Thetownend.com

Hello from Waterford (the place that loves Lee Power right now and knows you hate him!)

I'm not sure if this is the right section for this, but you can move it. I was chatting with some Swindon fans on the Advertiser's page last week and said I'd keep you informed of how your boys are doing in Waterford. A few Town fans have joined our supporters page too.

These are highlights packages from our first two games. The squad numbers weren't in place for the first game so Jake Evans was 2 and Tom Smith was 6 in our white away kit, but they were 17 and 23 respectively on Friday and from now on. Tom was solid in the first game, outstanding in the second. Jake is playing out of position at right back and had a ropey first game (at fault for the goal when overplaying it from the back...albeit in an attempt to push on for a winner), but much better on Friday night.

To give you an idea, the first game (lost 1-0 in Athlone) was a nightmare, played in extremely windy conditions on a disgraceful pitch after a 35 minute delay because the floodlights failed. That's not an excuse for losing, but it explains the dreadful football. Attendance was a paltry 326 with between 120 and 150 of those being Blues fans. This week's game was at home on a very wet night. 1317 attendance which is huge for our division. Last season, things had got so bad that crowds had dwindled to about 200. 3-0 win versus Cabinteely who were pretty awful, but our division is terrible - there's a big gap in quality between the two divisions here (Dundalk and Cork could probably challenge in League One, whereas our division might be sub-Conference level).

They're getting on very well anyway. The club have got a good deal renting houses in a beautiful spot in the neighbouring town of Tramore for any of the non-local players. I must upload a photo of the view they have - it's a really prime location. Tom came very close to scoring on Friday with a header just wide. We're still gelling, but look like we got the disastrous first game out of our systems. Two away games in Dublin next and then home in a derby on Saturday the 25th.

I cringe seeing this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcB1jIgy7pc

This is more like it:

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

Lastly, commiserations on yesterday's loss and its circumstances. We've all been there! No worse feeling.

Tom Smith I still say should be on our bench and used as an option. Glad he doing well so far.

not seen Jake Evans play much, if at all, I hope he gains in stature and improves.

With Power I guess expectation is the key here, you can see your squad and club improve, we see ours seemingly in decline.

thanks for the feedback

Do you have any players that might move in the other direction?

Theres blind optimism, then there's this... :D

You're welcome. Yeah I think we're fairly aware of the situation and the difference between the two clubs. With us, we had a proud history, but were incredibly close to folding. We own NOTHING so there are no assets to sell off. However, we are the anchor tenants of the council-owned Regional Sports Centre and have cheap rent there. It's a 3,000 seater which can hold 5,500 with standing for league games (but our average attendance was 277 last year!). The 3,000 seats means we are entitled to host UEFA games which is important. Dundalk have to play their European games in Shamrock Rovers' stadium and pay for that. Obviously the plan is that we qualify for Europe eventually. That'd be a dream for the likes of me. We last played in the ECWC in 1986 against Bordeaux, but had played Manchester United, Celtic, Galatasaray and others before. We have a fantastic pitch and our training facilities (again rented) are top quality. Power said he was amazed with them and that most League One clubs haven't access to anything as good. So the potential is there for us to grow. He's a businessman for sure and has seen how Dundalk were in just as bad a state as us a few years ago and now aren't far off possibly qualifying for the Champions League group stages. They were in the Europa League group stages before Christmas and made more money from a single game in that than they did in prize money for winning our league!! So for a minimal investment by his standards, he could potentially do very well out of us.

