Pre season stand-outs.

[Reading Rebel]

Now that pre season has finished we get down to the real stuff next Saturday against Havant which will be a baptism of fire to what will be a very tough season ahead.

Based purely on pre season performances I think the following players have been our stand out players and should imo be the starting 11 if pre season performances are anything to go by:

Matt Lench, Lenchy looks back to his best and IMO has been our stand-out player in pre season.

Johnnie Goddard

Jon North

George Wells

Edon Pruti

Aaron Kuhl   

Fabio Sole

[3spirit]

3 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

Now that pre season has finished we get down to the real stuff next Saturday against Havant which will be a baptism of fire to what will be a very tough season ahead.

Based purely on pre season performances I think the following players have been our stand out players and should imo be the starting 11 if pre season performances are anything to go by:

Matt Lench, Lenchy looks back to his best and IMO has been our stand-out player in pre season.

Johnnie Goddard

Jon North

George Wells

Edon Pruti

Aaron Kuhl   

Fabio Sole

Given what you say here, RR, what first eleven, and five subs, would you choose to go with against Havant on Saturday?  

[Reading Rebel]

7 hours ago, 3spirit said:

Given what you say here, RR, what first eleven, and five subs, would you choose to go with against Havant on Saturday?  

North

Jackman Pruti Hollis/Dandy Wells

Davies

Goddard Kuhl Sole Lench 

Benyon

Subs Dobson, Harris, Bird, Hunt

 

[3spirit]

10 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

North

Jackman Pruti Hollis/Dandy Wells

Davies

Goddard Kuhl Sole Lench 

Benyon

Subs Dobson, Harris, Bird, Hunt

 

No Lee Togwell? !

[3spirit]

12 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

North

Jackman Pruti Hollis/Dandy Wells

Davies

Goddard Kuhl Sole Lench 

Benyon

Subs Dobson, Harris, Bird, Hunt

 

For the first time in 39 years I've haven't seen any Slough pre-season matches but will endeavour to get to some league games this season. I'm disappointed with our forward recruitment policy this time around [even if we add a loan striker]. Seems a real weird way of carrying on, given that the forward area needed the most attention from the end of last season. Elliot Benyon is a good addition,though but can't say I'm expecting much from our front line over this coming season. Ben Harris does have a point to prove to the doubters,so believe it or not, I would start with him and Elliot Benyon up front for the first 60 minutes or so against Havant.

Fabio Sole has obviously impressed, so I'm looking forward to seeing him play. Johnny Goddard and Elliot Benyon likewise.

Your selection,RR, formation wise is a cautious one, given that it is the first game of the season. I wouldn't play a 4-1-4-1 against Havant for this game. For me it seems like we are respecting Havant too much and going there with the intention of scraping a draw at best. That may well be our managers intention for this game but I hope not.

I would opt for the traditional 4-4-2. First games mean nothing over the course of the season but to me it is important to go into the game on a positive footing. The squad we have got looks a good one on paper,so I would be expecting our players to be well up for this game against these supposed high flyers.

I would start Joe Dandy at right back to test him. Pair Lee Togwell with Edon Pruti in the centre back pairing and have George Wells at left back.

Midfield on right wing John Goddard, on the left wing Dobbo and my central midfield would be Aaron Kuhl and Matt Lench. Upfront Elliot Benyon and Ben Harris.

Subs would be Josh Jackman, Scott Davies, Imran Kayani, Guy Hollis[if fit enough?] and a straight choice between Fabio Sole or George Hunt on pre-season form.

Edited July 31, 2022 by 3spirit

[Reading Rebel]

12 hours ago, 3spirit said:

For the first time in 39 years I've haven't seen any Slough pre-season matches but will endeavour to get to some league games this season. I'm disappointed with our forward recruitment policy this time around [even if we add a loan striker]. Seems a real weird way of carrying on, given that the forward area needed the most attention from the end of last season. Elliot Benyon is a good addition,though but can't say I'm expecting much from our front line over this coming season. Ben Harris does have a point to prove to the doubters,so believe it or not, I would start with him and Elliot Benyon up front for the first 60 minutes or so against Havant.

