Bateman on Midlands switch

[Chris]

http://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/sport/fo...t-about-switch/

[Guest Anonymous]

Good to see Steve is confident about trying to reach the playoffs next season, i am looking forward to the new season already and it will be good to visit some new grounds even though it will mean a lot more travelling for me. I will miss Windsor but we have got a few local derbys to look forward to esp Chesham Marlow and Aylesbury even if they do play at Leighton. Lets face it as Chris rightly says imagine being in Ryman North probably the worst step 4 division ever..

[Mr Rebel]

thats just it Slough as a club may not have much experience of the Midlands league but Bateman knows far more about it than what we were in last season so it could be a blessing in disguise really especially if it convinces more quality players into choosing Slough now because of the change of league traveling wise for them personally

[Reading Rebel]

I'm beginning to feel realy positive about next season.

 

Steve Bateman is now talking about a play-off position as a minimum achievement and with a fair wind a good chance of winning the division.

 

We don't yet know what calibre of players he has been talking to but I think we can look forward to seeing proven premier players wearing the Slough shirt.

[Matt]

People were talking about the play-offs last season and look what happened there! Let's see how we start the season first.

 

But I would agree that we're going to be much better prepared for an assault on the league under Bateman than we were under Sweetman. I also think we're going to see an influx of players who have played regularly in the Southern Premier.

[Mr Rebel]

all i expect from this coming season is to be up there at least near to the playoff places towards the end of the season (last 2 or 3 months) way away from relegation threat

[Reading Rebel]

Yes, people were talking about the play-offs last season mainly based around talk from Sweetman of 'hand picked players' and on the surface, what seemed like some significant signings i.e Allaway, Evans, Bubb and Jordan.

 

Unlike Sweetman, Bateman has a proven track record at this level and above and has already shown us that he can attract the right calibre of player.

[Rebel Kay]

Its a new start all round. new manager, new league, new players, some luck coming our way perhaps (please)

[Chris]

I'm with Matt, although it looks good we still need to get some more quality in the squad like we brought in towards the end of the season like Sinclair, Keane, Edwards and Sweeney and get rid of some of the players that can't take us to where we want to be.

 

Also we need to be a lot fitter this season if you ask me as we looked sluggish and not fit compared to the other teams at the start of last seasons campain. The amount of late goals we let in during the past few seasons has a factor in this.

 

For me we need around 8+ new players. Be very interesting to see who we sign and who leaves, as that will probably determine how we do.

[Guest Anonymous]

Who do you think should stay or go?????????????????/

[Reading Rebel]

Originally Posted By: Anonymous

Who do you think should stay or go?????????????????/

Anon, I don't think you will get many answers, if any, to your question.

[Tom]

Cautiously optimistic.

 

Just because we have a new manager with some proven experience doesn't mean everything is going to go well.

 

I'll wait to see what happens player wise, but given the last few seasons just finishing midtable would be nice. I just hope when things don't go well Bateman doesn't suffer the same stick that his predecessors have endured.

 

Sadly I think we might have some more years at this level before we see promotion.

[Reading Rebel]

I prefer to be more optimistic about our chances next season.

 

Apart from his proven experience and success at this level and above I also think Steve Bateman can attract the right calibre of player to, at the very least, make the play-offs next season.

 

At the moment only one player has been shown the door but once players start putting pen to paper I think you will find several of last seasons squad will be surplus to requirements.

 

My guess is that only 3 or 4 or last seasons starting squad will be in the line up for the opening game of the season.