Thetownend.com

Well, somebody had to do it.

Another clean sheet and a nailed on 3 points. Knoyle to return, Lancashire binned, Anderson to score the winner.

Please, nobody mention the railways

Tis on ifollow in the UK isn't it...

1-1

Balls, I forgot  :(

3-1 to town

I was going to start as 4D was dragging his feet on starting a MDT.

We sit 9th on 16 points with 4 wins, 4 draws and 2 defeats in the league so far.

Crewe sit 18th with 2 wins 2 draws and 5 defeats so far in the league.

Their form has been up and down with a 6-0 win home to Morecambe and a 6-0 defeat away at Colchester.

Crewes current form at home so far has been WDWL in their 4 games at Gresty Road scoring 9 and conceding only once in those 4 games.

Town haven't lost in the last 10 games against Crewe, including 4 games at Gresty Road winning our last 2 visits there and drawing the previous 2.

Always a tough place to get a result, again I would be happy with a draw in away games.

2-1 defeat with Anderson scoring.

1-1

Ordered a ticket for this but it hasn't arrived yet. Hopefully it'll come in the post today. It'll be my first game of the season, so I'm looking forward to seeing Alzate and the new and improved(?) Kyle Knoyle. Shame Doughty won't be available as he really is a cut above.

Looks like Crewe have done ok at home so far this season despite their lowly position, but they've lost to Port Vale (H) and Notts County (A) in their last two league games, getting thumped 4-1 by Man City U21 in between. Hopefully the doubts are setting in and we can take advantage.

 Sort of game we need to be winning if we are to do owt this season, but the waters are muddied by the selection dilemma. Therefore wait and see for me, what the starting XI looks lke.

 Much of Crewe's best engine production was during the time of William Stanier... Swindon boy.  Crewe still retains some railway work and Stanier has a secondary school named after him... Swindon has a street.

Has anyone done the midweek Ifollow thing yet? Thinking of utilising it tonight.

Can anyone recommend? I have read people moaning about lack of commentary but that doesn't really bother me as I'll more than likely watch listening to music or have the sky sports news channel on in the background.

Yes I did one of the £10 midweek UK offers and it works really well for video, the commentary can be hit/miss/non existant though.

Thanks PV. May give it a go tonight then.

As for the game, reckon we'll win 2-0

The stream quality and the actual filming are pretty good this season, last season it felt like it was a guy with his mobile phone in the stands.

The commentary is either the right radio station, the wrong radio station (not the same game), just ground noise, or complete silence!

I quite like it with just the ground noise, especially the guy who must have a season ticket just below the camera who can be heard shouting Come on Town at pretty much every set piece in the game regardless of side.

And the ubiquitous "fucking hell ref!" every few minutes.

Coming in a close third is probably the same guy as the Fucking Hell ref, with a loud and contorted BOOOOOO as well.  They are a crazy bunch those middle blockers in the DR stand.

I guess they are all better than "get it forward" guy that we would often hear last season!

2-0 for me as well,  can't understand what all the negativity is about,  another performance similar to Saturday's and we should cruise through this one.   (Don't bank on it though,  just put a tenner on us to win).  :banging: :banging: COYR

I watched the Crawley game, it was spot on, commentary also.

I would say we have had no more than 2 or 3 games this season where the commentary has tied in directly to the match, usually it is rubbish, but as long as I have the video its not too much of an issue for me.

Sounds like a thumbs up then. I reckon i'll tune in. Is the etiquette to go full kit wanker when watching?

Only if it will annoy the other half..

I think it was the Forest Green game which, helpfully, allied action with commentary of the Bristol City game

Yes that was the highlight of the season commentary wise.

What is this ifollow thing you all mention? Is it free?  :)

I assume this is a joke.

I could tell because you thought the FL would give you anything for free :)

Pre match revving up in Hops Belgian Cafe and Bar.
So this is it then. The eagerly anticipated motown derby.
They make Bentleys, we make Hondas and bits of Minis.
Wonder if there is a staff discount available on a brand new Mulsanne.

Well, the local Wetherspoons is no more.
What is the world coming to.
Crewe is now like Gillingham. A cultural wasteland.
Having said that, this is a decent pub.

Our last midweek visit here was 6 years ago.
Lost 2-1. Our recent nemesis, Byron Moore, scored a couple that day as well.
Hopefully a case of always making the playoffs offs when Byron scores twice against us!
Also playing for them that night, Mathias Pogba.
Older brother of Man Utd loafer Paul.

Midweek games up north are always tricky.
Will happily take a point and move on.

She is in Turkey so that's a no!

I reckon Moore has only scored half a dozen or so in the intervening 4 years. One to look out for in the STFC specialist stakes.... you can understand A James Hayter or Beckford as they generally scored goals... but what about Chicken George Lawrence?  45 career goals, 5 v Town for 4 different clubs. The merest sight of George on the team sheet and that was that.

