Conference South

[Curtis]

And we beat both of them with the squad we finished the season with.

[sdelaney]

SD, your talking about a one off game at the end of a long hard season.

 

How many points did two of the biggest teams KL and Kettering take off us in the league?

 

As SF say's I don't think any one of us even you would say no to Michael Gash up front.

In my post I did not mention him and yes he is a very good player and of cause you would like in your side over a season

But in the most important game of the season for him apart from the first twenty five minutes when he was dangerous, where was he after that.

[sdelaney]

Floody has knocked down some great headers for Perry Manny and co over the season so of course you need that type.

But don.t go over board about it.

 

I can remember the away game on a tuesday night at St Neots a couple of seasons ago and there tall young centre halves looked at each at the kick off when they saw Manny and thought what an easy night for us tonight.

Manny ran rings round them like many other partnerships during his time with us

[Reading Rebel]

Floody has knocked down some great headers for Perry Manny and co over the season so of course you need that type.

But don.t go over board about it.

 

I can remember the away game on a tuesday night at St Neots a couple of seasons ago and there tall young centre halves looked at each at the kick off when they saw Manny and thought what an easy night for us tonight.

Manny ran rings round them like many other partnerships during his time with us

 

 

SD, are you sure you've got the right player and game?

 

We drew 1-1 away to St Neots in 2016/17 season and Manny got carried off early in the second half with an ankle injury.

[sdelaney]

SD, are you sure you've got the right player and game?

 

We drew 1-1 away to St Neots in 2016/17 season and Manny got carried off early in the second half with an ankle injury.

Correct i was there.

[3spirit]

To be fair sdelane Gash of KL caused us all kind of problems in the home game and the final.

 

I think having the variety up front is the ideal scenario. That way we can adapt to the game situation and have plenty of options depending on home / away, pitch and opposition. With variety also comes uncertainty from the opposition managers and players as they aren't sure what we will have up front. Having 3/4 of the same player will make us predictable and easier to defend against.

 

I also agree with a bigger midfielder to compliment Togs and Dunn. I wonder if Davies stays? If so, a bigger midfielder again gives us options.

 

I think our weakest area seems to be defending corners and free kicks, perhaps a taller, stronger in the air centre back will be on the cards to aid us in that area. Add to that a bigger forward and midfielder and we will be more of a presence in both boxes.

 

I agree totally, Slough Flyer. 

 

I think some posters misintepret what is being said

.

Nobody has said get rid of last season's squad. The point being made by myself, Reading Rebel and Slough Flyer is that we should be looking to enhance it, for what wll be a difficult season in a higher division

 

If Slough had been the best team in the Southern Premier we would have won the title and finished 1st.

As good as Slough have been this season, we finished third and proved to be a good cup final side by winning two play off games but there are still areas in our team that can be improved. Like most sides in the land,

 

Does anyone believe Slough will do a Hereford and win the Conference South? Anyone believing that is deluded.

Realistically; I think we should be aiming for around a 15th place finish. Of course, anything higher would be a superb effort and a bonus but unlikely to happen.

 

To me, with the right additions, Slough can keep out of the relegation places and progress to establish our team in the Conference South, and I'm sure that's what Bakes and Unders will be aiming for.

Edited May 17, 2018 by 3spirit

[REBEL MATTERS]

Concurred 3spirit. Some let their hearts rule their heads. Lets be real about this, we are the new boys to the league. There are teams who have been in this league for a few seasons, so already have a headstart on us with regards to understanding the league, your opposition strengths and weaknesses. 

 

It took us a while to get used to the Southern League before establishing players needed to improve and compete.

 

I don't want us (as fans) getting on the management back if we lose our first couple of games (as we are a whinging lot at times, especially where I sit in the stand and notice Neil picks up on it).

 

If we are still in the NLS this time next season, I for one will be a happy Rebel.

[GlenSTFC]

Exactly we need to have realistic ambitions especially in our first season. Any fan would take 5th bottom if offered now. Of course you hope and I’m confident we can do better than that. The problem is over the last 5 seasons we’ve been used to being a top side expected to win most games, so it’ll be a little cultural shock if we do go a few games without a win. I think we all know though that any player in our colours will be giving everything they’ve got and let’s just enjoy the ride with many matches to look forward to.

