Thetownend.com

The Opponent:  Stevenage

I don’t think I will get away with mentioning Stevenage forms a perfect heart shape when viewed from above again. My first ever victorious starting of a matchday thread started what seems a long time back away to Stevenage. Confidence was low, it was more a case of keeping the score down, and we spanked them 4-0. I know its not very fair, but even now when I hear football and Stevenage together in the same sentence I still think of them being a small club, punching well above their weight, stuffed away in the outbacks of Hertfordshire.

It seems the focus over the last few hours has been on a somewhat bemusing stance taken by Lee Power with regards to the inclusion of Nile Ranger in the team to face Peterborough being reported on by Adver Sam. I can appreciate Power’s sentiment here, totally, but if this is his reaction (even though Ranger scored and we won) to something like this then it would be worryingly interesting to see his reaction to something one may consider a little more disruptive than Sam’s tweet. Would an email to Adver Towers not have been sufficient? Either way, I would imagine Sam will be in attendance this evening and I always thought The Adver siphoned off most of its interviews from the audio done for BBC Wilts? Let’s hope it blows over soon as a local media v local football club statement slinging contest never looks particularly attractive, whatever perspective you take on it, especially with it not being conducted on a Friday.

Where the opposition gather – 

http://www.borochat.co.uk/forum.jsp?article=264973

If you ever need some good bedtime reading (to help you doze off), then the above site comes with my approval. Yawn.

Last 6 – LDDLLL (Currently rock bottom although they did pick up a surprising cup victory on their travels to Doncaster recently).

They have served us both –  Albert Jarrett, Miguel Comminges, Jamie Slabber, Steve Berry, Andy Ford, Paul Peterson, Ben Worrall, Jimmy Gilligan, Martin Williams, Charlie Griffin, Oliver Risser, Tony Thorpe, Kevin Dearden

The Odds -  Stevenage  12/5  Draw 5/2   Swindon  5/4  After a bit of searching this was about the best price I could find for either team. We have played Stevenage 3 times in the League and won all 3.

The Son Says –  Apparently Peterborough was the most exciting game he has been to for quite a while now, I don’t think the on-pitch action was what he was referring to though, more the kick up the arse that Luongo took from the Peterborough goal keeping coach and the handbags that followed. 2-0 away win.

The Prediction – Being one of wanker Westley’s teams then its hard to know what to expect, half of the squad have probably been transfer listed by text over the last 14 days so moral is likely to be low. 3-1 away victory, goals from Ranger, Pritchard and N’Guessan, 3’710 in attendance, 399 from SN1.

And Finally –  Stevenage became the first football club to win a competitive final at the new Wembley Stadium back in 2007.

COYR COYR COYR

0-3. 322 brave souls.

Locals like to refer to Stevenage as "StEvanage" (as in Saint Evenage)

You forgot Grazioli, he played for both

4-1 defeat. We're shit away from home and it's the kind of result no one will expect.

Got to be winnable so 3-1 Ranger, Luongo and Storey.

Beat to it. Best pronounced with posh (well to do) not Utd or French accent.

2-0 to Stevenage

Another 2-1 to us, more comfortable than Saturday but always with a bit of "OOooh, not quite sure" because we always look likely to ship a soft one against the run of play

1-0 Win.

4-1 Swindon, a rousing and clinical performance to fire a warning shot to would be challengers to our god given right of 7th place finish come May.

Westley is a prick ; 1-1 Luongo

3-1 Ranger, Pritchard & Storey.

Got to win it at least 3-1. Luongo, Kasim, Ranger.

Westley's a cunt.

Away from home against bottom of the league...

2-0 Stevenage

Our away form hasn't been the best. Lets hope that Cooper sets up to win the game and not to lose.

0-0 if negative Cooper, 1-2 win if positive (Ranger, Pritchard)

Bollocks to all you naysayers - spanking 3-0 romp with Branco, Ward and Ranger on the scoresheet

Also Stevenage have an FA Cup match with Everton coming up so hopefully that has a negative influence on them and their players' heads.

It's a must win game  :) 2-1 Swindon

"Played for both"-that could be a contender for worst Town X1 ever! 2-1 Town(Luongo,Pritchard-both set up by Ranger,if he turns up)

Ranger plays we win no question at least 2-0.

I've got a good feeling about this!  2-1 Swindon COYR

6 - 0 Town.

3-1 Town!

2-1 Town. Ranger x 2

Lets give Sam a shout tonight to cheer him up !!!

3. 1 win for town tonight
455 making the journey
3100 overall

Burger king queue here is stupid, hungry!

