Thetownend.com

The Opponent:   After what seems like an absolute eternity, we are back on the road for the trip down to Somerset. We are still sitting well in the league, confidence is up, most of the players have had a break, nothing can go wrong, can it?

Yeovil was first mentioned in about 880 as Gifle. The name was derived from the Celtic river-name gifl "forked river", an earlier name of the River Yeo The town was recorded in the Domesday Book as Givele, a thriving market community. In the 20th century Yeovil developed into a centre of the aircraft and defence industries, which made it a target for bombing in the Second World War, with one of the largest employers being Agusta Westland who manufacture helicopters. Additionally, the Fleet Air Arm has a station RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), the primary base of the Royal Navy's Westland Lynx andSea King helicopters, several miles north of the town and is a major local employer (Ministry of Defence).

If you find yourselves with some free time today then why not pop along to Longman Cheese Sales? A selection of the fabulous cheeses they have on offer include Bath Blue (Soft), Cornish Brie, Black Eye Susan, Cotswold Herb, and Smoked Goldilocks Indian Blanket. They also supply a fine range of hams and pretty much anything you can think of in the way of dairy products. BA22 7BD should you happen to have some time.

Last Time Out – Saturday 11th October – Port Vale 4 Yeovil 1 - Tom Pope scored twice as Port Vale eased past fellow strugglers Yeovil. Before kick-off, Vale chairman Norman Smurthwaite revealed that two clubs had made approaches to sign the striker. Pope's far-post header from Mark Marshall's cross and a tap-in from a Chris Lines corner put Vale 2-0 up. Lines turned in a rebound a minute into the second half and, although Aaron Martin pulled one back from close range, sub Colin Daniel finished well past Jake Kean to seal a routine win.

They have served us both –  Andy Williams, Owain Tudur-Jones, Bill Roost, Kevin Roberts, Richard Plumb, Robert Peart, Alan O’Brien, Kevin Amankwaah, Martin Blackler, Stan Earl, Jimmy Giles, Charlie Griffin, Rollo Jack, Ryan Mason, Denny Mundee, Leigh Barnard, Lee Cox, Rory Fallon, Wayne Gray, Stan Harland, Kevin James, Alex Meechan, Jamie Vincent, Michael Rose, Don Rogers, Chris Porter, Tommy Penn, Louis Page, Nagy Nick, Paul Batty, Liam Dixon, Matt Gemmell, Giulianio Grazioli, Terry Hubbard, Mark Marshall, Les Wilkins, Jon Sheffield, Adam Rooney, Howard Pritchard, Jamie Pitman, Dean Parrett, Jon Obika, Steve Mildenhall

One From The Past – 26th December 2007 - Yeovil Town 0 Swindon Town 1 – 920 of us made the trip to Somerset on Boxing Day 7 years ago. After a bland 60 minutes Barry Corr scored the only goal of the game to send us home with the 3 points. Happy Days.

The Odds –  Yeovil 23/10 Draw 12/5  Swindon 13/10

The Son Says –  He’s already planning life in The Championship, via FIFA 1. 2-0 Win.

The Prediction – I’ve seen some good games against Yeovil, and some equally shit ones. This will fall in to the latter category and be a 3-1 win. Goals from Smith (2) and Williams who will refuse to celebrate in a Balotelli-esque way. 5’999 with a mighty 1’432 from Swindon.

And Finally –  Last time I went to Yeovil it pissed down. Take precautions.


COYR COYR COYR COYR

3.1 town win for me
Recon Reeves will hit one today, Smith also

5960 overall
1502 town fans

Showers forecast hopefully not between 3 and 5pm

Id take a shit 3-1 win any day!

Williams will score. I can see a 3-1/4-1 win

Time is such a weird thing as SR says, it seems like an eternity since the last game...equally weird is that the Don and Stan Harland both did stints  at Yeovil...perhaps not so strange for the Don, as he is a Somerset boy, but Stan, who I met a number of times was a proper Scouser...indeed his premature death occured when he was running a supermarket in Yeovil, after he'd finished playing for them.

Draw. 1-1.

I'll be on a flight from Mumbai to Heathrow so will be dying to find out how we get on as soon as we land.

