Thetownend.com

The Opponent: Sheffield United

Sheffield is a city in the south of t'North, famous for not making steel anymore. After earning the position of "where Margaret Thatcher goes to have a shit" in the 1980's, the city has since evolved into a site of industrial decay and rubble. The inevitable depression that comes as a result of living in Sheffield is made slightly more bearable for its 500,000 residents by the fact that every few years, one of them (whether it be Jarvis Cocker, Arctic Monkeys or Jessica Ennis) seems to become the short-lived feature of pop culture hysteria.

Sheffield has existed in some form or another since the last ice age, when defrosting glaciers revealed seven dingy hills, a tram system, two football pitches, a pair of concrete cooling towers, Henderson's relish and a humanoid creature that would later become Sean Bean. The city remained uninhabited for six millennia whilst local tribes rehearsed their roles in the upcoming film "'T Full Monty", a tale of nudity in a sea of concrete. Whilst waiting for this moment to arrive, Abbot Dave of 't bloody Manor established a monastery at Beauchief in 1286 and commanded everyone to pronounce it as "Beecheef" since the French way sounded "much too poncey". Disappointed by a lack of implements with which to cut their food, 't monks invented cutlery by attaching a sharp bid of metal to a handle and naming it as a "knife". Soon a thriving cutlery industry sprang up in the moist valleys of Sheffield, where the local abundance of tough, stupid people provided the ideal workforce for the brutal factory conditions necessary for keeping tough, stupid people occupied.

Cutlery production reached such an excessive level that local residents were, at one point, forced to eat melted stainless steel. This problem was solved by dumping surplus cutlery engraved with the city's name into the North Sea, unintentionally earning Sheffield the reputation as a famous exporter of such goods as they beached in foreign lands. This humiliation became too much for many Sheffielders, who decided to emigrate to the New World, also known as Barnsley. One such migrant was Joe Cocker, a man famous for his rough singing voice and large collection of Spaniels. His sons James and Jeremy turned out to be idle, talentless sons-of-bitches, but Jarvis inherited the singing talent and the girlish mannerisms.
A century later in 1562, whilst Jarvis was still alive, David Blunkett OBE seized control of Sheffield in a violent coup, armed with eleven Golden Retrievers. Thus was established the legendary Socialist Republic of Sheffield, where all citizens were employed as worker bees in the infamous Labour Exchange at the bottom of the Moor, a sloping pedestrian street paved with heather and drunks. As local enthusiasm for socialism waned, a new hero was born in the form of Michael Palin who raised a famous hobbit army and Python Circus.

In 1984 Sheffield was obliterated by several mega tonnes of nuclear explosives. The current city is limited to the 1/362th of the city not destroyed in what has been dubbed by locals as 't bloody nuclear holocaust, which produced thousands of radioactive students that litter the city to this day. Today, Sheffield is inhabited by a mixture of unemployed factory workers, unemployed children of factory workers, unemployed grandchildren of factory workers (they breed at an early age here), confused university students, Polish and Neil Kinnock's bastard child.


Where the opposition gather –

http://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/next-swindon-v-blades.33962/

“can see this being tougher than the Preston game. Swindon have a real chance of the playoffs unlike Preston who were basically already there, and just trying to keep momentum going”.

Last 6 – WWWDLW – Currently 10th in League 1 just 3 points behind us on 51 having played 2 less games. The 1 defeat over the last 6 games was at home to Wolves last Saturday but they went to Crawley on Tuesday night and won 2-0. Nigel Clough has done well for The Blades, having secured them a place at Wembley in the FA Cup semi finals.

They have served us both –  Carl Tiler, Grant Smith, Lilian Nalis, Lecsinel Jean-Francois, Brian Marwood, Ray McHale, Bernard Harris, Jan Age Fjortoft, Herbert Chapman, Wayne Allison, Frank Becton, Paul Crichton, Sam Furniss, David Lloyd, Paul Heald, Graham Anthony, Danny Wilson, Alfred Brown, Frank Talia, Trevor Churchill, Mark Dempsey, Steve Foley, Iffy Onoura, Tommy Mooney, Chris Guthrie, John Harris, Tom Mcalister, Darius Henderson, Chris Kamara, Billy Barry, Mark Yeates, Darren Bullock, Paul Thirlwell, Glen Cockerill, Vincent Pericard, Peter Dornan, David Munks, JP McGovern, Harry Hampson, Ivor Mabberley, Brian Howard, Jack Fountain, Pat Keating, Billy Paynter.

The Odds –  Swindon 2/1  Draw 11/5   Sheffield United 6/4   Looks like the bookies don’t really fancy us at home. I’m sticking with Ben Gladwin to pop up with the first goal, 16/1, even a 3-1 home win is a tasty 33/1 with Coral.

The Son Says – One day I will learn some tricks for this FIFA 14, simply to stop a smug 8 year old owning me after 30 minutes, I thought being Bayern Munich would give me half a chance, obviously not. 2-0 win.

The Prediction – 3 games unbeaten will today become 4. We will win 3-1 with goals from Gladwin and M.Smith (2) in front of 8’244, 999 travelling from the north.

And Finally – Sheffield has the second highest number of homeless people in the country, with the district of Westminster taking the number one spot.


COYR COYR COYR

Leave Sean Bean alone.

2-0 Town.

4-0 us.

First team we ever faced in the top flight.  I remember the well intentioned - but nevertheless patronising - comments from their fans as we sat on the pavement outside Brammall Lane in the sunshine after the 3-1 defeat on our opening Prem defeat.  There were plenty more of those to follow.

Hope we take them apart tomorrow.  Unlikely, but you live in hope.