Fabio Sole has obviously impressed, so I'm looking forward to seeing him play. Johnny Goddard and Elliot Benyon likewise.

Your selection,RR, formation wise is a cautious one, given that it is the first game of the season. I wouldn't play a 4-1-4-1 against Havant for this game. For me it seems like we are respecting Havant too much and going there with the intention of scraping a draw at best. That may well be our managers intention for this game but I hope not.

I would opt for the traditional 4-4-2. First games mean nothing over the course of the season but to me it is important to go into the game on a positive footing. The squad we have got looks a good one on paper,so I would be expecting our players to be well up for this game against these supposed high flyers.

I would start Joe Dandy at right back to test him. Pair Lee Togwell with Edon Pruti in the centre back pairing and have George Wells at left back.

Midfield on right wing John Goddard, on the left wing Dobbo and my central midfield would be Aaron Kuhl and Matt Lench. Upfront Elliot Benyon and Ben Harris.

Subs would be Josh Jackman, Scott Davies, Imran Kayani, Guy Hollis[if fit enough?] and a straight choice between Fabio Sole or George Hunt on pre-season form.

Having had the benefit of seeing all of our pre season games bar one the players I've selected are based upon their performances, fitness levels etc which after all is what pre season should be about going into a new season. 

The formation that I've chosen is not only based upon players on form/fitness etc but the fact that we are away from home against one of the title favorites and if we can come away from this game with three points then great but even a point I would consider it job done.

On Lee Togwell, again he has missed some of pre season and certainly in my eyes looked a bit rusty and not quite up to scratch fitness wise in the Arsenal game.

Again watching Dobbo in pre season I don't think he has quite produced the form we know the old Dobbo is capable of.

Fabio Sole has been signed because he's impressed in pre season so in my view I'm not sure how he can be left out of the starting 11 if you're going with the players who are on form.

 

 

Edited July 31, 2022 by Reading Rebel

[Reading Rebel]

On 31/07/2022 at 09:20, 3spirit said:

For the first time in 39 years I've haven't seen any Slough pre-season matches but will endeavour to get to some league games this season. I'm disappointed with our forward recruitment policy this time around [even if we add a loan striker]. Seems a real weird way of carrying on, given that the forward area needed the most attention from the end of last season. Elliot Benyon is a good addition,though but can't say I'm expecting much from our front line over this coming season. Ben Harris does have a point to prove to the doubters,so believe it or not, I would start with him and Elliot Benyon up front for the first 60 minutes or so against Havant.

Fabio Sole has obviously impressed, so I'm looking forward to seeing him play. Johnny Goddard and Elliot Benyon likewise.

Your selection,RR, formation wise is a cautious one, given that it is the first game of the season. I wouldn't play a 4-1-4-1 against Havant for this game. For me it seems like we are respecting Havant too much and going there with the intention of scraping a draw at best. That may well be our managers intention for this game but I hope not.

I would opt for the traditional 4-4-2. First games mean nothing over the course of the season but to me it is important to go into the game on a positive footing. The squad we have got looks a good one on paper,so I would be expecting our players to be well up for this game against these supposed high flyers.

I would start Joe Dandy at right back to test him. Pair Lee Togwell with Edon Pruti in the centre back pairing and have George Wells at left back.

Midfield on right wing John Goddard, on the left wing Dobbo and my central midfield would be Aaron Kuhl and Matt Lench. Upfront Elliot Benyon and Ben Harris.

Subs would be Josh Jackman, Scott Davies, Imran Kayani, Guy Hollis[if fit enough?] and a straight choice between Fabio Sole or George Hunt on pre-season form.

I don't agree with you about being disappointed with our forward recruitment policy even if we add a loan striker.

We all know how difficult it is to recruit a top/good striker if the funds aren't there.

This talk about getting in a loan striker seems to be taking forever but if it happens and he's the right player and fit for the squad I would be more than happy our striker department.

On the other hand if it doesn't happen I think we could struggle in the goals department. 

