Torquay away

[Reading Rebel]

Having looked at the video a gesture was made to the crowd, what that gesture is I personally cannot make out from the footage.

IMO regardless of what the gesture is it will be construed by the authorities as a gesture that will incite the crowd so I think we can expect Ben to get a ban. 

On the tackle itself, even if you don't connect with the player it looks bad and of course the player will go down in a heap screaming and clutching his leg and then bounce back up so it's the sort of tackle that you cannot do these day's and get away with it. I think many refs would have given a straight red card for that type of tackle.

[Irishadrian]

All that's certain about that video is that the gesture made to the Torquay fans was  not required and forced the ref to decide the meaning. It does seem unless its edited that he got a yellow for the tackle and a straight red for the gesture (can't see a second yellow)

If that's the case then in his last 12 games Ben has collected 7 yellow and  1 red cards. 8 cards in 12 games 

The good news is in Neils post saying that Ben has been spoken to and made aware of what's acceptable and what isn't Let's hope he takes it onboard When things are going well he's a great player but gets frustrated quickly and the nonsense starts .

[epicrebel]

4 hours ago, Radders said:

3spirit, abusing may not be the best word but you are certainly on Ben Harris’ back virtually every week. You have questioned his character on numerous occasions and have made it very clear you don’t want him around our club. As others have pointed out his disciplinary record is no worse than many of our other players - I don’t care if, in your opinion, he should have been booked in every game he’s played, he hasn’t been and that’s the facts. His booking on New Years Day was for a hard tackle, but in my opinion and many others (who were standing right next to it) a fair tackle that we have been crying out for our players to make for years - we can’t have it both ways. 

I wasn’t at Torquay, however I said to others that if Ben had have given the gesture of which he was accused, I would have no arguments with the managers making any decisions necessary, including getting rid. However, as Bakes has now said, it appears he didn’t make this particular gesture and therefore I expect and hope to see Ben back in a Slough shirt for many more games. In our current squad he would be in my starting 11 week in, week out mainly due to his passion, commitment and whole hearted approach.

NOW any apologies to Ben any one ??????????????????

(just using your post Radders)

[epicrebel]

44 minutes ago, Irishadrian said:

All that's certain about that video is that the gesture made to the Torquay fans was  not required and forced the ref to decide the meaning. It does seem unless its edited that he got a yellow for the tackle and a straight red for the gesture (can't see a second yellow)

If that's the case then in his last 12 games Ben has collected 7 yellow and  1 red cards. 8 cards in 12 games 

The good news is in Neils post saying that Ben has been spoken to and made aware of what's acceptable and what isn't Let's hope he takes it onboard When things are going well he's a great player but gets frustrated quickly and the nonsense starts .

You can only appeal a red not 2 yellows.

[Irishadrian]

That's why I called it a straight red!

[Reading Rebel]

1 hour ago, epicrebel said:

NOW any apologies to Ben any one ??????????????????

(just using your post Radders)

No apologies required.

[Neil Baker]

3 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

Having looked at the video a gesture was made to the crowd, what that gesture is I personally cannot make out from the footage.

IMO regardless of what the gesture is it will be construed by the authorities as a gesture that will incite the crowd so I think we can expect Ben to get a ban. 

On the tackle itself, even if you don't connect with the player it looks bad and of course the player will go down in a heap screaming and clutching his leg and then bounce back up so it's the sort of tackle that you cannot do these day's and get away with it. I think many refs would have given a straight red card for that type of tackle.

I get what you are saying RR! However he has not been sent off for inciting the crowd, that is actually a cautionable offence, he has been sent off for a specific gesture, which it clearly is not.

however you are right in that it will come down to the FA, though it should be said I have had a call from the match ref as promised, and he confirmed what he thought he saw from Ben and the reason he sent him off did not happen.

We will appeal and keep our fingers crossed, in the meantime, he now knows our stance, and we now need to put it behind us and focus on the next game.

[Martin]

He was conducting the crowd. Not incitement and certainly not original gesture ref thought therefore appeal should be successful. 

In all likelihood we would have lost the game anyway as Torquay are an excellent side with home advantage etc. We were a missed penalty away from taking three points at home but to be honest when the fixtures came out I would have taken 1 point from the two games so no harm done really. 

