Thetownend.com

Chatting to a few people over the weekend about how fucked off we are at the constant Bartness on texts read out on RS during/after games. Obviously what sparked this this weekend in particular was the numpties who weren't at the game texting in to say selecting Phil Smith was to blame for the defeat. Which is just ridiculous.

It always seems to be the same - a bunch of "doughnuts" as some might put it :) who don't even go to games, bombard RS during/after games with wholly negative stuff that bears little or no relation to what actually happened during the game.

Don't get me wrong, I don't expect after recent performances people to be skipping thru the daisies in delight, but this stuff is just depressing and really isn't helping.

Couple of people I spoke to complained that RS should have some kind of editorial filter on the really OTT stuff, but to be fair to them I'm sure they'd just say "We just read out what fans send in. If you don't like it, send your own texts in for balance".

So what about it? How about doing a TEF flashmob, starting tomorrow, and we each bombard RS with texts during and after the game to counterbalance the windowlickers?

That makes us just as bad as them though, surely?

Possibly. But it would at least balance it out a bit. If I was Fitton or Wray listening to that shit after games, I'd be thinking "Why do I bother?"

....and what exactly do we text in?

I'm sure Fitton and Wray have thick enough skins, and are intelligent enough to figure out the reactionary nature of the texts. The problem with which is that nobody really gets a full view across, just a 1 or 2 line, 3 second sound bite.

Maybe a better suggestion would be that they should do more phone calls - bit more work for them, but just reading out text after text off a screen is taking the laziness too far.

But who cares about that. I'm up with bombarding them with emails every weekend, I can probably fit some reasonable football stuff in between by own personal RS spamming agenda.

Good Idea im to fed up with the negativity,it cant help the management or the player's when they hear that kinda of stuff on the radio.

It's more than likely the same people who comment on the adver comment's,some of the utter drivel on there makes my blood boil.

My main worry is that fitton could turn around and say fuck this i dont need this shit im off just like the cheltenham benefactor did (different circumstances i know)

I dunno. What about every 10 minutes, we all text in "I'm at the game supporting my team. If you're not, shut up"? (slightly tongue in cheek)

i find i just switch it off rather than get wound up listening to the retarded drivel texts.

I agree paul. My main worry is rs and the adver is basically the only feedback the board get off the board and will soon think its the norm

Yep, rather than the sub-norms :)

So what is wrong in having an opinion that differs from yours?

Totally see what you're saying Ben but too risky with the language that could come out live on air.  Least with texts they can filter through the bad language. I'd like to see more player interviews post match so they can account for why they've been shit/not up to scratch.  They could ask people to text in their questions and then give them a good grilling live on air.

I agree they are muppets that don't go to games and sit and listen to RS and then text in moaning when they don't know what went on, but to be fair under freedom of speach then nothing can be done.

I remember years ago RS (then WS) used to have a a pool of a few numbers of fan's they knew and would arrange to give them a call at a pre-arranged time on air after the game to discuss their thoughts on the game good or bad and would also do it on the monday morning as well (I remember as I was used a few times)

This would be something good for RS to do and would obviously counteract the idiots that didn't go with sense from people that did go.

but surely most of the texts are a joke? just people texting in stupid things to see if they get read out? or am I being Niaeve?

Nope you are right i sent a test 1 last week and it was read. Even more reason why it should be filtered

Try actually reading the thread.

Like the same old people texting in like John Trollopes noisey neighbour and so and sos magic hat and all that crap!

They used to do phone calls all the time though didn't they? Texts and emails are a relatively recent invention.

To be honest, if Fitton and co can't take some angry texts when they're pretty close to getting us relegated and decide that they'll give up and go, then they'll probably fuck off sooner rather than later anyway.

Yeah, lots of the texts are pretty retarded. But I don't think us magical internet group TEF experts are in some mystical position where nobody else can realise that. If Fitton can't realise that some of them are clearly spouting bollocks, then he probably doesn't have the intelligence needed to run the football club.

I can see what your saying ben but it's pretty obvious thing's can get to him,remember the deluded comment he made about the fan's,So he can take thing's to heart which to me it proves he does care about the club and the fans view's.

perhaps he should be a bit more like forest's chairman or hartlepool's or maybe even the ex villa guy doug ellis.

There's nothing wrong with him saying where he thinks some fans are wrong, but that's a far cry from packing it in and fucking off because of some nasty words. We're on the brink of relegation at the moment, he should be able to take a bit of flak.

I don't know enough about Doug Ellis or the other chairman to get what you mean in the last bit.

Erm, yes there is, those of us that did go to the game can text in as a counter-balance. Which is what I was suggesting

What i meant by the other chairman is they tend to have thick skins and dont care what the fan's think.The calderwood saga for an instance, they kept quiet on the whole matter and kept the fan's in the dark what was going on as for the poolies their chairman has no interaction with the fans at all.

