Thetownend.com

Fringe players expected to be fielded.

2-0 'dale.

if Luke Warm doesn't know all he needs to know about the fringe players, then he's in the wrong job. 4 0 drubbing to the Dale.

Hear Jamie Calvin is in the squad today. As a centre back none the less

(http://cdn.meme.am/instances/50480207.jpg)

To be fair, we've done this during the last couple of games for three seasons in a row now (for various reasons).

Town win as we prepare to lose Ajose and Kasim... Didn't see that coming!

Knowing our luck, someone will kick up a fuss for fielding a weakened side when Rochdale are still going for the play offs. It would be just our luck if Rochdale sneaked in and won them.

I sense a battling 2-1 loss.

Pre match end of term feeling in The Regal Moon.

The seats on Metrolink trams are not pile friendly.

Well, last leg of a 3,500 mile piss up.

Looking forward to a footballing detox for a couple of months, then a lot of the same old places again come August.

Away day highlight, err, probably the equalizer at Sheffield.

Hall of shame, Millwall and Scunthorpe.

Best pub crawl, Oxford city centre.

Worst journey, return from Scunthorpe.
Proof that one full trainload can transfer onto another full train.
Proper cattle truck experience.

As for today, another clean sheet and Doughty & Obika for 2-0.

 :)

Hopefully Lukey won't tinker too much as our unbeaten league record at Spotland is on the line.

Ha ha. That's just negativity for negativity's sake.

I have a 100% record for thread starting this season.

2-2 today.

I'm in Rochdale, think we will lose 3-1 if we go with fringe players

Henry, Ormonde-Ottewill, Branco, Thompson N (C), Turnbull, Brophy, Rodgers, Thompson L, Doughty, Ajose, Obika

Subs: Sendles-White, Iandolo, Evans, Balmy, Cooke, Young, Twine

I AM OUTRAGED!  WHERE'S AGOMBAR!

No sub keeper

Presume Kean can't play? Good luck to Henry. Is he a youth teamer and a debut for him?

I assumed that was Twine based on the fact I've never heard of him

Scott Twine is a striker.

Here is a goal he sccored last year...

http://vimeo.com/113861232

Good finish that. Hope Henry does well

Hope he 'hoovers' up all  the crosses!

(http://funnypicturesplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/i-see-what-you-did-there-baby-meme.jpg):D

Blimey, LA Woman by The Doors.
Makes a refreshing change from the bland pre match shite we have to put up with.

Hope he's not too ropey and can string a pass together

Little surprised (sort of) with the team selection:

No Kasim: Story about him going. But that is equally the same for Ajose and Obika. Should we read into that that Kasim is the only one of the three leaving?

L Thompson, Doughty & Turnbull: Loanees playing when we have the opportunity to play our own players? Does that signal they'll be back?

Sendles-White: On the bench again at the end of his deal. Does that suggest he won't be resigned?

Hylton: Not there. Is that the end of him too?

Somebody had to fill the vacuum anyway.

Strange!

Somebody mentioned Luke wanted to get a GK from Brighton today but El Presidente told him to play Henry. Fair enough, I suppose?

And still Jordan Stewart can't get a look in.

We aint got no more keepers - unless he plunders the U12s

Sucker.

Pretty sure Turnbull has to play as part of the loan?

Blimey

Christ that was early.

Hopefully that'll shut up the fucking drummer.

Fuck me we're actually doing alright and winning

Rochdale so embarrased that they have pulled the live feed!

Yawn. This is sooooo dull!

Thompson that was fucking shite

Oh dear Penalty against Nathan Thompson.
Saved and hit wide!

Great save that

Another Town keeper saves a penalty on his debut.

That will help the lads confidence no end.

Great save by Henry.

Fantastic save by henry! Henry for engerrrrland!

Will Henry ...he used to play for City but he's alright now!

2-0???? wtf

2??!?!

Hahahaha

Make that 2-1 ha.

2-1

Sounds entertaining so far.

Decent game, should be level tbh but we've looked ok going forward. Henry made 2/3 good saves

Louis sent off.

Idiotic, Louis.

Sounds like Nathan was lucky not to concede another penalty.

He's still excited after scoring only his second Town goal...

Bugger its 2-2 now.

2-2.

BOO off too. Violent conduct. Twat.

Fucking idiot.

I'd bin him off at the end of the season.  There's much better players out there.

After "bong-gate" that may well happen.

To be fair, Grant Holt is a shit stirring cunt.

Unfortunately, I think we gave him a 2 year deal...

Good result up there with 9 men, well done Henry.

Nice committed performance all round, I like it

What a battle, well done Town.

