Thetownend.com

The opponent: Doncaster Rovers

The deathly silence that filled the County Ground on Saturday seems to be coming a bit too familiar now. Not a particularly dreadful performance and plenty of chances created with above average performances from the Tottenham Trio, but it really ended up being a case of deja’vu, with another 2 vital points dropped. I have to say that I am firmly in the camp of “look at the shit that our club has gone through this season and look at our league position”, as we are sat well placed in the league with just a handful of games left.  OK, I don’t fancy Wembley. The nerves, the cost, and the gut feeling that someone along the lines of Jonathan Douglas or Danny Wilson end up stiffing us under The Arch. A win against Donny today would be massive.  If we had picked up the 3 points on Good Friday then the game would have had an even sharper edge to it, with top of league 1 at stake, but as it now stands, we can get within 1 point of the team who have been the consistent force for a few weeks, so a win would still be massive.

I really wanted to go to this one, but the current workload and the easy option of a bacon roll and Sky Sports on my TV won the day, earning rather than spending I guess.  For those making the journey to South Yorkshire today it may well be worth taking a metal detector and a shovel (think Tony Robinson off Time Team), as it is said Doncaster was built on a Roman Fort sometime in the 1st Century. Even back then the need for social housing was as great as it is today.  To be honest, Doncaster as a town, and a borough has quite a fascinating history. Way back in 1334 it was by far the wealthiest town in southern Yorkshire, and it even had her own banker!  It seems Doncaster has traditionally been a prosperous area. The borough was known for its rich landowners with vast estates and huge stately homes such as Brodsworth Hall, Cantley Hall, Cusworth Hall, Hickleton Hall, Nether Hall and Wheatley Hall. This wealth is evidenced in the luxurious and historic gilded 18th century Mansion House on High Street.

Doncaster really is lacking in any real A-list celebrities, especially those of the same ilk as Cannon and Ball. Tony Christie is worth a shout, as is moon faced Tory, William Hague, but my all time favourite is a little different, no, not one of the planks from One Direction, but Stephen Wade who was one of England's executioners from 1940 until 1955. He assisted Tom and Albert Pierrepoint on 31 occasions and also carried out 28 executions as head executioner. His last assignment was Alec Wilkinson (aged 22), whom he and Robert Leslie Stewart hanged at Armley Gaol, Leeds on 12 August 1955. Perhaps some of the TEF oap’s may remember this?

What are they saying about us? –

“4-1 - we're due to mash someone and Swindon are in the firing line.”

“Best defence in the division? doubt it.

1-1 or the usual 2-1 either way for me”

http://www.drfc-vsc.co.uk/index.php?topic=238489.0


Doncaster Rovers Last 6 –  WLWDWL (Currently top of league 1 on 72 points)

The Threat – Joint top scorer for Doncaster Rovers is none other than pop star Rihanna’s ex woman batterer Chris Brown, or at least someone with the same name as him. Brown has found the back of the net 11 times this season.

A Warm Welcome to –  The other joint top scorer is none other than Billy Paynter. I got nothing against the lad to be honest, it must be hard enough carrying around 4 chins as it is.

The irrelevant stats – A bit like ourselves, Doncaster’s home form is not that great and not really the home form you would possibly expect from the team at the top with a handful of games to go, much like Charlton and Brighton in recent years. They have played 19 games at home so far, winning 8, drawing 5 and losing 6 matches, scoring 24 and conceding 20. Could we possible win this?

Head to Head –  We have a rather miserable record against Donny, having met 19 times, we have only won on 3 occasions, drawn 9, and lost 7. Although we were formed back in the same year, the first meeting between us did not come until 1959!

The Odds –  Doncaster 7/4   Draw 23/10   Swindon 6/4 (SkyBet)  Surprisingly our odds have shortened a couple of times with most the bookmakers this evening and out of around 16 bookies we are slight favourites for this with all of them. The obvious first goal scorer odds aim to Paynter, best priced 6/1 with Bet365. Adam Rooney can be backed at several outlets at 13/2.

The Son Says – He thought even longer than normal about this one but has plumped as optimistically as ever for a 2-0 Town slaying.

The Prediction –  Could it be another ex top of the league style thrashing we dished out to Tranmere a while back? (and that was at the CG!). Perhaps not, but a 1-0 victory awaits with the games only goal coming in the 78th minute after a corner ricochets off Paynters wide load and Adam Rooney slaps the ball in the back of the net with the palm of his hand, endearing us to the general footballing public just a little more. 616 STFC braves in attendance.

And Finally –   Transport has played an important role in Doncaster's heritage. The stagecoach trade of the 17th and 18th centuries generated the wealth that built the town centre in the Georgian fashion complete with one of only three Mansion Houses in Britain as its civic headquarters. Horse breeding for the stagecoach trade gave rise to Doncaster Racecourse and the founding of the Great Northern Railway Locomotive and Carriage Buildings Works, the factory that built the Flying Scotsman and the Mallard, brought further recognition.
COYR COYR COYR

Change the bloody clocks or we are doomed.

Thanks SR, enjoyed that. I can't see past a draw for this one 2-2 which will keep our chances of Auto alive but dwindling. A couple of wins on the bounce however and you never know. I'm Not going up to this one but fair play and a safe journey to those who do. 400/500 Town fans would be a great turn out.

Personally think we'll win 2-1, pressure on Donny to get a result at home and keep top of the league...we play better against the better teams so fingers crossed we continue that! C.O.Y.R!

4-1 to us. Collins, Rooney and Williams x2. Inevitable consolation goal from Paynter.

We will lose

We will win.

2-4 swindon, we will dominate them and totally out class them. Rooney to start upfront with Roberts and Williams on the wings. Coyr

Taking my neice and nephew to their first football match today so hoping we put on  a decent show for them.2-2 draw but still hoping for a 3 or 4-0 tonking COYR

2-0 Williams, Collins

JUST WIN YOU CUNTS!

Don't make me do this... :crash:

Forgot, their pitch is shit, real shit 1-2 stfc COYR

Might this be the lowest ever viewing figures for a Sky League 1 game with Chelsea v Man Utd on ITV?

Scrappy 1-0 win for me with a McCormack pile driver. Any one know if the Wetherspoons or Lloyds No 1 will be open for breakfast and a pint in Doncaster?

Never been so confident of a win - not bravado - just a tingling that says a 3-0 a la Leeds.

Could be more people watching the game at the Keepmoat than on TV.

And no sneaking a peak of what's going on between Chelsea and Man Utd!!

[lack of conviction]
We will muller them, 2-1 . Collins 89, Paynter OG 90+4.
[/lack of conviction]

Can't even watch it on TV thanks to the Swedes!

You're probably right, although a few weeks ago when Milan were playing Barcelona in the CL on one side, I was watching Southend v Orient in the JPT on the other (which I was far more interested in). So you will always get a few nut jobs watching who have no interest in either side, not to mention fans of Sheff Utd, Brentford etc.

This is on TV?! Fuck, I've said I'll go to cunting Longleat now and drive through the monkey enclosure.

Yet another great thread S R , getting excited now, going to only my 2nd match of the season ,"live ooop north now" ive still got sheff utd and scunny to come so 3  wins from my 3 games and we will be welcoming paolo back to the county ground with the mackens in the championship.C.O.Y.R "ONWARDS AND UPWARDS".Oh yeh the last 9 games ive gone to (excluding wembley)weve won so 4-0 to the town williams hattrick and 1 of the spurs new boys.601 town fans including me. YEH COME ON .

Ha ha. Tit!!

I feel for you mate, missing footy AND Longleat monkey enclosure! last time I drove through there the little monkey bundles of fun did about £100 worth of damage to my car removing wipers and trims....fuckers.

4-0. I'm that confident I've put my mortgage £2 on it.

Must avoid defeat today. A win would be amazing.

Damn right it would...don't think I can ever remember us wining at Donny.

I noticed our awful record against them and indeed you are right, our only 2 wins against them came at home, the most recent of which was 1983.

So we're due a win then :nod:

It is certainly not a happy hunting ground for STFC over the year, I went to the game in 86 when we drew 2-2 and that was after being 2-0 and we have only beaten them 3 times ever in 19 games.

