Slough Town 1-3 Chesham

[Mr Rebel]

in fairness most defensive midfielders are regularly booked anyway but yes you would expect Harper to get red cards a lot in there. short term at least he would do a job we are desperate for at the moment. 2nd half on Tuesday he drove the team forward more effectively than any player than Sinclair (when not double or triple marked)

[Windsor Rebel]

in fairness most defensive midfielders are regularly booked anyway but yes you would expect Harper to get red cards a lot in there. short term at least he would do a job we are desperate for at the moment. 2nd half on Tuesday he drove the team forward more effectively than any player than Sinclair (when not double or triple marked)

 

Let me tell you who i think we are missing: James Pritchard

[Matt]

Let's be honest, we never properly replaced Wilko. Not that that's an easy task.

[Reading Rebel]

I'm sorry but that was just pathetic. It was blatanty obvious from about the second minute that the formation put out tonight wouldn't work. Stick the ball into the space where the full backs should be. Simple. The only surprise was that it took Chesham seven minutes to score. Sweeney is not a left sided wing back. Sinclair is not a wing back. If injury forced Murphy's ommission (more of that in a second) then why not stick with a flat back four and put Harps in?

 

"You can't start a player if they're injured", one of the coaching staff told me at half time. But hang on, he played 45 minutes so if he was fit enough to play 45, why not play him the first 45 rather than handing the initiative to the oppostiion from the start playing a formation that was clearly alien to the players? Why bring on an injured player to chase the game? Does playing the second half make him less prone to troubling the injury than playing the first?!

 

Where's this great squad that Bateman has supposedly built? Who is defensive cover for right back? Dean Harper. For centre back? Dean Harper? For left back? Oh yes, that'll be Dean Harper. Meanwhile we have a bench full of strikers who let's face it, couldn't hit a cows [****!!****] with a banjo. Harsh? No, harsh was having to watch us throw away more points at home. If Murphy was injured, where the hell is Ryan Fenton? Our season is petering out to nothing and our chances in the playoffs (assuming we hang on for them) are non existent as we cannot beat any decent team.

 

People will say this is still a better season than in recent years. True but watching poor players play poorly is not half as frustrating as having decent ones and watching them play poorly, not that I blame the players for tonight's debacle however.

 

I couldn't make the game on Tuesday but from reading these reports it sounds like Harper actually started a game(was there ever areason to leave him out)and gave his usual heart on the sleeve performance what is it about Slough Town and Harper, a shame some of the others don't show his apparent affection for the club and the fans, which I understand from some of the messages on the site are mutual, but will he start Saturday of be back on the bench because we have a rightback, centre back left back etc?

 

 

To be fair Harper has been at the club for a few seasons as opposed to 5 minutes for most of the other players. You cannot expect them to have an 'affection' for the club in such a short space of time. I'm pretty certain they do appreciate the fans.

[HEAVY TRUCKER]

as was said at the match the worst thing batesey did was worry about cheshams star player he should have stuck to an attacking game plan and let chesham worry about us, the side was unbalanced with no left sided players on the pitch, the only thing that was missing was a neon sign pointing this out ,it realy could not have been clearer.we lacked any bite or conviction tonight also we had no width only sincs was going wide but he was continually nullified by being multi marked , where was the support he needed totry and head off some of these markers , seally played on the opposite wing earlier on in the season to great effect it gave us width and the ability to cross the ball in from both sides of the park giving the opposistion something to think about , we wern't doing the same thing time and time again. do we have a decent corner taker or do the boys that take the corners realise that to make any advantage from the corner kick it has to clear the front man and do any of our players understand that during a corner it is a good idea to take a position on the front and back postsand to stand directly in front of the keeper if only to obstruct his view or break his concentration, and maybe a player to sit on the back edge of the eighteen yard box to pick up an overhit /cleared ball then i know we like space when we are on the ball but there is no need to extend this nicety to the opposistion we should be in there faces hasseling them for all that we are worth, i know this is all basic stuff but i do not see us doing any of this week in and week out not being fit enough is no excuse not at this time in the season.

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

We have turned in to a one trick pony, where the majority of service to the box comes from Sinclair and once the oposition work this out they stick two players on him and its game over.

 

However this can then be turned to our advantage, once the oposition have commited the extra player to marking Sinclair this will open up other areas of the park to be penatrated - but this is not being taken advantage of.

 

What is needed is a left sided player like Alex "the Mullet" Haddow who was just as effective as Sinlair and defences would be completly streched trying to deal with the two of them. This would then open up the middle and the goals would pour in from all areas.

