Slow starters

Well here we are, the first league game of the season, can we carry on in the right direction that we seem to be going in.
The mood has been good and the general feeling has been optimism.
It was a lovely morning, and everyone was in fine fettle. Smiles all around and the boys were all on time. All very relaxed.

Perhaps a little too relaxed.

I've tried very hard to put the emphasis on to the boys, I think it's very important that the boys bring enthusiasm. I regularly remind the boys that we are here for them, not the other way round. They don't owe us anything, but they do owe each other, they owe each other effort, energy and enthusiasm.

We were unable to field our full squad because a couple of the new boys don't yet have their cards back. So we were back to our old squad, minus Kieran, and perhaps we slipped back into the comfort zone a little.

We started far too slowly if I'm honest. Very little urgency at all, slow to pick up runners from midfield, not attempting mark or make tackles at the back, and not offering any movement up front. Perhaps we needed to do a different warm up, it was a little disjointed, but that's something I'm going to have to look into. We did lack a little focus, I'll take that one on the chin, I've never seen a possession game with the boys walking from one group to another. I put it down to the fact they were relaxed. I know better now.

So here we are fifteen minutes in, a goal down, and not offering much. Something had to change, so we made an early sub and immediately offered more energy, a way out down the right. We shouldn't need energy to come off the bench, it should be out there from the start, so that's where the squad will come in. If we feel lazy on the day, we can have a sit down on the bench.

For the next fifteen minutes we improved, we got a good foothold in the game and we pushed Esher back into they're own half for very long periods. We supported well in attack and covered well in defence, without really making any telling tackles, but our control of the game was a lot better. We got a great equaliser through a fine Frankie strike, and things were looking up.

Unfortunately against the run of play Esher broke and a bit more sloppy defending allowed their midfielder to ghost in unattended and he finished well. Joe managed to hurt himself during this interchange and had to come off, as his last twenty minutes had gone a long way to turning the game around.

Half time came and we were a goal down, but things were looking up.

I sat the boys down and we spoke about finding a bit more effort, I don't want to raise voices, I asked for a bit more. The game was there to be won, if we chose. In no way am I saying we didn't run, or work, but the boys know, there was more attrition required. It's the difference.

The game returned to the slower pace. Don't get me wrong we had some chances, a fantastic strike from Luca that drew a great top corner save from the keeper at 1-1, and a brilliant effort from our right midfield early in the second half were perhaps on another day the spark that we needed, but alas, it wasn't to be. James and Andy were now coping much better, with the forwards movements, and picking up a lot more of the loose balls, and making good headers. Then the referee struck with a diabolical decision. Very harsh on James, however we can't concede goals in such flimsy fashion. We need to put up more resistance when it's needed.

Yusuf gave us a lifeline, with a well taken goal, he'd been a problem for them throughout. We need to work a little on the final ball rather than shooting sometimes, but he's never far away from being our best performer on the day and today was no different.

Elliot was now on the left of midfield, a position that rewards his creativity, he took a heavy knock after being brought back on after injury and I was really pleased to see that he took a big deep breath, brushed himself down and carried on.

Henry was settling down at left back quite nicely, on his league debut. I look forward to seeing a but more confidence from Hen, as he gets more time on the pitch. So with the game finely balanced at 3-2, we conceded our weakest goal. A long kick from the keeper, met with no resistance, bounced through to the striker who calmly stroked the ball past Stan in goal. He came of his line very quickly as he does, but this time the striker was too slick.

Reece came off with five minutes left with a sore ankle, and the game fizzled out to a defeat.

If I'm honest, I think this was a fixture we could have got something from, I think if we dig a little deeper, next time we will.

We have new players within the squad now, it's a new era, they bring different things, good things, to add to what we already have. I look forward to the competition for places having an effect.

Finally, I'd like to remind parents again, that we are a one voice coaching system here. I know it was addressed at the end of the season, with Nathan. Nothing has changed. I am a strong believer, that too many voices, create confusion for the boys.

I encourage, cheering, encouragement, and good will, "man on" is fine. I don't want any tactical advice thrown at them. The boys will do fine on their own, they will learn from their mistakes, and we do discuss what goes on after the game and at training.Your shouting doesn't help them make decisions, and it certainly stops me communicating with them.

Let's just let them play.