A Few Thoughts

[Neil Baker]

Have not really contributed lots to the forum recently, but obviously still read it on a daily basis

 

I think it is safe to say that we have had a slight wobble of late, and that the performances have not quite been where they were earlier on in the season, and there are probably a number of reasons for this:

 

Firstly injuries and suspensions have played a big part, I get that numerous teams have these problems, though I think where we have been hit hardest are the injuries to our strikers in the form of Gavin James and Lee Barney who have now been out for 2 and a half months each, plus the suspensions for Nis which have amounted to 5 games.

When both got injured we were of the opinion that neither would be out too long, and therefore went without getting a striking option for a period, however after a few 1-0 wins and then the defeat at Basingstoke we felt that neither were recovering quick enough, and that brought us to bring in Elijah, who has come in and been a good option for us, however we also have to remember that despite the fact he is from Fulham he is also an 18 year old lad, and it is sometimes very difficult for him to make a huge impact on the game having not played senior football before, so despite hitting the ground running with the 3 goals against Bognor, we can not expect miracles from him, and therefore it is frustrating to hear some negative shouts to him from the side lines which will not help him as a player.

 

The Basingstoke game was the start of the wobble as with Stoney coming off injured with his hamstring (which has been hampering him) and then Nis getting sent off we fell to pieces, and since then whilst we have had some important victories, we have also had a few indifferent performances.

 

The back 5 of Scottie, Sean, Nis, Guy and Stoney has to date played 11 full league games together, winning 8 drawing 3 and only conceding 6 goals which breeds confidence, therefore the break up of this will have no doubt had an effect on the rest of the team.

 

Football is very much about confidence and momentum, and we were a side that won 9 games on the bounce kept 6 clean sheets on the bounce, and in that time played some fantastic football, in  that time confidence was sky high amongst the lads, and also the supporters were great getting behind the lads etc etc.

 

The last few weeks have knocked the confidence a bit, and with teams really setting out a stall at Arbour Park in how they play the game, this is where we need the fans even more, to try and get behind the lads and get them over the line by being vocal etc in a positive way.

 

We all have to realise (including us as managers) certain sides will turn up with the whole game plan of frustrating us and trying to hit us on the break, in one way that is complimentary to the team we have, but it can be very negative to play against, and make it very difficult to breakdown, and the longer you don't break it down the more hurried and panicked the game gets.

 

I look at the recent games which have not gone our way at home to Hitchin (where I felt they did a job on us, but they were a side hanging on at the end, despite us not playing great and felt a draw was probably fair in the end), Kings Langley (they had 2 shots on target and scored 2 goals, and we controlled the game and I felt played well enough to take all 3 points) Wingate and Finchley (we were pretty poor and despite plenty of possession didn't really hurt them) Banbury (I was not there but heard we worked hard and competed with them and deserved the win) and finally Frome where  we were probably at the poorest we had been in the whole time at Arbour Park, and did not deserve anything out the game.

 

I have seen a few comments about the side we picked on Saturday, and I can understand this as we had Mark Nisbet sitting on the bench who has been key to us defensively all season, however we also had a side that defended really well 5 days earlier and kept a clean sheet, and at times in football management you have to make tough decisions that can work and not work, we talked about that particular decision for 2 days whether we change the defence for someone who has just come back from suspension, and in hindsight with the way we played as a team on Saturday we might have made a different decision, but we didn't and we have to take that on the chin as managers (hindsight is a wonderful thing).

 

With all that has happened over the last few weeks in terms of results and performances, one thing is clear, we are still in a fantastic position in the league being 4 points off top with a game in hand, and a points tally this side of Christmas that myself and Jon could only have dreamed about at the start of the season.

We are probably in the highest position that the club has been in for a number of years, and we are finally playing back at home in Slough, so lots of reasons to be positive.

 

I think everyone included us need to have a bit or realism that this league is extremely tough and we will not play wonderful football every week and get everything our own way, this is a league that we have finished 17th and 16th in the last 2 years, and yes whilst we have made some important signings pre season, we still have a large amount of lads that have been with us for a while in, Mark Scott, Sean Fraser, Guy Hollis, Dan Hicks, Nathan Webb, Lewis Putman, James Dobson (to a degree), Gurkan Gokmen, Lee Barney, and Warren Harris.

 

Our main aim is to make the play offs, and we will do what we can to make this happen, we have been very busy talking to players in recent weeks, and we hope that we might be able to announce a new signing in the next day or so (hopefully in time for Chippenham)....

 

I know the lads really want to get themselves in a position to be promoted, and I can assure you any defeat hurts us just as much as it hurts you guys.

