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Friday, 10 October, 2008, 23:30.25
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Topic: The RYL side season from the terrace (Read 259 times)
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bruno_WUFC
Trainee
Karma: -6
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Posts: 66
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Last October I made a posting which proved to be more controversial than I had anticipated, though I had previously expressed some of the opinions it contained to Club officials. Increasingly I was of the opinion that the side were underperforming but in view of the controversy the October posting caused I confined my comments to Club officials until January when the dimension of fixture pileups and its potential impact upon the management who were running both this side and the reserves and overplaying of some players. I anticipated that this posting would prove controversial but not quite as controversial as it turned out and rather run the risk of being held responsible for poor team performances I determined to save any further comment, beyond match comments, until the end of the season. Well that’s here so for what its worth here are my views on the season.
Last summer the RYL side was formed substantially if not wholly from Tonbridge Angels and Welling United players, 2 decent 1st year U18 KYL sides. Having followed the Welling side for a couple of years I was keen to follow their progress and consequently became a frequent spectator at the RYL side games both home and away.
The pre season was more successful than I would have expected with the lads gelling very quickly and I believed at that time that the side would be able to hold their own in a league substantially made up of academy/college based sides. They got off to a good start despite losing their right back whose season came to a premature end through a serious injury in the second league match.
The highlight of the season for me was the 3-0 victory at Leatherhead. This is not because Leatherhead ended up winning the League but because the players were focused throughout the game, both teams played well but at critical points in the game Tonbridge took the opportunities which opened up and ended up 3-0 winners, though I have to say on the balance of play the score was a bit flattering.
However, it is my opinion that side failed to develop throughout the season and the latter performances which I saw merely strengthened this opinion. I honestly believe that had they remained in the KYL they would have finished behind both the Thamesmead and Welling sides, both of which I have watched on several occasions throughout the season.
There are in my opinion several things which contributed to the teams lack of success.
1. There was no regular skills or fitness training which is the foundation stone in the development young talent.
2. The overplaying of certain players in my opinion did occur. I have by no means a definitive record of who played in every 1st team, reserve and RYL game but the following occurred (which I am sure that Charlie Cole or Dan could confirm.)
Charlie Sharman at least 55 games
5 in 9 days 17/11 - 25/11; 3 in 4 days 26/1- 29/1; 4 in 10 days 6/3 – 15/3; and 5 in 6 days 3/5 – 9/5.
Ashley Dann at least 48 games
10 in 23 days 14/4 – 6/5.
Nick Rich at least 45 games
3 in 4 days 26/1 – 29/1; 11 in 26 days 14/4 – 9/5
The above does not include any school matches that may have been played.
For reference the Long Term Player Development (LTPD) Strategy that the FA has embraced supports a one game per week average over the season to prevent overuse, burn out and encourage longevity, and greater practice to match ratios.
3. The lack of an established right back was a problem throughout the season particularly after Scott Whibley left and the 3-5-2 formation which had proved a strong one was significantly less effective and 4-4-2 was more often the order of the day. This meant that Mark Eaton and Nick Rich regularly played out of position which merely transferred the problem to another part of the park and I suspect frustrated both players who were unable to play in their better positions.
4. There was never a point when the side remained constant for any length of time and in particular I don’t think there was ever a settled midfield.
5. The manager was not present at a number of games and in a couple I attended took a back seat to the KYL manager who from the stand appeared to be in charge.
The fixture pile up situation which I initially commented on in January and for which there were many reasons, not the least being the logistics of 3 sides playing at Longmead, ultimately resulted in the team failing to play 12.5% of their League matches (the second consecutive season that Tonbridge Angels senior U18 side failed to complete their fixtures albeit for different reasons.)
Whilst I commend the loyalty of those lads who stayed with the side I feel that Scott Whibley and Matt Vitty who found themselves playing regular football in the Maidstone and Worthing reserve sides respectively made sound choices when they left the side.
For me the player of the year was Nick Rich.
I wish all the lads good fortune for the future and I’m sure that I will come across some of you at a later date in my non league travels.
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