Thetownend.com

Ok. The players or Tactics?

The other team. They were better than us by a mile, knew exactly how to attack out weak spots and exactly how to defend against us.

Well done to them. I just hope we can keep enough of this team together to have another go at promotion next year.

I hope we don't have the opposite backlash.

It was no different to what we've seen all season. Not good enough in the final third at both ends of the pitch. And Nathan should never have started. Had a feeling he would and that he would get caught out. Would have loved to have been proved wrong....

The recruitment policy of getting in promising young lads has clearly born fruit up to a point but I would love to see us get a couple of old heads (just a couple mind) in the summer. One in midfield and one at the back.

It was just men against boys our lad's just had no answer to them

That's also true of course.

This season, there have been four teams who were better by some distance than the rest. Fortunately, we were one of those teams. Unfortunately, we were the fourth best of those teams.

The best three teams have gone up, no doubt.

Does that make me feel any less pissed off? Absolutely not...

I thought we were the better team in the first half. Preston had 3 chances and scored all three. Just woeful we cannot defend long hoof balls. Fair play to Preston though they exploited our weaknesses and thus deserved to win.

Starting an injured player who lets his man score is a joke. 3 at the back is the biggest lesson though. This has to end! Forwards were abysmal(Smith is a cart horse) All the fears and frailties were realised.
For those who went,we never noticed you. Wasted your time and money.
Autos or nothing thank you very much. Won't take 15k if it is the same next season

watch the game again when you've sobered up. Possession with no creativity means nothing. We were utter shit.
 They were better in every department.

That's made me smile, thanks.

Very difficult to look at any performance with any ounce of positivity. I wasn't sober, but I'd be surprised if anyone who was would disagree.

Smith, Toffolo and the back 3 were genuinely laughably bad. Didn't take much else in.

Beckford + inability to defend.
Men v boys
Plus who ever call it was to play Thompson needs shhoting. Amateurish.

Wow, I didn't think we'd win 2day but that was embarrassing,fair play to them, got a good looking side

Toffolo has had an awful second half of the season, shouldn't have come back into the team today. For a man with experience Ricketts has been woefully bad and today got caught out all through the game.
Out of that team who's likely to be here next season from that team? Smith & Obika, N Thompson plus Branco and Belford? Will imagine Luongo, Byrne, Kasim et el already have there agents fishing for moves!
This summer will be a bigger rebuilding job than either of the last 2 seasons and who knows how it will go....

back 3 is only OK if the midfield protect and dominate possession. they haven't done that for ages.

Difficult to put into words just how glad I am that I'm not you.

Supporting my team in a final will never be a waste of my time. Never.

good for you. I could gloat about being right but I so wanted to be wrong about today and it would give me no pleasure. I've already said I'd be cheeky to call myself a loyal fan. Them days are behind me. Doesnt change the reality of today though. Might as well have had 5000 there. Made no difference.

That's fair enough.  But there's no need to insult those who went.

not my intention to insult anyone. Just saying our fans were not noticeable. Sorry if that offends. Plenty of my friends and family who are texting and phoning me agree and they went.

To be fair it does appear like I'm insulting those who went from that initial post. My fault and not my intention. Apologies. Should have been clearer.

It's not what you intended but that line was pretty shitty, arriba.

Boo arriba. ;)

We were 2-0 behind after 8 minutes, I'm not surprised we weren't noticeable.

Tactical niavety, the minute they lined up 3 up front, we should have played with full backs, not wing backs, or utilised one of the midfield into sweeper, to counteract the ball over the top. We didnt learn the lessons from sheff utd, and we played a better team who punished us for it.

I think the crucial moment was when smith missed a sitter, and they went up the other end and scored, the heads dropped pretty much from then on.

Oh well, always next season. Enjoy your holidays everyone.

Believe me the whole place was buzzing up to kick off. The pubs were heaving and jumping by. The first attack first goal situation kind of ruined things slightly since it was clear the writing was on the wall. Hence my post in the other thread about wanting to enjoy at least one half of football at Wembley.  

This.

Understandable really, we were shit from the off. Hard to get an atmosphere going when you're being comprehensively dicked on the pitch. Although that said, I still thought it was far better than millwall. Got going a couple of times to be fair, albeit not for long.

I don't think we had any shape. We panicked after goaing 1-0 and Preston were firm into the challenge. They gave us no time and space in midfield and were first to the ball.

Up front, Smith ran around but offered nothing in the box. Obika offered little in the box and nothing outside it.

Gladwin wanted too long on the ball and didn't get into the game. Toffolo was ineffective. Byrne was mostly kicked off the ball. Stephens looked fancy dan coming forward, but isn't a good defender. Turnbull was aggressive without jumping or heading or staying goalside!

Kasim had no one to pass to and kept being pressured into mistakes. Luongo hasn't impressed me for a long while.

Why did Williams have a fag butt up his nose? The Thompson twins weren't fit.

I was fearing a drubbing, and unfortunately, that's what we got.

The thing that has irked me since, is seeing the article about Fodderingham having spoken to Championship clubs. Tbh, I think the timing of the article is a little crass. I really don't care about his career, I'm still hurting from my team being embarrassed at Wembley! :-(

Was men against boys out there. But lets not forget, most of our lads are mere boys, and gave us a damn good season. but couldn't finish it off in the end. Here's to next year for auto's and miss that damn place altogether.

well they may mostly be young but ricketts (old) was the worst Town player by a country mile

It was depressing to watch on TV, which is all i was able to do, but those who think Preston are a great side are a little mistaken.....lump the ball up the pitch knowing they have two very able strikers, and on three occasions (or four if you count the Fods save) the striker of the moment is successful....and immediately after the game, he was not willing to commit himselfto be at Preston next season....apart from that Fods did not really havethat much to do.  The fact that Johnstone only had to make three serious saves showed we didnt offer much either.  Sadly we didnt learn...those strikers needed more attention than they got.  They deserved to win, no argument, and not enough of our players showed the gifts we all know they have....but it was not all bad.

So to next season, and no reason why, if Cooper and Williams stay, we should not have as good a chance again...and noone coming down is a patch on those who have gone up.

Another "...and Smith must score" situation.If that header had gone in,2-1 but 10 seconds later its 3-0 and game over

Beaten by the better side. Preston were/are stronger in every department and deserve to go up over us. Shame our fans gave up the support so early - a few of us in block 119 were desperately trying to get some support going in the second half but everyone was looking at us like we were mad. Probably understandable. Fuck it. Great season, anyway.

You reds.  :)

What was the fighting kicking off in the first half? I saw at least 3 pretty serious incidents,which would have been in 113 and 114, Donkey was right near one of them.

Didn't see any of that. A few shandies too many, I'd imagine.

Yeah sorry accidentally quoted you, I was asking in general, doh.

Something to do with people standing and kids not being able to see. Not sure what went on behind me, didn't care about that, didn't much care about anything at that point.

As we usually say, cracking day out, ruined by the football...

