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Sheppey boss Ernie Batten admits he may have to abandon some of his footballing philosophy.
Batten has always been a fan of free-flowing attacking football, from back to front, but has grown tired of seeing his side make the same basic errors at the back.
He would love to find a Franz Beckenbauer-type defender, one who can defend hard and be comfortable on the ball, but finding such versatile players at step five has proved difficult.
Batten said: “We can’t expect to score lots of goals every game, especially against the better teams.
“I have to look at how we play. I made a promise to the fans that I would play attractive football and it’s disappointing to be beaten by teams who have a bit more physicality about them and a method of play that seems to get results.
“I have to look at how we can improve. It goes against the grain massively but at the end of the day the goal is to get out of this league.
“It’s difficult to get players who can play and defend. They either do one or the other. It’s massively difficult to get who we want and we’ve been trying for two or three seasons.
“We are looking at our options and hopefully we can get someone in who can do a bit of both but we might have to give up a little on how we play.
“We can beat anyone on our day but when it comes to the crunch, we are being found wanting in our own 18-yard box.
“I have always wanted to play the beautiful game. I know what level we are at and I believe it can be done but for the past three years we’ve been conceding the same type of goals.
"I might have to compromise a little.”
Batten felt his side were superior to opponents Corinthian in the FA Vase on Saturday but they let in two goals which he felt should have been routinely cleared.
He said: “You could see that their centre-halves were enjoying it, whenever balls went into the box. Their defenders loved to defend and we need to adopt that, we need to get it before we can move on and be serious contenders in the league.”
Sheppey are in cup action again on Wednesday at Southern Counties East Division 1 side Rochester in the Challenge Cup.
They then host another Division 1 side, Snodland Town, in the Kent Senior Trophy on Saturday.
Batten is expected to mix his side up for their cup matches.
He said: “There are lads that need minutes, players who have been on the bench and we have a couple of trialists coming down.”
One of those is right-back Lewis West, who recently left Sittingbourne after failing to hold down a regular starting place. The youngster departed Millwall in the summer.
Batten may also give Mitchell Ware, another former Millwall player, a game in goal. Regular keeper Josh Pelling isn’t expected back until the weekend and on Saturday he played Bromley under-23 keeper Dan Mamas between the sticks.
Darren Cooper made his return from long-term injury against Corinthian and Batten said: “He is going to take a bit of time to get back to full fitness but it’s good to have him back.”
Sheppey return to league action on Tuesday at home to Bearsted.
