Thetownend.com

This is my first match thread so surely that means a surprising 3 points?

Realistically a draw would be a fantastic result.

Rogers and kasim means another hammering. Back to back 5-1 ones anyone

Another loss, can't see anything but at the moment.

3-1 Swindon.  :toocool:

Is anyone going?

Martin Ling will be there.

Can see nothing but a loss but then I predicted a 2-1 win at Fleetwood.

Rodgers to put in an ironman performance; strong in the tackle, fast passes and penetrating runs.

Gladwin RWB? Can't be much worse than Barry there

Im going, 3-0 defeat

Anyone who is going tonight, especially if you don't have a season ticket, has my utmost respect.

For some strange reason I can see us getting a win. Not a convincing one, but maybe a 2-1.

I predict our worst ever home defeat.

3-1 Walsall.

The boo boys will have a field day.

that spot should be Brophy's at this point in time, imo.

call me unrealistic, but I'm going for 2-2

I will boo even if we're winning just to keep them motivated. Don't want them slacking and thinking they are un-boo-able.

Play your best players in the positions they have the most effect.

Robert and Louis for Kasim and Rodgers. Belford for Vigouroux, because he literaly can't do worse and we need the loan spot.

That's the most optimistic thing anyone's said in a matchday thread in ages.

Have you not just been hypocritical? No way Robert is a holding midfielder

agree it needs doing for the sake of the midfield, disagree he can't do worse.

Have we got any 'best' players?

Get a real stuffing tonight. A bit of effort would be nice, maybe a tackle or 2.

Who am I kidding with our gutless wonders!

 After Saturday's debacle, there has to a response...that may not be enough to get anything, but there are acceptable ways of losing.  If there is no response, then we're well and truly fucked.

We don't need to play two holding midfielders, and some would say we haven't all season. Robert and Gladwin ahead of LT literally can't be worse defensively than we've been. LT is a better, or at least more interested, option than Rodgers and Kasim combined and we might get a bit of forward momentum too.

I see ASD has tweeted today that Power has already blocked some changes Ling wanted to make.  This isnt going to end well.

He said he's been led to believe. Not sure to what extend he'd been blocked. Either way it's not particularly pleasant to hear. Can we borrow Bournemouth's Russian?

ASD doesn't exactly have a great track record of accuracy. It may be true but until verified by a more reliable source, I'd take it with a pinch of salt.

If true, I dont think Ling will be here come xmas tbh, i think this was one of the reasons he left cambridge the first time due to not getting on with the chairman

This could be a very long evening I fear if they play anything like they did on Saturday

I've no idea who ASD is, but whenever his predictions pop up, they seem to be sub Chang in terms of reliabilty. However we know that Power has an input into things....and we know Lingy would have been prepared to accept this on taking the job.

It's not like he wouldn't have been aware of how things work surely? He even alluded to it in his interviews.

It's all bullshit.

Im going tonight on the parents season tickets which include all hospitality.  Given the way were playing I hope the food is good.

Gotta have something to look forward to.

It makes a more interesting story than, 'Ling and Power in strong unity'.

Louis has to play tonight and I couldn't give a stuff who's in goal tonight, it's just different shades of calamitous.

Walsall is twinned with Amritsar in India.

The name Walsall is actually derived from the word 'Welsh' beacuse so many taffy apples moved there. Therefore the 547 Saddlers' fans will reply in the affirmative when we sing: 'you're Welsh and you know you are'.

3-2 to Town in an absolute belter of a game under lights. Total attendance:7,014.

Swindon has a link to Torun in Poland these days.....Div 3 football club and keen on Speedway. These would seem to be the only similarities, oh apart from loads of Poles.

Nicholas Copernicus was born in Torun....which is interesting.

0-2

Me.

1-4.

6500

Be very surprised if over 6800 there tonight, what time does the legends bar open?

This mixed in with the fact we are still paying for the refugees welcome flag fiasco almost certainly means we are headed for a 9-0 defeat tonight.  If we play above our potential we may keep it down to 7 or 8.

Its not

Vigs has to play tonight. He has made the odd error but he can actually stop shots as opposed to moving out of the way of the ball like Belford. I would drop El-Abd or Turnbull to accommodate Louis. Would like to see Wes and Obika up top with Gladwin just behind. Bring on Ajose when the opposition get tired. Should be a respectable following from Walsall given their current league position. Would expect at least 500 saddlers. I think we will battle but be undone by their quality. 3-1 loss

Back four then?

