Foot In The Opposition Camp: Gateshead (A)
2024-08-24
It’s a big old trip and many of you might already be there! Dave has caught up with Dave from The Heed Army podcast about the goings on at Gateshead.
Yeovil Town rank 111th in Fair Game Index
2024-08-23
Yeovil Town have ranked 111th in the country in the Fair Game Index 2024.
The report which is ‘based on extensive research’ ranks every all of the clubs from the Premier League to National League North/South.
Each club is scored out of 100, with 40 marks coming from financial sustainability, 30 from good governance, 20 from equality and ethical standards and 10 from fan and community engagement.
For Financial Sustainability, the Yeovil scored 9.1 out of 30. For Governance the club scored highest in NLS with a score of 9.8 out of 30. On quality and ethical standers Yeovil scored 3.6 out of 20 and on fan and community engagment was 2 out of 10.
A final score of 24.5 out of 100 ranked Yeovil 111th in the country.
Tonbridge Angels topped the charts in National League South and York City topped the National League…
Financial Sustainability includes 38 touchpoints and includes measures such as accounting, debt, ticket pricing and sponsorship.
Good Governance draws on 55 different metrics and covers areas such as board structure, accountability and transparency.
Equality and ethical standards has the most touchpoints – 106 – and covers a very broad range of topics from ethics to sexism, and from environmental impact to racism.
Fan and Community Engagement has 30 touchpoints, including fan representation and community investment.
Niall Couper, the CEO of Fair Game said: “Football is far from perfect but with the likelihood of an incoming football regulator there is a real chance to change it for the better.
“To deliver real and meaningful change we need to understand the problems. We’ve designed the Fair Game Index to do exactly that and help reshape the game we love.
“It is the most comprehensive analysis yet of what it means to be a well-run club, and we’re calling on the authorities, the Football Regulator and football’s governing bodies to work with us.”
Read the full report here
Match Preview: Gateshead vs Yeovil Town
2024-08-23
Saturday sees Yeovil Town play their second of three games in six days as they make the long trip north to Gateshead in the lunchtime kick-off on Saturday.
Form Guide…
Both sides have found their feet early on in the season, with Gateshead in second place in the National League Premier table and the Glovers in eighth.
The Tynesiders haven’t lost yet winning twice and drawing once with their most recent result being a 1-1 draw at FC Halifax Town on Tuesday night.
The big news of the Heed’s season has been the loss of two key players to injury with captain Greg Olley suffering a horrific leg break in their second match at Woking a week ago, and defender Joe Grayson, who injured his knee in their opening game of the season, a 5-1 home win over Ebbsfleet United.
The Glovers have been in good form as well after a spirited loss on the opening day they bagged six points from the last two games. The Somerset side dug in on Tuesday night to win 3-2 against Ebbsfleet United.
Key Players…
Brett McGavin
Captain Matt Worthington was our pick for key player for Tuesday night’s fixture at home to Ebbsfleet and for this game I want to look his midfield partner in Brett McGavin.
McGavin joined in the summer after leaving Torquay United. He has since proven a valuable asset, playing 70 minutes or more in all three games so far this season. He also contributed in Tuesday nights game with a goal that saw the Glovers go 1-0 up.
Regan Booty
Booty has so far been the stand out player for Gateshead. The central midfielder has got four assists in three games so will be crucial to the home side in the final third.
His battle with Worthington/McGavin will be interesting as whoever has the task of marking him will have there work cut out. Whoever wins this battle I feel will win the game.
That’s what he said…
Glovers manager Mark Cooper had only positives to say about Saturday’s opponents when speaking to the media ahead of the Bank Holiday Weekend. He said: “They’re the most pure football team in the league, in terms of the way they play. They’re really easy on the eye…they really test you and ask you questions.”
Cooper has mixed feelings to playing Gateshead away with a game on Monday as well.
“We’re going when the weather’s decent and it’s not freezing cold, it is a write off of two days however due to the travel.”
The love-in between these two sides was reciprocated by Gateshead manager Rob Elliot who said he expects Yeovil to be the strongest of any of the teams promoted last season.,
He said: “They have a very experienced manager, experienced players, they have a good system and a really good shape, they are really solid and can dominate the ball, but they are also very compact in the way they hold the mid-block.
“They have a lot of threats, big Nouble up front, a big personality and a big player, so we expect this to be our toughest test of the season. We have to make sure we are ready for it and make sure we attack the game and do not fall in to being passive because if we just pass it around without intent, you can find it really hard to gain momentum.”
We’ve met before…
There has been three meetings between these two sides, with Yeovil leading the head-to-head with two wins to Gateshead’s one.
