Eastbourne

[Reading Rebel]

8 hours ago, 3spirit said:

Agree with Lee Bradbury that Eastbourne should of scored in their one real chance at the beginning of the second half but apart from that Eastbourne just wasn't at it. Slough were completely dominant and again played some excellent football, particularly first half. Can't remember Jack Turner having to make a save. Don't disagree with Unders much but I thought he was exaggerating when he said on the post match interview that ' Eastbourne are a good side'. I thought they were rubbish on the day and if they play like that in many more games Lee Bradbury will be facing the sack. The only player in the Eastbourne shirt that came out with much glory for me was their big centre half/number 6, who had a fine game.  I rate Greg Luer, the ex Woking forward but the Togwells had him in their pocket all game.

As for Slough it was another commanding performance. Our team were on it from the first whistle and grew in confidence and passed the ball around well and were a constant threat to Eastbourne. I thought our full backs supported our midfield excellently again,by getting forward at every opportunity, and George Wells in particular, had another fine game. Apart from two errant passes Scott Davies put in another solid performance. Simon Dunn also got better as the game wore on. Lenchy worked hard like he always does but he didn't steal the show in midfield today. Wazza had another great game and along with Dan Roberts were among our best players on the day. The only Slough player who seemed out of sorts today was Max Worsfold. First half he did okay but second half he seemed to struggle to get involved. I was amazed that we took Dan Roberts off as I thought we would have put Francis on beside him for the final twenty minutes, as Eastbourne had gone down to ten men and hadn't been a threat and I thought we would have added to our tally, given the Eastbourne's defensive woes but I suppose Bakes and Unders experience and cautious way was probably the right thing to do, as better to see the game out for 0-2 win than risk changing to a 4-4-2, after our 4-5-1 had performed so heroically, to risk our lead.

The only word of caution to our 4-5-1 shape currently, is that with Dan Roberts and his exhaustive running,movement  and drifting into wide channels and looking to get on ball at any one time, we have a decent lone striker but I don't see any of our other strikers being ideal for playing this way. Francis Amartey came on late in the second half but didn't look at all comfortable in this role. 

All in all, though, a nice day out for me, with fish and chips and a glimpse of sea before the game started, and the delight of being rewarded with watching a resounding win by our team.    

Our current formation of 4-5-1 is working perfectly at the moment but it does rely heavily on our midfield supporting the loan striker and as you say the striker has to be prepared to put in a shift which Dan Roberts is doing admirably.

As a consequence our defence has tightened up considerably and with our midfield scoring 9 out of 11 goals from our last 5 games we have become more like the side from last season that were organised and hard to break down. 

 

[3spirit]

1 hour ago, Reading Rebel said:

TBF to Eastbourne they had two defenders substituted through injury in the first half and were still in the game at half time and as you say they really should have equalized just after half time.  

I think as the game went on Eastbourne seemed to get more demoralized especially after our second goal and then the sending off.

As you say I think Lee Bradbury could be under some pressure and even more so after their visit to Bath next week.

Having just read the thread about the Slough game on Eastbourne Borough's forum, their supporters back up my post !

Their supporters say Lee Bradbury has spent his budget[so now has little to spend] on costly players who are not showing their worth and are just taking the money but not doing the business.

Jordan Rose, one of Eastbourne's defenders who came off injured yesterday,only signed for them in the week from Weymouth.It appears he played for Lee Bradbury at Havant but has been injury prone for most of his career and a journeyman with no end of clubs to his name.

According to the Eastbourne fans, their problems isn't about conceding goals, it's more to do with scoring goals. Sounds like a few are not at all happy with Lee Bradbury. A couple of them did give Slough some credit.

It's odd that Eastbourne aren't firing in goals given that Lee Bradbury was a striker himself but they do seem to be going through a mixed period of results ie the odd win,a good draw and some awful losses. All managers need time to iron out problems especially when in their first season at a club and so Lee Bradbury should be given more leeway to turn Eastbourne's form around but from my angle on their performance yesterday, he could do with getting rid of about 5. I didn't rate their keeper, he looked too hesitant .Their number 4 couldn't do the basics right and had an awful game. Their midfield looked short of ball winners, and a winger with any real flair, so upfront they got little service. Eastbourne have their work cut out changing it around, going by this game.

   

 

Edited September 8, 2019 by 3spirit

[3spirit]

5 minutes ago, Reading Rebel said:

Our current formation of 4-5-1 is working perfectly at the moment but it does rely heavily on our midfield supporting the loan striker and as you say the striker has to be prepared to put in a shift which Dan Roberts is doing admirably.

As a consequence our defence has tightened up considerably and with our midfield scoring 9 out of 11 goals from our last 5 games we have become more like the side from last season that were organised and hard to break down. 

