only 1 game tonight

[Slough Kitman]

F/T 1-0 to Royston v Rugby.

[readingrebel]

Still early days but I think a draw or a Rugby win would have been better.

[Slough Kitman]

RR

I can understand the draw but why the Rugby win? that would put them 11 points ahead of us.

[readingrebel]

RR

I can understand the draw but why the Rugby win? that would put them 11 points ahead of us.

 

 

As I've said before, I think it's nailed on that Dunstable, Daventry and Rugby will finish in the top 5 with the remaining 2 places IMO coming from Slough, Kettering, Barton and Royston. The more daylight between us and Royston the better.

 

The chances of us catching Dunstable, who I think will win the division, are slim and none unless Dunstable hit a brick wall which I can't see happening.  

[Stuntman Mark]

We should all aim higher though Edward!

 

We've dished out thrashings to Barton, Rugby, Kettering and Daventry...beaten Royston away in an even contest and were unlucky to lose at Dunstable after the horror show from that ref. I wasn't at Rugby but I saw nothing to be scared of from the other sides, although Dunstable do look very good up front. If we can sort out our form against sides at the other end of the table and stay injury/suspension free then there's no reason to believe we won't be top 3 this season.

[3spirit]

We should all aim higher though Edward!

 

We've dished out thrashings to Barton, Rugby, Kettering and Daventry...beaten Royston away in an even contest and were unlucky to lose at Dunstable after the horror show from that ref. I wasn't at Rugby but I saw nothing to be scared of from the other sides, although Dunstable do look very good up front. If we can sort out our form against sides at the other end of the table and stay injury/suspension free then there's no reason to believe we won't be top 3 this season.

I'm with you on this one,Stuntman Mark.

I think that our management need to instil belief that our squad is good enough to be crowned champions and not settle for the easier option,ie being labelled a team that will only

make the play-offs.

 

If Steve Bateman had still been manager,would we be happy where Slough currently sit in the

table.I believe not.

Before the season commenced we wanted to win the Central division title.

Now,as usual we're looking at the also ran positions.

To me this sends out the wrong message to our players.

 

This is not a slight against Neil or Jon.It was always a tall ask,to believe in their maiden

season,that they would be leading the way in the central division and I'm not saying what

they've achieved so far isn't good.My point is that championship winning teams know they are

the best.They don't settle for second best.

 

Don't get me wrong,I'd take 5th place if we get through the play-offs ! but the mentality has to be right if success is to beckon.

[Windsor Rebel]

I am more than happy with the position we are in at the moment. Coming up to the

halfway point there is still all to play for. Yes, Dunstable and Rugby have opened up

a slight gap at the top, but they are both beatable. Having seen all the teams in this

division play (except Dunstable and Aylesbury), I believe we have nothing to fear and

an assault on the title is more than possible.

[3spirit]

Funny enough,thinking about it.This season,the title race is so open because there isn't one

side that is setting alight to the division with their dazzling football.

 

To me that sums up the mediocrity on display at most games that is watched in the

Central division currently.

As Stuntman Mark said,there is no team Slough need to be afraid of.If anything I think most are

wary of Slough.

It is Slough that needs to go up a gear.

[Graham C]

Most teams hit a bad patch during the season , especially as injuries/suspensions kick in, so I agree with 3Spirit....lets tell ourselves we can win this league, and believe it

 

I would actually think that Neil and Jon have told the squad just that.

[3spirit]

Funny enough,thinking about it.This season,the title race is so open because there isn't one

side that is setting alight to the division with their dazzling football.

 

To me that sums up the mediocrity on display at most games that is watched in the

Central division currently.

As Stuntman Mark said,there is no team Slough need to be afraid of.If anything I think most are

wary of Slough.

It is Slough that needs to go up a gear.

To this end,I believe we could do with another striker[my preference is a fast one] to add

firepower for the run in [perhaps in early Feb].

What do others think? This would give us a big lift and also give us options in attack,when

we are going to need it, big time.

[Stuntman Mark]

I think the days of bringing in players left right and centre are over. I think we have 3 excellent options up there it's just injuries have spoilt their momentum at times during the season. If you wanted pace up top you could put Wazza up there with Jake in the squad - he is a great finisher as we've seen already.

[Curtis]

Before the season commenced we wanted to win the Central division title.

 

Personally, I don't think you can ever set plans to win the title at this level, because there is always a Chairman or two around somewhere who are willing to splash some cash to win the title (rumours are possibly Dunstable and Daventry this season).

 

As such, I think you can only ever plan to make the play-offs, and if an opportunity arises to have a good run over the last ten matches and finish top then it's a bonus.