I know a few are still waiting and expecting for the team to 'blow up', but this lot are the best bunch I've seen - ever.

1-4, Williams (ordained), Smudge x 2 and Turnbull

5213 with 1560 bollock chops

1-3 with 1,650 of us.

SR - you forgot to mention the gloves.

My local game just 12 miles down the road for me, first game of the season too.

Hope the match is on as we have had 12 hours of torrential rain and strong winds and its still raining now.

See you all in the Arrow later if it is on.

Really could do without another postponement. 

1-3 Swindon.

I'm going with little miss Flash....win please...

Not raining in Yeovil now according to the Beeb (JJ may tell us otherwise) and none forecast so should be OK.

2-0 Williams (obviously) and Smith

Local one for me too. 4-1 victory, hat-trick from Willo and a net burster of a wind-assisted shot from Yaser.

1496 hardy town fans to make the trip.

COME ON YOU REDS!

Incidentally, the yellow filth take on Tranmere today, to see who is the shitest team in the league

We already know that FFS!

Good point

Barker to net the winner and goad the home fans afterwards.

I really want Swindon to win this one.

I'll be at Bristol Rovers vs. Forest Green Rovers looking at my phone for updates.

C'mon Town!

It stopped raining about 11.30 in Yeovil as my wife was teaching fitness classes there, just about to leave, looks like it will rain again any minute though.

RAIN UPDATE - Sat in The Bell (Hungry Horse) waiting for me lunch and there is no rain.

I put my sunglasses in my pocket today when I left the house so they should keep it away.

Probably a bit late now, but there's some resurfacing work on the A303 past Wincanton, no queues when I went through, but be aware.

WTF!

Obika starts, Williams on bench.

Where's the fooking TEF at then? Wandering round the arrow trying to find you!

Nice last minute change of pub lads.

Hope we haven't rushed Obika back too quickly, but good to see him back.

Peterboro 1 nil down at home

Shitty 1-0 up, Peterboro 1-0 down

Wovers 0 Forest Green 1

Will Pullen be happy or sad?

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B0PGLdMCAAETTq6.jpg:large)

Pox 1 up

Been coming, sound poor so far.

Fucksake.

Fallon scored again for Scunny

Meh! We'll batter them in the second half.

reassuringly disappointing.

And what culinary delight have you prepared to ensure that

I think I've got a sausage roll in the fridge. That oughta do it, no need to bring out the big guns.

Urgh, James Hayter is still playing football!!! He must be ancient by now

Or does he just turn out to get his customary goal against us

Only just tuned in.  SSN just said Hayter was the goalscorer, his first in nine?  Typical.  

Are Yeovil deservedly in front does anyone know.

It sounds that way, yes!

Hayters gonna hayte

(Sorry)

Williams on for Obika.

Best way to describe Yeovil is agricultural. That, combined with the wind, is really blunting our ability to play well. Barely seen anything from either of the strikers all game. Hayter is a cunt for punching Yas in the back of the head, refereeing is not exactly A-grade either. Reminds me of last tear when, too often, we were simply beaten out of the game by a more physical side.

If the wind keeps up, we'd be best bringing on Williams for Obika and letting him run on to the wind-assisted passes.

Just seen a tweet from Hungerford Town, Alan O'Brien on for Ian Herring...

Deja vu

Doesn't sound like its going to happen does it..

Williams 1-1 and the commentator just went bang

Yesssssss Williams!!!!

Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooal
Williams.

Yippee-kay-aye !

Yes Yes Yessssssssssssss

Phew!

I like your style.

Can you predict we won't get a winner in about 10 mins :)

Say it again please.

I was so tempted to post

'There you go'

But didn't want to jinx it

Woooo hooooo

Peterborough 2-1 up now.

I'd be happy with a point, we aren't good enough to go on and win this 3-1

Where is the like button :)

Nathan Thompson gets a second yellow for being fouled.

Um...

Bollocks, Thomo N off.

Can't appeal two yellow either. Balls.

And a 2 match ban.

FFS.  Second booking for laying on the ball!

Sounds like the Brentford sending off for laying on the ball - shite

Two game ban now though I think.  He does need to try and cut out these silly bookings.

