v Chippenham Town

[Reading Rebel]

Our games against Chippenham are normally close, exciting encounters, so looking forward to another good game tomorrow. 

Edited January 18, 2019 by Reading Rebel

[Rebellier]

And there's no Pratt or Sandell to worry us.....

[Reading Rebel]

27 minutes ago, Rebellier said:

And there's no Pratt or Sandell to worry us.....

That's certainly a plus point in our favour.

Having said that Chippenham still have Nat Jarvis and Karnell Chambers who have scored 11 and 9 goals a piece.

Looking at the stats, we have scored 30 and conceded 25 (+5) and Chipps have scored 40 and conceded 44 (-4).

 

 

Edited January 18, 2019 by Reading Rebel

[Irishadrian]

I hope for an excellent crowd at a game dedicated to SuperKev Am I the only one surprised that it's only been a year ? Seems to me that we've been missing him so much longer!

I think we'll have the edge tomorrow Chippenham have an away record  that's fairly poor and their goals conceded is the third worst in the league  Their attack has to do what Bath and Chelmsford couldn't! And that's a big ask imo

[HEAVY TRUCKER]

many least likely clubs have done just that so our defense will have to be on top form tomorrow

[Neil Baker]

Just so you are aware HT we have conceded 9 goals in 13 league games at home, having played all the top 5 also (with only Woking scoring).

[Reading Rebel]

Excellent high energy first half performance playing some really good football, we deservedly went into the break with a 2-0 lead which easily could have been more.

We started the second half on fire but failed to put away at least one of the 3 or 4 excellent chances created which would have put the game to bed.

With our energy levels in midfield seemingly dropping Chippenham started to get a foot hold in the game and scored a goal from some poor defending.

This gave Chippenham all the encouragement they needed, started to carve out chances and for me an equalizer always looked on the cards.

Ultimately a disappointing 2 points dropped.

MOTM for me between Warren Harris and Lee Togwell. 

[Reeeebbbbeeeelllllls]

How good was Louis soares and Warren Harris  today though! Best first half team performance I’ve seen this season! Played some lovely quick paced football! Second half their players had obviously had a rocket up their arse and came out stronger, sometimes times that happens in football, far more positives to take out the game than negatives in my eyes! Onwards and upwards COYR

[Rebellier]

First half it was very pleasing to see both Wellsy and Josh getting forward and having a go at goal. Unlucky not to be 3 or 4 up before Chippenham got back in it.

[Reading Rebel]

25 minutes ago, Craig lejeune said:

How good was Louis soares and Warren Harris  today though! Best first half team performance I’ve seen this season! Played some lovely quick paced football! Second half their players had obviously had a rocket up their arse and came out stronger, sometimes times that happens in football, far more positives to take out the game than negatives in my eyes! Onwards and upwards COYR

Rocket up their arse yes but again we started the second half the better team and created some excellent chances.

Agree, I thought every player including Louis were excellent in the first half. Not sure the same intensity was there from our midfield in the second half. 

Edited January 19, 2019 by Reading Rebel

[Reeeebbbbeeeelllllls]

Like I said RR’ that’s football’, it’s a tough league, we’re a good side that’s hard to beat! We don’t look at all out of place at this level, we’ve made the step up very smoothly, so far so good in my eyes, we’re a club on the up from top to bottom, there’s good times ahead in my eyes.

[Reading Rebel]

6 minutes ago, Craig lejeune said:

Like I said RR’ that’s football’, it’s a tough league, we’re a good side that’s hard to beat! We don’t look at all out of place at this level, we’ve made the step up very smoothly, so far so good in my eyes, we’re a club on the up from top to bottom, there’s good times ahead in my eyes.

Agree fully with what you say there Craig.

I suppose it's just a bit galling that we didn't score just one of those excellent opportunities created at the start of the second half to get the 3 points our performance over the 90 + minutes deserved but as you say 'that's football'. 

