Thetownend.com

Can we be relegated? Maybe. Atmosphere could get ugly.

This sums up our season, we should sing it tomorrow at the ground.

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

Hopefully Oztumer will still be injured as he was one of the best players i've seen this season.
They haven't won in last 6.

A nervy 1-0 victory, goal from Ajose.

I hate it when teams that have had a bad run play us

Very tempted to go to this. Just the traffic on the M5/6 interchange that's putting me off and all the 50 mph speed restrictions both ways from the M42 towards Tewkesbury. 1 hr 36 mins seems reasonable but it won't be that today. All the yim yams & yow yows coming back from the south west will put paid to that.

I'm going today, and I'm not usually much of an away supporter.

I'm going to say 2-1 Town with our lot creating a good atmosphere (As long as we're winning.)

Not expecting a win, but knowing Swindon we will probably win today  (to give us some hope) then cocky it up next Saturday.

Sent from my SM-G935F

I've had some damned fine visits to the Bescot over the years. I'm not going today and I'm sad to say I don't think today will live up to previous visits.

Last chance today, relegation rivals all have games they will probably lose...then again so have we.
Come on Swindon!

Such a difficult game where I think 3 points are critical.

Sadly head says despite our recent upturn and their struggles it'll be a draw or loss.
-------
on the plus side, just noticed the Pox can't make the playoffs. not much of a crumb of comfort but at least they can't be 2 leagues above us next year

Would love a win, a draw wouldn't be the end of the world but expect defeat.

Having ummmed and ahhhed after my previous post I asked the family if they'd like a trip the Walsall. Wife, yes if everyone wants to go, son, uuummmm can I go to the outlet with my mates? And that is what I'm and we're as a club up are up against. I can't leave him on his own he's barely 13 BTW. Yesterday he mentioned it to me in passing which is why I gave it some thought earlier. So armchair support it is sadly.

It's a winnable game and should we do and still have a chance then we'll deffo go to the Scunny game. 2-0 win today.

Think today will follow the same arc as the last two games.
A draw which will neither drag us out of it or kill us off - leaving that small glimmer of hope for another week.

0-0 or 1-1

I'm still working on the theory we need at least 6 points. draw today and we still need two wins.

Debated going today, because my son wanted to go.  Have woken up feeling rubbish, so that ended that thought.  Probably for the best, as our away supporting record is pretty dire.

We'll probably win, but so will everyone else around it and then we'll all be saying 'what if' again.

As the locals prepare to feel the noize, it's lots of pre match big bushy 70's sideburns in the St Matthews Hall.

A welcome opportunity to visit the motherland today.
Lazienki Park and Stare Miasto are not how I remember them.
The accents have changed and everybody is called either Dudley or Shirley.
What is going on.

They still make luxury leather goods and saddles here, mainly for well padded, over privileged buttocks to bounce up and down on.

Point of no return today.
The recent game plan has been ok, just needs a much better execution in the final third.
Some of the team need to unclench the cheeks slightly, play with a bit of freedom and we might just do ok today.

Get stuck in today, Town.

Faint heart never fucked a pig!

I was umming and aahing about going today but the combination of being on my jack and the M6 on a bank holiday Monday means that I'll be listening on the radio while making chilli.

Rock and Roll....

Still frustrated with Williams over his negative tactics in the 2 previous games I suppose a point against the Dons was a bonus but can't help it was 2 points dropped against AFC, Conroy has been a massive plus in the defence but for me the midfield is still a problem area Ince has been outstanding Thomas is only in the side because of that goal at millwall Gladwin has been a massive disappointment but still feel he could get an important goal for us, Colkett although decent too many fancy flicks and tricks not what we really need in a relegation battle Kasim gone AWOL,Goddard tricky definitely got something about him but too lightweight then there's the enigma that is Anton Rodgers totally 💩 for 3 seasons but could he be a hero with a free kick goal against Charlton on the last day that saves our 🥓 Shit or bust for the next 3 games just bloody go for it go 3 upfront late in the game although a point today would be a decent result I'd gladly settle for a 90th minute winner from Norris off his arse they all count COYR let's have 'em 3 wins from the last 3 games and we'll all be wondering what all the fuss was about 😉 Hopefully a new season will bring us fresh optimism a new manager, no Sherwood and a clear out of the deadwood 👋🏻👋🏻 BOO,Barry,Rodgers,Brophy,Kasim, and Branco yes he's improved but there's always a mistake in him waiting to happen better options will be available in the summer

STFC....."WAKE UP"

Conor Thomas starts again.

Gladwin for Goddard

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C9ncR8KXoAA7-Ln.png:large)

Walsall are struggling for form and goals and we desperately need to scrap for at least a point today.

3-0 Walsall.

We sound like we have started poorly.

Oxford 1 Port Vale 0

Charlton 1 Gillingham 0

Northampton 1 Shrewsbury 0

Shrewsbury losing

Luck favours the brave, how are doing then?

Doesn't really matter what the other sides are doing though if we can't grind out at least 1 more win this season.

I can imagine how Barnes Wallace felt in the ops room at Scampton while those brave airmen fought their way to bomb the dams. I'm sat in the lounge at home, SPN HQ on with the sound off. The click on the mantelpiece tick ticking away just waiting for some positive news.

Exactly this. 

I'm finding it difficult to listen, so as I'm feeling a bit better, am off to B&Q and B&M.  The last time I visited these places, we won at Fleetwood.  A repeat performance would be marvellous.

