Thetownend.com

We will win today 2-1

This is a must win game today. I hope we win but i just have that feeling we wont. Hope i'm wrong !

I’m down in Combe Martin this weekend. It’s glorious at the moment, sunny, no frost, greasy fry up consumed and coastal path walk with the dog coming up. Doom Bar last night.

My last weekend away coincided with the 1-0 win over Notts County.

Same again today, please.

I last visited Combe Martin 30 years ago. True story.

Can't see how DF can justify starting Norris over Mullin today. A spell on the sidelines would be good for Norris & Mulls has bided his time long enough & deserves a chance, especially after the late goal last week. I can see DF going

RCC
Knoyle
Purkiss
Robertson
Menayese
Taylor
Banks
Elsnik
Anderson
Mullin
Richards

Subs

Moore
Lancashire
Dunne
Gordon
Norris
Woolery
Iandolo

Chesterfield sit 2nd bottom 30 points behind us in the table but with a game in hand.

Their current form is LWLLLDLLWWLLL their recent home form has been WLWLLL.

Home they have won 5 drawn 3 and lost 9.
Away   we have won 10 drawn 1 lost 6.

In away games at Chesterfield for us over the years its been fairly even with us getting 9 wins 4 draws and 10 defeats in the league us scoring 35 and conceding the same number.

The last 11 games up there have finished WWLWLLDWWL in that run we won once 4-0 but also lost once 4-0 there so pretty even.

Chesterfield have been for me one of the best couple of sides we have faced at the County Ground, ironically with their position. We snatched a 2-2 draw with a last minute penalty, they came and played football with the ball on the deck and I thought it wouldn't be too long until they rose up the table, I was wrong about that.

On paper it looks another banker win for us but games are not played on paper as we know and their last home win on Jan 13th was a 2-0 win vs leaders Luton so nothing is a given.

To go for the autos we really do need a win today but a lot depends on if Lancashire is fully fit and if we play 4 at the back or 5.

Chesterfield fans are planning a protest pre game so that may unsettle the players.

Much as I agree with you about Norris I would replace him with Woolery who looked eager last week when he came on for Norris but I would be happy with Mullin but I see this as the side he picks today.

Reice CHARLES-COOK   
Rollin MENAYESE   
Olly LANCASHIRE      
Ben PURKISS   
Matt TAYLOR   
Kyle KNOYLE   
Timi Max ELŠNIK   
Ollie BANKS
Keshi ANDERSON   
Marc RICHARDS   
Luke NORRIS   

Substitutes
Stuart MOORE
Chris ROBERTSON   
Paul MULLIN   
James DUNNE   
Ellis IANDOLO   
Kellan GORDON
Kaiyne WOOLERY   

Agreed.He won't drop Norris. RCC needs a good game.

Did Elsniks availability get mentioned in yesterday's press conference?

Don't know mate I haven't listened, will have to listen.

Elsnik has looked tired the last 2 games.

Back to the good old away days.3 nil Town

Pre match gradual leaning like a wonky church spire in The Spa Lane Vaults.

A bit sad that familiarity with a lot of these places means getting around is now quite easy.

Being a welcoming chap, once waved at a Chesterfield supporters coach on its way through Gorse Hill for a midweek game.
They waved back. Sort of.
We lost.

Need to get the away mojo back today.
Hopefully they will play like a team of Bob Wilsons floundering in the Wembley mud as we skip past them with ease.

We’ll lose because it is what this football club do.

I’m with Tans.  I fully expect us to lose today.

This Luton point worries me slightly.

Any idea how we've faired this season after a week off vs having a midweek fixture?

I'm expecting more of a Gordon Banks 58/59 at the CG performance.

http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MatchCentre.asp?MatchID=19590129

An interesting piece quoting Ben Futcher in yesterday's Adver, saying he felt that he and Flitters were not getting enough credit, for halting last season's slide, as Spireites and Burslem have demonstrated how difficult that can be.

Chesterfield will be battling for their FL status, I'm not sure with our current defensive deficiencies if we'll cope.

Think that it is broadly neutral.... couple of wins like Mansfield and Yeovil and a couple of losses like Cov and Cheltnumb. The latter is unreliable as a guide, due to there being forces at work at Whaddon Road beyond our comprehension.

Agreed about Flitcroft being given some credit, despite having some doubts about the appointment.

Not sure if Chesterfield & PV had to cope with a similar high turnover of players in the summer.

Plus with Coventry now seemingly starting to flounder in mid table, then our current position should be worthy of some praise for the management team at least.

And to think, without certain players being injured we might possibly have been in a better position than where we are now.

Regarding overall quality and the bigger picture.
Then I would have expected much more of a filtering down of younger players from the PL than has actually happened.

Looks as if a lot of them are content to pick up the bigger wages and not take the risk of some game time in L2.

Flitcroft's comment in the recent phone in about zero aerial contact for central defender's in the PL development league was very telling.

Ah,an omen? Chesterfield 0 Swindon 2(Gordon,Banks)

I like it....  :)

I "bet" you could get about 50/1 at the bookies for that!

Problem is despite the evidence of what a clusterfuck last season was, expectation is we get promoted this season. particularly with 'big budget' talk.

although some will, a fair number of fans aren't going to give credit until that happens, or not.

Really should be going today, seeing as I'm only 8 (eight) miles away! As well as money dictates, I have other stuff to do (like posting on here  :D )

Today is a tricky tie. Chesterfield need the points as much as we do. I too thought, in their style of play that they would rise out of the bottom two. Maybe the damage was done too early on and with all the crap surrounding their club, fans have given up hope. As we know, it's the hope that gets you. With all said and done, they'll probably sneak a "park the bus 1-0" and give the last of the Spireite faithful false hope. While we'll face automatic dejection. On the flip there is potential to take this to them and give them a damn good thrashing. It's a given we will probably concede in most games, so all we need to do is score more; right?

