v St Ives

[Reading Rebel]

After 2 consecutive defeats, expecting a massive reaction in the next game against the bottom side (they are there for a reason!) you have be confident of a win, anything less will make top spot very difficult considering the amount of away games this month plus playing Leamington and Chippenham. Of course you can say winning any game in this league is a given but I doubt I'm not the only one who'd be devastated and annoyed if we don't win Tuesday.

 

 

Glen, they are there for a reason but as the season wears on things change i.e. management changes, player changes and very importantly the weather and pitches change.

 

Of course we have to be confident but unless we apply ourselves properly to the challenge of playing a team that will be fighting for every ball on a pitch that will suit Cinderford more than us then we will be in for a rude awakening regardless of their league position.

[kirk]

Another game thrown away defeated by yet again by a team lower than us in the league. I don't think we will win the league now , the play offs our best hope .We have to beat Cinderford , but I worry that they are lower than us in the tables.

[Reading Rebel]

Neil, understandable then why Gav was out of sorts, apologies.

 

I also accept that the pitch wasn't the best but should he even be in the starting 11, if he is that bad?

 

Why don't we go and get ourselves a target man for the squad? Yesterday our play was crying out for one.

The two previous seasons, we have hit rocky patches of form, with winter pitches, so it's no surprise that our current team, used to playing free flowing football in summer/autumn, are going to struggle to adapt their tactics to heavy pitches.

 

While I like watching great passing football, yesterday's pitch wasn't ideal for that.

We need a forward who can hold the ball up/shield the ball,so that our attacking players can play off of him, when we need a more direct approach to our attacking play.

Someone not afraid of big centre halves,who's willing to put himself about and can hold off a player and is useful in the air.

He wouldn't be needed every game but would certainly be an asset for these winter type of games.

 

It is an exaggeration to say that a target man has to be 6ft 6'.   Six foot would do !   

 

I can think of a type of player like this, who is ex Staines Town and is currently playing at Fleet, who would fit the bill. Might be worth an inquiry? Unless you can think of someone better or easier to obtain?

 

I haven't heard your interview, Neil, where can I find it ? Didn't see it on the SloughTown website.       

 

 

The trouble is 3spirit where will you find this good player who is prepared to play a bit part?

 

BTW are you thinking of Pat Cox?

[3spirit]

Another game thrown away defeated by yet again by a team lower than us in the league. I don't think we will win the league now , the play offs our best hope .We have to beat Cinderford , but I worry that they are lower than us in the tables.

 

Not the time to press the panic button, Kirk.  Plenty of games left to get it right.    

[3spirit]

The trouble is 3spirit where will you find this good player who is prepared to play a bit part?

 

BTW are you thinking of Pat Cox?

 

Yes I was thinking of Pat Cox.  Reminds me of Simon Martin. Scores his fair share of goals but I wouldn't say he's a player of finesse !

 

I don't mean a bit part player. I mean if he plays well and the team play well, he's in the team.

It's having the option and competition up front to be the starting pair.

 

We could free up some money by letting a right back go out on loan or releasing a winger,if money has got tight?

[staines_rebel_Jr]

3spirit, do you mean Simon Martin as in former slough and Hitchin. If so, then suggesting he is a target man has to be the best joke of the year so far.

[RebelDelaney]

As we have seen this season there are certain players in the opposition ranks who get under our skins disrupting play by all means possible and doing anything above the call of duty for there team.

Is this the type of player we are missing.

I was the first to say what a cheat a certain Mr Donnelly was but I would like him ìn my team.

[3spirit]

3spirit, do you mean Simon Martin as in former slough and Hitchin. If so, then suggesting he is a target man has to be the best joke of the year so far.

 

What is your definition of a target man, SRJ?

 

By the way SRJ have you ever looked at Simon Martin's non league record before he ever got to Slough?

[staines_rebel_Jr]

3spirit, you yourself said a target man should be able to compete physically with big rugged centre backs and provide an aerial threat so we can play direct balls into them. Simon Martin was very weak and bottled most headers he ever went for, losing the ball often and missing some very easy headers. Plus add to that the number of times he bottled it whenever through one on one with the goal keeper.

