Pre-Match Thread Ebbsfleet United v Southend United, Monday 21st April, 15:00 ko, NL

[Shrimpergonzo]

The second match of our Easter double header sees us make the short journey over the bridge to Kent to visit rock bottom Ebbsfleet.

Josh Wright's side are in similar form to ourselves but, despite already being relegated, have scored 8 (yes eight!) goals more in their last 6 games than a Southend side allegedly trying to get in the play-offs. Not that any of us needed reminding what the main problem was for us.



As well as manager Wright, there are a few other ex-Shrimpers in the Fleet side with George Moncur, Aaron Cosgrave, Tyler Cordner, Luke O'Neill and Dominic Poleon now plying their trade for the Kent side. Only Moncur and Cosgrave started in the 1-0 defeat to the Daggers on Good Friday, with Poleon coming off the bench - I assume the others are injured as they only had 6 on the bench for that game. They could be one lighter against us as midfielder Josh Passley was shown a straight red at the end of the last game.

Although it is still possible for us to get into the play-offs, our impotent attack would seem to suggest that this is becoming a more and more distant possibility. Managing to only accrue a single point from consecutive home games against sides we should expect to beat, coupled with the agonising last minute equaliser at Sutton means we are getting further and further off the pace with only 3 games left.

For ease of reference, our fellow play-off chasers have the following fixtures on Monday.

YORK v OLDHAM
ROCHDALE v AFC Fylde
HALIFAX v ALTRINCHAM
Hartlepool v GATESHEAD
FOREST GREEN v TAMWORTH

So who would you choose to start the latest "must win" game, and what do you predict the result will be?

 

[meerkat54]

Don’t know how the players will be motivated enough going to Ebbsfleet. If they can’t be motivated enough in front of 9000 at Roots Hall.
On paper we should smash Ebbsfleet, but do our players want it enough ?
I will go for a 1 nil defeat, hoping to be wrong. I will be the first to eat humble pie if we get a result.

 

[Swiss Tony]

Can Bonne or Hopper score at Ebbsfleet Monday? I doubt it, 0-0 bore draw I reckon.

 

[loz]

Back to 352 for me - I don't particularly love it but we need goals and I figure the best chance of that is to free GSM to play higher up the pitch. I'd go for:

Hayes

Taylor
Goodliffe
Ralph

GSM
Miley
Appiah-Forson
Parillon
Bridge

Bonne
Kendall

My hunch however is that Parillon will be deemed too knackered after playing 90 on Friday and won't start

 

[They Call It Madness!!!]

I really want to see us go more attacking and direct. No chance of if happening but...

Collin

Gus
Taylor
Goodliffe
Ralph

Miley

KAF
Parillion
Morton

Hopper
Kendall

Miley quite simply a protector that sits in when Gus or Nathan push forward. Snuffs out any Moncur heroics in the middle also.

KAF and Parillion are their to drive forward with the ball. Bit of a free license in the sense that they can move around as freely as they like allowing one of them to become a third man arriving into the box.

Mortons job is to get the ball off of whoever is driving forward with it and then get it forward or whip it in behind the defence. He is not anchoring and spreading play like he has but rather playing in that midfield position that does allow him freedom to search for the ball. Bit of an advanced ball threader but someone who can also put in some quality, something he cannot do whilst playing in his more recent role.

Hopper and Kendall are to play alongside. One comes short, one stretches. One makes a run, one drops. They will never be 10 yards apart and are their to link up together and stretch the back line as much as possible.

One attacks the front post, one attacks the back post. One peels away to receive a through ball, the other busts a gut to advance to receive the EARLY ball to the penalty spot area.

Basically, we attack with purpose, with directiveness and we don't let the defenders settle. Against Solihull and Braintree, their defence defended what came at them. We need to attack differently and ask teams questions on how to defend in front, behind, over the top and so on.

Football managing is easy, isn't it?!

