St Neots 23/9/17

[3spirit]

Oh well Neil. these things happen but on positive, at least Spurs beat the Hammers !

[Stan]

Think it was clear from the management going absolutely mad at some of the balls we played that the players were not executing the agreed plan! We were flat as a pancake from the first whistle to the last, no drive, no energy , no movement. We barely kept the ball for more than a couple of passes and we never turned their defence or put them under sustained pressure. We looked more like a team who had lost 8 , so much did we lack confidence in ourselves, rather than a team that should have been flying. Very frustrating.

[staines_rebel_Jr]

Neil what is the news on Simon Dunn, was it his hamstring?

[Reading Rebel]

I'm not sure how any one watching the game thought we were playing 5 in midfield because it was plainly obvious that we were playing Floody and Lenchy as the attacking pair.

 

Have to be honest and say it was a truly awful performance from us.

 

We were not at the races from start to finish and were soundly beaten by a hard working team that played route one football at every opportunity. 

 

Really frustrating game because we just seemed to tippy-toe through the game hoping something would happen whilst St Neots played to their strengths closing us down at every opportunity just through sheer hard work and hoofing the ball forward to their lively forwards.

 

It's early days and our first really bad performance but these are the sort of games we need to be getting something from if we have any aspirations of winning this league.

Edited September 23, 2017 by Reading Rebel

[PaxtonLee]

Oh well Neil. these things happen but on positive, at least Spurs beat the Hammers !

Was looking forward to a Spurs Slough double today but alas not. End of a good run and hopefully Tuesday the start of another.

[Neil Baker]

Neil what is the news on Simon Dunn, was it his hamstring?

Was his hamstring, too early to tell, but it is probably a tear, so will be out for a while.

[Irishadrian]

I think 3 Spirit makes a good point re complacency We have a good early season points total but we must remember where they've come from We have 1 win against teams in the top twelve and have beaten the 18th 22nd 23rd and 24th teams some very comfortable victories that may have some players believing that maximum effort isn't required in every game I'm sure Jon/Neil will have had had a robust post match chat with the lads.

[Sir Rebel1965]

I'm not sure how any one watching the game thought we were playing 5 in midfield because it was plainly obvious that we were playing Floody and Lenchy as the attacking pair.

 

Have to be honest and say it was a truly awful performance from us.

 

We were not at the races from start to finish and were soundly beaten by a hard working team that played route one football at every opportunity. 

 

Really frustrating game because we just seemed to tippy-toe through the game hoping something would happen whilst St Neots played to their strengths closing us down at every opportunity just through sheer hard work and hoofing the ball forward to their lively forwards.

 

It's early days and our first really bad performance but these are the sort of games we need to be getting something from if we have any aspirations of winning this league.

Well Lench is quoted on the club site as a midfielder, and then having Gav on the bench would lead anyone to think it was 4-5-1, but it did not help that players were popping up all over the place and leaving big gaps, leading anyone to wonder what formation we were actually playing.  If we should have been playing 2 up front why did Gav not start as it would then have helped with the long balls forward?

 

It was not the first bad performance - the opening game against Kettering was not dissimilar.

[Bernie Gogan]

I was on holiday for the Kettering game, so can't compare St.Neots match with

that one. This was a poor performance, we really did not get going. The

injury to Simon Dunn disrupted things somewhat and we can never tell now

whether his drive would have wrestled the game in our favour. At 1-1 we were

still capable of pulling off a win, but a 10-15 minute spell of pressure from

St. Newts turned the game, we looked like we might concede at that point

and of course we did. The scorer Meechan, on loan from Hungerford, was a

class act all game and that 2nd goal (and his 2nd) was an excellent finish.

 

We had chances throughout the game, but it just was not our day and we

deservedly lost in the end.

 

This is the sort of game we need to dig out a result and it appears we still

haven't learnt from similar situations and opposition from last season.

[A Rebel and a Saint]

I'm well aware that we were playing Lench up with Flood however there is a difference between playing 2 strikers and 1 striker with a midfielder.  Manny has the skills to make that position his own but from what I've seen with other players it doesn't quite work.  At any level of the game, even when claiming to play with a second man up front, you see teams hoofing the ball up the pitch when there's only one proper striker on the pitch, even if they've been told not to.  I just don't think it works for us and my opinion is that we're better when we start with 2 strikers as we have in the last 8 games got the upper hand from the off by doing so and then are able to turn the screw in the second half.

[Reading Rebel]

I'm well aware that we were playing Lench up with Flood however there is a difference between playing 2 strikers and 1 striker with a midfielder.  Manny has the skills to make that position his own but from what I've seen with other players it doesn't quite work.  At any level of the game, even when claiming to play with a second man up front, you see teams hoofing the ball up the pitch when there's only one proper striker on the pitch, even if they've been told not to.  I just don't think it works for us and my opinion is that we're better when we start with 2 strikers as we have in the last 8 games got the upper hand from the off by doing so and then are able to turn the screw in the second half.

 

 

That's funny I thought you said we played with '5 in midfield'?

