2022-23 Discussions

[Footyfan007]

20 minutes ago, 3spirit said:

To be honest Footyfan007, I've not seen enough of the Under 23's to form any opinion of them. The last two seasons I haven't watched a lot of non league football, however I have watched a lot of it in the past, and have watched a lot of youth football over the years.  I don't write any young player off but having watched non-league football over the years I tend to favour sides with a mixture of real experience, and a small sprinkling of youth.

Being good enough to play in the Conference South is not as easy as some seem to think. Throwing a young player into the deep end and expecting him to be good enough in every game is to me a daft way for a player to learn unless of course, the young player really has something about them.Edon Pruti's don't come along everyday.

I haven't seen Gabe George play many games, so I don't want to criticize him when I have not seen him enough. To me it isn't about Gabe George, it is getting a resilient team to not only compete in the Conference South but to actually win more games than they lose. Too many youngsters in this league will win you nothing. Bakes and Unders are good competent managers but they are not clones of Alex Ferguson.

Slough may have money issues in what they can afford as a club but while this season went down as a fairly successful season given the finances, next season looks like it is going to be harder with three extra teams taking the division to 24 teams, and I fear we will struggle big time, if we don't sign some proven players soon.

   

Edon is good, but imho Dandy is better having watched him a lot, Dandy is is also a much better CB then RB, as I said some younger players at slough also not via the u23s are sought after by other clubs, I am confident in quoting this as I am from the current football circuit and attended circa 85 games this season gone.  So fair play to Neil and Jon for blooding the likes of Dandy, Pruti, Hunt, Tenconi, George, Goodrham, Lawal, Goueth and Kayani.  Just imagine if one or more of them where to be moved on apart from Tenconi & Goodrham (America bound and back to Oxford Utd) that could include any further sell on values would benefit Slough massively.

Edited May 20, 2022 by Footyfan007

[3spirit]

26 minutes ago, Footyfan007 said:

Edon is good, but imho Dandy is better having watched him a lot, Dandy is is also a much better CB then RB, as I said some younger players at slough also not via the u23s are sought after by other clubs, I am confident in quoting this as I am from the current football circuit and attended circa 85 games this season gone.  So fair play to Neil and Jon for blooding the likes of Dandy, Pruti, Hunt, Tenconi, George, Goodrham, Lawal, Goueth and Kayani.  Just imagine if one or more of them where to be moved on apart from Tenconi & Goodrham (America bound and back to Oxford Utd) that could include any further sell on values would benefit Slough massively.

I have liked what I have seen of Joe Dandy, and I hope he is as good as you rate him.It sounds as if Edon Pruti could be moving on from Slough,if the rumours are true [I hope not].

I will need to get used to this policy of blooding young players at a drop of a hat.As long as we keep playing good football, then I don't see it being a problem but I still feel seasoned players will be needed, whatever.  

[Sir Rebel1965]

In my season review I stated that 2021/22 was a transition year.

It now looks like we only have around 7 players who are over 20 in the squad – that is including the always injured Bird.

The ratio of kids to men is now the wrong way round.

If the finances are that bad, can the club please be honest with the fans, so that expectations of big name players coming in and winning the league can be put to one side.

It now looks like 2022/23 will be even a greater transition year than last to the point that survival may be the key objective.

If this is wrong please let me know the facts why this is not so.

[SloughFlyer]

Shame to see Freddie Grant leave as he is one of the experienced players I (and clearly the club) would have kept.

It's funny that it's another LB leaving as my Dad and I were talking the other day about players coming and going and how initially upset we were when Ryan Parsons stopped with Slough mid-season. We were concerned about the loss of his quality but since then, IMO, we have only got better and better LBs in the club (obviously the move through the leagues has helped that). 

On Gabe George, he isn't quite there yet IMO to be the number 1 starter for the club at LB. He needs to develop more but is certainly one of the players I want us to stick with as he has shown a positive development in the first year of "mens" football he has played. Still not sure yet if he is a LB or attacking left Midfield, but time will tell on that.

Whilst I appreciate the statement from the club on the website, I think we need to start to counter the leavers with the retained or new to keep the supporters positive. According to the current club statement we have some players committed to next season already, so start releasing some names (not in due course). We have had a couple of senior players leave and I'm not expecting the new names yet (unless we have some) but we as a club need to start getting some positive news out there and since the season ended our U23s have won a trophy and we know Sean Fraser is having a testimonial, neither of which effect the 1st team. 

