Thetownend.com

I'll go for a hard fought 2-1 win for Swindon.

Rude awakening for the young lads today with Leon Clarke sure to have something to say.  Really hope im wrong and usually am but 2-0 Bury.

Cliche alert - I'd take a draw away from home

2-1 win with 438 from Town.

It is inevitable that Leon Clarke will score today.  I can't see it ending well...

From the depths of darkest Somerset, I predict a 4-1 away win to perk up my drive back to Swindon

One of Bury's twin towns is Woodbury, New Jersey, USA which was one of the first places to promote and do recycling. I thought recycle was what happened when the Tour de France ended in a draw.

Bonus points to anyone who travels through the wonderfully named Bess o' th'' Barn on the way to the game.

Branco to jump on Clarke early. 1-0 win to town. Stewart. 3,129. 327 from town.

2-0 Bury - Clarke 2

2-1 to Bury, with Clarke scoring the winner.

Draw 1-1

Draw 2-2

A draw would be a stunning result with lack of firepower....

Watching Leon Clarke walk the ball in against a non existent defence is as probable today as it was last week against Donny.We just have to score one more so 3-2 win with Obika,Kasim and Branco scoring

Apparently Smith is in the squad today.

And starts.

Town starting XI: Vigouroux, Branco, Thompson (C), Turnbull, Byrne, Williams, Kasim, Stewart, Ormonde-Ottewill, Obika, Smith #STFC

So he'll either have a blinder and we'll have to keep him or be atrocious and Barnsley will drop their interest.

 ;)

I don't know,but got Stewart 6/1 to score at any time.

Former Bury and Town man, Nicky Ajose (ever heard of him?) is in attendance.

Ajose's there today....

Lets see how lucky this black/gold away kit is

EDIT

Not very

Great start, again...

Bradshaw scores for Walsall.

Here we go again...

How often do I read 'town all over the place'.

Christ could be 2 down already

Let's hope we can hold out until half time, and then we can score four in the second half

 Should be 3 nil down by the sounds of it :cry:

I'll take a 3-4.

Ajose at the game according to Sam

dear Swindon, please stop starting matches like a bunch of cunts. love Batch. xx

smith showing why he's only worth £4.50 ;)

I wonder if Ajose is there today....

See my above post

He's mocking you Aud.

Keep up Audrey.

Am I a little slow here?

Apparently Ajose has been spotted at the game today.

Sorry Audrey couldn't resist.

Check the 3rd and 4th posts of the 2nd page.

FFS

Bury penalty. Great.

That'll teach me to come straight in and not read the previous bollocks

Missed!

Bradford repeat on the cards :hmmm:

sa,me as last week?

Cue Byrne hattrick.

Right guys, right?

Well, at least the teams playing us are missing the penalties instead of us this season.

Talks about bloody deja vu

Anyone getting a feeling of deja vu?

Not like pointing out the obvious but we have to start games better.

He has no end product.

Are you Mystic fucking Meg?

Ajose would have scored that. Anyone know where he is?

Batch - you're needed - comment on Byrne

if only we had Ajose, wonder if he is watching today?

Hockaday says we haven't turned up yet, very much deja vu

Player is so far behind (when it's working at all)

Unfortunately not where lottery results are concerned

I reckon we might sign Ajose

Millwall 3-0 down at home to Coventry

The Geordie kiddy Armstrong was a Town link not so long ago.

Booooo.

how the fuck are we not 4 down.

we should be dead and bury'd.

Same as we managed not to be last Saturday

This is awful.  The fact we're only a goal behind is a miracle in itself.  What have we been practicising in training ffs?

@Tbassam: Town's play from the back is embarrassing at the moment. #STFC

Tweeted with a wry smile, no doubt.

 :)

GET THE FUCK IN! - We had a shot on goal.

Hope Ajose isn't watching

Is Ajose there? Is he joining Bury then?
Is it deja vu all over again?

(https://33.media.tumblr.com/2dfc3369827df9b981e111d7fd8fc732/tumblr_mvemcyarmn1rslphyo1_400.gif)

lee power ‏@leepowerstfc  · 31 secs31 seconds ago 
Just told Nicky Ajose he can make a run for it now and we'll pretend nothing ever happened. #stfc

he's so funny,lee power

Sounds like the ref's a town fan.

As someone said, they need a firework up their ass before the game.  OOB is being exposed two on one time after time.  Hope Cooper sorts it out before next Tuesday's game.