The Mackems at work will not be happy on Monday :)

They need Paolo back... :)

Thompson's discipline has been pretty poor this season.

I always thought that stupid sending off in the last minute against Brighton was going to cost us more later in the season as you get an extra match ban for every subsuquent sending off you get.

Paolo, it's Paolo

Eh ?!?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9KXrRUZqtw

three minutes added.

Twitter told me, from four different news sources. Just in case you need confirmation.

Thanks Batch  :)

Game over man, game over.


Good point really, always going to be tricky IMO.

FT, also take a point away from home. Shame we couldn't win it though.

Disappointing not to win, bu a point away is always a good thing.

Always gotta be happy with a point away from home...

On current form, I thought we might win this.  However a draw on the road is not to be sniffed at.  Shame Shitty and Boro have both won.

Nice to pick up a point when not playing well - good sign.

2 winnable home games coming up - happy days!

Can't win them all, with 2 very winnable home games in the next 7 days it's all going very well still.

Nathan does need to sort out fondness for collecting cards

Cooper on. Branco won't be fit for Tuesday so defence is an issue - (Bell to drop back perhaps?). Not best pleased with the ref but watching his words.

Post international tiredness for our midfield today. Lack of energy and fizz from the off. Allowed yeovil to hazzle  and harry us out of possession.

Can't be a coincidence that a flat performance comes after our 2 midfield game changers had been away on international duty.

Maybe could have been a game for Reeeeeeves

 A point is OK....and probably to be expected. As Hayter hater, it was pretty much inevitable that he'd score....only surprise being that DV didn't point it out.  He could very easily be the ultimate STFC specialist. If I was a Yeovil fan, then you'd expect the law of the ex to at least produce one goal for Williams or Obika.

Strange choice to play Obika ahead of Williams seeing as he has been out injured for weeks.

Although it does give more credence to the Williams super-sub view.

Shit first half. So will take the draw.
Point better off so not all lost,
Didn't think much of ref either

Who took the armband once Nathan had been given his marching orders?

Yaser

Just seen the goals on Sky, cracking finish by Williams.  The red card was unbelievable, should have been a free lick to Town without question.

Awful first half and terrible midfield.

Did Obika touch the ball.....balls never got near the forwards.

Better second and we maybe could of won it....Byrne came alive and the slightly heavy touch and the decision to take a touch when put through twice cost him a goal.

ref was utter shit for both sides....how was the black forward chap not booked....?

Um Bongo was fucking hopeless today as were a few of them.....they improved second half and we could of won it...looked most dangerous after the red card.

Yeovil? Long season ahead but I think they will have enough in the tank. I wouldn't like to watch that every week.

Enjoyed a pint in the Arrow and catching up with Herthab and JJ... herthab throwing his pint all over the bar was a sight to behold.

I had no idea James Hayter was still going and still at Yeovil!
Wouldn't have thought he'd lasted their season in the Championship.

I make it 9 goals in 13(+2) games against us spanning 14 bloody years

Gladwin should have replaced Mass and Reeves come on for Bell who had a shocker he'll hope to forget in a hurry.

As soon as I heard that Hayter was playing I knew he'd score. Always has against us.

First half was the worst I've seen us play this season, Yeovil stifled us in midfield and our forwards weren't even in the game. Much better 2nd half and could've won it. The ref was dogshite.
Nice to see Flash and JJ and nice to see the celery making another appearance.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B0PfQ7IIcAAmimK.jpg)

 :( As soon as I saw his name on the team sheet, I feared the worst, but was vaguely hopng we might get a couple to render the inevitable irrelevant...hopefully there won't be too many more, due to the ravages of time..

 I'd imagine he must be the ultimate STFC bogie player of the post war era.....not a patch on the kind of terror that the sight of Tommy Tait on the team sheet, used to put into my old man in the 30's

I'd always thought Nicky Forster was our ultimate bogie player, but Hayter's record is sickening.

Alex Revell I think has about 8 in 14 possibly
Jermaine Beckford 7 in 7
Alan Shearer 8 in 6 (0 in his first 2 then doubles in the remaining 4)

Just got back home.  Didn't enjoy the first half at all.  We seemed determined to shoot ourselves in the foot and we gifted them their goal.  

