Histon (h) - 30 August

[Matt]

Jon Underwood provides an update on the injury front, news of a new signing, and the squad to face Histon tomorrow.

 

http://www.sloughtownfc.net/

[GlenSTFC]

Jon/Neil, has Jamal played anywhere this season?

[Jon Underwood]

He spent two weeks in pre-season with Oldham but was not offered a deal and more recently has trained with Basingstoke so he is fit but lacking game time at the moment.

[GlenSTFC]

Thanks Jon, I suppose if he impresses he'll be a replacement for Warren? Such a shame for Warren after a great season to possibly missing the whole of this season, can imagine how annoyed he'd be.

[Jon Underwood]

We are hoping it won't be the season over for Warren but obviously that's a possibility. We will know for definite once he's reviewed his scan with the surgeon on 10th Sept. However, even if he is very lucky and only keyhole surgery is required then he still wouldn't be back until Christmas at best. Obviously a blow as he's a massive player for us and like you say such a shame for him.

 

We have a number of players who can play that role but Jamal is a very different type to what we have already and it's important to have different options within the squad to call upon. We will have to see how he gets on when he gets his chance.

Edited August 29, 2014 by Jon Underwood

[Martin]

Another disappointing result I'm afraid. Feels like a loss and two more points thrown away. Thought Histon were the poorest side we've seen this season and it was the same old story of not taking our chances when we were on top.

 

They were down to ten for the best part of an hour and I thought we failed to control the game and make the most of the advantage.

 

In the second half the equaliser and the sending off of Short seemed inevitable. The ref seemed to take a disliking to him and he was constantly penalised and my feeling was we should have withdrawn him from the game before the red card came.

 

Main positive was another excellent performance from Dobbo who really has looked threatening and more comfortable at this level

[3spirit]

Another disappointing result I'm afraid. Feels like a loss and two more points thrown away. Thought Histon were the poorest side we've seen this season and it was the same old story of not taking our chances when we were on top.

 

They were down to ten for the best part of an hour and I thought we failed to control the game and make the most of the advantage.

 

In the second half the equaliser and the sending off of Short seemed inevitable. The ref seemed to take a disliking to him and he was constantly penalised and my feeling was we should have withdrawn him from the game before the red card came.

 

Main positive was another excellent performance from Dobbo who really has looked threatening and more comfortable at this level

 

Don't think we will need to tell Bakes and Unders how crap we were in that dire second half.They looked well pissed off, as well,at the final whistle.

 

Definitely three points dropped but credit where credit is due, Histon battled hard and dug deep and deserve some praise for their worthy efforts with ten men and then to nine.That said we should have put them to the sword but failed miserably to do so.

 

George Short did seem to be singled out by the ref and with another ref wouldn't have seen red.I thought George had an okay game but for me, Jamie McClurg,Dobbo and Ryan Parsons were our best players today but we lacked the cutting edge up front again and are missing the mercurial talents of Johnny Dyer and Ed Smith.

Both players who link play so well.

 

Without a player like Warren Harris in our team,we are finding it difficult to do something out of the ordinary.

 

Looks like Luke Knight is going to take time to get over his injury which is a pity as think we need him fit more than ever.

We will need a big improvement if we are to get anything at Weymouth and Poole.   

[Graham Cox]

I also came out feeling as if we had lost.............totally in control first half against frankly poor opposition but missed chances (again !) meant that slim first half lead.Should do better against 10 men but second half was just poor from half the side as passes went astray and shape collapsed. I know we are missing matchwinning players but those that are there would surely want to play well enough to retain places even when those other boys are fit.

 

I usually agree with the substitutions the managers make.............today they lost me in that surely the new lad who is supposedly fit and ready for action should have come on sooner (he looked very nippy and hungry for the ball when he did appear !) and why was Adam left on for so long after he was clearly hurt and contributing little.

MOTM ....between Dobbo and Sean Fraser , with Sean maybe just nicking it.

 

Ref had a decent first half but lost his way second half...........a bit lie the team really.

 

But next week may see better results if lessons are learned and commitment restored !