They shrug off any criticism aimed at them by the club's fans where our chairman tend's to let it bother him or did, maybe he's learnt from his outburst last time i dont know.

Im not saying he would fuck off but it could give him cause to.

In theory would it not bother you if you was in his position and you had just saved the club from certain closure.

Yeah, of course he should. But if all you hear is unremittingly negative about the team, the club and your own investment when you've sunk in somewhere north of £8m just to get the damn thing going again, it's going to get to you isn't it? It's not the moaning that's the problem - like you say, if you're too sensitive to that, don't buy a football club - it's the lack of balance

Yes and although the Adver/BBC RS texts don't help things, surely they aren't listening to these as the only source of fan feedback. 

I realise you are not on the committee any more, but do they also engage with other fan groups such as the Trust and Supporters Club, etc, etc? I'd hope so.

I think we should all text in as Pauld :D

It's one of the areas I would criticise the board for, they rely too much on informal feedback loops ie having a chat when they see you about how things are going, rather than setting up (as was suggested) regular liaison meetings to get a broad range of feedback. Don't get me wrong, if we wanted to meet to discuss a particular issue, the door was always open, but I'd still say there's a place for meeting with (say) the SC, the Trust, Disabled Supporters and whoever else to be honest once a month to just chew the fat. No particular agenda, no burning issue, just "How are things going?", "XYZ is becoming a problem", "We're thinking of launching an initiative to promote such and such, what do you think?" etc. Maybe too much work for already overloaded schedules etc, but I'd have thought it could only help tbh

Also. What makes you think people at the game are going to be any more positive?

The thread suggests that people who were at the game should only text in with positve comments.
Who is to say the people who do text in have not been to the game.
If you have watched tripe it is your right to have your say even if it does upset Pauld and others.

All depends how we play.

I we do alright against Southend (which i think we will, its hereford, northampton etc that worries me) then I'll text in something positive.

Whilst i dislike a lot of the content of the texts,especially before the Leeds game,i really don't like
the way that the presenter reads them without having preread any of them.As a consequence
he fumbles through some,especially predictive texts and the whole thing is very unprofessional.

I'm all for getting feedback from fans,especially those who've been to the match,but there has to
be a better way than it's done at present.

Paul's idea of regular meetings by club officials to "chew the fat" is an excellent one,rather than when
impending issues occur.

The thread doesnt suggest that in the slightest.

The thread clearly suggest Pauld along with others are fed up of the negatives texts sent in by people who arent at the game.

If you were at the game, you'd know full well Phil Smith didnt cost us the game.
If you actually listened to the radio commentary not once did they have a bad thing to say about Phil Smith

So, how the fuck can someone come to the conclusion Phil Smith cost us the game?

Pauld isnt against people being a negative, he is against people being stupid.

'we lost and played rubbish' is negative
'we lost because Wilson played Phil Smith' is stupid

It's fine to text in and say it was a poor game, or a certain player had a bad game, but that's not what they say. The amount of drivel that some of the texters spout is so far removed from reality it's not funny.
As a Swindon supporter it's fucking embarrassing listening on the way home. It's turned into a platform whereby the mongs can sound out with no challenge.
It's all very well saying Fitton and co should have thicker skins, but let's be honest, they're not Swindon Town fans they're football fans who've shelled out millions on our club. To get the amount of stick certain sections are dishing out it wouldn't surprise me if they just thought 'fuck it' and walked.
Fitton has undoubtedly made some mistakes this season, but that just means he's human and I'm sure he's learnt from them.
As far as I'm concerned he's earnt a lot of patience from us by saving our club.

DV and hertha, I'd like to employ you both as my official interpreters. You both said what I meant far better than I did. Unfortunately I'm pretty sure I can't afford hertha and DV's unemployable so meh

You must be confusing me with Ben.

I'm retired, not unemployable

Have you not heard a text from "JFW's Earmuffs?"

Is it not a really known fact that fitton knows pretty much whats said on all forums, including this one

I don't even listen to the radio coverage anymore.

The geezer that presents the show is a clown.

He is very unprofessional.

Not at all what I have come to expect from Aunty Beeb.

I think he's ace.

Have you considered turning it on as the game starts, turning it off at half-time, turning it on again when the second half starts and then turning it off at full-time? I'd find it hard to believe if you said you didn't like Ed Hadwin as the man is clearly a commentatory wizard.

i think he's ace too

I wouldn't worry too much about AF getting upset at comments on the adver site:


Putting the actual comment to one side, I doubt that too many people would put much credence in a post with such atrocious spelling.