Not sure what to do with the back line. I would probably play Brophy left-back with Branco and El-Abd/Turnbull CB...would maybe put BOO at RB or put Brophy there with BOO at LB. I think we just need to shuffle our pack so that Barry isn't playing.

There's some large bins back of the CG.....

I don't think the whole back line are the problem....Barry is the clear weak link and when you have players like Rodgers and a half-arsed Kasim "protecting" the back line you will always be under presssure.

2-0 Rodgers and Kasim.
Just because Town haven't made me question the fabric of existence for at least a few weeks now.

I was planning on going to this, but a combination of an early start for work tomorrow, the 3 hour round trip and a general lessening of interest has changed my mind.

(Well, the above and also the fact that we are very, very shit).

Just been told walsall have won 5, drawn 3 and lost 0 of their 8 away games in the league so far conceding only 6. Excellent

I think we have a chance if Traore can play and is fully fit, plus Rodgers and Kasim out.

Traore definatelly out    :cry:

We never beat Walsall at home, probably not since Coxys wonder goal v them. Diehards only tonight. Only way we will get over 6k is if Walsall bring a fair few. Louis T gotta be in there. Has to be worth giving Robert more than 15/20 minutes in his best position just behind forwards. Time for weak links Boo,Barry,Rodgers and sadly the once magnificent Yaser Kasim to be rested. So for me go 3-5-2 and try Gladders at wing back with Brophy on other wing. Might go horribly wrong but can't be worse than the  alternative. And why not give Jordan Stewart a spot on the bench rather than Balmy or Ojaama- again can't be less effective. What has happened to Tom Smith? Rather have him on bench than Rodgers

And Marshall and Randall. Both were regular benchers last season -not a sign this season. Both of them are better than some of the shite presently parking their butts on the bench. 

And no sign of Jordan Stewart - the only player we paid cash for - and it all seems very strange.

Tom Smith played a development game against Brighton today, so not a chance of him being involved I'd have thought. Not quite sure who else played.

if I hadn't promised to take my mum to the match (yeah, sad, I know) if probably bin this. not sure I've ever felt like that before, straight after a defeat yes, but not the day of a game.

it's not like we haven't been shit before. and call me mad, I don't think tonight's match is a forgone loss either.

oh well , proper game before the tedious trip to old Trafford tomorrow I suppose.

I think we will win 2-0 coyr

I knew you would see the light

Bollocks - forgot we were playing tonight. Here's hoping for a sudden plunge in temperature and postponement due to a frozen pitch.

I'd rather get on and get it over with like a vasectomy, but with more cocks.

I'm going to be optimistic and go for a 4-0 home defeat.

Id rather have people at the ground and booing rather than people staying at home. That's going to hurt the club more than any booing. I think we are going to get beat tonight but let's hope they find some pride somewhere. I'm sure that most of these new players were on 1year deals so there is hope that if we survive this year power will have learnt his lesson. When we sign a player that could not get into a league two side it was always going to be poor.

Well Rodgers has a two year deal!

First the first time in many years I didn't get a season ticket. Call me stupid, idiotic or simply delusional but I still went and spent £23 on a ticket for tonight. Even though I cant bear to see the horrors that unfold in front of our eyes when watching town this season, I still cant seem to stay away! Anyway I would love to be optimistic and say we will shock the nation and get an unexpected win but reality kicks in and a draw would be an amazing result. Predict optimistically 1-1!

and that's a lot of free kicks to take between now and then.

Rodgers dropped at last!

Vigouroux; El-Abd, Branco (C), Turnbull; Barry, Thompson L, Kasim, Gladwin, Ormonde-Ottewill; Obika, Ajose

Subs: Belford, Brophy, Rodgers, Robert, Ojamaa, Randall, Hylton 

 :beers:
Hallelujah

Amen, brother.

it's a surprise there is no Thomas. I'd have thought vigs would be dropped.

To be fair Kasim struggled to get into Macclesfield's side. Although he has been shite this year you can't deny how good he can be.

Thank God Rodgers has been dropped. Ling has passed the first test...He appears to have opted for defensive stability at the expense of including Thomas. Let's hope we put a shift in....currently having my pre match anaesthetic in the Savoy...maybe it won't be needed.

I don't think so. From the 6 loanees of which one must be dropped, I think he probably has the most capable replacement in Obika.

ASD believes there is a clause in his contract that he has to play. He didnt play at Newport, was on the bench there and didnt come on so i dont know how true that is

He can be good. But for half a season max. It's easy to see why he has never been a success at any of the previous clubs he's been at. His attitude stinks.

