Thetownend.com

Lingys first home & first league game. Time we all get behind him and the team and get out of this mess.

2-2..

Progress.

comfortable loss, though the weather may be a leveller

0-2

One of Scunthorpe's twin towns is Clamart, a suburb of Paris. Yasser (no relation) Arafat died there. De Gaulle was nearly killed there in an assisination attempt. Based on that information, when asked if Clamart sounds like Scunthorpe, a local said "no, it's more like Grimsby".

2-0 win to the town today and the revival starts.

Could go either way.Swindon are due a win ,so they probably wont.
Was thinking of going today but cant be arsed.

What`s happening with the weather - it`s supposed to be pissing down so had decided not to go but it`s nice down here - either way we unfortunately are going to lose 0-2. Improvement will come once Wes is back from injury as we don`t have anyone who can score - hope I am wrong

I'm going to drag myself down there but not very optimistic. Lose 1-3

Lose 2-0

Feels like one of those seasons when on a Saturday morning you think 'Yeah, this is the day' only to be plunged into further disappointment around 5pm.

We'll work very hard to score a goal and let a few in cheap. That's th Swindon way.
1 - 3 to them.

 We've never lost to Scunny at the CG...in the same way we'd never lost at Spotland. Put that one to bed last Saturday, and would be a major surprise if we don't follow suit today.  Had hoped Madden might be injured or something, he'll have a field day.

Against our resolute defence?

Have a word, Reg.

Lingy's first home game in charge, a few players back from injury and feeling optimistic about this game today. 3-1 to the town!

4-0 home win

Any team news? Any more players back?

Starting XI: Vigouroux, Barry, Branco (C), El-Abd, Turnbill, BOO, Rodgers, Traore, Gladys, Ajose, Obika.

Subs: Belfore, Brophy, Iandolo, Ojamaa, Robert, Hylton, Thomas.

Yay, two up front.
Maybe we will have a shot on target today :)

Depends what the target is...  :-[

Traore? What does Robert have to do to start a game?

Yeah, cos all the defensive midfielders we seem to like have really helped us tighten up at the back.

Fucking joke. Ling out!

Hopefully scoring goals 👍

Not many here for Lingys homecoming

Can't imagine why...  8)

Are we still shite?

And those of us that are here are wondering why we bothered.  Absolute tosh again.  

Yes very , the lack of quality is very concerning absolute snore fest at the moment

Fucking dreadful game between two shit teams which we will find a way to lose

Oh and this is the first time I have seen brad Barry is he some sort of sick joke absolutely useless

Which means we'll be the better team at something. It's not all bad after all..

not a classic but we've been competitive and grown into the game. marginally the better team even.

but you can see Scunthorpe carry a threat too

just looked at the posts above mine, didn't think we were that bad under the circumstances. ... guess I'm on my own on that one.

Dreadful, but unfortunately he's not alone.  Rodgers and Ottwell are not much better.  Ajose continues to be a big waste of a wage and when did Gladwin lose the ability to pass.

Hopefully Batch can wake us all up at the end of the game ;)

Everyone else down there losing at half time, got to win this somehow!

We usually see the game fairly similarly, but you're being very generous today  :)

Hasn't been that bad and Barry has looked alright to me and has been making so good runs.
Gladwin has been shit and doesn't seem to want to pass the ball.

This games there for the taking, we gradually got better as the half went on so hopefully we can nick it.

Did you honestly think it would be anything else. Bit more of a threat last 10 mins. More shots and corners than usual . Small steps. We need to get lucky.

We're winning!

Flipping heck.

How many points is it for a win? I forget.

For a what?

Fuck me 2-0

2-0!

(http://i.imgur.com/8DyeG.gif)

We are going up . . . .

(http://i.imgur.com/RG0BS1U.gif)

Up to 19th as it stands

2-0, Am I awake, or is this just a dream

Oh, FFS don't jinx it!

Come on Chesterfield!

2-1. Uh oh.

I fucking told you!

Awful defending, a free header from a corner

Loops  :(

Bricking it.  This is 'must win' from here.

Gladwin off. Made both our goals.  Very strange unless he's had a knock, particularly when Rodgers has been shite.

6967 today

Got to hold on to this

5 mins added

Phew. Huge win.

Yes Town.

Well done fella's.

STFC

(http://i.imgur.com/J9yv4Zx.gif)

11 points off the play-offs!