 

For me I would like to see us eventually play a 3-5-2 that changes to a 5-3-2 when on the defensive but at the moment with our 4-5-1 shape with  Dan Roberts spearheading the attack as lone striker, I have really enjoyed the last few games. I know winning, of course has a lot to do with it but for me not entirely. I like the notion of a three man centre midfield. For me that suits Scott Davies to a tee,at his stage of footballing career. I also like the fact that Matt Lench/Wazza/Manny/Max can get up quickly and support Dan Roberts at any given time, and thus make a swift break, and that we have players that are interchangeable in our squad to keep our team fresh,  and that in midfield we are a handful for any side.

I don't, however think it will work with every team we play and the 4-5-1 is more of a short term solution than anything else but I do think it is good to experiment with our shape with this squad,as it will stand us in good stead in the long run. It also highlights the players that struggle to adapt to such flexibility and thus shows areas that can be improved on.

[GlenSTFC]

It mentions on their forum one of the players is on £700 a week! Ok we shouldn’t take that as fact but from what I’ve heard too it wouldn’t surprise me. If there really are players earning that sort of wage then yes the manager will be out soon if results don’t pick up.

[3spirit]

3 minutes ago, GlenSTFC said:

It mentions on their forum one of the players is on £700 a week! Ok we shouldn’t take that as fact but from what I’ve heard too it wouldn’t surprise me. If there really are players earning that sort of wage then yes the manager will be out soon if results don’t pick up.

Well, especially when they play at home like they did yesterday!

I'm only going on one game. To me they looked a better side under Mark McGhee last season when they played at Arbour Park but going by single games and not knowing or watching their players regularly, is no way of judging Eastbourne's squad fully.

That said, it's easy to recognise a team short on confidence and certain players not being 'at the races' on viewing any single match. When I watch a game involving Slough, most times I like to pay attention to what the opposing side offer, too. I'm not sure every supporter does this. 

[GlenSTFC]

You don’t need to have watched any of their matches, at the end of the day it’s league position which keeps managers and players in jobs.

[Windsor Rebel]

Although we played extremely well yesterday, I thought they were the worst team we have faced this season. 

They seemed to give up once our second goal went in, and showed no fight or desire to change the outcome.

[3spirit]

4 minutes ago, GlenSTFC said:

You don’t need to have watched any of their matches, at the end of the day it’s league position which keeps managers and players in jobs.

Don't agree entirely with that statement.

Watching any team regularly you get to know when a team is unlucky and when the team/it's players are hiding. The players that are trying to help turnaround a situation, and players who are not doing the business. A manager isn't always to blame for a team's performance. It really depends on the club's ambitions at the start of the season ie if they are looking for promotion/play offs or whether they just want mediocrity/safety/mid table/to avoid relegation and what the manager has promised to do. 

Keep changing managers isn't a sure thing for success but then giving too much money to a manager doesn't guarantee success either. Eastbourne seem to have ambition to grow their attendances and to make the play offs, hence the appointment of a high profile manager in Lee Bradbury. Whether he is the right choice is undetermined so far.

I wouldn't have been a happy Eastbourne fan at yesterday's game but may know they have quality players to come back in from injury etc and so it may not all be doom and gloom there.

[GlenSTFC]

Taking Eastbourne as an example, let’s say the rumoured £10,000 a week budget is true (which wouldn’t be far from the truth if one player was on £700pw). If they don’t finish at least in the Play Offs i think it’s safe to say the manager will be sacked if not a lot sooner. He could have his team fully united behind him and playing lovely football but if they’re mid table or below none of that matters does it? The board made that investment to get an instant return they wouldn’t have done to finish a few places higher than last season. That’s why I think Lee only has a few matches left to save his job because the likes of Steve King (he actually lives in Eastbourne) and Bobby Wilkinson are looking for work and the board will want to salvage the season as soon as possible if they can’t see quick progress.

[sdelaney]

A very good performance but would just like to say Scott Davis I have supported the club for 53 years drive from Swindon to every game and you won.t hear me having a go at players at a match or on any site I am always encouraging the team.

I said to you as coming of field what a  superb pass to Dan for the goal and you said until I make a bad pass the next time.

It.s 3spirit  RR and others on here who talk about your passing not me

COYREBELS

[sdelaney]

The clubhouse was full again with Slough supporters wearing the shirts did not see one Eastbourne supporter wearing there shirt great away supporters

COYREBELS

[sdelaney]

3 hours ago, sdelane said:

A very good performance but would just like to say Scott Davis I have supported the club for 53 years drive from Swindon to every game and you won.t hear me having a go at players at a match or on any site I am always encouraging the team.

