Thetownend.com

Another tough game up North. Would probably take a draw but we really need 4 points from our next 2 games imo. Fair play to however goes tonight.
2-2 with goals from Williams and Smith. COYR.

I don't mind if we lose tonight, just as long as nobody in the crowd gets hit by a ball. It's the biggest threat facing football today.

A good test for us tonight.  Oldham are no mugs and will be miffed that Bradford leapfrogged them last night.  

A repeat of the 2012 scoreline would be good.  I was at that one and remember Rafa's double well.  


[Edit: Can a Mod merge this with the other Matchday thread, please?  Ta!]

Really tough game tonight. Would be more than happy with a draw.

1-1 (Luongo)

A 1-0 victory.

Really stick the boot into Franchise

0-3

And watch the fuckers crumble

Would be happy with a draw, but obviously over the moon with a win - 2-2 draw I reckon.

 Assuming, as far, as we know everyone is available then Cooper has got a very difficult call to make regards team selection.

 I would say this is probably the most difficult game we've had so far this season....no doubt Boundary Park will be a mud heap, similar to Valley Parade, and Latics are no mugs.  They had a horrible dip in form a few weeks back. but have got back on track.

 They showed at the CG, they know how to counter our style, so if we did manage a point, then it would be a massive indicator for the final third of season.

tough one this, would be happy with a draw

Happily take a draw from this.

I'll take a point, although opening a 4 point gap over franchise would be fooking lovely.

3-0 Town.
Screw you Oldham.

I will be in attendance tonight so hoping for a decent performance and a sneaky 2 - 1 win

Sorry if I am being ignorant to anything but did we ever find out what happened to Shaw Rosso? hope everything is fine

I don`t believe we will lose this - so will keep the faith and predict  1-2 - Williams to regain his touch

1-2 Smith and Luongo.

Getting proper pre-match nerves for this one.

0-4 four goals from our starting strike pairing of Smith and Hylton to go top of the league, COYR STFC

Likewise. I just want Town to go up is all!

I have spent many a freezing cold night at Boundary Park but sadly have managed to miss out on most of our occasional triumphs there. Can't make it again tonight so hope that that signals a 3-1 win wit Massimo, Williams and Obika getting the goals

Very nervous. A win would be a fantastic indicator that we mean business. I hope we return to two up top. Playing two out and our strikers is one of our best features, I think. Who's left from the midfield, I'm not sure. My gut says Swift but he set up one and won a penalty at the weekend, so he's very difficult to leave out.

I also wonder whether its worth playing Gladwin ahead of Byrne, just to give the latter a timely kick up the backside and help him rediscover his early season form. I say that without much knowledge of Oldham or their left back, so we'll see.

Always play Byrne

Ditto

Can't drop Byrne, hes probably our most consistant quality performer this season overall.

Yeah POTY will be Interesting, whatever happens the rest of the season, must be 6 or 7 in with a valid shout, which makes a nice change!

I agree with dropping Byrne. Has looked in need of a rest for the last 6 or 7 games imo. It's not as if we don't have the quality to come in & I think it'll do him the world of good.

I hadn't though of it but yes depending on how the rest of the season goes Byrne, Kas, Mass, Willo must all be in with a great shout of it, with several other in the running like both Thompsons, Turnbull and Stephens as well and due to their age anyone could get young POTY also....although for experience alone it could well go to Gladwin.

I'd say Turnbull has been our most consistent performer, considering he had never played a league game at the start of the season, id be tempted to say him.

He's been frustrating in that his final ball is often poor, but he scares the hell out of opposing defenders with his running, which in turn creates opportunities for others. I'd never drop him.

“@Official_STFC: Town starting XI: Foderingham (C), Branco, Stephens, Turnbull, Gladwin, Kasim, Thompson L, Luongo, Toffolo, Obika, Smith #STFC”

“@Official_STFC: Subs: Belford, Barthram, Rodgers, Swift, Hylton, Williams #STFC”

No Nat Thompson then. I would have guessed he'd drop Swift for this game but Williams is a shock.

Can we now drop the assumption that we have to play Swift?

Shall I listen to the radio coverage or dip in and out of here?  :hmmm:

Is Byrne injured then?

Byrne is ill.
I wonder if Williams refusing to shake Coopers hand after he was subbed Saturday has anything to do with him being dropped.

Who spread that shit in the first place?

Take a wild guess.

That's bollocks. Any player worth his salt shouldn't be happy being subbed

would hope not

I think so.