[Reading Rebel]

I don't like being negative but after chucking 2 points away to a young Histon team that IMO would struggle in Div 1 is really gutting to say the least.

 

Our first half performance is beginning to sound very familiar, some really good chances created but again wasted by some very poor finishing.

 

On the positive side at least we created 5 or 6 really good chances in the first half but ultimately pointless if you don't convert at least some of them.

 

The second half started poorly and got worse to the point where a 10 man Histon team started to look dangerous until the inevitable equaliser happened.

 

I thought our forward line were very poor today and our midfield disappeared in the second half creating very little.

 

It's sounding like a broken record but until we start putting away some the chances that we create we will continue to drop points regardless of who the opposition are.

 

My MOTM was Dobbo who for 3 quarters of the game looked a different class.

Edited August 30, 2014 by Reading Rebel

[Rebel Kay]

Not great today but with so many out it was always going to be tough.

 

Hopefully the good start didn't get people thinking we were going to walk the league.  Life in the Premier was always going to be a challenge but it is a challenge that we can and will meet.

 

Heads up guys.

[Stuntman Mark]

I'm pleased with the start we've made and apart from Chesham and maybe Paulton, we have been pretty much the better side in every game. Given we have 90 odd goals from last season injured, I'm pleased we're holding our own. Adam Cornell did well today, Dobbo and Clurgy were superb. I agree with Martin, right or wrong George was always getting sent off today! Funny how they got back into it after the first sending off. 

 

Today we just didn't kill them off which has been the story of our season so far, but I''m really happy with how we are going about our football. I think we'll do well on the south coast next week for our jolly boys outing as well!

 

COYR!

[Reading Rebel]

I'm pleased with the start we've made and apart from Chesham and maybe Paulton, we have been pretty much the better side in every game. Given we have 90 odd goals from last season injured, I'm pleased we're holding our own. Adam Cornell did well today, Dobbo and Clurgy were superb. I agree with Martin, right or wrong George was always getting sent off today! Funny how they got back into it after the first sending off. 

 

Today we just didn't kill them off which has been the story of our season so far, but I''m really happy with how we are going about our football. I think we'll do well on the south coast next week for our jolly boys outing as well!

 

COYR!

 

 

Certainly like your positivity Stuntman and agree with parts of your match/season analogy.

[Stuntman Mark]

Why would you not be positive?

 

We are in a much better league than last year with end-to-end fantastic away trips. We have a young and talented squad with two exceptional managers. We will find it tougher this year but from what I have seen we will hold our in this league. Next two games are  a huge test.

[Reading Rebel]

I also came out feeling as if we had lost.............totally in control first half against frankly poor opposition but missed chances (again !) meant that slim first half lead.Should do better against 10 men but second half was just poor from half the side as passes went astray and shape collapsed. I know we are missing matchwinning players but those that are there would surely want to play well enough to retain places even when those other boys are fit.

 

I usually agree with the substitutions the managers make.............today they lost me in that surely the new lad who is supposedly fit and ready for action should have come on sooner (he looked very nippy and hungry for the ball when he did appear !) and why was Adam left on for so long after he was clearly hurt and contributing little.

MOTM ....between Dobbo and Sean Fraser , with Sean maybe just nicking it.

 

Ref had a decent first half but lost his way second half...........a bit lie the team really.

 

But next week may see better results if lessons are learned and commitment restored !

 

 

Next week will have to better against a very good Weymouth team.

[Reading Rebel]

Why would you not be positive?

 

We are in a much better league than last year with end-to-end fantastic away trips. We have a young and talented squad with two exceptional managers. We will find it tougher this year but from what I have seen we will hold our in this league. Next two games are  a huge test.

 

 

Totally agree Stuntman but I see nothing wrong in being totally honest after an abject second half like today.

 

I'm sure Bakes and Unders won't mince their words as they are winners and won't be happy with what they witnessed.

