V Leighton Town

[Glover]

pretty terrible especially in our opponents half. lost count how many time we clueless flicked or booted the ball into the air. when we had the chance to run at them we didn't. when we were chasing the loose ball we were second to everything. out battled and fought to everything

 

fair enough we cannot play our best all the time but after all the talk about Tuesday i expected some sign of improvement but if anything we were even worse. can't totally blame the pitch again as we never kept the ball down to see what would happen.

 

not totally sure if we made a single chance from open play from any good moves. corners and free kicks seemed likely to be the only way we scored and we missed at least 4 unmarked headers of which the furthest out was 8-10 yards and didn't hit the target on any of them. 

 

fair play to Leighton who battled superbly and their captain and keeper played well in defence. even had we held on for a point not totally sure we would have been worthy of it

 

we go again though and must somehow get good points from the vast majority of our remaining games as we cannot afford to lose too many more games if we are to make the playoffs. some huge performances needed against the higher teams that we are to face soon and most importantly a massive improvement needed throughout the team

 

Considering their keeper was actually the 3rd choice and is the youth team keeper, he played a blinder.

 Agree with all the other points, we really have to get "street wise" and be able to change our game as and when needed

[Sir Rebel1965]

3/10 and that may being too generous.

[Stuntman Mark]

I thought we were poor today, particularly in the second half. 4 points from the last 3 games is a certainly disappointing and perhaps a good lesson for the lads on what it's like to play for Slough in this division. There are no easy games!

 

We've been on a great run though so don't want to be too critical. I felt perhaps today we let the condition of the pitch get into our heads a bit and we were too direct. I'll say it now, I think we do the long throw routine a bit too much, yes it's a good weapon but sometimes we should go short and try and keep possession.

 

No better way for the team to bounce back than with a win against our most bitter rivals on Tuesday though. I reckon we'll be much better.

 

COYR!

[Graham C]

Thought Leighton were a poor team and we seem to struggle against these so called lesser teams.

 

Some of the players were having distinct off days but despite this we had much of the of the play and had three kicked off the line as well as the good saves made by their young keeper............and denied a nailed on penalty in the first minute--also a bit disrupted after losing Ollie.

 

Not too late to put things right but maybe some of the squad need to be encouraged to want the wins as much as those of us who are watching.

 

A Wednesday win would be good but next Saturday much more important.

[Irishadrian]

Yes we've been on a good run but nothing like this time last season where we had 7 wins and a loss After 12 games last season we had 25 points and a GD of 22 this season we have 21 points and a GD of 12! We just don't seem able to see off the poorer teams and please don't any say that there aren't any poor teams if that were true we would all end up with 42 points There is nothing wrong with the defence (15 goals conceded this season 14 last)but we have scored considerably less.We seem able to play much better when the opposition is good (Rugby Barton Maidenhead) and there needs to be an attitudinal change Burnham won the league last season by being resolute and ruthless with the lesser teams they took maximum points home and away from all the teams in the second half of the table that ought to be our resolve imo

Edited November 2, 2013 by Irishadrian

[HEAVY TRUCKER]

today i think we used the wrong tactics, we were bullied off of the park, we were just not aggressive enough just to soft, i think a bit more blood and guts attitude will do us no harm especially when it comes to the more physical teams. and don't get me started on the inneffective officials. a more myopic group of individuals i have yet to meet, even spesavers could not save them. 

[Curtis]

Stats sometimes lie, but, league match analysis:-

 

with Ed Smith starting W5 D2 L0 GF22 GA7 (goals scored by Ed 12)

 

without Ed Smith starting W1 D1 L3 GF5 GA8

 

I hope he's back soon.

Edited November 3, 2013 by Curtis

[Martin]

We all know goals change games and on reflection I can think of five clear cut chances where we should have scored and we had a decent penalty shout inside sixty seconds.

 

At the moment it isn't clicking in front of goal for anyone but Ed Smith. If we can get the rest of the team chipping in with goals we'd be absolutely fine.

 

That said it wasn't a good performance and I personally felt we were short of ideas and the tempo was slow. Ollie was looking very threatening and it was a shame he had to go off and I hope it isn't a long term problem.

 

Look at last season and the teams that finished above Slough all put together lengthy unbeaten runs. This side is clearly capable of that if we can become more clinical in front of goal. It is going to need to be a ten to fifteen game run but we can do it and there is a long way to go in this season.

 

COYR

[Mark44]

I think we will know by the end of year where we will be capable of finishing given the run of games coming up against the top sides.

 

My pre season prediction was 7th but as martin has said this side is capable of a decent run and from what I have seen we are capable of at least playoffs. We need to be in the top 5 come Xmas and then push on from there

 

Coyr

[Mr Rebel]

not sure on what most people's ambitions are for the season but personally i would be bitterly disappointed if we did not make the playoffs again. no reason why our squad is not capable of getting there on paper. gotta have the composure to actual make chances pay though. yesterday was so panicky, rushed and devoid of any belief. we desperately need to find a way to stop losing the plot when things are not going our way and we are trying to force the game

 

as said goals are not coming easily at the moment. i feel we surely need another option to play on the wing if thats how we want to play. someone to come on and change the game or if Wheeler is having another game where he disappears and struggles to get into. the wingers currently have no competition whatsoever and start no matter what. no doubt they are talented but complacency will creep in surely when you know your almost certainly going to start.

