Thetownend.com

Today's the day, people.

Be positive.

part of my thinks they will destroy us, part thinks we will put in a performance and drag out a 2-1 win.
That's probably just more in blind faith though

0-2 cov. Gary Breen to score both plus save a penalty.

We will lose. Crewe will win at Burton and we will go bottom.

1-1

Andy Mutch last minute equaliser

0-4. In other news I was chatting to someone last night who when I told him I supported Swindon said he knew Brophy as they used to work together at British Airways. I said he's now flying down our wing, guffaw.

Not a very exciting anecdote but there you are.

I'm going today, my second game after Burton. I only get to attend games through the generosity of others (borrowing a colleagues season ticket today) so grateful for it, even if we do play like shit.

Anyway, we'll stop the rot today. 0-0.

Trying to be positive but I've never been so sure of a defeat in my life.

0-3

If Robert, Louis and Obika make it we have a chance. Along with Turnbull returning we'd look a fair bit stronger.

2-1 and they're getting wet. COYR.

Let me know as more often than not my husbands ST goes to waste

Thanks to Ginginho and McCoys crisps i'm going today with my Dad for free, my second home game this season, the other was Bradford. Expecting the worst, i'm going for a 3-1 Coventry win.

Much obliged  :-[

Back to winning ways today! Come on Swindon!

STFC

We weren't setting this weak division alight when we had no injuries. To think one, two or three players will make a difference is pure follie.
3 - 1 to Coventry and our collective arse presented to us on a plate.
The guy that sits next to me (when he can be bothered to turn up) will moan when I do this  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: at our boys against men antics.
Its this or shopping

We need to turn I round somewhere, don think it will be today though 1-3

3-1 cov

A close fought 10-0 defeat.

Could be this. 10 lucky breakaways' in a game we control from start to finish.
Then Power or Williams can tell us what agreat game we watched.

Turnbull back in defensive 3 - bin Barry, move El Abd to left.

Keep it tight (I know, I know) in the first half and then bring on Obika and Robert for the final 30 minutes.

Could scrape a draw in front of 8334

Today's Boardroom guest - Pol Pot

Got to gee myself up to even go.

Any result please please please....to start turning the oil tanker round...

These things happen when you're 'down there!'.....

Please go shopping. Your joyful glee in our shitness is absolutely ridiculous.

STFC 2-5 Cov.  Coventry is twinned with Dresden. Is Jimmy Hill really responsible for the state of the game today?

1-2 defeat.

It's pissing down in Calne.....maybe it will be called off!!!!!?!?!?!

Saturday without defeat! Weekend not ruined!

I've been suffering with a cold, bad throat and cough for the last few days, so going to give it a miss today.  Probably means we'll win!

2-0 cov but an improved performance

Tickets bought.  We're going.

Come on Swindon!!

Hope you've got supplies to keep the little men occupied if they get cold and bored, which is quite likely given recent performances?

I'll settle for an improved performance, regardless of the result.

The bookies have cottoned on, we're 3-1 to win at home, Coventry 5/6

Hoho. A bit touchy/ hormonal this morning.
Id prefer a great game of football, then I don't feel the need to come on here and bitch and whine.
However in times of dire shyte like this, its cathartic to spew all my pent up grievance to u.
One more thing. I watch every home game, spending hard earnt money in the process and you toddle along when you've nothing better to do and tell me to go shopping! That's rich.

Nothing like a good bit of bitchyness on a wet Saturday morning. Meow

An XI without Brad Barry would be a good start.

Amen to that!

Want to see Jordan Stewart

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

People are only trying to help. You don't seem to be able to find a way out of your misery.

TBF, suggesting someone go shopping as a route out of misery isn't that much bloody help. I'd rather watch Town (just)

I overslept and missed my train, the last time I did this we won. IT'S A SIGN

TOWN STARTING XI (4-2-3-1) - Vigouroux; Barry, Branco, El-Abd, Turnbull; Rodgers, Kasim (C); Gladwin, Ojamaa, Brophy; Ajose.

Oh dear....

At least we have Robert and Obika on the bench.

That's quite the herd of scapegoats

Barry and Pyjamas.

FFS, we're doomed!

Have not seen Pajama play apart from a sub appearance, stronger looking bench!

Things are so bad im longing for the return of nathan thompson

Still, some good news....the U18 beat Oxford 4-3.

Are we playing our best centre back at left back again?

Where's Stewart?

Yes, but he's been coached by Williams this week so it'll make all the difference....

Sweet.  Cheers, Bob.

