Thetownend.com

The season coming to a close and we look doomed. Recall posting a few times on here stating players such as Rodgers and Barry were poor and Power buying cheap rubbish would land us in trouble.  Several posters shot me down. Question, are these Pro Power backers still around? Still confident Power is taking us forward? So far he has successfully alienated the fans, signed a squad as poor as I can remember and made it a chore to attend matches. Season ticket  renewals are going to be interesting.  I will continue to go to support the team but will be calling for Power to leave at every juncture. Hopefully he loses money and realises he isn't wanted and finally fucks off. Roll on when this happens.  #POWEROUT

It's always nice when you swing by, GL5 Red.

Cheers! Very depressed at the moment. Sad times. Reckon we will bounce back next season?

Find posts where people have defended Rodgers and Barry and i'll be amazed.

When they both first appeared. Having played at a decent level can spot a shit player a mile off. Said both of these were and I promise you people on here and Facebook page shot me down. They are not alone, plenty more dross to chose from.

I think Brad Barry has just had an off year, he's far better than his performances this season suggest.

An off year? Make no mistake if Gareth wasn't his uncle he would not be a pro footballer. He has no pace, gets beaten everytime and makes so many mistakes I have lost count.  Complete dross.

I personally think Rodgers and Barry will come good. They've shown real promise at times this season. Give them time GL5, you'll see.

And I'm pro power, he's done a good job, just failed in a few minor areas this season.

To be fair it's really hard to construct an argument against him

Barry and Boo may find themselves having as big a slide down the leagues when released in the summer as George Barker did when he ended up at a Conference South side straight after leaving us.

I'd have thought they will be confident of getting a deal at a Conference national club...Rodgers will find a club in League 2 I reckon.

:fishing:

🎆

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: :clap: C'mon power pull your finger out and get GL5 in as chief scout

so come on then smart arse what level did you play at and which star players did you recommend as ones for the future.

Power's inability to hire a highly qualified chap off an internet forum as chief scout is the last straw!

Barry was good last season. Poor this season... He's far from the biggest of our issues at full-back.

The likes of BOO, Barry and Brophy last season started off as 3/10 players. They managed to get up to 5/10, namely just about acceptable lower Div 3 standard. Obviously the hope was that they progress to a 7 like a Gladwin and then be sold on. hasn't happened they've regressed to a 2, or being generous a 3.

Yaser Kasim has been even stranger... started off at a 2.....rapidly got up to an 8/9, now a 1.

You would need to be in close daily contact with these players to know why they've regressed.... in other words you'd need to be Luke and Embers. Is it just coincidence  :hmmm:

I'm going to stick my neck out and say there is a problem with training. As you say many of the players we have seem to have gone backwards. I do wonder what the hell they actually do in training, apart from organise Fifa tournaments on their playboxes.

tbf he didn't claim to be able to spot good players, his special talent is, apparently, being able to spot shit ones. Although this season, that's generally been a case of pointing at the ones in the red shirts.

Devizes sunday league division 7

Which would surely mean he could select the good players by process of elimination.

Sign him up I say. He played at a decent level, dont ya know?
ิ

Certainly a noticeable decline has set in since we left Wanborough.

The new training facility seems a chimera...always seemed too good to be true. Having said that Hoddle and Ardiles, managed OK with the most basic of facilities, dog shit covered grass on the CG extension, and astro throwing area on the athletics for some keepy up volleyball.

Down the years I've always liked to watch training.... you do get a decent feel for how things are shaping up. Sadly latter day Wanborough became too difficult because of increased security, you could no longer pedal up and just walk in through the woods. These days I'm not even certain where they train.

Halcyon days were at the A ground... take in training and get loco numbers from the footbridge, that's multi tasking man style  :)

We appear to be making the rash assumption that they train. Fitness and basic organisation appears to suggest otherwise.

tbh, I think that might actually sum up our recruitment process over the past couple of years - "sign up loads, we'll bin the shit ones, then play what's left". Just no-one remembered to ask "But what if they're all shit?"

When someone raised the subject of training at the Trust AGM last night, John Trollope said that he thought it odd that current day players seem to pick up far more injuries (pulls and strains) than in his day.  He reminisced about the training in the 1960s at the Wills Avenue sports ground where the changing rooms were a hut with two tin baths in it.

Errrrrrrrrrr, no.

You've missed the 50 shades of brown between.

Trollope went over 300 consecutive [league?] games before crying off (pretty acceptably) with a broken arm and then returning for 400 more games.  A genuine legend.

Spot on and one of the more disappointing aspects of these modest prospects showing a small degree of progression is that they did indeed fall back lower than ever.  They appear to personify the more recent failures in coaching and motivation.  You have to wonder why Williams, a contender for worst manager in the football League is (allegedly) so highly rated as a coach?

The A ground. Not Wills Avenue as such, but a patch of land next to the railway line, right on the boundary of Swindon and Stratton St Margaret.  Hence the workshop by the entrance was known as The Boundary Works. Stratton in its collective forms of SM, Upper and Lower, was bigger than Swindon.

