Some Perspective

[Mark44]

One of the discussion points in the second half on Saturday was us fans and if we expect too much so to speak.......

 

This got me thinking about how we have actually performed under the Bateman era and kind of puts things into perspective with the points below:

 

Season 08/09:

 

Bateman takes overin March and makes immediate impact steering us away from a relegation battle we could have been dragged into.

 

09/10:

 

We start brightly with a fresh squad made up mainly of Batemans contacts. The first season we have competed this well for a while and whilst we finished 5th we made the playoff final. A great improvement on anything we had seen before.

 

Looking at the teams in the top 5 with us we had Chesham and Hitchin who are similar in support size but have their own grounds so a much larger income than us. Bury who were on the up and had a large following so likewise a larger income than ourselves.

 

So all round a good season.

 

10/11

 

The 10/11 season saw us bring in a few fresh faces and we started brightly hitting the top of the league in the first few weeks. We then had a bumpy patch in Oct/Nov time where we picked up 1 point from a possible 18 but then got back on track and by the last day of the season we could put out some youth players as we had already reached the playoffs. The league was won by Arlesey who were throwing around money and the playoffs won by Hitchin who again as above are a similar sized fanbase but with their own infrastructure have a much stronger position.

 

11/12

 

The season started well although we were always aware of the threat of St Neots who had a ridiculous amount of cash to spend including 4 figure salarys to a certain ex premiership striker or so the rumour goes. Therefore when we were 9 points clear at one stage we were doing fantastically well. Inevitably the money told in the end and whenever we beat them their chairman would give the manager an open chequebook "sign whoever you want".

 

So we fell away but finished second and it was again an improved season. In the playoffs home advantage for finishing second was taken away from us and a missed penalty and we were undone.

 

The league won by the money and the playoffs won by a team we all thought to be better than the Money when we played them.

 

12/13

 

So onto this season and high hopes. Again we started well and beat Northwood 5-0 on the opening day of the season. We then had a slight hiccup but seemed on track still. We had an amazing FA Cup run bringing much needed money and publicity to the club culminating in 1500 packed into Holloways park, to only lose on Penalties to the team that looks like winning the BSP.

 

In the league we were confident that we could mount a serious title challenge and were winnign when we played, however this was few and far between as our games kept getting called off. This was the same for all teams but we also had 5 games in hand due to our FA Cup run. The prolonged winter and a couple of unexpected departures (NBH and Swift) and it seems the balance was upset a little. We do not seem to have recovered from this but it is not over and get it out of our system now and we can get our form back and hit the playoffs with a real hope of winning them.

 

All in all I still believe in the team and in our manager and a win tomorrow and we are back on track to catch both Royston and Biggleswade.

 

So lets all get behind Steve and the players and make sure we go one better this season.....

 

 

COME ON YOU REBELS!!!!

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

Biggleswade is a possibility can't see us touching royston with their run in...

[3spirit]

Mark44, an excellent written piece,which highlights all the positives but shows none of the negatives.

 

Season 8-9 Bateman stops the rot and brings some decent players to Slough but makes a couple of gaffs by losing a couple of players who should have stayed ie Yashma Romeo for Tommy Hayes ! but objective served, he keeps Slough out of the relegation struggle and we play some delightful football.

 

Season 9-10. It was the hardest season to get promoted.The best teams stood out by a country mile and Slough was just below them in terms of getting promotion.We were found out by getting absolutely stuffed in the play off final by a superb Chesham team, who outclassed us.

SB plays Elliot Buchanan on the left wing in some games! -madness.He goes on to play as a forward his natural position for Newport County in the Conference !

Mo Shariff gets in the team by fluke and proves to be a real handful for the opposition.He should have been given his opportunity sooner.Last real youngster to come through our ranks.Adam Logie signs from Wealdstone scores goals for fun from midfield.

Paul Edgeworth and Robbie Kean leave.

