Slough, Home. 19/10/24

[Deleted]

Yep, played ok, but missed too many clear chances. Much as Brown had a fine game, thought George waited too long before bringing subs on and Greenidge especially should have had at least half an hour, while Pap didn't have his best game and could have come off earlier.
Once again, it seemed we were playing against 14 at times, especially in the second half. The Riverside linesman made multiple errors, though at least he got the one right that might have seen a red card for us. Towards the end it became a shambles with the ref trying to set a record for yellow cards, for which both sides will suffer later in the season.
At the end of the day, we still haven't won at home in the league, which is frustrating. Would be nice if we can stuff someone soon.

[Deleted]

Oct 19, 2024 16:06:07 GMT pwoodstone said:

“At least we are creating chances”.

You’d have to say we could have scored a few today but for an away side Slough could too. We should have won but you can say they deserved their draw.

Both had the put up with that ref. What was that all about?!

How did they only get two yellows and one of them for goalkeeper for time wasting in added time.

[Deleted]

Intensely frustrating.
Still not delivering where it matters.
Still not consistent.
Still can’t win at home.
But the cup continues to paper over the cracks.

[Harry]

A good performance from the lads, plenty of effort, possession and a decent passing game.
Only one thing missing from the locker today and that was so many chances missed.
A 5-1 win was on the cards with some sharp finishing.
It will come soon enough.

[Deleted]

Only one team will be disappointed with the result and that is the black and amber.
The team has def upped a gear from a month or so ago and 6 matches unbeaten doesn't lie.
Individually and collectively a very satisfactory performance in everything bar sticking the ball in that elusive onion bag.
2 points dropped again but the performances and momentum is upwards.

[Deleted]

On another matter, I am enjoying the unsegregation this season. Feels like proper non league again, being trusted to mingle and chat to opposition fans.

[Deleted]

Oct 19, 2024 16:32:38 GMT daveu said:

Oct 19, 2024 16:06:07 GMT pwoodstone said:

“At least we are creating chances”.

You’d have to say we could have scored a few today but for an away side Slough could too. We should have won but you can say they deserved their draw.

Both had the put up with that ref. What was that all about?!

How did they only get two yellows and one of them for goalkeeper for time wasting in added time.

He should have got a second yellow as he just kept on wasting time. Ref bottled it.

[Deleted]

Having had a tooth out last week, and the hole where that tooth was has now got infected, I was suffering intense toothache throughout the game, so I might be a little jaundiced in my views (just for a change).

That said, I thought we played well - although not as well as I had hoped. I was hoping for another step up to match the recent improvement. But, facing yet another team of giants, we reverted to playing long ball to our world famous TALL strikers most of the first half. And then we blew two points with dodgy defending, and, despite much huffing and puffing, we failed to turn possession and opportunity into goals. Two steps forward, one step back.

As we have shown recently, we are capable of dominating games on our day, but we are still some way from the team that's going to work it's way up the table and get into the play-offs.

On paper (and, indeed, on the pitch) we have a pretty good team. It's difficult to fault any of them, and I actually think, now things have settled down, George has put together a better squad than last season. With, of course, one exception - no Amantchi. Blair is a fantastic player, but he can't do it all on his own - as long as he's our only consistent source of goals, we are going to struggle.

I was also somewhat disturbed by George's 'unusual' use (or not) of our subs. Against a team of mostly bigger players, why not start our TALLEST defender? Why wait until nearly the end of the game before bringing anyone else on? Why have only 4 outfield players on the bench, when you can bring on five?

But that may have just been my teeth.

Although, I'm pretty sure that Random Ref had nothing to do with my teeth...

[Deleted]

Oct 19, 2024 21:20:40 GMT pwoodstone said:

On another matter, I am enjoying the unsegregation this season. Feels like proper non league again, being trusted to mingle and chat to opposition fans.

One downside of non-segregation is that our vocal support was split between the Genco and The Town End first half and were consequently very quiet. To be honest they were outsung by a few dozen away support. I would suggest they need to stick together in the Genco regardless of which way we’re kicking.

[Deleted]

It has always been thus - a band of boisterous away fans will generally make more noise than the home ones at our level. It was more pronounced in the Kent League days when our away support actually outnumbered the home crowds.

[Deleted]

Oct 19, 2024 22:17:56 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

Having had a tooth out last week, and the hole where that tooth was has now got infected, I was suffering intense toothache throughout the game, so I might be a little jaundiced in my views (just for a change).

