v Chelmsford

[Reading Rebel]

Almost a full squad to choose from to the point where we've had to leave some players out of the squad.

Only a win will keep our faint play-off chances alive.

Good luck to the rebels.

Edited April 23, 2022 by Reading Rebel

[Curtis]

Flashscore reported we went 2-1 up in the 88th minute & then corrected it back to 1-1 two minutes later…. was there a disallowed goal?

[Irishadrian]

There was a goal disallowed for offside on 88' according to Chelmsford twitter and on 87' Sheringham received a yellow card for protesting to much when he thought he had played Jackson in

Edited April 23, 2022 by Irishadrian

[Reading Rebel]

Sometimes it's not easy to play against 10 men but after leading 1-0 and ending up with a 1-1 draw has got to be disappointing.

Must win against Concord on Tuesday.

Listening to their post match interview after the 7-2 walloping at Dorking the Concord manager has demanded a reaction from his players calling the game on Tuesday against Slough a 'must win game' or players will be looking for a new club next season.

 

Edited April 24, 2022 by Reading Rebel

[Neil Baker]

Not sure if you were there RR however the type of game it was due to pitch conditions meant 11 v 10 was pretty irrelevant, as the ball spent so much time in the air, the only time you get a numerical advantage is when you get the ball down and play, which is almost impossible there, evidenced by their recent comments on the pitch also.

We had a penalty turned down on Lenchy, what looks like a poor decision go against us for the goal, and other chances, however they could have won it at the end also but for a top drawer save by Northy (again).

Big credit to our lads just to keep the season alive, and so close to being within a one game swing of getting in the play offs, with the changes that have been made again this year, for us to be even still fighting 4 games unbeaten is great.

Yet again when we have lost senior players recently in Guy Max and Nis we have been accused of letting the season die, and that we are going to struggle, very similar to the year when we lost Dobbo and Floody, however like that season it is not the case.

Yes we have been up and down throughout the season, but we are a club who does not have the resources of a lot of teams, we will still go for it against Concord, and put the pressure on, however our aim now would be to try and finish top 10, which if we were to achieve (and will be difficult with games left and also the fact we may tinker a bit) would be a really good return considering our poor start to the season.

[rebelbrewer]

1 hour ago, Neil Baker said:

Not sure if you were there RR however the type of game it was due to pitch conditions meant 11 v 10 was pretty irrelevant, as the ball spent so much time in the air, the only time you get a numerical advantage is when you get the ball down and play, which is almost impossible there, evidenced by their recent comments on the pitch also.

We had a penalty turned down on Lenchy, what looks like a poor decision go against us for the goal, and other chances, however they could have won it at the end also but for a top drawer save by Northy (again).

Big credit to our lads just to keep the season alive, and so close to being within a one game swing of getting in the play offs, with the changes that have been made again this year, for us to be even still fighting 4 games unbeaten is great.

Yet again when we have lost senior players recently in Guy Max and Nis we have been accused of letting the season die, and that we are going to struggle, very similar to the year when we lost Dobbo and Floody, however like that season it is not the case.

Yes we have been up and down throughout the season, but we are a club who does not have the resources of a lot of teams, we will still go for it against Concord, and put the pressure on, however our aim now would be to try and finish top 10, which if we were to achieve (and will be difficult with games left and also the fact we may tinker a bit) would be a really good return considering our poor start to the season.

Agree with all you've said, Neil. It was so exciting when we were 1 up realising that we could be within 3 points of the play-offs and again how we really tried to get the winner once they equalised. We'll have to wait for their video for the disallowed goal - the behind the goal video doesn't allow us to see whether Ben was interfering or not.

[rebelbrewer]

Whilst we'll have to see the video about the disallowed goal thought the ref had a pretty good game, hot on diving by both sides, strong minded on their red. I usually reckon if both sets of fans are unhappy with them then the ref has done ok, and that was definitely the case. One Cheltenham fan asked if there was space on our coach for the ref, it genuinely hadn't occurred to him that we might be unhappy with the disallowed goal.

