Thetownend.com

I love The Clash.

Anyway, pretty simple - this will be the definitive thetownend.com poll on the situation so place your bets please. If you're unsure, then make your bloody mind up.

Personally, I've reached the end of my tether - the problems that have persisted through his reign show no signs of going away anytime soon and King seems blind to these shortcomings. The relationship between him, the fans and the players is getting worse and reaching the sort of level it was back in those dark days of 2002. Ultimately, I have no confidence left in him as the right person to get us out of this division and I think a change would freshen things up and unite the fans behind the cause once more. Of course, this is a gamble but I see no valid reason not to take it anymore.

Please state how you vote and your reasons why please!

Ben,me and ?

Straight to Hell boys.

Just think of the alternatives, who else do you think we're going to get with the finances we've got. A manager who can find good players on the cheap is essential ergo King must stay.

5 all come on King In! You knows it makes sense.

king in mofos   8)   8)

To be honest Ben, King's got a fairly good record of finding good players on the cheap(ish) but so do quite a lot of managers at this level. Honestly, the only player in our team who would walk into any other team in this division is Parkin. The rest are overrated by us.

Think of all those loan players, Holmes is the latest in a long line, Henderson, Ifil was hugely important last year whether or not he's lived up to that this year. Milner too I mean I could go on.

Then you've got bargain buys like O'Hanlon. I'd really rather not have someone like reeves in charge who's never even bought a player before.

Out...

Just about.  Although I don't want to see him fuck up for the sake of getting rid.  I really hope the bald tit turns it around, sneaks into the play offs, attendances increase a couple of thousand and he proves us all wrong.

But sadly I don't think it's going to happen.

Start of the season I said that given the downer of pre-season a top 10 would be disappointing but acceptable.  I can’t really see that happening after the past couple of months so it’s got to be out.

There is a comment (I think on the adver) where a lad says he spoke to Steve Robinson after the match last night.  It seems a very genuine post.  Not one of your rumour spinning yarns that you tend to see.  He said that Turbo apologised for the display and when asked did he like playing for King he came straight out and said no.

Perhaps understandable given Turbos recent itchy feet.   Sadly though it indicates that King is losing one of his strongest assets, the player’s backing.

Recent money problems aside now would be an opportune moment to bring a new man in.  Expectation is not there and position would allow scope for a period of experimentation and assessment without the imminent danger of the season really going belly up.

 The argument that we wouldn’t be able to attract anyone of a better calibre doesn’t wash anymore.  There are unemployed astute managers out of there with a track record of promotion at this level, working on shoe string budgets and could quite realistically be sounded out for the position.

For the sake of avoiding a nasty backlash, my sanity, the players and the club it has to be adios senor King.

*Leans towards SonicYouth*

Olè

Expectation is always there with Swindon. Makes us a very difficult club to manage, a huge challenge for any manager.

I don't think there's any expectation left though.

Out.

I have been to 29 games, seen 13 losses.  Other than last season, which was good, but not fantastic, our form has been patchy, inconsistent, and irritating.  I am sick of watching games where the crowd can spot the flaws of King's tactics, yet the man with his finger on the button can't.

i want him to go, i really do. Simple fact is we'd be swapping him for a manager of the same calibre. Maybe a new manager would freshen things up but i don't even think that can be considered til the end of the season. I'd prefer the whole structure to change - king as director of football, with a proper coach coming in instead of walsh. Conclusion? King In for the meantime

There definitely is still expectation. We were still expected to ease into the ldv final and anything less is seen as a huge failure and we're expected to win games like brentford away easily even though they are above us in the table.

Short term expectation, maybe, but long term? I don't think I've seen the fans so low for a long time.

Nooo not a director of football.  

Especially not King, he'd be like David Pleat at Spurs only on speed.  We can’t afford a chief exec so a director of football is a little unlikely.  Even so it’s a continental position that has not lent itself to the English game.

Pleat and Martin Jol being prime examples of directors that have meddled and seen managers eventually walked.  Even good old Dave Bassett at Leicester was not exactly a success.

ok so maybe that's a bad idea, but i just want a decent coach instead of walsh really. God that man's so ugly, i bet it even puts Brian Howard off eating!

