Thetownend.com

Town To Take On Melksham In Pre-Season

Reds Confirm First Summer Fixture

Swindon Town can confirm that we will take on Melksham Town in a pre-season friendly next month.

The Reds will head to the Western League Premier Division outfit on Tuesday 11th July (7.30pm Kick-Off) to officially open their new Woolmore Farm Stadium.

Town return to pre-season next week and the fixture against Melksham will give new boss Dave Flitcroft an opportunity to see his side in action.

Ticket details for this friendly will be confirmed in due course and more pre-season games will also be announced shortly.

Proper friendly, happy with that. Bring on the Trialist family.

It will kick off big time.... I wonder if Leroy and Riddell are still around  :hmmm:

TWTCCOW

8th July is Supermarine

 :wotjump:

The new facilities are Melksham are very impressive, so I shall go to that one.  :beers:

My team from the last 3 years against my old team from the previous 39 years...

Just been up to the New Facilities at Melksham Town and seen Darren Perrin to get my tickets  Got to say the facilities are fantastic and that the Club are really looking forward to hosting Swindon Town. I really hope we get a large following and support one of our Non League County teams
The Pitch looks amazing and car parking should be fine at the Stadium  Starting o get a buzz now at last   To purchase tickets and I bought 8 it was £6 Adults £4 OAPS & £1 Child   And to get it on Matchday it costs £7 Adults £5 OAPS & £2 Child    Got to applaud Melksham for not overpricing or ripping us off

Looks like they're playing Rovers at home on the 8th too... busy few days for them

Rovers have got 2 games booked that day, so I think it will be a mixed team - can't be arsed going to that one anyway as I can't stand the Gas.
Melksham have also got Wiltshire's newest National League team to play too - Chippenham Town on 29th

Swindon Town will take on Oldham Athletic in a behind closed doors friendly on Friday 14th July.

Competitive fixtures v Oldham, are often better played behind closed doors.

For the best. Can't imagine a big crowd for that one.

Probably slightly better for the team than getting smashed by an Everton youth team too.

That's a good friendly to have assuming we've got a few more players in the building.

Away to Woking on 29th July

With hindsight the nature of the performance there last season should have set the alarm bells ringing for what was to come.

Might be worth a day out if nowt else to do.

My bells were deafening after getting humiliated at home to Eastleigh. Utterly outplayed and fought.

Dreadful performance

Not bad. Woking is only 40 mins from me so might make the trip

It was pretty obvious even in the 16/17 pre season, we would struggle.

BO saw the writing on the wall... after the pre-season defeat at a very poor Yeovil outfit

Hope we lose all the friendlies...we usually do well in the league after...

The players all look fucked. Given how shit our fitness has been for the past few years, it's really nice to know they'll at least be able to run around for 90 minutes.

I assume they have done a lot more than what has been shown in the video's as I am not sure I would even look that fucked after what has been videoed!

Tour to Ireland now announced

Link?

No I don't think we'll be playing Link this year

(http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/zelda/images/3/3c/Link_(Super_Smash_Bros._Brawl).png/revision/20121125010154)

I thought the paddys are still playing the league out?

Well, that's strange. Been taken down from the Adver. Article quoting Flitcroft saying we'd play Waterford so he can judge their standard plus a top Irish side.

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/swindon_town_2014/15375464.Irish_tour_awaits_Swindon_Town/

Different link

Also gone.

Try this one

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/swindon_town_2014/15375135.Town_look_set_for_pre_season_tour_of_Ireland/

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/swindon_town_2014/15375135.Town_look_set_for_pre_season_tour_of_Ireland/

Have another go ...

Before it gets Petya'd!

Salisbury away added : Monday 17th July, 7pm

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/swindon_town_2014/15388282.Town_to_face_Salisbury_in_pre_season/

Seems as if Saturday's game at Hunt's Copse will be the nearest we get to a home game pre-season.

