It’s been a tough start for us at Wealdstone in the National League this season writes Max Kretzschmar, but there has been a change of fortunes at the Grosvenor Vale in recent weeks. The Stones currently sit 22nd in the National League table just one point from safety having won four and drawn one of our last six games including a famous FA Cup away win against League Two side Grimsby Town. The only defeat coming against Fulham in the newly formed National League Cup. So what has caused our uptick in form?
The Arrival Of Alex Reid
The Oldham striker who joined on loan in October has eight goals in just seven appearances including a hat-trick on debut against Gosport Borough. Reid has transformed our attacking play. His physical stature has allowed us to mix our style of play a little.
Possession based football has dominated my time here at Wealdstone with Stuart Maynard and Matt Taylor both keen on this philosophy. But Reid has given us another option, one where we can stretch defences in behind and in the air as well as dominate the ball.
Reid’s biggest strength is one of brilliant simplicity. He is always ‘in between the frame of the goal’ and around the ‘second six yard box’. In an era with false nines and inverted wingers, there’s something to be said for having your striker bang in front of the goal at all times. The results speak for themselves.
A Change In Formation
I believe Reid’s arrival has allowed us to stumble across a formation where we can field all our strongest attacking players whilst supplying them with ammunition from wide areas. The new 3-5-2 shape which has paired Reid and Sam Ashford together on the front line. In recent games, I’ve been deployed just behind these two in an a number ten position.
This is a role I’m more than accustomed to and arguably had the best season of my career here in my last year at Woking in the 21/22 season. I recorded 13 goals and 9 assists under Alan Dowson and Darren Sarll when playing just behind Inih Effiong and Tahvon Campbell for most the season.
The key to 3-5-2 is to supply your two strikers with plenty of crosses. Former Tottenham Hotspur youth player Anthony Georgiou has certainly provided this. His direct dribbling and classy crossing has made a big impact to our chance creation in recent weeks.
An Ease In Wealdstone’s Injury Woes
I don’t think I’ve ever been involved in a team where an injury crisis has arrived so early. Normally, injuries start racking up around Christmas with the fixture congestion, but several players I would’ve expected to start our first home vs Oldham Athletic were out! Last years player of the season Jayden Mundle-Smith, joint top goalscorer Sean Adarkwa and new signings Sam Ashford (who scored five goals in preseason) and the vastly experienced Craig Eastmond all missed the clash.
Senior bodies have been returning to training and the match day squads in recent weeks and you can see the difference it has made. It still could be argued that we haven’t fielded our strongest eleven yet this season.
A Change in attitude:
‘Football is simple game complicated by idiots’. If it was good enough for Bill Shankly, I’m sure its good enough for us at Wealdstone. There’s something oddly satisfying about doing the simple things in football impeccably well. Ultimate effort, endless running and a burning desire. These three attributes all require zero skill but aren’t always on show up and down the leagues all over the country.
Our last damning defeat against Yeovil Town (a 0-3 home defeat) showed pretty poor running statistics on the GPS data. A mere four days later against Braintree Town we smashed those previous stats and again three days later against Ebbsfleet. The small windows of recovery would suggest that the upturn in the running stats is purely a mental thing.
What’s Next for Wealdstone?
We face promotion chasing Rochdale this weekend which will no doubt be a stern test. They are a fantastic footballing at this level who currently sit six in the National League table. A trip to Eastleigh and the visit of Tamworth proceed that. But the club’s first win in the FA Cup First Round now has given us a hugely exciting tie against League 1 leaders Wycombe Wanderers. Tickets went on sale early in the week and the excitement around the club has started to bubble away beautifully already.
