles on for Krauhaus unless we are winning as Charles is then playing out of position and he seems to be struggling to settle into the team anyway. I think it will take a while for the team to get back on a winning run and it may mean only scraping into the play-offs. The important thing though is to be in form when we do reach the play-offs. In AW we trust but as in the season when we won the F.A. Trophy things only came together right at the end of the season. We may be witnessing something similar this season. I think we were 4th in January that season and had a lot of new players and it took a couple of months to gel. A different challenge this season as we have to get over the fact we have been 2nd for so long but now have to go back to basics and try and get 3 points from the next game however ugly we have to play.
I think an overlooked factor in the 2024 downturn is the loss of Lewis Leigh. Fela and Krauhaus losing their way hasn't helped, but Leigh's footballing intelligence was integral and hasn't been replaced.
Yes, Ashley Charles has been written off way too soon and defo needs a run in the team to put that right. The reason he's been written off is Bromley aren't playing to his strengths. They spend a lot of the game thunder-punting it over his head or popping it down the wings, then expect him to perform miracles when he finally gets a taste.
You mentioned Krauhaus-less combinations in your piece. Personally, I'd play Charles and Woods together deep in the middle with Whitely and Fela/Louis buzzing around in the space ahead of them.
Your right our position at the moment is the best we’ve ever been.That could change by the end of the season and momentum is proven so often in the play offs with those creeping in late (Oldham maybe) coming out victors.
We can look at things at the end of the season but wonder how many times year on year we can do it !
Wrexham did how many years before a massive injection of money took them away ?
I’ve seen us and the other team i follow being crap and i’ve had more happy times being crap than I see at the moment tbh so it bothers me not at all really.
You’re correct, but you cannot rely on past achievements. Fronting up the problem is often the difficult decision but has better results than ‘hope it gets better’.
I put this on the forum, I’ve had yet another nights sleep and still think the same.
So I slept on it, and it really is no better this morning. We have totally lost our way, it was a performance of abject ineptitude.Taking the Chesterfield game out of the equation, our performances this year have been dire and boring. The players look tired, leggy and lethargic take your pick, the increasingly animated dugout looking more and more desperate. What’s needed is a total reboot of our season, there is no reason this slump should be happening we have a really good squad with a few exceptional NL players. There is a wave of complacency that needs to be addressed. It’s no different from the sales team in business not hitting their targets, whose fault is it the sales manager or the sales team. Perhaps it’s time for a motivational club meeting given by the company owner.
Spot on, Rob. I refrained from commenting this time for fear of being labelled a merchant of doom! But basically we have been found out as a team that only plays the long ball game, by passing the midfield entirely, and to be honest only beat Chesterfield because of their defensive frailties. With only one or two exceptions we have a squad that lacks creativity and quality and which I fear will be nowhere near League Two come the end of next month. Truly hope I’m wrong and as I said in a previous missive only the Grim Reaper will stop me renewing my season ticket next season. And I commend Machel’s articulate enthusiasm, even though I do fear his outlook is rather rosier than reality suggests. Keep up the good work guys; fingers crossed we might get another Trophy day out to Wembley.
Spot on analysis of the game as per.
It was abject across the board.
I totally take your point that AW has earned the right for people to have faith in him, but I’m not sure anyone could turn this round quickly.
I wish him luck.
So rarely have I agreed with you completely. This is one of those strange occasions. But I also worry about the type of game we set out to play. Some players try to adapt, but our system seems so rigid. However, if we get to 72 points in the league it'll still be our best season ever - that's just 3 wins and a draw, or two wins and 4 draws from our final 11 games! Isn't it strange how hope and desire turns to expectation?
Yes this is the situation now - 'some' fans now demand Ws no matter what.
They will of course say that isnt the case but the proof is in the pudding given reactions whenever Bromley drop points.
Thanks Machel. Yes it's difficult when there is a slump like this. For me it doesn't work bringing Charles on for Krauhaus unless we are winning as Charles is then playing out of position and he seems to be struggling to settle into the team anyway. I think it will take a while for the team to get back on a winning run and it may mean only scraping into the play-offs. The important thing though is to be in form when we do reach the play-offs. In AW we trust but as in the season when we won the F.A. Trophy things only came together right at the end of the season. We may be witnessing something similar this season. I think we were 4th in January that season and had a lot of new players and it took a couple of months to gel. A different challenge this season as we have to get over the fact we have been 2nd for so long but now have to go back to basics and try and get 3 points from the next game however ugly we have to play.