Chezvegas 1-4 Town Bradley Barry; Richards (2), Elsnik, Taylor
Booked: Coke, Evatt; Mayo, R-CC
Att: 5,395 (736 Town)

There's a lovely Porter on in the Derby Tup.🙂

You do realise if you left on Wednesday you'd have time for a bit more pre-match prep?

No elsnik

TOWN STARTING XI 👥 | Charles-Cook; Purkiss, Lancashire (C), Menayese; Knoyle, Banks, Gordon, Anderson, Taylor; Mullin, Richards.

SUBS - Moore, Robertson, Iandolo, Dunne, Woolery, Norris.

#STFC

Charles-Cook; Purkiss, Lancashire (C), Menayese; Knoyle, Banks, Gordon, Anderson, Taylor; Mullin, Richards.

SUBS - Moore, Robertson, Iandolo, Dunne, Woolery, Norris.

Edit: beaten to it!

Elsnik out is a massive loss.

Interesting to see if Gordon will be playing in a free breaking role from the centre rather than as a winger, unless Knoyle plays in the middle as he did at times last week, when he played much more infield than normal vs Wycombe.

we won't win 6-0

;)

Their leading scorer Dennis is on the bench and apparently their fans think they will be playing with just one striker in O'Grady, a former pre season town target allegedly.

Former Town fullback Brad Barry is playing as is former Town trialist Zavon Hines.

Their fans seem a little less than happy with that selection.

would take a 2-0 win today.

That starting XI is about the best we can hope for. Elsnik needed a rest otherwise will suffer relapse from recent injury. Seems sensible even if we'll miss his talent. Mullin starting is much deserved and Norris needs to earn his place over Mullin right now, much in thew way Dunne now has to prove a starting slot. Only one a may have switched out is Woolery instead of Gordon. The back three/five is about as good as we can hope for but if Lancashire can only last 60mins or he has to be rested next match do we go to 4 at the back, at home and draft Robbo in or drop Lancs then bring Purkiss and Mayo CB and have Taylor/Knoyle as FB? Thi on the ground in this area.

Still think we have enough today to win, but as already mentioned Chesterfield could easily take an early lead and park the proverbial.

tuned in a bit late to BBC. have they said what Elsnik injury is?

Chesterfield don't have a good reputation for defending leads this season at all so I am convinced they will buckle if we pressure them.

Still not convinced by Gordon yet I think Kynole is a better defender and a better crosser of the ball and still can't quite see where Gordon will fit into this team.

I think there will be 4,305 in attendance with 489 Town fans there.

Is a 04:30 alarm call not enough for an away day on a Saturday.  :)

8 miles, and the fixtures are released in June.
Space Cadet Bamboonoshoe, this is an oversight worthy of some wrath.

2-1 loss today they played well at our place when kristian dennis was in there squad today hes on the bench but still think we will fuck up especially with purkiss and cook at the back.

Purkiss isn't a problem. Struggle to see why people think he is. He's been decent this season.

I'm sorry!!  :D Do enjoy Chesterfield though, it's not too bad a Town. Nice market on a Friday which is  dying fashion in many of the Town squares round here. Enjoy. In my defence, I was working away until November, and Christmas etc...Yep I'm digging deeper.

Still saying 1-4 to us.

Looks like a very good playing surface there, they are watering it currently which is a bit of a surprise under the current weather conditions.

I think Purkiss has looked fairly good at fullback but better when he moved to CB.

I don't have a problem with him, hes fairly mobile too.

Weather has been pretty dry and sunny up here last few days with the odd bit of damp air and occasional shower. Fuck, why am I sat working on my laptop, switching between the TEF, BBC, the TV, iFollow, Twitter, etc? I should be there  :doh: :doh: :doh: :doh:

yeah, heavy watering...coyr

Yes mate thats bad planning as Ripley is only 13 miles from there. Sometimes funds don't allow though, thats even closer to your home than my local with Yeovil which is 21 miles from me, for the record I also missed my local game as I was in hospital.

Gordon is lining up in the middle of the pitch at the moment.

Richards almost straight from KO volleys very high over the bar.

RCC another fumble costs us a goal :(

well, that was fucking terrible

You have more than the perfect excuse which doesn't even need excusing. I'm just a twat! COYR

Oh dear. Great start. We attack, miss. Chesterfield attack, score.....  :headhurts:

Jesus wept.

i rest my case

Sorry but RCC is not good enough.

3 Town players didn't tackle their number 24 and allowed him to get in a cross which RCC fumbled but also wasn't cleared quick enough by the defenders and it trickled over the line off somebody.

Wycombe also down 0-1 to an early goal v Morecambe. Strange things will happen between now and the end of the season. All to play for in this however.

That fucking goalkeeper. AGAIN.

Seriously.

Not sure why Taylor didn't have a shot then from 25 yards out, he misskicked it anyway though.

And another fucking drum, I despair.

Should have sent him to Waterford instead

Flappy fucker

Somebody please sniper that fucking drummer boy.

We look shakey whenever a cross comes in our box.

Taylor 25 yard free kick saved.

The ref is giving soft free kicks to both sides.

Coventry fans did warn us when he signed.

RCCs dithering when coming out for a ball nearly puts us in trouble, the man has no confidence.

Take him off and let moore show us we can do.

they did, and I though they were loons when he first came in, he looked half decent.

now he is scared of his own shadow. you can see the doubt every time he needs to do something

Much as I agree I don't think Flitcroft will do that.

Taylors set pieces have been poor today, that was a terrible corner kick.

Lanky down in the centre circle, doesn't look good.

Lancashire going off.

Robertson on.

https://twitter.com/jiff1967/status/967415230279102464 (https://twitter.com/jiff1967/status/967415230279102464)

Goal on Twatter

That is a shit concession

Looks worse 2nd time.