Shame about Willo, for me Smith and Obika are too similar. Maybe he's fatigued/carrying a minor knock. He's on the bench, so that's good.

Gone for a bit of height for this one then. Seems a good idea.

Distinct lack of defensive cover on the bench. 2 out has left us a bit bare If we get an in game Injury.

1-2 Smith & Luongo.

Fuck me it's cold decent pitch though unlike bradfords last night

Shock..

2-3 us - 90th min winner by Obika!

Only 6 on the bench  :doh:

You don't shouldnt show it in that manner though but i highly doubt it had any effect of tonight's lineup. Back in PDCs day that would have made you an outcast only worthy of training with the yoofs

I'm am in total shock that Swift isn't starting though after Chang's exclusive, I might have to start doubting the fella now

Imagine the Australian media if it turns out Luongo isn't even our best player this year.

Player has always been OK for me. Tonight it's like there's a grasshopper stuck in the speaker.

shit as usual for me

Chesterfield down to 10 men after 2 mins v PNE

Sorry fellas.  If it goes badly tonight, all my fault.  Just opened a bottle of this without thinking.

(http://theguestale.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Oxford-Gold2.jpg)

Don't think it's a drama, but it shows how thin we are at the back. Is Rodgers injured, or he is completely out of the picture?

You are the exception to the rule then, Player is always shit for me, and tonight...it is excelling itself in shitness.

Branco booked already.

I refused to buy that down the pub, I don't care how nice it is.

Sheff U 1 up

You tool

Not liking the sound of things so far. Will be very happy with a draw!

Oh. I had HOME MADE stew earlier. Twice.

Oxford Comedy Gold?

Matt Ritchie 1 Derby 0.

Good work on the stew BR.

FFS.

cuntsticks

Balls

Oh FFS. Fucking fuckwits.

EAT MORE STEW BR. EAT MORE.

Yeah, not good

Shit

Doh!

2-0

2-0.

Opps.

Game over

What on earth

Goodnight

well done Ardiles, I hope you're proud of yourself

Where's that twat with his Oxford Brew?

ooop

Why didn't we play 6 in the middle :)

Oh twatsticks. 0-2

Get the subs on now.

for fuck's sake Ardiles

Oh.

Wake up you fucking fucks. Wake up.

I've been obsessive about banning yellow/blue child clothing combinations for my boys since birth...and can't quite believe I let this one through the net.  In my defence, the bottle came as part of a selection box of 12 from CostCo.  Could never have known.

Heads up, one goal and we're back in this (maybe)

Well at least we have plenty of time to get back into this

They would appear to have quite literally caught us cold.

I blame Branco

I'd probably settle for a point now

More like Luongo

I'm going to come back to this at half 9.

Well that Luongo's a bit shit isn't he.

Lambourn, got any comments about what is going on?

If he takes the time to bother answering this then it's not a good sign

Those city cunts will be loving this.  :crash:

Otib says nothing to shout about in their match, not much created

Wtf...just gone on bbc website......

Plymouth all over again....

phew...nearly 3

Disallowed for offside.

Can we wake up please??

Shambles tonight by the sound of it.

We need to wake up or it could be Cheltenham again.

I need another thatchers.

There will be another 3 goals  ;)

Garner puts Preston one up

We've been behind before but always asserted ourselves. That doesn't seem to be happening tonight. Something isn't clicking. Yet.

preston one nil up playing ten men this would close the gap to us

Can't see this being another Fleetwood

Peterborough are losing, hope they do, their chairman is usually good value entertainment

What a shit start

Bristol 1-0

williams to shake it up 2nd half ?

How many corners have we had now?

Sounds an electric atmosphere.

Better last 10, not heard much of Luongo tonight.

Good lord Oldham coms are boring. If only Wilts coms didn't keep on cutting up as per usual.

Come on!!!!!!!

Got me excited there.

Sound pants

Well, needless to say, shit half.

Bring on Willo.

Seconded.

COME ON

Sounded poor, very poor at the back early on but came back into it the last 15 mins.

Get Swift on as well. We need to make something happen.

Fucking hell town that was 45 mins of shite,bring on willo

It seems to me that when there is a slip up from one of our rivals, we in turn slip up.

Who for. Sounds like Gladwin is the pick of the midfielders. Mas?

wish people wouldn't keep going on about Luongo winning pott-does not mean shit!

Gladwin playing wing back. But agree that Swift should come on.