[3spirit]

Reading Rebel and Craig, I agree with both your assessments of the game. Before a ball had been kicked, I had a feeling that it was going to be a draw today but after our storming first half, thought that notion was going to be wide of the mark. Yet, it turns out to be the case of the often mentioned 'game of two halves'.  I enjoyed the contest between both sides today and to me, a draw was the fair result. So I'm not worried by the result as Chippenham are always a hard team to take points off of. To me Josh Jackman and Chris Flood were our standout players on the day but it was pleasing to witness some clever passing and good movement from our attack minded players.Our biggest problem is having a forward that can hold the ball up long enough to bring our other forwards into play but apart from that, I thought our general play was very good. The goals we conceded, seemed a bit soft from where I was watching especially the first one, as it looked like we should have cleared it but these things happen.

One other thing on today's game, I thought the referee had a superb game and it made a nice change, not to hear the official's whistle blown every other minute. We all moan about them when they are useless,so credit's due when they get it right. 

Also big 'thanks' to all the club people who helped with one of my side-dwelling chums, who was taken unwell. They all acted with class. Just praying now, that all is ok with him. 

 

   

[HEAVY TRUCKER]

just so you know neil we conceded 2 goals today now chippenham have scored against us ( just saying in reply to your previous post)

[Neil Baker]

What an embarrassing comment.

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

I guess I’m a negative so and so compared to the rest of you. I think we threw away 2 points to a very poor Chippenham side. First half we were so dominant it was case of how many and the game was never in doubt. We continued to create throughout but we not clinical enough. Chippenham scored 2 from ( what looked like from 100 m away- some pretty weak defending) yes Chippenham improves considerably 2nd half but we just seemed to relax and lose concentration. Warren Harris was immense for us, by far our best player in terms of creation tackling and general play- can only guess he was carrying a knock or knackered to be subbed as when he came off we lost out beat attacking option. This was a game we really needed to close out if we realistically see ourselves as play off contenders. Felt we missed dobbo today big time- not an easy hole for the managers to fill. Also thought flood and the full backs had very good games. Punished eventually by a couple of bits of bad luck and sloppy defending matched with some wasteful finishing- we also seemed to give the ball away with simple passes in midfield a lot more than normal. Hey hone of those games- and before I get blasted for my neagtivity I think the managers have done a superb job to have us in a position of relatively safety already!!

[carols52]

It's always disappointing when you throw away a comfortable lead, but this league is hard have yet to see a poor team yet and this season to me is all about consolidation.                  The club is on course for 60 points this season and I think everyone would have taken that at the beginning of the season so let's. enjoy the ride and if we reach playoffs it will be a bonus.   

[Neil Baker]

So my observations ?

Why is it two points dropped, could it not be one point gained also? As they should have equalised immediately after scoring first, and they were decent once they scored... the goal changes complexion of the game, and they could have won it at the end, as they had the impetus (which happens all the time in football when you relinquish a lead) however to call them poor when they have had some brilliant results this season (and are a team also just 4 points off the play offs) is I think a little disrespectful to them and the teams we are playing against week in week out.

Were we disappointed with the defending on the goals, then yes, have we been excellent defensively all season, yes, do mistakes happen yes.... do goals change goals? Again the answer is yes.

You say we were not clinical, who wasn’t? Who missed absolute sitters? their keeper made two good saves low from Floody second half, Dunny had one go just wide of the post with two players maybe on the line,so not an easy chance, Soaresy had one first half that keeper has saved well also,  we had a few scrambles also, we created some chances through excellent passing yesterday, scored two goals (against a team who went and beat Billericay away last week) and outside of Bath and the 3-3 draw with Truro and Weston nobody in our league scored more than 2.

You mention we missed Dobbo big time, we are unbeaten without Dobbo having won 2 and drawn 2, many people have said we probably played as well as we have all season first half, and for me some of the football played was outstanding, we would have 100 per cent been playing a different way with Dobbo in the side,  and it would have been more direct as he enabled us to do that, and I am not saying that is a good thing or a bad thing, but him leaving has forced us to work on a different side of our game, and I will be brutally honest I like it, as it forces us to think more and pass the ball better, instead of get the ball out wide to Dobbo as quick as we can and him cross the ball into the box.

In the end the business and timing was right for the club and Dobbo, so we move on.

We looked great going forward, and as you said Warren was excellent, and is relishing playing a different role, as is Soaresy who has been a threat recently.

I thought Floody was top drawer yesterday.

We were missing Ben Harris who we really like working with, and when missing is a miss to the team.