You've surpassed yourself SR with this one....a passing reference to Threads  :)  30 years ago we'd have been proper pooping our pants, about Russia reclaiming the Crimea, as Ukraine had the world's 3rd biggest nuclear arsenal.  But showing what nice people they are, disarmed in return for a sort of promise that NAtO would guarantee their integrity...I suppose we did the same with the Sudetanland once before.

I remember that match. Moncur scored from a free kick, if my memory serves me right.

Can't be as bad as the game at their place earlier in the season where some of our fans were singing "one shot,we only want one shot"and with TAH back to stiffen the defence I'm hopping for a continuation of the run with a 3-1 win, Storey,Smith and Gladwin for us

Still reckon this will be my last t'game this season. Tha needs Sum bragging rites thoust does as my H/O is in t' north of the city.

2-1 or 1-2

Did you know a recent craze of crushing amphetamines into powder by club goers and rubbing it in the mouth was termed "e bah gum"?

Also this:

(http://www.camaro5.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=338752&stc=1&d=1329856650)

2-1 defeat.

And gooooooooooooooooood morning Jessica  :yikes:

2-1 win. Troy to score a bullet head late on.

Looking forward to this one.

Good weather, should be a good atmosphere and game.

Can't honestly see us getting anything but if we happen to win it'll get the forum buzzing later and set up for a great end to the season.  Just want to see a good performance really.

1-1 today, 7,800 crowd

Can we play any worse than at Blades this season....I doubt it.

Cheeky win for me....but for me the season is over...so whatever....I will be there...

I think we'll win 2-1 today 7623!

One page, bloody ell. First game for a while I won't need a coat.

1-1

It seems Cirencester way is closed? May make getting to the game a pain

33/1 on a 3-1 victory. £20 on  :)

Taking my son to his first match today. His confident prediction was a 10-1 win.

This was swiftly followed by a question about why there are pictures of Angry Birds everywhere and why the lampposts at the corners of the ground are so tall.

COYR

Hope your lad enjoys it, half time chocolate is a winner  :)

3-1 win today.

Sticking with the confident predictions. Is there anything lucky about treading in cat shit or is it just when you break a mirror on a cat?

My my - Cox starts? No Luongo in sight

Foderingham; Stephens, Archibald-Henville, McEveley; N Thompson, Kasim, Cox, Gladwin, Smith A; Storey, Smith M

subs: Belford, Barthram, Branco, Byrne, Barker, L Thompson, Waldon

Ooh Impressive, we managed 5 players on the Bench beginning with B, Surely we could have found 2 more?

Luongo has a sore calf.

Luongo has needed to be dropped for a while, but with him not being in the squad all together I would guess he has an injury.

One all
Not going today. Bad back and end if season can't be assed syndrome
8350 with 600 of the blades making the effort

I never noticed that!

Maybe its a subliminal message to buy Arkells......2B's + 3B's = 5B's (5 B's being the new super strong Best Bitter Bladder Busting Beer :D

Interesting post from Sam Morshead.

Last time Cox started a game for Swindon was 21st Feb 2012 against Shrewsbury.

Foderingham the only player (other than Cox) in the matchday 16 still at the club.

Foderingham, Caddis, Cibocchi, Boateng, McCormack, Cox, J Smith, Ritchie, L Rooney, Bodin, Benson (Kennedy, Risser, Ferry, Connell, Murray)

KO delayed by 15 mins because of the accident earlier.

Fatal accident involving a motorcyclist.  Saw the air ambulance landing on the road a couple of hours ago. :(

Thats awful news :(

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/11112451.Swindon_motorcyclist_rushed_to_hospital_with_severe_injuries/?ref=var_0

40 Year old man from Swindon, rushed to Frenchay, not reported yet that he has died but I wouldn't be surprised.

My daughter works at the ground and she has been told it was fatal, might not be true though.

Hope not, but motorcycle accidents often are.

Shitty 1 down to rovrum already

9000 Wolves fans at MK Stadium today..  Impressive..
https://twitter.com/FBAwayDays/status/449924959599460352/photo/1/large (https://twitter.com/FBAwayDays/status/449924959599460352/photo/1/large)

Ronan Murray scores his 5th goal in 4 games for Notts

Matt Richie nets for B'mouth

I remember us taking more than that to there's once. Showing me age now !!!!

Corner to Town.

Hopefully Sheff Utd will be thinking about the Cup semi final at Wembley in a couple of weeks so wont give it everything they have got.......wishful thinking :D

Well we certainly aren't rolling over against them like we did vs Wolves, giving as good as we are getting.

Prutton booked within 6 minutes of his debut for Coventry.

Get in Storey!

Yay, get in!!

Storeeeeeeeeeeeee!

wahey Storey! He WAS the answer!

Get in

Lovely

Close by Storey and then Smith....sounding lively.

Good goal.  Excellent ball and taken well.

We're on top at the moment.  Just had another good chance, but Smith got his feet in a tangle.

1 point outside the playoffs as it stands, crazy

Sheff offering very little, which surprises me.

Town End in good voice.

MINDS ON WEMBLEY?

In the words of Max Bygraves....I wanna tell you a Storey :D

2 good saves in a row by Foderingham apparently.

its what he's there for

H/T 1-0 sounds good so far, very pleased.

Expect Sheff Utd to come at us 2nd half.

Good opening 20. Could have had 2 really. Then we seemed content to contain them without too much going forward. But that isn't a moan.

Sheff Utd are getting men behind the ball at every opportunity.

It looks like we are trying to pass the ball across the back in an attempt to draw them out so that Smith & Storey have some space to work in.