My oven chips are nearly ready.....

Charlton 2 Gillingham 0

be right over.

Scunny 2 Chesterfield 0

Not that that really matters.

Fairly even game, both sides have had a few half chances.

It's going to be 1-0, just hope it's to us.

Decent turn out, although it's always hard to guess how many when you are in the middle of s crowd

very tight. should have been down in first minute but otherwise limited them. had a couple of chances ourselves but not that creative.

Ince and Gladwin stand out. Conroy again impressing. branco  got a crucial block .. Colkett's you feel he could yet be key.

Barry weak link, Thomas not done much.

Following this from Beijing of all places! COYR

 Sign at Walsall. Let's hope the players take note.

How many bicycles are their really in Beijing?

Years ago millions, now making a comeback with a cycle scheme a bit like Boris organised in London as traffic is gridlocked!

My chilli is finished. And very nice it is too, if I say so myself.

Charlton 3 Gillingham 0

Is Julie still working?

Come on Swindon

Come on you cunts.

Shit. I've run out of freezer bags.

Northampton 1 Shrewsbury 1

I'm beginning to think a draw wouldn't be a terrible result, based on the other results, but a win now would be priceless!!

Goddard on for Thomas.

Scared me when they said we have a midfield of Colkett, Goddard, Gladwin. Not a lot of tracking back there!

Their Messi is now on...

A draw is all well & good, but it isn't going to get us to enough points that we need at the end of the season

He's bound to score the winner isn't he?

Yep

Brophy for Dabo

Gas 1 Oldham 0

I know they are not going to do it, but I feel sick with nerves and hope that we'll score!

Indeed, it's the hope that kills you

Is OG playing?

Oxford 2 Port Vale 0

C'mon! 8 mins! Just missed a chance

We're all over them!!

They're all over us!!!

Fuck

I need to put £100 on Walsall not losing,That'll do it.

End to end stuff.

Now playing 5 up front!

FFS

SHIT! 1-0 Walsall on the counter

Well done lads.

Absolute fucking bottlers.

Goodnight Vienna.

They can all take their "we go again", "we are still in the fight" and "taking positives" and fcuk right off

The crazy thing is...we can still get out of it. May as well go shit or bust because we're already 95% bust anyway  :suicide: :suicide: :bye:

If only the lottery numbers were that easy to predict.

No chance, we'd need to win 2 games to do that but it would be a shock if we even got a point from the last 2

We should have gone all out attack today from the off, gung ho and Williams may have gained some respect from me, as it is....he hasn't and should fall on his sword but he won't and I guess why should he?

I think Williams set us up so we could sneak a 0-0 draw, after all 3 draws=1 win :D

Foul throw from Barry. What a cunt.

Last 2 mins.

Walsall just missed open goal....Not that it matters.

Stick a fork in us. We're done..

We did. We were playing 5 up front apparently when Walsall walked through us and scored.

Sadly we have a sorry excuse for a manager, a sorry excuse of a team and are now a sorry excuse of a football club

What a chance we blew today.
Fuck off power
Fuck off Williams
Fuck off L1
And fuck off non league shit players.

I say it almost tongue in cheek. With a very heavy heart and an accepting mind.  It's crazy that Ince is the only true player busting a gut. :(

game over man, game over

not really, we are 2 points off safety, the others might not get another point and we could :hmmm:
get a win in the last 2 games

I blame Donkey.

What, for heading the ball?

One win from the next 2 could see us a point clear.

I hate myself for even thinking about it.

No. For starting the thread.

Hockaday
- Not enough clear chances in 2nd half
- Need a change in mentality
- Too little too late
- Need to win games
- Can start off cagey thats fine
- Norris might have a go, he's got a bit of energy. Id rather have him up front than Branco
- Gladwin had the best 2 chances but didnt notice him other than that
- Couple of early crosses. On 2nd ball, we didnt seem to pick it up
- Got caught with a sucker punch

Williams must go! We had to attack today from the start but yet again we wait until the last 10mins. I saw a stat that we havent scored before the 75th minute in 7 games.

You give credit when you can see they are trying to win a game but unfortunately we don't even seem to be trying. Williams has been happy to keep the unbeaten run going. Fuck the unbeaten run, win 1 and lose 1 is better than 2 drawers.

Once relegation is confirmed on saturday the following week only people who are under contract should play.

Ajose, obika, colkett - none of you care about the club (i think Gladwin does as he knows we are his only hope of signing for a football league team)

Williams is now on the radio. Why do I suddenly want to buy a rope and a step stool?

Ross Embleton, when your team is on the verge of relegation don't expect a good reception you fucking twat @Official_STFC #stfc

I'll have some of what you're on !.

I don't think we can do it, But its still possible :pint: :pint: :pint:

 :violin: Poor old Swindon.

Williams
- Big, big blow
- Still in same position points wise. So disappointing
- Wanted to defend to stay in the game as long as possible
- Put Goddard high up the pitch and Brophy as an attacking fullback but werent able to put the ball in the net
- Didnt want to give ourselves a mountain to climb in the game. We want to stay in contention and then should have the desire and energy to score late on
- Ajose and Gladwin had chances.
- Cant go charging forward all the time. Players need to keep the ball or it becomes like basketball
- Their goal. Tired legs from our defence
- Ended up playing with 3 defenders and no one else in that part of the pitch
- Pretty much 7 attacking players on the pitch
- Missed opportunity for us. We've put ourselves in this position where we've put huge pressure on ourselves. We have to make sure we stay in the game and stay aggressive. Walsall played the game well.
- Still think we can get back to back wins but we have a mountain to climb.
- Rather not tell the opposition what we are going to do, but we cant lose the plot an leave ourselves vulnerable
- Given different circumstances without huge pressure the players we have now could finish in a healthy league position.
- Difficult to judge as its taken some time to bed into a struggling team
- Cant be too critical of the team. They have run around and tried, but after such a late goal, its devastating and the body language showed that
- Williams praised the crowd today.

