Soham town vs Slough town

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

Just been looking at recent results, in the last 12 games we have only won 3 , drawn 3 and lost 6 - not a good ratio.

 

With the objectives of the club to be in the playoffs and the "Target 400" for crowd size I can see both being missed by a mile.

 

Looking at Horsham Rebels photos, the one near the end with Steve Easterbrook says it all.

 

A continuation of the last 12 games form is not an option if the clubs targets are to be achieved.

[Ted]

Didn't go yesterday, so was'nt going to comment.

 

However I read this on the Soham forum.

 

"Only one outfield player over 20" Looking at their player stats, this is likely to be correct.

 

Makes the result even worse, and clearly shows that we have a problem. Time for some changes, I'm just not sure what the changes should be, but what we've got isn't working big time.

Edited October 31, 2010 by Ted

[Irishadrian]

Ted Have to agree with you The Soham player "over 20" is nearer 30 but all three regular Soham midfield players were out for this game and the forwards had an average age under 18 Can we really not beat a youth/reserve squad who hadnt won at home this season ?? Dont understand why some people think that other teams raise their game when they play us Why would that be? Teams raising their game dont present Hitchin or the other teams at the top of the league with problems Its not about what other teams do Our problems arise from what we do or fail to do With a few notable exceptions why are our players so unfit? Certainly its now time for Bateman and co to stop being in denial and accept the reality that the last 12 games has revealed.

[Martin]

It isn't just the last twelve games though. Our last 42 competitive matches in all competitions have produced 18 wins, 9 draws and 15 defeats. If we produce the same results in a league season that would get us 63 points and a mid-table finish.

 

Perhaps expectations are too high, the late run to the playoffs thanks to a miraculous final day followed by the semi final win over Hitchin had me thinking we would mount a title challenge this season. Perhaps what I should have been focussing on were the play off final defeat and the draws with Barton and Atherstone.

 

I am not yet completely writing our season off, we have players capable of stringing results together and climbing the table but given the only consistent thing about the Rebels in the last 20 years is that we are massively inconsistent, I wouldn't hold out too much hope.

 

Unfortunately I couldn't make the Soham game but I was utterly depressed when I heard the result.

[Windsor Rebel]

Nice part of the country though.

[Mark44]

Yeah maybe we are at the level we deserve to be at

 

We have no ground, fans are getting smaller and we have no hope of this changing anytime soon.

 

I thought we would be good enough for conf south with our own ground and that we were good enough for step 3 now but maybe im wrong. Maybe this IS our level

[Irishadrian]

Martin I dont think its really relevant to look at the last 42 games The really good committed players of last season Bateman couldnt keep We have to look at the results of the current squad and if some genuine management skills dont become apparant soon then a mid table position is over ambitious They could start with some basics like fitness and discipline So many people have commented on the constant bickering challenging of refs decisions and foul language that kind of behaviour is a sign of weak management and/or lack of players respect for management imo

[3spirit]

Ted Have to agree with you The Soham player "over 20" is nearer 30 but all three regular Soham midfield players were out for this game and the forwards had an average age under 18 Can we really not beat a youth/reserve squad who hadnt won at home this season ?? Dont understand why some people think that other teams raise their game when they play us Why would that be? Teams raising their game dont present Hitchin or the other teams at the top of the league with problems Its not about what other teams do Our problems arise from what we do or fail to do With a few notable exceptions why are our players so unfit? Certainly its now time for Bateman and co to stop being in denial and accept the reality that the last 12 games has revealed.

 

 

You raise some interesting points,Irishadrian.

You have to look at our squad and see the lack of young players in it. Steve Bateman has picked up many well known Non League faces ie Steve Perkins,Ben Abbey,Gary Sippetts,Sean Byrne,Paul Coyne,Steve Sinclair,Anthony Thomas etc, many of whom are getting near or past their sell by date ! Even Danny Burnell,although young, is well known on the non-league circuit.

Now there's nothing wrong in bringing in quality,experienced players but I think you need to temper/balance the side with fitter,hungrier,faster younger players,who are looking to play to a good level.