As a UK based viewer, the commentary has been very decent for the Crawley and Morecambe games - the pics too.

Got to hand it to Wobbly, even if a full kit-wearing Sutton is more likely to get a bit of a dusting up.

You probably take a point midweek away, ut I'd like to think the team go with an expectation that they can indeed take the game to Crewe and get all three points.  That mentality will serve us well given some of the midfield talent we have available.  A repeat of Yeovil would be nice.

Naked with a bobble hat, a cornetto, and a six pack then. Or is that just me?

I’ve only got a magnum, will that work?

Yeah if it's the raspberry one.

Are you in my kitchen?

is that a euphemism

Knoyle on bench. Lancs starts.

Romanski in as left back

 So PB opts for the least changes after the last 2 games, however playing with 4 centre halves and 2 holding midfield players, might mean a defensive approach, but if we can nick a goal, could be on to something.

Romanski In rather than Knoyle? Don't think I agree with that as Romanski has never looked to be even close to ready for this level.

2-0 win today. Nice and easy COYR

Well its actually a double raspberry Magnum.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DohWPciXgAItjVN.jpg:large)

suits you sir

no sound in ifollow?

Not for me either

Of course not

Naturally not.

a burst, then gone again.


we are second best so far

Yes sound, no sound, doh!

Stop pissing around at the back.

Anderson just wide from 20 yards.

it's back, and we are on the attack

Its wierd seeing Romanski getting the ball on the left wing and not just launching it straight into the box ala Taylor.

Acres of space in midfield for Town, can't do much with it when we get the ball though.

Anderson nearly sets up Bayo in the box, not quite though.

Booking for Nelson.

Poor poor pass from Romanski gives it away.

Lancs to Anderson a great ball but he can't quite find Bayo again in the box.

Toums, very poor through ball gives it away to the keeper, his first mistake of the game.

Town playing a good passing game, about 20 passes in a row to feet.

I see we won the last two games at Gresty Road, 3-1 and 3-0

Nice block by Woolf on the tricky left winger in the box.

Alzate who has been excellent so far gives the ball away cheaply just outside out own box and it nearly costs us.

Lancs nearly puts us under needless pressure with a poor sideways pass.

Bayo good cut inside on the left wing but he fires well wide, hes not had much of the game so far.

Nelsn wins a towering header just inside the box to clear.

Town passing really well, Anderson runs with the ball and shoots from 25 yards and is as soft a a kitten straight at the keeper.

Poor defending by the Town luckily the shot was terrible, Alzate great going forward but defensively looks weak today.

Great passing again by Town but the last pass has been awful when in good positions several times.

Our final ball/delivery is consistently bad.

Not sure how Romanski can do a 20 yard run up for the throw in and only throw it 10 yards!

Super break by Toums and Alzate, Town back on the offensive.

Dunne great pass in the box to Anderson who backheels it to nobody, Crewe kick the ball out when under no pressure.

I love Nelson, he is a totally no nonsense defender.

Exactly what we have missed for years.

Did you see his comedy throw in where he threw it backwards?

Pooh

0-1

Poor defending, the striker in acres of free space.

Yes hes not having a good game so far.

bugger. was going in anyway before Romanski slid.

Was a mess back there though, especially the right hand side

1-0 more like.

Taylor fault, he's rubbish

Is Richards playing?

No, hes on the pitch but hes not playing.

Richards fucks up on the edge of the box from a good position, gives the ball away cheaply.

for all our composed passing around, we thus far have the same problem as Saturday...

Crewe have had the better of the attacks imo.

Its all about "the clean sheet mentality"

Crewe shoot wide from 20 yards out after a defensive mistake by Bayo.

I blame Audrey

Town have had by far the best passing approach, and creating a bit but with a consistantly poor final ball or shot, Crewe at the moment look more likely to score than us.

Anderson shoots straight at the keeper after Richards lost the pass.

our corners are shocking

Can someone explain to me how Richards is keeping his place? Adebayo up top with Mcglashan on the wing seems more dangerous to me.

Richards has turned to candy floss

Game of two halves, we'll be better in part two.

Starting to become the norm.  Shame we haven't got a replacement, waste of a space in the team.

+1

I said it last week and the week before and I will say it again, Richards is a waste of a starting slot and Bayo is wasted on the wings.

I also had hoped Romanski would kick on and claim the LB role from Taylor but if anything hes been worse than Taylor has lately.

Not put a foot wrong ( or right) all night then 2 heavy touches from good positions...

Bayo turns and shoots wide from the edge of the box, probably 5 yards wide.

There are a number of non Richards problems. Romanski/Woolf don't offer anything going forward. Taylor and Knoyle are both much better and offer an attacking outlet.

Dunne does a lot of work but he is such a waste of a spot in midfield. Its all on Alzate to make a pass. Think Smith would be better than Dunne in there myself.

I wouldn't say that Crewe deserve to be winning, we have had the better passing of the game but overall they look pretty poor, but we have no final ball when it matters, Richards and Romanski both not at the races, Bayo not given enough of the ball.