If we can get Ojamaa up behind the striker, similar to how Robert has been used, we might finally see what he can do.

Rather than playing him at RfuckingWB.

No Jordan Stewart, not even on the bench !   ???

Hope he hasn't gone home again !

At the game apparently..

Andrew Steele-Davis ‏@andrew_FLICW  3m3 minutes ago
Jordan Stewart has been spotted here today, for those wondering why he wasn't in the matchday squad. So he hasn't gone home.

Cov on my accumulator today so we might win.

At work and waiting for the next post along the lines "FFS...defence awol yet again!" or might it be more encouraging for once.  I guess no news is good news at the moment.

Not wishing to jinx it, but apparently much better from us so far

much improved from Tuesday. a little bit of bite and Branco and Turnbull very good thus far.

Branco has been really good, a couple of very important interceptions and a good charge forward.

Ojamma & Rodgers are either both fucking lazy or unfit

Improvement on the last few games, at least we are making them work for it.

WTF they see in Ojamma I have no idea. Dreadful player.

Rodgers is just Rodgers - the bubble and squeak of footballers

Coventry are shit and we are playing well. I'll be happy with a 0 0 result
Hows that for positive?

2nd half Robert for Ojamma, Obika for Rodgers

Heart ruled head and I forced myself out here.

An improvement on recent performances,  especially defensively.  Branco is continually clearing up after Barry though.

Rodgers and Ojaama offering nothing.  Ajose needs somebody up with him.

Coventry being currently 4th shows what a poor league this is.

1-0 down

underserved. we've done well

Normal service resumed

Fucking typical, let's see what the reaction is like now.

Another cock up. Vig spills a cross.

Today's attendance: 8,309 (1,686 away supporters) #STFC

never a penalty

harsh, should have been defended before it came in . he could have done better but I think it was one he had to go for

Game over, 10 in a row  :suicide:

Not a Twickenham maybe

So, we play much better and still get beat.

Things don't look good. Not good at all.

Looked it from here.

Decent save from Vigaroux.  Shame none of our players made an effort to get there.

We just don't look like we've got a goal in us. Why is Obika playing out wide ffs?

 :blowup:

Start panicking

Game on

(http://i.imgur.com/Lwo0CTF.gif)

Oh, goal?

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

not a penalty

2-2

OK make me out to be a liar  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

MRW

(http://i.imgur.com/Kd2NQC3.gif)

Full-Time. I think we'll take it.

Well, fuck me with the rough end of a pineapple

Very pleased with that. Sounds like the fight might be back and Having Obika and Robert back should galvanise the side.

Well done Swindon. Great point.

Well I was hoping we'd see an improvement but was not expecting any points. Happy with that.

Both ends are pretty rough.

Will be round shortly.

What a contrast from page 5 to page 6. Fickle lot aren't we!

I wasn't there but to comeback from 2 down gives hope, as do reports of much more fight and better football. Here's hoping the (long and protracted) blip is over and we see a rare season of mid-table mediocrity. Anything else would be a huge bonus after the past month or two.

...but sore and dilated.

Thanks. 

I'd rather have a Bounty.

Actually, fully satisfied with a gutsy point and a little of that fragile notion - hope

COYR

Just caught the end of Power - 3 interviewed, 2 more to come. What else did he have to say?

Any new signings depend on the success, or not, of an imminent bank job

Some thoughts:

Kasim is not captain material. He is half the player he used to be, sadly, and this reflects in the teams performance. Doesn't help that he is partnered by Anton Rodgers who couldn't pass a stool, never mind a football.

Liked Brophy, sad to see him go off and be replaced by obika on the wing, which I am not a fan of.

Defence was better with the out-of-position Turnball back (who had Ryan "the saviour according to Audrey" Kent in his back pocket first half).

Ojamaa was better but doesn't seem to have any pace. Robert was brilliant when he came on, urgent and penetrating.

Some green shoots of recovery? I think so. We appeared more purposeful with the ball, and were at least causing their keeper to make a few saves. A deserved point.

Did I say that?

Did I?

 Good comeback....nice that Coventry still haven't won a League game at the CG since 1960.

My first game this season and I thought we did ok compared to what I've been reading. The team looks scared and we have some very young very inexperienced players. Their goal was soft and the pen was a stupid decision by El Bow who had had a good game up till then.

We looked better with Obika and Robert on, Gladwin took his goal well but showboated like someone who is too good for this league - which is isn't. Ajose isn't a lone striker but worked hard. Branco was also solid, Kasim.....meh he got better as the game went on.