Hope he sorts it half time

He's had all last season, this pre season and 3 games this season to sort it out.

Aint gonna happen, I'm afraid.

HT - that was a pile of dogshit.

So far this is an absolute disgrace

Long way to go to see a toothless performance.

Let's hope we up it second half.

We really need some sort of defensive coach added to the staff. As much as Cooper and Williams seem to enhance our attacking play, it needs another voice to urge some sort of caution.

Cooper and Power out

Sam loves calling our play 'risk and reward' football.

I can see the risk part clearly, but it outweighs the reward part as far as I'm concerned.

When it clicks, yeah it's great, but the crappy defending is a given every single game

Are we safe from relegation yet?

Batch, how is Byrne playing ?

*straw clutching

His value is going down quicker than a whore's drawers

Yet we finished 4th last season and won the opening league game by 3 goals - some might suggest that reward outweighed risk up until now, especially given our wage bill.  2.5 games into a season may be a little too soon to judge if that has shifted (regardless of how terrible we have been today so far).

Bit de ja vu for me. 1-0 down, penalty against missed. Just waking up as half ended.  FT Bury 1-2 Town  :dance:

Sam Morshead ‏@SamMorshead_  now4 seconds ago
Power and Ajose in conversation in the stands.

Not sure why there is all this hype about Ajose. He's not *that* good is he? Agreed, better than what we have at present, but, would he make us that much better?

Byrne's fine.

For the purposes of the experiment:
Obika can't hit a cows arse with a banjo + Smith may as well not be on the pitch.

Today's gate at Gigg Lane: 3,947 (439 from #STFC).

How do they survive on those gates

He gives us another attacking option. Currently we don't have many options!

Ask Crawley Town  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CMdW3JSW8AASOxa.jpg)

Changed to a 433 according to Hockaday

Tend to agree. Good player yes. Saviour of the universe, no.

Personally think we need a big battler to hold the ball up.

like urm smith :/

Oh good, Obika is injured.

Obika off injured.

Yes, I'm assuming he's leaving though.

That's why we need more strikers

Start the season with 5 strikers, 2.5 games in and down to 0

Edit:  I am including Smith's first half performance in that..

I always thought of Ajose as a replacement for Byrne when he leaves

Yes, I suppose I'd blanked out the prospect of Byrne and Kassim leaving.

Fuck

(http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa415/jhonycrow/Capturadepantalla2011-05-19alas42206.png) (http://media.photobucket.com/user/jhonycrow/media/Capturadepantalla2011-05-19alas42206.png.html)

Deary me.

2-4 then. Bring it on.

But how? Storey isn't on the bench....

Actually, its stupid he isn't, but that might have been mentioned once before. Must be contractual.

I'll take mid-table this year

Optimist, then

He hasn't got a squad number...

As an aside what does that actually mean? Is he registered for us, is it an internal/no cost thing, or what?

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure I'm ahead of Storey in the queue to play...

I assume he is not registered to play for the first team if he hasn't got a squad number?  A little like Thompson at Norwich..

Rodgers on for Stewart;  it's a cunning plan as he and Kasim are more able to keep possession

Kind of need some attacking momentum, not the chuckle brothers - to me to you.

On a brighter note, Shitty and Pox getting beaten

Yeah, I'm beginning to think that we might not win today too.

Ooh, we're playing 2 at the back now!

What a load of shite this has been.  We've clearly learned nothing defensively. Also have to agree that I'm not sure Ajose is the answer.  Obika does seem to pick up injuries fairly regularly, so Power needs to act quickly to get two strikers in really.  Not sure how feasible that is though?

At least we don't have to watch Football League Tonight.

how does anyone know ajose wont be the answer

Because we're losing and the mood is less than groovy.

2-1. Robert!

Yes, Robert.

Can we, no surely not, maybe..

Comeback is on!

He won't be the answer to fucking up in defence every game

Cunning plan is working.......

BOB!

ah yes,of course

'I like you, young Bob - you've got balls'

Cooke has just come on for Cheltnumb, they are 3 nil up

Bristol losing at home to Brentford, I can hear Cotterills' complaints already....

Coventry are looking like they mean business this year

It will be the harsh red card that did for them

esp with a red card

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!

Rogers

Told you it was game over ;)

Yay!

Rodgers!!! Yes!!

yyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeessssssss

YES!

Rodger the Dodger!!

Fucking get in!!

Cos Robert & Rodgers are the answer!!!!!!! 2-2 !!!