I was in 113 and saw 3 scraps. The first one a very young boy was near and was very upset. From what I could see it was some very seriously pissed town fans scrapping each other. A lot of our fans were total bellends. I give particular praise to the two dickheads who were goading the steward at the end who walked away instead of kicking their arses.

just wondering how much branco would have been slated on here if he had fucked up like ricketts did for no.4

Would love to have a team that defended like Preston did today

Beckford was the difference between the sides.
We were simply bullied and outmuscled.
Didn't enjoy the day, however going 2 down killed our atmosphere and yes we do have some twats as fans who have no consideration for other people, particularly kids who struggle to see when people stand up. They have a right to be there as much as pissed up ignorant twats.

did anyone think we should have had a pen for handball?

Thought it was Byrne who handled it and then claimed for a pen

It was a definite penalty.

Wouldn't have made a difference though, would it?

There was more going on in our block than on the pitch. Nice day out ruined by the football (again)

I think two goals in 15 mins knocked that on the head. Atmosphere was building, then it went tits up.

Let's not forget Preston are a nightly, physical, typically northern team. We have struggled against those in the past and we struggled against one today.

Still a little bit dazed by that but I don't think the officials had a handle on the game. Having Yaser booked for dissent seems odd when there were two Preston players hounding the linesman on that side moments before. I mean, it was Yaser, so he doubtless said something he shouldn't, but still. What stuck in my mind was a particular moment in the second half where a Preston player was so obviously climbing over Turnbull to get the ball he lost his grip on Turnbull's shoulders and slipped down sideways. Ref ignored it.

New faces next season will be important. I still have the utmost faith in coops.

 At the end of the day, if you finish 10 points behind a team, then you're getting dog's chance....well done to PNE, they merit the promotion, we've had a very good season, but just pulled up a bit lame at the end.

 Time for a break from football and get back to focusing on bollocks.

I was 100% it was bryne that handled it.

Can't really be arsed to talk about the game at this point, sure that will come. The three scraps were relatively near me, didn't see what caused the first or last but middle one was fairly ludicrous. Basically a couple of our 'fans' got annoyed, and aggressive, because the people in front of them weren't standing up and singing. That the people in front of them are in their 60s and both have on going health issues didn't seem to cross their tiny minds, even when if was pointed out to them by the couples son. In the end the whole family moved, a pretty depressing  incident on an afternoon not short of them

(http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab225/mark_woolhouse/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20150525_005707_zpsenskuy04.jpg)

 :cry:

My 2 pence worth. Hardly anybody comes out of that with any credit. Byrne was our stand out performer, other than Yaser he was the only one who always wanted the ball, didn't hide away and ran at their full back constantly, notably creating the chance that Smith should have fucking buried!! That was the game's defining moment, had that gone in it would have been 2-1 and game very much on. As it was I'm pretty sure they scored from the resulting goal kick and that was pretty much that. Luongo was fucking annonymous and if truth be told has been since he got back from Asia. Whether this is a result of injury, fatigue or just that his head has been turned by somebody we'll probably never find out but on the basis of the performances he's put in over the last 4 months if we get £3m for him then we're mugging somebody off. That was Turnbull's worst game for us, when it mattered most, beaten nearly every time in the air by Garner! Although he can be a liability Branco should have replaced NT & not Ricketts who's legs look to have gone, what the fuck he was trying to do for the 4th goal I'lll never know.

Having had a bad night's sleep time for some reflection, cannot argue with much that has been said but our tactics were naive to say the least!  We pretty much had our strongest team out there at the start, albeit a couple of them were not fit enough to start but to stand off attackers like Beckford was criminal!  Easy with hindsight but how we could have done with signing a hard man in midfield once Louis was injured, missed his drive and willingness to tackle at the back end of the season.  The sentimentality in allowing Nathan to start was a damning mistake and certainly cost us, felt for him being carried off after two minutes and a goal down.

Nathan Thompson.

Just what the fuck he was thinking...firstly fouling Beckford who was going no where at the time, then his terrible marking of Beckford for the goal.
Considering he was only on about 3 minutes - that has to go down as one of the most calamitous and terrible Wembley performances of all time for an individual player.

Dare I say it, it was very reminiscent of Jerel Ifil. Good athlete, thick footballer...


....oh and we didn't start Andy Williams because?

Also, the fact we, as a club are serial big game bottlers

Well, I was in row 9 right behind the goal, and it was clearly the Preston player - at least, me and everyone around me thought so.

You could see NT was playing injured from the moment he ran with Beckford and ended up fouling him...when the corner was being set up Thompson SKIPPED into position in the 6 yard box - we were in the 9th row, behind the goal, and all saw it. He simply wasn't fit.

What was going on with the SAS coaches? a load of 1980's school buses turned up an hour late with no toilets, no air con and my legs were killing me as there was no leg room, I know it's run by volunteers but I sill had to pay a premium £22 for the ticket, wish I'd known before I parted with the cash as would of went with someone else.  

From where we were sat it looked like Nathan's hamstring went in the chase with Beckford which contributed to him committing the foul.

Couldn't see what happened in the box for the goal, but on the highlights Nathan doesn't seem to make a very good job of getting the right side of him. Heart has got the better of head, he never should have started.

From then on we were in proper trouble. Captain off, the defence disrupted and a goal down against a very effective side.

Preston were a good side yesterday in that they made they hammered our weaknesses and made the best of their assets. Beckford's second is a great goal.

Tactics lost us that game - and auto promotion if you ask me.

After being aware for months that once teams sussed we were shit at defending, Cooper et al couldn't - or worse, wouldn't - change our shape was fucking criminal.

If the likes of Crawley and Yeovil could turn us over by simply lumping the ball over our back 3, then it's no wonder PNE found it a piece of piss.

And it's no good pointing out that we were not shipping goals in the first half of the season with that system.

The reason for that was that most teams were shit scared of our forward play to have a real go. Once that was sussed we were dead meat.

Tactical naivety.

They exploited the space behind Byrne and Toffolo brilliantly. They were happy to let Kasim have the ball and had two men on both Luongo and Gladwin preventing us from playing in triangles.

From the moment he went off against Sheffield United I was afraid of that whole scenario unfolding - i.e. it's an injury that generally takes 4-6 weeks to clear up. NT's desperate to play and convinces himself and therefore the coaching staff he can play. Second minute, he gets done for pace because he's not fit, gives away a free kick, doesn't defend it properly because he's not fit, we concede, he goes off and we've already used a sub up. I could see all that happening (as could a lot of other people I'm sure) sadly Cooper couldn't.

Having said that, even if he hadn't started we would have still got hammered, maybe not quite so badly.

I think the question that really needs to be answered is, why did Andy Williams have a tampon stuck up his nose? Did he know it was there??

Football is about scoring goals and defending well.

We did neither....end of subject.

A well-organised team against a disorganised shambles.

Experience against youth.

A tactically flexible manager against a tactically rigid one.

Energy against lethargy.

Clinical strikers against strikers who head wide from 3 yards.

A defence against a ?

And what we shouldn't forget in the context of all that: big budget versus a shoestring.

