Dorking v Slough

[Reading Rebel]

13 minutes ago, Neil Baker said:

Was due to be in the squad last week at Dartford, but pulled out on the Friday as he did not want to be cup tied.

He was with Beaconsfield today.

Not sure what to make of a player that supposedly signed for us but doesn't want to be cup tied.

Not sure if you can answer it Bakes but does that mean he's no longer with us or just getting game time?

Edited October 10, 2020 by Reading Rebel

[GlenSTFC]

Sounds like he’s keeping his options open!

[Reading Rebel]

14 minutes ago, GlenSTFC said:

Do we really need another midfielder? Going by the website squad profiles we have 8 already! Although I’d still include Hodges as a midfielder. Signing Olly would give us 9/10 midfielders!!! It’s unfortunate we’re not actively looking for a striker even as a loan as I think we desperately need one as it seems Ben could be out for several weeks plus we’re still don’t know about Ada. Maybe once the funds are received we can look to sign one.

As Bernie has pointed out if we've signed Cameron McGilp then perhaps we now know at least how much we will be getting.

[GlenSTFC]

Our managers have been very vocal and public about the funding delay and repeated that today so the money is still not known otherwise they’d be shouting from the rooftops about it! One of them mentioned the club have allowed us to sign Cameron.

[Reading Rebel]

17 minutes ago, GlenSTFC said:

Sounds like he’s keeping his options open!

Not sure how many minutes he got but Ollie McCoy started on the bench for Beaconsfield.

[Reading Rebel]

31 minutes ago, GlenSTFC said:

Do we really need another midfielder? Going by the website squad profiles we have 8 already! Although I’d still include Hodges as a midfielder. Signing Olly would give us 9/10 midfielders!!! It’s unfortunate we’re not actively looking for a striker even as a loan as I think we desperately need one as it seems Ben could be out for several weeks plus we’re still don’t know about Ada. Maybe once the funds are received we can look to sign one.

The position we are in there is no way we're not actively looking for a striker provided we can afford one. 

[GlenSTFC]

I think you need to listen to post match interviews!

[SloughFlyer]

Ollie McCoy came on after about 70-75 minutes today and didn't really do anything at all. Pretty poor game at Beaconsfield today and McCoy didn't have any effect on it either way.

[Irishadrian]

26 minutes ago, SloughFlyer said:

Ollie McCoy came on after about 70-75 minutes today and didn't really do anything at all. Pretty poor game at Beaconsfield today and McCoy didn't have any effect on it either way.

Dire goal less draw.

[SloughFlyer]

Pretty fair assessment I'd say Irish?

[Reading Rebel]

1 hour ago, GlenSTFC said:

I think you need to listen to post match interviews!

I said my views before listening to any post match interviews.

Having now listened I'm still surprised based purely upon the number of midfielders we've got.

It's great that Dan Roberts looks like he's coming back into contention but it might take him a couple of games to recover his match fitness/sharpness.

I think we've just got to hope that he now stays fit. 

[Neil Baker]

You can read my programme notes on Tuesday where I explain in a bit more detail, however we had already made an agreement for Cam prior to any injury to Ben Harris, and in all honesty we were not going to pass up the opportunity to sign a player that we think can help improve us.

Good centre forwards do not also grow on trees, and we are in a middle of a pandemic where financially there is so much uncertainty, so you might have to see us try and get through this period with what we have.

[SloughFlyer]

Neil - surely fans can also now start to see the benefits of the types of squads you and Jon put together. The ability for players to play in multiple positions has been a feature of every Slough squad you have had. Now is exactly the time we are able to take advantage of that situation. With Ryan Bird, Warren Harris and Paul Hodges all able to play striker, that versatility is what will hopefully see us though. In addition to that, whilst we have had high scoring strikers in the past, we as a team tend to share the goals around quite a bit as well, so the reliance on a 20-25 goal scorer isn't there (although I'm sure you and Jon would like that as an asset?). 

[Jon Underwood]

The two strikers we faced yesterday are both paid at least 3 times more than any of our strikers and we have to be realistic about where we are as a club (compared to numerous other clubs in the league) and the kind of player we can attract.

If the right striker became available and was affordable then we may well try to bring one in (dependent on level of Govt funding) but don’t for one minute think it would be someone who has scored 15+ goals at this level as they would be out of our price range.

So for now we will continue to work with a squad size that is smaller than any other in the league and with players that will work hard for each other week in week out but we won’t win every game and will suffer disappointments like yesterday.

The key is how we bounce back and we fully intend to on Tuesday in another difficult but vitally important match.

 

Edited October 11, 2020 by Jon Underwood

[Sir Rebel1965]

I think a lot of people seem to forget that this is a season of survival.

The financial situation is STILL not clear.

A larger than normal number of teams will not finish the season.

And we are not a team with a rich chairman.