Our lack of discipline is becoming a real worry.  The 'mass handbags' incident early in the first half was unnecessary, especially only a day after picking up a fine for the last one.  The Manager needs to sort this out.  And Nathan Thompson needs to have a word with himself.  As the Captain, he should be setting the right sort of example, and not keep putting his team mates under pressure by leaving them to play matches out with 10 men.

We seemed to sort ourselves out a bit in the second half.  The midfield, who were woeful in the first half, got a better grip of things and Gladwin improved things when he came on.  We could actually have won it but snatched two or three good chances.  
 
Their new centre half (brick shithouse) had Smith in his pocket for most of the game but was a dirty c*nt.   

Forster only has the 8...

I always used to get the heebie jeebies at the sight of Chicken George Lawrence....George only got the 5 against us, but he was never a prolific scorer, only about 40 in his whole career.

Frank Clarke...he of the Derek, Wayne, Alan family...also has 9, but that is somewhat skewed by being the last player to score 4 v us....backed by a further brace,

Hayter has 1 brace, meaning he's scored in 8 games against us  :crash:

According to the match tracker/your stats on the superb swindon-town-fc.co.uk Hayter has scored the most goals (7) by opposition players in games I've attended

Pretty shit performance for the most part but got a draw away from home which I will happily take. Williams looked lively until thompson got sent off and he was shunted to left wing. Byrne also looked very lively in the last 25 mins, such an improvement since he first arrived. We were calling out for another byrne like player on the left hand side who would stay out wide and attack the full back, would have created more space for our midfielders.

Good number of celery there today

The celery must have been a job lot from Orient.

Pretty limp

Alan Buckley and Tommy Tynan, those fuckers always seem to score against us when I was a lad.

I played against him once (Tommy Tynan). I was playing for Whitbread Luton and he was playing for Whitbread Pub managers South West. In the "Whitbread Trophy Trophy"

He was by this time, what you would call a "chunky fucker" if you were being nice. He was playing in midfield, and I was told to man mark him and kick him off the park.

He scored 3 and I got a black eye from a very professional use of the elbow.
He was a great laugh in the bar though, especially when I told him I was a Swindon fan.

Tynan?

Whoops just saw the brackets. I blame the beer

You're not going mad, I added them later !

Meanwhile, at Bradford v Sheff Utd, this wasn't a penalty or a card of any sort

https://vine.co/v/ObAiTBiWzL2

Bucko....yes scored 9 v STFC in 12 games, mostly for Walsall. Tynan surprisingly only 5.

I did wonder, but it doesn't say it's been edited.  And I have drunk a fair bit

Richard Cadette was another. Generally fucking useless but seemed to put it in the net against us. Remember Sheff Utd at 11:30 or some other stupid time. Shit game and he scored the only goal. Scored for Southend against us a few times. My memory could be shit though.

In fact Cadette only scored against us in that game....someone who used to annoy me was Lloyd Owusu, he scored 5 against us...the one v Sheff Weds being greeted by a chap who jumped out of the TE to have a word with him.

But particularly annoying was a Yeovil winner at the CG....now Lloyd was a big old boy, who on this occasion had his head wrapped up Terry Butcher style, after a head clash, so difficult to miss really....so wtf did we leave him unmarked 5 yds out from a corner?

I do love the ref clearly seeing it and shaking his head saying no. 

Ithink this was the infamous game on TV where Best Holdings were announced as new owners wasnt it.

Jim Little :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Read and weep.

The Washbag: Jim Little (http://thewashbag.com/tag/jim-little/)

One of the sorriest tales ever to be told about our club.

£50,000 for Hasney Aljofree. Fucking hell!

Judging by how the Bradford fans were on twitter after the defeat Vs. us. They would probably say that it was never a penalty!?

That pretty much sums it up perfectly.


It was great to catch up with FLash and Herthab in the Arrow despite the beer throwing, but with your Foderingham like reflexes saved most of it ;)

The game was truly a game of 2 halves.

1st half we were poor, chasing a bigger, stronger, faster team than we had, jaded midfield off the pace, Kasim, Luongo and Louis barely kicked the ball, one attack from Bell with a great cross was all we offered, after that Bell had a mare.

