V St Ives 13th Jan

[Irishadrian]

St Ives have played 13 home games so far this season and have won just 2 against Gosport and Dunstable the 2 teams tailed off in 23rd and 24th place. We really must go into this game IMO with considerable confidence that we will return to winning ways and kickstart another winning streak

[Guest route104]

A game we should potentially win if it was not for the worst pitch in the league,dont get me wrong St.Ives are a lovely friendly club who make you feel welcome but the pitch does not suit our style of football.looks like may have to be plan Z lump it up to big man up front and hope,lets hope there is no rain before the weekend  but still looking forward to game.

[Reading Rebel]

Yes, agree that we should go into this game confident that we can get a result due our league positions and St Ives poor home record. 

 

Looking a bit closer, St Ives have only 5 players remaining from their game with us at AP and they seem to have turned a bit of a corner recently winning two of their last 3 games which includes a notable draw at Kings Lynn.

 

Add in possibly the worst pitch in the league this game is certainly no forgone conclusion.  

[Matt]

A game we should potentially win if it was not for the worst pitch in the league

 

Looking at photos of Tiverton's pitch after their match Saturday, there may be a new contender! Apparently their scheduled match with Kettering tomorrow evening is in doubt as it's cut up so badly.

[Irishadrian]

Although St Ives have a poor pitch its also Cambridge City's home pitch Cambridge are flying high in a play off place and with one of the best home records in their league St Ives problem this season isn't just the poor surface but their own inability to perform well on it!

[Irishadrian]

Additionally St Ives have a competetive game tomorrow night against a resurgent St Neots which should mean we start as the most rested of the teams on Saturday

[GlenSTFC]

Could also mean they make worse an already dodgy pitch putting our game into jeopardy.

[3spirit]

Given the awful pitch and the need for points, what line up would Slough fans choose for this match.

I would go for a 4-4-2 of

                               Turner

             Fraser     Hollis   Inns    Wells

 

             Smart    Togwell  Webb  Dobson[free to come off the wing]

 

                         B.Harris  Wadkins  

 

I would definitely adapt our style by going more direct but that doesn't mean we have to keep playing a long ball game. I would be encouraging long range shots, looking for ricochets etc, varying our corners and not pussyfoot around in our tackling [ strong but not fouling if poss, ha ha ].

[Irishadrian]

St Ives 1 St Neots 1. Now only 2 home wins out of 14 for StIves St Neots down to 10 men for a large part of the game Roll on Saturday!

[bluerebel]

Reading the match report the pitch was a "quagmire" with plenty of sand scattered around. and the first goal came about from the ball hitting a divot and deflecting past the keeper.

 

Their manager said the pitch is not great, heavy and boggy and that's the way they need it for the game against us to give them any chance because it will be a great leveller. They have a new winger Tom Knowles who is quite pacey.

 

Looks like we will need to battle and our normal fast passing game could get bogged down in the mud. Win ugly if we have to. COYR.

[Dolphin rebel]

No rain forecast between now and Saturday evening.

[Reading Rebel]

Reading the match report the pitch was a "quagmire" with plenty of sand scattered around. and the first goal came about from the ball hitting a divot and deflecting past the keeper.

 

Their manager said the pitch is not great, heavy and boggy and that's the way they need it for the game against us to give them any chance because it will be a great leveller. They have a new winger Tom Knowles who is quite pacey.

 

Looks like we will need to battle and our normal fast passing game could get bogged down in the mud. Win ugly if we have to. COYR.

 

 

Also, loan signing Ben Baker from Kettering who will add pace down the other wing.

 

As you say win ugly if we have to but just get the 3 points. 

[A Rebel and a Saint]

Game off

[Sir Rebel1965]

Great news as I was unable to go today.

 

Can I have the Dorchester game called off as well as will be away for that too?

[GlenSTFC]

Shame as it’s now a long midweek away fixture to add into later in the season probably March. Although by then the pitch possibly won’t be as cut up and we’ll have a fully fit squad. Let’s hope some of the other results go our way and Hereford draw in the trophy and win the replay.

[GlenSTFC]

Kings Lynn, Weymouth and Kettering all drew today which is certainly unexpected and very well received from our point of view.

[bluerebel]

Obviously good for us but also places Hereford in a very strong position. 

[GlenSTFC]

Unfortunately for us they’re out of the FA Trophy so they’re now fully focused on the league. I can see them being top soon so unless we go on a long winning run it’ll be hard to keep pace, but not to say we can’t do it starting Tuesday!

[bluerebel]

Shame as it’s now a long midweek away fixture to add into later in the season probably March. Although by then the pitch possibly won’t be as cut up and we’ll have a fully fit squad. Let’s hope some of the other results go our way and Hereford draw in the trophy and win the replay.

 

The only problem is Cambridge ground share with them so the pitch does not get much time to recover.

 

A bit contentious but if a club has a reputation for bad pitches should the league have any authority to stop ground sharing at the start of the season?

 

Almost got what you wanted. Hereford have Gosport on Tuesday when we have Dorchester. Would be a major surprise if Hereford did not get all 3 points.

[Reading Rebel]

Kings Lynn, Weymouth and Kettering all drew today which is certainly unexpected and very well received from our point of view.

 

 

I'm not overly surprised by KL drawing at Frome.

 

As we know to our cost Frome can be a very difficult place to go to and get a result. 

 

Also, was Weymouth drawing at Stratford such a big surprise.

 

Both these away fixtures are difficult to get anything from especially the 3 points.

Edited January 13, 2018 by Reading Rebel