Edited August 2, 2022 by Reading Rebel

[Footyfan007]

7 minutes ago, Reading Rebel said:

I don't agree with you about being disappointed with our forward recruitment policy even if we add a loan striker.

We all know how difficult it is to recruit a top/good striker if the funds aren't there.

This talk about getting in a loan striker seems to be taking forever but if it happens and is the right player and fit for the squad I would be more than happy our striker department.

On the other hand if it doesn't happen I think we could struggle in the goals department. 

Imho putting all your eggs in one basket on a prolific costly striker can actually come an issue.  I would rather a team with a number of players capable of scoring rather then resting on one that could become injured and out for a long term as an example.

Look at the detail on what Slough are doing during games it should all make sense as long as they play to their players strengths in attacking midfield roles.

in ref to your starting 11 RR I think you might be out by 3 players in your starting line up imo.

 

 

[3spirit]

18 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

Having had the benefit of seeing all of our pre season games bar one the players I've selected are based upon their performances, fitness levels etc which after all is what pre season should be about going into a new season. 

The formation that I've chosen is not only based upon players on form/fitness etc but the fact that we are away from home against one of the title favorites and if we can come away from this game with three points then great but even a point I would consider it job done.

On Lee Togwell, again he has missed some of pre season and certainly in my eyes looked a bit rusty and not quite up to scratch fitness wise in the Arsenal game.

Again watching Dobbo in pre season I don't think he has quite produced the form we know the old Dobbo is capable of.

Fabio Sole has been signed because he's impressed in pre season so in my view I'm not sure how he can be left out of the starting 11 if you're going with the players who are on form.

 

 

Of course,RR, you are in a better position to judge our players going by pre-season form. I'm just going by past glories. I agree also about Fabio Sole,in that if he is playing so well he ought to start the match against Havant. I just don't see the point of Slough playing a 4-1-4-1 in the first game of the season. To me it doesn't send out the right signal to our newly assembled squad. It makes it seem like our squad is not capable of getting a win at Havant and we are going for damage limitation.

Going by what you said about Matt Lench's form, and my faith in him, I would like to see him in centre midfield with Aaron Kuhl. I also favoured the orthodox full back and winger combination on either flank. Elliot and Ben are very experienced players and ought to be able to get amongst the Havant defence so I favoured starting them together for this match with Imran to come on for Ben [if he cannot last the game]. I know how good a player Josh Jackman is but I went for Joe Dandy to start at right back, as I would want to see what Joe's like against the best. Also Josh would make a great impact sub and then also you have the option of putting Josh on a wing in the second half and putting Johnny Goddard or James Dobson further forward.    

 

 

[Sir Rebel1965]

18 hours ago, Footyfan007 said:

Imho putting all your eggs in one basket on a prolific costly striker can actually come an issue.  I would rather a team with a number of players capable of scoring rather then resting on one that could become injured and out for a long term as an example.

Look at the detail on what Slough are doing during games it should all make sense as long as they play to their players strengths in attacking midfield roles.

in ref to your starting 11 RR I think you might be out by 3 players in your starting line up imo.

 

 

Agree - Bird was bought in as an expensive striker and other than a couple of games up front has ended up playing at the back, and spent even more time out injured, playing only 44 games in 3 seasons.

Pesonally think you are better having a team with depth of skills, rather than just a few "stars" - it is after-all a TEAM game.

[3spirit]

19 hours ago, Footyfan007 said:

Imho putting all your eggs in one basket on a prolific costly striker can actually come an issue.  I would rather a team with a number of players capable of scoring rather then resting on one that could become injured and out for a long term as an example.

Look at the detail on what Slough are doing during games it should all make sense as long as they play to their players strengths in attacking midfield roles.

in ref to your starting 11 RR I think you might be out by 3 players in your starting line up imo.

 

 

What would be your Slough team [and subs] for the Havant game, Footyfan007?

Who says getting strikers in, has to be costly? The better ones will be but there are still a good few around that Slough could have taken a chance on but chose not to for whatever reason. Still, the situation is what it is, and there's always a chance of bringing in strikers in through the season, so going with the current squad to start this season with is no real hardship, as it does have plenty of creative midfielders in it's midst, and with a choice of a couple of old dab hands up front and young developer.