My point is more, if you were on the fence about a season ticket, why on earth currently would you buy one? Release some retained players and put a flash offer on the article for 48 hours from release for people to take up.

We all know the club is short of money (relatively speaking) so let's get some details out there to encourage the fans, given that pre-season starts in around 7-8 weeks time.

[Reading Rebel]

45 minutes ago, SloughFlyer said:

Shame to see Freddie Grant leave as he is one of the experienced players I (and clearly the club) would have kept.

It's funny that it's another LB leaving as my Dad and I were talking the other day about players coming and going and how initially upset we were when Ryan Parsons stopped with Slough mid-season. We were concerned about the loss of his quality but since then, IMO, we have only got better and better LBs in the club (obviously the move through the leagues has helped that). 

On Gabe George, he isn't quite there yet IMO to be the number 1 starter for the club at LB. He needs to develop more but is certainly one of the players I want us to stick with as he has shown a positive development in the first year of "mens" football he has played. Still not sure yet if he is a LB or attacking left Midfield, but time will tell on that.

Whilst I appreciate the statement from the club on the website, I think we need to start to counter the leavers with the retained or new to keep the supporters positive. According to the current club statement we have some players committed to next season already, so start releasing some names (not in due course). We have had a couple of senior players leave and I'm not expecting the new names yet (unless we have some) but we as a club need to start getting some positive news out there and since the season ended our U23s have won a trophy and we know Sean Fraser is having a testimonial, neither of which effect the 1st team. 

My point is more, if you were on the fence about a season ticket, why on earth currently would you buy one? Release some retained players and put a flash offer on the article for 48 hours from release for people to take up.

We all know the club is short of money (relatively speaking) so let's get some details out there to encourage the fans, given that pre-season starts in around 7-8 weeks time.

You must of read my thoughts SF.

It does seem all doom and gloom at the moment with talk of lack of money, two senior players leaving and nothing coming the other way.

The club are trying to push our early bird season tickets with a deadline of 31st May so anything positive to announce must surely help in that respect.

As you say we can all appreciate that we need to be patient with any new signings but looking at other clubs web sites a lot of them are releasing details of retained players as new signings or players that have committed to another season.

The point being anything positive from the club at this moment in time can only be a good thing to lift some of the negativity and help with things like season ticket sales. 

 

Edited May 21, 2022 by Reading Rebel

[Ian g f]

Are there any teams worse of financially than us ? 

[Neil Baker]

59 minutes ago, Reading Rebel said:

You must of read my thoughts SF.

It does seem all doom and gloom at the moment with talk of lack of money, two senior players leaving and nothing coming the other way.

The club are trying to push our early bird season tickets with a deadline of 31st May so anything positive to announce must surely help in that respect.

As you say we can all appreciate that we need to be patient with any new signings but looking at other clubs web sites a lot of them are releasing details of retained players as new signings or players that have committed to another season.

The point being anything positive from the club at this moment in time can only be a good thing to lift some of the negativity and help with things like season ticket sales. 

 

So I will respond to this, why do you think we won’t release names at present? The main reason is that those who have not agreed yet we are then alerting other clubs to this fact. thus making our jobs even harder to keep them.

If we come out with such and such has re signed then we get questions of what about X.. so we can’t win.

I get you might be on the fence on season tickets etc, but we have to also do what is in our interests to be as strong as we can as a team, and if that means withholding some information in what is only a few weeks after the season has finished, then so be it, and I ask you just remain a bit patient.

We are going in to our 10th year as managers, and hopefully you would agree that we know what we are doing, just trust us that we have done a lot of good with existing players already, but have 2 or 3 that are not sorted, and until we know either way we will keep our cards close to our chest.

Cheers Bakes

 

[rebelbrewer]

9 minutes ago, Neil Baker said:

So I will respond to this, why do you think we won’t release names at present? The main reason is that those who have not agreed yet we are then alerting other clubs to this fact. thus making our jobs even harder to keep them.

If we come out with such and such has re signed then we get questions of what about X.. so we can’t win.

I get you might be on the fence on season tickets etc, but we have to also do what is in our interests to be as strong as we can as a team, and if that means withholding some information in what is only a few weeks after the season has finished, then so be it, and I ask you just remain a bit patient.

We are going in to our 10th year as managers, and hopefully you would agree that we know what we are doing, just trust us that we have done a lot of good with existing players already, but have 2 or 3 that are not sorted, and until we know either way we will keep our cards close to our chest.

