Eastbourne Borough A 20Nov

[Irishadrian]

If recent form is considered we should have high hopes of continuing our impressive revival

Eastbourne are mired in a bad patch They've lost 4 of their last 5 league games and have managed  just 2 home wins out of 7 so far all season.

We must IMO have an excellent chance of adding to our points total.

 

[Curtis]

We’ve done well travelling over there recently (3 consecutive wins), and that can often provide the confidence needed to win close competitive matches. 
 

My Prediction :- Eastbourne 1 Slough 2

[GlenSTFC]

I just hope the players don’t become complacent as our next 3 league matches including today are against teams below us which ‘on paper’ should see us continue our unbeaten run. If we play how we have been there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be looking at 7 points from the next 3 which could put us in or very near the play offs.

[Irishadrian]

This has the potential to be a high scoring game Eastbourne are the leagues highest scorers but have conceded just one goal less!

[Reading Rebel]

Back to earth with a bump.

I couldn't make the game today but listened in on Rebels Radio.

Ade said apart from our goal we hardly had a shot on target all game.

Hopefully we can get some views/opinions from supporters who were at the game.

 

Edited November 20, 2021 by Reading Rebel

[Irishadrian]

It's clear from post match comments that the lads know that this defeat is in the main because we simply didn't play well didn't achieve the standards of recent weeks rather than an exceptional performance from Eastbourne Disappointing that we didn't test one of the worst defences in the league but that's football! At KO Eastbourne were in the position we were in  a few weeks ago playing poorly and scoring few points It's a shame they came good against us  Main thing now is to concentrate on the next game We know that playing their best football and with Lady Luck around there's  no team in our league the Rebels can't beat!

[Curtis]

No Tenconi in the squad?

[Irishadrian]

Curtis  His non-availability was mentioned in our pre- match item on the official website.

[Curtis]

Just noticed that, should have read that before making my score prediction!

[Reading Rebel]

2 hours ago, Irishadrian said:

It's clear from post match comments that the lads know that this defeat is in the main because we simply didn't play well didn't achieve the standards of recent weeks rather than an exceptional performance from Eastbourne Disappointing that we didn't test one of the worst defences in the league but that's football! At KO Eastbourne were in the position we were in  a few weeks ago playing poorly and scoring few points It's a shame they came good against us  Main thing now is to concentrate on the next game We know that playing their best football and with Lady Luck around there's  no team in our league the Rebels can't beat!

In his post match interview I thought Unders said Eastbourne played well and deserved to win?

That's why I always say past performances don't mean a lot. 

We were the form team and Eastbourne were on a poor run and we then go and get turned over.

It's such fine margins in this division that regardless of what form you're in, if you don't turn up and perform you will normally get beat.

[Irishadrian]

RR Jon made the point that we played below the level expected of us and recently achieved by us IMO mainly a failure by us to turn up rather than a super Eastbourne performance.

[Reading Rebel]

On 20/11/2021 at 23:11, Irishadrian said:

RR Jon made the point that we played below the level expected of us and recently achieved by us IMO mainly a failure by us to turn up rather than a super Eastbourne performance.

Depends what side of the fence you're on Adrian.

I'm sure Eastbourne will say they stopped us from playing and were just the better team on the day.

Edited November 22, 2021 by Reading Rebel

[rebelade]

Thought Eastbourne got their tactics spot on against us but like us they have a mix of experience and youngsters. It wasn’t the greatest game you will see but they were very clinical

[Neil Baker]

Just for those who like a stat, we ran more by some distance than any other of our last 5, and since we have had the GPS monitors to track, which shows it was not from a lack of work rate.

Watching the 90 minutes back today in the cold light of day, I have changed my opinion on the game, where yesterday I thought they probably deserved the win, when in reality we have had so much territory, and in particular so many set pieces, that we should of got more from the game, but I think on the day we just did not do enough with those opportunities, and we especially did not work their keeper enough.

The lad Kendall was a threat for them, and he was clinical with his chances as Ade says.

I believe that if Ben scores after 5 minutes when the keeper gives the ball to him, we probably go on to win the game.

The first goal is so important in this league.

I have to admit finding the whole we should beat this team, and that team a bit strange, with the exception of maybe one or two teams, the league is so even that anybody can beat anybody on their day, past form is more often than not irrelevant, yes it can give you confidence going in to a game if you are on a good run, but that can be shattered within a minute if the other team score.

Having watched it back I still think we could have passed the ball better at times, and made a few better choices, but on the whole I was not too disappointed with our overall play.

If we are critical then the first two goals came down the middle of us, and were probably a little easy, something that no side has managed to do in the last 5 games.

The third goal is obviously a mistake by Northy.

So we chalk it off, and look to two very different cup games coming up, before we return to league action against Tonbridge on the 4th.

 

 

[Holyport Rebel]

I wasn't going to post anything about yesterday's game, but what the hell, here's my take on it.