Says a great deal about this shite division this season that we even have a chance of staying up

Hockaday and Parkin berating playing Ajose and Obika too wide.

Understand them starting that wide, but need to pull them in closer together after 20-30 mins so that they can play off eachother and the rest of the team can make chances for them.

Parkin just said he can count on one hand the amount of crosses he put in the box as a striker!

Just fuck off you clueless twat! Wanted to defend to keep us in the game. We need to win games you bellend not be happy keeping clean sheets. On paper this team is capable but when you have the 'attackers' that we have we need to create 20 chances just to score 1! Ajose doesn't care about us, he would never have left us for Charlton if he did. Obika doesn't care and thats why he wants to leave. Norris is the only one who is effectively playing to stay in this division and when we are chasing the game and need a goal he leaves the striker on the bench. I think Norris is shit but he has to be a better striker than Branco

Can't just go charging forward all the time,
When the fuck as that ever happened?

What a clusterf**k of a season, shambles after shambles led by the man at the top which has permeated through the whole club. Why is it that old players like Dave Hockaday and Steve White always seem to make the same observations regarding lack of work rate, lack of clinical finishing, lack of fitness and it goes on and on. Although there is still a slight glimmer of us getting out of relegation, I despair as to where we will be in 12 months time.

Everyone above us must be thinking thank god Swindon are so shit.

When you fail to score in 180 minutes of football and get 2 points out of 9 you've got no hope.  Fucking pathetic.  

Hockaday saying we were set up negatively.  So clearly Williams was hoping for a 0-0 then? What's the point of having 2 strikers if they're not going to be utilised properly?

Did Power bother to make an appearance today?  He's been very quiet of late.  Complete wanker is the cause of this mess. Shit recruitment and failing to sack a shit manager.  I still believe if Williams had gone just before we slipped into the relegation places or immediately afterwards, we might have been ok. 

don't understand the Brophy sub whatsoever. Dabo was doing fine, and Brophy didn't offer any more attacking threat.

i can't believe I'm going to say this but Noris should have been on making himself a nusence while we hoped the ball dropped to someone else in the box

Sad day.

We managed an extra shot on target today...3...

More  chances than George Best and a Monopoly Board and we still fuck it up.

I'm amazed we've lasted so long...

Bag of lime and spade too?

The Brophy sub was the right one to make last game but as you said Dabo was fine today.

How depressing is it that we were all crying out for Norris. Thats how low we have become as a club when we want someone who has scored 6 goals in all comps

so the game. I'm on the mobile so just a mini report.

Walsall were compact and we were slightly better than them but neither team created many chances. They took theirs we didn't.

Gladwin went close with a great run and had an improved game, but in truth it always looked a struggle to score.. why the hell Goddard squared with the shot on is a mystery.

so so frustratingly close but my opinion is 4 points won't be enough. 6 or bust.

 Our goose has been cooked for many weeks. The issue in the coming close season now turns to the very existence of the club itself.

 We will need to see some signs from Power that he has learned something about football, otherwise an Oxford/Rovers style drop to non league will be very much on the cards.

The current uncertainty about ownership of the CG is a major concern in such a developing scenario....it's not beyond the realms of possibility that a Torquay style catastrophe could unfold here.

Probably because when he didn't square in the MK Dongs game he got hammered, even though I still think he did the right thing in shooting in that game..

yeah i suppose it's a confidence thing. shame.

Ajose won't be here next season,Obika doesn't give a flying f*** yet again Williams shows he tactical genius by bringing on Brophy "the 1 trick pony " Norris is under contract and if I was I'm be glad if Williams and Embleton finally get what they both deserve. We should of gone 3 upfront but Williams was only interested in playing for the draw after all "3 draws is a win" 😂😂 and there in lies our problem grow some f****** balls and just go for it you t*** Rant over !!!

Embarrassing looking at the league table & seeing how poor some of the sides within 8 - 10 points of us are. A good manager would have kept us up this season.

There are ony about 3 of our first team that will be here next season, we really will be a team full of non-league players next season based on recent history of purchaing players..

We already are.

With some important exceptions

Vigs, Obika, Kasim, Thompson.  Replace those players with non-league/youth players and we look even weaker than we do now.  That's a big chunk of football league experience being removed from your squad.

Probably because when he didn't square in the MK Dongs game he got hammered, even though I still think he did the right thing in shooting in that game.


I would say square it every time with his goal record,Branco has scored as many in less games and as a defender.

Yet, he'd need 15 hands to count how many goals he scored for us. Total boss.

....and thats at least 2 too many.

The match stats say 19 - 8 in favour of Walsall in shots at goal.

The game was nowhere near as one sided as that, it's just that they took a pop as soon as they had a sight of goal, whereas we tried to create the perfect chance rather than shoot.

I guess there's an element of that being down to confidence, but can't help feeling its partly down to how the team are asked to play.

It's unreal that we aren't down yet.

