Thetownend.com

Back on track. Will they beat us? Cobblers.

Town 3-1 win.

 You'd like to think we can turn the Cobblers over... but new gaffer who knows Div 4, and a 0-0 on Tuesday. Curle will try to set up similarly... if there is a goal either way, then an ex has to be likely... hopefully not Andy Williams.

Well, where do I begin? That would be too good to be true for the Shoe fashioners. It'll be more fitting if a Taylor scores. The ball would definitely be in our McCourt. Hopefully we can make our Marc.

3-1

Richards, Taylor, McCourt
Williams.

5 Yellows
1 Red
PB sings Home Lovin' Man at FT in front of 6,713 (438 Square Stoned Travelers)

They’ll set up for a 0-0. If we don’t change the system somewhat they’ll probably get it.

Maybe Twine will replace Richards now he’s fit although I can’t see Brown binning him.

Surely Knoyle will return at RB with the Wolf at CB and Lancashire on the bench - even Brown can’t be that dumb not to make that change. Taylor for Romanski is a given. So you’ve got to look for logical reasons why we should create chances today when we’ve struggled to do so in the last 2 games.


5-0 and hopefully no parking ticket. When did parking opposite the entrance to The Merlin’s car park become a no go. Parked there for ages.

Based on the last 2 games I’ve watched we’ve become toothless. Northampton sound the same so I don’t think a thriller is on the cards. 0-1 and the natives begin to get restless.

4-1 Bayo 2,Anderson, Nelson

I'm looking for a serious improvement than the shite on Tuesday night..

Could do with a win to keep in touch with top seven.

Hopefully Anderson will run at the opposition today and not meander along the front of them like he did on Tuesday.

The likely non appearance of Kasim today got me thinking about the scale of his decline.
Plenty of time for him to get back on track and hope he doesn't have to drop back into non league.
Still getting a call up for Iraq though.
I wonder if the Iraqi massive are still as vocal on social media in saying that he should be playing at a much higher level.

Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, doesn't bode well, another toothless display bekons

Round pegs for round holes. Why Brown ignores his own advice I don’t know. Knoyle and Taylor should improve things.

Northampton currently sit in 20th place just 2 outside the relegation zone while we sit in 11th.

They have got only 1 win and suffered 5 defeats so far this season giving them 9 points, scoring only 8 goals in the process but conceding 17.

Their only win coming on their travels at Colchester in a 2-1 win in August.

Current form this season including cup games is LDLWLLLDLD.

They sacked underperforming manager Dean Austin last weekend after the 4-0 thrashing at Flipslops Mansfield replacing him inside of a day with the jobbing Keith Curle now managing his 6th club with a win ratio of just 37% in his 400+ games as a manager. They are currently unbeaten under him and have yet to concede a goal under him! his first game being a 0-0 home draw with Bury midweek making 5 changes to the previous week.

They have 3 players well known to Swindon fans in Andy Williams, Jordan Turnbull and Yasser Kasim. Williams has featured 9 times this season for them and is yet to score in the league. Turbull has played just 29 mins this season and is yet to start a game. Kasim has not even been given a squad number this season yet.

Swindon have Marc Richards(9 games), Keshi Anderson (13 games), Matt Taylor (11 games) and Jak McCourt (9 games) who have all served both both clubs.

At the County Ground Swindon have the upper edge winning 75% of the 53 games between the 2 sides with 35 wins to their 9 wins with 9 draws scoring 116 times to 53 against. The Cobblers won on their last visit 3-1 with Swindon unbeaten in the previous 9 visits with Northampton winning just 2 times in the last 16 games at the CG with only 3 being drawn.

Northampton average an away following at Town of around 400 over the last 6 games (we average around 950 in the return fixture).

Hopefully today Richards will be rested and McGlashan starting on the wing with Bayo down the middle where he is most effective (for me), bring Taylor back and Knoyle and push Woolf to CB replacing Lancashire, I would also change Dunne for Smith/McCourt/Doughty(if fit).

Curle often gets his sides playing with the ball on the deck which was the opposite of Dean Austin who prefered a bit more hoof and run. They spent heavily on wages last season and this one too signing Williams, Odoffin and Morias all from teams higher in the pyramid, Morias commanding a fee of over £100k.

For me it has all the hallmarks of a 0-0, we struggle to score and Northampton have scored a fair bit less than 1 goal a game so far.

2-1 defeat with Bayo scoring in front of 6,354 with 385 Cobblers there.