[3spirit]

3 hours ago, Neil Baker said:

Not sure if you were there RR however the type of game it was due to pitch conditions meant 11 v 10 was pretty irrelevant, as the ball spent so much time in the air, the only time you get a numerical advantage is when you get the ball down and play, which is almost impossible there, evidenced by their recent comments on the pitch also.

We had a penalty turned down on Lenchy, what looks like a poor decision go against us for the goal, and other chances, however they could have won it at the end also but for a top drawer save by Northy (again).

Big credit to our lads just to keep the season alive, and so close to being within a one game swing of getting in the play offs, with the changes that have been made again this year, for us to be even still fighting 4 games unbeaten is great.

Yet again when we have lost senior players recently in Guy Max and Nis we have been accused of letting the season die, and that we are going to struggle, very similar to the year when we lost Dobbo and Floody, however like that season it is not the case.

Yes we have been up and down throughout the season, but we are a club who does not have the resources of a lot of teams, we will still go for it against Concord, and put the pressure on, however our aim now would be to try and finish top 10, which if we were to achieve (and will be difficult with games left and also the fact we may tinker a bit) would be a really good return considering our poor start to the season.

Managers have to have their glass half full on how their team are doing. Supporters tend to look at other elements that make up a season and respond with their own rhetoric.  I didn't see the game yesterday but going by the comments it sounds like a decent point away from home.

I think most Slough fans are happy with how the team has performed this season given all the problems beforehand,and the ongoing budget constraints.

The bit that irks me has nothing to do with who runs the club, and how the players in the squad are playing, as surely as fans we want the club and it's board members to do well and of course, it's team managers [ when they are well thought of]. No fan will see eye to eye with their teams manager on football matters all the time. 

What I find annoying is the lack sponsorship from big businesses in Slough, and how the dreams of being back in the town with it's own stadium hasn't led to better prospects in terms of healthy playing budgets for squad recruitment. If anything it feels like we've gone backwards in this regard, and was better off playing lower level and at grounds like Beaconsfield and Windsor !  It may not be the case but it feels like it. 

It feels good that our team is doing well in the Conference South on limited means but it also make me feel like we are doing it with' one leg tied behind the other' ! I admit sometimes I forget Steve Easterbrook isn't at the helm, and that the club cannot now buy or bring in star 'non league' names.

This season was always going to be a difficult one following on from Covid, and now we have cost of living crisis to get through, so I can't see it budget wise improving much next season. However, as a Slough fan I'm wishful thinking that we can pick up a 2 or 3 experienced players by shopping around here and there and hoping we can get a competent striker in.       

[GlenSTFC]

It’s all about using your budget wisely and making it stretch. Let’s say hypothetically we have a weekly budget of £5k. We could go and bring in a top striker for £1k p/w but then we’d need to fill the rest of the squad with youngsters/U23’s and a possibly a couple of experienced players. But if that top striker doesn’t get the service it could a massive waste of the budget plus it’s likely they’d be on a contract on those terms. Or do you bring in 10 average CS players on £400 p/w and fill the gaps with the U23’s. It’s interesting how others may use a budget if they were manager.

[3spirit]

17 hours ago, GlenSTFC said:

It’s all about using your budget wisely and making it stretch. Let’s say hypothetically we have a weekly budget of £5k. We could go and bring in a top striker for £1k p/w but then we’d need to fill the rest of the squad with youngsters/U23’s and a possibly a couple of experienced players. But if that top striker doesn’t get the service it could a massive waste of the budget plus it’s likely they’d be on a contract on those terms. Or do you bring in 10 average CS players on £400 p/w and fill the gaps with the U23’s. It’s interesting how others may use a budget if they were manager.

GlenSTFC, you're spot on here. Here at Slough we are so fortunate to have Bakes and Unders as our managers,as they know what they are doing, and how to adapt with the budget they have. Other managers can be wasteful. However,we Slough fans of long standing, have been spoilt over the years with some fantastic top non league players[at each level/division we've played at] coming to play at Slough. From my angle I don't want the club to boom and then go bust by signing costly prima donna players but at the same time who really wants to watch a team full of rookies and players past their sell by date.