 

Season 10-11.Excellent signing in Danny Burnell. Wouldn't say the standard of the division was as good as the previous season but Slough held their own and were deserved play off losers..Paul Coyne and Stuart Swift good signings for us.However Paul Coyne/Steve Bateman negates Adam Logie effectiveness.

Also Coyne and Swift plus Sean Sonner,Danny Burnell and Danny Murphy bring a lot of moaning to the team,too.Thus some ill discipline.

Gave Hitchin, a better game than we did Chesham but were still ultimately beaten. Rob Bullivant cocks up !

Simon Martin leaves to join up with a team higher up! Some fans are pleased.

Money or no money [and Slough are supposed spenders too], Arlesley were the best team in division.

 

Season 11-12. Started season ok but terrible indiscipline and moaning cost us big time this season.Slough get rid of the speed and athleticism of Charlie Mpi,who is now playing in above division. Slough beat St Neots,then go and lose to North Greenford and the wheels come off big time.

Lose to an fairly average SYCOB team and Slough show no bottle or spirit in the play-off game and deservedly go down with a whimper.Slough let Tony Mendy go. Bedworth looked like the best team we had faced that season and deservedly get promoted along with moneybags St Neots.

 

Season 12-13.Simon Sweeney leaves, huge loss. Dominic Rhone and Dave Deeney arrive at the start of season to a big fanfare in the local papers.Slough start off well.Ed Smith arrives and proves a shrewd signing. Sean Fraser does well considering we got him by chance.

Have an unexpected Fa cup run and get some good publicity,a good crowd and some much needed cash.However,league games get postponed due to the weather and cup games,so Slough are playing catch up.This season our passing football is sporadic and we are not consistent with form to be anywhere near the top.

NBH leaves and not replaced. Swifty gets red-carded, sulks and then leaves and puts it down to injury. Kyle Anthony,Ryan O'Toole and Jake Parsons good signings. Kyle Anthony plays one game at centre half,then to midfield,then back again etc etc. so doesn't know whether he's coming or going.

Dave Deeney gets in trouble on Twitter. Danny Burnell plays Sunday football ! This week [for a good cause] he's doing a marathon !

Slough currently sit 8th in table with 2-3 games in hand but have just lost to big rivals Royston.

 

Hope I've got some of the info in the right seasons.My memory isn't the best and the brain cells aren't what they used to be! lol ! but least,I remember the good and bad points of Steve Bateman's reign.

[Mark44]

Agree with your points regarding not replacing NBH and Swifty and it has unbalanced us as I mentioned above.

 

I was just highlighting that actually taking a step back there are a hell of a lot of positives and Bateman has done a very good job overall and imo doesnt deserve all this talk of being sacked. Some of which I was at fault for after Saturdays game and I am sorry for that.

[epicrebel]

What I can't understand is !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

As soon as you put something positive up on here, there seams to be plenty of people willing to fire it down, and make it into a negative as soon as they can.

 

I GIVE UP

[3spirit]

Agree with your points regarding not replacing NBH and Swifty and it has unbalanced us as I mentioned above.

 

I was just highlighting that actually taking a step back there are a hell of a lot of positives and Bateman has done a very good job overall and imo doesnt deserve all this talk of being sacked. Some of which I was at fault for after Saturdays game and I am sorry for that.

 

I'm not saying that Steve Bateman hasn't done well and I agree there are loads of positives. My observations was really that you only highlighted the good points, when there has also been a good few clangers along the way.

 

Are we progressing or are we falling behind to the standards,Steve set in his first two and a half seasons? That was what I was trying to ascertain; the truth. Not the rose-tinted version.

 

Don't want to be a trouble-maker,just trying to have a sensible debate.

[3spirit]

What I can't understand is !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

As soon as you put something positive up on here, there seams to be plenty of people willing to fire it down, and make it into a negative as soon as they can.