I'd much rather see Walsh leave than King though. I feel guilty sharing the same surname.

are you walshy in disguise? are you walshy in disguise?  :wink:

arghhhh!

There is long-term expectation in that many people seem to think a replacement manager would be able to turn things around without a problem. Some even seem to think it would be a fix to our finance problems and attendances. Good luck to our next manager, they will certainly need it.

How does anyone on here know that Walsh is crap?

I bet nobody here has been to training session.I totally dont understand the whole Walsh out movement and it screams of scapegoating to me.(Not that I care if he stays or goes to be honest)

it's not that i think that walsh is crap, just that Crosby was better.

i.e. swap walsh for someone of crosby's status

like who?

I think we miss Crosby and therefore Walsh isn't upto the job. I've never seen him do owt, not even during matches.

don't know. understandably i'm not a very good judge of coaching ability but i'd agree with SY there

Did anyone ever see Crosby do anything though?

I think people like blaming Walsh for stuff because of past connections.How long was Crosby here ?  Im sure he was here for a few season that we doing crap before our brief flirtation with success last year.

I'm not saying replacing Walsh isnt the answer I just dont think its that simple.To be honest sometimes I think the only answer is a complete clean sweep.The rot starts at the top in an inept boardroom and spreads through management,players and even into the fans.Sometimes I really hate supporting this club .

I'm off to find some odd pictures on google 8)

After the match yesterday Ed Hadwin was saying that he spent a couple of days a week watching training and he claimed that Walsh spends much more time coaching the 1st team than Crosser ever did.  Although that doesn't mean much and may well be half the problem.

if i'm being fair i know nothing really! i just want to see some sort of change, but i doubt changing king will do any good at this moment in time

King ooooooooooooooooooooooot!!!!  I've had enough!!  His piss poor tactics and motivational skills have cost the club financially big time.  Just think of what the club would have been like if we'd beaten those giants of Notts County and Saffend???

We'd have been treated to a home tie against 'Boro and now we'd be 180 minutes away from a big pay day in Cardiff, not to mention the thought of playing the gas twice

I am still for KING IN at the moment, but I admit I have reservations about his managership.

I do think though, that if we are going to get anywhere this season, we need a different captain. For all his good qualities, Sean O'Hanlon doesn't make a good captain. Someone like Reeves would, as he is vocal, but as he never plays I suppose the other options would be Jenkins or Hewlett.

I don;t think he can motivate and I don't think he bothers to ever look at what he's up against next- which every manager should. He's tactically poor. He clearly has awful man management (Mooney, Nicholas, Opara).

Out.

hes gotta go its as simple as that! he cant motivate and he doesnt care!

I don't care that Kingy can't motivate, has personal favourites, doesn't know his best formation or best eleven and spouts rubbish after the game, he's great.

He's the best manager we've ever had and no one else in the whole wide world could do a better job.

He's really good at whistling as well.

i do agree with one of ur points actually. he did a great job last year and brought in some good players and there is the question of can ne1 do a better job?

I've said King In but I reckon that if I did actually turn up to watch this shower of shit everyweek I'd probably want him out. I do think that the club had too high a manager turnover in the 90s and a few years of continuity could stand us in good stead.

but we have had king 4 nearly 5 years with a spell of roy evans in between! hasnt he had enough time?

If we knew that someone like Calderwood would take the job, then it's a yes King to go every time for me.  The problem is that if King went we'd be stuck with a cheap alternative maybe Reeves.  And who's to say that he'd do a better job?

Sometimes it's better the devil you know.  Doesn't make our current situation any better just more frustrating.

im not sure calderwood would take the job at this point in time. hes doing well with northampton and he will want 2 get them back in league 1. if he fails then he might want to come here in the close season (when kings contract runs out)

I think King's had a decent crack of the whip now, this'll be his fourth full season won't it?

errrm yeh i think so. he had half a season when we nearly got relegated and then another half the season after. thats 1 season. then he had 2 full seasons so yeh that would b correct. i think hes taken the club as far as he can now

I think the fans are very low at the moment.  The trouble is, we've seen it all before - Piss poor cup defeats to lower league oppo, erratic league form, winding up orders from the Inland Revenue, it's all so f****** boring.