I think the criticism of Ben from some is way over the top. He is one of ours, our job is to support and encourage. If you feel the need to criticise at least try and make it constructive. 

I personally like his work rate and the fact he will put himself about. Probably they were his instructions Saturday. If the game plan was to frustrate Torquay, he would be your first line of defence with the aim of stretching the game and given the defenders a really hard shift before perhaps opting for the pace of Dobbo or DNW later on. Not to be but that's the red's error not his. I can see how it happened. Ref is noting the booking looks up and sees Ben waving his arm around. Harsh lesson learnt. 

Another tough game Tuesday COYR

[epicrebel]

3 hours ago, Martin said:

He was conducting the crowd. Not incitement and certainly not original gesture ref thought therefore appeal should be successful. 

In all likelihood we would have lost the game anyway as Torquay are an excellent side with home advantage etc. We were a missed penalty away from taking three points at home but to be honest when the fixtures came out I would have taken 1 point from the two games so no harm done really. 

I think the criticism of Ben from some is way over the top. He is one of ours, our job is to support and encourage. If you feel the need to criticise at least try and make it constructive. 

I personally like his work rate and the fact he will put himself about. Probably they were his instructions Saturday. If the game plan was to frustrate Torquay, he would be your first line of defence with the aim of stretching the game and given the defenders a really hard shift before perhaps opting for the pace of Dobbo or DNW later on. Not to be but that's the red's error not his. I can see how it happened. Ref is noting the booking looks up and sees Ben waving his arm around. Harsh lesson learnt. 

Another tough game Tuesday COYR

That's why I think he's dew an apology from some for jumping the gun and slating him. 

[Reading Rebel]

5 hours ago, Martin said:

He was conducting the crowd. Not incitement and certainly not original gesture ref thought therefore appeal should be successful. 

In all likelihood we would have lost the game anyway as Torquay are an excellent side with home advantage etc. We were a missed penalty away from taking three points at home but to be honest when the fixtures came out I would have taken 1 point from the two games so no harm done really. 

I think the criticism of Ben from some is way over the top. He is one of ours, our job is to support and encourage. If you feel the need to criticise at least try and make it constructive. 

I personally like his work rate and the fact he will put himself about. Probably they were his instructions Saturday. If the game plan was to frustrate Torquay, he would be your first line of defence with the aim of stretching the game and given the defenders a really hard shift before perhaps opting for the pace of Dobbo or DNW later on. Not to be but that's the red's error not his. I can see how it happened. Ref is noting the booking looks up and sees Ben waving his arm around. Harsh lesson learnt. 

Another tough game Tuesday COYR

I also like the fact that Ben Harris puts himself about but IMO he needs to be a bit smarter when doing it.  The type of challenge he did on Saturday was not the way to go about it and will see him booked or sent off more often than not.    

On the type of gesture and an appeal being successful will probably depend on what the Ref put in his report.

Edited January 7, 2019 by Reading Rebel

[Reading Rebel]

Ben Harris has been suspended for 2 matches.

Hopefully this has been done before we've had time to put in an appeal.

[SloughFlyer]

I wanted to stay fairly quiet on this one until seeing the footage as couldn't make the trip on Saturday.

Unfortunately Ben Harris has been a fool here. He has given the ref a decision to make and having just been booked for a pretty poor tackle in a place not needed at a time of the game not needed. A fairly brainless, thoughtless move and one that put the team to 10 men in a massively tough game.

I'm sure Neil and Jon have dealt with him and hopefully he will learrn and from this as if he is playing, we need to ensure we don't go down to 10 men for such silly reasons.

I agree with 3spirit in respect of him getting away with quite a bit this season thus far. He needs to play on the edge but not step.over it. More importantly, he needs to start doing what he is in the side for, which is scoring goals. 

[Richierebel1]

I agree with everything Martin said about the incident, I was there and saw the incident, the tackle that he made is a typical forwards tackle that you see up and down the country, I even said to my mate laughing oh look he`s waving at the crowd!  I found it funny until I saw the referee running towards him!  It was always going to be a tough game against a full time team that were in the football league side two seasons or so ago.

[carols52]

Do you not think any referee is going to ignore gestures to the crowd whatever it is...........only saying.