 

So all I am trying to say in a round about way is lets all sit back and take stock of how far we have come as a side this season, but lets all get together and behind the lads, and try to kick on again starting with a really tough game at Chippenham.

 

COYR

 

 

[Irishadrian]

Thanks Neil Good summing up of our season so far but I have to ask Why isnt the main aim to be Champions? lol

[Curtis]

I agree Neil that our early season success was based on a very solid back five that conceded very few goals. I think it was also key that Hewitt was interchangeable with either Hollis or Nisbet, and it's not helped that he was unavailable for three weeks (??) and now appears to have moved on to Hendon for regular starts.

 

I agree also that our strong start to the season has resulted in clubs visiting with negative tactics, but I haven't seen us counter this yet with any obvious change in formation. I haven't been to all matches recently but the ones I have been to at home we still seem to be starting out with a 4-4-2, and only have goal scoring opportunities and success late in matches when changing the formation with substitutions.

 

It must be very difficult to formulate any alternative startegies though when fixtures are thick and fast and there are a very limited number of training sessions though.

[staines_rebel_Jr]

It's been getting quieter and quieter at Arbour Park over the last few games. With only 4 or 5 people really starting any chants at all it seems, and of those 4/5 not all are there every week for various reasons so each match there is only ever 2/3 people starting chants and it seems less and less people are joining in which is demoralising when you are one of the few starting the chants. Yesterday it was only really Marcus and myself starting chants with not a huge number of people joining in.

 

 

We need more people starting and joining chants to help make the noise and improve the atmosphere to give the players a lift but also to make coming to Arbour Park a better experience for the casual fans so that they are more tempted to come back again.

 

 

Most people should know the simple chants at least by now, so next time just shout out the start loudly and confidently and people will join in.

[redwine rebel]

Totally agree SJR, I know Aidan and Phil like to join in but are usually on the gate til late, will mention to them about joining you guys as soon as they can.

 

Also need that gobby little git from Brighton back !!!

 

Negativity never helps in my opinion, no one likes loosing but it happens. The main thing is too try and lift team morale again even if it is bloody freezing tomorrow !!

[Alan Greenaway]

Thanks to Neil for his honest comments of where we are now.

 

I agree with the Elijah situation and in hindsight his hat trick in the first game probably did him no favours as it raised every ones expectations. An 18 year old player with no senior experience is not going to be a regular major contributor overnight. However, I believe some of the frustration is that for his height he is not winning many balls in the air. I wander if this is something the coaching staff at Fulham are helping him on?

 

With the above in mind I believe one of our biggest short comings is our forwards winning the ball in the box from corners and free kicks. Most of our forwards goals have come from passing moves or low hard crosses. I would be interested to see how Charlie functions with a good "old fashioned" centre forward who could put himself about a bit and let Charlie feed off him.

[Tom]

Thanks to Neil for his honest comments of where we are now.

 

I agree with the Elijah situation and in hindsight his hat trick in the first game probably did him no favours as it raised every ones expectations. An 18 year old player with no senior experience is not going to be a regular major contributor overnight. However, I believe some of the frustration is that for his height he is not winning many balls in the air. I wander if this is something the coaching staff at Fulham are helping him on?

 

With the above in mind I believe one of our biggest short comings is our forwards winning the ball in the box from corners and free kicks. Most of our forwards goals have come from passing moves or low hard crosses. I would be interested to see how Charlie functions with a good "old fashioned" centre forward who could put himself about a bit and let Charlie feed off him.

With regards to Elijah, his best performance came with us playing football that used his obvious abilities, playing the ball to feet. Lumping the ball up to him isn't his strength but lately the side has been content on doing that even though it clearly doesn't work.

 

I also agree with the comment about Brad Hewitt, an interesting situation.

[3spirit]

The trouble is expectation levels have risen because of the new ground and new supporters, especially given the start we've had and where we currently sit in the table.

 

From my viewpoint I thought that the squad we had assembled for the start of the season [before a ball had been kicked] was that, we were two to three Conference South experienced players short, to win the title.

 

We, as supporters, have to take into account too, that we have also lost the threat of a fine attacking player in Harrison Gilkes, who would have been a regular starter, if he was fit.

Had we had him we may be first by now !

 

Losing two strikers who were hitting form in Gavin James and Lee Barney was a body blow to our hopes,just as when we lost Charlie Mpi and Ed Smith the previous season ie your attacking threat diminshes,upsets the rhythm of the team, and you have to cover the cracks with short term solutions.