 

Tuesdays game showed that if you try and counter the opositions strengths you fail, what we should have done was play to our strengths - the best form of defence is attack!

 

If Bateman is looking to let a player go, then it looks like he is starting to restructure ready for the run in and for next season which is no bad thing as it will let new players bed in ready for a rapid start to the new season.

 

Todays game against Soham will be an important measure to see how the players and management react to the debarcle of Tuesday, as we should go all out in attack against Soham as this is the type of team we should beat comforably at home if we deserve to be in the playoffs.

Edited March 6, 2010 by Staines Rebel

[Mr Rebel]

hopefully we don't have another quiet start today but i think if us as fans can make some noise from the off its going to help a bit. positive start and show Chesham game is behind all of us

[3spirit]

I couldn't make it to the Chesham game but from what I've read I'm glad I missed it! There's no doubt in my mind that Slough's squad is more than capable of beating any side in this division.Our problem seems to be players not willing to play with their heart on the sleeve or for the pride of the badge and our soft centre midfield and Steve Bateman's blind spot for picking his favourite's ie Robbie Kean,Chris Herron,Paul Edgeworth,Steve Sinclair when their previous games performance hasn't warranted their inclusion in the team.Surely with the size of our squad this year,if a player's not doing the business,he should at least be dropped to the bench.

 

As previously quoted by someone,if only our team played with adaptibility to change style/formation when needed.This is where I think Steve Bateman is accountable and also we have the quietest coaching staff ever.Where's the passion coming from them? What I'd give to see a Barry Fry/Martin O'Neil type character on the bench!

 

However,we are still in a great position in this league and can still make our own destiny.My starting line up for todays game would be a 3-5-2 which could change to a 5-3-2 or a 4-4-2 if needed !

GK:Jackson.

DEFENCE: Sweeney right centre back,Bowden-Haase centre- centre back,Y.Yeoboah left centre back.

WING BACKS: Sinclair right wing back, Murphy left wing back.

DEFENSIVE HOLDING MIDFIELDER: Harper.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Dean Clark and Paul Edgeworth.

STRIKERS: Buchanan and Simon Martin[as we need a target man].

Subs: Perks,Sonner,Hayes[only in for Sippets because of his abilty to play on the wing,if needed],Clarke and Fenton.

 

This team excludes Robbie Kean but not because I don't like him as a player.Just a couple of games out should get him chomping at the bit to get back in.

[Reading Rebel]

I couldn't make it to the Chesham game but from what I've read I'm glad I missed it! There's no doubt in my mind that Slough's squad is more than capable of beating any side in this division.Our problem seems to be players not willing to play with their heart on the sleeve or for the pride of the badge and our soft centre midfield and Steve Bateman's blind spot for picking his favourite's ie Robbie Kean,Chris Herron,Paul Edgeworth,Steve Sinclair when their previous games performance hasn't warranted their inclusion in the team.Surely with the size of our squad this year,if a player's not doing the business,he should at least be dropped to the bench.

 

As previously quoted by someone,if only our team played with adaptibility to change style/formation when needed.This is where I think Steve Bateman is accountable and also we have the quietest coaching staff ever.Where's the passion coming from them? What I'd give to see a Barry Fry/Martin O'Neil type character on the bench!

 

However,we are still in a great position in this league and can still make our own destiny.My starting line up for todays game would be a 3-5-2 which could change to a 5-3-2 or a 4-4-2 if needed !

GK:Jackson.

DEFENCE: Sweeney right centre back,Bowden-Haase centre- centre back,Y.Yeoboah left centre back.

WING BACKS: Sinclair right wing back, Murphy left wing back.

DEFENSIVE HOLDING MIDFIELDER: Harper.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Dean Clark and Paul Edgeworth.

STRIKERS: Buchanan and Simon Martin[as we need a target man].

Subs: Perks,Sonner,Hayes[only in for Sippets because of his abilty to play on the wing,if needed],Clarke and Fenton.

 

This team excludes Robbie Kean but not because I don't like him as a player.Just a couple of games out should get him chomping at the bit to get back in.

 

 

3Spirit, you've obviously made a mistake if you think Sincs and Edgeworth are being picked because they are SB's favourites.

 

Especially Sincs because he has been our best player for a while now and runs his B#llocks off every game.

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

3spirit, if you had been at Tuesdays game you would definately not pick that team.

 

Sinclare as per usuall gave his all and caused problems, and Martin can not hit a bulls backside with a banjo let alone kick a ball in a penalty, and as for being a target man he bottles out of headed balls and does not display the strength on the ball to hold it up, so he cannot be classed as a target man.