You mention about trying to shut up shop, and that was exactly what we did by bringing Soaresy off, and bringing Sean on to play a narrow 4 in midfield as at that period Chippenham were on top,  no different than bringing Nis on last week against Chelmsford for last 5 minutes just as a further defensive option to see the game out, Sod’s law 30 seconds after making the change they score, thathappens in football, we take that on the chin, same way we won’t go around gloating that a change has won us the game, we won’t beat ourselves up for making a sub that has not gone the way we want, we then make further changes to try and win the game, but without losing it, which we didn’t.

We hear about this need for signing this top striker, well no disrespect these top strikers usually come at a cost,.

We onlyhad 605 people at our game yesterday, and whilst our average is 8th in the league currently, if we continue only getting good gates for the so called bigger games, we will end up 10th or so in the average attendance table, so think whilst we all have lofty ambitions, we also have to have an element of realism.

Yes we have had two good cup runs, but football clubs take money to finance, and these funds can help for a good period of time, and whilst we always have the backing of Steve, none of us are reckless in the pursuit of our ambitions and will not put the club at any risk, obviously if the right option are up we would take it, and we are constantly looking at ways we can try to improve, however at present nothing to report on that front.

If we asked fans at the beginning of the season before a ball was kicked, we will be 26 games into the season, 3 points off the play offs, running with a 16/17 man squad (on a run of form which predominately has not included Dobbo or Matty where we have  won 4 drawn 2 and lost 2 of our last 8 league games)  and also got to the Fa Cup second round again, whilst receiving many plaudits for the way our fans conduct themselves away, from home and the way we treat other clubs at home, I think most people will have said... yes please.

As people know by now I am always a half full person (that has not changed ever since I was playing) so i do get frustrated with negative comments, however small (especially when I do think there are so many things to be positive about) and this isn’t just aimed at Marcus post, as I know how he always gets behind us etc, and this is why I will come on here and give my view, I totally respect people have the right to their views, and know this is part of modern day football, however by having these platforms it allows me a right of reply, and hopefully it I still valued on here.

I think we are very transparent, and have been since we walked i the door, this will never change, and most people will say they can come and ask us pretty much anything and we will respond.

Just remember none of us are perfect, but we work as hard as we possibly can to achieve success, and on the whole we go about things in the right way, and my personal philosophy in life is if you work hard and treat people the way you would like to be treated then you earn your own luck, we will continue to do this, and it is my personal opinion that with the squad we have we will go close, we might not make it, but we will have a bloody good go, so enjoy the ride, there are always ups and downs.

[rebelbrewer]

3 hours ago, Neil Baker said:

So my observations ?

Why is it two points dropped, could it not be one point gained also? As they should have equalised immediately after scoring first, and they were decent once they scored... the goal changes complexion of the game, and they could have won it at the end, as they had the impetus (which happens all the time in football when you relinquish a lead) however to call them poor when they have had some brilliant results this season (and are a team also just 4 points off the play offs) is I think a little disrespectful to them and the teams we are playing against week in week out.

Were we disappointed with the defending on the goals, then yes, have we been excellent defensively all season, yes, do mistakes happen yes.... do goals change goals? Again the answer is yes.

You say we were not clinical, who wasn’t? Who missed absolute sitters? their keeper made two good saves low from Floody second half, Dunny had one go just wide of the post with two players maybe on the line,so not an easy chance, Soaresy had one first half that keeper has saved well also,  we had a few scrambles also, we created some chances through excellent passing yesterday, scored two goals (against a team who went and beat Billericay away last week) and outside of Bath and the 3-3 draw with Truro and Weston nobody in our league scored more than 2.

You mention we missed Dobbo big time, we are unbeaten without Dobbo having won 2 and drawn 2, many people have said we probably played as well as we have all season first half, and for me some of the football played was outstanding, we would have 100 per cent been playing a different way with Dobbo in the side,  and it would have been more direct as he enabled us to do that, and I am not saying that is a good thing or a bad thing, but him leaving has forced us to work on a different side of our game, and I will be brutally honest I like it, as it forces us to think more and pass the ball better, instead of get the ball out wide to Dobbo as quick as we can and him cross the ball into the box.