It is a massive game and I would be happy with a draw but a win would be the first for the Town in Donny and very very welcomed!

Swindon to have 22 shots and convert 0. Doncaster to have 4 shots and convert 3.

Insipid game on poor pitch.

Adam Rooney, Collins and Roberts to miss open goals.

I was worried, but I was told it only happens if you stop. So I've decided I won't be stopping under any circumstances and I'll run monkeys over if I have to.

I'm not good at forecasts, although I got Fridays result right but even then, anybody with half a head could see that happening.
2 0 to Donny
We'll make the piay offs and play a bit part.
Friday I watched my team run out of steam.

Got the in-laws coming to dinner, so will be listening to the commentary while cooking.

Swindon to play pretty football, with the Spurs trio looking even better now they know the other players names.

1-0 to Swindon.

Really looking forward o watching this on the box....should be an interesting match.

Probably our biggest for a long time.....wish i was there but work and finances dictate i had to miss this one.

UP THE TOWN.

In Vegas pissed and can't be fucked to read what u useless cunts have to say. Score some fucking goals and we will win u useless bunch of cunts.

Massive game and the main talking point continues to be our ex manager.

No doubt Sky will mention his name more than Mcdonald's during the game today.

Could really do with a Tranmere type performance, but sadly I think we'll be punished by not taking our chances again.  Time to prove me wrong Town!

BBC Wiltshire ‏@BBCWiltshire 1m
SPORT: #Swindon XI v Doncaster: Foderingham, Byrne, Flint, Ward, McCormack (c), Navarro, Ferry, Parrett, Luongo, A Rooney, Collins. #stfc

Williams Injured, 442 or 443/451

Bedwell; Devera, De Vita, Thompson L, Rooney , Roberts, Francis

Williams out injured then

If we find our shooting boots we will win, if we don't then I predict a defeat.

5-0, Collins (4) and Parrett.

It's about time we beat someone by a big scoreline again.

Yep.  Form some reason I don't see a draw today.

That formation shouts out "narrow" to me, a bit like the diamond formation we used to play with Navarro in DMC, Ferry and Parrett in the middle with Loungo in AMC.

Has to be 442 looking at that line up.

Fancy us to do a Tranmere on em - 3-1

COYR

The bench doesn't look particularly game changing should that be needed. Who is Francis? Is he one of the youth players?

Yeah he is a yoof, unlikely he will get on but we obviously still need bodies. But saying that De Vita and Roberts on their day can be game changers....but their days are too rare.

Francis is a pacey striker BTW.

To be fair DeVita's "rare days" are not entirely his fault.Was playing well when he got dropped in my opinion

Has Williams really done his ankle in or is it a confidence thing?

Think we will win 1-0,one of the Spurs guys to score

He has not been given a fair crack of the ship thats for certain.

And for Williams....I hear he is nowhere near fully fit from his last enforced break and has been carrying the injury while we badly needed bodies on the pitch.

I like the the lineup however if it turns out that Ferry is out on the wing then its a shit lineup.

If that's true (not saying its not) why didn't we bring in another striker when we had the chance?

Anyone got any streams?

Yep...he didn't look happy there on Saturday.

Fancy us to win.

Donny crap at home (just like us)

Also there is less pressure then in the last 2 home games as we were expected to get 6 points.  

Donny are the home team and will have to go for it.  Im just hoping we can pick them off.  

Happy to see Collins and Rooney start, as i dont think we have seen to the full extent how good a partnership they may well be.

Williams definitely has looked out of sorts fitness wise for a while, which has probably not helped with his confidence.

Irrelevant of whether he was carrying an injury, we needed another striker bringing in for competition.  I can't understand why we didn't have somebody lined up.

Blimey,Town are favourites on Bet365

any idea when the team left for Doncaster
if I'd been manager I would have insisted on a Sunday journey , hotel, short sharp training session about 9am
then relax before KO

Apparently it wasnt for a want of trying to get a striker in, but I too am surprised we didn't sign a loan striker but I put some of that down to the speed of which the embargo was lifted being so close to the deadline.

They left at lunch time yesterday

Jesus just seen the pitch at Donny.....more sand than Weston beach.

Lucien thanks
and thank goodness
can't imagine playing straight after a coach journey like that
COYRs

I didn't know that Doncaster had a beach...

Picture from The Flash of the ground

[url width=800 height=299]http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g171/jjedmunds/photo-1_zps77c14b5f.jpg[/url]

Do they still share with the egg chasers?

Pitch was never going to be good if that is the case

here's a link:


http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=197772&part=sports (http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=197772&part=sports)

Sky once again proving they are ignorant cunts, the Spurs kids didn't make their debuts against Cov!

Just home in time for kick off, hope we can get a result today would love a win. It'll be a tight one today 2-1 to us.

Not ignorant just patronising and fucking lazy.

The pitch looks awful, it looks worse than the patches of grass where the snow has melted here!

Shame that Thompson is out but Byrne got good reviews on here. Does Cotterill play left or right? Hopefully he's not up against McCormack as he has a habit of getting locked into personal battles that he loses.

Donny played Cov on Friday...

I can't figure out the formation?

We're playing really deep again.  More likely to get caught out.

How is that not a foul?

Stop going on about him!

That was the best part of a minute they spent dribbling on about our ex manager.

Fuck off Sky

This forum has been all about PDC since yesterday evening.

Paolo who?

They haven't got much else to talk about have they?

Games provided nothing.

Reminiscent of the Yeovil game (the last game I saw) so far...scrappy and not a lot happening.

Internet links are awful

Has Rooney touched it yet?!

I don't think so.

Like the cabbage patch of the pitch.

Just a load of hoof from both sides at the moment.

This is pretty dire.

We literally haven't done anything from an attacking sense in the 20 mins.

This might have to be a smash and grab job

It would help if we'd stop hoofing it... Collins has won bugger all.

I think even Vic Morgan would have struggled to make this sound interesting.

ooooh!!!!!!!!! Rooney nearly touched the ball there

Lucky not to give away a penalty.

Get away with it?

Firman ran into Flint - that's not a fucking foul, ever...

If it had been the other way, we'd have been screaming for it.

Furman got the first touch, Flint then took it off his foot with his thigh... not sure what the problem is.

I'd have claimed it if it was for us though...

Definitely missing the pace of Williams

but he's shit, isn't he?

yeah-I forgot!Byrne again impressive

Twitchy bum

McCormack seems a bit of a weak link at the moment.

Alan Mac nearly gives another goal away. He's not a left back is he?

Macca what the fuck are you playing at.

sort yer gangly limbs out Flint

Ward got Flint/McCormack out of trouble there.

On this pitch just clear your lines.

So are we holding our own or under the cosh

I want to see us go for the win we aren't offering anything. Get Collins and Rooney in the middle and get some wingers on.

Wouldn't say we're under the cosh. Both sides haven't create much.

Doncaster's biggest threat seems to be long throws.

Thanks.

Aye, this formation will do if we want a point.  Need to change if we want any chance of more than that, no one is getting near Collins to support him.

McCormack giving the ball away continually.

Has either team created a chance yet.

Don't think either keeper had to make a save did they?

Give it 15 minutes then get some wingers on and have a go.

Things can only get better!!  We could try playing with a bit of conviction.  Are Collins and Rooney actually playing?

Doncaster much the better side without creating many clear cut chances.

Swindon restricted to long shots.

Kind of the same first half as against Yeovil.  Just hoping we have better fitness levels then Doncaster for the second half.

Why do they keep going on about that "penalty"?Nothing in it-nothing at all!

Doncaster haven't been any better than us.

We're not getting players forward quickly enough and playing deep. I guess MacDonald is hoping we get something on the break.

Two shit sides on a shit pitch. I can't see either winning promotion.

Ref got the pen call spot on, flint got the ball as well.

Struggling to control the ball by the looks of it, not sure if that's because of the pitch but wouldn't be surprised because it looks gash. Ferry looking lost at times and macca can't stop giving the ball away. That said, donny haven't done much with all the ball they've had either.