First of all, can I just copy something word for word from the Eastbourne programme.

It is talking about Eastbourne's match last week v. Concord.

It says........."At Concord last Saturday, the home team were appealing for everything, pressuring the referee and getting decisions they didn't deserve."

I just like to think this backs up my description of Concord Rangers as a "horrible team" when I posted about them after our recent game against them.

As for what happened 24 hours ago...............

It was one of those days wasn't it.

Almost right from the start.

Got on the coach at St. Joe's late morning, and was delighted to realise that it was warm on it for a change.

Sadly this warm glow didn't last too long, as just coming up to Brighton we learnt that the coach was in danger of breaking down ! 

Going at a steady 20mph,( much much less uphill), I'm sure the coach became a mobile chicane to others on the road going the same way we were.

It was quite exciting counting the miles to Eastbourne down from the signposts we crawled by.

!9 miles, then 17, then it seemed back to 19..............?

Were we going to make it to the ground ? If we didn't, where exactly were we going to be left stranded beside a broken down coach ?

People were noting where any Premier Inn's were located in case we had to  make an unexpected overnight stop.

To cut a long story short, (too late), we eventually struggled into Eastbourne's car park, to a well deserved round of applause to the driver from all of the rest of us.

(You players and management have no idea of the trials and tribulations that us Rebel fans go through to follow the team !)

As for the game itself.

I have to say that I was rather surprised to hear the downbeat comments from Bakes' and Unders' after the final whistle.

It had me doubting if I had seen the same match.

When Eastbourne's third goal went in, my  thoughts were that no way was 3-0 a fair result.

It totally flattered  Eastbourne, ( in my opinion).

I was thinking once again that I must know nothing about the game, if the managers were so disappointed and I was thinking "it was just one of those days."

Thankfully Neil has just posted to say that he now thinks he was a bit harsh in his original comments, which I think is totally warranted, and I don't feel as thick as I did.

Yep, I agree that if Ben had scored that great chance he had, it would have been a totally different game.

Shame it was on his left foot.

Again he had a great chance a bit later in the first half, a shot which appeared to be destined for the top corner until it was  unexpectedly deflected off a defender and ricocheted away off target.     

Eastbourne's first goal seemed to come out from nowhere, suddenly an attacker was on his own in miles of space with just  Jonathan to beat, and he did put it away very well.

It's not like we were being dominated in my opinion.

Second half I thought we had more possession than they did, but I really thought that the longer the half went on, it was one of those days when we were not going to score.

On another day Freddies 45 yard shot goes in.

Struck from a yard further out it would have dipped in. The goalie was floundering for it, and wouldn't have kept it out if it had been lower.

Their second goal I thought was notable for the Eastbourne player who was "fouled" by George and was then on the ground writhing in agony while the ref played on, and then jumped to his feet when the ball hit the back of the net and he sprinted over to join in the goal celebrations !

Do players realise what utter pricks they look when they behave like this ?

The less said about the third goal the better.

We got one goal back, a good cross from Joe and a great finish from Ben running onto it.

Yes we lost. but it was just one of those days in my opinion.

I wouldn't have warmly applauded the players off at the end if I had thought differently.

Thankfully, a replacement coach was waiting for us as we returned to the car park after the game, and we had an uneventful journey home. 

One further thing.

Can Bakes' and Unders' give us fans an assurance that they will not be putting their hats into the ring to become the new managers at Manchester United?

Its been a while since they had a decent one.

  

[SloughFlyer]

A few interesting takes on the game thus far, so here is mine.....

For the first time in a very long time (can't even recall a time before actually) Neil and Jon were out coached yesterday. For the last month or so since the Havant game we have played the 4-4-2 diamond. This has worked extremely well because if you look at the games / teams we have played in the last 6 games, they came onto us, often as they have perceived better players, this allowed our hardworking combative style to steal the ball and counter hard with players like Ben Harris and the speed of Tenconi. I suspect, the Eastborne manager had been forewarned about this as from the first minute they almost invited us to have the ball knowing that we have a lack of creativity with that line up on the pitch and a massive lack of pace. Thus they banked up with lines of 4 and stopped us playing. This was born out, as we actually only had 2 shots on target (3 if you count Ben's in the first half) and of those 2, Goueth had the first one after about 85 minutes from 30 yards. They then simply hit us on the counter attack and their striker with pace put himself up against Lee Togwell and smoked him.

I think the comment I heard from the bench during the game of "not good enough" actually summed the whole performance up. Only when we changed, put Lawal and Worsfold on and got some pace and crosses in did something come off for us. 

I will be very interested to see the first goal again on replay as I'm not sure why North came off his line at the player in that instance. Only live, it seemed if he stays covering near post, it makes it much harder to score. As for the 3rd goal???. To be fair to him, he did make 2 good saves in the game, but it's just another mistake to add to the list!!!!!