But the thing is, we're quite happy with all this. We had nothing. We were going to fold after 86 years. He's rumoured to be putting €300,000 into the club initially. That's nothing in your league but we had players' cheques bouncing for €20 last year!! And it is HIS money rather than Swindon's. Like he could have just bought a Ferrari instead. He wasn't at the game on Friday (I think he was just at one of the pre-season friendlies) and has a good general manager and a respected director of football (Pat Fenlon who used manage Hibernians a few years ago) to take care of things here. There will be a link-up between Swindon and Waterford - not just with loanees. The plan is that if a young player is developed here, you have first dibs on him. So if you consider that the likes of Séamus Coleman, Shane Long, Kevin Doyle, Wes Hoolahan, James McClean and loads of others came from our league and were successful and sold on for big money, then Swindon could be on a winner. Our club produced Daryl Murphy and Noel Hunt. We sold Daryl to Sunderland for about £100k, he helped them get promoted to the Premier League and they eventually sold him on to Celtic for a million. We had a great youngster in Seán Maguire a few years ago, but because we couldn't renew his contract, we only got a pittance from West Ham for him. He went down to Accrington Stanley and is now at Cork, but I'd expect him to go back to England again. Then there's Lee O'Connor whose story is almost identical to John O'Shea's. Both grew up as Blues fans, but we had nothing really to offer them to compete with Man U. Lee signed straight from schoolboys last year and is ripping it up there. He's captain of their u-18s and is playing regularly in the reserves. So the hope is that the next prodigy to come along will sign for us first because we'll have an attractive set-up (we have u15s, 17s and 19s as well as the first team). They can sign knowing that they have a clear path into the English leagues through Swindon. You can even test them out on loan first. So from our point of view, it suits us if Swindon stay up as League One is obviously a better attraction for players. We have a decent record of producing young talent so Swindon could reap the rewards in the future. There are some at the club now who might go back over. Google Kenny McEvoy who is 22 and was called Baby Bale when he was at Spurs!

I know none of that is much consolation when you're having a disastrous season, but if you can stay up (and there's a lot still to play for) the Waterford side of things could be a help to your club rather than the hindrance which most seem to view it. Anyway, as someone who remembers the Fjortoft days very well, I hope things pick up for Swindon. Bets of luck and I'll keep you up to date on how the lads are doing.

Maybe he's just trying to prepare for the future  :)

Why not? We're always picking up players from lower/obscure leagues. Some of them even turn out to be quite good.

We've been linked with him before.

Yeah ex Spurs youth product was linked in the Summer/early season.

nice of you to post bluemovie and can I be the first of the Townend to welcome you as a cunt (as we all have been)

Their PA is better than ours. Their no.10 isn't bad at that level. Knows a pass, can strike a ball. Probably upper L2/lower L1 standard. With the right fitness and conditioning, a good team would make him a better and more confident player. Not this current team though. Maybe next season.

Thanks for the write up :)

Thank you, I'm flattered with the honour :) I've been a cunt in my own club for many years too :D

You're welcome. I'll post the odd update about how they're doing or any other Swindon/Power-related news and rumours from here.

That striker is Davy McDaid who we've just signed from Cliftonville in the Northern Irish league. He scored something like 50 goals in 100 appearances for them. Made his first start for us on Friday, scored two and had that bicycle kick effort brilliantly saved. Some excellent passes too and just showed the cleverness a striker needs in hold-up play, etc. He was in the Derry City team that James McClean emerged from and had a short spell at York City - didn't work out, which may mean he wasn't good enough, but often can be for other reasons. He's 26 now so likely a little more mature.

Kenny McEvoy, who I mentioned earlier and someone said was linked to Swindon last summer, is an interesting one. He clearly has bags of talent. It wasn't just for his uncanny physical resemblance that he was nicknamed Baby Bale. Spurs had high hopes for him. He was another who was at York. It looks like his career has plummeted, but I've convinced there's just something up and that he's lost his confidence. He's had a lot going on - even getting married at 20 is unusual! He's too good for our level, but I hope that a spell back at his hometown club will get him back on track and that he can go on to prove himself in England. I think he might need an arm around the shoulder or something. He's the one crossing for the first goal in those highlights. He's still only 22 and I still think he has a huge amount of potential so Swindon might be his route back to England.

That's what happened with Daryl Murphy. He came home to Waterford having been dumped by Luton as a 19 year old. He regained his confidence, was superb for us and went on to have a great career. I'm not saying he's Messi :D but he's played for Sunderland in the Premier League, Ipswich, Celtic and now Benitez bought him for Newcastle. He's a solid Championship striker and has more than 20 international caps, but his career looked over until he came back home and regained his confidence. That's part of Lee Power's thinking with Waterford so that Swindon could benefit from it. I totally understand why he is unpopular (ok a lot more than unpopular) in Swindon, but I do think the Waterford, and possibly Montenegran, links could be good for your club.

Thanks for the updates they are a good read and interesting to hear how our loan players get on. Not all fans hate power by the way. Poor player recruitment can happen and happens to a huge amount of clubs up and down the country and I don't mind what he's doing here. He has kept our club alive, got some good players through the door, spent money and until I see evidence that says he is screwing us il keep an open mind. 

Good luck for the season.

