Thetownend.com

The Opponent: Bradford City

Since 2006 crime in Bradford city centre has been gradually eliminated thanks to operation "Head in the Sand" which involves the introduction of schemes to reduce recorded crime. Phase 1 of the operation was to outsource Bradford's 999 emergency number to a call centre in India manned by one individual who claims his name is Fred, this resulted overnight in 64% less crimes being recorded.

In November 2010, Bradford was officially recognised as a 'City of Sanctuary' which was celebrated despite the fact it was merely a nice name for branding the city as a soft touch to foreign criminals and gypsies. The success of the 'City of Spongers Sanctuary' was overwhelming and sites throughout Bradford from Baildon to Shipley to Silsden were occupied by travellers, eventually they descended on the Bradford Urban Gardens but to avoid embarrassment at the scale of the camp the Council claimed it was an interactive art installation.

Going back through Bradford’s history, it is thought Bradford council chose the famous ex-cricketer, anti-Putin spokesman and ex-husband of Jemima Puddleduck, Imran Khan as Lord Mayor. In turn, Khan realised that the city needed a spokesman who was a recognisable icon from the previous decades of racial harmony. Unfortunately due to his limited understanding of Northern culture, Denzil from Only Fools and Horses was elected to mixed reaction. Six months later, Khan was growing tired of the lack of excitement that his new position afforded him and began to plot the downfall of his adopted city. The tensions rose after Denzil and Dr Anthony Truman from Eastenders attempted to organise a march in the city. This was banned by Bradford Council (which was now merely Khan’s puppet). The local association of Families Against Racial Tension (F.A.R.T), organised a counter march which was allowed to proceed. During the course of the march Khan’s men circulated a rumour that Federation sympathisers were gathering at Quark’s bar in the centre of Bradford. A confrontation then occurred outside the engineering quarter in the city centre during which Mickey from Only Fools and Horses was fatally stabbed. According to the appeal court this incident almost certainly triggered the riot.


Where the opposition gather –

http://www.claretandbanter.co.uk/threads/swindon-next-and-thanks-to-city-they-can-now-catch-peterborough.39419/


Last 6 –  LDWLDW (13th place on 53 points)

They have served us both – Wayne Allison, Alan Connell, Sandy Cochrane, Ted Braithwaite, Moses Ashikodi, Chris Casper, Gareth Whalley, Colin Todd, Wilf Shergold, Jimmy Quinn, Andy Petterson, Alex Rhodes, Nicky Summerbee, Jack Preece, Mark Yeates, Ashley Westwood, Rafa De Vita, Abe Rosenthal, Billy Paynter, Harry Kaye, Lee Holmes, Paul Evans, Tom Hallett, Frazer McHugh, Michael Proctor, William Marshall, Ken Lambert, Bob Jefferson, Stan Harland, Rhys Evans, Steve Foley, Gareth Edds, Stephen Darby, Mark McCammon, Junior Lewis, Bruce Walker, Peter Downsborough, David Layne, Tom Helsby

The Odds – Swindon 5/6   Draw 11/4  Bradford 15/4  If Rafa is lucky enough to get a start, and I hope he does as I never disliked the bloke, Bet 365 will give you 14/1 for him to score the inevitable 1st goal.

The Son Says – “Dad, who is that fool Dexter”? And a 1-0 win.

The Prediction – I wonder how many people in front at me will be looking at their iPhone gadgets every 2 minutes wondering how Peterborough are getting on. If the Jocks pull off a surprise and we pick up the 3 points then the last couple of games of the season will be a bit more than the relegation battle some seasoned TEF contributors warned us of. We will win this 3-1, Smith, Smith and Storey, in front of 7’988 with 273 whippet breeders paying well over the odds for a cold and flavourless hot dog.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

And Finally – The latest Mad Max film (provisionally titled Fury Road) was originally planned to have taken place on a number of locations around Bradford including the Urban Gardens as part of the Unesco city of film honour, Mel Gibson was said to have been attracted to Bradford due to the local anti-Semitic views and post apocalyptic locations.

COYR COYR COYR

I forgot Raffa was playing for Bradford, good lad. Always liked him when he was here.