I am hoping to god we win, but I can see a Bradshaw hat-trick.

Vigs did play against Oxford at the expense of Belford in the same competition. So suggests either they rate Vigs or don't trust Belford in meaningful games if we don't have to. Happened the other season in the JPT where Belford was played in the early rounds and Wes was put in for the semi against Peterborough. I think the club just see Belford as a cheap backup that takes away the risk of a nervous teenager being thrown into the mix.

Oh no not again!

1-0!

1 - 0 to Town!

And I just shouted "YES! COME ON YOU FUCKING REDS!" really loud. Neighbours banged on the wall.

Bad ass!

Don't ya just love football, until you hate it again, but then you get to love it again, for a while.

Novel feeling.  I like it.

Looked well offside to me. Maybe the bit of luck we need.

Sounds like we're more than slightly on the back foot. Great effort to be ahead with 9 men and no wing backs though.

Oh how dickensian. Will bring a tear to Reg's glass eye.

What we need now is 5-10 minutes of that sideways passing that so many moan about.

got to be honest, they're better than us. frankly i don't care.

From my vantage point near the back of the Arkells I have been reasonably impressed with our high press, particularly before we went ahead. Barry hasn't done too badly. Too many misplaced passes from us though. A couple of shocking ones from Branco. Louis made a few good runs but no end product. Walsall have an air of danger about them. We know what they are capable of..

Not really sure how we're winning, but I'm not going to argue.

Kasim is an absolute waste of space.  Keeps giving the ball away and won't put a tackle in. I don't think I've ever seen such obvious disinterest from a Swindon player.  I'm starting to really dislike him.

Still fully expect us to lose, but it's nice to be ahead.

Man in front asked my mate what colour Swindon are playing in at the start of the match. Odd

His head's not right.  I'm struggling to think of another player whose form has deteriorated as much over 12 months.  This time last year, he was outstanding.

Ditto that with kasim he has been poor, too many loose passes from here. Again a lot of their threat has come from where we have needless have the ball away. Happy to be winning at the mo. Obika been doing great winning the headers but ajose not really picking up the flicks. Obika has been the best red so far and Thompson has been good when he has been positive and ran forward with the ball.

Not sure how Kasim is getting stick ahead of Gladwin. Haven't noticed anything from Gladys except dwelling on the ball and losing. Robert on for him as soon as please.

Kasims looked as interested as he has done all season. He's even challenged for headers, which I have to say he doesn't usually and is a nice change from Rogers standing with his thumb in his ass. His passings been poor, but so has everyone's. Just people looking to confirm their own pre conceived ideas

Why did Gladwin have to change shorts in the first half? Has he got the runs and pulled a Gary Lineker or something?

Would explain his sluggishness today...

The Twitter feed is comical. Walsall chance, chance, chance, chance, chance... town goal (offside), Walsall pen (should've been), Walsall chance, chance, chance, chance.... Football is great isn't it.

Gladwin on a yellow now. Can't risk him, especially when we're tracking back so much

That equaliser's been coming.

Balls

It was only a matter of time.  They're winning every 50/50 ball.

Buried my head in my hands with that. The neighbours are going to be around having a go if we score a late winner.

Just over 6,000 home fans there tonight. Power won't be happy.

Thats a good crowd to be honest

@ardiles : biggest decline in player before yasser : Jonathan Douglas

Clinging on  :doh:

This is intense.

You know they are better than us don't you.

BOOM

Fucking lolz

2-1!!!

YES!

cunt.  ;)

King Louis!!!!

Never in doubt!

I'd better go see to those neighbours. It was kind of gibberished cheers coming from me this time.

Scott Cuthbert pre and post Greer. I thought he'd end up a Premiership defender the first season he was here.

As always our game is one of the last to finish

JP McGovern the year after he'd got himself a contract renewal.

5 on Swindon to win and both teams to score :)

shit game, we were crap. who cares!!!

If only I'd put my money where my mouth was!

I'll take a few more like that.

Football, what a sport

Are we going up now then?

Yes

Funny old game.

Well done, Lingy.  Two wins from three in the League.  We'd all have taken that.

FUCK YEAH!

Very well taken goal by Thompson.

Ling interview:
Commenting on the teamtalk after the game, Ling says:
'The Chairman's just said in there....'

So, Power in the dressing room after the game.

Don't know how we won that, great winning goal and effort was there to see from most (Kasim and Gladwin) aside today. Louis and Robert HAVE to start on Saturday

The cretins that booed Rodgers coming onto the pitch can fuck right off. Yes he's been shit but booing him as he's coming on just as we have scored? Morons.

