Bateman driving fans away.

[Ian]

Shock 3spirit has another go at Steve Bateman I did not see that coming,

Oh and by the way you don't win or lose the League by losing a cup game

 

True.....but you do lose the league through abject performances and that's what we got on Saturday and on quite a regular basis since the win at St Newts. That game should have been the catalyst for us moving onwards and upwards but it seems if anything to have gone the other way.

 

So whilst I don't necessarily agree with the nuclear reaction from some people I can see why they might be thinking that way.

[HorshamRebel]

I do think a lot of this waffle could be easily cleared up with fans forum with steve batemen, steve easterbrook occassionally.

 

 

Or even staying behind after the match and having a chat with them

[hotspur]

Terry Brown's left wimbledon-could we afford him ? he's had nothing but success at all levels and he is ex Slough Town !

[Tom]

I'd stick my neck out and say attendances falling aren't to do with football reasons, more to do with the fact Slough continue to play at Holloways Park.

 

I'd still aways advocate a move to Windsor over SYCOB purely because it's easier, closer and more accessible to get too.

[epicrebel]

I'm sorry, I didn't know that Steve Bateman had left or sacked, get a grip people.

[Martin]

I've been missing a few games recently due to prior commitments and will be missing the trip to Margate as I'm on a stag do.

 

Fortunately I've never allowed Slough's prior performances dictate whether I come to subsequent games otherwise I would have given up long ago perhaps after we got humped 6-1 by Stevenage on the coldest day in living memory or after we got thrashed 7-1 by Chelmsford when 23 Slough fans stood on a temporary terrace in their new atheletics stadium the Saturday before Christmas on the second coldest day in living memory or when we got humbled by the hamlet of North Leigh 6-1 at a ground where the home support were encouraged to bring their own chair and mug with them.

 

Cursed as I am with the afflication of being a dedicated supporter I will be there again on the 9th October whether for a glittering cup replay against Margate or a return to league action against Thatcham. I'll shout as loudly as I can "Come on Slough" when we kick off and the past results are forgotten unless I am in a particular reminiscing mood. This is what we do as supporters.

 

There have been some concerns this season so far and Saturday sounds like a pretty shocking performance. But we really do need to focus on the league as the cliche goes. We have 6 scheduled league games in October and we will be looking at a return of at least 14 points to get us going again in the league.

 

I hope those who are going enjoy the trip to the seaside on Saturday and I'll be hoping to hear of an upset. COYR.

[Windsor Rebel]

Well said Martin, a true supporter.

[Sue]

Lovely post as usual Martin.

 

We always have good away days win or lose.

[Irishadrian]

Tom Of course the initial gates will be higher at a ground within the town boundaries but the point being made is that gates are falling at Holloways park. People who were going there are now staying away and that should be a worry.

[HorshamRebel]

With 4 all pay games, two of them on Sunday with big matches on the box, plus the bad weather,

I would wait until we are back into the normal league mode,

where season ticket holders can get in without paying extra on top before deciding if the attendances are falling.

[C'est la vie]

Have'nt been on here for a while but have to say that Saturday's game was one of the most gutless performances i've ever seen from Slough.It actually looked that from the start they never wanted to win.Feel a bit cheated!

[Harmston Rebel]

Attendances are down on last season but I do not believe this can only be put down to our performance. We beat Northwood by the flattering score of 5-0 but our next home game against Guildfor saw just 230 turn up and the next match on the Bank Holiday against Beaconsfield saw a big drop compared to least season below our average last year. There are other factors here which are not to do with the ground at play. Is it the Olympic Factor?

 

Slough's performance on Saturday was poor and there are no 2 ways about that. Gosport did want to win it and Slough were painful. The manner of our defeat was depressing and I would not want to see a game like that again in a hurry!

 

Some seem to say we have had three terrible seasons where we were in the play-offs (having improved each term). If they were terrible they missed the nightmares of four seasons where the existence of the club was in the balance. Like Martin said, we have seen some terrible results like losing 8-0 at home, but we still came back for more because we want our club to survive and grow. Now I will be going to Margate and I will expect something better, but I will be there. I will always come back for more!

 

I believe there is a chance we will do better if we give our support to the players and give them encouragement when we need it. Let us judge how we do over the season and then let us see.Let's seem some real support such that our team got at AFC Wimbledon (yes, we lost 9-0).

 

 

UP THE REBELS!

[Sue]

My point exactly Hayes, good god it was humiliating getting beat week after week, but we gave the best support ever and still kept coming back for more.

 

As for Wimbledon we were on holiday but I believe they clapped the Slough supporters at the end of the game. Ask Warren, no surprise here but I dont think he left the ground sober as he had so many drinks bought for him by AFC fans. There is always a method to his madness!!

[HorshamRebel]

At the Wimbledon game, we had been "relegated" the match before, so we all decided to have a party and just enjoy the day.

 

From before the whistle blew for the game to start, to after the final whistle blew, about 100 of us constantly outsung over 1000 Wimbledon fans.

 

They ran out of specific music to play at 6-0, so when they got their next 3 we sang for them.

 

After the whistle blew, their Womble mascot came over to us and bowed to us for being such good supporters to a team that had just been thrashed 9-0.

 

After the match I was on the station platform waiting for the train and I had dozens of people coming up to me to shake my hand and give me hugs, as they had never seen any away fans like us before.

