Thetownend.com

Pre match 40 minute appearance in The Chequers.

Was going to drive up, but nah, fuck it, let the train take the strain and spend the afternoon in the pub.
Mark E Smith would have approved.

Individual fuck ups finished us off last time.
Cut out the mistakes, keep creating chances and we are in with a shout today.

I'd keep Taylor in and give Elsnik about an hour.

Would starting with Woolery be seen as a good bit of management?
Discuss.

I'd rest Elsnik. He played twice last week, not long back and we don't want him re-injured.  Plus, away from home, we've done OK without him.

Woolery is an interesting one. Depends how he's reacted to his humiliation. I'd play him over Norris, in not Df. Fully expect him to be benched.

What about Iandolo and retaining 3-5-3, or switching Taylor in as you say, or Taylor and Knoyle in 4-3-3/4-4-2(can't see the latter).

Can you imagine the fucking shit Flitcroft would get for resting him?

yes. But thankfully the team isn't decided by social media.

I'd imagine Derby's medical staff will have a say anyway

I think if he's fit enough to play the minutes he has recently, he should be ok. Could be a great option from the bench, though, if things aren't going well. As you said, we've done okay without him away from home.

I'd start Taylor and Elsnik. About time Taylor got another 90 mins under the belt and he can manage it. Maybe start Elsnik and see how he's doing after 60mins. If he looks laboured or the game is decided (either way) by that point then switch him out. Looked like Gordon offered some integral passing in the build up to the goals and I believe two assists? He seems more comfortable with technical players around. Understandably he links well with Elsnik as they know each others abilities.

 We need to sign a decent centre back to compliment Preston and a holding midfielder to strengthen the link between defence and attack. If so I think we'd be a lot tougher to beat.

I'll go for 1-2. Banks and Keshi, with Elsnik hitting a thronker against the woodwork. All goals in the 2nd half.  :D

I would go with the line up that finished the game on Saturday with Woolery on the bench as an impact sub.

Smooth legs?

 
 :D

Cyclists do it as it makes you more aerodynamic, along with making massaging easier.  Marginal gains etc. perhaps Flitters is of the Brailsford School.  How many of our lot have got asthma  :hmmm: 

Oops :) he may well have I haven't looked!

I know I have been harsh on Flitcroft, but even I think he'll play a GK and not go with the 3-5-3.

doh! I've Stuart Pearced it

Sweeper keeper....  "modern football"  ;)

I’d play Knoyle or Purkiss as WB - no Iandolo. Dunne does fuck all as far as I can see, so he can go. I’ve tried so hard to get behind Norris but he was dreadful Saturday - missed one on one, cut inside and blasted it into the Bank and a complete air shot, albeit it led to Elsnik scoring. Woolery should start.

I’d also hook Gordon for Taylor.

We're going 1 3 3 4 this evening. when your defence is poor you may as well attack! God I've been a negative dick of late.

2-1 Swindon

First Post in a long time 3-0 town.  :pint:

I was away for the cup weekend and have no idea whether we were Utter crap or went behind and got picked off for chasing a cup match in a way which might not happen in the league.

Either way, I'd hope that they go in with complacency, we change a few things and sneak a win.

Head says loss. Heart says win.

A rare draw.

Only if Woolery is allowed to select the time at which he is brought on.  Anything else would be heart-wrenchingly cruel and would finish his career as well as quite possibly his life.

I've tried looking into my crystal ball and giving it a polish but nothings coming up. Can't call this one tonight, we need a win to get bck in the mix but perhaps we're up for a draw.Off to check my tea leaves.

Taylor got ripped apart by their blond winger in the cup game. Got tore apart for pace. That was a flat back 4 though.

One goal for them already if he was registered in time

Just signed Alex Revell

I liked Revell, I thought he was a pretty good target man he just didn't hit the net often enough.

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

oh FFS.

Only just realised we've got Stevenage, Lincoln and Accrington away consecutively. Tricky to say the least. Followed by Mansfield home and Wycombe away that is an incredibly tough run of fixtures to cram into a couple of weeks. Could be heartbroken or looking very rosey by Valentines Day

badumtish

Taylor Elsnik and Norris start

Team was as I suggested the same one that finished the game on Saturday.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DUz1ZnDX4AAJ_PI.png)

He was signed on a free transfer not a loan I am sure I read somewhere that a full transfer has to take place 12 hours before a match but loans can take place up to 5pm on a match day.

