Thetownend.com

After Saturday's debacle, it feels like I need to step in again and put things back on track. I've racked my brains and can think of no-one and nothing of distinction from Walsall. Decent manager though. Used to quite like Fellows Park but the new stadium is all a bit Playmobil.

We'll struggle as usual at home against well-organised opposition but will eventually prevail 2-1 (Gladwin, Obika).

Noddy Holder is from Walsall I believe. Going tonight but rapidly losing my mojo. Walsall along with Wolves were very impressive at the CG last season. It would just be good to see a decent home performance. Can see quite a low crowd tonight.

I predict a sausage and chips football special, a hobble to and from the county ground after somehow hurting my knee cycling yesterday. and an early night for purposes of sleep when I get home.

not really bothered by today's game.

Cant see a performance or a result like the one up at Walsall.
If Yeovil can make us look like a bunch of strangers, what will Walsall do?
Cut the shit introduce a plan B, Speed it up.

A nod to David Kelly who regularly bought pain and heartache to the 82's

I remember a great away day at walsall a few years back.

Involved a trip to birmingham airport for a certain forum member...

Oh and it'll be more of the same tonight, saving players for the play offs. More game time for Rodgers me thinks and a low quiet  crowd waiting for season end

:doh: :doh: :bye: :bye:

Loved seeing that headline in the Western 'City' Press after Kelly smashed them that season.

Back on track tonight please with a win. At least it won't snow!

We'll win, I won't be attending  ;)

My only voluntary absence this season.

Feel a bit guilty but I need a break from that sideways, passing for passing's sake, tippy tappy nonsense.

I fear there will be plenty of others abstaining tonight - could be an embarrassing sub-6000 crowd

I remember that....both sides won the away leg to give an aggregate score of 3-3, no pens then, but a third game like we had v Gills....Saddlers won 4-0  :)

Walsall's James Hayter (the only good thing about Sat was that cunt didn't score the 1) is Alan Buckley.  Bucko socred 9 for them v Town in 11 games over a 10 year period form 74-84.

I've known a few Saddlers fans down the years and they've been a decent bunch as was Bucko....Noddy Holder kind of sums them up...

Lowest crowd of the season tonight I'd have thought....

About to head up for this one. Shame its a dead rubber but missed my football fix recently.

Think it'll be a draw 1-1.

I'll be getting the train over from Bath after work. Looking forward to returning to my seat in Arkell's after my recent trips to the Town End and DRS.

Alan Buckley was a real thorn in our side. Great striker who knew where the goal was. Had reasonable success as a manager. 

Wes, Stephens, Mass rested. Pre-season friendly atmos. Another 0-1 defeat. 6,001.

Exactly why i'm not bothering tonight. Was very frustrating saturday watching that and bored me to tears with us getting nowhere and seemingly content at not even changing how we played.

Anyhow, Cooper's given up on the season until the play-offs, so don't see why the fans should bother either until then.

I said on Saturday that I wasn't going to bother tonight, but I'm a glutton for sideways passing.

wont we look a bit silly if we field a weakened side and pne and mcd both lose,or not?

Yeah, but we will need to win every single game and for them both to lose every single game for us to go up in 2nd.

Ain't gonna 'appen.

Not strictly true. If they both lose tonight we will have to win our 3 remaining games and Franchise draw one of their 2 remaining games for us to get 2nd.

It's negative everywhere at the moment. Never give up.

[quote author=dogs link=topic=55702.msg1323600#msg1323600 date=1429618540?

Exactly why i'm not bothering tonight. Was very frustrating saturday watching that and bored me to tears with us getting nowhere and seemingly content at not even changing how we played.

Anyhow, Cooper's given up on the season until the play-offs, so don't see why the fans should bother either until then.
[/quote]

Tool

My last 2 games were Franchise and Yeovil, so I'm giving tonight a miss for the team's sake!

1-1 tonight.

But you'e all forgetting that Mr 100% started the matchday thread. Surely you're not going to miss this football festival???

I'm not feeling pessimistic in any way but it feels like the season is over. But what with momentum, play-offs blah blah blah.