The midfield has been pretty much in control for most of the game and Anderson, Dunne, Alzate all passing well but with no final ball.

Would help if Richards would stop getting the ball caught under his feet.

tbh Richards hasn't had many chances this season. Up front on his tod trying to play others in. I blame the shape and crosses going forward.

I would put Knoyle on at LB and McGlashan on for Richards and push Bayo thro the middle.

It was the same last season, hes not a lone striker, hes not a target man so don't play him as one.

I have thought recently that Richards has reached the end of his career. Probably not helped by change of style under Brown and his age.

Fuck a duck, have I accidentally paid for an old Newbury Sunday league match, division 3 at that. 2 awful sides. Our only decent player is Nelson. Not going to panic as the 2nd 45 cant be as rubbish as that.

Kirk is it? he has us in all sorts of problems, nobody tracking him.

Richards has been absolutely awful today.

Romanski - nothing good, but has his wing been exposed, I'd say not that much.  I think you let him stay on for a bit.

Dunne has been ok

Midfield looks ok

Lancashire gets beaten so often at headers and when he does win easy ones he seems to have no control over the direction they will go.

I'd certainly take off Richards

Cornetto time?

Sod the cornetto, I need Gin

Looked ok at the start, TD, Alzate and Anderson linking well but the final ball so so poor. Nothing sticking to Richards, very low on confidence. Take him off for McGlashan?

Crewe aren’t very good but Kirk looks a handy player. Better second half please Town!

Yeah gotta hook Richards he doesn't look interested. We look real powder puff so far.

We've got into good positions but keep fannying around in the final third.
Stick Mcglashen on for Richards and Knoyle for lancashire pushing Woolf alongside Nelson.

Second half better be good, the m5/6 was fucking shite on the way up.

Town unchanged this half.

Poor cross by Romanski from a nice attacking position, ends a good move.

Kirk definately has the beating of Woolf almost every time he runs at him.

Lancs under no pressure gives the ball back to Crewe, hes poor tonight.

Bayo with a lovely turn and beats his man but his shot is deflected.

Woolf probably having his poorest game so far.

Good long pass by LMC to Bayo who beats his man and wins a corner.

Alzate nice cross onto Woolfs head who heads weakly wide.

Dunne with a rash challenge, lucky to get away without a booking. Miles away from the ball again.

Knoyle coming on.

And McGlashan.

Alzate easily pushed off the ball in a good position.

Knoyle and McGlashan on for Richards and Woolf.

Knoyle on and with his first touch does the best cross of the game for Town sets up Alzate who heads it weakly at goal, good move by Town.

LMC has been one of our best attacking outlets today so far, his passing very good.

I think this game has had it's defining moment when Dunne went to head the ball, and headed his own boot..

LMC with a super block from a few yards out, hit his face somewhere!

Good effort from Alzate from 20 yards out, just wide.

McGlashan makes a lovely run and falls easily just outside the box and gets us a freekick, looked a bit like a dive to me.

Alzate terrible free kick as a result.

No mean feat that. Many gymnasts would be proud to do that.

Bayo with a super pass through to Romanski but he falls over his own feet in the box.

sigh...

come on ffs

Taylor certainly missed as an attacking threat tonight.  Like Romanski but he needs time out in Conference

I would like to see Smith coming on for Dunne, add a bit more pace in midfield, at least he can run with the ball.

Corner to Crewe.

romanski is not going to make it. Iandolo would be better at LB

No.

Neither will make it as a left back.

It's all turning a bit Bury.

Romanski is going backwards as the game progresses.

Lots of individuals tonight - both Alzate and McGlashan had runs into the corner without anyone supporting them, then look daft as they tamely lose the ball.

Bayo goal disallowed for handball.

What has disappointed me more than anything is that after Saturday PB said he wanted Town players to get a lot more shots in, if anything we have had less shots.

Nelson walking a tightrope.

Gets away with a poor challenge.

Town passing getting slack now.

Iandolo on for Dunne, not sure what Smith has done wrong but he would have been my choice to bring on.

Dunne off
iandolo on

Er, ok

Rubbish pass from Lancs to Romanski, gave him no hope.

Iandolo beats his man and then passes the ball behing the Town player. Poor.

Iandolo hits the post from 15 yards after falling over his own feet in the process.

Adver says it was Alzate who hit the post, not that it matters.

Lovely long pass to Bayo in the box but he can't quite control it.

Definately Iandolo.

well, this is a bit shit

Romanski gets away with a terrible pass off his shin.

Romanski is not good enough.

Tis indeed a shit game.

Send in your CV 😂

Can't win a raffle if you don't buy a ticket as Atkinson used to say, he just have not had enough shots today.

Iandolo free kick headed over his own goal by the defender.

They don't pay enough for my services ;)

Not going to happen is it?  Bloody rubbish!