No Revell today in the squad, Amos only on the bench for them.

not quite Venks, Purkiss is back

Oh sorry I missed that, better defender than Gordon so it makes sense.

I’m reading that as Purkiss is centre back and Gordon still RWB.

God I am tired I will re read it! could be a flat back 4 then.

Could probably be either, although we've been told BP can play CB, just yet to see it.

Sorry JJ, I meant that’s how I’m reading the team sheet as opposed to your post. I think we still have 3 at the back. It’s been a long day.

Maybe Purkiss will prove to be a revelation at CB like Mark Robinson did in 95/96 when he moved inside from right back when Seagraves got injured... :hmmm:

Purkiss has the height and can read the game well enough, could work there if we are going 3 at the back rather than a back 4.

Oh no I understood that :) I am so tired though I just missread it totally!

See that their end terrace is in the process of being ripped up.

1600 seat stand to go in.
500,000k raised via fan / investor funded mini-bond plus some grant money.  :hmmm:

3-1 Town

2-1 Robins

Oh great, they have got a fucking drum.

Tinpot :suicide:

So is it 4-4-2 ?

No its much more 3 at the back, Purkiss playing well inside of Gordon.

The game is no classic, most passes are threatening traffic flying into Heathrow.

Their keepers kicking is shocking.

Healthy Swindon turn out for a Tuesday night game.

(https://s9.postimg.org/s99s8akun/Untitled.jpg)

Looks like about 400 or so.

Near post corner nearly turned in by Richards.

ours is the only 0-0 game in l2

ha, not now. get in!!!!!! Banks

1-0 Banks header from a Taylor corner.

Get in you beauty . . .

Stevenage are a dirty bunch.

....and not a single goal in the top2 divs

The goal came about because Richards didn't give up on a poor pass and hustled the defender into making a mistake and giving away the corner.

Elsnik shoots from 30 yards straight at the keeper.

Purkiss isn't yet fully comfortable at CB but hes no worse than Robertson and is making some runs through the middle too.

Anderson making some good run with the ball but his final ball is appalling.

He did that in the first minute on Saturday. Set the tone for his performance. I was impressed with how pacey he looks for 35! Banks looking like a very good signing coyr

He is chasing everything down, definately defending from the front.

Their 19 gone off injured.

Richards is also a talker and motivator, constantly talking and geeing up the Town players.

Banks is sitting in the defensive midfield position and looking like he has always played there, Norris has yet to win any ball hoofed up to him.

They look really weak at right back and we have no player to exploit him.

And FFS Anderson stay on your feet when you are tackled instead of diving constantly.

For me Stevenage are up there with the worst sides I have seen this season, definately there for the taking.

We have had about 75% of the play but Stevenage have not threatened us once yet.

The pitch is about as bad as Coventrys was last week.

Purkiss has growninto his new position already and is offering the cover for Gordon that he badly needs.

Their capt Henry booked, for what must be his 5th bad challenge.

Banks shot from a free kick off the top of the bar from all of 45 yards.

Half time.

And hooked immediately before the break? Will he ever recover from this? And will the fans turn on the manager?

BBC claiming it's an injury.

Might just be face saving so his ego doesn't explode, ending his career.

They probably have the intelligence to see he's injured/likely to get sent off

TBF I didn't see him going off as iFollow locked up as he was waving the yellow card at him but he was walking a tightrope all game, dirty bastard.

Interestingly on their forum they are calling for the manager to be sacked already.

I have lost count of the number of times Norris has either totally missed the ball when trying to control it or lost it, get him off Flitcroft.

it's not exactly sounding like a classic on the radio. I'll settle for no more chances for either team mind

It really has become clear that he is just not good enough.

But he is doing what Flitcroft has asked him to do, unlike Woolery! So much shit.

Had high hopes that he'd flourish at this level, wrote that off in pre-season, yet he started the season very well to be fair.

But it's back to type at the minute.

He is a real weak link and looks tired and needing a rest.
The last 15 mins has been the scrappiest football I have probably ever seen in any game ever. No skill or passing at all by either side and neither team making any threats on the others goal.

Head tennis and hoofball all round.

The persistant rain isn't helping matters but the game is really scrappy.

Nothing new there then.  Yet Flitcroft hasn't pulled him off?

He reminds me a bit of a fairy.

I really want him to come good but I don't think he has got over his shoulder injury and looks lost at times, his control is so poor.

Elsnik shoots from 20 yards and makes the keeper save it.

if that’s what it takes perhaps he should try it! Oh er missus

No sign of any sub even warming up.

a fairy?