3-1 Town, Jed sneaks into the ground to unveil a massive "ROAAARRRR" banner in the Town End, Peterborough lose and suddenly the 'P' word re-enters the common vernacular of Swindon supporters.

I think it'll be tight but we need the 3 points more than they do - so I'll say 2-0 with goals from Byrne and Troyyyyyyyyy (if he plays) in front of The Town End. 7622 in attendance and Posh to fuck up at home to Carlisle by sneaking a point...!!!

3-1. Att: 7,936 (430 away)

Low attendance predictions I reckon at least 8.5k. We'll probably win and Peterborough wont which will keep it  boringly interesting for another few days

We will win handsome stylee and boro will fuck it up....like I've been saying all season....trust in chuckles...

2-1 defeat.

We'll win today. Unfortunately I think Peterborough will as well.

Just put Peterborough in my accumulator and then remembered I'm not supposed to want them to win.

I guess that's means i think ourselves and Posh will both win.

Resounding win 3-0.  9765 in attendance with 326 from oop north.

Smith, Smith and Smith

I'm more confident that we can defend against Bradfords big men than previously,so 3-0 Town with Gladwin off the mark and a Smith brace. 8772 with 207 visitors COYR

Looking forward to this one. We've shown some bottle in the last few weeks hopefully it continues. Whenever I think of Bradford I remember them coming down here on a Friday night in 77 or 78 with Downsborough in goal. He played a blinder, they won 1-0 and he got chaired off the pitch by the Town End.
I hope raffa gets a decent reception.
I'm going for a 2-1 win with Smith shoving it up a few arses

Funniest thing I've seen in days, and now I have coffee down my jumper, cheers Flash.

 2-0 Smith and Luongo

My son's first game. If we lose, it's his fault.

Difficult one this. Hopefully they'll have been on the piss now they are mathematically safe with nothing to play for!

I can't see Posh stuffing up anyway, but it would be nice to take the season into the last 2 games.
I proclaimed our season over quite a while ago, so to take it this far is a fantastic effort.

3-0 (LUONGO,BYRNE,STEPHENS)-in which case I will be a millionaire!

Foderingham, Thompson N , Stephens, Archibald-Henville, Branco, McEveley, Cox, Luongo, Pritchard, Smith, Storey

subs: Belford, Ward, Barthram, Gladwin, Barker, N'Guessan, Waldon

3-5-2 then I guess, surprised Troy is up for 2 games in 4 days and that Gladwin is dropped

No Byrne whatsoever?

They think he could be injured.

shit

Encouraging though  :nod:

With award on the bench, don 't think they expect Troy to last the 90 mins.

I think Cooper sees this as a massively important game - Win and keep the pressure on. Anything else and season over.

Therefore risk Troy and hope we are a couple of goals up in the second half and can bring him off for Ward.

Stick N'Guessan on the bench if we need to chase the game and tell Storey to run like the wind and give it 45 mins at full pelt perhaps?

Any sign of Redjed?

You are fucking obsessed.

It was a joke, honestly because i take things to seriously. :)

This is serious, no really, 2-0 Pritchard and Luongo 7801 with 231 northern monkeys, three whippets and 687 pigeons

brilliant hockers!

Posh 1-0 Carlisle....bugger.

p'boro 1-0 up

Well that's fucked that up :) Pox 1 nil down

RIP our season

COME ON Carlisle for the sake of fuck.

Rovers lost 2-1 at home too....Skrill Premier looms large at the Mem!

unfortunately the cobbs are 1 down at home to pompy, shame, really don't want to see northampton fall out of the league

Very ploddy at the moment.

sounds the dullest game ever

Sounds like Bradford have set up a formation not to lose.

Don't worry - their last game's against Oxford.... :D

certainly have. Can't find a way through. The have a big old unit up front and reasonably on break but we look impotent other than the odd storey break and set piece.

 :zzz:

It does sound like a set piece will be our best chance of a goal.

And yes Jonathan Stead is a big old unit up front.

It looks like Moyes' days are numbered

Hockers hates blades and coloured boots.Fair play!