What Montenegrin link?

http://www.totalswindon.com/sport/swindon-town-chairman-lee-power-eyeing-to-buy-football-club-in-montenegro/

Didn't he also bring in a Balkan director a year or so back as well? IIRC he was Bosnian rather than Montenegrin, but don't think it's too much of a stretch to suggest the link originates there?

I know this isn't going to do anyone's spirits any good after the Port Vale loss, but Tom Smith scored his first goal for us on Friday. We was excellent again. Unbelievable engine, mad for a tackle, and any time he makes a mistake, he seems to atone for it straightaway. Jake Evans didn't play. We went with a more experienced right back. Jake might have a chance of getting back into the team in midfield. Tom's been one of our top players so far. He was ecstatic when he scored (an 85th minute goal to wrap up a great 2-0 away win) and did plenty of grabbing the crest :D Not sure whether you'll like to hear that or not!! We're top of the league after three games on goal difference even after the opening day loss. Looking a class above at the moment so the plan for being promoted in October is well on track. I'll post the goal once I get footage of it.

Just the sort of qualities that don't get you picked at STFC.  :(

it's unfathomable not to have at least have him as an option off the bench..

Am I the only one who thinks a few months playing at Waterford may well stand him, and us, in good stead next season when he's likely to be a regular starter in L2?

Of course, if they decide to renew his contract which expiers at the end of this season

And of course, if he decides to sign any new contract offered - iirc he was a bit hesitant to do so last year.

The last time I really saw us play well was the mid-week home game against Rochdale where he was the standout player for me in a midfield that destroyed a team that had won their previous six or seven games!  Never got a look in much after that.

I accept that it is difficult to burden kids with too much responsibilty.....expecting Tom Smith to be our saviour is unfair.

The reason we're going down is an accumulation of poor decisions over the course of 2 years, not solely his being loaned to Waterford.

Of course he will benefit from it.

Given he hasn't been included in our own plans wrongly or wrongly there is nothing to lose.

And to be clear, I don't thinks he'd be our saviour.

Just that after watching our totally bullshit powder puff midfield (pre-Ince) he offered something different to a thing that was completely broken.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=HpJyhTqv2sU

3:50

He'll never fit in our 1st team because his shot was on target.

Exactly. Even if he was to Ince what Rogers is to an in form Kasim, he would provide some of the combative element we need, whereas a midfield featuring two or three ball playing midfielders without anyone with a bit of bite just seemed unbalanced. Even peak era Barcelona had someone like a Busquets who could break up play a bit.

I am not saying he would have been our saviour, but he would have got the crowd going and perhaps a few of the donkeys around him!!  but I do agree with you saying about the poor decisions we have experienced from our leader!

Hi again. Sincere commiserations on your relegation. No worse feeling. Just to let you know, Swindon have recalled both Smith and Evans so they played their last game for Waterford on Monday. Their loan deals had a little longer left on them but Evans wasn't getting game time and Smith has been dealing with a niggly knee injury. Smith was absolutely brilliant for us. Won player of the month in March and has been a real crowd favourite. He is out of contract in the summer so I assume Swindon are trying to re-sign him. He should be starting every game in League Two. Huge energy, great attitude and has a complete midfielder's game. We're expecting more loanees from you later in the year.

They will be Twine, Simpson and Ouldridge. Bet you a guinness

Tell me more  :) :pint:

Twine would get blown over by a mild breeze by he does look a semi decent prospect, he's quite highly rated.

Nice to see good things about Smith, hopefully we can tie him down for a few years!

Being slight doesn't have to mean being weak, although looking at our lot this season it seems to. Mike Summerbee, a thin streak of a player, has often related that when he first got into the stiffs aged 17 he got a major bollocking from Bert Head about getting stuck in, or give up on trying to be a pro.

Consequently became a right bastard, epitome of the 'get your retaliation in first' school of football. Son Nick S ditto. Bremner, Scholes, there's loads of them. Trouble is you've got to be prepared to get hurt. Why would any of these Prem youngsters risk this with the money they're earning already? I'd prefer we invested in slightly older rejects who need to get back into pro football and maybe realise you've got to get hurt to make it.

Old git rant, sorry.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39816069

Some dodgy goings on in RoI Div 2.

2 other Athlone Town games being looked into.

Weren't Athlone, Waterford's first opponents  :hmmm:

Waterford will qualify for the champions league in my lifetime.
Watch this space.