Well, good job Ling didn't listen to those who wanted Vig dropped. Made numerous stops this evening and my MoM.

Only blot - Branco suspended for Chesterfield

love you to :-)

papering over the cracks - we are still shit. We got lucky, id rather a good performance than a win tonight, but I'll take it, they've got some fucking work to do.

Is that a blot? ;)

are you lee power?

fuck that, we need points.

absolute car crash of a season- will bite your hand off today if you offered me 52 points with hoofball.

Ha. Never deserved the win, but fucking get in. Great finish from Louis.
Our first goal looked about 5 yards offside, can't wait to see the replay.

Won £60 on a bet too now back home with a bottle of wine.

 :beers: Cheers!

Edit: Just seen the replay for the first goal, he's a yard onside when the ball was played in!

Playing badly and winning is championship winning form. Great stuff

A win is a good performance....we badly needed a response after Saturday and got one. Of course still a long way to go, but signs are that the penny has dropped that we'l get nowhere without some ugly stuff.

Well that was a steal, but we would've taken that.

Just how crap does Betty BOO have to be to be taken off. He didn't take their full back on once all game and lost the ball every single time.

Well, if I was a Walsall fan I'd be pissed off but I'm not, so  :smugfu:

Any news on whether Thompson went off with cramp or injury?

I was pleased we mixed it up a bit today and went long when we needed to (never thought I'd say that). Great goal by Louis. I thought Ajose and Obika linked up well. Barry looks much more at home going forward. Maybe he is more of a winger. That shot he hit was a pretty sweet strike; great technique. Few hairy moments from Branco but he was good in the air and played okay overall. I don't know why people moan about Kasim, I thought he played reasonably well.

Lings done well to get 2 wins out of the 3 league games he's played. If we can grind out a few wins this way maybe we can start seeing something resembling last season. A lot of work to do still.

And I don't give a fuck if we deserved it or not. I've seen us lose when we've dominated more than my fair share of times.

Thought he was decent enough tonight as well. Problem is a lot a people had already decided he played crap tonight before he even set foot on the pitch

He hasn't reached the form of early last season but I feel he still has quality and he offers more than someone like Rodgers. BOO was poor. I would like to see Brophy start on Sat.

He lost every 50/50, his passing was wayward when he got the ball and he didnt protect the back 3 in my eyes but Gladwin was worse tonight

Most players are off colour at the moment but I thought Kasim showed the odd moment of class. Gladwin was pretty poor tonight. He might have to make way for Robert. I would like to see Wes in the squad but on tonight's performance I think it would be hard to break up the Obika/Ajose combo.

Losing 50/50's and wayward passing can be attributed to form. Jason has NEVER protected the back four in all the time he's been here, it's the main reason he's effective in a 3 man midfield and lost in 2

Kasim is the shadow of his former self, was a passenger tonight I thought, as he has been in most games recently.
Possibly disinterested, maybe he was expecting a big move in the summer like his buddies, maybe the current midfielders don't compliment his style of play, but he's struggling currently.

We have too many lightweight players that don't put in enough fight/effort. BOO, Barry & Rodgers shouldn't be anywhere near the first XI, but due to lack of other options, they are.

El Abd was poor tonight, but I still like his effort and spirit and would like to see him signed permanently in January.

Will be interesting to see what happens in January as we clearly need decent full/wing backs playing this system.

Oh i agree it can be attributed to form, it's just his body language at times that's frustrating (might have been like that last year I dont know) as when he does mess up, theres no drive to make up for it.

Still a lot of work to do overall, on another day Walsall could have scored a few with the amount of free headers/possession we gave them just outside our box.

Lovely three points though, hopefully they can kick on this weekend unlike at Fleetwood

Blimey, everyone has different views.  Thought Boo played well!  Closed down well and worked hard but not the most effective going forward.  Barry was also decent.  Gladwin was shit.  He seems to have come back thinking he's the man, but he's not.  Chris Waddle got away with strolling round the pitch as he had true class.  Gladwin just thinks he's a cut above.

Walsall look a very good unit.  That lad up front is a nuisance and a diver.  Left back looked very classy but was also a diver (though we did help him by fouling him a lot)

Referee was bizarre.Held things up a huge amount, forced players to move the ball back 20 yards from where fould had taken place, stopped all momentum. But I guess we should be glad that he didn't listen every time Bradshaw decided he'd been fouled.  Just most times.

