Thetownend.com

Obviously Wes and Williams will go. Luongo will be sold (if there's enough interest in him after yesterday's display). Then the loans will be sent back, can't see any of them staying to be honest. Then looking at out of contract players such as: Bartram, Rodgers, Agombar also going. Then trying to hold off interest for Byrne/Smith/Kasim/Gladwin which we will probably lose at least 1 of them.

Would love to see Norwich go up purely so there might be a chance in getting LT back.

Out of all those, I would like to see LT back most!

I can't see us cashing in on Kasim, Byrne and Gladwin all at the same time. I can see 2 wanting to go though.

I'm looking forward to seeing much of the team that ONLY lost 3-0 at Preston breaking into the team. Hopefully they are good enough.

Could see Rodgers staying as a bench warmer, I wonder if Toff could be back if Norwich go up today.

Louis looked our best player when he came on, cracking little player would love him back any day.

kasim and byrne will attract most interest,dont think championship teams will fancy gladwin yet

I'd say kassim, Luongo and possibly Gladwin will be gone for £££. Willo would have to take a massive pay cut, so there goes 20 goals - not that he was played much in our limp end to the season.

Byrne I'm not sure about, he's been one of our better/more lively players, but I can't see his quality being championship level . That said there are probably a fair few league 1/2 teams that could pay him more.

As good as Stephens and Turnbull have been on the ball, they must surely be suspect enough in the championship given our defensive frailties. I know they won't be back, it'll be interesting to see how they fair in a more sane 4-4-2.

I don't have much confidence in T Belford based on what I've seen. Will he be the new #1? Its a bit difficult for him mind, comparing him to Wes isn't really fair. Wes has largely been outstanding for us.
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Biggest worry is how the hell to find replacements. We surely can't keep getting lucky in the loan market.

Reckon it will be the other way round, there, will be more after Gladwin, than the other 2 combined. Although I've a nasty feeling all 3 might go.

There will definitely be interest in Gladwin and Byrne particularly after good displays on TV against Sheffield United.

I'm not sure anyone would want to shell out any money for Kasim though.

His injury was the season defining moment for me. For all the technical ability of Luongo and Kasim, Louis would have been the first name on my team sheet. Norwich have got themselves a really good player.

Granted there is an element of luck about it (sometimes supposedly good players just don't perform) but I'd imagine Power and Cooper put a lot of research into potential loan recruits for the season ahead, as they have to make sure they can fit into the 3-5-2/3-6-1 system. Wouldn't surprise me if they have two lists already drawn up, one Championship and one League One.

Agree with all of that.

They said that's what they were doing. I'm not sure if they'd specifically be looking at 3-5-2 though. I just think that system favoured the players we had this season. If two very good wingers were available we may see a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1

Exactly.

I prefer 4 at the back.  How's your old man after yesterday Joe?

Every forward thinking business has a plan. This year, next year, five years, ten years and so on. I doubt the way we are currently run by Power & co that STFC are no different. The exception will be the current stock holding. Players to you and me.

They have a possible and probable list of who is going, likely to go & likely to stay. For div1 & Championship eventualities. Well we now know where we'll be next season. So one or more sheets of paper can be shredded.

I'd also expect them to have a list of targets based on all the original eventualities which has obviously been narrowed.

Lick your wounds, dig out the budgie smugglers, shorts, speedos, bikini or suit, look for the sun screen. Prepare for the Ashes and next seasons fixture list.

Come late August, light the blue touch paper and stand back for the 2015-16 division one firework display.

My feeling at this moment in time is...

Agombar, Antonio, Barker, Barthram, C. Belford, Foderingham, Jones, Ward, Waldon, Williams will all leave on free transfers.

Luongo will leave for less money than we expect.
Gladwin might make Town a bit of money.

No loan players will return

Rodgers might get an extra year.

Retained list had to be given in last weekend to the FL.
Players knew just not been made public yet

Not too bad. Still hasn't sunk in I don't think

Of the 14 that played yesterday, I would be surprised if there are more than 2 (maybe 3) that are still with us next season

Nathan T, Smith, Obika and possibly Ricketts will be with us next season.

Rickets has been total shit. People slag off branco but rickets has been at fault for as many goals as branco has having played a lot less. If we sign an experienced defender I hope it isn't him.

For whatever reason, it hasn't worked out for Ricketts here so far. Maybe it's because he's a Town fan, or the fact that he didn't play a competitive fixture from November - March, or he doesn't fit the way we play, I don't know. But I wouldn't be thrilled if it were announced a permanent deal has been done.