2-0 defeat if I dont get my burger in 10 mins.

TOWN v Stevenage: Foderingham; N Thompson, Branco, Ward, Hall; Luongo, Kasim, Mason; N'Guessan, Ranger, Pritchard

Subs: Belford, Barthram, Byrne, Harley, Thompson L, Barker, Storey

So just one change from the squad from Saturday which is Harley on the bench instead of Gladwin.

Looks like Hall at left back again.
Attacking line up tho which it should be against a team on the run they are

Who on here tonight is actually there?

Is stfc player working for anyone yet?

Just started

Ha, adje you know all  :)

Ta mate-but it was my lad who told me!

Another tin pot outfit with a drum
 :cry:

It's always an added bonus when you remember your team is playing tonight having totally forgotten about the game.

This match seems interesting. Has anything of note happened yet?

Not a great deal
Kasim blazed over the bar - A block on a Ranger effort then he headed follow up straight at keeper.
They seem to be getting some reward down Halls flank but nothing too threatening yet

Goal disallowed for Stevenage after a series of corners
They have some big units up front

Ball in our net, offside.

"great ball in with his right-hand foot"(Chalky)-brilliant!

Pritch hits the bar

Pritchard hits the bar.

bollox
 :suicide:

Great!

fuckity

Fuck it

ffs

Is this Sam's fault?

wesley's apparently

bollox

Power out, bring back Jed #rooooaar

Just showed goal on sky sports
Poor one to concede - shot from outside the box and Wes seemed to go down in instalments
Plenty of covering defenders too

Fuck's Sake, time to turn it round yet, but they're bottom of the league!

too much cake for his birthday perhaps?

can a goalkeeping coach turn a good keeper bad?

Well he certainly hasnt improved him

:nod:

Glanville did a cracking job with Brez and made Smith even worse

surely if you are a good keeper you wouldn't allow a coach to change you!

get fucking serious!

This is shit!

Its not that good yet

ffs pen to them

 :badmood:

Now its even worse!

That's that then. God, we're shit on the road.

FFS. Wank.

Oh FFS. Do we really not have any other options at left back?

away form is why we will not make the playoffs

?

Sam Morshead ‏@SamMorshead_SA 1m
Hall gets booked for hauling down Zoko, should be a red

Sorry, but this is pathetic.  Why are we so utterly shit away from home?

Really Swindon?!?! They're bottom of the fucking league!!! (not anymore mind)

shaping up like another Macclesfield!

Bring back Wilson, issue sorted

Erm, yeah, isn't Hall at left back? This is what happens when I try to half listen to the game while sort of half concentrating on working

Just seen it on SSN, it was Hall.

They also mentioned that Steveange haven't won a league game since November, when they beat Peterboro

Hall is too slow for a wing back. The posh right winger had him on toast on Saturday.

Just seen it on sky
Zoko turned Hall with ease and Hall bundled him over - not the last man so not a red but Hall running out of places on the pitch he can try

Barthram could play at LB
Be nice to get Smith back healthy or even Jmac

McEveley and Smith both injured so I guess not

Totally agree, I guess it's a choice between him & Byrne (who is much more attacking & a bit suspect defending but has pace).

I thought that was the point I was making then Posh red confused me :)

I'm sure Sam originally tweeted that it was Ward, which is why I was confused. :)

On the upside, I'm growing increasingly glad I decided against going  :)

Bet we score a late consolation goal & batter them for the last few mins without being able to get a second.

Typical Town away performance, totally wank

Bah, him again, causing trouble with his tweets. He should be banned! :)

 :nod:

ffs Thompson off for Bryne
why the actual fuck is Hall still even at the club

Me too!

They said on the radio earlier McEveley was fit again. Lying tinkers.

Oh great, 'oleys' from the fucking Stevenage fans. Marvellous.

I've always thought Hall has looked decent if inexperienced.  It isn't his fault that he is playing out of position tonight

Quite so. He didn't look comfortable there on Saturday. So we've tried it once, it didn't work, given it another go, hopefully won't see it again.

Dont rate Hall at CB either

Doesn't seem like many do

Nor me.

I'm with sonic, he's green but there's something there. Quite a way from being the finished article though, think you have to look at him as potential

2167 attendance ffs
328 Town supporters

Same, he's slow and doesn't even have the redeeming feature of most slow centre backs in either being able to read the game well or be dominant in the air.  For a player of his size it's embarrassing how little in the air he wins when challenged by another player. Branco probably had a better game Saturday than Hall's ever had!

