v Eastbourne Borough

[Reading Rebel]

Big 3 points if we have ambitions of finishing in the top 3.

Eastbourne are in form winning their last two games against Dorking and Welling.

We are definitely without Mark Nisbet and Guy Hollis with doubts over George Wells (injury) and Ben Harris (availability).

[3spirit]

30 minutes ago, Reading Rebel said:

Big 3 points if we have ambitions of finishing in the top 3.

Eastbourne are in form winning their last two games against Dorking and Welling.

We are definitely without Mark Nisbet and Guy Hollis with doubts over George Wells (injury) and Ben Harris (availability).

Looks a tougher prospect than when we played them away.That said I hope we take our game to them, rather than the stifle them approach we adopt against better teams. On paper this looks like it could be an entertaining game.

I missed the New Year's Day game against Wealdstone but saw the Hemel game and thought we were ok that match but looked like we needed a bit of a freshen up, up front.Given we've now lost to Wealdstone and drew with Hemel, I think we need to start banging a few goals in and creating chances. The last three games we've focussed more on not losing.Win,lose or draw this game against Eastbourne, it gives us a chance to cut loose and endeavour to play with some panache. I don't see these 3 points as ultra important to any other 3. I see this game as an opportunity to redefine our quality by getting back to playing good football. I would pair Francis Armatey and Dan Roberts up front and tinker slightly with our midfield selection.      

[Reading Rebel]

We are fourth with 2 games in hand but one of those is away to Havant so for me tomorrow, although not play-off place defining, is crucially important as regards grabbing one of those the top 3 places.

[Irishadrian]

Mostly agree 3spirit Although we have the joint best defence 11 teams have scored more goals.

[Reading Rebel]

Agree on paper playing 2 up front against a side towards the wrong end of the table looks like a sensible thing to do but doesn't always work out that way.

At present I think it's fair to say that we don't have a proven strike partnership and as such playing two up front isn't always the correct way to go and can be detrimental to the balance of the team.

Can anyone think of a time this season when playing two up front has worked well?  

[Irishadrian]

1 hour ago, Reading Rebel said:

We are fourth with 2 games in hand but one of those is away to Havant so for me tomorrow, although not play-off place defining, is crucially important as regards grabbing one of those the top 3 places.

RR

Havant have played 10 away games and lost none of them by far the leagues best away record but theyve won only 50% of  their home games.

[3spirit]

4 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

Agree on paper playing 2 up front against a side towards the wrong end of the table looks like a sensible thing to do but doesn't always work out that way.

At present I think it's fair to say that we don't have a proven strike partnership and as such playing two up front isn't always the correct way to go and can be detrimental to the balance of the team.

Can anyone think of a time this season when playing two up front has worked well?  

I hardly think playing two forwards is adventurous!

I'm glad Bakes and Unders play various formations and our team now is able to adapt to changing shapes in games but just because we've played 4-5-1 for a number of games and been relatively successful with it, does it mean we have to play it every game?  To me it's got nothing to do with formation,it's about players doing the business. Tomorrow I would like to see Francis start from the off and get him to use his pace to get at Eastbourne and to see how he shapes up playing alongside Dan Roberts. I would go with a slight change of personnel from the off but with the notion that things can alway be changed if we find Eastbourne hard to break down.  If George Wells is fit, my team to start would be like this [first 45mins] 

                                                  Turner

                     L.Togwell    S.Togwell  Bird  Wells

                     Jackman     Davies    Lench   Worsfold

                                        Roberts   Armartey

Subs: Fraser, W.Harris, B.Harris, Williams, and whoever we have available to make up the bench.  

 

 

Edited January 3, 2020 by 3spirit

[Big J R]

Good luck against Eastbourne.

My independant report from their game against Wanderers was that they looked pretty impressive !

[3spirit]

4 minutes ago, Big J R said:

Good luck against Eastbourne.

My independant report from their game against Wanderers was that they looked pretty impressive !

They were poor in our away game against them, and they haven't made vast changes of players[most of that team are still there] since their new manager took over but obviously he's changed their fortunes and has them fired up. Going by their good win over in form Dorking, they're bound to provide stiff opposition but Slough shouldn't go into the game fearing them. If anything Slough should be looking to impose themselves on the opposition.

[Reading Rebel]

3 hours ago, 3spirit said:

I hardly think playing two forwards is adventurous!

I'm glad Bakes and Unders play various formations and our team now is able to adapt to changing shapes in games but just because we've played 4-5-1 for a number of games and been relatively successful with it, does it mean we have to play it every game?  To me it's got nothing to do with formation,it's about players doing the business. Tomorrow I would like to see Francis start from the off and get him to use his pace to get at Eastbourne and to see how he shapes up playing alongside Dan Roberts. I would go with a slight change of personnel from the off but with the notion that things can alway be changed if we find Eastbourne hard to break down.  If George Wells is fit, my team to start would be like this [first 45mins] 

                                                  Turner

                     L.Togwell    S.Togwell  Bird  Wells

                     Jackman     Davies    Lench   Worsfold

                                        Roberts   Armartey

Subs: Fraser, W.Harris, B.Harris, Williams, and whoever we have available to make up the bench.  