In the end the business and timing was right for the club and Dobbo, so we move on.

We looked great going forward, and as you said Warren was excellent, and is relishing playing a different role, as is Soaresy who has been a threat recently.

I thought Floody was top drawer yesterday.

We were missing Ben Harris who we really like working with, and when missing is a miss to the team.

You mention about trying to shut up shop, and that was exactly what we did by bringing Soaresy off, and bringing Sean on to play a narrow 4 in midfield as at that period Chippenham were on top,  no different than bringing Nis on last week against Chelmsford for last 5 minutes just as a further defensive option to see the game out, Sod’s law 30 seconds after making the change they score, thathappens in football, we take that on the chin, same way we won’t go around gloating that a change has won us the game, we won’t beat ourselves up for making a sub that has not gone the way we want, we then make further changes to try and win the game, but without losing it, which we didn’t.

We hear about this need for signing this top striker, well no disrespect these top strikers usually come at a cost,.

We onlyhad 605 people at our game yesterday, and whilst our average is 8th in the league currently, if we continue only getting good gates for the so called bigger games, we will end up 10th or so in the average attendance table, so think whilst we all have lofty ambitions, we also have to have an element of realism.

Yes we have had two good cup runs, but football clubs take money to finance, and these funds can help for a good period of time, and whilst we always have the backing of Steve, none of us are reckless in the pursuit of our ambitions and will not put the club at any risk, obviously if the right option are up we would take it, and we are constantly looking at ways we can try to improve, however at present nothing to report on that front.

If we asked fans at the beginning of the season before a ball was kicked, we will be 26 games into the season, 3 points off the play offs, running with a 16/17 man squad (on a run of form which predominately has not included Dobbo or Matty where we have  won 4 drawn 2 and lost 2 of our last 8 league games)  and also got to the Fa Cup second round again, whilst receiving many plaudits for the way our fans conduct themselves away, from home and the way we treat other clubs at home, I think most people will have said... yes please.

As people know by now I am always a half full person (that has not changed ever since I was playing) so i do get frustrated with negative comments, however small (especially when I do think there are so many things to be positive about) and this isn’t just aimed at Marcus post, as I know how he always gets behind us etc, and this is why I will come on here and give my view, I totally respect people have the right to their views, and know this is part of modern day football, however by having these platforms it allows me a right of reply, and hopefully it I still valued on here.

I think we are very transparent, and have been since we walked i the door, this will never change, and most people will say they can come and ask us pretty much anything and we will respond.

Just remember none of us are perfect, but we work as hard as we possibly can to achieve success, and on the whole we go about things in the right way, and my personal philosophy in life is if you work hard and treat people the way you would like to be treated then you earn your own luck, we will continue to do this, and it is my personal opinion that with the squad we have we will go close, we might not make it, but we will have a bloody good go, so enjoy the ride, there are always ups and downs.

Neil

Couldn't agree more.Thought we played really well, particularly 1st half and created a lot of chances. Could easily have been 3 up before they scored and Manny almost gave us the lead back in practically his first move. I'm still not quite sure how their second goal went in and what upset Jack about it. They were also a good footballing team - just a bit lacking in confidence, which changed once they scored. Since the toughie that was Torquay away we have got 4 points from 3rd, 4th and 12th (and Chippenham were ahead of us until 2 games ago.)

I also think Floody had a very good game yesterday, it felt like a spark was back.

 

We sit 3 places and 3 points from the play-offs. I think the team and supporters should feel encouraged by that.

[Neil Baker]

8 minutes ago, rebelbrewer said:

Neil

Couldn't agree more.Thought we played really well, particularly 1st half and created a lot of chances. Could easily have been 3 up before they scored and Manny almost gave us the lead back in practically his first move. I'm still not quite sure how their second goal went in and what upset Jack about it. They were also a good footballing team - just a bit lacking in confidence, which changed once they scored. Since the toughie that was Torquay away we have got 4 points from 3rd, 4th and 12th (and Chippenham were ahead of us until 2 games ago.)

I also think Floody had a very good game yesterday, it felt like a spark was back.

 

We sit 3 places and 3 points from the play-offs. I think the team and supporters should feel encouraged by that.

Obviously you mean 5 points ?