We did an "out of 10" on the way home in the car and struggled to come above 6/10 for anyone. In the last 6 games it would be a struggle to give less than an 8 to any player. For us as a team, anything less than our best will obviously cost us points, no matter who we play.

I think the biggest miss of the afternoon was Tenconi and it is amazing how important he has already become to our team in a short time. 

The cup games next week are a nice distraction from the league, H+W will be very difficult and Beaconsfield, depending on the side, is obviously a lot less important.

A bounceback performance against H+W would be nice, but not the end of the world if it doesn't come. The Tonbridge game followed by Hemel are the big ones that we need to get points in. 

[Footyfan007]

The game started at a crazy pace and if we had scored around 5 mins into the game with our gifted opportunity, that would have been game over for Eastbourne in what you could see was a flakey back 4 especially 2 of them.

After that it looked like we struggled to get near them as they created overloads on either side and switched the ball intelligently moving us around for around 20-25 mins (clearly had done there homework), but also we where a touch sloppy with some of our play which has been very good last 5 games.

IMHO yet again another poor referee influenced by the opposition, screaming and yelling for everything (embarrassing at times including their coaching team)

At 1-0 in the second half when their goalie caught the ball I actually thought he had then moved it over the line ( I was right next to the post ) others around me also had a shout, would like to see that back as the linesmen was not in line!!

Sometimes a result like this does no harm to tweak when required what we have done well for the last 5 games, I always say if your good at something get  better and better at it, good habits knowing where your team mates are during phases of the games in and out of possession. 

Eastbourne player for player not better then Slough, just look at the Watford v Man U score bottom line you have to win the battle and then your footy within the game will shine.

So no worries roll the sleeves up and go again ? 

 

 

 

[Holyport Rebel]

Sorry, one further thing I wanted to say but forgot to do so earlier. 

I get the feeling watching Scotty Davies that he loves to hit a long, accurate cross field pass.

How many of these did he successfully make yesterday? ( At least I think it was him, as Eastbourne's floodlights weren't the best. )

Plenty I thought.

 

[SloughFlyer]

22 minutes ago, Holyport Rebel said:

Sorry, one further thing I wanted to say but forgot to do so earlier. 

I get the feeling watching Scotty Davies that he loves to hit a long, accurate cross field pass.

How many of these did he successfully make yesterday? ( At least I think it was him, as Eastbourne's floodlights weren't the best. )

Plenty I thought.

 

It was Scott HR. With all his experience in the pro game, giving him time and space is a recipe for disaster for the opposition.

[Reading Rebel]

15 hours ago, SloughFlyer said:

A few interesting takes on the game thus far, so here is mine.....

For the first time in a very long time (can't even recall a time before actually) Neil and Jon were out coached yesterday. For the last month or so since the Havant game we have played the 4-4-2 diamond. This has worked extremely well because if you look at the games / teams we have played in the last 6 games, they came onto us, often as they have perceived better players, this allowed our hardworking combative style to steal the ball and counter hard with players like Ben Harris and the speed of Tenconi. I suspect, the Eastborne manager had been forewarned about this as from the first minute they almost invited us to have the ball knowing that we have a lack of creativity with that line up on the pitch and a massive lack of pace. Thus they banked up with lines of 4 and stopped us playing. This was born out, as we actually only had 2 shots on target (3 if you count Ben's in the first half) and of those 2, Goueth had the first one after about 85 minutes from 30 yards. They then simply hit us on the counter attack and their striker with pace put himself up against Lee Togwell and smoked him.

I think the comment I heard from the bench during the game of "not good enough" actually summed the whole performance up. Only when we changed, put Lawal and Worsfold on and got some pace and crosses in did something come off for us. 

I will be very interested to see the first goal again on replay as I'm not sure why North came off his line at the player in that instance. Only live, it seemed if he stays covering near post, it makes it much harder to score. As for the 3rd goal???. To be fair to him, he did make 2 good saves in the game, but it's just another mistake to add to the list!!!!!

We did an "out of 10" on the way home in the car and struggled to come above 6/10 for anyone. In the last 6 games it would be a struggle to give less than an 8 to any player. For us as a team, anything less than our best will obviously cost us points, no matter who we play.

I think the biggest miss of the afternoon was Tenconi and it is amazing how important he has already become to our team in a short time. 

The cup games next week are a nice distraction from the league, H+W will be very difficult and Beaconsfield, depending on the side, is obviously a lot less important.

A bounceback performance against H+W would be nice, but not the end of the world if it doesn't come. The Tonbridge game followed by Hemel are the big ones that we need to get points in. 

You're right, losing to H&W in the trophy won't be the end of the world but I think most supporters would like a cup run and of course some money in the bank would be welcomed.

I also think beating Havant is always satisfying given some of their bleating supporters think they're always hard done by when we manage to take points off them.  

Edited November 22, 2021 by Reading Rebel