 

I GIVE UP

 

That's because some people's views on what is a positive,over time,isn't a positive at all.

It's just turning a blind eye to the truth.

 

Exactly what governments/politicians say.They ask for people to be hardworking and materialistic and yet fail to see the misery and devastation that this can cause ie greed,resentment,health problems, homelessness, financial worries etc.

 

Topically,it's like Margaret Thatcher.Some people thought she was wonderful.Mainly the people doing well.However,some people thought she was terrible and a tyrant to boot and a destroyer of humanitarian values.

 

Sorry for going off the subject but I'm just highlighting,that just because you think you're being positive about our manager,Steve Bateman and what's good for the club,in the long run,you may not be.

Edited April 10, 2013 by 3spirit

[epicrebel]

Why is it a positive thing in getting ride of Steve? A new manager means new players to play his style and that could mean forget next season.

I Would hate to come on here and say I TOLD YOU SO,

Getting ride of a Manager is not all ways the correct thing to do ( Brian Mc when with us ), you only have to look at all the steps of the football ladder to see that.

I think you'll find that Steve's CV say he can do it.

I hope Steve stays with the club for a long time to come and the Club ( Steve Easterbrook ) sticks by him.

[Mr Rebel]

the balance of experience and youth we have obviously isn't working so whoever manager is next season that has to be put right. more pace and mobility still needed. the trusted former player route obviously isn't paying off. a town as big as slough surely we can find local players who are more than good enough for this level of football

 

also i hope we find a way to narrow the gulf between youth/reserves and the 1st team

Edited April 10, 2013 by Mr Rebel

[hotspur]

Why is it a positive thing in getting ride of Steve? A new manager means new players to play his style and that could mean forget next season.

I Would hate to come on here and say I TOLD YOU SO,

Getting ride of a Manager is not all ways the correct thing to do ( Brian Mc when with us ), you only have to look at all the steps of the football ladder to see that.

I think you'll find that Steve's CV say he can do it.

I hope Steve stays with the club for a long time to come and the Club ( Steve Easterbrook ) sticks by him.

 

I maybe out of touch with other clubs and you say his CV says he can do it, but if he got a club promotion to a higher league why is he not still with them enjoying all this success ?

[Graham C]

It is possible to argue that three successive play offs equals success.---------it is also possible to say that it represents failure in terms of not progressing

 

But on whichever basis not reaching the play offs this year must surely be regarded as a failure..........assuming we dont make them !

[RebelsAndBlues]

Going by the amount of gloating posts I have read in recent weeks online and / or social media from 'other' teams fans / players, I would say not going up this season would be classed as a failure.

 

It appears the pre-season favourites are no where near the mix up at the busniess end of the season and oppononent fans / players are absolutely loving it.

 

For this reason, it (for me) seems clear as day that we have to say it has been a failure (you dont see them gloating or making up nicknames to goad teams like AFCHayes or Barton Rovers).

Edited April 10, 2013 by RebelsAndBlues

[Mr Rebel]

not sure if really much of the hyping of us as favorites ever came from the club or our fans. does seem particularly the smaller clubs are loving us failing though for one reason or another

 

unfortunately with what we have available squad wise playoffs was a minimum we should have been getting and everyone associated with the club know it regardless of circumstances hampering us with the load of games in short time etc

Edited April 10, 2013 by Mr Rebel

[epicrebel]

RebelsAndBlues

This online and / or social media from 'other' teams fans / players gloating posts Can you put up links for us to look at?

This would be most Appreciated

[RebelsAndBlues]

Without me trawling back through Twitter and posts, just things Ive clocked over the last couple of weeks.

 

A few examples that immediately spring to mind is some Biggleswade player, Barton Rovers main Twitter feed seem to take great pleasure posting about us (just scroll down their feed), fans of opposing clubs coming onto our message board to give their pennies worth as to how poor were doing and seeing comments from fellow Slough posters on here who have commented on things people have said through certain channels (which I cant back up and have not seen myself).

