Hitchin 3-2 Slough

[Rebel Yeller]

Jackson did have a good game and Logie was impressive when he came on. The frustrating thing was that even with ten men we could have won, if only we'd had a forward in the team. The Hitchin defence was nothing special but we had no-one of sufficient quality up front to test it. Sinclair did of course but he's a winger - it shouldn't be his job to score as well as cross.

 

I was also puzzled as to why we had no real defender on the bench - two midfielders, two forwards and a keeper. When Seeby was sent off it looked as there was no plan B to accommodate this. Murphy went to centre half which was a big ask for a little fella.

 

Our defence and midfield looks reasonably good but without a threat up front we are going to struggle to match last year. Unless Sinclair turns out to be our twenty goal in a season man.

[Ted]

Our defence and midfield looks reasonably good but without a threat up front we are going to struggle to match last year.

 

In the league I think we will match last season, though I'm not sure we will improve on it as I still think we are missing a few things.

 

Its early days yet, but we havn't really dominated anyone for very long yet, and have spent a fair amount of time on the back foot. Even before Seeby was sent off yesterday, I thought that Hitchin were the better side, and we would have been lucky to get a point. That said we battled well and showed spirit, but only after we went 2 down, so that may have been Hitchin sitting on their lead as much as us forcing our way back into the game.

 

As for the cups, I think we will miss NBH's goals, and although it will depend who we get in the draws, I wouldn't be surprised if we go out earlier than last year.

 

I'd like to see us play consistently well over 90 minutes, or even 60 minutes, instead of the odd 10 minute spell we seem to rely on. So for me, its a good side, but not yet a very good one.

Edited August 22, 2010 by Ted

[Tom]

Was always going to be hard replacing 5 of the squads best players who moved into higher leagues, 3 of which contributed to a lot of the goals last season. So that's a lot of quality to replace.

 

Only 3 games in, lots of games to go. Surely to be some interesting twists and players to come and go.

[staines_rebel_Jr]

If we are still loking for a 20 goal a season man i think that we should give mendy a go as he does look like he will be dangerous infront of goal, I know alot of people will say he doesnt have the "mental" capability as his head drops if he misses but i believe that when he has the crowd behind him (unlike preseason when he has played) then his mental capability will grow in confidence.

 

also trying sinclair upfront could be a possibility as he was very good yesterday when playing up with the strikers. The only problem with this is that we would then need a right winger and it is unlikely we will find anyone as good as him.

Also he is very good at heading the ball dspite his "lack" of hieght.

[Nathan]

I have noticed from the first 3 games of hte season that our main attacking threat comes from Steve Sinclair. Sean Sonner and Garry Sippetts, for all their running around, aren't really looking like 20 or even 15 goals a season strikers. We are getting plenty of possession in midfield thanks to Paul Coyne (who I think has been a revelation since his arrival), but with no target man to put it to.

 

In short, we aren't looking anywhere near clinical enough. Bateman, we need a 20+ goals a season striker!!!!!!

[Mr Rebel]

think of the strikers we have most likely to get most goals is probably Simon Martin although all of them seem to miss more than they score. people seem to be on a bit of a downer but we have done fairly well so far and its only 3 games in

 

no reason why we can't be right up there. in fairness we were a distant 5th so with all that talent that we have lost we should have done better. i see no reason why this squad shouldn't get us at least 5th again if not better. saying that a truly reliable goal scorer would be nice but where do we find them from?? getting looking at people who are unhappy at a league higher probably although there is not a vital vital rush we have goals in us short term

[Chris]

Course we'll be up there. If we don't make play-offs this year with the side we have then serious questions need asking. Last years league was a freakily strong league with us, bury, chesham, hitchin, arlesey, Burnham and Sutton all capable of going up this time last season. It's far less strong this year in my opinion.

 

For me we'll finish top three this year, but to win that league we need maybe 1-2 more players in and I'm sure Bates knows this.

 

We also have to remember we have a totally new midfield bar sincs, a centre back partnership that need a little time to gell as both Seeby and Yiads are still quite new as a partnership and attackers not that useto playing with each other as Elliot was the main man last year playing with one other.

 

Early sings for me are very encoraging.