The game is end to end but not really entertaining, lots of mistakes from both teams.

That is as shit goalkeeping you’ll see and quite honestly I’m losing patience now.  I can’t remember a goalkeeper costing us so many goals in such a short period of time.  He’s not good enough and needs to be dropped.  Unfortunately I don’t think Flitcroft will, because it then opens up the whole Vigaroux debate again and makes Flitcroft look a complete twat for not trying to resolve it.

I just watched that twatter clip and that's it for me regarding our keeper. He should be retired at half time and never pull on an STFC keeprs shirt again. If they need another keeper then I'll put my gloves on, I'm shite so they'll be no difference.

As bad as it was from RC-C How the fuck was the Chesterfield player allowed to dance around about 5 of our players, on the edge of the box?

It may well cost Flitcroft his job in the long term, we seem to be throwing away a chance at automatic and if we don't navigate the playoffs he will be gone.

Lincoln and Exeter both winning. Both have games in hand on us.

The time to remove Flitcroft is now. Not when it’s too late.

A standard L2 match then?  ;)

Not only is he costing us goals, but it’s not doing RCC any good keeping him in the side when he’s clearly so low on confidence.  If Flitcroft leaves him in next week, it shows just how shit his man management is.

We are giving the ball away far too cheaply in dangerous positions.

Richards skies one well over the bar from 15 yards.

Have faith people

Love how you fail to mention Wycombe 0-3 down at home to Morecambe...and Luton down 0-1 to Cheltnumb.

While I agree re: DF, there is no chance he'll be sacked between now and end of season. If it was going to happen it would've been in Jan. That said, DF did improve us in the window. So he's likely to have until the end of the season. If we don't secure a PO spot then he should be gone.

RCC makes Phil Smith look like Lev Yashin

I agree with everything your saying. Even if we get something from this game we going to slip up somewhere along the line unless we resolve our keeper problem, because at the moment we're playing without one.

But nothing like any description given it on here.

this is shit. we've created two half chances that a man of Richards caliber could have done better with (not easy chances mind)

The automatic places are probably out of reach. Luton and Wycombe are not on our radar. We should be very concerned now.

Indeed, game of two halves. They'll tire. So will we no doubt. Bring Woolery on. Run at them as they get sluggish. Richards does look as though he's been watching Norris in training though today. Maybe he is just following insrtuctions though...

Exactly

Luton probably but Wycombe aren't on our radar? 4/5pts behind them...in that theory then we don't need to worry about Crawley or Colchester then who are 6pts behind us.

|I'll always have faith but this goalkeeping situation needs addressing.  If Woolery gets hauled off for not following orders then so should RCC should also be replaced.  Although I think he is a good lad his errors are costly and getting more and more frequent.
Joteddyred is spot on with her comments, Flitcroft will not back down as he doesn't want to look foolish.  All the time RCC and the team were doing well he was all too happy to keep badmouthing Vigs and alienating him.  I still don't really know what it is he is supposed to have done wrong?

HT 0-1.

Plus their bloke is able to shepard a dribbler over the line.

How So? Described as a fumble,and that's what it was

Some points from the 1st half.

We got much better after Lancashire went off and looked more stable at the back since then too.

We finished the half stronger, much better in the last 15 mins.

Gordon is not a central midfielder, Iandolo would be better suited to that role.

Anderson is our best attacking outlet and playing well.

Mayo is out best defender and winning everything thrown at him.

The rest are very average, Banks settled down after a poor start and looks comfortable now.

I am sorry but RCC is nowhere near good enough for our first team, his confidence is shattered and looks nervous every time the ball comes near him which is scaring the defence.

End to end but not a lot of skill even though we have shown more than them on a few occassions.

Could be a fair few goals in this and I wouldn't rule out us winning easily but we need to test their keeper who looks low in confidence also.

my twopenneth is short: still in the game, they are nothing special, but we've looked awful. no real quality anywhere yet.

but we can still win this.

not sure how I'd change it mind.

We need to change the keeper, his confidence is shot.

I’d be hard pushed to pick anyone that is actually playing well. There are a couple that are less shit than the rest.

The one thing you would say from most of this season even when we haven’t played well is that the effort has been there, today they look more like last seasons team.

If it wasn’t for the fact that the curry house were going to after the game doesn’t open til 5:30 I’d be tempted to leave now :(

Obviously the GK did poorly but it's highlighted even more as a standalone position. I actually think a player ghosting around 5 players is even more piss poor than an individual error. I'll no doubt be in the minority. Except the picture is bigger than just RC-C being in his first full season for us. Confidence i defence works boths. Which starts from the attacking positions. Like the "Kings Wine story" if an attacker gives away a pass but just thinks, it's ok, the midfield will deal with it. The midfielder gives away a pass, it's ok the defence will deal with it. You get my point and it's compounded pressure. Sure RC-C is struggling but it is a team game.

Still, another half to go.

Totally random question, but do you think a player would ever be honest and say they were low and confidence and needed a couple of games out if the manager wasn’t going to drop them?

we'd be talking more about defending if this wasn't the third game in a row RCC had fucked up. Tough on him, but inevitable he's a focal point.

Made even more obvious when every ball we put in their box the keeper comes & catches

yup

Oh I agree the defence stood like statues as their number 24 waltzed around them and should have done a lot better but the failure to claim the cross and merely push it onto the striker gifted them the goal.

That sort of keeping has been our problem all season with Vigs and RCC doing that, neithe rlike claiming catches they both try to push shots out or punch balls away rather than actually claiming catches or shots as all good goalkeepers do.

Its very continental, all european keepers do it and its creeping more into the English game and its crap, you would never see Shilton, Clemence, Banks, Downsborough or Digby do that.