I can't see a top place finish happening for us but I can't see Slough being relegation fodder either. Slough won't be an easy side to play,Bakes and Unders sides never are but I hope the team can get some good results on the board early, as I think the squad will need to 'hit the ground running' if we are going to do much up front.

Edited August 1, 2022 by 3spirit

[3spirit]

20 minutes ago, Sir Rebel1965 said:

Agree - Bird was bought in as an expensive striker and other than a couple of games up front has ended up playing at the back, and spent even more time out injured, playing only 44 games in 3 seasons.

Pesonally think you are better having a team with depth of skills, rather than just a few "stars" - it is after-all a TEAM game.

Ryan Bird you can use as an example of what goes wrong but look at the strikers that have been catalysts for success at our club, to name a few Andy Sayer, Mark West, Matt Stevens,Charlie Mpi, Danny Burnell, Sean Sonner, Johnny Dyer, Ed Smith,Charlie Moone, Lee Barney. All very different strikers but all brought something to the table to a various degrees of impact.

You single out Ryan Bird but Lewis Putman came to Slough as a striker but lost his bottle up front and became a left winger. Cliff Hercules was sheer class up front for Aylesbury and for a time for Slough but eventually his form desserted him and Brian McDermott moved him to the defence, rather than let him go from the club. These things happen. 

To me Bakes and Unders were right to go for Ryan Bird when they did. They are not fortune-tellers they cannot see who will be a star for them.

I think you're being overly hard on Ryan Bird. He hasn't been what 'we' supporters wanted up front but he hasn't been found wanting at the back. I think our managers are excellent man-managers and Ryan deserved his chance pre-season, given his horrific injury playing for Slough. I understand this reasoning and think that is the right thing to do.  

I do, however, think we have been daft not addressing our forward line issues in our off season but we will have to see what happens because of it.

[3spirit]

19 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

I don't agree with you about being disappointed with our forward recruitment policy even if we add a loan striker.

We all know how difficult it is to recruit a top/good striker if the funds aren't there.

This talk about getting in a loan striker seems to be taking forever but if it happens and is the right player and fit for the squad I would be more than happy our striker department.

On the other hand if it doesn't happen I think we could struggle in the goals department. 

Isn't your final sentence a contradiction to your first sentence !

[Reading Rebel]

58 minutes ago, 3spirit said:

Isn't your final sentence a contradiction to your first sentence !

I've read it through and it seems to make sense to me.

 

 

[Footyfan007]

1 hour ago, 3spirit said:

Ryan Bird you can use as an example of what goes wrong but look at the strikers that have been catalysts for success at our club, to name a few Andy Sayer, Mark West, Matt Stevens,Charlie Mpi, Danny Burnell, Sean Sonner, Johnny Dyer, Ed Smith,Charlie Moone, Lee Barney. All very different strikers but all brought something to the table to a various degrees of impact.

You single out Ryan Bird but Lewis Putman came to Slough as a striker but lost his bottle up front and became a left winger. Cliff Hercules was sheer class up front for Aylesbury and for a time for Slough but eventually his form desserted him and Brian McDermott moved him to the defence, rather than let him go from the club. These things happen. 

To me Bakes and Unders were right to go for Ryan Bird when they did. They are not fortune-tellers they cannot see who will be a star for them.

I think you're being overly hard on Ryan Bird. He hasn't been what 'we' supporters wanted up front but he hasn't been found wanting at the back. I think our managers are excellent man-managers and Ryan deserved his chance pre-season, given his horrific injury playing for Slough. I understand this reasoning and think that is the right thing to do.  

I do, however, think we have been daft not addressing our forward line issues in our off season but we will have to see what happens because of it.

With most clubs looking for that prolific striker it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack!  I am  fortunate enough to be close to enquiries from clubs and what they are recruiting for or trying to upgrade in north, South and conference.

The  better strikers in the C South are very well looked after in regards to £££.