Absolutely dreadful. A few blaming Luongo and Kasim, but for me they've done alright along with Gladwin. The front two have failed to hold the ball up and I'd get Williams on for Obika ASAP. Branco had a shocker for 20 minutes.

The first goal looked to have a huge offside in the build up but maybe I missed something?

The worry is the more we have to go for it the more likely we are to be picked off the way we're defending. Can't see us not conceding unfortunately.

Sam Parkin thought there was an offside too.

This season even though we might be down at half time, I've got some confidence that Mark Cooper is able to react, and however bad the first half we may get a point or even a win. Let's hope for a goal in the first ten and we may be listening a different game.

My prediction 5-0 and Branco to be sent off.

Surely we have to change something ?

Surely Williams and Swift will come on soon?

Ta-daaa.

There we go

According to bbc stats

Possession 50/50
Shots 12-6 to us
Corners 9-2 to us

Crowd 3,430 (233)

According to the radio comms:

Them: Threatening Us: Impotent

Finally andy's on

2-0 city. Terrible night.

Yes Luongo!

Game on!!!!!

Luoooooooooooongggggggggggggggoooooooooooooooooo!

Game on

Cmon boys cmon

Kassim off
Swift On.

Attack, Attack, Attack Attack Attack.

Going for it. Come on!

Get innnn!!! DU DU DU MASSIMO LUONGO

POTT

COME ON YOU REDS!!!!!!

Blancmange

Turning the screw.....

Oldham are a tough nut

Come on lads don't lose this.

Time for the boy wonder?

 ;

Come on, come on...Not enough attacking for my liking.

4 bookings as well. We're a dirty bunch aren't we!

COME ON TOWN, GO FOR IT!

Here he comes for Smith

Sounds end to end

no pressure but hylton needs to score at least 2 or hes out

@SamMorshead_: Big chance missed by Williams. Toffolo's excellent cross, Williams somehow heads it backwards unmarked, six yards out

If we got a penalty would Luongo take it?

time is running out :( Just going to have to accept Oldham have a team we can't deal with for whatever reason.

The Vale fightback is on

COME ON LADS . . .

Tapioca

got me excited for a minute

Oxford concede in the last minute.

Every cloud..

@SamMorshead_: Huge chance again. Gorgeous flick from Branco to tee up Toffolo, his 10-yard drive is superbly saved by Kean

Arrggghhh. Come on!!

Last chance

4 minutes added.

It's just not going to happen is it.

Fuck fuck fuck

FFS COME ON TOWN

2 stupid minutes have cost us today, shame.

Poo

Between us and franchise for one place - nothing has really changed

FT: Load of bollocks!

Positives - at least we didn't get thumped in the end. We are still second.
Negatives - Everything else. Preston are back in it (if they were ever out). We've taken 3/9 points.

Hey ho. Onwards. Bring on Scunthorpe, another tricky away day.

Balls.

2 defeats in 3. Let's not make this a blip on Saturday!

You are not gonna win every game, as the other 2 have found out at different times.  All 3 of us will lose games, and losing away to Sheff U and Oldham is no disgrace.

Chance to go 4 points ahead of the Franchise .. 2 fucked up minutes gave away the game

We were bound to have a blip at some point...

Let's just hope that's all it is... Losing and staying second on the same amount of games as 3rd is a big plus.

Just noticed City have Sheff U Saturday, but its at Trashton so I'm not expecting much.

Missed opportunity etc etc etc

Onwards to scunny on Saturday, see you bastards there.

3 defeats in 4 would not be good at all, big game

Scunny away is not the game I'd want next after a bad couple of Northern matches, but there it is.

Sounds like we were a shambles at the back in the first half and left too much to do on the second.

City's title to lose really but promotion very much still in play. Nothing settled in February.

Must win  :)

Hope NT is fit again.

Bad day at the office
Only worrying point with Williams missing that header from 6 yards  ( on top of his performance saturday ) is that all 3 main strikers seem to be out of touch

Oh well

Give hylton a start on Saturday?

Still 2nd so no major panic yet. City will win the league I have always said that. Only annoying thing tonight was Preston winning to close to within 4 points.

Really need to win on Saturday now.

 This was always our most difficult game so far this season, and so it proved....it's now that things start to get a grind, tired bodies and minds, shit pitches etc.

 This needn't be terminal, but a repeat at Scunny would be a big worry.

(http://i.imgur.com/9RHRBN0.gif)

Yeah I mean, say MK lose too, we'd still be 2nd....

Tragic.

So 3 losses out of 4 wouldn't be a worry?

