Some of those problems could have been avoided and some are out of our hands and just plain bad luck. The ones that could have been avoided are the poor choice of signings by Steve Burr and Gary Whild with the obvious lemon being Exodus Geohaghon and the reported ill feeling in the dressing room that has led to fallouts between team and management.This bloke came to us as our star signing of the pre-season but was also questioned by many that had seen him play on many occasions previously. His reputation was that of a one trick pony known only for his extremely long throw ability and a turning circle of the Torrey Canyon before it sank. His record showed that he never stayed anywhere very long and tended to follow his old managers around. In our case he remembered that he had played for Gary Whild once before and Gary fell for it.
On Friday he told Burr that he had a better offer, even though he was under contract to us?, from another former manager. This time Paul Cox of Mansfield from whom he had left to come here two months ago. Burr told him to sling his hook then and he didn't travel to Dartford yesterday.
In a way it's a good bit of business. We'll get a fee, or a decent swap, off Mansfield for him and also we won't have to sit through any more of his shocking lack of defensive abilities any longer.
Ironically the Dartford reversal can't be blamed on Geohaghon but again it was down to a defensive error that allowed them to score from a corner. Set piece defending is obviously not our forté and we need to work on that asap if we intend to stop shipping stupid goals.
Another incident that could have been avoided was the injury to Jack Byrne (above, right) at Dartford after he was already being treated for a heel injury during the week. He was deemed fit to play but that backfired badly towards the end of the game when he went over on his ankle and ruptured his heel. Now we'll maybe not see him play for us again this side of Christmas and could well be out for the rest of the season. Again!
We'll now need to replace those two players for the FGR game tomorrow and one space has already been filled by Cheyenne Dunkley after he made his debut at short notice yesterday with the Exodus news. Kyle Storer, if rumour is true is also out of favour because he is said to be wanted by Tamworth, could come in for Byrne and Steve Guinan could finally make a return from injury to lead the line upfront.
That could mean that Nathan Blissett would start from the bench again just as he did at Dartford. He came on in place of Anthony Malbon and impressed Dartford fans with his pace. All he needs to do now is get into some scoring positions.
At the back we should have Lee Vaughan back and that will mean a move back into midfield for Keith Briggs. Lee has missed the first four games through suspension and we have missed him in equal part. Hopefully his return will give the backline a more solid stance. All we need now is for Mickey Demetriou to replace Mike Williams and we could have two attacking full backs on both sides of the pitch.
Forest Green have spent wisely and well this time round and at the same time have kept the core of the side that gave them a mid table finish last season. Now they'll be hoping to go one step further.
So far this term they've won two and drawn two with the three points gained at the expense of Telford (A) and Woking at home yesterday. They came back from a goal down in that game to win in the final seconds with a double from Matt Taylor, on the pitch for just seven minutes, following a first goal earlier in the second half from their big signing Magno Viera.
They'll be without Jared Hodgkiss (ligaments) and a former target of ours, Paul Green (ankle), through injury while Chris Stokes and Al Bangura will have late fitness tests to see if they're able to play.
We'll need to be strong if we want to get our season belatedly underway. That means that all of the team, whoever it may be, must put their differences to one side, leave them in the dressing room and go out there and work as a cohesive unit.
It's all we ask.
Photo © KHFC
Teams:
Harriers from:
Lewis, N Vaughan, L Vaughan, M Williams, Dunkley, Austin, Demetriou, Shakes, Storer, Vincent, Briggs, Pilkington, Guinan, Johnson, Malbon, Gittings, R Rowe, Blissett.
Forest Green Rovers from:
Bulman, Brown, Russell, Stokes, Bangura, Turley, Todd, Koroma, Klukowski, Styche, Vieira, Forbes, Collins, Taylor, Oshodi, Asafu-Adjaye, Marsh, Wright, J Rowe, Norwood, Racine, Washbourne, S Williams, Brown.
Talk about the game here
Links to Forest Green Rovers websites here
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