Hemel Humpstead away

[Deleted]

However... NS refs are crap. We all know this. And we all know nothing is going to change.

So players and managers just have to live with this and somehow cope with it - no matter how 'unjust' - without handbags and cards.

No matter how unfair, the only victims of this stupidity is us.

[Deleted]

Arguments and scuffles aside, how did we play?

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Highlights.

youtu.be/Th36RudVG6w?si=T9vlCStYqk7vFd1A

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Well done Stonestv for getting them out so quickly.
Certainly confirm explanation for Bivesh red card and suggest that HH were giving a lot of verbals to our players.
Who was the idiot on the bench who squirted Hoyte with water as he was about to take a throw? Pathetic and deserved a yellow card at least.
Unfortunately, they dragged us down to their level at the end, with several players giving the ref ear ache and hamming it up after tackles. That said, the one on Porter could easily have been a red.
The team reaction to Bivesh going off was very good though - we looked the better team at the end and could have/should have won.
Sam Bone is certainly looking good, so let's hope George can channel their thoughts and energy into a good performance on Monday.

[andrewthehat]

Aug 27, 2023 5:42:01 GMT nws said:

Arguments and scuffles aside, how did we play?

Very solid in the first half - we were tight in defence and decent in midfield too - creative? Not that much, but solid, simple football with flashes of speed (especially from Amantchi) which made good chances. Our goal was well deserved and we were confident of more.

Then HH scored their goal. The mood changed. We lost our shape and our hold on the game. We were nervous and allowed HH to start work on us, which they did. The ref started getting things wrong and we started focussing on injustices, rather than opportunities. Bivesh’s red card, ironically, was what caused us to get the bit between our teeth again.

Like some Maidstone sides of old, we have everything we need, for sure, except the ability to keep lighting our own touch paper. Personally I think that’s the captain’s job - good as he is, Gavin isn’t the authority figure that is sometimes needed. That said, the team played well and worked hard for all but the section between 1-1 and the red card. Reasons for optimism for sure.

[edos78]

My take :

- decent overall performance, very professional when key decisions went against us

- Corne and Bone were excellent and Raz took his goal excellently from a great cross

- Lucas is a great signing, really dominated his box at times which is a significant asset

- thought Bivesh was having his best game for us before the red, and I thought that was harsh (the HH player bought it)

- ref was out of his depth

- HH are a snide little club (and it’s rubbed off on Reece Grant), let’s give them a well deserved hostile welcome in February

[Deleted]

So, defensively solid, but lacking in creativity (=goals). Pretty much what the table says - 4 points dropped in the last two games because we couldn't hold on to our lead, and constantly placed lower because of our poor GD.

Had we held on to those leads (scored more goals), we'd be joint top.

Not criticising, George has done a fantastic job in building this team practically from scratch. But we clearly need more goals.

SL quoted Bill with his maxim that "you need goals from everywhere", which is, of course, true - but you also need one or two players who can score regularly.

I haven't seen us play yet, so I've only got SL and the highlights/reports to go on, so I've no idea of our goalscoring potential. From what others have seen, are we likely to rely on Bill's "goals from everywhere" approach, or are there players who haven't yet really found their feet, but who look likely to start scoring regularly?

Or are we still short of a key striker?

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We need Jay May back

[mrplow]

Bivesh is a constant liability and so overrated...

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Is he rated that highly? I think he’s an ok player

[andrewthehat]

are there players who haven't yet really found their feet, but who look likely to start scoring regularly?

Good question - too early to answer with confidence but I think there are grounds for optimism. Razz? Maybe - he was certainly in the right position and converted a great cross well. But my money is on Levi Amantchi - he may be a bit on the slim side but he can run, he has physical strength enough to fend off anyone we have met so far and the central midfielders are starting to know where he is likely to be, and what kind of ball he likes to chase. He can get behind defences and with a bit more confidence I think he might look forward as well as sideways for opportunities at goal - when he does, he will be what the rest of the league fears; a Maidstone striker worthy of the name. There may be others but if I had to pick the most likely regular goal scorer, Levi by a long neck.

[Deleted]

Aug 27, 2023 19:45:37 GMT mrplow said:

Bivesh is a constant liability and so overrated...

Over rated By who ?

For me he is still developing and improving and like many young players needs confidence that comments like that won't give him.

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The player I thought looked good down at Yeovil (not for goalscoring necessarily, but in general) was Aransibia.

[Deleted]

Aug 27, 2023 23:32:59 GMT royalstone said:

Aug 27, 2023 19:45:37 GMT mrplow said:

Bivesh is a constant liability and so overrated...

Over rated By who ?

For me he is still developing and improving and like many young players needs confidence that comments like that won't give him.

[Deleted]

Aug 27, 2023 19:45:37 GMT mrplow said:

Bivesh is a constant liability and so overrated...

What a liability !!