WFC v Havant - Match Thread

[Keithsson]

The morning after the day before and the old cliché was never more appropriate. Time to concentrate on the league...

Match Centre - Link

Match Tickets - Link

NB - As the game is segregated the link provided above is for home tickets. In the nevertheless unlikely event you are a Hawks fan reading this please navigate back to the main page to find away tickets.

We can afford zero complacency given our hot/cold performances but if there was ever an ideal opponent for the task of 'getting back on the horse' its rock bottom club Havant at home. With just six points from 15 games the fall from grace, for a club that was right up there challenging this time last season, just goes from bad to worse. 

We dropped to 9th (23pts/15games) yesterday as there were a fair number of NLS games played while we were toiling in Derbyshire, Torquay were the team who leapfrogged us...

Aveley 2-0 Weston-super-Mare
Braintree Town 4_1 Havant & Waterlooville
Chippenham Town 4-2 Eastbourne Borough
Dover Athletic 0-1 Hampton & Richmond Borough
Tonbridge Angels 1-1 Chelmsford City
Torquay United 1-0 Bath City
Weymouth 1-1 Welling United

NLS Table - Link

But never mind what the league table says, the form table tells you this is a 'relegation battle' with the worst team in the league (2pts/18available) visiting the fourth worst team (5/18). Respective home/away stats looks better with us in 12th with 8 home points from 18 available, and Hawks 23rd with 2/18 on the road. Those points won were draws at Chelmsford and Taunton, so by no means shabby, but defeats came in all the others... Welling (3-2), Bath (2-0), Dartford (2-0) plus yesterdays 4-1 reverse at Braintree.

NLS Form (last 6 H&A) - Link

This one puts all the pressure on us. They'll put eleven players on the goal line and celebrate a point like a cup win. Any way you look at it we must win this, points dropped to Havant would be unforgivable. But with our Jekyll and Hyde performances sadly absolutely nothing is off the table. We could bring the 'swashbuckle' we saw against Whitehawk and Bath x2, the 'stodgy' (ponderous, possession high but penetration low) we saw against Welling, Hemel and by the sounds of it Alfreton yesterday, or even the 'shambolic' of Braintree, Maidstone and Hampton & Richmond. So which Rebels is it going to be.... The good, the Bad or the Ugly?

We really do need to find a consistent 'identity' if the still genuine 'touching distance' of the promotion race (we are 9 point from top) isn't going to slowly switch to the 'touching cloth' of a relegation battle (we are 10 points from 4th bottom). And on form that's exactly where we are, relegation. Form is temporary and class is permanent so they say... well its time to show some class.                  

Last season clearly the away fixture lived long in the memory (i'll save that for the reverse fixture) but we completed the double with a fightback win at Woodside...

Worthing v Havant highlights (25/03/23) - YouTube

With a relatively 'niggle free' squad our 'tinkerman' will inevitably, and rightly, tinker after that mammoth trip and exertion. 

Glen Rea was an interesting one, has anyone heard definitively why he didn't feature yesterday? Because on the face of it without any reported injury or suspension reason it 'looks' like he's preserved himself a future FA Cup appearance somewhere else by not getting cup-tied. It first crossed my mind when I couldn't see him in the squad photo next to the team bus. He's only on non-contract terms with us and because his quality is undoubted that means his stay could well be very brief, because not unreasonably its probably a 'get fit and get in the shop window' exercise for him. If so central defensive reinforcements for the tough winter ahead are now absolutely critical. It's been an ignored big red flashing light on the control panel since Barks and Dan Bowry left in the summer... but Glen Rea could leave at a moments notice too.
 
All midweek fixtures...

Monday
Aveley v Hemel Hempstead Town

Tuesday
Braintree Town v St Albans City
Chippenham Town v Farnborough
Dartford v Chelmsford City
Dover Athletic v Welling United
Maidstone United v Eastbourne Borough
Slough Town v Truro City
Tonbridge Angels v Hampton & Richmond Borough
Torquay United v Yeovil Town
Weymouth v Bath City
Worthing v Havant & Waterlooville

Lots of green and red again underlines just how tight things are. Thankfully two pairs of reds are playing each other but a draw at Dartford could still see us drop as low as 12th... a decent win though could see us rise as high as fourth.     

