Virgin 7 Phoenix 0Phoenix (4-4-2) Joe – Dens, Adem (Jack 15mins), Tom, Dan H – Bolu, Lucas, Miles, Jon H – Fleshie (HT), Jamie W
A rudderless Phoenix side were taken to the cleaners in the second half on a hot morning at Whittington Park.
With several of the team looking worse for wear after heavy Saturday’s and with Claudio pulling out late with an injured hand – it wasn’t the perfect preparation. Once again as in games against Mixer and Red Star – Phoenix started well and enjoyed good periods of play in the early stages simply to throw it away later on in the game.
At present the team is not looking as if it can either score or keep clean sheets – which is a dangerous combination. Phoenix barely registered a shot on goal in the first half – although a bundled in corner was disallowed due to Bolu pushing someone in the area.
The team lost Adem early on with a hamstring injury and despite the lack of threat up front were making ok-ish connections across the middle. The fact was that Phoenix at present are simply not playing as a team – individually we may be better than the opposition we face – but as a team we are well off the pace. With little of the communication and desire for the ball + hard work ethic that has seen Phoenix promoted twice in two seasons.
A good example of this lack of togetherness is the defending at corners – we conceded two against Mixer and heads went down against Virgin after another soft corner goal – simply too easy. Then the best Virgin player ran through ½ the team to power home making it 2-0 at half time.
In fairness Phoenix rallied and played their best football for the first fifteen minutes of the 2nd half – with Bolu causing real problems up front by himself with good support from Lucas and Wood in particular. With Danny H and Hanna both struggling with injury as soon as the Virgin 3rd went in the floodgates opened up and 10-men Phoenix more or less gave up.
WE MUST HAVE A GAMEPLAN. I am inclined to switch to a 4-5-1 with a holding midfielder or two giving the defence better protection. To stay up in this league we must ALL be more committed and prepared – less hangovers, better timekeeping and ultimately greater desire than the opposition – in addition we need to start playing tactical football as opposed to lumping 11 individuals together and hoping for the best.
Changes will have to be made.
Dens