Totally disagree.  Both teams cancelled each other out hence the shitness of it

No. It's a shit game on a horrible pitch (which is what I thought it would be.) There's no way they are much the better side. A slight edge perhaps, but that's all.

i suppose they were the closest to scoring but we pretty much gave them it

I agree Adje, but I suppose it they hadn't manufactured a 'penalty incident' they would have literally fuck all to talk about at half time.

scrappy game, shit pitch. hope 2nd half is better.

Williams up front on his own just isn't working. I'd like to see Collins and Rooney on second half.

Oh...wait a minute...

Parrett doesn't like fighting for the ball after he has lost it - not used to playing this sort of game on this sort of surface.

Both players seem to do better as subs. 

Football on sand? They're not beach footballers!

Who is the "pundit" on this game, I missed it at the start?

Agreed. Maybe bring on Roberts?

Andy Hinchcliffe -Thank God we get the day off from Don 'Bad Hair Day' Goodman.

On the telly? Andy Hinchcliffe

Playing them upfront together might be a start.

Paynter to score the winner.

Thought as much. Clueless prick. Hinchcliffe, not you Nemo.

You are preaching to the converted.

Would have been a fair comment on me too, carry on.

Second game in a row where the 4-5-1 has led to us having less possession than the 4-4-2 used to. That's not to say the 4-5-1 won't work only that it's not working with these players (worked before the Tottenham loanees came in). I have no idea what Parret's role in this formation is and I don't think he does either. Need Ferry in the centre with Luongo with some width either side and 2 strikers up front together so they can work off each other.

First time i've seen another team look like they're working harder than us closing down space and generally wanting it more.

Also, the commentators are embarrassingly bad. Hope for a better second half.

No offense to the lad but is Navarro a bit, well, fat?  :I'm a complete mofleakin Deak

dunno but his missus isn't doing much to disprove the pigshit Scouse stereotype
https://twitter.com/NatNavsXx/status/318694092651524096

That was Donny's first shot on target against us in a game and a half...

They didn't have one at the CG.

Christ, thought that was in.

This is painful watching!

We haven't turned up this half, only a matter of time now...

Why have we stopped challenging for headers?

One of their defenders just took one of our long balls down on their chest in his own area... We're getting nowhere near them.

Just fuck off McCormack!!

fucking hell, look around McCormack

You would though, wouldn't yer.

  :nod:

Is Mark Francis a left back?

striker

Something needs to change here.

He's as much a left back as Macca is...

shame

We have been absolute dog shit I would take 0 0 now

just me who'd take a point then?

Is Brian Flynn a Goblin?

I'd have took a point today before we dropped 2 against Oldham on Friday.

Time to swap Navarro and Parrett/the other one for Rafa and Roberts and go 442.

FFS Hinchcliffe shut up about that mythical penalty you prat!

Got to bring on someone with the potential ability to create something in the final 3rd.

RDV, Rooney or Roberts

He's not exactly shone but I quite like the look of parrett.

Byrne having a bit of a mare.  Cotterill has him on tap

We're too slow to the second ball.  Parrett is a bit greedy.

What does this even mean?

Parrett is a shit Andy Williams  :)

it means he can turn him on and off whenever he requires some form of liquid

Quite a talent.

brilliant save from Wes

Foderingham saves us.

Macdonald needs to change it or we're going to lose this.

This is awful

great save fod

I'd take a draw, purely because I can't see us creating a single clear chance

Give it a rest Hinchcliffe! Fuck sake!

That was more of a pen than the shout in the 1st half

God we are shit.

We need to change this now

KMac seems to have come over all Hodgson-like

It still baffles me that we didn't bring in a striker on loan?!

Collins and Rooney have done nothing today.

can't understand why no change. Morshead said on Twitter about 10 mins ago that Rooney and Roberts were warming up.

Yep, but Macdonald seems a bit slow on the uptake.  Probably going to wait until we go behind.

A lot harder to bring in a striker on loan, no doubt we'd have ended up with a Slabber or some kid with no experience

They need support which has sadly been lacking

I think we need to wake up and smell the coffee but we are not very good

Get some fucking wingers on.

Ferry is offering absolutely nothing being stuck on the right, I fail to why KMac is persisting with it.

McCormack is getting on my nerves!

Good research there Hinchcliffe

McCormack is going to cost us before long

Fucking shit. What runs through his head when he is watching this? Get it past half way and lose it. If we lose 1 nil we are going to regret it big time, 0 shots on target just go for it!

Ferry being wasted has been evident from kmacs first game v Coventry. Most odd he's still there now I agree

That pass was telegraphed...but it wasn't a free kick.

Thank fuck for Wes!

Yes we are shit but overall this is a terrible advert for L1. This is 1st v 4th FFS ::)

This is ridiculous.  I've not had much of an opinion on KMac, but I'm starting to feel a bit concerned.  Is he fucking blind?

[url width=400 height=300]http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/36905054.jpg[/url]

I'm just glad that Donny have missed a tricked a not played Cotterill down the right. He'd have Macca in his pocket and we'd be fucked!!

Both of these team would struggle to get 30 points in the championship

The lack of change screams that KMac is very happy with a point.

Not good enough! Bring on Roberts and Rafa!!

 :(Fods best player out there.

We have no interest in winning this game which given our position is stupid.

Too late now.

FUCK

Well there's a shock.

Been coming, can we make some changes now?

About time

That was as inevitable as the passage of time.

No more than both teams deserved

fucks sake

That has been coming not fucking good enough against a fucking shit goofball team we won't make the playoffs

Now we're fucked.

He'll make some changes now! Twat!

Got we deserved

NOW WE MAKE A FUCKING CHANGE.........FFS..... :crash: :crash: :crash: :crash: :crash:

Complete and utter shite today. Clueless

Fully deserved for our performance today. Utterly utterly inept all over the pitch (wes aside)

didnt see that coming

I'm not actually bothered. We were never going to win promotion under Hart.

No surprise there

What a fucking joke.  Macdonald can fuck off to be honest.  Too late.

what?

We were definitely going for a 0-0 then... I hate that tactic.

I think he's likening Macdonald to Hart.

No shots on target says he's not wide of the mark.

So do I

It is like being put in a time machine and going back 4 years this has all the hallmarks of a malpas team with a dour uninspiring Scotsman in charge

The more the season goes on the more I think KMac was the wrong choice.

Given we were near the top and doing well was there any need to change the formation and style of play?

He's changed too much too soon. Might turn out to do well for us but think he's got this season wrong. He's tampered too much with what was a winning formula.

it's only one game, a bit premature to be making comparisons to Hart. we've been too negative today and it has cost us but you can't say it's anything near as bad as we were under Hart.

typical fucking kneejerk Town fan reaction

Although, despite the shit tactics, there have been a lot of poor individual performances too.

What a load of shite!  We are going backwards unfortunately.

Williams has been shit today...  I blame him...

Promotion can fuck off. The play offs can fuck off. This season can fuck off. KMac can fuck off and most of all Alan Mac can fuck off.

We can't even pass the bloody thing to each other. Very disappointing result and performance.

That's your opinion, which may be wrong.

christ. we'll still be in the playoff positions by 5pm today unless all 3 teams below us win.

Why did he change things so late? He should of changed 20 minutes before he did. Awful. ferry in the right is the such a bad choice.

I didn't make the comparison.

today has been a total and unmitigated disaster but at least give him until the end of the season to prove himself. no point getting on his back when we're still in with a shot of promotion.

Rooney should be playing through the middle as well.  Too many players playing in wrong positions.

Bit harsh on McCormack. He's had a stinker today, yes. But he's still one of our better players!

Strange because in previous games against Coventry and Yeovil he has in my opinion got the starting tactics wrong but got the changes spot on and at the right time.

Not today. Clearly went up there for a 0-0. Was never going to get it.

First poor game under KMac, but a lot of our idiot fans think 442 is the only way to play!!!

Awful pitch meant the game was going to be played in the air. Rooney and Collins couldn't win anything against their giant team. The smaller lads god bullied (byrne, parrett, ferry).