Storey's goal was very well taken & he has made some very good runs in behind the defence.
His first touch with his back to goal isn't great but that can be worked on especially if he can keep scoring.

Balls. 1-1

Sounded a bit against the run of play, shame really but a draw wont be a bad result, a win better though of course.

Oxford concede in the 90th minute :)

Bless  :D

Super sub. Waldon on. We might be going for it !!!!

Oh yes

Yessssss!!!! Louis!

GET THE FUCK IN!!!!

GET THE FUCK IN THERE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

My word!

Im very happy.

FFFFFFUUUCCKKKKING  YESSSSSSSSSSSS!

LETS GO FUCKING MENTAL !!!!

Shit Billy's on.

Paynter on

Just fucking did!

Great to see two goals from youth players.

Hockaday cheering  :D

BROTHER LOUIS!

Great result!

FT Get in there!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otbtDNT6FA8

What a result

We apparently only had 3 shots, nice to be clinical.

Bloody hell, we like to make it nerve racking don't we?  The ball seemed to take forever to cross the line.

Cooper is the most sensible manager we've had for years!

I welcomed my second daughter into the world just before kickoff. Clearly a good omen and the result NID :-)

You must be really buzzing tonight then...

Are we mathematically safe?

Congratulations smallie. My first grandchild was born Friday 21st. He has a 100% record so far. Your girl and my grandson = best additions to the squad this season :)

Foderingham played an absolute blinder, several truly first class saves including the one that set up the counter attack for the 2nd goal. I know it's unlikely but we need to be doing everything possible to keep him next season.

United were surprisingly quiet in the first half, we could have easily come away with more than one at half time, but then they came at us in the 2nd as we were tiring and showed up some of our weaknesses.

Great to see Louis get a goal, he was properly chuffed at the end, brilliant to see a team with some passion again after several lacklustre performances. I'm particularly a fan of Troy and Stephens at the back, very robust defence compared to some of the performances we've seen this season and really good to see Nathan back to form.

The lad had a great time, particularly the well recommended half time chocolate.

Even if looking upwards in the table is still a tad optimistic that's all part of being a football fan, things are either great or dire, there's very little middle ground. Feels like there's definitely still some drama left this season if we can maintain the momentum.

Well, what a 90 minutes that was!

Very good first half and they murdered us second half.

I can't say enough good things about Wes, the save that led to the winning goal was just fantastic.

Understandably, the young players and those that have not played for ages tired towards the end but there is some steel and bloody mindedness about this group.

Yet again Troy was immense - he is a must keep for next season.

Now, the huge positive apart from the result. Cox was what I reckon we've been missing in midfield - a niggly, get the foot in and play it simple midfielder.

He reminds me of Ross McClaren - he even runs like him.

I can't see the logic of letting him go and taking a chance on someone else.

Gladwin and Smith were average today but for a side bereft of at least 3 players who would be considered starters every week it was really impressive and augurs well for next year.

The typical game of two halves!!  We were the best side in the first, they stepped it up in the second and gave us the runaround.  Wes was fantastic, two saves in the first half were top drawer, the one in the second was world class and 20 seconds later we scored!!  Thought Storey had a good game - always available and an outlet as compared to Smith who couldn't do a thing right today.  Somehow or other we need to keep the defence for next season, Troy - who many on here were moaning about when he was played in midfield - was immense again.  Pity the ref was totally biased towards them in the second half.

We're a point off the play offs....
How the fuck did that happen?

We won 3 games.

Peterborough play a game in hand against Colchester in the week, then they have travel to Wolves on Saturday.
We travel to Carlisle, somehow, although I can't see it happening we have every chance of sneaking in.

Excellent. A smash and grab but that is what made it even sweeter. A great counter attacking goal.

Troy and Stephens are a superb partnership and if we have those two next season I will be very pleased.

Storey looks a different player and I will be eating my words if he continues like that. His strike partner Smith, on the other hand, put in one of the worst individual performances of the season - labelling him a carthorse would be an understatement. No lack of effort but a huge lack of ability. I think everyone in the ground was laughing at his display by the time he was subbed.

Pritchard back next week is a big positive as we lacked creativity at times today, especially in the second half.

Cox was impressive, Kasim reasonable and I thought although Gladwin started well he got worse and worse and Cooper made the right change.

6 games to go and a point off the play offs - I was widely mocked for my pre-season thoughts but I said I would be happy with a rally and flirt with the top six and that is what we have got. I expect as most others do we will fall short but there are positives to take.

I love my team, that is all

In the first half we were pretty solid apart from two corners on the trot where we allowed them headers and Fods made 2 good saves particularly the 2nd which pissed off their hirsute no 4. I don't know who made the pass to Storey but it was a great finish from a player who allegedly only possesses pace.
In the 2nd half we went to total shit. Nate Dog was getting fucked over. Cox did a Paul Daniels magic trick and disappeared. Kasim was useless and got a booking for gobbing off. Cooper / Sherwood really needs to sort this out next season.  Alex Smith was blowing out of his arse as was his namesake who was trapping the ball further than most could kick it. Gladwin was knackered. Somehow out of this we got the winner but only after a fantastic save from Fods. We must try and keep him next season. He is back to his best.
Louis was just a bit pleased with his goal and nice to see Nate Dog who had been subbed run around the pitch to celebrate with Louis.
I'm a Storey lover but he really played well today and looked so much fitter than a lot of the others. It was also nice to Waldon come on and get a few minutes.
The forst half we were really good, the second all the old habits came back and we were bollox...but we won. The midfield, in particular were shite in the 2nd half.
If I was a Blade I'd be pretty pissed off.    