That said, I thought we played well - although not as well as I had hoped. I was hoping for another step up to match the recent improvement. But, facing yet another team of giants, we reverted to playing long ball to our world famous TALL strikers most of the first half. And then we blew two points with dodgy defending, and, despite much huffing and puffing, we failed to turn possession and opportunity into goals. Two steps forward, one step back.

As we have shown recently, we are capable of dominating games on our day, but we are still some way from the team that's going to work it's way up the table and get into the play-offs.

On paper (and, indeed, on the pitch) we have a pretty good team. It's difficult to fault any of them, and I actually think, now things have settled down, George has put together a better squad than last season. With, of course, one exception - no Amantchi. Blair is a fantastic player, but he can't do it all on his own - as long as he's our only consistent source of goals, we are going to struggle.

I was also somewhat disturbed by George's 'unusual' use (or not) of our subs. Against a team of mostly bigger players, why not start our TALLEST defender? Why wait until nearly the end of the game before bringing anyone else on? Why have only 4 outfield players on the bench, when you can bring on five?

But that may have just been my teeth.

Although, I'm pretty sure that Random Ref had nothing to do with my teeth...

I disagree about Greenidge. Late in the first half the Slough no. 9 broke towards our goal, and Brown was able to keep pace with him and shepherd him away from goal. I reckon Greenidge doesn’t have that speed. But bring him on later to score a winner by all means.

[Deleted]

Oct 19, 2024 23:09:16 GMT daveu said:

Oct 19, 2024 21:20:40 GMT pwoodstone said:

On another matter, I am enjoying the unsegregation this season. Feels like proper non league again, being trusted to mingle and chat to opposition fans.

One downside of non-segregation is that our vocal support was split between the Genco and The Town End first half and were consequently very quiet. To be honest they were outsung by a few dozen away support. I would suggest they need to stick together in the Genco regardless of which way we’re kicking.

I've never really understood the changing ends thing. Apart from anything else, standing behind the goal on low terracing like the TE is a lousy way to see the game. When we have a stand like the Genco, it seems crazy not to use it.

Yesterday we were outsung all game by a handful of Slough fans. They had the '12th man' advantage that should have been ours - and I think it made the difference.

[Deleted]

Oct 20, 2024 7:29:32 GMT headstone said:

Oct 19, 2024 22:17:56 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

Having had a tooth out last week, and the hole where that tooth was has now got infected, I was suffering intense toothache throughout the game, so I might be a little jaundiced in my views (just for a change).

That said, I thought we played well - although not as well as I had hoped. I was hoping for another step up to match the recent improvement. But, facing yet another team of giants, we reverted to playing long ball to our world famous TALL strikers most of the first half. And then we blew two points with dodgy defending, and, despite much huffing and puffing, we failed to turn possession and opportunity into goals. Two steps forward, one step back.

As we have shown recently, we are capable of dominating games on our day, but we are still some way from the team that's going to work it's way up the table and get into the play-offs.

On paper (and, indeed, on the pitch) we have a pretty good team. It's difficult to fault any of them, and I actually think, now things have settled down, George has put together a better squad than last season. With, of course, one exception - no Amantchi. Blair is a fantastic player, but he can't do it all on his own - as long as he's our only consistent source of goals, we are going to struggle.

I was also somewhat disturbed by George's 'unusual' use (or not) of our subs. Against a team of mostly bigger players, why not start our TALLEST defender? Why wait until nearly the end of the game before bringing anyone else on? Why have only 4 outfield players on the bench, when you can bring on five?

But that may have just been my teeth.

Although, I'm pretty sure that Random Ref had nothing to do with my teeth...

I disagree about Greenidge. Late in the first half the Slough no. 9 broke towards our goal, and Brown was able to keep pace with him and shepherd him away from goal. I reckon Greenidge doesn’t have that speed. But bring him on later to score a winner by all means.

Brown's a good player, and arguably Greenidge isn't consistent enough to justify always starting. But he has an edge that can - and often does - make the difference. No criticism of Brown, but I think we would have won yesterday if Greenidge had started.

[Deleted]

Brown was excellent against Ebbsfleet and you could argue - why change a winning side?

I think that the reason for Greenidge being on the subs bench was more likely to be related to his international duties. Was he carrying a knock? When did he get back? Was he jet lagged?

Add to that we have a game on Monday when he will start.

[Terry]

Not a disaster
Not a triumph
A match we could easily have won but could have lost.
Probably a fair result at the end
Stones quite a way off the play offs at present.
But hey, a long, long way to go