Lovely. Now let's get the winner (although I'd settle for the point)

Rodgers the Free Kick wizard haha

is byrne playing? havent heard his name at all.

That could have been nasty

5 mins added

The most cunningest cunning plan, and I forecast 2-2, never saw that coming in the first half.

I have to say, I;d have settled for the draw midway into the second half :)

2-2 FT

wonder if it's about to get teary for Mr Clarke

Good result.

Still unbeaten in the league and we've been so mopey.

Wasn't listening when Obika got injured, was it bad?

If so, we are virtually strikerless.

He got teary when he missed the pen

Didn't sound bad.

Talking of Leon Clarke....Must admit that I think it is a real shame the way things turned out. He, to me, looks a very good striker, but with an awful attitude, that has held him back. Real shame, as he could be very good.

Just how many clubs has he been to since he left us though?
I guess he keeps getting found out.

Has he scored against us since he left? I know he has played against us quite a few times.

Snigger, shots on target: 2

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33831820

Played really poor and still managed a draw, definitely take that.

I switched off to go and have a shower and had no idea what had happened until my husband shouted up did I know the final score. Didn't see that coming at all and would have taken a point before the game let alone three quarters of the way through.  Well done Town, good fightback, but need to stop putting ourselves in that position in the first place.

Sure he did, yeah. And then celebrated in front of the town fans..... and ended up on the losing team.

Attendance under 4000, buckets will be out for them next season if they don't go up.

Cooper doesn't have a clue about where things are re: Smith
Not sure about Obika, got a bang to the back of the foot and was too sore to continue.
Doesn't think we can afford Ajose.

Very revealing interview - NOT!

Guess Ajose was just with Power to enjoy the game then! not!

Cooper pretty much ruled out Ajose.  Said that we had been interested, but he's too expensive.

Also hinted we might have to make do with what we've got for a while.  

Thanks - I don't remember that - as long as he still lost that's ok with me!!

Cooper is so negative in these interviews

We've known he was too expensive for weeks. They have said the same thing before. If we know this he doesn't then meet up with Power at the game does he?

....or, he just plays his cards close to his chest, does Coops.

Sounds to me that Jordan Williams is no Jack Stephens in midfield and should be in defence.

Problem is, Branco has been our best CB so far so unless we plump for a back 4, Williams wont play much.

If we are persisting with 352 just to accommodate him it's madness.

How do you know he was there to meet Power?

just passing on what cooper said in the post match interview.

cooper is the master of not saying too much.
--------
there was a photo of power and Ajose talking FH, not that it answers your question.

We are too easily influenced by a good performance. Williams should be at the back instead of Branco. Traore should be in Mid instead of Williams. Simple

I know that, but if you go somewhere and and see someone you know, you're likely to chat with them.

Ajose played for bury before joining us so it's reasonable to assume he has friends playing for both teams. He probably doesn't live all that far away either.

I like Branco and he's just the easy scapegoat for many

Not quite as spectacular as your 'no end product' jibe from last week but Power won't need to buy a striker if he can rely on you at the keyboard each week.  Just steer clear of injury and keep it up!

Or maybe there's an element of Ajose showing a bit of ankle, transfer flirting goes both ways

I wouldn't be surprised if "we can't afford him" means "we want you to come but you'll have to lower your demands."

Public negotiation by press.

I'm undoubtfully happy with the resolve and result today but we could easily have lost both of our league games thus far if it wasn't for shit penalty kicks.

Are we not in any way concerned that our defensive frailties will prevent us from taking the next step? Or are we happy to just keep doing our thing?

Not a moan, just putting it out there.

no,yes,ok

Yup, that was my assumption too.

Sweet free-kick from Rodgers.

Yeah he's good at those it seems. Sounds like we were bobbins today, hey ho, time will tell if we were a good side that played poorly, or a poor side that got lucky.

I'm on holiday but apparently Ajose was at the game today.

Ajose is from Bury and started at Man United so it would be his home team and he might still live there.

What makes you say this? Was he in the stands today?

(http://i.imgur.com/8y5ABu4.gif)

Scored for Coventry and gave it the big one and we ended up winning late on and then scored for Wolves when they bummed us the other year.

 Some people enjoy getting bummed by Wolves. I prefer Foxies .

Met a mate who is a Coventry fan for a few beers tonight and he said Ricketts looked good today and has really made their defence look commanding.

Just saying.

Give it time..

We'll be fine if we can win the first half.

