Squad Update

[3spirit]

I think it's a great signing and am hoping he does the business for Slough. I'm well pleased with Ryan Bird's arrival and think it's the type of striker we've missed out on for awhile.

On Dan Roberts I hope he is given game time in pre-season, and if he looks sharp goes into the new season with us for the first couple of months [likely to be a sub more than regular starter] but is also dual registered with a team like Beaconsfield, so that he can be loaned out and gain experience playing at step 3 but is also available to Slough, so that he builds up an affinity to the team/squad. He would be wasted if he goes back to Windsor.

[3spirit]

On the National League South forum, a Maidenhead fan wrote that Ryan Bird was lazy, disinterested and largely inept at Maidenhead fc last season but I still think Ryan Bird can be a success at Slough and I'm glad our managers are signing him,regardless of what this Maidenhead fan is saying.

If he can get a good pre-season under his belt and get a few goals early, I think our managers can get him firing. He's going to be playing at a lower level than he has for awhile and he should be looking to prove that he hasn't 'lost' it, and given the amount of crosses Slough put in, Ryan Bird should get plenty of service but for me it won't just be about his goal scoring as I believe his physicality and supplying knock on's/knock downs will be invaluable for our other attacking players to feed off of. In this division, I think he has every chance of upping his input for Slough,than what he did at Maidenhead but we will all have to wait and see, if he can truly recapture his form from yesteryear.

[Rebel Wokingham]

Billy Clifford has posted a slightly cryptic message on twitter suggesting he’s really unhappy at Billericay. I’d love to see him back and I’d be really confident about this coming season with him completing an 18 man squad. 

[Reading Rebel]

35 minutes ago, rebelsry said:

Billy Clifford has posted a slightly cryptic message on twitter suggesting he’s really unhappy at Billericay. I’d love to see him back and I’d be really confident about this coming season with him completing an 18 man squad. 

And then say's his Twitter has been hacked.

[GlenSTFC]

I do think we need 18 players if we have ambitions of a top 7 place. Of course I’m confident we can bring in loans and dual register but it’s always better to have the players already there who know the team and tactics. I’d like to see a goalscoring creative midfielder sign, someone who’s going to get you 10-15 goals. Billy probably has a year left on his contract so unless he’s released we’d obviously not pay a fee to sign him. 

[Stuntman Mark]

8 hours ago, 3spirit said:

On the National League South forum, a Maidenhead fan wrote that Ryan Bird was lazy, disinterested and largely inept at Maidenhead fc last season but I still think Ryan Bird can be a success at Slough and I'm glad our managers are signing him,regardless of what this Maidenhead fan is saying.

 

You won't talk to any Maidenhead fans who are sorry to see him go. However, I back our managers and the players in our squad who will know Ryan well to get him motivated, fit and firing for the new season. He's a player I've always wanted to see in a Slough shirt and I remember myself and Windsor Rebel badgering Steve Bateman to sign him years ago when he'd terrorize us for Burnham. And if the goals don't come, he's a pretty decent centre half too from what I remember!

[GlenSTFC]

Let’s face it the majority of fans usually aren’t full of praise for departing players, it’s rare to see nice comments left. It’s either sour grapes if one of their better players depart or if nasty comments if the player hasn’t lived up to expectations. It’s obvious Ryan hasn’t had a happy season just gone but a new start, lower level, playing instead of being a sub and having the backing of your managers, players and fans I would hope will give him all the confidence needed to get back on form. After all he scored 20 goals for Dover just over a season ago and they wanted to keep him. He could be a real asset if starts well. With Wazza and Max whacking in loads of crosses, two strong lads in Ryan and Ben could be a right handful.

[Stuntman Mark]

43 minutes ago, Reading Rebel said:

And then say's his Twitter has been hacked.

That's a pinned tweet from almost a year ago Clouseau!

[Reading Rebel]

18 minutes ago, Stuntman Mark said:

That's a pinned tweet from almost a year ago Clouseau!

Oh dear, my bad  

If Billy Clifford ever wanted a way out of Billericay then that's the way to do it.

 

[Reading Rebel]

After the season Ryan Bird has just had I reckon he has all the incentive he needs to do well next season.

I fully expect him to come flying out of the traps next season.

[Reeeebbbbeeeelllllls]

Good signing this ??

[3spirit]

22 hours ago, GlenSTFC said:

Let’s face it the majority of fans usually aren’t full of praise for departing players, it’s rare to see nice comments left. It’s either sour grapes if one of their better players depart or if nasty comments if the player hasn’t lived up to expectations. It’s obvious Ryan hasn’t had a happy season just gone but a new start, lower level, playing instead of being a sub and having the backing of your managers, players and fans I would hope will give him all the confidence needed to get back on form. After all he scored 20 goals for Dover just over a season ago and they wanted to keep him. He could be a real asset if starts well. With Wazza and Max whacking in loads of crosses, two strong lads in Ryan and Ben could be a right handful.