This is where I think we're falling short.

Take Kyle Jeffery as a point.Last year,whenever he came on [although not very often!] he did an excellent job. In one game,he stopped a goal bound shot, by clearing off our line,which most of our defenders wouldn't have got, the reason being ; that it was his speed that got him there.

Also last year,Mo Shariff.added so much more quick play to our side.This is why I think we were more successful in the latter part of the year.

This year we're too slow and laboured to disrupt other sides.

 

I don't believe we need to make massive changes to the nucleus of our squad but I do believe we should be looking at a couple or three new,younger fitter,spirited players to add to our squad.We already have Sam Bateman. Tony Mendy is maybe,more for the future [but surely the odd sub appearance in a League Cup or Berks and Bucks game] would enhance his capabilities.

 

What do others think?

[3spirit]

Ted Have to agree with you The Soham player "over 20" is nearer 30 but all three regular Soham midfield players were out for this game and the forwards had an average age under 18 Can we really not beat a youth/reserve squad who hadnt won at home this season ?? Dont understand why some people think that other teams raise their game when they play us Why would that be? Teams raising their game dont present Hitchin or the other teams at the top of the league with problems Its not about what other teams do Our problems arise from what we do or fail to do With a few notable exceptions why are our players so unfit? Certainly its now time for Bateman and co to stop being in denial and accept the reality that the last 12 games has revealed.

 

 

You raise some interesting points,Irishadrian.

You have to look at our squad and see the lack of young players in it. Steve Bateman has picked up many well known Non League faces ie Steve Perkins,Ben Abbey,Gary Sippetts,Sean Byrne,Paul Coyne,Steve Sinclair,Anthony Thomas etc, many of whom are getting near or past their sell by date ! Even Danny Burnell,although young, is well known on the non-league circuit.

Now there's nothing wrong in bringing in quality,experienced players but I think you need to temper/balance the side with fitter,hungrier,faster younger players,who are looking to play to a good level.

This is where I think we're falling short.

Take Kyle Jeffery as a point.Last year,whenever he came on [although not very often!] he did an excellent job. In one game,he stopped a goal bound shot, by clearing off our line,which most of our defenders wouldn't have got, the reason being ; that it was his speed that got him there.

Also last year,Mo Shariff.added so much more quick play to our side.This is why I think we were more successful in the latter part of the year.

This year we're too slow and laboured to disrupt other sides.

 

I don't believe we need to make massive changes to the nucleus of our squad but I do believe we should be looking at a couple or three new,younger fitter,spirited players to add to our squad.We already have Sam Bateman. Tony Mendy is maybe,more for the future [but surely the odd sub appearance in a League Cup or Berks and Bucks game] would enhance his capabilities.

 

What do others think?

 

 

Also two or three young players are a lot cheaper!

[3spirit]

Yeah maybe we are at the level we deserve to be at

 

We have no ground, fans are getting smaller and we have no hope of this changing anytime soon.

 

I thought we would be good enough for conf south with our own ground and that we were good enough for step 3 now but maybe im wrong. Maybe this IS our level

 

 

Martin I dont think its really relevant to look at the last 42 games The really good committed players of last season Bateman couldnt keep We have to look at the results of the current squad and if some genuine management skills dont become apparant soon then a mid table position is over ambitious They could start with some basics like fitness and discipline So many people have commented on the constant bickering challenging of refs decisions and foul language that kind of behaviour is a sign of weak management and/or lack of players respect for management imo

 

 

Ted Have to agree with you The Soham player "over 20" is nearer 30 but all three regular Soham midfield players were out for this game and the forwards had an average age under 18 Can we really not beat a youth/reserve squad who hadnt won at home this season ?? Dont understand why some people think that other teams raise their game when they play us Why would that be? Teams raising their game dont present Hitchin or the other teams at the top of the league with problems Its not about what other teams do Our problems arise from what we do or fail to do With a few notable exceptions why are our players so unfit? Certainly its now time for Bateman and co to stop being in denial and accept the reality that the last 12 games has revealed.