A little too much passing back to Foders when a slightly more forward pass was on, yes I know its the way we play but some touches by Foders looked suspect....but he made 2 of the finest saves I have seen in years one at each end of the pitch.

Jordi Hulahoop (Flash®) had such pace and quick feet against us, only a saving tackle from Nathan saved us when he was clean through, although he couldn't hit a barn door at 2 foot.

For their goal Jordi rounded the defence and Foders to pass the the inevitable Hayter to slot in en empty net, probably justified.

2nd half we outplayed them, when the ball was on the ground they couldnt cope with out passing, mostly down the right with Byrne who was a changed man 2nd half who tore them a new one against a very poor left back.

The goal was a good team goal, ball played down the right to Stephens who took the ball past their defence like a winger and crossed for Williams to slot it in the top corner. Brilliant.

Nathan then got sent off for being fouled and holding onto the ball...yes it was silly after being booked earlier but it was no way a booking as he was fouled first by the big and pretty dirty Yeovil side, Honkytonk summed them up...agricultural, and a typical Johnson side.

A draw was a good result, any away game that you don't lose is a good result but we could easily havs snatched it late on even with 10 men, their keeper who looked fairly shaky didn't have a save to make until about the 80th minute (after getting nowhere near Williams goal).

Still the rain stayed away and there was a good if fairly quiet Swindon following and the return of celery, I havent seen that at a Swindon game since the Macari days.

Oh and a special mention to the Ref...who was determined to ruin a poor game, but he was as bad for both sides to be fair.

1545 there.

Good turnout.

Difficult to get an atmosphere going on an open terrace.

Orient proves that point being under cover with some great noise

Just seen the Thompson sending off. I assumed it was for handball at the time but I can't even see his hand in contact with the ball. How on earth can he get a yellow for that?

Fun fact, after the celery appeared the goal was not far behind. I believe (or at least me dad said as much before the game) that 1545 might be a new record following for us at Yeovil in the league.

Their pitch was ok, but the wind played havoc with our game, typified by the first half when Yeovil were getting wind assist with everything.

I did say if we brought Williams on and hoofed it a bit more we'd get a goal. I was half right. I'm dead proud we  didn't go that route though, kept to our principles through the whole match. Everything to say about the match has been said already by Venkman or Flash, but what I will say is that Gladwin is a bloody good utility player. Came in and played better at LWB than Bell, who had a shocker of a game. Also impressed cooper made the Obika (and bell? Can't rememer when he went off) subs early. Yaser got his foot on the ball 2nd half and was instrumental in those last ten minutes. Mass was a bit absent, again, till the last 10.

Despite not meeting up with any TEF'ers yesterday I still enjoyed myself. Little too much in fact. I have work thisafternoon. Oh dear.

You probably walked straight past us, all aged between 40 and 50 with shaved heads and Flash with his pork pie hat on and stood right next to the door talking loudly about the past :D

You are right about Gladwin, admittedly he didn't do too much out wide left but he looks to be a very promising utility player in the making.

Oh and I am pretty sure we took 1,600 there when it was the L&P day out on the infamous Cureton miss game.

EDIT: you are right, the game I was thinking of we only took 1,480 so it was our biggest away following at Yeovil.

Going to be interesting to see how Cooper solves the Nathan Thompson missing puzzle...NT is pretty much the key to playing the sweeper system, as you need someone, who can read the game, is reasonably comfortable with the ball and has some defensive capability...throw in his ability to organise and he's a big miss.

Think I read that Bell can play at the back, so that would seem the obvious move with Jack Stephens playing the sweeper role....but as Bell had a stinker on Sat, it might not be very fair, to expect him to step into an unfamiliar slot.

I've got a vaguely irrational feeling that Gladwin could make a top sweeper....seem to remember Cooper sticking him at the back for a pre-season friendly, probably at somewhere like Eastleigh which we lost, so maybe he won't be tempted.

Another option would be to put 3-5-2 on hold and try a plan B....managers, by now will have a plan to stop us playing like Yeovil did yesterday...

Rather see Gladwin there TBH.

I can envisage Bell having a Lelan moment or 2 at sweeper.