We're still not good.  We were playing direct.  Weird to see but it almost came off.  One flick on from Obika to Ajose was only stopped by the keeper taking the ball and man at the same time.

Thoroughly enjoyed it in the sponsors lounge.  One for the oldies but Joe Butler who played for town 350 times was on our table.  The wife was talking tactics to him without knowing that he may just know what he's on about! 

Tonight's result makes up for the Port Vale 2-2 at home when Jordan Williams gave away that penalty for handball in injury time. Not holding on for the draw against Oldham still looks expensive at the moment. Need to push on and get some clean sheets now.

Who's Jason?

Surely even you can work out that's autocorrect for Kasim? :)

Of course  ;)

Out of the bottom four now.

Yaser is Arabic for Jason you tool

On some strange esoteric goal difference calculation?

But yes, it's kinda progress. I'm waiting for Reg to give us an update on a similar position in the 196x/196x season where we went on to win the league...

 :lovestruck: :loverletter: Let's be cunt brothers.

If there's a team you want to face in hope of building momentum at the moment it's Chesterfield. Seem a complete shambles on and off the pitch and we have a great chance of going there and returning with 3 points. Obviously we're not great ourselves but the lads should have gained confidence from grinding out a win tonight.

COYR.

True. I like the optimism, I also hold the same feelings... But I felt that way about Fleetwood, and look what happened!  :no:

Agree but they handed Millwall only their second away defeat of the season tonight so maybe they aren't as bad as their position suggests. I'm refusing to believe this will be another post play-off final car crash of a season! Think we'll end up around 14th.

I'd happily take a bad season of transition this year, and then restart with lessons learned and hopefully shoot for the top 10 next season. We may also be able to pull the double on the Pox if they go up and we've learned anything.

Good 3 points.

Branco different class.

Kasim a shadow of his old self. Again.

Thompson gave us the best outlet since Byrne left and made one heck of a difference.

Walsall will be sick.

Lings comment about him rather being a lucky manager than a losing / good manager, was class.

Who had a pop at Don Rogers up in the arkells tonight and why?

I know we were battered, but how did we defend last night?

Defensively we were poor, Branco was the better of the 3 but Turnbull was way off of the pace & El Abd gave the ball away countless times.

They seemed nervous and the midfield offered them little protection.

Vigs made some important saves but if Walsall had their shooting boots on 8 times out of 10 they win that game.

Obika was superb in the air, such a shame Ajose failed to read the flick on 9 times out of 10.

I decided to relinquish the chance of more beer and a slap up dinner in the smoke and got the train back.

Glad I did.

The team sheet text came through and Rodgers being finally dropped lifted my spirits.

Mugged em....plain and simple.

I thought we did ok until the goal.

What is it with us? If we concede or indeed score, we go to rat shit.

Walsall were very very good and there was only going to be one winner after they equalised.

The leveller was a show of determination and strength, something that is missing from our game. For all the silly fouls we gave away, that was the oppo to take one for the team and we missed it.

Cracking goal from Louis and maybe the dreadful luck we have had so far this season is about to change.

Need to sign a ball winner midfielder as soon as possible...

Hope is still intact...

Desperate and last ditch at times.

Exposed by a weak midfield being breached countless times.

If that french bloke is not even considered, is he as bad as the other options?

Sky highlights

http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/10077901/swindon-2-1-walsall

Defensively we were shocking, all over the pitch and Vigs kept us in the game.

Obika and Ajose worked hard and did as decent job as they could. Barry seems to be getting better with each game which is more than can be said of BO-O who seems to be a shadow since he joined.

I recall Gladwin making three challenges last night and he even went in and crunched/fouled a player. At least he's getting more stuck in. The problem is we're relying on him to do everything. I'd like to see Gladwin and Robert in midfield at the same time at home. Now that teams refuse to sit back against us because we're shit, without anything going forward we just give the ball back.

Sadly we didn't win a league in the 60's, nearest being 68/69, when we were pipped by Watford on goal average, goal difference would have had the same outcome.

GA was obtained by dividing goals scored by goals conceded....as standards of mental arithmetic plunged from the 50's and 60's, into the 70's, GA was abandoned in 76, for the simpler goal difference.

More importantly, we're 4 points better off now than 05/06....at this stage of the season in a relegation battle, you don't want to start getting detached from the rest, so we're  doing the needful of hanging on in there for now.

What? You do realise we're in a relegation battle, and one that we don't look favourites to win....?

you're joking aren't you?

gladwin was hopeless last night, he made himself smaller every time he jumped for the ball.

