Ebbsfleet United supporters will get used to seeing their side play 3-5-2 this season after manager Garry Hill confirmed at last night’s open Q&A session that it’s his “preferred formation”.
Hill admitted that it can be an “awkward formation for a gifted attacking player” but it’s one that the manager will deploy as he attempts to secure Fleet’s first points of the season over the bank holiday weekend following five straight defeats.
Hill admitted that it’s been the “toughest start to a season ever” for him, adding that “we’ve been very unlucky in the games, apart from Bromley”. The manager said, “You can’t coach when a player gets sent off after eight minutes”, which was skipper King in the opening game against FC Halifax Town, adding “it’s hard for any team to keep playing catch-up” as Fleet did in their first four fixtures, conceding the opening goal in each game.
When asked whether the level of the other teams in the division has risen, Hill was clear that he “doesn’t think so” and stood by his new group of players, stating that they’re “not bad signings, not bad players” but “you can’t coach individual mistakes”.
Much has been made of the high turnover of players since the end of last season and managing director Dave Archer confirmed that there “will be [more] movement on the playing front” with Hill admitting that he’s “without doubt looking to strengthen up the top end” and is looking to sign “a forward with pace [to get in] behind” while adding that striker Cody McDonald’s recovery from ligament damage “is going well”.
Hill candidly said, “I might have to make one or two changes before I get changed” before adding, “I want to stay here, build here and I’m proud to have helped this club survive.”
Reflecting on the months of not-so-much behind the scenes turmoil since he arrived at Stonebridge Road, Hill told supporters that he “didn’t know how many hand grenades were lying around here” and gave an insight into what he’s been dealing with over the summer. “In May I gave everyone the opportunity to go on a free transfer – I didn’t want to lose [Michael] Cheek – and in June there was free-er movement on the budget. I didn’t expect to lose [Ebou] Adams and [Corey] Whitely at the end of June.”
When asked when your ‘work in progress’ needs to stop progressing and become the team and squad that you want, Hill stated, “We’re only building since July” and admitted that he’s “always going to be behind this season. I want to be in the top half but stability is my number one consideration.”
Some Fleet fans have blamed the poor start on ditching the white shorts in favour of an all-red kit, with one supporter at the Q&A asking if we can have white shorts again. Hill quickly replied, “Give me a paintbrush on Saturday, I’ll paint them for you!”
Garry Hill called the Q&A and opened the evening by saying that “it’s quite lonely standing up here bottom of the league” but fair play to him for doing just that. Having guided Fleet to an eighth-place finish from a starting position of eighteenth, Hill has not become a bad manager overnight.
Poor luck and some substandard contributions from players that can perform much better hasn’t helped the cause, but it’s clear that Hill is committed to the cause and is desperate to turn Ebbsfleet United’s season around.