Players to go - fan's opinion

[3spirit]

As not much is happening on this forum,at the moment, and I'm currently at a loose end, thought I would seek some supporters opinions about who they would release, given the fact that Steve Bateman quoted in a local newspaper, that he would like to add two defenders,a midfielder and a forward to the squad.

I would have said he should have said a goalkeeper, too,if that's true about Richard Hayward coming to pre-season training. I do hope so.

 

So given that information I would think [only my guess,mind] that Mr Bateman and Mr Anderson will know they will need two central defenders being that Chris Seeby has already left and Steve Perkins playing career is nearly over. I'm hoping Steve Perkins will be kept as player/coach, playing as cover and for emergencies. He,in my opinion,would be an asset to our players and management team given his knowledge of the game and teaching ability/cool head . Given John Lawford has left,there is a space to fill.

 

On the midfield front ,as a guess, I think SB and DA will consider getting rid of Adam Logie. I definitely wouldn't do that. I would lose Shaun Byrne,due to his match fitness and re-current injuries.

 

Up front,it's going to be a toss up between Simon Martin and Ben Abbey.This will be dependent on the size of the striker being brought in. IMO I would release Ben Abbey due only to his age and height and the fact that we will keep Danny Burnell and Sean Sonner, and not because he's done anything wrong.

 

Ironically,in an ideal world,though,if I was manager and had the chance to completely overhaul our current squad I would be looking to bring in a goalkeeper,two defenders,two midfielders[one being a holding midfielder and one who is a creative player who could play in the centre or on the right wing] and two proven goalscorers[ one being very tricky with ball skills ie Harry Hunt, and one being a natural target man/holder up of the ball ie Ian Hodges] .

.

So controversially,I would let go Rob Bullivant, Paul Coyne,Sean Sonner,Shaun Byrne,Ben Abbey,Ben Porter..... and with Chris Seeby leaving and Steve Perkins with the coach role. That still leaves a nucleus of a good squad.

 

However, paradoxically,I do agree with Steve Bateman about the need for continuity/stability/co-herence and not needing to change too much for 2011-12 season. In my view, with just the right tinkering we MUST have a chance of getting promotion this year. Only over the forthcoming season will we know if our discipline and players pulling together will justify the faith shown in them.

[Sue]

Can I just ask you 3Spirit how you would feel if someone at your place of work posted on a website who they thought should be got rid of and you were one of them.

 

I am not against discussions of a certain sort but not quite sure I think this one is appropriate.

 

 

[Windsor Rebel]

I agree Sue

[3spirit]

Can I just ask you 3Spirit how you would feel if someone at your place of work posted on a website who they thought should be got rid of and you were one of them.

 

I am not against discussions of a certain sort but not quite sure I think this one is appropriate.

 

 

 

 

Well,Sue, the football team isn't the players place of work.They play under an amateur code and this after all is a fans forum to voice fans opinions.

I am a fan of Slough Town Football Club and have been supporting the club for about twenty five years now, and am just offering an opinion.That is all I'm doing. It is no different to voicing an opinion on politicians of a particular political party or favourite singers from the world of popular music,as two examples.

Steve Bateman will make the decisions regardless of what I say.

 

What we need to decide is whether we should bother to have a Slough Town FC forum about Slough Town FC issues,if we are not allowed to voice an opinion.

[3spirit]

I agree Sue

 

 

Creep ! lol !

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

I agree with Sue and Windsor Rebel, it is not the fans choice of who we keep and who we let go, it is Steve Bateman's.

 

This will be Steve's third season to attempt to get promotion and it is not the close season to judge the achievements of the team and the manager, it is 4:45 on the final day of the season.

 

However I also belive that the 1st of January is also an important time for the Chairman to revue the progress, as it still allows time for changes to take place.

 

The only other time that would be fair to call for the managers head is when we do not pick up at least 3 points!

[Tom]

Why do people always bring out "I've been a Slough fan for xyz amount of years"? It doesn't make your opinion any more valid.

[Nathan]

Maybe because they are out to say starting a discussion (however misguided) dosen't necessarily mean that they don't have the best interests of the club at heart?

[michaelSTFC]

Why do people always bring out "I've been a Slough fan for xyz amount of years"? It doesn't make your opinion any more valid.

 

 

I suppose it doesn't bring out any inherent value, other than realising that the issues the club deals with ebbs and flows, players come, players go. We may lose a couple of good players during the summer, we may unearth some real gems. I enjoyed our pre-Conference rise, our roller-casster romance WITH the Conference and the slip down through the Ryman divisions. I didn't live through the Sweetman era, but slogged through Martyn (and Andrew Deaner)'s reign and know we have moved on from those regimes and are generally going in the right direction.

[3spirit]

Before the season ended,a few of us on here,voiced our opinions on the state of the team and players in particular,who many of us thought weren't doing the business for the team ie discipline, poor displays,etc. We were told by the same Trust members ie Tom,Sue,Chris S,etc that we were nearing the play-offs,so we shouldn't make waves.I accepted this point of view,even though I didn't agree with it, for the sake of the team's promotion push.

 

Now,we're in the off season period, we do not know who will start for Slough, and who won't. Nothing much has been happening on this forum of late,so I thought that now is a perfect opportunity to have a rational debate about the pro's and con's of our current squad.

My views are my views. They are NOT other peoples views.They also carry no weight in the semi-professional world of Non-League football, but the fact remains that I am a supporter of Slough Town FC and have a keen interest in the club as a whole.

 

Now where do I go to talk about all things relating to Slough Town FC ? Here to this supposed FANS !!! Forum. It is not a players forum or a management forum or even the STFC Trust forum. It is a FANS FORUM ! ! !

 

Now,I'm told, as other's have, that we mustn't talk about the players in a detrimental way. As much as I would love life to be a musical,with us all wrapped up in cotton wool and all sharing those 'rose tinted glasses' and agreeing with each other on everything. The hard facts are like it or not, that life isn't like that . We live in a democracy [supposedly?!] and are all allowed an opinion. That is what a forum is supposed to be about,a democratic, honest debate/discussion,with each other being allowed to voice their own view.

 

Some of you Trust members should think of this before you come on here, all holy than thou ie Sue,Tom, etc etc.

I pay to watch just like you do. I do not know any players or any management staff personally,which I guess some of you ,obviously do. I sort of know Chris Sliski as an acquaintance [hope I've spelt your surname right,Chris?] who I've always found a pleasant,honourable chap, who has the best interests on the club at heart, but that's as far as I know anyone with any upper connections to the club,that WE all are hold dear .

Players and managers and board members come and go. Real fans do not.

 

So why can't I voice my opinion? It's getting more like The Spanish Inquisition,when you say anything that's deemed unfit,by it seems the chosen few . That isn't what a forum should be about,regardless.

.

[Sue]

MIss holier than thou here!!!!!!!

 

Just where did I say in my post that you couldnt voice your opinion, I merely asked if you thought it was appropriate.

 

I dont happen to think it isbut as you say that is my opinion and like everyone else I AM ALLOWED my opinion as well.

 

Also please leave the Trust out of this, when I post on here I post as Sue STFC supporter I am not a puppet I say what I think as most people who know me will agree with.

 

They might not be at a work place but the players do have feelings they are human after all and I dont like posts on here about who should be got rid of, but as I said that is MY opnion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[3spirit]

Fair enough response,Sue.

That's just it, though, I DO believe that my thread that started this reply/counter reply off, IS appropriate for this FANS forum.

 

Every human being should be entitled to be treated as a valued human being, in my opinion.

 

Sometimes,we have to generalise otherwise we'd never talk about anything.

Anyway,this forum is not about humanitarian issues,it is about Slough Town FC issues.

So let's try talking about Slough Town FC,shall we?

Edited June 9, 2011 by 3spirit

[Tom]

To clarify, I'm not a Trust member nor do I know any of the players.

 

I just run the website and dedicate A LOT of my spare time in doing so. Everything I post is my own personal opnion and I don't remember anyone saying you had to agree with it.

Edited June 9, 2011 by Tom

[3spirit]

To clarify, I'm not a Trust member nor do I know any of the players.

 

I just run the website and dedicate A LOT of my spare time in doing so. Everything I post is my own personal opnion and I don't remember anyone saying you had to agree with it.

 

 

Thank you,Tom,for running a fantastic website and giving your time freely. I wouldn't knock ANY stalwart/helper of the club,unless I thought something dodgy or underhand was going on.

People, like yourself,are the unsung heroes of the club.

 

That, however, has nothing to do with this issue.

 

The issue I'm making is about the right of free speech of anyone, on this fans, non-league team's forum. As you've just stated we all have a right to a personal opinion. To my mind, as long as we keep it civil and without the need for swearing and abuse,we should be able to discuss all things about Slough Town FC. Any moron can come to a football match and shout opinions about the players and the match officials.What's so different on this forum? Well,the difference, Tom, is that some of us have the nous to be able to discuss things rationally,without the intent to cause offence.

I haven't slagged anyone off, I have just given MY honest assessment, as to where I think our squad could be improved. If I had started the thread about the players I would bring in, I would still have had to mention who I would get rid of.

 

I thought, obviously wrongly?, that we could have had a healthy rapport/views among the fans about what they would do with the current squad, now approaching the third full season under Steve Bateman's management. The players have every right to read it but it's up to them how they interpret what is being said. If I was a player,being the type of bloke I am, I would at least, give it a shot of proving this fans opinion wrong.

I'll take Simon Sweeney as an example,being that he is one of my favourite players, if I said that in my opinion,which I still believe to be true now,before 2010-11 season kicked off,I would have kept Kyle Jeffery rather than letting him go to Chalfont St Peter because I thought he could and would have learned a great deal off of Simon Sweeney and may have one day replaced him. Simon Sweeney would have had to be pretty dim not to appreciate that fact. The same way I have logically but only theoretically give my opinions on whose likely to depart, by my assumptions of Steve Bateman's views, or by my honest opinion as to who I would let go.