Admittedly 3 tricky away games to put it in context. I'd be worried if we didn't pick up significantly after Saturday.
---
Smith + Willo to start Sat for me.

The first 11 minutes cost us really. Deservedly 2 down at the break but came out and were all over them, pulling one back. Luongo and Gladwin were particularly good. We created plenty throughout the second half but nothing really came off. The biggest thing now is to get 3 points on Saturday and hold on to 2nd.

Franchise have a tough March and shitty have a tough April. This is going to the wire imo

Disappointing, especially after Franchise dropped points last night and Preston appearing to have turned a corner.

Saturday won't be easy either.  If we lose 3 away games on the bounce, it will be a concern.

Will be interesting to see who Cooper starts on Saturday as well.  Williams might have not been at his best Saturday, but for me he's the most likely to score and should be starting.  

Usually does. As long as we are in the mix I'll be happy. I'm confident about our massive April.

Disappointing, that is all.

Hope Nathan is back saturday to steady the ship in defence and give branco a rest. Restore Willo up front

Coops (paraphrased):

- Got caught cold, didn't start properly, got punished for it.
- For the last 15 of 1st half and second half that was the best we played this season. Too late, we'd given them a 2-0 head start and wasted 30 minutes. Can't explain why.
- Have to be better, can't give ball away that cheaply after 1st goal for second.
- Always confident - mentions Willo's header - got to put those in
- Smith and Obika? Patchy at the moment. Got 4 decent strikers. Which ever we pick has to be at it. Hylton pick of bunch, you worry 'is he ready' but my only regret is I didn't put him on sooner.....
- Went back to two up front, .....big pause......thought we could create with two up front like we have all season.
- Byrne ill, NT relapse of dead leg. Both expected back Saturday,
- Does not feel pressure from 2 defeats in 3, not after the 60 minutes we played.
- Need to keep level headed in defeat and victory.
- Jermaine has played himself into contention for Saturday.

Great for Jermaine..

Healthy to have lot's of competition, especially upfront.

He sounded lively.

Swindon....Bubble....Burst....PNE....Going Up.

We'd be even closer if we hadn't kicked your sorry ass earlier this year.

First 20 minutes, abysmal. Other than that you would've been hard pushed to say we didn't deserve something from the game.

Opening goal came from our throw on halfway and a ball over the top into the space vacated by Turnbull for the throw. Stephens was claiming offside afterwards but to no avail. You've probably heard the second. It was as bad as it sounded.

We couldn't hold the ball up first half and second half we missed a couple of gilt edged chances. They could and probably should've hit us on the break.

Similarly to Fleetwood, I thought our football would come good in the end but the head start they were given was insurmountable. Oldham defended well, sat in and wasted time from around 30 mins, which is understandable.

Scunthorpe is a big game now, can't imagine as many having off-days again?! Will be a good indicator of our promotion credentials.

Gladwin faded badly second half (still not fully fit), Luongo came into the game more after a disappointing first half and the two strikers were awful before the break but played much better in the second.

Williams/Stephens were pretty annoyed at FT, which was pleasing to see.

Fuck me, did Preston win? Must be months since you won a game. Well done.

Is that nurse calling?

Minor blip, every team has one at some point.

We know this team has pure quality throughout, there's no need to worry.

Sounds like she's just sat Thor down on a commode and he's squeezing out a constipated crap....

Thor...like....beans

Fuck me that was cold I thought I was witnessing another Cheltenham but once we calmed the fuck down we took control and should have got a point
Smith and obkia were shit and Hylton looked more threatening than both of them together

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Oldham fans very complimentary on their forum with most saying we are the best side they have faced this season.

Shame we had an abysmal first 20

For anyone who is interested there were 233 Town fans last night, after sleeping on it I still can't work out how we lost last night we just need to be more clinical around the edge of the box. The other thing is we had 12 corners and at no point did we threaten  the goalkeeper with any of them.

If we are to become a real threat again, Smith and Obika need to rediscover a way to get themselves back onto the scoresheet regularly.

Just reading through the Oldham forum, they are very good winners, giving us a lot of credit. I'm only on page 2/5 but its making me feel better about the defeat -

'they are as good a side as I have seen this season and the number 4 was utter quality.' is the highlight so far.

(http://www.badgeshed.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Whos-pissed-on-your-chips.jpg)

Batch pissed on yours :)

Must be some mistake.  :hmmm:   According to those clowns on OTIB, fans on every other League 1 club's forum share their view that we are just a bunch of dirty cheats.  