TBF against Brentford several players where slipping and sliding about, I am pretty sure they were wearing blades and not studs.

Half time, sounds a bit dull but with most of the good play being from us even though Foders did make a couple of saves fairly early but we finished stronger.

Up against 9 defenders it sounds.

It's not the best afternoon all round so far

Pretty poor half. Slow build up no urgency. Can understand not wanting to do anything silly though. Needs upping or changing  at half time.

Minus one near post save from a semi-direct free kick, we've dominated posession and chances.  Branco is a fucking brick wall who just rebounds any attacks trying to go through him, and I've been impressed with his passing too. Storey has run his nuts off, his crossing has improved a lot. All a matter of time really. Had a taste of the anti-Smith booboys with a pass rebounding 10ft off his ankle met with derision, followed not 5mins later by Pritch doing the same thing to nary a sound.

Lots of possession. But not much in the final third imho

Would agree batch. Pissing it down now, blowing into Bradfords faces so that's a bonus.

Massive hailstones here and it now looks like a river is running down the road. Presumably not as bad in Swindon?

Not a cloud in the sky and 19 degrees here still in Somerset.

Much better. Plus peacock man is back in the town end.

We sound all over them.

Posh 2 up.

fucksticks

Torkey now 2-1 up at Ex.

Both posh centre backs on yellows.

Yeeessssss

1-0 Cox!

Carlisle get one back

Now come on Carlisle!!!

Carlisle pulled one back as well.

COXSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

COME ON CARLISLE!!

Yay for us, btw.

Think Cox was about to come off!

Southend 1 up  :)

Bazza.

Barry Corrr.....again

3-1 Peterboro

Booo

bugger

Pritchard close from a free kick, saved.

Gladwin on

Fucking get in. We keep it alive. It's not over.

Luongo having his best game in a while too by the sound of it.

8,377 (299 from Bradford)

Matt Rich Tea scores his 9th of the season in his 27th game, he has done well since coming back from injury.

Quite nervous about this - Don't know why!

Mahoosive deflection tho.
His free kick going right side along with keeper, deflection putting the ball into left side of goal.
Is there a dubious goals panel for league 1  :hmmm:

Good solid result, all we can do is keep winning and getting points.

6 wins and 1 draw in the last 8 games only conceding 4 goals in the process.

Keeps the pressure on Posh even if its hugely unlikely they will drop any more points, but you never know.

Well done Swindon.

6 in 7, not bad. Who still wants Cooper sacked? :)

(other than Flash of course)

Pritchard waving. Not here for last games ?

If Posh win one of their remaining two games then it is mathematically over. I think sabotage is in order.

Stevenage relegated after losing to the shitheads

Posh away to shrews next week. It'll be all over by half time as they are gash.

I have to be honest, I thought the season was pretty much over after the loss to MKD & Wolves at home in March.

I think a lot of credit has to go to the players and manager for the turn of results since then.

I for one am proud of the way they have finished the season whether we make the play offs or not.

I am also proud of the way we've finished the season.

It's been ages since I saw us win at Notts C (about 1996, I think)...so I hope we can carry this on.

Posh have lost four of their last five away games.

Pritchard unable to play against Rotherham as he turns 21 this week and that ends his youth loan.

Pritch wont figure v rovrum as last game next week

Beat me by 1 second :D

Cooper also said Power in talks with Troys ppl over new contract

Hope he's back next season.Doubt it tho'

I would love the back 5 next season to be the same as todays, I hope Jay Mac and Troy sign on again and that Stephens comes on a season long loan. Oh, and Wes stays too.

Wes has come along leaps and bounds this season and is up there with Digby as one of the best keepers I have seen at Swindon.

Branco also impressed me a lot, he is raw but not much gets past him.

Nathan is Nathan....always solid and hardly ever stand out good but he very very rarely lets the team down, ever.

They had a crowd of just 5,921 today, thats a bit shit for a team in the play offs.

*Currently ;)

Strange game, fully deserved to win, shit first half but at least we injected a bit of pace into it after the break, and they looked quite poor.  Branco voted man of match, might not have agreed with that one!

I like your thinking!