Pyjama isn't good, Brophy needs a target to aim at for his crosses or at least someone bigger than Ajose.

Glad we got the point we deserved and we showed some fighting spirit.

Great comeback, feels like a win. A much better performance, if Obika and Ajose had started the game I reckon we could've won that.

A draw is a fair result, and i'm actually really happy.

I don't like singling out players for criticism but Anton Rodgers shouldn't be paid to play football let alone be anywhere near our first XI. The most ineffectual and gutless player I think i've ever seen.

Much much better performance that Tuesday's limp affair. We held shape well, put tackles in and competed with Coventry.

It wasn't perfect, but it was a step in the right direct.

It'll be interesting to see whether the performance was down to it being against a top 4 side, whether the criticism they received after Tuesday stung them into life, or whether its the coaching - surely not given they likely had a light session Wednesday, so only had 2 days of it.
===
As for the game - Rodgers was pretty poor again, but at least he doesn't hide from the ball. Gladwin tries to shot from stupid places and Barry is being generous adequate.

Other than that we did OK. Even at 2-0 down I didn't think we deserved to be losing, and we showed character to come back . Both penalties looked soft and how their #8 didn't get booked for his pathetic attempt to con the ref in another in-the-box incident I'll never know.

Its not a direct quote, no.

Overall I enjoyed that game, quite open and Coventry are a decent side, although they are like us and have defensive problems!  We had a lot more fight but some players still seem to lack passion.  Gladwin scored a good goal but wasted several more opportunities by shooting from 25 yards, for the goal he ran into the box and opened them up by dropping his shoulder.  Really taking to Brophy, seemed a strange decision to take him off, another strange decision was to play Obika on the left wing!  Both penalties I would have no argument about, El Abd was the victim of some trickery for theirs and Ajose was pulled over, although the ref seemed to take an age to make the correct decision.  Minus points to me were Barry - who needed Branco to back him up on several occasions - Pajama and Rodgers, get them out and decent players back in and we will be ok.  MOM was given to Turnbull who had a decent game, although I thought Branco edged it with Brophy not far behind.  Oh, and Coventry are a cheating lot of cunts trying to con the ref who was having none of it - he was a decent ref but could have booked one or two of theirs for simulation.

Disagree about Barry, thought he did well, as did Brophy. Kasim looked off the pace first 10-15 minutes and both he and Gladwin guilty of not doing the basics when receiving (surely "check your mirrors" is something you learn as a kid?). But Kasim settled in and looked much better, Gladwin looked like the big kid at school who'll never pass because he reckons he can run thru the whole team, but got to forgive that because he got the goal that got us back in it. Ridiculous playing Ajose as a loan striker if we're just going to lump balls up for him to battle against 6'+ centre halfs against. Rodgers was poor, but nowhere near as bad as Ojaama who either just doesn't understand football or was deliberately hiding because he didn't want the ball.

But for all that, we were good today and certainly good value for a point. Even at 2 down, I was much happier because of the way we'd played. To bring it back to 2-2 felt like a win. Bet it felt like a loss to them, too. Question is now, can we build on a good performance or do we revert to type?

The commentators seemed to think he was knackered.

That's what we thought, otherwise it was a strange one. He was doing well

Oh, and props to the dickheads who left at 2-0 down, but a special mention to the bloke in our row who left a few minutes after we pulled it back to 2-1. We've just scored, we're back in the game, pushing for an equaliser, there's about 3 minutes left and the game's in the balance and you decide to leave then. WTF?

El abd was outstanding

Rodgers was wank

 Brophy looked very promising today, fair play.

Keeper had a howler for the first

Best performance I've seen all season, never deserved to lose

Was putting up a poster in a Chinese restaurant in Chipping Norton when the goal news suddenly appeared on the tv, just as it happened. Scared the owner half to death.

Get Louis Thompson back into midfield and bin Rodgers, Robert for Ojamma and play Obika and Ajose in their proper positions and we can kick on

Haven't read back but here goes.

A bit of passion, pride....the argy-bargy showed they cared too.

At two zip (undeserved) we didn't collapse or fold and at 2:2 I thought we might of nicked it as they were on the ropes....and then the position thief Rodgers takes it....the fall before he took it was better than the kick itself....shite.

The shithead was superb and Branco was geeing the players up too.

Vigs fucked up for the first IMO.

Gladwin scored by beating and shooting, perhaps he should do that more often as the feint, feint, give the ball away was tiresome.

Ref was a bit shit....although the pens looked straight forward to me. How many fucking dives did he let go...weak.