Salisbury is only 45 minutes from work for me. Should be able to make that and see how we are shaping up

Great news about Salisbury as im off the Monday and Tuesday
Cant make this Saturday at Supermarine due to a wedding, but really looking forward to the Melksham game and hopefully see plenty of red and white at there new ground. Like i said on a earlier post, there ground for non League is simply amazing and im sure all the Swindon fans will love it. Lets pack the place out.
May have missed it but is the Oldham game being played at Bath University or the CG behind closed doors??

Good news that - 10 minute drive for me

Definitely going to salisbury as I live there! Like the in-county games. Would be nice to have some slightly stiffer opposition before season opens though, no offense to any of the sides involved.

Chippenham away 1st August

Don't like the idea of Swindon playing on Chippenham's dreadful pitch days before the season starts.

result! can walk from work :)

could do with another Oldham type game now but if they are off to the land of the leprechaun I guess that's it!

Must admit got the excitement back based on new manager, players and philosophy. Friendlies should give us an indication of flitcrofts early impact on enthusiasm and fitness levels as a minimum.

Agree, NOT looking forward to the Chippenham game although be decent to see Tom Jones again.   The pitch at Chipp is usually shocking and i dont expect any different  Also the last time we went there we got kicked off the park, and i certainly hope that with tthe season real close no repeat of that.
Good Luck to Dave, Ben and all the Players at Supermarine on Saturday and look forward to my first game at Melksham on Tuesday

It's good to hear someone has got the excitement back. How long ago did you lose it?

Towards the end of last season when it became pretty much nailed on we were going down without much of a fight.

http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/15410136.Town_set_for_step_up_in_Latics_test/

This bit made me smile -

'And despite the disappointment from the coaching staff that they will not be playing in front of a packed stadium as they take to the County Ground for the first time'

I hardly think Oldham at home in a pre-season friendly will inspire a packed county ground!

Perhaps they can put it in boxes?

Anyone know the attendance from the supermarine game?

Supermarine website states 1304.

Cheers

Todays behind closed doors friendly finished Swindon 1-1 Oldham according to the Oldham FB page.

any idea who scored mate

Have they pulled the post?

https://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/news/2017/july/14072017-latics-draw-with-swindon/

who we keeping under wraps then.. seems odd to have little info.

#announceAjose

Think it's probably not deliberate.

Heard McDermott scored. I can only guess it was a 30 yard over head kick

Has ASD for a half day then :)

I'd say deliberate, but that doesn't mean bad, could be good if they announce something else too..

Iandolo scored for us.

Report now on OS:

https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2017/july/report-swindon-town-1-1-oldham-athletic/

yeay!

Reading Flitcroft's comments re how he monitors the players, makes me think that under Williams we just turned up and played - or not, as the case may be. Whatever it was, it appears very unprofessional in comparison.

Yeah, the more you hear from Flitcroft, the worse it makes Williams look. I didn't think that was possible.

Obviously too early to get carried away but with Flitcroft you get the impression we'll give ourselves the very best chance we have of winning most weeks. With Williams that never seemed to be the case (Power and his recruitment of feathers dressed in football kits takes a portion of the blame here).

I'm bored of pre season now. Want to see his stamp on a team played out in competitive fixtures. Don't think we'll be bullied out of matches too often which was a big part of our ineptude.

Give me a pacey forward and a bit more flair and I'll be convinced we are looking at a good season despite my opening sentence.

I see someone BTL in the Adver has suggested Vigs turned up late for training 3 times and DF fined the whole squad

Not that I'm suggesting it's true of course, but if such a thing did happen I can see that being the action he'd take.

Sorry had to pop out, and no at the time there was no word on either scorer, obviously turns out it was Iandolo!

Not a bad result TBH 1-1 against a tough side like we will be facing this season in this league, shame about Ajose not coming but I don't think it was ever on the cards despite us being interested.

I think we are still a few players short and another winger and striker now must be a priority along with a few more squad players all over the pitch.