[Reading Rebel]

3spirit, if you had been at Tuesdays game you would definately not pick that team.

 

Sinclare as per usuall gave his all and caused problems, and Martin can not hit a bulls backside with a banjo let alone kick a ball in a penalty, and as for being a target man he bottles out of headed balls and does not display the strength on the ball to hold it up, so he cannot be classed as a target man.

 

 

Not sure that he 'bottles out of headed balls' I just think he mis-times his jumping and doesn't get very high off the ground.

[3spirit]

I couldn't make it to the Chesham game but from what I've read I'm glad I missed it! There's no doubt in my mind that Slough's squad is more than capable of beating any side in this division.Our problem seems to be players not willing to play with their heart on the sleeve or for the pride of the badge and our soft centre midfield and Steve Bateman's blind spot for picking his favourite's ie Robbie Kean,Chris Herron,Paul Edgeworth,Steve Sinclair when their previous games performance hasn't warranted their inclusion in the team.Surely with the size of our squad this year,if a player's not doing the business,he should at least be dropped to the bench.

 

As previously quoted by someone,if only our team played with adaptibility to change style/formation when needed.This is where I think Steve Bateman is accountable and also we have the quietest coaching staff ever.Where's the passion coming from them? What I'd give to see a Barry Fry/Martin O'Neil type character on the bench!

 

However,we are still in a great position in this league and can still make our own destiny.My starting line up for todays game would be a 3-5-2 which could change to a 5-3-2 or a 4-4-2 if needed !

GK:Jackson.

DEFENCE: Sweeney right centre back,Bowden-Haase centre- centre back,Y.Yeoboah left centre back.

WING BACKS: Sinclair right wing back, Murphy left wing back.

DEFENSIVE HOLDING MIDFIELDER: Harper.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD: Dean Clark and Paul Edgeworth.

STRIKERS: Buchanan and Simon Martin[as we need a target man].

Subs: Perks,Sonner,Hayes[only in for Sippets because of his abilty to play on the wing,if needed],Clarke and Fenton.

 

This team excludes Robbie Kean but not because I don't like him as a player.Just a couple of games out should get him chomping at the bit to get back in.

 

 

3Spirit, you've obviously made a mistake if you think Sincs and Edgeworth are being picked because they are SB's favourites.

 

Especially Sincs because he has been our best player for a while now and runs his B#llocks off every game.

 

Reading Rebel - I was trying to make a point about S.Bateman's choice not to drop certain players,when he obviously should,given our size of the squad.You obviously didn't read my team,as both Sinclair and Edgeworth were in it !

I would love to see Steve Sinclair play in the hole behind the front two for some games,as I think this would cause opposition havoc.Sometimes I think our football is too much about wing play and obvious balls into the box. I agree with you,RR, Sinclair has and is one of our best players.Often feel though,that the opposition know this, too and so mark him out of the game thus ending a lot of our offensive play.This is why we need other options.

 

As for you,Staines Rebel,I think you're wrong about Simon Martin.He is worth a place in the team or on the bench and while he isn't as talented a floor footballer as say Elliot Buchanan, he puts his body and heart on the line most games and comes up with goals.The trouble with some fickle Slough supporters is, they single out players they think aren't in game because they're not showing up as much [like say Sean Sonner] but they don't see that the opposition defence are having to worry about someone as awkward a forward as Simon Martin.While Andrew Deaner[and definitely loathed by the many] was never a great talented footballer,just by putting himself about a bit in the opposition box,he could be very effective at drawing attention away from other players and getting headers in and getting knock downs.

Graham Roberts played him up front,so maybe he wasn't as uneffective as one thinks.Just like the current Simon Martin case.

[Ian]

 

Reading Rebel - I was trying to make a point about S.Bateman's choice not to drop certain players,when he obviously should,given our size of the squad.You obviously didn't read my team,as both Sinclair and Edgeworth were in it !

I would love to see Steve Sinclair play in the hole behind the front two for some games,as I think this would cause opposition havoc.Sometimes I think our football is too much about wing play and obvious balls into the box. I agree with you,RR, Sinclair has and is one of our best players.Often feel though,that the opposition know this, too and so mark him out of the game thus ending a lot of our offensive play.This is why we need other options.

