Reading Rebel Posted August 2, 2021 Share Posted August 2, 2021 Our penultimate game in pre-season and our stiffest test so far. Oxford City are always a force to be reckoned with and this game should give us a good guide line on what we can expect from the team for the season ahead which is now less than two weeks away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3spirit Posted August 3, 2021 Share Posted August 3, 2021 Odd that we are playing a team from the same division. Didn't think that was the done thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3spirit Posted August 3, 2021 Share Posted August 3, 2021 On 02/08/2021 at 12:26, Reading Rebel said: Our penultimate game in pre-season and our stiffest test so far. Oxford City are always a force to be reckoned with and this game should give us a good guide line on what we can expect from the team for the season ahead which is now less than two weeks away. Before a ball has been kicked in this game, RR, how do you feel Slough are shaping up so far? Pre-season is always hard to know one way or the other on where the team is, in terms of being ready for the season or not. As you say tonight's match should offer a huge clue. Of the new players who's impressed you the most? I'm not going to be able to get to any matches for a good while but hope things will improve on that front soon. What will be,will be. Enjoy tonight's game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlenSTFC Posted August 3, 2021 Share Posted August 3, 2021 27 minutes ago, 3spirit said: Odd that we are playing a team from the same division. Didn't think that was the done thing? It was arranged fairly late in the day and I guess the club wanted a fairly strong opponent being the penultimate friendly. I’m guessing there weren’t plenty of options! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3spirit Posted August 3, 2021 Share Posted August 3, 2021 3 minutes ago, GlenSTFC said: It was arranged fairly late in the day and I guess the club wanted a fairly strong opponent being the penultimate friendly. I’m guessing there weren’t plenty of options! Should be a good game, wish I was going to be there. Hope we turn it on and beat them[friendly or not] but from the outside looking in, I think it will be stiff test of Slough's resolve but definitely a good game for pre-season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reading Rebel Posted August 3, 2021 Author Share Posted August 3, 2021 9 hours ago, 3spirit said: Before a ball has been kicked in this game, RR, how do you feel Slough are shaping up so far? Pre-season is always hard to know one way or the other on where the team is, in terms of being ready for the season or not. As you say tonight's match should offer a huge clue. Of the new players who's impressed you the most? I'm not going to be able to get to any matches for a good while but hope things will improve on that front soon. What will be,will be. Enjoy tonight's game. A reasonably good pre season so far. Certainly in early pre season games with easier opposition, new players/trialists etc it would be foolish to make any sort of judgement as far as how we're shaping up and what players have impressed. Now we're down to the business end of pre season and the opposition are both good teams in Oxford and Aldershot, i'll reserve any opinion until after tonight's game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3spirit Posted August 3, 2021 Share Posted August 3, 2021 4 minutes ago, Reading Rebel said: A reasonably good pre season so far. Certainly in early pre season games with easier opposition, new players/triallists etc it wouldn't be foolish to make any sort of judgement as far as how we're shaping up and what players have impressed. Now we're down to the business end of pre season and the opposition are both good teams in Oxford and Aldershot, i'll reserve any opinion until after tonight's game. So you're sitting on the fence, RR. ?? I wasn't asking you to slag off the team, I was just asking who had impressed you so far [as I trust your opinion]. When I have watched pre-season games I have seen plenty of players that have impressed me but they don't always go on to be a success for Slough but I'm not asking who will go on to be Bakes and Unders best player of the new recruits, I'm asking out of the games so far, RR, that you have seen [excluding Jonathon North who as a keeper, we all know about] what new outfield player looks a good find to you? That is all. He might not make it but then again he might but does that matter? As an example I liked George Frift we had a good few seasons ago, I thought he was a tidy little player with a good touch but somewhat lightweight. I thought he was well worth trying out for us in pre-season.Sometimes these players shine at the start of the season for a newly put together team but long term usually fade out the running[but not always] so can still play a vital role in the development of your best eleven and squad for the gelling/moulding the team together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Underwood Posted August 3, 2021 Share Posted August 3, 2021 2 hours ago, 3spirit said: Odd that we are playing a team from the same division. Didn't think that was the done thing? It’s not a common occurrence but a week ago neither of us had an opponent for various reasons so we suggested it and they agreed. We wouldn’t have