Congratulations smaltowngypsymassacre.

How I saw it:

First 20 minutes we pressed them scored the goal and nearly forced them into a mistake that presented another one on one. After that period we played controlled passing football that while along the back line at times was with purpose - to keep the ball from the opposition. We did try and fashion a chance or two too, it wasn't all tippy tappy fanny flicky football.

Sheff U had a couple of first half chances too, Wes got down well to save a low shot, then following a corner palmed over a powerful but straight at him header from Alan form The Hangover.

Second half Sheff U mainly pushed us back. The equaliser was a well worked move down the left that was played across goal and tapped in from the unmarked man on the back stick.

We weren't really out of it, Storey gave us an outlet of sorts, and the Sheff U defence never looked totally at ease with the front 2 despite Smith (M) having an absolute stinker. They did have a shout for a penalty, and had we been at bramall lane I'm sure it would have been given. Then just as they had a great chance to win it Wes pulled off a blinder of a one handed save, then set us on the way to counter. When Byrne squared to Louis it looked like he'd fluffed his shot, but the keeper went to ground to early and the ball somehow evaded his grasp to score a winner that hasn't felt as good since that McCormack goal at Northampton.

The ref I think will be disliked by both sets of fans. I think he got a lot right, but gave some odd ones too.

Great win. Now nobody mention the Playoff word. I did once but I think I got away with it.

Has to be Louise. Or, um, Miley.

Absolutely buzzing off that win - haven't celebrated a goal like that in the Town End for a while (maybe Cov before Xmas was the last time) and I called the correct score in my prediction! Wes was class and deserved man of the match, and the defensive line up seems to me really solid at the moment - Troy & Stephens would be a very good pair for next season, but those questions/answers can wait until the end of the season. The goal reminded me a bit of the Watford v Leicester play off semi game last season - Alumunia penalty save and then Watford went straight up the other end and scored.

Happy days, enjoy your evenings!!!

Hell of a win, albeit totally undeserved.

We had the better of the first half although they could argue they created three good chances to our one.  Great pass and finish by Storey.

Defence looked pretty solid until we tired, but Utd ran the show on the second half.  Once Smith missed a great chance to go 2 up and they equalised we looked doomed.  Without Wes, a great display by Troy and Stevens, and some poor finishing by Utd we could have conceded a couple more easily.  Blatant penalty for them , god knows how ref didn't give it.  We have too many players who aren't fit enough to play 90 mins, notably Kassim.

Then from nowhere Wes makes his 7th or 8th point blank save, we break and bingo. 

Great atmosphere at the end.  Really pleased for Louis. 

Hmmm.  I think I know what you mean (late winner etc.), but 'smash & grab' usually implies that the win was not deserved - and today it was.  We were dominant in the first half (Sheffield basically failed to turn up).  Suddenly seemed to lose steam shortly before their goal.  The movement went and we looked out of sorts.  And then we came right back again for the last 10 or 15 mins.  On balance, we were definitely the better side on the day, and 2-1 was a fair result.

First time I saw Storey and Gladwin partnered together up front; and think we could have something there for the future.  Certainly hope so.  Troy was superb.  Nice to see a Swindon boy on the pitch as well towards the end (and I suppose the Thompsons are as good as too).

Brilliant day out.  Football is a lot more tiring and involves a lot less alcohol with my boys in tow these days...but the look on their faces when Louis' goal went in made it all worthwhile.

Loved seeing both Thompsons kissing the badge too, both after the goal and full time.

Wes is back to his 11/12 best. Impressed with Cox, he adds the steel we need in midfield. Would like to see him play the rest of our games and if he's any good who knows, maybe he does have a future at the club. Stephens, Troy and McEveley as a back 3 look decent for this level.

We all see a different game, I know.  Maybe I'm going to be out-voted on this one.   ;D


Amen to that.  From where we were in the Arkells, the Town End were in good voice, I thought.  Good atmosphere today, and nice to see the crowd back up above 8,000 again (and over 7,500 home fans).

Yay! Go Swindon!

Jay's cross field pass in the first start worthy of mention, certainly.  Found his man from maybe 60 yards.  Almost Hoddlesque!

Cox had a good first half but I didn't see him in the 2nd. Maybe lack of match fitness but worth giving another couple of games.

Enjoyed that, great goals from all. Will read back tomrrow

Nothing beats a last minute winner (even though we had to endure 7 mins of added time)!!!

Dominated the first half...but Sheff Utd were the ones in control in the second. Our midfield were virtually non-existant in the second half as they hardly saw any of the ball.

MoM - Wes

And refs...you can give us something occasionally. Some of his decisions were baffling to say the least.

Anyway, we're somehow still in with a chance of finishing in the top-six after three wins in a row.

Next stop Carlisle.

I was really thinking I had made a rickett buying an advance train ticket for Carlisle, Now I cant wait, as I haven't been since the dismal display at Orient, so looking forward to seeing the Improvements.

Well that's put the kiss of death on that.   :D

This may be seen as harsh but Michael Smith reminds me of a slow white Onibuje.

Credit where it's due as well, for a bloke who's been criticised for lacking the ability to change a game, the subs made a difference today

I think he'll come good and his goals record ain't bad. He had a bad second half today but he's far from shit. 

Did you form part of the half time entertainment?

Cooper really looked the part today.  Manager's should wear suits, and get stuck right in and wave their arms about a lot.  He did all of that.  I'm actually trying to make a sensible point and it sounds like I'm taking the piss, but I'm not.

