Braintree (Hive) The Cheer Up Seething Dean Match Thread

[Itsmeerc]

And Shelton is very clearly an upgrade on Gorman - I had some doubts about that but again DB's decision is certainly vindicated.

I loved Gormo, but got to agree with this so far, looks a really classy addition and can run for days too. Funny how history repeated itself with those two, with both sets of fans from their respectively departed clubs claiming they were rubbish when we signed them. Incidentally, Woking fans don't seem to have taken to Gorman either. Seems DB knows how to get a tune out of these players.

[Ajtheone04]

The one type of striker that our cb's seem to struggle against the most is the physical freak who is both strong and quick. They are able to deal with strikers who only have one of those traits but seem to panic when they can't always outmuscle or always outrun their opponent.

I don't really see what we can do to deal with that problem though. Sign an absolute giant like Diarra who can beat anyone in a physical battle but likely won't have the pace to play with a high line? Perhaps it is simply a case of teaching the centre-halves to make better decisions ?

Either way, the defence did enough yesterday, thanks to a few good saves from Hayes and a couple of good last-ditch tackles.

Also, not sure I agree with the 'we had four chances in the first half and therefore we should have been four-nil up by half-time' narrative that I see a lot of people mentioning across social media. You never score every chance you get in football.

[Jimbokav1971]

And Shelton is very clearly an upgrade on Gorman - I had some doubts about that but again DB's decision is certainly vindicated.

I loved Gormo, but got to agree with this so far, looks a really classy addition and can run for days too. Funny how history repeated itself with those two, with both sets of fans from their respectively departed clubs claiming they were rubbish when we signed them. Incidentally, Woking fans don't seem to have taken to Gorman either. Seems DB knows how to get a tune out of these players.

I thought Gormo was brilliant and wasn't particularly keen on Harts last season, (although he has completely won me over this season with the higher tempo and more varied range of passing while playing slightly higher), but I don't think that Shelton is an upgrade on Gormo. I think Harts is the upgrade on Gormo.

Shelts is an upgrade on Pritch/Marv. I'm not saying that Pritch and Shelts are the same type of player in exactly the same way that Gormo & Harts are different type of players, but Gormo & Harts both boss things in the middle, where as Shelts & Pritch/Marv both run well off the ball and have good athleticism.

Gormo was sort of needed last season because we hadn't quite developed yet to be good enough on the ball not to need someone in there, (and it's still a work in progress this season, although Clifford has shown us the difference between someone playing alongside Harts & someone playing ahead of him), but Shelts is less of a minder, (like Tavares), and far more of an off the ball runner who will drive forward to get on the end of things, (hence the goals he's scored and even more so the other goals he should have scored. (Shelts has scored 3 goals already this season and could quite realistically be on 6). Gormo was the best we had available last season to play alongside Harts despite being the "minder" not being his strength at all. I think DB wanted Marv to develop into that athletic sort of 2nd player in there, and while he doesn't think that he developed enough to keep him, (and I would probably agree with him), his performances at York certainly seem to suggest that there was more to be got out of him and they've done that.

Last season we had Harts, Gormo, Pritch & Marv, (before he was sold).
Now we have Harts, Tavares, Clifford, Shelts & loanee Hobson.

As much as I loved both Gormo & Pritch and what they did was amazing, there is no doubt that our central players this season give us a big upgrade. Even comparing Tavares to DC, (the centre-half most able to play in midfield last season), there is no comparison. There might be a close comparison at centre-half, but playing in midfield Tavares is far superior.

[Itsmeerc]

And Shelton is very clearly an upgrade on Gorman - I had some doubts about that but again DB's decision is certainly vindicated.

I loved Gormo, but got to agree with this so far, looks a really classy addition and can run for days too. Funny how history repeated itself with those two, with both sets of fans from their respectively departed clubs claiming they were rubbish when we signed them. Incidentally, Woking fans don't seem to have taken to Gorman either. Seems DB knows how to get a tune out of these players.

I thought Gormo was brilliant and wasn't particularly keen on Harts last season, (although he has completely won me over this season with the higher tempo and more varied range of passing while playing slightly higher), but I don't think that Shelton is an upgrade on Gormo. I think Harts is the upgrade on Gormo.

Shelts is an upgrade on Pritch/Marv. I'm not saying that Pritch and Shelts are the same type of player in exactly the same way that Gormo & Harts are different type of players, but Gormo & Harts both boss things in the middle, where as Shelts & Pritch/Marv both run well off the ball and have good athleticism.