Really poor tonight. Their keeper could have stayed at home.

We don't look like scoring and haven't really, some good approach play and passing but nothing where it matters.

Iandolo free kickm good delivery inches away from Toums head, corner to Town.

nearly from Dave, struck a defender

Same as Saturday really.

Bayo does the hard work, beats his man and crosses over the bar, poor.

pinpoint cross to the ball lady/stewardess behind the goal.

grrrrrrr

Yep, last 2 games have been crushing. So little going forward. Doughty is a massive miss.

Yeah. Since Yeovil we’ve been so toothless.

Tells you something when Nelson has gone up front as he isn't needed in defence, Crewe have been poor, we have not been very good, probably don't deserve to lose but certainly don't deserve to win.

Good free kick from Iandolo and Nelson heads accross goal but nobody there, hes furious.

Not enough shots, not enough good passes into dangerous areas.

Poorest performance against a poor team, probably got what we deserved.

Not good enough simple as that.

Was a shit game all round tbh. But for Crazy's disallowed goal we would've drawn. Be interesting to watch that back.

Not sure we deserved to lose, but it was awful

That was poor.

Bottom half effort against a modest side tonight in fact.  Toums decent and McCormick a good 11th man.  Shocking quality elsewhere in the main.  Nelson, Lancs and Anderson in the first half excepted.

Wonder if I can get a refund from Ifollow! Utter dirge.

Wrong line up and didn't play very well so poor all round. Romanski is getting far too much game time, Knoyle should have started and without Doughty we lack guile. Richards offers nothing unfortunately and should be an impact sub at best now.

That was 1974 bad. Absolute rubbish. Only player to come out of that with any credit was Nelson. Crewe admittedly played for a 0-0 but there was nobody there with any get up and go. It's early but we won't make the playoff's. Feel sorry for the 200 odd that traveled.

Meanwhile...

Forest Vegan Rovers still haven't lost in the League! 4 wins and 7 (seven) draws.

Here comes the 40+ page thread...

Our forward line is toothless, that’s Bury, Oldham and Crewe where we just haven’t looked threatening at all.

There wasnt a disallowed goal. The ball went in the net but the whistle was well before.

Surely enough time has passed to judge Brown now? Not good enough I’m afraid.

On the plus side,the piss stains lost at home to Luton who scored the winner in the 8th minute of injury time.

 When you set up defensively try for a clean sheet and hope to nick one, the risk is that you can be undone by going behind, which is what happened.  Still Div 4 is a grind... we're worse off than same time last season, in terms of points, wins and goal difference but not by too much.

Before the season started I said our front line wasn't good enough to go up, and it was a risk to rely on Richards and an unproven Adebeyo.

And you probably think I'm going to say I told you so. But I'm honestly not sure if I am right or wrong. We've had three out of 4 games being poor. But we've done well some others. Or have we been lucky to score some late goals.

I honestly don't know. Other than we aren't consistent enough to get in the mix as it stands.

We're a mid table div 4 side, and that's it really. Wont go down, but no chance of going up. Gonna have to suck it for another season.

Well, Brown is talking a good game...not good enough...final third worrying me....blah blah.

Ironically that's how Crewe set up as well. Hence the terrible game.

But I don't write off the season before the January transfer window shuts, even though you are right!

Its like a half finished rebuild job, we've done a lot better defensively without fullback cover, we've a good midfield, but a lack of creativity and clinical finishing. Doughty to come back of course ...

Shoehorning a past it Richards into a front 3 isn’t helping.

Stay in the mix until January and hope Brown/Power have been convinced we need to strengthen in certain areas.

I'm not really surprised we're so inconsistent. Just not strong enough in a couple of positions. Expect us to be around where we are now come Jan and then it's up to the board how much we want to get top 7.

Yeah i've thought about Jan window, but we wont get anyone to push us on. It needs a spark, or a group of 4/5 very good players hitting form at the same time, and I cant see either happening on that showing.

We lack a big brick outhouse type forward, which to me is essential in this formation

We'd certainly need to get very very lucky, 'cause there's cat in hells chance of paying for them.

I think we are only 2 players and a lucky run of no injuries/suspensions to make the playoffs. A proper striker and a left back.

Relying on Anderson and Woolery to chip in with goals is stupid. As is putting Richards as the loan striker.

We have one, he’s being played on the left for some reason

January window or not our team isn't on fire or able to grind out results. PB is a nice guy but the squad is underfunded and will continue to be so.Jan would just see another loan player or freetransfers. The club has no money and not much future under the current ownership. PB is safe though he's keeping the team in the desired positition Mid table div2. What worries me is if we start a season badly, the big black non league door will open and swallow us up.

Reg has mentioned, and have a few others, but Doughty is a big miss.  He'd be for any side at this level, but he is the key for the way we have set-up to play.