Mavis Cruet?

Squeaky bum time. We could do with another. Take Norris off and put Mullin on. Possibly pop Woolery on for Gordon too.

Currently we are offering no attacking threat, Taylor has not really got forward and Gordon has barely crossed the half way line this half.

Squeaky bum time for the time left but Stevenage have yet to make RCC make a single save.

Our best attacking threats are Banks and Elsnik who both want to shoot from long range.

We have not looked like Stevenage will score at any point so far....touches wood.

mullin coming on...

for Richards

Why can’t we just finish this crap off and get the goal difference up a bit, might be vital at end of the season!

Richards has run himself into the ground chasing balls down, wrong player going off though.

Mullin so close to being on the end of a great cross.

Dunne for Anderson...

Anderson making some great runs but all end in one of 2 ways, he falls over and looks for a free kick or he loses control the seconfd he is about to pass the ball and gives it away. He is 90% there but has to stop the diving and learn to pass.

We are shutting the game down.

Dunnebelievable!

From Norris, apparently...

I couldn't see as the camera work was terrible but it was from the right corner, cracking cross if it was Norris.

nice work

That'll be his fat fairy feet  ;)

Robertson for Gordon. So so close

yesssssssssss. shit game but frankly who cares. Autos are very much there.

Two points off Wycombe in second!

Job done!

Good win.

Are we safe from relegation yet?

Thanks for the reporting JJ.

seconded

We ground that win out.  Right back in it now.

Yep a professional win, if we must. Will take 16 more of those until the end of the season.

Also Luton v Wycombe still playing with 9 mins of added time. Currently 2-3. Can see Luton equalising. If so there will be 5 points separating NINE(9) teams. Talk about "A Nun's chuff!"

Well that was a really scrappy game but a win, and on a Tuesday Reg ;) is always welcome.

Nobody played that great today but the defence looked far stronger with Purkiss who was probably a close call for MoM for me as it was obviously an alien position at the start but he grew into it and won lots of headers in the end.

Banks for me was the MoM who won almost everything sat in front of the defence actually giving them cover (did you wantch how to do that Dunne?) he tackled, he passed he made a couple of good runs forward but over all just sat there soaking it all up, and scoring a real bullet header for the winner.

We never looked like losing but didn't really look like adding to our early goal.

Decent enough performance and any win is a good win.

Ask Reg.

Though to spin tonight’s result, along with being 1pt off autos, as a negative but hopefully he will step up to the plate

The fixtures keep on a-comin' in February.

Sat: Lincoln (a)
Tue: Accrington (a)
Sat: Mansfield (h)
Tue: Wycombe (a)
Sat: Port Vale (h)
Sat: Chesterfield (a)

5 wins from last 6 games, 3 clean sheets in there and 3 home wins on the bounce.
Not bad, give him a new contract  ;)

I do believe cautious optimism is spreading

A horrible run of games, up to Valentine's Day but we've got the midweek monkey off the back, and made a start. Which is why today was important, hopefully no injuries. 

I'm going to stay glum, I've supported the town too long for any kind of optimism. Hurts when it all goes Pete Tong.

Even our better teams that i can remember would have struggled on a cold Tuesday night in Stevenage.

Fantastic win. Autos are there to be taken.

Credit where it's due Flitcroft has managed to find a winning formula away from home and we've won our last 3 at The County Ground.

Atrocious game of football but a win is a win. Hard to pick a man of the match in those kind of games but I thought Lancashire seemed to win a lot of headers so shades it for me.

Real good shift by the team but a severe lack of any quality on the pitch bar a few nice touches by Elsnik.

Another toughy on Saturday.

 He's lucky I'm not around :-)

This league is a farce, call it off.  Lets just move to the play offs now and get it over and done with.  It's almost unthinkable that kids who were probably pretty stellar with the ball at feet can turn into adult pro's that produce this level of shit.

Great result - the most depressing march to the play offs I've witnessed.  Imagine if I supported one of the other teams in this league!  Reg, is this how it feels to be you?

L2, man. Why do we do this to ourselves?

As it stands. So Wycombe won and it's now only 6pts separating 9 teams. Even if we only get a point from Lincoln on Saturday we still have that crunch match versus Accrington next week. The football aside, two stand-out positives from the last two matches; Another home win (Is that three home wins on the spin in the league? Yes it is) and a win on a Tuesday night (as well as getting our away form back on track). Win against Lincoln on Saturday and that'll really apply the pressure on the top 3.