Gormo was sort of needed last season because we hadn't quite developed yet to be good enough on the ball not to need someone in there, (and it's still a work in progress this season, although Clifford has shown us the difference between someone playing alongside Harts & someone playing ahead of him), but Shelts is less of a minder, (like Tavares), and far more of an off the ball runner who will drive forward to get on the end of things, (hence the goals he's scored and even more so the other goals he should have scored. (Shelts has scored 3 goals already this season and could quite realistically be on 6). Gormo was the best we had available last season to play alongside Harts despite being the "minder" not being his strength at all. I think DB wanted Marv to develop into that athletic sort of 2nd player in there, and while he doesn't think that he developed enough to keep him, (and I would probably agree with him), his performances at York certainly seem to suggest that there was more to be got out of him and they've done that.

Last season we had Harts, Gormo, Pritch & Marv, (before he was sold).
Now we have Harts, Tavares, Clifford, Shelts & loanee Hobson.

As much as I loved both Gormo & Pritch and what they did was amazing, there is no doubt that our central players this season give us a big upgrade. Even comparing Tavares to DC, (the centre-half most able to play in midfield last season), there is no comparison. There might be a close comparison at centre-half, but playing in midfield Tavares is far superior.

It’s a very good point and you’re right that Shelton is far closer to the Pritchard mould, with Hartigan playing closer to the role Gorman especially played in his first season.

Maybe the biggest concern I had about Pritch going was replacing his goals from midfield. I didn’t anticipate Shelton being much of a goal threat in all honesty, but he’s proving me well wrong so far and because of his legs he’s able to make those runs into the box to get on the end of things. If anything he reminds me of a Curtis Weston, if maybe a bit more composed on the ball.

With Brunt looking more and more of a goal threat and the addition of Chapman, it feels that we’ve more than alleviated the loss of Pritch’s goals.

[JWTBee]

And let's not forget the importance of Glover! He & Brunt work so well together.A midfield of Brunt,Chapman,Glover & Shelton has huge technical ability.Then you add in Hartigan - no wonder we have such high possession stats!

[Jimbokav1971]

And Shelton is very clearly an upgrade on Gorman - I had some doubts about that but again DB's decision is certainly vindicated.

I loved Gormo, but got to agree with this so far, looks a really classy addition and can run for days too. Funny how history repeated itself with those two, with both sets of fans from their respectively departed clubs claiming they were rubbish when we signed them. Incidentally, Woking fans don't seem to have taken to Gorman either. Seems DB knows how to get a tune out of these players.

I thought Gormo was brilliant and wasn't particularly keen on Harts last season, (although he has completely won me over this season with the higher tempo and more varied range of passing while playing slightly higher), but I don't think that Shelton is an upgrade on Gormo. I think Harts is the upgrade on Gormo.

Shelts is an upgrade on Pritch/Marv. I'm not saying that Pritch and Shelts are the same type of player in exactly the same way that Gormo & Harts are different type of players, but Gormo & Harts both boss things in the middle, where as Shelts & Pritch/Marv both run well off the ball and have good athleticism.

Gormo was sort of needed last season because we hadn't quite developed yet to be good enough on the ball not to need someone in there, (and it's still a work in progress this season, although Clifford has shown us the difference between someone playing alongside Harts & someone playing ahead of him), but Shelts is less of a minder, (like Tavares), and far more of an off the ball runner who will drive forward to get on the end of things, (hence the goals he's scored and even more so the other goals he should have scored. (Shelts has scored 3 goals already this season and could quite realistically be on 6). Gormo was the best we had available last season to play alongside Harts despite being the "minder" not being his strength at all. I think DB wanted Marv to develop into that athletic sort of 2nd player in there, and while he doesn't think that he developed enough to keep him, (and I would probably agree with him), his performances at York certainly seem to suggest that there was more to be got out of him and they've done that.

Last season we had Harts, Gormo, Pritch & Marv, (before he was sold).
Now we have Harts, Tavares, Clifford, Shelts & loanee Hobson.

As much as I loved both Gormo & Pritch and what they did was amazing, there is no doubt that our central players this season give us a big upgrade. Even comparing Tavares to DC, (the centre-half most able to play in midfield last season), there is no comparison. There might be a close comparison at centre-half, but playing in midfield Tavares is far superior.

It’s a very good point and you’re right that Shelton is far closer to the Pritchard mould, with Hartigan playing closer to the role Gorman especially played in his first season.

Maybe the biggest concern I had about Pritch going was replacing his goals from midfield. I didn’t anticipate Shelton being much of a goal threat in all honesty, but he’s proving me well wrong so far and because of his legs he’s able to make those runs into the box to get on the end of things. If anything he reminds me of a Curtis Weston, if maybe a bit more composed on the ball.

With Brunt looking more and more of a goal threat and the addition of Chapman, it feels that we’ve more than alleviated the loss of Pritch’s goals.