Well I know some stroppy fucker who will actually watch the football show for the first time in a couple of months...

Is it me ?
 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:
Not watched it in months

Good half-time call from Batch.....

Just what the doctor ordered. I had a gut feeling we'd win today and would have gone but for being in Wales 😒. Still i shall make an effort to go out Tuesday if i can get home early enough.

Huge win...

Obvious statement post.

Thank god for that.  Not pretty at times, but we managed to grind it out and stop an awful run.  Big 3 points.

Potential problem with too many loan players next game though.  Who would you drop? Shame Rodgers isn't on loan!

We ground a win out after a tepid and insipid first half, one of the worst halves of footy I have seen at the CG in years!  Second half was a bit better, probably just about deserved the win considering we were playing with nine players at most all game.  Rodgers is a total tosser, Barry I thought was poor and BOO was so predictable!  Gladwin looked good in patches but lacks the stomach for a fight, Branco rightfully named mom for me!

Rodgers has to go for Thompson, Kasim on the bench!

May be by yourself on Tuesday!

Get in, Rodgers is still shit though

Yay! We have a new(ish) scapegoat!

No game then? I thought there was. Cest la vie.

I thought that all the team except Rodgers tried very hard today.  Very lazy and half-hearted imo.  Traore gave a good defensive display and was more effective than Kasim has been lately.

Having the two strikers up front worked, as we couldn't be pushed back so much by weight of numbers.

No, it is a week on Tuesday, Walsall.

Misheard Powers puppy on the radio as the signal faded on my quest to conquer the principality.

Winning without playing well is the sign of Champions. EFL Championship here we come  :pint:

Why were people waving the lights on their phones

Played alright. Rogers is dog toss. Barry wasn't as bad as I thought he'd be. Ajose took his goal well

Just got back home from the pub.

So, we on a game? As in scoring more goals than the opposition and taking 3 points?

Scunthorpe fans doing this at all their matches in support of the steelwork workers affected by recent closures

Traores ponytail is a thing of natural beauty. Must be a clip on.

Im getting one for the next home game

Still one loan too many, only 5 allowed in the 18 and we had 5 today.
If Loius comes back in one has to go

I think Louis Thompson will be the loan player to miss out.

Vigouroux, El-Abd, Turnbull - three of our regular players at the back, arguably all undroppable.

Gladwin - our best player and main creative threat.

Thomas - one of only three striking options and an impressive cameo today.

Put Kasim in for Rodgers next week and I will be happy.

Oh, c'mon, you must have a Killer Kilcline clip on? Just dip it in some black paint.

Right, anyone in the vicinity of Brackla, i'll be in the Huntsman Family room. I'll buy you a pint to celebrate the start of our meteoric rise up the table. Just shout red army to grab my attention. Being in Wales you'll be safe shouting that.

3 CB's very good today I thought (free-header for the goal aside). Branco has gone from being a cult-figure to genuinely one of our best players.

Still a long way to go performance wise (especially in midfield), but the most important thing today was getting the win.

So, if the back 3 and the front 2 are pretty much sorted, what's the best combination for the middle 5?

Is playing Gladwin and Robert together a risk?

My choice would be Brophy, Traore, Gladwin, Robert, BOO/Jordan Stewart obv Nathan when fit

That makes it possible to have Wes Thomas either starting or on bench

God knows what happens when Williams and Stewart are fit re loans

Wtf was going on today? Deep crosses into the box, shots on goal, Power must be fuming tonight. #lingout

Drissa Traore's hair. That is all.

(http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/lossimpson/images/3/3b/Embiggens.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110131031132&path-prefix=es)

Judging by today's performance, Thompson and Traore would work with Gladwin in front. Traore was superb today I thought

So that's a no-no for Kasim, then?

Me, too!

I've just been listening to Mark Robins' take on the game on the BBC site:

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34753809

Apart from the fact that he didn't want to make any excuses and then goes on to say that they had 5 players out (only 5 - lucky fuckers) and the conditions were appalling (same for both sides of course)......he reckons Scunthorpe should have won the game and could/should have "been out of sight" after 15 minutes. For those that were there - is he right? From what I saw and heard (only going on reports as I wasn't there...) we probably just about deserved to win it. They only came into it once we were 2 up.

They had a couple of chances early on, but we could have scored three by half time and apart from the nervy last 10 minutes we were the better side in the second half.

