Dorking Wandering
The Dorking Wanderers FC Fans Forum
On the road to the South West yet again as we face Weston-super-Mare for a first match on grass for what feels like an age.
Camp, Kuhl, Moore and McShane remain mid/longer term injuries while I assume we will find out more about Josh Taylor's injury in Marc's update this week. Marc mentioned that Muitt and McManus picked up injuries late on against Horsham so you would expect them to be doubts for this as well, along with Norville-Williams.
Theo Alexandrou joins up for the first time while Bobby-Joe returns from suspension (finally).
Predictions:
Weston-super-Mare 1-1 Dorking (Briggs)
942 att (86 away)
Foulkes
Brooking Craig Francomb
Briggs Pybus Gallagher? Bowerman
Carter
Prior Murphy
Subs: Fuller, Brown, B.Taylor, Alexandrou, Rutherford
Tough to pick a midfield for this if McManus is out but I assume Gallagher has to start there if we want to play a 3-5-2, unless he plays one of the youngsters. Could play a 4-4-2 with Carter alongside Pybus and play Fuller or Bobby-Joe at left back.
Match is unsegregated so will be impossible to get an attendance but "Super" looking forward to this one as its a new ground tick for me and my son.
Hopefully get some intel as to which way we kick first half as I can't stand hanging around waiting for the toss before getting a spot behind whichever goal.
Driving this one as have never even visited Weston itself either and I do like visiting the seaside and a new pier to tick off too!
Sorry I have added nothing to the football discussion, should have put this in the travel section really. Oh well.
COYW! 🍹
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
I'll go for
Weston SM (1) 1 Dorking W (1)2 (Briggs, Bowerman)
1,008 (101 Wands)
Weston look super strong at home so far this season and are high in the table off the back of that.
At this point its impossible to know how many lads are actually playing without injuries, but we know Prior is and we know Murphy only has 60 minutes in him if he starts. Rutherford is going through a difficult patch. As a result I do not see us having goals in the team.
The new lad will probably only be given 20 minutes and will be finding his feet in the team.
Weston Super 2-0 Dorking Wanderers (a goal in each half)
Rob Milsom signing announced, a much needed left footed defender, so I expect him in the squad for this in place of Brown.
Rob Milsom signing announced, a much needed left footed defender, so I expect him in the squad for this in place of Brown.
Played a some of his career in central midfield so would not be surprised if he played in that position considering his age and injuries in that area.
@crawleysth I'd say on the left of the defence, and maybe pushing Francomb into midfield, which is after all his preferred position (although he has barely played there for us - if at all!)
@adeb Francomb started in midfield on his debut away at Aldershot but don't think he has played there since other than some pre-season games.
@crawleysth I'd say on the left of the defence, and maybe pushing Francomb into midfield, which is after all his preferred position (although he has barely played there for us - if at all!)
The age of the defence worries me. With the injury situation, one day Dorking could end up playing a back three of Fuller, Craig and Milsom (average age 39!) That would probably be the oldest defence in the league.
Francomb generally played at right back or midfield (sometimes centre back) at Crawley, but rarely at left back.
@crawleysth I would personally play Josh Brooking at CM for the next game, as is a good ball carrier and pretty much a like for like for Taylor.
Agree though that the defence has a concerning age profile and as we have seen, teams like to go for it 2nd half to exploit the lack of legs.
Francomb and Fuller added to the injury list now! No mention of Muitt or McManus in the update though.
Presumably Milsom will start now then:
Foulkes
Brooking Craig Milsom
Briggs Pybus Gallagher? Bowerman
Carter
Prior Murphy
Subs: B.Taylor, Brown, Muitt, Alexandrou, Rutherford
More I think about it, the more I expect a back 4 and a more direct style of play as Marc hinted to in the update, mainly due to a lack of midfielders.
Foulkes
Brooking Gallagher Craig B.Taylor
Briggs Pybus Carter Bowerman
Murphy Prior
Subs: Milsom, Brown, Muitt, Alexandrou, Rutherford
Could even do a front 3 and play Alexandrou instead of Bowerman.
Injury situation getting even more ridiculous with Francomb and Baz out. I would put Gallagher at the back and Brooking in centre mid, just because he is a great footballer and we want him on the ball as much as possible.
He can pick a pass if he has runners off the ball.
Can’t see many goals here, but defence should be good enough to keep opponents out. 0-0. Would be nice to have some shots on target!
Sounded like a decent point in the end. Hard when you’re not there to really follow it properly.
Shame about Brooking-3 game ban?
Excellent start to the game - controlled the game really well first 20-30 mins and created a few chances and deservedly went ahead. Weston then started to get some control and we were hanging on a bit for the rest of the half.
Second half was pretty even and scrappy but we were hanging on again once we went down to 10. Harrison Foulkes was excellent and MoM by a mile. Thought Milsom did a very good job as well considering it was his first game for a while.
Brooking should only be a 1 match ban as it was a professional foul (last man) rather than violent conduct. Hopefully Francomb/Fuller are back for Hornchurch.
1,230 attendance btw