Sounds like Flickers and Futcher will take no slacking from the players which is bloody good after the rabble we had last season.

Onwards and upwards, fingers crossed for a bit more of an effort from the players this year.

I'm beginning to think the recruitment is nearly finished. Those fringe players from last season seem to be integral to Flitcroft - Conor Thomas, Iandolo and even young Twine and Tom Smith look likely to be match day players.

If he can make Conor Thomas into an effective footballer he's a fucking genius. Fittest player at the club, apparently. Maybe he was just another victim of Williams' general shitness

I get the feeling (rather than I think) that what has started to play out at SN1 does have similarities to when a certain PDC took over. However, in this case it is measured, without the ballyhoo, ego stroking and with a real sense of longevity and sustainability in mind. In this case DF could have reasonably said to power, "You'll not win anything playing a bunch of kids". Hmmmm, where have I heard that before? "Oh and overpaid billy big bollocks loanees".

Obviously a mainly useless comparison but Newport beat Supermarine 4-3 today

(https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/siteassets/club-content/oldham-gallery/stfc_oldham_cf2_0123a.jpg/Large)

Can some one tell me who the bloke in the middle is? He's in loads of the pictures of pre-season - is he one of the trialists or one of the young lads?

Conroy.

OK, thanks. I apologize for my ignorance, I've only ever seen him on brief highlight clips as I have yet to view him 'in the flesh' as it were...

I hadn't seen him before either, I thought it was a young Pat Sharp.

(http://www.fortyhallfarm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/pat_sharp-240x300.jpg)

We have a friendly against Derby County arranged at St George's Park

Game with Derby will be at their training ground and will be an additional game against un-named opponents at St George's Park.

We drew 0-0 with Bristol Rovers this afternoon.

Flitcroft out

But they're better than us.  I think there should be a statue for our brave performance against all the odds.

Only if he gets a tattoo to commemorate the occasion ;)

Can I update the information on this site, the preseason friendly at St George's Park is on 26th of this month and it is a closed session against - Genetics!

Bugger! Genetics my arse, that should read Benfica

Benfica? never heard of them.

thank God we've got Chippenham.

Benfica? Interesting. Where did you hear that?

Sorry for the late reply but got that from contact at FA - no, not Chang!

 Had a quick look at the Carlisle forum, to get a sense of how their pre-season is shaping up... their fans are not happy, apparently the game in under a fortnight isn't even advertised, or tickets on sale. They think STFC must be a glowing example of how a club is run as the official site does both.  It sems an unpopular owner is the cause of their malaise  :)

Here's hoping we could be getting them at a good time...

The supporters group has a pretty hefty chunk of the ownership of the club?

Your neck of the woods... it would be a pleasant surprise to find  some clubs in Div 4 more poorly run than us. Being mostly uncompetitive over the last 2 seasons, has worn a bit thin.  I'd like us to be hard to beat, and then win a few games.

Chesterfield must be a shoe-in in L2. They are under investigation again for deliberately changing a players name and paying 2 players from a source other than the club itself.

Those who think Power is the devil incarnate need to look at some of these other owners. He may have been poor as an owner but he hasn't - as far as we know - done anything on that scale.

http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/chesterfield-fc/chesterfield-under-investigation-for-payments-made-to-two-former-players-1-8662273

Even just of the top of my head, Crewe, Coventry, Morecambe all are a mess in certain ways..... we are hardly alone.

 :) Chesterfield some may recall have previous... in the way we got the soubriquet Swindle, theirs was Cheaterfield. Got them out of Div 4 mind.

 Here we go all of 16 years ago now, how time flies when you're having fun.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/may/03/newsstory.sport10

 :fishing: i swear every comment you post you do it just to get a reaction out of me. I try so hard not to reply.  :doh: and iv failed again. just imagine if you were a leyton orient fan and the fun you could have. wish this season would hurry up

No, I say I don't think we're a well run club because it's what I think after careful thought. A further collorary of this state of affairs, is the relegation to Div 4.