The last time they met was in the F.A Cup last year when the Glovers ran out 3-1 winners, with goals coming from Rhys Murphy, Jake Stevens and an own goal from Joe Grayson.
Don’t I know you…
Mark Beck. Remember that name, if you don’t I can’t blame you, his time at Yeovil wasn’t memorable (sorry Mark).
Joining in 2015, the Scottish striker made nine appearances for a Paul Sturrock side scoring no goals and getting just the one assist. He was soon loaned out to a then non-Hollywood Wrexham team.
There’s also Brandon Haunstrup who possibly makes this list having had a complete of substitute appearances at left-back for Mark Cooper’s side in pre-season this summer. He did not make the grade at Huish Park, but has got a deal on Tyneside, where he had a brief spell on loan last season whilst a Cambridge United player.
Who’s been naughty then…
Neither Yeovil or Gateshead have anyone suspended for the game.
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Stat Pack: Yeovil Town 3 Ebbsfleet United 2
2024-08-23
It was an entertaining Tuesday night at Huish Park and Jonathan Hooper has delivered us with yet another stat pack to chew over.
We didn’t dominate possession
That stats show we were quite comfortable letting Ebbsfleet have the ball, especially in the first half. A lot of our chances came from ‘Fleet trying to play out from the back and us then catching them on the break. Over the course of the 90 minutes the visitors had 59% possession but did very little with it. Their xG was 0.44 and the two they did score were gifts. You can see on the momentum chart, Yeovil were in total control until around the hour mark, where that crazy spell saw Ebbsfleet take control and level it up. Fleet switched to wing backs, and really isolated Raphael Araoye, who lost 10 of his 15 ground duels and conceded possession six times. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton came into the game at left wing back in the 70th minute, to protect his teammate and nullify that threat which did halt that momentum.
We did dominate in attack
You can’t criticise the Glovers for not going for it. Yeovil had 14 shots at goal with 8 on target and an xG of 3.49. Mark Cousins goal was peppered with shots from inside the 18-yard-box and you can see from the average positions that the attacking midfielders had a lot more influence on the game. It was a similar pattern for Aaron Jarvis as on the opening day though. His one shot at goal was brilliantly saved – and led to Michael Smith scoring – but he didn’t get a lot of the ball. A lot of Jarvis’s work has been what he’s done off the ball, rather than on it, so far.
Brett McGavin Tuesdays
The centre midfielder enjoyed his night on Tuesday, bagging a wonderful goal from the edge of the box. McGavin had 46 touches of the ball, was accurate with 84% of 31 passes and made three key passes. What you get with McGavin is risk, however. He conceded possession 12 times against Braintree, 11 times against Ebbsfleet and 10 times against Hartlepool. Since the Hartlepool match, McGavin’s average position has been further forward than his partner, Matt Worthington, meaning he’s taking those risks in higher up the pitch rather than in his own half.
Gloverscast #354 – “A ten minute window of nonsense”
2024-08-23
Ian, Dave and Ben are back to chat about Tuesday’s rollercoaster night at Huish Park and look ahead to the monster trip to Gateshead tomorrow.
Pearson: Momentum can take us a long way
2024-08-22
Forward Sam Pearson believes the momentum which guided Yeovil Town to the National League South title last season can build again as they take on the National League Premier this season.
The Welshman has featured in the last two matches which have both yielded victories having played a key role in the winning goal at Braintree Town last weekend and then played the opening 73 minutes of the 3-2 home win over Ebbsfleet United on Tuesday night.
Now the Glovers travel to Gateshead on Saturday to face a side tipped to be pushing for promotion this season having picked up seven points in their opening three matches.
Speaking ahead of the trip, Pearson said: “It is no secret that they are a good ball-playing side, but the group of boys we have are not afraid to go anywhere. We have a mentality where we are not scared of going anywhere, we know we have got the quality to go and win games and we showed that in the first half the other night. I am sure if we do what we do, we will have a good chance to do that.”
On Tuesday night, Yeovil cruised in to a 2-0 lead in the first half against Ebbsfleet, before conceding two goals in seven second half minutes to be pegged back to 2-2, before substitute Harvey Greenslade grabbed the winner with nine minutes remaining.
Pearson said the performance in the first half showed the way that manager Mark Cooper wants his side to play and the character required to battle back and take the three points,
The former Bristol City player said: “That free-flowing football is the way we want to play, we want to press high and create and score goals and we showed that in the first half.
“Even in the second half, there was a seven-minute spell where we were off it but then we showed the character to go back and get the winner.”
Cooper: We have to believe we can cause them problems
2024-08-22
Manager Mark Cooper does not want his side to travel to Gateshead fearing a side he describes as “the purest football team” in the National League Premier Division.
