v Braintree (A)

[Reading Rebel]

Unfortunately no Aaron Kuhl in the squad due to a family wedding.

 

Edited February 28, 2022 by Reading Rebel

[Neil Baker]

His sister is getting married, however he would not have been fit anyway due to the groin injury he picked up Saturday.

[rebelbrewer]

10 hours ago, Neil Baker said:

His sister is getting married, however he would not have been fit anyway due to the groin injury he picked up Saturday.

Good that he properly recovers, he's playing well this year and is a key part of the rebels engine. We have good options with Max and Curtis.

[Reading Rebel]

57 minutes ago, rebelbrewer said:

Good that he properly recovers, he's playing well this year and is a key part of the rebels engine. We have good options with Max and Curtis.

Of course we do have the options of Max and Curtis though they are predominantly wide players so not an ideal like for like.

Shame that Lenchy is still recovering from injury. 

[3spirit]

If Freddie Grant is fit, I'd go with a 4-4-2 of

                                North

         Fraser    Togwell    Pruti    Grant    

     Jackman  Davies Kumberbatch   Worsfold

                     Tenconi     Goodrham

Mainly to suss out if Kumberbatch is up to a starting place,centre mid berth. If everything is hunky dory, when he tires bring George Hunt on to replace him.

[Jon Underwood]

3 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

Of course we do have the options of Max and Curtis though they are predominantly wide players so not an ideal like for like.

Shame that Lenchy is still recovering from injury. 

RR, Kurtis is a central midfielder, not a wide player.

[rebelbrewer]

4 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

Of course we do have the options of Max and Curtis though they are predominantly wide players so not an ideal like for like.

Shame that Lenchy is still recovering from injury. 

As Jon said, Kurtis is a central midfielder. I obviously understand Max is a wide player but  he is good enough and flexible enough to play further in from the touchline when required and obviously I realised it would mean some switching around.

[Neil Baker]

Also now unlikely we will have Alfonso as whilst he had hoped he had recovered is now looking unlikely.

[Neil Baker]

4 hours ago, 3spirit said:

If Freddie Grant is fit, I'd go with a 4-4-2 of

                                North

         Fraser    Togwell    Pruti    Grant    

     Jackman  Davies Kumberbatch   Worsfold

                     Tenconi     Goodrham

Mainly to suss out if Kumberbatch is up to a starting place,centre mid berth. If everything is hunky dory, when he tires bring George Hunt on to replace him.

Just on your selection I think George is actually the only player that has started every league game this season, which tells you what we think about him ?

[rebelbrewer]

20 minutes ago, Neil Baker said:

Just on your selection I think George is actually the only player that has started every league game this season, which tells you what we think about him ?

Wonder how many other clubs have the manager's discussing selection decisions with supporters like this. ?

George is involved in so much of our play, works brilliantly with the others in midfield (especially Aaron) and works his socks off every game. If Aaron is unavailable I think it's crucial George starts.

Also Scott is so obviously enjoying playing in front of the defence I don't think wild horses could move him from there.

[Reading Rebel]

2 hours ago, rebelbrewer said:

As Jon said, Kurtis is a central midfielder. I obviously understand Max is a wide player but  he is good enough and flexible enough to play further in from the touchline when required and obviously I realised it would mean some switching around.

Only went by his playing stats on Transfer Market which describe him as a left or right sided midfielder.

Obviously Kurtis and the club would know what position he plays.

[3spirit]

23 hours ago, Neil Baker said:

Just on your selection I think George is actually the only player that has started every league game this season, which tells you what we think about him ?

Your prerogative,Neil, you've seen him more than I have but for me it wasn't about George, it was more about seeing what Kurtis was like.  

[sdelaney]

Being at the game it.s surprising that players don.t have long shots at goalie.s on wet pitches.

Years ago it was the thing to do was it because the goalmouth.s were more muddy then and they could not get across the face of goal as quickly as well as dropping a muddy goal bound shots.

[3spirit]

22 hours ago, rebelbrewer said:

Wonder how many other clubs have the manager's discussing selection decisions with supporters like this. ?

George is involved in so much of our play, works brilliantly with the others in midfield (especially Aaron) and works his socks off every game. If Aaron is unavailable I think it's crucial George starts.

Also Scott is so obviously enjoying playing in front of the defence I don't think wild horses could move him from there.

I don't see it as crucial to start George. For me there's only 5 players that would be in my team week in week out,if fit and that is Jonathan North, Lee Togwell,Josh Jackman,Aaron Kuhl and Matt Lench. Those would be the five I would build around. These days it's very much about a squad game so there's room for players to come in and out the team.