 

Sure, you don't mind a debate or discussion, as that is what these boards are for, but these above examples Ive commented on are clear gloating at our recent downfall and fact we are going to possibly miss out on the play offs .........

 

For some reason, like it or not, we are seen as the big team of the league and opposing fans / players make that abundantly clear with the efforts they go through to let us know it.

 

Like I said, you don't see these sort of comments being aimed towards majority of the other teams in our league that are having a poor season.

Edited April 10, 2013 by RebelsAndBlues

[Windsor Rebel]

Some of the worst offenders are our own so-called supporters.

[Sue]

I have been told by a member of my family that someone from Barton on twitter is very anti slough, and the tweets are not pleasant, but I am sure they are not speaking for the whole club. For example last night at Biggleswade someone very bravely from behind a fence shouted out something he thought was smart but most of the fans I spoke to were very nice. I think the thing is not to tie everyone with the same brush. You are always going to get someone who doesnt like a club for a particular reason while another likes them, there is good and bad in all clubs I suppose.

[3spirit]

Why is it a positive thing in getting ride of Steve? A new manager means new players to play his style and that could mean forget next season.

I Would hate to come on here and say I TOLD YOU SO,

Getting ride of a Manager is not all ways the correct thing to do ( Brian Mc when with us ), you only have to look at all the steps of the football ladder to see that.

I think you'll find that Steve's CV say he can do it.

I hope Steve stays with the club for a long time to come and the Club ( Steve Easterbrook ) sticks by him.

 

Epic Rebel, you ask what are the positives for getting rid of Steve Bateman. I suppose that all depends on how our Chairman and committee view where they want Slough's future to lie.They are the ones who will make the decision whether Steve stays or goes.Not me.

 

The positives as I see them is that another manager may get Slough promoted, will be a new face and will bring some fresh ideas,as to how to achieve this objective.

He hopefully will be able to utilise our young players from the reserves and youth teams and to discover raw talent coming through at other teams,even if it's only for subs in our 1st team.

He will bring competition for places in a new made up squad and be able to motivate the players he has.

There would be some interest from the general public.Will definitely bring publicity to his appointment.May not need such a big budget. May bring some discipline to the team.

 

The negatives of a new manager.Slough might have to start again with a new set of players.He may need a bigger budget.He may not be such a nice guy as Steve.Might not get on with the Chairman,committee,supporters etc.No forgone conclusion that he will be successful.

 

The positives of Steve Bateman staying.Already has a nucleus of a side to build with.Chairman already knows how much he and his squad cost. He has a likeable personality and most of the players get on well with him, so is a good man-manager.Has a general knowledge on local,non-league football at our level and above.Tries to get his teams playing passing football. Attracts well known accomplished non-leaguers. Gets on well with the Chairman,committee,supporters etc

 

Negatives on Steve staying. He's had 4 and a half seasons to progress the team and has failed to get Slough promoted.He has had a very good budget to work with, against that of many other teams in this division and yet, it still hasn't been enough to get us out of the division.

A poor tactician and not very good at substitutions.Not the best motivator. No young players coming through under his watch in our current squad.Always has the token one at the start of the season but never gets anywhere.Fails to spot raw talent.

Edited April 10, 2013 by 3spirit

[epicrebel]

On the reserves question they haven't even got a settled side yet themselves, so how can the first team gain anything from them at the moment. Also they've only been going 1 season and play at Farnham Park so that also make it difficult.

[grandad]

Surely one of the purposes of having a reserve team is to give fringe players, or those coming back from injury, a run out. I may be wrong, but I do not think that has happened on a regular basis this season. Any other way of running a reserve set up is potentially divisive, as it creates a two team mentality. By their nature not many reserve teams are settled sides. Are we saying Slough reserves are just an over age youth team, if so we are looking at this from totally the wrong view point.