He'll blame Brentford's pitch...

The 82ers were comparing it to the daylight robbery at the CG last season.

Freeman's kung fu kick to get him sent off was brill.

I would happily allow Brentford to inherit BCFC's sanctimonious bleating under Cotterill from us.

Every game they've lost under SC has been a travesty.

They've always been the better team and subject to poor decisions.

Anyone see Aden Flint's slip Vs Luton on Tuesday? Poor bloke, no laughing matter.

Aden Flint, Championship quality ? I say no, no, no

Its incredibly frustrating. I think the way we set up doesn't do the defence any favours and leaves them a bit more exposed. But we should still be defending better than we have.

Its a bit unbelievable to think we aren't trying to address it behind the scenes,  but so far so bad. Its not like Turnbull, Branco and Thompson don't know each other.

Will it stop us getting to the next level, well it did last year, but its too early to say we are anywhere near that level this year.

I noticed there was some twat on OTIB earlier spouting off about Forest Green Rovers:

Surely that was tongue in cheek? Surely?

Don't think so. Also disliked Brentford for the same reason - hobby club with money thrown at them.

Oh, the irony of it!

You would hope so wouldn't you? I think he was serious though........same mentality as the ones that see all opposition players as diving cheats when a BC player gets a red card. Love is blind I suppose......

This time last year, Josh Lelan was playing for us at the back wasn't he? Yes, we may still lose a couple but this isn't the side that will see us through the season. Damage limitation through August is going fairly well....

This time last year, Josh Lelan was playing for us at the back wasn't he? Yes, we may still lose a couple but this isn't the side that will see us through the season. Damage limitation through August is going fairly well....

Year before.

Yep, spot on. Let's panic ;)

Was last season wasnt it?

I think it was last season.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Lelan

Suttonred is still pissed from the sponsors dinner

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

And proud of it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K27kAqEz7kA

The goals are up from yesterday's match, it also shows how quick from the kick off after their first goal that they should have had a second.

Even the highlights make it clear we were thrashed 2-2!

Well if you can play poorly and still get a result...something, something and so on  :hmmm:

Teams know that if they let us settle into possession, then they'll get picked off sooner or later.....so they come out of the blocks quickly press the ball, and look to get into the spaces behind our defence.  Atm, we don't have an answer for this due to the inexperience of our new boys. The pressing game is hard work though and as teams tire a bit we come back in, so no coincidence we're conceding early and scoring late.  Going to have to work out some way of countering this, as we can't keep getting out of jail.

TBH, more than a few times last season we were either brilliant first half and shite 2nd - Bradford and Chesterfield spring to mind - or the other way rou nd a la the 3 games this season.

The Coventry game is one of the few where we were v good for 90 mins.

I was thinking on similar lines yesterday?! Swindon don't do breakfast at all do they?  Same shit different day!

Sounds like a fair assessment to me.

hopefully if Eckersley does sign that will help (basing this on his experience).  think Branco is coping relatively well out of all the defence. Thommo and Turnbull do need to knuckle down though. It'll come.

Only just got round to posting my thoughts. Probably all been said but haven't read through so apologies in advance.

Vigouroux had a good game. Looked a penalty to me, no real complaints from town players is a giveaway.

As for the rest of the team, nobody came out of the first half with any credit really. The front two can't be blamed as the ball never really got to them. It's hard to play a patient passing game when none of the defence want the ball off the keeper, and none of the midfield are moving to create space. How we went in 1-0 down I have no idea.

Second half we went four at the back and used the width of the pitch much better. Suddenly our wide men were finding space and we were making inroads, then Kasim gave it away cheaply on the edge of our own box and it was a nice finish from their lad to make it 2-0.

Thankfully the introduction of Rodgers made a difference. Finally we had somebody who wanted to receive the ball and move it on quickly. The tempo of the whole team stepped up a notch and we began to peg Bury back. The first goal came pretty much out of nowhere, but was a lovely bit of work from Robert. Then we kept going and we all know Rodgers has a decent free kick in his locker.

A special mention for Leon Clarke. Not only did he miss the penalty, he also missed a one-on-one, messed up a two-on-one by getting tackled instead of playing his mate in, and continually strayed offside when his side tried to pick him out. Well played son.

From what I saw if Rodgers last week and what you describe of him vs Bury, it seems like he's upped his game from last season.

The ref doesn't seem to mind that there are two players standing right next to him in the box when Clarke takes the penalty.

God, those first half highlights make us look piss poor.