 

My only regret is that I never got any of that on the camera, as I decided that for that day I wanted to be a basic fan again.

 

If we can do that through those hard times when we turned up at a game to find out that anoter set of players had gone, and we had a band of kids playing at short notice, and losing every game by at least 4 goals, then we can support them now, when we are finishing in the play-offs season after season, and with the holy-grail of our own ground within our grasp.

 

Never give up.

COYR

[Windsor Rebel]

Well said Horsham Rebel, I wonder if Hotspur and 3 Spirit attended those games? If they did they should realise we are

in a much better position now. The sign of a true supporter is to follow the club through thick and thin, and not moan

on a forum when we lose one game. We are all entitled to our opnions but constantly questioning a managers tactics when

we lose gives the impression of a fairweather supporter. If you want to talk tactics, have the balls to come in the

bar after and speak to Steve Bateman.

Edited October 2, 2012 by Windsor Rebel

[3spirit]

Shock 3spirit has another go at Steve Bateman I did not see that coming,

Oh and by the way you don't win or lose the League by losing a cup game

 

Shock,horror Epic Rebel has a go at 3spirit !

 

After such a dreadful team performance against Gosport.Who other than Steve Bateman should we have a go at,Epic Rebel? Who do you want us to blame? The toilet cleaner,the programme seller,the bar manager, the fans...! Who gets paid to manage the team? Steve Bateman,of course,so obviously he's going to get some flack and come under scrutiny.

 

You think, wrongly I might add,that I have a huge chip on my shoulder about Steve Bateman.I'm afraid you are sadly mistaken.As a player I always admired Steve Bateman as a good,decent,cool-headed defender who tried to play a fair game.Not unlike what he tries as a manager.

I would rather have Steve at the helm than many alternative options ie Tony Choules,Dave Mudge,Jamie Jarvis,because I believe he represents the club well,knows the non-league scene and appears to be a level-head but that's not to say that there are no other managers out there who wouldn't do equally as good a job, or if not better, than Steve has,taking into consideration the players he's had over the seasons and the supposed good budgets,the club have provided for him.

 

Has he been a success in his spell at the club? Well,that depends on whether you're a half glass full or whether you're a half glass empty type of bloke.I reckon I've got a glass about three quarters full regarding Steve's managerial stint.He's certainly better than many we've appointed before but then again,we haven't had many proper out and out managers.Often we've had to put up with players being made up to managers which IMO is a not what was/or is needed.

 

I do think Steve Bateman lacks imagination in a lot of his set piece play and the team's creativity and his substitions are unexciting and often half-hearted or too late.He's also not good at spotting raw talent and relies too heavily on players with great cv's,when what is needed is the right blend of both.However,he is a good man-manager in regards to keeping players happy,tries to play an attacking brand of football and has a good knowledge of non-league players.

 

That's my honest opinion.Doesn't mean I'm right or wrong.Just a voice.

So Epic Rebel,I hope that's cleared up the matter .

 

 

[3spirit]

Well said Horsham Rebel, I wonder if Hotspur and 3 Spirit attended those games? If they did they should realise we are

in a much better position now. The sign of a true supporter is to follow the club through thick and thin, and not moan

on a forum when we lose one game. We are all entitled to our opnions but constantly questioning a managers tactics when

we lose gives the impression of a fairweather supporter. If you want to talk tactics, have the balls to come in the

bar after and speak to Steve Bateman.

 

Well,Windsor Rebel,just if I'm going to approach Steve Bateman in the bar! Football fans the world over have opinions but supporters after beer usually talk boll*cks and exaggerrate what they mean,so that kind invitation I will pass on.Thank you.

 

I would be very interested in meeting Steve Bateman through a fan's forum,as Brighton Rebel mentioned,so that some questions can be answered and ideas raised,though.

[Windsor Rebel]

3 spirit: i agree a fans forum with Steve Batemam would be a great idea, and hopefully give our fans more of an insight into

what goes on. I will try and progress it with the appropriate people. However, It would probably be in the bar so

you would have to attend in person.

Edited October 2, 2012 by Windsor Rebel

[hotspur]

Well said Horsham Rebel, I wonder if Hotspur and 3 Spirit attended those games? If they did they should realise we are

in a much better position now. The sign of a true supporter is to follow the club through thick and thin, and not moan

on a forum when we lose one game. We are all entitled to our opnions but constantly questioning a managers tactics when

we lose gives the impression of a fairweather supporter. If you want to talk tactics, have the balls to come in the

bar after and speak to Steve Bateman.

 

Yes Hotspur attended those games, in fact Hotspur has attended most Slough games since 1958.So you can deduce that he has an idea what a good player and or team looks like.And while He has stated many times these Slough teams of the present day cannot hold a candle to the great teams and players of the non league scene of the past-He concedes its a different game nowadays but a good player will always be a good player in any era.Having said all that and while not a great Steve Bateman fan he has done his best on limited resources, but He would still like to see some one like Terry Brown ( a proven manager ) installed before its to late.

Having had his father and especially his uncle play for top Slough sides of the past Hotspur has Slough Town tattooed into his DNA.

[brighton_rebel]

Whatever. Let's go to the seaside, have a few beers, get behind the team, sing throughout the game and see what happens.