The Platform for The Play-Offs

[Sir Rebel1965]

Interesting you say about the draws today, as I was looking at our performance figures based on some of the comments raised by Adrian on the radio yesterday, and we have won 10, drawn 10, lost 11 - so a very even spread.

Of those 10 draws 3 came from us coming from behind, whilst 7 were conceded from a lead.

Also we have only had 4 clean sheets and these were all before the New Year.

However if you want to see goals you should watch Slough as there have been no 0-0 games.

[Reading Rebel]

21 hours ago, 3spirit said:

I agree with what you've said here GlenSTFC. 

The problem is that Bakes and Unders are having to rebuild the squad and develop young players.This process takes time, and to challenge for a promotion place is no foregone conclusion with the new team we assemble. Realistically, I think it will take at the very least, 3 seasons[including this one] to put the club in amongst the chasing pack and even that is pushing it !  Yes, we are doing well this season but I'm not jumping ahead of myself by thinking we are ready to be play off challengers. 

We have the right managers in place but how long will the club be able to keep them?

Next season is the important one, as we clearly need to add experienced [National South or above] players [that are around the right age ie 23-27] to take this club forward to better things. This season we've made a good start in how the squad is shaping up in terms of younger players but this can only take you so far but we are still sparse in many areas of the pitch to have the depth of squad needed.

Take our forward line,we will not have Alfonso Tenconi next season. Tyler Goodrham doesn't look likely being he's on loan from Oxford United and Ben Harris is another season older, and because of his fitness irregularities he doesn't play enough now. Ryan Bird may never come back but really doesn't seem to want to play as a forward anyway, and so that just leaves the young Imran Kayani who as promising as he is, still needs more coaching and experience to be up to the task of playing week in week out to the demands of this league. Ada Okorogheye has been out for most of this season and is going to have his work cut out to get back up to speed [I've not seen him play to know if he is up to it?], and we have the young Joe Lawal who is another work in progress. If we can attract two new proven strikers for next season this would go someway to address this problem but finding them,and having the dosh to pay them is the hard bit !

As well as our forward line I think we have to be aware that in midfield Aaron Kuhl is such an important player for us losing him would be a serious loss and hard to replace.

Hopefully we've got him on a contract in case any scouts comes sniffing around.

[Reading Rebel]

22 hours ago, 3spirit said:

I agree with what you've said here GlenSTFC. 

The problem is that Bakes and Unders are having to rebuild the squad and develop young players.This process takes time, and to challenge for a promotion place is no foregone conclusion with the new team we assemble. Realistically, I think it will take at the very least, 3 seasons[including this one] to put the club in amongst the chasing pack and even that is pushing it !  Yes, we are doing well this season but I'm not jumping ahead of myself by thinking we are ready to be play off challengers. 

We have the right managers in place but how long will the club be able to keep them?

Next season is the important one, as we clearly need to add experienced [National South or above] players [that are around the right age ie 23-27] to take this club forward to better things. This season we've made a good start in how the squad is shaping up in terms of younger players but this can only take you so far but we are still sparse in many areas of the pitch to have the depth of squad needed.

Take our forward line,we will not have Alfonso Tenconi next season. Tyler Goodrham doesn't look likely being he's on loan from Oxford United and Ben Harris is another season older, and because of his fitness irregularities he doesn't play enough now. Ryan Bird may never come back but really doesn't seem to want to play as a forward anyway, and so that just leaves the young Imran Kayani who as promising as he is, still needs more coaching and experience to be up to the task of playing week in week out to the demands of this league. Ada Okorogheye has been out for most of this season and is going to have his work cut out to get back up to speed [I've not seen him play to know if he is up to it?], and we have the young Joe Lawal who is another work in progress. If we can attract two new proven strikers for next season this would go someway to address this problem but finding them,and having the dosh to pay them is the hard bit !

Not sure on the 'take at least three seasons' bit.

This is the first season where we've introduced young players from our under 23's and we are not far short of the points necessary to reach the play-offs.

Next season those young players either at the club or on loan will be another year older and more up to speed on what's required to play men's football.

Of course possibly only a small % will make the grade but those that do combined with players that currently play at this level or above I think we will be in a position to have a good go at the play-offs next season rather than in 2 or 3 seasons time. 

 

[3spirit]

On 20/03/2022 at 12:15, Reading Rebel said:

As well as our forward line I think we have to be aware that in midfield Aaron Kuhl is such an important player for us losing him would be a serious loss and hard to replace.

Hopefully we've got him on a contract in case any scouts comes sniffing around.

While I agree Aaron Kuhl is now showing what a good player he is, I don't agree he cannot be replaced. If Slough can sign another comfortable with the ball at his feet,bringing the ball out from the back/sweeper type centre half [say like Adam Foulser], we then have the option of using Lee Togwell back in midfield if we wish. Matt Lench is no mug in centre midfield either and Scott Davies is far from finished. George Hunt is getting better with every game and we now have Kurtis Cumberbatch. 

To me it's about options. Yes, I would say Aaron Kuhl, on current form,is one of the first names,if fit,for the first eleven but I don't view him as vital, and besides different games against various opposition teams bring about changes in tactics and doesn't mean Slough have to be formulaic in team selection. I favour a certain amount of consistency in team selection but not when a player is out of form, or the team selection needs tinkering with. To me that's the whole point of having a squad.

    

[3spirit]

On 20/03/2022 at 13:17, Reading Rebel said:

Not sure on the 'take at least three seasons' bit.

This is the first season where we've introduced young players from our under 23's and we are not far short of the points necessary to reach the play-offs.

Next season those young players either at the club or on loan will be another year older and more up to speed on what's required to play men's football.

Of course possibly only a small % will make the grade but those that do combined with players that currently play at this level or above I think we will be in a position to have a good go at the play-offs next season rather than in 2 or 3 seasons time. 

 

I think I'm old fashioned in this regard, as I don't really agree in the play off system. When Slough are in them, of course I want them to win them but it doesn't mean I agree with them.

My point of view is seeing a team being made to win the title outright, and I don't mean by doing it by just buying the best players. Hence why I view it as building a class team/squad over several seasons and getting the best out of what is available. The managers who can do this are the 'real deal' in my eyes, not these pseudo managers who finish fourth/fifth/sixth/seventh but know how to work the play offs to their advantage. Not that the latter isn't a talent,it's just I view winning a title as 'CHAMPIONS' to be the ultimate accolade for any aspiring manager.

Means little these days,as I find modern day ethics thin on the ground and sport in general, being a rather watered down version about money, than about sporting dedication but maybe the tide can be turned in the future?  

 

Edited March 23, 2022 by 3spirit