I thought Shelts was just a pressing machine who's strength was very much his athleticism off the ball. While that is certainly a strength, I also think he's FAR better on the ball than I anticipated and his willingness to run forward off the ball & arrive late, (really similar to Pritch in that respect), isn't something I thought he had at all. I was wrong.

Shelts scored 10 goals in his previous 5 seasons. He should be on 6 already, but even 3 is decent considering how many more chances he's going to get. He should be looking at 15+ for the season rather than 10+. We should be scoring LOADS of goals from midfield this season.

[jamiefrbees]

I thought DB's interview was fantastic. It really doesn't matter whether his comparison of this against other performances is accurate, does it? What matters is that he is demanding that we be best we can, as he always does, even if, at times he is critical of individuals, the team, the fans, or himself. I was near the bench yesterday and he was incredibly demanding of Stead and Oluwu, in particular and, in isolation, it seemed over the top. But he's often praised those two players, as well, publicly and, I'm sure, in private: there would not be the massive season-on-season improvement if players did not want to play for him; or did not (mostly) feel encouraged and supported.

He seems to have a set of 'non-negotiables', including playing a high-line, working hard both on and off the ball, treating possession as king rather than being reckless with it. Seems great - certainly much better than being vague, or changing match-to-match. I don't think he's going to change these; just demand that his players and staff do better to achieve them.

I think he's comfortably on a par with Fry, Fairclough and Allen in what he gets out of the available resources and this is why he has my full support and I find the quibbling over tactics, choice of personnel or communication style slightly odd. If board contributors would do things differently, that's fine, and saying so is also fine - but it doesn't need to be done as negatively as it often is. ("Dean is doing my head in" Really!?).

Great post. Amen.

[BeesKnees99]

Random observation but it was interesting to hear the ref apologise to DB for not playing advantage when we had a good chance to play forward late on. Respect to referees who take accountability.


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[letchbee94]

Random observation but it was interesting to hear the ref apologise to DB for not playing advantage when we had a good chance to play forward late on. Respect to referees who take accountability.


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Ref must have watched his interview Tuesday

[Si1970]

Truly, at this point, Zak Brunt is something special.

I believe that he can also fill in at centre-back, where we have little strength in depth…

[erichitchmo]

Here’s our write up from our man at the ground…

http://www.downhillsecondhalf.co.uk/Art ... icleID=339

[hoofer2]

With our attacking play a joy to watch this season, it's easy to take for granted the work Hartigan does to make the team tick.

Deserved to get into Non League Paper team of the week, especially as he still got up after Big John Akinde landed on his head after taking a tumble!

[ETBee]

I re-watched the Braintree game but at 2 x normal speed. This clearly shows the preferred tactics and formations of each team, how each player moves and which areas of the pitch are used. Also where the breakdowns occur. I recommend doing this to give a different perspective.
I understand that DB is very keen on maximum possession and lots of quick passing and this showed. However, it also appears that the players do not know, or are not proficient at, how to convert all this possession into scoring goals. Probably obvious I guess. So many times the Brunt/Stead/Glover combo produced some terrific interplay but none of them took responsibility to take a shot when it seemed a very good idea.
We also know that DB does not want shots to be taken from outside the box (not a good idea in my view when we have Hartigan who can rifle an accurate power drive from 25 yards) but I wonder if the players have developed a mental block about taking any shots in case they get lambasted by DB if they miss. Stead was criticized by DB for not scoring even from a difficult position, being manhandled and facing away from goal. If he’d passed I suspect nothing would have been said.
The introduction of Browne had a major affect as he became the player to whom others could offload responsibility to shoot.
In the first half, Braintree let us do all our passing but after the break they realised that if they disrupted our tactic they could capitalize.

[PBBee]

Southend lose to Fylde tonight which has them way off the pace.

After our next 4 games we will have played the bottom 9 teams & only 2 teams in the current top 9! FGR on the other hand have a tough 3 games coming up.

So let’s hope we are firing with a lot of the squad going into the tough run coinciding with the crap weather & some boggy pitches.

[Jimbokav1971]

However, it also appears that the players do not know, or are not proficient at, how to convert all this possession into scoring goals.

We're the top goal-scorers in the league with 19 goals from 9 games, while playing most of them without a #9.

No side has scored 1 goal fewer than us.
3 sides have scored 2 goals fewer than us.
1 side has scored 3 goals fewer than us.
1 side has scored 4 goals fewer than us.
2 sides have scored 5 goals fewer than us.
2 sides have scored 6 goals fewer than us.
The other 14 sides in the league have all scored 7 goals or more fewer than us.

For a team that doesn't know how, or is not proficient at, converting our possession into scoring goals...... we seem to be scoring an awful lot of goals.