Should be a decent midweek crowd for this one as all the planets are in alignment (weather, Albion, 'local' rivals) so please if you can, get down to Woodside under the lights... and witness the rebirth of our promotion charge?

Come on you Rebels!   
   

[dutchboy74]

I was told yesterday that Glen Rea was injured. Not sure how long for. But Tuesday night is a massive game. Only a win will do!

[wwrebel]

Nov 5, 2023 11:12:56 GMT dutchboy74 said:

I was told yesterday that Glen Rea was injured. Not sure how long for. But Tuesday night is a massive game. Only a win will do!

Apparently he has a broken toe sustained helping someone move house!!!
No idea if that is true but it is what I heard yesterday!!

[Keithsson]

Nov 5, 2023 11:20:28 GMT wwrebel said:

Nov 5, 2023 11:12:56 GMT dutchboy74 said:

I was told yesterday that Glen Rea was injured. Not sure how long for. But Tuesday night is a massive game. Only a win will do!

Apparently he has a broken toe sustained helping someone move house!!!
No idea if that is true but it is what I heard yesterday!!

Thanks for sharing, not a 'tactical' cup tie avoidance yesterday then, but nonetheless he's free to play in future rounds elsewhere.

The point on defensive cover stands mind, even WITH him we're very light at the back.

[dutchboy74]

Nov 5, 2023 12:58:31 GMT Keithsson said:

Nov 5, 2023 11:20:28 GMT wwrebel said:

Apparently he has a broken toe sustained helping someone move house!!!
No idea if that is true but it is what I heard yesterday!!

Thanks for sharing, not a 'tactical' cup tie avoidance yesterday then, but nonetheless he's free to play in future rounds elsewhere.

The point on defensive cover stands mind, even WITH him we're very light at the back.

That makes me wonder why Liam Vincent came back. He can play anywhere on the left. But again yesterday we played Kane Wills on left back. Yes he does a good job there but wouldn’t he be better in the midfield?

[Keithsson]

For me that comes back to the point someone made on yesterday's match thread about the huge imbalance of numbers in our squad.

We've got sooo many midfielders, who misses out to accommodate Kane in midfield?

Kane is in with Odei, Ricky, Klass, Cashman, Luque, Wheeler, Bailey, Jessie and Joe Felix. Ten players all fit and available but all vying for just four midfield positions, five at a push depending on formation.

All the while we only have three fit recognised defenders (Joel, Joe and Liam) that means it has to be a midfielder filling the gap.

Like Greg Luer up front I'm waiting very patiently for a spark to ignite the fire under Luque*. As it stands I'd gladly swap out their drain on the budget (disproportionately high to what they've brought to the squad so far) for a 'strong in the air ball playing centre back' and a tall striker with 'presence'.


*EDIT - I've only just realised its November 5th today, so for the avoidance of any doubt that's a metaphorical spark and a metaphorical fire... I'm categorically not suggesting we throw them on a bonfire as 'Guys' 🤣

[wwrebel]

One of the downsides on being in the National South as opposed to the Isthmian League is that it seems we are unwilling to give our youngsters a run of games. Instead we are giving young loanees from professional clubs minutes instead.

Reuben didn't let us down last season and I would rather see him at left back if Cam is unfit rather than Kane or a loan signing.
Same on the right side of midfield. Is Bailey an upgrade on Reece? We also have Ollie S who hardly features at all.

Centre of midfield we have a plethora of players all vying for 2 or 3 positions but are any of the new signings an upgrade on Kane? Kane and Ricky would be my choice.

Upfront we haven't got near to replacing the loss of Callum. For me, Ollie is the best striker at the club and giving him and Greg a proper run of games would be much more preferable with Danny playing just off then. The movement of Ollie and Danny would suit our technical passing approach as they are able to play between the lines of the oppositions defence and midfield.