 

 

You raise some interesting points,Irishadrian.

You have to look at our squad and see the lack of young players in it. Steve Bateman has picked up many well known Non League faces ie Steve Perkins,Ben Abbey,Gary Sippetts,Sean Byrne,Paul Coyne,Steve Sinclair,Anthony Thomas etc, many of whom are getting near or past their sell by date ! Even Danny Burnell,although young, is well known on the non-league circuit.

Now there's nothing wrong in bringing in quality,experienced players but I think you need to temper/balance the side with fitter,hungrier,faster younger players,who are looking to play to a good level.

This is where I think we're falling short.

Take Kyle Jeffery as a point.Last year,whenever he came on [although not very often!] he did an excellent job. In one game,he stopped a goal bound shot, by clearing off our line,which most of our defenders wouldn't have got, the reason being ; that it was his speed that got him there.

Also last year,Mo Shariff.added so much more quick play to our side.This is why I think we were more successful in the latter part of the year.

This year we're too slow and laboured to disrupt other sides.

 

I don't believe we need to make massive changes to the nucleus of our squad but I do believe we should be looking at a couple or three new,younger fitter,spirited players to add to our squad.We already have Sam Bateman. Tony Mendy is maybe,more for the future [but surely the odd sub appearance in a League Cup or Berks and Bucks game] would enhance his capabilities.

 

What do others think?

 

 

Ted Have to agree with you The Soham player "over 20" is nearer 30 but all three regular Soham midfield players were out for this game and the forwards had an average age under 18 Can we really not beat a youth/reserve squad who hadnt won at home this season ?? Dont understand why some people think that other teams raise their game when they play us Why would that be? Teams raising their game dont present Hitchin or the other teams at the top of the league with problems Its not about what other teams do Our problems arise from what we do or fail to do With a few notable exceptions why are our players so unfit? Certainly its now time for Bateman and co to stop being in denial and accept the reality that the last 12 games has revealed.

 

 

You raise some interesting points,Irishadrian.

You have to look at our squad and see the lack of young players in it. Steve Bateman has picked up many well known Non League faces ie Steve Perkins,Ben Abbey,Gary Sippetts,Sean Byrne,Paul Coyne,Steve Sinclair,Anthony Thomas etc, many of whom are getting near or past their sell by date ! Even Danny Burnell,although young, is well known on the non-league circuit.

Now there's nothing wrong in bringing in quality,experienced players but I think you need to temper/balance the side with fitter,hungrier,faster younger players,who are looking to play to a good level.

This is where I think we're falling short.

Take Kyle Jeffery as a point.Last year,whenever he came on [although not very often!] he did an excellent job. In one game,he stopped a goal bound shot, by clearing off our line,which most of our defenders wouldn't have got, the reason being ; that it was his speed that got him there.

Also last year,Mo Shariff.added so much more quick play to our side.This is why I think we were more successful in the latter part of the year.

This year we're too slow and laboured to disrupt other sides.

 

I don't believe we need to make massive changes to the nucleus of our squad but I do believe we should be looking at a couple or three new,younger fitter,spirited players to add to our squad.We already have Sam Bateman. Tony Mendy is maybe,more for the future [but surely the odd sub appearance in a League Cup or Berks and Bucks game] would enhance his capabilities.

 

What do others think?

 

 

Also two or three young players are a lot cheaper!

 

 

Forgot to say,in pre-season we had a young New Zealand lad.I think his name was Fergus O'Neil.Now I know he wasn't the finished article or the most gifted of young players but I did think he was an ideal player to be in the squad.He wanted to be in the team,played with his heart and soul and also had good close control of ball and was fit. I certainly thought he was a better prospect than Terry O' Connor and would have been a good stand in for Danny Murphy,Stuart Swift,Sean Byrne on the left side.

Kyle Jeffery,too,was an ideal understudy to Simon Sweeney.Who better could he have learn't off of ? but what do we do? Let our youngsters go and then bring in the O' Connor brothers,who then don't even play !