I sure they will in a few years if Power continues his investments, they need promotion this season then once they get into the higher division then they can have a go at finishing top and getting into the CL qualifiers, that is how power will make his money on them and probably more of a priority

Any word of Tom Smith getting a new contract?

Did I hear somewhere (sorry cannot remember where but might have been in one of the Flitcroft interviews) that one was on the table.

In todays adver, DF has offered both Smith and Evans contracts just waiting on them to come back from their break to sign them

Seen smith today at gym just got a brand new Audi.....

I knew I liked him..

The lad lives in the gym!!

That's great to hear. I was wondering how could Swindon NOT offer him one. Evans has a bit to go yet, but looks a capable player. But Smith can definitely rip it up in League Two. I saw he put together a highlights video and that's usually when they're looking for a new club. He really has it all and has such a great attitude. We'll all be keeping a close eye on him and hope he does well with you.

Was in Aldi, next to the gym more like.

Assume the is no suggestion Waterford were actively involved in the allegation?

http://www.the42.ie/fai-launch-investigation-into-bray-waterford-match-fixing-allegations-3596760-Sep2017/

 :hmmm:

www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/waterford-cork-league-of-ireland-12311345 (http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/waterford-cork-league-of-ireland-12311345)

I think this guy may be a bit bitter. He's saying Waterford are trying to buy their way to the title...ermm he does know Lee Power is the owner?

On another note, if I were Vigs I would ave used my loaf and stayed at Waterford. They've gone joint top tonight and beat the aforementioned team in the article. They finish top. They get a place in the Champions League 2nd Qualifying Round. Thats worth about £750k alone. Get through and it's even more profitable. Bet Power would be creaming himself if we sneak into the Play-off go all the way and Waterford clinch the title. Easily would net his clubs a total of around £2m. Oh and Vigs could've been playing in the Champions League next season. Football - It's a funny old game!

What are you on about? Vigs is still there and played tonight!

assume he means 'would use my loaf' and try to stay there next year.

Indeed Mr. Batch, indeed :)

I also think I would know he played. I was there...well that's what my VPN said anyway :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

And a crowd of nearly 3,700 tonight...anyone thinking what I'm thinking?

I think the prelim round participants get a lot more than £750,000. They get €2m for getting through to the group stage. Those knocked out at prelim stage get €3m.

If you get through to the group stage you are guaranteed €12.7m then you get extra money for a win or draw - a performance bonus. Those figures are just what EUFA pays. Add on TV and sponsorship and it’s a lot more.

Kerching for Power. Chuck in the Flint 20% and he’s a happy bunny.

I see as well that Mass Luongo is wanted by Villa, Palace and Malaga in a fee rumoured to be £10m+ would we have a large sell on clause there too?

Are you sure Mass isn't coming to the end of his contract  :hmmm:   He seems to have been playing well recently, which is usually a sure sign

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/queens-park-rangers/story/3061121/massimo-luongo-pens-new-contract-with-queens-park-rangers

Power - the evil genius...

Interesting... a sell on might be a possibility.  I sense a Waterford, STFC branch Euro road trip coming on. Wobbly Bob to Riga/Tallin/Vilnius

 :)
They are all great cities and whenever I've been the women always ask after you. ;)

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Didn't we already avoid paying Spurs a hefty sell-on by throwing Mass in as a makeweight in the Gladwin 2-for-1 deal? Would be impressed if Power also managed to get a sell-on clause in the deal.

Unless of course QPR then go and play him at his own game...

QPR could well play Power at his own game but I would be surprised if we didn't have some form of sell on clause in the contract, no matter how small a percentage.

Is Gladwin still at Blackburn? He seems to have faded whilst Luongo's career has shone.

I think shone is pushing it a bit, wanted by a Championship Team, a potentially soon to be championship team and a soon to be Segunda División team. As for the price its just the inflated values pushing things up £10m is about £2m in old Pre Pogba money!

Should at least allow Power to recoup some of the money has put into the club.

Ok, well shone in comparison to Gladwin!

You are forgetting his international achievements as well. Clearly it helps being in an 'inferior' International side but he has been consistently good internationally.

34 caps at 25 isn't a bad haul TBH, Mass has been QPRs stand out player this season apparently and Gladwin has suffered several more injuries this term I think he may be out for the rest of the season.

Cheers PV!

Reading on the Blackburn forum they say Gladwin is now back in training and in contention for a place on the bench for tomorrows game at Gilligham, he has had complications after a knee operation back in November/December time and not started a game since September.