The Glovers’ boss likened the quality of their opponents this weekend to that his own side enjoyed in National League South last season when a number of teams changed their tactics to try and nullify them at Huish Park.
Speaking ahead of the long trip to Tyneside this weekend, he said: “They are the most pure footballing team in the league in terms of the way they play, it’s really easy on the eye, they really test you and ask you questions and if you switch off for a minute, you are in trouble.
“If you ask their staff and players, teams try and do something different against them, similar to what we had here last year where people were looking to get a result against us.
“The biggest respect that Gateshead get is that everybody changes how they play against them. I really respect the way they play, they have some fabulous technical players, but so have we and we have to believe we can go there and cause them problems and hopefully win a really good game of football.”
Gateshead have seven points from their opening three games having picked up a comprehensive 5-1 opening day win over Ebbsfleet United before getting a 2-0 win at Woking in their second match. However, that game saw them lose captain midfielder Greg Olley to a horrific injury which undoubtedly affected the players as they were held to a 1-1 draw at FC Halifax Town on Tuesday night.
Yeovil have six points from their first three and make the 12-hour round journey off the back of consecutive victories over Braintree Town last weekend and then Ebbsfleet, who they beat 3-2 having been pegged back to 2-2 to after a kamikaze spell in the second half at Huish Park.
Cooper said: “We had a seven-minute spell where we lost control of the game. When you are 2-0, you know if we concede a goal we are on the back foot, and we went from being in total control for 65 minutes and then to ‘let’s get the ball as far away from our goal as we can’ and did not control the game.
“That bit us on the backside because the ball kept coming back at us for 5-6 minutes and they scored two goals. After that we regained our composure and we went on to win the game, but for those few minutes it was crazy. We have identified why and we move on from it.”
He added: “There’s always going to be a spell when your opponents have the upper hand and it comes down to how you manage in that situation. We had players running out of good positions, and we need the player next to them needs to say ‘get back here with me’ and be nice and solid. We need to control the game with the ball, but we started panicking.”
The Glovers went in to half-time 2-0 after a first half performance which oozed class at times and, at the heart of much which was good in an attacking sense, was new signing winger Josh Sims. Speaking ahead of the game, Cooper said the former Ross County and Southampton player would only play the first 45 minutes.
The manager said: “We are building his fitness up, but we are not too bothered about 90 minutes if he can give us a brilliant 60 minutes. What we don’t want to do is take liberties with him and rule him our for six weeks.”
He suggested there will be further game time for Sims at Gateshead on Saturday lunchtime and is hoping full-back Alex Whittle, who went off at half-time with a hamstring injury in midweek, will be available.
The boss was full of praise for match-winner Harvey Greenslade who shrugged off injury to come off the bench and bag the winner against Ebbsfleet.
Cooper said: “Harvey was touch and go, he did not train on Monday and he could not move on Tuesday morning. He had a fitness test at 4pm and the plan was always to give him 20 minutes because (Aaron Jarvis) had put in a great shift. Ebbsfleet sensed blood and I felt there would be opportunity in behind them.”
Match Officials – Gateshead (A)
2024-08-22
Yeovil Town make the short trip north to face Gateshead on Saturday lunchtime… (12:30 kick off, remember!!!) and here is who will take charge of the game.
Martin Woods has the whistle, if that name rings a bell, Glovers fans, here’s why.
Back in 2020 he was in charge for the Yeovil game, at Huish Park against Hartlepool.
The game ended 2-2 (Goals from Matt Worthington and Charlie Lee, if you were wondering) but the talking point was a rather soft red card to Rhys Murphy.
Just before the hour mark, a fairly innocuous coming together between Murphy and a Hartlepool player ended in Murphy heading for the changing rooms.
After the game, Darren Sarll said they would be appealing the decision, which they did, and a few days later it was actually rescinded, meaning the Bagsman could return to action.
This season, Martin Woods has only reffed one game, a League Two game between Salford and Port Vale, a game with only two yellow cards shown.
He’s only ever taken charge of two Gateshead games, between them he’s shown just ONE yellow card and given one spot kick.
Mr Woods will be assisted by Jonathan Wyatt and Emmanuel Edet with Thomas Wilson making the cups of tea… sorry, I mean, holding the subs board.
Match Gallery: Yeovil Town 3 Ebbsfleet United 2
2024-08-21
Five Conclusions: Yeovil Town 3 Ebbsfleet United 2
2024-08-21
Has the heart rate dropped to normal yet? Gloverscast Ben‘s just about has… just.
Here’s how he saw it – from the comfort of his own home, on National League TV
That first half was positively delightful: Oh, I could watch that first half over and over again. There was pace, power, control, flying wingers, defenders heading stuff away.