I think 4 at the back is the way to go next season. The way we play with 3 at the back can work ( Shitty as an example) but it hasn't with us. A lot of the time we and up losing it around the half way line, one of our CB has committed and immediately it is 2/3 on 2. That paired with our WB's also being very attack minded makes for a very difficult time.

some people would call it heroic of thompson to play,I call it totally selfish and unprofessional.However questions have to be asked of the medical staff who should know a ham doesnt heal in 2 weeks.shocking and went a long way to costing us the game

There were about 10 blokes just to he right of us, doing the same to a couple of really young lads in front of us, really aggressive to them for not singing. Although I don't know everybody who goes I've never seen any of them before, they then fucked off after 65 minutes, thank god.

It was my godmother and godfather.  They have been season ticket holders for years and are very upset.  Absolutely disgusting behaviour.  I hope those involved are pleased.

In terms of the game, it's all been said.  We were absolute shit right across the pitch and Thompson shouldn't have been playing.  I understand his desire to play, but it was a poor decision on his part and Coopers.   Agree with comments about some of the players looking disinterested and pulling out of challenges as well.  That's been the case for the last few months and cost us automatic promotion.

So so disappointing.  3 chances to get out of League 1 not taken in 6 years.  So what if they were 'good' seasons.  We're still stuck in League fucking 1.  Now it's back to square one and a complete rebuild is needed again.  I like Cooper, but am really not sure he's the man to get us out of this League.  

Oh and to rub salt into the wound, there were a group of around 50 Preston fans directly behind us in corporate seats in the Swindon end.  Despite numerous complaints from Swindon supporters to Wembley staff, nothing was done apart from offering to move us all further round behind the goal.  If we had wanted to sit there, we'd have bought tickets for there.  Why they couldn't be moved down to the Preston end is beyond me.

Cooper said that NT passed his fitness test with 'flying colours'. That tells me that they need to review how they carry out their fitness tests as they are currently complete horse shit.

Can you stand up Nathan? Yes.
Can you put one foot in front of the other? Yes.

Congratulations - you're good to go!

If you judge everything only by how it ends, you're going to be disappointed. Pretty sure you're going to snuff it one day.

I don't really understand the point of your comment to be honest?  Fundamentally it's the end result that matters and anyone who isn't disappointed that we got hammered 4-0 yesterday is rather strange imo.

Of course I'm going to snuff it, but it would be nice to get out of League 1 before I do!

And that's as positive as a Town fan can get. Hope we get promoted before I die! Ha ha.

What.. the fuck.. are you on about????

It's an analogy, our kid.

dont think anyone has mentioned it but Hylton must be puzzled to have played no part after his semi final performancea.I know the early sub hampered his chances but still would have liked him to play some part,if not start

You .. surely ..cannot be suggesting for one nanosecond that yesterday's utter shambles is in any way acceptable because we beat Bristol City 6 months ago..

No, mate. I'm just saying that we had some good moments this season and it was often enjoyable. It's gutting to put in such a bad performance at Wembley and stay down, but that shouldn't take away everything from the highs of the season. A throwaway point.

 Several weeks back, I said that I wasn't too bothered about promotion.  Either way we'll need a rebuild and that may be easier to do in Div 3 than 2.  Further as a club we're not really prepared for competing at that level....lacking in too many areas.

Essentially we're a Div 3 club.....the thing for the coming season, will be to maintain that status, as we've shown ourselves how you can go from defeated PO final to relegation in one season.

It's a bit disappointing that Div 3 is so horribly norvern next season.....I just wonder though is it possible when the fixtures come out next month, that we'll get a home game on Boxing Day for the first time in 8 or so years.

No disrespect, but on each of those 3 seasons we were not good enough to go up. We had good seasons but were not quite as good as the teams that went up. In each of the 3 seasons, if we had of gone up, and not upgraded our team SIGNIFICANTLY, we would have struggled big time.

Much is made of the Premiership year. But I thought it was awful. We were cannon fodder week in and week out and quite frankly a joke. It was rather embarrassing.

Good seasons are all about feeling good about the performances and results. Being one of the better teams and going to work on a Monday feeling good after the weekend's game.

I'm bitterly disappointed we lost. I'm even more disappointed in the manner we lost. Preston were by far the better team (as were MK and Shitty) and they were deserving of promotion.

Its a shame if half of our players bugger off, but I think most are easily replaceable. Here's looking forward to being entertained next  season.

Fair enough.. you just made that point really really badly earlier on.

Forgive me. I'm tired, depressed and hungover.

I'd have preferred him to have come on rather than Williams. Especially as he will be here next year and Williams more than likely not. Also, I think if he'd have started, rather than Obika, we could have played him in more of an advance midfield role, which might have given Kasim more of an outlet. Still, its over now.

I agree with Jo. You need to have something to show for your efforts at the end of the season, even if its "Oh well, at least we have something to build on next season", but with the way the Club is set up, as we well know it's going to have to be broken up and we start again from square one.

Yesterday's abomination means that the whole season was wasted.

Believe me - that makes two of us.

It's been analysed very well. For my part, as one of a group of seven long-term 'oldie' supporters at the game, my greatest disappointment was the lack of fight, and a lethargy by key players,except for Byrne.

Exactly....we weren't quite good enough to go up, got a second chance at it, which confirmed the fact....so nothing really lost.

Now that really is negative bollocks...

Think back to where we were this time last year, and we've definitely progressed....keeping that progression will be difficult, but not perhaps impossible, as we've template to work from.

I wanted Hylton to start, he gives us something we don't have up front in Williams, Obika and Smith, he has pace and loves the ball at his feet.

It would have been great experience for him to have played at Wembley, certainly in front of the outgoing Williams who did fuck all when he came on anyway.

Don't disagree with any of this. I think I'm just  so sick if League 1 that I'd take the elation of promotion even if it did mean we'd struggle and come straight back down.

It worries me that we'll never be in a position to build a strong enough team to make it over the line and stay there.  We always seem to be those couple of players short.

well at least it was a record-breaking play off campaign!

For a team to finish 4th and lose 4-0 to the 3rd place team is pretty poor.

Indeed.  Highest scoring semi final and I assume that was the biggest ever loss in a final?

Yesterday is history and the record books say it all, unfortunately it will not say it was an embarrassment as far as the Town are concerned.

This is where we will see how good Messrs Power and Cooper are at forming a new squad for next season, and I hope that their contacts are good enough to replace the probable decimation of the current squad. The most definite need is for a couple of more "experienced" players to add that bit of steel that was lacking this season.

I love the way we try to play football but as shown yesterday, grit and aggression is also required especially at Divvy 1  level.

I don't see the season as wasted, although I completely get the point of view.

Power's business model is to take players, develop and sell on.  The business plan appears to have worked. We've got saleable assets in the squad, who we will now realise the cash for. The club has made good money from the play-offs too.

The aim was to put the club on an even keel. Financially, we should now have the funds to start putting the club on a sustainable footing and improving the infrastructure.  Now the absolute misery of yesterday is behind me, I'd probably take that over throwing money at player contracts whilst we get stuffed every Saturday in the league above. Develop properly and we could be in a position to give it a proper go in a couple of seasons, with the club set up to stay up.