Just as Diagouraga is probably key to us stopping the rot at the back, so Doughty is the key going forward because the front man is being played with his444 back to goal all the time.  On top of that Richards is getting gradually worse it seems.  Either he really is now in decline or he can't take the games.  He is not the right player for that role anyway, but even a half decent forward should at least be able to play a role, just not as effectively.  He's worse than Dunne was at right back when exposed as a player.

Not sure how it works with Wollery, do you add him wide and move Adebayo inside?

Anyway, Doughty is the missing player that will worry me about my play off prediction.

Romanski went backwards in that game as well, and with Taylor also looking well past his sell by date, that is a position we have to sort out in January.

I'm also not sold on Alzate and Anderson together.

It's frustrating because a few games we've looked quite good, then we have ones like this where it seems like the players are all working for themselves, it unravels and becomes lacking in any shape.  Iandolo and McGlashan were on the same wing at one point.

Yeah I didn’t think you’d get through a match day thread without having a pop at Matt Taylor! “Well past his sell by date”  is more than harsh - it seems some people have short memories on here - he was out best player last season by a country mile - he just shouldn’t be playing 40 plus games this season at left back, nor should he be last man one on one like he was on Saturday.

To be fair he's not been of the same standard as last year yet

He was good, in a role last season.  That role does not exist anymore and he's one day older as each day passes.  Just because a player was good last season does not relate to this season.  He cannot be relied upon to be an effective left back in every game, and as was shown today, we don't really have anyone to give him a rest.  I wouldn't have too much of a problem with him being brought on later in a game, but he is exposed at left back, and usually badly.  His free kicks remain a threat, but you can't player a specialist kicker and hide them in football like you can in rugby.  It's an area of weakness - if he was playing like he did in a spell last season it wouldn't be.  Time stands still for nobody, no matter how well liked.  Ferguson was a master, as three Managers have since shown, because he knew when to move a player on and get new talent in.

mcGlashen, Ricky Shakes mk2. Too harsh?

Oh no, I totally agree with that - but it just seems to me that he’s the one getting most of the tap on here. He didn’t play tonight and by all accounts it was one of the worst performances of the season. It has to be a concern when you are relying on 2 players past their mid thirties - it’s not like they are going to get better is it?!

And you finish off with the problem - he is being used as a 46 game a season player as we don't have a back-up, and that is exactly the role you ask your full backs to do when you have a corner or attacking free-kick.  Namely because they know how to defend and usually do not have the same height as the centre backs come with.  It is his job when not taking the corners, if he can't do it for 46 games and he can't do all of the job he is supposed to do, that is a problem for us.  It had no bearing on today, other than it exposed the issue because his replacement started ok and finished off doing rings around himself trying to track players at times.

ps you said he was way past his sell by date - that’s just rubbish. He’s past his sell by date, but at least he has a sell by date, which is more than you can say about Lancashire, Robertson and Dunne who are all still cluttering up the wage bill and have been woeful since the minute Flitcroft signed them. Brown is stuck with them.

Not from what I've seen so far. Over the years I've seen him against us a few times, and he's never been one to worry about when discussing before a game, and never shown he would be. Maybe he needs time to settle, some players take a year.

And I'm not saying I don't like him, he has grafted to make a pretty good career for a player with limited ability, that left foot serving him well.  If anything, I feel a bit sorry for him having to shoulder the burden - if he'd been given the Managers job I bet he would have hung the boots up in the summer.  Don't begrudge anyone willing to put the effort in, that's my biggest frustration with the team.  Even Lancashire tries, nobody goes missing, our problem just seems to be we either get it right as a team or everyone goes off and does their own thing in isolation.  Anderson for example, had several runs today of about 30 or 40 yards but everyone else just watches because they had no idea what he was then going to do at the end.

I concur on those three, but we are left with them for this season.  Robertson was even told he won't be getting any games.

Here's what Rob had to say last season on Taylor......

"For us he is a waste of a wage I'm afraid.  No mobility, so relying solely on the left foot which in truth was never matched with a good footballing talent."

Personally I think he probably still brings a fair bit to the side... OK you'd like a 10 year younger version, but being sustainable in Div 4 is the making the most of juggling limited resources.

did he say that early last season, because he started off slowly and it was fair criticism at that time.

A player with limited ability?! Blimey, more than 10 years as a regular in the top flight suggests he’s a bit more than a lad with limited ability. Anyway, you’re right, I think this season is possibly one too many for him, I just think we have more problems than just Taylor. Like you say Anderson - will he ever actually deliver on the potential he kind of shows glimpses of? He flatters to deceive. Brown should have started Knoyle tonight instead of Romanski, the young lad just isn’t ready from what I’ve seen. And why does Brown persist in playing our best striker out wide and leaving Richards isolated in the middle when he is clearly struggling??

Blimey Reg - I better watch what I say if you’re gonna quote me next season! I’m with you though, he does still offer experience to the side and I wish some of the other players showed the passion he still shows. That’s what I like about him, yeah he’s older, yeah he’s got no pace anymore but he still offers more than some in the side for me and that is the worry. Taylor’s poor delivery this season has been highlighted and rightly so as it’s fair criticism, yet no mention was made of the poor crossing from the right last Saturday - Wolf is not a right back - his crossing was woeful.