 

As I've said before,I like our current management team but I certainly think they made a big error of judgement on this score.

[Tom]

It's all well and good saying why do we have xyz and why did we keep abc but every player has their reason for moving and joining clubs.

 

Kyle Jeffery wasn't released, he chose to leave because he has friends where he plays.

 

Regarding Fergus, he was on a trial at he club at a request from a scout who wanted to see if he was good enough for this level. The kid must have had some pedigree given he had trials with Celtic, but I don't think you could have given him the opportunities to play and he was shown up against some of the higher leveled club we played in pre-season.

 

Bringing in youth at this level is a different ball game to anything at a higher level, it's made especially difficult at Slough given we don't have a reserve side to bridge the gap between the U18's and first XI. You can't take a risk on youth when they aren't proven at this level UNLESS they are especially good like Mo or forced upon due to the clubs situation i.e. Sonny 2/3 seasons back when we were low on players.

[Sue]

Blimey come on guys, chin up, we are not down and out just yet!!

 

Have to say I agree with Ian, I dont think we played that badly in fact I think we were the better side for most of the game to be honest but just couldnt put the ball in the net.

 

Have to give credit to their goal keeper as well.

[Ian]

They could start with some basics like fitness and discipline So many people have commented on the constant bickering challenging of refs decisions and foul language that kind of behaviour is a sign of weak management and/or lack of players respect for management imo

 

 

Yes, the players' discipline at the moment seems to be very poor. I think we as supporters need to look at ourselves a bit in this respect as well though. From the moment the first whistle sounded on Saturday the level of abuse was shocking. Abuse of our players a little but mostly towards the opposition players and the officials. It's constant for 90 minutes. There were a lot of Rebels fans in the 160 or so crowd on Saturday but I think at times like that we're a hindrance not a help. There wasn't one single song on Saturday that could be construed as 'supporting the team'. All the noise, and there was a lot, was vitriol aimed at the "f****** officials" and the "f****** cheats" we were playing against.

 

That I think goes a long way to explaining why players celebrate so demonstrably when they beat us.

[Ted]

They could start with some basics like fitness and discipline So many people have commented on the constant bickering challenging of refs decisions and foul language that kind of behaviour is a sign of weak management and/or lack of players respect for management imo

 

 

Yes, the players' discipline at the moment seems to be very poor. I think we as supporters need to look at ourselves a bit in this respect as well though. From the moment the first whistle sounded on Saturday the level of abuse was shocking. Abuse of our players a little but mostly towards the opposition players and the officials. It's constant for 90 minutes. There were a lot of Rebels fans in the 160 or so crowd on Saturday but I think at times like that we're a hindrance not a help. There wasn't one single song on Saturday that could be construed as 'supporting the team'. All the noise, and there was a lot, was vitriol aimed at the "f****** officials" and the "f****** cheats" we were playing against.

 

That I think goes a long way to explaining why players celebrate so demonstrably when they beat us.

 

A thoughtful post, which makes a very good point.

[Windsor Rebel]

I must have been standing in the wrong place, as I didnt hear too much abuse. Saying that I didnt hear many songs supporting the team either.

[3spirit]

It's all well and good saying why do we have xyz and why did we keep abc but every player has their reason for moving and joining clubs.

 

Kyle Jeffery wasn't released, he chose to leave because he has friends where he plays.

 

Regarding Fergus, he was on a trial at he club at a request from a scout who wanted to see if he was good enough for this level. The kid must have had some pedigree given he had trials with Celtic, but I don't think you could have given him the opportunities to play and he was shown up against some of the higher leveled club we played in pre-season.

 

Bringing in youth at this level is a different ball game to anything at a higher level, it's made especially difficult at Slough given we don't have a reserve side to bridge the gap between the U18's and first XI. You can't take a risk on youth when they aren't proven at this level UNLESS they are especially good like Mo or forced upon due to the clubs situation i.e. Sonny 2/3 seasons back when we were low on players.

 

 

Thanks Tom for putting me straight on a couple of points I didn't know.

