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[3spirit]

Seems all quiet on the western front regarding the forum at the moment, so thought I'd start this thread about tomorrow's game.

Big game for Slough, as we really need the 3 points but where will our goals come from?

I'd be inclined to put Manny Williams in tomorrow [not necessarily as a forward,though] as we can't keep relying on Matt Lench to set up our chances, mainly just to add a different dimension in what we are trying to do attacking wise.

What do others think?

 

Edited August 23, 2019 by 3spirit

[GlenSTFC]

Yet another toughie! Bath haven’t lost and have let in only 2 goals and we’re struggling to score. Being our 6th game the pressure is on to get our first win. We should have a near full squad to choose from for the first time this season but we need to take our chances when they present themselves. I’m going for a 1-1, crowd 765.

[Reading Rebel]

It is only our 6th game of the season and I don't think we've got to press the panic button yet.

Having said that I think our forwards and obviously to a lesser extent our midfield have got to start showing something that tells us they have got what it takes to put away chances at this level.

On the flip side our defence have to stop giving the opposition a leg up by not giving away any soft goals.

After the Maidstone game I said I couldn't see where the goals were going to come from, hopefully after tomorrow and Monday I'll be proven wrong.

 

[Reading Rebel]

1 hour ago, 3spirit said:

Seems all quiet on the western front regarding the forum at the moment, so thought I'd start this thread about tomorrow's game.

Big game for Slough, as we really need the 3 points but where will our goals come from?

I'd be inclined to put Manny Williams in tomorrow [not necessarily as a forward,though] as we can't keep relying on Matt Lench to set up our chances, mainly just to add a different dimension in what we are trying to do attacking wise.

What do others think?

 

With two games, tomorrow and Monday, I would think every player will play their part.

[Curtis]

It will be a tough one, but I think we will notch up our first win of the season tomorrow

[Reading Rebel]

One things for certain, if we are to get anything from tomorrow's  game we will have to be at our best.

I'm with Curtis, I think tomorrow will be our day.

[GlenSTFC]

Yes.

[Reading Rebel]

1 hour ago, GlenSTFC said:

Yes.

Yes what?

[GlenSTFC]

Ya

[Reading Rebel]

Ok, now it makes sense.

[Irishadrian]

I'd be worried if our problem was lack of goal scoring chances but it hasn't  been Our problem is the failure to convert  chances that more or less the same squad would have put away with ease last season.  A lot of forum members have commented on this but none of us have suggested reasons for this but we are due a game when even half chances fly in  Why shouldn't it be tomorrow?

[3spirit]

18 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

With two games, tomorrow and Monday, I would think every player will play their part.

RR, you don't say! If that isn't stating the bloomin' obvious, I don't know what is.?

[3spirit]

9 hours ago, Irishadrian said:

I'd be worried if our problem was lack of goal scoring chances but it hasn't  been Our problem is the failure to convert  chances that more or less the same squad would have put away with ease last season.  A lot of forum members have commented on this but none of us have suggested reasons for this but we are due a game when even half chances fly in  Why shouldn't it be tomorrow?

A lot of it is just down to confidence. Out of the 5 league games we've played, I've only seen our home displays, so there are other fans better placed, who can say more than me about how we are shaping up but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that there is something fragile about the teams performances thus far but we have had this deabilitating injury crisis that has cost us dear, so we shouldn't be too judgemental on these early set of results.     

Without going on about the Billy Clifford factor, I do think that play from our midfield area hasn't exactly been alight with creativity. That's why I would bring Manny Williams in for todays match. Sometimes all it takes to score goals is for one player to step up to plate and make something happen by actually taking on an opposing defender, or to take a risky chance by having a shot. To me it's nothing ventured nothing gained. If you can sting the keepers hands by having a shot, you give yourselves a good chance by having a player on hand to put the ball in the net from a rebound or riccochet. Do we shoot enough? 

Also currently our wing play has been ordinary at best. Wazza and Max work hard enough but neither have been that daring by trying to actually get into the penalty area and, either shoot, or pass the right ball to an incoming Slough player. Yes,they both deliver a good cross but 8 out of 10 times, no Slough forward ever get's on them. That is something that can easily be worked on.

Of the games I've seen in pre-season and the league, a lot of players are leaving it for other players to make something happen.We are too reliant on Matt Lench and Warren Harris to be our instigators of our attack.When neither get a lot of joy, we run out of ideas. 