At least Rochdale will have a go and not park the bus - could be a decent game.

Looking forward to it

Of to Tenerife in Wednesday. Mrs batch asked if I was still going to the game on Tuesday.

Of course I bloody am. It's football and I can avoid packing. Win win.

Just realised I'm flying to Kefalonia on the day of the L1 play off final.

That was Flash in the pork pie?! I was stood behind you lot for the whole match!

Yeah that was him/us :) the quiet ones.

Highlights here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4WIyNLSD-5M

If you drop the s from https the video imbeds properly - jayo

Williams has scored some bloody nice goals this season.

You'll pay for that somehow...

He has, hes added a new side to his game. He does look like a new signing.

I wonder if the decision to send Miles Storey on a season loan was influenced by having Andy Williams back. Similar players in terms of being pace options and would have been difficult to play both of them and Williams has a bit more quality. Miles wasn't likely to get game time ahead of Williams so a year on loan at Pompey gets him vital experience.

A decision to be made in the summer if Williams continues in this vein, do we offer him a new contract on his current terms or, if he goes, will Miles be more ready to replace with a years experience in League Two.

Storey's not getting much game time at Pompey....

Awford seems to play a very defensive formation - may explain why?

It worked well yesterday....Not !!

He's the 4th choice generally behind Taylor, Agyemang & Westcarr.

I really don't think he has much of a future with us

Or the fact he is not actually that good ;)

Cheers Reg

What about Ian Wright? Regularly scored against us for Palace in late 1980s and then a hat trick in the Premier on Boxing Day wasn't it

Just seen the highlights, what in fucks name did Nathan Thompson get sent off for, apart from being fouled himself?!

He deliberately handled the ball. Obviously being blatantly fouled you could understand why, but the ref didn't give it so ...

Good goal from Williams.

Kevin Campbell scored the hat-trick...Wright just the one, in fact Wright only scored 4 against us in 11 games. Campbell has 5 in about 3 games as he scored a brace for Forest.

I've thought of a post war player who has more than 9 against us...and painfully it is Gentleman John Atyeo with 10.

We weren't much good in the 50's....and the old Bristol City tended to take advantage, however they were still mostly resolutely Div 3 despite Atyeo's goals...and he was good enough to be capped by England.

Atyeo was, of course, a Wiltshireman  :(

There maybe a post war player to top 10....I'll keep thinking about it  :)

Not clear from the embedded highlights but their goal was offside....hula hoop was coming back but then turned and made the cut back thus influencing play....

Ref was shit anyway......listening to the radio it seems they aren't getting any better in the Prem either.

[quote author=Reg Smeeton link=topic=55282.msg1293213#msg1293213 date=141

Atyeo was, of course, a Wiltshireman 


We got our own back in the 1960s signing Donald from Paulton, Somerset, deep in City territory

Jeez pack your wellies!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29682176

Take a snorkel.....and not for the sea!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29682176

 :nod:  

 They got Danny Bartley...who was more or less contemporary of Don, from the same pit village. Also an England Youth International....Bartley did 90 games for Bristol before stints with Swansea and Hereford, like Don, Bartley was a winger, just not the goals.

 Bartley did 17 years from 65 to 82. Once the pits closed so did the footballers

My old teacher from Warminster....I was big mates with his son back in the day....still am with one of his son in laws.

I honestly can't see a deliberate handball and I've watched it 5 times. I assumed that's what he gave but jeez.

Was going to put this in one of the other threads, but thought I might as well stick it here.

http://www.westerngazette.co.uk/Yeovil-tramp-marries-badger-admits-active-sex/story-23261283-detail/story.html#TBfFrd8GCyh4ayY8.01

Makes me wonder how the Star gets away with simply making up stories.

I presume that referees may have been warned about N.Thompson's habit of falling over onto the ball when under pressure as he appears to have been punished for this quite often recently hasn't he? McCormack used to do it a lot as well.

It's all been covered really.

Shite first half, better second (especially as Yeovil tired). Yeovil are dross and I can see them going down again.

The celery stuff was good fun. Particularly as we took an aussie lass to her first ever game, and she found it quite amusing. Even got a 'celery selfie'.