Didnt expect much from this game. Doncaster will win the league, they are a big powerful team who last year where in the championship. Give us an idea of the sort of power our team is missing my eyes. Its the same problem we had under Wilson. You've got to be able to play football but also be powerful. This game was much like our games against Millwall at the end of that season.

Not so good.

Seems we should have made some changes earlier - just like it might have happened under an earlier manager of ours..... ;)

How do you take a team that looks good for top 2 and turn them into a team that looks like a bottom of the league side in 4 weeks unbelievable

The KMac/Hart comparisons are laughable unless you are judging it just on this game I suppose

Absolute shocker

I would like to share your optimism but whilst being optimistic by nature, sadly I can't.

I hated watching every last second of that.

Absolutely fucking dire not one single effort on goal a fucking joke

Brilliant overreaction

Bit shit that.

Feel for the fans who travelled, that's a long way to go for a game that bad and a result that bad.

We need to get back on form quickly.

Absolute crap, too many players off the pace today, too much hit and hope, not enough challenge where it was wanted.  2 wins from 9 games is not promotion form, no shots on target is pathetic.

That was fucking inept. Good tactician, playing 4-6-0 fuck me ragged that was embarrassing.

awful tactics, awful performances from the team, awful inaction from MacDonald.

still in the playoffs.

Ferry in the centre makes the whole side tick. Ferry on the right doesn't.

Kmac got everything wrong today, but the first time he's done so in my opinion, so still needs to be cut a little slack.  

today poor team selection - poor tactics  and particularly shoddy second half on a sand pit................. why is kmac continuing to play ferry at right side midfield. Need to pick ourselves up vs. Crewe  so we don't drop out of play off positions we can forget automatic places now.

that was utter shit. we looked flat and with no direcetion. we did well to hang on to the game for as long as we did.

It's not just this game though. He is late to make changes in every game. The reason everyone is pissed off about not playing 442 is because there was no need to change! We were near the top because the players performed more often than not in that formation.

Swindon Town offered very little here this afternoon.  Sums it up, utter shit and feel for those who made the trek up there.

You honestly think we will make the playoffs on current form ?

I know Sky generally give man of the match to someone on the winning team but surely Fods was the best player on that beach today.

Just my opinion after watching every game under Kmac (yes two on telly  :)). There wasn't any need to change the formation so late in the season, particularly as we've played 442 for the past two seasons. Its probably going to cost us promotion.

We play Franchise next...

Subs were too late to have any impact. I'm embarrassed really that we went and played so negatively, I would have expected a bit more of an attempt to get forward and create chances, even away at the league leaders.

At least the Umbono has been lifted

That was dog shit, no shots on target  :crash:  :doh:

The top 6/7 has been changing all season long, we have just as much chance as most around us of finishing top 6

Sad thing about that game was Doncaster were there for the taking.  They struggled to create many clear cut chances.

Just getting annoyed that players like Ferry and Rooney are being played out of position.  

I guess I can't comment as I've not seen us this season but the decision to change the system puzzles me as well, especially when it was clear that continuity would be important following Di Canio's exit.

It's the comments about Hart, Malpas, worst team in the division - those are just making me fucking cringe. Our form has been indfferent of late but we're still in with a shout of promotion, why is everyone slitting their wrists?

As for today, nothing needs to be said really

The Williams haters can say what they want, we were crying out for a bit of pace today and he would have supplied it.  For fuck's sake, go back to 4-4-2 with Collins and Williams in the middle.  Hope Willo is not out for too long, got 8 days now to re-shape and get going again.

We've been fearless all season haven't sat back and tried to win every game, today in our biggest game of the season we were negative, sat back and looked for a point. That is what annoys me the most.

Utter shite today, Donny deserved it and I think we'll struggle to make top 6 based on todays performance and dropping big points at home lately...will leave it at that

yep.

Hopefully MacDonald will realise this system isn't going to work and he'll change it up a bit.

It sure was piss.

Loads of love on the  bbc text for KMac

Agree with you there.

The comparisons to Hart are based purely on the formation. Playing only one striker up front only works if you've got top quality players. Sadly we haven't.

As crap as today was, losing 1-0 away to the team that will almost certainly win the league is not relegation form. Perspective is sorely lacking.

As is the usual for Swindon fans following any kind of defeat or lack of home victory.

Personally I think we were lucky to only lose 1-0. The football we played today was awful. Not having a single shot on target speaks volumes. It's not looking good.

This. I like Andy Williams - he may be shit in front of goal but his bursting runs have resulted in plenty of goals for others (well they did until we changed the formation  ;).

Four players who have been pretty key missing today as well - Williams, Thompson, Miller and McEveley. 

Looking at our last 5 games, I'm really not sure where I see a win coming from to be honest. We could be totally reliant on those around us dropping points to make the play offs. 

Doncaster didn't create that much either, nearly scored through a combined balls up from McCormack and then Flint, two slight penalty shouts turned down and they finally took a chance at a set piece. As shit we were they by no means outclassed us which to me says a lot about the quality of the top 6.

That suggests that Doncaster were really good and we actually put up quite a good fight and were a bit unlucky. That's not perspective, it's putting a totally slanted view on the game. The fact is that the way we played was much, much closer to relegation form than it was to promotion form.

2 wins from 9 is enough to press the panic button when there is so few games remaining. fans can accept poor results when your team goes for it. I was mightily pissed off against oldham because the result was shit but we had 20 attempts and should have won. Today was one massive fuckup and there is nothing worse than looking for a point and not getting it.

We'll beat Stevenage & Crewe, get at least 2 points from the remaining three away games.

I don't get why people are acting as if this is the first time we've played badly all season. It isn't, we played badly under PDC (with better players). A lot of the knee jerk reactions and abuse of KMAC i'm seeing on twitter is completely unnecessary

They pressed us for the entire game. We never looked like scoring, Doncaster did. Maybe not outclassed but certainly outplayed.

I do hope you're right, but based on our current home form, I can't see past draws.

in a 4-5-1 neither of those would have made a difference. miller would be a swap for navarro offering nothing more. mceverley would have defended better than Mac but again no positive. Williams running round on his own up front instead of collins again debatable. the only possible positive would have been thompson but byrne did get forward when possible only to have to run back again when we gave the ball up.

At this stage of the season, it's not about quality, but grinding out results. Donny did that today we didn't. Losing wasn't exactly a surprise...STFC graveyard, terrible pitch and  relying on 3 inexperienced Prem kids.

That was beyond woeful. Donny were deffo the better side and deserved the win today.

We set up like we did against Yeovil which was fine however we gave them too much space and time on the ball too often. We wasted possession too much by trying to be too patient and passing the ball to feet all the time instead of looking for forward runs from our players.

The sussed us out at HT and pressed us hard in the 2nd half and then exploited the space on the wings (both FBs were very poor for us today). KMAC should have changed it sooner why on earth he didn't I don't know. Changing it at 1-0 down on 82 mins an is not a positive change in my eyes. He should have changed it on the hour mark as you could see what direction the game was heading in. It was almost as if we were holding out for the draw today from the off.

Macca was shocking, Bryne useless positionally and physically. Parrett was too selfish and often decided to run at defenders without looking or picking out a pass. Luongo and Ferry were probably the only players to impress me today and I felt sorry for Rooney out on the wing as he had no service at all.

Overall we went out with a whimper today. That's not the same team we were watching a few months back. We need the passion and fight back really soon or else we're in danger of not even making the top 7 which would be very disappointing given the position we were in a month ago.

We never looked like creating a half chance, let alone scoring! You're right, they outplayed us, perhaps because they're better adjusted to playing in a sandpit but they looked nothing like a top of the table side and neither did we look lik a bottom of the league side.

Luongo was one of the only players to come out of today with any credit, so not entirely in agreement with that. The fact we could only bring them in at the last minute cost us, dropping points at home in games we dominated is where we struggled.

Dreadful game played with 2 dreadful teams on a dreadful pitch.

I think we should be keeping an eye on 6th and forget about 1st/2nd.

I think I'm trying to cling onto a little bit of hope that our best team wasn't out there  :)

I don't think not making the PO's would be the worst thing in the world...we don't feel like a promotion side...still too much instabilty in the background.

the realisation we are out of the automatics race and face a fight for the playoffs isn't going to lead to much can positivity

I think the opposite. I wonder what will happen if we don't go up this season given all the uncertainty at the moment.