It was a bit more than that...as it had floodlights and a small stand.

Oh, right.  It was JT who referred to it as "Wills Avenue" and that rang a bell with my childhood memories.

Here's an interesting piece about the three sports grounds:
http://www.swindonweb.com/?m=8&s=116&ss=955&c=4415

The pic of the 1975/76 Vickers FC team appears to show them as having been managed by Des O'Connor and John Gorman  :)

Redbuck..I once played for the school B team and scored so that's a high level isn't it? Shall I send you my CV? Notice a few on here attempting to be sarcastic and funny are the ones who didn't have the nowce to realise we problems early doors instead preferring to try and pick the bones out of those that expressed their concerns.  Everything about Power is concerning, when Sherwood was appointed again he tried to fool the fans by saying it was one of the biggest appointments in clubs history. For those still thinking things will be ok maybe also consider Power and his previous businesses. Hardly a successful businessman. Anyway, even if we were relegated to Wiltshire premier some on here would defend him. Concerning how some are so gullible.  Hopefully between now and the end of the season fans unite and express their anger and frustrations to Power telling him in no uncertain terms he isn't wanted. Maybe then we will start to enjoy some good times again. #POWEROUT

No mention of the A ground there. These places were my stomping ground as a kid particularly the BR ground. Hoddle sometimes usd the BR ground for training and Ossie sometimes used the Wills. The loss of these traditional working class places along with the working mens clubs with their indoor pursuits like crib darts and skittles has been a tragedy.

If you look at the map on that article, then the A ground was alongside the track that can be seen running off to the railway beyond Copse Avenue

There used to be a wondeful annual bowls tournament, which involved men and women troting round between the various greens at Swindon BC, County Ground BC, Wills BC, BR BC and Garrards BC.  Swindon BC and CG BC are still just about hanging on.

Negative prick all his life eventually right about something

Negative prick? Owww sorry big man sorry that I have massive concerns at the way club is being ran into the ground. Sorry again big man.

I'm so glad that despite us having a thoroughly depressing season we've at least got a bunch of people who are able to say "I told you so." It's so much better than doing anything proactive, offering a constructive solution or having an opinion that isn't on a par with a child that's just done its first poo in a toilet.

I wish I would have been proved wrong but it was obvious as the owner is full of it unfortunately hardly anything is positive. Moving forward just hope something positive happens. We all know once fans stop attending they are hard to entice back.  Just hope Power does not do too much damage as we all want good times to return.

GL's concern comes from his love for his club. If he was one of the first to come on here and tell us that Power and "Firty Free Feavers On A Frushes Froat" are incapable? Then, those of you who didn't listen, or couldn't see the problem have a chance to own up and say, he was right and you were wrong.
Best to leave the proactive to those that can make the difference to the team. Namely the owner and super coach/manager/failure.
GL nobody on here will ever own up to being wrong. So for your peace of mind, drop it.

Anyone who has supported STFC for more than 5 minutes will have had misgivings over a new owner. If the adage about being once bitten is true at least. The difference is some people have a righteous smugness that has nothing to do with loving the club and again is more about saying "I told you so." That's pretty pathetic IMO, and almost looks like you delight in our shitness. It's because I do love the club that that attitude irks me.

Re inept, fair play mate regarding your post. I'll take that on board.

Certainly no delight in us being shit mate. Followed us home and away for 30 years and this season has hurt and angered me. I want us to come back stronger so fingers crossed we do. No matter how shit we get I will always go irrespective of the division.

Fair play to you for that. Let's hope we do.
And I would happily admit to being wrong if I thought I actually was wrong about something. My attitude was/is that football will always be unpredictable and to be certain about success or doom either way is the wrong approach. That's just me though. 

Over these 30 years, I'm guessing that you were able to predict every season we were going to be relegated? Obviously due to your playing at a high level of football.

If so, I look forward to hearing from you every pre-season for your thoughts.

Fans unhappy in poor season shock, get over yourself, #powerout in a forum post isn't going to change anything. We would all like a chairman that can give us success, personally I can't see the queue of them lining up behind power, you can't change a chairman like you do a manager (we can't even change a manger!).

The point I'm actually getting to is what do you actually want? And realistically are you going to get it? Is it sustainable? Because for a fan has apparently been around 30 years this isn't the worse you have seen and this isn't the worst chairman you have seen.


if everyone from the off expressed these concerns where would that have got us? I'm also taking for granted your view that everyone has happy and loving the shape of the team in pre-season because I can't remember this ever happening either.

I probably don't do myself any favours my some of posts but just wound up with Power abd how things have gone.  But make no mistake I support Swindon Town and attend matches irrespective of on/off field activity. Here is hoping for an upturn in fortune as we certainly something.

Everyone is pissed off, find a team in the country in the bottom 3/4 where the fans are really happy. We are no more deserving of a successful team than the majority in this league.

Agree to disagree iffy. Not gunna spend all weekend reasoning. Plus, gotta pack sandwich box for Bradford away.