[epicrebel]

2 minutes ago, carols52 said:

Do you not think any referee is going to ignore gestures to the crowd whatever it is...........only saying.

Well yes if it's not abusive.

 

[3spirit]

Bakes and Unders have made their decision on Ben, and are sticking by him. That's fair enough. 

I have given my honest opinion on Ben on here and won't be retracting my comments about him. However,if he cleans up his act and starts doing the business for the Slough team, I will come on this forum and say about his good performances. I've not got a grudge against Ben Harris. I never have had. My comments about his play are correct in my eyes. Others can turn a blind eye to things but I'm not that type of bloke, nor wish to be.

Epic Rebel,seems to have it in his head, it is because I want a tall striker in Ben's place. That isn't true.

I want a tall striker to complement the batch of 4 strikers we have. For me Chris Flood is our best striker. He's my number one choice out of 4. Dejon Noel Williams is a stop gap. Ben Harris I see as a useful 4th choice for the squad but not what I would call a first team regular for the Conference South outfit [ Premier Division -yes, Conference South-no]. Manny Williams is a very useful utility forward but time isn't on his side. So from my point of view, our forward line will need a big improvement, when we are serious about making ourselves a regular top of the table team.

This season is more about not sliding down the table than making the play offs. So far, our squad and managers have over achieved to where I expected the team to be in the table, and with the commendable FA Cup run, you cannot argue that they haven't done well.

To be frank, I didn't expect Slough to get any points at Torquay. They are a full time outfit,who have now recruited a top name manager.They are on a terrific run of results, and their crowds are increasing, because of this and the Gary Johnson appointment.There was always going to be a daunting,intimidatory atmosphere with such a large crowd and vociferous support.  Slough Town FC are a developing part time club. We needed eleven players on the pitch to get anything from the game. The fact we were 0-0 at half time was brilliant IMO but through one player's actions, we blew our chance to get anything off, what is effectively a League club playing at a non-league level.

Had it been one of our other players who got sent off at this crucial time in the match, I would have been moaning about him on this forum as well. The fact it was Ben Harris, wasn't a surprise. Just peed me off, as his antics have been getting worse, as each week goes by.

I've said all I'm going to say on the subject now. Let's hope for an entertaining game tonight against tough opponents Bath City.

 

[Stan]

Ben is not the first and and won’t be the last Slough player to get sent off. Whether he should or should not have conducted the crowd is now a lesson learned ! One thing we know about Bakes and Unders is that they have certain standards and you either adhere to them , learn from mistakes when you don’t or ship out. 

Having  watched the video the thing that struck me most was all you could hear was the 117,rebels fans right the way through. 

‘When I have traveled hundreds of miles to watch my team and sung myself hoarse , I want the same commitment from them. Ben always delivers that. 

[rebelbrewer]

Listen to Neil's interview on the subject. I'm leaving it at that. Let's concentrate on the Romans now. After all what have they ever done for us?

[Windsor Rebel]

What makes me laugh on here is there are a lot of comments regarding Ben Harris from people who were  not even at the game. Not sure how your can comment on a players 

performance if you werent even there!

 

[3spirit]

55 minutes ago, Windsor Rebel said:

What makes me laugh on here is there are a lot of comments regarding Ben Harris from people who were  not even at the game. Not sure how your can comment on a players 

performance if you werent even there!

 

Windsor Rebel, I did say that it was my armchair reaction to hearing Ben had been sent off. My other comments have come replying to posts aimed at mine[and others] comments.

Having earlier today watched the footage,that Stuntman Mark has kindly put up on this thread, I think the referee was right to send him off. I thought the booking and the gesture had been two separate incidences, what I hadn't realised was that they both had occured in a continuous way.

To me the booking was a definite foul. Didn't think Ben's gesture was obscene.More like he is conducting the chorus of disapproval from the Torquay fans, to wind them up, which I didn't think was anything that bad but it was downright stupid to do it at that moment, in such a blatant way, when the referee has just booked him and is watching him run back. That is undermining the refs authority and asking for trouble.

It's not a hanging offence but he did cost Slough the game. Let's hope he learns by it. 

Edited January 8, 2019 by 3spirit