I remain sceptical, of the owner. I'd rather not follow the Orient route, or that matter the Oxford/Rovers route of recentish seasons, and hope his appointment of Flitcroft prompts an on field improvement

Very unhappy. Just taken a Town win @ 11/5.

Get on!

Anyone fancy Woking on Saturday? 2 seats available with a non-drinking driver!

Interesting game... Woking had a poor season 16/17, just finishing below Eastleigh and on the same points as Torquay, just above the drop line 

Nevertheless they were far too strong for us in last year's pre-season friendly, as were Eastleigh in the cup. If as I hope, Flitcroft makes us harder to beat, I'd like to see at least a draw on Saturday.

Massive narcissism. Reg is trolling everyone, not just you :)

I'm going. £9 and 20 mins from Clapham Junction.

Hoping to see something close to our first choice XI start.

Shit, didn't realise it was that easy from Clapham. Might have to go.

Absolute no brainer from SW London really. Just make sure you get the Exeter as it's non-stop to Woking.

I'm in. Where from?

I'm in Swindon, so can pick up.

I could meet you at the County Ground. What would you like in return?

First beers!

I'll message you my mobile and get times sorted out later in the week.

Cool stuff. Thanks mate.

From BBC Wiltshire:

FOOTBALL: @Official_STFC lose 4-0 in friendly at @dcfcofficial Under 23's. #stfc

https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2017/07/rams-hit-robins-for-four-at-training-centre?platform=hootsuite

Some pics here:

https://twitter.com/dcfcofficial/status/889889770243072000
https://twitter.com/dcfcofficial/status/889887142666575876

A lot of our younger players played I believe, as opposed to a 'full first team'.
Watch the team be released now and me be completely wrong.

Stfc rumours site said it was a team of youngsters and triallists

Playing a Benefica XI today

Prob be like when we played Sporting Lisbon in 92...

Had to look that up (Got mixed up with Sporting Gijon TBH).  Viveash scored, they must have been turd :)

1-2 apparently.

From Harry Smith's Twitter feed:

A tough week in Portugal topped with a great performance today by the lads at St George's against a very strong Benfica team. 🔴⚪️⚽️🇵🇹

https://twitter.com/Harrysmith_10/status/890200231454945282

I thought he meant 2-1 to Benfica. Wait, where was this played?

In any case we scored and didn't get battered, good, good.

Sounds like a good work out.... now on to Woking.  I would regard it as progress, if we could come up against a Conference side in the Cup in November, and be competitive and get through to next round.

Woking have the fantastically named Bobson Bawling playing for them.

Seferovic and Zivkovic (Swiss and Serbian internationals) scored Benfica's goals. I'd say they had a handy side out.

Now up on the OS:

https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2017/july/flitcroft-on-derby-and-benfica-outings/

So we had a week in Portugal then flew back to the UK to play a Portuguese team?

I think they're still out there.

At St Georges Park jimbo

Highlights: http://www.record.pt/multimedia/videos/detalhe/os-golos-e-o-resumo-do-benfica-swindon-town-2-1.html

First goal a fantastic through ball split us right open... I can't see many of those being played in league 2 so not to worry, the second a penalty.

Getting overly carried away with a meaningless pre season result I decided to do some digging, very strong team this was. Their team... (apps last season)

Bruno Varela,(29*)
Aurélio Buta(0), Luisão(28), Jardel(1) and Eliseu(12);
Fejsa(25) and Filipe Augusto(9);
Zivkovic(15) Cervi(26)
Jonas(19) Seferovic(0**)

Didn't translate well, think this was the squad there, some used as subs I assume - Paolo Lopes, Pedro Pereira, Kalaica, Lisandro, Rúben Dias, Grimaldo, Hermes; Martin Chrien, Samaris, Pizzi, André Horta, João Carvalho; Salvio, Willock, Rafa, Mitroglou and Raúl Jimenez.