I'm sure Power see's the season as a success and a vindication of what he's trying. The real measure of that for me will be what we do over the close season with the money we've brought in and whether we can continue to identify players that fit the business plan.

Good post, exactly as I see it, and hope it pans out like that as well.

The only good thing to come out of the playoffs was my youngest got to go to Wembley.
If it were just me, I'd rather have got hammered by Sheff U than shell out on yesterdays shite. I'm sick of not turning up at Wembley (but I'd still go if there is a next time).


Disagree here, sort of. I'm not sure what we all expect. We have pretty tiny budget these days, for right reasons. I'm not sure we should expect to go up any more. He probably got us as close as we can realistically.

Said it on facebook, feels like as a club we are reset back to the pre-Fitton era now. A different model admittedly, hopefully slightly more financially sound, but one that doesn't allow much excitement expectation wise.

Not much choice in that really. I can see why people I regarded as die hard fans don't go much any more, it begins to feel a bit futile. Not quite there myself mind.

That's all well and good and all true but it's a bit boring isn't it?

Whilst I understand that it's better to have the club on a solid financial footing that's not going to do much for the fans or get new fans in through the door. If anything that small time, happy to make up the numbers mantra will drive fans away. They want ambition and success.

This time yesterday no one was thinking....well, froma financial point of view this has been a successful season regardless of the outcome, good job all, well done....nope, we all wanted to get fucking promoted!!!

To be fair Barnard that's not a bad take on things at all.

Not sure how we build though. I assume we will bring young players in for a couple of years like we did with Luongo, Kassim, et al. Obviously there is massive risk here, but it CAN work as it just has.

That said, wasn't it Jed who signed them all?

Yes to all that DV.

But, there is no alternative is there?

Most seasons are wasted if they end in failure

I can't argue with that, yes it's boring.  I'm afraid I'm a bit boring these days.

Yesterday I was hoping, then dejected, then downright angry. I'm still angry at the performance. at 6:15 I wished I could have been anywhere else on the planet.

Carrying on with that anger and disappointment won't make me feel any better about it and won't change what happened, so I'm dispassionately focusing on the positives.

Personally, it'll change nothing. I'll be sat in my same seat come August. I have nothing better to do on a Saturday afternoon.

Goals after first 23 games                                        44 v 22
 
Goals after next 23 games                                       35 v 32

Goals in last 13 games                                             21 v 25
(inc playoffs)


Audrey suggested other teams rumbled us defensively  - well they did but any other reasons? 

Gutted about yesterday,half expected to lose but not so comprehensively. Can understand the complaints about NT starting & he didn't look fit but it looked like his ankle not his hamstring to me. And to the family sat behind me screaming for Beckford to have his legs broken & calling the Preston number 24 'Dirty dreadlocks',have a fucking word with yourselves will you.

The loss of Louis seemed to coincide with our slump, none of our other midfielders seem to be able occupy the role he did.
Our ability to change in game also a factor too I think, when teams abusing the back 3 change the wingbacks to fullbacks or even a back four.
Try some long balls over the top, worked for plenty against us.
Just generally mix it up.

Can understand Coopers mantra of its his style and he is sticking with it but that's what became so predictable.

I don't think Cooper is the man to get us out of lg1 either. Needs a combination of grit and bullying, a reason Grayson has been so successful at this level

To the fella in the stupid flat cap who barked at my mates to sit down.. Yes I could see you had children with you (after it was pointed out) however the people in front of us were stood up so we couldn't see either, we did sit but may I point out that manners go a long way and a simple 'please' and non aggressive/confrontational tone would have been better received. To then use four letter expletives and get in one of our faces well and truly encroaching personal space in front of your children is quite frankly embarrassing, especially considering none of our group felt the need to swear back or even push you away. A shame you declined the halftime invite to discuss things further. As for what I can only assume were your parents.. They too as grandparents should be deeply ashamed for the way they were swearing and behaving.

Scum mothers do ave em...

I've written my first article about yesterday and what to come. It's my own little inquest.

Enjoy

http://totalswindonsport.com/2015/05/jay-collett-reflections-on-wembley-the-mosaic-and-a-season/

Totally agree with this. Financial stability is an achievement. Its what we do with it. I trust power and cooper to rebuild. Whatever happens though just have a fucking defence next season.

Thanks to your mosaic and the alley-o chant, I'd say that was the best atmosphere out of the three last visits. The atmosphere died after the 2nd goal went in but I thought we the fans were decent. Just a shame the manager and players were shit.

No, I want a club to support without hearing the words 'creditors' and 'administration' every few months.

This!

Budget slashed from 5 mil to 1.5 mil, and still made the play offs? We'll be back... COYR

Just out of interest I suspect there was a poll on here last August time where people suggested where we may finish - with all the understandable doom and gloom today would be interested to see what the result was (if someone can be arsed to find it!)

This season we've balanced the books, grown one or two rough diamonds into first team players, and built a reputation as a club worth sending young players to. We're also likely to cash in on Luongo, who most people (remarkably) seem to think is a waste of space, with the possibility of making further profit on players like Byrne, Kasim and possibly Gladwin, although it wouldn't surprise me if we kept hold of them. Not to mention the 6 figure sum we'll have made out of yesterday.

With that extra cash, and with our final big earners leaving in the shape of Wes and Andy Williams, there's a bit of wriggle room over the summer. I like the philosophy that Cooper and Power have, and the approach of playing 3-5-2 with young players has brought some great performances and results.

In order to improve, I'd love to see us become able to adapt between 3-5-2 and something more solid like a 4-2-3-1. I'd also like to see a bit of the extra money spent on bringing in an experienced centre back and a decent replacement for Luongo. I don't like the way Preston play - I'd hate to watch it week in week out. But they are good it, and we'll never be able to beat teams like them on a regular basis until we become a little more wily and solid.

Overall, we beat everybody's expectations this season but got sussed out in the end. Plenty of great memories, especially from the semi-final games, and something to build on next year. It's hard to get excited about next season with the lack of attractive fixtures, but the flip side of that is that the league looks very winnable if we recruit well.

This ^

I agree with the most of that, but not liking watching the way preston play is crap. They went up ffs.  We went up in the 80's playing complete hoofball, but no one complained then.

Of course not, but I'm sure most preferred the work of Ossie.  Btw I agree with your point on Preston.

I support Swindon regardless of division, squad or the formation they play. If it works, it works. John Beck's Cambridge United got close to the top flight at one stage for goodness sake.

My question in the inquest is this - Mark Cooper: Is he immune? Surely Power would have been livid with that conclusion?

For the record I'm all for continuity and I don't want Cooper out nor am I saying that he should be sacked for one shitty game but a high turn around in personnel could result in new ideas?

Just putting it out there.

The rumours are that Cooper would be leaving regardless of the result yesterday.

Really? I've most of that.

Norwich showing how to play fast pace attacking football. Fantastic start.

must be the red shirts.

thank goodness, horrible smoggie cunts

Indeed, just stumbled across this on the net - them was the days!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21047858

Agreed. Up until the first goal(!) the atmosphere was great - I smuggled in 200 balloons which people (not literally) gobbled up; the mosaic and the singing all got everyone on their feet and joining in...completely different to the Millwall and the Chesterfield experiences. Such as shame the game itself was basically a carbon copy of disappointment...