Spot on. Give the lad a break. Didn't have his best game but has done well since he signed.
Mind you I usually agree on your posts.
Still hate those fuckers down the road more than you though. :)
Rounds off the day and a bonus with Terry scoring an OG.

Stephens MOM today for me.
TE empty today and was disappointed with Sheffield Utd's crowd.

Play off a dream but certainly extends the end of season.
That save from Fodds, the second one in the first half was world class.

No, but I will confess to helping cat-herd those who were. And I did an exclusive table-top striptease in the Exec lounge after the game, but that's more of a sideline

Just a couple of things.

I thought the pitch, albeit in great nick, was very firm and bouncy today which made the first touch difficult.

Also, Cooper got very frustrated with Gladwin. Twice I heard him scream 'Fuck off Ben' when he chose the wrong option and gave the ball away.

Still can't quite believe how we've got into within a sniff of 6th place, but a win at Carlisle next week and Posh likely to lose against Wolves and . . . . .

Oh, a word about the Blades players. Thought they were the least cheating bastards I've seen this season - no play acting when they were fouled and no diving. Fair play.

Gladwin struggled a bit - although was it him who set up Miles for his opener? But considering todays team mostly consisted of this seasons injury and non starters list we did pretty damn well. Lee Cox doesn't even get listed in the programme again - just as Troy wasn't a couple of months back but both were integral today. Miles and Waldon sent out to non league clubs on loan but gave Sheff U centre backs a decent last 15 minutes run a round.

Alex Smith has barely figured too and although he like Gladwin made a few mistakes put in a pretty decent shift. Wes was fab today and Stephens looked as calm and composed as he did at City.

Ref made an unbelievable decision not to award Kasim a free kick after having his legs taken away from underneath him when just about to shoot but for gods sake Yaser surely you should have learned by now that mouthing off to him after the event is only ever going to result in yet another yellow card. Full praise to Cooper for bringing on Louis Thompson at just the right time - and it was really fantastic to see the togetherness after his long overdue first ever goal for Town.

Bloke behind me moaned that Cooper was bringing on the shittest player on the bench when Waldon came on.

-----

Wasn't it Smith who played in Miles?

I thought it was Smith too, I thought Gladwin was awful, he plays a good crossfield pass but apart from that looked well out of his depth. Wasn't that impressed with him against Preston either, don't get the hype.

Cannot agree with that. They were on the floor as soon as they were touched, and were given free kicks most of the time.

Gladwin played a quick forward pass to smith, smith played in Storey.

Thought gladwin did OK myself.

The fresh faces have given us a boost and helped with the upturn in form in my opinion. Stevens has been brilliant and Troy and Cox have been like nee signings. Oh and how much better do we look without Ward? Seemingly a lot better.

reckord never came on did he?

He did Tuesday Flash, you would have loved it!

Do do do do Miles Storey!

We've looked better since we played 2 up front.

Whether the last 4 games given us false hope or not it sure beats playing out the season with no hope at all.

Just look up the 420 for that!!

Definitely helps that we've had a few fresher players lately, I don't want to keep slating Ward but it helps that we don't have a CB having to constantly worry about what he is going to do next. We've now got two CBs that can play the ball out from the back and they're both pretty handy at the defending too. 3 at the back seems to be working, Storey has gone out and gotten match sharp, it's just a shame we're missing the best no. 9 in the league.

Both our goals were excellent. Storey's finish was unerring and the quick counter attack for our winner was excellent. Thought the blades keeper could have done better but who cares!

And to top it all off, Oxford score a hilarious own goal last minute. A good day!

I'm sure if Ranger was still playing Cooper wouldn't be playing Storey as well.

Hopefully this small reversal of fortunes will resonate with Cooper and get him rethinking his (or Spurs') philosophy

Yeah maybe you're right. They showed good link up vs Coventry though but Ranger is much better as the focal point than Smith.

Best thing for everyone to do is assume that we won't have Ranger at the start of next season. Then in the mean time we discuss what we've got that we know about. I suspect that the close season is going to be very interesting indeed, even more so if we against all odds get promoted.

As much as its good to see a front 2 working, we shouldn't forget how good we looked earlier in the season with Mason floating around just behind a main front player.

Some of the abuse hurled towards both Michael and Alex Smith was embarrassing. Both early contenders for April's scapegoat of the month no doubt. Why shout at your own players? Can you do any fucking better? Cheering when a player gets substituted?

I'm guessing these same people who think its just letting off a bit of steam have never made a mistake in their own jobs? Tosspots.

Never heard anyone abusing Alex Smith though 1 or 2 were getting on Michael Smith's back.

These are players who are probably having their first decent run in first team football and overall they are doing fine

There were a few getting on Alex Smiths back but he was clearly unfit. I quite rate him. We've got the nucleus of a decent side going forward. I just hope we play "our own" in the last few games with an eye to next season. Hopefully the Spurs loanees won't automatically get back in the side. 

If Pboro drop a point on Wednesday night then we should at least keep a half-arsed lazy eye on the final play-off spot given that we're putting together a little run of form and Pritchard could prove useful if we're playing two up-front.

Otherwise, start building for next season.

I'd imagine, and hope, Pritchard is a shoe in now he is available.

I can see Mason having played his last game for us and the same for Hall - injuries/suspensions notwithstanding.

There are a few fans whose ideal end of season scenario would be to get to the play off final and lose.

I was kind of hoping the ironic cheering was down to the fact no-one could see the electronic boards.

This kind of annoys me. We are one point off with 7 games left and have now hit some form. Fuck next season let's do that in the summer

Why? If Pboro win their games in hand we won't catch them regardless of our form

They've got two games on us, so whilst it's only one point at the moment, it could theoretically be 7. I'm all for being positive but, honestly, it's all up to PBoro at the moment.