Under Macari we had a keeper called Kenny Allen who was not a great shot stopper but he was massive and could catch the ball all day long as all teams against us used to hoof the ball into the box.

Horses for courses and all that, we need a keeper that can catch a ball and that the defence know if a ball comes into our box from cross or corner he will come out and catch it 99% of the time, all keepers have an element of shot stopper in them we need a ball catcher!

Just to have some perspective and despite how shit we think things are. If we win, and things stay as they are then we will go 5th and 3pts off 2nd and 2pts off 3rd...

I don’t know how tall RCC is but he looks quite short for a gk.  That’s surely always going to be a bit of a disadvantage?

Bollocks. I'll shut up 2-0

Oh dear. Game over.

2-0

Shot low into the corner from 20 yards.

Not what I'd call a fumble. Looked to be trying to push away the cross, curling away from him,  out of reach of the forwards that seem to be goal side of our defence.

Defensive fuck up all round.

far too easy. mayo unimpressive there

Isnt Moore the lad who scored a crazy own goal when playing for Luton? Doesn't seem like our new back up is going to solve the problem.

I've said all along RCC is shit, and the evidence is continuing to prove me correct. I dont blame him, he is shit, and not good enough as Coventry knew. Its Flitcrofts inability to manage Vigs and not finding a suitable replacement. Its costing us big time.

Its a shame that Richards has chosen today to have his poorest game for us and that Mullin has not grabbed his chance either....yet.

Prick

shipping more goals than sports direct right now

Seems like no one wants to go up!

Great chance for Richards then Mullin both cocked up.

We have been really poor, but you still get the feeling IF (and I know it’s a big if) we score one we are likely to get more.

Trouble is we are likely to concede as well

at least all the other results are going in our favour :sofa:

Anderson shoots on the volley blocked from going in by Mullin.

Not our day.

This.

nearly. think mayo got an accidental block in when it looked to be going in..

Our away form has turned to shit.  Assuming we lose today, that’s 1 point in 12.

I couldnt tell if it was Mayo or Mullin TBH awful block though!

Given showed you don't have to be tall.  You have an entire leap plus your arms to get above the defenders and attackers.

RCC is just not a very good keeper.  It is a part of his game that is very unlikely to improve.  he doesn't fancy it, coming out in a bunch of players.  He will likely concede more in the same way, it simply depends on luck to an extent if he goes through a game without managing to do it.  Like David James, who couldn't focus for an entire game, preventing him from being a world class keeper.

Mullin inches away from connecting to a cross.

mullin nearly on the end of one. getting closer

Norris on for Anderson WTF? hes been our best player.

Woolery on for Gordon.

Norris on for.. Anderson.

eh?

Woolery for Gordon

Woolery straight on and hits the bar!

got the bar from a deflected shot... grr

Rebound shot knocked just wide.

We appear to be going 4 up front.

Even though we are 2 down we still look capable of beating them, they are as shit as our defence.

Woolery shot deflected just wide.

Great saving tackle by Purkiss.

Purkiss saves Mayo's blushes.
then Norris stands up a good far post cross that Richards should do better with

Nearly and OG from Chesterfield

Red card

Banks sent off.

brilliant

Banks Red Card - Town. Is that 6th on in the League. Now we're down to 10 men, we'll win  :pint:

it was a nasty one, dangerous play with foot up. not convinced it was intentional

Bad tackle but momentum I thought. Had to go though unfortunately.

Abysmal. Just abysmal.

1-2. Robertson header

2-1 ....... Make em buckle boys!!

Must admit I didn't see it I just saw the ref send him off.

I just rewatched it, definate red but not intentional I don't think, his foot was high.

1-2 Robertson

Cracking header from the corner.

c'mon town

BBC says it's Mayo. Ging says it's Robbo. I missed it. BBC and Mayo...hmmm

Knoyle has gone to LB with us going 4 at the back with Taylor going into Banks role.

it's robbo!

Oh it was definately Robertson!

Sky says Mayo as well.  Jeff Sterling just said Mayonnaise accidentally  :D

Sounded like Robertson from the BBC Wilts Commentary, no idea though.

Norris booked for a slightly late challenge.

Let off there Ogrady missed a good chance with our defence static.

Unless Mayo is ginger with a beard its definately Robertson!

Definitely Robertson :)

https://twitter.com/jiff1967/status/967439290379759617

we did say!

Definitely a red for Banks too; dangerous and high.
https://twitter.com/jiff1967/status/967437850034757632

4668 (451) attn

4,668 there with 451 Town fans, not a bad guess.

Woolery should have done better from 20 yards with Purkiss free on his right.

Woolery fires wide. half decent chance that and had someone on the overlap too

Another fumble?

twice he's done that, missed the overlap

Futcher angry with Mayo for not launching the ball up the field.

Not really no just nowhere near it.

Woolery seems like he is going to shoot every chance he gets. Not always the best  plan.

Woolery again shoots when a cross may have been better.

Woolery shoots again just wide.

On this showing I am really glad we didn't sign O'Grady hes a donkey.

Corner?

6 mins added.

6 mins added. Now or never boys. We did scoe late in the reverse fixture....

Free kick I meant to put.

Com on Town we got a last minute penalty at home against these to make it 2-2.

Fucking crap.

2-1 FT

fucksake

Not good enough I’m afraid.

My goal prediction was correct, just got it back to front. We ain't going to be in the mix this season.

Fucked in second minute....

Flitters went shit or bust.

Banks cert red...that was that.

Had a go but this is why poffs will be only option and with players crocked and banned that will be a right result.

I'll get this in before it gets shrouded in miserable cunt posts. Yep disappointing and a poor result but perspective says;

4pts clear of Lincoln
5pts off automatic.