Atmosphere up to the 2nd goal was by far the best out of the 3 visits. Having less day trippers meant that the regulars were more compact. Display looked good as well so fair play jay.

Will be an interesting summer with people leaving/signing but reaching play off final was far beyond what i was expecting before the season started. Yesterday was shit but I've really enjoyed the season we have had, some brilliant performances and since jay's work, some of the best atmospheres for quite a few years (sheffield h/a and vale away). Power doesn't seem like a mug so I'm confident that next season we can kick on. With Preston, shitty and franchise all up, there isn't any team to fear next year.

Enjoy the summer everyone, already looking forward to August

...well then an ambitionless club is perfect for you then.
Personally I like to see at least a desire to win and go places

We were 90 minutes away from getting promotion. OK, we completely bottled it yesterday but you can't say there wasn't a desire to win and go places this season. Budget was irrelevant really.

On a purely personal note, at least I don't have to visit the tattoo parlour or get my genitals mutilated.

Cooper will be gone

That's as good a post I've read on here for a long time.

Indeed. Bizarre to say we've had no desire to win this season

Class post absolute class.
It's supporters like you who make me still want to follow Swindon.

I don't fully trust Power tbh. He isn't an Abramovich/Sheik Urarse, he is in this to make money and make no mistake on that. I just hope it doesn't come at a high cost.

I'd like us to have a team with minimal loanees, players like NT who actually give a fuck.

He's the only gig in town at the moment and I think he's done a brilliant job of getting the wage bill down while playing mostly great football and having a number of saleable assets. Two negatives though are the pricing structure. I can't see any games being a 27 game next season. Then there is the matter of agombar senior and junior.

Agree with much that's already been said - men against boys, Nathan should not have started, youngsters overawed by the occasion, Preston strong and direct with the star player in Beckford, and they fully deserved their win. So I'll dwell on the 3-5-2 instead…

This can be an attacking formation, and has provided some mesmerising football this season. It was also variations of 3-5-2 that saw us win play-off finals in the 90s against Sunderland and Leicester. The wing backs are great going forward but they do leave gaps. One of the midfielders HAS to be a defensive midfielder to fill in, or come across. Kasim is quality, but he's not a ball winner (just look at the way he waved the Sheff Utd player through for their fifth goal). Teams that have a flat back four still have one even two defensive/holding midfielders (Chelsea a good example). Three defenders is simply not enough to defend with. Need a tough tackling midfielder.

The way to play against 3-5-2 is to hit the ball into the channels, or even better, play three up top. As the season evolved more and more teams worked out how to play us. Bristol City, Franchise and Preston beat us comprehensively in recent weeks, but even the likes of Yeovil and Crawley found a way to foil us once they got their noses in front. The 3-5-2 is a great counter-attacking formation which is why we won so many away games, but can leave too much space behind when we are chasing the game.

Whether it is needing to tighten up and close a game out, or dealing with a front three, Cooper (if he's still here) needs to build some flexibility into this system and have other formations. Against Sheff Utd we should have gone to a back four once we were 5-1 ahead. If defenders are dragged out of position to mark three forwards up top we need a defensive midfielder to fill in centrally. When teams park the bus we need a sweeper who can step up into midfield, like Hoddle did (Stephens better than Thompson at this, but obviously not even on the same page as Glenda).

So if Power/Cooper persist with this 3-5-2, then I think recruitment needs to focus on a ball playing sweeper, and a tackling defensive midfielder as balance to the wing backs.  But we'll probably have 8-9 other positions to fill as well.

Out of interest, where has the 'Cooper is off' school of thought come from?

I'd have thought a top four finish, coupled with fact he's willing to put up with Powers unusually hands on approach and the fact the Barnsley approach was rebuffed would grant him a degree of job security. This could be naive on my part granted.

The rumour mill. Perhaps from legit sources, perhaps not, although Sam seems reluctant to rubbish it on twitter. It seems to have some legs.

ah well you see that's the reason the rumours said wanted out.

originally I dismissed it as ridiculous, but
someone in the media said that there may have been some legs in interest in the Pompey job rumour , but he was never interviewed for it. Plus the  Harry Agombar start has had me wondering for a bit.

time will tell

Must have been a muppets day out, sadly Wembley appears to have brought out so many of them.
The prat 3 rows back using the C word despite being surrounded by decent people with kids.
Then he took great delight in shouting Smith you useless C, to which I turned back calmly and said mate that's Gladwin. Showed him up to what he was a complete fuckwit.

Bloke next to me came in late started shouting constantly, shouted get up you cunt at Nathan when he was on the floor and the stretcher was coming on for him.  I pointed out to him that he was having a recurrence of his hamstring and that was him out for the game.  He said.  'oh' and shut up for a minute.

He missed most of the actual football by going out for drinks and standing with his mate on the phone shouting 'no no were over here, look were waving etc etc'  He then left with 15 minutes to go.  I applauded him at this point.

I estimate he saw 30 minutes of the game and called 9 players useless cunts.  Which may be factually accurate on the day, but it doesn't really help.

Great day all round.

Friendlies at the CG could be Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool.
Some early money in the coffers if that comes off.

It wouldn't surprise me, just not heard it. His stock will be high despite yesterday, so if he is unhappy now would be a good time to go. Of course, his experience at Posh suggests the grass is not always greener.

Sam Morshead
‏@SamMorshead_
If today's phone calls are anything to go by, there's not going to be much sleep for local media from now to next season. #revolvingdoor

Brace yourselves, everyone.

we knew that though. one thing stfc isn't is dull. not always a good thing.

Great  :headhurts:

I'm off to the cricket thread........

Going to be a long summer... although, when isn't it?

The only positive here is that I was told by someone who I think probably does know what he's on about that Gladwin had been 'tapped up' by Bristol City.

Tap away, my lovelies.  Don't think it's going to come to much.

I think my credit card may have been cloned at Wembley yesterday as well. Top day out!

Really? Oh my gosh poor you! I'm glad I only took some cash.
I really hate reading on here about fans fighting each other and being rude and telling people they arnt real fans if they don't sing etc. Big occasions really seem to bring out he worst in some and there really area few knuckle draggers that support town.

We stormed out early! Judge me all you want! We'd left my 4 & a half month old for the first time which was a difficult decision anyway and it just made me cross. As I left I saw a family from my school - their eldest boy is in year 4 and he was absolutely inconsolable about how the game had gone. It really upset me  :cry:

I think Power needs to show some ambition next season especially if we are going to be making a few million from player sales, if no ambition is shown i can see season tickets sales and crowds being very low for 2016/2017.

Change of tactics and different type of players needed. I think we need 4 or 5 experienced players, Preston had 5 or 6 i think.

We also need more physical players as we looked shit scared yesterday from the off in my opinion and we were just bullied throughout i think.

We have to be as close to being sustainable as possible - No risks should be taken on that front. I'm far more sick of court battles and administration threats than I am with League One (which I don't overly dislike).

I agree to point, but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

I've mentioned before that I'm a fan of the focus on youth.  It certainly delivers financially.  And it also produces, for a time, exciting flair football.  Where it failed this season is that our team of 'kids' were able to carve out an impressive set of results for 30 games or so but, inevitably really, were not able to sustain that over 46 games.  After the end of January, we ran out of steam - pure & simply.  Out young and enthusiastic squad were knackered come the start of February.  They needed a leader and some steel, but we didn't have either.

So stick with the youth, but buy in some experience as well.  Not enough to destroy the philosophy; but enough to give the side a backbone when it's needed.  We need to tinker with the system, not to throw it away and start again.  A few more Sam Ricketts/Darren Ward types next season to balance the Byrnes, Gladwins and Stephenses will really help.

That's not transfers, that's Power ringing them all up with threatening phone calls in the middle of the night, he's taking the Adver war to the next level

Hmmm, was saying to someone today, our season started to go wrong when we lost Louis, we lost that bite in midfield, and he's one of our younger players. So yes we need some backbone, but doesn't have to be an older player to provide that. (Although that's usually where you'd look)

I'm not convinced a lack of experience was our problem, more a lack of depth in the squad especially in defence.

Plenty of times this season our bench was short or included youth players to make up the numbers. Maybe with Wes and Williams likely to go, their salaries being freed up will enable us to increase the size and depth of the squad a bit.

If Cooper does leave, I wonder if we could get a manager on a sort of loan deal from a big club. Plenty of players move in to management / coaching at big clubs, often they'll be put in charge of the reserves / youth teams. Why not come here instead?

If Cooper leaves, what about Williams?

I may have worded my comments poorly.  Agree with you very much.

We hit the wall as a team at the end of January, quite understandably.  I don't think any of our players or the manager should take any flak.  We were set up brilliantly to perform over 30 games, but were never going to manage more than that.

How do we add more depth?  Even more youth is, perhaps, not entirely realistic - hence my earlier call for a few more older heads in there.  I thought that the capture of Ricketts a few months ago was a belated recognition of that.  Still maintain that there is no need to panic and no need to tear up the strategy.

Perhaps he'll take charge?

I can see the meltdown now. The usual suspects would be claiming that we are relegation/conference fodder without considering the possibility that he might be rather good. Many of those claiming certain doom are certainly likely to be those that said the same about Cooper when we gave him the job.

Don't be C.
Take it in your stride as will be many more days like it.
However when the good days come and they will do it will mean more, much more.
It's over now and we move on.

Guess it only upset me so much as I knew it will be my little boy crying soon?!

Head Coach I'd hope. When you hear the players talking about coaching, none of them ever mention Cooper.

In short I don't think it was the defeat.....we are Swindon and over the years we have had plenty of that to get used to.

It was the manner of the defeat that makes you feel like shit.

It was poor and made our loss to Milwall look good/close.

Agreed. Three modern finals, three different STFC squads, three damp squib performances.

Agree with most of what has been said on here.  It was a far better season than virtually anybody anticipated for which Cooper deserves a lot of credit as does Power.  In particular I agree with the comments that we need a continued period of financial stability.  Spend the money that we made from the play-offs but don't spend money we don't have.  That doesn't mean a lack of ambition as someone suggested; there is nothing ambitious about going bust, especially for a club who has been in administration twice.

Looking forward, I don't understand why the debate has to be whether or not to play 3-5-2 100% of the time.  It works well away from home where you get the space to counter-attack, but not for long at home where good and bad teams quickly learn to sit back and watch us go nowhere.

The one really depressing post was the Div 1 map for next season.

Cricket looking up however, and even the Blue Jays have started winning.

I have a feeling Cooper will leave/sacked and Williams will take over as Head Coach with maybe an addition of a new assistant manager working under Power as main DoF.

Been feeling pretty gutted since Wembley but that has given me some positivity, cheers mate, here's to next season!

It was horrible seeing my lad cry so much when we got beat by Millwall, 5 years on and at the ripe old age of 11 he was still gutted but so much more positive and able to deal with it. All part of growing up I guess!

thought I'd prepared myself for defeat this time. still feel like shit this morning. lesson learnt, it shouldn't matter this much but it does.

I thought I would be over it but still feel angry at the sheer ineptness and missed opportunity, i thought the millwall performance was as bad as it gets but that was to another level

We'd had plenty of notice, that the side had such a performance in them.....look on the bright side we could have lost to MKD on pens.....Mass slipping and missing the crucial kick and doing his ACL, so no sale.

To be honest I think I should just walk away from football for a month or two.

Problem is, its actually quite exciting/daunting/worrying that we will be rebuilding an entire team.

I suppose we should know by the end of the week who's going and who's staying - the players will want to be on their holidays ASAP.

If there is any uncertainty about Cooper, it needs to be sorted sooner rather than later as well. Player recruitment and a good pre-season are going to be vital.

I predicted 5-4 to us, so I was half right.

Exactly, OK I know I'm the product of a simpler age, but the rhythm of season ends early May, then you have the cricket season for players and fans to recharge batteries, has a lot of merit.

Ideally we can now forget it for a good 6 weeks or so.

RE: The Retained List - The players already know, it's just not been announced by the club.

RE: Cooper - Completely agree.

Same here, for some reason I am (still) livid about this one....
I think its the fact that I was desperate to have a decent day out, to generate a decent atmosphere for at least one half of football.
All that was pissed on within 15mins or whatever it was.
Watching the Preston fans singing and jumping almost made me physically sick.
When is it our time?
Picture of Nathan Thompson was some consolation though...at least there is one player that really cares..

That's him first to be sold then :)