Irrespective of what they do this midweek against Colchester, they will get beat by Wolves at the weekend.

So we beat Carlisle and we'll still be 1 point behind them but they will be down to 1 game in hand.

It's all to play for now

And what if they lose both their games in hand? Given their form that is a very real possibility!

It's all ifs and buts but if ifs and buts are not enough to be confident, why should they be enough to be pessimistic?

Ifs and buts aside the hard fact remains that we are only a single point adrift with seven games remaining. To write us off is fucking baffling, I just cannot get my head around it.

TBH we were a tad lucky to win yesterday as we were against Tranmere - but win we did.

I suppose some think that sort of luck can't last and we will revert back to type.

Mind you, there's a lot to be said for momentum and we are now on our best run of the season!!

We played a damn sight better than that earlier in the season and lost. We're grinding out wins that would have originally been draws or even defeats ala Franchise the other week. We are more resilient than we have been all season and that has seen us pick up 10 points from 12.

I get that but what a fuck up it would be if they lost those games in hand and we didn't take advantage because we were playing Waldon up front for example with an eye on next season

When all said and done, not many on here - me included - thought we'd be anywhere near this position when the season started.

A lot of credit for our little resurgence is down to Troy I reckon

Win our next game and we could actually be in a play-off spot. That's a fact, not opinion. Yet we should now be focusing on next season in L1?

Really? I honestly just don't get it.

My Sheffield united supporting mate has a lot of hate for Wes this morning.

I don't think we should give up now at all but if Pboro win their two games in hand then we've done as much as we can.

Unless they win their two games in hand but then don't pick up another win the remaining "scheduled" six. All ifs and buts but we shouldn't give up that's for sure.

I love and hate the play offs in equal measure but there's no getting away from the fact that it wouldn't do us any harm to get in them, if only to help swell the coffers for next seasons budget.

For me the play offs (and the JPT final at the time) were doable but not now....we (cooper) fucked it up...silly formations....not being brave....loaning out Storey etc etc....which is a shame.

But for expectations pre season? Excellent to finish in top ten.

This little run keeps it at least interesting if nothing else.

Yes. And don't underestimate Stephens input too. The biggest compliment u can pay him is he doesn't look out of place with jmac and troy, and looks like he's been playing in that back 4 all season.

I have a lot of redirect for ward and think he got a bit of unfair stick at times. But it's hard to argue against his legs having gone all Nallis.

Edit; agree with flash's assessment. Though it is fair to say the weight of expectation disappeared a while ago which may have helped them

Flash, back in Jan you had us down for 52 points.  You should be popping corks by now :-)

I wonder if Reg thinks relegation is off the agenda yet? still mathematically a possibility.

Ultimately, Peterborough should take the final spot, all we can do is keep getting points and see where we end-up.

A couple of weeks back we were looking downwards, now we are (mostly) looking upwards. We have a chance of 6th spot, not a big chance, we have to keep winning after all, but a chance none the less.

I have no doubt Cooper and Power are aware of this as well as being concious of giving the younger players some game time, Waldon, Gladwin, Storey, The Thompsons and others have all contributed over the last few games so it seems next seasons experiments are happening, and working, right now.

I am honestly optimistic for next season regardless of what happens this season, seeing Nathan run round the pitch to celebrate with Louis yesterday is up there with some of the best bits of the whole season for me. They both wear the shirt with pride. In all of their interviews they have never given up on this season, which is a darn sight more than some of the aspirations of the supporters of our club. There is a great picture floating around somewhere of Louis celebrating, someone with Faceache may be able to find it.

Embrace what we have whilst we have it, yesterday reminded me why I love the club.

This one?


(https://scontent-a-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1.0-9/1000977_821962987817397_1392420651_n.jpg)

The guy in the background, have it!

We deserved to get pumped second half, but there are no more enjoyable goals as a fab than an end to end counter attack. Reminded me of wards goal (you bet) in the playoffs. Lovely stuff

Their keeper was utter wank though, and should really have saved thompsons effort

Yes, cracking picture.

I'm liking the fact the past few games has given us something to play for until the season's end. All depends on Peterborough and the results of their games in hand, but in the meantime lets do it!!!

I think STFC really need to thank Mr and Mrs Thompson. Are there any more or just the 2. As you all know I'm a miserable old fucker but Louis's goal yesterday and the celebrations from both Thompsons made me quite proud. You treasure little moments like that. Two lads who've come up through the ranks, have fantastic attitudes, give 100% and show what playing for Town means for them. I hope they both go on to have great careers whether its with Town or better. If Nile had the family they have he'd be back in the Prem.
It was also great to see Storey score one and have a bloody good game. He did well to hold his man off and make the pass to Byrne. Waldon coming on was a bonus.
It means a little bit more to me when our own come through.

I went fucking mad when Thompson scored...TEF very own player!!! ;)

Was at wembley today and even though Peterborough won 3-1 they don't look a good side. In fact chesterfield were the better team first half and were 2-0 down!

I don't think posh are that good so if we keep winning, who knows!

Watched it on TV
Chesterfield undone with 3 set pieces and at 2 nil down were the better team by far.
Unlucky not to have a pen after 3 mins too

Lets hope they continue to fall apart and dont pick up as a result of today

Let's not forget Connor Walden either.  OK, he's not the finished article - but he's a Pinehurst boy and now wearing the shirt.  When was the last time we had three local lads on the pitch?  It's almost a reversal of the trend for years where everything's being getting less local and more global.  Reg must be loving this.  Fuck it.  Let's aim for a team of Wiltshiremen.  It's within our grasp, surely.