As an aside on their forum they are having a Walter Tull Day ... from their forum.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43504448

Shit weather,  train strikes and recent home form have all contributed to me not bothering today.
Hoping for a 'bounceback' result  today,  can't afford to drop many more points if we're going to stay in touch with the leading pack,,  2-0 to us (Hopefully).   COYR COYR

Keshi also featured for the Cobbs.

Oh thanks, I didn't know that.

Hope for a 2-1 victory

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Do035t4W4AAnQdI.jpg:large)

We will miss Nelson.

The fuck with Anderson?

4-4-2?

Looks a recipe for disaster

I think it will still be the normal 451/433 with McGlashan wide right and Bayo wide left, for some reason PB prefers Bayo out wide.

He was awful Tuesday, but he was not alone in being shit.

I have to agree can see a red or two today in a boring 0_0 same crap different game. :cry:

At least let them kick off before writing the game off ffs!

Richards, still...

I don't think it looks THAT bad.

Knoyle and Taylor were always going to come back, I would prefer McGlashan to start anyway.

The only change is I would have Anderson in instead of Dunne and McG in for Richards. What with Nelson being injured, so its close to the best side we can put out for me.

Hopefully Richards can raise his game against his current employers as well as for his current employers!

Apparently Cobblers are playing with 4 centre midfielders today, one filling in at RB.

Turnbulls first start of the season, if hes playing LB then get McGlashan up against him with his pace and he will give away a penalty with his lack of pace and probably lack of match fitness too.

Hopefully Richards can raise his game against his current employers as well as for his current employers!

This is a very strange situation, who would his loyalty side with?

I don't see how Dunne can be classed as a footballer, or at least at this level, bench warmer at best. Would love 3 points but it won't be easy today, and we're such a frustratingly, consistently inconsistent side.

Vigs stalling on signing his new contract then according to Power, that could explain why hes not being put back into the team.

Power sounds quite disappointed as he has only stalled since he got into the Chile squad.

Hopefully Richards classes himself more a Swindon player than a Northampton youth coach!

Dunne is a wierd one, every 4 or 5 games he plays really well then the other 4 he playes like he has never kicked a football before. His worst attribute has to be his terrible timing in tackles, its hard to tell if its just timing or that he has malice, either way it needs to improve if he wants an extended run in the team.

It seems to me the only thing that disrupts his run in the team is down to discipline rather than a managerial decision.
You are spot on about his contribution but one good game in 5 shouldn't give him a regular start, no one else can afford to be so regularly poor  to even be considered for a regular start?

Except for maybe Richards....

Still no iFollow video or sound.

That is also a very strange decision. Dunne & Richards must have some dirt on Brown to start so frequently.

Same here - it's such a piece of shit.

Wankers

Dunne had a great game against Oldham..  Did exactly what he was put in there to do..

Are there not laws against monopolies? Were only given one choice of service and it's fucking shit.

Who, Dunne & Richards of ifollow? :hmmm:

Now we have a score in the corner but no pictures or sound, I want my fucking money back, this is ridiculous.

So that's his one in 5.

Maybe Walter Tull played against Harold Fleming?

Muhammed says -

Dunne actually plays well enough more often than not, with the occasional very good game. He's this season's scapegoat.

Unfortunately he did play well then but his previous few games he was average at best and the one on Tuesday he was terrible to say the least. 1 in 5.

Looks like it’s 4-1-3-2

Don't know, cant see :(

Yay its back.

Dunne misses a great chance just outside 6 yard box. Good save from keeper.

Great cross from Taylor, on McGlashans head, to Richards 6 yards out and well saved by the keeper.

I thought it was Richards. doh.

It was indeed Dunne, the picture just came back as it happened, he should really have scored.

Feed up just in time to see an unbelievable save from their keeper. Richards has to score, but think he's done everything he can do there.

That's fair enough, we all have opinions. I don't see it myself, and we have had numerous players over the years ago are considerably better yet receive much more abuse.
But again it comes down to interpretation and opinions, and I would love him to prove me wrong today.

They have mini-me playing for them in the #7 shirt.

My God Dunne that really was awful.

Northampton passing the ball well on the deck.

Nice move down the right by McG and Alzate but its cleared from the cross.

Lacashire conceded a corner from little danger, poor header.

Richards putting himself about a bit more so far. More like Richards from last season.

Nice defending from Taylor in a dangerous position.

made a couple of chances, have they. dross in-between.

mcGlashen is pointless

Hoskins is apparently 5 foot 8 but he looks more like 5 foot 5 to me!

Corner to Northampton, some nice passing by them, they have come here to attack us, unlike Oldham and Crewe did against us.

better from mcGlashen there. another good save

Huge argument at the end of the townend about the pretention of bourbon biscuits. Chocalates pretending to be biscuits apparently.