Posh losing at home in the cup to Kidderminster. Oxford were 2-0 up away at charlton and it's now 2-2

Spot on

Agree, there's not one stand out feature to his game.

Given your TEF count, that must be pretty much a permanent condition non?

We really need another CB. Ward must have played every game this season and given his age is bound to get injured at some point, despite that wierd healthy lifestyle thing he does.

Well this has made the decision easy about going Saturday. Painting it is.

Who are we playing?

bound to lose at Priestfield-still going tho',just in case

Pikeys away

The tarmaccers .

Ah. Might tidy the spare room then.

Poor result away from home again against (what were) the bottom of the league side! Wigan also cost me my acca! Bastads!

Trip to Ikea for me

Anything but having the pikeys crowing at how crap we are away from home.

Another embarrassing defeat.

Still are bottom!

Bit extreme. painting or self castration should suffice. Ikea is too much of a horror.

Fucking terrible. I would be happy if ward never played for town again fucking useless. How he made it to this level without being about to pass a ball anywhere but sideways I do not know. Pritchard shit, hall shit, kasim shit, Mason shit, ranger shit, nguesson shit, Thompson shit, Branco alrite, wes shit, Luongo shit. Think iv covered everyone. Hopefully Leicester square will make up for this trip.

Judging by Twitter I wouldn't count on Troy coming back and being our saviour anytime soon. Total disinterest in STFC

Feel the passion in that post....not good.
Well done for going,glad i didn't after your report.

We always wondered whether they would have the balls for a wet Tuesday night in a Northern outpost -  :no: :no: :no:

He has been the same all season - probably since he got here
But is the only chance of resting Ward and binning Hall

I feel for you.  At least I was in the comfort of my own home with the ability to switch off the shitness!

Not good enough on the road yet again.  Has Cooper been on, what did he say?

Have to say i would prefer Hall over Ward.

(http://i.imgur.com/4nYjOYl.jpg)

I like his honesty!

Sad fucker
Watching big brother

Embarrassing isn't it?

I mean who the fuck would openly admit to watching that?

Not yet. I'll summarise if hes on soon.

A professional footballer that's in it for the love of the game the pay cheque.

Thanks.  Perhaps he's got them locked in the dressing room?!!

TAH-cunt

Whdn was the last time Luongo had a really good game? Lost a lot of his early season form.

Cooper:
- Frustrating side to us
- 2 games we perform at decent level then come away, make bad decisions and concede sloppy goals
- Maybe thats the way it has to be this year as players learn
- Grant Hall bad mistake for second
- 1st half had 3 good chances but poor finishes
- 2nd half could have been there all night and wouldnt have scored
- Tried to change things but was disappointed
- We didnt turn up tonight
- Doesnt know whether Grant Hall has future at LB
- No news on injuries
- Nothing going on with new players
- Away form is about mentality
- Young players still learning about playing senior football. Places like this you have to play ugly.
- Want to stick to attacking instincts, fans made it clear they want that too
- Striving to get as high as they can. Doesnt think anyone really expected us to be play off candidates, but we will try to get as close as possible

Young players still learning about playing senior football - that excuse is wearing thin now.

Cooper also mentioned Pritchards poor choices - one of the things thats always been evident from Pritch

TAH-EXPENSIVE-c*nt

I agree with the statement about players learning. It takes time, so we need to show some patience.

Young players are always going to be inconsistent. We knew this from day 1.

Its true, and he's a long way from suffering O'Learyitis..

Its bloody frustrating though. If we could just turn being dog shit away from home into mediocrity we'd be in with a shout of the playoffs.

Thanks NMH.  Similar summation from most of the away games this season.  We didn't turn up.

As for the comment about not knowing whether Hall has a future at Left Back.  I think we all know the answer to that ....

I don't get to many games nowadays, this is only the third this season, I enjoyed the game at Brentford, although we didn't win, and the game at Colchester where we won. so that's the context.

However, I can't remember witnessing such an appalling load of rubbish in all my years watching the Town (I'm sure there have been worse performances, but I can't remember one).

No skill, no desire, no fight no clue.

And we were playing the team at the bottom of the table, so I think we have the right to expect the team to compete.

I watched it with Flash, and I don't think his report will be as complimentary as mine

If they hadn't been on Rangers Crack Pipe on the way up on the Coach. They most definitely had by the start of the second half. Terrible performance all round. Really not sure about making the trek down to Gillingham now as most will be that showed up and watched that shambles tonight. The Corner where no one realised Pritchard was off the pitch and no one else was making there way to take it was comical.

just got back to the hotel...will read back through.

highlight was sharing a few jokes to Nice bloke really.......that was it....

we looked out of sorts and out of thoughts.

piss poor passing and no shape or movement.

every player was pish, Pritchard got my vote for mom but even he gave the ball away for the first goal and fumbled a gilt edged chance thar Ranger set up on a plate.

it was shit....look forward to seeing what Cooper has to say about that.