Missed the footy.

Had to go to pattaya and didn;t know it was on earlier. Doesn;t sound as though I missed much.

Don't agree with that, Donny were decent.

We were fucking shit, no attacking ambition, we clearly went there for a point. Luongo and Byrne were solid enough as were flint and Ward. No one else came out of that with any credit, least so McCormack who was an absolute liability at LB.

We were second to every single ball, they closed us down all over the pitch and won every header. That was as clear an example of one team wanting it more than the other as you're ever likely to see. Really hope that isn't a sign of whats to come for the rest of the run-in

Nice, quiet place to go. Nothing going on there at all.

 :girlgiggle:           :wink: :eek: :nod: :clap: :headhurts:

Saves me posting to much.

Dreadfull.

We'll continue with the instabilty...that can only be addressed by owners who don't look fly by night, giving a manager time to develop a team, this will potentially be easier where we are.

To be honest, if we got promoted, how many of our current squad are championship standard?  Few and without wholesale changes we'd run the risk of coming straight back down (as will any of the teams that go up).

That said, it would be massively disappointing not to make the PO's from the position we've been in for so long.  If we can't get out of such a poor League 1, when will we manage it?  There's a real risk next season could end up being 2011 all over again.

I'm more worried by the budget. It's very much make or break in terms of trying to go up this season as we cannot sustain this wage bill next season in L1.

STFC player has turned Into Swedish radio. Weird

Our owners are already looking to sell and our manager is currently receiving widespread criticism - failure to win promotion could be disastrous

Well that was horrible to have to watch.

From what I saw, both teams were pretty shit, on a guff pitch. But Donny were less shit than us and managed to play the pitch much better a majority of the time.

A lot of people moaning about the lack of changes and formation choice, which I agree is very frustrating but to be honest I don't think the changes coming earlier or a different formation would have made any difference at all, all of our players looked absolute dog shite on the ball, couldn't control it, could barely pass it and were soon harried off it by the donny players whose close control and passing was much more consistent. De vita and GRobs were just as bad when they came on eventually.

Looks like we'll be playing for the play-offs now, the thought of having to go to wembley again is harrowing, but I don't think we'll have a choice. I'd be really concerned if that was one of a few games in a row that we've been awful but the fact that we've been playing reasonably well under kmac although not getting great results and have only really looked crap playing a top of the table team on an awful away pitch...I still hold some hope. Still time to get things right leading up to the playoffs...assuming we get there of course  :headhurts:

That's why I've said judge MacDonald on next season...he'll have an opportunity, to develop his own side, and any sensible Town fan will realise, that avoiding another 2011, should be the first aim, then anything else a bonus.

I've seen some shit in the Championship this season...David Prutton, Jack Smith, they're not all world beaters.

Put like that, it's a bit of a mess  :(

I'll seek confirmation from Flasheart or Venkman on this, but haven't the Board said next season's budget will be the same as this?

I don't know Reg!

Was that a dig? A tad needless isn't it?

I had hoped for a bit more from DoB on this, but I don't think we can make this assumption without a bit more to back it up.

Exactly...but it's only a mess if you believe a vague rumour mentioned in passing by one person and listen to the kneejerk reactions of the mentally challenged individuals who text into Radio Swindon whenever we lose.

Reg - not sure the board have commented on budget for next season, they've barely mentioned any kind of plan at all.


He is usually spot on with stuff but it's plausible. I honestly can't see it happening though.

That is three sweeping statements in one hit.

so you know the owners are looking to sell as being fact? I cannot say your wrong because I do not have that at first hand. So you'll forgive my termerity when I ask how you know this?

I bet Kmac is recieving widespread criticism, that's town fans for you and Louiscassius  ;)

Not sure about the last one, disapointing yes, disasterous? depends on so many variables next season ans so IMHO to early to say.

very much this.

Plus even if jedco are able to stableise off field these opportunities don't come along to often.

Still just as you often think the worst we may suddenly find form and make the playoffs d with momentum. Football can be like that.

Back to formation, or rather personnel. I'm still a bit baffled why RDV and Roberts are out the team in favour of untested youngsters.

Absolutely not...just as a fence sitter, you usually have examples of such quotes to hand. I must admit to being surprised when I read this about next season...putting it down to Jed saying what he wants us to hear.

very

very

very

So you're very, very, very worried.

DoB's boys were mascots on Friday, so he was in the Executive suite.  I assume he's been privvy to some infomation/conversation in there?

And Batch is so worried, he's posted very four times  :)

I was making a point.

Duke of Banbury posted in the last matchday thread that he'd heard that new owners are looking to sell at end of season.
MacDonald will destroy the club if you believe some of the somewhat braincell challenged people on the Adver site.
We've got no money and can't sustain ourselves without promotion.

If you believe those three vague and unsubstantiated statements then yes, you might as well hang yourself.

Bournemouth 1-0 up

Forgive me, I've had a long day and am tired.

There was some mention of the budget being maintained as it is (at the Q&A I think), although I am unsure as to whether that was in reference to next season or not. Some who was at the meeting might know.

Sorry about that. Phone having a spaz

For such a bombshell, it does seem a bit odd, that he's the only source, and it should just drop out casually during hospitality.

MK beating Brentford

This is what I thought.

On a lighter note, I reckon our masterplan is to meet Sheff Utd in the play-off final and create a black hole in London.

Donny were shit and we were worse. Allan mac was shocking, as bad as a bad McEveley. We had no midfield and no attack. Collins is probably still in Jones pocket. Apart from Flint, Ward, Fods and Luongo, I'm struggling to think of anyone who wasn't shit.
KMac got it very wrong today but its still early days for him and he was handed a poisoned chalice. I'll judge him next season.

Banbury did say it was rumour didn't he. You'd give what he says some weight though

Agreed, but DOB doesn't strike me as a scaremonger who would post something like that unless it was genuine.

Soul-destroyingly feckless performance.

Was basically a mirror image of the game at the County Ground except we didn't get the luck they did with the OG that day.

If we aren't going to win at home then we HAVE to go for it away. Very concerned we seemed to be going for a draw from the outset.

Parret shouldn't be let anywhere near the first team again IMO: no effort, bad attitude and poor decision making. At least Luongo looks like he's got some fight to his game. Just wish he could have been playing as a partner to Ferry instead of as a (whatsamacallit?) in a (thingamyjig?) formation as he generally ended up isolated with Navarro hanging back behind him and Ferry lost out on the wing  :facepalm: unable to effect the game.

McCormack  :eek: I don't even know where to begin. Looked more of a liability than Jay Maceverly which is pretty damning criticism from me.

First time I've felt there's a real chance of not making the play-offs. Don't really know what the silver-lining is out of that.

True, but I'd expect a bit more explanation to back it up...especially as the end of season deadline less than 4 weeks away.

Mostly agree but we desperately need a centre back who can play with the ball at his feet,not just heading it straight back to Donny like today.The Spurs lads all wanted too much time on the ball and Parrett should be ashamed of himself for his dive.Probably the most inept performance from a Town side for a long time

Wasn't aware of what DOB said so still no real stustance, though I understand why you posted that. Kmac we agree on. That fleshes out your third point. No I won't hang myself because (although I'm not Wembley etc etc & PL etc etc) I will still be sat in my seat in the DRS next season with renewed hope and optimism and God willing the season after etc.

Fuck me it's been a long season has it not?

If anyone wants a laugh, check out the comments section on the Adver site because there are some fucking gems on there - Byrne the worst defender to ever play for us, board trying to stop us from being promoted and someone thinks we should change manager again

Fair point Reg. However regardless of deadlines Black confirmed when he sold the club that he was very close to selling it last summer and no one heard a peep about that and he claimed that deal was very close.

I have my doubts as well however it seems strange that the board have not given us a vision beyond this season or indeed any real indication of anything longer term. It does make me wonder if they're just hoping for promotion and then a quick buck. But then again there is no real substance to back that theory up so it's based on pure guesswork.