Although the Thompsons are a product of the STFC academy
Nathan was born in Chester and Louis in Dover so hardly local lads

Here's something that's been puzzling me- if Louis is playing for Wales U21 then I'm presuming that Nathan is eligible too- and if so, why isn't it ever mentioned?

swindon-town-fc.co.uk gives his eligibility as English and Welsh  :hmmm:

Knew that about the Twins.  But they're naturalised Swindonians, surely.  The celebrations yesterday proved that.

Unlucky not to get a pen after three minutes.??....just like the final at the CG....fucking Ferguson getting the ref rub like his red nosed jock cunt dad.

I know this doesn't mean a lot...but just spent the afternoon with (Liverpool supporting) friends watching the 4-0 vs Spurs.  And it was a great game, enjoyed watching it.  But also couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't a patch on yesterday.

#Prem
#Takeitorleaveit
#Untilwegetthere  ;)

That's cos you have nothing invested in Liverpool v Spurs.

Yesterday wasn't a great game but it was dramatic and both sides wanted to win.

Sheffield Utd looked better than us overall, but we did them at the death and theres nothing quite like beating the odds in the last minute.

Ps get some early money on Sheffield Utd winning L1 next year

Thing I've always wondered. Does your average supporter of a successful Premier League get more out of winning a game that takes them into the Champions league/wins the league  than you or I do getting promoted?

I only know one real season ticket holder, a Chelsea fan as it happens, and one since the shit days. He said not really, once the novelty value/novelty of a better standard of football wears off at least. And on top of that you've got the layer of shite that comes with the Premier League. Difficulty getting tickets, everything costs more, etc, etc.

There is a lot to be said about being able to rock up at 2:59, buy a ticket and watch your team.

That reaction and the result makes the FA cup exit at Macca seem an awful long time ago!!

Thank you for stating the bleeding obvious.   :)

Do you watch the Town regularly (genuine question, not a dig)?

The team has a lot of young players with potential, but it's not difficult to see from the stands that we are quite some way away from being a team capable of getting promoted to the Championship, let alone staying there.  I suspect that a lot of the people dismissing playoffs  don't want to invest much emotional capital in an unlikely cause.

I live in Thailand so no, I don't watch them. I didn't say anything about promotion.

And besides, this team is good enough to be just a point away with seven games remaining.....

That's what they said about Yeovil last year

Pretty sure although they were born elsewhere they grew up in Wiltshire.

That's OK.

It's the result of 6 pints of afternoon Guinness I'm afraid

Westbury area I believe.

Went to school at Kingdown....Warminster.....famous for educating the Flash!

Rob Newman of Slave trader and Norwich fame also an old boy.

I remember Rob Newman playing cricket for Hatesbury

Heytesbury. Aint they from Warminster because of dad's services career?

Where the Thompson twins were born is irrelevant. They have been at the club since they were boys which is all that matters.

And the fact they're not twins.

That's relevant!

Neither were The Thompson Twins. Actually interesting story if wiki is to be believed. Started off as squatters, ended up playing live aid with Madonna.

It's all Hergé fault anyway.

With the greatest respect....it is pretty obvious that they weren't twins...for a start there were 3 of them ;)

(http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_250/MI0002/092/MI0002092469.jpg)

The season will probably end up being a pretty insignificant one in the long run, but that goal from Thompson and the celebration with his brother was a fantastic moment! Havent celebrated a goal like that since Flint's equaliser at Brentford!

Thank you Wes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLokCDB3ls4

Sheff U will want one of those.

I don't want to mention the P word as its banned but for the record at this stage of the season last year Yeovil were sat in 7th place in the league 1 point behind Tranmere in 6th and hadn't won a game for 5 successive matches and look what happened to them ;)

Bottom of the Championship!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLokCDB3ls4

Embedded for those who can't be arsed to click to another site.

Gorgeous finish for Miles' goal. Again, Sheffield should have won.

What that ref was doing for what should have been their second goal I have no idea, play fucking advantage you muppet. Glad he didn't of course, but would feel seriously aggrieved if it had been my team. Standard of refereeing...

Indeed and getting gates less than us...

They are making a better fist of this season than I (and probably most people) anticipated.

But they're still royally fucked and I, for one, am delighted.

Fucking wurzel cunts in their shitty town with a shitty ground and shitty fans.

Clearly offside, so no advantage.

Was he? In which case fuck 'em, well done Lino. You can't tell on highlights that only focus on one section of the pitch, couldn't see if there were any Swindon players out wide playing him on.

He was offside, the Sheff Utd fans seemed to think the linesman gave the free kick but he flagged for offside and the ref brought it back, which was funny because he wasnt playing advantage. If anything, that worked against us!

I think United got a lot of favourable decisions out of the 50/50 challenges, so fuck em. Wouldnt say they were better than us either. We got tired and they started to dominate but (as we well know) you pay the price for sloppy defending, ours was pretty solid. I think Stephens, Troy & Wes pretty much won us the game.

I know hundred of them and they are all genuine fans and always nice to me, it must be just to you.

yes they look like they will be relegated this year but they are £5 mill better off than they were last year with a new ground on the horizon because of it.

At no stage in my life did I ever think Yeovil would be in a higher league than us.

I live quite close. Constantly get asked why I'm not a Yeovil fan. Pisses me off. Which might skew my opinion somewhat.

And the ones I know are all loud mouthed cunts. Let's not forget they voted against more money to lower leagues too. http://www.westerngazette.co.uk/Glovers-executive-chairman-defends-contentious/story-19633480-detail/story.html

And Gary Fucking Johnson is in charge, that's enough reason to hate the cunts.

