I was at the Ebbsfleet game.. wasn't too impressed with us, but I was with Ebbsfleet. If you went as a neutral and didn't know which team was from which division, you'd have thought that they we the football league side and we were the national league side for much of the game.
We had an ok spell in the first half where we kept possession in their half for a period of time, but we struggled to break down their defence, and only really created a few half chances, one decent effort from List from outside the box, and others blazed over the bar from distance by Parrett & O'Niell, which they should have done better with.
Considering we had arguably our first choice midfield and full backs (bar Rees perhaps), it was a little concerning how disjointed we were at times, and how slowly we moved the ball.
We had a lot of pace up front with List and Hanlon, but instead of moving the ball quickly and looking to play defence splitting passes into feet, we often laboured the ball out wide, and either tried to cross it (often poor) or it was blocked out for a throw in/corner.
Ebbsfleet on the other hand were well up for it, they played at a fast tempo throughout, they pressed us intently and were quite aggressive in the tackle, moved the ball around quickly, and looked to hit us on the break when ever possible. They could easily have been 2 or 3 up at half time had it not been for some last ditch defending/poor finishing in one situation, and Hadler making a fantastic reaction save from an angled drive by one of their forwards.
It was a similar story in the second half.. their 2nd goal was a cracker apparently (Chap I was stood next to told me afterwards), Hadler had little chance of saving it (I missed it, as was chatting to the photographer lol).
We ended up playing far too many hit n hope balls over the top for List and Hanlon to chase, most of which weren't very accurate.. and what we did play on the deck was far too laboured imo. Far too many touches, over hit passes etc. I was really surprised at this, especially considering how SL wants us to play and the fact he was there on the touch line.
The only players who performed well I thought were:
Fin O'Mara - very energetic and assured display from CB
Bingham - Kept the ball well, tried to get us going as he does, and strong in the tackle
Elliot List - Only had a few chances, one of which he should have buried when he shrugged off his marker and went one on one with their keeper, who made a great save down at his near post to deny List a definite goal.. but he looked dangerous every time he got the ball, and was always looking to run in behind. If he had Eaves along side him this game, he most probably would have scored.
The rest were very average and inconsistent throughout I thought.
We bought on some of the young lads towards the end (M'bo/Chapman/Huckle/Oldaker), but they didn't have a lot of time to make too much of an impact really.
Only a friendly, and we didn't get any injuries, which is so important at this stage, but certain first teamers are going to need to up their game considerably if they are to compete in the opening few games of the season, and not be ousted by one of their younger counter parts.
I'm usually fairly confident of the system we're going to play and team we're likely to put out in the first game of the season at this stage, but after todays match, and from what i've read about other friendly games/SL's comments in the KM about wanting the players to be comfortable playing 3 systems well in order to create the necessary options to change it up during the game, I am relatively none the wiser.