Just back from the pub having watched it there with a bunch of people who are not die-hard fans but want the Town to do well, and the consensus of opinion was that we were the poorer of two poor sides who would struggle in the Championship without doubt.

When KMac was appointed, all the background info. was that of a man who was steeped in teams playing football and by that I would assume it meant keeping the ball and working it around on the ground consequently making and taking chances, but currently that is just not happening. Perhaps the players he was used to working with are were far better than the current ones he has but I am at a loss to understand his tactics and as far as I am concerned this has cost us dear recently.

It was crying out for changes to be made early in the second half as we had no width to speak of and very little constructive midfield play and were outfought too many times by a team that evidently wanted to win more than us (which basically pisses me off more than anything else).

Many years ago Cloughie always maintained that any substitution should be made no less than thirty minutes to go so that players could get into the game and I have always seen that as pure common sense so why bring on subs with ten to go and chasing the game is clutching at straws imo.

I am now being rather resigned to play-offs at best and not confident with that scenario either.

 :no:

This is all the duke said when asked why he thought we'd have new owners...

That kind of backs up my point though...selling a club, shouldn't be something which just casually drops into te public domain, although having heard some stuff about the Board's modus operandi on here, a bit of banter after a few beers seems plausible.

HT in all the 3pm fixtures, down to 5th and only above Yeovil on goal difference (which may come in handy).

Bournemouth and Yeovil winning, Brentford losing, Sheff Utd and Tranmere drawing.

Walsall and Orient also winning.

This is (was) our best chance to get promoted. If we don't do it this season we probably never will.

Our last two play off seasons have been followed up by huge steps backwards.

Haven't seen the abuse but MacDonald hasn't been a very good manager thus far.

Don't worry...all those games wont stay that way.

One of Di Canio's best skills was his knack for the game changing substitution, and he didn't care if it was the 45th or even the 19th minute.

Seems quite a contrast to the current manager


I'll probably get slaughtered for mentioning the unmentionable, but I think it is the elephant in the room so to speak

Just home, that was truly awful.

And whilst its just one game, the concern is that Kev Mac didn't appear to know what to do to change it. In fact he waited until we had conceded to make the subs.

If we are going to just capitulate like that, Id rather we said fuck if & went for it hung ho & lost.

That really was the least inspiring performance since Paul Hart.

Also worth noting he who shan't be named would never ever set his team up to play for a point.

Yeovil 1-1

Since when are we not allowed to say Paolo Di Canio?

edit: definitely agree that he had a knack for substitutions

Yeovil 2-1 up

I don't expect a man of your calibre, to rewrite history....but the season after the Brighton debacle, we went to MKD with 7 games to go 3 points off a PO place...Grunt Sniff missed a last minute pen to win it, and we fell away.

It was the following season after the departure of Parkin, and a reduced budget we went down...which emphasises my point, that we'll lose players in the summer, and with a likely reduced budget, MacDonald is going to have to prove his worth to avoid the yo-yo

Pompey beating Trannies

Uninspiring manager was always going to breed uninspiring football.

You can all call me a cunt but I'm right

I didn't rewrite history Reg. I claimed we went backwards. Play Off semi finalists to 12th is backwards.

...and I still don't know why Super Sam didn't take that penalty.

Just got back, shocking performance, as bad as I've seen since the Hart days.  I never expected us to go for the draw, certainly not after dropping points on Friday.  

Really disappointed and confused, we were crying out for subs after 60 minutes, it was obvious we were losing the midfield & we needed Ferry back in the middle, the Spurs trio didn't seem up for it & they were particularly frustrating, all of them!  Felt for Collins today as he continuously had the ball lumped to him, I don't think we won any of the headers in their half.  Ferry & Rooney ran their socks off.  Macca is a decent cm, but not a very good lb, as with the Oldham game he's becoming a liability.

We now find ourselves scrapping for a PO, not automatic unless we find some form & passion quickly that might a long shot.

But not hugely backwards though...I don't know why SSP didn't either.

And it took another 6 years to make it back to the same position, but fall at the final hurdle.

Terrible match.  McCormack was awful and it was bloody freeeeeezing [url width=20 height=25]http://clipartist.net/RSS/openclipart.org/2012/March/SVG/Linux/tux_the_penguin_linux-999px.png[/url]

OHanlon off v Sheff Utd

well could have been worse

Down to 5th, still in the play-offs. Let's hope KMac learns from today and changes things up accordingly for next week. A good break.

Fucking hell, to be a Swindon fan :suicide:

I get that some people are upset at the performance, but having just read through this thread I fear for some TEFers' well being tonight.

Yes, a dismal performance on a shit pitch. But Donny didn't offer much either and the only real threat came from Cotterill although his delivery was somewhat lacking.

I think KMac showed a little bit of inexperience and naivety by sticking with his one up front against two centre backs who'll head rocks all day long. Zero shots on target is pretty criminal for a side aiming for automatic promotion though. Our game was crying out for a little bit of pace in behind their back line.

For me, if we end up in the play-offs then so be it. I don't think our form all season long has warranted an auto promotion place. I'd be extremely happy with finishing in the top 6 after only being promoted back into this league last season.

against yeovil it was exactly the same, but we actually got our foot on the ball in midfield and played to williams' feet after 45 minutes of watching lurch 1 and lurch 2 head it out. as a result we  brought people into the game and didn't rely on the second ball every time. however with the lethargy in the midfield today we were never going to do this and we're doomed.

It was cold.

Thats all i have to say.

Not a happy chappy tonight.

It really is a topsy turvy league.  We only manage a point at home to Notts County and Yeovil go and beat them away.

Doncaster and Bournemouth to take the top 2 spots I think.  They seem to be grinding out the 1-0 wins when required.  POs I reckon are still up for grabs down to Franchise in 10th.

Gotta say I agree totally with that Sam.

I think Sheff U and Donny will get top 2. Nervously looking over our shoulders now as Walsall and Yeovil close in on us but 7-9 points should be enough.

Well, having had enough time to reflect on that piss poor performance the thing that worries me is how half-hearted we seem to have become, ball bouncing about in mid-field always seemed to be easily taken by the opponents - and it's an issue that is creeping into home games as well.  The lack of ambition and urgency is worrying, we didn't step up to it on Friday until falling behind - and swapping to a 4-4-2.  Wes and the centre-backs are the only players who can take any credit from today, surely Devera (if genuinely fit) would make a better full back than Macca - he was another that was so sloppy yet our only threatening efforts were when he ran with the ball. 

Has this coincided with Ferry being moved out wide?

Yes. Plus Miller and or McCormack


No idea how fit some of our injured or just returned from being injured players are but if possible next game needs to be

Wes
Thompson, Flint, Ward, McEveley
Roberts, Ferry, McCormack, De Vita
Williams, Collins

Bedwell, Devera, Rooney x2, Spurs lads x3

I hope we don't HAVE to play our loan players.

 Have to say it very strange all three have been thrown in at once,really does seem to have affected the balance off the team.

I hate away matches. I'm done with them.

:-)

Admittedly the ramblings of a man who has drunken way too much for 6.29 on a Monday afternoon but....

FUCK OFF Kevin MacDonald you negative clueless cunt. Our chances of promotion are now going to be ruined by Paul Hart and Maurice Malpas's lovechild. I have been immensely positive and rejected any negative feelings up until now if only to put a brave face on the shite you have served up in recent weeks but enough is enough. I can face falling out of the position we held but if that lackluster effortless spasticated  poor excuse for a performance is now going to be the norm for Swindon Town you can fuck off. Gutted I've renewed my season ticket.

Most of the peoples reactions are on todays performance....which was woeful.

If a fan can't critisize the team today....then they never will.

We all appreciate and applaud the team when they do the biz.....on the flipside is today.

I wouldn't care if we were ten points clear and already up.....i still would not be happy with what i watched today.

This is the matchday thread....so todays match is what is being talked about.

Like you Sam i agree on the top 6 spot scenario...but i think todays performance was always going to receive negative comments.

Quoting this so you can't delete it when sober.

This is my favoured lineup, especially at home. If Thompson and Williams are injured then Rooney and devera deputise.

haha lovely, what's done is done. I will wake up tomorrow and everything will be rosey and well, as long as i'm not hungover.