Edited August 30, 2014 by Reading Rebel

[Mr Rebel]

yes we have done well in majority of the games so far but its hardly been a really great start. we have only won 2 out of 7 games and even Bakes and Unders have said they are slightly irritated that we haven't got more points at this stage. think today put into perspective that we have a lot to learn still at this level and we won't be getting it all our own way

 

today really with the circumstances and yes we have injuries but really little reason why we shouldn't have won that game today. time and time again unfortunately the same mistakes are being made and we are not taking advantage of when we are dominant. we should have been at least 2 up by half time and had more than enough chances to make that so 

 

not sure we had a real clear cut chance at all in the 2nd half and that is just not good enough. against 10 men we just needed to keep it simple and switch the ball to stretch the defence and exploit the space however it seemed most of the 2nd half we didn't have a midfielder on either wing staying out wide where the space was.

 

have to agree it was inevitable the red card for Short. the ref seemed to be targeting Short so was not shocked at all when he got sent off. without question in my mind Short should have been taken off (not neccessarily because he was playing really badly) but that the free kick awarding against him (many of which were very harsh) was putting us under pressure and giving Histon an easy chance to get the ball in our area. Thought Frith did a good job when he came on as well so in hindsight maybe the call to bring off Short was viable and should have happened but hey not my call

 

2 really tough away games coming up. although obviously not at all a crisis the team really could do with a win to get the team back on track. draws are not exactly the end of the world and this is our first season at this level in 7 years or whatever so maybe we do need some perspective on this as well. personally it it tough to take that we didn't get what should have been a routine win today considering the early red card but I understand we have no right to win any game and we will be made to work for all the point we can get

 

the other major concern would be that we seemingly have all 5 strikers carrying some sort of injury. not really a deciding factor today but ridiculously bad luck for us. as if we didn't have enough injuries

[A Rebel and a Saint]

Just listened to the managers' interview, and I must say I think they get it spot on.  The key word is frustrating.  It seems to be a recurring theme of dominating the first half but struggling to kill off the opposition when we're on top and getting done by late pressure.  However, we are still playing some good football and in general we are doing well for a promoted team even though we could be in a slightly better position, and with our main goalscorers from last season still to return things can hopefully only improve.

I'm not sure I've heard the two managers sounding so down after a game before, but it shows how passionate they are about not only getting points on the board but also playing good football.  They already know what to work on with the players for the next games and it's good to hear that they always want to improve.

It wasn't great today but our team is doing reasonably well in the new league and they will only learn from the experiences.

Looking forward to the next two games and two great away trips!

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

Should have killed them off well before the penalty. Again not clinical enough in front of goal. Some lovely build up play but chances need to be converted. Agree with the general consensus that the subs weren't correct today (joy of being and arm chair manager in retrospect I know) but most of us behind the goal could see short was likely to get a red. Can't see how anyone thought it was harsh as IMHO it was stonewall yellow all day. Dobbo superb again (really changed my opinion of him this season) and Fraser played excellently too.

Another 2 points lost. Becoming a bit of a habit now. (But so far impressed with the team this seaso ... We should have won every game except chesham who dominated- and the fact I can say that is a very positive sign)

[Reading Rebel]

This division is no different from any other division.

 

If you don't put your chances away you are always vulnerable to a sucker punch. The most frustrating part about today was that we did play some good football in the first half and if we had scored a second goal it was as good as game over.

 

Yes, it's fantastic that we are in the premier division after so many years and we are doing 'OK' at the moment at this higher level and perhaps we should all be content, considering our injury situation, that we are mid table and not towards the bottom of the table.

 

 So lets all sit back, enjoy the ride and be content with just surviving at this higher level.

[Reading Rebel]

Should have killed them off well before the penalty. Again not clinical enough in front of goal. Some lovely build up play but chances need to be converted. Agree with the general consensus that the subs weren't correct today (joy of being and arm chair manager in retrospect I know) but most of us behind the goal could see short was likely to get a red. Can't see how anyone thought it was harsh as IMHO it was stonewall yellow all day. Dobbo superb again (really changed my opinion of him this season) and Fraser played excellently too.

Another 2 points lost. Becoming a bit of a habit now. (But so far impressed with the team this seaso ... We should have won every game except chesham who dominated- and the fact I can say that is a very positive sign)

 

 

Don't agree DJD that Chesham 'dominated'. Only after the game was as good as over did they dominate.