This season has been refreshing in seeing what can be done with the Under 23's and our managers wise choice signings of potential young players but we musn't skip the fact the better players in our squad are those that have been in the non league scene for good while ie Matt Lench, Lee Togwell, Josh Jackman, Freddie Grant,Scott Davies,Jonathon North. Even Aaron Kuhl has learned his trade at various clubs and is no longer a youngster. He has fast become one of my favourite players in our team, and at 25 we have him at the right time.

I don't think it is asking a lot to bring in a good striker next season. We've been crying out for one for a few seasons now but do we need to go 2 or 3 levels down to get one? I'm all for getting in players like James Beauchamp and taking the chance on him.  I liked when we signed Adam Connell from lower down a good few seasons ago but to me these acquisitions are squad players. Not your real McCoy until they prove them self in the reckoning. We are crying out for a proven player who is an automatic choice up front. Ben Harris should no longer be seen as this. As I've said previously Ben is worth keeping and can continue to play an important part in our match days but we are missing out by not having a clever striker that Ben or any of our other forwards can play alongside. It's a pity Alfonso Tenconi isn't here next season but has he really been the answer?

[Reading Rebel]

21 hours ago, 3spirit said:

GlenSTFC, you're spot on here. Here at Slough we are so fortunate to have Bakes and Unders as our managers,as they know what they are doing, and how to adapt with the budget they have. Other managers can be wasteful. However,we Slough fans of long standing, have been spoilt over the years with some fantastic top non league players[at each level/division we've played at] coming to play at Slough. From my angle I don't want the club to boom and then go bust by signing costly prima donna players but at the same time who really wants to watch a team full of rookies and players past their sell by date.

This season has been refreshing in seeing what can be done with the Under 23's and our managers wise choice signings of potential young players but we musn't skip the fact the better players in our squad are those that have been in the non league scene for good while ie Matt Lench, Lee Togwell, Josh Jackman, Freddie Grant,Scott Davies,Jonathon North. Even Aaron Kuhl has learned his trade at various clubs and is no longer a youngster. He has fast become one of my favourite players in our team, and at 25 we have him at the right time.

I don't think it is asking a lot to bring in a good striker next season. We've been crying out for one for a few seasons now but do we need to go 2 or 3 levels down to get one? I'm all for getting in players like James Beauchamp and taking the chance on him.  I liked when we signed Adam Connell from lower down a good few seasons ago but to me these acquisitions are squad players. Not your real McCoy until they prove them self in the reckoning. We are crying out for a proven player who is an automatic choice up front. Ben Harris should no longer be seen as this. As I've said previously Ben is worth keeping and can continue to play an important part in our match days but we are missing out by not having a clever striker that Ben or any of our other forwards can play alongside. It's a pity Alfonso Tenconi isn't here next season but has he really been the answer?

Agree about our under 23's being one of the high points of the season but they are young inexperienced players to senior football who might or might not materialize into good players at this level given the time. Whilst it's been  refreshing to see imo we have been over reliant on our under 23's in the striker position which has mainly been forced upon us by the continual fitness problems of Ben Harris.

Alphonso has been excellent for us but at the end of the day he is still learning his trade and despite showing great potential and being our top scorer with 9 goals he will not be with us next season.   

As for next season and getting in a 'proven striker' I think it's just wishful thinking to think we can get in a proven striker at this level on the wages that he would command.

That just leaves dipping into the leagues below to find a regular goal scorer who can possibly make the step up to NLS level.

You've only got to look at the goal scoring charts to see that there are players around the area who have been scoring lots of goals in the Southern and Isthmian premier divisions at clubs such as Hayes, Chesham, Harrow, Beaconsfield and Enfield, of course their availability would probably be dependent upon some of those clubs not getting promoted to the NLS through the play-offs.

Edited April 26, 2022 by Reading Rebel

[GlenSTFC]

Unfortunately I think any high scoring striker from 1 level below would be too expensive for us. Problem is when you then dip 2 leagues below it becomes a gamble (which is fine if you don’t give them a contract). But totally agree in that we have no chance of signing any proven prolific striker at our level. Hopefully we can do most of our transfer business early.