 

 

 

[Shredding Green]

2 hours ago, 3spirit said:

Ryan Bird you can use as an example of what goes wrong but look at the strikers that have been catalysts for success at our club, to name a few Andy Sayer, Mark West, Matt Stevens,Charlie Mpi, Danny Burnell, Sean Sonner, Johnny Dyer, Ed Smith,Charlie Moone, Lee Barney. All very different strikers but all brought something to the table to a various degrees of impact.

You single out Ryan Bird but Lewis Putman came to Slough as a striker but lost his bottle up front and became a left winger. Cliff Hercules was sheer class up front for Aylesbury and for a time for Slough but eventually his form desserted him and Brian McDermott moved him to the defence, rather than let him go from the club. These things happen. 

To me Bakes and Unders were right to go for Ryan Bird when they did. They are not fortune-tellers they cannot see who will be a star for them.

I think you're being overly hard on Ryan Bird. He hasn't been what 'we' supporters wanted up front but he hasn't been found wanting at the back. I think our managers are excellent man-managers and Ryan deserved his chance pre-season, given his horrific injury playing for Slough. I understand this reasoning and think that is the right thing to do.  

I do, however, think we have been daft not addressing our forward line issues in our off season but we will have to see what happens because of it.

I fully agree 3spirit - Ryan Bird is a top man on and off the pitch.

But "not addressing our forward line issues" - there is still talk of a striker coming in on loan and I am also confident of "goals coming from all over the park" even if they are "nearly coming" for a few more matches!

[Reading Rebel]

1 hour ago, Shredding Green said:

I fully agree 3spirit - Ryan Bird is a top man on and off the pitch.

But "not addressing our forward line issues" - there is still talk of a striker coming in on loan and I am also confident of "goals coming from all over the park" even if they are "nearly coming" for a few more matches!

'Nearly coming for a few more matches'

Could you explain what you mean Shredding.

Ryan Bird has been off with a bad injury and has imo still to prove that he has fully recovered and back to pre injury form.

[Shredding Green]

6 minutes ago, Reading Rebel said:

'Nearly coming for a few more matches'

Could you explain what you mean Shredding.

Ryan Bird has been off with a bad injury and has imo still to prove that he has fully recovered and back to pre injury form.

I look forward to our next cup of tea in the downstairs tea bar RR where we always manage to clarify what we are saying to each other. 

I wrote in my post "I am also confident of "goals coming from all over the park"". Having watched the highlights of the Arsenal match, I felt that "goals are nearly coming from all over the park"!

I hope that you see my point now! 

[Sir Rebel1965]

4 hours ago, 3spirit said:

Ryan Bird you can use as an example of what goes wrong but look at the strikers that have been catalysts for success at our club, to name a few Andy Sayer, Mark West, Matt Stevens,Charlie Mpi, Danny Burnell, Sean Sonner, Johnny Dyer, Ed Smith,Charlie Moone, Lee Barney. All very different strikers but all brought something to the table to a various degrees of impact.

You single out Ryan Bird but Lewis Putman came to Slough as a striker but lost his bottle up front and became a left winger. Cliff Hercules was sheer class up front for Aylesbury and for a time for Slough but eventually his form desserted him and Brian McDermott moved him to the defence, rather than let him go from the club. These things happen. 

To me Bakes and Unders were right to go for Ryan Bird when they did. They are not fortune-tellers they cannot see who will be a star for them.

I think you're being overly hard on Ryan Bird. He hasn't been what 'we' supporters wanted up front but he hasn't been found wanting at the back. I think our managers are excellent man-managers and Ryan deserved his chance pre-season, given his horrific injury playing for Slough. I understand this reasoning and think that is the right thing to do.  

I do, however, think we have been daft not addressing our forward line issues in our off season but we will have to see what happens because of it.

I single out Bird as he is still with us - those you quote are from times past.

 

I also single him out as he was on £700 a week, which is a lot of money for a club the size of Slough.

[Jon Underwood]

59 minutes ago, Sir Rebel1965 said:

I single out Bird as he is still with us - those you quote are from times past.

 

I also single him out as he was on £700 a week, which is a lot of money for a club the size of Slough.

Not sure who quoted that figure to you but I can assure you it’s way off! ?