Slough v Arlesey

[Martin]

Personally I thought Arlesey were brilliant and we should give them credit where it is due. For the first twenty five minutes they were all over us playing with a very high tempo, quick, neat passing but with the directness and pace that is sometimes required. We were hanging in there but gifted them a goal trying to play the ball out of defence.

 

Once they went down to ten men the game changed dramatically. We had lots of the ball but Arlesey reorganised and often played with all ten men behind the ball and continued to harass and press us. They caught us cold when the second came from another defensive error.

 

However for the first half of the second half we dominated. We were actually playing some pretty good football with neat patient build up play working the ball to the wings for crossing opportunities. There were a few flaws with this plan though. It was predictable which meant that passes were intercepted and when we were pressed passing errors occurred. And the crossing was poor and predictable. With Arlesey having a massive height advantage and a quality keeper to be successful we were relying on the perfect cross (which never came let alone the four times required to win the game!) or a defensive error which never looked likely.

 

Hugely disappointing.

 

I actually think we have a better squad than last season but it is going to take a run of consistency and grinding out results against the bigger teams if we are to have any chance of making the playoffs.

 

I

 

 

[Tom]

I think Arlesey are very fortunate to have Hayward in goal too, the save he made in the first half from Sonner's flick was superb. Scoring that would have changed the game, especially with their 10 men.

 

Contrast his seemingly consistent performances for whoever he has played for against Slough with that of the mistakes our keepers have made over the course of this season. This has cost us quite a few points - certainly wins against Burnham and Bedfont.

[readingrebel]

Personally I thought Arlesey were brilliant and we should give them credit where it is due. For the first twenty five minutes they were all over us playing with a very high tempo, quick, neat passing but with the directness and pace that is sometimes required. We were hanging in there but gifted them a goal trying to play the ball out of defence.

 

Once they went down to ten men the game changed dramatically. We had lots of the ball but Arlesey reorganised and often played with all ten men behind the ball and continued to harass and press us. They caught us cold when the second came from another defensive error.

 

However for the first half of the second half we dominated. We were actually playing some pretty good football with neat patient build up play working the ball to the wings for crossing opportunities. There were a few flaws with this plan though. It was predictable which meant that passes were intercepted and when we were pressed passing errors occurred. And the crossing was poor and predictable. With Arlesey having a massive height advantage and a quality keeper to be successful we were relying on the perfect cross (which never came let alone the four times required to win the game!) or a defensive error which never looked likely.

 

Hugely disappointing.

 

I actually think we have a better squad than last season but it is going to take a run of consistency and grinding out results against the bigger teams if we are to have any chance of making the playoffs.

 

I

 

 

 

 

Personally, I don't think Arlesey were brilliant, they just did what was necessary, on the night, to beat a Slough team that gave a very abject performance.

 

On Saturday, we are playing Daventry who are not too dissimilar to Arlesey and if we continue to pass the ball to the opposition and hump the ball in the air to their big defenders, we will

 

a) make them look world beaters and

 

we will get beat.

[Sue]

Just goes to show how we all see games differently I think Arlesey were a very good side, I was more impressed with them than Hitchin. I also believe the two havnt played each other yet ( I am sure someone on here will correct me if I am wrong) which should be interesting.

 

Their number six also did a good redition of Swan Lake when he scored and could of given Colin Firth a run for his money at the Golden Globe awards when he spread eagled himself across the pitch, but apart from that they were a very good solid side and I can see how they are at the top.

 

 

[3spirit]

I agree with most of the comments on here about Slough's woeful performance.Arlesey were far better than us,in this one game,and deservedly won.

We actually had a harder job breaking them down against 10 men than we did against 11.Their defence and midfield shut us out superbly and with the quick feet and mind of Harry Hunt up front,they always looked a danger on the break.

 

However,it doesn't matter how much praise we give Arlesey, as at the end of the day any team playing like Slough did last night would have been beaten.

What is hugely disappointing was the players knowing what a huge game it was for them,came out lethargic and didn't battle for every ball, like they had done so well in the Hitchin game and so conceded two extremely soft goals.

Unfortunately for us,we seem to have too many factions in our team,who if things don't go well for them from the start,will sulk,throw out their dummies and keep moaning at the referee and each other,for the most trivial of things.Steve Bateman and Dave Anderson will have to stamp this out of our team,if we are going to make the play-offs or be successful next season,under their guidance.

 

As for last night's play, it was like watching Ray Wilkins [the crab] all over again. How many times did we play that crossfield ball? As for our crossing to our midget strikers-what a joke! It was obvious that we were never going to score,by those high lofted balls into the box unless it was a fluke.