I can see us beating Scunthorpe and then Port Vale & Bury winning as well :(

Relegation to league 2 is the  least of our worries if Power is here next season.

League 2 is about physicality, commitment and experience all which under this model we seriously lack.

Don't always agree with Reg but he is spot on- our very league status is at stake unless Power changes tack which I cannot see him doing

Exactly. :clap:

John Terry as player manager next season;)

Don't be surprised if power sells the club before next season.

And don't be surprised if power remains, Williams stays as manager and shitloads of loans next season and crowds dipping under 4000

Who to?we have no assets.

I'll be quite surprised to be fair, even
 with your warning

We've never had any assets have we. Your guess should you wish to make one would be no better than mine or anyone else's.

Don't be surprised if powers does not sell the club before next season.

Neither do a lot of other clubs have assets but they still attract new owners. I acknowledge there are bad owners out there as well as good.

Yes we do not own the ground but neither do other clubs and they are attracting interest (Oxford and Vale)

We have little playing assets except Vigs as because as soon as there is a whiff of money Power cashes in

One big asset we have is our catchment area- it's huge.

Rumour has it only 1000 season tickets sold as opposed to 4000 this time last year . Sad sad times of the ten long term fans around me in the DRS only 2 have renewed.

Let's hope Power is off in the summer because if he stays with the model our league status is at stake.

Events do tend to point to him selling up- maybe that's why Williams is still in post he is waiting for someone else to pay up his contract ....

My question to you would be if we got rid of power and went into administration, would that make you happy? Power is no saint, but without him we would have no club. He has cleared a lot of debt.

End of the day, he is a business man. We have always been a selling club, that will never change.

"without him we'd have no club" is simply the worst case scenario of lots of scenario.

nobody knows. it's a gamble.

If you took Powers club,yes Powers club on Dragons Den Asking for money for a share in it they would all piss themselves laughing.For that reason "I'm Out"    Behave batch

It's certainly a gamble, but it seems a gamble some of our fans are willing to take. If we were mid table, none of these fans would be whinging. But we are in a poor position to a poor season of recruitment. I think Powers biggest flaw has not been sacking Williams, but there must be a reason why he hasn't.

Hating the manager, and hating the owner are two different things.

Not willing to change anything other than protect his pal is damning as far as I'm concerned. I know football fans are an odd bunch but sometimes we're right and this mess could and should have been avoided.

Cue back-to-back wins and survival.

Looking at L1 2017-18, we'd be fucked next season anyway.

Sorry batch read that wrong

Any new ownership is always the unknown.

But we simply have to take that gamble as we are royally screwed anyway if we stick with  Power

i don't know if the gamble is worth it.

don't trust power as far as i can throw him but if things are really as financially rosy as he says  then it's a tough one to argue against his intended approach.

If we don't get a change of ownership that we are doomed anyway- no way will our brand of kids cope with league 2

I would like to even see a trust/ fans takeover- run the club on a break even basis only- watch the fans and sponsors come back

To a run a club on a break even basis isn't possible. Especially with a trust. If it was, our trust haven't got the financial clout.

Can't see him going,he's still doing alright for himself.As i said earlier it's his club making his decisions answering to nobody.
Why did Black bail?,just sums up what being a town fan is.

Neither has Power got the clout- but at least the fans would trust the trust.

Power is only in it for himself- ask yourself why has he bought another club plus a golf club at the same time as making a total fuck up at STFC.

We have to smoke this man out. He isn't going to change he way he runs the club so we must run him out of town and force him to sell up

You are missing the point.

So what if power is in it for himself. He has invested into the club, the players and it's his business. He saved the club. Who else was there? If the trust were to take over the club, we would fall very fast into administration.

And you're basing this on what exactly?

With our trust?

Just got in, wasn't that bad... have seen much worse this season. Just didn't really look like scoring bar a very good run in the first half by Gladwin. Carrying too many passengers in the side: Barry, Thomas and Ajose have been very poor in recent games. Conroy only positive for next season.

A load of Town fans just arrived at the CG with flags, lit flares and are all chanting "We want Power out".

are you there?

Yes, I live in a flat that overlooks the CG nowadays.

Watching and listening from my bedroom window.

Is anyone there to see it? (Apart from EldeneRed)

Photo evidence needed to believe this

I doubt it. All pissed up by the looks. I'm hoping to be soon, as well.

take a photo

My smartphone and webcam are both broken. Best I can do is use my work iPad to take a pic tomorrow.

If anyone wants a beer in the meantime, PM me.

Whilst this may not be happening right now what are peoples thoughts on this happening on saturday. After the game obviously but as fans a stance does need to be taken

I don't see the point in demonstrating for the owner to fuck off unless there's a plan for what comes next.

'The Plan' will be with the new owners whoever they are whenever they take over after power has decided enough is enough. What you should be concerned with is what's Powers plan if he stays? Whether it is league one or two, he has to have one.

No. Without a plan we could end up with Power mark2 in charge, or worse. (Jed mark2). Even worse than those scenarios we could end up with no interested buyers, which would mean administration and folding. I'm less than happy with how this season has gone and would love to see the back of William, Embleton and Sherwood (whatever the fuck he does). I'd also like Power to change his recruitment policy. And if someone appeared, with the funds and desire to buy the club and see it progress, I'd happily join in to urge Power to sell up and fuck off. But the truth, at the moment, is there isn't anyone. As much as people dislike Power, don't be mistaken into thinking he's the worst option...

 I don't believe Power has particularly malign intentions for our club, however the danger lies elsewhere, in the present questions about the ownership of the stadium.