Just back to Swindon, haven't read through yet but here's my thoughts.

We weren't at it tonight, not at all. It was very slow, little movement from the forward players and when there was, the final third was shocking. Either the final ball, lack of crosses, too much skill it just didn't work at all tonight.

Mccormick - nothing wrong again other than one loose throw out wide, made a cracking save.

Woolf - had a few issues tonight defensively, no real attacking threat.
Nelson - won most headers, did ok.
Lancashire - lost most aerial duels with there big lad up top, didn't do much wrong though.
Romanski - not sure he's ready at all, did ok in parts but always looked a weak link.

Dave/dunne - didn't dominate enough, crewe seemed to run straight down the centre of our midfield at times. Very little creativity between the two, seemed to be pulled out wide a lot to cover others.
Alzate - some neat play, needs to be better in final third. Lack of end product. Needs to be careful when playing out at the back, loose play/clearances.

Adebayo - is he a striker or a winger? He seems more comfortable out wide on the left where he can run/cut in against the RB. Has more impact there than up top.
Richards - very little again. Had a couple of half chances but didn't take the shot/pass. Seems a bit of a bystander at times. Problem area.
Anderson - frustrates the hell out of me. Great close control, makes forward runs but doesn't release the fucking ball. Takes way too long and the chance is gone and defence back behind the ball. Needs more end product. Needs to get stuck in as well, lost every 50/50.

Mcglashen - did okish, linked up with Knoyle once down the right, not much to shout about though.
Knoyle - did nothing wrong, as above he linked up once and got a cross in. Didn't happen again.
Iandolo - positive impact I thought, made a few good runs/passes. Decent set plays, hit the post with one of our only close chances.

All in all, poor performance, poor result. We need Doughty back asap, ST/LB are problem areas. Need to be more ruthless when attacking.

just back. frustrating really as it was an even game. 2 good mccormick saves (and all round perfromance) and the goal were notable attempts by Crewe. For swindon, much the same as Oldham game- some tidy play, some errors, huffed and puffed, a few good chances, a good effort off the post.  

Richards is bothering me, whether its the system or his role in the side. he doesn't seem involved and seems at norris confidence levels. two scenarios in the first half where when he first signed he would have shot and scored/forced a save, instead cut back looks for a lay off.

The subs looked decent, id like to see mcglashan get a start, offers good pace and an outlet. Anderson is turning me round, first half he was really hungry and had drive along with Alzate.

i have to say I have a soft spot for Crewe and the football they play, when they get the ball down they play some brilliant pass and move triangles and work up the pitch really fast. their goal scorer looks a real talent- real intent. Same last season when first half at the county ground they blew us away. obviously looking at the league table they don't do this every week but the football except for the last 30 when all they did was clear their lines which is their right by earning the lead.

Haven't bothered to read back through yet but can see above a taylor discussion. To me, a romanski player can do a job at left back, a defensive job. nothing else in terms of attacking and creating (same as that lump we had at right back last year who i forget. With taylor, he is more than capable defending with the odd mistake but his set pieces at this level is what can be decisive and win games. to me a risk worth having.

At the end of the day goals change games, we had as many chances if not more, they scored.

I did, but I'd still have said it at any point in the season based on the original reason we got him - central midfield.  He was fucking shit there and has been everytime he has played there for us.

The guy has done well for himself but has never been a stand out player.  He has relied on a cracking left foot at set pieces, fair play to him for maximising that.

His best games were when we could hide him in a formation.  No lack of effort, and last season with lottery football having him in the team for set pieces was a great move in the end.  He has to have someone else behind him though - I'll stand by my view, he is a weakness at left back and was in central midfield.  He should not be someone we are relying in playing left back in a four man defence with a forward playing in front of him.  Adebayo works back better than Anderson did in the first couple of games, but neither protects him.  Anyway, he would have been a better bet today than Romanski turned our - that's the real worry for me.

left back is the least of our problems. we don't have wingers but play like we do. we always look for the channels yet the person receiving only knows how to cut back or attempt a shit cross. any half decent cross there isn't a willing striker to get on the end of it. that's 4 positions to worry about ahead of left back where we aren't exactly conceding lots from in the last 5 games

Been back a while.

Piss poor....Anderson had a nightmare.

Only the keeper escaped a duff night.

Looks like my lack of broadband prevented me from witnessing that whore's melt of a game

Brown really doesn't practice what he preaches. Why leave a CB at RB when we have a perfectly good one on the bench? Why bang on about Twine having a Good career in front of him yet he's not even on the bench? Why take the Wolf off and leave Lancashire on? Think he needs to have a hard look at himself

I reckon Phil regularly takes a look at himself in the mirror, and likes what he sees.   Managers are always undone by events, I daresay in Phil's head he saw the Diagouraga/Doughty axis, being very tasty for Div 4, and so far they've played about an hour together.