 

unfortunately right now Eddie Smith cannot return quick enough and everyone else needs to step up to the plate and contribute goals.

[Neil Baker]

Not much more to say than what has been said to be honest, we knew it was not going to be easy when we were out doing the warm up, as we had a swirling wind, on a poor pitch, however that is where the excuses end, as the lads knew what they had to do.

 

Obviously we were disappointed not to get a penalty in the first minute due to a blatant push on Hatchett, and if we had got it, and scored (which is a big if with our penalty record this season) it changes the complexion of the game, as Leighton all day were happy to hang in the game, and hit us on the break, which is what we are getting used too, and the longer the game goes, the more confidence the other team gets and there is always a chance to score on the break (however I felt they threatened more than we did second half).

 

We said in the changing room to start fast first half, and to be fair we did go at them early, and if we take one of the chances then we could possibly go on and win the game, but at present we are missing too many chances, and that is something we know (that is collectively as a team) the old adage goals change games, is very true.

 

I felt second half there was not enough urgency, and the ball was coming back too easy.... It is not through a lack of wanting it, I just think our application on the day was not good enough.... Personally I thought only 2/3 players came off with any credit.

 

Fair play to Leighton who I thought defended well, with their skipper and keeper both having excellent games..

 

We have to put it down as one of those days, and begin a new unbeaten run.... They always have to start off the back of a defeat, and someone has mentioned we will need to get a number of winning runs together, which we are capable off.

 

We will look forward to Tuesday night as there will be no pressure on the lads, as Wycombe will be very strong as they no longer run a youth team, so everyone playing will be full time professionals.

 

Apologies for the result and especially second half performance, thanks for the support.

[readingrebel]

Like everyone else, very disappointed with yesterday's non performance.

 

I think the last couple of weeks has shown how much we miss Ed Smith. 

 

Also need to get Adam Foulser back in defence asap, not only for his defensive attributes but also his ability to get a goal from set pieces.

[hotspur]

Where to start : Well we did expect the management to be on here with their reasons ( as they see it ) for such a poor display.

 

Some one asked what our expectations were this season-well we thought the idea of not taking Mr Bateman on again was that new ideas were needed and these were the chaps to do it-surely promotion was the idea in the beginning, otherwise what's the point.Though we never got promotion under Mr Bateman we feel he had the better players, and most were allowed to leave ( not asked to stay that is ) and we were wondering if this current management know any better quality players they could call upon ? Because clearly some of ours just ain't good enough ( sorry ), loyalty is one thing but promotion requires a bit more.

 

Got it right again Nathan.

[Irishadrian]

Its worrying when you look at the top scorers list on the league website Ed Smith top but as far as the Rebels are concerned that's it No other Slough player involved Rugby have 3 players on the list and Daventry Royston Dunstable Egham Uxbridge and Aylesbury U all have 2 We cant rely on one player however good Higher level teams have designs on him and injury is always a possibility Don't agree with you hotspur that some of these players are poorer than Batemans consistency and application are the problems the management must sort out The same player can be brilliant one week and just go through the motions next game Bateman couldn't motivate and we appear to have the same problem but there is plenty of time to sort it imo

[Manor Park Rebel]

The old cliché, 'no easy games' comes to mind but it's true. I really don't think there is any need for our management team to apologise for a defeat and I'm certain nobody goes out with the intention of giving less than 100%. There are so many variables involved in every match, the pitch, the officials, the weather conditions the smell from the burgers. I'm sure this team will win far more games than it loses so let's see where it takes us.

[Ted]

 

We will look forward to Tuesday night as there will be no pressure on the lads, .

I think the pressure of expectations is part of the problem. Last season the same players obviously delivered, but they probably were under less pressure (no disrespect to their then fans).

 

This season I feel some are playing quite ordinarily, and wonder if the expectations of Slough fans is putting them under pressure. No idea what the solution might be if it is the case.

[Neil Baker]

I know what you are saying Ted there, however there may not have been much pressure on the lads last year from the club as such, however we were top pretty much from the start of the season until just after Christmas, and that brings its own pressure, as every one wants to be the team that are top, so every game became a battle.

 

At the end of the day the lads want to win football games and that is it... and have been to be fair!!!

[hotspur]

I know what you are saying Ted there, however there may not have been much pressure on the lads last year from the club as such, however we were top pretty much from the start of the season until just after Christmas, and that brings its own pressure, as every one wants to be the team that are top, so every game became a battle.

 

At the end of the day the lads want to win football games and that is it... and have been to be fair!!!

Well at least we have cleared that one up ( pressure we mean ) because we are unlikely to be top of the league-as for the Wycombe game we would be amazed if after all these years they started taking it seriously.

 

Back to the Leighton game did they play on a different pitch with no wind ?

[Mark44]

For a team not taking it seriously winning it 4 out of the last 9 times is very impressive

[Jon Underwood]

In the last round Wycombe beat another side from our league, Chalfont. Of the 13 players used that night all but two have started in the league this season for them and 8 of those players are in double figures for appearances. So yes they will be strong and will be great for us to have a chance to play against full time professionals playing 4 levels higher than us.

 

I was very disappointed by our performance yesterday, it was nowhere near good enough and there are no excuses for that. The defeat brings to an end a great run of 17 points in 7 games and we need to get another one going straight away, starting with Potters Bar on Saturday. Bakes and I have every confidence that we can do so and we look forward to the challenge of proving a few people wrong.