We saw neat link up play, one-twos falling perfectly, we got some Frank Nouble specials – where he just bulldozes through the midfield, into the attack and does something nice. Pearson looked lively – and got booted about a lot, Worthington ran himself into the ground and Ollie Wright did what he had to do with minimal fuss.
We saw Whittle and Smith getting forward – the latter getting into the mixer to bag from close range. Give me more of that.
It was arguably the most complete 45 minutes of football we have seen since we took Taunton Town apart on Boxing Day. It had everything.
Brett McGavin Tuesdays: We have a real player on our hands here, don’t we?
I made a call on the podcast that McGavin might be someone who can win Glovies this year – and games of football, I spose – but for periods of the first half, the ball stuck to his foot, every pass was calm and concise and he’s got a turn and trick up his sleeve to get out of trouble.
He ran the show, orchestrated the midfield allowing others to play to their strengths and there’s no-one else in the team you’d want the ball to fall to 20 yards out, is there?
I heard “Brett McGavin Saturday Lunchtimes in Gateshead” are also a thing, which is handy.
Josh Sims – Crikey I’m excited: In just a short amount of time, we’ve seen enough about Josh Sims to realise there’s a player in there that’s probably a bit too good for the National League.
We have a fitness management issue, he’s clearly not up to full fitness and two games in 48 hours this weekend might not be doable, but as he builds up a full level of fitness, so long as we’re careful, we’re going to get more out of him that maybe we quite know at this point.
His ability to link up, almost telepathically with Frank Nouble and Alex Whittle down the left hand side was very nice to watch in that first half.
He’s got a low centre of gravity, he thinks fowards – he wants to get up towards the opposition box, which sounds obvious, but isn’t always the case. He’s direct, he can change direction quickly. He only lacked a finish on Tuesday night to seal a pretty impressive 45 minutes.
He came close with a curled effort into the far corner after cutting in off the byline, but he definitely offers something different to Dylan Morgan, Jordan Young and Sam Pearson.
He’s a player who’ll get Huish Park off their seats, he’ll raise the noise a decibel or two.
If we manage him, especially early on, if we can get that final ball, or final finish from him… we’ve got another one we’ll be able to stand on a Michael Smith pedestal.
What the heck happened after half-time?: Let’s get into it, shall we? Minutes 46-67 were, absolutely bonkers, weren’t they?
Firstly, at half time, the sub of Sims for Cooper confused me. We knew Josh Sims was only slated for 45 minutes, that’s fine – but to completely change shape, to bring on a defensive midfielder and change the set up when things were going so well in the first half seemed an odd call.
It felt like a “more of the same lads” type team talk and a Young or Greenslade swap for Sims. Same position, same link ups, same outcome… no?
Ebbsfleet were always going to throw the kitchen sink at it, but Wannell and Williams hadn’t really had much to do and with Araoye coming on down the left, dealing with a few lumps into the box wouldn’t have been an issue.
The team got deeper, the pressure mounted for a good ten minutes, we couldn’t get out of our half, because we invited them in.
Then, a keeper error. Look, I’m a card carrying member of the GK Union (the Wednesday night 5-a-side branch, we’re not invited to the End of Season do… anyway, I digress) and I don’t quite know how Ollie Wright gets into bother when trying to deal with a cross, which should either have been claimed or dealt with in distance. In the end, neither happened and you end up with a 7-foot ‘keeper sprawled across the floor and the ball in the back of the empty net.
Then, it’s game on – and you leave yourself open to a pot shot from distance, a moment of magic. Blink and you’ve gone from 2-0 up and cruising to Desmond 2-2 and wondering what on earth was going on.
I hope we take stock of that moment and realise that this isn’t the National League South, teams are going to be good enough to get back into games… some of them are good enough to not let us win them either.
I’m chuffed for Harvey Greenslade: I really liked the addition of Greenslade this summer, we’ve said on the podcast that it was a signing that just ticked so many boxes and he’s made a real impact.
He looked lively in pre-season, he missed a couple of tough chances against Hartlepool and maybe didn’t quite get going to his absolute best against Braintree.
But do you ever get the feeling this signing is just going to work out? That the player will be popular with fans, will run for the name on the front of the shirt and we’ll remember the name on the back?
It’s early days, of course it is, but I’m quietly (and now quite loudly) excited. Maybe it’s an impact role off the bench for now – he’s only 20 remember – maybe it’s doing a job as a 9 sometimes, as a 10, wider on occasions. But he’s giving more established attackers a headache now and wants their place in the side. 81st minute winners are a GREAT way to do it. I like it.