Not one comment about us going down easily although a couple did say Branco should have been sent off.

Hopefully a fresh Nathan Thompson and Byrne back on Saturday

Read the Oldham fan's view on Wurzel Web, under 'Swindon reputation'. Critical of our players attitudes

Generous bunch on the Oldham forum. Worth sharing a few of the comments for those who don't have the patience to go there. Galling though it is to have that praise when we lost.


At least someone is bringing a bit of perspective:

 Froggy's post kind of sums up where we are atm....at this time of year, you don't get points for artistic merit, and Div 3 is a hard old slog....which is why traditionally it's the direct teams like a Grayson led side, or the 82ers, who stay the course.

 However, I'm all for what we've been doing this season, it's going to be risky, as we give the opposition a chance, but nevertheless great fun....may well end in tears, but when you consider we've a smaller playing budget than the likes of Oxford, only just out of non league, gives it some sort of perspective.

Based off the radio comms, I thought Cooper was  a bit mental claiming we had played the best football this season for 60 minutes. And that may have been an exaggeration but its great to see so many Oldham compliments.

Losing to Sheff U and Oldham isn't great, perhaps you need to find a way to get a few points from tough games like that, but in my opinion keep the performances good and the results will come.
No need to change anything just yet on the back of two (potentially three) winless away games.

I too am shocked, the commentators didn't exactly say we were even playing well let alone the best we have played in patches. This does prove it is so bloody difficult to gauge how we are playing from the commentary alone which at times we are unable to tell if it is us or the opponents that are even attacking.

Just watched the highlights on youtube.

legendary flick by Branco and a great save to keep it at 2-1 by the Oldham keeper.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjghtgNyy8Q

Quite. I can't listen to the commentary, it's become too frustrating. Half the time I don't know where the ball is on the pitch, which team has it or even if someone's scored. It's often as though they're commentating for people who can see what's going on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2PkfxagEdU

Better highlight wi'out t'commenters and a couple more of our chances.

I think a few people need to look at the league table

Yeah we've had a couple of tricky away games where we came up a little short. It happens. I wouldn't even be over worried if we lost at scunny tbh.

Need to start taking chances, Franchise is the only game I can think of that we've lost this season where we haven't missed a hatful of chances.

Should have been 3 or 4 up at half time at Franchise.

I'd be worried if we were just playing shite - but we're not.

Based on press/fan coverage, I remain quite positive about our chances vs Scunthorpe.  Let's hope we get a reaction to the disappointment.

New ground for me on Saturday.  Feeling quite buzzy about that alone (even if it is stuck on a retail park next to a motorway junction).

We've a few around the squad, who should know how difficult Scunny is....namely Luongo, Byrne, Wes, and Williams....with Cooper on the sidelines. All were there a couple of years ago when we go 1 up at Scunny with 7 mins to go, who are already down....win and we get Yeovil in PO's who we doubled, lose and we get Brentford who doubled us. We concede 3 in last few minutes  >:(

With just about a third of the season left, all you can say is that we're in the mix for auto, and would have to bomb Tranny style to miss the PO's

One of the few games I've been able to attend in the last few years....the players bottled it after some Scunthorpe fans invaded the pitch. Scunthorpe were relegated anyway. A memorable match thanks to the deranged Scunthorpe fan who kept trying to put a flag up near the Town fans and the police kept forcing him to take it down. He wanted to take on the Town fans on his own....

There was a bit of trouble after the match as well.

Wow, their first was proper shit - well good play from them but that throw in, jesus, and the second was even worse. Not sure if Luongo stuffed up or Branco (?) just missed it!

But the good thing is that we sort of shot ourselves in the foot, not meaning to disrespect Oldham - the finishes were good. Cut out those and we will be fine. Its not like its happening every week.

Turnbull I think it was.

Looked like a suicide backpass from Luongo.

Hopefully Cooper doesn't play Tinkerman like McDonald did the end of that season and stick with what has got you there. Will be interesting to see how he copes when the pressure is on with his first season challenging for promotion.

The set up for the re start after the first goal, at least 5 men forward of the ball and the defence push right up, seemed very sloppy. The three defenders were miles apart.

The stewards at Scunny were right knobs during the 3-3 a few seasons ago, as was their 'keeper.

Bad result at Oldham, but obviously not a bad performance overall and still creating lots of chances. I'd only start to worry if individual and collective performances were really going tits-up.

I liked Cooper's reasoned, calm and balanced comments after the game. He sounds in control.

Yeah woefully under hit pass from Mass.