I'm with you, he's a waste of time

You clearly missed the midweek Oldham (?) game.
-------------
After a slow "here we go again" start, I thought we grew into the game. It wasn't brilliant, but we matched Scunny. We didn't have too many shots, but we had a few efforts and looked reasonably solid at the back.

Second half we looked a bit better. Gladwin remembered he was allowed to pass and it was a good follow up by clear MOM Branco following a smart save from their keeper. Second Gladders carried it and passed at the right time to give Ajose a golden chance which he duly took.

Thought we looked comfortable an solid until they scored a free header from the corner. And we looked a bit nervy thereafter, understandably so, but we coped quite well and saw out the remainder.

A couple of points:
  1. Scunny pressed us well, especially from goal kicks. SO GO FUCKING LONG. If we lose the header its still referable to cocking up at the back.

 2. We have a team full of fairies. Never seen such a bunch of bottling, tackle shy lightweights.

 3. Traore did OK today to my eyes.

Better...a lot better.

What a relief! :clap:

Didn't start well but got into it.

Scunny keeper made a hell of a save before Branco thumped it home.

Second goal was just like last season....the build up to that should be watched  over and over again by the players.

After that...rat shit ... Checking back and we let them back in it, goal was coming for ten minutes before it went in.

We held on, despite the best efforts of the complete and utter shit Rodgers, nobody since Barker gets on my tits like that useless fucker. I enjoyed him having a pop at Thomas for not reading his 100 mph forward pass that the keeper almost had to parry. He has to get dropped sooner or later, utter shite.

I hope this is a sign that the oil tanker is turning....

He is talking shite. They were awful.

Well we're all certainly in agreement that Rodgers is a waste of space.  If he starts next Saturday when the majority of midfielders are available, I think I'll lose the plot!

Brad Barry pulled out of at least 4 potential 50/50's allowing their player/s to win the ball. Totally out of his depth although did extremely well just before h/t to shut down a counter attack & then almost scored himself at the other end! Will feel far more confident when NT is back to play in his position. Shame we didn't sign Eckersley as we are desperately short on defensive cover. Anton was poor again. The amount of cheap possession he gave away when we were clinging on was criminal which is so fucking frustrating as his ball retention is ususlly pretty good. He's surely played his way out of next week's team with that performance today. Branco was excellent & thoroughlly deserved MOTM. Lingy has got a nice selection headache on decidng which loan player misses out next week assuming all are fit.

You won't see me getting on the back of our players......... But Rodgers is absolutely shite.
Offers little and one player self destruction to us losing that today.
Please get him out the starting 11.

Brad Barry squad player at best. Poor marking all season and doesn't get tight marking and drifts.
Teams are aware of this and have been exploiting this home and away.

Agreed. Nothing against either him or Rodgers personally & would never boo or discourage our own players as it achieves nothing but blatantly obvious that neither are good enough for this level of football!

It's difficult to remember a Town side in recent memory with a set of players of such varying ability.

3-5-2 was great last year, but was founded on good wing back play of Byrne and Toffolo. Both arguably championship standard. Today's two wing backs are L2 or Conference standard. That's why we fare differently.

The same can be said for Rodgers. We've swapped the Asian Cup player of the tournament for a limited player who once won second most successful footballer in his family.

So let's not be surprised where we are. It will be a slow progression out - but great to see that start today. Fingers crossed we replace the weak links sooner rather than later. COYR.

I would imagine Rogers and Barry only playing to fulfil contract obligations.

Rodgers looked neat and tidy in the highlights

He generally is when he's got the ball. Short one touch passes nearly always backwards or sideways but only when he's got time to receive and give it. Yesterdays 2nd Goal was a prime example.

 The problem comes when he hasn't got the ball. He hides, never makes himself available when he might receive it under pressure, never tracks his runner always passing the man on and rarely puts in a tackle to win the ball back.

He just doesn't work hard enough when we haven't got the ball

he can be. every now and then he'll play a good ball or do something and you'll think maybe you have it wrong. that feeling lasts about 30 seconds in general when he passes to the opposition. he sort of reminds me of bobby howe, but less sexy at football, obviously.

but I think we have a bit of a dilemma. I'm not sure if we should be dropping Kasim or Rodgers at the moment. or even LT for that matter to resolve the loan player issue.