I'm well pleased with the acquisitions of Edon Pruti, Alfonso Tenconi and Imran Kayani, all great young finds. Max Worsfold would be there and there abouts but I wouldn't use him solely as a left winger, and would look for an alternative [I don't mean get rid]. Scott Davies is playing exceptional and currently worth a place in the line up. I've always been a fan of Scott's so i know what he can do.Freddie Grant should prove to be a good signing.  Forwards wise I would for look for an overhaul up front but that would need to be when money is more widely available.I've not seen Ada Okorogheye play yet, so am open minded about him.

On George Hunt, I wish him the best and hope he nails down a place in our team/squad especially after the horrendous injuries he's had in his professional career but I've only seen him play 4 times this season and going by those four games, I have to be honest and say I haven't seen anything to say,wow what a player !  Not meaning to write him off [just saying]. That doesn't mean to say he isn't worth keeping around but my mind currently views him as a good squad player like Sean Fraser but not as Bakes prescribes as one of the first names on the team sheet.

[3spirit]

37 minutes ago, sdelaney said:

Being at the game it.s surprising that players don.t have long shots at goalie.s on wet pitches.

Years ago it was the thing to do was it because the goalmouth.s were more muddy then and they could not get across the face of goal as quickly as well as dropping a muddy goal bound shots.

Bit like Tottenham and Middlesborough last night. Both teams hardly had a shot from open play outside the penalty area, and I don't mean from free kicks!

On Slough's defeat last night, I can't say it was surprise loss. Well done for going,SD. Sounds an awkward trip on a week night for the players/management/fans.

I totally get what you mean about making goalkeepers make saves on wet pitches.

I miss those old games when players would rain in shots from outside the box. Ex Slough players Gary Donnellan and Mark Hawthorne come to mind,among others. They both could strike a ball sweetly. Players back then didn't seem afraid to shoot. Too many players seem frightened these days,in case they miss and don't seem encouraged to try. I'm never bothered when players miss the target,I'm just happy they had a go. When there's nothing on attacking wise on the break,where's the harm?

Watching professional teams passing backwards and sideways drives me up the wall. SD, I hope Braintree versus Slough was a lot better than Spurs versus Middlesborough was for me. Spurs deserved nothing and got nothing. Mind you, Middlesborough were garbage,too.

It was nil points on entertainment. How many points for entertainment for Slough against Braintree? A 1-0 defeat seems a cagey game,was it?

[Reading Rebel]

33 minutes ago, 3spirit said:

Bit like Tottenham and Middlesborough last night. Both teams hardly had a shot from open play outside the penalty area, and I don't mean from free kicks!

On Slough's defeat last night, I can't say it was surprise loss. Well done for going,SD. Sounds an awkward trip on a week night for the players/management/fans.

I totally get what you mean about making goalkeepers make saves on wet pitches.

I miss those old games when players would rain in shots from outside the box. Ex Slough players Gary Donnellan and Mark Hawthorne come to mind,among others. They both could strike a ball sweetly. Players back then didn't seem afraid to shoot. Too many players seem frightened these days,in case they miss and don't seem encouraged to try. I'm never bothered when players miss the target,I'm just happy they had a go. When there's nothing on attacking wise on the break,where's the harm?

Watching professional teams passing backwards and sideways drives me up the wall. SD, I hope Braintree versus Slough was a lot better than Spurs versus Middlesborough was for me. Spurs deserved nothing and got nothing. Mind you, Middlesborough were garbage,too.

It was nil points on entertainment. How many points for entertainment for Slough against Braintree? A 1-0 defeat seems a cagey game,was it?

Possibly to do with the modern day approach to coaching/playing that long range shooting is a bit of a lost art with less and less players any good at it or seemingly not willing to have a go compared to previous decades.

These days it seems to be all about passing/keeping possession whether it's passing out from the back, which is fine in theory if you've got the players to do it, or scoring the perfect team goal with several passes rather than have a pop.

If the conditions were wet and slippery players would be told to shoot on sight to make the keeper work and hopefully make a mistake.

Edited March 2, 2022 by Reading Rebel

[Shredding Green]

31 minutes ago, 3spirit said:

Bit like Tottenham and Middlesborough last night. Both teams hardly had a shot from open play outside the penalty area, and I don't mean from free kicks!

On Slough's defeat last night, I can't say it was surprise loss. Well done for going,SD. Sounds an awkward trip on a week night for the players/management/fans.