 

[Callum]

Come on blues boys 3 cup finals to go it’s make or break time

 

[Barling Magna]

Come on Hartlepool, stir yourselves.

But we will struggle to beat Ebbsfleet anyway. Surely we are due to get a penalty...... or an own goal....?

For me it's Bonne, Kendall and Walker to start with KAF (attack, attack, attack) then change at half time if it isn't working.

 

[Tommy2holes]

Got a spare adult ticket if anybody wants one.

 

[danburyshrimper]

............................HAYES........................
GUS.....TAYLOR.......GOODLIFFE....RALPH
...APPIAH-FORSON....MILEY.......LEON....
KENDALL.......BONNE.........WALKER

HOPPER
?? kid who scored 6 for u19s last week
MORTON
BRIDGE
GUBBINS
HUSIN
COLLIN

We've messed it up, so might aswell go hell for leather + stick it up Ebbsfleet. Keenan can tuck in to give Gus space to roam, Walks can drift wide left to allow Leon to cut inside + drive forward. Our Goal difference is 6 worse than Gateshead so bang in 5 here will help!

 

[Dutch Branch]

Easter miracle required .

 

[Strykr]

0-0 or 0-1.

Yawn.

defence picks itself, but selecting the rest of the squad isnt easy as there are so many i dont think are good enough, or will just serve up the same football as the last 3 games

 

[amsemp]

I can’t see Hayes getting dropped after a clean sheet and I can’t see one of the youth strikers making the squad over one of the senior strikers, at least not until the playoffs are fully gone.

The obvious change is bringing KAF back in for Coker. Then there’s just a decision to be made on whether we go 2 or 3 up top. I wouldn’t mind seeing…

Hayes
Taylor, Goodliffe, Ralph
GSM, KAF, Morton, LCP
Kendall, Bonne, Walker
​

I think we need to just stop being so cautious and go for it now. There’s nothing to lose now. 0-0s and 1-1s don’t help us in the slightest.

 

[Zeuss]

I can’t see Hayes getting dropped after a clean sheet and I can’t see one of the youth strikers making the squad over one of the senior strikers, at least not until the playoffs are fully gone.

The obvious change is bringing KAF back in for Coker. Then there’s just a decision to be made on whether we go 2 or 3 up top. I wouldn’t mind seeing…

Hayes
Taylor, Goodliffe, Ralph
GSM, KAF, Morton, LCP
Kendall, Bonne, Walker
​

I think we need to just stop being so cautious and go for it now. There’s nothing to lose now. 0-0s and 1-1s don’t help us in the slightest.

An ok selection but though he started well on Friday, Walker doesn’t really threaten much. Play Wind at RB and give Gus more freedom to do what he’s good at !

 

[SU BLUE]

You just know monaural is going to score don’t you

 

[Shrimpergonzo]

You just know monaural is going to score don’t you

A one eared player?

 

[Snowy]

If Husin starts I am going to stay in and iron my pants.

 

[amsemp]

An ok selection but though he started well on Friday, Walker doesn’t really threaten much. Play Wind at RB and give Gus more freedom to do what he’s good at !

Difficult one with Gus as I think playing him as RWB gives him more opportunity to ghost into positions the opposition aren’t expecting him to be in. If he was in midfield or on the right of a front 3, I feel he’d be a bit more predictable for the opposition and likely not as effective. Wind is definitely more than capable so I imagine it’s something that’s been explored in training, and maybe not tried in a game for a reason?

 

[Shrimper]

Would give Wind a game, Gus needs a game off. Bonne and Kendall up top

 

[SuperRonnieP]

Think we need to get Gus further up the pitch, a free role for Leon and Kendall / Bonne up top;

Hayes
Taylor - Goodliffe - Ralph
GSM - KAF - Morton - Bridge
LCP
Kendall - Bonne

 

[Harry Bullocks]

Just go for it, a point is no good, 3 are essential........I'd rather KM absolutely went death or glory ...even if as a result we lose