On the Thursday before the game, I travelled over to Stroud to pick up my tickets and have a couple of beers with 2 mates of mine, both season ticket holders. Naturally enough, the conversation quickly got round to the game on Sunday and how we thought it would go.
It was summed up pretty early in the piece (and I promise that I’m not just claiming to be wise after the event here): We agreed that the defining factor for the match was going to be how Turnbull & Stephens handled Beckford & Garner. We figured that if they were actually prepared to play like central defenders and commit to attacking the ball in the air (like a Shaun Taylor or Aden Flint would), then we would hammer Preston. If they didn’t, we could be in for a hiding.
We all know what happened don’t we?
I still can’t get my head round it though. It’s not coaching insight of the highest order is it? When you are playing as a central defender in League 1, the most basic requirement of you is that you’ve got to head the sodding ball and in order to do this, you have to jump. Neither Beckford or Garner are giants, but what they will do is actually jump. What did Cooper think Preston were going to do? Did he expect them to turn up and suddenly go all tika-taka on us and unmask the Hovis versions of Xavi & Iniesta?
No, they were going to go route one.
That we weren’t prepared for that is a joke – and the thing is, all of the Swindon fans there knew the same thing. When (the clearly unfit) Nathan Thompson gave away the foul against Beckford, there was an audible intake of breathe as everyone thought the same thing – that this free-kick was going to tell us an awful lot about exactly what was going to happen during the rest of the match……………….and didn’t it just.
At the moment everyone is going on about how bloody wonderful Beckford is. Seriously? When he was five years younger and playing for Leeds he didn’t give us too much trouble did he? Scott Cuthbert and Gordon Greer seemingly kept him pretty quiet, since we beat Leeds 3-0 home and away.
I reckon (I hope) that we can actually improve next season, if we learn from this season. At times, our football has been brilliant, but we do seem to insist that we have to keep the ball for 5 minutes before believing it’s fair to have an attempt on goal.
Of course, there are times when keeping possession is the thing to do, but every now and again, it is ok for us to attack quickly, with pace and try to catch the opposition on the hop at the back. In defence, yes, it’s lovely to have central defenders who are comfortable on the ball, but their main job at League 1 level is to head the ball & be able to dominate the opposing centre forward. Surely it isn’t beyond us to be able to recruit someone who can do that?
One thing that we do have going for us is that Lee Power seems to have his finger on the pulse when it comes to recruiting players. If he’s seem where our frailties lie (and surely he must’ve done – everyone else has) then we must have a chance next season.
We’re likely to lose Foderingham, Williams, Luongo, Kasim & Gladwin.
Foderingham is a worry – he’s the best keeper I’ve ever seen at Swindon. Williams doesn’t bother me as much & neither does losing Luongo who, to my mind, has not been the same since coming back from the Asia Cup – the bottom line is that he seems to think that he’s too good for us now & has performed accordingly. Let’s not forget as well, that Kasim & Luongo’s last game for us before the Asia Cup was the 5-0 hammering at (now) non-league Cheltenham and that we didn’t lose a single game whilst they were away.
With Norwich having been promoted now, there’s a chance that we could keep Louis Thompson & Toffolo for another season and why wouldn’t Southampton want us to keep Stephens & Turnbull for a while? Apparently, they are both seen as midfielders in the longer term, so why not play one of them there next season with the other playing alongside a dominant centre half?
Up front, we’ve still got Smith, Obika & Hylton and if we did manage to keep Gladwin, I’d personally like to see him tried up front as well (he reminds me of Chris Waddle).
The top teams seem happy to lend us their decent youngsters and although, like most people, I’d prefer to have players that we ‘owned’, this seems to be the way of the football world these days – and as previously mentioned, Power does seem to be able to recruit well.
Keep the faith and our fingers crossed.

Good post.

Fair enough, except that it wasn't in the air that we were dominated. Every goal was due to poor positional play (1 - Thompson / 2 - Stephens & Turnbull / 3 - arguably Turnbull, but I'll give Beckford that one) or faffing in midfield (4 - Ricketts and very nearly 5 - Smith). They ran at us and harried us, and we just buckled.

Agree that Stephens and Turnbull are too similar to play as a pair of centre-halfs though, and one needs to complemented by an enforcer type.

Good first post, championship clubs are interested in taking Turnbull and Stephens so we will miss out - not sure Gladwin will get into a premiership team so if he does go to Villa he could be loaned back for the season (he's another one who cannot jump it would seem!), Toffolo is very in and out, would welcome Louis back for a season (boy we missed him when he got injured, nobody really prepared to do the hard graft in midfield).  Fods we know about and Belford is already signed up as a replacement, understand Williams is very happy here and not prepared to move too far and would take a cut-price deal if nobody in the south comes in for him.  We really do need an experienced head at centre back and probably another in midfield, perhaps with some cash coming in this summer we could actually buy a couple!

Depending on who gets sold we may see a change of shape next year. We've played this way to accommodate Kasim (needs to be in 3 man mid) and Byrne. I imagine if we lose those it will depend on who we recruit as to the set up for next year. They talk a lot about top team loaning us their kids well most (if not all) of those teams play 4 at the back with a 3 man midfield of some kind.

I agree with most of the above, I think it goes without saying that we could do with a solid centre half and whilst I can see the merits of ball playing loanees both Stephens and Turnbull have shown that often coming down from higher clubs they don't have the physical attributes or attitude to compete at this level, perhaps an experienced head, NT and a third more skilled defender would be the right balance.

I am sure everyone agrees regarding LT, but I think he is a player on the up so I suggest Norwich will want to (at worst) enhance their investment by placing him in the Championship. I would like to see Toffolo stay just because he seems to actually give a toss and go beyond the dull engagements with the fans and community - plus he has looked decent in the games I have seen (admittedly not many).

We know that Fods, Luongo and probably Gladwin are off (although could see Gladwin back for a year as he isn't going to get a million miles near the first team at Villa (yet)) so another summer of ins and outs beckon.

Just remember that last year Power had to do it all at the last minute due to the ownership issues so with a clean run who knows!

That's exactly as I see it

The sting in that tail would be if it was Andy Williams...

The players being scared of heading the ball has been one of my bugbears this season. At home, when there is a 50/50 header in the midfield area, we almost always seem to leave it to the opponents to head the ball. It would be great (and get the crowd going) if we competed more when the ball is in the air.

We let the ball bounce instead of attacking it while its in the air. This always give the opposition a chance if they attack the ball in the air.

Don't forget we've still got Branco....next season could be breakthrough for him, as the next saleable asset.  Big emphasis on could, mind.

Won't be AW, but Sam Ricketts might be!!

Glad someone else has noticed that. Couldn't agree more, I think it gives the team that attack the ball more impetus.

If he continues to play like he has put his boots on the wrong feet the only place he'll be going is back into non-league.

Certainly had a very dodgy end to the season, but at other times has looked to have something. Centre halves tend to develop a bit later than others, and Branco turns 25 in the summer.....I wouldn't write him of just yet.

I am being a touch harsh, as you say, he did have some very good games and was an excellent outball when Wes would ping the ball out to him and he would bring it down nicely onto his chest.

He could be our main CB next season! At least he is quite brave and isn't scared of heading the bloody thing in the box!

Whereas none of their goals came from headers, I think that we were dominated in the air - certainly their first goal came from none of our players wanting to head away the cross from the free kick, meaning that it dropped to Beckford.
Also, PNE seemed to get a lot of free kicks when the ball was played forward in the air and Beckford or (especially) Garner went up to win it, with either Turnbull or Stephens not even jumping, but trying to 'ease' their opponent away from the ball.
At League 1 level, a high percentage of goals are going to come from dead ball situations around the box - if our central defenders see giving away free-kicks in this area as preferable to actually trying to outjump their opponent to head the ball away, we are going to put ourselves in needless trouble time after time.

Why do people think Cooper will be sacked? Him and Power seem to have a good working realationship, no the end of the season wasn't quite as good as it could have been but frankly he has done brilliantly with what is at his disposal.

Can see him moving on if another team come for him, but sacked? No chance.

Does Morshead care to rate it as bollocks....?

I don't follow morsehead religiously on Twitter but it seems that as a journo he would err on the side of caution around rumours etc until he can get a definite yes or no. No point claiming 'COOPER IS/IS NOT GOING' when he then stays/goes and makes Sam look like a tit.

I only posted it because he rated the Obika to Rotherham story as "bollocks".

Coopers on a rolling contract anyway isnt he?

Yep.

Probably means nothing, and I was hammered, but spoke to Coops after the game and he was very down, but also just said "we'll go again, what else can you do". Can't see him leaving personally unless he get's a decent long-term deal elsewhere.

