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…