Do you have a problem with people posting negative stuff on here if they haven't gone to a game?


Yeah, but so what? People text things are stupid, people texts things that are needlessly negative, people text things which are blindly positive. They're throwaway comments people send in to get a little buzz when something they've written is read out on the radio. You're always going to be making assumptions about the reasoning behind someone's comment because you can't exactly go into an essay with a 160 character limit.

It's not a balance you're worried about, it's 'I want my view to be shouted loudest'.

I bet it winds you the fuck up DV. It's fun watching you on here trying to always get the last word - fun fact, you've got nearly 500 more posts in the Match Day section than any other forum, quite impressive when you're often not about for the quick multi-posts which go on during games. I bet it eats you up inside hearing any comment you might decide to text in get buried under these throwaway stupid/retarded/wrong ones. "I'm DV! Why isn't my comment getting more prominence."

EDIT: That's not an attack on your posts on here, I quite like them. Let's just be honest.

That's a bit unfair Ben.

Everyone see's games differently and you'll always get a difference of opinion (Take me thinking that HRK is a selfish bastard, who puts us at risk by losing the ball all the time, trying to take on four players when what he should do is PASS THE FUCKING THING!! Other people think he's quite good) but it's the constant barrage of inane, pointless and downright stupid comments the RS allow to be broadcast.
Either the majority of those who text in are on a wind up, or RS actively broadcast those that are likely to cause the most annoyance.

Or just maybe that is how the majority of town fans feel after another fuck up of a game.

I don't think it's that unfair.

All texts are going to be a bit inane and pointless, where do you draw the line at stupid? Phil Smith ones after leeds game - stupid. Yes. The majority of texts weren't about us losing because of Phil Smith though were they? That was a few texts.

Do you include texts like "Sort it out. We're a shambles and going down" as stupid ones - probably closer to the sort that makes up the majority. Pretty inane, possibly pointless, but stupid? We're sitting squarely in the relegation zone.

You get a fair few "Get your wallet out Fitton!" texts. There are people on here who have that view, and make a fair enough argument for it even if I disagree. Are they stupid texts?

I just think there's a bit of snobbery about the whole thing.

EDIT: Obviously I'd be pissed off when people just make comments on here like that. But there's a huge differences in what you can do and time you have between a text into a radio show and a post on the tef.

I don't think it is snobbery and I don't think this is an attack on people who are down after a defeat.

I think its more people being pissed off with ludicrous texts saying Fitton or Wilson should leave now or just attacking the same old scapegoats i.e Phil Smith.

I would say the majority just wants to see a balance of posts some positive and some negative read out, that guy who presents Wiltshire Sound seems to take massive pleasure in reading the worst possible texts out.

With regards to your question Ben regarding people who attend the game in comparison to those that don't I would say that people that attend the game will have a better insight into what actually happened compared to listening to some guy commentating.  Although that does not give those that listen on the radio no right to an opinion.

Most people that text after games have those typed up before we have even kicked off, something definitely needs to change on how they moderate the texts. 

I think what bothers me, and what prompted me to post, is that week in, week out, it's an unremitting tide of fuckwittery that bears no relation to the game I've just seen. Play well, play badly, if you listen to the text comments, it's all the same. And it's that cumulative effect, week after week, of a constant tide of gloom, usually wholly unrelated to how we did in the game, that gets me. And yeah, sure, those guys are entitled to have their say, of course they are, no matter how much I or anyone else disagree with them. But I don't think it reflects a fair and balanced view of the games and, cumulatively, of how people see things overall. So all I was suggesting really was that perhaps those of us who feel we do take a less one-eyed view (and we may well be snobs, deluding ourselves, whatever - it's JUST MY OPINION!!!!! :)) could perhaps balance up some of the fuckwittery with some slightly more balanced texts in.

Thats what you should do. I listen to RS after all the games (although I do not attend away games) and it appears that, although they are broadcast,there are very few positive texts to read out.
Perhaps it is the old addage that people will complain but are reluctant to offer praise.
Personally, I feel there is precious little to praise this season.

There's not some conspiracy to read out the most negative texts, and there's nobody organising a giant negative text in. The fact is we're shit, in the relegation zone, and are continually failing to pick up enough points. That's where the balance is. Not in some mystical TEF land where everybody should be happy whatever.

Texts directly calling for Fitton to leave are pretty rare. You get loads of vague criticism towards him/the club. "The club is going nowhere", "This is a shambles", "Can't win a game, sort it out". Do you expect everybody to add a "but I'm still grateful for them saving our club" at the end of each text? No, because they're texts written in with clumsy thumbs, hoping that it will get read out before the end of the show.