Absolutely everything to play for. The big question is; if we can be this shit and still be in with a chance of getting something out of the match and definitely still get an automatic spot, how many points ahead would we be if we were even half as bad?
Shit league, it's down to the lads on the pitch how much they want it. Because it's right there in front of them and automatic is definitely achievable. Enjoy the ride as always! Time for a  :pint: :pint: :pint:

key injuries and a loss of confidence costing.

better in the second half but overall didn't do enough to warrant a point.

going to be a nervy nervy run in regarding playoffs. Should be obvious we aren't good enough to go up in autos now.

I’ll be interested to see if Flitcroft puts any blame on the gk and defence or tries to infer the media are being negative and should focus on us doing well after going down to 10.

Never fear, we have the re-emergence of Dunne to look forward to next week!

Abysmal. With that defence we will be lucky to scrape play offs, all over the place.

Lovely 6hr drive home. Shite.

We probably deserved a point but it was a shit game with too many of our players having off days.

Banks was silly as he will miss 3 games probably now for dangerous conduct, I think autos are now beyond us.

Please give Moore a go in the next game Flitcroft do not keep playing RCC out of stubborness.

Moore?

Who's Brooks. I gather you mean Moore?

Yes probably :) senior moment.

not there , so shouldn't comment but looks like RCC has personally cost us another point

 
That's true, but also 4 defenders let the Chesterfield player waltz past them ...

It's the "double o" That threw you jj!

Yes I personally blame RCC for the actual conceding of the goal but there were many errors all over the pitch leading up to it.

Not many players could come away with their heads held high after todays game TBH.

Even the normally dependable Knoyle, Banks, Richards and Mullin all had bad off days.

I got 3 of 5 letters right :D

Lincoln 1-4 Crewe and Wycombe 2-4 Morecambe and also Luton 2-2 Cheltnumb shows you how open this league is still.

It was fairly obvious that given the problems at the back, the number of players injured, that a game against a side fighting for their FL existence would be too much. We've another next week,  now compounded by suspension.

At least the home form has turned around a bit even if we've turned to shit on the road.  I guess the on field stuff will now take a back seat as the battle for the future of the club hots up.

It is and mathematically we are still in the auto hunt. But we would need to get our shit together right now, and based on how we are performing it seems very very unlikely. Impossible, no. Just improbable

If we make the play offs, our forwards will need to be on fire.  We're always likely to concede, so will need to score a few.

No sign of Flitcroft yet for his post match interview?

We look like a side running out of steam, much better at this time of year to be a side coming into form.... atm Carlisle are coming up on the rails.

Yeah I agree. As things stand the way we playing I wouldn't be surprised if we slipped out the playoffs. But things can change without reason, I'm not writing us off yet.

it is, our home form has improved ::)

What is Flitcroft talking about 'there's been some problems over the last week with the supporters not getting behind us. (I didn't catch the rest of the sentence).

Flitters (very very paraphrased):

- A few problems with the supporters not getting behind with what's going on here, wanted fast start, went a goal down early, poor first half, not enough quality not enough work
- Second half a surge and positivity and looked like a fighting performance, looked like we were back in it 2-1 but didn't keep ball alive enough.
-Credit to Chesterfield, they seemed like they wanted it more first half.
- Not a typical Town performance, didn't do simple things well. Had enough time to fight back from 1-0 but took us too long to get into gear. Didn't 'make angles'. Too easy on second goal too. Had time and placed it. Richards didn't get time like that.
- First goal was very sloppy, lack of professionalism to keep ball out of net from first cross...we don't deal with it.
- Taylor disappointing with his deliveries today, but a good ball in with pace for our goal.
- Banks - when a ref reacts that quickly he has seen something - you have to keep your discipline - maybe he carried something on from a bit earlier - but
- Lancashire is a calf injury
- Elsnik - touch and go for today, Derby wouldn't risk it - trained yesterday at Derby and being looked after there - hoping to have him back end of next week - need to talk to them.
- Wanted more counter attacking today - Mullin trained well and deserved chance to start today. Didn't really get the service (neither did Richards).
- Got to (got for it) with subs. Woolery has come on and hit the bar and given a viger, but too little too late, we should have been doing that and taking the game to them in first half.
- refocus for Yeovil and then Cheltenham. Got to come out fighting next game fighting
- teams fighting for lives, odd results. Got to go for points every match......
-Linganzi - scar tissue issue. Were looking to have him back for Wycombe but not worked out that way..hope the specialist gives us better news end of next week...

It may be a veiled reference to the ground situation, as I said the battle for the future of our club is going to hot up.

And through all that, BBC Wilts did not once press him on the burning question. The GK situation. They rally are a bunch of wet lettuces at times.

Thanks for that Batch.

TBH to Flitcroft thats pretty much how I saw today too.

Not sure exactly that I understand what he means by "supporters not getting behind whats going on here".

If he starts blaming supporters he will soon fall foul of the fans and be disliked as Cooper and Hart learnt before him, get the fans back on your side (if they ever really were) and don't blame fans for your own problems thats a slippery slope.

Heres a thought....occassionally it might be good to praise your own fans rather than berate them?

Most odd. I guess he's either talking about the style of play (1), the cheering of Norris being subbed (2) or the general feeling around RCC (2)

1 - that's has been moaned about since early season
2 - has a point, but its not the first time
3 - has a point, but what do you expect under the circumstances.

I've literally no idea...

[/b]

Yep, pretty sure Bury fans mentioned something about this. BBC Wilts do need to press him more on the GK issue. They didn't even touch on it.

I don't think so because he followed it up with the stuff about getting a fast start..seemed on field related to me.


To be fair, he regularly says how good the away fans have been.

It’s not the first time flitcroft has had a go at the fans for criticising his shit team. Cunt

:)

Was it that gimp Hodgetts?

Fair enough....

Yep think so, no Hawes today  :soapy tit wank: He does tend to press a little more but today they totally avoided the question while asking about every other aspect of the team (performance/injuries/effort etc).

