Outlook for the 2024/5 season

[Curtis]

Title challengers:-

Maidstone - clean sheets in their last five pre-season friendlies with Temi Eweka in defence, Shaq Coulthirst from Ebbsfleet up front and a reported £700,000 made from a run to the 5th round of the FA Cup last season….. if they don’t get promoted this season they will be disappointed.

Boreham Wood (who had pre-season friendlies against Watford, Arsenal, Chelsea & Brentford) & Dorking - because the National League sides relegated are usually strong unless they run into financial issues.

Play-off challengers :-

Torquay, Chelmsford, Hornchurch (comfortable winners of the Isthmian Premier last season, will possibly start the season like Aveley did last season)

Mid-table (possible final play-off place):-

Aveley, Bath, Chesham, Eastbourne, Farnborough, Hampton, Salisbury, St Albans, Worthing - and I am hopeful we will also be among this group

Bottom third:-

Chippenham, Enfield, Hemel, Tonbridge, Truro, Welling, Weston, Weymouth

With our opening three matches against Chelmsford, Salisbury & Enfield (from three different groups above) we will likely have a much better idea of where we sit come the 21st August.

[GlenSTFC]

Hemel have invested heavily this summer so I’d be very surprised if they get relegated or finish bottom half. The only clubs I think might be bottom 3 are Hampton, Enfield and Welling.

[Rebellier]

Welling finished strongly last season so mid table is more likely I think. 

[Reading Rebel]

I'll concentrate on the outlook for us for the upcoming season.

We've had a successful pre season with 7 wins from 8 games all against lower league opposition.

We've brought in 8 new players 7 of which have only played at a lower level so how those players adapt to playing in the National South is open to question.

Our new signings have been weighted towards attack rather than defence with 3 midfield players, 3 forwards a keeper and 1 defender signed so I think it's fair to say we will be a front foot team in most of our games this season.

Going forward we look to be well catered for but I'm not so sure about our defense.

We do have players like Scott and Jammers who can do a job in defence but ideally I think we could have done with bringing in a left back and another CB depending on the budget of course.

Obviously as a club we want to progress from last season which will mean pushing for the play-offs but there are so many unknown factors in our squad this season that until I actually see how our new players cope with the step up, I'll be happy just to survive. 

 

 

Edited August 5 by Reading Rebel

[3spirit]

Nothing will be decided in August. I think Scott will know more in what he will need to change about this squad around mid October[if things haven't started well] but before then he will need to find out what's working and what is not, and who looks the part at Step 2 and who looks out of his depth. What combinations work and what doesn't.

If Slough can get 3 wins and 2 draws[or vice versa 2 wins and 3 draws] out the first 8 league games that would be a reasonable start for this new look squad imo. Anything less and changes are likely. 

Looking from the outside in, our defence looks light of real quality and that's my only concern going into this new season with this squad.

[Russ_Rebel]

IMO I am concerned about the defence, Gabe will need replacing,really thought he'd be back and kicking on again this season, think we need one more in defence , in an ideal world you'd like a natural left back/wing back who can cover centre back as well that way the whole back line is covered when injuries and suspensions happen, I think we have ample cover in other positions.  The GK position other than Lincoln has been weak since Jack Turner left, so Hoping Horlock is a great addition to the squad. I don't think we will be in the mix for play offs this season , last season ended on a high and will be hard to go again with the quality we've lost, just hope we don't get dragged into a relegation dog fight again like we did the 1st part of last season and we can start strong, we've got some good new players in who look decent but the big test will start Saturday against much better opposition, it's all about points on the board now and the fight in the dog. Cmon you Rebels !!!!

[Curtis]

1 hour ago, 3spirit said:

Looking from the outside in, our defence looks light of real quality and that's my only concern going into this new season with this squad.

With Bayliss, Beedon, Davies, Jackman & Prosper I think we do have quality in defence, and seeing the way we played on Tuesday it’s understandable that Gabe George wasn’t going to be a regular starter.

I would say we do need an additional defensive signing as cover… and wouldn’t be surprised if it was Josh Stranks (although he might need regularly playing time to continue progressing).

[Reading Rebel]

We know Bayliss and Jackman can cope at this level and although Scott is not a natural defender with his experience he can do a job if required.

Jammers again can fit into the back line if required but for me struggles a bit to cope with pace in front of goal and is better in midfield.

Lexus Beedon is untried at this level so we'll have to see how he copes against better forwards than he's faced so far in pre season.

It does seem that defensively we are a bit short down the left hand side and with Gabe George gone it's left us without any cover in the left back position.

If we make no further signings Saturday will be a big test to see how we cope defensively against a side expected to be challenging for the play-offs.

 

Edited August 9 by Reading Rebel

[DonnyNo6]

8 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

We know Bayliss and Jackman can cope at this level and although Scott is not a natural defender with his experience he can do a job if required.

Jammers again can fit into the back line if required but for me struggles a bit to cope with pace in front of goal and is better in midfield.

Lucas Beedon is untried at this level so we'll have to see how he copes against better forwards than he's faced so far in pre season.

It does seems that defensively we are a bit short down the left hand side and with Gabe George gone it's left us without any cover in the left back position.

If we make no further signings Saturday will be a big test to see how we cope defensively against a side expected to be challenging for the play-offs.

 

Can't disagree with any of that at all.

For me Lexus is going to be just fine for us; his physicality and presence will serve him well, he's a a bit of a throw back from what I've seen but with a modern twist i.e. his pace and ability.  I think at times we've been bullied/over powered at the back with the size/power of certain forwards, I just can't see that happening with Lexus, I think he relishes it which will serve us well, he's got a glint in his eye for the physical stuff.

My sort of player!

[SloughFlyer]

On 09/08/2024 at 09:18, DonnyNo6 said:

Can't disagree with any of that at all.

For me Lexus is going to be just fine for us; his physicality and presence will serve him well, he's a a bit of a throw back from what I've seen but with a modern twist i.e. his pace and ability.  I think at times we've been bullied/over powered at the back with the size/power of certain forwards, I just can't see that happening with Lexus, I think he relishes it which will serve us well, he's got a glint in his eye for the physical stuff.

My sort of player!

Couldn't agree more Donny. I thought it showed on Tuesday night when he just about stopped himself putting 1 of the Luton kids over the stand. I can imagine in his head him realising just at the last moment it was a friendly and these were young lads😂😂.

As for the outlook for this season, we as a family have done various predictions for the season (top 7, bottom 4 and Slough's position). For Slough, I have us fighting for playoffs and ending up missing out by finishing 9th. Slight improvement on last season which is I'm sure what we all want.

Very much looking forward to the season as a whole and I think the twists and turns will be plenty and often, but that's why we all love it so much.