 

His goal scoring record with us was 1 in 4 which is average at best (playing at the league below competing for playoffs and promotion)

Compare to;

Sean Sonner - approx 1 in 3

Lee Barney - 1 in 2

Charlie Moone - 1 in 2

Danny Burnell - better than 1 in 2

Ed Smith - better than 1 in 2 (2 in 3)

[Irishadrian]

3Spirit

Its on our Twitterfeed.

[Irishadrian]

Ignore that 3 spirit bloody hand held missed a page!

[Irishadrian]

I really dont know where the notion that Cinderford are putting up a fight and getting better in an attempt to stay in the league is coming from. Certainly not supported by fact. Last 8 games 1 draw 7 losses previous 8 games 1 win 7 losses Obviously they are packing their defence and trying their best but no improvement at all. Those saying we should expect to win are correct imo I dont expect it to be easy and definately a game for battlers not bottlers.

[Reading Rebel]

I really dont know where the notion that Cinderford are putting up a fight and getting better in an attempt to stay in the league is coming from. Certainly not supported by fact. Last 8 games 1 draw 7 losses previous 8 games 1 win 7 losses Obviously they are packing their defence and trying their best but no improvement at all. Those saying we should expect to win are correct imo I dont expect it to be easy and definately a game for battlers not bottlers.

 

 

The results stats say you are correct but how did they play in those games? did they compete? were they a tad unlucky not to get something from those games?

 

I just read some of the twitter quotes from their game with Biggleswade and it said that they were unlucky not to get something from the game. 

 

I really don't agree with you that we should 'expect to win' the game on Tuesday.

[Reading Rebel]

What is your definition of a target man, SRJ?

 

By the way SRJ have you ever looked at Simon Martin's non league record before he ever got to Slough?

 

 

Simon Martin was a useful player but unfortunately for us he was on the decline when he came to Slough.

 

Scored the odd good goal but his overall play was not really up to scratch.

[Reading Rebel]

Yes I was thinking of Pat Cox.  Reminds me of Simon Martin. Scores his fair share of goals but I wouldn't say he's a player of finesse !

 

I don't mean a bit part player. I mean if he plays well and the team play well, he's in the team.

It's having the option and competition up front to be the starting pair.

 

We could free up some money by letting a right back go out on loan or releasing a winger,if money has got tight?

 

 

My mistake 3spirit. When you said 'He wouldn't be needed every game' I thought you meant he would only be required for certain games.

[Reading Rebel]

Yes I was thinking of Pat Cox.  Reminds me of Simon Martin. Scores his fair share of goals but I wouldn't say he's a player of finesse !

 

I don't mean a bit part player. I mean if he plays well and the team play well, he's in the team.

It's having the option and competition up front to be the starting pair.

 

We could free up some money by letting a right back go out on loan or releasing a winger,if money has got tight?

 

 

I really haven't seen much of Pat Cox to pass a comment on his abilities but I don't think he really made an impression at Staines and he does seem to be a player who tries to make it at other clubs and always seems to end up back at Fleet.   

[Irishadrian]

ReadingRebel

 

Yes sometimes teams really dont deserve the result they get Weve had a few of those in recent seasons.One of two things will be true regarding Cinderford either theyve been very unlucky all season regardless of the opposition or theyve been very poor all season.

[HEAVY TRUCKER]

wasn't able to get to the game saturday but i'm willing to bet we played the long ball game.

[HEAVY TRUCKER]

might be an idea that we train on an old park pitch when we have matches to be played on grass pitches instead of the pristine surface at ap.

[Reading Rebel]

wasn't able to get to the game saturday but i'm willing to bet we played the long ball game.

 

 

HT, as far as I'm aware our plan was to adapt our playing style to the conditions at St. Ives i.e. be more direct on a surface not suitable for a passing game.

 

The real problem seems to have been that we just didn't defend well enough and not that we reverted to the long ball game.

 

BTW talking of part timers where have you been for the last month or so?

Edited January 9, 2017 by Reading Rebel