Slough 1 Beaconsfield 2 AET

[Windsor Rebel]

Except we havent got a huge weekly budget

[HP9]

Except we havent got a huge weekly budget

Edited May 4, 2012 by HP9

[HP9]

Except we havent got a huge weekly budget

No, but a very good one for this level of football

[Saints alive]

You dont know what the budget is. Just look at some of the experienced players you have. You certainly do not pay them peanuts.

Look at Beconsfield bet they have one of the lowest budgets in the league.

Look what they have done, its all about what you do with the players you have and the system you play.

Slough play a direct way, problem is many others in this league play the same way thus cancelling you out a lot of the time.

Just look at the number of goals you have scored compared to the Champions.

It is usual for the champions to win the most games, loose the least, score the most goals, let in the least, and have the most points.

Who did all that this season.

The Champions of course.

[Matt]

Little bit boring hearing from St Neots fans now about how great they are and how they play like Spain. If you'd been watching us over the last 3 seasons you'd know that, at times, we were playing good football on the deck, especially away from home on better pitches. But in my opinion we've been severely hampered by the pitch at Holloways Park. We've changed our playing style this season by bringing in big defenders and, yes, playing a 'direct' style of football. It almost worked, and we finished higher than in the past two seasons despite scoring fewer goals, but fell away badly in the end. I've never played on the Holloways Park pitch but I cannot imagine it would be fun, or conducive to free-flowing football.

Edited May 4, 2012 by Matt

[Nathan]

Well we did have the best defence in the league up until the final 2 weeks of the season where we conceded 8 goals in 2 games. (I do not believe this had anything to do with one of our best defenders being dropped for no apparent reason, as this would just by cynical!)

 

I agree when Saints alive says that we are certainly not paying some of our experienced players peanuts. Despite not having a ground and despite paying rent to Beaconsfield, I would be very surprised indeed if their playing budget was anywhere near ours!

 

The same of course goes to the vast majority of teams in this league. Having a high budget and good players means nothing if you cannot build a good team with a good work ethic and strong formation. You must also be ready to change things around if necessary, and I believe we have failed in all these criteria, certainly since the St. Neots game.

[Nathan]

If you'd been watching us over the last 3 seasons you'd know that, at times, we were playing good football on the deck, especially away from home on better pitches. But in my opinion we've been severely hampered by the pitch at Holloways Park. We've changed our playing style this season by bringing in big defenders and, yes, playing a 'direct' style of football. It almost worked, and we finished higher than in the past two seasons despite scoring fewer goals, but fell away badly in the end. I've never played on the Holloways Park pitch but I cannot imagine it would be fun, or conducive to free-flowing football.

 

Nonetheless, you cannot say that we didn't know what we'd be up against. You cannot say that we had no chance to get used to the Cabbage Patch.

 

If we went out to play the free-flowing football as you described it, then surely this is a tactical failing?

[Windsor Rebel]

Maybe Steve Bateman would welcome your tactical input as well Nathan, why dont you go and have a chat with him?

[Nathan]

Don't start the old "say it face to face" lark again. It doesn't make you right or me wrong!

[Windsor Rebel]

I would say Steve Bateman knows more about tactics than you do though, would you not agree?

[Nathan]

I would say that the sooner we start the inquest and face up to our failings (instead of looking for excuses) the better!

[Windsor Rebel]

You did not answer my question: would you agree he knows more about tactics than you?

[Sir Rebel1965]

Even though we have had a year on year improvement in leauge places, the oposite is true of the playoff process.

 

First full year under Bateman we beat the favourites Hitchin in the semi and then surcumbed to a drubbing from Chesham in the final.

 

Second year playoffs we went to Hitchin in the semi and put in a good performance but ultimately got beat.

 

This year we failed to turn up against SYCOB for the Semi.

 

So has there been any real improvement? - I bet the wage bill has gone up but Bateman has failed to deliver against it.

[Sir Rebel1965]

From recent performances I would have to say nathan has the greater knowledge!

[Nathan]

Most likely. However that does not mean that he has done things right over the last few weeks, or over the course of the season. Not even the best managers are infallible!

[Nathan]

My last post was in reply to Windsor Rebel by the way, just so nobody thinks I'm bigging myself up!

[Cookham Rebel]

Before this gets out of hand, can we all just take a back step and take some time to reflect!

 

I was wrong to shoot from the hip last night and appreciate that it wasn't the right time for negativity so I apologise for that!

 

The club is still heading in a positive direction and regardless of what any of us say, any decisions with regard to the future of the club are in the hands of the right man. The management and players will be as devastated as we all are, so picking fault isn't right at this present moment in time.

 

None of us really know what happens behind the scenes.

 

Have a good summer and let's see what happens, not gaining promotion isn't the end of the world, yes it's disappointing but we live to fight for it again next season.

 

 

[Windsor Rebel]

Spot on Cookham Rebel

[Nathan]

Agreed, let's sit back and let the people who are paid to sort it out sort it out and come up with answers to everything that has been said.

 

Nobody will be happier if they do than I!

[DotDotDot]

3 Spirit as pointed out many times on this web site everyone it entitled to their opinion and Aaron is entitled to his.

 

Of course,Aaron Eales or any other person is entitled to air their views about Slough Town on this forum.My observation was that in Aaron's head,does he feel that 5mins late on against Northwood[i think] and several seat warming substitute appearances was justifiable in him signing.Wouldn't he have been better off playing regularly at a lower club.

 

It's my opinion,Aaron was used to balance the books and probably knew before he came that he wouldn't be playing that much and was probably sold on the idea of training with better footballers,than he was used to.

Has he learn't much from this experience or has it been a waste of time? Only Aaron Eales and Steve Bateman know this.

 

From my view,I haven't seen enough of Aaron to know if he has what it takes to be a competitive non-league player at our level but I can't help but feel that Steve Bateman has used him for his own ends and not been able or willing to try to progress him.

In truth,maybe he's not up to it but could easily play Hellenic level or such like.Just seems to me that we miss out on having 1 or 2 enthusiastic young battling tryers in the team for grouchy,think they're better than they are,senior players who don't always deserve such plaudits.

 

I know other fans will say that we haven't the time to mould young players especially when we a chasing the title and do not have a reserve team.To answer that, I just see that as a lack of foresight.