Fair play if he has although I personally have not heard it from his mouth, I don't often listen to him monotone Lancashire drawl which I find sends me to the land of nod!

But if he does start blaming the fans it really is a slippery slope as many fans do not like that even if he may have a valid point at times.

Again not really the case. We've never worked up a head of steam to lose. We've just swapped away form for home form. We win one, then lose one as we have across the season so far

Yes but it's improved more than a bit.

If we're not going to play Vigs then recall Henry and give him a chance.It can't be any worse and he has saved penalties when called upon.

Pretty much agree with this. We've looked like we're at 2/3rds to 3/4qtrs of power all season. Odd occasion stepping it up but never fully stoking the engine and going full steam ahead. It's my belief a different manager would've got this extra out of the players. Because there are qualities in there. For me DF just suppresses this team from being any more than average to sometimes good. If they were sometimes good to consistently good (which I think the players are capable of) then we'd have more than likely walked this league. Alas we are where we are, until May at least.

No, it's fair to say we've never quite got a full head of steam, but it has been little runs of decent form, interspersed with dips. This has usually coincided with injuries.  So for example after the Luton battering we had 1 defeat in 7, got to the fringe of auto but then 2 wins in 5, has taken us out of that but still just hanging on to 7th.

I've heard him do this a number of times over the last few weeks. Some of our fans really like to be mothered don't they.

Flitcroft moaning about fans isn't wrong. Many here have said this feels the least like a promotion season we have ever had. Many dont see eye to eye with Flitcroft and his 'philosophy'. He values work and team ethic above all else, even talent and ability. Its seen him ostracize Vigs and replacing him with a sub par goalkeeper. Its seen Norris retain his place in the team week after week despite being awful. Its seem him sign the type of limited player such as Robertson and Dunne, and ship out footballers such as Goddard and call out and hold grudges against Woolery.

Many wanted a little more no nonsense and work ethic in the team this season, but we've gotten a little more than what we wanted.

he may not be wrong in what he says, but it's probably wrong to say it.

He's been criticised, no problem with him giving some back... but once you lose the crowd..

Actually you could say, as I'm sure our USA correspondent would agree, it's all a bit hit and miss. The runs of decent form have merely been a run  of getting the %ages go our way.

I think Futcher was right to point out that given the difficult situation of the summer of having to rebuild more or less everything from scratch at short notice, we've done pretty well to at least be at the business end come March, and not as could very easily been the case, be in a Chesterfield/Vale situation.

Anyone who gets upset being criticised by the manager is looking for an excuse to stop going.

Am I right In thinking Flitcroft got Bury promoted. It would be interesting to know how their season panned out. Did the spend the whole season in autos and go up that way or did they get in over the last 10 games

A strong end of season, which largely coincided with Flitters getting in an unknown goalkeeper on loan from Charlton.... Nick Pope.

Its a bit of a history rewrite. At the time it was considered a great opportunity to put together a new team. A lot of clubs signed similar numbers of players, say Mansfield for one. However what seems to have been a deliberate strategy to get rid of as many players from last season as possible was a little short sighted.

We have suffered with injuries for sure. McDermot has hardly played and looked promising. Hussey the same. Linganzi never fit. Conroy a bright spot from last season getting injured so early. One thing we just haven't had until Richards arrival though is goal scorers.

surley not.

I don't think even the most blinkered of the Flitters outers, would wish to argue that getting shot of last seasons dross was a mistake.  Maybe I'm wrong and they pine for BOO, Barry, Anton, Conor Thomas, Brophy, and the Chelsea's kids.  Also clearly the Vigs fan club, are convinced by him sitting on Waterford's bench shows the high esteem he's held in the game.

Mansfield did indeed acquire a number of new players, but the sums spent on wages etc led them to being made favourites for auto.

:-)

Today was indeed no better, no worse, than most of the season.  I don't think we could say we've ever actually had anything akin to "form", more we had runs of results.  The run in, on the whole, probably still means play offs are a near certainty if the same playing of the odds keeps happening.  Without Elsnik we look just as likely to lose as we are to win, which against the shitter teams in the league means we should squeak a few winds and losses.

I really don't know how you hide the keeper though, he could be the difference between promotion and losing in the play offs right now.

I used to think Charles Cook was on par with phil smith, but he’s not. He’s like lanzano

Dare I say it, just the time for Dunne to step forward with his particular brand of Div 4 nudging and nurdling.

GK situation is ridiculous. RCC continues to cost us week in, week out. Probably a nice enough guy but his failure to command the penalty area is really costing us.

Thought we were really shit today, special mention to Knoyle (who's largely been quite good) for being the most shit. Purkiss comes out with the most credit for being not bad, apart from that shocking. Norris actually did OK in midfield, and playing Woolery out wide is a huge waste of time.

Overall, crap.

Yes and had probably warned off asking any meaningful questions!

Spot on.

You could be right but at this time with our lowest average crowds in many years lots of our fans need no more excuse to not attend.

Absolutely spot on.

We weren't terrible but we were not as good as we could or should have been.

It was a shit quality match and most of our players had off days but RCC cost us a game which we should really have at least drawn.

Against Port Vale it was very similar, 2 poor sides in a game that could easily have gone either way with goalkeeping errors costing the losing sides rather than the skill of the players winning the game.

If all we can realistically hope for is a play off spot, then yesterday’s results did little damage. That’s not to say having 3 CBs and our best 2 midfielders out isn’t cause for a little alarm.

2 home games up next against the poorest away side and then our nemesis.

I'd like to come back sometimes but I read on here how awful the football is etc and can't bring myself to do it. Definitely want to get one game in, probably Accrington Stanley with a few beers to help me though it.

TBF we do try and play football a lot but the actual end product is not as polished as it could be.