There was a buzz in the TE and hopefully something to build on.

Positive for the first time in weeks.

Thought we played well. El Abd and Turnbull both played well, but I have to single Branco out who I thought was outstanding.
Rodgers was useless, as was Ojamma. (sp). Robert was lively when he came on. Would like to see Obika and Ajose given a few games up front together as I think the could be a handful.
Overall, a lot better. Good too see a few injured players back.
Bring Louis in for Rodgers and Nathan in for Barry when both fit and things will start to look positive again.

There were people leaving at 2-2 in the DRS literally just as we'd be on the attack and were about to take a corner. Fucking melts, they belong in the same cell as Brind.

Barry is clearly a limited footballer, but I thought he was fairly solid today - tried to get forward on occasion but otherwise was keeping it simple.

hmm, just me on the penalties being soft then.

theirs from our angle it looked like their man  ran into a spinning el-abd and fell over.

ours I thought Ajose backed in a bit, felt a hand over his shoulder and fell over.

meh, who cares, they cancelled each other out

Much improved from the shite served up at the Den last Saturday and in the weeks before - I thought we were fairly dominant throughout and the crowd got up for it last 10 with the comeback. Plenty to build on and reason for optimism.

Agree Barry was solid with a few wayward passes, his best performance for us - however if Nathan Thompson is out long term we need to enter the loan market for a right back as Barry isn't good enough to start regularly.

Turnbull obviously a huge improvement on BOO at left back, he had Kent in his pocket. I really hope we drop Rodgers when Louis returns.

That feels like a win. I thought we kept an attack that had the potential to overrun us completely under control until their goal - it opened up a bit after that. We were slow going forward and struggled to move and get behind them at all - but there really were hopeful signs.

The good:

Both Branco and El Abd looked solid.

Turnbull was good - he's very much a centre back out of position but he is significantly better than BOO. I'd rather see us return to last years shape - Turnbull on the left of a 3, Brophy out wide.

Brophy - I've not seen many games recently so can't comment on what he has been like. Yes he is raw, but there's something very promising there. Shifts his weight well to beat a man and doesn't mind having a go. Keep working on him I say. Once players are fit you could have NT playing as a defensive right wing back, Brophy pushing on down the left.

Gladwin - I have some sympathy for him trying to be elaborate and it often not coming off. He needs men running off the ball - Ajose was, but he needs more. All that meant was that he had to go on this own - Cov kept him on his left when he wanted it on his right. Ironic that he then smashes in a cracker with his left!

Ajose - ran his socks off on a hiding to nothing. As Chalky White said on the radio afterwards, he needs a man with him, which hopefully he will have when Obika is fully fit, Thomas is back etc.

Robert - on for 10 mins and showed imagination and urgency.

I'm not going to dwell on negatives. When you're on a losing streak like this we're not going to flick a switch and be world beaters. It's worth remembering that when we have players back and on form, Rodgers is unlikely to play. I would imagine the club is more interested in developing Bangoura and Traore, and getting Louis T back out there.

Onwards and upwards.

I'd like their defensive problems think they've had something like 5 clean sheets in a row, and have still conceded the joint least in Div 3. Only ColU have conceded more than us.

yup, their keeper was on for the Coventry consecutive clean sheets record today... until gladwin.

thought he looked dodgy myself, especially kicking under pressure

The bloke that sits next to me in the DRS, spent the first 80minutes moaning, and then walked out.  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:
That'll teach him to leave early.  On 2nd thoughts maybe it's an omen & I should suggest he buggers off early every game.

Their defensive lynchpin Reda Johnson has a bad injury which I assume rocked their defence a bit.

Let's not wrote Ojamaa off yet. New at the club and at the same time as our worst run in recent memory. Jordan Stewart's experience goes to show that perhaps the past couple of months haven't been the easiest time to join. Hopefully that will now change and we'll start to see promise from them both.

Thought ojama had his best game today. Not saying much, I know.

He had two good moments at the start of the 2nd half. Very quiet first half - he and Branco had strong words during a break in play - Kasim stepped in to calm it down, presumably for Branco's failure to pass down the right channel. Williams was v much arm round him at the end and they had a bit of a chat. Give him time.

A player playing badly doesn't necessarily mean they are a poor player. He could well come good, let's hope so.

Can take a year for a player to settle in.

Defensively they didn't look like a team with that record, although they have lost their dominant centre half.

some pride and passion at long last. play like that and well be alright.

anton rodgers is one of the worst midfielders ive ever seen- he shys away from challenges, doesnt jump for headers, half halfheartedly track back and just fails to get stuck in  :gay:

Anton Rodgers' mum should have swallowed.

