Thetownend.com

Yes, the culmination of our fine run in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy (no, really, that's what it's called). This might well be the single most pointless game of football ever played, so I'm looking forward to it in a weird way. Is anyone actually going?

God knows what team we'll put out - I'd assumed it would be kids but there's an academy game on Tuesday night against Luton, so somehow we need to get two elevens out. Could we play the first team in the hope of breaking the losing habit?

Exeter are also unable to qualify, so neither team have anything to play for.

Expecting something like:

L Ward

Hart
Minturn
Brewitt

Genesini
Kokolo

Dworzak
Kinsella
Kemp

Young
Obodo (?)

Christ knows though really.

Yeah this might be the most pointless game of football in our history.

Just take the fucking fine and don't bother

That and FA Cup 1st rounds.

will still be an absolute melt down if we lose.
the bonus is our bench has been full of kids so surely we could escape a fine by playing all them lot

Could do with a win to secure the January transfer budget.

Just a couple of blocks at the end plus lower tier seats up for grabs in the Arkells for this one by the look of it.

Anyone else see this as a great opportunity to pilot a 4-3-3 with a few of the first XI (even if it's only for a half)?

Nope, the last thing any of our first XI need is another game, when we have such a small squad.  Put some school kids out from the pre Academy.

5 zip up on 45.

Lose 21:22 on pens....

Not sure I could be less bothered about any game ever in my life. I will watch just out of habit really.

We could win 9-0 and I wont be bothered we could lose by the same and I wont be bothered, in situations like this the sponsors of the cup should accept dead rubber pointless games and cancel them to save on costs incurred all round, us opening the ground, the floodlight costs, stewarding costs, Exeter transport costs, etc etc etc.

There should be a way that the game can be called off with no consequences for either side and definately no fines.

Utterly pointless in every way.

They could even link such a decision to Sustainability!  Reducing our carbon footprint.

The list of excuses we could use is endless, yet we will still play it!

This competition needs to be ended now, keep the competition but have it just as L1 and L2 teams only as it used to be and play every game as a 1 off not a league table format.

I presume it exists purely as some sort of leverage in the TV financing deal, to get the PL to give us money we have to tart our our teams to play their U23's.

This would be much better, although 48 teams doesn't work for knock out.....adding the top 16 teams that didn't go up from the conference would be far more interesting than Prem/Championship B sides/U21s.

Probably so, but to make it even worse its now the U21 teams not the U23 teams it always was previously, its all just a joke. Waits for next year to be the U19s then the U17s. Yet we are not allowed to field our own youth teams without fairly harsh (£20k) financial penalty, ridiculous.

But it is a nice earner for the club I guess with every team competing getting £20k and for every win then after earning them £10k and £5k if the game is a draw.

There really won't.

Absolutely, or include the entire National league and then have the teams that finished the previous season outside of the top 8 spots of the National League play a preliminary round against each other giving the 8 top sides qualifying and the other 8 entering the 1st round proper giving a total of 64 teams 24xL1, 24xL2 and 16xNL (with top 8 + 8 winning qualifiers)).

Just a thought.

Bin the whole thing and just have a proper EFL cup contested by EFL teams. The Prem teams don't want to be in that either anyway.

Could even have a group stage so you get a decent Championship side in each group.

I usually go to these games to take a look at the players not getting a regular game plus any youth players given a chance but I think I have seen all there is to see so will be giving it a miss.

What’s the furthest a premier league under 21 team has got🤔

Your thoughts and feelings are in tandem with the clubs.

Anyone know if this will be on ifollow?

Sadly, yes it will

don't forget it's a 7pm GMT KO. Wouldn't want to miss it

Devalues our 1969 win as a major honour if we do that.

Dead against it.

Wonder how this will rank amongst our lowest ever attendances?

swindon-town-fc put out the stats earlier. I think post war was ~1240 and all time low ~950. Can't check now but its on X/Twitter

Oh, thanks for the reminder...  ::) >:(

Home games only since WW2.
2017 AMC Wycombe 1,236
2018 AMC Newport 1,301
2017 AMC FGR 1,320
2018 AMC Chelsea U21 1,569
1984 LGE Darlington 1,681
2016 AMC Luton 1,692
2021 AMC Colchester 1,728
2002 AMC Southend 1,747

what is AMC?