   Team              P   GD   Pts
_____________________________
1   Luton           30           36   60
2   Wycombe     29           15   52
3   Notts Count  29           16   51
======================
4   Coventry       29   13   50
5   Mansfield      29           11   50
6   Swindon       29             5   50
7   Accrington    28           14   49
----------------------------------------
8   Lincoln City   29           13   48
9   Exeter          27             5   48
10   Newport       30             5    46

I've now predicted our last four matches; W, L, W, W (see v Barnet thread) with a draw predicted for Lincoln. I think we can do a number on the Imp men though. It's certainly going to be a tight one for autos and the play-off spots. There's going to be some extremely miffed faces come May. Fans wondering if their team has only won or drawn one more match or scored a few more goals they could be in the play-offs, even in an automatic spot. My belief is you manifest these things. I don't think many of us have truly believed we can make autos or what not. The style of play doesn't help and I'm still not sold on the manager taking us any further than promotion. However as the results keep scraping in, and the points keep getting accrued, i'm starting to believe that we can do it. The last two results should have given the lads some confidence that they can win from behind and work hard to grind out an important win. Success breeds success and now we should really get behind Town and push for the autos in this final third of the season. COYR!

It’s not just you though.
I’m no Flitcroft fan, in fact I never thought I’d be happy to see the back of a manager despite being in a play off position. As DV always said, it’s a result business, but fuck me I couldn’t watch this much longer.
The standard of this league has dropped DRAMATICALLY since we were last down here, and it’s clear for all to see. Part of me wonders if maybe, just maybe DF could get a half decent team together if we were to be promoted.
The other half of me can’t wait to see the back of him and this awful excuse of a professional football league.

I think Flitcroft has got a half decent team here tbf, he just insists on playing shitty pinball

Just got in, haven't had time to read back but hopefully we played well.

Either way that's a great result. 

Good stuff. One of those where Stevenage could play until next week and beyond and not look like scoring.

We weren't much better, but did enough with a solid performance.

10th away win and closing in on a club record.
Most of the remaining away fixtures look tricky.

All to play for.

Just got back.
t
I only get to a few games a season, so don't really know who the players are, so can't comment on who played well or didn't.

A few of observations -

- It was a fucking awful watch
- Defense - generally criticised on here - were pretty good, never really under threat
- attack - generally lauded on here - were pretty awful

Someone said earlier that this division has gone downhill - couldn't agree more - really enjoyed the Macari years, they played a direct game with urgency and speed. We play a direct game that just fizzles out when our player is confronted by a defender.

I was lucky enough to sit next to the father of one of our players (I won't say who because that wouldn't be fair, but he played pretty well tonight)
He said that the players would all prefer to play more football, but are told the way to play, down the channels etc
But they all respect Flitcroft, and accept that they need to use a game plan that gets them out of this division. The problem is at home, when they get abuse for "launching it down the channel" when that is exactly what they are told to do.

It's awful football, but I think it's starting to show that it may just get us straight out of this hell hole.
Then hopefully..........we will play better football.
And if Flitcroft gets us there, he probably deserves the chance to prove he has more than one dimension

The exact opposite of last season, an ugly performance low & quality but high on effort.

Fair play to Flitcroft, he looked at how we lost the cup game there & basically set us up so that wouldn’t happen again.

It wasn’t great, but I’d rather we play ugly & win

First game I've been to since Norwich in the league cup and I really enjoyed the feast of free flowing football on offer....Stevenage were dreadful and, other than take our one clearcut chance, we didn't have to be much better. Very attritional, haven't been much the last couple of seasons, nevertheless can't recall having seen us win a match like that for a long while. Didn't make for great viewing, take the three points though every time.

Win games like that and we'll get out of the league. It's very ugly, but the sooner we get out of this division the better. To be honest, I was quite bored watching some of Williams football... at least we do put the ball in the box.

I learned something else to night as well - you can still wear a leather pork pie hat in the 21st century

Flash - you know who I'm talking about

This division is worse than it was before - think of the number of players filling the squads of most Prem teams, and many Champ ones, and even if you take out the foreigners who are a relatively recent addition there must be the equivalent of 20+ teams sitting in the stands most weeks.

It follows then that the current Div 4 is equivalent to the Conference at best, Conference N/S at worst, skills-wise.

Most of our team today would have been part-timers had their careers occurred 10/15 years ago.