*On loan at Setubal, Liga Nos
*Signed from Eintract Frankfurt this window

 :hmmm: 15 mins ago

Cheers for that. Our goal a real poachers finish by Smith. I really fancy him to score a load this season. 66/1 on bet365 looks a steal (Norris is 40s and Mullin 25s)

No worries. Is that what he is?! I've been keeping an eye on it waiting for the prices to go up but missed this, will have a nose now. 66s seems massive I agree, I'm going to have a dabble myself I think!

I've chucked a couple of quid on. Worth a bob or 2!

Well if would have been difficult to play them in Portugal seeing as they are in England. ;)

Many thanks, Crispy.

The green kit is growing on me. Not a chance in a million I'd buy it though.

So who's up for the challenge of working out our (presumably strongest) team from those clips?

I'll start: 1. Vigs...

I thought DF said they played the same XI for 90 mins but watching that clip there is definitely more than that over the course of the game.

Looked like

DR. Purkiss
DC. Conroy
DC. Lancashire
DL. Hussey
CM. Dunne
CM. Linganzi
CM. Thomas
FR. Goddard
FC. Smith (Norris seen at the end)
FL. Mullin (McDermott seen as well)

Should get a good idea on Sat at Woking as to likely eleven as well. Glad Conroy is involved as he looked decent at the end of last season, but i guess its a surprise Robertson isn't in there. Guessing Lancashire for captain from what i've seen as well.

I reckon his starting 11 will be

                    Vigs,
     Purkiss, Lancashire, Conroy, Hussey.
                Dunne, Lingzani
                      Thomas
Mcdermott       Smith             Mullin

Subs Henry, Robertson, Smith T, Brophy, Goddard, Norris, Iandolo

Reckon we need more defensive cover particularly at Full back and be nice to see a more creative midfielder and more consistent goalscorer up front

Won't be long till "need two strikers" debate starts up again then.

These are the players who appeared in last season's game at Woking

Swindon Town (first half): Will Henry, Nathan Thompson, Jamie Sendles-White, Brad Barry, Brandon Ormonde Ottewill, Anton Rodgers, Conor Thomas, Yaser Kazim, John Goddard, Jamaine Hylton, James Brophy

 Swindon Town (second half): Will Henry, Harley Wise, Charles Dunne, Jake Evans, Brandon Ormonde Ottewill, John Goddard, Jordan Stewart, Tommy Smith, Ellis Iandolo, Morgan Ferrier, Kenny McCoy


Who the feck were/are Harley Wise, Charles Dunne, Morgan Ferrier and Kenny McCoy

All trialists. Thought at the time that one or two of them might have been worth a punt.
After the career highpoint of turning out for us, quite understandably none of them have managed to really kick on since.

Harley Wise (Defender) - 1 EFL Trophy app for Hartlepool last season.
Charles Dunne (Defender) - 14 apps for Oldham last season. Just signed for Motherwell.
Morgan Ferrier - Big centre forward. Just moved from Boreham Wood to Dagenham.
Kenny McCoy - Possibly joined the Havasupai Native American people and maybe living at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. (Couldn't find any info on him at all, so just made some shit up).

McCoy was a Spur's winger. We were linked with him when Luongo et al arrived. Looks like Garth Bale, apparently.

A Kenny McEvoy, who used to play for Spurs, made 16 appearances for Waterford last season. Is that the fella?

That's him.

TOWN STARTING XI 👥 | Vigouroux; Purkiss, Lancashire (C), Conroy, Hussey; Dunne, Thomas, Linganzi; McDermott, Norris, H Smith.

#STFC 🔴⚪️

TOWN SUBS 👥 | Henry, Robertson, Brophy, T Smith, Iandolo, Goddard, Mullin.

#STFC 🔴⚪️

Was expecting to be a trialist or 2 there today.