Thought we looked good, went to Blackpool game and what a huge difference. Disappointed by BOO, his confidence looks so low and with someone who is meant to be rapid why is he scared to take players on. Thomas looked a real handful when he came on and should be useful. Still not sure about Nicky Ajose

There's an oddly poignant moment in the highlights, when an old man in a wheelchair reaches out to celebrate with Ajose, but can't quite reach, and is forced to cover the attempt with applause.

http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/league-one/10067068/swindon-2-1-scunthorpe (http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/league-one/10067068/swindon-2-1-scunthorpe)

Great spot...that poor old man!

Have to say, it looks like a much improved performance compared to the last couple of matches I went to (Millwall and Wigan). Having 2 up front is always going to give us more chances. Well taken goals, great assist from Gladwin. At the start of the highlights Barry fails to close down and then somehow lets the opposition player get a shot off from an impossible angle. He really is totally out of his depth. At the next phone in please please please can someone ask Lee Power why someone so clearly out of his depth is playing for us and  if he would be anywhere near our first team if he wasn't related to Gareth?! Also, the goal we conceded was a shocker, no marking at all.

Regarding Barry, I suppose we could play one of the many other right backs we have at the club - all of which I've read on Twitter are far better.

I'd honestly rather see a yoof player given a chance over Barry (assuming we have one...)

I would not be surprised if our youth teamers were better. He's probably the worst defender I have seen in my time supporting Swindon.

I thought Branco led by example yesterday

Composed finish from Branco...

The highlights alone look more positive than anything I've seen for a while.

Yep he even bollocked Ajosie for not tracking back and Obeke for not marking at the corner.

 Should stay captain

I have always liked Branco for his whole hearted approach, however he was always prone to glaring errors and became one of the boo boys targets at one stage.  This season he has come on in leaps and bounds and added consistency to his game, gone from a bit of a cult figure in some quarters to captain and undroppable.  I guess he will always make the odd mistake as all players do but he is an essential part of a back three, and as the middle of the three, being out on the left or right did not suit him.  Perhaps in two years time we may be able to say the same about Barry . . . .

Whenever I go to games, the crowd always seems to love Branco.

He's a lovable kind of guy. I doubted him before, but he's a real defensive presence now.

A couple of things I noticed from the highlights - Barry's laughable attempt to head the ball right at the start, and that Rodgers is a fat little fucker.

All in favour of dropping Rodgers, Barry and Ojaama then?

I think most fans will accept mistakes from players if they put in the effort. For all the limitations some players exhibited yesterday Rodgers stood out as the weakest link. When we have all the midfielders back and at full fitness, he shouldn't even get on the bench.

If we have better, then yes!

Never helps to get on the back of your own player but a good free kick is simply not enough to justify picking a player and Rodgers offered nothing else. 

Traore is a limited player but his spirit was a better contributor to the team than a technically superior but seemingly disinterested Kasim.  Branco epitomised and perhaps inspired the spirit required to grind out the 3 points   If Thomas' cameo return is a sign of options to come with player returns from injury and abroad, that all bodes (relatively) well.

Any opinions on why Williams appeared to take the lead from the technical area?

Interesting to hear Chalkie on the way home pick out both Gladwin & Rodgers for not offering enough when we don't have the ball.  He then said you can get away with one player, IF they contribute enough when the team is attacking (i.e Gladwin's two assists), and that in his opinion Rodgers place should be in doubt.

I actually thought Barry did alright yesterday

Assistants often are the one's doing the arm waving and relaying of information to players. You'll see it week in week out at most sides

Barry & Rodgers without a doubt. Still think Ojamaa can offer a lot if used correctly.

Commemorative mugs all round (well, for those of us who can say 'we were there').

However, I suspect the Pox will be issuing another mug to mark the fact their attendance was 1 better than ours yesterday.

Traore deserves to keep his place.
Branco deserved mom - he looked like the only one keen to attack in the first half!
For the first 35 mins BOO and Barry might as well have gone shopping. Then they both realised that being wing-backs involves getting forward and crossing the ball into the box and supporting the strikers. They really are lightweight in the tackle though.
Rodgers deserves to lose his place. Sometimes he looks as though he can provide a killer pass but he doesn't do enough. Most frustratingly, he makes a short pass and stands still instead of getting off his arse to exploit some space.

A great result but progress really would be getting something at Fleetwood, and then being competitive against Walsall.