The earlier/recent forms of the original Associate Members Cup in all its guises such as JPT/Papa Johns/EFLT/Zenith Data Systems Trophy etc.

Not forgetting the Simod Cup!

‘Play to the whistle!’

It has had more sponsors than we have 1st team players in our squad!

Who will be out 1st teamers tonight?

Can't really risk RHM or McEachran.

Ward, Brewitt, Minturn, kinsella? Young*?

One of the qualifying player criteria "subsequently starts the immediately following First Team Fixture" - what if they get injured in the meantime?

* don't risk him

I think your assessment is right, but yes I dont think we will risk Young.

Is Shade back? If not, someone has to play up front, even if Obodo plays for the first team not the academy tonight. RHM? Austin? Young? Genuinely none of them appeal. Perhaps Genesini fancies a go?

The academy have an FA Youth Cup game against Luton tonight, which is unironically a more important game. I think there might be some reluctance to gut the youth side to fulfil this fixture.

I wouldn't be completely shocked if Hatswell and Flynn play this one frankly.

Get some more minutes into Kokolo won’t we?

Going by his pace and willingness I would try Kokolo up front.

Good thought. Maybe. He's not played for so long I'd have thought it risks injury without rests. But I'll leave that to the medical experts.

Other than Ward, Minturn and Kinsella (on the basis that he'll hopefully be benched for Saturday) I'd try and avoid any real first teamers other than Kokolo for 45 for the match fitness.

I think Brewitt needs a night off too.

Pathetic that we can barely fulfil this fixture when we were supposed to be taking every cup seriously but here we are.

I didn't think we can progress in this cup, so whats the point in taking it seriously?

Which I think is half of the point being made - squad so thin we couldn't even attempt to take this cup seriously, which goes against one of the stated aims of taking cups seriously/progressing in all competitions, or something like that.

Correct. We should have been able to at least learn something from these fixtures. What are our second XI like and which youth have a chance of stepping up next year. The reality is that we are so thin that we have no second XI.

We run the risk of a fine wont we if we play a weakened weakend team? Good luck paying that!

Its going to be Flynn, Hatswell and Mildenhall on the bench isnt it.

Play Charlie and hope he gets a few goals. Leave him on the bench for Saturday

You only need four qualifying players, which I imagine would be from Ward, Kokolo, Minturn, Brewitt and Kinsella.

Perhaps that was why Flynn started Minturn... as he qualifies under the criteria of having started the immediately preceding First Team Fixture.

We are already out this cup.

I take your point that the squad depth is part of the cause of this, but fankly it really doesn't matter. If we played youths in the FA/League cups I'd be more upset

I know! I'm just saying we can barely muster the squad to fulfil this game.

Could be a great atmosphere tonight, Exeter have sold 27 tickets already!

I'm guessing about 25 of those live in Swindon the the surrounding areas.

I wouldnt go to a game 120 miles away with absolutely nothing to play for TBH. Your theory must have a huge element of the truth though.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F_eeQPuWQAAA4Rp?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)

A good day for new profiles on Rich Banyard's site I suppose.

McEachran must have scratched Flynn's car. No idea why he is involved. Doesn't need to be, as we have 4 other qualifying players.

Exeter have a strong team out, this could be another hammering.

Is it on Ifollow by any chance ?
Or any other stream ?

Yes.

indeed

Swindon legend Pierce Sweeney starts.

Anyone who has travelled from Exeter has mental health issues

Exeter are on a shocking run, even worse than ours, trying to get some confidence back.

Decent bench

Well they’ll get that. They didn’t need to ask. We’re a generous team ATM.

Less than a 4 goal defeat is a win in my book!

