V Bath City A 25th February

[Irishadrian]

Really can't call this one and believe we may come away pointless and I so so hope  that I'm wrong about that

Bath are on an excellent run of home victories 12/12 points recently including victories against Torquay Chelmsford and Chippenham 

They've lost their last two games both away and that may have dented their confidence a little

In our favour of course is the much improved performance against Dartford  especially the new blood and the attitudinal change by a number of players who had recently just been going through the motions (Its only a couple of games ago since Dartford beat Bath 3-0)

I'm sure we will need an excellent performance from all the players the take something from this one!

[Reading Rebel]

13 hours ago, Irishadrian said:

Really can't call this one and believe we may come away pointless and I so so hope  that I'm wrong about that

Bath are on an excellent run of home victories 12/12 points recently including victories against Torquay Chelmsford and Chippenham 

They've lost their last two games both away and that may have dented their confidence a little

In our favour of course is the much improved performance against Dartford  especially the new blood and the attitudinal change by a number of players who had recently just been going through the motions (Its only a couple of games ago since Dartford beat Bath 3-0)

I'm sure we will need an excellent performance from all the players the take something from this one!

Possibly the first time you've been a tad pessimistic Adrian?

All good runs have to come to an end.

[GlenSTFC]

I think we’d all take a draw from this game too. Need to see what striking options we have but if our defence can perform as we know it can then a draw is certainly achievable. It’s all about playing well and trying to finish top 10 which would be fantastic.

[Curtis]

I wouldn’t take a draw.... the pressure is off of us now, highly unlikely to get anywhere near the play-offs or relegation places, and big underdogs for this match.

I hope we play well, and if it’s level with 20 minutes left would like to see us throw caution to the wind and go for the win.

[GlenSTFC]

Remember we’re 12th and away to a play off placed team, after recent form I think the vast majority would take a draw! Of course we can win just saying a draw would be a good point.

[Curtis]

I hate draws.... unless they are away in a cup match leading to a home replay.

Would you rather have 11 draws (which is what we will probably end up with) in a full season or 4 wins & 7 defeats?

And for anybody that says ‘you can’t avoid draws’, please look at Spurs league results this season.

[Irishadrian]

2 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

Possibly the first time you've been a tad pessimistic Adrian?

All good runs have to come to an end.

Most of recent talk has been about our strikers but I'm more concerned about the recent defence performances

We've conceded 12 goals in our last 6 games In the previous 6 we conceded 6 and that includes the 4 conceded in the debacle at Torquay  We know how well they can perform but lately they've been well off their optimum

In January we had the 2nd best defence in the league  Now we're 7th

So RR I still hope for the best but just lately I don't expect it

[3spirit]

19 hours ago, Curtis said:

I hate draws.... unless they are away in a cup match leading to a home replay.

Would you rather have 11 draws (which is what we will probably end up with) in a full season or 4 wins & 7 defeats?

And for anybody that says ‘you can’t avoid draws’, please look at Spurs league results this season.

I agree to a certain point with you, Curtis but I do think you have to consider how likely in reality a win is against the best teams in the division, when the make up of our squad is limited either through injuries incurred, the abilities of the players you have or shortfall of money you have  to compete with the best.

I don't believe in setting out with the intention of getting a draw against any team in this league. I believe that you should focus the players minds that they can beat anyone in this league,if they put their heart and soul into it [ and Slough up to a point, have proven that they can be match for most teams in the division] however, we are going to Bath tomorrow, on the back of a poor run of results without the goal scoring/influence of Ben Harris [not sure if we have been able to sign another forward in time for this game?] and aren't exactly brimming with confidence or putting teams under the greatest amount of pressure by our dazzling attacking play, so in all likelihood a draw would be a good point earned at Bath but of course I'm hopeful we can get a win, especially coming off the back of the Billy Clifford inspired draw we got against a very good Dartford side in our last match.

What will be, will be.