Testing out the new youtube feature

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_o8SMri_oc

Vigs, Branco, Turnball and El Abd all looked solid.

BOO and Barry are okay(ish) going forward; shocking defenders though- its like boys playing against men, the wind would throw them off the ball!

Traore looked very good yesterday, got stuck in with some good challenges- deserved to start ahead of Kasim.

Gladwin pissed me off a lot in the first half, very greedy going forward and didnt get stuck in. Made things happen after the break.

Rodgers is a terrible, terrible centre midfielder. No bite at all, shys away from the ball when defending  :no:

Strikers were ok. Good to see some passion- clearly meant a lot to some of the players to finally get a win.

Really liked the look of El Abd in the Coventry and Scunthorpe game, no nonsense and clearly experienced

Must have a chance of signing him on a permanent in Jan - along with Wes, hopefully.

Does Ajose miss by the way

Miss what?

 El Abd has a bit of an Alan McCormack about him. Not the biggest centre half but a competitor with a bit of devil about him and comfortable bringing the ball out.

Time will tell with Barry and BOO as full backs but both are in first seasons of competitive football. Look how long it took Nathan Thompson to establish himself as a first team regular.

Only problem is El-Abd in contracted to City until June 2017, so its going to cost to sign him.

http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/10943229.Transfer_window_watch__Update_2___El_Abd_leaves_Albion/?ref=var_0

If we can flog Smith (doubtful) and/or Kasim (also doubtful) we could pay a few quid for him.

Maybe the 82ers want rid anyway

Doesn't look like Smith has been setting the world alight in Barnsley. If we do get him back how long is left on his contract?

End of 2016/17 season, I think?

Thought the criticism of BOO was a bit unfair yesterday considering Town haven't wanted to play down the left since Noah was a lad. At least he worked hard even knowing that the ball would eventually go through the middle.

Considering the performances and results of recent weeks, this game was far from poor. Some of the first half was dross but, 90+ minutes of some recent games were dross.

On the whole, most of our squad had an ok or better game. For me, the exception was Rogers. Too often loosing possession, not fighting to regain the ball, short passes to a team mate with an opposition player already administering a rectal examination  and limited off the ball movement. He did have the usual (and expected) flashes where a sweet pass was put in and, I will admit, some of the possession loosing balls were actually good passes- the intended recipient failing to be on the same page of the song sheet.

Gladwin is so frustrating. He looks really happy to have the ball at his feet, ploughing his way forward and he often looks like he is scaring the shit out of the opposition. He then goes into Byrne mode- trying to beat just one more player instead of putting the pass in...... :doh:

I thought Barry had one of his better games yesterday. I see in him the seed of a good player. Give him time and support and let him mature physically. I mean, not long ago, yesterdays deserved MOM Raffa was being slated as a useless liability. He has developed into a worthy captain.

Same with BOO. He is young and has yet to grow. he will also develop I think. On Saturday, once he felt comfortable (second half), he was getting down the wing and lobbing some peachy crosses in. I think we need both our wings to do that- make progress, get to the line and pump the ball in. Don't bother looking for out attackers, trust them to be there. Our forwards and midfield will then start realising that service is available and make use of it.

3 fucking points! COYR!!!!

So Saturday then.... Kasim for Rodgers the only change (given we can't name Louis in the squad unless someone else drops out)? Thomas for Obika too?

I think there are a few examples of where the coaching here has developed players quite nicely. Byrne, Branco and Gladwin in particular have been heavily slated and then improved leaps and bounds. You could even throw Andy Williams into that mix, his form pre Cooper / Power / Williams and since his move to Doncaster hasn't been amazing yet here he was unstoppable at times.

Maybe I am being overly optimistic but if we can stay up (and it is still a big if) then perhaps next season we can see the potential of these guys really coming to light.

It is a big if...however Saturday was a must win, and we won so a great help....this gives us 16 from 17, in 05/06 we had 13 from 17, only lost 4 of the next 17, but still went down. We've still got a lot of structural problems with the squad, not least a dodgy midfield where Gladwin and Louis are likely to be off after Christmas.

Loved that game.