We should have been firing in low/on the floor crosses and peppering the goal with shots.Richard Hayward,in the Arlesey goal,is an excellent goalkeeper but talk about making his night easy for him-how many shots did he have to save?

What I'd give to see someone like a Mark Hawthorne or a Gary Donellan type who can strike a ball cleanly from outside the box and cause the keeper problems.

I thought Paul Coyne was about our best player last night from a very poor bunch but it's hard to think of another player who run him close for that accolade. Danny Burnell had a stinker,which summed up our night. I'm not convinced Adam Logie plays well with Paul Coyne,as the centre midfield two but am a fan of both of them when they're both firing on all cylinders.Thought Logie has been poor lately and looks a bit rusty of game time.

Steve Sinclair also had a 'mare.

 

It seems to me,that Steve Bateman's teams try to play some decent,passing football, which I find laudable and applaud but as mentioned before by others on this forum,has no Plan B or C when our team/game plan is sussed. His substitutions are predictable and never a revelation and usually way too late to change the pattern of the game.Last night was the same,two wingers exchanged for two wingers and then Simon Martin's way too late introduction.

As we were having no joy from our teams playing pattern last night.,we should have changed it around sooner.After all we had plenty of options in our team and on the bench,to pressurize their slender lead,for the start of the second half.

As usual we did nothing and got our just reward-NOTHING!

[readingrebel]

Just goes to show how we all see games differently I think Arlesey were a very good side, I was more impressed with them than Hitchin. I also believe the two havnt played each other yet ( I am sure someone on here will correct me if I am wrong) which should be interesting.

 

Their number six also did a good redition of Swan Lake when he scored and could of given Colin Firth a run for his money at the Golden Globe awards when he spread eagled himself across the pitch, but apart from that they were a very good solid side and I can see how they are at the top.

 

 

 

 

 

I think the thing is when one team are so Sh#te poor it is very difficult to know how good the opposition are.

[chris sliski]

Sometimes I Think we have got to believe other teams are better than us... And they were ...yes we might not have been on song...but

Arlsey made sure we were not...counter attacking football at the Highest ..and a sturdy well organised defence ... make a good team...

and a very good Goal keeper. and 9 in total defence ...made it very very difficult for us tonight..

 

But is it worth it ... I dont think their was one supporter here tonight for Arlsey .. a great performance for who ?

 

The loudsest cheers came from the bench ! Is they an point for this team ? Hardly no support either home or deffiantley away it seams..

 

 

Chris sliski

Edited January 19, 2011 by chris sliski

[Sue]

Well I think if we are all honest, we have all had bad days at work etc, cant be perfect everytime can we, personally I blame Windsor Rebel !!!

 

 

[Mr Rebel]

my main worry is that like almost every home game at home in the last 2 seasons we were laboured in attack and near non existent at the back

 

them going down to 10 was never going to help us as they were always going to flood the defence considering they went 2-0 up in minutes after the red. least we could have done was to push someone else up front and at least make it a bit tougher before the 86th minute when that finally happened

 

dunno if its the surface or that the way opponents set up at home suits us more but our home performances are pretty ruddy rubbish unfortunately. how many more games have i got to be jealous of the opponents fast and direct attacking players? i like that we want to try and pass the ball but we don't seem to have the right players to execute it properly or at least not enough. Sinclair about the only one and he is completely off form at the moment

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

Slough played one dimensional football that was completley predictable and although we had the run of the second half only produced 2 shots on target.

 

When we come up against a side who know what they are about Bateman is out of his depth.

 

The issue of a plan B has been flagged up enough times to give Bateman a clue, but he is either too stuborn, or not bright enough too come up with other options and yet again we have paid the price.

 

The issue of the subs yet again comes up, too little too late - they were down to 10 so you run the legs off them with fresh players.

 

As for our players - you do not put high balls into the box when there are big defenders and they have the leauges best keeper.

 

As for Arlesey, a very well drilled team who are fit and understand each others play, not sure who is best out of them and Hitchin but if Hitchin win the leauge and we scrap into the playoffs, I hope we are not drawn against them, as we have nothing to counter them.

 

As for the question of this years team v last years - Bateman has failed to improve the squad.

 

It looks like we are in for a playoff place battle - will we scrap it like last year only getting there by goal difference on the last day? Bateman has not put us in a stronger position, just Status Quo.

