Eastbourne FA Trophy 18th Dec 2021

[Reading Rebel]

20 hours ago, 3spirit said:

PaxtonLee, your observation about the constant use of Guy Hollis long throw has always been a bug bear of mine since Bakes and Unders arrived at our club. I totally agree with you on the need for variety but I believe Bakes and Unders love this tactic, as it covers some of the limitations of our side in open play,hence why they choose to use it a lot. They do tend towards percentage football, in that a lot of goals come from these long throws and crosses from the flanks.

A secret weapon of ours,it isn't ! Every opposition manager in our league will know what's coming when Guy Hollis runs over to the touchline to take the ball. Why they never get Guy to take a short one to a Slough player's foot or something ingenious, I don't know?

I've not yet seen Scott Davies play for Slough this season but I think you may be underselling his value in our team of the past. I know his best performances have been sporadic over the seasons with us but he's never been a mug player.Sometimes his best work has gone unnoticed, as fans tend to be spellbound by goalmouth action.

Going by what our managers and fans have said on our media platforms, Bakes and Unders seem to have clearly defined a role/position in the Slough team/formation that Scott has got to grips with, which is obviously suiting his game. I don't believe in the past that was always the case, or that Scott on occasion did himself any favours. In some of the hardworking Slough teams of the past seasons under the guidance of Neil and Jon, Scott could appear lazy and disinterested but talent he's always had in abundance. I used to wonder,back then, if we really knew how to play him.

It's fitting that Slough has gone back to a hardworking resilient side and this time around Scott is hungry to be involved and has the heart and desire to do well. Last time around he came to our club as a star player/big fish, and as a fit into those Bakes and Unders teams he could look a luxury in our side. That said the season we got promoted into this division he was one of our stand out players, and when the big games arrived he put in top performances. To me on his day he is class. He's matured as a player and I'm glad he's back to being an asset at our club.           

   

3spirit, I'm not sure I agree with you that Guy's long throw 'covers some of the limitations of our side in open play'.

That suggests we have to use it because we wouldn't know what to do with the ball at our feet.

I think it's used solely because it's a useful weapon to cause havoc in the opponents penalty area, much like a corner would.

I also have to question your point that 'a lot of goals come from these long throws'.

There might be a couple that I've forgotten about but personally I can only think of about 2/3 goals coming from Guy's long throws.

As for Scott Davies I think his current form is purely down to Scott getting himself into great shape by sheer hard work over the summer.

Edited December 20, 2021 by Reading Rebel

[Irishadrian]

50 minutes ago, Reading Rebel said:

I think it was 400.

Thanks RR  For a cup tie against a club who beat us quite recently I think that's poor!

[Reading Rebel]

8 hours ago, Irishadrian said:

Thanks RR  For a cup tie against a club who beat us quite recently I think that's poor!

I think you have take into account some of the mitigating factors.

Being the last weekend for shopping before xmas, all pay and the omicron virus spreading like wildfire couldn't have helped.  

 

[GlenSTFC]

1 hour ago, Reading Rebel said:

I think you have take into account some of the mitigating factors.

Being the last weekend for shopping before xmas, all pay and the omicron virus spreading like wildfire couldn't have helped.  

 

The above is true but with the vast majority of the local pro clubs including those in London cancelled I was expecting more than 400. It’s possible if we get a big NL team at home in the next round we could actually be outnumbered. With the form we’re in you would have hoped our crowds would have been around the same level as previous (750) but in reality it’s probably 150-200 less.

[Reading Rebel]

With games being called off i.e. Maidenhead etc perhaps we should have given more incentives to try to get non supporters to turn up.

It might have increased the attendance but possibly people also took the opportunity to go xmas shopping. 

12 minutes ago, GlenSTFC said:

The above is true but with the vast majority of the local pro clubs including those in London cancelled I was expecting more than 400. It’s possible if we get a big NL team at home in the next round we could actually be outnumbered. With the form we’re in you would have hoped our crowds would have been around the same level as previous (750) but in reality it’s probably 150-200 less.

I think if we were to draw a big club at home say Notts County or Stockport for example I'm sure the woodwork supporters would attend in their numbers.

Edited December 20, 2021 by Reading Rebel

[sdelaney]

11 am sat morning I could not believe how empty the train stations and trains from Swindon were.