Cheers Bakes

 

Common sense Neil and over 10 years you've learnt my trust. I buy a season ticket as a supporter of Slough Town and would do whether I thought our squad were likely to be relegated or challenge for the title. I have watched the team at Wembley, in the Conference and in the dark days of struggling at step 4 so nothing will stop me now I guess.

I watch the announcements from other teams about signings and wonder quite what the point is so early. My expectations each year is that we will first hear about players leaving with as much grace as possible as has happened with Ben and Freddie. We signed Freddie in June last year, I think, so plenty of time yet.

Additionally, if you are looking to bring in loan signings like Matty Stevens or Tyler, then that will only happen once the league clubs have worked out what they are doing with players.

Overall it's too early to expect major signing news...I can be patient.

[GlenSTFC]

It’s a delicate situation but I can see both sides and being a fan yes it’s frustrating to hear no news on players yet especially when you read of many other clubs announcing signings. But after losing a player like Freddie the last thing we want is to lose another by giving away information that doesn’t need to be given. Ok we may still lose 1 or 2 but at least the club would have tried all they can to retain them. Unfortunately I’ve got a feeling that Aaron Kuhl is one of the few players yet to sign as I can imagine there are a few interested clubs. On the other hand I agree if the club wants to sell season tickets there has to be some positivity surrounding it. Let’s hope  in the next 10 days we see that.

[Guest Wycombe Rebel]

Patience! It’s a wonderful thing! We could pick up some absolute bargains if we wait and the budget is obviously hamstringing us BUT that’s the point of the u23s. It’s no secret that we need a sugar daddy to help take us to the next level, we will be competitive because of our excellent managers and will probably be mid table again BUT be careful what you wish for, the club could be reckless and blow loads of money on players for 1 successful season then plummet, it’s happened before… Remember the year we get relegated when everyone had us as one of the favourites for promotion to the Conference, that team should never have been relegated and those players only hung around with no motivation because they were owed a shit tonne of money by Martyn Deaner. I just have faith in our Managers, it’s time for calm! No one is holding a gun to peoples heads telling them to buy season tickets, it’s a choice, buy one or don’t, victims of our own success under Bakes and Unders it seems!

[SloughFlyer]

1 hour ago, CookhamRebel said:

Patience! It’s a wonderful thing! We could pick up some absolute bargains if we wait and the budget is obviously hamstringing us BUT that’s the point of the u23s. It’s no secret that we need a sugar daddy to help take us to the next level, we will be competitive because of our excellent managers and will probably be mid table again BUT be careful what you wish for, the club could be reckless and blow loads of money on players for 1 successful season then plummet, it’s happened before… Remember the year we get relegated when everyone had us as one of the favourites for promotion to the Conference, that team should never have been relegated and those players only hung around with no motivation because they were owed a shit tonne of money by Martyn Deaner. I just have faith in our Managers, it’s time for calm! No one is holding a gun to peoples heads telling them to buy season tickets, it’s a choice, buy one or don’t, victims of our own success under Bakes and Unders it seems!

The problem is CR, the "buy one or dont" attitude is not a position financially we as a club can take currently. If people choose the 2nd option there as the club puts nothing out there but players leaving etc, then the budget could actually be even less (I would assume). 

Neil and Jon have a handle on the club and have guided it amazingly for the past 10 years. Why not put out a PR confirming the pair of them for "an amazing decade in charge" etc? At least it would be a positive thing? 

On the season tickets, 100% preaching to the choir on the forum as I would assume there is virtually noone on here that hasn't already got there's, my thoughts are for the club to try and grow the numbers a bit, and possibly try something different. If the club is happy with the current uptake and budgetary implications, then who am I to argue.

Edited May 21, 2022 by SloughFlyer

[Sir Rebel1965]

Agree Cookham, we need a sugar daddy who can put a six figure sum in each year, as those teams coming up have more than we do and if we are not careful, they will all overtake us and we will slip down.

If teams like Leatherhead can attract players like Max Worsfold, we are then very much reliant on loyalty to keep players here.

I was reading the BBC national league site and all the teams in the National have full contracts on their squads and I hate to think what their budgets are – some are well in the millions.

We have a very meagre budget and just have a few on basic contracts and can be easily lured away.

The task for Neil and Jon is unenviable.