Edited February 22, 2019 by 3spirit

[3spirit]

18 hours ago, Irishadrian said:

Most of recent talk has been about our strikers but I'm more concerned about the recent defence performances

We've conceded 12 goals in our last 6 games In the previous 6 we conceded 6 and that includes the 4 conceded in the debacle at Torquay  We know how well they can perform but lately they've been well off their optimum

In January we had the 2nd best defence in the league  Now we're 7th

So RR I still hope for the best but just lately I don't expect it

Guy Hollis hasn't been available for the last two games. I thought we missed him against Dartford. That game would have been ideal for him.

With Bakes and Unders at the helm, I never worry too much about the defence, as both are great at identifying what works and doesn't work and are knowledgeable about defending, given that both were very good defenders in their own right back in the day. We also have the added bonus of their strength of finding great goalkeepers[ and Trent's], which at the moment Jack Turner is proving to be. However, they can't legislate for our defenders getting sloppy with lapses of concentration, and players failing to mark properly, which has cost us cheap goals of late. I just put it down to blip in form and what we are trying to bring about, and that normal service will be resumed shortly ! ?

I concern myself much more with what we do in midfield and with our front line. Sometimes I find the tactics frustrating but you can't have it all. We are adjusting to better organized teams, and by and large better players. We have to face facts, that we have a long way to go before our team are regularly challenging at the top end of this division, so need to be realistic and patient with how our team are doing at the moment. It's certainly not doom and gloom.

All things considered, I think we've done bloody well in our first season in the Conference South. If we can get few more wins under our belt and get anything around the 50 point mark or above, I think we all should be delighted with that as a return, given the standard of teams we're facing week in week out.

[GlenSTFC]

I would hope our target is now a top 10 finish which is achievable. Yes we need more quality in this division if we’re to progress but I wouldn’t say wholesale changes, maybe 3 or 4 to give ourselves to change to compete for the play offs next season. Obviously we also have to wary and mindful that some of our players may be ‘poached’.

[3spirit]

9 minutes ago, GlenSTFC said:

I would hope our target is now a top 10 finish which is achievable. Yes we need more quality in this division if we’re to progress but I wouldn’t say wholesale changes, maybe 3 or 4 to give ourselves to change to compete for the play offs next season. Obviously we also have to wary and mindful that some of our players may be ‘poached’.

I agree we don't need wholesale changes but are heavily dependent on two players [the Togwells], which eventually we will need to address if either move on, or jack it in. I hope they are both very happy at Slough, as I wouldn't like to see either leave.

I would like to see an acquisition of a big centre half in the summer to play alongside Guy, Mark or Sam. Gives us options then. Think that would be a wise move.

Also I would want bring in two new forwards [a regular goal poacher type and my usual call of a 6ft plus strong number 10 ha ha! Know you will appreciate this request, Glen?]  to boost our goal tally for next season, and would be on the lookout for a left sided winger/utility midfielder/possible cover at left back. In the Steve Duff mould ie not a weedy lightweight. 

[GlenSTFC]

I’m getting the impression you really like BIG men 3Spirit? ?

[GlenSTFC]

I can’t see us having 4 central defenders, 3 is fine along with 1 or 2 others who could play there if needed. Agree we need 2 new strikers but these are usually the hardest positions to fill. I’d also hope we could replace Dobbo with a like for like.

[Reading Rebel]

With Ben Harris out for the season and Floody not 100% it does look a bit grim on the striker front.

Perhaps playing one up front and going for the draw now looks a more appealing option than previously thought?

I certainly don't think we can play with just Manny up front so perhaps it's the time to throw Tommy Wood into the firing line?

Edited February 22, 2019 by Reading Rebel

[Stuntman Mark]

For fans heading to the game tomorrow - have any decisions been made on pre-match drinking establishments? 

 

 

[3spirit]

12 minutes ago, GlenSTFC said:

I’m getting the impression you really like BIG men 3Spirit? ?

