Welling at home Saturday 13th April

[SloughFlyer]

As an aside to the game today, I thought it was fantastic to see all the little mascots both before the game and at half time with their parents on the pitch enjoying their afternoon. Great to see the club encouraging the next set of Rebels fans and possibly players like that????

[Reading Rebel]

1 hour ago, Curtis said:

Good performance, fantastic result, and enormous credit must go to our Manager’s for their excellent double substitutions and tactical attacking change on 67 minutes...... many Manager’s and fans would have been content with a draw against a good Welling side in great form.

Totally agree Curtis, at one time we had 3 strikers on the pitch in an effort to get the winning goal, so full credit to Bakes and Unders for such a bold move. 

[Reading Rebel]

Again, another very good team performance.

I thought we played some very good football and were by far the better side in the first half, limiting Welling to very few chances if any.

Second half was much more even with Welling having their moments of domination but again we hardly allowed them a sniff on goal and when they did look threatening Jack Turner and our defence were more than equal to anything they threw at us.

Whilst every player had a good game and no one could really argue that Billy Clifford or in fact any player getting MOTM I'd agree with SF that Matt Lench had another excellent game and was my MOTM.

Edited April 13, 2019 by Reading Rebel

[3spirit]

8 hours ago, SloughFlyer said:

An excellent team performance all around with 1 bit of quality from Billy Clifford to win it.

I thought we played Welling extremely well and limited them to very little by way of attacking threat, the odd time they did get through Jack Turner was more than equal to the task.

Special mention from me to Matt Lench, I though he worked himself into the ground the whole afternoon and whilst I have no issue with any of the team getting MoM, for me, Lench was outstanding from start to finish and got my vote.

Agree with all you say here, SloughFlyer.

Slough deserved the points today IMO. It's not a game that will live long in the memory but it was a fine win by our lads. We stifled Welling's play, and while I wouldn't say we were fluent in our attacking play, we found the way to win. As was mentioned in another post it was the substitutions that made the difference to our attack. Think Manny Williams is worth a mention here, as he is such a clever player and his input altered our team pattern and we started to turn the screw on Welling. I liked the fact that Dan Roberts was willing to close the defenders down and to chase the ball even when it looked a lost cause and that is what was needed from him today. On a counterpoint,it's a big step up for the lad to go from playing with Windsor week in week out to playing in the Conference South,where you don't get a lot of change from some of the defending/defenders. In a lesser game[perhaps Eastbourne at home, if there's nothing riding on it?!] I would like to see him play more around the penalty area than making him work down the channels. Just a small point but worth a mention.

For me, Welling had a lot of physically strong players in their line up from the start of play and looked a well drilled, organized side, so as a team they were always going to be a difficult side to breakdown but for team who are on such a rich run of form and potential promotion candidates, I can't see Steve King,their manager, being happy with how they played today attacking wise, as they created little and in a lot of ways played into Slough's hands. Yes, they had one or two chances to score but for a team sitting third in the table, they should have been a lot more threatening in front of goal than they were.I was expecting a lot more than I saw from them. Not taking anything away from Slough's performance in saying this, as we won fair and square.     

Unbelievable that Slough are now only three points off a play off spot, while I have said previously that this season isn't important for Slough to get a play off spot, now that we are in this position, we may as well give it our best shot and try and win our last 3 games. What ever happens in the climax to the season, it's been a hell of a ride for our team/management, who can be rightly proud of their efforts playing in a higher division.

Billy Clifford and Matt Lench have been the catalysts for our surge up the table latterly, and we've been very fortunate to acquire the raw talent of Francis Amartey to add pace and a goal threat to our attack, that if we can keep all three for next season, it certainly bodes well for the next campaign.

[Reading Rebel]

8 hours ago, 3spirit said:

Agree with all you say here, SloughFlyer.

