Thetownend.com

Seeing as nobody else can be arsed . . . Or it's all the excitement of Power's wallet opening wide

Last time at Carrow Road for me was the PL season - lifetime ago.

Someone mentioned a similar feel to PdC's tenure, so I've gone for a high scoring win for us 3-2.

Bet 365 are offering 9/1 for us to win tonight. A Swindon win and both teams to score is 14/1.

I said I'm not expecting PdC style home form.

Free shot today.

I'd imagine that Norwich might pick a youthful side. However their youth set up is amongst the best in the country... their U 23's gave out a couple of pasting in last years Boycott Trophy.

Even at this early stage, the best result would be to come through with no more injuries. We've already had 3... another couple and it will be looking like the earely season blight of the last 2 seasons.

Should be a comfortable Norwich win really. Hopefully we can put in a decent performance at least

I am going for 2-1 Swindon, maybe on pens, the players will be up for it and we might see Woolery start.

They have a new foreign manager who I'd imagine won't give a shit about this game and will change the vast majority of their team.

You always get a few championship teams lose in the first round, no reason why we can't cause the upset IMO.

2-1 town, Goddard to get the winner

That's my thinking behind my cheeky bet

 Speaking of PdC, it was a sweet night when we won 4-3 at Stoke a few years back now. Probably our last great night in the LC, a comp which has given us a few down the years.

I would bet Norwich's second team is better than our first team!

Last upset I think?

Great night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2_2_n8rwv4

Ah, the famous boot up the arse game

Cracking night that was

I'd love a cup run under floodlights, but can't see us getting through tonight.

Hopefully a battling performance with no injuries and suspensions.

Can you still listen live on player? I can't get BBC Wilts in my place in Wichelstowe.

Yep, posted on the stfc website about 2 hours ago, will be commentary only on ifollow (I guess because Sky have the rights to the games in the cup).

I'm not talking about iFollow, I'm asking if STFC player is still available.

STFC player doesn't exist anymore. iFollow is the same service as STFC Player if you're in the UK, and the same price. Your account would have just carried over too.

Pre match mingling with the descendants of the Iceni in The Bell Hotel.

Wonder if Boudica kicked of the revolt with a rallying cry of "let's be 'avin you, come on".

Their lot chucked piss at us back in 91 I think it was.
Cup game, lost 3-1 and finished with 9 men.

A weakened team and catching them on an off day might be our only chance tonight.
Other than that, an opportunity for some more playing time together and hopefully no more injuries.

Penalties would see a historic first crack at the new ABBA format.
Could be wrong though?

Couple of mates who are Norwich fans - they seem to think they're putting out a strong team tonight.

Skys game selections fuck me off. Villa and Fucking Sunderland, again.

Not even a game on tonight

European Super Cup tonight.

Sky's obsession with Leeds, Villa and now Sunderland knows no bounds.

Tbf it isn't really a obsession. The viewing figures show their matches are the highest viewed unfortunately

Yep you're right - all of the audiences are so small though that mixing it up a little wouldn't hurt!

An idea if Woolery is available to play?

Yes he is however has said he doesn't feel he is fit enough.

The preponderance of garish yellow on display close to the ground has brought on a severe bout of dizziness & nausea.

Having to bolster the immune system with a couple of additional pints.

At least I know where The Waterfront music venue is now.

Didnt see that, cheers PP

Vigs, Purkiss, Robertson, Lancashire, Hussey, Mullin, Thomas, Dunne, Smith, Brophy, H Smith

Subs- Henry, Iandolo, Young, Twine
 4 subs?

I'd imagine that with injuries, that's all we've got left.

No Linganzi, nor Goddard, nor McDermott. Understand Woolery not starting but expected him to be a sub. They're not still training on the 3G are they (which presumably didn't help with all of the injuries last year)?

Does that mean Conroy, Goddard and Linganzi are injured now as well?  

Match fit or injury free fit? If match fit seems ridiculous, this is the perfect time to get some minutes in. Not expecting anything tonight, just hope we don't get injuries and that we don't get smashed.