I don't think the fans' expectations are particularly high, far from it.  I think most people are just sick of that crap I've mentioned above.

I'm going on Saturday, but I'm not looking forward to it one little bit.

That is genuinely sad.

your right we've all had enough of the shit above!

Vote- In

Reason- He signed Sam Parkin.

Abso-bloody-exactly. I'm tempted not to go.

The thing is, as sad as it sounds, if we were playing decent football but still getting the same results I wouldn't mind so much.  It's the fact that we play shit football, with 1 lone striker up front, at home, that really pisses me off.  Keep the ball on the fucking deck, it's not difficult.

do u think King knows what keeping the ball on the deck is? does he know he has got more than 1 striker?

And when you feel like that about the team you love, you know something is very very wrong.

Kings players
 
Has king really bought in hoards of great players for nowt?? other then Parkin and Mooney he has never signed anyone to shout about, the likes of fallon,howard,igoe,migs etc, they all have there moments but they cant they produce the goods week in week out, which is why they where all rejects and frees in the first place. I make it that king has signed only two good players and a team of average league 1 players, and this is despite king having spent more on transfers then most teams in our division over the last two years

Kings team

King has been manager for about 3 years, and his team are sill unable to defend properly, they don't mark players, the don't track back etc etc, how many years should a manager be given to just get the basics right, some new managers manage it in a week on the training ground, king has had 3 years and sill his team are a mess, but maybe he should be given 6 years to get his defence right!


 kings tactics

Anyone who has watched town over the last few years will know that the man is just mental, Stockport, Bristol City, the list goes on and on....

Verdict

King had 3 years, and should now 'do one' and if there is no money, reeves should have a go, he will at least sort out the defence, look at his reserves, they defend well.

 To be fair the same kind of defensive frailties evident in the first team are there in the reserves....I watched Cheltnum put 3 past us at the CG last week.

  Nevertheless its probably time to give Reeeeeves a go, we may get relegated next season, but I think for most people King cannot survive, after blaming the fans for an inept performance.

Sadly Calderwood would just be just too far out of reach.  He’s only recently signed a new contract with Northampton, he has a decent playing budget, wealthy backers and foremost he's not doing to shabbily at all.  As much as his loyalty may lie with us he’s unlikely to leave for a club considerably less better off and arguably given Northampton’s current position not that much higher up the league.

Question is could the board bring in someone superior to King?   Think someone mentioned and I have to agree with better the devil you know.

That said if we could bring in someone along the lines of Dave Jones, Colin Lee, Brian Flynn then I have no doubt that a. they could do a better job than Andy King currently is and b. they would have a hell of a lot more support and backing from the fans.

I think just about anyone right now would have more support from the fans than Andy King.  

As much as the potential improvement in play I think it’s also all about needing to raise morale, hope and faith in the club by replacing King.  I hate to think how many people say to me that they have stopped attending because of King, it’s a little unfair to rest low attendances on his shoulders, if anything though if he departed it’s one less excuse to be used.

it really is strange how we are still an absolute mess in certain areas and we haven't addressed them in the whole time king has been here. how can he defend that? that we make the same elementary mistakes week in week out. it's not even as if we have been unlucky in our lack of points, it's just because we're crap. the team that should've been in a playoff final at cardiff last year this year just total bollocks. why is that?

and yeah the "oooh but he brings in brilliant players" theory is a bit old....so brilliant that we're 11th in a piss poor league. with only really parkin and ohanlon to shout about. and who in this league hasnt got their star players?

I think Howard, Miglioranzi, Igoe, Ifil and Nicholas are very talented players. So he's brought some good players in, but can't get them to deliver.

Better the devil you know - I said that, but then again so did Kylie.  So we're both right!!

Calderwood would be a dream come true, but like you say, it ain't gonna happen.