You point out 3 tackles, I remember the "cruncher", I'll have to take your word on the other 2. But I can offer 20 that he simply didn't make and let his man past, or bottled.  The crown jewel was when he lost a ball 3 feet from him to a man 20 feet away.

He is what he is, normally you get good forward play from him on occasion. Last night you didn't, he was the worst player on the pitch for me and it was no surprise he got subbed off.

Bangoura? He should never be considered, or seen, again. Him and Balmy on the same pitch at Millwall was a true low point.

I thought yesterday was a good insight into why the philosophy isn't working this year: the majority of the players are not very good at passing. Crucially, there's no ball player in defence at the moment, in the absence of Stephens and Nathan T.

The fact that Branco is now the back-line's playmaker elect says everything.

Despite the generally poor performance, I was quite glad to see a more pragmatic style, against a team who were clearly better than us in every department except finishing. I think that's what's needed to stay out of the relegation zone.

Confidence still looks shot however. As soon as we got a goal, Walsall looked like a team who knew they were going to score, and Swindon like a team who knew they were going to concede.

The point I'm making is that he made 3 more tackles than normal, even though he didn't play well. It's a small positive because he NEVER tackles normally.

Gladwin's always been a luxury player as you point out. No use making him a scapegoat. Plus he did more than BO-O did all game.

I'd agree with the vast majority of what Bruce said there. The players we have can't operate in the same small spaces that Mass and Byrne could. They can't hold the ball to create underloads and so free a man on the flank to go around a line.

As for Branco - a player with terrible decision making in the position which decision making is everything.

Was anyone else happy to hear that Branco is suspended this Saturday?  :D

that wasn't my intention, I'd start him because of goal threat. don't think you can play him and Robert together though.

well have to disagree on the rest because I thought that was comfortably his worst (home)  performance since returning and he was more ineffective than even boo!

no. because the alternative is.. oh wait, perhaps will go to a flat back 4.

Branco I can't fault for his determination, effort and on many occasion his application.

but he does try and foul the opposition a lot. and is prone to the odd error of judgement.

Not really as I assume we now need to change formation again as we only have 2 CB's for Saturday?

It wasn't specific to you but people are making him a scapegoat. Bit like they've done with Vigouroux prior to last night.

Adam El-Abd might be as he is lost on the side of a back 3 but no. Branco is messy, clumsy player but pretty much all of our current back three are.

Glad somebody else noticed that. El-Abd was woeful on the right side of a back 3. Branco should play there & El-Abd should be through the middle with JT on the left, assuming we play a 3.

The scapegoaters, are in their element this season...spoilt for choice.

However the crowd last night stood up quite well in terms of numbers, given the historical level of shitness...

Won dirty, worked hard, great result. If this isn't a false fawn maybe just perhaps we'll escape relegation.

The trouble is our team is playing so awful that any slight success endured by one of our players can sway someone's opinion whether someone played well or not.  For what it's worth I thought boo was not that bad and there were a few times that he was in a good position and didn't get the ball. Gladwin was defo under pa. Kasim was willing but seemed unable carry off his intended passes. Barry to me looked awful and looks out of his depth. The strike he made bought me by total surprise as I never thought he had anything like that in him. Branco did well in the air but looks vulnerable when the ball is on the floor. Rogers when he came on annoyed me pointing st every one and everywhere without really organising a lot and picking anyone up himself. It was a bad reaction from the crowd when he came on but I was more annoyed by the low attendance. If people want an even more shite team that's the way to do as power will make sure he does not lose out. Louis t was decent and made some good runs but for me obi was the best player for us won a load of flic ons, score one and was the best at holding the ball up. Ajose just needs to read the flic ins better.  Over the display I believe won't change much as we just have some many players that are just not ready and need to develop more I.e Barry. Without a change of personnel things won't improve a great deal. I'm hopeful of avoiding relegation though.

There does seem to be alot of love for Branco at the moment and the only reasons I can see are;

- He did one on Flint
- He likes to give it large to referee's
- He jumps around alot when we win
- He shows more passion than most of the current squad put together

Other than his passion he is a pretty average defender who was 4th\5th choice last season.

The fact he has been one of our best players this season says alot about the current crop of players we have.

Agree with this and this won't change in the near term. A big clear out is needed keeping only a few of the fringe players who show the best signs of improvement and some relatively experienced players brought in on pramanent deals. Combine that with a few loans. If we can get 7100 average attendance our budget must surely allow for that. No good keep buying £1 scratch cards and expecting to win a million it ain't goin to happen.

