Rugby 1 - 0 Slough

[HEAVY TRUCKER]

rugbys goal scorer didn't come from the left side of the goal area by any chance did he?

[3spirit]

Anyway, back to the game and it was disappointing. Rugby defended extremely well but our failure to break teams down is costing us. We again bossed large parts of the game, but too often a poor cross or through pass cost us.

 

There are no fundamental weak points in the team in my opinion; yes some players played better individually, but we didn't do much wrong in defence, where we also managed to restrict them to one clear chance - but we seem to concede far too many soft goals. Theirs was a simple route one punt to the big striker, who did very little else all game, and he nodded it on to their goalscorer who was unmarked.

 

The two wingers had a good first half but faded in the second - in my book that's due to good teamwork from Rugby who doubled up on them and also restricted the full-backs from getting forward.

 

Still plenty of points to play for...

 

 

I think there are 'fundamental' week points in the team.

 

One being up front.

 

When we come up against big physical defenders we are very 'lightweight' and tend to get bullied off the ball.

 

The other one being in midfield.

 

Most of our midfield are ball players who like a bit of time on the ball to do the pretty stuff. Where are our midfield players who can put their foot in, to stop the opposition playing and grind out a result or two?

 

 

I think there are 'fundamental' week points in the team.

Most of our midfield are ball players who like a bit of time on the ball to do the pretty stuff. Where are our midfield players who can put their foot in, to stop the opposition playing and grind out a result or two?

 

One was on the bench - Adam Logie. Personally I'm not sure why he has fallen out of favour.

 

 

I think there are 'fundamental' week points in the team.

Most of our midfield are ball players who like a bit of time on the ball to do the pretty stuff. Where are our midfield players who can put their foot in, to stop the opposition playing and grind out a result or two?

 

One was on the bench - Adam Logie. Personally I'm not sure why he has fallen out of favour.

 

 

Adam Logie is the type of player who needs game time to get himself match fit to do himself justice. Unfortunately he seems to be out of favour at present but I do agree I think he is the the only midfielder we have who can play that type of role.

 

 

As usual,Reading Rebel,you're talking sense.Burnell and Sonner are not a good front pairing and are easily marked out the game by efficient,competent defenders.Yet Steve Bateman persists with them.They only score goals together against the weaker teams. Burnell always plays better with a bigger man along side him,as does Sonner. What Bateman seems to fail to realise is that when you have a bigger centre forward on, he is a nuisance in the opposition box,defenders will be drawn out to mark him,leaving lots of space for others.

Andrew Deaner was never a great centre forward,however whenever he played when fit,he could prove to be a right handful because of his presence,height,weight and nuisance value.Simon Martin could and should be doing this.Adam Logie could also play this role,in fact I would go as far as saying that he could be an absolute asset up front,if we ever tried it.

If Bateman's not going to play Logie in the first 11[criminal in my mind].Then he should at least use him as a tactical substitute.I certainly think he's getting a raw deal at Slough,at the moment.I liken him to David Platt [ex Aston Villa and England player] being that he is a box to box player that actually scores goals.These types of players in non-league football are hard to find.When he got a run in the Slough side,he was scoring every other game.We have no other central midfielders like him. Plus he doesn't get needless bookings.

 

I do get incredibly frustrated that Steve Bateman,for all his talking up in the local papers,seems so unaware,on how to change things when Slough are not playing well.His substitutions are dire and so predictable.They are like watching paint dry!

[HorshamRebel]

 

We totally outplayed Rugby in the first half in which they scored from the only clear shot on goal in the whole game.

It was one of those "How did we lose that" games

 

The ref was consistant in his level of aptitude. Everytime a "foul" was comitted, he either missed it, or ignored it. The "fouling" then continued until the other player then retaliated and had the foul called against him, he wasn't even waving for the players to play on. This resulted in the dissent and the yellow cards.

If the ref blew for the original fouls, none of that would have happened.

 

 

 

Talking to the Rugby supporters afterwards they were also saying that the ref completely ruined then match.

 

I would like to thank Rugby for their great hospitality during the whole time we were there, they have a great set-up and some really friendly people.

 

 

[chris sliski]

Well after looking at the photo's of the rather new way of tackling Simon Martin ! Those behin the goal quoted to me he made an air shot ! and defender took the ball clearly !

 

I don't think so , no way could simon martin have had a shot while the defender had his boot in between his legs ! A clear penalty ... along with the one in the first half ...

 

that we should have had for blatant hand ball... would have made this game a lot different...and far better than it was...

 

up the rebels...

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

I wouldnt have given a pen for either of them myself. The handball was blazed at him, addmittedly he looked like his hands were in a stupid position and the Martin one didnt look like a foul in any way.

 

I admit the ref was awful but I'd have made the same decisions on the 'pens'

 

Sorry Chris.

xx

[chris sliski]

Marcus the camera does no lie....have a look ..as always the gang stick together like sheep...air shot ! is what you said yesterday ..

 

no way could Simon of had a shot ..the defenders leg was almost wrapped round him ! simples...

[Irishadrian]

Cant agree with the comments re Barton Rovers The season is coming to an end they are 16th and not in a false position due to games in hand They are 16th for a reason. They arent very good . Lets not talk up the opposition the team need to be told that a comfortable win is expected from them and nothing else.

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

CHRIS it has nothing to do with the gang sticking together, I saw both incidents and I wouldn't have given a pen for either, haven't seen the pics yet but the ref didn't have the luxury of pics either!

[Irishadrian]

chris Cameras frequently lie its about distance, angle, and perspective The top of the Eiffel tower does not grow out of my brothers head but a recent photo taken on a visit to Paris clearly shows it does A video may be more conclusive but still pictures arent reliable imo.

[HorshamRebel]

Here's the picture

 

[Chris]

Wasn't there Sat, but the one of Ben Porter seems more of a pen, big chunk of his shirt there.

[Ian]

It's a bit difficult to argue perspective based on that picture. That's a penalty and I still argue that the handball was also.

[Irishadrian]

Thanks HorshamRebel for that picture. Another excellent quality action shot, but what doesnt it show? It doesnt show the momentum of the ball.where its been where its going and who touched it last. It doesnt show if the Slough player is falling backwards or has some forward momentum. It doesnt show if the Rugby player is bringing his right leg down or bringing it up and away I would love to see a video of the incident. In some ways though these post mortems are fairly pointless no matter what individuals might think if the ref doesnt agree its not a penalty.

[HorshamRebel]

Correct, look at the ones in the split second before that one.

[Martin]

I didn't think it was a pen real time and I'm with Adrian that shot doesn't really help (as good as it is and thanks as always Gary). I just think circumstances of the move and momentum meant it would have been very harsh. The handball should have been given but again agreeing with Adrian the post mortem doesn't really change anything. If we had been given the penalty it would have been our only shot on goal and I don't think that is really the way to go about winning football matches.

 

We actually played quite well and I just think we were tentative in front of goal.

 

Got a chance to make amends Tuesday, COYR!

[HorshamRebel]

That goes to prove that by changing the angle, you can see something completely another way. From my angle (completely side on) it was a penalty, from yours (head on), it wasn't.

 

No wonder refs have it hard.

 

 

[chris sliski]

Marcus... The ref was nearer ..and no way did Simon Martin do an air shot like you said ...the defender certainly got Simon ...before or after the ball had gone ! in other words a foul ..in the area equals a penalty IMO.

 

yes it make no difference ...because it was not given ..but football is open for debate ...and incidents can be talked about ....you saw it one way I saw it another way ...

 

thats all...

 

chris s

[GarySTFC]

Fairly sure I got the Simon Martin penalty shout on the video from up in the stand. Not sure how clear/close up it will be, but will be interesting to see it back. Interestingly after the game, their officials were talking of a penalty shout at the other end which wasn't given, so it wasn't all one way!

 

 

[Martin]

I think the issue here is perspective. I was stood next to Marcus and from head on the ball went passed Martin who kicked out and seemingly missed it. Hence the reference to the air shot. He did have the defender alongside him but I didn't feel he had impeded him or knocked him off balance. Looking at the photo again I think you could argue that Simon and their 5 were both swinging at the ball with their right legs and possibly Simon came from behind the 5 hence the entanglement.

 

From my perspective a penalty would have been harsh but from yours it was a stone waller. It probably ends up being somewhere in the middle. Possibly one of those were the ref would have given a free kick outside the box but he felt a penalty would be too harsh.

 

One thing we can agree on was the ref had a shocker. Very much a homer in the sense that every foul we committed was seemingly punished with a yellow card whilst their 9 was told after his fifth or six foul he was allowed one more before a booking!

 

But one thing you have to say is that you cannot rely on the refs at this level to give you anything. We have to be able to look after ourselves and work out a way to break down these well organised sides. Once again Rugby looked a good outfit to me. Very organised at the back with no nonsense defenders who were loath to advance beyond the half way line. They seemed to be lacking a bit upfront but once they work out how to get the best from 9 (crosses into the box being a pretty obvious game plan) I think they will be very dangerous.

 

We need to start picking up points from the teams in and around us though. COYR.