It is evident that SBC wish to cash in on the CG, as landlord.

It's the same situation at Plainmoor, Council owned ground with an ACV and convenant, however the club has fallen into the hands of Gaming International, like  Abbey Stadium. Their promise to Torbay Council, we'll build you a new stadium, if you flog us the ground, but of course as the club crashes through the non leagues, that won't happen.

This sort of scenario is entirely possible here, as both Councils are Tory run, and so therefore do not have the best interests of their communities at heart, beyond facilitating someone making a few bob at our expense.

Power needs to show that he can at least stabilise the club in Div 4 for the time being....while theTrust need to get on with trying to buy the CG.

Sorry i should have made it clear that I meant to protest about how the club is being run with regards to the football side and the fact Williams has not been replaced. I.e protest to get Williams out. Power as a owner I don't have a huge issue with. Yes i disagree with his policy eapecially when he then doesn't allow our own youngsters a chance but you only need to look at Orient to know we could be a lot worse. My only criticism this season is not dealing with the Williams situation in January as it is clear to everyone that we wouldn't be in this situation now if he did.

Part of me wonders if Williams has told Power that he will leave at the end of the season if he can't keep us up as otherwise I don't know why there is just silence from Power

Don't think its fair to say Obika doesn't give a shit thought we worked hard up top but playing so isolated from Ajse was never going to set up much. Gladwin probably had his best 45 minutes since his return but sadly barely featured 2nd half bar header that keeper saved well. Thought Barry was ok on friday - but was truly garbage today summed up by his foul throw in 89th minute when we needed to push forward. As ever Ince immense and Colkett flattered to deceive. Really never looked like scoring or even that we thought we could score. Yet another game a half decent team would have won. Sadly we aren't that team

Amen

Yes. If you buy a business you haveto have a business plan, end of. Whether you like the plan is your issue but you don't know what it is because we don't have new owners yet. In fact I'd go further to say you don't know precisely what Powers plan is going to be next season whether in league 1 or 2 but you hope it's one you like. Your fear is if he sells up who is going to own the club and as I've said what plans do they have. So how full is your glass of Powerade?

So what is Powers plan? Genuine question.

I don't think he's that bothered what division we play in.His business is getting a player to sell every year and make money that way.We are now a tool for making money not a club wishing to go up the leagues,could he afford to go further up?
As for buying the ground
1 It needs money spent on it.
2 He might want to leave the site.What have the trust got then?
3 What happens if he doesn't pay rent?would we take him/the club  to court to get owed money putting the club in jeopardy.
4 Who signed a contract saying the club was responsible for the upkeep of the ground.?
As much as i want him to go i don't think he would,he hasn't done too badly finacially personally,We are the victims of his policy's.

If Williams wasn't manager we'd still be shit, less shit, but still shit. The majority of players are fucking crap, physically and mentally. With very few exceptions they could not give a shit. If these cunts were in the trenches wed have lost 2 world wars

Rightly or wrongly, I see it similar to brexit. I don't know what the future holds as a result of getting rid, but I'd sooner see the back of the cunt. How does anyone know if/when he states his intentions to sell up that there wouldn't be someone 'reasonable' to want to get involved? Have you looked around at the average age of most of our fans? What is noticeable to me is that supporting STFC is a dying trend. If people are interested in the future of our club then it goes beyond us. We need to get kids excited and enthusiastic again by going to football and that ain't happening anytime soon with what is currently being served up under this regime.

It is very difficult to see how Power will be able to make the necessary changes required to maintain our league status next season.

We know, he plans to run the club sustainably, but with anecdotal evidence of large numbers of season ticket holders not bothering next year, the budget just won't be there, to make the necessary recruitments of management and playing staff.

This will probably mean Luke and Embers being retained, with numbers of out of contract players, getting reduced offers as no-one else will be interested. Hence we'll be looking at another side unsuited for the league it is playing in. The only good thing is that only 2 drop from Div 4. If only 2 dropped from Div 3 we'd be in it next season.

I can't help but look at Oldhams and Shrewsburys squad and as bad as you think ours are, its better than theres

Those clubs probably realised they needed to win games to get out of trouble not just go on hoping every other team helps them out.

Disagree. Ours is total shit. Vigs mom in nearly every match until Ince came along. I'd take their squads any day of the week. They've both got one thing we haven't - fight and they will probably both stay up.

Sorry.

This. So many players not cut out for League 2 in our squad, let alone League 1.

This is exactly how I feel about the situation.

So, you would rather Power stay, knowing all the things that have got us in this position will continue, leading us to God knows where instead of taking a chance on the club finding a more sympathetic owner?

That's why so many fans are turning their backs on the club - they can't stomach 'more of the same'.

Did you not actually read what Herthab said? or have you just read over it and decided he said he wants Power to stay?

I'd happily see the back of Power if there's a feasible, trusted and moneyed alternative. Until that happens, I see no reason in trying to "smoke him out" because it could be a whole lot worse, and the alternatives are terrifying. Jed mk2, BEST holdings... be careful what you wish for.

We're going down. It happens (about once every 5 years, like clockwork). This summer is huge though, and will be a big indicator of what Power wants this club to be.

If we have the budget we had this year, we'll be top 7 financially, and should compete if we recruit well. I appreciate that's a fucking humongous "if".

Exactly.

It is just about possible to see this one as a "footballing" relegation.. which as you say can happen in the scheme of things.