 :iloveyou:

If you booed Rodgers, you're a cunt.

If you booed BOO you're alright though.

This. As much as I don't rate the guy I was amazed by the negative reaction when he came on. It achieves fuck all.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4c/Boo-Boo_Bear.png)

That was a crazy game. Landed at Gatwick at 17:30 and made the second half in the Town End. Looked like a good performance from the defence even though they had almost no midfield in front of them. It seemed that after Obika scored we lost all midfield until Louis popped up with a winner.

Highlight for me was the use of belting the ball up to a physically strong striker in Obika was used more than passing it out to Branco.

Very much worth it!

Our current style of play is not the 'Swindon way' of short passing that Power kept bleating on about and hinted that it was one of the reasons Cooper was fired.

So now Ling is not doing the short passing game will he get fired in a few weeks to or has Power realized that we just cant play that way with the current prop of players, and allowed Ling to change things.

Awful, I don't rate him but I would never boo or a cheer a sub (in a negative way)

Poor bloke, I imagine his confidence is now at rock bottom.

He's not at the standard to start every game but he won us a few points in the early part of the season and is okay as a squad player.

Booing him is mind boggling from supposed fans.

Football league highlights

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XNMJ6dvfIhc

More evidence in this one of Warsaw's dominance

Agree with wrong to abuse Rodgers. We complain about a lack of fight from players but players are hardly going to want to fight for the fans if they get booed. Creates disharmony between players and fans

Wonderful goal from Louis. Classic example of Spurs type pressing,
but also having the guts to drive forward and try to score, rather than pass responsibiity sideways.

Wish he cud stay and be captain !

From the noise I heard it was a fairly large group of the supporters. I didn't boo but ffs he is woeful at the mo. I just put my head in my hands and thought well at least it will waste a few seconds during the game. Honestly just watch him closely. Flipping pointing everywhere, I'm not even sure if he knows what he is pointing at. Seems to be just trying to look busy. Also there were plenty of people who didn't boo him and he was the first to turn his back and walk up the tunnel after the game without clapping the supporters. It works both ways. Supporters can be criticised for booing him so why on the other hand can he not be bothered and clap the majority that didn't boo him.

But it doesn't really matter what any player's skill level is, the least they can do is get stuck in a bit.

He doesn't even do that

I don't think all of our criticized players are as bad as some make out.

Both BOO and Barry are you kids, developing their skills. BOO in particular was running around like a loon last night. Probably did more closing down than the rest of the team combined. Barry was OK. Far from the liability some think he is.

Gladwyn was off his game and Kasim was average for him.

I think the Beeks/ Ajose pairing has potential. Pity that a lot of Beeks nod ons went away from Ajose.

I didn't boo Rogers and wouldn't in the circumstances he faced (oncoming sub) but I do give him some stick when he deserves it during play. He is the player that grips my shit the most at the moment.

Our midfield, though better last night, still left the back line very exposed, a trait we need to deal with. Walsall seemed to have acres of space. Balls to feet with no one hassling the receiving player. Frustrating.

Still 3 points is 3 points and I don't give a fuck that Walsall were better on the night. How often in the past have we slipped up against inferior opposition?

You could go in circles forever with that argument but my opinion remains the same: you don't boo your own team unless you're a complete weapon, end of story.

This whole "he doesn't clap" thing was brought up with Cooper - am I the only one that doesn't give a shit? I mean people were kicking off at one point about the fact that Jed never wore a tie - there were, and there are bigger problems than these token gestures.

The point is, booing achieves nothing other than knocking confidence. That's it - it's not going to spur them on to do better, it's not going to turn him into Ronaldo. It's going to satisfy someone's fat gob for 30 seconds but the fact is no one works to their full potential under constant negativity and criticism.

I'm not saying players who don't give their all should be absolved from negativity but booing the man before he's even got on the pitch? That's bullshit and there's no excuse. I don't care if he claps me or kicks me in the tits, the point of me supporting Swindon is that I actually support them, not get on their back before a sodding ball is kicked.

I don't know about that, personally I would clap fans especially at an away game to thank them for their support (or sometimes lack of it) given that they've travelled to see you play. Takes 1 minute out of their life and just sends a positive message to the fans.

They are men not children. If someone can't take some criticism then they are not going to be very good for our current situation.

Agree with this totally.

I specifically said they shouldn't be absolved from criticism. I'm pretty sure they can take criticism. The point is people booing and being constantly negative isn't productive. It's just stupid.