There is another new player here as well. Not on the line up list but 100% new. Will try and get a pic

Probably the unannounced right back. Craig Jones has been linked...

(http://www.burytimes.co.uk/resources/images/4206704/)

?

That would be appreciated :)

Pic of the newbie:

https://twitter.com/Matt_r_Edwards/status/891292990257364993

...and in warm up action (still wearing yellow boots!  :D):

https://twitter.com/Matt_r_Edwards/status/891293995296579584

He's not someone I recognise.

Look like Hylton but a little less bandy! :D

(https://s17.postimg.org/8w11p430v/DF6_COhc_XUAEB-_TP.jpg_large.jpg)

The game is supposed to be on iFollow at the moment, but all I can see is the iFollow commercial. :( No reply from the support yet.

IFollow arent doing any commentary either.

Live commentary here.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/40755663

The Android app shows Carlisle away as the first game available, whilst there are Woking and Chippenham friendlies scheduled for iFollow at club's website. I suppose someone made a mistake and the friendlies aren't/won't be available after all.

Hussey sounds very lively so far.

Could he be the Woolley one?

"
Anybody overseas getting this? I'm in Spain atm.

Works for me.

Don't think so, the lad has a younger look than Woolery.

(http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/67/590x/secondary/Kaiyne-Woolery-934490.jpg)

Auspicious start.

Well, I've sent them an email. Hopefully they will sort it out before the season starts.

H/T 0-0

(https://media.giphy.com/media/kLGEjXf6yEMog/giphy.gif)

Any chance it could be Bogle? Vaguely resembles him if you half close your eyes/squint...it's not is it... ::)

No sorry :) I wonder how much Wigan want for Bogle now hes on the transfer list.

Woking hit the post straight from KO from Effiong.

777 attendance today.

I read £800,000.

Out of our price range then.

Only by about £700,000...

#Reg don't you mean £799,999 ;)

A quote from the Benfica site:

PEREIRADASILVA • Há 2 dias e 3 horas
GRANDE VITÓRIA (não estou a falar do manco) sobre uma equipa da QUARTA DIVISÃO INGLESA!!!!!

I presume it's an ironic comment on a Great Victory against an English Fourth Division team...

The unnamed trialist is former West Ham United youngster Kyle Knoyle. 20-year-old right-back who has three England U18 caps
#stfc

Yep thats him.

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Kyle_Knoyle.jpg/200px-Kyle_Knoyle.jpg)

1-0 Swindon - Norris.

https://threeamigoswigan.com/2016/07/03/a-dundee-united-fans-view-of-kyle-knoyle/

Like the comments by the Dundee United fans in that article. Sounds like a good signing if we complete the deal.

2-0 Conroy header from a way out from a Hussey corner.

Hussey at the heart of all our good moves it seems, the Woking comms very impressed with him.

3-0 Goddard flicked it over the keeper.

3-0 solid win, Woking made a couple of chance but it was mostly us.

Sounds OK.  Hopefully, someone who was there will give us the low-down later.

Now it's back to the Emirates Cup on TV for me ....

 Although one shouldn't read too much into pre season friendlies, I regard this as a decent sign. Last season we'd have lost.

Given that so many new players are having to be integrated, it hints that there could be at least be a competent Div 4 side, in the making.

Indeed, this time last season we did lose to Woking, 3-1.

Winning can be a habit but as you state pre season friendlies don't mean much really.

Not a great showing. Especially poor first half with a reluctance to shoot. Second half was a lot better and more positive. Brophy may prove to be an asset at this level.

I don't think we should expect too much too soon... but on the back of the last couple of seasons we've sunk so low, that it will be baby steps in terms of correction.  So firstly, a need to look at least competent, in the basics of Div 4 football. I think Flitcroft definitely gets that.

My thoughts too.

Better to win any game than lose but I just want a team that can compete in Divy 4..

Well you bunch of miserable goats, I'm going for a promotion challenge at the very least.

