team v Chesham

[readingrebel]

I don't think last season's issue was not enough goals from the forwards. Ben, Sean and Danny all weighed in with their fair share. I think we suffered from two problems - one was not making enough chances. At times we struggled to create enough clear cut opportunities to kill off games. One things is for sure.....give those three chances and most of the time they will take them.

 

The other problem was it was pretty much only the forwards scoring and there wasn't enough contribution from midfield. I can see Dominic Rhone chipping in with a few this season but we need others to do likewise.

 

I'd like to see a different type of forward too but not because we need to change Sean or Danny. More because it will give us a slightly different option from the bench if in any games we need to try something different.

 

 

Spot on !!

 

 

Without really knowing for sure, on the surface It does seem that SB either doesn't try that hard to get or doesn't think we need the proverbial big, different type of forward that most of us supporters think we need.

 

As far as we know the only big forward that's been on the radar for this season has been Woozies friend Martin Gritton who is around 35 years of age and had officially retired at the end of last season. After making what seems like a guest appearance at the Leverstock friendly now seems to have slipped off the radar.

 

I would rather see a 'big forward' come to us who is relatively young and hungry.

 

A couple of name that immediately spring to mind are Oliver Hawkins at Northwood and Michael Murray at Uxbridge, who I've heard has now left Uxbridge. Both proven scorers at this level.

 

Perhaps one of the problems is that if players are virtually guaranteed a starting place every Saturday for there current team, perhaps they are reluctant to come to a club like Slough where they will have to fight there way into the starting 11?

[A Rebel and a Saint]

I think one of the problems was that we always tried to pass the ball into the net. We need to learn to take shots from the edge of the area more often, which could be one reason why we don't get as many goals from midfield.

[3spirit]

My concern is that we have the same 3 forwards as last season, and last season we did not score enough goals. If we had, we wouldn't be in this division now.

 

Keeper, defence and midfield are all more than adequate, despite the changes in personnel. But up front, Ben Abbey is a tryer, but is well past his best. Which leaves just Burnell and Sonner. A good combination if on form. But we all know that if Danny has one of his "sulky" days when he feels the world is against him, we are left with just Sean, and if he has an off game as well, we have no-one. By the law of averages, this is bound to happen, as it did last year ( e.g. Chalfont away, NGU at home, etc).

 

I too would like to see someone a little more physical up front, but I think that the main issue is that we just don't have enough forwards. Maybe Burgess, Rhone or NBH can go up front in a crisis, but they are not forwards, and this always shows. If every other team in the division has a rotten defence we might get away with it, but I bet they won't have.

 

Every season we have this problem, every year SB denies it's an issue, and every year he has to go and get someone. I wonder who'll turn up this year

 

I concur with most you said here,Rebel Yeller,with special exception to your bit about Ben Abbey. Ben still knows how to put the ball in the back of the net and is an ideal back up player to our other goal poacher Danny Burnell. We are lucky to have him as second string to Danny.He could easily fit into many teams at our level, and you can't help but like him for his enthusiasm and his character.

 

You are on the button,though,about our lack of options upfront. Perhaps that Steve Bateman was a defender himself,has a bearing on his rationale'.

 

My own opinion is, instead of having loads of average midfielders who don't play that often,we could have a slightly smaller squad [not in height!] and get a decent target man in,with the money saved,especially now we've a reserve team.

A player of substance would be a huge benefit to our play.

 

I was surprised when Steve Bateman was after Michael Chennells,not because he isn't a good striker,just the size of the bloke!

I'm not advocating losing Sean Sonner but as much as he jumps well and puts himself about, he just isn't the answer against organised,big defenders every game,regardless.

Edited August 15, 2012 by 3spirit

[Sir Rebel1965]

Why is it that all us arm chair managers can see that we need a big man up front and Bateman cant? - looks like his phone book was missing that page? or is he just too stubbon and blinkered to admit that one is needed?

[3spirit]

Why is it that all us arm chair managers can see that we need a big man up front and Bateman cant? - looks like his phone book was missing that page? or is he just too stubbon and blinkered to admit that one is needed?

 

The only thing that may be on Steve's mind is the possibility that Jerome Anderson could become available again.I can't see him coming back,as he appears to be doing well at Hayes and Yeading.

Even when we had him,though,he never always got a full game!

 

However,it's absolutely mystifying why a manager who likes wingers and wing backs to get crosses into the box,at every given opportunity,which Steve Bateman always wants,hasn't the proverbial 'big striker' to get on the end of them !!!

Edited August 16, 2012 by 3spirit

[Windsor Rebel]

How do you know Steve Bateman isnt after a big striker? Maybe he is looking but has yet to find the right person to blend into our team. Or maybe the type of

striker he is after is not available right now.

[readingrebel]

How do you know Steve Bateman isnt after a big striker? Maybe he is looking but has yet to find the right person to blend into our team. Or maybe the type of

striker he is after is not available right now.

 

 

Fair point well said WR.

 

SB tried to get Martin Gritton on board which says to me he's more than aware of the need.

[Mark44]

^Agreed,

 

^{No point getting a striker that is Big if they are just going to be a Donkey}

 

^{We need to wait for the right player to become available......}

 

^{I trust SB has it under control and trust we will win the league this year although I don't think we will make it easy for ourselves.}

 

^{Incidentally, if anyone is betting then I have done a lucky 15 on non league winners.}

 

^{I have gone for Sutton Utd, Chesham, Slough and Hungerford in an each way division winning bet}

[dave programmes]

well said dave p.