Alex Brown departs

[Neil Baker]

Whilst this is not a popular choice, which we knew when we made it Sunday/Monday, we are making it based on how we set our teams up as managers, and unfortunately for Alex he will struggle to fit into that mould.

I have nothing but good things to say about him as a person and the way he has conducted himself since we took over, and that is why he is such a popular person at the club, however I am afraid we do not pick a side based purely on that, but many other factors.

Hopefully over time you will understand our reasons for it, and that over time you will pick up many fans favourites.

Once again I wish Browny all the best in his future career, top man!

[Graham C]

Am I the only one starting to have real misgivings about this season.......................................

[Jon Underwood]

I just wanted to add a few words to the statement we made yesterday, particularly given the obvious strength of feeling towards Browny which we completely understand as we know he gave everything when in the Slough shirt.

 

At the fans forum last week I spoke about the thought process we go through when deciding on a player. It's not simply "is he a good player" (Dan Burnell) or "does he have a great attitude" (Alex Brown).....it's a number of factors that we take in to consideration when deciding if we select that player in our squad for the season.

 

In the case of Browny we have a lot of respect for him and that is why I spoke to him 4 times in the month leading up to the start of pre-season so he knew exactly where he stood in our plans. It says a lot about him that he wanted to come and fight for a place in the squad and he trained hard in the 5 training sessions. It wouldn't be fair on him to state on here why he has missed out as every supporter has their own opinions on players and it's not for me to enter in to a debate on here about any particular player.

 

The timing of the decision was to ensure that we could give maximum time in the friendlies to those lads who we definitely want to keep and also to give Browny the opportunity to find another club at this early stage of pre-season.

 

There have been comments about how many players from last season are left and, as I said at the forum, for me that is irrelevant. We started pre-season with over 25 players desperate to be part of the Slough Town squad for the coming season and where they played their football last season has no bearing on whether Bakes and I want to keep them. Our remit is to put together the best squad possible to give us a chance of promotion and it's not even a consideration to us whether they played for Slough, Godalming, the Dog & Duck or Man Utd last season. They are all one squad now, all Slough Town players, and we will stand and fall by the decisions we make in the coming weeks when selecting the squad.

 

Hopefully that makes sense and even if you don't agree with all of my comments then hopefully you can at least see where we are coming from. Looking forward to seeing plenty of you at Holyport tonight and will be happy to chat to anyone over a beer afterwards.

Edited July 16, 2013 by Jon Underwood

[3spirit]

'Bakes and Unders', I think most of the football savvy fans understand your rhetoric.You're never going to please everyone. 

We all have our favourites.

 

When you both arrived at the club,I was hoping that about 8-9 players from last season would have been retained for the start of pre-season. Then whittled down to 5-6 for the start of the league season.Currently you still have 6 out of the 9 still around. 

You've signed our two best players from last season in Ed Smith and Dave Woozley.

 

So to my mind you're not doing a lot wrong.

 

Totally understand your football reasons about letting Alex go but you have to understand that most of the Slough faithful are sentimental about Alex, as he wears his heart on his sleeve and has been a larger than life character at the club for the past two seasons. I'm going to miss him.

Technically he may not be the best but squad's definitely need characters like he is, in them.

 

If you were going with 20-22 players rather than 18 as the size of the squad, then I think he would have been useful.Especially to change things up a bit if things aren't going to plan.

 

Would have been very interesting to see what you would have done with Nathan Bowden-Haase had he still been around? 

Edited July 16, 2013 by 3spirit

[Chris]

Although its sad to see Alex leave I understand it. As mentioned before we're well covered at centre back now and in Hollis, Foulser and Wooz we probably have three centre-backs that were possibly amongst the best in the division last season.

 

Players come and go - that's football. As the management say I'm sure that we'll develop our new "favourites". Past favourites have come and gone in the past - Wilko, Sean Sonner etc.

[Stuntman Mark]

Browny was a smashing lad and a great character but I can understand this decision from a football perspective and I didn’t really expect him to be part of the squad this season.

[readingrebel]

'Bakes and Unders', I think most of the football savvy fans understand your rhetoric.You're never going to please everyone. 

We all have our favourites.

 

When you both arrived at the club,I was hoping that about 8-9 players from last season would have been retained for the start of pre-season. Then whittled down to 5-6 for the start of the league season.Currently you still have 6 out of the 9 still around. 

You've signed our two best players from last season in Ed Smith and Dave Woozley.

 

So to my mind you're not doing a lot wrong.