Slough deserved the points today IMO. It's not a game that will live long in the memory but it was a fine win by our lads. We stifled Welling's play, and while I wouldn't say we were fluent in our attacking play, we found the way to win. As was mentioned in another post it was the substitutions that made the difference to our attack. Think Manny Williams is worth a mention here, as he is such a clever player and his input altered our team pattern and we started to turn the screw on Welling. I liked the fact that Dan Roberts was willing to close the defenders down and to chase the ball even when it looked a lost cause and that is what was needed from him today. On a counterpoint,it's a big step up for the lad to go from playing with Windsor week in week out to playing in the Conference South,where you don't get a lot of change from some of the defending/defenders. In a lesser game[perhaps Eastbourne at home, if there's nothing riding on it?!] I would like to see him play more around the penalty area than making him work down the channels. Just a small point but worth a mention.

For me, Welling had a lot of physically strong players in their line up from the start of play and looked a well drilled, organized side, so as a team they were always going to be a difficult side to breakdown but for team who are on such a rich run of form and potential promotion candidates, I can't see Steve King,their manager, being happy with how they played today attacking wise, as they created little and in a lot of ways played into Slough's hands. Yes, they had one or two chances to score but for a team sitting third in the table, they should have been a lot more threatening in front of goal than they were.I was expecting a lot more than I saw from them. Not taking anything away from Slough's performance in saying this, as we won fair and square.     

Unbelievable that Slough are now only three points off a play off spot, while I have said previously that this season isn't important for Slough to get a play off spot, now that we are in this position, we may as well give it our best shot and try and win our last 3 games. What ever happens in the climax to the season, it's been a hell of a ride for our team/management, who can be rightly proud of their efforts playing in a higher division.

Billy Clifford and Matt Lench have been the catalysts for our surge up the table latterly, and we've been very fortunate to acquire the raw talent of Francis Amartey to add pace and a goal threat to our attack, that if we can keep all three for next season, it certainly bodes well for the next campaign.

Glad you're enjoying our promotion push 3spirit   ?

On a side note, you could say Welling created little and played into Slough's hands but sometimes a team can only play as well as the opposition let you.

Welling are a good side as their league position proves but I thought we were superb in pretty much everything we did and restricted Welling in everything they did.

[3spirit]

Ha ha ha, RR, I know I've changed my tune !  Having play off spots as far down as 7th place makes a mockery of the promotion race IMO, that is something I won't change my mind about but teams can only play by the rules set, and if Slough were to finish 7th and get in the play offs I wouldn't moan about it.

I still think it is too early in the development of our squad to get promoted yet but none of us are getting any younger,so who wouldn't want to see Slough in the National Premier whenever that was to happen.

I agree with your statement 'that sometimes a team can only play as well as the opposition let you' and that Slough [or should I say Bakes and Unders and the coaching team] have found a way of competing with the best teams and grinding out results. It's not always easy on the eye but it is proving to be successful and for a maiden season in a new division with the quality of sides we now are facing, it is highly commendable.

That doesn't, however, mean we are close to winning the title with the current squad we have.

As for Welling, I just expected more of a goal threat from a Steve King outfit.

Edited April 14, 2019 by 3spirit

[Alan Greenaway]

Food for thought!

With Manny entering the twilight of his career and also the managers prepared to give some younger inexperienced players a chance could Manny fill a player coaching role?

I noticed as the players came out after half time Manny spent a lot of time talking to Francis. He experience could be invaluable to players trying to make the grade. He is also a character to have around.

[Alan Greenaway]

A good team performance today.

I notice on a few forums and also some other managers comments that we are seen as a " physical " side.  Considering that we are generally one of the smaller teams in the league having to cope with players that are often taller, wider and heavier than most of our players ie Wellings 8 we have to compete.

If you call shutting teams down, stopping them playing, battling for every ball, sometimes hunting in packs, pushing teams back and breaking up their rythym " physical" that works for me. Our energy levels and never say die attitude have carried us over the line in quite a few games this year.

 

Long may it continue.