I think there are some over reactions here. The facts are:

1. We have an owner who has a business plan that doesn't involve spending lots
2. To keep costs down we get loans from other clubs
3. We are a small club who historically bounces between L1 and L2 (and flirts with high echelons occasionally)
4. We sold a lot of players last year and the year before.
5. The players we have brought in have not been of the same standard.
6. The ones that remain don't look that great without those who were sold
7. We don't seem to be able to score goals.
8. We keep gifting goals to the opposition
9. The Chairman is sticking with his coach who he has given a 5 year contract
10. The coach wont resign as he has a 5 year contract
11. We are about to be relegated.
12.We will need a complete rebuild for next year to be competitive.

The rest is just noise.

Just answering this will help me understand your view:

The point I'm actually getting to is what do you actually want? And realistically are you going to get it? Is it sustainable? Because for a fan has apparently been around 30 years this isn't the worse you have seen and this isn't the worst chairman you have seen.

13. we are seemingly stuck with a bollocks academy reject/loan system that produces a bollocks style of football, a chairman who refuses to meaningfully engage, a shit manager, an even shitter director of football.

yeah, can't see why anyone would see where GL5 is coming from...

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Surely you spent your Saturdays playing? If you played to a decent level...


My view on Power is still mostly 'let's see what he does next'
From what we are told, he's done good things in the background with regards to debts, wage budgets and our losses. To be that is a short term plan to stabilise the club. Once that's done, step two is to progress forward.
It would seem he's done step one but hasn't moved onto step two - the worry is, he never does.

Playing recruitment similar. Using the loan system, young prem rejects, non league punts is a decent way to go. To use Batch's 'knife to a gun fight' analogy.
There is no harm in bringing a knife with you to a gun fight, as long as you have a gun in the other hand!

Loans, youth, punts mixed in with decent, solid seasons pros has always been the way to go.

Again, the fact there has been no change to the on pitch and off pitch philosphies is the worry.
Neither will work long term, they should be stepping stones to better things.

We will need a huge rebuild in the summer because the playing squad is fucking garbage.

Excellent posts singingiiiffy.


If Chubbs offers you one, turn it down. A sandwich, that is.

Fair play. Nearly 25K posts and I finally agree with you on something.

That's says a lot more about you than me :)

Well put DV

A rebuild is inevitable as only a handful of players are under contract.  The worry is that it's the recruitment that has been off for a couple of years now.  Last time in Div 4 we had a core of Wilson buys.... Ritchie, Flint, Ferry, Caddis decent for Div 4, which held together PdC scattergun approach.

Next season we have nothing left, maybe Luke Norris might get 10 goals.   

The rot set in with BOO, after the post Preston clear out, he was our big signing, given that previous recruitment had been OK, I held out hopes, especially as Power seemed quick to get him rather than the usual wait til the last minute. Hopes soon evaporated.

Last season Conor Thomas was obviously seen as a decent capture, hence 3 year contract...apart from the odd glimpse, he's been hugely disappointing.

We picked up a couple of kids in the Jan window....they will be expected to carry the side.

well put DV.

Well put DV

Put well DV

People are now going to open this thread and see it's a sad state of affairs we all agree with DV :D

Infinite number of monkeys.....

Is part of the A ground in this picture, or is it all Wills?

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fI14DqwvFZg/T5Ju42He3vI/AAAAAAAAEcI/551YT-IF2XA/s1600/County+Ground+and+Garrards.JPG)

I may be wrong but I think the major number 1 reason we are where we are on the pitch is the persistent pursuit of a playing style which is completely disastrous .

Wills ground...is in the foreground. So no A ground.  You can see 2 bowling greens one at Wills and one at the Extension.

Also the grass tennis courts, which were more or less where the game advertising sign is by the Magic.

As a kid used to squeeze in through, hole in the fence.... you were meant to pay.

As much as I'm disappointed with this season and ultimately think we are down, I do believe in the model trying to be applied. Develope players and sell them on for a profit we can't afford to do anything else. This season it has just not been done well powers and co have just got it wrong not the players and not the fans. All the calls for powers to go without knowing the alternative is madness. If there was a rich owner wanting to buy us powers would be the first to sell up at a profit. The fact that this has not happened to me means only worse is out there. I for one don't want another Jed mcrory back here. If there was a better alternative then I would swap powers in a flash but there is not.


Sent from my iPhone

I have no faith in the model. Apart from the initial 6 months of the PO season we've been rank.

As with any business you have to invest to progress - hence the decent PO season, Power invested in players.

If you run a business where you have to invest in plant and machinery to remain competitive and if you don't you stagnate, become uncompetitive and, ultimately, you close down.

This so-called sustainability is really bollocks. It's just another way of saying I'm not investing. The club isn't being sustained, it's going backwards at a rate of knots. Rattling around in L2, or worse, still wont put off some punters, mind.

right,  so we've stagnated, and we are uncompetitive,  so when will he close us down and fuck off ??.

I didn't say he will - I was on about 'ordinary' businesses.

If you would like to argue against the stagnant and uncompetitive bit, though, I'd like to hear it.