Its not all hoof and run there is a lot of pass, dribble, cross but almost every team we are up against are of a really poor quality and and refereeing standard is the worst I have ever seen.

I have seen about 25 games this season and its nowhere near as awful as many fans say but occassionally like yesterday, Port Vale, Newport and a few others the game lacks overall quality but we are in Div 4 so a lot of goals conceded are down to indivdual errors, but unlike the higher leagues not every individual error results in a goal.

But its pot luck as to you watching one of the better games of football.

Fair is fair, Flitcroft gets negativity from the fans so he is within his right to give it back.
Problem is however, he is not doing a very good job, plays an awful standard/style of football and come across quite egotistical - all of which gives fans reason to complain

This goalkeeper bollocks is getting on my tits...

Let's all remember Vigs total fuck up V Barnet...

Digby was a Ledge and shipped loads in the premier. Bit of a team failure as I remember.

If it was all about playing your best players despite them being a cunt, we would still have Ranger here.

RCC is ok...just like 80% of this team...getting sick of seeing him and Norris as a scapegoat when we lose...

Anderson at Coventry, Knoyle at Wycombe....total fuck ups that cost us.

It's L2 FFS!

To be honest there were a group of about 20 or so mostly kids (anyone U25 counts :) ) abusing the players & staff after the game yesterday so maybe this is what Flitcroft was referring to.

There was someone shouting the "This is the worst Swindon team ever" during the game yesterday, I fully expected to look round & see it was some youngster, but it was an older bloke. I'm guessing either he's only been following Town for a short time, or he's losing his memory because he's obviously forgotten Beamish's team :) .   

In fact I still say last years team would probably be bottom of this league.


As for the game, it just felt like the team were just as complacent as most of the fans, thinking we were just going to roll in to town, pick up three points at a stroll & disappear back home.

It wasn't until the second half that we started to put any effort in, and in fact we didn't look like scoring until Woolery & Norris came on.

The biggest complaint about Woolery is that he seems to just play for himself, as has been said he completely ignored players overlapping on several occasions & would rather just run into the opposition than pass it to a team mate, that said at least he tried to cause them problems.

For all that is said about Norris, he does fight for the ball & hold it up well, which nobody else (Richards included) managed to do in the first half. He just doesn't score goals.
He did however create two good chances for Richards who looked more of a threat with Norris than he did with Mullin.

And a final word on Robertson, even without the goal he had one of his better games yesterday.

Any chance he might still be available  ?,  anyone please for fucks sake, RCC must go, not good enough by miles.

I agree Posh, this team isn't the worst ever its nowhere near even the worst this century or even the worst since Power has taken over!

Woolery yesterday looked like a man trying to prove a point by shooting when he should have passed it to the overlapping Purkiss/Knoyle, he looked too greedy and was "going for glory" rather than thinking of the end result.

As I said yesterday I thought we actually looked more solid with Robertson instead of Lancashire and that was by far his best game for us.

For me Norris looks more like a player the further away from goal that he plays, he settled into a more attacking midfield role when he came on and contributed more that of late in areas he normally doesn't play in.

Richards definately played his poorest game as did Banks, both against their former team.

Given the scale of our injuries and now a suspension to Banks, we're going to have real problems in maintaining a PO place.

However, I feel it's important that Flitters gets a chance to build on this season, over the summer.  I've seen enough evidence to suggest that given some squad strengthening we could have a more consistent campaign in Div 4 18/19.

The rules on the transfer window, are changing for the up coming season, so we probabaly want to avoid the usual Power last minute job.

Don't think he'll get the chance. If we don't go up I can see gates dipping and budgets cut and him gone. Keith hill and john Coleman show it can be done on a fuck all budget but they both had time as expectations were fuck all.

Looks like Power wants to sell up, he's not going to get much of a price for a non league club.

Wycombe have also shown with Ainsworth that having a bit of stability pays dividends.

March soon, so it's about now that we can start to speculate about contracts, which players are going to be with us, who do we want to stay and who should be moved on etc.  Have to confess that given the churn in the summer, I've more or less lost track  of who's in who is out etc.

Spent the night up on the downs in a wood. Minus 4 but still preferable than to listening to that game.

Not read back and won't bother  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Reading back would have told you the match was in the afternoon, so listening at night wouldn't have been an option.

Flitcroft had to completely rebuild the squad in the summer, and change the mentality.

The question is, on an even more limited budget is someone else going to do a better job next summer if we don’t get promoted.

Fair points àlthough I don't remember Diggers at fault for many goals in 93/94

One of the features of the Prem season was problems with keeper injuries. Diggers played 28/42, Nicky Hammond played about 11 then Paul Heald and Jon Sheffield made the remainder..... we also got in a fella called Stewart Kerr as cover but he never played.

Most of the injuries were caused by Gordon Watson.

This season, I think a lot thought Vigs would be a major player for us, so it came as a bit of a shock to see him wave the ball in and look like it was a all a bit beneath him and he didn't want to be here.  So their obvious reaction blame Flittters for not being able to accept that attitude in the way Luke had.

Indeed though I did have to walk up there so that took care of the afternoon  ;D

Yeovil away, Lincoln away, Wycombe away, Port Vale at home and yesterday... not as if it's rare. Those are 5 goals off the top of my head that he is probably at fault for. Granted, he has made some very good saves, but I'd just rather a keeper that saves what he should and doesn't save what he shouldn't. We could do much better.

And Robertson had his back to the goal when he headed our goal. Pure class   :toocool:

The problem is we are presently rated 75/92 in the league structure.  Sadly this means we are going to likely recruit players of that sort of standard. R C-C is such a player. 

that's it in a nutshell, he makes those mistakes spread over a season and yeah it would be mentioned and buried after a few days. Do it in consecutive games and it gets magnified..