 

I don't,however,agree with you on some. I do agree that it's a mistake to throw any youth player into the senior side and expect them to perform week in,week out.For starters,it's obvious who the better players at youth level are [but maybe none currently are up to it.I don't know as I haven't watched the current Slough youth side] but I wasn't referring to youth players.My issue is that we won't succeed with these so called celebrity Non League players, totally through out the side.

You only have to look at previous Slough sides to see this.

Take the Martin Deaner/Graham Roberts/Steve Browne years,when we bought in Keith Macpherson,Steve Stott,James Lambert etc,all pedigree names.What actually happened ? we got more in the sh*t than out of it.Same happened under Darren Wilkinson with his introduction of Nick Roddis,Lee Charles etc.

 

I'm not saying any of these players or the ones in the current team are bad players.

.All I'm saying is that a successful team is usually a small core of loyal players [who've played together for at least two seasons] which is blended with experienced and not-so experienced younger players [who are generally fitter and faster around the park].

 

As for the Kyle Jeffrey,I thought he left because he wasn't playing enough. It's unfortunate for him that we have such a fantastic player as Simon Sweeney [at right back] in the team but we could have given Kyle far more opportunities to play,in any number of positions,to make him a better player and one who may have wanted to then stay.

 

I'm not sure where Fergus O'Neil is currently playing.I thought [not sure?] that I saw he was playing at a lower level.

As manager's, not any manager, always makes the right decision on up and coming players

I'm only a supporter,so it's only my opinion on watching 30 years of Non -League football and so I know sometimes I talk crap and get it wrong about some players.We all do.

I never in a million years thought Dudley Gardiner[who played for Slough reserves/youth] would make a Conference South player but under Alan Devonshire at Hampton and Richmond he's gone on to play numerous games for them or that Dave Rainford would be Captain of Chelmsford and play in the Conference for Dagenham and Redbridge.

 

The point I'm trying to make,is sometimes it's worth a punt on a youngster rather than keep getting the journeymen of Non-League football,at this current level that we find our team at.

Also that it's a cheaper way of adding a different look/dynamic to the current owners of the Slough shirt and give competition for the places in the team.

[Tom]

Yes, the players' discipline at the moment seems to be very poor. I think we as supporters need to look at ourselves a bit in this respect as well though. From the moment the first whistle sounded on Saturday the level of abuse was shocking. Abuse of our players a little but mostly towards the opposition players and the officials. It's constant for 90 minutes. There were a lot of Rebels fans in the 160 or so crowd on Saturday but I think at times like that we're a hindrance not a help. There wasn't one single song on Saturday that could be construed as 'supporting the team'. All the noise, and there was a lot, was vitriol aimed at the "f****** officials" and the "f****** cheats" we were playing against.

 

That I think goes a long way to explaining why players celebrate so demonstrably when they beat us.

 

This was actually one of the reasons why I stopped standing behind the goal during last season. Some of the comments and level of abuse at times is unnecessary and it's not very conductive for trying to improve the crowds especially when the club would like to market itself as a family club.

[staines_rebel_Jr]

I think that it is time to give a few of the youth team players a run out as from what i have seen and heard from Chris Sliski and one of my friends who has been training with the under 18 team they have some very gifted players. My friend who is trying to get in the team is really good as well but is struggling to get anywhere near the first team.

 

 

Also this will put pressure on some of our players especially those who dont currently have any competition and this will hopefully raise their game aswell.

 

 

 

Some people are not sure that they will be able to cope with the mens game but im sure with the crowd behind them they can produce great things, and you never know we may have another Jeffreys, Sunny or Shariff

 

 

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

If you look at the works of Meredith Belbin on the mix of individuals and the traits that you need to form a productive team, you will see that the current squad have many gaps and several duplications.

 

Read his theories and relate it to the good and bad teams you have been in at work and school and you will see that the theory stands up.

[Mark44]

I think its time we gave young players a chance to show at least what they can do. Stick them in and if we lose then they haven't done any worse than the first team so I don't see how it can hurt