Slough 1 Eastleigh 4

[Robbie Johnson's Boots]

More effort than Saturday but the best team won. Slough goal came from a Matt Murphy penalty just before half-time to make it 2-1 but we were really missing the injured players ( also lost Wilko to injury in the first half - we may soon be running out of players!! ).

[Radders]

Aaarrrggghhh!!! How much more can we poor beings take. Very poor again with the exception of Moller, Spencer (I make no apologies) and Matt Murphy. Michael Murphy also worked hard but his crossing was woeful. Some dodgy substitutions again; Gyoury for Wilko as a holding midfielder, and taking Ryan off at the end although he had picked up an earlier knock. Personally I don't fancy our chances on Saturday with Matt Murphy unavailable. As well as Spencer played tonight he's not a striker and if he plays with Seedel then I don't see anything sticking as Matt S's touch is nothing compared to Matt M. (Murphy not Miller). Well we wait and wonder.

 

One highlight was Dom on the tannoy, quite outstanding. Well done Dom but thanks for the one error, I had a bet that there would be at least one mistake.

[Guest]

No mention in the above about Daleys "mistakes" to give away two more goals.

 

After the "mistake" at Cheshunt questions need to be asked.

 

Problem is who do you replace him with?

 

Eddie needs to seriuosly look at the defence as there are some major holes. Who is being brought through to fill them.

 

Even in reserve games Spencer and Deaner had to play in defence.

 

Something needs to be done NOW or it will be the relegation chase not the promotion chase!!!

[GarySTFC]

4-4-2 please.

[Guest]

12th place - can someone please confirm?

 

Also 1st loss at Stag Meadow since???

 

Not a good night - and now 3 poor results in a row

 

last 3 games - for 1, against 9 injured ???

[GarySTFC]

First loss at 'home' since 26th December 2003 against Windsor.

 

Wouldn't even say poor results. Poor performances. I wouldn't be as worried if I'd thought all the players had given it their all in the matches, but it doesn't even feel like they have.

 

Anyway, 4-4-2 please.

[Tom]

Anyway we can contact Eddie to arrange a switch to 4-4-2?

[Ian]

It wouldn't be quite so bad if our makeshift/reserve strikers were just having a bad time and missing the chances. What is of greater concern is that we are creating absolutely nothing for them to miss.

 

I can't recall a clear cut chance this evening crafted out of playing football and that's down to the wingbacks and the midfield more than the strikers themselves. We need to do something about this and fast. If we are a team solely reliant on Veli and Hodgey to create/score goals then we will continue to struggle as even when they return teams will work that out and stop them playing.

 

[Ted]

Missed the first half due to work, and the second half didn't impress me.I thought the team tried, but quite simply without a couple of key players we weren't good enough.Makes me question whether some of the rest of the team are really up to it at this level, and have in the past looked OK due to the space created by Hodges and Hakki.Time will tell.

[Martin]

I thought we were better than Saturday - a lot more effort. I am concerned that the players have lost confidence and are worried about where the goals are coming from without Hodges. But when we play our football we do create some chances. There was the penalty and some good play in and around the area. It was almost funny that we had a header cleared off the line and then seconds later we conceded another goal.

 

I also think we have to get our expectations in check. I know there are several people who thought at the start of the season a top ten position would be an achievement. I would be more than happy with that and if we can sniff around a play off place than all the better.

 

I also think we need to revert to the 4-4-2 btw.

[Martin]

And where were the missing hundred? Notes from your parents please.

[Barry Scott]

three defeats against distinctly average teams just ain't good enough. The formation just isn't working as too many times the midfield was sucked too high up the pitch or a few yards in front of the defence. Also both our keepers have probably had their confidence shot to pieces playing behind that defence

[Burnham Lad]

Quote:

Martin said:
And where were the missing hundred? Notes from your parents please.

Interesting isn't it? Obviously there are many factors such as the weather and whether the top teams are on TV which will influence if the casual supporter comes or not.

However, our own performances will also influence whether people will bother to make the effort or not, except for derby games.

This is a very crude estimate but it seems almost as if we have a core of 200 who will turn up, rain or shine, win or lose. On top of that we have a number of what one could call regulars of about 100 to 150, with a further 150 who will turn up if it the sun is shining and we are winning. The there are probably another 500 who might come back if we were to win promotion and kept winning.

Against this core of 300 to 350, it seems as if every loss in succession loses about 40 - 50 from the next match, whilst successive wins seem to add only about 20 - 25.

But if this is true, it clearly shows the effect on financial viability of a losing streak - it takes longer to get people back than to lose them.

So come on team, it is not just league places or cup glory at stake, we need the gate money too!

[PJ-STFC]

No pressure on them then, Andrew!

 

PJ <img src="/images/graemlins/chat.gif" alt="" />

[Chris]

I'm a little suprised about some of the comments - hands up we were beaten by a better team.

 

I personally believe that even with Hakki, Hodges, Haddow etc we would have struggled tonight. Thought they were the best team we have played against in ages. So much good football, one touch stuff and a midfield that gets from box-to-box like we do not have.

 

Look at their players, Christer Warren (ex Bournemouth), David Hughes (ex Southampton and played in the Premiership), Andy Forbes (20,000 signing in the summer) and a load of former Southampton youth players. They are throwing money at it and i'd be very suprised if they don't win the thing despite their poor start.

 

For the first time this season - and not with our previous defeats you have to say they were too good, whereas with the others Dover, Staines and Cheshunt you think we are better than the opposition and how we played on the day.

[Guest]

So Chris whats your point.

[Martin]

I think the point is we were given a spanking by a better team. They outplayed us and it did not really matter what we did on the night because for the first time in months a team turned up that actually were better than us - rather than us slipping to a lesser team's level or worse.