We'll be top 7. Knocking on top 3 with a couple more quality signings in advanced positions.

Sorry. First time I've seen them in a long time, and you try not to be optimistic, but I completely disagree. I thought there were a lot of positives on show.

Biggest positive for me was having a back four that individually and collectively looked solid and comfortable on the ball, despite being bullied by Effiong, who is a big lump. And then we replaced two of them with two more who looked just as comfortable. Hussey was excellent especially as he got more room later on.

I liked the way we defended corners, with our two strikers on the six yard line. Norris cleared out 4 or 5 on his own.

I thought Linganzi looked good, and obviously Goddard and Brophy both looked very lively when they came on.

Norris was a real handful at both ends of the pitch. Biggest issue is where are the goals going to come from (a bit churlish after you've just scored three away from home!)

And Mr Triallist right back looks like an excellent potential signing for a youngster.

I know it was only a non-league side, and I really didn't want to come away too optimistisic, but that was much better than I was expecting. But its the hope that kills you...

Decent interview with DF here

https://scontent.flhr4-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t42.1790-29/20493790_1828104257216212_277029170163220480_n.mp4?efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6InNkIn0%3D&oh=7073fa2aa1fb7a41b36ac1b40c0fafdf&oe=597CEA5F

Just got home. Was pleasantly surprised by Norris.

Goddard and Brophy add real impact to the game when they come on.

Agree with a lot of this. Do feel we've gone a 'horses for courses' route but with a couple of additions creatively and for depth and we can challenge the top 3.

First half today didn't work too well. Norris and Smith up front didn't really combine at all. One of the other plus Mullin or someone else might work better.

The second half - 433 - worked much better. JG was outstanding when brought on and Norris was excellent throughout. He is not a deadly finisher, but he does do a lot at both ends of the pitch and really held the ball up well today.

First time I've seen them in pre-season to a few initial thoughts on the new boys.

Hussey - will get an absolute hat full of assists this year. Looks to be very powerful too, but maybe not the best defensively.

Lancashire looks like a solid L1/L2 cb and standout choice for skipper.

Purkiss... not sure. Didn't impress today but we'll see. Wouldn't be surprised if he's not first choice by October. (The new RB looked very promising in his cameo).

Harry Smith did very little but does look like an absolute handful. DMC gives the ball away alot, but you expect that from creative players.

Lingazi and Dunne epitomise 'solid'. Really like the look of Dunne.

All in all, couple of additions for depth and some options going forward and we'll be there or there abouts no doubt. If the whole club rip up the 'model' and the philosophy in a bid to get us out of this league, and we don't, it's absolutely a failure.

Just got back from a decent day out - apart from the weather.

Positives: Linganzi is Ince-lite. Thought he'd just be a destroyer but seems to be the go to man in midfield.

Hussey will be a great provider of crosses - very impressed.

Harry Smith will not lose many headers.

Goddard just has to play. The second half improvement was down in no small way to him.

And Vigs. In those games that are tight and we may be 1 up or drawing he will save us.

I so want Norris to do well - he works his nuts off.

Unsure about Purkiss and Mullin. All in all looked fairly solid but lacking in that certain something - but Goddard did provide it somewhat.

First look at the class of 17-18 today.

Agree with the summaries already posted.

Reg has used the word competent a couple of times and that's what it was today.
Suspect that it will take a few games for the team to gel properly with maybe one or two additions still to be made.
Hopefully it will be a case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts once this team gets going.

Two of last seasons play off teams will be a good test first up.

And special mention for the physio's barnet, an impressive pudding bowl but not quite on a par with Tim Burgess of the Charlatans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Enz6E_kLZac

Some good highlights here from the Woking game.  Horrendous miss from Bobson Bawling.  Vigouroux made some excellent saves. Anyone have a view as to what should be the first choice centre back pairing? Bit worried that a Conroy and Lancashire partnership might be weak aerially.

Anyone know who was wearing the number 4 shirt in first half.