 

 

 

Interesting line up 3spirit, with Lee Togs at right back, Jackman right midfield and no Warren Harris.

My line up would be:

Turner

Jackman  S Togwell  Bird  Wells

Wazza  L Togwell  Lench  Worsfold

Williams

Roberts  

[3spirit]

11 minutes ago, Reading Rebel said:

 

Interesting line up 3spirit, with Lee Togs at right back, Jackman right midfield and no Warren Harris.

My line up would be:

Turner

Jackman  S Togwell  Bird  Wells

Wazza  L Togwell  Lench  Worsfold

Williams

Roberts  

Lee Togwell played right back for Chalfont St Peter many moons ago and as he has just come back from injury and has played in the last 3 games and needs some rest, and as the team for me needs a slight freshen up, I would like to still keep Lee's influence on the pitch but ask him to play a different role for at least the first half, that way he gets to do less intense work in the centre of midfield and we get the flair of a Davies/Lench centre midfield partnership.

Josh Jackman also gets the opportunity to test himself by getting forward to attack and he can use his fitness, to protect Lee [thus giving Wazza a rest and also finding out what Josh can do playing in front of a wily campaigner, on the right wing ]. When Scott Davies tires second half you can always change back to a more orthodox line up, if need be, and it also gives us options with the players we have on the bench ie Sean, Wazza and Manny.      

[HEAVY TRUCKER]

i think today was more of two points lost rather than one point gained , in actual fact i think we were lucky to have got the one. just one of those days at the office i suppose.?

[HorshamRebel]

A few of the photos I took today.

The action shots are all from behind the goal.

No.50 is the handball incident 

 

https://garyhousephotography.zenfolio.com/p705643980

[Irishadrian]

On 03/01/2020 at 13:46, Irishadrian said:

RR

Havant have played 10 away games and lost none of them by far the leagues best away record but theyve won only 50% of  their home games.

Havant&W beaten at home again today 1-2 by Maidstone

[PaxtonLee]

I think it was the type of game we have lost in recent times when the momentum swings with an equaliser, so huge credit to the team for digging in and pushing until the end even when things weren't quite coming off naturally.

An Eastbourne sub was warming up in the 1st half and talking to the chap stood next to me. He said he was mates with Scott Davies and remembers him regularly pinging them in from the halfway line. This was said two minutes before his goal!

[Reading Rebel]

Considering we were short on numbers, non existent in attack and second best in most areas for large parts of the game, this was definitely a point gained rather than 2 points dropped. 

Our best player by a mile was Warren Harris who's work rate and enthusiasm was still there in abundance.

[Reading Rebel]

28 minutes ago, Irishadrian said:

Havant&W beaten at home again today 1-2 by Maidstone

No shame losing to the 'mighty' Maidstone.

[3spirit]

Just watched Neil's interview and agree with him, that the team were not at their best today. I also agree that we could have still got a winner had any of our players got on the end of some of the telling crosses that were whizzed across the front of the goalmouth. As an example,Matt Lench had a gilt edged chance but instead of sliding into get the crossed ball,he chose to stay on his feet and so the ball just went past him. Too often our crosses were to no one in the penalty area. I had hoped beforehand for an entertaining game but it turned out to be a rather drab encounter, the high points being both the goals scored. I also agree with Neil that on balance of play, a draw was about right, as neither side did enough to win the game.

What I don't agree with Neil about, is that Slough players were affected by the quietness of our crowd.Blimey, we are clutching at straws if we are going to blame that !   I mean, Eastbourne only had about 10 fans but they kept going!    Fans react to goalmouth action and then get noisier but the game itself never really got going and with Slough struggling to make in roads in attack second half, it was never going to be a raucous affair. 

Edited January 4, 2020 by 3spirit

[Reading Rebel]

Just listened to the post match interview with Bakes and have to say what an honest interview it was.

 

[Reading Rebel]

3 minutes ago, 3spirit said:

Just watched Neil's interview and agree with him, that the team were not at their best today. I also agree that we could have still got a winner had any of our players got on the end of some of the telling crosses that were whizzed across the front of the goalmouth. As an example,Matt Lench had a gilt edged chance but instead of sliding into get the crossed ball,he chose to stay on his feet and so the ball just went past him. Too often our crosses were to no one in the penalty area. I had hoped beforehand for an entertaining game but it turned out to be a rather drab encounter, the high points really was both the goals scored. I also agree with Neil that on balance of play, a draw was about right, as neither side did enough to win the game.

What I don't agree with Neil about, is that Slough players were affected by the quietness of our crowd.Blimey, we are clutching at straws if we are going to blame that !   I mean, Eastbourne only had about 10 fans but they kept going!    Fans react to goalmouth action and then get noisier but the game itself never really got going and with Slough struggling to make in roads in attack second half, it was never going to be a raucous affair. 

I don'think Bakes was saying the players were affected by the quietness of the crowd it was more that when we are not playing well the vocal backing from the crowd can sometimes lift the side a notch or two which can make the difference between winning or drawing a game.