But we were all crying out for new faces a couple of weeks ago

Well i wasn't.

A fresh striker maybe but no more.

We needed them but perhaps not all at the same time. It's a bit Wembley 2012 isn't it?

We needed to bolster the squad definitely. Apart from a different type of striker we were crying out for bodies more so than specific positions or even people for the first 11

New faces good, didn't expect them to be straight in at this critical juncture though. Asking a lot of yoofs.

I think it has!!  But really our form has gone downhill since Ritchie was sold - we all know the reasons for it and no use crying over spilt milk! 

I didn't think we'd miss him as much as we have...

In my view Kmac has done ok but not today.

That was a load of clueless bollocks.......changes it too fucking late.....on a Paul Hart style wank formation.

Gets in a trio of handy players in positions which really aren't our Achilles heel.....WE NEED A FUCKING STRIKER!!!!!!!  A big target man to knock the ball over the line.....nothing else is really required.

AND....why didn't we cross the ball when we had the chance? Tap it back, tap it inside, tap it forward .....give the ball away.

No shots on target is a fucking joke

Play offs at very best and they can fuck off.

Now we have to sit back and watch Bmuff tin pot cunts win promotion as even Brentford have stopped winning......please...please not those 3 stand wankers.

I'm fucked off!

Just back off holiday and watched a recording of the match. Thought we looked very poor. We had noone up front and midfielders who seemed to want to run with the ball and not pass it.

Positives for me were a good save from Fodderingham and a strong performance from Flint - Although a different ref may have given 2 penalties against him. I thought Bryant looked an adequate replacement and right back, if a little lightweight.

I thought Navarro looked fat. McCormack had a bit of a stinker. Parrett looked like Kevin the teenager everytime he lost the ball. Ullongo has one foot and likes to run with the ball. Collins and Rooney were awful. Ferry looked lost on the right. Roberts and DeVita didn't get into the game.

Apart from that, we looked like world beaters! (Groan!)

Bringing in a striker is probably a lot harder than any other position; pretty much every team with anything left to play for will be after one at this point of the season.

Another striker wouldn't have helped today anyway, we were just rubbish. Sigh.

Thank you Chalky.

That post has helped put losing a football match back into perspective for me.

Yes we may be shit but at least I'm still sane.

To be honest SY I never really bought into the Ritchie fan club, but he could do different things and score some spectacular goals, he was much better with Caddis though.  To me we are clueless at times wheres MR was prepared to try something different.

just got back.THAT WAS FUCKING DIRE.wow if we both go up we're going to set the championship alight.thought they had spiked my pint and pie and i was back at home at the seaside i even asked someone if they knew the tide times before i relised i was at the side of the pitch, we were fucking embarrasing and they bullied us off the ball all over the pitch, if they dont man up fast we are doomed.it was only my 2nd game this season .but the change in the team,and attitude is unreal.I hope K mac isnt going to be a 0-0 manager and hope to win an odd game 1 -0 .Anyway no more doom and gloom my nxt game is sheff utd so "ONWARDS AND UPWARDS"

Byrne was fucking terrible. He did put a couple of useful crosses in when he got forward, I think we should play him at right midfield.

I actually expected us to up our game after half time (a la Yeovil), but it didn't happen.  I really do wonder whether the players are buying into this formation, certainly Collins and Rooney looked disinterested at best.

Yeah because we've had a run of 0-0's since he took over haven't we...... Oh no it's happened exactly once.

Can I remind you all again:

PDC's last 6 games in charge were 3x1-1 draws, a 0-0 draw, a 1-0 win and a 2-0 win = 10 points, +3 goal difference

KMacs first 6 games have been a 2-1 win, a 2-2 draw, a 2-1 defeat, a 2-0 win, a 1-1 draw and a 0-0 draw = 9 points, +2 goal difference.

It's not a significantly different run of form is it?

People also might want to think back to PDC's FIRST 6 games in charge which started with a 0-0. followed by a run of 3 defeats (including a 5-0 kicking at home by Port Vale), and then a couple of scrappy 1-0 wins = 6 points, -6 goal difference. And that was with a team he assembled and had worked with throughout pre-season.

What?? When did that happen?

He wasn't comparing him to Paolo Di Canio though.

I'd also suggest that players with some league experience might have been more beneficial.

Oops!

That's what you get for looking back to seasons that you didn't watch. That was a 5-0 win!

Fuck that's a mad run of results at the beginning of the season. How do you win 5-0 one week and then lose to fucking Aldershot?

And SP I know he didn't make the comparison, I was just trying to make the point that the run of form we've had stretches back way beyond KMcs appointment. There was that run of great results over Christmas, and since then it's been a bit hit and miss, and the side has struggled for goals.  

In fairness, there is very little in that last paragraph which is not total bollocks.

can I suggest you actually watch the town before posting again :-[

The accuracy of the paragraph previous to that could have been better

There's bound to to be vastly more negativity (and rightly so) due to the much greater numbers who would have watched it today that otherwise wouldn't have. I think that was the worst i've seen this season for sure, but if it would have been a run of a mill saturday game with 500 away fans and a 1-0 defeat to the league leaders, there would have been moaning, but not near on wrist slitting.

Play-offs have to be the aim now. If we somehow manage to put enough results to be in for automatic come the final game or two, then of course we have to be gunning for it. For the club to still be in the position we are after the last few months is in a way a credit to the players, staff and fans. We could be in a much worse position. I remember the apathy we had against Wycombe away 3 years ago when we were last going for automatic, we must not let that happen again. FFS we have 5 games to go. We still have plenty of quality and there is still all to play for. The memories of 2010-11 should stir each of us up.

We've been spoilt after not losing many games at all over the last season and this. To give up now would be pathetic.

5 games to go. Let's go fucking mental and fight for it.

What's wrong with it?

Who created the macdonald out page on facebook then?

Fucking hell some people are lepers

God knows mate. Fucking idiots.

Absolutely everything.

Just to clarify, I was responding to the Lumps post made at 19:36:42, not the one made at 19:39:28.

The fact it seems to run through the series of results we had at the end of last season and presents them as Paolo Di Canio's first six games in charge.

Ironically I think Paolo's actual first six league games yielded even less, which would have better served his point. But we beat Bristol City in the cup so all was well in my world.

an Oxford fan?

Ah, a wee misunderstanding.

It really was dire today. Feel for the fans who made the journey up there, 600+ is bloody impressive by the way.

The fact that we were so negative is the most disappointing thing, even when they scored we never showed any desperation to score. Alan Mac was awful, Rooney and Collins might as well have stayed at home.

But we are still in the mix, and the other teams around us keep dropping points as well. Lets just make sure we get that play off spot and then anything can happen from there.

I'm sure they said on sky it was 300ish?

677 town fans went according to Doncaster

Yeah they did, not sure how they managed to be 300+ out.

I know it's not always easy to guess how many there are in the crowd, but I'd say the 677 was far closer than the 300 odd

They took the pre sold number as gospel.

MacDonald is Malpas Mk2. Whilst not going as far as going wanting him out (deserves until the end of the season) I'm far from convinced he's the man from the job. Yet again inept tactics and strategy from him, play for a point from the start, don't make changes until 10 minutes to go after we concede, fail to use the 3rd substitution, do nothing from the bench.

He may as well have watched from his sofa, he would have had the same impact as he did actually being there. What a terrible showing, the only people that deserve credit are the fans, 677 is a fantastic number, well done to you all. Also fuck you weather, bitterly cold today.

Why the fuck did we let Benson go.

We'd have at least another 4 points on the board if we had Benson. FACT!

Another player who fell out of Di Canio's favour after sticking up for Caddis and Wes apparently.  We've been crying out for a striker of his style for the last couple of months and we've got one out on loan.  Absolute joke.

Lets face it we were heading for another epic season and after today's shocker its left us all negative but just consider that :

- we've lost our best player at a crucial time
- we've lost our best manager for years manager at a crucial time
- the clubs been sold at a crucial time
- the clubs been under umbongo twice and fucked about left right and centre by the FL (?)