[Stuntman Mark]

Footage is up. Ben was offside by the looks of it, the question is was he obstructing the keeper's line of vision? 

 

[Shredding Green]

2 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

Agree about our under 23's being one of the high points of the season but they are young inexperienced players to senior football who might or might not materialize into good players at this level given time. Whilst it's been  refreshing to see imo we have been over reliant on our under 23's in the striker position which has mainly been forced upon us by the continual fitness situation of Ben Harris.

Alphonso has been excellent for us but at the end of the day he is still learning his trade and despite showing great potential and being our top scorer with 9 goals he will not be with us next season.   

As for next season and getting in a 'proven striker' I think it's just wishful thinking to think we can get in a proven striker at this level on the wages that he would command.

That just leaves dipping into the leagues below to find a regular goal scorer who can possibly make the step up to NLS level.

You've only got to look at the goal scoring charts to see that there are players around the area who have been scoring a lot goals in the Southern and Isthmian premier divisions at clubs such as Hayes, Chesham, Harrow, Beaconsfield and Enfield, of course this would probably be dependent upon some of those clubs not getting promoted to the NLS through the play-offs.

A twelfth man can be a well managed team with no positional weaknesses which can score goals from all over the park. I consider the current squad being very close to achieving that. 

[Reading Rebel]

1 hour ago, Stuntman Mark said:

Footage is up. Ben was offside by the looks of it, the question is was he obstructing the keeper's line of vision? 

 

Ben Harris is offside when the ball is kicked but not in the keepers vision, unfortunately Ben then proceeds to run towards the ball which makes him active and hampering the keepers vision.

So imo the correct decision was made. 

[rebelbrewer]

1 hour ago, Stuntman Mark said:

Footage is up. Ben was offside by the looks of it, the question is was he obstructing the keeper's line of vision? 

 

To be fair from that video I can see the refs point about Ben's positioning

[Curtis]

6 hours ago, 3spirit said:

It's a pity Alfonso Tenconi isn't here next season but has he really been the answer?

Yes I think he has been. And I think Dan Roberts was before him (I’m surprised he hasn’t been successful at Dartford).

Both had a strike rate of about 1 every 3 matches which would make them 15+ a season strikers including cup matches if they were fit all season. And their work rates provided much more than just goals.

[3spirit]

1 hour ago, Curtis said:

Yes I think he has been. And I think Dan Roberts was before him (I’m surprised he hasn’t been successful at Dartford).

Both had a strike rate of about 1 every 3 matches which would make them 15+ a season strikers including cup matches if they were fit all season. And their work rates provided much more than just goals.

You've probably seen a lot more Slough games than I have this season,Curtis,so you may have a better insight about Alfonso Tenconi than me. I have liked what I have seen from him in most of the games but for me he's still a novice.

I, too, liked Dan Roberts in his time with Slough. My only gripe with him wasn't about his ability, it was that he often drifted to the wing to find space and so when Slough would break fast it could mean that we had no one in the penalty area to score.

I wasn't heartbroken when he left like some fans were but I would rather we had kept him.On this final sentence I would say the same about Francis Armartey, in fact I was probably bothered more when Francis Armartey left than Dan Roberts because Dan left after the crowdless Covid season, whereas I was watching regular when Francis was playing for us and I thought he got the rough end of the stick by our managers in that season. They know best[well sometimes! ha ha!] as they see what a players temperament/character is like behind the scenes but on a purely football watching basis I thought we were premature letting him go,and I haven't changed my mind on that.    

[Rebellier]

What a great save by Northy right at the end there!

[Reading Rebel]

19 hours ago, GlenSTFC said:

Unfortunately I think any high scoring striker from 1 level below would be too expensive for us. Problem is when you then dip 2 leagues below it becomes a gamble (which is fine if you don’t give them a contract). But totally agree in that we have no chance of signing any proven prolific striker at our level. Hopefully we can do most of our transfer business early.

Some might be on more money but if they want to test themselves at a higher level they might be willing to drop their demands a bit.