 

Obviously Bakes and Unders are feeling under pressure to do well this season but I would say we've over achieved so far, which is credit to the management and the players efforts themselves.

I was expecting Slough to be about 6th or 7th at this time, not 2nd in the table !

 

That said, there's no reason why we cannot go from strength to strength and challenge for honours this season, as the players have proved they can do it against the best in this division and I believe we should emphaise the importance of going for the title and not lowering our ambitions to the play off's.

 

Slough should be in the Conference South. Whether we will make it happen this season is anyone's guess but we mustn't lessen our efforts to do it, as we've got a better chance than many teams in the division, given our 2nd place standing at the moment and for all we know,we might not get another chance.

 

As for Brad Hewitt he can count himself unlucky not to be still be at the club.He seemed a good squad member and put in some spirited performances but he was our fourth choice centre half. Nathan Smart's arrival probably didn't help, as books have to be balanced.

 

Our blip in form seems more down to our creative players going off the boil and dipping under their best levels, which in turn can have a knock on effort on the others, which means players pass the buck and expect others to do the work.

When confidence is high and your team is winning week in,week out, every player wants to be part of it.

When lethargy and bad results kick in, you need your leaders/strong characters to stand up and you need the managers to haul off players who aren't doing the business.

 

A new striker is a must currently but I wouldn't be surprised if we look for another option in centre midfield, at some point too, if we can afford it?

It all depends on what our Chairman is looking for this season?

[Mr Rebel]

Regards to chanting etc although its lovely to have the long terracing behind both goals at AP it does seem to result in the supporters being more widely spread behind the goals. Perhaps bit more organising between those who want to make some noise is required

 

Compare that to away games where the travelling support usually tend to stand much more together and generally results in more noise

[3spirit]

Bring back the drummer !

[Sloughboy]

Excellent summary from Bakes that

[Reading Rebel]

Looks like we've dipped out on the striker that Bakes mentioned in his post.

 

Can't win them all.

Edited December 5, 2016 by Reading Rebel

[3spirit]

Looks like we've dipped out on the striker that Bakes mentioned about in his post.

 

Can't win them all.

 

Not having a lot of luck with this, are we? Surprises me, as thought Slough would be a popular choice currently.

[Reading Rebel]

Not having a lot of luck with this, are we? Surprises me, as thought Slough would be a popular choice currently.

 

 

As you know there could be a whole bunch of reasons why a player turns down a move.

 

On a separate note, Stratford Town have announced on Twitter that Leamington have put in a 7 day approach for their top scorer Richard Gregory. Leamington supporters seem to think that as they've announced it on twitter it's a done deal. Very good signing if it comes off.

 

Very disappointed that we've also dipped out on Tony Mendy     he's signed for Leatherhead. Good luck to them.

Edited December 5, 2016 by Reading Rebel

[3spirit]

As you know there could be a whole bunch of reasons why a player turns down a move.

 

On a separate note, Stratford Town have announced on Twitter that Leamington have put in a 7 day approach for their top scorer Richard Gregory. Leamington supporters seem to think that as they've announced it on twitter it's a done deal. Very good signing if it comes off.

 

Very disappointed that we've also dipped out on Tony Mendy     he's signed for Leatherhead. Good luck to them.

 

Shows they mean business. Hope we can get someone proven, though that won't be easy to do, unless you part with big bucks to get one. 

We may have to look lower down either from the Central or the South and West etc and take a chance on someone. Sometimes you get lucky.

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

Great post bakes. I, for one, never expected us to be "up there" at the end of the year. It's a nice ride and hope it carries on as long as possible.

[C'est la vie]

As you know there could be a whole bunch of reasons why a player turns down a move.

 

On a separate note, Stratford Town have announced on Twitter that Leamington have put in a 7 day approach for their top scorer Richard Gregory. Leamington supporters seem to think that as they've announced it on twitter it's a done deal. Very good signing if it comes off.

 

Very disappointed that we've also dipped out on Tony Mendy he's signed for Leatherhead. Good luck to them.

 

I see Merthyr have re-signed Adam Davies too. Very good player, and was their player of the season last year.

[redwine rebel]

Eddie unless Tony has changed a lot not sure his attitude would sit well with our two managers or us supporters to be honest.

 

Spot on Marcus, I'm still happy

[C'est la vie]

Eddie unless Tony has changed a lot not sure his attitude would sit well with our two managers or us supporters to be honest.

 

Spot on Marcus, I'm still happy

 

Let's see how Jimmy Bullard takes to him ?

[HorshamRebel]

That is a battle with only one winner, and it won't be Tony.

 

It will be interesting to see how bad the atmosphere in the changing room is after a month