 

Totally understand your football reasons about letting Alex go but you have to understand that most of the Slough faithful are sentimental about Alex, as he wears his heart on his sleeve and has been a larger than life character at the club for the past two seasons. I'm going to miss him.

Technically he may not be the best but squad's definitely need characters like he is, in them.

 

If you were going with 20-22 players rather than 18 as the size of the squad, then I think he would have been useful.Especially to change things up a bit if things aren't going to plan.

 

Would have been very interesting to see what you would have done with Nathan Bowden-Haase had he still been around? 

 

 

There wouldn't have been a problem with NBH because apart from not being able to afford his wages he would have left because of his strong attachment to Steve Bateman.

[3spirit]

There wouldn't have been a problem with NBH because apart from not being able to afford his wages he would have left because of his strong attachment to Steve Bateman.

 

I know that,Reading Rebel. It was a hypothetical question.

 

Do you read your PM's ,Reading Rebel ?  

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

Gutted but I think the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Win the league and ship less goals than last season and the decision is spot on. Foulser and wooz were alwYs going to be first choice partnership, and bunderwood or underbakes did state they wouldn't sign a "benchwarmer" which I saw as a strong possibility for Alex. Alex was a great lad and a top battler, but I have faith in bakerwood.

[GlenSTFC]

I too didn't expect Alex Brown to be a regular this season as in my opinion Woozley, Foulser and Hollis are better all round players and I doubt Alex would want to be a sub/squad player. A few of us have already witnessed our attacking force and with those 3 defenders plus the other defenders pushing for a place plus 'Somers' being highly rated by the management it really will be a strong squad.

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

Ps if Steve had gone 4-4-2 last year doubt Alex would have started til nbh left. To be more attacking out wide IMHO a 4-4-2 is needed and Alex was never going to dislodge the two captains.

[GlenSTFC]

Of the 3 trialists that played Saturday, Aaron impressed me most but I think it's going to be hard for any attacking trialist to force their way into the squad when you look at what we have already.

[3spirit]

Ps if Steve had gone 4-4-2 last year doubt Alex would have started til nbh left. To be more attacking out wide IMHO a 4-4-2 is needed and Alex was never going to dislodge the two captains.

 

Funny you say that, DJM, as I think we could easily play a 3-5-2 or a 3-4-3 with the players currently available.

[Windsor Rebel]

4-4-2 is the way forward

[Neil Baker]

Gutted but I think the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Win the league and ship less goals than last season and the decision is spot on. Foulser and wooz were alwYs going to be first choice partnership, and bunderwood or underbakes did state they wouldn't sign a "benchwarmer" which I saw as a strong possibility for Alex. Alex was a great lad and a top battler, but I have faith in bakerwood.

Believe me there is no first choice partnership, whoever starts the season will have to earn it, remember Guy has been our player of the year 2 years on the bounce also.

[hotspur]

The King has gone long live the King as the saying goes. He was never in the list of Slough all time greats-but then again none of them are as yet !

[Sue]

Mark there is no need to shout.

 

Whilst I appreciate " these things happen" and choices have to be made, it doesnt stop me  from feeling absolutely gutted.

 

No disrespect to Jack Broome as Eddie mentioned but I didnt know him. I am sure in time we will show the same loyalty to these lads as we have to Alex.

 

Dont think we would be very nice supporters if we didnt feel sad about players we have known for a long time leaving.

 

Not going to Holyport tonight, not as a protest but because horrible creatures over there always bite me, also didnt want to show Neil up on the drinking front !

[readingrebel]

Gutted but I think the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Win the league and ship less goals than last season and the decision is spot on. Foulser and wooz were alwYs going to be first choice partnership, and bunderwood or underbakes did state they wouldn't sign a "benchwarmer" which I saw as a strong possibility for Alex. Alex was a great lad and a top battler, but I have faith in bakerwood.

 

 

As Bakes has said there is currently no partnership guarantees but I'd put my money on Adam Foulser and Guy Hollis.

[GlenSTFC]

Alex was one of a very few from recent seasons who made the effort to speak with the fans and with his passion and determination on the pitch made him a fans favourite. So of course it's disapointing to see him depart to pastures new but as the Neil and Jon have stated they're building a squad based on many factors and unfortunately Alex didn't tick them all. But I for one am very confident for the season ahead, I can already see from one game the togetherness, willingness, determination, workrate and skill in this squad.

[readingrebel]

I know that,Reading Rebel. It was a hypothetical question.

 

Do you read your PM's ,Reading Rebel ?  

 

 

I do now, I've sent you a PM.