I would of nailed Holt after that....

Rochdale Record INTACT!

 :wotjump:

pity its to late in the season :zzz:

And Reg can stop fussing over the unbeaten record until next year

better late than never

Pikeys fail to get in the playoffs.....really thought they would make the top six.

Hahaha that was rather an enjoyable game, 2nd red card stirred up a bit of atmosphere. Rochdale were shit

I'm lost BBC reporting both a win and a draw for Barnsley. If its a draw they can still get in

Yep

Can someone post Williams post match interview please

Great point, saw BOO sent off, didn't spot LT off - so 10 men much of the second half. Heard 5 minutes, sounded like Henry had a blinder at that point!

The Shrews game is proper dead rubber now they've survived too.

3 unbeaten  ;)

Any mention on kasim?

Donny effectively gone then.....

Div 3 is going to look much less norvern next season. 

Yup! + Fleetwood/Blackpool meaning the ideal of one trip to Blackpool not two. Plus at least one of Pox and Rovers coming up. Should be much more interesting next year.

Donny did a lot of the hard work then got sunk by Crewe.

Looking forward to a Sunday lunch time dead rubber next week.

Oh my days

That's OK isn't it?!

(by OK I mean a bit shit we are selling the youth, great Obika is staying).

Missed that :  Lapslie (90'+8 minutes).

Barnsley have Wigan (away) and Scunthorpe have Sheff U - both losable games :(

It's great news, I'm a bit in love with Beaker  :)

Great save by Henry for the pen. Was a nice height but a great save nonetheless.

Whom would be the 'easiest' to replace, Beeks or Ajose?

Both are fine when you have 'Him' as a ready made replacement!

impossible question, I'm going to say Beaks 'easier' to replace simply because the stats say 20+ goal a season strikers are very hard to come by.

and yet we all know Obika contributes more to the overall team play than ajose. so that almost seems contradictory.

Highlights: http://www.skysports.com/football/rochdale-vs-swindon/report/340618

What actually did Boo do to get sent off? I can't even make it out on the highlights.

4 seriously good saves there from Henry. The one at the end to his left is arguably better than the other 3

My player is well jerky, what the fuck did BOO do? Kick out?

Louis, you'll laugh, but he was unlucky because I think he's tried to block the ball as its been knocked past.

No idea if Henry just had a blinder or if that's genuinely his level, but TB will be worried.

Looks to me like he just tried to make Holt let go of him after he'd knocked him to the ground, stood on him and then tried to drag him to his feet via various parts of his body. 

oh, so I didn't miss it then.

He's only 17, I'm wondering if we've ever fielded a younger keeper? 

Sometimes kids can come in with a no fear attitude, but goalkeeping is a tough old gig....so well done to the lad, but it would be unfair to put too much expectation onto such young shoulders.

Cant see what Boo did in the slightest to even get a yellow. The young keeper probably had 3 of the seasons best saves in 1 game. Give him a real boost. Is he anything to do with Charley or Leigh?

Great to see a Town side show a bit of spirit. Fantastic debut by the keeper, got him to thank for the point. Not just the penalty, he had no right to get anywhere near the chance Rochdale had a few minutes later and made a number of other good saves. Nice touch at the end, players came over to us led by the apprentices on the bench to give young Henry a standing ovation. Piccy of the  man of the hour below, born in 1998, christ I feel old!

Quite agree, but if that's his level then assuming we get a senior keeper in would you have him as backup/on the bench?

Have to say I didn't realise he was only 17, probably a bit young in my eyes to do that.

Some cracking saves from Henry. How was he dealing with aerial balls into the box etc?

He did well, think he collected everything he came for. Seem to remember he tried to punch clear once which didn't quite work out but we'll let him off. Basically cleared long with his feet rather than short passes, probably under orders to do so. There was one dodgy clearance but the pitch wasn't in great condition. Anyway he basically had a blinder, nice uplifting note to finish off watching the Town on the road after what at times has been a pretty desperate season.

Highlights:

http://www.skysports.com/football/rochdale-vs-swindon/340618

Is there a stamp and hair pulling from Holt?

In answer to my own musings about young keepers....looks like Henry is third for a league game to Mike O'Hara, who didn't play too many, and slightly older than Jimmy Allan, who played loads. I remember Jimmy making his debut with Kenny Stroud v QPR in the old Div 2, 809 Town games between them.

Mildy, made his league debut as an 86th minute outfield sub at Prenton Park...may have been younger but wasn't as a keeper so doesn't count.