I totally get what you mean about making goalkeepers make saves on wet pitches.

I miss those old games when players would rain in shots from outside the box. Ex Slough players Gary Donnellan and Mark Hawthorne come to mind,among others. They both could strike a ball sweetly. Players back then didn't seem afraid to shoot. Too many players seem frightened these days,in case they miss and don't seem encouraged to try. I'm never bothered when players miss the target,I'm just happy they had a go. When there's nothing on attacking wise on the break,where's the harm?

Watching professional teams passing backwards and sideways drives me up the wall. SD, I hope Braintree versus Slough was a lot better than Spurs versus Middlesborough was for me. Spurs deserved nothing and got nothing. Mind you, Middlesborough were garbage,too.

It was nil points on entertainment. How many points for entertainment for Slough against Braintree? A 1-0 defeat seems a cagey game,was it?

I watched the Middlesbrough v Tottenham Hotspur match last evening and rated it as a sensationally exciting FA Cup tie. I also felt that Chris Wilder had brought Middlesbrough up to Premier League level.

Luckily, I told my friend that I wouldn't go to Hayes & Yeading United v Salisbury if it was raining in Iver at 6.30 pm. It was ... and the match was postponed at 6.45 pm as my friend found out when he arrived at The SKYex having driven all the way from Bracknell. 

[sdelaney]

39 minutes ago, 3spirit said:

Bit like Tottenham and Middlesborough last night. Both teams hardly had a shot from open play outside the penalty area, and I don't mean from free kicks!

On Slough's defeat last night, I can't say it was surprise loss. Well done for going,SD. Sounds an awkward trip on a week night for the players/management/fans.

I totally get what you mean about making goalkeepers make saves on wet pitches.

I miss those old games when players would rain in shots from outside the box. Ex Slough players Gary Donnellan and Mark Hawthorne come to mind,among others. They both could strike a ball sweetly. Players back then didn't seem afraid to shoot. Too many players seem frightened these days,in case they miss and don't seem encouraged to try. I'm never bothered when players miss the target,I'm just happy they had a go. When there's nothing on attacking wise on the break,where's the harm?

Watching professional teams passing backwards and sideways drives me up the wall. SD, I hope Braintree versus Slough was a lot better than Spurs versus Middlesborough was for me. Spurs deserved nothing and got nothing. Mind you, Middlesborough were garbage,too.

It was nil points on entertainment. How many points for entertainment for Slough against Braintree? A 1-0 defeat seems a cagey game,was it?

Must be said great credit must go to the coach drivers driving on the M25 in the dark and the rain just chucking it down 3spirit stayed overnight in travelodge slough got home to Bassett 3pm today.

Slough always before Spurs.

Lampard you have to say if his long range shots did not go in there was always someone to score from a rebound or the goalie spilling it.

Northy made some great saves especially on the goal line.

Enjoyable game very open 2nd half more like a cup game.

The young lads up front working there socks off but missing the nuisance of Ben keeping and holding the ball iit.s going back to the opposition to quickly with out him in the team.

[Reading Rebel]

2 hours ago, sdelaney said:

Must be said great credit must go to the coach drivers driving on the M25 in the dark and the rain just chucking it down 3spirit stayed overnight in travelodge slough got home to Bassett 3pm today.

Slough always before Spurs.

Lampard you have to say if his long range shots did not go in there was always someone to score from a rebound or the goalie spilling it.

Northy made some great saves especially on the goal line.

Enjoyable game very open 2nd half more like a cup game.

The young lads up front working there socks off but missing the nuisance of Ben keeping and holding the ball iit.s going back to the opposition to quickly with out him in the team.

Not only holding the ball up but Ben's experience, physical presence and goal poaching ability to go alongside the exuberance of youth is what we are missing.

[Reading Rebel]

2 hours ago, Shredding Green said:

I watched the Middlesbrough v Tottenham Hotspur match last evening and rated it as a sensationally exciting FA Cup tie. I also felt that Chris Wilder had brought Middlesbrough up to Premier League level.

Luckily, I told my friend that I wouldn't go to Hayes & Yeading United v Salisbury if it was raining in Iver at 6.30 pm. It was ... and the match was postponed at 6.45 pm as my friend found out when he arrived at The SKYex having driven all the way from Bracknell. 

Not sure I agree with your view of the FA cup game Shredding.

Only the odd shot and save from either keeper that I can remember.

An average Middlesbrough side beat an even more average Spurs side.