[Stan]

Of course the higher you go the more important physical presence becomes but don't confuse that with simple height. Warren Harris is not the tallest player in the world doesn't win many headers but doesn't lose many either, nearly always puts the taller defender under pressure to scuff his header out for a throw or corner or dangerous knock down .

Look at Floods equaliser against KL , hangs in the air beating taller defenders.

Mannys winner was nothing to do with height , it was Davies good release to Dobbo , Dobbos killer early cross and Manny sublime touch .

It was notable when we played Rochdale how much bigger they were than us , but that's not why they beat us 4-0, it was because they were good !

[Stuntman Mark]

In my post I did not mention him and yes he is a very good player and of cause you would like in your side over a season

But in the most important game of the season for him apart from the first twenty five minutes when he was dangerous, where was he after that.

 

Guy Hollis' back pocket.

 

COYR!

[Reading Rebel]

Wealdstone have released 13 players.

 

Not surprising because for the money they were shelling they had a poor season for their high expectations.

 

Also after last season Bobby Wilkinson is a manager under real pressure to get it right for next season.

[Gashimoto]

It all comes down to they way you want to play going forward, a quality small 9 can do well. I remember Mark West, he was a great striker and I can't remember him heading the ball at all!

[Reading Rebel]

It all comes down to they way you want to play going forward, a quality small 9 can do well. I remember Mark West, he was a great striker and I can't remember him heading the ball at all!

 

 

Of course it does and I'm sure we all want to see the ball played on the deck but there are still loads of times where the ball is in the air.

 

Goal Kicks, corners, free kicks, long throw ins, clearances.

 

Not just going forward but defensively as well.

[Reading Rebel]

Billericay have released 8 players.

 

With their money I think we can expect some big signings from them.

[GlenSTFC]

I dunno Glenn did say their wage bill would be £10,000 per week, although he’s been known to change his mind once or ten...

[michaelSTFC]

It all comes down to they way you want to play going forward, a quality small 9 can do well. I remember Mark West, he was a great striker and I can't remember him heading the ball at all!

The only one I can remember is the last minute equaliser in the cup at Farnborough when he deftly stooped to head home Moussy Dick's colossal punt forward.

Edited May 19, 2018 by michaelSTFC

[Sir Rebel1965]

Perry Coles proved otherwise ! 

To be fair to Bakes and Unders they proved that the team don't have to be giants to win a division.

 

I openly admit to being dubious about the Perry Coles signing at the time because I thought the amount of high balls we put in from crosses warranted a 6ft+ striker.

 

Against Kings Lynn in the play off final, I was flabberghasted by the antics of the big Kings Lynn players who fell over so easy when tackled by the willing but diminutive Perry Coles. Absolutely embarassing to watch.

I'm amazed Ian Culverhouse didn't get into his players at half time about it.

 

I still think we would benefit by having a  6ft+ striker and I also think it wouldn't do any harm to have 6ft+ centre half in the squad but as women know ' size really doesn't matter, does it? !  ha ha ha.

We have not won a division - we won promotion.

[3spirit]

It all comes down to they way you want to play going forward, a quality small 9 can do well. I remember Mark West, he was a great striker and I can't remember him heading the ball at all!

 

Mark West isn't a great example of your theory. I do agree,though, he was a class act, but what you are missing are the players he played off of to get his goals.

Taking into consideration the size of his team mates around him At Wycombe, for example he had Nicky Evans,Andy Robinson Keith Scott,Kim Casey along side at various times, none of them where small, while in defence,who would push up for corners, 6ft 4' Glyn Creaser, 6ft 2' Andy Kerr,6ft 2' Matt Crossley.

In midfield you had tall players in Dave Carroll, Simon Stapleton and the excellent crosser of a ball Steve Guppy.

By the way Mark West was 5ft 10' so he's hardly Perry Coles.

 

At Slough,up front he played alongside Gary Abbot, Cliff Hercules and Lloyd Owusu, not a midget amongst them.

[Reading Rebel]

It's certainly sh#t or bust for Bobby Wilkinson. 10 new players announced yesterday all on at least a 1 year contract. Apparently there's more to come, hopefully one of them is not the player that 3spirit likes. 

Edited May 19, 2018 by Reading Rebel

[GlenSTFC]

Oh him yeah well my sources tell me he’s already signed for another National South team not that far from Wealdstone...