I can see why clapping can be significant to some, it just isn't to me personally. It's a 4 hour round trip for me to watch Town at home and I've never wanted my arse kissed for the fact I've travelled. As long as they try hard on the pitch I'm not bothered whether they clap on the way to the dugout or flip me off. Just me perhaps.

Fucking hell we have some needy soles as supporter don't we

Yeah. Those fucking flat fish are high maintenance!

Happy to mutter 'for fucks sake' when he came on but don't like booing individuals.

So does not putting in a shift! And he's fucking guilty of that many times.

I don't agree with booing but you don't put lard round a pigs arse....it cuts both ways.

Agreed, they love all the joy when they win/score and then sulk when they play shit and fans let them know about it.

How would you like 7,000 people (okay 6,000) muttering "FFS" as you arrived at the office or started your job everyday?

Be sanctimonious like me and roll your eyes (inaudibly) at crap play or lack of interest.

Getting on a player's back may even have a negative impact on his teammates who probably feel uncomfortable with such treatment being dished out to a team member with whom they likely have a strong bond.

Fans should support whereas spectators and especially "customers" can feel "entitled" and behave as they like.

Four hour round trip for me, too...where are you travelling from?

I used to see the Grimsby lot on my way home quite often...they had another two hours after me...mad!

As a sales a manger I'm pretty thick skinned, so would shrug it off.

As a professional footballer drawing my money from the people muttering, I would probably up my fucking game to prove them wrong.

It's ok though, I doubt he heard me as I was in the TE and only two people around me heard it, whereas the booing was pretty loud.

Walsall are us last year aren't they? Pretty football, complete domination, fuck up at the back and lose to a shit team at the bottom.

Are you Italian?

When do you like your arse kissed then?

Just out of interest like.

What is it with arses on the 25th November? National Buttock Attention Day?

Arthur Frampton day!

This except the word pretty.
Boring is more apt.
Plus all those attempts by Walsall and very few on target. Shyte.

BOO and Barry just aren't good enough at the moment for the roles they've been asked to play. They're stuck in no man's land, neither defending solidly nor supporting attacks enough (BOO especially doesn't try to get round a defender or get an early cross in). They can close down opponents but don't seem capable of tackling. Their lack of defending is causing the wide central defenders to cover the full-back positions. Turnbull's booking was a result of this last night. It is not for want of effort, they are just not wing-backs. As has already been stated, the only blessing to Branco's suspension is that we'll get to see if we can defend better as a unit with a more traditional defensive four. Unfortunately, I don't think BOO and Barry are currently good enough for third division football. I hope they succeed though.

South Wales.. One of the few places I can think of more grim than Grimsby! Still quite a few mentals die hards round here too though, we do spread ourselves about a bit us Town fans (oo er)



This, totally. There's a time and a place for this irrational whingy bollocks.. And it's usually post match in the pub.

Tom Bassam in the Advertiser quite rightly criticising fans booing Rodgers but then goes on to describe Balmy as a 'back combed buffoon'

I  think that was the washbag bloke that said that comment wasn't it?

I stand erected

Well, on the booing front, Old Trafford wasn't a sea of happiness last night. 90% of football fans are the same once it comes to putting them in the same position as our own.

Poor old sideshow Balmy, the classic panic signing.

Booing the team off at the end of the game after a particularly inept performance doesn't seem as bad as booing a player as he comes on to the pitch.

It would be similar to booing him as the team was read out before the game

Is Balmy really that bad?? On the odd occasion I've seen him in home games he's actually injected a bit of pace & directness into the play.

Yes. Released by Oxford, both Utd and City.... Woeful, and him and Bangoura on the same pitch at Millwall is a low point in my STFC career.

Probably sums up Power's dreadful recruitment for this season. God knows what he was thinking there.

which has happened numerous times at the county ground. Pook, Hewlett, Howe, Duke, Pericard, etc etc...

Says so much that Balmy had been left go from his trial, then called back at short notice - seemingly because nothing else was going through. He really should be behind Marshall and perhaps Tom Smith (haven't seen enough of him yet).

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned but Balmy was released by teams worse than us and is shit.

What's happened to Bangoura out of interest?..

Being given a free

Because of the tackle on Obika in training?

Or because he's shit?

I honestly think that Pook, Howe, or Hewlett would improve our midfield. And Duke at LWB.

Wouldn't fit in our midfield then, not if he tackled somebody

Touché..

Has he genuinely been given a free?