- Ajose looked much more alive with another striker up with him.
- Beaker had an off-night which is fair enough as he's usually one of the top performers when he's on the pitch.
- Rodgers had a terrible game, but in my opinion he does have the ability to be one of those players nobody realises how important they can be. In the past he had the role of dropping deep to collect the ball from the defenders and link up the field. This wasn't happening on Saturday and he had too many wayward passes. If he personally has a good game, he is one of those un-noticed but important players.
- Branco = God
- Barry grew into the game and he has the signs of great potential.
- The back 5 worked really well, we were just lacking the bags of creativity linking the forward two to the back five.
- I am a huge fan of wing-backs when they are wing-backs. The ratio should be favouring the defensive side 70:30 unlike what's happened with us in the past where the wings have been completely undefended.
- There was still a lot of moaning in the DRS when Branco & Vigs would pass it out which is frustrating. Why boot the ball 70 yds and give them possession when we can play three passes and we're moving up the field with possession ourselves? I get frustrated when we do the pass-out every single time, but I thought there was a good mixture of the two methods.

Cheers then!

on the last point, because we are passing around the back for passing sake. it's more than extremely risky when a team press us, like Scunthorpe did. we may lose a big boot up the field, but at least we give ourselves a chance of recovering.

at least vigs eventually saw that was the case.

He's been an utter disgrace for most of the season and was so inept at Rochdale it was incomprehensible. Let's not get too carried away.

Barry seems to make defensive cock up every week but looked a threat attacking from wing back. Ditto Boo, when he gets into attack mode and crosses first time rather than endlessly cutting back. Brophy when he has played has also looked better offensively but pretty light weight defensively. Does seem weird that other than Nathan T, who played all last season in central defence anyway, we started the season with no experience at full back/wing back other than Byrne who was always likely to get sold when right offer came in.

You can say this about every player over the last few games. I wouldn't want to pick on one player for this. Don't forget his goal-line clearance in the Coventry game ;). Don't mention one without the other. Haha

Not for me. Robert for Rodgers and if we're going back to wingbacks then Brophy in and Barry out.

When everyone is fit how do we stand with 8 loanees? Hope we sign 2, Wes and El Abd.

Didn't realise it was 8, had to write them down:

Vigs                       - Season
Turnbull                 - season
Wes Thomas          - Jan
El Abd                   - Jan ??
Louis Thompson     - 18th Dec
Gladwin                 - Jan with view to season
--
Stewart                 - Season
Williams                - Season

Is that right? We only have 4 (5 with Gladwin) on season long loans - assuming none of them get recalled in Jan.

Come Devc 18th we've got two crocks and Louis going back, so its not really an issue.

Those 2 crocks are supposedly going to be fit by the time Louis goes back.

Oh, OK, missed that update. Thanks.

Another problem is the contracts behind them.

Vigs                       - Season & has to play or we pay
Stewart                  - Season & has to play or we pay
Williams                 - Season & has to play or we pay
Turnbull                 - Season
Wes Thomas           - Jan
El Abd                    - Jan ??
Louis Thompson      - 18th Dec
Gladwin                  - Jan+

How do you know they have to play?

Vigeroux didnt play against Newport

Pay what?

Where did you hear the bit about us having to pay?

Kevin Stewart was on the bench against Southend and Port Vale so looks like a non issue to me.

The 80% bollocks quota is certainly being filled this season.

Tribute.

(http://s.sidereel.com/cms/posts/235474/large/uploaded_file20121214-6637-yzk0vy-0.)

:ironmyshiry: The irony.....no-one could accuse Chang of having no sense of humour.

 :hmmm: :hmmm:

I don't think JPT counts. I think it's just league games.


Wasn't he carrying a knock for those games?

Even if we do have to pay their wages if they don't play I can't imagine it's a great deal. Do you really think that if they were fit all season they'd play regardless of how shit they were? Powers shrewd not stupid!
I'd imagine Swift was on similar terms to them last season and we had no problem putting him on the bench.
So again a non issue in my eyes! Regardless of reasoning Vigs would start on merit as he's twice the keeper Belford is.

Why do some people claim Belford is shit, I cant say I have ever seen him get given a consistent run of games to prove himself one way or the other, he is a young keeper who may or may not become a decent No 1 but surely until he has been seen to get a decent run then he cant really be judged on the odd performance here and there.

He's fucking awful, you can tell after 5 mins of watching him play.

Watch the Colchester highlights - both goals conceded should have been saved. Something like 20+ appearances for Swindon with no clean sheets also says it all (including against Newport, who were bottom of the football league at the time and absolutely dreadful).