Just got back home to Lincolnshire.  A win is a win, but i won't remember that game for long.  Lincoln on Saturday should be good, full house or pretty close, a good turn from Town fans would be good.

Hurtful...

Stingy Brim Fedora!!

Well...that was shit awful game to watch...but winning ugly is what is was all about tonight.

Played better against Coventry and lost....sums up this league...

Agree with your take

Whatever standard of player last night's performance was one of anti-football.  Justifiable perhaps against superior opponents in search of a result.   But against an injury-hit Stevenage who apparently have just one third of our playing budget? Playing it down the channels, route one are acceptable of course but I do not recall seeing the football hit so very high, so very long, just anywhere against inferior opposition.  You couldn't even hope for a lucky knockdown or glancing header because all the defenders were back in place before the football re-entered the earth's atmosphere.

Is Norris really a footballer?

So having said that, we are back in the play off spots, we did win, the effort put in by the whole team (Reece-Cooke aside who had nothing to do) was absolutely superb and I very much include the maligned Norris in there.  So very well done the players.  Flitcroft, I'm not so sure.

Also congratulations to the guy leading the singing for the selfless disregard shown to his larynx. Come on you boys in Green!

Also congratulations to the guy leading the singing for the selfless disregard shown to his larynx. Come on you boys in Green!

[/quote]

Yes I agree - amazing gruff voice

Excellent sarcastic report here from Stevnage.

https://dailystevenage.wordpress.com/

Still seems bizarrely negative on here given we won our 10th away game of the season last night to move 2 points from second, and to go 5 wins in 6... Horrible night, shit weather, and we win 1-0 with a set piece goal and afforded them next to nothing in terms of chances. Seems pretty perfect to me.

Stevenages budget is probably not that low or they couldn't sign Revell who was on good wages at Northampton, hence why they wanted him off the wage bill, but budget is heavily dictated to by home attendances, Swindon are averaging 6,300 and Stevenage 2,100 so yes that is probably closish to the mark.

I really want Norris to come good, he has the physique, enough pace and strength to do the job but his short passing and control are way off the standard needed, especially when you are playing as a target man and thats 2 major attributes needed for that role.

Its the simple things that he fails with, short pass to a Swindon player, basic control of a ball and thats not mentioning the lack of threat in front of goal.

He looks tired and not fit to me, I don't think he is over his shoulder injury so doesn't throw himself into any challenge any more, unlike Richards who chases and harries opponents constantly but also knows what to do when he has the ball.

But Richards is not a target man he is more of a defensive forward, a very different role but one that is needed, defend from the front.

At last we seem to be gelling as a unit, players are learning their roles, banks looked excellent as a defensive midfielder allowing Elsnik and Anderson to attack when they could, protecting the defence.

Purkiss at the end of the game looked like he had played there all the time and is a far better asset there than Robertson, Purkiss also made a couple of runs with the ball through the middle which surprised Stevenage who expected him to pass, similar to how Calderwood used to make runs.

I think Purkiss will make a better CB than wing back, Gordon though offers little at the back and does not take his man on enough to be of value as a winger, he has bags of skill but his delivery is often woeful, hes young and could come good but hes not quite good enough most of the time for me.

I don't think its negativity, I think we are just discussing that with the standard of the opposition we should be killing off these teams with the players at our disposal.

It was a great solid workmanlike win yesterday, we didn't excel we didn't play badly and kept a clean sheet, I think the team has a few weak links that to acheive automatic promotion they need to be address, I want us to gallop over the line rather than just canter over, or even at times stumble accross the finish line.

I still think 2 more solid signings and we could still challenge for the title, there are no real outstanding teams, its there for the taking.

I think its because we don't appear to be any better at anyone else, or at least many of us fans can't see it even if the results don't lie. I guess we aren't used to watching such direct football.

Therefore it all feels a bit "lucky" thus far.

But I agree, a 1-0 scrappy away win on a we Tuesday, 2 points off second and with a real shout at promotion. Couldn't have expected much more when looking ahead in the summer. In fact expected far far worse...

Well I have learnt something....

They haven't been called Stevenage Borough for 8 years, that passed me by....

Not just you, I didn't know that either until now! :D

It's very much like when Oxford had Wilder... their fans drove him out complaining about the style of football.... they got Gary Waddock instead.

Wilder went on to greater success, and has been touted for a Prem job recently, but will probably need to get there with the Blades.  Waddock now doing OK at Aldershot.

