Trials day

[Eastside Urchin]

If I was a manager I would give players at least 2 sessions.Some can be very nervous and although its not really a trait you want it could be down to lack of experience.

If you find something on the second or third trial you can at least work on their nerves

[GarySTFC]

Having seen a couple of very sub standard triallists at training sessions it is very easy to sort out those that won't be anywhere near the required standard very quickly. Those that show signs of promise can, and probably will, be invited back for a follow up session and then looked at further.

[Windsor Rebel]

Exactly my point Gary STFC: Reading Rebel: take note.

[Neil Baker]

Totally disagree. At least a couple of sessions in my experience.

I would need to disagree with you there, in all honesty if we were to put on a 90 minute session like we do for training, I would expect the players to have between 200-400 touches of the ball, as everything we do is with a ball, however it is pretty obvious early on, if people have the awareness, touch and technical ability, but due to the amount of touches by the end of the session, we would know if there is anyone of interest.

I would go as far to say I can tell if a player is going to be good enough, just by the way he passes a ball, and that is from the experience I have had in the game.

For anyone to join us pre season they will need to be at a very good level, as if you are below that level because of the tempo we have at training things will break down on that player and will affect the whole session.

I have been helping run pre pre season sessions in Basingstoke this last week, which involves all standards from young and experienced pro's to non league players, to one or two who are below this standard, and I have to say one or two have really struggled, and because of this it effects the "better players" who get frustrated with these lads, as they often lose possession etc, and in a keep ball environment when you don't have the ball you have to work a lot harder.

This also then effects the lads who are giving the ball away etc, as it will knock their confidence, so it is very important when putting players into a senior training session they are up to scratch, and we need to be 100% sure of that.

You never know what we might get for a trial day, and that is why we are doing it, if we get nothing from it then as someone has said we have lost nothing, if we see something in a youngster then great....

In the last 2/3 years we have picked up young lads who have not really been playing anywhere from the pre pre season sessions, one was George Short who was a 16 year old kid at the time, and we saw something in him, and in the last 2/3 years he has developed into a 6 foot 4 midfielder, with some of the best technical ability I have seen in someone so young, he has also adapted to the pace and strength now of step 4 football having been involved for 2 years, and will play a huge part for us next season at the age of 19...

Our philosophy is it doesn't matter how old you are, if you are good enough we will give you a chance, and that goes the same for Jake Somerville who was 17 when we first put him in the team, and Guy Hollis who was 20 (and since been twice player of the year for us) and we made him our captain at times, just because of the fact he is an excellent player who inspires others by the way he tackles and wins things....

There are others but you will see for yourself in pre season, but our average age in the squad last season was 24, but that included myself and Unders who helped bump that up (especially Unders ;-) )

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

Good luck with it, hopefully there will be some decent players that can help bolster the squad...

[readingrebel]

I would need to disagree with you there, in all honesty if we were to put on a 90 minute session like we do for training, I would expect the players to have between 200-400 touches of the ball, as everything we do is with a ball, however it is pretty obvious early on, if people have the awareness, touch and technical ability, but due to the amount of touches by the end of the session, we would know if there is anyone of interest.

I would go as far to say I can tell if a player is going to be good enough, just by the way he passes a ball, and that is from the experience I have had in the game.

For anyone to join us pre season they will need to be at a very good level, as if you are below that level because of the tempo we have at training things will break down on that player and will affect the whole session.

I have been helping run pre pre season sessions in Basingstoke this last week, which involves all standards from young and experienced pro's to non league players, to one or two who are below this standard, and I have to say one or two have really struggled, and because of this it effects the "better players" who get frustrated with these lads, as they often lose possession etc, and in a keep ball environment when you don't have the ball you have to work a lot harder.

This also then effects the lads who are giving the ball away etc, as it will knock their confidence, so it is very important when putting players into a senior training session they are up to scratch, and we need to be 100% sure of that.

You never know what we might get for a trial day, and that is why we are doing it, if we get nothing from it then as someone has said we have lost nothing, if we see something in a youngster then great....