The latest report on Doughty doesn't look very good at all, I suspect we won't be seeing him any time soon.  Our only hope atm seems to be that Woolery might spark some life into the front men and dovetail seamlessly into a formidable attacking trident with Keshi and Elijah.... not so much the BBC, or MSN rather more the WAA  :cry:

I said it pre season and I will say it again, we need another striker who will get us goals.

Richards has not been anywhere near the level he was last season, hes played yet again in a role that does not suit him, hes no target man.

Bayo is wasted on the left even though he can cut inside well I feel hes wasted as he doesn't get as much of the ball as Richards does in the middle, yet Richards does fuck all with it.

Taylor has been a weak point in the side all season, but Romanski was if anything even weaker, we need a good attacking left back as a priority, we got away with it last night as Crewe attacked us down the other flank all game and Woolf has his most uncomfortable game there.

Put Woolf at CB, drop the ever poor Lancashire, get Knoyle back at RB where he looks best...simple surely?

In midfield, Anderson and Alzate do a lot of running but with no end product, Anderson loves to spin like Mickey Hazard on the ball and dribble with speed but his final ball and shot is as it was last season....woeful.

Alzate can dribble has great control and pace, comfortable on the ball but his final pass or shot is almost as bad as Andersons, if he can improve that then Brighton have a great player on their hands, just get a few more long range shots in when you can...we know you can do it as you did at Yeovil.

Toums looks to have got back to fitness and looks our best defensive option by miles, he can tackle and dribble and almost every pass finds a Town player, thats all any defensive midfielder needs to do and he does it well.

Nelson is a very limited footballer, he is not great at short or long passing he doesn't read the game well but all that doesn't matter, he puts his legs/head/body into positions that save us, he is brave and can head a ball, wears his heart on his sleeve and not much gets past him, he could be the nearest to Shaun Taylor we have seen in 20 years, hes exactly what we have missed at the back.

Dunne, again last night went over the top on 2 tackles and was lucky not to be booked, his attacking play is much better than defensive, he is one of the worst tacklers I have ever seen. We need a fit Doughty back ASAP.

McGlashan flatters to decieve, he has bags of pace and skill and can dribble but goes to ground far too easily for me, stay on oyur feet and fight for the ball you just lost, in truth hes a typical lower league winger.

Romanski looked oiir at left back, not enough attacking but also not good enough defending, is massively one footed and has a really weak throw in, he can dribble with the ball but his passing is poor, he needs a season at Conference for me and is not ready for a starting slot.

Iandolo came on and played in a more central role and from there looked ok, took a couple of poor free kicks but also a couple of half decent ones, hit the post with a good shot, jury very much still out on him though.

LMC made a couple of excellent saves again and his kicking at times was our best attcking outlet, he deserves to be starting IMO.

Crewe were for me as poor as Macclesfield but got that goal which neither side deserved really.

Its not wrist slitting time but PB made a couple of selection mistakes again in not starting Dunne, starting the inefective Richards again.

For me the biggest problem is we don't shoot, when in great shooting positions we delay the shot or take one extra pass and try and almost walk it in yet we have players well capable of shooting, its like they are too scared to pull the trigger, it was similar under Williams and its fucking frustrating to watch, Anderson, Alzate and Dunne all being prime examples yesterday.

I still think a decent left back and a new striker and we will do ok and should easily make the play off if we can recruit them.

What have you heard about Doughty? We are really missing him at the moment.

brown had been a bit non committal on Doughty's return.. in the pre-match presser:

PB | 💬 | On Michael Doughty.

"I don't think he'll be be available. It's proving longer than first thought. He's not 100% fit."

#STFC 🔴

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/16953231.swindon-towns-fears-over-injury-to-midfielder-michael-doughty/

Thanks Reg.

That doesn't sound good at all.

Ah, I'd not heard that..thanks Reg.
:(

I suspect Michael will need an op... funny things hips, finished Don Rogers. Hopefully the sort of thing he can come back from stronger, but you can see his running is a bit impaired.

Best not to second guess, but surely the medical team are on it and Brown is up to date on diagnosis.

Haven't read back.

A really frustrating game to watch. They were completely there for the taking but we just weren't at it. Defensively we were fine, as we have been, and their goal is a series of unfortunate events. Other than the one decent save from LM, they didn't really create much more.

It's offensively we were so short. The front three were all under par, Richards being the worst offender. And we miss Doughty so badly. Dunne was 20 yards too deep, as he is used to. Alzate is great on the ball, running from deep but there's a huge gap behind the central striker where Doughty would normally be picking up possession and creating. We also had no attacking support from the FBs.

I think we have to start with Bayo through the middle and JMcG wide on Saturday. I'd also bring in Taylor and Knoyle to start, and figure out a way of playing one of the midfield three higher - maybe even play Keshi there and bring in another wide man somehow.