[Reading Rebel]

I was on holiday for the Kettering game, so can't compare St.Neots match with

that one. This was a poor performance, we really did not get going. The

injury to Simon Dunn disrupted things somewhat and we can never tell now

whether his drive would have wrestled the game in our favour. At 1-1 we were

still capable of pulling off a win, but a 10-15 minute spell of pressure from

St. Newts turned the game, we looked like we might concede at that point

and of course we did. The scorer Meechan, on loan from Hungerford, was a

class act all game and that 2nd goal (and his 2nd) was an excellent finish.

 

We had chances throughout the game, but it just was not our day and we

deservedly lost in the end.

 

This is the sort of game we need to dig out a result and it appears we still

haven't learnt from similar situations and opposition from last season.

 

Yes Bernie, agree Meechan's second goal was a class finish but you have to look at the defending or non defending leading up to the goal.

[A Rebel and a Saint]

That's funny I thought you said we played with '5 in midfield'?

Apologies, I worded it badly, the point I was trying to make was that I felt it better to play with 2 strikers, as opposed to using 5 midfielders with one playing behind the striker.

[3spirit]

I'm well aware that we were playing Lench up with Flood however there is a difference between playing 2 strikers and 1 striker with a midfielder.  Manny has the skills to make that position his own but from what I've seen with other players it doesn't quite work.  At any level of the game, even when claiming to play with a second man up front, you see teams hoofing the ball up the pitch when there's only one proper striker on the pitch, even if they've been told not to.  I just don't think it works for us and my opinion is that we're better when we start with 2 strikers as we have in the last 8 games got the upper hand from the off by doing so and then are able to turn the screw in the second half.

 

I'm well aware that we were playing Lench up with Flood however there is a difference between playing 2 strikers and 1 striker with a midfielder.  Manny has the skills to make that position his own but from what I've seen with other players it doesn't quite work.  At any level of the game, even when claiming to play with a second man up front, you see teams hoofing the ball up the pitch when there's only one proper striker on the pitch, even if they've been told not to.  I just don't think it works for us and my opinion is that we're better when we start with 2 strikers as we have in the last 8 games got the upper hand from the off by doing so and then are able to turn the screw in the second half.

 

The thing is, ARAAS, we're trying to accomodate players because we've got such a good squad and so the managers are trying out players in varying positions,which sometimes comes off and sometimes doesn't.

My view is that I don't mind them doing that and Matt Lench is worth a run out up front, as he has proven a useful player in front of goal but they need to be cuter when they try out things.

 

That said I would have started the game with Floody  and Gav up front on Saturday and maybe of trialled Lench as a replacement for a striker late on,if Slough had built a good lead.

The trouble with playing anyone out of their normal position, is when the result is a loss, the managers get damned for it. Yet if they win, everyone raves about it.

 

On Matt Lench, I'm not sure what his best position is and I don't think Bakes and Unders know,in context of the team,what is his best role is either.

 My opinion is now Simon Dunn is out, I would like to see him play the advanced role in a central midfield 3, thus sitting in the 'hole' behind the front two,which leads me nicely along to the team I would play against Redditch

[on the other thread].   

Edited September 25, 2017 by 3spirit

[3spirit]

Sorry about ARAAS message coming up twice. Glitch on my system.

[Reading Rebel]

The thing is, ARAAS, we're trying to accomodate players because we've got such a good squad and so the managers are trying out players in varying positions,which sometimes comes off and sometimes doesn't.

My view is that I don't mind them doing that and Matt Lench is worth a run out up front, as he has proven a useful player in front of goal but they need to be cuter when they try out things.

 

That said I would have started the game with Floody  and Gav up front on Saturday and maybe of trialled Lench as a replacement for a striker late on,if Slough had built a good lead.

The trouble with playing anyone out of their normal position, is when the result is a loss, the managers get damned for it. Yet if they win, everyone raves about it.

 

On Matt Lench, I'm not sure what his best position is and I don't think Bakes and Unders know,in context of the team,what is his best role is either.

 My opinion is now Simon Dunn is out, I would like to see him play the advanced role in a central midfield 3, thus sitting in the 'hole' behind the front two,which leads me nicely along to the team I would play against Redditch

[on the other thread].   

 

 

I think Matt Lench is paying the price for being a player that is versatile and as such if players are rested or brought into the starting 11 it's very likely that Matt Lench will be moved to accommodate the new player or different formation. 

 

Personally I'd always play Lenchy in midfield for his range of passing and vision.

 

I certainly wouldn't put him on the bench as a replacement striker if that's what you meant 3spirit.

[3spirit]

I think Matt Lench is paying the price for being a player that is versatile and as such if players are rested or brought into the starting 11 it's very likely that Matt Lench will be moved to accommodate the new player or different formation. 

 

Personally I'd always play Lenchy in midfield for his range of passing and vision.

 

I certainly wouldn't put him on the bench as a replacement striker if that's what you meant 3spirit.

 

No,. that's not what I mean't by replacement. I was meaning if one of our strikers had to come off and as a alternative to using a sub striker,we could push Matt Lench forward.

Funny enough I wonder why we haven't tried Dobbo up front, given his uncanny knack of banging in the goals.

 

I agree I see Matt Lench as a midfield player foremost, just as I see Dobbo as a winger but that's the beauty of our current crop of players,the versatility of them gives us so different options.

 

Now that Simon Dunn is out, I think Matt Lench has a good chance,at some point, of a place in centre midfield.