On Guy.s throw ins.                Sam Allardyce Steve Bruce etc would not of got the success they did without using constant long balls and free kicks through out there careers.

It.s all part of the game if it upsets the opposition and you can gain from then use it.

[Reading Rebel]

Most of the managers who don't like long throw ins don't have it in their armoury.

They know if used properly how disruptive they can be. 

[Shredding Green]

On 18/12/2021 at 20:35, Reading Rebel said:

From what I can find out I don't think the next round of the Trophy is regionalised.

Any tie at home apart from against an NLS side would do.

Of course ideally Wrexham, Stockport, Southend, Yeovil, Aldershot or Notts County (if they get through) at home to pack out AP.

 

The big clubs were not well supported in the 3rd Round ties. There were only 2,735 (205 away) at Stockport County 4 Grimsby Town 0.

I confirm that the 4th Round is not regionalised.

Edited December 20, 2021 by Shredding Green

[Shredding Green]

2 hours ago, GlenSTFC said:

The above is true but with the vast majority of the local pro clubs including those in London cancelled I was expecting more than 400. It’s possible if we get a big NL team at home in the next round we could actually be outnumbered. With the form we’re in you would have hoped our crowds would have been around the same level as previous (750) but in reality it’s probably 150-200 less.

One can always hope! From an email I sent to a few football friends on Saturday evening :-

"In the matches played, there were winners and losers. Well, the match in League One at Portman Road finished 1-1 but 29,005 turned out to see Ipswich Town v Sunderland.

In League Two, Salford City might have hoped for a good gate after Manchester United v Brighton & Hove Albion was postponed but their match against Stevenage attracted just 1,375 to see a 1-0 home win."

[sdelaney]

15 minutes ago, Reading Rebel said:

Most of the managers who don't like long throw ins don't have it in their armoury.

They know if used properly how disruptive they can be. 

It.s not if we like it or not but when opposition manager's start moaning about them then it is a good thing.

[Reading Rebel]

12 minutes ago, sdelaney said:

It.s not if we like it or not but when opposition manager's start moaning about them then it is a good thing.

Just what I said SD.

[3spirit]

12 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

3spirit, I'm not sure I agree with you that Guy's long throw 'covers some of the limitations of our side in open play'.

That suggests we have to use it because we wouldn't know what to do with the ball at our feet.

I think it's used solely because it's a useful weapon to cause havoc in the opponents penalty area, much like a corner would.

I also have to question your point that 'a lot of goals come from these long throws'.

There might be a couple that I've forgotten about but personally I can only think of about 2/3 goals coming from Guy's long throws.

As for Scott Davies I think his current form is purely down to Scott getting himself into great shape by sheer hard work over the summer.

I think you've misrepresented me on the point of Guy Hollis long throw. I don't believe that it has brought lots of goals from it but I could be wrong. What I was trying to say is that our managers favour putting the ball in quick into danger areas by using long throws, and from crosses on the wing and corners. It can get a little predictable watching but I understand why they favour it.

I can't say what Slough play like this season [as I've not seen them yet] but going by what Unders said in his Eastbourne trophy match interview, I know what to expect when I start watching Slough again. Over the years I've got used to Bakes and Under's tactics. Occasionally they surprise me but most of the time it is fairly formulaic. Don't get me wrong this isn't a criticism. They have a successful way of doing things that works for them, so why would they change it?  It isn't overly swashbuckling but it is effective and this season it is more about grinding out wins and draws than playing exquisite football. That said, the teams our managers put together have always given me something to cheer about and get enraptured in, and because they never make it an easy ride for the opposition, most of the time you'll get to see an exciting close game. It's very rarely dull.

At the end of the day, for all the tactics/formations/coaching etc it is often more about how many flair players you have in a team and what those players are about, than what the managers tell them. A team full of Sean Frasers will give you a hardworking team but if it was a team of Matt Lenches, I know which one I would want to watch !        

[Shredding Green]

On 20/12/2021 at 13:45, 3spirit said:

I think you've misrepresented me on the point of Guy Hollis long throw. I don't believe that it has brought lots of goals from it but I could be wrong. What I was trying to say is that our managers favour putting the ball in quick into danger areas by using long throws, and from crosses on the wing and corners. It can get a little predictable watching but I understand why they favour it.

 

Two goals against the division leaders Oxford City at Arbour Park on 2nd January resulted from Guy Hollis long throws.