Dorking Wandering
The Dorking Wanderers FC Fans Forum
Back at Meadowbank looking for a 4th straight win as we face Enfield Town tomorrow night. The Towners currently sit in 20th place in the table with 12 points having won just 1 of their past 5 games.
No Monday update from Marc but his interviews over the weekend suggested that Pybus and Francomb might return to training this week and that Carter won't be much further behind. He also mentioned that Prior should return for this one after missing out at the weekend as well.
Predictions:
Dorking 3-1 Enfield Town (Rutherford x 2, McShane)
1187 att.
Foulkes
Camp Storey Norville-Williams
Muitt Taylor Vincent Lewis
McShane
Rutherford Prior
Subs: Craig, Annesley, Gallagher, Moore, Sullivan, Jacks, Marquez
The scoreline is almost flattering for Enfield, thought they was really poor whereas we bossed the game. Could of been put to bed in the first half. Alfie coming off changed the dynamic of the game which was a shame as he was getting in behind them causing problems. Still another 3 points and moving in the right direction
4 in a row with a depleted side, total Wanderers spirit atm. And we're gonna need it Saturday with Alfie, and possibly JNW and Jimmy all missing.
Get over to Farnborough and cheer the boys on - as Marc says it will make a huge difference.
PS - Loved the game management - good luck shifting JP by the corner flag - immense.
I said to my wife that defensive wall (at the free kick) looked really dodgy and that was from watching side on to the pitch.
Enjoying that superstition dictates the lucky ('Palace') kit continues to be worn at home rather than the 'dripping blood' kit! 🙂
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
It was a game that came at the end of a grueling period with a light squad and it absolutely felt like it. We were more than comfortable throughout the game and never really looked like losing it but did look very sloppy in the final third.
Could be in for a real tough time if Alfie is out for any sort of extended period of time and even more so if Norville-Williams and Muitt are out as well. Could really do with the likes of Carter, Hebert, Pybus and Francomb being back next week at the latest.
No idea what we were doing for the free kick, we seem to concede one every few games yet we never score any. In fact, we last scored a direct free kick 1,373 days ago (1st Feb 2022 - Oldaker vs Oxford City at home) yet we have conceded at least 11 in that period...
@dorking-eagle Really not a fan of the "superstitious" white kit at home trend. We literally chose the only kit that clashed with their kit last night as the white and yellow can look quite similar under the floodlights. We also beat Torquay at home last week in the home kit and won at Salisbury in the home kit so I'm not sure what "luck" we are gaining by wearing the away one.
The home kit should always be worn at home unless the away team have a lack of kit options and both clash like last week against Maidenhead.
I said to my wife that defensive wall (at the free kick) looked really dodgy and that was from watching side on to the pitch.
Enjoying that superstition dictates the lucky ('Palace') kit continues to be worn at home rather than the 'dripping blood' kit! 🙂
Agree with Tom should play home kit at home. Never been the fan of the "Palace" kit as not a fan of white kits and ex Brighton season ticket holder! Then again I did like Palace's home kit last season.
Alfie will be a big miss. Looked to me another injury caused by the pitch - hard to twist and turn on it especially after rain. Shows how important it was to get Marquez in. You always need at least 3 strikers.
It was a game that came at the end of a grueling period with a light squad and it absolutely felt like it. We were more than comfortable throughout the game and never really looked like losing it but did look very sloppy in the final third.
Could be in for a real tough time if Alfie is out for any sort of extended period of time and even more so if Norville-Williams and Muitt are out as well. Could really do with the likes of Carter, Hebert, Pybus and Francomb being back next week at the latest.
No idea what we were doing for the free kick, we seem to concede one every few games yet we never score any. In fact, we last scored a direct free kick 1,373 days ago (1st Feb 2022 - Oldaker vs Oxford City at home) yet we have conceded at least 11 in that period...
I have always thought the lack of free kick goals is due to the managers tactics and direct instructions.
Players are not allowed to shoot from outside the box at the club. We've seen BJT and Wheeler score several screamers from outside the box since they left, and we did not see any of that for us. We rarely see any shots from outside the box in games from players that last.
This translates to free kicks as the boys who are not allowed to shoot from outside the box in open play, are not able to shoot and score during a free kick. Lets not forget either that Oldaker was only at the club for one season and that free kick goal was during that one season.
I think this is the issue, and I do not see it changing. Even though we have now reached a level as a club where a shot outside the box is not just "wasted" the managers mindset has not changed. I actually get the concept at the lower levels with a possession based game, only issue is we are not lower level anymore and nor are the players.
Everyone concedes goals from free kicks. Most clubs dont ban shots from outside the box.
It has been great to watch a young hungry CF who wants to get on the end of things at a club that puts the ball in the box 20+ times per game, and now unsurprisingly has 2 in 2.
Great to see the conversion rate that can be achieved when you attack the ball and are hungry in the game. Breath of fresh air around the club is Jose Marquez, however with Alfie out now for a few months potentially we may need OLBG to fork out for another one!
Agree on Marquez. He looks to be a poacher and a willing runner.
Not sure about the shooting ban - I thought that was only Niall? 😆
Vincent has had a dig a two - he has a great left foot so why not? Alfie too I’m sure has scored from outside the box.
@jacksonfairweather We naturally score less goals from range/out of the box due to the style and formation. The whole point of our system is to get the ball out wide and in to the box rather than playing through central areas.
When it comes to direct free kicks though, although we probably have less prime position ones due to our style, we have almost certainly missed 50+ since we last scored one.
Alfie injury wasn't pitch related judging by this photo - probably should have been a penalty. I was down that end and he was in real pain.
Not sure how The Raging Bull missed that second header shortly after his first - but I'll let him off having got 2 in 2!
Stats were extremely dominant:
Possession: Dorking 65% - 35% Enfield
Shots (OT): Dorking 14 (4) - 7 (2) Enfield
xG: Dorking 1.34 - 0.50 Enfield
Passes: Dorking 489 - 268 Enfield - 3rd highest this season
Duels Success: Dorking 60% - 40% Enfield - 2nd highest this season
Top Performer: Dennon Lewis [9.6] - Highest rating this season