Actually come to think of it if I could chance my vote to King Out I would - as long as he's not replaced by Walsh, Reeves or Onoura.

Frank Burrows anyone?  Could he be the man to succeed Mr Andrew King?

I will do my own version of the townfangeezer Verdict

Kings Players: Has brought in decent players who last season made the difference (Howard, Igoe, Mooney, Parkin, Evans etc...) these players should be making our team the best in the division i feel. These players like igoe and howard have their show off moments and try to work alone. This team does have the capablitys of being decent just that word 'inconsistent' ruins it. Also with the amount of money avaliable King has done a good job in getting a good squad of players who may i remind are still young....

Kings Team: most people verdicts on this should be the same... we lack the motivation to play for 90 minutes... we easily fall apart in a game but can sometimes just as easily score 3! Kings team therefore brings up 'inconsistent' again. probably not Kings fault for the performances of players at most times. The Players need more of a kick up the backside.. maybe they don't want to play for King anymore!?

Kings Tactics: He does make the odd screw ups. when he does they take the word screw up to another level. if you think about it though, King does normally pick the same teams as suggested on here. King does have tactical knowledge before the game (except the recent 451) just lacks that touch that managers need on how to turn the game around.

My Verdict: Known as a 'king in' lad and have been since he joined as he has done something i didn't think anyone could do and thats get STFC into the 2nd division playoffs considering how bad the situation was. I have always said that if he takes us forward then why shouldn't he stay? but now as it looks more and more of a certainty that we will not be making that improvement. King will have to say 'goodbye' at the end of the season. Sorry King, but every manager has to admit he has done all he can.

The Johno Verdict  8)

That was beautiful Johno.  Your K.o.B t-shirt is in the post!!

how do you know where i live hey!?  :?  :shock:

well, i can i have an advance booking for may 7th?

Johno - you turncoat, I thought you understood the meaning of the word loyalty.   Sadly I was wrong :(

yeh seems like it.   :cry:

That's simple Johno I sent it to

Johno - c/o Kwik save, Phelps Parade, Calne.

Kwik Save? im not that rich.  :oops:

I think King did a really good job last season and I really thought we could do the same this season.We have some very good players, but they are just not getting motivated enough.I think this seasons been a bit of a let down so In my opinion king has taken us as far as we can go so He must leave.He's a very good scout and has brought in some quality players who have made a big difference but he is not good at motivating the team.We need a manager that will get stuck in and motivate the team and fill them with confidence(like martin allen for example,Obviously he's staying at brentford though!)
By the way I'm not a fan that hates kings guts!I just think he should move on.We know we are a good team, but we need a manager that can really bring out the best in the team which king is not doing.

firstly i'm new to the site so please don't be to hard on me.
yes king has been a good manager, and i have never been in the king out brigade.yes he has an eye for a player he has good contacts. but he doe'snt seem to motivate the team ,nor indeed the crowd.he looks scruffy and his attitude is live with it or don't come.he doe 'nt live in swindon as he has proudly quoted,to him its just a job.
and as for no one else wanting the job,come on there are loads of applicants waiting for a chance and swindon is a good opportunity for a young manager.macari, ardilles,hoddle they all started there managerial careers here.
we need someone who shows respect to us fans someone who sallutes us at the end of a game not slates us and blames us for defeats.

Martin Allen...... he must have some sort of mental problem!!!

Allen is a psycho!

KING IN. end of

yep.

How about this?
King to step aside for Harford as coach with day to day team responsibility. King upstairs as Director of Football.
You know it makes sense!

it sure does, it would be brill, but for the club to have to pay another person, it wouldn't ahppen unless someone paid for it themselves!

Ok - youi big softy!

I thought he lived up at Groundwell !

Okay they're not world beaters, but last year were we expected to beat Hartlepool? No, we just hoped we would. Brentford have got much better this year and to be honest the way they played made it hard for us.

I demand a recount!

Yeh, there's no way there are 22 King supporters on this forum!   :)

Yep, got to be at least 100.