Can't agree more. We've done incredibly well, and we should all be feeling a lot more positive as a fanbase...

14/15
- £5 mil playing budget reduced by 70% down to £1.5 mil
- Predicted relegation battle. Finished 4th
- Ownership battle no doubt caused LP/MC early transfer target issues
- Day out at Wembley. Cocked it up a bit... bugger! Some great results along the way though.


15/16 (as things stand)
- £3-4 million quid expected for Mass/Gladwin with no doubt more cash coming in for other players shortly too
- A couple of bigger earners moving on freeing up wages
- LP/MC (unlike 14/15) have money and the means to get their porkies in the transfer market early this time!
- Any potential signings will look at Luongo/Gladwin/Kasim/LouisT and the like, and see that we can progress their career and we're worth coming to


Obviously a shit summary of things, and yes we've lost a few good players, but the talk of woe and how crap things are we hear (not just on here) is quite frankly bollocks...  :beers:

Good post

Currently, I'd prefer Cooper to stay as he deserves it and we don't want to avoid an Orient situation. However, I'm haunted by memories of Danny Wilson sticking to his guns and getting it all kinds of wrong. Cooper/Williams/Power have to create a Plan B an Plan C.

This, a thousand times this. Our club might be in better shape this summer than in living memory. It's worth noting that of the higher earners at the club, only Wes is likely to earn us anything back. Louis + playoffs covered our budget for this year, so if we pocket £4m+ in the summer, we could comfortably double our budget next season and have something left in the bank.

 I'm already getting excited about the close season!

Or, and it's just a thought, we could start paying back some of the loans to Power & the debenture to Andrew Black and edge more toward total financial stability.

 :nod: On these figures, that could even be "and" rather than "or".

It turns out Sunday wasn't a complete waste of time. In the way back from Cotswold Wildlife Park got a "thanks dad" along with a chorus of "Allez Allez Allez Oh" and "its a, its a, its a. Its gladwin" from my two lads .

Resilient little sods. They'll learn.

SiPie will be pleased!

As above. He won't get sacked. He's achieved too much and done too well on what he was given.

But surely this achievement has also been noticed elsewhere? He's proven what he can do.

 :nod: :clap:

We won't get any fee for Wes as he is out of contract and aged 24 and the Bosman ruling only applies to under 24s.

What is that Gladwin ditty?

I've kind of quoted it all, other than the musical da da bits (pet shop boys, it's a sin)

Ah ok! :)

I would like to congratulate the minibus of lads from seend parked at wealdstone. Good fun particularly the pole dancing on the underground. Good to see some funny nice drunks. Seriously pissed but seemed like good guys

Oh god, I'd blocked that out. unsee. unsee.

is it really true that wes has not been offered a contract?

I think I posted a few years ago that Harry Redknapp had been a success and should be England Manager not because of his ability but because he got that you can just keep re-inventing the team and it clearly takes other teams a while to work out what to do.  his was supported by a blank cheque which has come back to haunt one or two of the clubs down the line though.

We did with Macari, Ardiles and to a lesser extent Hoddle.  A team so different from those around them that success flowed as a result, but in each of the first two cases we were sussed eventually.  Macari's team probably a little less so, but even that seemed to have it's limits.  The Ardiles changed us overnight with a new formation, it worked for a year with us and the same for Spurs but people figured out how to defend against it.

I think something like that has just happened.  The style of football is the same as last season to an extent, but we changed to 3-5-2 and it has taken 6 months for people to figure out ways to combat it.  The lesser teams we can still overcome through sheer possession but the better teams, especially the strong ones have found us out.  Stop the flow from Wes, harry the midfield three, flood the flanks in attack, put crosses in.  It works well for teams like Preston because of their strength upfront and they have players who when organised can compete with a team having more possession than them.

The trick next year is to see if we can change once people figure us out.  It's been a great season to watch until the last month or so which was a bit odd, then we had the delight against Sheff Utd and the clear despair against Preston when it became clear what was going to unfold after 3 minutes.

We know that we can't offer him more nor provide him Championship football.... and he probably wants to leave.

Beckford took the utter piss out of us for a couple of years before the two 3-0s tbf

2010 was great... the rest? Eek.

http://swindon-town-fc.co.uk/PlayingRecord.asp?Type=Opponent&PersonID=beckford_jermaine_paul_1983

We couldnt offer him similar terms until we knew which division we were playing in next season, and he was (along with Willo) our highest earner so we obviously need to cut down on high wages.

Also I am certain Wes made his mind up to leave a while ago whether we were promoted or not but not going up has hastened that so he is probably unwilling to enter into negotiations anyway.

Does anyone know how/where player wage info comes from that gets banded about? I rely on rumour and conjecture only.

Always wondered...  :sherlock:

Part of it comes from word of mouth from other players but a lot comes from the wages of comparable players signed at almost exactly the same time (e.g. Gareth Roberts, De Vita etc) who were on good wages but have taken large pay cuts when they left Swindon to join new teams. For example Roberts when he left said he took a 50% pay cut to join Chesterfield.

Cheers Peter.

We came, we saw, we kicked its ass!

Can't add anything on the footballing side to the match inquest.

It was good to see and chat to some old faces, including an old school and Boy's Brigade mate I hadn't seen for 40 years. I thought the Wembley info people and the meet and greeters in Club Wembley did a good job. The fish and chips I had there were as good as any "Football Food" I've had. 

Just wanna say we had a great day out again apart from the match obviously, it was great to see people I ain't seen for ages, why does it take an outing like that travelling away to bump into people who live in Swindon same as me but you don't see them yet travel away and there they are , weird..... Anyway great day !!!

Here's how I see it ...

Cooper to leave for another club this close season ... Maybe but unlikely.
Cooper to be sacked .... Not a chance.

Cooper essentially plays bad cop to William's good cop. A move to no 1 would mean a chance in the dynamic between Williams and the players and wouldn't work easily, but this can be countered by the fact there would only be about 2 players left for next season who were here last.  Also how many excellent no 2's fail to make it as a decent no 1?

Would replacing Coops if Power sacked him or he left be straightforward? I suspect not.  A lot of established managers wouldn't want the interference Power has in players and tactics etc, hence meaning we could be left what the fans would consider another yes man.  I do think we would now be an attractive proposition for managers to consider however.

We had a cracking season and played some unbelievable football.

Sure, that's not all down to Cooper, but as mentioned, the dynamic in the backroom staff.

It has to be said, all in all, we had a good season.

Hopefully, the management have seen the shortfalls and will be able to build on that knowledge next season. Playing the lovely football is really entertaining, but when you get a big physical team or heavy soggy pitches, there does need to be another plan.

I do like the way the club is set up, get young talent and nurture. Sign players from non-league and make a profit on them. Some hate the 'selling club' idea, but unless you're top half Premiership, you need to sell your best players to make ends meet.

Alternately, Williams might make an excellent head coach under Power as DoF. Don't get me wrong, I like Cooper, I think he's done a good job and don't want to see him leave, but I could see how the Head Coach scenario might work in our current setup

Is that not what cooper is though theoretically