Phew, glad it's a home game. ;)

I like the look of the young lad MacGregor, seen him for the youths and his a tricky little player just needs to build up some body strenght.

Didnt take long 0-1

Doomed!

come on! 4 more and I win £15

This could be plenty

Was literally plugging in my card details on iFollow and pulled out at the last minute when that goal went in. I don't need another night of this shite. Clem out.

anyone who has travelled from Swindon has mental health issues

You’re missing out big time. The yoofs have turned it around big time.

Great game!

Obodo put through by Hubbard

Flynn down to 26% win ratio if this stays as it is. That's Sheridan territory.

MacGregor put through Obodo that time, but easily dispossessed

bodin sounding a bit noncey

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: its bloody awful!

Att: 644 (78 Exeter)

Six hundred and forty four.

644..... record breakers

Attendance: 644 with 78 away fans

We have set so many records this season both good and bad!

Straight to the Seymour with the lot of them

Keep up at the back ;)

I was born there! albeit just a few months before it became the mental hospital!

I think kokolo could be a decent signing

I didn’t want him to get away without suffering like the rest of us! 😂

I was getting my dinner! 😢

Ah  touché, I like your thinking!

644. Sounds like an idea.

Good chance for Hubbard but his volley is not strong enough after a nice cross by MacGregor.

Hubbard with a volley!

The 644 squadron!

(https://vcdns.valka.cz/files/644squadron_206.jpg)

Hoiked off after 40 mins

And Exeter break down our left as Kokolo’s replacement doesn’t have the same wheels!

Filled the quota, avoid the fine

So now we have Ward and Kinsella who are over 21, Genesini is 21, Minturn 19, Dworzak 18 and the other 6 are 16 or 17 years old.

Kinsella to go off at HT too?

HT 0-1

As expected.

could have been worse.

Jackson Browne already running on empty

I think the first half was the more depressing for Exeter, they should be doing a lot better.

🤣🤣 showing your age. Then again so am I in recognising you are 😵‍💫🙄

0-1 HT

Thought it could be a cricket score the way we started. But, the yoofs have gained confidence and come back into the game a bit.

Still look to have a slow back line, no midfield and little threat up top.

McGregor has grown into the game and been a bright spot.

Genesini was getting roasted for the first 10 mins but has looked a bit more solid with Kinsella coming over to help.

Obodo hasn’t shown a lot other than a poor 3rd touch.

Ward’s distribution has been better than normal.

My American mind can’t wrap my head around the lack of competitiveness from management , players, fans.   Makes no sense to me.  There are a lot of positives that could be won from this match. 

Exeter evidently see it that way, Swindon have met its goal by avoiding a fine.

Apparently Exeter have put out quite a strong side.

Disappointed in the lack of Jackson Browne connoisseurs on here

Need 4-5000 to break even on concert

They have an ex Man Utd and Hearts winger on one side and an ex £7m signing for Norwich on the other side.

He's being noncey again

‘Hubbard is willing, but so…..small’ says Hawes

Obodo with a poor first touch and the chance is gone

This entire game is like the 4th Quarter of an NFL pre season game, before the teams have cut their squads down to < 100 players.  So it's the people you will never see ever again.

Makes you wonder why Genesini hasn’t got more minutes in the first XI - he looks tidy enough.

Defensively he looks better than Hutton for me, but obviously not as much of a threat going forwards as Hutton.

Could be Clem has a fee to pay based on appearances, only thing that makes sense.

Think a few Town fans have been on the pop with the ‘singing’

Surely even if that’s true it’s got to be more than 2 games.

can rule out win bonus...
appearance fee?

*7th game for us tonight.

Yes it does!!  But I will hand it to the Swindon teenagers.  They are holding their own.  Wait until they are old enough for their balls to drop.  Maybe some quality players

If Exeter are fielding many first team players then they are in for a long season.

Fully understand this game is a dead rubber but par score would have been 3 or 4 nil. They have no zip about them what so ever.

I am still baffled as to why Genesini hasn't had more of a look in.

The ownership and money baffle me, so the reason has to be something to do with money.

