v Weymouth

[Reading Rebel]

Big test against one of the favourites for the title.

 

Just hope we've got a fit Smith and Dyer back in contention for selection.

Edited September 4, 2014 by Reading Rebel

[GarySTFC]

Preview now up on site

 

http://www.sloughtownfc.net

[Reading Rebel]

Real shame about Knighty, was really looking forward to seeing him back and 100% fit.

 

Looking on the bright side, Ed Smith and JD are back!

[Reading Rebel]

No Jamal Branker in tomorrow's squad?

[Neil Baker]

Nope, we feel that Jamal needs some games at the level below first before he is ready for us, and he is looking to do that.

 

Obviously he has good pedigree having been at Southampton, but apart from a few games last year has mainly played academy football.

 

Him being in the squad last week was partly down to injuries etc, and having only seen him for an hour in training it is very difficult to form an opinion, and as a young lad we feel he needs to get some games under his belt, and we don't feel he will get that with us at this stage.

[Reading Rebel]

Should be interesting to see how Weymouth set themselves up tomorrow after their player/manager Jason Matthews has said that he has 'done his homework on Slough and has planned to set his team up accordingly'.

 

Really looking forward to this game to see how we get on against a team that will be very disappointed if they don't win or go very close to winning the league.

[Sir Rebel1965]

_{A better measure of the opposition in this league today and I think the result was about right.}

 

_{Weymouth were not scared to shoot and kept Jake busy, however other than our 2 goals (one pen and one header) I saw us only have at most 2 shots on goal.}

 

_{Midfield and defence need to communicate better as there were some big holes at times where Weymouth ended up winning too many balls in the middle and then walking through the back.}

 

_{We need to get a full squad back in place and stop the silly cards for lack of discipline - the players might not like the refs decisions but all there arguing, moaning or throwing their toys about did not make him change one of them, but got them a card!}

 

_{Great to go to a proper ground with some fans, along with some of the best non-league catering so far.}

Edited September 6, 2014 by Rebel1965

[Ian]

Thought we were a little naive today both in terms of the space we gave a decent team and also how we handled the referee. As a referee I'm usually the first to defend officials but I thought today's was very poor. That said I thought the Weymouth players knew how to manage him whereas we didn't.

 

Had we got something out of today I think it would have been bit of a steal. With the news about David though, the result seems a little less important.

[Nathan]

Deservedly beaten by the better footballing side today, but nonetheless can take heart from the way we fought back and didn't capitulate after going 2-0 and then 3-1 down. Having said that, apart from some feeble finishing, we didn't look close to scoring after our 2nd goal.

 

Weymouth won't win many fans acting the way they did today - constant play-acting, time-wasting and one case of unsportsmanlike bevhaviour. A shame becasue they were clearly good enough to not have to resort to those sort of tactics.

[khan]

Clurgy as ever worked so hard but we will continue to pay the price unless all the midfield work for the full 90 minutes and follow his example.

 

Opposing teams are getting through to and running at the back four to easily and they are not being given enough protection.

[Mr Rebel]

Although Weymouth attacked with intelligence and pace I thought we conceded some soft goals. They ripped through us continuously with ease to go 2-0. We got back into it and looked like we had finally got more defensively solid in defence and midfield only for us to be ripped apart again 2 or 3 passes after keeper clearance they were clear through the middle seconds before ht.

 

Fair play to the team though they didn't roll over and gave it a good go 2nd half getting 1 back but chances were not easy to come by and we were always vulnerable to quick counters and pop shots. Somerville made some great saves to keep them at bay

 

Think we can take positives from the game but we also learnt some harsh lessons too. Couple of days & we go straight into another similarly tough away games hopefully we can be a bit more solid and a bit more creative

[3spirit]

Although Weymouth attacked with intelligence and pace I thought we conceded some soft goals. They ripped through us continuously with ease to go 2-0. We got back into it and looked like we had finally got more defensively solid in defence and midfield only for us to be ripped apart again 2 or 3 passes after keeper clearance they were clear through the middle seconds before ht.

 

Fair play to the team though they didn't roll over and gave it a good go 2nd half getting 1 back but chances were not easy to come by and we were always vulnerable to quick counters and pop shots. Somerville made some great saves to keep them at bay

 

Think we can take positives from the game but we also learnt some harsh lessons too. Couple of days & we go straight into another similarly tough away games hopefully we can be a bit more solid and a bit more creative

 

Couldn't make yesterday's game but am a bit put out that fans expect us to be matching a team like Weymouth at this early stage of our development in our maiden season in the Premier.

 

The result probably sounds closer than the game itself proved.Weymouth are an established team at this level and it wasn't that long ago they were playing Conference football.

We on the other hand have been at the top of the pyramid many moons ago and are having to re-build our empire.

 

Bakes and Unders are the right blokes to take Slough forward but they can't be expected to provide miracles every week with a squad that is decimated with injuries.

Yesterday's first eleven contained three young players in Tom Moran at centre half who's playing at this level for the first time,George Frith who was on the periphery of the Woking squad and is yet to prove himself in a Rebels shirt and George Short who is growing in confidence and improving all the time but is certainly not the finished article.