In the last 2/3 years we have picked up young lads who have not really been playing anywhere from the pre pre season sessions, one was George Short who was a 16 year old kid at the time, and we saw something in him, and in the last 2/3 years he has developed into a 6 foot 4 midfielder, with some of the best technical ability I have seen in someone so young, he has also adapted to the pace and strength now of step 4 football having been involved for 2 years, and will play a huge part for us next season at the age of 19...

Our philosophy is it doesn't matter how old you are, if you are good enough we will give you a chance, and that goes the same for Jake Somerville who was 17 when we first put him in the team, and Guy Hollis who was 20 (and since been twice player of the year for us) and we made him our captain at times, just because of the fact he is an excellent player who inspires others by the way he tackles and wins things....

There are others but you will see for yourself in pre season, but our average age in the squad last season was 24, but that included myself and Unders who helped bump that up (especially Unders ;-) )

 

 

Really exciting to hear of young, talented players like George Short, Jake Somerville and hopefully Guy Hollis etc coming to Slough.

 

As has been said before Steve Bateman did rely a lot on older, tried and trusted players, that were ok with the ball but didn't have the mobility and workrate to get up and down the pitch.

 

We have, for some time, needed younger, mobile players, especially in midfield where I think we lacked the workrate and speed to compete with teams that pressed and closed us down.

Edited June 22, 2013 by readingrebel

[3spirit]

Really exciting to hear of young, talented players like George Short, Jake Somerville and hopefully Guy Hollis etc coming to Slough.

 

As has been said before Steve Bateman did rely a lot on older, tried and trusted players, that were ok with the ball but didn't have the mobility and workrate to get up and down the pitch.

 

We have, for some time, needed younger, mobile players, especially in midfield where I think we lacked the workrate and speed to compete with teams that pressed and closed us down.

 

Spot on,Reading Rebel.

 

Throughout Steve Bateman's tenure,he had problems addressing this issue,due to his need of employing experienced players.What a breath of fresh air it is,to have our new joint managers espouting the virtues of finding young,raw talent and making something of them.

I believe that if you get the right balance between the experienced players and the young,hungry to prove themselves,players,this will be the catalyst to get a championship winning side.Think it will take time,though.

 

To be fair to Steve Bateman,last year he tried to bring in younger players ie Kyle Anthony,Sean Fraser,Dominic Rhone but he never quite got the balance right and as usual our centre midfield[defensively] was poor.

You cannot level at Steve Bateman's Slough teams,that they didn't try to play entertaining,attacking football because over the 4 and a half seasons,Steve was at Slough,I certainly enjoyed watching Slough for the best part.

 

It became clear,though,that Steve just didn't have the knack/know-how to bring youngsters through and so he struggled on with too many 'egotistical' players who big it up but don't always back it up.

However,too many youngsters won't win you anything either.

 

Neil and Jon have there work cut out to achieve success in this their first season at Slough but I'm certainly looking forward to watching their efforts.

 

I've agreed with most of what they've done so far but am a touch saddened[but won't lose any sleep about it! lol!] that they've decided to totally dismantle the Slough side in favour of Godalming players.

After all there wasn't much to choose between either side when we played each other.

Of course,I totally understand that they know the Godalming players far more than they know the Slough players and you need players who can be relied on and are loyal to current management plus the budget must come into it. 

Hope this observation isn't seen as a contradiction,as that isn't what I'm trying to convey.Just highlighting a point.

 

Can Neil or Jon inform us about what is the current situation regarding long-term injury victims Stuart Swift and Dominic Rhone are? 

[Graham C]

Want to agree with 3spirit to a large degree....................we were a hairsbreadth away from playoffs and I think we were desperately unlucky for a variety of factors not to make it and would probably have done well had we made it. Whilst changes are inevitable given the new management I would have hoped that the nucleus of our 2013/4 side would be those who did well for us last year...............we know some have gone(and I am sure there are a range of opinions on the pros and cons of those) but there are still information gaps on some of last years squad as to whether they are still part of this years potential line up and I am sure we should not have to wait until a day or two before the first friendly to know , including about the two that 3spirit mentions......but quite a few others.