[GarySTFC]

Footage from the game now on the site

 

http://www.sloughtownfc.net

[Nathan]

Well I think if we are all honest, we have all had bad days at work etc, cant be perfect everytime can we, personally I blame Windsor Rebel !!!

 

 

 

Sue, you're quite right when you say we all have bad days at the office. But for the quality of the team on paper, they have had far too many bad days at the office this season to be considered a good side.

[hitchin_chris]

Can't believe that result. Probably Man City's Arlesey's best performance of the season. What happened?

 

Interesting to hear from one of your posters that he felt they were better than us. Certainly sounds that they performed better against you than we did. But then perhaps you raised your game against us because you felt you had nothing to lose or something to prove against us, but against them you were desperate to win and froze on the night - much as we did in last season's play-off.

 

As for saying you're stuffed for the play-offs - rubbish! We have still to play Man City Arlesey twice, Woodford away, Rugby Home. Leighton away, Bedfont at Home and Aylesbury away. We would expect to get something from that little lot which would help your situation. The biggest dilemma is that as we go on - the "unbeaten" tag becomes a bigger pressure. We can't keep that up all season - but we are more likely to blow the record against one of the bottom teams than against one of the teams I have mentioned above. But we take nothing for granted and underestimate nobody. Arlesey have the biggest budget in our division by a country mile and average crowds of 70-80. Where's it going? Who knows, but they are desperate to beat us. On the other hand we must just make sure we don't lose against them.

 

I think you have a much better chance of beating Woodford at their place, where they have to come out to play, than when they are away from home where they just park the bus and shut up shop. THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO YET!! And after all. their defeat to Northwood was worse than yours!

Edited January 19, 2011 by hitchin_chris

[Nathan]

All the people on here saying the play-off race it not yet over really should take a look at the league table and realise at long last that it would take a minor miracle if we were to make the play-offs:

 

Pos. Team. Pld. Pts.

5. Slough 23 36

----------------------

6. Aylesbury 20 35

7. Bedfont 23 35

8. Rugby Town 20 33

9. Biggleswade Town 20 33

10. Marlow 21 31

11. Daventry Town 18 30

12. Ashford town (Mx) 18 26

 

We may be 5th at the moment, but there are many teams (especially Aylesbury, Biggleswade, Rugby, Daventry and Ashford) who aren't far behind us, but with enough games in hand to put considerable daylight between them and us. Points per game, we are actually comfortably mid-table.

 

Sure, the team can produce a good result on their day, but time and again this season they have shown their haven't the ability (or is it the willingness?) to do so consistently. Time and again this season, it has been shown that the management do not have a Plan B. Time and again this season has shown that maybe, just maybe, we simply aren't good enough to make the play-offs. (I will gladly eat my words should we do so however, but I honestly cannot see it happening).

Edited January 20, 2011 by Nathan

[Irishadrian]

Nathan I'm afraid you may be righ.t I wasn't able to go on Tuesday but I've no problem believing the dire reports of our performance. League position doesnt mean much at present because of the differing number of games played You can get a pretty good yardstick though by looking at the points lost during the season so far by all the teams. At present Hitchin have lost 12 Slough 33 and between those 2 are 10 other teams In terms of points lost we are 12 th It was correctly stated on this forum recently that historically a team is unlikely to progress to the playoffs if they lose more than 11/12 games in a season We have now lost 9. I posted a few weeks ago that by the end of Jan I believed our likelihood of the play-offs would be much clearer and I still believe this is so. I cant understand the people who carp about our forwards We are the 2nd highest scorers in the league Our problems lie with a defence who always look likely to concede. Why isnt this being addressed?

[Ted]

Our away form is very good, but at home we are very poor. We have only won 4 home league games this season, against 3 of the bottom 4 sides, plus the side sixth from bottom.

 

The 4 sides we have beaten have won between them the grand total of 3 away league games.

 

Not exactly promotion form whichever way you look at it.

[Windsor Rebel]

It never ceases to amaze me that time and time again some of the posters on this forum consistently show their yawning lack of knowledge about football:

we have only played 23 games, there are still plenty of points at stake to gain a play off place. Get behind the team, dont pick holes.

[Ted]

It never ceases to amaze me that time and time again some of the posters on this forum consistently show their yawning lack of knowledge about mathematics

 

In a nutshell, if you don't get the points, you don't get promoted.

[Windsor Rebel]

In fact, I am starting to think that some of our supporters would be better off watching Premiership football, such is their lack of knowledge of the

non-league game. They might learn something from all that TV sport.

[Mark44]

All the criticism given here is constructive though imo

 

which is different to before, there is no bitching or moaning just suggestions