Flynn implied he wasn’t working hard enough in training

If we never had so many injuries he would have no chance of getting a game so if it’s based on appearances making his signing even more baffling!

He said something similar about Minturn.

What is he saying?

Town fans are singing?

The youngsters did ok, especially second half.

TBH a fair few have sung all game long.

Totally agree, looked comfortable on the ball.

FT Swindon U18s 0-1 Exeter City 1st team.

Exeter looked awful today they are in for a long season of struggle on that basis, with such a huge squad too.

Well done to the boys for showing lots of skill and courage if no end product.

Exactly.

For me.  Best Swindon town performance in a while.  Those boys did well   The physical size difference between town and other team was shocking

Great to see the youngsters holding their own. Lets see if we can get any £££ for them in January.

Flynn now rocking the 26% win rate. Worse than Luke Williams, Maurice Malpas, Phil Brown, Scott Lindsey etc.

And we have him on contract until 2026.

Blame Clem, and I absolutely do, but Flynn is increasingly looking like one of his useful idiots, as Sheridan (24% win rate) was to Power.

I think you might have been better off keeping your powder dry on that take until Saturday tbh, this is a nothing game in a nothing comp and the kids did okay. It's not exactly like it's not going to be relevant at the weekend!

Yes, I’m not sure Saturday improves matters…

Sigh. This club.

Hatswell:
- Wasnt unexpected that Exeter were strong
- Exeter wanted to prep for Bolton at the weekend and were getting internationals back
- The group were outstanding
- The youngsters were good without the ball
- Knew we were going to be without the ball for long periods
- Grew into the game after 5 mins
- The team dug in
- Felt that if we tried to stretch them then we could get some joy outside the CBs. But their defenders have lots of L1 and L2 experience
- Great experience for the youth
- Now had a taste of what its like to play against good players
- McEachran needed minutes as he hasnt trained
- Kokolo was very good. Trying to give him minutes but not break him
- Minturn did well
- Kinsella can run all day
- Experienced goal keeper behind them
- Please for the youth and the older pros
- Pre half time subs was to prepare for the weekend
- Two tough games now before a break
- RHM: Hoping that he will train tomorrow. If not Friday, with a session of sorts on Thursday perhaps. But Hatswell said he doesn't have a crystal ball though
- Suffering of late from physical injuries and mental fatigue. Everyone is in the same boat
- We would like a bigger squad, 100%
- Fixtures in the tinpot cups hasnt helped. We dont have the resources of others and dont have a week off with internationals away.

cheers NMH

I see Flynn opted for the “send assistant manager” for press duties yesterday. Tbf I would do the same in that competition but will be interesting to see who does it for the weekend -it was a classic Sheridan move before

Hatswell wasn't able to go with the Tommy Wright line last night, as they literally WERE children.

Shaky Town...as normal!

What was the gate?

Did we break any records?

644 with 78

Wow they brought up over a Coach load!!

Credit to those hardy souls, i wouldnt of gone if wed won all of them 6 zip! BUT...credit too those that did...

Is that a new record though??

Lowest since 1910 in the Southern Charity Cup

I'm sure half the thread is about to claim they were there!

Were you there Aud?

No mate, a record is a round black thing with a hole in the middle.

I wonder if it was the lowest Ifollow attendance too

Didn't even watch it on the firestick app.

I respect the fact you couldn't even be arsed to change channels, if thats not a wake up call to Clem, it should be

Me too. Watched bake off instead

Same here, although to be fair that was more to do with the competition than the game itself.
I wouldn’t attend one of these games if it were free & being played in my back garden

No. I was saving for my ticket on The Titanic.

Keep following Swindon - we’re already on it !!

:D

No, that's the Hindenburg

Do you mean Kim Hindenberg the shit signing made by Colin Todd? :D

I dunno, this game is insignificant and standalone.

What should be opening his eyes is the falling league attendances. I wasn't convinced at first but we do seem to be leaking fans every week.

Fine balance to be had between product and costs. And taking fans for granted is a mistake.