Probably the sort of knocks that you don't want to risk early doors.  With the fullback, Norris, McDermott, more long term and Mullery not yet being up to speed, leaves us a bit thin.

And it's only Week 1.  Here we go again!  :(

Which is why getting through tonight unscathed is important.

Wow
Tom Smith is our longest serving player  :eek:

I just checked too...no game at all...shite!

Are people not just making these injuries up? Goddard and Conroy are in Norwich so can't be that bad. DMc is also not a long term injury.

Anyone care to comment on the actual, y'know, match?

Does player not exist anymore?

Nope. RIP Julie. We need an iFollower to share their riches.

1-0 Lancashire.

Short lived lead  :(

2 assists from free kicks in 2 games for Hussey. That's promising in itself.

arse 2-1. hoolahan

2-1 to them.

Ifollow not working for me, have a UK season pass and it says i need to upgrade my account!

Piece of shit

3-1

Bring the subs on!

Meh.

Was always going to be a tough ask.

No injuries and avoid a dicking please...

3-2 now

Hussey with a cross again. 3 assists in 2 games now.

That's 3 assists for Hussey already. How many did we get from set pieces last season?

Fair fucks Town.

Mullin .... header or slam dunk?

few, thought vigs was a goner there

Did they just say there was a duck in the crowd?

There's a partridge on the pitch at Fulham.

Apparently trying to engage in conversation regarding the pedestrianisation of Norwich City centre.

https://youtu.be/iKRBrojqFX4

Carrriiiiiboooooouuuu

Sounds like we've given it a good go and their keeper has kept them in it so no complaints really.

Fair effort. I'm not sure I understand this concept of free kicks into the box and attacking the ball. Who'd have thought it might work. Looking forward to Saturday.

OST I imagine 🙂. We could try it at corners, too.

it's almost like foooooorward is more successful than back to vigs...

I'm a bit pissed off we lost, even if the reality is its a good performance.

That's good as that means we should have got something from it, from the radio it sounded like we should have nicked it at the end but the keeper kept them in it and Smith probably wasted 2/3 chances.

I'm basing it totally off the radio...

Sounds like we did okay. Hussey and Mullin hitting form already is a good sign

Quite enjoyed that in the end.

Bit of a soaking on the way there, fine.
No sure why they needed a dog at the away turnstile.
Still, managed to get in without crotch being sniffed.

Asked what pies they had at the food kiosk.
"We've got Heineken....."
Pies, pies.
Effects of long term exposure to pesticides is a problem here I guess.

As for the match.
Very encouraging performance.
Need to carry that same level forward to Saturday and get the home crowd back on board.
Mullin continues to impress and the dead ball delivery from Hussey will cause mayhem this season.
Other than that, good solid 6 or 7 out of 10 from everyone else.
Their extra quality in front of goal was the difference in the end.
But some video analysis required to look at any goal conceded to Cameron Jerome re what went wrong,
Hint of offside methinks.

Finally, what a shame we couldn't just get that deserved equalizer at the end as a result of them fucking about with it at the back.
What sweet irony that would have been.

Two games gone. So far so good.

:D Could be useful for people in wheeeelchairs.

Cheers for the report WB. Mmm, Heineken pies.

All our goals this season have been headers!

Norwich fans have been complementary on our performance comparing us to a lower championship side and admitted they played a very strong side.

This thought crossed my mind.... I tried to think how many we scored last season, but have sucessfully binned a lot of it from the memory already. Luke Norris v Fleetwood, sticks in the mind as an "I was there moment"   Jones may have got one v Rovers, but struggling after that.  It's entirely possible we may have already exceded last season's total.

Check out the Eastern Daily Press for a the local journos take - "a bedraggled back line that couldn't cope" was one quote.  Hope that's not too right, sounds like last season already!

Heard a bit about the backline already which is concerning. Last night they were up against some decent players, and Norwich's quick passing was pretty decent so tough to defend for a lot of teams.

If we were in the Championship coming up against teams like Norwich regularly then observations like that may concern me. We're not, though, so it doesn't.

Oh no, a Norwich journo talking up their frontline vs a L2 defence...