 

I think we did remarkably well yesterday considering all the facts!   

[Kaiser Gibbs Batman (KGB)]

Doesn't do to look up the result on the Southern League website first, does it? That said that Slough had won 3-2.

[Mr Rebel]

Absolutely 3spirit my comments were not supposed to come across as complaints that we weren't able to match Weymouth only where we fell short. I like many predicted a loss in prediction league and was pleasantly surprised at how well we hung in but we fell just short

 

As for expectations it seems to me nobody has bigger ambitions than our managers who publicly stated they wanted to get points from these 2 away games. I will be delighted to finish safely from relegation. We just need to learn from each game and aspire to improve. We far from disgraced ourselves with our performance yesterday as was shown by the appreciation the away fans showed at ft.

[staines_rebel_Jr]

Wasn't expecting a win yesterday but was hoping that the players put on a good performance and tested themselves against a top team and they did exactly that.

 

Not sure that you can complain about any poor performances as we were simply beaten by a much better team. It was good to see some fighting spirit from the team at 2-0 down then after going 3-1 just before half time. Just hope the players haven't tired themselves out too much for Tuesday.

 

The ref was poor today, both teams would agree.

Smith was a bit lucky to get the pen as he stuck his leg out as far as possibly to get any contact, having said that the ref should have sent the keeper off once the pen was given.

 

We could have stolen an equaliser near the end when dobbo chose to shot rather than square to one of three open players but a draw would have been unfair to Weymouth who were great to watch, not scared of shooting and created chances quite easily. If we ever manage to have a fully fit squad this season then hopefully we will be able to play like that as well as we have the players to do it.

 

On non league day we got a great game of football (minus the time wasting and play acting from Weymouth) and a great croud with both sets of supporters present and making noise ( for once)

 

MotM is tough but between Yorke and Sommerville for me.

[HorshamRebel]

I've just been reading the Weymouth fans comments on their forum, and they are saying that we are one of the best teams they have played so far this season, so far, and also the best set of fans.

 

They are also moaning big time about the ref saying that he was completely out of his depth.

 

If you want to have a read here is the link http://terras.proboards.com/thread/8799/weymouth-slough-town-lucas-stadium

[3spirit]

Absolutely 3spirit my comments were not supposed to come across as complaints that we weren't able to match Weymouth only where we fell short. I like many predicted a loss in prediction league and was pleasantly surprised at how well we hung in but we fell just short

 

As for expectations it seems to me nobody has bigger ambitions than our managers who publicly stated they wanted to get points from these 2 away games. I will be delighted to finish safely from relegation. We just need to learn from each game and aspire to improve. We far from disgraced ourselves with our performance yesterday as was shown by the appreciation the away fans showed at ft.

 

Mr Rebel, my post wasn't aimed specifically at you,I just used your message as it happened to be the last one posted.

I  just felt that some fans are delluding themselves with their over ambitious aims for our current squad[on the 6/9/2014].

 

Bakes and Unders are right to be positive and of course,they want to win games.We all want them to, but sometimes the fans need to be realistic about what can be achieved and what can't.

As soon as I saw the team sheet for yesterday's game,I knew we would be lucky to get a draw.

 

Obviously,fluke results happen and there are upsets.That's the beauty of football.Unfortunately,yesterday's match wasn't one of them and never really looked likely to be.  

Edited September 7, 2014 by 3spirit

[3spirit]

I've just been reading the Weymouth fans comments on their forum, and they are saying that we are one of the best teams they have played so far this season, so far, and also the best set of fans.

 

They are also moaning big time about the ref saying that he was completely out of his depth.

 

If you want to have a read here is the link http://terras.proboards.com/thread/8799/weymouth-slough-town-lucas-stadium

Very interesting reading on the Weymouth forum.Bit of a mixed bag on what they really thought of our team.One thought we should have lost 8-2 !

 

On the whole,though,Bakes and Unders will be pleased that the majority of Weymouth fans thought we were a well organized,hard working team who are one of the better teams they've seen this season and that we certainly have a decent goalkeeper between the sticks,who was obviously our man of the match.

Suppose that tells the story of the game.

 

I was intrigued by their formation, that according to Twitter, they was playing Chris Shepherd who is down on their website as a wing back,in the 'hole' behind their front two strikers.Was this true?

Whatever the truth he sounded like a right handful to our defenders on the day.

 

If true,I like Weymouth's manager spirit of adventure.Not many managers would adapt a wing back to such a role.

Edited September 7, 2014 by 3spirit

[Stuntman Mark]

Chris Shepherd was outstanding! Yetton wasn't far behind, amazing work rate. We can hold our heads up after that. They deserved the win but we hung in there and we were probably the better team second half.

[Rebel Ron]

Weymouth certainly the better side yesterday both player wise and more importantly tactics wise.Though the ref did us no favours especially where they kept fouling and getting away with it.

It's all very well having a gung ho attacking system of play but I feel these top sides can handle that.Also it is noted that the strong sides in this league have a sprinkling of ex pros who are still able to perform and helps to make the difference .