What makes you think Ben Harris will be in front of Francis Amartey getting in the team?

I think both will have big parts to play this season but I think Francis is ahead of Ben at the moment. These days it's more of a squad game than regular first teamers and I think all our strikers will get games throughout the season.We are fortunate going into the season with five strikers.Unheard of with Bakes and Unders teams, so I'm well pleased about that. I do think Ben Harris has the game experience to fill in for Chris Flood's departure but whether he can keep his cool and escape injury is another matter.

With Francis and Dan, we have strikers both still raw and learning their craft but both surprised me with their talent in the Conference South last time out, and with the ever youthful Manny Williams added to mix and now Ryan Bird, and the impulsive,instinctive Ben Harris, it is looking very promising for our goal ratio to soar. To me it's a great mix of youth and experience and should stand us in good stead for the next campaign.      

[Reading Rebel]

3 hours ago, 3spirit said:

What makes you think Ben Harris will be in front of Francis Amartey getting in the team?

I think both will have big parts to play this season but I think Francis is ahead of Ben at the moment. These days it's more of a squad game than regular first teamers and I think all our strikers will get games throughout the season.We are fortunate going into the season with five strikers.Unheard of with Bakes and Unders teams, so I'm well pleased about that. I do think Ben Harris has the game experience to fill in for Chris Flood's departure but whether he can keep his cool and escape injury is another matter.

With Francis and Dan, we have strikers both still raw and learning their craft but both surprised me with their talent in the Conference South last time out, and with the ever youthful Manny Williams added to mix and now Ryan Bird, and the impulsive,instinctive Ben Harris, it is looking very promising for our goal ratio to soar. To me it's a great mix of youth and experience and should stand us in good stead for the next campaign.      

As you say it's a squad game but logic say's that the age and experience of Ryan Bird and Ben Harris puts them in pole position as our front pairing to start the season.

Pre season will be the time to try different strike partnerships to see which of the five work the best together.

[carols52]

51 minutes ago, Reading Rebel said:

As you say it's a squad game but logic say's that the age and experience of Ryan Bird and Ben Harris puts them in pole position as our front pairing to start the season.

Pre season will be the time to try different strike partnerships to see which of the five work the best together.

If for argument's sake you take it that Dan will be out on loan most of the season and Manny will spend a lot of the time on the bench,that leaves Ryan Ben and Francis fighting for two places,even if you rotate it will be one hell of a job to keep them all happy.                                                                                                                                                                                                  Rotation always seems to work better with midfield and defenders.

[GlenSTFC]

Who knows, Dan and Manny might have a stonking pre-season, strike up a formidable partnership and score 20 goals between them, then what!

[Reading Rebel]

3 hours ago, GlenSTFC said:

Who knows, Dan and Manny might have a stonking pre-season, strike up a formidable partnership and score 20 goals between them, then what!

Then you wake up  ?

[GlenSTFC]

Can’t believe you’re disrespecting and undervaluing those 2 players ?

[3spirit]

9 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

As you say it's a squad game but logic say's that the age and experience of Ryan Bird and Ben Harris puts them in pole position as our front pairing to start the season.

Pre season will be the time to try different strike partnerships to see which of the five work the best together.

Disagree with your logic, as we need to see who is playing well in the pre-season games and what teams we are playing in the first couple of months to gauge the opposition. Ryan Bird is likely to be a shoe in to start but who plays alongside him is up for grabs. I would go by form and tinker with the front pairing/front three by what teams we play. To me you earn a place in the team, so I would mix it up bit and not favour anyone unless they are doing the business. No doubt Ben Harris will partner Ryan Bird in games but also I think Ben Harris will play/cover when Ryan Bird doesn't play. 

Plenty of games to give everyone a chance, whether starting or on the subs bench.

[Reading Rebel]

1 hour ago, 3spirit said:

Disagree with your logic, as we need to see who is playing well in the pre-season games and what teams we are playing in the first couple of months to gauge the opposition. Ryan Bird is likely to be a shoe in to start but who plays alongside him is up for grabs. I would go by form and tinker with the front pairing/front three by what teams we play. To me you earn a place in the team, so I would mix it up bit and not favour anyone unless they are doing the business. No doubt Ben Harris will partner Ryan Bird in games but also I think Ben Harris will play/cover when Ryan Bird doesn't play. 

Plenty of games to give everyone a chance, whether starting or on the subs bench.

'We need to see who's playing well in pre season games'  'Ryan Bird is likely to be a shoe in to start' 

If Ryan Bird doesn't perform in pre season surely he won't be a shoe in to start.

As you say, you need to earn a place in the team.

 

[GlenSTFC]

Correct, Neil and Jon wouldn’t guarantee a starting place to any player (pretty sure they’ve stated that before). Ryan needs a good pre-season to get him back to full sharp match fitness.