Reports of a £3.5m joint bid for Luongo and Gladwin from Villa. How exactly would that work as regards a sell-on fee for Spurs? Can we just pretend they paid a fiver for Luongo and the rest for Gladwin? :D

I suppose the question is, is he worth a punt ala Darren Ward - who I recall was woeful when he first arrived.... I think the problem is that with the system we play we need a solid experienced ball playing centre half which is a rather rare commodity!

Nah - £3.5m for Gladwin and Luongo left on a free!

Way too early to tell and might be far fetched. But wasn't one of the main reasons for our 5 in midfield that we had a glut of extremely talented centre mids that are hard to leave out? IF Luongo and Gladwin do head off to Villa and don't come back on loan along with Thompson going to Norwich, maybe we won't be as inclined to go with the 5 in midfield? As I said, might be a looking a tad too far into it and that is only really applicable if we go with 2 up front again but an interesting thought.

Plenty to be found on the continent with many players in Holland and Germany very used to playing three at the back. Sadly, I dont think our scouting system stretches that far anymore.

Wonder if Power has any contact in the Swiss league?

Gladwin a beard for the Luongo fee then loaned back immediately for next season I reckon.

 :nod: I said this a few weeks ago.

Do people really think Gladwin is good enough for the PL ??  I'm like him, he has done well and had a few superb games but premier league quality ??

Don't think so, too lazy and struggles with fitness - cannot run or jump but has a lot of skill.

no,would struggle in the championship at the moment i reckon.Another season of improvement then maybe yes

 Judging by many of the responses to the season's end, the question should apply to fans as well as players....I'm staying...not so sure about DV, mind.

im going to 2 league games next season,gillingham and millwall.One less than this season

 I did think that as well Reg. I'll be there, with at least one child and maybe I'll get my wife's partner to come along too  ;D

I'm in for another season but given a much lower away support I think we will struggle to average 7k and that is if we do well. Can see a few games going low 5k. A lot of fans have given up.

me + 2 kids. on a fairly big low about the whole thing right now. guess that's not unexpected in yesterday's immediate aftermath.

I'm hoping to get to more games in 2015-16.

The lack of interest in 2014-15 has been sadly noticeable. When you see a full-house against Sheffield United, you know that fans are out there waiting of something to happen (as long as it's not at Wembley Stadium).

Is it the prices? Is it League One? Is it the lack of a 'celebrity' manager? Is it all of those plus more?

I hope the club are seriously looking at this issue... if they can.

Don't think Ricketts will be back, and wouldn't be surprised if Smith moves on as well.

Whatever the outcome it's another major rebuild. Casn only hope that it works out as well as it did this season.

we all have our own theories on why.

 For me it's the lack of buzz around the place. we are doing the right thing under the circumstances, but a message of sustainability is a massively hard thing to sell, especially against the previous regime of a bankrolled di canio nutsfest.

Match day prices are going to obviously have an effect too.

Have to say I'm sick of league 1/2.  don't give a rats arse about pretty football or possession stats either. but have to accept it is what it is.

Best three word summary of his reign

I'll be at even fewer games next season due to moving (again) and being a bit bored of this fucking league. I was too young/disinterested in football when we were last in the second tier and it's difficult to feel any excitement for 2015/16 especially with the horror of 2010/11 in the back of my mind.

I'm going to make more games next season, I'm sure of it.  My six year old was gutted that we missed out, and sensed that 4-0 was a bit of a drubbing.  But he's demanded that we try out the DRS early next season.  That will spur me on if nothing else.

The close season will be one of the more interesting ones for years.  We have players, at last, that are worth something.  Some will move on, and there will be money to spend.  Could be exciting.

I'll be there with my dad and oldest son, as we renewed our season tickets.

As others have said though, I'm sick of League 1.  There's even less games next season to get excited about and the chances of getting to an away game are slim due to them being so far away.  No doubt Coventry will be a Tuesday night or something!

If my son starts to lose interest throughout the season and it's looking likely we'll still be in League 1 or worse the following year, I will probably take a break in all honesty.

Bloody hell.

Well that's one problem sorted then, get your boots and report to the County Ground please

Season ticket renewed some time ago. Goodness only knows what kind of team we'll have next season.

An alternative to 3-5-2 would be nice given how badly we defended since the franchise game over Easter.

Binned my season ticket off in 2011 - been to three games since. No regrets.
Stayed at home yesterday, right decision.

League One is shit and boring and I hate the fact that football is now (from top to bottom) about playing good football, keeping possession and being entertaining. It's not a soap opera, it's a sport - it's about winning.