[GlenSTFC]

Excellent result when you think of Welling’s league position and recent form. Had they won they would have been just 2 points of 2nd place. Our defence had a blip for a few games earlier this year but for the vast majority have been solid and one of the meanest in the league. If we can keep that tightness and add more attaching threat then we should be in for another great season next. I don’t think many of us thought we’d be in with a shout of the PO’s with 3 matches remaining, it makes for an exciting finale and who knows?

[Reading Rebel]

1 hour ago, Alan Greenaway said:

Food for thought!

With Manny entering the twilight of his career and also the managers prepared to give some younger inexperienced players a chance could Manny fill a player coaching role?

I noticed as the players came out after half time Manny spent a lot of time talking to Francis. He experience could be invaluable to players trying to make the grade. He is also a character to have around.

I think Lee Togwell is presently our player/coach but I suppose he could always do with some help.

[Reading Rebel]

1 hour ago, Alan Greenaway said:

A good team performance today.

I notice on a few forums and also some other managers comments that we are seen as a " physical " side.  Considering that we are generally one of the smaller teams in the league having to cope with players that are often taller, wider and heavier than most of our players ie Wellings 8 we have to compete.

If you call shutting teams down, stopping them playing, battling for every ball, sometimes hunting in packs, pushing teams back and breaking up their rythym " physical" that works for me. Our energy levels and never say die attitude have carried us over the line in quite a few games this year.

 

Long may it continue.

I think we are far too small a squad to be called physical. We do have a few players who can mix it with the big uns but on the whole I certainly wouldn't call us physical.

Most of the comments I read from other managers is that we are very organised.

[Reading Rebel]

7 hours ago, 3spirit said:

Ha ha ha, RR, I know I've changed my tune !  Having play off spots as far down as 7th place makes a mockery of the promotion race IMO, that is something I won't change my mind about but teams can only play by the rules set, and if Slough were to finish 7th and get in the play offs I wouldn't moan about it.

I still think it is too early in the development of our squad to get promoted yet but none of us are getting any younger,so who wouldn't want to see Slough in the National Premier whenever that was to happen.

I agree with your statement 'that sometimes a team can only play as well as the opposition let you' and that Slough [or should I say Bakes and Unders and the coaching team] have found a way of competing with the best teams and grinding out results. It's not always easy on the eye but it is proving to be successful and for a maiden season in a new division with the quality of sides we now are facing, it is highly commendable.

That doesn't, however, mean we are close to winning the title with the current squad we have.

As for Welling, I just expected more of a goal threat from a Steve King outfit.

I think I read that they going to do away with the current 7th place play off structure and revert back to the old play off system.

 

[glyn]

really difficult to please everyone  but I thought the ref done pretty well 

[Rebel Wokingham]

14 minutes ago, glyn said:

really difficult to please everyone  but I thought the ref done pretty well 

I agree. Some pretty appalling things shouted at her from the Welling supporters though. 

[glyn]

  the incident with Lenchy was right by us  although we were very vocal about it I do not recall any swear words by Slough fans thankfully

[GeorgeS]

23 minutes ago, glyn said:

really difficult to please everyone  but I thought the ref done pretty well 

Yes, aside to dealing with the Welling no. 8 

[Neil Baker]

46 minutes ago, Reading Rebel said:

I think I read that they going to do away with the current 7th place play off structure and revert back to the old play off system.

 

Not sure where you have seen that, as certainly not the case as far as we are concerned.

i have to say I think it is great, as it keeps the league truer for much longer as sides are in with a sniff of either play offs or relegation for much longer, so you have a lot less meaningless games.

[Reading Rebel]

1 hour ago, Neil Baker said:

Not sure where you have seen that, as certainly not the case as far as we are concerned.

i have to say I think it is great, as it keeps the league truer for much longer as sides are in with a sniff of either play offs or relegation for much longer, so you have a lot less meaningless games.

The NLP said something about the FA binning the 'super play-offs' but then again it's very possible that I'm completely on the wrong track.

[HEAVY TRUCKER]

yes rr there is definately an article in the nlp about changing the promotion and relegation of teams in the next couple of seasons and thus the playoff system

[Windsor Rebel]

Yes but the NLP article refers to Step 3 and below