I said to you as coming of field what a  superb pass to Dan for the goal and you said until I make a bad pass the next time.

It.s 3spirit  RR and others on here who talk about your passing not me

COYREBELS

And I agree these expert supporters can be out of order.

Dan Robert's unsettling of there backline all game was superb and a worthy goal to top it off.

Also got talking to an ex Lewes player who played against us in the 1970.s up against our England amateur international Alf Darcy.

Rebelsontour

[Reading Rebel]

3 hours ago, sdelane said:

A very good performance but would just like to say Scott Davis I have supported the club for 53 years drive from Swindon to every game and you won.t hear me having a go at players at a match or on any site I am always encouraging the team.

I said to you as coming of field what a  superb pass to Dan for the goal and you said until I make a bad pass the next time.

It.s 3spirit  RR and others on here who talk about your passing not me

COYREBELS

How odd.

15 minutes ago, sdelane said:

And I agree these expert supporters can be out of order.

Dan Robert's unsettling of there backline all game was superb and a worthy goal to top it off.

Also got talking to an ex Lewes player who played against us in the 1970.s up against our England amateur international Alf Darcy.

Rebelsontour

Now agreeing with yourself SD.

Strange to say the least.

[Rebellier]

 

[3spirit]

4 hours ago, sdelane said:

And I agree these expert supporters can be out of order.

Dan Robert's unsettling of there backline all game was superb and a worthy goal to top it off.

Also got talking to an ex Lewes player who played against us in the 1970.s up against our England amateur international Alf Darcy.

Rebelsontour

Have you got a split personality,Sdelane? You never mentioned any of this face to face at yesterdays game.

Who's out of order?  This is a football forum to talk football. I stand next to the dug out at home games,as you know, sdlane, and am not hiding, if the players want to discuss any of my opinions they are welcome to come and talk to me. Neil and Jon know who I am, and so do a good few of the players,so they are welcome to point any player in my direction. It won't mean I will stop giving my opinion about their football prowess on here. To me it is not personal thing.

As for Scott Davies, I've always rated him as a player and about 4 seasons ago spoke to Bakes about him when he was playing for Wealdstone,about his merits as a player, as I rated him, and if you had actually read my posts, sdelane, you would see that I said he has played very well in the last two games. In his first stint at our club he was one of my favourite players and I still like him now!  I also said when we played in the Berks and Bucks cup match last season that he had a very good game and was one of our better players. I also said on the thread about him coming back to the club this season, that I thought he was a worthwhile addition to our squad, when other supporters didn't.

So Sdelane, how's that slagging him off?

Edited September 8, 2019 by 3spirit

[Irishadrian]

Interesting that opinion on the Eastbourne forum suggests the Rebel Support was between 20/25%  Anyone think that's correct?

[3spirit]

7 hours ago, GlenSTFC said:

Taking Eastbourne as an example, let’s say the rumoured £10,000 a week budget is true (which wouldn’t be far from the truth if one player was on £700pw). If they don’t finish at least in the Play Offs i think it’s safe to say the manager will be sacked if not a lot sooner. He could have his team fully united behind him and playing lovely football but if they’re mid table or below none of that matters does it? The board made that investment to get an instant return they wouldn’t have done to finish a few places higher than last season. That’s why I think Lee only has a few matches left to save his job because the likes of Steve King (he actually lives in Eastbourne) and Bobby Wilkinson are looking for work and the board will want to salvage the season as soon as possible if they can’t see quick progress.

Fair point, GlenSTFC. I do find some of the figures banded about in non-league football astonishing but it is nothing new to me in the 35 plus years I've watched non-league football,as there has always been fabulous incentives in the game with rumours abound about what players are getting, ranging from cars to houses to eye watering wages on top of players job earnings, and large signing on fees. By the way it's no different in rugby union at the equivalent levels.

Steve King sounds a great fit but he is always in demand. Lee Bradbury certainly has his work cut out.

[3spirit]

2 minutes ago, Irishadrian said:

Interesting that opinion on the Eastbourne forum suggests the Rebel Support was between 20/25%  Anyone think that's correct?

Funny enough, Irishadrian, my friend and I were talking about the level of support Slough get away from home and how good it is, numbers wise.

I would say that between 20 and 25% wasn't far from the truth, which is amazing, given that it wasn't that long ago that we only used to get 300 at home matches at Beaconsfield.

[Reading Rebel]

21 minutes ago, Irishadrian said:

Interesting that opinion on the Eastbourne forum suggests the Rebel Support was between 20/25%  Anyone think that's correct?

Sounds about right.

[Curtis]

Congratulations on a great result..... I can’t comment on the performance as I wasn’t able to get to the match..