 

With a couple of exceptions I dont believe the Godalming players were better than ours over the games we saw last term and wholesale replacements cause a degree of anxiety for the season which to be a success has to get us out of this league

[Neil Baker]

Dominic and Stuart we are expecting both back, however at what stages both are available will depend on their injuries.

In terms of everyone else, then apart from Perkins and O Toole who we have already mentioned, we are hoping that they will all be back on the 2nd of July to fight for their place in the squad like the lads we have brought in.

They have all been invited back, and will be given the same chance as everyone else, and if anyone decides to leave now it will be their choice.

[Sue]

I think in fairness we should move on regarding Steve Bateman.

 

I totally 100% support the new managers of Slough but also believe that Steve did a good job and we shouldnt compare too much, not fair on him, the new managers or any new or old players.

 

Now dont faint 3 spirit but there is a little, tiny, minute bit of your post that I agree with now bet that shocked you !!

[3spirit]

Want to agree with 3spirit to a large degree....................we were a hairsbreadth away from playoffs and I think we were desperately unlucky for a variety of factors not to make it and would probably have done well had we made it. Whilst changes are inevitable given the new management I would have hoped that the nucleus of our 2013/4 side would be those who did well for us last year...............we know some have gone(and I am sure there are a range of opinions on the pros and cons of those) but there are still information gaps on some of last years squad as to whether they are still part of this years potential line up and I am sure we should not have to wait until a day or two before the first friendly to know , including about the two that 3spirit mentions......but quite a few others.

 

With a couple of exceptions I dont believe the Godalming players were better than ours over the games we saw last term and wholesale replacements cause a degree of anxiety for the season which to be a success has to get us out of this league

 

Changes needed to be made and I have been very impressed with how Neil and Jon have gone about their management thus far.Two of Slough's better players have been signed and two 'egos' have left. This to me seems a shrewd move on their part.

 

My observation,Graham C,was me playing devil's advocate really.

 

To my mind,Slough's team of last season needed a shake up and so fans favourites are going to leave.

My thinking was that we would change the personnel somewhat slower than they are doing, but you have to admire our new joint managers gumption for having faith in the players they had at Godalming.

 

I can empathise in why they are doing what they are doing but also feel some reticence when you lose players like Jake Parsons,Kyle Anthony[if rumours are true] and Danny Murphy.

 

Maybe a more experienced manager would do it slower, like I have said but not necessarily. I truly hope Neil and Jon prove to be canny winners for the season's ahead at Slough.

 

Oh and Sue,what was that tiny bit you agreed with me on? Was it the full stop at the end of my posting? LOL!        

[OLDER RAM]

Can some one please post the correct address and post code for Farnham Park please, as I cant seem to find it on the official website, and also the full address of where Slough Town train, apparently its the Polish club but I have no idea where that is. Two players I know are interested in attending the trials on Sunday, do they need to fill out an application form or can that be done on the day, the information on the official site is a bit vague ! thanks.

[Neil Baker]

Hi Older Ram, the trials are being held at Farnham Park, and they just need to send me an e mail via the e mail address provided on the main website, and I will then be in contact Tuesday/Wednesday with confirmation.

We will be training at the Polish Club starting on the 2nd July.

I don't have the Farnham Park address to hand, but I am sure someone can provide it.

[Tom]

The address to Farnham Park can be found on our site here - http://www.sloughtownfc.net/stfc-youth

[OLDER RAM]

Thanks for that, where abouts is the Polish club where the first team train ?

Edited June 24, 2013 by OLDER RAM

[Mr Rebel]

Polish club - Church Lane, Slough SL2 4NZ ‎

[epicrebel]

Not just anybody can turn up at the polish club, it is a members club also they don't like anyone apart from first team training there. That's why Farnham Park is the first

Trials.

[Sue]

LOL 3 it was a little more than the full stop honestly, will tell you at the first home game.

 

Mind you if I agree with you again before the match you might not have recovered !!

[OLDER RAM]

Thanks Mr Rebel

[Sir Rebel1965]

Older Ram - I understand you will be at the trials for the sheep dogs to round up.