Is McDonald's fault the clubs fucked up our season - not from what I've seen aside from today.

2 years ago the club was in a terrible state and now we are fighting for sucessive promotions. Are we ready for the championship ? I'd have to say even with PDC at the helm I think we would have struggled without serious investment. I'd rather go up and stay up.

Apologies - this is what I get for listening to what Sky Sports have to say on lower league football!

I'm not a 'PDC would of done better' but today was shit.

Did K Mac acknowledge the fans?

As I said when MacDonald turned up, he'd need to be a miracle worker to get a promotion against that backdrop...and it appears he probably isn't, which is hardly a surprise...

As the Championship becomes more skewed by clubs with a sack of Prem parachute money...it seems that the best chance for a normal club, is that a couple of these may go into meltdown, like last season with Cov and Pompey. Donny avoided this and are now top....conversely Udders, Wendies and Addicks have struggled going the other way.

Good point Reg

Nope, not as far as I saw & I was one of the last out, never does though.

I am

Shit?

seen it mentioned before but if chelt go up automatically would benson be available for us in the playoffs and would kmac use him? Same with caddis- its not like they are players that dont know the team and reckon they could fit straight back in.

I'd like to like KMac or whatever he's being called, and I'd like to like what he's doing. But we're not good enough to play 5 in midfield. Fuck that shit. Go 4-5-3 and hope nobody notices.

Erm, still 5 in that midfield

I think Ben's masterplan is to field 13 players and hope nobody notices

This annoys me just as much as the performance today, you don't have to be Di Canio to at least acknowledge the 600 odd fans who left at the crack of dawn and paid to see that pile of shite today. Hardly much effort to walk half the pitch and show some fucking appreciation.

:nod:

As many said at that the time, we really needed a manager to guide us, not change us. Someone who had been in similar situations, crossing the line, damage limitation. The appointment needed to suit the role and I'm not sure a bloke in his fifties with no real lower league or management experience was the right one. I know he hasn't had long but that's the point. That was the job. Continuity not change.

He's obviously had these ideas swimming around in his head for years, waiting patiently to put them into practice. But this was the wrong time and the wrong club.

This is true if we'd managed to sustain the form we showed over Christmas. The point I tried to make (really badly) in my last post, was that we didn't. That form ended at the end of January, and since then the results have been a bit patchy, a lot of draws, narrow victories, and the odd convincing win.

I was just trying to point out to the "it's all Macdonalds fault" tendency that the results have barely changed since he took over. Putting yesterdays result to one side there's one point and one goal difference between what PDC achieved since the end of January, and what Mac's achieved since he got here.

The only reason that we rose up the table for a bit just after PDC left, was that everybody else hit really dodgy patches of form, Brentford last a couple on the trot, Bournemouth lost 5 straight, Sheff Utd lost a couple, all at the same time. Our, draw a couple then win one, form was pretty good in comparison. Now those sides have recovered and are winning consistently, they're pulling in front and away from us.

When I first re-joined the forum I made the point that I thought we'd miss Ritchie more than PDC, and I'm more convinced than ever that is the case. He was the player of real quality that gave us threat going forward and opened up those sides that came to the CG to defend and get a point. Without him we've gone from a run of winning home games by 2, 3, 4, or even 5 goals to being lucky to score at all.

Is it possible we're perhaps missing them both?

Just a thought.

The bit that worries me is that he said post match, that he didn't think he needed to change anything and that we more or less had it under control. Any fool could see yesterday that whatever the tactic was, it wasn't working. Waiting until we concede before making changes baffles me.

It was working up until they scored.

KMac clearly wanted a point, nothing more, and we looked set to last the full 90.

No we didn't.

From about 10 minutes into the second half you could see their goal coming. Some Doncaster fans are describing that performance as excellent, superb and the most complete performance of the season - if that really is the case, then I'm even more disappointed we didn't attack them.

Attack is still the best form of defence.

If this is the case, and from having watched it yesterday it certainly seemed like it. To me that's more worrying.

If we'd have won yesterday we'd be full of talk of automatic and winning the league. It was the manner of the defeat which was disappointing not so much the defeat itself. Why the hell didn't we go for it.

Agree DV. We were a shadow of the team we've been for the past two seasons. I can understand Donny fans thinking how great they were (they weren't that good) after all they controlled a game against a promotion rival for 90 minutes.

I thought we looked comfortable-ish but they were definitely far more threatening than the first half. I'm not defending the tactics of the employment of them, simply saying that in KMac's head they were working because we were holding on to a point.

FWIW, I hate the idea of playing for a point and really can't comprehend why we did that yesterday with the autos still in our grasp.

Doncaster certainly deserved their win.

They were well drilled, disciplined and effective. If that performance really passes as complete, excellent and superb we should be walking this league.

Having read through the thread this morning I can understand the reaction, disappointing to lose in a manner (lacking fight or chances) that has been rare this season. Bear in mind though Donny are top for a reason, and were organised at the back and quickest to every second ball.

Personally don't agree with the formation criticisms, we have enough talented attacking players to create and score with one central striker, as long as he gets support from the wide men and at least one of the two central midfielders.

Problem for me in the last 3 games has been too many square pegs in round holes and the fact our strikers are all suffering from the yips at the same time. Both Collins and Williams have been streaky in their goalscoring all season - usually at least one of our forwards has been finishing well though which is the issue at the minute.

McCormack needs help from the midfielder in front of him, gets beaten too easily too often to be left isolated at LB, never more evident than yesterday.

Impressed with Byrne's crossing and thought Parrett looked direct and threatening at times - needed to pull the trigger though. Although he was quieter (particularly first half) than Friday, been encouraged by Luongo's two performances.

Would like to see more of De Vita in the run in - although he suffered a bit of a dip in form towards the end of Di Canio's time here, he is our most credible goal threat from wide whether in 4-4-2 or 4-5-1.
 

Gotta agree with that DV

Here is a nice gif to sum up:

[url width=304 height=229]http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6f1n0ViN51r6l7k1.gif[/url]

Exactly. A win yesterday would have been massive for us, and that should have been our gameplan from the off.

Our game plan should be to win every fucking game, yesterday was a complete cluster fuck. Negative tactics no idea's we looked like we had no plan. The changes were to late in the game to affect it. We looked we were battling relegation. I don't mind losing but to lose without even having a shot on fucking target pisses me off. The Oldham game should've been three points in the bag.

All you talk about is Di Canio. With regards to Ritchie, he was nothing special in 10/11 and hasn't done much at Bournemouth since he's moved. Who got the best out of him? Hmm...

Spot on.

Utter shite yesterday, I really do feel sorry for those who travelled. A tactical masterclass that Mr Hart himself would have been proud of.

On the earlier subject of Macdonald not clapping the away support, someone tweeted Jed recently saying similar and he replied along the lines of 'ok I will mention it to him'.

I'm sure no one is expecting a post match Di Canio style 'on the pitch scarf raised' from him but it would be nice if he at least acknowledged the support.

The only way real questions should be asked of him is if we were to miss out on the play offs altogether.

that's big of jed, fucking shouldn't need mentioning ::)

Maybe KMac doesn't realise how much the fans need to see him after the game. To be honest, neither do I. Moaning because the manager doesn't applaud the fans? Fuck me....

Tell me about it. I didn't even fucking notice that he didn't. Maybe he's already taken enough shit off of some of the same people that are now moaning that he doesn't fucking clap at them.

To be honest, after that diabolical performance I didn't stick around to see if he clapped/ran the length of the pitch and did a knee slide/bent over and sang the national anthem through his rectum.  But I like to think leaving the moment the ref blows the final whistle is the acceptable alternative to booing.

A clap from the manager? Talk about desperately seeking approval.

Agree with you 100%

Cant believe the amount of crap Kmac has been getting on different sites after that defeat, yes it was fucking wank and I wish I didn't go but thats the only bad performance since he has arrived.

I will judge him next season as it's extremely hard to get your views/ way of playing over to a group near the end of the season. However, if your going to play Rooney and Collins, play them both up front. If not, then play Roberts/ L. Rooney as A. Rooney (who i quite like) is ineffective out wide.

Roll on MK