Sent from my SM-G930F

Exactly... Norwich are a top end Championship club, you'd expect them to be better. The traditional way to compensate for that is graft and fight, whcih we seemed to do.  Can't ask for more in the circumstances.

Of, the Div 4 sides coming up against Championship outfits only Accy prevailed. Yeovil will have been happy to have only shipped a single goal v Wolves.

Highlights - http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/10980522/norwich-3-2-swindon

From that and from listening last night, we were unlucky to lose imo

I know a couple of Norwich fans who went - they said they deserved to win but that we looked decent. Dodgy defence was mentioned again.

Cracking deliveries from Hussey.

He's an interesting player. Only on loan, but didn't play a many games for Sheff U last season. Not sure whether that was injury or Wilder didn't rate him. If injury, I suppose there's a chance he may get recalled.  He's played for Flitcroft before, so he obviously knows what he can do.

Hussey won't get recalled unless Sheff Utd have a severe run of injuries.  Wilder and Sheff Utd fans don't rate him.  They think he's poor defensively.

Well one was an arm to be fair.

Plus would cost them a lot of money to recall him after the league changed the rules on loan recalls.

At this early stage I hope you're right... we weren't helped last season by the recall of Doughty and Furlong.

If it's available, can somebody post the highlights?  Currently in Madrid and would like to have a look.

Hussey is out of contract in the summer too. He's done at Sheff U.

See gareth gilman's post 8 above yours.

May not be able to view as I think Sky limit to UK IP addresses only.

Also YouTube Highlights here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIN1cmMNLJs

Use a vpn

Highest attendance of the night,  13,166 of the other 28 games only Sheffield Wednesday achieved more than 10,000 (11,682).
7 games with less than crowds of 3,000.

Thought Mansfield under Steve Evans were massive now. They achieved the virtually impossible feat of getting an even lower attendance than Forest Green.

(going on highlights only)

Nice to see us going in for a few challenges.
We looked a little static at the back for all 3 of their goals but putting that down to the team needing time to gel and the fact the oppo were 2 divisions above.

Nice to see another goal from a set piece, I reckon we've already beaten last years total already.

I also have no idea who half the team is...I'm sat there looking at those highlights going 'who's that??'

I have a "friend" who may have watched the Carlisle game "from the USA."
He (or she) had the squad number list open for just that reason.
https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2017/august/201718-squad-numbers-revealed/

I will go out on a limb here and state we won't concede any goals, all season long, like the ones we conceded last night in any league games!  That's the sort of goals we would manage when we had Luongo, Gladwin, Swift et al playing for us, and if any of our league friends can muster a 7 figure transfer fee I might need to eat those words, but quite frankly, no L2 side is going to manage that.  We'll concede "better" goals but not ones born from such a style of football.  The defence hasn't been set-up to combat that type of on purpose attacking style.

I was at Reading v Gillingham last night. Tickets were £7 and under 6K turned up. Quite poor for them I thought, particularly with such cheap tickets.

My thoughts exactly. No L2 team is likely to have either the tactical set-up or the personnel to pull off such intricate passing.

My bad, missed that.  thanks

Thank you

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:
Snap

It was way more fun steadfastly refusing to pause the shots and rewind and not having such devise as a team list as a way of figuring out who the players were! Mullins actually took me a while (not having any clue what squad numbers were issued either),  but I think he'll be easily spotted from now on.

To me, Mullin and Norris look similar

Racist

Think the comments about our defence are a little harsh bearing in mind the opposition.  Norwich put out a strong side & I thought we did quite well for most of the game, but their class told on several occasions, they always had a yard or two & were rapid in their movement.  I think at times we played like a very good L2 team, loads of energy and passion & having seen the new set up feel a hell of a lot more optimistic than I did a couple of months ago.

Our work rate and effort was fantastic & whereby I thought we might fade towards the end, we actually came close to grabbing an unlikely equaliser.  Love Mullins, a bit headless chicken 1st half but great in the second up top with Smith and really unlucky with his late chance.  We looked like scoring on every set piece around the box.

Got drenched but enjoyed the game, early days but positive start!

 :clap:

I love how batch is unsure of his friend's gender.

Is there something you're not telling us, Batch?