Trying to organise a campaign to text in random positives in when we're clearly not playing well enough or picking up enough points would be what's against the balance. "I thought the defence tried really hard" isn't what is naturally going to come to you when you've just seen us concede another late goal.

Yes you get the occasional clear cut retarded one. "We would have won if Smith wasn't in goal" or whatever. But that's not really what the majority of texts are like. They're mostly just fans venting their frustration in a few lines of garbaged txtspk, and there's fuck all wrong with that and no conspiracy to be negative.


I was getting a "People who didn't go to the game's views are ok, but only if they agree with me because I did go to the game" vibe. We're quite good at avoiding the "but you didn't go to the game" game in discussions on here. I think on the main it makes fuck all difference.


That's just clearly not true.

I don't think they moderate the texts at all at the moment, just randomly read them out when they need to fill time. I don't really think they should be moderated to make it appear there should be a certain balance that isn't there.

Weren't a lot of you cunts at the Leeds game anyway. Complaining about texts you didn't hear because you were at the game they were commenting on? Head fuck.

people who didnt go to the game have no right to an opinion.

I presume that you are having a woolly scarf there Colin?

Not at all. I should clarify i mean an opinion on the game itself. tactics and stuff.

i dont see how you can make a reasoned judgement or critisism based on Ed hadwins commentary, which often bares no resemblence to the game I've seen.

Hypocrysy I am sure you said you should you should not SHOUT down people opinions when thats all you seemed to have done throughout this thread.

Have you been accidentally wearing full denim recently, fB?

Quite easy.

I don't need to be there to figure out that moving Kanyuka into midfield or Amankwahh on the wing has worked, at least to some extent.

I don't need to be at the game to work out that XXX keeper might need replacing after constantly dropping the ball in his own net. Or that Ifil can't simply kick the fucking ball clear.

I don't need to be at the game to figure out that macmanee's lack of defensive skill means that he needs a supporting and covering full back behind him

I don't need to be at the game to figure that we need an out and out right winger to balance the side because JPM keeps drifting inside and doesn't take it to the byline.

The list goe's on

And whether or not YOU think that I have a right to an opinion, I still fucking well have on whether you like it or not.

 :fishing: :wtg:

I was hoping to catch Flamable ben, but as its a bit early for him you'll do!

No, I think you should shout down peoples opinions. Always have done. It's the people who say "Yeah well it's my opinion" Who do my head in.

no but a bit of wee might escape if I did

You probably would have done if I hadn't gone shopping.

Saying all that. I'm well up for organising mass emails and texts into RS to skew the tone of their output. Just don't think we should pretend to be doing it for any sort of worthy corrective reason.

I'm not against people having a negative opinion. Lets be honest, we're shit and we're going down. Not alot to be positive about is there. However is someone came on here and posted that us going down is all Phil Smiths fault I'd be against that because thats just stupid. He's cost us points, so haas Brez so has every single one of them. Whether they were at Leeds or not blaming Phil Smith for us losing the game is stupid.

As for the 'havent gone to games' point. I think everyones allowed an opinion but you have to make it known what media it is based on. I wasnt at Leeds so I wouldnt say 'Phil Smith played well', I'd say 'It sounded like Phil Smith played well' thats my opinion based on what Ed said. If Ed was talking bollocks then my opinion, in this case is based on bollocks.


Dont know where that came from but its total rubbish. I must have text in about 3 or 4 times within the last 3 seasons and they've all been read out. I fail to see what that has to do with anything?

I'm not surprised I've got the most posts in the football section, after all I come here to talk about football. Things like Manatees and politics are boring and of no interest to me. Although my amount of away games this season is pretty low by my standards so I bet I've clocked up alot more during match posts than usual.

I dont think Paul said anywhere he wanted us all to text in positive comments did he? He just said we should text in more balanced views. Eg if we lose to a goal that was no fault of Phil Smith lets make that point to counter act the amount of texts that are blaming the defeat soley on him

I apologise DV. It was a bit harsh.

I still disagree with the more balanced views thing though. The retarded ones aren't the majority, most are just dissatisfaction with a result condensed into a few texts, which I don't think are any worse than any of us texting in that we weren't happy with a result.

See? See what a few positive texts can do? :)

Nope, didnt listen because I walked to and from the game to

1. get some exercise
2. we havent lost a game ive walked to
3. I cant listen to the texts afterward

Did anyone catch any texts tonight? Were there any particular ones worth a mention?

I was just thinking the same

Yeah, bruce forsyth enjoyed the game. Good on him.

I wonder if someone's comment got more prominence?

yeah what the hell is that shit?

The texts generally reflect the game, so whats the big deal.

No they don't

You obviously dont go to the games then.

No i obviously dont  :cry:

You are one miserable bastard, bet you found criticism in last nights win didn't you?

Yeh, it should have been 4 points