 

I've have watched and taken views from lots of fans on here and found to agree with some more often than not ie Reading Rebel,Cookham Rebel,Rebel Glen,Matt,Nathan and even yourself,Tom, among others at times. However,none of us agree with everything each other writes. Isn't that what the forum should be about ; opinions!

Edited June 9, 2011 by 3spirit

[Martin]

I don't think there is that much wrong with anything you've said in this thread 3 spirt - you often talk a lot of sense. I am already finding the summer too long and we've only gone a month without football - at least there is only another month until the friendlies and two months until the season proper so some proper football talk is good.

 

I think maybe you could have titled the thread slightly better as "Players to go" sounds slightly negative when really the thread is positive because you are talking about where you would like to see the squad strengthened. Personally I would like to see a settled first choice keeper whether that is Jacko, Fanner, Bullty or AN Other doesn't matter to me, a new centre half if Seeby is departing otherwise I would be looking at Seeby and Woozley being the partnership to build on, some cover at full back, a ball winning mdifielder and a target man in the Hodges mould up front.

 

Looking at last season at the outset I would have taken a play off spot without question. The only disappointment was we didn't secure the position a little earlier on and some of the performances were inconsistent and disjointed.

 

As a starting point the squad we have is excellent. A lot of the departures will be out of our hands coming down to either personal reasons or clubs higher up the pyramid looking to poach our players. We saw that last season with NBH, Mo and Buchanan. There will be natural departures but I would look to hold onto the vast majority of the remainder of the squad.

 

One of the issues that hampers us is the lack of reserve team set up so we are reliant on dual registrations to keep others fit. I would try and keep the squad size down and then make additions if we are hit by injury crisis safe in the knowledge that we should be able to call on the U18 set up if there is an emergancy.

 

As for your list of players to be released 3spirit, I think SB would be crazy to let Coyne and Sonner go. I think they have the right attitude (although sometimes frustration can get the better of the both of them), the work ethic and the skils to help us get promoted and I am sure a vast number of our rivals would love to snap them up. So on that one I certainly hope SB sees it differently to you!

[Nathan]

As I recall, there was a similar discussion about whether or not Bateman should go only a couple of months ago. After a bit of peer pressure (including from me), I think we all agreed to defer such discussions to after the season had ended at the earliest, as (let's face it) last season wasn't all it could have been.

 

 

Now this thread has been started, and this row has blown up! Now I accept that people have opinions, but some people might gather the impression that discussion is something to be discouraged on this board, unless its wholly in favour of the club and its players!

 

 

In any case, it's bound to do less harm now that in the middle of the season, surely?

[Windsor Rebel]

Last season wasnt all it could have been? What more do you want? Champions League? A top five finish is good surely?

[Nathan]

Last season wasnt all it could have been? What more do you want? Champions League? A top five finish is good surely?

 

On its own, a top-five finish would be good. But the main thing here is progress - we clearly did not make progress from the 2009/10 season.

 

Personally I think for a club like ours, struggling for 5th place (and finishing beneath the likes of Burnham and Biggleswade), isn't good enough. More so, considering when we get into the play-offs, we freeze (like we have done for the past 2 years).

 

Lets take a look at the example of Cardiff City. They've made the play-offs for the past 2 years running. Under their manager, they have also reached the FA Cup final for the first time since the 1920s. Yet after what would have (on it's own) been a good seson, Dave Jones has been sacked. And despite 3 Wembley appearances, 2 play-offs and an FA Cup final, from what I hear, he was never really held in particularly high esteem by the Cardiff City fans!

 

Now, I am in no way calling for the same fate to befall Bateman. Nor am I trying to compare us with the Cardiff City fans. I am simply trying to make the point that whilst the play-offs for some clubs would be an achievement (as it was for us for the 2009/10 season, given the previous 3 years), for others it is actually a dissappointment, as they feel they should be achieving more. Last season, on the whole, I felt was a great dissappointment.

 

Getting back on topic, I shall refrain (for the moment at least) from commenting on individual players and on the balance of the squad, as I feel I've made my opinions about some them quite clear during the season, and I would be repeating myself. Anyway, I gather Bateman is on the lookout for 2 defenders, a midfielder and a forward so (with any luck!) those problems might be solved in due course. I certainly hope so!

[Windsor Rebel]

Problem is only one team goes up, so we cant progress anyway unless we win the league, as finishing second or fifth puts

you in the play-offs anyway, which then becomes a cup competition

Edited June 9, 2011 by Windsor Rebel

[Nathan]

Problem is only one team goes up, so we cant progress anyway unless we win the league, as finishing second or fifth puts

you in the play-offs anyway, which then becomes a cup competition

 

Quite - but consider: struggling for 5th place, or going for the title? Last season, we only briefly looked like going for the title. If we go for the title, even if we don't win it and instead get a strong 2nd or something, I would consider that to be a good season, and a damn slight more successful than scraping in at 5th.