I hope he has a good game Saturday, I fear for him in terms of crowd reaction if not (yes it's unhelpful, but it'll happen)

Mansfield away he fucked up as well, Lincoln at home he dived under the ball for there goal whereas if he stood up he would have just tipped it over.
I said at the time people were too quick to gloss over the Vigs situation as everyone thought we had an as good and some said better replacement. Vigs was clearly miles better than RCC, the majority of good saves that a keeper makes almost every other pro keeper would make so using that to judge has always been misleading. It’s decision making, command of the box (dealing with the high ball) and handling which define the better keepers all of which he’s extremely poor at, at times he can barely catch at the first attempt.
He’s a very poor keeper and had made more clear mistakes in what half a season than I can ever remember which is why he was third choice at Coventry behind 2 other pretty poor keepers.
Obviously Vigs is gone but from what we have left Henry is probably the best of a bad bunch as Moore was poor at Luton and sounds like he was worst at Barrow.

Arguably, we'd be 70/92 if RCC hadn't made such errors.

So its all the goalkeepers fault then ?

And if we hadn't had 4 sent off, we could be 69/75, couple of own goals etc etc.

If we hadn't bought Norris we might not have been relegated.

(https://media2.giphy.com/media/12Nxp9loRy1yPC/giphy.gif)

You'd also have to look at the other keepers in and around us to see if they have been error free.... for example the Mansfield lad for Taylor's winner would have come into the "he'll be disappointed with that" class.

Man after my own heart. Bloody love getting amongst it with the outdoors. Have done a few Bushcraft bits in the past and was in my element. Doesn't seem to be many women knocking about that enjoy those things. More interested in skulling a pint in 3 seconds and knocking anyone out who even attempts to talk to them. Maybe i'm looking in the wrong places!

Sadly, all too true

But you can't beat a night out in the middle of nowhere with a tarp and bivvi

Probably all been covered but we weren't very good. Luck wasn't really on our side either as nothing bounced for us, but we didn't play well enough to deserve anything anyway and to be honest, some of the fans that travelled were a disgrace and they didn't deserve anything either. We were much better after we went 2 down - Norris and Woolery made a positive impact but way too late and the red card made it a lot harder, obviously, even though we did get one back.

Fair play to Chesterfield though - 23rd in the table and got behind their team from start to finish. Wonder what that's like....

Without our first choice back 3, Hussey, Elsnik and now Banks plus long-term absentees. Is it any wonder we're struggling a bit for form. Three big, winnable games coming up now and we need to get points on the board to try and cement a top 7 place a little.

The Vigs debate is so boring, and nothing to do with Flitcroft. I'd play Moore for the next 2 though - take RCC out of the firing line a little. He was OK until Lincoln away.

Yeah his confidence is shot and the fans abusing him isn't gonna help him.

Eh? How do you work that out? Entirely centred around Flitcroft freezing him out surely? You can argue it's justified by Vigs' behaviour, but it was Flitcroft's decision, it is completely about him. Unless you're suggesting Power took the decision (and ordered Flitcroft to repeatedly hang him out to dry in public to set the scene)?

Poorly worded from me. I mean, I don't blame Flitcroft in any way for the Vigs situation, and completely blame Vigs. We've seen time and again he's prat. The sooner he leaves the better.

Fair enough. Think you've got your wish anyway, he's left in all but name

I'm also worried about the apparent "Woolery freeze out" he seems a very positive player whenever I've seen him.Dont think he's started a game since his alleged insubordination

Woolery is still raw and honestly, I prefer Norris & Richards with Woolery coming on towards the end to run at them. He made a very poor decision on Saturday. Had Purkiss unmarked in the box to his right and he went for goal when Purkiss was in a much better position. Having said that, he did also have a deflected effort hit the bar.

Don't think it'd hurt to try Richards and Woolery up top together mind.

Power and Flitcroft obviously don't rate Vigs otherwise he wouldn't have been drummed out of the club on loan....................................oh, wait a minute, does Power have a connection with Waterford?  If so you'd wonder how Vigs' wages are being met as between the two clubs.

This isn't anti Power but there is a massive conflict of interest when club ownership is shared - as with Maxwell or, more succesfully tbf, Watford I believe.

I don't see it as a conflict of interest - it's just moving resource around. Fair play to Power. He's got an asset that's not adding anything or performing well enough here but he's still paying him, so why not get him out to Waterford to sit on their bench.

Might just give LV a glimpse into his future unless he sorts his shit out too.

My take is they were expecting to shift him on loan/perm hence signing Moore. Whether true or not he didn't leave, the rest as per PP's post - doesn't do anybody any good to have an asset training with the kids, not playing and potentially being disruptive (even if unintentional).

Vigeroux would still be the keeper if he wasn’t a major bellend. I don’t agree with the way flitcroft has gone about the situation but I can understand why he has

It has staggering how few minutes  Woolery has got up front this season. Spent so long out wide or earlier in the season, and this is hard to fathom, playing at number 10. I've got no idea whether he is going to be a decent player (has pace and works hard but has shins for feet most of the time) but it's frustrating how little opportunity he's been given despite what the total appearances column might say

Totally mate! Nearly bought myself an all in one snowsuit/bivv/sleepingbag that's insulates down to -20c. internal zips to get your hands out when cooking but basically means you only need the tarp for cover and a thermarest if the ground is crap. Great in the snow as you get extra insulation. Toasty! Got a couple of Soup flasks that keep temperature for a good 8hrs (conservative estimate) too so whack some stew in one and tea in the other, don't even need the stove. Is nice making an early brew and a bacon/sausage butt on the stove to (sometimes) a cracking sunrise though.

Good points tails but it's the sort of decision you tend to make as a player who feels he has something to prove and while all players should have something to prove I think if he had been playing regularly he would have been more likely to make the right decision