An old cliché is familiarity breeds contempt. It hasn’t reached the contempt stage yet but after last night’s unfortunate (and referee debacle aside) home defeat to a streetwise Bromley side, there is a growing sense of desperation at the Rec.

We are so proud of the loyal following we have and those Eastbankers again were mahnificent throught what was a testing ninety minutes for the Shots. I was left wondering how long it will be before that starts to erode and the fabric of common support will impair our team futher.

Pre-game I had a discussion with two fellow Shots fans in the Crimea and click to play the audio below; I’m calling it SOCCER PM! (I just have to hope Charlie agrees it’s a decent take!)

 

Last night I could not point a finger at a lack of commitment or physical endeavour but more a recognition of ‘familiarity’ seen across these four opening games; a pattern of play that opponents quickly see and learn and if we don’t create a ‘plan B’ we will be as soft a touch as last season,

The blueprint seems to be pass sideways / pass backwards / lose possession and when we do attack it’s that same old ball down the flank ending with the whipped cross into the box. Nothing wrong with that in that we might get lucky and score from that ploy but I feel we need a more direct approach; we’re not penetrative directly towards goal and getting behind defenders and into the box.

Reading tweets from fellow fans shows a leaning in favour towards players I would personally leave out of thr starting XI but I’m not naming them here; what it does tell me is to be more patient. What I do feel though as an overview is that we must quickly realise that we are likely to face a relegation battle and the players should understand the importance of results and points on the board sooner than later rather than thinking ‘it’s fine, we’re only four games in’.

I was in the south stand last night for a change and on Finney watch. I think Alex is one of our brightest prospects still and if he had any hair, he might be pulling it out because of the lack of talent in front of him.

That may come across as harsh to others but rightly or wrongly I call things as I see them. Let’s not be kidding ourselves. For this league we’ve average players at best in comparison to others and we’ll just have to do the best we can with what we have; Danny Searle will know that only too well.

Why didn’t Shields start – fair question?

The gate was a pretty decent one, aided by the visiting fans abd we have very few midweek games this season; the Eastbankers vocal support again added to that special night game atmosphere.

As I write again on the morning after the night before, I get that feeling of ‘why bother’ and ‘I will give Saturday a miss’ but like the other loyal followers, I know I’ll be back on that cross country train when the time comes.

MATCH ACTION

Includes the farcial throw-in scenario – look at Robbie and George – (04:15 – 04:42) – disbelief! (Crowd expletives I’ve edited out).

MUSIC: Andain – Promises – (Seaven Bootleg)