 

And I think at the beginning of the season Neil and Jon only ever spoke of making the play-offs, not winning the title.

[3spirit]

I think the days of bringing in players left right and centre are over. I think we have 3 excellent options up there it's just injuries have spoilt their momentum at times during the season. If you wanted pace up top you could put Wazza up there with Jake in the squad - he is a great finisher as we've seen already.

I am not saying we don't have options through other players in the squad but I'm of the

opinion that the answer isn't always playing a winger as a striker.You can get away with it

against teams like Chertsey but top teams are far more organized in defence.

 

My observation was really more about the competition up front.

I think on the whole the squad is very good and well balanced but there's no getting away

from the fact that all 3 of our strikers have performed well in patches this season and all

three are somewhat on the small side.

 

My reasoning was that you would have a chance of changing play,when things aren't going so

well for the chosen 1st eleven front two.

[3spirit]

Personally, I don't think you can ever set plans to win the title at this level, because there is always a Chairman or two around somewhere who are willing to splash some cash to win the title (rumours are possibly Dunstable and Daventry this season).

 

As such, I think you can only ever plan to make the play-offs, and if an opportunity arises to have a good run over the last ten matches and finish top then it's a bonus.

 

And I think at the beginning of the season Neil and Jon only ever spoke of making the play-offs, not winning the title.

To be honest,I don't believe in the play-off system.I know it keeps things interesting right

to the end of the season,for those in the top half of the table but I would prefer the top 2

or 3 teams to automatically go up.

 

As I've said in previous posts,I'm willing to see Jon and Neil have the same amount of time

as Steve Bateman had to get us promoted[4 and a half seasons] but I think,as Stuntman Mark

observed,we should be aiming high from the outset,regardless of rich chairmen at other clubs

or any potential rivals that we encounter.

[Nathan]

As such, I think you can only ever plan to make the play-offs, and if an opportunity arises to have a good run over the last ten matches and finish top then it's a bonus.

 

I think that's the wrong attitude. If we only ever plan to make the play-offs, then the chances are that that's the absolute best we'll do.

 

Even if we have to end up settling for something less, our aim should always be to win the title.

[Neil Baker]

Just so you all know, and are not left guessing, we always go out to win everything, so aim at start of the season is to win the league, probably like another 21 sides, however probably only 6 or 7 sides really believe they can do it, and we were one of them for sure.

 

What I would say is no side has any divine right to win anything, and it will be evenly contested all season no doubt.

 

Dunstable are clearly in the driving seat, and with their reputed resources available to them, that is where they should be, and having played them they are a good side, who will be hard to beat.

 

In all honesty we have left a lot to do (more so from our start than anything), but plenty of football to be played, and the lads will be doing their best to finish as high as they can.... I can promise you that.

[Mark44]

For me its a strange one and one that I think managers get a bit of stick from.......

 

One on hand you can go out there are say you want to win the title for a St Neots type chairman to come along, we beat them back in Mar 12 to go top and their chairman responded by giving the manager an open chequebook to sign anyone he could to win the title (in a face to face interview!!!). How can you compete with the likes of these teams on paper, the St Neots, Truro, Dunstable etc

 

On the other hand we have a very close knit team and I do not think we should fear anyone. Of the top sides we have made them all look average........the worrying thing for me is looking at the teams who have looked half decent against us, i.e. Marlow, Ashford, Sycob etc......are we making them look good or is it a case of them upping their game for us.

 

I do not believe that Neil/Jon/Steve/Support should expect promotion in the first season but given this team finished 3rd last year the playoffs should be achievable

[Sue]

I agree with Stewart hate the bloody playoff's would much rather the top two or three went up. Of course my other half totally diagrees with me 'Your a woman what do you know' is the usual comment.  Sound familiar to some of you !!

[Stuntman Mark]

I am not saying we don't have options through other players in the squad but I'm of the

opinion that the answer isn't always playing a winger as a striker.You can get away with it

against teams like Chertsey but top teams are far more organized in defence.

 

 

We've scored 19 against Dunstable, Rugby, Daventry, Royston, Barton and Kettering at an average of over 3 a game...I think you are imagining a problem that isn't there.

[readingrebel]

I agree with Stewart hate the bloody playoff's would much rather the top two or three went up. Of course my other half totally diagrees with me 'Your a woman what do you know' is the usual comment.  Sound familiar to some of you !!

 

I agree with you Sue. 

 

The much quoted season that Hitchin finished second with over 100 points and still failed to go up through the play-offs tells you everything you need to know about the play-offs. Totally unfair way of getting promoted if you don't get into the top 2 or 3.

 

The season is about 42 games not an odd couple of games at the end.