What it is has done though is to destroy Power's main selling line, namely as an ex pro he's got an insight into the game, lacking in other owners.

As such it may be he feels he's rinsed the model for as much as he can. 

My own feeling was earlier in the season that he should sell up..... now though I've changed my mind. The club is in such a parlous state, that we need some stability.

Hopefully our slide might bottom out, somewhere around 17th/18th in Div 4....even Blackpool, have managed to creep into the PO zone

Point is there appear to be plummeting season ticket sales, so forget any league two top 7 budget

Not sure who might be responsible for that?


Oh, us of course :doh:

A lot of fans think the grass is greener on the other side re power. This may or may not be the case. Would a year in div 4 do us any harm? Like others have said, let's see what the summer brings (awaits we haven't signed 15 players in July etc).

We have to give Power some credit for the way the club is run behind the scenes. We are in a better place financially than previous owners.

Power may well be incompetent but, despite all the rumours and gossip so far, nobody has presented a shred of evidence supporting claims he is nefarious. It may (or may not) be shit for a while but it could be much, much worse.

Agree with this... Although now I'm at the point where I'd rather he dipped into his pockets and he bumped us back up to L1 (assuming of course we do indeed go down in the next few weeks which looks incredibly likely)

If he insists with this same model in League Two I think I will break something.

But what is his 'model'?

Yes we have a lot of loan players. This can be a good thing, but unfortunately this season we have recruited poorly. Take ince, he's been an excellent loan as has ajose. It's a shame we couldn't get them in sooner.

You seriously don't know  :hmmm:

Buy and sell players at a profit?! Surely that's what all lower league clubs do?

Club in a better position financially than when Power took over?

I'd be interested to hear comparative estimates on the total indebtedness of the club?

All lower/non league clubs would like to do it, many can't. Take Oxford, for example, they went something like 15 years without selling a player for a fee.

Power thinks because of his background in the game, he has a way of working the system to his, and by association "our" advantage.  The model is presently in pieces.

The model is shit, this season and last (to a lesser degree) has clearly shown that.  The fact that Power hasn't come out and admitted it's been a disaster and he'll revisit it in the summer worries me greatly for next season.

Next season, we'll lose our best players and Power will work the same system with less money, meaning surely that the quality of player that we acquire will be even worse? As Reg said, only 2 going down could be a saving grace.

Henry, Barry, Brophy, Starkey, Branco, Conroy, Smith, Iandolo, Norris, Twine, Young    Aug 5 2017 home to Lincoln 0-3 4,516 :suicide:

Exactly what has happened in the past that suggests we won't recruit in the summer? Recruit well? Who knows.... but everyone's just guessing based on fuck all.

Exactly, and I would put money on that if we go down we will get near on 6,000 at least for the first game of the season. Even with a shit season and Power not investing I think we will still average well over 5,500 even if we go down.

The Conroy signing shows that it is possible to pick up a rough diamond but he is 1 in about 10 and so the remaining 9 are usually pants. The quality of loanees since we had Pritchard, Mason etc has gone down and that's going to go down further in league 2.

Sherwood is really going to have to earn his corn next season as we are going to have to recruit a hell of a lot of players. Shame we didn't stay up as Ajose and Ince would be a cracking way to have started to strengthen going forward.

The impact on crowd is a bit of an imponderable...I'm sure I'm not the only one who knows previous long term season ticket holders who are not bothering this year

There is no doubt our crowds will go down and yes we all know several fans that are season ticket holders that will not be bothering if we do indeed get relegated (or even stay up) but I still think that we have a core home support much higher than most teams at that level and IF we started to win a few games our crowd would go up as happens, although the opposite is also true, obviously.

Not sure what our average crowds have been over the last 25 years but I would guess that they have been way higher than the 4,500 suggested by Nigel Grays a postie.

http://www.worldfootball.net/attendance/eng-league-one-2016-2017/1/

We are 11th best supported with an average of 70001. We only make it over 7k courtesy of 10500 v Pox. Apart from 9k v Coventry on opening day we haven't exceeded 8k this season.

Yes of course we will sign a few players and loan in several more but the cupboard is pretty bare player wise. Power seems pretty disinterested. If Williams stays which ridiculously seems far from impossible apathy is going to grow and grow. My point was whoever we open against in Division 4 is going to struggle to raise much enthusiasm amongst a severely de-motivated fan base.

We have sleepwalked to imminent relegation - the players aren't great but Williams has failed badly to get the best out of them - no way should we be where we are as we have had chance after chance to pull ourselves out of trouble but failed miserably to get goals to win points we probably deserved v Shrewsbury, Oldham, Chesterfield, Wimbledon, Walsall. Never mind folding when leading v Pox and Bradford and truly dire performances from winnable games at Bury, Port Vale and Northampton.

Power is never to going to appoint the Wise or Di Canio type manager we need to generate some  passion and interest again so yes 4500 may be low but with fewer away supporters and much reduced season ticket sales I think we are in for lots and lots more empty red seats next season

I'm with Nigel. I think a lot of people are committed for this season via season tickets but when they expire they're gone. A bad start could see gates under 4k. Alternatively power learns pragmatism, has a charm offensive, invests vigs money wisely, appoints a decent manager, does something with pricing, we wins couple and we're back up to 6k plus.

Got to be proud averaging just over 70k crowds in the 3rd division?   ;) :D

Exactly - relegation happens, but it's the way we respond which will be the telling factor in what Power wants with this club.

