Dover 3 -1 Slough

[brighton_rebel]

I think we played really well in first half without scoring and were unlucky not to at least get a point. Despite the result and the long journey home, enjoyed the day and isn't it nice to be in this league, at a decent ground, with decent crowd and good atmosphere, only slightly spoilt by that idiot steward.

 

Brighton Rebel

 

[Martin]

The first half does go to show that there is no justice. To have controlled the game and then be hit with that just on half time must have been hard to cope with at the interval. Dover took their chances well and I hope that not all the shooting at this level is that lethal. If you look at it they scored two cracking goals and one that was fairly soft.

 

My main concern is that we look a little one dimensional in the attacking third. I am fairly confident about the season ahead though and I think we will play significantly worse than that and get a result. Looking forward to Wednesday lets be out in force.

 

Dover was a lovely ground btw and it is great to be visiting places of that standard.

[Matt]

The bookies clearly think we're doomed anyway - we've dropped rock bottom to 66/1 for the title! <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

Good to be back on our travels again watching the REBELS even if the result was not in our favour.

If we had made more of the chances created early on then the scoreline could of been different. Murpy is being played out of position he is a defender not a wing back and you can see he looks lost in his new role felt sorry for Hodgey as well most of the game he was out on the wing making chances instead of being in the middle taking chances, he needs a new striker to work a long side his partnership with Miller is 'nt working

[Chris]

Moller had his worst game for Slough yesterday in my opinion. Lets hope it was just a one-off. Last year we could get away with some mistakes at the level we were playing at, but this year we will be punished, as shown yesterday.

 

Hodgey was strangely off key. Don't think Murph's the answer to the left wing back position. I think Alex Haddow plays that best still (although I know there's a lot of Danny Steer fans out there, but Alex defends better in my opinion).

 

Mets and Veli rans the show first-half and maybe having Mets back Veli will be able to produce the form he is clearly capable of. Josias played well first-half but faded in the second.

 

At the start I was glad Wilko started ahead of Chopper, but looking back the space we had in midfield and with Chopper being the only one of our midfielders who does not walk the ball into the net and does shoot I think maybe Eddie regrets that decision.

 

Matt Miller works his b*llocks off and does well but when it comes to holding the ball up and taking a first touch bringing others into play we are clearly missing Booty in my opinion and maybe will have to bring another striker in, or give Seedal a run?

 

Just my thoughts mind...

[Matt]

What with Seedal being injured and Deaner being unavailable for yesterday's match, there was no out-and-out striker on the bench. Matt Miller was replaced by Glen Harris with about 10 minutes to go. Chopper is a great creative player, but what you need at 3-1 down is another striker. Yes I know it can't be helped that 2 of our 4 strikers were unavailable, but I do still feel we need another striker to challenge Matt Miller and Matt Seedal (and indeed Ian Hodges) for first team slots.

 

Whilst Matt Miller works hard, we've not seen what he's capable of (top Ryman 1 scorer two seasons' running) and his partnership with Hodges has never looked as good as Tony Boot's. I know people will find this harsh as there are a lot of Matt Miller fans out there but that's how I see it. (Just for the record, I still chant his name along with the others ! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />)

 

I can't see Murphy at left-wing back working well, although he does look better on the ball than I imagined he would. I also feel that Haddow would be a better option, or Danny Steer in a more attacking mode. I know there were mistakes yesterday but these can be ironed out - James Saulsbury has only just come in and will need to gel in with Daly and Moller, and of course the new 5-3-2 formation. We all saw last season the benefits of a consistent team selection, particularly at the back when Moller and Daly were outstanding in our long unbeaten runs.

 

Of course I know that this is the start of a new season, a new leaf etc, and it's early days yet. One game in, 41 more to go.

[BFR]

It was disappointing to lose the match in the way that we did but I am certainly encouraged for the season ahead. We dominated the first half but crucially went conceded on the verge of half time. Dover grew in the second half but I'm sure they would conceed that to be 3-0 up was more than a little flattering. To be fair though, the players kept going once they had picked themselves up and getting a consolation goal was the least we deserved.

 

Mets and Veli bossed the midfield well, Josais continues to impress and there was lots of work put in by the forwards. Matty was given offside quite a few times so perhaps the No.10 shirt is jinxed after Booty had the same problem. I thought Matty played well today and will score for us soon - hopefully without being disallowed.

 

To be honest, I'd be more concerned if we'd been beaten 1-0 and not been in the game at all than losing 3-1 in a match which we dominated for long periods. The players put in a lot of effort and quite rightly were given a large amount of applause at the end for their endeavour, even if the result wasn't what we wanted. We as supporters made a fair amount of noise and were still singing at the end even though defeat was in the air. More of the same against Harrow on Wednesday, though it will be as good without covering or with very few supporters of the other team.

 

One match down, 41 more to go. If we put in a similar level of performance for the rest of the season we will win more matches than we lose.

 

EDDIE DENTONS REBEL ARMY

[Martin]

I personally think Matt and Hodgey need to be given more time to develop a partnership. Looking back over last season they did not start all that many games together and whilst the understanding is not quite there there seem to be plenty of good moments. Matt certainly deserves a slice of good fortune sometime soon.

 

I am surprised how many people think that Smurf should be replaced as wing back. I think he has done a cracking job in the pre-season and looked fairly solid on Saturday. Although there is clearly pressure on him and Moeller for their positions.

 

I was surprised to see Wilko start despite being the Legend that he is. He seemed to have a heavy knock following the Abingdon game and I just think Chopper gives you more creativity and a bigger goal threat. If you are going to play Murphy at wing-back I think you only need one more defence minded midfileder and on the basis of Saturday that would be Mets. If Danny Steer was out there I would agree that you need Wilko and Mets in the middle to provide cover for the centre backs.

 

But that is not to be negative. I think it is great that we can have this debate about who should start. At times last season what with injuries etc, you knew exactly who would play and there would only be competition from one or two on the bench. If you think that on Saturday Haddow was not even on the bench that is quite impressive.

 

Anyway, I am feeling quite confident for the season and think regardless of who Eddie picks we will bounce back strongly on Wednesday.

 

COME ON YOU REBELS.