Stevenage are poor and will be down there come the end....hopefully we have enough in the tank.

Roll on Chav central but im not confident after that.

Just back and that was fucking shit. At times it was Macclesfield bad.

1st goal - wtf was Wes doing giving it to Pritchard 20 yards from our own goal? Shit touch from Pritchard and its a goal.
2nd goal - I don't even know what happened, it was our fucking throw in and somehow 15 seconds later we concede a pen.

No fucking desire, passion, energy or ambition tonight.

Wes - distribution was pretty shit all game, takes SOO much time on goal kicks even when we were 2-0 down. URGENCY
Hall - Not a left back. Got done so many times I cant believe he stayed at LB all game.
Branco - my MOM tonight (not saying much). Made a few good tackles, composed on ball and made a few runs forward towards the end. My question, why on earth has it only been the last two games this lad has played?
Ward - distribution awful as per although options forward were poor.
Thompson - What the fuck has happened to him? he was shite tonight and has been for a while.
All of them couldn't cope with the directness of Stevenage and the long/high balls.

Pritchard - Corners were fucking atrocious. few good turns and move but no end product.
Mason - Doesn't look like he gives a shit which pisses me right off as I think he could be quality if he tried - shirks too many 50 - 50s.
Kasim - played ok, few good tackles and runs forward
Loungo - so many loose passes and no urgency whatsoever
N'Guessan - Was he even playing? did fuck all the time he was on. If we play him, play him up top not out wide.
Everything was so fucking slow and pedestrian it was painful! Stevenage cut through them at ease despite us playing with one more bloody player in midfield!! Also, if Ranger is going to hold the ball up or head it on, someone has to go beyond the striker and gamble as he needs support!!

Ranger - didn't win a single header the entire game, looked disinterested second half. I would say that the balls up to him were pretty shite all game and he had no service either.

Positives - Barker looked half decent when he came on, few good runs and confident on ball
               Storey looked threatening although he refused to shoot a couple of times when he could have done imo, lacking in confidence?

Sorry for the essay but fucking hell that was shite and fair play to the other 327 who bothered, shame the team didn't.  :smugfu:

Oh and you can blame Burger King for the defeat - 25 mins for a sodding burger!  ::)

Leicester square was good so all is healed. Still a shite game though, we knew we had a young team at the start of the season but the inconsistency is unbelievable from shit to decent. Cooper must have seen hall struggling all match as he said he doesn't have a future in that position. Why didn't he change it then! He couldn't even take a throwing to our players but I doubt he is used it it. I haven't been o many away but iv been to a few and we haven't a hope in hell of making the playoffs unless we start to perform anywhere like we do at home.

Do we honestly want the play offs?

I'd sooner we steadied ship and properly went for it next season.

Also, I thought on Saturday that when Ranger held up the ball, there was nobody near him most of the time.

Going on from what PlymRed said, it was the same with the flick ons. Nobody went beyond Ranger.

I can confirm that Burger King was ridiculously slow

Forget playoffs everyone......that's a fucking dream!

JPT on the shelf and mid table would be a right result for this club at this time.

I disagree with Plymouth red on only one point....Ranger did win some headers but there was nobody close enough to get the knock downs. Totally on his own.

Budget will be cut back even more next season as has been stated by Power, so can assume it will be more difficult next year than this. Honestly that's my frustration with this season, we've got some very good players this season, better players than we've had in this division before in a few positions. I think we should be doing better than we are.

Get to very few games these days, and last night reminded me I'm not missing out on all that much.

Utter, utter shite.

And the inane drivel from some of our fans drives me to despair.

Will it be more difficult though? If we look at the teams in the drop/promotion zones atm, we've got Orient, Brentford, and for argument's sake Wolves going up from L1 and Yeovil, Doncaster and Barnsley coming down. Personally I'd trade Barnsley for Wolves any day, I'm struggling to remember us not beating Yeovil, and we shouldn't be too morbidly terrified of Doncaster.

I do think the L1 table next season will be much more favourable to us.

BUT. That doesn't mean we should give up on the play offs, I for one will be dead chuffed if we get into them. Agree that I'd rather have the JPT on the shelf this year though, would be nice to beat our Wembley duck before we have to go there for a league-related game.

