The gap at that top of National League South is now seven points (with a game in hand) over Chelmsford City, but goals are proving difficult to come by for Yeovil Town. A goalless draw at Slough Town yesterday did nothing for the Glovers’ goals for column and here’s how Marcus Duncomb saw the game from his vantage point in the away side (first half)/end (second half).
I didn’t realise quite how much influence a right back can have on a whole team. I know Michael Smith was playing in the Europa Conference League last season and scoring worldies against Germany a few years ago… BUT I still didn’t expect a right back to hold quite so much importance to our team. Whether it’s his technical ability or his calmness and leadership on the pitch, he is sorely missed. This is no dig at Genesini, but not having Smith effects the whole team – especially whoever is playing on the right wing.
Speaking of right backs, Brooklyn Genesini is definitely more of a wing back than a full back. The Yeovil lad started the game at right wing back and throughout the game was one of our more assured performers. He was still sound as a more natural full back towards the end when we switched to four at the back, but he looked more comfortable going forward so I wonder if we may stick with the five/three at the back until Michael Smith is back. Still, it’s nice not to have dealt with the issue rather than sticking square pegs in round holes for the rest of the season!
We’ve now got four very tall frontmen. Towards the end of the game there was a moment where we had Jahmari Clarke, Alex Fisher and Frank Nouble (all 6ft3) as our front three, with Olly Thomas not in the squad. Earlier in the season Cooperball was certainly more about passing it around and patiently waiting to create opportunities, but now with the height of those three I think there’s certainly an argument to be made to play our football a bit more direct. Especially as we enter the crunch point of the season – at this point I’d like to start seeing us win ugly in games where our normal patient style isn’t working. We missed that in Slough.
We can get more out of Jordan Stevens. It took me a while to work out his role in our formation at Slough yesterday. Cooper was playing as the deepest midfielder and then Worthington and Stevens were playing in the advanced midfield roles. Stevens struggled to influence the game with his pace and energy in a packed middle of the pitch – it was when he instinctively drifted out wide that he showed glimpses of his danger. There’s a serious player in there and unlocking it (and wrapping him in cotton wool) could be crucial to us securing the title.
We’re missing a poacher type striker to finish off the scraps in the box. Jahmari Clarke looked exciting and played the ball across the face of the box twice in a short space of time, but without Hyde and Murphy, our two more classic number 9s, there was no one there to fire home. This has been the case for a few games now and while the energy and hard work of players like Fisher is definitely adding something, you can never say no to a classic fox in the box striker to win you a game from a messy goal.