 

Your exact words were.. "Steve Bateman's blind spot for picking his favourite's ie Robbie Kean,Chris Herron,Paul Edgeworth,Steve Sinclair when their previous games performance hasn't warranted their inclusion in the team"

 

You've specifically pointed the finger at both Edgeworth and Sinclair saying "their previous performance hasn't warranted their inclusion". What other possible way could that be interpreted?! Maybe you should said "Steve Bateman's blind spot for picking his favourite's ie Robbie Kean,Chris Herron,Paul Edgeworth,Steve Sinclair when their previous games performance hasn't warranted their inclusion in the team except for Sinclair and Edgeworth who have been consistently good all season so should not be included in that statement"???!!!!!

[3spirit]

 

Reading Rebel - I was trying to make a point about S.Bateman's choice not to drop certain players,when he obviously should,given our size of the squad.You obviously didn't read my team,as both Sinclair and Edgeworth were in it !

I would love to see Steve Sinclair play in the hole behind the front two for some games,as I think this would cause opposition havoc.Sometimes I think our football is too much about wing play and obvious balls into the box. I agree with you,RR, Sinclair has and is one of our best players.Often feel though,that the opposition know this, too and so mark him out of the game thus ending a lot of our offensive play.This is why we need other options.

 

Your exact words were.. "Steve Bateman's blind spot for picking his favourite's ie Robbie Kean,Chris Herron,Paul Edgeworth,Steve Sinclair when their previous games performance hasn't warranted their inclusion in the team"

 

You've specifically pointed the finger at both Edgeworth and Sinclair saying "their previous performance hasn't warranted their inclusion". What other possible way could that be interpreted?! Maybe you should said "Steve Bateman's blind spot for picking his favourite's ie Robbie Kean,Chris Herron,Paul Edgeworth,Steve Sinclair when their previous games performance hasn't warranted their inclusion in the team except for Sinclair and Edgeworth who have been consistently good all season so should not be included in that statement"???!!!!!

 

Fair point,Ian.

Sometimes it's hard to write everything so particular ! Please except my humble apologies,you lot out there. Lol !!

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

3spirit - are you Simon Martins dad?

[Chris]

Staines did Simon Martin do something to you for you to hate him so much? Did he steal your lunch money or run over your cat or something? Every time I log onto facebook i'm half expecting an invite to join a group called 'I hate Simon Martin (and Matt Platt)' from you...

Edited March 7, 2010 by Chris

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

It is as simple as in MY book I dont rate him.

 

He has now on two ocassions made errors where it has potentially cost us points, where other players would have more than likely scored the goal. I.e. Hitchin where a simple header would have leveled the game and on Tuesday taking the softest of penalty kicks that would have put us right back into contention.

 

Yes he has scored other goals but can you tell me any that were not just touch in's or penalties?

 

I am not the only one who questions his abilities as can be heard from the comments at games.

 

As for Matt Platt he improved - Martin has not.

Edited March 7, 2010 by Staines Rebel

[Tom]

How about his header against Hemel in the FA Cup replay? So what if he scores taps in or penalties, someone has to and if you look at the games he has scored in he has gained not only Slough points but also money from cup runs. Its swings and round-a-bouts.

 

Like Chris has said he must have done something to offend you so much, the comments you make about him are ridiculously over the top. I can name players this season that have cost Slough points - Perks, Murphy, Bowden-Hasse even the saintly Harper! You are obviously blind to these though.

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

Yes - under-perform - he has the pyhsic to make challenges but does not, he has the height to head but seldom wins the ball, he also fails to chase balls down.

 

These weaknesses are why I dont rate him and I belive we have better players who should start in front of him - its that simple.

 

I am not blind to the others that fail to perform i.e. Perks who had a nightmare last Tuesday and I was surprised that Jackson did not start on Saturday - by the way where was Jacko on Saturday as he did not train before the match?

 

At the end of the day football is about opinions and you have asked why I dont rate him and I have told you - you dont agree - that is your opinion and you are entitiled to it.

[Matt]

Everyone's entitled to their opinion. Mine happens to be that I get annoyed by the moaning and groaning by some over certain players, even if they're not doing badly. Not just Simon Martin, but quite often Danny Murphy who I think does a great job. I have to question - who would you rather have in there? Not Fenton, who seems to have been overlooked for good now. And certainly not some of the dross we've had in the past few seasons. If Bateman saw left-back as a problem area, he'd have brought in a replacement by now.

 

As for the strikers, Martin has a 1 in 3 record this season despite quite often starting the game on the bench. That's the same ratio as Sean Sonner since he joined, who has started more often than not. Bateman uses different striker combinations for different games, so at the moment neither is guaranteed a run of games. When Garry Sippetts gets back to full fitness, I imagine Buchanan will be first on the teamsheet with the other three vying for the other position.