I said yesterday... a win, would be one of our biggest in recent seasons. It sets us up at least for a go at this run of horrible games, which will probably decide our season.  Also showed we can do Sat/Tuesday, by using the squad.  If the players stay fit and Linganzi and more importantly Hussey can come back in we've a chance.

I've been giving this a bit of thought, and I take your point about Prem hoarding. However I'm not so sure. before is a bit nebulous. 

I don't think it was ever the case that too many players went from Div 4 to the top flight. You always had your Marc Richards style Div3/4 journeyman.  But there might be the odd one or two, like a Colin Calderwood, Matt Ritchie also has done it recently.  Vardy would come into the category.

In terms of play the overall standards are higher than in the past.... I'm not equating that to entertainment/atmosphere/enjoyment for fan etc.  Just the whole equipment, fitness, pitches etc has raised standards.

Also you still get the odd cup game where a Div 4 side like Cov beat a Prem side like Stoke... and a Newport can nearly beat a CL Prem outfit like Spurs. 

I think they should restore it... I'm not sure if their fans protested.  We had a debate a few years back when Swindon applied for city status, as to whether the FC should become Swindon City  :hmmm:  I remember when Swansea went from Town to City in the 60's. 

Looking at the standard of man Utd 's second string players at Yeovil I would say even prem standards ate dropping

In the Prem, you've the top 6, then Leicester, and the rest are in a relegation battle, they can't afford to lose. Therefore they mostly play largely negative defensive %age football.  Burnley got their battle over early, by mastering the style.

Watching Newcastle v Man City, was like San Marino v Germany.  Not what English football should be about.

Despite the appalling Game, I quite enjoyed watching us defend as we didn't once look flustered and they never looked like scoring.

Don't often get that when I've watched us. We are a half decent side and we could definitely play the ball on the ground more. Elsnik/banks/keshi have the ability in that midfield.

I didn't go last night so sort of half listened to the second half on the radio. Half listened because it was a bit dull. So having not gone, I'm very pleased with a decent away result, it's impact in terms of momentum and our league place. If I had gone, I'd still be pleased by all that but from what I can gather from what I heard on the radio, I might also have been a bit fed up with some pretty crap football. Don't think there's anything especially bizarre by people appreciating the result, but not enjoying the way it was achieved. And for the record, I'll happily take a series of crap 1-0s for the rest of the season if it gets us up, as I think everyone will. But that doesn't mean I'll enjoy it.

Interesting that you missed off the number of wins... ;)

We have more wins than every other team in the league, except Luton

I realise that the defence is a bit of an Achilles heel, but  us and Wycombe have conceded 40, then you have to look down to 14th placed Stevenage (41) to find anyone worse.

We are the 5th best scorers in the league though, so that helps.

On paper this team is very good. It's just a shame they're fucking shit on grass (to watch).

Got to be honest, I've no idea whether we are under or over achieving at the moment. Div 4 as redefined what "good" is, at lest for this level.

RCC, Preston (mostly), Elsnik and probably Banks and Richards look good to me.
Still not convinced on a lot of the others, whether there is potential there to kick on (Gordon, Anderson, Woolery) or whether they may well get jettisoned into the lower league for eternity ( Norris, Dunne).

Either way ignorance is bliss.

I think it is a massive acheivement that we already have 10 away wins in the league with 9 away games left to play.

Thats 1 more than we got in the promotion season of 68-69 and equalled the total that we had under PdC in 2011-12!

We had 12 under Macari in 85-86 in Div 4 then 11 the season after 86-87.
The highest total being under Muckman in 95-96 with 13.

Yes we have a fair few tough away games left but we could easily eclipse the current record which would be some acheivement.

Can't argue with that!

Anyone seen a figure for the away support

237

Haha! Didn't wanna bring that up again  ;) Naa tbh I copied and pasted that of the BBC Sport site. Just the table down the sidebar. I think we can win at least 5 of our remaining 9 away games and IF our home form seems to have turned the corner, I can see us winning 3 or 4 of the remaining 8. We don't really draw do we? I'd guess there's 1 or 2 left in there somewhere. Would we be happy with another c30 points to take us to 80 come the season end? It's going to come down to 1 or 2 pts that's for sure.

Best moment other than the goal was when Flitters was getting bollocked by the ref and a shout went up:

'Send him to the back of the stands....three rows back!'

Football-wise this season is nowhere near as skillful or dominant as the PDC promotion season.

However, it is sooo much better than last season. We can score from set pieces, we're scoring from crosses coming in from out wide, we're scoring because of midfielders getting in and around the box.

Yes, there have been some dire performances and results, but overall we're pretty much getting what many called for as last season's pathetic efforts hit home.

I'm still not convinced we'll make the play-offs, but compared to last season, it's progress.

As poor as the football is, one thing that can't be questioned is the commitment from the players.

Unlike most of last season at least these guys look like they give a shit

This

Said it before and I’ll say it again.

Football is a sport, sport is about about winning, couldn’t give a shit about how entertaining it is. I find winning entertaining.

Admitally i’ve been to about 8 games this season and only seen us fail to win once so I haven’t had to witness some of the more frustrating games.

Plus, sometimes, watching/moaning about a shit match can be entertainment in itself. So bad its good if you like.

Well for some of us anyway.

If it was just about winning, why bother going to watch? Just wait for the result to come through on Ceefax (one for the teenagers, there) and have a mild cheer. Sport is always about entertainment, it is a contest so some portion of that entertainment comes from the result but it is not the only factor. As with most things in life, it's not an either/or, it is a sliding scale not a binary switch

Meh, I see his point. We could play the best game in the world but if we lose I'm gonna be going home pissed off.

a poor game to me is irrelevant if it results in 3 points. i struggle to watch friendlies because nothing is at stake, good entertainment but nothing to show for it.

imagine playing a season of entertaining friendlies. every time i watch swindon i know there are easier options to watching better entertaining football but you dont because its swindon you want to watch and do well. its all about the points and chasing success. everyone wants to target a promotion and points are what makes that.

Please come more often. ;)

For me this is the order:

Being STFC
Winning in style
Winning

The beauty of actually attending is sharing.  

That can mean:

feeling sick
feeling profoundly depressed
feeling stressed
feeling righteous anger
feeling disgust
feeling cheated
feeling contented
feeling relieved
feeling satisfied
feeling endorphins
feeling euphoric
feeling ecstatic

Together

I've only been reasonably happy/entertained at one defeat and that was at molineux a couple of years back.We played some superb football that day.

The only way to get through Wembley aftermaths (x3) was knowing there were thousands more of us feeling the proverbial sick as a parrot. And that somehow we'd get 'back', mostly by bickering and sarcastic retorts between ourselves. 

Said it before, its like therapy, but much much cheaper.

Equally we've watched some fucking crap wins and not really enjoyed the game even if we were glad they ground out a result. Like I said it's not a binary either/or. It's a combination of entertainment and result.

Some years back we got beat by Man City, 3-4 at the CG.  It was a horrible wet day, but a great game....

http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MatchCentre.asp?MatchID=19880115

We were pretty good 2 weeks ago at Coventry, we played some good football but somehow got beat.

I sort of enjoyed the 6-1 defeat at top flight Ipswich in 85 too when we had nearly 6,000 travelling fans on a cold Tuesday night in the League Cup, don't remember the football much that night but I felt entertained.

The 7-1 (Benjamin, Offside) at Forest was a bit of a laugh too. So bad it was bad. But you can have a laugh about it all, or sit and sulk. We were obviously going down, so gallows humour kicked in.

Cup defeats are different to league defeats because the most enjoyable defeats were against big teams. I missed leeds (unfortunately) but listened to it, stoke away was a cracking night which ended in defeat and that fulham away was fantastic- all fantastic turn out by town fans trying to upset a prem team

We were incredible that day, Kasim played out of this world

 :hmmm: We've only ever lost 1 cup game to Stoke in 1949.  That of course was the FA cup, we've always come out on top in LC encounters.

A magical night.

Entertainment came mainly from ourselves.

Imagine if we HAD won!

  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: for some reason that (having checked) 3-4 win felt like a defeat. i remember the stoke big guns coming on as subs and turning the match around. lets go with Fulham instead!

Was going to add Forest away 7-1 defeat but Batch beat me to it. So instead I'll go with another League Cup defeat - going out to a Paul Robinson goal in the last couple of minutes against Leeds away, we were superb, thoroughly entertained and very proud of the team.

That optimism went after about 5 mins though when Key conceded on his debut! great night out, almost exactly the same amount of away fans as home fans.

I didn't go to Lids away but on the radio it sounded superb...right up till that fucking goal by the keeper Robinson.

[pedant] we went out on penalties, not Robinsons goal [/pedant].

Fair point, but cup games are a different kettle of fish in that you're expected to lose against a team from a higher league and in that sense you don't really have any expectation.

