Thame 1 Slough 3

[GarySTFC]

Hodges put us in the lead early on. They equalised in the second half before a brace from Josias Carbon sealed the win for Slough.

 

Crowd was about 80 with about 30 from Slough.

[Nathan]

I though Carbon was Excellent. Hodges was useful up front, and Miller is getting evercloser to finally scoring a goal.

 

A good allround performance overall. I was pleased with the way the team played today. Every player played their part (except Haddow, who was a bit anonymous when he came on) and Josias's two goals were class.

 

One Question, who was our goalkeeper?

[BFR]

Josais looked sharp and deserved to get his goals. I though Michael Murphy was very impressed in the first half as a left wing back. Good to see Hodgey get himself on the scoresheet. And of course, Mullet Power is the way forward <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Radders]

The first goalkeeper was Jake Whincup who Matt seedel told me had just been transferred to another club and they loaned him straight to us. A bit like the Smertin thing last year. The second keeper was Parkin who played the whole game against SYCOB and the second half against Maidenhead.

[BFR]

Info about Jake Whincup

 

Click here

[Martin]

Great name for a player that.

 

Thought it was a good performance overall and we deserved the win. General consensus on the terraces was that the line-up was very close to what we would see against Dover with the majority of the starting XI getting 60 minutes on the pitch. Smurf may well have been impressed, he had an excellent game in my opinion. He got forward well and hit some decent crosses. MOM was definately Carbon let's hope he carries the goalscoring form into the season. Roll on the 14th.

[Radders]

As Martin says, Matt Seedel, who I spoke to before the match said that apart from Veli for Wilko and a straight choice between himself and Miller, that was the outfield line up which Denton saw as starting on the 14th. The first question therefore is where soes this leave players such as Haddow, Steer, Spencer and Gyoury, all of whom could probably walk into many other teams at this level? Obviously there are differing opinions about some of these players amongst supporters (oh I wonder where he's going here <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />) but the major positive is the strength in depth we now have in most positions. From my conversation last night with Martin and Liam I believe we eventually agreed that our line up on the 14th, going by our own opinions and what we believe Denton will do, would read;

 

Parkin/Carroll/Whincup

Carbon

Murphy

Daly

Saulsbury

Moller

Harris

Hakki

Metcalfe

Hodges

Miller

 

Seedel

Spencer

Steer

Haddow

Wilkinson

 

With Murphy playing as a left wing back there is little need for a centre half on the bench as a single injury to one of the back three can see Murphy moved back and Haddow or Steer come on on the left. If a second injury occured the team can change simply to a 4-4-2 formation. Murphy could also probably switch wings if Carbon was to get injured. Wilkinson can cover the combative centre midfield role if Metcalfe or even Hakki got injured while he would also be the reserve keeper if we ended up in dire straights or a right back to cover Carbon, a role Spencer could also do if needed. Spencer then also covers the creative midfield role of Harris or even, if the situation required, as a support striker behind Hodges or whoever. Obviously Seedel provides cover for the front two. Despite some problems last season, I see the 3-5-2 as being more productive this year as, with the introduction of Saulsbury, we now have 5 top drawer centre halfs available plus genuine wing backs in Carbon/Murphy/Haddow/Steer.

 

Just wondering Gary or Chris which of the three keepers, if any yet, are actually signed up for the coming season? If, as I believe, Judge is available as back up I would expect only one, at most two, of the three to sign up for the season. I haven't seen Carroll yet but Parkin looked good when I saw him at SYCOB, albeit only in the 2nd half, and both he and Whincup looked capable enough last night.

[Chris]

I think Whincup is on loan, but not sure how long. Carroll probably wont be staying. I personally think we should sign Parkin as he has done nowt wrong with what we have seen of him, but Eddie knows best as he knows what he's seen in training. Still think we should have kept Fozzie though.

 

I'd go for Seedel ahead of Miller, and must say the shape to our midfield was good last night as I thought Wilko and Mets covered the back four well. Whereas Veli and Chopper like to go wondering about the pitch. Must have given Eddie something to think about? Also thought Haddow played well in CM last night.

 

[Matt]

It was a really encouraging performance but I have a couple of small queries about team selection for the Dover game.

 

Firstly I hadn't imagined Murphy being a wing-back. Has he played wing-back for us before? Furthermore, when Danny Steer came on I thought he was outstanding on the left wing, along with Carbon on the right. This leaves the problem of whether to go 3-5-2 or 5-3-2. I'd probably go with a more defensive 5-3-2, and if Eddie is happy with playing Murphy at left wing-back then I'd trust his judgment, and to be fair he did play well last night; just looks a little 'awkward' to me.

 

The other thing is, Miller or Seedal? I think Matt Miller is a great character, but unless he gets back to scoring form soon, I can see him struggling. And Matt Seedal hasn't had a lot of first-team action for STFC. I really think we need another striker, whereas we're perhaps over-staffed in midfield.

 

We have a great selection of midfielders and as Radders has pointed out, I do believe that Eddie's plan is to sign/retain players who can play in multiple positions if necessary. As I said above, I'd love to see Steer and Carbon involved along with three central midfielders. Eddie may decide to chop and change formations, we'll just have to see. Can't wait.

[Martin]

I believe Murphy in his first stint at the club back in the conference days was seen more as a midfield utility player than a centre half. Obviously developed into an excellent defender and I thought he did a good on tuesday.