I predict at the end of the season - even if it gets that far, that the structure of non-league will require a major restructuring due to the number of clubs which WILL go bust.

Therefore a cautious approach by the managers to keeping well within budgets and not splashing the cash which they don't have on an expensive "20-25 goal scorer" is wise.

I don't care if we have Lee Togwell up front, we will win and draw enough games to survive - sadly enough other teams will fall by the wayside for us to stay up.  

This season is different and needs a different approach.

[Reading Rebel]

15 hours ago, SloughFlyer said:

Ollie McCoy came on after about 70-75 minutes today and didn't really do anything at all. Pretty poor game at Beaconsfield today and McCoy didn't have any effect on it either way.

Ollie McCoy has been injured and hasn't played a lot football recently so it may take him a few games to get back up to speed.

Whilst as a player I think he would be an asset for us I would be concerned with the fact that he doesn't want to play for us in the FA Cup to avoid being cup tied.

 

[Reading Rebel]

19 hours ago, Bernie Gogan said:

There seemed an awful lot of people in the stand! Plus about a dozen watching over the fence.

Overall we didn't look like getting much from the game, first 20 minutes we were good, but second half just couldn't get going. Cameron McGilp looked good as he did in friendlies. I assume we have an idea of funds available if he's signed. Ex Swindon Town, Melbourne City and Birmingham City btw.

Jason Prior's goal clinched it, great strike.

We have started like last season,  except this time we've already got 3 points!

Cameron McGilp played 50 games for Melbourne Victory Youth.

It seems only some injuries have stalled what looked to be a promising football career.

 

[3spirit]

9 hours ago, Sir Rebel1965 said:

I think a lot of people seem to forget that this is a season of survival.

The financial situation is STILL not clear.

A larger than normal number of teams will not finish the season.

And we are not a team with a rich chairman.

I predict at the end of the season - even if it gets that far, that the structure of non-league will require a major restructuring due to the number of clubs which WILL go bust.

Therefore a cautious approach by the managers to keeping well within budgets and not splashing the cash which they don't have on an expensive "20-25 goal scorer" is wise.

I don't care if we have Lee Togwell up front, we will win and draw enough games to survive - sadly enough other teams will fall by the wayside for us to stay up.  

This season is different and needs a different approach.

Doesn't happen very often [probably once every leap year ! :-]  ] but have to say I agree wholeheartedly with what you say here,SR1965.

I don't see Slough doing as well as last season but there's no way we will be whipping boys for any team in the Conference South. No team  fancies playing Slough, as they don't get an easy ride with a Bakes and Unders team.  

Strikers like Dan Roberts, who stepped up two levels are certainly not easy to find but I do think there are strikers out there, who could serve Slough in makeshift role and would not cost the club the earth. Obviously, there's no point rushing in players if the club cannot afford them. Better to be frugal and patient.

We are fortunate to have plenty of options from players in our midfield, who could do a job up front, as Bakes has mentioned. The two that stick out for me are Matt Lench and Max Worsfold ie Matt's eye for goal, Max's strength to hold a player off. The bigger question in my mind, though, is whether Ryan Bird is up to the task of filling in up front, or whether that horse has well and truly bolted? If he isn't up to it, I would be taking a chance on a new forward by mid November.  

[sdelaney]

3 hours ago, 3spirit said:

Doesn't happen very often [probably once every leap year ! :-]  ] but have to say I agree wholeheartedly with what you say here,SR1965.

I don't see Slough doing as well as last season but there's no way we will be whipping boys for any team in the Conference South. No team  fancies playing Slough, as they don't get an easy ride with a Bakes and Unders team.  

Strikers like Dan Roberts, who stepped up two levels are certainly not easy to find but I do think there are strikers out there, who could serve Slough in makeshift role and would not cost the club the earth. Obviously, there's no point rushing in players if the club cannot afford them. Better to be frugal and patient.

We are fortunate to have plenty of options from players in our midfield, who could do a job up front, as Bakes has mentioned. The two that stick out for me are Matt Lench and Max Worsfold ie Matt's eye for goal, Max's strength to hold a player off. The bigger question in my mind, though, is whether Ryan Bird is up to the task of filling in up front, or whether that horse has well and truly bolted? If he isn't up to it, I would be taking a chance on a new forward by mid November.  

3Spirit what about the number of times Wazza comes in from the wing to support the striker and the number of goals he has scored for us.

[Reading Rebel]

9 hours ago, sdelaney said:

3Spirit what about the number of times Wazza comes in from the wing to support the striker and the number of goals he has scored for us.

SD, of course like a lot sides we have midfielders who will chip in with goals and Wazza is one of them. Last season Wazza scored 7 league and 2 cup goals which for him I think is a bit lower than what he normally gets.

The teams that win things or get promoted normally have a striker or two who will bang in 20+ goals but with the current situation we cannot afford one of these strikers.