Branco MOM for me.

Crappy game really. Can we play any slower?

JMac would/should have been booked again late on and therefore sent off if the ref hadn't realised he had just missed a bad foul on Thompson.

Cox was just about to be hauled off for Gladwin 30 secs before he scored.

Thought Smith did OK today, touch was a bit better and he does put some effort in. Had 3 shots on target I think albeit quite powder puff.

Good to see Troy play 2 games in 4 days and play well, too. Got to keep him.

Things do look good for next season.

That had all the hallmarks of an end of season game. The first half was pretty even but we dominated the 2nd. JMac was MOM for me although Branco had a good game.
Their no 10 was about 100 but he is exactly the type of player we need next season.
Good goal by Cox.
We really need to get Stephens on board ASAP. A couple of his runs today were classic Calderwood.

Ownership battle and consequences pending   >:(

Congrats must go to our yellow friends 5 points off a play off place with 6 points to play for. Top of the league and you fucked it up. Their forum is a great read.

Who was that lard ass playing for them before being subbed at half time?

BTW good to see RDV getting a good send off when he was subbed

Nathan Doyle.

Never heard of him (until now, of course)

Almost like that fella who plays for Luton

That's becoming a Pox tradition

Long may it continue

Methodical, slow game of chess in the first half. Too slow. Bradford too difficult to break down.

More pace and purpose second half, and a deserved win as Bradford created nothing. We at least tried to win it.

MoM for me was J-Mac. Pritchard was bright too, but not devastating. Storey did OK, put in a few good crosses. Smith was Smith, but at least he has someone to aim a few flick ons towards. Not sure whats happened to Luongo. Don't get me wrong, he had a few flashes of early season form, but  no longer seems to influence games in the way he did. Cox did OK. Well taken goal. Back 4 very solid really.

Playoffs just out of reach. Shame, but a lot better than expected. Also pleased the team kept going at the end of the season when most (me) had written it off in March.

Rovers and Oxford - mwhahahahahaha. Also got an interesting day to look forward to at work tomorrow - the Birmingham City fan that sits next to me will not be happy bunny. St Andrews next season anyone, wouldn't write it off..

Post of the day ...... :)
Bottlers history repeats again, again and again.

Luongo dictated the game today.

Not to my eyes, but we'll just have to disagree.

To be fair, I always thought Wilder was doing a good job keeping them out the playoffs. Now it seems the new bloke is even better, plus Wilder can stuff them up in the last game of the season :)

In that every time he got the ball all the pace left our attacks.

In that he made sure we retain possession so we could work the openings

I said at half-time that he got into some decent positions but the Luongo of early season would have taken one touch and shot, now he doesn't seem to have the confidence to do that - he scored some pretty spectacular goals early season.

Hocks said he was his favourite swindon player.

Whilst we kept the ball well runs were being made throughout where an early ball could have created a chance. We were just very slow, never looked like conceding and had a much better second half and deserved the win. I know nguesson is out of favour but christ watching how pissed off cooper was getting with smith wants he got to do to get back in the side? You can't keep critisizing the striker for poor hold up play when you have you a decent replacement on the bench.

Massive shame about Peterborough, praying for a Shrewsbury miracle but it will be just that. They are basically gone and I think we may struggle against a decent notts county side next week who win a lot at home. £15 on pboro today returned £50. Will do the same next week to tempt fate.

One last point, I see Sam morshead praising Stephens for a mom performance. Is it just me that thought he was very wasteful today and had lots of passes intercepted?

Mass has played 51 games this season, I think he can be excused for suffering a drop in form!

Thought he was very good and brought the ball out well. He did lose possession a couple of times but if you measured how far he went with the ball I'd guess no central defender would get near his stats today.   

Agreed. He looked like he had been given a job to do today, but one probably better suited to someone like Kasim, Gladwin, or Cox.

He had a dodgy first half today by his usual high standards, making a few stray passes (straight to opponents). He was a lot better in the second half.

Far too slow in the 1st half, possession is good but without any penetration its pointless. Luongo was a culprit for slowing the game down to walking pace at times.

We look such a better side when we play with a bit of tempo.