Reading rochdale forum it seems they werent impressed at all with our niggly performance. I enjoyed it because we played like that! Makes a change seeing us able to get a result in a different way

Dodgy as fuck that red card for BOO.  Holt the old pro being a cunt.  And a load of gloating 'dale players over him including one just giving him a little tap in the back with his foot when he's been sent off.  Glad we held out - serves them right for being cheaty.

Holt has always played football like a dodgy pub bouncer. Probably an inferiority complex issue as he's the only player uglier than Crouch.

Great to see young Henry making a solid debut today.

We'll need to hold onto him and the other youth keeper Johnns as Vigs will NOT be returning back here.

With Kassim and Ajose already gone, and probably Brophy too, it's going to be time for Major Rebuild to make another appearance in the summer.

Still, if Calne Council are successfully sued for not providing suitable pitches for us to train on at Beversbrook while the country was suffering from widespread floods, we'll have a few extra quid to spend on new players.

'Every cloud' eh?  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

I will take exception to this - I love Crouch. He's a top bloke, and I reckon he's like one of those dogs you get that are so ugly they become adorable.

Holt looks and acts like a dog's arse.

What do you think of Ben Wah Balls? That's the erstwhile TEFer with a Crouch fetish...nothing else  :)

Yeah I like crouch too. You can only play the hand you are dealt with, and he's done a good job to be fair.

I can't decide - Did Boo get red carded for 1) getting fouled, 2) getting trodden on, or 3) getting dragged back up to his feet?

Hilariously bad decision  ::)

Steve Mildenhall was 17 years and 94 days.

Jimmy Allen was 17 years 298 days.

Will Henry was 17 years 298 days.

Some brilliant saves by Henry there in that game, looks a very promising young keeper that bodes well for the future.

Definately our youngest penalty saving keeper though.

As for BOO.....I don't see what he did wrong, Holt should have been sent off for this stamp though and pulling BOO's shirt/hair and provoking violence.

(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g171/jjedmunds/stamp_zpss6psbakz.jpg) (http://s56.photobucket.com/user/jjedmunds/media/stamp_zpss6psbakz.jpg.html)

Referee is looking straight at it too.

Where have you seen/heard that Vigs won't be returning & Brophy will be getting released?

Spirits wrote it on his bedroom door, just under redrum.

I remember him being asked what he would be if he weren't a professional footballer,
his answer....a virgin

Fair play to him

Interesting posts on youngest keepers.

Add Shay Given who made his first FL appearance with us at 19, and the common theme is the incredible longevity of the careers of these young debutants.  Let's wish Will Henry the same (though without Mildenhall's bollocks surgery, naturally).

But for every Shay Given there's a Craig Farr, Matt Bulman, Leigh Bedwell etc...

Not an easy position to grind out a long pro career.

Got a good mention here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36179584

how in the hell was that a red card?

Im not sure I have the temprament to be a footballer.  If Id been red carded for that I would have decked Holt.  In for a penny in for a pound.

one person on Twitter said boo swung a punch at Holt. I definitely can't see it on the highlights though.

plus Holt deserved it.

You've got to be taking the piss there surely?

He's starting to remind me of our favourite Facebook poster spouting lots of negative bollocks with nothing to back it up....

Just watched the highlights, the red is a shocking decision but as was LT's first yello too. Ref Completely devoid of the brains he was born with.

More than Cooper did.....ever...

Should appeal that red card I reckon...

I'd better let my dad know his council tax will be going up then?!  :girlgiggle:

Just seen the replay and BOO did seem to lash out.

Which is not allowed even if you are laying on your back after being tripped, and then kicked/stamped on, and then pulled by your shirt or part of your body/hair.

So yeah, no complaints there, non at all.

Comment from Rochdale forum

' Polar opposite to the side that turned up this time last year and played us off the park first half at Spotland. 

Never known an opposition side to go from one of the best to watch to one of the worst in the space of 12 months!'

Fair assessment?

No, don't think so.

Only Nathan, Rodgers and Obika played in both games, so a very different team on Saturday compared to last April.

...but they trounced us this season in the cup so surely they expected Town to be inferior to last season on the basis of that?

Hey Rochdale, Town ended your season, deal with it.

TBF their season was over unless they scored about 5 goals in both their remaining fixtures with Jills, Scunny  and Barnsley losing as well...was never gonna happen.

Well we all know that big Grant Holt was the innocent party right?  He was just trying to drag another player off the floor which is totally normal and acceptable.  Especially when he's been on the floor for 2 seconds after you've stomped you galumphing huge hooves on him.

Totally innocent.

I was really alluding to the respective seasons as seen through our eyes - blinkered as fans in general are.