I've said it many times before and will say it again. I would take 46 of the dullest, shittest, most boring, ugly, hoofball games you have ever seen in your life if we won them all 1-0.

I reckon we should stick with it, but try using a sweeper.

It's an all new defence next season any way so they might be badass (in L1 terms).

Both Sam and ASD are dropping heavy hints that it's all about to kick off transfer wise on Twitter.

Yeah. Such teases.

Transfer requests flying in left, right and centre? Cooper exit? Just the expected stuff?

As it's already been dealt with, I expected the Retained List today. I would be surprised if they dragged that out any longer.

Fair enough.  I think we all are.  But as Reg often points out, we've been a Division 3 club for pretty much all of our history.  Forays in to the divisions below and above have always been fairly short-lived.


At least be grateful that you live in Swindon.  My two little lads are both in the infants at a school 60 miles away where the wearing of a Chelsea strip seem to be pretty much obligatory.  They're flying the Swindon flag at football practice, but it's a weekly battle to deflect Chelsea/Spurs chatter.  Winning so far, anyway.

(http://i.imgur.com/GejEhVp.gif)

although Sam just tweeted this: https://twitter.com/SamMorshead_/status/602920722248392704

I've had chicken cooked like that..... fucking delicious.

Yeah, how awful. Jesus wept.

But you wouldn't be there so what difference does it make how we play ??

I would think that he's just trolling but, then, it is DV.......

Didn't believe the stories about Cooper leaving, but just been told that expect Ricketts to be a player/coach/assistant manager under a new regime next season!!  If that rumour is true will be a total overhaul in the next few weeks!

I find this part of pre-season quite exciting, if truth be known.

Baby #1 will be here for the pre-season lull. That my friends, is planning.

 :)

I fancy a nice tasty 4-2-3-1 next season. Byrne on the right of the 3 without any defensive duties, imagine that!

The other 10 still to be decided!

The thought of ricketts playing and coaching our defence fills me with dread. Why not get Shaun close to coach our strikers. He has been total wank.

ASD suggesting Luongo and Gladwin may go this week. In fairness, if we're going to lose a lot of players I'd rather we get it done quickly.

Right for you.
Missed 6 games last season both home and away. 160 mile round trip to home games.
Have an 11 year old Son who has over 30 grounds visited and a 7 year old going on 20 grounds.
Boring ? Yes sometimes and why do We do it ?
Have to question that often. It's in my blood, feel proud almost to the point of feel the adrenalin pumping around my body. Perhaps its the DNA and maybe in the 70's I should have followed in my Pompey routes but I didn't I chose Swindon and do you know what, I have loved every minute.
Don't give a shit what you do quite frankly, as you feel kind of proud that you don't follow STFC and you are bored of the football. If all lower league fans took your stance then quite frankly it would be Championship and above that matters.
Season tickets at the ready, pissed off feelings melting away. Enjoy posting shite on a message board football forum. Don't honestly know why you bother but everyone entitled to an opinion and of course you are free to do what you want.
But why bother when clearly you don't care or maybe I am wrong and my passion gets the better of me, not the first time may I add. Shit not looking forward to Fleetwood again and wish it was Hull but as a Supporter most of it is out of your hands.
Why do you bother an honest open question ?

Telegraph and Daily Mail both reporting that Sherwood/Villa have already bid £3.5m for both Luongo and Gladwin as a package.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3096284/Aston-Villa-make-3-5m-bid-Swindon-duo-Massimo-Luongo-Ben-Gladwin.html

So that would be a valuation of £100k for Luongo and £3.4 million for Gladwin, based on last few games.  I'm sure Sherwood would be more than happy to shaft Spurs over their 50% sell-on fee.

bang on. support my club till the bitter end.. this is what following swindon is all about; one day our day will come I'm sure of it, and when it does those of us who stuck it out will enjoy  it so much more than those who've turned their backs. it will all pay off, one day.

Tim Sherwood rates Gladwin very highly.

Cooper to Sheffield Utd maybe, he has quoted them a big club so many times.

Because they are a big club?

And he is also a Yorkshire lad (and 'nowt wrong with that)

Seems off that Sheff U waited until now to sack Clough when they could have done it 2 weeks ago. Cooper on their radar maybe?

Going to be a long summer. I just hope we use some of the money to invest in some decent replacements.

I was probably spoilt in my teenage years of supporting the Town.  It seemed like we were in League 2 for years (which I know wasn't really the case).

And you'd be surprised.  It's no different here.  My son and generally a couple of others are the only ones who wear Swindon kits.  The rest tend to be split between Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal!

Costanza - love your grav!! Where did you come across it?