Gary Johnson is a poison pixie but having lived in Yeovil for 6 years and now lived 11 years just 14 miles away from Yeovil not one person has ever asked me why I am not a Yeovil fan, could be that I am a lot older than you but honestly I have never had one cross word with their fans who in the main seem alright.

I come accross a lot more local Bristol Shitty fans that are much more vocal and nasty than any Yokels fans.

How the fuck did Sheff Utd have fans in the bank ( albeit only a few ) when they didnt sell out the Arkells ?

For once Venks, I think we'll have to disagree on this. I know it's blasphemy but I've only met the one Shitty fan I don't like living here.

Different crowds obviously.

Wierd but I only say as I find. The shitty fans are all alright don't get me wrong they are just much gobbier than the Yokels I find.

Could be the opposite sides of Yeovil we live on maybe? as I am south West of there and you are more North East aren't you?

That said....I do think that many smaller clubs would do as Yeovil are doing...taking the £4.5mill+ not buying players and not upping players salaries but putting the money in the bank to keep them viable for next season no matter which (league 1) division they are in.

Their venture up a league has also got them extra funding in sponsorship which has been put aside to hopefully in the next year or so start building their new stadium on the outskirts of the town, with rumoured funding from Eddie Mitchell (ex Boremuff) and Kevin Heaney (ex Truro).

Fair play to them for making themselves financially stable but I guess that has to be done as their crowds have not really seen an increase this season.....only in away fans numbers, so it was always going to be a struggle for them.

I will be glad to have them in the same league as us next season :)

A Sheffield United fan on their forum has blamed our pitch. But oddly, blames our pitch only for their first half display, in which we were able to pass it around absolutely fine. Obviously the groundsman did a miracle job at half time which allowed them to play better in the 2nd half.

Christ that's one hell of a dream team - the drunken loudmouth who nearly bankrupted Bournemouth and the guy who actually bankrupted Truro (and himself) but still tried taking over Plymouth as he was in the process of going bust. I don't especially like or dislike Yeovil but I wouldn't wish those two on anyone. And I'd be interested to see how they could finance a pub lunch between them these days...

Its ok, Jed is going to help out.

Isn't Martin Starnes still there as Chief Exec? If so, maybe he can call in a few of his old 'mates'?

Nope he left them last year to go to Plymouth.

Yeah when my mate told me that I genuinely thought he was kidding.

Apparently Heaney is back on solid footing again and has stepped back from football and gone back into development and Mitchell sold his share at muff for a tidy whack.

But the funding is nothing to do with the club ON the pitch, just off it, with hotels etc being funded by the twosome with no funding going into the team from them so that Mitchell can continue to fund the building of the new Poole Town ground on the outskirts of Poole at Bearwood.

This will only come to fruition if Yeovil are refused permission to build a new supermarket behind the away end as a new stand would be built over the supermarket (a bit like Selhurst Park IIRC) and they want to extend the home end into the car park.

I heard somewhere that the Ruski at Bornmuff could be in financial trouble with the West imposing sanctions on certain individuals regarding Crimea

That may be wishful thinking on your behalf

It would be an unintended bonus of this international crisis though! About time those cunts got their comeuppance!

We'll have Ritchie back for a tenner thanks.

That's because you probably aren't a nause about Swindon like HonkyTonk is in and around the pubs  :)

Since 2005/06 season (the first we had in the same league), I think we've finished above Yeovil twice? They've had a far better time than us over the last ten years

They probably have but the year before I moved down here they were in the Isthmian League and I still mostly think of them as a non league team TBH.

I remember when they got relegated from the Conference....went in the Isthmian League, which was essentially a London suburbs league, rather than was it the Gola League, a more southern/midlands based league.  They then used only London based players, just collecting them for a bus to Somerset for home games....not sure what they did about training presumably London based a couple nights a week.

My mate who used to coach for Yeovil back then (Paul Randall ex Brizzle Rovers) said that the club employed a coach/assistant who lived in London and he hosted one training session in West London per week and one training session in Yeovil per week.

Seemed to work for them, why the League thought they were better off in basically a London league though still wrangles some fans, partly because people of Yeovil have little time for Londoners/cockneys, they have an inherant mistrust of all things that there London.

Luckily however you still saw enough to be able to dismiss the referee as being a fucking muppet.  His 'crime' being to initially seek to play advantage and then come back for the free kick once he saw that the linesman had given offside.

This was actually a good piece of refereeing. Shame we had a similar instance in the first half where he failed to pull the play back 2 seconds after playing an advantage.

Yeah we had a debate about that.  Like you I thought he could have still come back for the original free kick.  My mate's counter-argument was that he had given us the advantage, we'd had the shot and therefore had enough advantage.  I'm not sure there's any ruling as to how long a ref should give.  I'd hate it to end up like rugby where you can get literally minutes of advantage before taking back to the original offence.

Yeah I agree and understand your mates argument however if our player would have been tackled then I've no doubt the ref would have pulled it back. There's no difference as regardless we've still lost possession. The rules don't help the ref but given the choice I'd say we'd have rather had the free kick. I.e. Have a shot with no one within 10 yards against having a shot with someone right on top of you.

From what I've seen this year of the quality of refereeing, the general reaction of players around the incident, and the commentary, presuming the ref was being a fucking muppet was the best thing to do.

Not sure whether it was the development side, or the youths but apparently we won 9-0 today. (dunno who against)

I believe it's once he's signalled with his arms then that's it. If he hasn't raised his arms and isn't satisfied that there's been an advantage, he can still call it back.