I can't honestly think of one truly exciting game where we have played well. On the whole it's been mundane which has obviously influenced by some of the terrible sides we've been forced to field.

I've missed more games this season, out of choice, than I ever have (when available to go).

It's nothing to do with Power or the way he runs things. It's just been so tedious to watch. Here's hoping that after binning this season the next one heralds better.

Tory voting footballer vs. Saxondale.

Not contest

 :)

Ha, is he a tory?  I didnt know.  Explain a lot.

Henry was miles off his line for that penalty save

We knew at the start of the season, a struggle was likely, that was then compounded by injuries. So the context of the season was always about doing enough to stay up and the exitement that is so generated....we had 3 key games at the CG where we came back from behind to beat Sarfend, Crewe and Blackpool, with late goals. Without those wins we'd have likely gone down...so I'd say they were pretty exciting on any historical comparison.

As for how next season might pan out, there's little point in speculating until we see waht the squad is going to look like.

Those 3 games encapsulate the team. We were atrocious for large parts of those games - truly awful.

The fact we rallied to win them, for me, doesn't cover up what went before.

Fair enough but there are still no guarantees in sport....the fact that we were terrible yet rallied to claim those key points is a positive...it would have been very easy to accept Div 4 football as inevitable, rather like the recent squad of 10/11 vintage would have done.

I can...

It will be more of the same.

The new Crewe.

Zero excitement for coming season. I think we will drop.

Let's hope we do a Leicester.

I will stick a tenner on.

No middle ground whatsoever then?

Nope..

Nah. Not taking the piss.

And Imagine Cruising have said goodbye as main sponsors.

Source?

Grow the fuck up.

Def Mike O'Hara, from Norn Ireland, 17 and 3 months, depped for Sam Burton in '61. Looking at the great STFC stats site, the ref for that match (v Shrews inc Arthur Rowley) was Ken Aston, world famous ref for the Battle of Santiago in the World Cup in '62, also introduced red and yellow cards and a bunch of other ref-type things.

And rather like you did.

All this guff about how the season would have turned out if all of these legitimate goals were somehow written off does my head in. Do I hear you disregarding the last minute goals conceded to teams like Port Vale and Wigan? And to just dismiss us as a terrible team that somehow hit the jackpot is just a dismissive and disrespectful way of trying to justify your own laughable predictions. Even a fortnight ago you were implying that we would struggle to manage any more points and be scrapping for 20th place. 3 unbeaten matches later...  :D

Whats your problem? It's a valid question. A quick search round doesnt throw up any info on this.

Is Delta Incline making a bid for the recently vacated Wanker-in-Chief post?

Who vacated that, then?

dmr

Whoop do we get a vote on it? 

That would be quite funny. They say no publicity is bad publicity, but to be known as wanker in chief internet division. Would be something to put on the CV. Most people wouldn't know why they were volunteered, although I suspect I'd know if I was up for it :)

To be crowned TEF wanker-in-chief amid a bolus of such well qualified candidates would be fucking ace  :beers:

Now, Freddy, what kind of response to your stupid, one word question were you actually expecting from me yesterday?

Think he was enquiring into how you heard about Cruise not renewing

Oh, sorry.

Well, I was round the house of the Imagine Cruising CEO doing some decorating in his downstairs toilet (he's minted, so has two bogs) and I popped out to the van to get some turps. Well, imagine my surprise when their postman stopped me outside on the driveway and said 'here, you're a Swindon fan, did you know Imagine Cruising are pulling the plug on their mainline sponsorship deal'?

No, I said, Really? Please tell me more Mr Postie, you cheeky rascal. But the postie simply tapped the side of his nose in a knowing manner, winked at me and walked away with a big smile on his face. Of course I reported it here as quickly as I could because I know you guys are always hungry for news. Had I understood that people can only say stuff on here if they are willing to simultaneously reveal where it actually came from, I'd have done so as I completely understand that this forum is nothing if not a doyen of verified information that always stands the closest of forensic scrutiny.

Please accept my apologies for the previous lack of transparency.

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: You actually took time out of your day to type that up!!!

Yeah, a slow day at work. Fucking postie is late too :-)

Are Wanker-in-Chiefs allowed to have a sense of humour?

Wankers-in-Chief surely.

You're getting understandably confused with Wankers-in-Handkerchiefs.

Cool story. Anyway tell me more about Imagine Cruising  ;)

What the fuck? Who acts that aggressively when they're asked for a source? You had a bad week delta love?  :no:

Brave, Ells. 

Take a look at Delta's avatar and you have your answer right there.

Oh I've noticed it, hence my pity  ;)