MATCH THREAD: Slough Town v Folkestone Invicta

[Reading Rebel]

I wonder who was the tactical genius who decided to start the game with 4 centre backs against a team that are bottom of the league and have been leaking goals?

 

Still, nice to see that they are not totally clueless and changed things at half-time.

[HorshamRebel]

IMO we played like 11 individuals, against a very poor side.

[Chris]

Eddie was ill apparently, so lets put that one to bed straight away!

 

As for the game, yes it was extremely poor. As for playing four centre backs, well we did not really have much choice did we? If you look at the bench it's the least stong it's been in ages. The only thing i'd question is why Eddie went for another centre back on loan when he should have gone for a midfielder/striker as we already have enough cover at centre back.

 

I believe that if you look at 80% of our first choice starting eleven I think we have a good variety. The trouble is in my opinion is that if we get one, or two injuries, which is always going to happen we are in trouble as the squad is not big enough.

 

Also if you look at those players who would be in the starting line-up you think to yourself that player as an individual is a 'good player', but as a TEAM at the moment we have not gelled at all.

 

As for yesterday the first thing that totally baffled me was Anaclet & G. They were either in two yards from each other in every occasion chasing for the ball down the channells or well apart from each other. They also both wanted to get out to the wings in the first half so when the ball was crossed into the area there was nobody there.

 

Also if I was Daryl Harris i'd have been well p*ssed off about yesterday. I know he's still a little raw and still learning the game, but he's lightening fast and probably the quickest striker we've had at the club for years.

 

Now at half-time Westy brings himself on (probably wanting to show the players how to do it after the crap first half) now this would have been great 10-years ago, but their back four was so slow yesterday I can't help but feel that someone who wanted to stay-up front with pace could have caused them problems, but what happens? Harris comes on when we are 2-0 down and is put on the right wing! Give him a chance!!

 

We desperately missed Wallace yesterday who is our link up player. Yes he does not win as much in the air as Hodgey, but he links up well with the midfield and makes the ball stick.

 

While Wallace is away i'd stick Leach up front. He's a giant, his touch aint too bad and I think he'd work up there for the time being.

 

Also think we need two or three players to come in. We've got rid of Glynn, Lovegrove and Gibson so there must be some spare cash for wages?

[Guest]

That was hopeless. Leach did himself some credit but he was the only one IMO. Alexis looked tired and as for Odihambo's rumoured electric pace ..... hmm.

 

Midway through the first half I couldn't believe how useless our passing was. I tracked the next twenty Rebels passes and only seven went to Slough players. Please tell me if I'm wrong but statistically, wouldn't a blind man have scored ten? Then I did the same with the opposition and they got something like fourteen. What I deduced from this was Folkestone play uncomplicated, unambitios Ryman league football whereas the Rebels (midfield in particular) try to be cleverer than their ability allows. Maybe Eddie's got them all thinking they can spray Steven Gerrard-like passes around the park but they can't (apart from one thirty-second period at the end of the first half). What he needs to do is to give them a simpler game plan, more in line with what they can actually deliver.

 

I wouldn't slag off their commitment though. I honestly think they all wanted to win it, but they weren't up to it. Over to Eddie - if he's still around.

[Ted]

Apart from Alexis, I didn't think we had a midfield.

[Bernie Gogan]

That was so disappointing. I'm a lifelong fan and I really can't remember anything worse, even the relegation under Steve Browne. At least then you knew we had the quality, just crap morale.

 

I felt the players tried hard especially in the second half, but we're never going to overcome tough Ryman sides with that team. Too many players are like boys against men.

 

Gareth McLeary clearly has ability but once every 3/4 games is no good. Odhiambo won't work for us without someone to feed off (e.g. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />Hodges)and aside from Alexis we've no penetrative midfield.

 

We just don't look like scoring at home, when we're expected to take the game to the oppo.

 

Not sure about our goalie either by the way.

 

I take Chris's point about sticking behind the team, but I can't face watching that, it's absolutely gutting.

[Martin]

I think that was one of the worst performances I have seen from a Slough side. I also think that is the poorest Slough side I have ever seen. Our tactics were hopeless yesterday. We had four strikers on at one point yet still had to stick Daly up front. The only plus points was that we did manage to force two decent saves from the keeper. The players are not up to this level and in my view we need drastic changes.

 

In all seriousness if the budget has been slashed the club should just be honest about it so we know what to expect. I expected a tough season and that we would just stay up.

 

I think some of the posts on here are implying that there is more to the Eddie absence than meets the eye.

[Reading Rebel]

But there are still some supporters who think we have a 'talented side' who just need some time to gel.

 

We played a team yesterday who were bottom after only two draws and they out played us.

 

I'm with you, I think this is the poorest Slough team i've seen in a long time and unless something drastic happens were dooooomed.

[Matt]

Wasn't at the game yesterday so I won't begin to comment on what happened on the pitch.

 

It has been mentioned that Eddie wanted to be judged on results. Things aren't going well, but we've played 7 of the top 8 teams in the league, and Horsham and Tonbridge, the two 'surprise packages', have so far maintained their early promise and are in great form.

 

I know it can't be used as an excuse for all of the performances (we should have beaten Tonbridge for example) but I'd like to see where we stand after playing the likes of (with absolutely no offence intended to any of them), Carshalton, Ashford, Ramsgate, and Boreham Wood, all games to come in the next month. I doubt there's any other club out there who have played so many of the top teams as us already, though as I said, that doesn't excuse some of the downright dreadful performances.

 

I see there's a few comments about Eddie's future. I also sometimes have my doubts over Eddie's tactics and decisions, but I do think it's a little early to be calling for his head. The Folkestone game was must-win IMO, and I was gutted to hear we'd lost. It seems to me that the whole team is severely lacking in confidence and motivation, and that's Eddie's job to try and instil it. If things still aren't better in the coming weeks, then action may well need to be taken.

 

And for what it's worth I agree about the striker situation. Get Jarvis or Leach up there as a stop-gap. Both would do a good job I think. Wallace isn't fit and the rest don't have the strength or height.

 

The thing that interests (or concerns) me most is the presence of Martyn Deaner - seeing as he hasn't been to a game in 2 years, it must mean something is happening, or about to happen - good or bad. Will provide something a bit different to talk about on the terraces anyway!

[Roger Rebel]

Chris was your post about Eddie tongue in cheek, like your one about Owen Hargreves.

[Guest]

F888 me!!!! Is it not obvious that a target man is needed

[Barry Scott]

not to anyone running the team it's not.

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

Martin & Matt - one thing I noticed at the Cobham game was Eddie was a lot more vocal than normal and was trying to shout out more instructions.

 

This may well have been to do with the poor performance of the team and his frustration with the players not following his direction.

 

Eddie has shown his ability to get the players up for games and win a trohpy, that was with players who we knew could deliver the goods.

 

I am worried that except for those players we know have the passion, there seems to be quite a large gap to the rest. How Eddie brings the team back to gether will be his challenge.

 

In previous seasons I may have questioned Eddies position but this year I think we need the stability and level headedness of Eddie to bring the team together or replace those who are not up to the job!

 

Problem is there may be things happening behind the scenes that arnt helping.

[Barry Scott]

Well we'll just have to see how we do tomorrow night, because you would think there should be some sort of reaction to this but I'm not going to hold my breath.

[Matt Cousins]

Can someone give me the times and the names of the goal scorers please.

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

For tomorrow? The opposition at 5 minute intervals.