Recruitment has been a bit haphazard since we have reached National South. Last season we signed a few that all moved on rather quickly and this season we have recruited too many players who operate in the same position.

[Keithsson]

On Kane specifically, he did have a game or three in centre midfield on his delayed return to the first team and he really wasn't his old self.

I'm a big fan and he was my player of the season last year, but something was just a little 'off' in there. For me he's only given his 'Mr Consistency' 8/10's and above at fullback so far.

Kane and Ricky?, well individual consistency has been an issue for Ricky too. Fantastic start, and he's coming back strong now but he went quite anonymous for a while in between.

In fact that's been a recurring theme with virtually everyone that could play in that area. Odei has probably been our most consistent performer but even he's had an 'off patch'. I'd have Micheal Klass next, when he's on it he's brilliant... but that isn't every time. Jessie looks a class apart in his cameos but doesn't seem to sustain his place. And Cashman promises much but seems to be playing within himself, too often checking back or infield when a quick burst is on.

There's a case to be made for the sheer volume of options causing problems not only for selection but for the individual players themselves? To keep everyone fresh and happy no-one ever seems to get a decent run in the side to build up to peak operating match speed/awareness.

Keeper, defence and attack are all pretty easy to pick, there aren't many permutations. But in midfield, for me, its less an embarrassment of riches as a handicap of riches.

[topbloke]

Was told Rea broke a toe during a move . Can't see him being involved before xmas . Have to agree with a lot of the above re our midfield although imo a couple ain't good enough and the rest are much a muchness . The madness of releasing Mekums and continually leaving Olie on the bench has come back to bite us . So onto Tuesday with another makeshift defence against the bottom club . What could possibly go wrong ? 😷😷😷

[dutchboy74]

Nov 5, 2023 17:14:43 GMT topbloke said:

Was told Rea broke a toe during a move . Can't see him being involved before xmas . Have to agree with a lot of the above re our midfield although imo a couple ain't good enough and the rest are much a muchness . The madness of releasing Mekums and continually leaving Olie on the bench has come back to bite us . So onto Tuesday with another makeshift defence against the bottom club . What could possibly go wrong ? 😷😷😷

Being honest I rather have Meekums than Smith. And I really don’t know why Ollie is not starting more. But I have that feeling in my stomach that Leur will be starting on Tuesday. But I really hope I am wrong on that. Nice guy and works hard but can’t see what’s the fuss is about.

[Keithsson]

As a current guide to how Hawks play away from home, here's their 4-1 defeat on Saturday as promised...

Braintree v Havant (highlights) - Link

In fairness they scored and only lost by three goals, so did better than us 😔

[Keithsson]

Just arrived, clearly the ticket sales didn't go well because the segregation that was announced... ain't up 👍🏻

[Keithsson]

Line-up - Twitter/X

HT - Half an hour of stalemate where we were making them look half competent, then ten minutes of decent pressure and chances in which we scored, then we took our foot off their throats.

Good goal, and we're winning, that's all that counts I guess.

[Bally]

3-0 a fair result against a poor Havant squad, excluding their goalkeeper who was excellent. What was interesting to me was the lack of identity and style from Havant, considering they're now a full time outfit.

Joe Rye, Joe Felix and Odei vying for MOM, but a little shout out to Ollie Pearce starting again and scoring. Everyone played well and Roco again made 3 excellent saves, but what was more impressive were his 2 confident punches to thwart a couple of attacks. Should he have been considered for MOM? ...yeah probably him too then.

A good all round performance with more opportunities created than in previous weeks. Well done the management for keeping standards high after the emotions throughout the recent run of tough fixtures!

[findonrebel]

They were 💩

Honestly I've not seen a worse team at Woodside since moving up to NLS. Lack of identity and plan, the 2 full backs were run ragged and looked like they had never played football before!

MOTM for me was Kane, was everywhere tonight!!