I've never understood this comment. Instead of what? Spitting?

Ah jeez. Instead of taking it up her mickie moo

Terrific performance. If the players can keep that level skill, concentration and dare I say it, passion we'll be alright.
Talking of passion, it was great to hear the county ground rocking, even if it was for the last 10 minutes.
Branco would of got my MoM.
Now I'm happy and nothing to gripe about, that's me gone until it goes tits up next time.

I was reasonably pleased when we were 2 down, for me the improved performance was by far the most important thing. That we came back to get a point was a massive Brucie bonus.

Good game . . good game.

Perhaps I'm taking it too literally. Never heard it called a 'mickie moo' either.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CSFjcD0WEAAfaTm?format=pjpg&name=large)

Anyone else notice the sorry state of our floodlights today?

Gotta beat the traffic

I could've sworn they've been like that for as long as I can remember, I certainly can't recall ever noticing them all alight.

I have it on quite good authority that the floodlights are to be improved soon. Mainly because they don't meet league (Sky tv) regulations

Same here, I think they were like the the last time I was at the CG.

I think I read somewhere that the bulbs are incredibly expensive.

Sky highlights

http://www.skysports.com/footballleague/championship/video/10042400/swindon-2-2-coventry

Thought both pens were soft

Think he got it as our goals were late in the game.

I think he would've got it about ten minutes into the next game? I'm sure I read that somewhere.

I don't think I've ever seen all of the floodlights on, going back decades.

Speaking of going back decades, I remember a match Vs Grimsby in the McMahon era, when we were 2-1 down in stoppage time and we won it 3-2. I met my mate in the car park; he'd left early. Needless to say, his view of the game was very different from mine!

Gazza left after their second goal and I said to the guys on my left "he's going to miss the best twelve minutes of the season, the wanker"

I haven't jumped up and down and screamed and shouted so much for ages

Brilliant. Definitely a win if you know what I mean

The whole match was thoroughly enjoyable. I am the STFC lucky charm  :smugfu:

Yep, after 78 minutes beating Steve Ogrizovic I believe.

My brother bought me this season's home shirt for my 40th at the end of August.  We've lost every home game since when I've been wearing it.  Today I reverted to my Samsung 2012 shirt and my son wore his Samsung 2014 one instead of this season's away one.  I think we shall do the same next game.

Haha superstitions eh
Or just coincidence.

Have to admit feeling the same in the past over various things

Neither of those were penalties. Hopefully that's the turn around for us.

I felt our luck might turn a little yesterday, and I had a tenner on us at 20/1 when it was 0-1. Shame I didn't wait until 0-2 and go for a draw, although I suspect I would have thought we were buried at that point(by the time I'd finished doing something it was 1-2).

After all the early season fuss about Ryan Kent, I'm not sure we really did miss out. Looking at their forum, seems his performance yesterday was what they've got used to from him. Not as good as Pritchard, for example.

 In very hot Bali at present via Perth so only got to half time on the Twitter before succumbing to the alcoholic beverages. Got to say that reading the consensus, a draw was what I would have taken before the game. Good to see some of the more "senior"players back. Another point or even better will do next Saturday.
  :nod:

Well, we got a point :pint:

Coventry did us a favour I think as they looked to play the game to their strengths as opposed to playing to spoil our game. Made for a good game to watch though.

I reckon both pens were spot on though wondered for a while whether the ref was going to give ours.

Rodgers is a very static player with few challenges on loose or 50/50 balls. He then fucks up my dislike of him by making some sublime passes.

Barry was a relatively ineffectual presence but saved himself in my eyes with a goal line clearance in the first half.

Brophy is going to be a real talent. Not surprised he gets subbed off. Young and easily tired and we need to protect and nurture him. he will be the next 6 figure plus transfer out.

Gladwin took his goal very well and I like his industry and 'fuck you' tenacity. Yes, he gets dispossessed occasionally but he keeps trying. I think he is a better footballer than he was when he left us.

Their two goals?

The first was from a cross that should never have been put in. Our players too slow to chase it down- expecting it to go out for a goal kick? Vigs had no choice but to try for it once it was floating. Perhaps Turnbull or 6 pack should have shouted.

The second- well saved penalty by Vigs. Why were our defence last to react? Our penalty practice should include defending pens by starting a run from well outside the area so that we have a good head of steam up when Vigs gets to the ball and can't hang on. I think that is 3 he has saved since he joined us.

Overall a good battling performance and something to build on.