fixed up a game with a team we were due to play in a league game in the next month or two but we don’t play them until Christmas so we’re not giving any big secrets away by playing them. Most importantly it will be a good test for both sides so close to the start of the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reading Rebel Posted August 3, 2021 Author Share Posted August 3, 2021 Oxford looked a good side in the first half, a side that will be challenging at the top end of the division. Having said that I thought they got their tactics spot on, squeezing the life out of us, playing 3 up front, shutting us down and putting pressure on us all over the pitch. The second half was a different game. Not sure what player changes Oxford made or what if any tactical changes we made but we looked a different side in comparison to the first half. We became a lot more competitive, getting closer to them not giving them time to play the type of football they like to play causing them a lot more problems. We also had a goal disallowed in the second half so from what initially looked like being a comfortable evening for Oxford could of been a lot closer in the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3spirit Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 Who were our best players on the night, RR? I just got told Aaron Kuhl had a fine game until he unfortunately got injured. Anyone else of note? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reading Rebel Posted August 4, 2021 Author Share Posted August 4, 2021 23 hours ago, 3spirit said: So you're sitting on the fence, RR. ?? I wasn't asking you to slag off the team, I was just asking who had impressed you so far [as I trust your opinion]. When I have watched pre-season games I have seen plenty of players that have impressed me but they don't always go on to be a success for Slough but I'm not asking who will go on to be Bakes and Unders best player of the new recruits, I'm asking out of the games so far, RR, that you have seen [excluding Jonathon North who as a keeper, we all know about] what new outfield player looks a good find to you? That is all. He might not make it but then again he might but does that matter? As an example I liked George Frift we had a good few seasons ago, I thought he was a tidy little player with a good touch but somewhat lightweight. I thought he was well worth trying out for us in pre-season.Sometimes these players shine at the start of the season for a newly put together team but long term usually fade out the running[but not always] so can still play a vital role in the development of your best eleven and squad for the gelling/moulding the team together. George Hunt has impressed and looks to be a talented player and all the under 23's who have progressed into the senior squad have done well but with all of them it's really down to how they adapt and cope with playing senior football. Freddie Grant and Tom Derry look to be good acquisitions so far. How are we shaping up? As I said we've had a reasonably good pre season with last night being our biggest test so far. First half Oxford looked miles better than us but not so in the second half. What sort of season we will have is difficult to say. We haven't replaced Sam Togwell, which to be honest for me is a concern. Striker wise it's been one in and one out so I think we're going to need Ben Harris to stay fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reading Rebel Posted August 4, 2021 Author Share Posted August 4, 2021 42 minutes ago, 3spirit said: Who were our best players on the night, RR? I just got told Aaron Kuhl had a fine game until he unfortunately got injured. Anyone else of note? I wouldn't disagree with Aaron Kuhl being our best player. He's suspended for our first 3 games so has time to recover if it's an injury that will keep him out for a while. Difficult to pick out any player in the first half. Not sure what happened second half but it became a much more competitive game with Oxford not looking anywhere near as comfortable as the first half. Again I liked the look of Ada and Lawal from the under 23's when they were introduced, unfortunately for us Ada will be missing for a part of the season. If Ada continues to progress he could be some player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Underwood Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 RR, it wasn’t Ada. It was Joe Lawal and Eitel Goueth who came on last night. Ada heads out to the US for the first half of the season but Eitel and Joe (and Gabe George) will be with us and all 3 have impressed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3spirit Posted August 4, 2021 Share Posted August 4, 2021 5 minutes ago, Reading Rebel said: George Hunt has impressed and looks to be a talented player and all the under 23's who have progressed into the senior squad have done well but with all of them it's really down to how they adapt and cope with playing senior football. Freddie Grant and Tom Derry look to be good acquisitions so far. How are we shaping up? As I said we've had a reasonably good pre season with last night being our biggest test so far. First half Oxford looked miles better than us but not so in the second half. What sort of season we will have is difficult to say. We haven't replaced Sam Togwell, which to be honest for me is a concern. Striker wise it's been one in one out so