Lou Macaris red and white army
Lou Macaris red and white army
Lou Macaris red and white army
Lou Macaris red and white army............

I did and I was thoroughly pissed off all the way home.

But the original point was that sport is all about winning, and stuff the entertainment. And I argue that it isn't, it's not all about the result, there needs to also be a decent contest and some entertainment as well as a good result. It's a combination, not an either/or

The Leeds game was one of my favourite town games.  1998 WC loss against Argentina is my favourite England game.

Lost both games but fantastic performances

that England game we spanked Holland in during Euro 96 was good. not that I was actually there mind

Yep him and Luongo. Pritchard and Mason

Hmm, if I'm a neutral maybe. But I drive home a lot happier after a win, regardless of performance.... Sure, it's better when we've played well but this is Swindon Town and Div 3 /4 football. It's usually pretty crap. Huddersfield played absolutely awful in a terriblel play off final at Wembley last May - do you think they give a shit?

On the flip side, I work with a bunch of Reading fans who absolutely hated the way they played last season and they finished 3rd... So obviously important to some. How many Town sides have been good to watch and successful? Di Canio, sure.. before then? Hoddle?

I should clarify that there have been some defeats such as the cup games at Leeds, Fulham, etc where I throughly enjoyed myself.

I suppose what I was getting at orginally is it seems that some people would be get more enjoyment if we were mid table playing nice stuff rather than our current situation

You could be right, for me its win first then entertain after if possible.

I wouldn't care if we won every game by a single penalty between now and the end of the season if it got us out of this league TBH.

Batch is right. That Forest 7-1 match was indeed laughable. I was at that one and i'm sure at 1-0 didn't Peacock hit the bar? We then capitulated and all hope of staying up was gone. Class from the Forest fans though as we started chanting together. Must've been strange to be on the pitch in that scenario. Bizarrely, it was the first Town match I'd took my mate to. I say bizarrely because he was a very part-time Forest fan, yet sat in the away end with me. I don't think he knew what to think when we started singing "We want 8". Poor old Jerel Ifil.

Interesting that in that Forest squad, three went on to win further top tier titles. Morgan (English Prem, Leic), Commons (Scottish Prem, Celtic), Pedersen (Superliga, Njordselland). The latter winning two Danish Superliga titles with Copenhagen previously.

Again, I'm not saying success/result isn't important. Of course it is. I'm saying it's not the only criteria. The original post said
which reduces the whole of sport to the result. And I disagree with that. I don't disagree that the result/success is important (which is what you're saying), but I do disagree that it's the be-all and end-all.

 I remember beating them in the big league cup run in the days of Rowland & Mayes - went on to lose in semis to Wolves

Lee Chapman scored on his debut for the Potters that night... he had a decent career, and  an interesting marriage with Leslie Ash.  

Anyway, despite watching that appalling game at Stevenage (and yes I'll take the 3 points), I must have had a bang on the head 'cos I've committed to go to Accrington Stanley

I'm rapidly turning into one of the clubs most loyal fans

Remember that night well,  it was in the milk cup competition,  at half time some young lads came around the edge of the pitch with what looked like newspaper delivery bags over their shouders full of half pint cartons of milk.  They handed a few out to the Swindon fans at the front of the crowd then proceeded to throw the rest to the fans further back in the crowd.   So far So good,  Suddenly someone started singing 'Throw them back,  throw  them back,  throw them back .................  bloody hilarious,  poor lads got soaked.  One of the best atmosphere's ever that night,  probably only just behind Luton in the Simod cup and the Pikeys at Selhurst Park.

went to that one as well,  really pissed off, if only Robinson hadn't scored ............. ....   Anyway no ones mentioned the 2-2 game at Anfield in thr prem, what a day out that was !.

I felt pretty flat after this game I was right behind Pateleinen (sp) when he scored, we went back to the pub after it finished  ;D

http://youtu.be/30dHQqI9_2g

I enjoyed the Premier League season, every last embarrassing minute of it.

I'm not sure Abrahammer's comment that you quote necessarily means that the final result is everything. Even the most un-entertaining game that ends in a win can elicit some kind of emotional response. Desperately hanging on for an undesrved 1-0 win can be 'entertaining', experiencing schadenfreude at the expense of opposition fans or a particularly dislikeable opposition player can be 'entertaining'. I suppose this fits with your not 'black or white' comment and how you define 'entertainment' but I can definitely feel entertained by the football experience even when the football itself hasn't been entertaining.