I remember coming up with the idea all those years ago after the demotion, calling Greavsie and asking if he would wear a T-shirt in support of us on the Saint & Greavsie show. When he said 'yes' I got it printed and biked round to ITV. The man's a legend.

Not sure it did any good though. And not sure I was 'innocent' (lost that many decades ago).

I find it amazing how he still follows the forum on all things stfc whilst pointing out he can't stand the shit of league 1 and the lack of entertainment. Not posting and waiting for us to get to the championship sounds a better option for all.

Why remove the start of the sentence including the word 'if', so it reads completely differently in your quote?

You seem to take pleasure in picking me out and disagreeing with everything I say yet when others say similar it's not an issue.  If I piss you off that much, why not just hit the ignore button and be done with then you won't have to read my crap.

Its all fine and good to belittle his opinions, but our season ticket numbers are declining and we could do with people like DV (and others that have lost the love) to re-engage with the club.

A few years back it would have never in a million years thought DV would talk like this?

Bullshit. I disagree with anybody that I disagree with, put your victim card away.

which bit did you disagree with ? the suggestion we could go down next year, or the prospect of giving it a break after a poor season?

Andrew from Flic Sports said on Twitter that he's confident Gladwin will be a Villa player by the end of the week.

Hell of a step up for him, not sure he's up to it to be honest, still very raw.

Actually, you know what Jo, I misread your sentence. My apologies.

You can still put the victim card away though, nobody (at least not myself) is singling you out for anything.

@welshred - they'd be buying his potential, not to start him in the first team. he'll surely go out on loan somewhere first.

heck, he only forced his way into our first 11 in the last half of the season.

I can easily see Gladwin playing for us next season.

I can see Gladwin being loaned to a Championship Club. Same goes for Louis Thompson.

Louis yes but reckon Gladwin back to us will be part of any deal as Louis was.
No mug is Power when it comes to outgoing deals it seems

Yeah. I hear a lot to suggest that Power won't sell unless it's a good deal for the Club.

Brilliant post. As you say, "it's in your blood"

My 8 year old son cried at every goal yesterday and he still thanked me for taking him to Wembley. I felt terrible, not only because of the game but because I got him into this. I expected him to ask if he could change teams today.......


But he started a new master league on PES as Swindon before getting changed into his town shirt to go outside and play. And so it continues.......

Oh, can we have Paul Hunt coach the midfield too?  :D

It seems without championship football we can't "re-engage" these fans. Best finish in 15 years but it's still shit and unwatchable in many people's eyes.

highest finish means fuck all though. we are back where we started with a massive rebuild to do.

much better than my predicted relegation battle mind!

'...shit and boring...' - Flint's goal at Brentford; defeat of Bristol City; PO semis this season... . These moments in matches, the individual results, and extraordinary games more than make up for the inevitable poor performances that Div 3 football (in fact any league football) brings.

As for 'its about winning' - Town have been pretty good in recent seasons for winning more games than losing.

Good luck in your search for 100% 1-0 victory football.

That is our real problem. A season like this even 5 years ago and attendances would have been much higher, there has been no bump at all from a successful season and season tickets have not sold well for this season.

I'm a season ticket holder and have renewed but for what its worth the message the club gives isn't a very exciting one. Not sure how they sort that out as the fans only seem to respect 'big' name signings and money spent which will not and can't happen.

I renewed my season ticket but don't think I'll use it much. probably should of given up, like my mates, after DC left.
I prefer a more orthodox type of football and will remind you all that Lou Macari's style of football took our support from a couple of thousand (literally) to 10,000. just shows what success can do.

That says more about our fans than it does the club.

If you cant be bothered to support the club because they arent spending huge amounts of money on name players then you dont deserve a successful club. It really is that simple.

TBH I'd rather you fucked off straight away and didn't bother coming back.

You are epitome of the negative moaning tiny minority of fans we could do without at home games

On the contrary, this year might be the proof of Power's methods. We apparently broke even in May 15 on a budget c£1.3m, earn £300k? from playoffs, maybe £4m+ from summer transfer fees. If he doesn't use the profit to repay his loans, then that could fund maybe a million in transfer fees this summer and an increase in budget of at least half a million a year on 2-year deals. And I'm trying to err on the side of caution.

I like this stock investment model, as long as Power can continue to unearth enough gems to keep growing our budget sustainably.