Thought we played the game well today, yes the overall game seemed to be quite slow but we did what we needed and broke them down when it mattered. They didn't offer a lot and I felt we were good value for the 3 points. So 4 points the gap with 6 left to play for...can we?! Thought the back 5 were quality again today - good to hear Power talking to Troy's representatives re: staying on, hopefully Stephens/Jay Mac will come back as well - so potentially some solid groundwork going into next season, wherever we end up. Cox took the goal well and pleased for Raffa and the ovation he got when subbed.

Jesus Christ, what bookies do you go to??

Bit surprised that more was not made of the fact that this was Pritchard's last home game as I would have thought that we are not likely to see him in a Swindon shirt next season and imho deserved some sort of reaction from the crowd.

  :ty:

Even though he cannot play, I'm pretty sure he'll be in the crowd.

Went to ladbrokes by moonrakers couldn't tell you the odds but was on their Easter Monday quick slip. £15 stake £51 returns.

Edit. Just used a bet calculator and for the above worked out at odds of 12/5

And will still be paraded to the crowd with the lap of honour. As long as people keep off the pitch, I miss the end of season run past stewards.

I have decided to go to the Rotherham game. As a DRS veteran, shall I go in the Town End for a bit of late 80's nostalgia?  :sherlock:

Was that just a single bet on Posh? Because that's 2.5/1 for a team in 6th to beat a team in the relegation zone at home!!! An absolutely phenomenal bet if you backed them at that price!!

Apologies if I'm a bit slow catching up, but why is this his last game, and not the Rotherham game?

Correct. I did a £5 5 team acc and then a £15 single on boro. Didn't look at the odds because I didn't care it was a bet where if I lost I would have been happy for town. I was extremely surprised to see the returns. My acc would return 3.5k so I knew that didn't win

he's on a youth loan and hits puberty before the last home game. Or maybe it was he turns 21. One or the other.

Don't think he got a reaction as nobody realised why he was clapping and waiving... Hell be there for Rotherham, surely.

Ah, OK, news to me. We thought it looked like he was waving goodbye as well, but couldn't work out why ("Maybe he picked up another yellow we didn't see and he's banned again" was the most popular vote!), that explains it. Cheers chaps

I thought Branco and McEveley were bloody class today. JMac seems to pop up all over the place at the moment but to good effect. Stephens always looks composed on the ball and usually makes the right choice when using the ball. Pleased for Cox, Luongo looked back to his best today and Smith had a better game as well.

You know what...those odds are stupid and iv a feeling I may have done the slip where its a win and both teams to score!  :D...By accident.

Ha ha, that seems far more likely!! Not that I was calling you a liar, just gutted that I hadn't put my life savings on Posh at that price!!!

That sounds about right for a Posh win & btts, a straight Posh win was around about 7/10

Thank god Hereford won and Brighton drew otherwise id have been celebrating £3.5k until I got to the bookies desk. Must pay more attention!

Couldn't of asked more...needed a win and got one!

His 21st birthday is the day of the Rotherham game.

I can't agree. the first half was a sleep fest. second half slightly better with a goal.
 whilst we have had a good run of results of late, for me, nothing as changed. Someone said earlier that midfield dominance is futile if there is no end product. my last game as a season ticket holder a week Saturday.
Sad day.

Your loss.

Not sure why you feel the need to remind us that you aren't renewing your season ticket at every opportunity.

I don't like Cooper that much...just thought I would let you know! ;)

I think he feels the need to justify it to himself. I have no idea why?!

It really isn't sad at all. I haven't held an ST since we got relegated and me + 2 mates have bought for next year.

Are you also a closet West Ham fan who prefers to watch a pretty style of football over a proven succesfull style?

If there are less douche bags at the CG next season surely it's a happy day?

[quo author=THE te author=THE FLASH link=topic=54218.msg1266617#msg1266617 date=1398150806]
I don't like Cooper that much...just thought I would let you know! ;)
[/quote]

Eh?

I saw our performance as dominant, not a snooze-fest.

Okay, we weren't as decisive in the final third as we could have been, but that's what happens when you're playing a team with 11 men behind the ball and whose centre backs and forwards seem to be chosen for size over any other qualities.