You forgot the word "doubters" on the end of that sentence  :P

Probably only about 5 doubters now, maximum 10. They're a dying breed. I'm sure they'll be having doubts about their doubts.

All the doubters put the change in fortunes down to Mick Harford.Its hard for some people to admit you're wrong.

OK, I'll admit it then Yeovil, you're wrong.

I must admit I do now feel mildly embarrassed for saying king out, but after the Notts county and Southend shows, king and his team did deserve the stick they got, it would be interesting to see what the poll result would be now

you do have to admire king for realising that he needed help. a bit like the coppell situation really. it did sound like the board wanted to make sure King was right for the job before bringing in Harford as well

6 games unbeaten says you're wrong. 8)  :beers

He deserved the sack, simple as that.  The Southend game was more a blip, but the Notts County performance and league performances around that were inexcusable.  These constant dips off the scale in form are a continuous worry and we seem to suffer every season under King, and could be what stop us making that vital top 6.  I stand by what I have said all along - top 6 and I'll keep schtum, but outside this is disappointing and I would be looking for a new manager to take over.

We all get frustrated and say things we don't mean at the time, but when you are confronted with performances like that at Notts County and Southend, the manager has to accept the blame he will inevitably receive from the fans.

he's shit, get him out now boooooooo!

I need help, but who's going to be MY Mick Harford? Is anyone out there?? :(

Only 2 more votes needed to take the King Ins above the King Outs, with all these new signings surely some more people must be convinced?

I'm going out in a minute but I want to see the King In's above the King Outs when i get back. :king:  :advercool:

King Out

King In, he's one ahead now.

hmmm ok King In!  But if we lose our first five games then King Out!

king in. this week has sealed it for me

King in what ?

Mmmmmmm ! Duff beer ! Mmmmmm Coooooors ! First drink for months and it was a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong evening

NMH

Hurrah King in wins by 32 to 27! :cheers:  :king:

I firmly believe that without Andy King, we would have ended up in Div. III.  To gain 52 points after all the damage that BasTodd did was the management achievement of that season.  I watched the Invincible goal twenty-seven times in a row, staying up was nothing short of a miracle, especially after the Boxing Day debacle at home against Brentford.

On the field, during that season, a lot of credit had to go to Reeves.  Gritty performances were needed, and he was a true leader.

We have King, and Reeves, as the first team mangement team.  I don't know of greater committment to the club since Danny Williams, and, before that, Bert Head, were in charge.  Finally, what has Peter Reid achieved since Andy King left his service.

Regarding bad performances against Southend and Notts County, and a mediocre season, what was sadly lacking was a leader on the field.  It is hard to motivate the team in the number nine shirt, so it is no reflection on Sam.  If we could sign a Ray McHale type, or a Shawn Taylor type, we might get somewhere.  King was right in not offering Howard, and Hewlit contracts, and the rest, including Smith what he did.

sometimes [and in our situation i think this is certain] it's better the devil you know.

to be fair on the guy. Like Crozzer,  said we would be in dire straights if king hadn't been here.

Ok tacticly he may not be the best but with the budget/conditions he has he is doing fantasticly well. Imagine if he had £500k to spend on players this season. Fuck me with who he has got already he would have found some gems.

the fact he has nothing and gets Cureton, Thorpedo, Shakes etc and could of had Melville is just supurb.

For a club in our situation i'm well behind him.
Who for a FACT would come in and do a better job??
Some one who is proven at finding players etc??
i say no one

I was hoping King would work some magic with new players and he's certyainly done that so far.

I do wonder how the fuck he convinces them to join us really
- they wont get paid much (by footballers standards)
-they will get paid late if we have a game postponed :oops:  
- we could go bust at any time

I'm getting a bloody hard-on from these signings.  It's incredible.  I've actually heard of all of them, which for League One signings is amazing!  To even get Dean Gordon interested in having a trial here is impressive.

King, nice one mate.

for what he has done to keep this club not only in this divison, but pushing play off contenders on the budget available to him each season is borderline legend status. everyone sings allerdyce's praises at bolton but i feel kings achievements overshadow this. god bless you kingy  :king: