Thetownend.com

Seeing as I started the original cup thread and we're still in it I'll give it another go.

Shame there's no Cunstable tonight - suspended after being booked last Saturday. Cried off, I reckon. Useless twat.

They will undoubtedly put up more of a fight than Charlton who probably put in one of the most limp-wristed performances seen at the CG for some time - from the opposition, anyway.

Keep an eye on that Coulson fella of theirs - might be worth tracking until January. Impressed with him at Eastleigh even through a Doom Bar fog.

Expect a win tonight in regulation time - 3-1. Apparently they should have about 700 at the CG. Decent turnout, that.

Should boost the crowd to over 5,000, anyway. Looking forward to it. Can't beat a cup game under lights. A certain 4-3 leaps to mind - never felt quite so squashed at a game.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3HBUUA2zYK8

3-1 Town.

Town win...cmon...

 I admire Rory's optimism. It's been an awful long time since a decent CG, FA or LC cup game under lights. Have we had one in the 21st Century? I'm thinking probably McMahon era  :hmmm:

 Two things.  We struggle badly with playing 2 games in a week. When we've had the odd win this season we've failed to back it up.  You'd imagine a draw again the most likely result, and extra time and pens. Given our success in the Boycott Trophy, could we be the new Germany?

Blackburn at home, LG Cup... QF maybe? Although that must have been 96/97...

Think it may have been an earlier round, but vintage McMahon.  I wonder if Sherwood played that night?

Decent in terms of result or occasion?

Villa a few years ago was pretty good occasion wise.

Though we didn't win. Miles Storey Cometh'

Think it has to be a combination of both.  A win is great, but an exciting defeat, with a sense of occasion and good crowd is something. The 2-3 Blackburn game, was one such, as we went 2-0 up v the Champions, only to be undone by Sutton and Shearer, who at the time were  avery decent combo.

The 2-0 loss to Chelsea, couple of years back, had the crowd, but we never really created anything that looked like causing an upset, so a bit tame in the end.

Probably the last floodlight CG cracker was beating Millwall, in the Mike McCarthy, bum in Burtons game. well over 20 years ago.

I disgraced myself monumentally at that game. Makes me shudder to this day.

Villa was decent when you know who got us back in the game, they were somewhat of a high profile team just about at the time

Yep good shout, near yet so far.

Not up there with Arsenal admittedly but in rounds prior to Villa despatching Burnley and Brighton under the CG Lights, who were both  then League above us (and Burnley possibly had been Premier League season before??) were both pretty decent efforts as was home win v Barnet to reach Mickey Mouse Cup Final

Away at Luton in the Simod Cup with Bamber hearing the phantom ref's whistle was a cracking atmosphere for one of the forerunners of the Wanky Cups.

Brighton crowd....5737  Burnley crowd.... 7353  Not exactly old skool.

And of course those numbers were correct?  :D

Probably the nearest thing was the home PO leg, against Charlton in 2010

Sheff Utd was special. Mad, but special.

The original proposition was midweek cup games in the FA or LC.  PO games are something else altogether. You'd be hard pressed to beat the first time....when half the crowd didn't know whwther we'd gone out on away goals or not  :)

The second half of the Wigan game would have been under lights

Does anyone know if the game is being streamed anywhere?

I see Eastleigh laid on 10/11 free coaches for tonights game.

Fair play to them thats a good turn out, probably more than FGR brought to us on a Saturday a few years back and 4 times the distance.

not yet, not seen any stream advertised on the couple of sites I use..... Can't see any FA cup replays being shown at all...

Im going tonight, 3-1 win hopefully

They're non-league side and we're Swindon Town FC. I'm not relaxing, Tim Sherwood Revolution or not.

Brackley v Gills is on the tele.

This. Think we'll just about have enough. 2-1.

TOWN STARTING XI | Vigouroux; Furlong, Rossi-Branco, Jones, Ormonde-Ottewill; Thomas, Kasim (C); Murray, Doughty, Goddard; Norris.
TOWN SUBS | Henry, Barry, Smith, Rodgers, Iandolo, Young, Delfouneso.

#STFC 🔴⚪️

Strong side. 3-1 I reckon.

fucksake

Oh dear

oops

I hope you are right and thats their goal done with.

Why did i think that was inevitable?

Get a new manager, and you win convincingly. Think you're the dogs bollocks and are complacent. At least they scored early.

Pffffft...

Cmon boys! Zip it like Saturday!!

Blimey.Hockaday makes us sound like the unluckiest team in the world

Oh dear Norris.

No no norris

FFS

That's that then.

Oh ffs

normal service resumed. break away from our corner.

I have empathy, my sons u13 team are prone to do that too

I'm on BBC updates afar.....what happened....Norris hit me he bar!?

What have you got then Sherwood?

But they are 12 Batch!

Oh for fucks sake,come in you useless cunts

some of them are 13

Fucking terrible. Lots of booing, "we're fucking shit" etc. Polar opposite to Saturday.

Goddard/doughty look good when they get the ball.

Have to admire Hockaday's optimism

The new messiah sherwood will have us up for it second half im sure of it. :pint:

Jordan Stewart retweeting stuff. Is he playing?

Second best all half, no control of the game whatsoever and very shaky at the back.

Special mention to Norris, the guy just isn't a striker. Had our couple of chances and fluffed them. At some point we just need to try something else as Norris is shot to bits.

Had an operation earlier this week.

Shock horror you're revelling in defeat! You need to find yourself a new club as you certainly don't support us!

Lots of support for bringing Ormonde-Ottewill on at the half time whistle it seems...

Being physically dominated completely at the moment. Eastleigh are pressing us on everything, forcing us to have to play it long, where we cant compete.

Unless Eastleigh tire very suddenly and dramatically, or Tactics Tim can pull some man mountains out his arse at HT, we're gonna struggle to bring this back.

Good to see physical colossus Rodgers as our option for some much needed muscle in midfield.

Right, 3-2 to us heard it here first.

Why the fuck are we playing Sweet Caroline before the 2nd half kick off again???!

I think that's the least of our worries.

Get bodeez in the boxz.

Has Dave Hockaday commentated on a game that we have won this season?

I dont think he's commentated on a game we've deserved to lose!

True story.

He still thinks we can win this - the man must be on drugs.

this.is.shit

In the words of Phil Collins....

How can something so good go so bad.
How can something so right go so wrong.

FFS its fucking Eastleigh.

Utterly embarressing.

0-3
Isn't it great being a Swindon fan sometimes?
Fucking wankers not fit to wear the shirt.

Fair play Eastleigh, this is why the FA cup is perhaps the best there is.

Tim's got a lot of work to do.

Vigouroux "unlucky" according to Dave

Get the cunts in for some cross country tomorrow morning.

Sent from my MotoG3

Would I be correct in assuming that the honeymoon period is over?

Well it didn't take long for the new manager (sorry, director of football) effect to wear off did it

Yeah, unlucky to play for Swindon.

Here we go Hockaday was right - 3-1 !!!!!!!!

Heaviest home defeat to non league opposition?

FFS!

One step forward and two back.

Good job Slade went...Charlton fans would of set fire to the Valley after seeing tonight's result!!

"goals change games" thanks for that insight into professional football Dave.

Genius.

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Chill out people. It's not the first time Swindon have lost to non league opposition, and it won't be the last.
Good luck to Eastleigh, we need to focus on staying in this league and that we aren't playing them again next season.

It's unacceptable with your first team against a non league team who have a few first teamers out of action.

Will be very hard to take any positives to be frank.Dont really care if they have a "bigger budget" than us,it's still embarrassing

This.

No no no norris

context, it's against a backdrop of a shit season . this shit performance should not be tolerated, you excuse this and nothing changes

Poor.

If anything, I was surprised by the level of optimism.

Sherwood out.

Finding it very hard to care.

Pfffffffffttttt.....

This really is a shit season...

I have a dream...

I see a pitch invasion when we stay up in penultimate fixture.....

Absolutely abysmal. Eastleigh 100% deserved that win, better in every department.

2.5 hour drive home now and then a 10hour roundtrip on saturday to rochdale, wonder why I bother sometimes!

It comes to us all.

I won't be losing much sleep over this.

It's unacceptable though. Also, I don't like the idea of having someone in the dugout who will be told to sit down when the famous person decides to leave the comfy seats.

We need clarity over this because DoF's don't do that.

Fair play to you - I couldnt be bothered to cross the road to watch them the way I feel at the moment.

I want to hear what Tactics Tim has to say.

It's disappointing yes, but who is actually surprised?
And people calling it unacceptable are deluded. We lost a game, you want Sherwood to resign?

find something else to do Saturday if I were you.  It'll just be another repeat. 

Yes we lost a game - but its the manner in which we lost and to team of nobodys.

Losing to Eastleigh *is* unacceptable regardless of how unsurprising it may be.

Did Dave say"we have a very good away record"?

It was unacceptable. Who the fuck said anything about wanting Sherwood to resign?

Their team have more experience in the league than ours do.

Really?? Fucking hell.

If you don't accept it, then it implies you want change.

What the fuck are you drinking ??

Well that has to be one of the most embarassing performances I have ever witnessed! How the whole team can play 90mins without winning one first, second or third ball I will ever know. People will gove plaudits to Eastleigh but apart from taking their goals well I don't think they did anything but then again they didn't need to.

Not one player came out of that game with any credit what so ever!

Referee clueless on timewasting! When a keeper catches the ball and he has it in his hamds you can't wave your hand for him to hurry up. The ball is actice and therefore if he takes too long its a free kick not a get on with it.

There will be major changes in january and there has to be. In the meantime why can't Tom Smith play instead of Rogers as he at least adds some bite to the team.

Least we get to concentrate on our relegation battle.....

Luke Williams "it was literally men against boys".

Things is their nobodys were better than our nobody's

It's unacceptable to lose in the manner that Town did at home to a non-league side. It doesn't mean I want wholesale managerial changes. We've already got two managers for goodness sake.

Oh, do fuck off.

I'm one of the most 'happy clappy' members here, but you are talking shite. TODAY was not acceptable.

You're being just as bad as those that that are persistently negative. You are the anti-newmarketred/Bart

That was the most comically inept performance I've ever seen. The bunch of fucking tosspots. Special mention for Doughty who was extra dog shit tonight.

Unable to fashion a chance against a non league team who made us look chumps. No heart, no skill, no fucking use.

I've just about had it.

Goes back to a comment I saw on here, think it was from Reg, let's hope we're still in the mix come January and then we can sign some players to help us stay up. Going to be very tough collecting points with this group, even with 'the Sherwood effect'

 I'm past caring about the Cup, I take it as a given that we've slipped so far as a club that we'll lose to any half way decent non league side, at least it wasn't in the TV game. I've said this morning that the best we might hope for would be a draw based on lacking the fitness for 2 games in a week and the mental strength for back to back wins.

The crowd size shows many fans have given up as well. From a very early stage this season has beeen about staying up...Sherwood's main work should be about some strengthening in Jan, as this squad is very capable of Div 4  next season....conversely don't think Eastleigh are good enough to make it up.

I'm just suggesting people keep a sense of perspective. I didn't watch the game. Fair play to those that did. We are shit, I'm not surprised so forgive me if I don't foam at the mouth about it.

Maybe need to be clear what unacceptable means. We lost, it's shit, but I can accept it.
 

The crowd size is dropping and dropping, I don't blame the ones who aren't going.. I'm one of them.

There's a reason why these players with experience in the Football League have dropped into non-league.. and it's not solely based on wages.

No I want Sherwood to fix it. If you think that was an acceptable performance you are very very wrong. It was an embarrassment at times. I'd hope Sherwood takes that view too, because if he accepts it then we are fucked.

and its trending on twitter :-[

Here's an example. Goddard was half decent until their bald headed defender launched into a crunching, but fair, tackle. Never saw a thing from him after that.

Contrary to popular myth Rodgers at least tried to inject some oomph into them. I've been silent about Norris but tonight he dredged the depths of ineptitude.

One more thing. If Sherwood picks the team, tactics etc he should front up to the media not Williams. Bollocks to this sitting in the stand, he needs to be in the dugout, on the touchline during the game. Luke needs to fade back onto the training ground

As for the game, don't get me started. It was almost exactly like Saturday. Except they did what we did, and we were more shit than Charlton.

You can accept being beaten in the cup by a better team, but the lack of bottle, the lack of desire, the lack of organisation (see goal 2) that is not on. We had it Saturday. So where did it go? Do Sky lock it in their TV camera van or something.

The lack of quality is something we can't really do much about until January. This front line is the least threatening I can recall seeing play for Town. The midfield has absolutely no balls. Doughty and Murray are good players, but there is no fight in there, well there wasn't tonight.

The back line are suspect. Branco actually stopped and watched an attacker beat him to the ball later in the game.

I thought we might kick on, I thought this might be the turning point. But I was very very wrong based on tonight. We are so inconsistent. One minute we muller Rochdale and Charlton, the next this. And unfortunately this happens more frequently.

If only we had a couple of players like their bald headed lump. Limited footballer, unlimited supply of desire.

Does anyone know what Williams said to the media?

It's the hope that kills you

I heard him but couldn't understand a fucking thing

This 100%. I'm really struggling to work out why we didn't sign the forward on trial as it is clear we need it. The main concern tonight was the lack of desire from every single player in a town shirt. December could be a long month looking at the fixtures and if we can't stand up to a strong Eastleigh side I dread to think the score for Sheff Utd

At least we have a free weekend early December

The way our season is going we'll probably batter them, then lose the week after

This Sherwood set up is comical..

Was he actually in the dugout tonight? If so, that's fucking ridiculous.

Total embarrassing shite. Second in every department. They appeared totally unfit, clueless, inept and unable to do anything positive other than get the fuck off the pitch. Total shambles. When you think we cannot get any lower we can. I'm struggling to remember much worse. The non league side did a professional job on us. We did not win a challenge all night. Every player bar vigs shit.
Low crowd and probably a sign of things to come.

It needs sorting sharpish. No time for face saving.

There's been no real evidence of a kicking on sort of consistency this season.....at least today we managed to put out the same side back to back.

Of the games we've won, bizarrely all on the back of a clean sheet, it seems once the opposition score the players crumble mentally.

The win on Saturday was on the back of some good fortune....namely nice OG just before half time, Charlton without 3 players off on international duty, would normally have got a postponement,  but couldn't because Sky game.

Rochdale are pretty strong at home, less so on the road. We've never lost a league game at Spotland, something will have to change between now and Saturday if that particular humiliation isn't heaped onto tonight's debacle of the highest ever CG defeat to a non league side in 120 years.

I think it's become abundantly clear tonight that we need to effectively buy the spine of the team in January if we are to really turn things around. We lack leadership in the back line and midfield and a goal scorer up top.  After their goals went in none of our players said anything to each other, there's no one organising things on the pitch and too many players seem to lack the bottle to put their body on the line.

Also a left back must be a priority as think BOO has run out chances, poor defensively and hesitant going forwards and after the Laughing Gas episode last season has questionable temperament.

I don't know what we do with Norris or how we handle him as he's now a major problem and we can't just persist with playing him. He's effectively Pericard mkII in that he's so poor in front of goal and devoid of confidence that everyone has now latched on to him so is just going to get heckled more and more.

I hope its that easy, time for Tactics Tim to call in some favours (with luck).

Humiliating,embarrassing horseshit.

What a bunch of useless wankers.

I'm sick of this "they're a young side" bullshit excuse.
My grandad fought in the 1st world war at age 15,he lied about his age to join up,these cunts can't beat Eastleigh in the FA cup!

Fucking inept. A disgrace not fit to wear the red shirt.

"Same old Swindon, taking the piss"

That's the frustrating thing. They more than earned another start. But they played like a different team entirely. It must drive the management/coaches fucking mental.

More fragile the Barry Corr blindfolded in a boxing bout with Mike Tyson

It did, and yes they were weakened. But none of that explains the lack of application/effort/motivation we saw tonight. We were reasonably poor in quality in the first half Saturday, but we got stuck in and worked hard.


Oh Jesus, Rochdale on Saturday..Watch us turn them over now. Probably.

It's our now annual mid season break, the players like it....chance to do a bit of Christmas shopping with the WAGs.

I left as soon as the ref awarded the penalty I could not stomach anymore getting to used to walking away from the ground listening to away fans singing "your fucking shit" song. Norris is absolutely gash he offers nothing surely we have an 18 year old in the youths who will offer more than him , too many players of conference standard we need a big  change in the January window to turn this around.

Lots seem to think the new year window will be the magic time. Not without serious investment as our budgets already gone up half a million, and we bought Vigs, Norris, and Goddard for 600k+ . Aint happening folks. Few unproven loans maybe, but they'll be hit and miss at best. Inconsistency and other sides being shitter for longer appear to be our best hope. Unless a change of thought/ a gamble happens.

Our situation is not helped buy the Power model. We seem to be massively rebuilding our squad every closed season and starting from scratch every August. Sometimes it works and that means being at the top where even missing out is a 'success' or is doesn't and that means being relegated or scrapping for survival like now.

Who's fucking surprised? We've been like this all season. If you're daft enough to think Saturday was a sign we're now going to win every game 3-0 you're an idiot. This is how cup games work - the non league team get psyched up, the league team subconsciously think they've already won it and capitulate. Could have been different if Norris had played like a striker and actually buried that chance, but was not to be.

At least it's out of the way - with a squad our size, and so injury prone, at least we can focus on staying up.

I totally get where you are coming from, and not having a go, but I find this a bit sad. The excitement of getting to the third round (then inevitably getting a disappointing draw) used to be a good thing.

I'd also argue that a good cup run is as likely a catalyst to improving league form as it is a hindrance. But unfortunately those suits at the FA insist that you need to win a game to progress. Bastards.

I'm not saying I'm not upset about it - with the second round draw, we had a (theoretically) good chance of making it to R3 for the first time in a while.

I'm just trying to find positives in tonight's game and it's all I can find, really! Kasim off tonight just when he was getting back to his best - the other obvious long term sickies (Beaks, Thompson et al). It could be rough if we got more games, thus injuries.

Everyones upset, even the players I'd imagine. Wasn't doubting it!

The way I see it you get a big club in round 3 it can give everyone a lift. Everyone raises their game to try and get in the starting 11. There is a buzz.

Or as you say its a massive distraction, and we get 5 injuries from players trying too hard..

Actually, given the way the season is going maybe you're right!

Good guess

I have a collapsed lung and I have to be in the hospital at 10am - my train is due in at 2. I'm as grumpy as anyone!

I'm not sure what singing "we're shit" and booing was supposed to achieve though,anyone got any insight on that?

No disrespect intended but not sure the two are comparable.

I totally forgot we had a game tonight and only saw the score at full time. I'm slightly confused as to Sherwood's role as nothing appears to have changed? Williams needed to be relieved of the pressure he was under and go back to the training ground but he's still in the dugout and conducting media responsibilities. No surprise at the result in that respect.

Sherwood's role has been official for what, 4 days? His effect, whatever it is, is going to take longer than that.

Good luck in the hospital.

The booing was people being thoroughly pissed off, of course you're right, on the pitch it achieves nothing, but off it? Cathartic release?

As for me, I went to see Ricky Warwick, ex-Almighty, tonight. Fine gig.

Loyal supporter? I'm beginning to wonder... The Preston game really did knock me back.

I agree.

It just needs clarification.

Which won't happen if he's on 2 years gardening leave, and not 1..

People on here are hoping that the January transfer window we will be able to bring in a couple of experienced players, but all i see at the moment is lower gates so lower income, will Powers wallet allow him to fork out for them........I doubt it......
Will Sherwood be able to alter things in the mean time, hopfully yes, but i just cannot see it, players are losing confidence every time they are beaten and when confidence is low, its hard to get the positives going.
Looking at the stats for tonight, Eastleigh, had more of the ball , more shots  and more corners. Things are bad at the moment, but just imagine if we drop to league 2 and play the same way , with same coaching and management team and the same player recruiitment policy, it will be back to the dark days of the early 80s, with just the really hardcore 2000 fans in the CG.
How many of you will still be going to the CG week in weekout, not many IMHO, i did it in the 80s but im to old to do it now, and to be honest , ive become disenchanted with football as well, im no longer a regular at the CG, age and cost prohibit me from going as much as i would like, but Swindon Town fc will always have a place in my heart!

What actually constitutes a Cup Shock where STFC is concerned?  Getting a draw at Eastleigh?  It's sad that PDC was absolutely right - a statue or whatever after the Wigan game would have been entirely appropriate given the wilderness of cup success either side of his brief but bright sojourn.

Morning...

It wasn't a nightmare...

It did happen...

Headliners on the BBC website..

FFS....

RedJeds post is the stuff of Armageddon....but not outside the realms of possibility.

Took a call of a mate that went last night as he travelled home with a few beers inside him on the bus.

He was low...

Said he felt lower than the no show at Wembley. He's not confident that we can shake off relegation....players are just too young and not good enough in his opinion...

I didn't know what to say to him... I don't know what to say to myself to restore some interest.

I will be there next home game....its the piss up with the lads that's the glue for me now.

We'll be just off the playoffs come January, if not in them.

I think the fact that we've been here before makes the loss less lingering on the mind than events such as Preston North End did (not that it makes losing to Eastleigh justifiable). I can't conjure the levels of outrage than other can.

Until proven otherwise, this  season really is a case of, again, avoiding relegation. Which is deeply frustrating.

The decent result against Charlton needs to be built on in the league because their are sides down there who will comfortably avoid the drop and we need to be one of them.

This is the only reason I went last night and the only reason I'm going on Saturday.

I love going to the football and watching Swindon but fucking hell the last 2 years have been awful.

I'm more pissed off and angry than I thought I'd be.

I take this as a good sign in one way, I do still care. and bad in another, my patience as run out already when really we should be digging in to help the team.

I know I'm not the only one , as evident by the town ends "we're fucking shit" chant last night

and another thing, if tactics Tim is n charge of the entire footballverse then he should be taking the post match interviews.

I want to hear what the man who can change things has to say

Agreed. I tell myself I don't care but I felt sick last night and I'm an angry as hell today. I expected us to lose last night but not the complete and abject surrender. I didn't expect all 10 outfield players to surrender so quickly. It was obvious within 10 minutes our players weren't up for it. Heads were dropping all night. The mannequin challenge was alive and well in our defence, midfield and attack last night. Norris being the most obvious example but Jones surprised me. Unhappy all night and capped it off with a dumb booking at the end. Nobody was talking and nobody was encouraging each other. After Norris bad miss, nobody spoke to him.
Sherwood has got a lot of work to do to polish this turd. Anything other than relegation is a bonus but last night stank and I would not slag any Town fan off who said they'd had enough. 

So this Norris bad miss, is it the 1v1 from an angle on the highlights.

Yeah, it wasn't an easy chance to be fair, from memory the keeper came out and closed the angle. Certainly not up there with the shit 'no goal' header and air kick at their place.

But it was crucial.

I've been thinking for a while now that the majority of these players would probably be thriving, or at least performing consistently well in other sides but as a collective they just don't seem to be up to the task consistently enough.
The crowd response after going 1 down was pretty good but by the end it was getting to be as poisonous as the 10/11 season.

For weeks I have been finding it harder and harder to get excited about watching the town, but after Saturday I was probably the most eager I have been in 18 months to watch us. But last night was beyond terrible, it was men against boys and we deserved that result.
On the way to the game I was thinking about the season we drew with Crawley and lost the replay at the CG, far too many similarities between that season and this.... Even down to spanking Charlton on TV.

Some yes, but majority? Take last night. Players who would currently struggle to *regularily* get into a league 1 team (IMO):

No for me : Delf. Norris, Boo,  Branco, Rodgers,  Thomas, Jones
Possibles: Goddard, Murray,  Kasim (on average form no)
Definites in: Doughty, Vigs

All about opinions I suppose.

The keeper did indeed narrow the angle much better than Vigs effort for their second goal.

Trouble with Norris is he only ever gets the odd chance so he has to convert everytime whether easy or difficult

I'm wondering whether last night's gate was the lowest ever at the CG for an FA cup game  :hmmm:  the gate v Dagenham in 84/85 is listed as lower, but we know the unreliability of the published figures back then.

I recall not hanging around for the extra time that cold night.....the pub beckoned 10:30 closing back then.

So if not the lowest, then the second lowest in the last 110 years.  (no data for the previous 10)

As redjed points out, there is a feeling of early 80's atrophy hanging around atm, when it was the loyal 2000/3000 who kept the club going....if the club loses fans like you then it is well and truly fucked.

As Batch says "time to dig in."  It's fair enough to see if Sherwood can buy Power some time.

What do you mean "buy him some time"?

Sounds like last night was a shambles, but let's see where we are 6 games into TS's reign. Either last night was the blip, or Saturday was...

The mental strength point, crumbling after conceding, is a good one. Was mentioned on comms by Sky on Saturday too.

Pathetic performance from Swindon.

But well played Eastleigh and good luck in the next round, thanks for letting us off a five goal hiding, it really should have been that many.

Probably not great PR, to be off investing money in another club, when your club has just had a result of historic shitness, and looks like it needs a bit of tlc itself.

The atmosphere surrounding the club has possibility of turning toxic and uncomfortable for Power...let's hope that Sherwood can do something, as nobody wants to see it happen.

We are very much a team low on confidence, the first goal is so important and at the moment we aren't scoring it enough. Saturday and the Rochdale game shows this team has ability, but if we concede first we may as well walk off the pitch there and then because the players heads drop and we turn to shit.
Sherwood has his work cut out, but I'd much prefer a performance like last night to be in the cup and not league. Let's see where we are after 5/6 games under him.

FWIW I agree on all counts, and good luck Vee.

As Swindon's own Dave Squires once put it...

 :)

Pretty much.

Buy his book, he's 'one of our own'.

Even after a night sleeping on it hasn't tempered how thoroughly pissed off I am after witnessing that absolute shower of shit last night.

And for those who are of the 'get it forward' persuasion, last night showed clearly enough we aren't cut out for the long hoof. The number of either overhit or completely pointless 'long balls' all added to the general malaise.

You know it's getting seriously shit when the fans end up just taking the piss out of their own team. I'm not quite there yet, but I'm well on my way.  

During my 40-odd years supporting STFC, last night was far and away the worst 'performance' I've seen.*



*Although many of the games earlier in my support were almost always seen through a beer fug so I may be wrong.

His book is excellent, as is todays effort in the Guardian, which includes a reference to Sherwood

https://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2016/nov/15/david-squires-on-england-scotland-wembley

The 2 were very different, their player had the confidence to go around Vigs and dink it over him for their 2nd whereas Norris just hit it at the target and hoped for the best.  Also unless my eye deceived me didn't Norris have pretty much an open goal to head into right on half time and fluffed that?

anybody get a good view of the penalty? What happened?

Looked to me like their player pushed BOO over, fell over him and penalty awarded. It must be said BOO and Furlong got taken to the cleaners last night.   

Its completely academic really, but how the ref gave that as a penalty i have no fucking idea. The highlights are from the same angle in the DRS as I saw it, but either way, if the player has bundled Ottewill over first before he goes over himself, in what alternate universe is that a pen and not a foul on the defender.

Again, not that it would have made any difference, but the Ref was an absolute fucking drip all night. where do they get them from?

As someone else has eluded too, i was getting absolutely sick of the "Forward" Brigade last night. Don't win a single ball in the air all night yet they think the solution to our problems was to just lump it up the field, in the vein hope that their back line suddenly lose the ability jump. Fucking hell.

The performance for me was summed up by Dougherty. Usually the talisman and the one to be offering up the smart balls and little bit of hope, even when we're playing badly, but last night looked completely lost and running out of ideas.

Fair fucks to Eastleigh, they were superb in pretty much every department.

Relive the tragic of the FA Cup

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37905132

I chose not to go last night, as even after Saturday's result, I had no enthusiasm.  

The last 18 months have been dire and show no real sign of improving.  For the first time in years, I have no affinity for the majority of the players and  am struggling to get any level of enjoyment from attending. I'll go to the home games, as I have a season ticket, but unless something changes significantly in the next 5/6 months, I won't be renewing. Judging by recent attendances, I won't be alone.

There was an interesting debate on Soccer Saturday when they showed the goals from the Charlton game later in the afternoon around Sherwood's role and whether him or Williams are responsible when we lose. This needs clarification if he's going to appear in the dugout.

Sherwood has already said himself he is responsible for results. His responsibilities have also been well documented.

I don't know why some act as though there is some great mystery behind his role. There isn't. Even the media are acting as though there's some mystery even though they were the ones doing the interviewing when such things were clarified.

In this interview he is on about buying another.
In Montenegro

http://www.thesun.ie/irishsol/homepage/sport/7262024/Waterford-Uniteds-new-owner-Lee-Power-is-convinced-he-has-Blueprint-for-success.html

First time I've seen the goals. Their first two are great finishes. Not much anyone can do with the first one but Vigs getting caught in no mans land for the second. Never a pen.

I found it hard to believe it was a pen at the time and I was in the Town End. Looked lke BOO was tripped from behind, fell over and the easteligh player fell over him with them getting a pen. Very odd decision.

Hoping for another "reaction" pn Saturday but think it will be a comfortable defeat

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37938448


Not sure how much clearer it could be from Power. Then the BBC come up with this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37995970
===================================
Bit odd the business about the earpiece :
Seems convoluted.

Think it clears up who is in charge though, not sure I'm a fan of TS being in the stands, but you do get a better perspective
 

The first one was deflected. Looked a good finish, but was nearly as fortunate as our first Saturday. Penalty-not for me (surprise).

But to be honest, I think we all agree that making more of those two points would be an attempt to paper over the cracks. 3 shots on target v their 8 says it all.

Valid points. I meant the goal as a whole on their first. The play in the build up was very good.

Oh yes I see what you mean. Good determination to rob us of the ball. Good run into the box to leave the defence dead.

The second goal was well executed, but the defending was diabolical. It was our corner FFS.

Not trying to defend anybody, but I'm wondering if Sherwood let Williams take the reigns for this one.

[quote
What makes you question that?

I've not seen anything to suggest that was the case, including said earpiece comms and TS appearance in the dugout when it went turd.

Because it fits in with my notion that Sherwood is here on a consultancy basis to help Williams get it right. Just speculating of course.

They're co-managers as far as I'm concerned.

(http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/7/1/1278012232806/Liverpools-joint-managers-005.jpg)

Oh, I see.

I can see Power using him as a figure to take the heat off. But I can't see TS putting himself forward to take the fall for it all if it doesn't turn around.

I do find the sitting in stands/non-contract/not taking press-conferences a little odd though. Who knows.

This "bigging up" of Eastleigh (bigger budget,more experience,stronger,fitter etc) by Williams is beginning to grate.They are NINTH in their league,so they are not that fucking good.We have fucking internationals in our team!

I agree but they have Reda Johnson who is an Benin international and Mandron is a Scots U20 international too :)

I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking this, it has a feel that Sherwood is here to act as a mentor to Williams and then when one of the big clubs offers Tim a chance Williams will again resume the reins, I'm sure we will see in coming weeks but it would be good to hear Tim fessing up to the press to explain performances etc as he is now supposed to be in charge of everything.

I'm also fed up of hearing how good a coach Williams is - if this is the case why has none of the bigger clubs snapped him up by now to join their coaching team  - what proof do we have ?

It was said before he came here he went to Spurs (under sherwood) and spent 2 weeks there thinking it was a trial to join their coaching staff but ended up being sent here.

The only positive is that it seems Power has ripped up his philosophy of signing kids and they are to sign a couple of older heads come January and have talked about not signing players to see them sold as soon as we can get a fee but building a team to compete.

Power must realize if we are to get out of trouble money has to be spent in January - and it needs to be done as soon as that window opens.

'Mentor'

That fits better.

Players chasing shadows for the goals. They look a yard off the pace to me. And yet again the keeper is all over the place.

Of all the results of late, it seems to me; if a team come and play football, we can equal or better them and have a good chance, especially if they sit back and don't press us high, however if we are up against a physically strong side who play longer and who press us, we are in trouble.   We panic, start playing it longer from defence and constantly give the ball away, just cant compete.

yes and that is down to the coach i think

We've a raft of horrible looking fixtures coming before January, although sometimes teams in form can hit a bad patch, or lose key players....they mostly look to be the sort of big direct sides we struggle with.

So its 5 away and 2 at home. On the road Rochdale, Sarfend (midweek), Sheff U, Milllwall, Franchise. At the CG, Bradford City and Fleetwood.  Difficult to make a case for too many points from that lot  :(

It's a good thing we've got one of the "best young coaches in the country", then.  It doesn't bear thinking about just how badly the lads would be performing if we only had a 'run-of the-mill' one!   :(

Rochdale have hit a bad patch. Southend inconsistent like us, We have the hoodoo on the blades, Millwall Hmm never get nowt there. Dongers have lost all but one at home, Bradford are good though and fleetwood inconsistent as well. 10/11 points from that lot i reckon.

A good try.  Dale are decent at home. Sarfend have been quietly improving....one league defeat in 8, at Dale. I don't like the thought of Ranger and Cox, at all.  Franchise, on current form, definitely a chance, Bradford are much like Bolton, big strong defensive, Fleetwood maybe a chance.

10/11 points, would probably mean we'll stay up this season, I'd think 5 or 6 more realistic.

Ha ha  :)

Fair point

I've calmed down a bit now

i don't think it's down to the coaches or the quality of the players, it's a confidnce thing.

Rochdale, Oldham and Charlton, we started slow but got the first goal and got better as the game went on....... We scored and beat them comfortably...

Eastleigh, Northampton etc....... They score first and we go to shit, we give up and don't believe we can score / win...... now is it the players don't believe in the tactics, they don't think they are good enough to come from behind? who knows but there just seems to be a lack of grit and determination when it's needed...... I guess we don't have that leader on the pitch that can rip into players when their heads drop and carry them to get that goal that gives us the impetus....

I'm not sure what you've got on the pitch matters if the players have essentially lost belief in what is happening at the club.

This side in 10/11 could happily lose in the most supine of fashion to Yeovil at the CG, on their way to being considered the worst side in the oldest fan's lifetime.....
Phil SMITH   
Michael ROSE   
Lecsinel JEAN-FRANÇOIS      
Scott CUTHBERT   
Paul CADDIS   
Matt RITCHIE   
Jonathan DOUGLAS      
David PRUTTON   
Jon-Paul MCGOVERN   
Thomas DOSSEVI      
Charlie AUSTIN

Yet, probably only Vigs of our current side would get into it, you might make a case for Nathan somewhere, and a fit Obika would oust the Dosser, but would Norris or Delfenouso?

doughty over prutton. but I see your point

Norris and delfounso would be somewhere behind Thorpe and keith Scott!

Yeah. Jeremy Thorpe and Terry Scott.

I'll give you Thorpe, but Scott scored a few in both the Prem and Championship, and was signed by both Macari and Martin O'Neil in his time, both reasonable judges.

As things stand, I can't ever remember us having a more non scoring duo up front, of course Obika although hardly prolific will get you 10 goals or so from the 20 odd games he plays.

Who was Sean Close paired with?

I agree, the players on a quality level have the skill but because they are so young and most it's their first rodeo in league football just don't have the grit to get their teeth stuck in when it gets hard.

Sherwood needs to get the the bottom of it, most likely with 2/3 experienced players who can give the young un's a kick up the ass.


Think Power took a risk on them both and it's not worked out ..... all 3 of the strikers are the same type (hold up) and we don't have an Ajose (poacher).... I see all 3 of our strikers as Billy Paynters....... we need a Charlie Austin to play with them to poach the goals from short distances..... most of the time delfonso and Norris are on the edge of the box waiting for ball to feet, we need someone who hangs on the back of the defenders who the tap ins.

I will never forget Swansea coming to Swindon in April 79 in the middle of the Thorpe homosexual scandal court case, they were 3rd and we were 5th in front of 16,000 people and the Swans fans had a massive sign made up that said...

Alan Curtis bends more balls than Jeremy Thorpe.

They were asked by police to remove it.

Pretty pointless off on a tangent story :)

The brilliant Peter Cook

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyos-M48B8U

Just watched the highlights, Norris's chance was harder than I thought but his finish was pretty weak/lame.

Thought Boo and then Vigs were unlucky with the penalty but we were clearly second best!

I know a few were using last night's attendance as proof that the fans are deserting the club.

Coventry v Morecambe less than 2,000
Bristol Rovers v Crawley 3,600
No other game got over 2,000

Biggest crowd last night was at the CG, helped by Eastleigh's away following....it is a valid point that the FA have ruined their own cup, therefore people don't bother now.  They will of course just use this as an excuse to get rid of replays, already happening for the 6th round now. I'm sure the Beeb wouldn't have minded straight to penalties the other Friday.

I'll go for Dennis Amis. Dennis was probably a slightly better footballer.

Sorted for you.  Don't lose your mojo at crisis time

Duncs and/or Chalkie, so not exactly part of any low scoring partnership. partnership

Oooh Colin, Colin regularly scored more than Closey

I would say the most analagous season to this is 2000/1, we'd been relegated but even then Chris Hay and Graz managed 18 between them.  We spent a bit on Gary Alexander, who struggled and only got 7.....however he showed himself later to be an OK lower league striker, 133 goals after us. Other up front types were Martin Willams, no good, Michael Reddy a decent short term loan and Danny Invincibile, who wasn't a striker as such but got 9 goals. We just about stayed up. The first Jed/Power season we had 3 men on 8....Ajose, N'Guessan and Michael Smith.

It is very unusual for us to have such a non scoring front line....and needs to change asap.

Gillingham three two down to brackley. A worse performance than us?

*4-2

And knowing gillingham im pretty sure edinburgh is heading for the exit

*4-3

Thanks for the good luck wishes, donkey and PV.

Predictably I'm in a much better mood now, but I still can't bring myself to watch the highlights and confirm just how unpenalty-ish the penalty was.

Still, now Sherwood knows more about what he's got on his hands the true revolution can begin. Right? :sofa:

thankfully no one most of the time

Best receiver of the ball at the club according to Chalky White at the time.

Finest hour (or more like 20 minutes) for Shaun Close was running around a lot after coming on as sub in the 9 man effort against Brentford in '93.

Glad to hear it :)

I too can't bring myself to watch the lowlights of the game yet either.

I am sure Timbo will know what needs work and how to do it, I have confidence in his leadership and Powers backing....mostly :)

I used to have a mate, who played a bit at Wilts League sort of level, and he used to try and convince me that Shaun Close was better than Steve White, in a who would you rather partner sort of way.

In most aspects of life, he seemed quite sane, although the stray dog collecting, was probably a sign.

Dany N'Guessan is currently a free agent after being released by Doncaster in October  He's 29.  His most prolific period by far (in terms of goals-to-games ratio with clubs he played 10 games or more with) was whilst with us.

#statto

I wonder what Lukas Magera is doing these days?  :D   If he's free, he could bring Milan Misun with him to shore up the defence.......if he could find him, of course. 

Hes at Mladá Boleslav and has scored 28 in 88 games. Not too shabby!

That is blasthemous.
Back to the Easteligh game and in my 45 years of watching that is in the top 3 crap performances

That would be worth a thread of its' own, except it would be too depressing.  I go back even further than that and have managed to shut many of the worst ones from my memory.  In recent years, Eastleigh, Cheltenham (5-0) and Preston (Wembley) were 3 of the crappiest.

Hmm, that's a good one, what are your top 3 crap games you've personally witnessed Town play in....

Trouble is, you tend to block out the crap ones. And also it's subjective. I've see worse Town performances where we've not had a shot. But that was in the league, this was against a mid table conference team.

These are the ones I remember being most angry with, top 2 are easy.

1. Cheltenham away (league) 2002, Lost 2-0.  SSP sent off. Gurney and Heywood exchanging a full and frank set of views with some fans. Terrible run of form. Chucked Swindon shirt in the bin at home and vowed never to go again. Retrieved said shirt following morning.

2. Stevenage (cup) 1998. At least Town had the excuse of a force 10 gale being a leveller I suppose. I remember Diggers goal kicks coming back at him.  Even so this was even more unexpected than Eastleigh. Wally even scored the opener after 5 minutes.

3. pOxford away (cup) 2002 - had high hopes and mega excited. We were shit and then I nearly got into a fight in the car park.

I'm sure I've forgotten even worse stinkers.

I managed to witness the 7-0 drubbing at Bolton where, as the score suggests, the performance was abject.

Perhaps some of our venting should be reined in a bit until, say, another 4 or 5 league games. Getting beat by a non-league team in the cup is hardly a new experience.

Good job we're away Saturday  - a home game so soon would be so toxic

The 6-0 at maine road that time was pretty bad. Can't remember which year it was.

Edit. 1997.

I raise Eastleigh at home with a 7-0 at Bolton in 97, the 6-0 debacle vs Ipswich at home in 99, the 5-1 Rovers LC game in 84, the 7-1 at Newcastle in 94, the 7-1 at Forest in 06, 6-0 to Scunthorpe away last year, the 2-1 home to Stevenage in 98 when they were non league.

The list of awful games in endless....

The 73/74 season was pretty shite. One win in 14 games - Oxford 1-0 - 5 goals scored.

Had Richard Legg playing who was a Chippenham lad I went to school with, albeit 3 years ahead of me - fine playing at Hardenhuish Park but dreadful at the CG. Borne out by his career also taking in Bath City and Trowbridge Town.

Worst performances?  Where to start, there have been so many. It tends not to be just the dismal standard on the pitch, the opposition helps, but also the context within which it happens from a personal view.

So for example, you go to Newcastle get beat 7-1, but it doesn't feel anything like as bad losing to someone tinpot  like Cheltnumb.   Newcastle is at least a football city. The ones where you go somewhere like Barnet, away fans outnumber home fans and still you lose  >:(

My personal nadir was away at Rushden and Diamonds, for any number of reasons.   Sometimes you get a Histon away, my then sister in laws kids used to go to school in Histon, she lived edge of Cambridge, used to go there loads, didn't even know Histon had a team  >:(

Bit like getting beat by Purton.

I've definitely come to hate games against the arriviste sides from non league, whether in the cup or when they get promoted. Burton last season being the sort of thing, they're flying we were battling relegation, yet about 20% of the crowd were Town fans.

They easily go up, despite having no name players and change manager, and seem able to cope at Championship level. Forest Green could well be next for a visit 17/18. I can just hear Luke now....boys against men what do we expect they've a bigger budget?  Town fans kick off due to lack of beefburgers and Bovril.

 :nod:

Yeah I understand what you are saying Reg, Cheltnumb cup thrashing is a lot harder to take than a 7 goal defeat to Forest or the Geordies.

Stevenage home was a low spot, Digby keep kicking the ball long at the instruction of Mcmahon into the wind only for it to come straight back him, often without touching the ground.

Awful defeat to a non league team.

the Forest one was a good laugh, in a so bad lets just make the best of it kind of way

The 2014-15 3-0 losses to Bristol City and MKD on quick succession were fare more painful than any of the 7-1 and 6-0's I've experienced watching Town.

We were in the bottom tier in a corner as I recall. When the 6th, or possibly the 7th, went in, the travelling Town support turned to the Forest fans in the tier above and gave a gutsy rendition of

"And we're by far the greatest team, the world has ever seen"

A great moment from our fans, if not our team of the time.

And "What's it like to be outclassed?" IIRC. Although that may have been when we got the 1 goal back. Applauded out of the ground by the Forest fans, we showed all the pride and spirit the team lacked that day. My eldest's first away game, he loved it!

Re-live the fantasy. Note how many came from corners

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JdYppXGKe2M

 got into an argument with a forest fan after that game, was walking back to train station and obviously mildy pissed off, my mate phoned me to tell me that the score had come up in letters on sky sports to which I replied saying the ref was a joke, 3 of the goals where fouls on the keeper and 4 had been offside and we should have won 1-0 to which q forest fan went mental at me saying I didn't know anything about football?! Haha turns out he didn't understand sarcasm

the Forest game was a superb day out except for the football

so many good away days are ruined by football!!

My first away game as well! One of my favourites as well, great support throughout

Forest may have scored 7 and won the game that day...but...they conceded a goal to Trevor fucking Benjamin, one of the worst professional footballers of all time.

So, who was the real loser here?

he was offside

Especially in Nottingham. Sometimes I wonder why we leave the Fellows.

Gillingham away under Di Canio was one of my favourites. Lost 3-1 but was lovely to go up in their back yard.

 :gay:

To go to Hooters!

I swear I went to that game in the Whitsmobile

not that one, I took some customers to It from work. There was a county game or maybe another visit there?

That was the "you're shit, you let Benjamin score" game. We were so bad it was funny.

Unlike Histon, where we were just as crap but it wasn't at all funny.

We just sat down and Forest scored straight away.

The fans were amazing that day, we got a lot of good feedback from the Forest supporters. I also learnt a lot about fox hunting on the drive up. So all in all... it was worth the 7-1 humiliation.