No, I prefer big women ! Thigh length boots can be a welcome addition,too,  ha ha!

It has to be said, though, when you see teams from League Division 2 and the National League many of the sides are big strong physical sides. Look at Torquay. They have quality players but their aren't many lightweights in their team. Then there's Woking, with their giant centre halves, we got no joy in the air against them.

When we played Dartford, we matched them in the football we played but not in the physicality stakes. I was impressed with the Dartford number 4, Jordan Wynter. Not many Slough players had much change out of him all afternoon. Most of them run into an immovable object.He wasn't the biggest of players but he was strong. Sean Fraser bounced off him. Every one on one tackle, he won.

How many little blokes in the Chelmsford team?

From the games I've witnessed this season Slough look one of the smaller sides in the division, and so from my angle I would just beef up our team a bit, with the addition of couple of bigger,stronger players added to our squad for next season. Fans underestimate this fact, and I think Bakes and Unders do, too, to a certain extend. We have some talented footballers in our squad and have a good team ethic. We play to our strengths but are limited with some of the options we have.

Look back to when we played Rochdale in the FA Cup, their fitness and physicality was the major difference between the two sides. Yes, we should have been outclassed against full time professionals but we were also rans in that game and never looked like we would get anything from them. If anything, they bullied us.

I've started to see a pattern developing, with some of the sides we are now facing in this league.Yes we have every capability of beating teams who play open football against us, like Dartford did to their credit but some teams are very hard to break down and one and two of our players look increasingly lightweight against some of better players in the division. Pretty football will get you so far but we need to progress by matching up to some of these stronger adversaries.

It was a bit like when Tommy Wood came on for us against Dartford. The Dartford defenders don't know how good he is [no disrespect mean't] but it drew the tall centre half out of position to mark Tommy, thus leaving room for one of our other players to get in behind. Small advantages but shouldn't be underestimated.

I'm not saying we need to be a bunch of giants, I would just like to add a centre half who is good on the ball and is good in the air and is another physical presence at the back but slightly taller than the ones we have ,as that way we have the aerial advantage, and can make use of Sam as a centre midfielder. We also could adopt a three man centre defence easily and have cover for injuries. Also adding a forward in the mould of Ian Hodges would be more than useful, against some of these bigger centre halves. Off the top of my head I can think of three players with these attributes who might be available but getting them is another matter.

[3spirit]

2 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

With Ben Harris out for the season and Floody not 100% it does look a bit grim on the striker front.

Perhaps playing one up front and going for the draw now looks a more appealing option than previously thought?

I certainly don't think we can play with just Manny up front so perhaps it's the time to throw Tommy Wood into the firing line?

Another option is putting Matt Lench up front alongside someone. He knows how to put the ball in the net, given the chance.

I will be watching rugby but keeping an eye on the Slough score. I hope we don't go for the 4-5-1 from the off. Always seems a negative way to start a game and it's almost like admitting defeat before we've done anything.

[A Rebel and a Saint]

There's still spaces on the coach to tomorrow's game. Get in touch with Mike to book a seat. 

[Irishadrian]

I so wish I'd been wrong in my original assessment but this was a game where with a lot of luck and a correct call we could have got a draw we didn't deserve Bath had considerably more chances and Jack once again kept us in it with the penalty save and a blinding save not long after

Now that Feb is over its worth reflecting on our performances since 1st Jan  7 league games in Jan yielded 5/21 points and 4 games in Feb yielded 2/12 points So 7/33 points since the year began. Our impressive record in the first part of the season will keep us free from relegation worries but these last couple of months have been disappointing at least

[3spirit]

Looking at the remaining 10 fixtures, I would think Slough are capable of getting three or four wins out of those matches and may be a couple of draws. I would certainly target Hemel at home as one of those wins. Desperately need Chris Flood to be fit next Saturday.

The Bath forum's report of today's game, gives Slough praise for giving Bath a hard workout but also  mentions our lack in front of goal. If only they realised our two main strikers were not playing !