Thomas was 4.

From what i have seen the below seem to be the numbers

1. Vigs
2. Purkiss
3. Hussey
4. Thomas
5. Robertson
6. Lancashire
7. Mullins
8. Dunne
9. Norris
10. Goddard
11. Brophy
12. Conroy
16. Linganzi
17. H Smith
18. McDermott

Sorry meant 34 but think it was second half  .

i see the young rightback at 22.

Looks like Linganzi changed his shirt at half time (wore 16, then 34).  The blue boots are the giveaway. See also the match photo gallery on the Adver website.

Team full of linganzis i can here the song now. :band: COYR

Yep a lot of them did.

From those highlights I'm a bit worried about Lancashire on the floor too.  Just bought Ifollow and looking forward to Saturday.

Wow that is a shocking miss from their fella!

Norris looked lively in the highlights. Bit slimmer too

Yeah that miss with a totally open goal from about 2 yards was terrible!

I see after Norris has a shot from distance early on he mouths "fuck off" at Hussey who obviously wanted the pass. Nice to have a bit of anger and passion.

He was offside for the miss (if it's the one from the rebound off the post?)

Norris has lost some bulk for sure.

Could have been at himself. Flitcroft said he beats himself up a lot. He looked like he really wanted it though. Of course this is only from the highlights but his attitude certainly impresses. Just hope, for his sake, he can hit the ground running.

From the highlights alone he had a few good chances and does look fitter, he needs a few goals early doors to get some confidence.

From the highlights he looked like he made a nuisance of himself and that is the kind of forward we need as long as someone alongside his can get the goals....

That may be the way we go this season, 2 strong battering ram strikers in Norris and Smith, that will work if there is support from an attacking midfield behind them, less smash and grab than smash and smash them more style.

Not bothering with Chippenham tomorrow now, shame really but not altogether unexpectedly is likely to be a young team supplemented by a few stiffs. Not paying £10 for that.

That how it started against Woking with McDermott behind them. Honestly we had no creativity at all, it was dependant on the quality of long cross field balls to allow either fullback to do something.

It looked much better second half first when it went to one forward with two wide players (Mullins and McDermott) and then when Thomas was replaced by Goddard and it was almost a 4-2-3-1. Dunne and Linganzi destroying and playing simple. Then 3 of Goddard/Brophy/McDermott/Mullins supporting a lone forward.

Ooh I didn't realise we were playing Chippenham tomorrow. Conveniently I've an appointment there at 6pm, literally just over the road.

Over the road is a wood.  Are you going to hang around in the trees scaring the children?

Well, not now you've outed me.

Just hope, for our sake, he can hit the ball in the net ;-)

Should get a good idea from the Chippenham line-up about who will be starting on Saturday, as Flitcroft is resting key players.

Flitcroft is resting the whole first team apparently, only youth team players and possible trialists.

Ouldridge lives!

Henry; Evans, Giamattei, Romanski, Spalding; T Smith (C), Ouldridge, Iandolo; Young, Starkey, Twine.

SUBS: Matthews, Rejek, Edwards, Haines, Graham, Pryce.

29 mins 2-0 to Swindon - Starkey and Smith.

3-0 Twine

3-0 now Twine getting involved.

This does not bode well for Chippenham!

Same team Saturday please.

nah, we've got Carlisle.

LW there, scouting Tom Smith apparently

 If only we could get the Wiltshire Shield back.... undefeated against the county's finest so far this season (hope I'm not putting the mockers on T Smith and co)

I hope you are trolling!

He is there though, apparently.

You would think he wouldn't need to scout players he already knew, or is he checking to see what they are like under a competent manager?

Are any of those trialists?

Jake Andrews is a Bristol City U23 player currently on loan at Chippenham so he's probably keeping an eye on him.

If he needs to scout a player he's managed then goodness me...

Ha ha ha!

To be fair they are probably completely different players now someone's made them do a proper pre season and got them fit.