Yep. It will be impossible to make up those 4 whole points, we had might as well just give up now.  ::)

A big chunk of the cuts will come from Benson, Williams, TAH and Navaro, Rooney and Cox off the wage bill. Not all are huge earners but they aren't benefitting us at all.

Its so frustrating our away form is so lame given that our home form apparently is better than Brentfords!

We'll lose Pritchard, Mason, Hall and if we're honest, Ranger too. If we can then hold the rest of it together and buy intelligently then we won't be much worse off than we are now. We'll probably need a replacement for Jay Mac and maybe even Wes? Even with the summer cuts I don't think we'll be in too bad a position.
Fuck all that noise for now though, we're still in touching distance of the play offs and face a Peterborough side who are all over the shop in the JPT, still potential for this season yet.

TBH do we really want to go up just to be another one season wonder a la Yeovil.

We may well be on the way to becoming a sustainable club but we are miles away from being able to be competitive in the Championship.

That does need serious cash

I'd take it just for the change of scenary, different teams, different grounds. I'm bored shitless of playing the Tranmere's, Colchester's, etc of the world for the best part of the last 15 years.

Totally agree. I'm sure Yeovil offered Williams a deal to make him the highest paid player in the clubs history on 5k a week before he signed for us so I would imagine he will be on that here. Pretty sure I read that Benson was on 3k a week & Troy and Navarro will probably be on similar!! Cox will probably be on less again & I thought Rooney had already agreed a mutual termination of his contract!

We get the change of scenery every so often by getting relegated to Div 4...and then coming straight back up, but that means a decent season....atm we're about in our historical rightful place, it would require a seismic shift off the pitch, for us to take a significant step forward...and that's not going to happen under Lee Power. 

For a sustained period in the Championship yes, not necessarily for a 1 season stint up there which I'd be perfectly happy to happen.

Well Ive seen us outplay, at times, the top2 sides on their own patch so our problem seems to be motivation for the less glamorous games,which unfortunately does not bode well for Saturday.How can I get it through to the players that my local pride is at stake?

Might want to add McEverley & Ward to that list too

McEverly is ace and skill. SO SHUT UP

My work pride is as well, work with a Gills fan. Really cant be arsed to deal with gloating on Monday!

And expensive

Boys from the blackstuff.

He's worth every penny. If he sorts out his fitness I'd have him as captain over Ward.

Fuck me even the Stevenage manager says once you have sussed their ( swindons ) plan A there is no plan B

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25532200

I think we know that anyway....if you believe in the possession game, and you carry it out properly, then in theory it should deliver results, it's just that often we're not good enough to carry it out. Should we change...not in my opinion, I'd rather see us trying to play progressive football and failing, than taking the Westley model..

Agree, he really cares and it shows in the way he plays.

"Highlights" up now. Christ those are crap goals to give away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hoCkvykgXI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hoCkvykgXI)

Did you go last night!!?????

You know I didn't.

But I do know that our final league position is determined over the course of a season and not one match, regardless of how poor it may have been.

I think it's fair to say we won't make the play-offs by winning all our home games and losing every away game, although it should ensure a top 10 finish which is very respectable.

We are within 4 (four) points of a playoff place with half the season to go yet some would have one believe that reaching the playoffs is unrealistic.

OK then.

That was some awful 'defending' by Hall for that penalty... sweet baby Moses!

Pub team defending, both goals easily avoidable.

With a good run of results pretty much any side in the division can still make the play offs even Stevenage and Shitty.....unlikely as it may seem, its silly to write us off so early in the season when everything is still very much to play for.

if any side wins the next 4 or 5 games they will be well in the mix, with our Jekyll and Hyde team that we have it only takes a few lucky/good results to breed and instill confidence again.

Totally agree JJ, but we definitely need to start picking up points on the road.  Unfortunately there seems to have been a fair number of performances away from home that have been exceptionally poor it's hard to see that completely turning on its head.

3 points on Saturday would be a start!

Branco got done for the second didn't he! Can't really tell if Hall was hopelessly out of position for legitimate reasons (like we lost the ball while he was joining the attack).

The opinion of an armchair fan

you should probably change your username. How about Stupid Fucking Cunt?

Oh dear, you can swear, well done. Hope Mummy doesn't read the forum

Nooo, the opinion of a man who can add.

I love a nice adirondack me

I don't think he has that much choice given his location

My opinion isn't based just on last night....but blades...Walsall and Coventry and Pboro where we got two wins which should of been draws.   Just don't think we will do it in the league.

Hope I'm wrong..

We are doing far far better than I thought we would pre season.

Fair call