WFC v Maidstone - Match Thread

[Keithsson]

Early start to the match thread simply to pass on the ticketing message from the club...

Club Site - Link

To that end...

Match Tickets - Home Fans Only

Match Centre - Link

[Keithsson]

Another Saturday at Woodside, another spin of the ever revolving thermostat. Will we run hot, will we run cold, will we run cold then hot, will we run hot then cold, will we flip flop randomly between both? As Paul Weller would say.. "That's entertainment"!! 

Maidstone are our visitors this time and i'm sure they'll travel with high expectations following our recent previous meetings. A cup exit, a league thumping and six goals conceded without laying a glove on their net...

Maidstone v WFC highlights (20/12/22) FAT - YouTube

Maidstone v WFC highlights (23/09/23) Lge - YouTube 

They are doing well in their first season down from the National League proper, currently 2nd with 39 points from 21 games. Remarkably we rose to 6th following our draw with St Albans last week, largely due to the number of games postponed for either weather or FA Trophy action. We did however use up our games in hand last week... yielding just one point from the available six. Currently on 34 points from 21 games had we maximised last week we would now be ahead of Stones once the goal difference adjusted. A huge missed opportunity.

NLS Table - Link

Form wise we see a familiar story. Clubs who have put together a bit of consistency have made hay in the 'sunshine'. In this tightest of tight leagues its absolutely no coincidence that the top four in the league are four of the top six clubs for recent form too. Stones are obviously one of them sitting in fourth for form over the last six games with 12 points from the available 18. Our inconsistencies see is down in 12th with 8/18.

You couldn't put a Rizla between us for home/away form. Both of us sitting on 8 points from 18 with two wins, two draws and two defeats.       

NLS Form (last 6 H&A) - Link

The stats therefore have about as much chance of picking a likely result as a blindfolded 'Paul The Octopus'. Nothing at all between the relative home and away form and us just so hopelessly inconsistent of late. Will it be a rousing action movie?, a tragedy?, hell its even been comedic at times... whatever happens it's just be a case of turn up and watch the drama unfold.   

Squad wise? There's a decent case for leaving the starting XI as they are this week. Going forwards there was pretty much nothing wrong with us, four goals scored and a whole heap of pressure and chances too. Defensively though, indeed it was pish at times, but the back line is arguably our most talented/experienced available, so who do you bring in? We have new signing Udoka Chima presumably available, but maybe a week of training might actually force Wills/Rea/Rye/Colbran to add up to the sum of their undoubtedly talented parts. Surely no-one is going to come to Woodside and play as open as St Albans did so maybe this game isn't one to throw the baby out with the bath water, maybe give it another try?

Then of course there's 'the Luque factor'. Does Hinsh throw on 'El strut' against the club he performed so well for? When he left Stones in the summer they were very disappointed but philosophical about it. For them a player of undoubted talent and pedigree but with questionable fitness. Well for us we've had it the other way round, he's been seemingly unbothered by injury for a couple of months now after a carefully nursed start... yet we ain't seen any of the talent or pedigree!! Who would he drop over on the left to accommodate Luque starting?... Wheeler?... Felix?... yeah right, jog on!

All Saturday games...

Braintree Town v Aveley
Chippenham Town v Weymouth
Dover Athletic v Bath City
Havant & Waterlooville v Taunton Town
Slough Town v Farnborough
St Albans City v Chelmsford City
Tonbridge Angels v Dartford
Torquay United v Hemel Hempstead Town
Welling United v Eastbourne Borough
Weston-super-Mare v Truro City
Worthing v Maidstone United
Yeovil Town v Hampton & Richmond Borough

Crowd watch will be in effect more than normal after the tailing off then plummet of the last two weekends. Expect a rise, but hope for one higher than the 1,114 against Chippenham (the last like for like background circumstances). Stones should bring a few and there's a higher than average chance the segregation may actually be imposed for this one.

Come on you Rebels!                    

[redstu]

It’s already been decided to segregate so I’ll have the long walk round at the start.

[Worthing Scottish]

I came away from the away match feeling that they had completely and utterly outclassed us, and that was when we were in generally good form.

Will be interesting how this return match works out, but I'm not particularly confident tbh.

[Bally]

The away match was embarrassing. Our lack of direction, intent and intensity was woeful. I think their fans pitied us.

Can't imagine it'll be the same this week. Hinsh will make sure of that. A point would be a good result against them. They are decent.

All I want for Christmas is some bodies on the line and unshakable team spirit!

[dutchboy74]

Dec 13, 2023 16:04:12 GMT Worthing Scottish said:

I came away from the away match feeling that they had completely and utterly outclassed us, and that was when we were in generally good form.

Will be interesting how this return match works out, but I'm not particularly confident tbh.

You are correct. We were woeful that day. But Maidstone had a few surprising result go against them as well the last few weeks. Let’s see what Saturday brings. Hopefully we will be 3 or 4 up with 15 minutes to go. As I need to leave early as I am working that night.

[Keithsson]

Hinsh pre match - YouTube

Chima it is then.

[findonrebel]

Last thing we needed, but then again since he's been in the team it hasn't stopped us shipping goals so let's see what changes now... we need to add some older heads

[Keithsson]

Dec 13, 2023 23:50:02 GMT findonrebel said:

Last thing we needed, but then again since he's been in the team it hasn't stopped us shipping goals so let's see what changes now... we need to add some older heads

Indeed. He played in five games (2 sub) during which time we shipped a whopping thirteen goals!

There was certainly an air of quality about his touch but you could kinda see he was playing within himself. For such a chopsy (in a good way) and dynamic 'leader of men' type player at Luton he seemed very quiet.

And that's the odd bit, Hinsh's comment about him 'wanting to be a leader but not feeling he could'. We've observed for a long time how quiet and subdued our squad now seems. So we have a squad in need of a leader, a voice... and a player who wants to lead... and yet? 🤷🏻

Bottom line is though we can't afford to carry players who don't want to be here and if his mind isn't right, a bit like Adam El Abd, its the honest and respectful thing to do. Good luck to the lad.

He's been a full time pro for a very long time so the adjustment to part time must be weird at the best of times. But he came from the intensity of an EPL club to the NLS within a week, that's a huge gear change. He must now be missing the day to day buzz of the dressing room.

I reckon he'll thoroughly enjoy his first Christmas without having to look after himself... but some time soon into the new year he'll sign for a full time club somewhere.

[Keithsson]

They've cancelled their supporters coach for Saturday, probably won't be bringing many after all...

MUFC Forum

[Keithsson]

Ollie interviewed ahead of tomorrow's fixture...

YouTube

[Keithsson]

The Stone's Forum Match Thread...

MUFC Unofficial - Link

[Keithsson]

Line-up - Twitter/X

No Chima then 🤷🏻

[dutchboy74]

Dec 16, 2023 14:26:31 GMT Keithsson said:

Line-up - Twitter/X

No Chima then 🤷🏻

I was reliable informed before kick off he is injured !

[Keithsson]

Yeah that'd be about right, we can't be having any spare defenfers can we 🤦‍♂️

Well that couldn't have gone any better first half. It'd be lovely to put in a consistent full 90 minutes but its been highly entertaining 👏🏻