AFC TOTTON boss Steve Riley is a big believer in that famous British Telecom slogan: “It’s good to talk.”

So it concerns him that the Stags are so quiet out on the pitch.

Communication was sadly lacking in last Saturday’s 4-0 defeat at Cinderford in the Southern One South & West as Totton paid a high price for individual errors. They have the chance to atone at home to Taunton tomorrow and Riley reckons it’s about time the silent Stags started making their voices heard.

“Individual errors cost us at Cinderford and we didn’t deal with their threat,” he said. “That’s about lack of talking.

“We’re a very quiet side and it’s quite hard to play when the lads are not talking through situations and dealing with them by chatting to each other.

“We lack organisers on the pitch.”

Riley could remedy that by bringing in a chatty new signing or two, but he totally understands that, in light of their recent financial difficulties, Totton must keep the purse strings tight.

“You’d like to kick on and bring in a bit of experience and I’ve spoken to (chairman) Andy Straker about it, but players like that cost money,” he said.

“Andy’s doing a job where he needs to make sure the club is run properly.

“But it’s always good to freshen things up and he’s said he’ll try his best to help.”

Despite last weekend’s slip-up, Totton are a healthy sixth, level on points with tomorrow’s visitors Taunton.

They are among four clubs tied on 18 points, one adrift of second-placed Didcot, with Stratford leading the way on 25.

Skipper Rob Flooks returns from a one-match suspension tomorrow while experienced frontman Nathaniel Sherborne should be back available after family commitments ruled him out at Cinderford. Taunton have lost their last two league games to Bashley and Didcot, but won 5-1 in midweek against Wincanton in the Somerset Premier Cup.