Up front, we need to let Dan Roberts play his natural game. I don't expect him to pass when he gets in front of the goal. I want him to shoot at every opportunity. Ben Harris and Ryan Bird need to start finding the back of the net,too but they need to ruffle the feathers of the opposing centre halves,not by fouling but by using their physicality when they get challenged. So far, Ben tends to look for a free kick when challenged too often[not saying stop doing it but vary it,he doesn't have to do it all the time as that just leads to shirking responsibility], and Ryan just hasn't backed himself in any contact in the penalty area, which is what we have brought him in for. If we can't get that from him,then I can't see him being much use for us. Definitely something he needs to sharpen up on.

Won't comment on Francis as he's working hard enough and he will score goals when our team settles into the rhythm of winning games. He's still young and learning, whereas Ben and Ryan know what it takes but it's up to them how much they want to do it.

       

Edited August 24, 2019 by 3spirit

[Reading Rebel]

2 hours ago, 3spirit said:

RR, you don't say! If that isn't stating the bloomin' obvious, I don't know what is.?

Just saying that if Manny doesn't get his chance today he will more than likely play on Monday.

[Reading Rebel]

10 hours ago, Irishadrian said:

I'd be worried if our problem was lack of goal scoring chances but it hasn't  been Our problem is the failure to convert  chances that more or less the same squad would have put away with ease last season.  A lot of forum members have commented on this but none of us have suggested reasons for this but we are due a game when even half chances fly in  Why shouldn't it be tomorrow?

I think the good and most successful teams have partnerships up front and in defence.

At the moment I don't see any partnership forming for us up front.   

[3spirit]

1 hour ago, Reading Rebel said:

I think the good and most successful teams have partnerships up front and in defence.

At the moment I don't see any partnership forming for us up front.   

We've had to change it round because of suspensions and injury. Too early for any great partnership to blossom. For me it isn't about a great partnership up front, at the moment. We have 5 forwards and at least, 2 midfielders who could do a decent job up top, so I don't think we need to settle on just 2 firing the team ahead.

We need to work on using different scenarios, when turning defence into attack. We are short of intrepid play and need to find some better passing and movement, rather than resorting to the Guy Hollis long throw at every opportunity [how many goals has ever come from that?]. In fact, I never know why he doesn't feign a long throw, and do a short one to one of our creative players in space, as it would catch teams out. Guy would probably get a rollicking if he did that.

That's the one side of the game that Bakes/Unders teams can lack, that of creative invention either from free kicks,throw ins, corners/crosses. They very much play the percentage game, and hope that one of their long ball efforts into the box will pay off.  I do get frustrated by this approach at times. I just wish they would explore more attacking avenues, in their efforts to get this team buzzing. Early days I know,for this current lot but we have got rather predictable since we arrived in the Conference South. I know this is largely down to facing quality opposition week in week out, and our players having to work hard across the pitch for each other but a little bit of invention now and again, wouldn't go a miss.

Last season was about finding our feet in the new division, and this season will still be a battle to find the points we need and we have to have a team competitive/hard working but our team does need a fresher approach to some of our attacking options,as opposing teams have sussed a lot of our play and we aren't exploiting every avenue. Without a Dobbo in the team, we need to address this shortfall in flair.     

 

Edited August 24, 2019 by 3spirit

[Windsor Rebel]

We need to work on using different scenarios, when turning defence into attack. We are short of intrepid play and need to find some better passing and movement, rather than resorting to the Guy Hollis long throw at every opportunity [how many goals has ever come from that?]. In fact, I never know why he doesn't feign a long throw, and do a short one to one of our creative players in space, as it would catch teams out. Guy would probably get a rollicking if he did that.

 

He did against Maidstone

[3spirit]

1 minute ago, Windsor Rebel said:

We need to work on using different scenarios, when turning defence into attack. We are short of intrepid play and need to find some better passing and movement, rather than resorting to the Guy Hollis long throw at every opportunity [how many goals has ever come from that?]. In fact, I never know why he doesn't feign a long throw, and do a short one to one of our creative players in space, as it would catch teams out. Guy would probably get a rollicking if he did that.

 

He did against Maidstone

That's a first. Hurrah !

[carols52]

Hot weather on a Bank holiday weekend may keep attendance down but going for a crowd of 805 

[Irishadrian]

Great result  A day when the chances were converted  3 goals against a top team who had only conceded 2 in their previous 5 games A huge boost to confidence and a hugh leap from 21st to 15th in the table  When we can finally play our optimum team we'll be a match for anyone imo

Edited August 24, 2019 by Irishadrian