We're so close to having a really good side - but without Doughty and with Richards struggling, we just don't seem to be high enough up the pitch, or apply pressure consistently enough for long periods.

The positive is a fit Woolery and a fit Doughty and we have a really exciting, young front 4 and a solid base behind them... but how long until we have that?

Stay within touching distance of the top 3/7 until that point and we've got a chance.

Richards does seem to be struggling but I think that is partly due to the role he is playing, he is not your type of striker to play as a lone player, he likes being in the 6 yard box and hanging around goal to get tap in's not having to come out deep, last season when he was scoring he was playing up alongside Norris, I do wonder if we may see an improvement if we moved away from this '3' up top and played a proper 2 man partnership.

The other player annoying me is Keshi, he is still flattering to deceive he has a lot of running but no end product and it has got to come to a point where is he a luxury player being carried.

Are there any stats on how our goals have been created this season (i.e. cross, pass though middle etc and who got the assist ?

I think we should play with 3 at the back.

Wolf RCB, Sid CB/SWP (Lancs can fill in if needed), Taylor LCB.

We've options to rotate Conroy/Lancs/Taylor/Romanski

Then play R&LWBs in;

Knoyle RWB, McGlashan? LWB

Iandolo/McCourt can cover (even Romanski may be able to play better in n advanced position.

Then a central three of;

Dave DCM, Alzate LM/LCM, Doughty RM/RCM (when fit) (advanced role)

Dunne while Doughty out and Smith to cover.

A front three of either;

Keshi RF, Woolery LF, Crazy ST/CF
or
Crazy and Richards played closer together switching role of ST & SS respectively. Giving someone like Keshi/Woolery a free role to shoot on sight.

It's quite an attacking set up, despite the number of defensive positions. Would be strong going forward but also has the ability to soak up attacks via Dave and the CB three. This is without adding any players. Add in a January transfer of an out and out LB/LWB (similar to Knoyle) and a Striker that can bring Crazy into the play more and we can easily be the best team in this division...or not far off it. Only need a guy who can stay fit, is a tall fucker and will just nod it down into the box without looking awkward.

We know what we need, I'm sure PB knows what he needs (will Power allow it). It's so close to gelling and although it's hinging on a WHEN but when it clicks (and all fit/not suspended) we have the premise to be unbeatable.

Good post Panda. I would say I don't think Woolery is going to be the answer to getting goals. The change with Adebeyo in the middle might.

Woolery may however create a bit of space with his movement. Not sure how I'd change it to accommodate him though. Was never a fan of him on the wing, I guess rest Richards and put him alongside Adebeyo.

Been thinking about it, and you have to play with what you have, at least until January.

So, for me Taylor and Romanski are both not going to cut it at left back, they both expose us and Taylor doesn't have the legs to get where he needs to be in the attacking third often enough without fear of being caught going the other way.  But, nobody else will be competent there either.  If you insist on playing a four man defence, you have to have wide left player who knows how to defend and provide support and cover throughout the game, we don't have one.

For me Taylor is clearly still a better option than Romanski, you have no way of making the 4 man defence stable while giving the forward line the delivery they need, so you have to move Taylor forward somehow and assume he is our left sided option.  The best way to do that is to switch to a back three.  Knoyle is good enough going forwards to make it work out wide right and McGlashan isn't too bad tracking back so could provide an attacking option if needed in games on that side.  Taylor is not free to get forward with the knowledge a centre back can cover out wide behind him.  You probably play Nelson and Woolfenden with Lancashire and Conroy in the other slot.  Woolfenden likes the ball at feet, give him the central role with a bit of freedom to push forward.  Also gives us better height for corners at both ends.

Anderson is out next problem - I really don't know where he plays in a team.  If you have the back three and wing backs, then I think you put Adebayo down the middle and let Anderson play wherever he likes off of him.

You then sit Diagouraga in front of the defence and play Alzate and one other while Doughty recovers.   probably a Smith or McCourt, maybe even Iandalo.

Richards may even fit in there up front but I am not sure Alzate and Anderson can fill two midfield roles without leaving us exposed a little, but it might work.

Anyway, long way of trying to find how you get the best out of someone like Taylor - his only real asset left now is his delivery, we need to find a way of using it without giving him other things to worry about.

You don't half talk some shit, but this is probably your finest post yet. Are we playing without a keeper in your 533 formation?

Oh fuck off, yes I'll hold my hands up but I did mean a front two! Robert T followed me with a virtually identical set up. You love to jump in when someone makes an error. You must be fucking perfect. Go have a celebratory wank  :soapy tit wank:

5-3-2/3-5-2. Adebayo and Richards playing closer together or Adebayo with Woolery/Keshi in a more free role.

You know what I meant. Cunt.

Pretty well spot in.

If we can stay in touch we have a chance to kick on.

Crewe WERE there for the taking... frustrating.