The last two times we've gone down, we've come straight back up having invested off and on the pitch. We're not going to match the shit show of Di Canio, nor should we ever replicate that, but this summer will be very interesting.

fuck off don't you know.

cheap and young and hope to sell, hope they are good enough.

But is that such a bad model if it works? Pays the bills....

If we go down it hasn't worked

Is a good model when it works though. We have just recruited badly pre season. January transfer window was better with Ajose and Ince. If we got those players in July/August, maybe we would have had a better season.

If's, buts and maybes. All too late now.

If it works then it is the same model that almost every club in the bottom 2 divisions would have.

If it doesn't work then we are pretty fucked on the pitch and Powers coffers are fucked off the pitch.

This season it obviously hasn't worked and IF we get relegated then any future fees for players will be significantly less than they would be in L1.

Currently we have 1 player under contract that is worth any fee at all and he will be sold in the Summer if we stay up or not so it is whether Power invests the Vigs money on replacements or not as to how the squad will shape up before next season.

For me the bigger issue is to replace Williams & Embleton who are neither motivators or master tactitians as to get the best out of whatever players we have/will have next season.

I still think that with better tactics and motivation that this squad would have stayed up in what is a very poor league, with a PdC, Wise or Macari style manager motivating them, getting them fit and playing for each other and the team - then that can often mask any deficiencies in ability.

Not based on fuck all, though, is it? It's based on the last 3 or 4 shite transfer windows. What makes anyone think the summer window will be any better?

Although the summer recruitment was poor Vigs aside... arguably more destructive has been the way players all ready at the club, have more or less stalled in development or become completely unplayable.

So the likes of Yaser, Hylton, BOO, Barry, Iandolo, Rodgers, Stewart have all bombed. These are our own players... of the other few in that category, only really Branco, Nathan to extent, can hold their hand up. Even NSSJO, has been below par when he has got on the pitch. JSW is of course excused.

I've been thinking about our recruitment this season...

Goddard, Murray, Delfouneso, Vigoroux, Doughty, Thomas, Furlong, Jones... Potentially all pretty good signings, there's a decent argument for all of them in there. Then in January, Ince, Conroy, Ajose, Gladwin, Colkett... Again, on the face of it, not really bad players (some of them luxury we didn't need). The only thing we missed was recruiting some experience alongside them. And that was a big miss.

Our main problem this season was the management / coaching / players from last season getting worse. The players have been unfit & poorly disciplined since August. The head coach, whilst he may be a decent coach, is not a manager and god knows what he says to 'inspire' his teams because the shit he comes out with post match worries me.

Ultimately, the FIRST thing that needs to happen in the summer (regardless of whether we go down or not) is that Williams has to go, or get some form of demotion.

Last time we were in League 2, we only had one home League game which fell (just) short of 7,000 and 10 that exceeded 8,000.  Oh and some 140,000 people attended our cup games.

Did you read what I said? The post I quoted suggested we wouldn't bring anyone in. Obviously we will. I completely acknowledged we have no clue if we will recruit well, but nice to see you agree with me that we will recruit and that it's ridiculous to think we won't.

the last time we were in League 2 we had a manager with a bit of nouse  and passion

Last time we were in League 2 we had a high profile manager who drew new season ticket holders in and walk up crowds when from fairly early on it was pretty clear we'd be pushing for promotion.  We also had good cup runs.

Next season won't be remotely comparable with the enigmatic Wiliams in charge.

Does anyone know how many season tickets have been sold? I don't imagine given our current situation many more will be flying off the shelf, so this will be a decent indicator of crowds next season surely?

Comparing the upcoming season to the last time we were in league 2 is like comparing a goldfish to an elephant

...but...we wouldn't have got those players in, in July or August as they pretty much go against the model which we did not deviate from till we were playing catch up after our 'model' signings weren't good enough.

It's been a common complaint from the beginning - not that the model is wrong by itself but that it's stuck to with no room for manoeuvre. I think most people would (or would have) been happy had we stuck to the model but been open to breaking the mould if it was necessary. The 'Swindon way' is not a way that's completely incorrigible or incompatible with rigour and strength, we've seen that in some of our better performances. Ince has made us an infinitely better side, not turned us into a bunch of cloggers, much like El-Abd did to some degree.

Irrelevant. Last time we were in League 2 we had a budget double anyone else.

...except not true

it's only worked once, ironically when Sherwood let us have a player or two we shouldn't. we also had a couple of older heads left in there.

two years in a row it's been a shambles.

nothing we've done in the last 4 widows makes me think they know what they are doing.

it needs tweaking and abandoning the policy of total youth. it's a shit strategy. too high risk/low yield

Is the league table decided on budget now?
Do the teams with the biggest budget always win the league?

who said anything about budgets, my point was we had a decent manager

I imagine the current top 4 L2 teams have high end budgets for that division and I'd say with confidence that L2 is dictated by budgets but you do need the right manager to use that budget. Di Canio had/was allowed to rebuild as the season progressed (nothing wrong with that).

The fact of the matter is that I didn't think we'd be straight back during Iffy Onuora's final days as manager and I fet the same when Paul Bodin was guiding us to the the end of Danny Wilson and Paul Hart's reign of terror.

Right now, we don't know what will happen but like previous eras, I'm not confident.