I agree with you 100% but the club has to get the fans back somehow otherwise the playing budget becomes lower and lower and our position will likely follow. It may not need the money spent on players but somehow the town needs to be engaged in the long term.

but we aren't talking about the 5-6k hardcore support that'll be there whatever, we are talking about the fringes and beyond.

maybe it's just a natural thing to happen when people get older and responsibilities have changed. I'm not judging them. but the number of fans that used to be there week in week out but aren't there now is worrying. maybe it's always been the case, I've just reached the age where it happens to peers.

I don't think telling then to fuck off and never come back of they don't like it is the answer. in fact I'm not sure there is an answer right now. keep doing what we are going in the hope it brings success one day.

Just seen that the retained list unlikely to come out today (Sam M Twatter feed) - seems a little odd they are delaying as the players (and I believe the FA) know already.

Was not sure where to put this. I'm wondering if there is to much emphasis on £'s for some of our players, particularly Luongo? As we have to hand over a huge chunck of money to Spurs, surely with our need to strengthen the squad next season the ideal solution would be to get players in exchange and a lesser amount of £'s?

Maybe we're getting money and players?

remember the last time we did a deal with Spurs? Weren't we supposed to get a couple of players in on a season long loan and we got nobody? Can't even remember who we sold to them as part of that deal, a young kid I think,

Leigh Mills?

It was Leigh Mills but that was a long time ago now, 11 years or so when King was in charge, lots has changed since then, we have owners and a manager that push for a proper deal for our players and don't undervalue them.

Yeah, can't remember the name of the 'striker' we eventually got on loan from them but he was hopeless.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leigh_Mills

That in the circumstances would make sense and is exactly what I think we should do, assuming the right players are available for the deal.

Jamie Slabber?

You believe in Power? Think it will happen again?

It was Slabber and Mark Yeates that came as part of the deal.

Reading his Wiki page an example of the fact that getting to a big club early doesn't mean a successful career!

Based on what?

Our budget was slashed significantly and we finished 4 positions higher.

if you dont want the budget to be slashed then fucking show up.

What JJ said makes perfect sense. I can't see Power being fooled like we were before.

Was that really 11 years ago? Jeez!


Lots and lots of examples of young kids going to big clubs and having a crap career.

He had a big "Billy big balls" attitude apparently, refused to play for Brentford after a loan as he thought he was too good for them.

He is still only 27 and playing at a very low level. Should have stayed with us longer. Still we got around £150k for him in total.

http://www.thecockerelcrows.co.uk/tcc/2012/4/26/life-after-spurs-leigh-mills.html

Nobody seems to have mentioned Miles Storey lately.....

Another one who's gone nowhere since leaving us is Alex Henshall.....I guess he'd have gone nowhere if he'd stayed with us and just been poorer in the pocket.

Henshall was a dick. He tweeted saying L Thompson cant be compared to him as Henshall was so much better than him a while back.

Erm....

I think that deserves a re-tweet if its still possible.

Indeed, egg and face combination.

Storey and Hylton up front next season with Barker as number 10.

Dreamy!

Was he the lad who went to Manchester City - actually checking myself he was now made a monster 10 appearances in his career including 1 last year. Twitter detail suggests he is an England International although doesn't appear to have played for 4 years since the under 17's. Which would suggest remains a bit of a dick!

And big Harry Agombar laying on the chances for them from midfield... see we have the makings of quite a team there!

And with Branco keeping them out at the other end, I can see us kicking on!

 This is more like it....however if we did start the season with Smith, Obika, Hylton, Storey competing up front, it wouldn't be too shabby.

 Miles, though looks unlikely, which is a shame....

Barker's gone, posted on Instagram. Agombar may be around for the 10 spot though....

Power doesn't rate Storey, he will leave at the end of the season.

To be honest 1 goal in every 9 games isn't good enough for a man who many Town fans thought would be the next big thing, he flatters to deceive.

Still think the main argument, at least my main argument, was that the fans didn't really see enough of Storey to tell. That and we signed Barker, who was worse.

History now anyway, probably.

With the exception of a 20-30 min period against Villa he hasn't really done anything in his career to suggest he is anywhere near good enough to be a regular in league 1.

Still young enough to develop further so I may be proved wrong but I doubt it.

Played well at Stevenage in the 4-0 win there.

  I guess the idea of the loan was to see how he might develop....well he hasn't scored too many, but he has played a fair bit, so it has been useful for him.

 I'd imagine he should be OK for Div 4 or a Conference club, if not for us.

What? Awful news! :( I was there at orient when he had a good chance and missed the ball completely. However I did this last week at my 7 a side at Mitcham Eastfields so it does happen to the best of us!

Cameron Belford gone now too...

The club got this wrong big time.

Never looked like scoring....hit the post at Newport in the JPT and that was it.

A club can never get it right every time....