Dorking Wandering
The Dorking Wanderers FC Fans Forum
Fourth time lucky at the 4th Qualifying Round? We face national league rivals Aldershot Town at Meadowbank this Saturday in a bid to make the First Round proper for the first time.
Both teams have a fair few injuries and if all our injured players do miss the game on Saturday then we will only have 12 fit senior players by my count. Harrison Foulkes returns from injury but Louie Annesley misses the game due to international duty with Gibraltar.
The Aldershot team includes former Wanderer Josh Brooking but he will miss the game with a long term injury.
Predictions:
Dorking 2-2 Aldershot Town (Prior, Rutherford)
2,472 att.
Foulkes
Francomb Storey Norville-Williams
Muitt Moore Vincent Lewis
McShane
Prior Rutherford
Subs: Craig, Camp, Sullivan, Taylor, Carter, Hebert, Straker
The luck of the draw always plays a huge part, we could have beaten half the teams in the 4th qualifying round today playing like that.
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
Everyone can see the issue, the forwards are not cutting the mustard. With the so called chances per game statistic its been outrageous.
We have the same 2 strikers starting every game and had 95% of the attacks in the first 40 minutes yet failed to score. There is no one at all to come on for either of them or keep them on their toes for a starting place. They score with their second attack of note, and then score a second with their third attack of note.
We can see things need to be seriously freshened up at the top end of the pitch. Clearly one of the two forwards is way past his best and needs to be moved on, but the manager holds a lot of sentimental affection for him. Therefore, its highly unlikely anything changes until the end of this season.
When teams see the opposition miss so many chances, it inevitable they will go down the other end and score. That is football.
I also think McShane lacks the legs to play at this level. You would be better off playing a young lad in there who can at least get up and down.
Very disappointing. This seasons side is one decent striker away from being a serious unit.
As it stands we will finish outside the play offs and need a huge rebuild this summer to go again next season.
Everyone can see the issue, the forwards are not cutting the mustard.
Marc himself acknowledged that in the post match interview. But also that contracts are in place and I think that the budget is pretty much spent.
Charlie Carter is surely going to have to have more time out from playing as his knee has blown up again. Dan Pybus said to me he is 2 weeks away.
First team top quality reinforcements needed. Huge credit to Hebert and now Sullivan for slotting into the squad seamlessly when needed.
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
@dorking-eagle Yes I get it.
I think the bigger question here is why was part of the budget not assigned for a 3rd striker?
I get it that they got their fingers burnt with Murphy. But why let it affect you that badly? None of the young lads coming through are strikers. And seemingly the budget doesn't exist for a loan striker. So we are effectively doomed at this point to finish midtable.
Surely putting the ball in the onion bag is the purpose of football, not winning the most number of crosses per match or most final third entries per match. The method to win a football match has been lost here somewhere surely.
Very good performance and enjoyable game. Unlucky not to get a draw at least, but some bad luck and some quality finishing from them were the difference. The FA Cup hoodoo continues…
Hugely disappointing of course, but only because we should've won.
Things to remember;
- As David said, every single player gave thier all - 100% effort and attititude, no question. Couldn't have given more.
- We outplayed a National League side - one player made the difference
- So good to see Meadowbank packed again, like the NL days and a real air of excitement/anticipation. Great atmosphere.
So we're just an improvement in finishing away from being an outstanding side - expecially once we have a full squad to choose from.
Add to this 2 very exciting youngsters coming through the future is pretty bright.
- So good to see Meadowbank packed again, like the NL days and a real air of excitement/anticipation. Great atmosphere.
The atmosphere was brilliant, from the warmup right through to the match.
I know it’s good for the clubs finances when it’s packed like that but I do prefer it when it’s around the 1500-1800 mark.
I didn’t hear any announcement on the attendance yesterday.
Yea just from a comfort POV really. I’ve said on here in the past that Meadowbank does struggle when it’s capacity. Plus the site lines yesterday at the Bank end were terrible as it was 3 or 4 deep around the edge
I didn’t hear any announcement on the attendance yesterday.
Yea just from a comfort POV really. I’ve said on here in the past that Meadowbank does struggle when it’s capacity. Plus the site lines yesterday at the Bank end were terrible as it was 3 or 4 deep around the edge
I agree, Gary. Simply from a personal comfort view I prefer below capacity crowds at the football. When I visit Dorking, I don't usually stand on the Bank, as you can't see the goal line as the club allow fans to stand to the right of the goal. I normally stand or sit on the North side or stand on the opposite end to the Bank as you get a much better view.
On the striker view, I think Prior and Rutherford give their all most games, but I worry if one of them is out injured for a while. Lewis, McShane or possibly Muitt, can stand in temporarily in a game, but they are not strikers. Saw Jake Lawrence on loan playing for Broadbridge Heath against Billericay last week, but does not look up to standard yet.
I notice from the pictures, we played in our away kit again. Anyone know why we keep doing this especially in the FA Cup?
I notice from the pictures, we played in our away kit again. Anyone know why we keep doing this especially in the FA Cup?
For luck, I think. Possibly won't do that again.
Plus the site lines yesterday at the Bank end were terrible as it was 3 or 4 deep around the edge
Yea this needs addressing. No standing at the front fence would be a good start - but it's a problem doing that with crowds like yesterday as the Bank would've been even more rammed. We should certainly do it for run of the mill league games though.
Away kit - Marc is an incredibly superstitious person, and I mean REALLY superstitious. We won against Wingate in 2Q in it, and wore it in the cup replay against Salisbury, so it came out again in the cup.
The atmosphere, absolutely brilliant, always good to have a large number of away fans as it means noise coming from right around the ground, not just the Bank.
Any crowd above 2000 and it feels like an occasion - hugely looking forward to Torquay at home as that should be another 'occasion' - we can surely get 2k+ for that if the away team bring 400+?
As for the striker situation, I think the next best option is Dennon Lewis up top, but I think persist with Prior and Rutherford, it's not like we didn't score 2 from elsewhere in the team - we are still scoring goals, but you can never confidently forecast a clean sheet at the moment.
Ebbsfleet next, who have only 2 home wins from 5 home league games - definitely got a good chance there for 3 points. Will be there - COYW!
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
I quite like the away shirt at home, not a fan of the home shirt anyway this season. As well as superstition do you think you can spot your team mates better if they are in white? Or am I talking rubbish
I thought yesterday we were brilliant, I cant remember a better performance in defeat
I think the up front issue is really a head verses heart, and at the moment my heart is winning and as already mentioned we do get goals from all over the place.
I do think we do have a squad balance issue no replacement striker (or goalie - which worries me more) - but in Marc we trust!
But my one takeaway from yesterday and possible a new thread and odds question - are the players to nice to each other!?!
I've been following Dorking since covid - and the big change for me - is how vocal the team is on the pitch.
Yesterday Aldershot players where all over each other demanding higher standards, wanting the ball, pulling each other up when not doing there jobs, to the point of ridiculous, I think Hill might have had to travel home on his own! Now I know thats because Aldershot certainly for first 30 minutes appeared not to have any cover at left back (no defence behind - Hill) but bloody hell didnt he let everyone know about it.
But during my first season watching (2021-22) - one of first thing that shocked me was how vocal the team where and bloody hell if you didnt do your job you knew about it from your team mates.
