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[Gary C]

This thread is for all the pre-season stuff - starting with tonight's match against Tilbury.

[The 5th Searcher]

Myself, Duke and Anfield070 are all going, hope to see a few of you there.

[Kebabus]

1-1 at half time, Ratch played with the other newbies, around 40 Darts fans there.

TILBURY AWAY

[Gary C]

Lost 2-1. Don't read too much into the score though - second half performance was an improvement on an okay first half improvement. Very impressed with Dave Martin wide left, Ryan Hayes scored our goal and played well, reasonably impressed with Ian Pulman up front. Let's keep it going lads - it's a good start.

[Gary C]

So tonight's match against Erith Town...

Erith Town 1 Dartford 5.

Goals from Dominic Elmes (2), Jim Carter (2) and Craig Maguire. Well done lads.

[TREVOR B]

Whether it was the opposition being of a lower standard, or as I hope the loss of a few pounds and a fitter player, but Jimmy Carter had an excellent game, was a yard quicker than last year and was stronger on the ball, plus he took the two chances well both from headers.

Good company on the balcony outside the bar with TLD, Mad Mod, Gary, The 5th, The Duke, Anfield 070, myself and others including John Stewart (less scratchcards)

[johndfc]

Firstly it has to be said that Erith were Shockingly bad but i think some real positives are starting to appear already.Going forward we seem to have a number of really good options and with Tostoa's return it will be even stronger.The midfield seems to be developing shape with Kevin Spriggs in particular doing very well so far and if Eddie McClements can stay fit it looks much better.My only worry is still the defence which still seems to be prone to costly errors but it is early days yet. One other question is does this new offside rule make sense to anyone?

[spike]

I pretty much agree with you John. Erith would have struggled to avoid conceding a goal or two even if we hadn't turned up! Nevertheless we took quite a few positives out of the game and should be reasonably comfortable bets for mid-table this season. If only we could improve on the defence maybe we could aim a bit higher? Erith's goal came as a direct result of our needlessly giving the ball away otherwise it would and should have been 5-0. We can't afford to be so generous against better opposition .... and I can't imagine too many teams putting up less resistance than Erith did. I am reasonably optimstic though.

[spike]

Oh, and don't worry about the new offside rule. Non league referees are like goldfish, only slightly less well educated. It will last for about 30 minutes and then they'll forget about it and go back to normal like they always do with new initiatives like this. Most of them have enough trouble mastering the art of grinning inanely and running backwards with their hands behind their backs and remembering things like who and where they are to worry about rule changes.

[PeteSamson]

I must have been asleep this summer, cos I wasn't even aware there was to be a change to the offside law.

So come on those of you in the know, please enlighten me (and probably plenty of others too) as to what the change of rule is !!!

After all, I don't want to bad mouth the referees when they are right, do I  !!

[Jonty]

Well it goes a little like this:-

Like most things in football the offside rule is pretty simple - that is until it gets changed each year.

An amendment to the rule was introduced at the start of the 2003/04 season, which allows a player to be in an offside position provided he or she is not "actively involved in play".

It was designed to promote attacking football, but different interpretations of what constitutes "active play" have led some to suggest it is open to abuse.

So ahead of this season Fifa, world football's governing body, has clarified when a player is to be regarded as "actively involved in play":

"Interfering with play means playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team-mate."

You can expect to see what would appear to be very late decisions by assistant referees this season, as they won't raise their flag until a player touches the ball.

Of course, a player doesn't necessarily have to touch the ball to influence the play. They are still offside if they are judged to be:


Interfering with an opponent - If an attacker interferes with an opponent by either preventing them from playing or being able to play the ball, then they are offside. This could be done by blocking the goalkeeper, or obstructing their line of vision.

Gaining an advantage - If the ball is played into the penalty area and rebounds off either a post, the crossbar or an opposing defender, then the attacker is offside as they have gained an advantage by being in that position.

OFFSIDE ESSENTIALS
Got your head around the new rules? Here's our guide to the basics.

A player is in an offside position if they are nearer to the opposition's goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent.

Clear so far? There are a few more things to remember.

You can't be offside if:


You receive the ball directly from a goal kick, a throw-in or a corner;
you are in your own half of the pitch;
you are level with the second last or last two opponents;
you are not actively involved in play, as explained above.
For any offside offence, the referee awards an indirect free-kick to the opposing team, to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred.

I don’t fully understand it perhaps you should ask it’s not for girls for a second opinion.

[rambo]

thanks djj.its a shame refs pretend they understand the rules, as spike says we will see a lot of hands behind back and running backwards from refs but also look out for head down and peering forward at where the incident was, while he is running backwards. its as they have action replays built into their minds, where else would they look at the same place when doing the bacward run.

[The Duke]

seems that TBs stamp was evident last night with a 4- 4- 2 formation in 1st half and 3-5-2 in 2nd half and with the ball being played predominantly on the ground

i like the look of the midfield with spriggs, briggs and mcclements looking the part and brad potter slotted in well at left back [ definately underated by TS]

the young tall peter crouch look a like [ striker] would add another dimension and would like another look at him

i like jimmy carter anf hope he has got the extra half a yard missing last season

like most , still twitchy about the twin centre halves , probably leaning  towards penfold and avery but maybe the big guy ex wivwnhoe will come good after his injury [ hopefully 2006/7 will be ratches year]

still you can only beat whats put in front of you [ erith] and i am considerably chirpier from what ive seen so far than last seasons friendlies

i reckon TB is on the right track !!!!!

see you at thamesmead on saturday ??

[TheLastDictator]

Can't be worried about the centre backs myself, Avery was a rock last night, every time the ball went near him he won it, even when the ball wasn't near him he impressed me with his movement, reminds me of when I used to watch John Terry in my Chelsea days when he was only 18.  Easily the man of the match and if he continues to improve like he has league clubs will come a knocking!!

Penfold started to look good towards the end of last season as did Gary Carter when he played there and with Osbourne and Ratch coming back to fitness I think we'll have a solid back 2/3 depending on formation.  

So centre back wise I think we're doing fine, let's not forget it's only preseason and fringe players play with the regulars so we don't see the first choice partnership very often.

Need a fit left back still though.

[Kebabus]

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