I think we're going to need Ben Harris to stay fit. No offence mean't to Ben Harris but he is injury prone now and doesn't complete many full matches, so I can't see him staying fit throughout a season. In his defence though [which I'm not known for!ha ha] he always does a reasonable job in the games he plays for us,especially when he keeps his mind focussed,and temperament in check. On song, he is a good player to have around. It looks to me, as if we are going into the season with a team capable of grinding out a few results but not what you would call 'groundbreakers'. Looks like we are conserving our money,which is a good thing this season with what's been happening. I trust Bakes and Unders,they know what they are doing. I do think some Slough supporters will need to lower their expectations as a play off place with this squad looks unlikely. I think Jonathan North and Freddie Grant are great signings. Don't know much about Tom Derry or George Hunt but on paper their resumes' look the part, and we have a good balance between the tried and tested/ experienced player and the exuberance of younger players which should be able to offer plenty for the commencement of the season. I always look at the start of the season as a completely different prospect, to the one that enters mid winter, and the side that finishes the final months of the season. I can see no panic with the squad we have at the moment. Sam Togwell,of course,will be a big miss but it's up to the others to put down a marker to say they are worth their place in the team replacing him. If it doesn't work out Bakes and Unders will make changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reading Rebel Posted August 4, 2021 Author Share Posted August 4, 2021 15 minutes ago, Jon Underwood said: RR, it wasn’t Ada. It was Joe Lawal and Eitel Goueth who came on last night. Ada heads out to the US for the first half of the season but Eitel and Joe (and Gabe George) will be with us and all 3 have impressed. Thanks Unders. In my defense the light was fading ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reading Rebel Posted August 4, 2021 Author Share Posted August 4, 2021 18 minutes ago, 3spirit said: No offence mean't to Ben Harris but he is injury prone now and doesn't complete many full matches, so I can't see him staying fit throughout a season. In his defence though [which I'm not known for!ha ha] he always does a reasonable job in the games he plays for us,especially when he keeps his mind focussed,and temperament in check. On song, he is a good player to have around. It looks to me, as if we are going into the season with a team capable of grinding out a few results but not what you would call 'groundbreakers'. Looks like we are conserving our money,which is a good thing this season with what's been happening. I trust Bakes and Unders,they know what they are doing. I do think some Slough supporters will need to lower their expectations as a play off place with this squad looks unlikely. I think Jonathan North and Freddie Grant are great signings. Don't know much about Tom Derry or George Hunt but on paper their resumes' look the part, and we have a good balance between the tried and tested/ experienced player and the exuberance of younger players which should be able to offer plenty for the commencement of the season. I always look at the start of the season as a completely different prospect, to the one that enters mid winter, and the side that finishes the final months of the season. I can see no panic with the squad we have at the moment. Sam Togwell,of course,will be a big miss but it's up to the others to put down a marker to say they are worth their place in the team replacing him. If it doesn't work out Bakes and Unders will make changes. As always every clubs aim has to be reaching the play-offs but with 3 clubs going down avoiding relegation has to be the bottom line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reading Rebel Posted August 4, 2021 Author Share Posted August 4, 2021 Good honest interview again from Unders. Agree that the young lads from the under 23's have impressed. The 6 million dollar question is can they produce it against senior players in the NLS. It's a shame we've only got one game left against opposition from the same or level above because I suppose there is only one way to find out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Wycombe Rebel Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 Haven't seen us in pre-season yet, just bought a ticket for the Arsenal game... I doubt the young lads will be thrown in as starters but can see us lining up one of 2 ways 1st game: North Hollis Nisbet Grant Jackman Hunt Togwell Worsfold Lench Derry B.Harris OR: North Jackman Hollis Nisbet Grant W. Harris Hunt Lench Togwell Worsfold Derry It'll either be go for the throat with 3 at the back and Lench behind 2 strikers or stifle with 4 at the back and 5 in midfield I think, either way I can't wait to get down to watch the Rebels!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlenSTFC Posted August 5, 2021 Share Posted August 5, 2021 Derry and Ben Harris are very similar so not sure they’d work together although I’m sure it will be tried. I’d go for either alone or with one of the young lads partnering with some pace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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