Really interesting stats there. And broadly I agree, we're more than good enough to push on and get at least another so I also don't quite get why what appears to be a defensive move. Would love to get Marc's take on this tbh. 

Can probably take the Worthing game off that list as we never led and had 10 men for more than half of it. Also worth mentioning that we were losing the Chelmsford game at half time so it also counts as a point gained in that respect.

I agree that subs in games generally make us worse though, especially when we take Alfie off. We don't seem to have a natural replacement on the bench for Rutherford as we don't have anyone that can match his pace and athleticism. I also don't think we have enough wide options as Briggs ends up being our only winger on the bench most games. As a result, we usually change our shape to a 4-5-1 or something similar like last night and ultimately look much worse as a side.

If we look at the game last night in isolation then I think the subs generally make sense though. Rutherford played 90 mins on Saturday so it was unlikely he was going to be able to keep up that pressing intensity for much longer than he did last night. Muitt and Carter had to come off due to cramp/fatigue so we were fairy forced in to bringing on Young and McManus due lack of options. Not sure why Briggs was on the bench if he wasn't fit enough to come on in that scenario though...

I do think we need to start trusting that we won't concede from a set piece if we take Prior off. Marc seems terrified of taking him off in games as he thinks we will immediately concede from a corner. This means we end up having him isolated up top and the ball coming straight back for the last 10-25 mins of matches.

Just to play devil's advocate though, we are one of the only teams who haven't lost a game from a winning position this season so we are obviously doing something right. If Alfie had scored his one-on-one last night and one of the many chances on Saturday had gone in then we would be in a much ore comfortable position.

That is reassuring to hear about not losing when ahead. We have certainly had plenty of hairy last ten minutes.  The stats on conceding late goals are interesting. The Maidstone manager said afterwards that his game plan was to keep it tight and bring on fresh legs after 75 minutes to go for the win when we tired.  Seemed to work. I wonder if other teams are doing the same. 

I agree it seems the better option is to go for a second goal; to leave forwards on up top to avoid being pegged back or inviting pressure. When we have gone two up we have gone on to big wins at times; I can only remember Salisbury at home giving up a 2-0 lead. On Saturday had we got the third goal in that good spell in the second half it could have ended up any number.  

I was half expecting a different team last night as the last Saturday-Tuesday week, but it was the same team for about the fifth game running. Where is rotation in a big and fully fit squad? Looks like Marc has settled on his first XI and is sticking to it - and to be fair they have performed well for most of every match. 

“The Maidstone manager said afterwards that his game plan was to keep it tight and bring on fresh legs after 75 minutes to go for the win when we tired.  Seemed to work. I wonder if other teams are doing the same”

This has been the blueprint to get a result against Dorking since the first season in National League Premier. Most teams will look to have a really good go at us in the second half or the last 30 minutes. 

There was a very real issue with age and fitness of players up until this season which meant that tactic was extremely effective. That has largely been addressed with younger players coming in and being given regular starting places this season. 

However as a result of teams doing this, we are still seeing a lot of late goals against us.

Being more positive to give them something to worry about is not the default tactic. As teams will stick one or two very quick players on to hit us on the counter. We probably just need a deeper back line with faster defenders left on the pitch to counteract that. Whilst still offering a threat high up the pitch, the comment about JP9 is correct. We don’t offer any serious threat in open play with him on the pitch as a lone forward in the later stages of the 2nd half. 

Summer 2024 was phase 1 of the squad refresh, I have a feeling that whether we go up or not, there will be another phase of bringing down the squad age.

Some of the players on the wage bill who are quite old in footballing terms, and have spent most of the season either injured, recovering from injury or on loan. We need to be less sentimental with our beloved old favourites, give them a gold watch each and thank them for their brilliant contributions.

However like Sami el Abd etc, there is a good life in football away from DWFC and some of them do need to continue their footballing journey elsewhere sadly so that DWFC can get younger players in who will have their own DWFC journey.

Interestingly, Crawley has the opposite issue. The owners prefer young players with potential rather than experienced pros. They once commented that they sold a player aged 30 because he was too old and we only have one player over 30 now, who rarely plays. We struggle because we have no experience or physicality in the side and often get bullied by bigger, more experienced sides.

Again, our game plan is often to try and keep it close to the last 20 minutes or so and then try and win when the other team is tiring. Never a good plan as we often concede first.

Goals conceded by half this season (including FA Cup/Trophy):

1st - 20

2nd - 28

Goals conceded after 80+ mins this season - 15

Goals conceded after 89+ mins this season - 8

Thanks Tom - that is pretty grim reading!

@calvertskans Briggs was fully fit and available to come on

I think he was about to come on Derek, then a last second change of plan. Shame as Briggsy has the star quality we needed to get another goal.

Posted by: @calvertskans

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Goals conceded by half this season (including FA Cup/Trophy):

1st - 20

2nd - 28

Goals conceded after 80+ mins this season - 15

Goals conceded after 89+ mins this season - 8

Make that 16 goals conceded after 80+ mins this season...

It is all very familiar. Alfie hauled off before even an hour was depressing.

@matthewpont What is even worse was that Marc said Prior was only 70% likely to start the game yet he played 90 mins and Alfie came off at 55...

Up to 18 goals conceded after the 80th minute and 9 of those being after the 89th minute now. I think we might be up to 25 points dropped from winning positions as a result...

Another worrying stat is how many we are conceding from set pieces. Had a quick look through (so I might have missed some) but I count 18 goals conceded this season from some form of set piece (corner, free-kick, long throw, penalty, etc) if you count the Horsham and Eastbourne cup games in there. I always thought we were fairly decent at defending corners, etc this season so I am not sure why we are starting to see an increase in these...