Belford is the stereotypical sub keeper and that is all he'll ever be. He's one of those who makes the easy saves look spectaclar, very similar to Phil Smith. He's absolutely terrified to come off his line and is when he does its usually the wrong decision.  We made him available for loan at the start of last season and there were no takers which I think speaks volumes really.

Either that or he had alot of offers and the club blocked every single one?

But why publicly make him available for loan....
In 13/14 he played about 10 games including a run of 5 or 6 in a row around February/March time which coincided with a dip in our form that resulted in the season fading away. Coincidence or not it still showed up his shortcomings.
He has no presence on the pitch when he plays which is key for a keeper. If the likes of Power really thought he was good enough they wouldn't have brought in a keeper who apparently 'has to play'. He's a useful backup that is all.

I have a suspicion JFW might be right here  :hmmm:

Harsh to compare him to Phil Smith. Smith had a consistent run with us when we had no other option and he proved to be a decent shot-stopper who nevertheless was glued to his line and fucked up accordingly.. Our style of play is completely different now, and I don't see why Belford should be completely written off because he's on the bench.

Phil Smith was pretty terrible but I love him for that inspired performance against Charlton in the Playoffs, probably the best goalkeeping display I've witnessed from a Swindon keeper.

I would say it's extremely harsh on Smith to compare him to Belford, I don't ever clearly remember Smith fucking up and he always looked like a better shot stopper to me than the frankly overrated Lucas. Smith played a blinder when we went down to 10 at Charlton and then was rewarded by being dropped for Wembley. Compare that to Belford who has zero presence in the box and against Colchester got beaten by a soft near post effort and a middle of the goal pea roller that he actually moved out of the way of. There really is no comparison with Smith for me.

First and foremost in the case of a goalkeeper regardless of 'playing style' a goalkeeper needs to actually be a good goalkeeper, which in my opinion Belford isn't. He may be a nice guy but if you include friendlies on top of the 20 odd games he has played I think it's enough to form an opinion that he's not of the required standard. Obviously Power knows best and chose to get an unproven premiership youngster in rather than have Belford as first choice. I just hope Vigs isn't the sacrificed loanee on Saturday to allow Thompson to play. Belford in goal with one of the youngsters on the bench is quite frankly a scary scenario in our current situation.

That'll be the goalie that's kept one clean sheet so far this season and has helped us to a magnificent 19th because he has such a presence on the pitch, never fucks up, catches ever cross like a proper goalkeeper.

I don't rate Belford very highly. As mentioned before, he's a nice guy but I just don't think he's the standard to ever nail down a No1 slot in a FL club. I agree with something that was also mentioned a few posts up.. he makes basic saves look spectacular which blindsides some people into thinking he's brilliant.

Just my humble opinion, then again I'm usually wrong about everything..

Belford is Griemink reincarnated.

Bart was alright to my eyes!

At the moment Belfour feels a little bit like Phil Smith, doesn't inspire confidence. But he has time to improve/prove us wrong.

The thought of either Vigs or Belford in goal scares me.

Vigs can make 4 or 5 blinding saves and then gift them a goal.

He's made the same amount of mistakes in a quarter of a season then Fod's did in 4.

We all knew Fods was a top top keeper but neither candidate to replace him are currently of the required standard.

My stand out moment for Bart was the posh away, the ball landed on the roof of the net and he wandered around the goal several times like a little lost lamb trying to work out how to get the ball back...
:headhurts:
That summed up his Town career for me....clueless.

I think he got lobbed from some 40 yards in the same game.

There is a joke there about Seamen too.

Exactly. Vigouroux is pretty damn ropey, Belford has yet to prove he's even remotely capable of being number 1 at this level.

Vigs is the lesser of two evils unfortunately. Still, neither of them are a patch on Mattia Lanzano.

We were never going to get a goalkeeper anywhere near Wes's standards. We got lucky with that one and I doubt we'll have anyone as good for a long, long time. Although he did go a bit shitter when Digby was his coach.

Lanzano, fuck me, that was a name I hoped never to hear again. Hereford at home. Never have I seen a worse performance from a goalkeeper.

As for belford he really isn't that shit. He's not had a half decent run in the first team. He's still young. He'll be a half decent lower league keeper one day. Vigs will probably be a championship one. But the hy re both still learning. Comparing to Wes is ridiculous as he was virtually the finished product after his first 6mths here.