Dorking Wandering
The Dorking Wanderers FC Fans Forum
After a valuable point last time out against Solihull, we head to north London to face 2nd place Barnet. After their 2-1 victory over Eastleigh last night, they come in to the game with 3 wins and 2 defeats in their last 5 games. Last season we (fortunately) took all 3 points at The Hive courtesy of a Bobby-Joe Taylor cross/shot.
We remain without McShane, Briggs and Gallagher as longer term absentees, while we await news from Marc's weekly update on the fitness of Joe Cook, Charlie Carter and Harry Ottaway.
Predictions:
Barnet 2-2 Dorking (Prior, Blair pen.)
1,672 att. (142 away)
Possible 4-2-3-1 lineup (injuries permitting):
Male
Fuller Craig Hollis B.Taylor
Pybus J.Taylor
Blair Carter Bowerman
Prior
Subs: Francomb, McManus, Moore, Muitt, Rutherford
Quite tough to pick a line-up for this one with the possible injury to Carter. If he ends up missing out then I expect McManus to come in with Josh further forward. Dan Pybus is another interesting one as he may miss out from the start due to his England C involvement midweek, although he did only play 45 mins. Will Marc stick with Bowerman for a third game in a row or will he give Muitt a start?
Just really scratching my head at that team today. Marc talked last week about getting Hollis back in the side and that Cook was injured but then precedes to start Cook instead of Hollis and drop Bobby as well. Really confusing.
We look awful defensively without Pybus in the side and Francomb clearly wasn't fit either. We just haven't recruited well enough in defensive areas these last 2 seasons and it's cost us.
At the other end of the pitch, they were all really poor as well. Carter missed his weekly sitter and Prior didn't look remotely arsed. Rutherford right to get abuse from Marc in the post match as well.
Sounds like the end of the Joe Cook as well based on that post match. His comments on Blair were a little odd as it sounds like he's done as well but probably just a misunderstanding as he's been excellent generally.
Need minimum of 4 points from the Easter weekend now.
Post match was certainly interesting. And it did seem Blair was being lumped in with the 'ill disciplined who won't play again' - which I agree would be odd as he's been one of our stand outs this season.
Wasn't at the game but sounds like Prior was poor again - but he doesn't seem to get singled out.
Likely to see much more of Bobby Joe for the rest of the season for sure.
3 more wins needed from 6 - minimum. If we lose both over Easter I'd say that's pretty much it tbh as it would leave us needing min 3 wins from 4.
"There are a couple of boys that I have told are not coming back"...After that he mentions a few, suggesting that its 3 instead of 2.
"I have been so over loyal to players...players I cannot trust...for the next 6 games we wont see them."
We know Joe Cook is one for sure. Is Tom Blair the other, and if it is not, then who is it? It was the only other lad he mentioned negatively other than Alfie.
We will find out based on who isn't involved for the last 6 games in any case.
Clearly now we need 2 wins from the next 2 otherwise we are down. With the terrible goal difference we are 4 points away from safety.
@jacksonfairweather Marc can be quite hyperbolic and often exaggerates things like that. I would be VERY surprised if he was just getting rid of Alfie and Blair, especially as both are contracted for next season.
Cook is definitely gone though.
So there is that . . . Kind of a funny side story. For the Gateshead away game my brother was getting married on the same day. I was watching the game from my hotel room. Today him and his wife are having a celebration in our own city- and . . . so, in essence, I'm sorry it is my brother's fault.
Where to begin with yesterday?
Lets start with breakfast and reading through this thread and debating whether to go or not
@happy-hammers warned me (on here) they are go going forward, I thought quick pacey up front this could be our nightmare!
But how bad could it be? 2 factors in going 1) Marc in his weekly ask for our support and 2) of the four teams that do eventually go down very few (I've not checked) will have got anything from Barnet away.
At the game we delivered a classic bipolar performance from last week, have we ever been average this season? One week we are amazing look like a tight unit, yesterday the team looked like they met each other on the bus. One thing we can be thankful for it was only 4 nil at half time!
I get the early changes with people on bookings but a team that is killing are defence for pace I'm not sure if Haydn is ever the answer, and the mistake for 3 or 4 goal when he lost ball not sure what he was thinking about. But if there was ever a player that summed up our bipolar performances he's one he was a beast against Chesterfield!
Also what now seems to be a bit of tradition of replacing Alfie early if its all going wrong. Dont get me wrong dissent is unacceptable at this level but when he is replaced Jason looks lost.
Anyway the take away from Marc post match is we go again
I thought we had learnt the lesson about plying three at the back against quick mobile forwards but apparently not. Pybus a big miss defensively but the attacking threat was hardly there at all. (Although was Jason really offside? And how did Carter not score?)
A shame about Cook. He just hasn’t learnt from mistakes. Same about the dissent. Unforgivable. If Marc has learnt to button it this season he has a right to expect others to do so.
Agree with others that Blair has been a positive this season and no need to call out players so publicly. The inconsistency in team performances is really hard to fathom. Must be down to more than individuals making mistakes.
Going to be hard now …
Just looking at the discipline of the players.
Taylor 39 app 12y
Pybus 30 9y 1r
McManus 26 7y
Fuller 22 7y
BJ Taylor 31 6y
Cook 14 6y 1r
Prior 33 5y 2r
Moore 16 5y 2r
Individually the booking stats don't look too bad as only Josh Taylor would have served a two match suspension. But we have had 95 bookings in total, only Woking with 96 have had more, so I can see Marc's point. Seems some disharmony in the camp which needs to be resolved if going to survive.
Again seems to be tactical error assuming what defensive set up opposition would play. Management need to set up team so can adapt to whatever opposition do. Always a risk setting up with 3 at back if no-one from midfield can help if needed. As many on this forum have said hopefully BJ Taylor will play more. He should really start every game in my view.
Sadly I think that the management team/backroom staff have lost it (Marc included) this season. God help up if we are going to stay up.
Looks like Marc is serious about changing things. Aaron Kuhl has been recalled from his loan, and presumably will go straight into squad for Friday. Good move and surprises not done earlier.
While Marc admitted he thought they’d start with 2 up and not 3, it really doesn’t make sense to play 3 at the back against 2 quick, big, mobile forwards. Barnet are a fairly direct side hitting the front players quickly, which is tricky to counter if you have small players with limited pace at the back.
I’d like to see them start with 4 personally and change accordingly with the way the game pans out.
However it is irrelevant how many players you play at the back when you commit so many schoolboy errors. The standard of defending was woeful. We didn’t really do well in any areas of the pitch and it was the first time I’ve thought we really lacked the fight for the challenge. The way some players were strolling around was pretty poor.
We need to get something from Bromley.
A shame about Cook. He just hasn’t learnt from mistakes. Same about the dissent. Unforgivable. If Marc has learnt to button it this season he has a right to expect others to do so.
Agree with others that Blair has been a positive this season and no need to call out players so publicly. The inconsistency in team performances is really hard to fathom. Must be down to more than individuals making mistakes.
Going to be hard now …
I’ve heard rumours it could be the end for Cook and Blair. Marc was obviously not impressed with either but Blair in particular could be a bit knee jerk if true.
While I like Marc’s honesty I do wonder if calling out players publicly in post match interviews really helps morale?!
This is my concern too.