I hate to concur when it’s a disappointment- I prefer to share your views and scores when we are celebrating… but once again, Spot On
He will know better than anyone what the problems are, “in Woody we trust”
I think an overlooked factor in the 2024 downturn is the loss of Lewis Leigh. Fela and Krauhaus losing their way hasn't helped, but Leigh's footballing intelligence was integral and hasn't been replaced.
Yes Lewis has been a miss - even with his 65 min cameos. No one had his range of passing ability.
That said I do think Ashley Charles just needs a run of games. Some want to write him off already which is bizarre.
There is someone I know with his passing range!
Yes, Ashley Charles has been written off way too soon and defo needs a run in the team to put that right. The reason he's been written off is Bromley aren't playing to his strengths. They spend a lot of the game thunder-punting it over his head or popping it down the wings, then expect him to perform miracles when he finally gets a taste.
You mentioned Krauhaus-less combinations in your piece. Personally, I'd play Charles and Woods together deep in the middle with Whitely and Fela/Louis buzzing around in the space ahead of them.
Seem to have these blips around the same time most seasons,I suspect January is a time of reflection for some players.
Still confident we’ll make the play offs but maybe not in the top 3.
So look at the teams around us and would you fancy beating 3 in a row ?
Look at Oldham playing in front of a crowd of 11,000 on Saturday thanks to the generosity of their Chairman.
Would we fancy that on a Tuesday night ?
I don’t think so.With the money bags of FGR coming down and the likes of Barnet,Oldham maybe the resurgence of Hartlepool,Southend.
Next season will be much of the same or quite possibly less.
Talk of the play offs if you like but are we anywhere near a position to get excited about it.
Enjoyed Woking last season but thats about it.
The Trophy game v Barnet gives a chance to lay down a marker,need to take that seriously now.
Playoffs are about momentum - always have been always will be.
For all the talk of a blip this is still the best league season Bromley have had in my living mind.
If we cant appreciate that now some may well be in for a rude awakening when we really turn crap at some point in the future.
Your right our position at the moment is the best we’ve ever been.That could change by the end of the season and momentum is proven so often in the play offs with those creeping in late (Oldham maybe) coming out victors.
We can look at things at the end of the season but wonder how many times year on year we can do it !
Wrexham did how many years before a massive injection of money took them away ?
I’ve seen us and the other team i follow being crap and i’ve had more happy times being crap than I see at the moment tbh so it bothers me not at all really.
You’re correct, but you cannot rely on past achievements. Fronting up the problem is often the difficult decision but has better results than ‘hope it gets better’.
Defo cant rely on the past but and this is the crux for me Andy Woodman has enough credit in the bank for me to trust he will sort it.
Playoffs and what we do in them is another matter altogether.
I put this on the forum, I’ve had yet another nights sleep and still think the same.
So I slept on it, and it really is no better this morning. We have totally lost our way, it was a performance of abject ineptitude.Taking the Chesterfield game out of the equation, our performances this year have been dire and boring. The players look tired, leggy and lethargic take your pick, the increasingly animated dugout looking more and more desperate. What’s needed is a total reboot of our season, there is no reason this slump should be happening we have a really good squad with a few exceptional NL players. There is a wave of complacency that needs to be addressed. It’s no different from the sales team in business not hitting their targets, whose fault is it the sales manager or the sales team. Perhaps it’s time for a motivational club meeting given by the company owner.
The only thing I would say is our season run-ins in all of the past three seasons when we've had to come clutch we have done so.
I am not panicking.
Spot on, Rob. I refrained from commenting this time for fear of being labelled a merchant of doom! But basically we have been found out as a team that only plays the long ball game, by passing the midfield entirely, and to be honest only beat Chesterfield because of their defensive frailties. With only one or two exceptions we have a squad that lacks creativity and quality and which I fear will be nowhere near League Two come the end of next month. Truly hope I’m wrong and as I said in a previous missive only the Grim Reaper will stop me renewing my season ticket next season. And I commend Machel’s articulate enthusiasm, even though I do fear his outlook is rather rosier than reality suggests. Keep up the good work guys; fingers crossed we might get another Trophy day out to Wembley.