Roll on May.

Bought my ticket but now not going due to family circumstances, so that's one more on the attendance at least. Come on Town.

Probably feeling the least "up for it" of any game this season.

I feel, like Rich, that the season is over...roll on the play offs now so I can get some positivity back again.

Being a loyal supporter, I have a season ticket, so I've done my bit whether I go or not.

This evening it's not.....

TOWN vs Walsall: Foderingham; Ricketts, Thompson N, Turnbull; Byrne, Rodgers, Stephens, Kasim, Toffolo; Gladwin; Obika

TOWN SUBS - T Belford, Barthram, Marshall, Randall, Hylton, Williams, Smith

6 in midfield again. At least we're testing it out again before the play-offs!

one up front. yeah, good opportunity for our strikers to get their confidence back

Have missed anything about Swift? Injured? Rested? Recalled? Hissy fit?

Why dont we give Hylton a start? autos are out of the question (as near as fuck is to swearing anyway), test him before the season ends he at least has a point to prove.

one up front and 4 strikers on the bench.interesting

Haha same.

Curry instead

Injured or illness.

RS said he's ill.

This is also very common at my work when the sun is out :)

I did wonder if Chelsea were on the telly!

Appears to be a small attendance at the CG tonight. This will probably result in a Lee Power call to arms.

Don't worry Lee, I'll be at Orient (and the Play-Off game(s))

I just realised this was the last home fixture that I could make before the end of the season, oops.

Sounds like lively start.

you fucker

taaxii for fods. first mistake I remember him making for ages. shit defending though.

...

(http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6rhnrNAMG1qg39ewo1_500.gif)

Preston 1 up

Looks pretty empty tbh, piccy from Twitter

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDI1oJpW4AI0mcP.jpg)

What? It's lively.

Town fans are already 'on the beach'.

Seems like a shit way of preparing for the POs

The biggest worry that I have as we head in to the pivotal Play Off campaign is that we don't seem to be very good at football any more.

As it stands we're 10 points from 2nd place with 9 left to play for.

Byrne is lively. the defence is dodgy, attacks were swifter than Saturday but are drying up again.

I'm more concerned about this than 'momentum'.

Preston 2 up

one goes with the other usually

A week ago, it looked like Preston away was going to be a do-or-die game.

Now?

(http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/its-over-go-home.gif)

We started brightly and their keeper made a couple of good saves.  A fluff from Wes and the lead is gifted to them.  Now we've turned to utter shit and can't seem to pass to each other.

Walsall fans singing "we'll see you next year, we'll see you next year, you're going nowhere, we'll see you next year".

Sadly, I think they're right.  

Mocked by mediocrity.

HOORAY!

We were pretty shit going into the 1993 play offs iirc. Believe.

Bayern Munich are having fun - 5 nil up before half time in the CL

2 wins 2 draws 2 defeats in the last 6 games in that order.

Can't defend. Can't score.

The perfect storm.

Very clever tactic of killing any optimism and enthusiasm going into the playoffs, then we're gonna turn it on and win the final in style beating Franchise 5-0.

I really don't think tonight's worth getting upset about.

Lulling the opposition in to a false sense of security. Like at The Valley, seemingly implode, snatch a goal, win on pens.

Text book.

It also worries me that Cooper still doesn't seem sure on his preferred formation or starting 11.

I appreciate we've had suspensions and injuries, but the continual chopping and changing of positions and personnel hasn't given any level of stability.

good start, poor defending leading to a goal wes would save 99/100. but what happened next is we've reverted to how we were v yeovil, frail at the back, out of ideas going forward.

Humph. the way I feel this very moment is we may as well not bother with the playoffs.

I'm no master tactician but why is Rodgers getting so much game time over Swift? Might as play fucking Ted Rogers and stick Anton in the bin, league 2 player at best.

It is when you've bothered to turn up and spent your hard earnt cash.

nah you are right, but it's still frustrating to watch.

Swift's ill, plus very inconsistent.

I have a sneaky feeling, based on nothing, that Swift will be a crucial figure for Swindon during the Play-Offs.

*Awaits John Swift recalled announcement*

Well, a midfield of Kasim, Stephens and Rodgers aint going to create much.

One upfront at home . . . fuck me!

You turned up again? You've had more adieus than Charles Aznavour!

Play fucking rockin robin then! ;)

Bollocks. How can it not be. Don't know where Walsall have been all season but they are giving us a lesson in pass and move and they should be winning by more. Harry T has no idea who he's marking he just can't defend at the moment.

Only the two chances but seem to look to get it forward quicker for tje first 15 but reverted to type after the goal.

I think we could play better than this if we really wanted to.

And played our best 11.

Looks like the fans, management & players have all now got an eye on the trip up north on May 7th.

I'll still go to the Orient game, maybe.

And there's nothing wrong with that...if we come out of the blocks then like we did in the first leg vs Tranmere in 1993.

2 down now

Glad i made the decision to save my money/time for the playoffs, seems the players are doing the same

What's this bollocks that playing 6 in midfield gives the defence more cover.

It's all just a cunning plan.

Mistake by Ricketts.

This is shit though, nobody looks interested.  We look like a team whose season is over going through the motions.  We can only hope the mentality changes for the play offs.

(http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view4/1848447/michael-scott-no-o.gif)

Would have been better giving 4 4 2 a shot. 3 6 1 is shite and the 3 5 2 we play has been found out since January.

Penalty for Town.

Penalties don't enthrall me these days.

Fingers crossed...

softest penalty ever. no idea why we got it

Keep Gladwin on penalties now.

Ooh. 1-2

Pen from Gladwin  - Hylton on and electric apparently

Nailed on apparently according to the Sky man

The referee, Iain Williamson, works for the same company as I do and is based in same building too.

I'll send him an email tomorrow thanking him for the sympathy penalty.

franchise one up

Dongs 1 nil up

It's adorable that we're looking upwards.

It's all about formation, preservation and deciding whether to help PNE instead of MKD now.

Ask him if he's reffing any play-off matches. I'm sure we could arrange a whip-around to gain a bit more sympathy.

Ooh another pen

Another Penalty

2nd pen for town

that one was a penalty!

2 all Gladwin again
Same pen as last time

2-2

We've found a penalty taker!

On it.

I've got to thank him for the second penalty anyway.

I stand by my pre game statement.

Is it me or have we received an abnormally large number of penalties this season?

It's because we're diving cheats.

D'uh.

Notts County get one back.  Preston will be shitting it now after last Friday

Preston on the wobble again

it's because we are cheating, diving sods

Hope this is true from twitter

How and what context

Boooooooooo.

Need another penalty.

Oooops.

More quality defending by the sounds of it.

If Gladwin can score another penalty for a hattrick of penalties he will be the first to do so for Swindon since April 24th 1976 by Trevor Anderson who did the same vs Walsall at the CG.

Useless fucking cunts

What a strange game.

This Tweet confused me and got me excited for 1 minute - Twats

Swindon Town FC‏@Official_STFC·1 min1 minute ago
Goal 3-2 Walsall

We get ourselves back in it and then mess up defensively again.  So frustrating.

No idea other than he ( Cotterill ) at CG tonight

Tonight's attendance - 6,305 (148 away supporters)

They do this all the time now. It's annoying.

Goal = Conceded
GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAL! = Town score.

Dongs 2 up

Got your mate's number? Text him now.

3-3 Turnbull finally.

3 each. Turnbull

Randall has sounded a threat since he's come on.

In no way has this game felt like a 3-3.

John Swift‏@JohnSwift8·43 secs43 seconds ago
@JordanTurnbull_  first goal for swindon yeahhhhh!! buzzing for ya!! gutted I'm ill and not there to see the screamer

Reassuring words.

Hylton gets MOTM after a 20 minutes cameo.  That says a lot

It was a bit more than 20 minutes but it just says that we were shit for the first 55 minutes.

So Town were shite until some fringe players who want to force their way into the first team came on?

Autos have gone, playoffs guaranteed; it was always likely that it could go that way. I just hope that it doesn't turn into an utter lack of momentum leading to a limp semi final exit.

Be interesting to see how much they try at Preston who will be a bag of nerves if we score first up there.

This is Swindon so we will probably win there and then lose the final two matches against the shit at the bottom as usual.

Anyone who thinks we're getting anything at Preston is deluded...

Quoted. (Just in case).

Just don't know what we're gonna get from this side.

On recent form against sides of that calibre, we'll lose 3-0.

Will we hear from PNEthor before Saturday? Dare he goad us? I envisage a little more heart surgery for the poor chap.

I fear for Town at PNE.

Who knows...

Yet another total fucking defensive shambles. Apart from the 3 goals they cut us open several times. Once the first goal went in our heads went down. I'd like to see the first penalty as it looked like a really shit decision from where I was but Gladwin took it well. We then got another soft penalty but it was penalty which gladwin took well again. then we go and fuck it up yet again and then we swing in a beauty of a cross and lo and behold, a goal. I can't remember a worse 3-3. It should have been exciting, it wasn't. Hylton was MOM for me. He came on and was really lively. Lots of poor performances tonight.
The worrying thing is we played 6 across the middle and the midfield didn't support the defence or the front line.
The only hope I can see in the play offs is to go gung ho and hope for the best as this defence just can't cope with any type of attack.

Ffs don't quote...

An honest opinion would be bright opening, followed by a period in which we lost our way and managed to show our suicidal defending not one, not twice but three times and saw an uncharacteristic fluff from Wes.

When you put 6 in midfield some of that midfield have to help out the defence. Much as I think Toffolo is a very good player, he did not have his best game tonight and abandoned his defensive duties. Add my MOM Byrne on the other wing and its easy to see how Walsall got too much space, and yet again we seemed to let them cross at will rather than close them down.

But by god the last 20 minutes were exciting. The substitutions were the catalyst to lifting the gloom, the withdrawl of the limited Rodgers and the pace and enthusiasm of Hylton brought us back into it. A dodgy pen, a definite pen and a set piece goal probably papers overs the cracks. But you know what, a lot of the game is played in the head and anything that lifts the fans and the team is OK by me.

It's a trend for sure. Go in front, unbeatable, go behind and were not that good a lot of the time. Lets hope we score first for 3 games.

With such a leaky defence would it not be worth trying a back four of Ricketts, Turnbull, Stephens and Thompson in at least one of the last 3 games??

Not a great game but I enjoyed the last half an hour. All 3 of their goals were mistakes and we struggled to do anything of note in open play. Hylton offers something the other 3 strikers don't but is still very raw. Could be a handy sub in the play offs if needed.

It might, but that's not going to happen this late in the season.

Only thing that worries me about the play offs is the players heads dropping if we go a goal down.

Be very surprised If he doesn't experiment, although I guess we'll use anything that looks like the players are comfortable with as a Plan B. The current Plan B has been to try and win at any cost and hasn't quite come off recently.

Agree with most of stuff said, leaky defence is big problem. Hopefully Wes and Ricketts mistakes out the way for playoffs. Hylton has to be given a fair go now for a few games, would partner him with Obika. Thought Randall was lively when he came on and better than Toffolo who had a poor game. Byrne was very good tonight, until final ball.

Didnt Cooper say that going one up top a few weeks ago ( home IIRC ) was his plan B  :hmmm: that fans called for.

He was telling us bits at the dinner, which I was referring to, but like any manager he'll have b'c'd etc, depends on circumstances and personnel available, if he has the option in game.

Half full? Half empty?

Half empty for me.

Fucking woeful defending.

Pissed all over Walsall, didn't score thanks to a couple of worldy saves...they scored after Fods played Patsy and then went to rat shit.

Formation wasn't working but agent cooper stuck with it and only changed things when we were two down.

Not impressed with Ricketts (wtf was he doing setting up that goal) Kasim and Gladwins defensive play.

Impressed with Paris, who showed what terror www can cause if you play direct football at speed.

Play offs are a lottery, so I don't give a fuck who we get. Defend like that and we only have another two legs left in us.

At least we didn't lose..... A consolation...

This seems to be a recent thing.  I don't know why? 

We wouldn't have got anything from the game if Hylton and Randall hadn't come on, as the majority of the team had lost interest by then.

We will have to score first in the play off games to have any chance. 

Goldie is also from Walsall.

We have achieved a play off spot, there's nothing to play for until then. The players will probably coast for the last 3 games of the season proper, as there's nothing to be gained in any of them.

I don't think we'll see them performing as slackly as they have been over the last 2 games when the semi's arrive.

I also don't get the negativity that Cooper still seems to engender in some. Look back at people's expectations before the season started, then look at our position in the table. I'll be gutted if we don't go up, but does anyone seriously think there's another manager out there who would've gotten us to 4th in the league with the resources at our disposal?

I was really impressed with Hylton last night. I'd heard he was quick but never really saw him use his pace until last night. I hope he gets some game time before the PO's, if he is zipping around like he did last night he could be useful.

So last night was a bit poo then?
Good to hear Hylton and Randall having good games - Like

I think we should be treating the preston match like a playoff match. it has the importance to preston that they will treat it like one and I think we should do the same. Obviously there is a high chance we could face preston in the playoffs as well.

Dont do that what if we end up with him on the PO's it will be your fault for any dodgy decisions he gives :>)

What's the point of going all out blood and guts etc for the players to over excert themselves and somebody picks an injury, but saying that I would like to beat them just for the players to get the feeling of beating one of the top teams recently.

Because if we overcome them then we probably get them in the final should we make it there.

Does that outweigh resting up players? Who knows.

We need to get some intensity back to our play and show Preston we can compete. Cruise against we hand them a psychological advantage if we meet again. We can't pick and choose which games we are up for now as we need to find form sharpish

Someone needs to tell Dean Smith the ball going out of play doesn't stop a foul being a foul.....

When we upped the pace in the second half we started to ask Walsall a lot more questions. Before then, apart from the first 10 minutes we were easy to play against. Hylton changed the game and Randall has a bit of pace also. Positive signs from those two at least!

If that first penalty had been given against us, I'd be fuming.

We moved up the Stratton Bank end of the DRS for the 2nd half. We were bang in line with it and it wasn't a penalty.

Just seen the highlights on Player. Woeful defending for the 2nd and 3rd goals and as for the first.....but then Wes did make a great save at the end to deny Walsall a win. Gladwin has blossomed recently though.....pity it's coincided with the run of bad form.

Where did they drag the commentator up from? What a prick! "Is the sun setting on Swindon's automatic promotion hopes?" he said as we got a view of the setting sun. And he needs to learn how to pronounce Foderingham as well.

YouTube highlights

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qjzqtXcxIcA

Just watched that... How that first one is a pen I'll never know. Less of a pen than than the one against Posh and that was a fucking gift.

Yep, never a pen in a million years.

I know it's all if buts and maybes but that's what football is all about: would we be comfortably 2nd in the league of gladwin had been our pen taker all season, assuming he continued to bang them all in like he has?

I think 80% of the Swindon crowd were left shrugging their shoulders at the time, the other 20% didn't care why. But we assumed we were too far away to see something that must have happened. Turns out we weren't.

You actually have to feel embarassed for the ref on that pen decision. Pathetic.

Still tempted to send Williamson an email thanking him for his splendid effort.

From the TE it didn't look a pen!!

Never mind...

According To Cooper it was a definite pen!!  He did say there was also a foul in the build-up that it could have been given for.  Probably confirms what a lot of us think, he sees a different game to us!!!

I couldn't see if it was or not from the TE, but Smith made the point that the ball had gone out of play. It doesn't matter if the ball is on the roof, a foul is a foul.

In fact he even agreed it was a foul. Quote...

"He gave them a penalty for a foul on Richard O’Donnell and looking back on it, it looks like a foul.

“I didn’t realise you could give a penalty when the ball goes out of play. That was the game changer and got their tails up."

I'm sure these things even out over the course of a season.

For the sake of interest, what would be given, and where, if the foul on the striker occurred once both players were over the goal-line?