[Reading Rebel]

2 hours ago, CookhamRebel said:

Patience! It’s a wonderful thing! We could pick up some absolute bargains if we wait and the budget is obviously hamstringing us BUT that’s the point of the u23s. It’s no secret that we need a sugar daddy to help take us to the next level, we will be competitive because of our excellent managers and will probably be mid table again BUT be careful what you wish for, the club could be reckless and blow loads of money on players for 1 successful season then plummet, it’s happened before… Remember the year we get relegated when everyone had us as one of the favourites for promotion to the Conference, that team should never have been relegated and those players only hung around with no motivation because they were owed a shit tonne of money by Martyn Deaner. I just have faith in our Managers, it’s time for calm! No one is holding a gun to peoples heads telling them to buy season tickets, it’s a choice, buy one or don’t, victims of our own success under Bakes and Unders it seems!

Unless I've missed something I don't think anyone has asked the club to blow loads of money we haven't got for maybe one successful season which could put the clubs future at risk.

I would hope most supporters, certainly the die hard supporters, have faith in our managers to get it right.

The point was to try and inject some positivity amongst all the negativity to try and boost season ticket sales rather than just take the attitude of 'it's your choice, buy one or don't'.  

[Guest Wycombe Rebel]

1 minute ago, Reading Rebel said:

Unless I've missed something I don't think anyone has asked the club to blow loads of money we haven't got for maybe one successful season which could put the clubs future at risk.

I would hope most supporters, certainly the die hard supporters, have faith in our managers to get it right.

The point was to try and inject some positivity amongst all the negativity to try and boost season ticket sales rather than just take the attitude of 'it's your choice, buy one or don't'.  

RR, I did not say anyone had said that, it was an example of be careful what you wish for!
 

Well it is a case of choice isn’t it because the clubs marketing strategy is non-existent. No point sugar coating it!

[Guest Wycombe Rebel]

Anyway, could be worse, could be this bloke!

[Shredding Green]

22 hours ago, Sir Rebel1965 said:

Agree Cookham, we need a sugar daddy who can put a six figure sum in each year, as those teams coming up have more than we do and if we are not careful, they will all overtake us and we will slip down.

If teams like Leatherhead can attract players like Max Worsfold, we are then very much reliant on loyalty to keep players here.

I was reading the BBC national league site and all the teams in the National have full contracts on their squads and I hate to think what their budgets are – some are well in the millions.

We have a very meagre budget and just have a few on basic contracts and can be easily lured away.

The task for Neil and Jon is unenviable.

"Agree Cookham, we need a sugar daddy who can put a six figure sum in each year."

It is astonishing how such ignorance remains amongst some members of this forum when it has been clearly stated on this forum that Orchard Community Sports Ltd trading as Slough Town FC is a company limited by the guarantee of the directors and not a company with a share capital and shareholders.

[SloughFlyer]

17 minutes ago, Shredding Green said:

"Agree Cookham, we need a sugar daddy who can put a six figure sum in each year."

It is astonishing how such ignorance remains amongst some members of this forum when it has been clearly stated on this forum that Orchard Community Sports Ltd trading as Slough Town FC is a company limited by the guarantee of the directors and not a company with a share capital and shareholders.

What are you talking about?

If I walk into the ground with a £100,000 cheque on the first day of the season, Mike Lightfoot says thanks very much and the club has £100,000 more than it did the day before.

[Irishadrian]

45 minutes ago, Shredding Green said:

"Agree Cookham, we need a sugar daddy who can put a six figure sum in each year."

It is astonishing how such ignorance remains amongst some members of this forum when it has been clearly stated on this forum that Orchard Community Sports Ltd trading as Slough Town FC is a company limited by the guarantee of the directors and not a company with a share capital and shareholders.

Shredding Green  The most recently presented accounts to 31/7/21 do show an item in excess of £32000 designated as Shareholders Funds Could you explain what these are? Thank You

[Guest Wycombe Rebel]

53 minutes ago, Shredding Green said:

"Agree Cookham, we need a sugar daddy who can put a six figure sum in each year."

It is astonishing how such ignorance remains amongst some members of this forum when it has been clearly stated on this forum that Orchard Community Sports Ltd trading as Slough Town FC is a company limited by the guarantee of the directors and not a company with a share capital and shareholders.

SG, how is wanting someone to pump money in ignorance? What you have stated makes no sense at all and would not stop someone with money coming in. Baffled!

[Irishadrian]

5 minutes ago, Irishadrian said:

Shredding Green  The most recently presented accounts to 31/7/21 do show an item in excess of £32000 designated as Shareholders Funds Could you explain what these are? Thank You

I know the amount equates to the claimed net assets not looking for that