(If we go down)

In other straw-clutching news, Bury look like hanging on for a point at Bolton

Quite and a chairman bankrolling it who luckily for us walked away writing off the debt - not a sustainable model

Which they have done, another nail in the coffin

fucksake Bolton. 3 points from safety, 2 games left...

well at least even golden bollocks can't sit back on a 'hope to nick it'  strategy now.

it's over

Why do you think he was a decent manager? Achieved nothing before or after us and anyone would have got us promoted that year.

Feels like the relegation party will be in full swing  by half time on Saturday.

Well, he hadn't had a managerial job before us and has only had one after us with a team who haven't won a major honour since 1973.

Not just anyone would have got us promoted that year, that's bollocks just like the budget argument

you're so right.

..and it was not just promotion, it was champions by 5 points, automatics by 10 - without taking into account a Johnstone's final and 1 premiership, 1 Championship and two League One teams beaten in the League and FA Cups before going down to premiership opposition in each case.

If "anyone" could have done that, let's have "anyone" rather than Williams in for next season

So if he was so impressive, why hasn't he been snapped up, worked his way up the managerial ladder etc? Because he's a fucking lunatic on a power trip who won League 2 with a top-end League 1 budget and has since done fuck all else. Yes he drilled a good set of players into playing well, but he also spunked a load of money on shite, all through his agent, with suggestions of kickbacks etc all over the place, while also behaving like a complete arse to most of the staff at the club.

But I suppose he did wave a scarf around his head and run up and down the touchline, so....

Whilst i don't disagree with this, you could argue it was his first managerial post and he had wised up pretty quickly. Whilst he had a top league 1 budget we were top league 1 and heading north. Whilst i agree he was an arse    he galvanised the fan base to a point we can only dream of now. He will always polarise opinion.

NOt aimed at anyone in particular, but we (TEF) can't have the 'money doesn't guarantee' success argument every pre-season when we spend £4.50 on someone who once had a ground tour at Chelsea, then claim 'anyone could get us promoted with that budget' argument about the time we did actually have success.

Or can we..

Indeed...not everybody's cup of tea but I fucking loved him.

A pipe dream compared to what we have at this point today.

No manager worth his salt would work in this model, even Kmac fucked off early doors when he saw what it was all about.

Desperados or hopeless punts (like we have now) is all we have to look forward too and frankly, the best we can get.

I have this Horrible feeling that Williams we be leading us out in August on a sun drenched pitch at Accrington....

Erm, aren't your two contrasting points actually making the same point?

...... Did you read that before you posted it? They both basically say the same thing.

Ah balls, PaulD beat me to it.

Oh for a proper lower league gaffer like John Coleman.... ok he's Scouse and has more or less spent all his time in the north west either playing or managing in non league.  But he's learned the trade...  back around Jan it looked like Accy with their gates of 1200, were fucked and they were for the drop. Now in the PO slot, one defeat in 15 and that at Pompey.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Luke and Embers in the dug out come August.

I wouldnt be surprised to see them get contract extensions!

No. Just making the point badly.

1. Spend £4.50 as in the 2 most recent years - people say "money doesn't guarantee success" to justify the model.

2. Spend a gazillion (ish). People then say "anyone could get promoted with that budget" (i.e. money does guarantee success) -. i.e Di Canio.

I'm not correlating people in 1 are the same as people as those in 2.

I can't comment on why he's done nothing since and quite frankly I don't care, nor is it relevant.

On, your last line - I will tell you another thing he 'did' and that was win football matches, novel thing to appreciate about a football manager I know.

highest win ratio ever, yes indeed, but apart from that, DV, what did that Roman ever do for Swindon?

You can't blame PDC as he only did what he was allowed too, yes he wasted a shit ton of money on crap players, paid them off and bought others but by god did he know how to make a team work together and get results.

The blame has to be with the owner and his paid staff who let it get to the level it did, PDC should be haveen knocked down a few pegs and told to keep to the budgets agreed but Nick Watkins and Black didn't and he ruled the roost.

Now we have a totally different owner who controls every minute detail at the club so it runs how he wants and not how the manager wants. We have had worse owners, we have had better owners...... Owners come and go, hopefully Power leaves something to be used by the future owners / players / fans but it depends on what side of the fence you sit

What a load of total bollocks.




The sun never shines in Accrington!

they have nice pies though iirc. it's not all doom and gloom

yup, at least they did : https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.accringtonobserver.co.uk/news/local-news/pie-chart-shows-accrington-stanley-1273827.amp

I had a dream that we beat Scunthorpe 5-0 on the weekend and moved out of the relegation zone.
Sadly in my dreams it is likely to remain

The big numbers are usually for Scunny in this fixture. I'm only going to say this once, but Scunny have never won at the CG.

However, under the current regime, whereby results are secondary to turd polishing, we've seen a number of small badges of pride drain away from the club. For example, a first loss to Rochdale at the CG and Spotland. The biggest ever loss to a non league side in the Cup at the CG, and on for the lowest ever leading scorer in a season.

Heart says we could still survive, head looks at the bookies odds - 1/7 to get relegated, that's 1/7!.  Saturday is going to be very painful.

I am going on Saturday. My first home game in a while.

Could be twice I have seen town get relegated, pretty sure we went down when Iffy was manager. It was at Ashton Gate and think we drew 1-1?

Remember that game well. A draw was no good for either team as City need to win to keep alive their play off hopes. I got spat at after the game by a fat, brizzle slapper. Which was a particular highlight...

Remember that... Got a big man hug at the end of the game from another TEFer.

Wasn't that also the game where a minibus of us were getting shit from one of their fans driving his car, then he smashed into the car in front?

Yep