If we play like that next year, with a proper pre-season for our signings/loan players, then we'll be going up.

Oh and sorry to pick another flaw in your post 'inept and crass' but... nothings changed?? What about the clean sheets, the general huge improvement in defensive play? That's quite a significant shift from knowing we'd concede to actually looking like a team who won't let too many goals in.

It wasn't a great fist-half, at least until the last five minutes.  The second was certainly better, but I was sorry that once again, aftr the goal was scored, there was a feeling of 'foot off the pedal' and contain.  That Bradford had littel to offer to take advantage of that was just fortunate.  Having said that, I thought there were a number of impressive performances...Branco especially, alongside Troy and Stephens; and Pritchard was almost everywhere (even in other's space occasionally!!)  Smith and Storey occasionally gave indications they could work together, but it did seem that there were issues (maybe just of experience?), in that they just were not expecting through balls  Storey on the ball looks good, but maybe just not quite anticipating openings?

But overall, it was more positive than negative, and Bradford set out to stop creativity.....do wonder about our creativity without Pritchard....

I too thought Jay Mac had a good game, however it's odd that some people are happy to overlook the fact that he talked himself into another booking yet are very quick to criticise Pritchard when he does the same.

He should have picked up a 2nd booking and a sending off for a dreadful foul. The only thing that saved him was the ref realising he had missed a bad foul on Nathan Thompson a few second before.

I saw people saying JMac was everywhere. One of the articles suggested he was switching between left back and defensive midfield suggesting a more fluid way of playing!

I have got to say how ordinary Jon Stead was yesterday for Bradford. And to think Shitty were paying him 10k a week...

He was playing on the wing and upfront in the middle too, he and Nath both constantly found their way into the box. Playing with the three centrebacks helps make this possible as both Branco and Stephens could edge outwards and cover the full-back positions if the ball broke. Branco proved extremely adept at this, there was one moment in the second half Bradford were pretty much clear for an attack, except their winger ran into Branco and he just stood up and stopped them dead whilst barely moving, was hilarious.

His 2nd appearance at the county ground this season as well. looked full of running for oldham but not a lot else

Apart from setting up the winner and nearly scoring with his first touch after coming on as sub. :-) He looked more dangerous for Oldham than he did Saturday thankfully!

Disclaimer: I only know the latter as my Oldham supporting mate told me.

He played very narrow, really as a defensive midfielder but since Cox was covering he had a bit of freedom to get forward. It was a bit limiting denying Town width when it was really needed higher up the pitch. It was part of the reason why the first half was so slow, as Mass kept having to look for balls back inside rather than open up the flank. Smith dropped out there a few times to offer the option.

Perhaps Pritchard was meant to be there at first but Cooper seemed happy with it though.

Who gives a fuck what he thinks.

:cry:
    :smugfu:

I can't be fucked to trawl back through...did I read that we were in discussions with TAH/his big booty bitches over a new contract?

Sign JMAC up too!

Coopers post match interview mentioned the chairman talking with Troys " people "
Whether thats his agent or big booty bitches who knows
 :hmmm:

 8)

Bit racist.

How the fuck is that a bit racist ??

Troy's "people."

Ban this racist now.

Meh

:-\

Racism will not be tolerated on this forum. Consider yourself warned.

soapy tit wank

Fuck me if you think that was racist you really need to get out more or take some diversity training

http://trutube.tv/video/2980/Rescue-Me-Sensitivity-Class-Diversity-Training-ONLY-Whites-can-be-racists-PC-BS

W
O
O
O
O
S
H

It's such a shame that racism still exists in modern Britain. Sadly, with people like wooly around, it may never be completely eradicated.

Wassup  me whities. Good afternoon and salutations to everyone else.

We can do our bit, though. We can wear a T-Shirt with 'Kick It Out' on...that should stop it..

Racism denial at it's very worst.. Next you'll be saying you're not racist because you have a black friend.

Yeah wooly  :cunty:

Called Graham.

Black man Graham?

I take it Wooly has been outed as a racist.

Twas never a secret  ::)