Great ball from Knoyle to McG who crosses and it finds Richards 7 yards out and the keeper makes a great save, corner to Town.

We seem to be geting better crosses in from both wings so far.

No idea how Richards hasn't scored.

Dunne to Knoyle but he crosses far too soon and finds a yellow shirt.

Got away with that, long pass to Hoskins down our right and his shot hits the post via LMC hand.

I'm not having that. of course they're biscuits.

Dunne pulling back the winger gives away a free kick in a dangerous position.

Toums clears it to Bayo but he can't break with enough speed.

Its really end to end so far.

He looks like a kid alongside the others.

Another corner to them.

Hes not as small as former Walsall midfielder Oztumer but he can't be much taller.

Our passing isn't great again.

Good target man header from Bayo to Richards but he can't do anything with the ball in the box.

They're going through us far too easily.

Alzate fouled on the touchline half way in their half.

We aren't getting enough challenges in in midfield.

Another corner to them.

7 corners to them and 1 to us so far.

Alzate good run but the ball gets muddled under his feet in the box again.

Knoyle clears the roof of the Don Rogers stand with a clearance.

Its a very open game but our passing is not as good as it has been, Northampton finding lots of space in midfield and breaking with pace.

Poor pass from Woolf against Dunnes arse puts in trouble at the back.

Toums winnng lots of loose and 50% balls again today.

McGlashan brought down 10 yards outside the box, free kick to Town.

Poor delivery from Taylor.

Crooks is a dirty bastard, thats his 4th or 5th foul against us.

Alzate playing wide left and probably having his poorest game in a Town shirt so far.

McGlashan goes down too easily for me, every little touch and he goes down when he doesn't have to.

I think we are missing Andersons breaking with speed today, Alzate should be going through the middle not out wide left, hes not effective enough out there.

Dunne with a nice pass to Bayo who wins a free kick.

Free kick 30 yards out on the touchline.

better delivery from Taylor but nobody can get a head to it, the ball come sout and Taylor hoofs it over the Bank.

I'm sorry to say, but this team isn't any better than last seasons.

HT 0-0

Town had the best chances but its been fairly even otherwise.

Toums our best player so far winning almost everything.

Our midfield should be doing far better than it is, what with all the talent in there. We can barely string two passes together at times.

we've at least created a few clear cut chances.

But we are far from being in control of this game and while they've not made the most of it Northampton look dangerous when they break

mcGlashen is a waste of space, first change I'd make is Anderson on for him.

Started well, had 2 or 3 really good chances, since then it’s gone a bit flat.

Has 1-0 written all over it, just hope we can get the 1

3 massive chances spurned then 30 mins of 2 shite teams.

Dull.  I'm going to the other end of the townend to see if they are talking about custard cream.

I do think bringing on Anderson will liven it up a bit, he does run and dribble well with the ball, its just his final ball.

We are missing Alzates usual breaking with speed, hes having a rare off game for him.

McGlashan has done very little and probably would be the one I would replace with Anderson.

Dunnes passing has been very poor almost always behind the player hes passing to.

Northampton are not a very good side and we should be making more chances.

Richards pushed over far too easily, foul given against him for holding the ball.

McGlashan gives away a silly foul in our half.

McGlashan is then fouled very softly again.

Toums is very classy in the middle.

Lancashire uses his hands when he didn't need to, silly free kick to give away 40 yards out.

Good headed clearance by Taylor.

Alzate win the ball and is then pushed easily off it.

Northampton player waltzes past Lancashire but luckily the cross is headed wide. Poor defending by Lancs.

Richards in the box hits a volley 30 yards over the top of the Town End.

Bayo to Richards back to Bayo, nice move but one is then offside.

He's got to change it. The shape doesn't work, Alzate isn't a wide player and, yet again, we lack something. It's so dull.

Richards just can't jump to save his life, good throw from Taylor but he almost ducks under it.

McGlashan is playing poorly today and needs replacing IMO, a bit of running by Anderson wouldnt go amiss.

LMC find Bayo with a great long throw but Bayo falls over under the challenge and the move ends.

Got away with that, poor finishing by Northampton from good positions.

Loose balls are falling to the Cobblers every time.

Game has gone from poor to rubbish this half.

Alzate should have shot from 20 yards but finds Knoyle wide who crosses and Bayo doesn't connect well to the cross, should have done better.

Williams with a poor finish in our box easily saved by LMC, acres of space for him in the box behind Lancashire though.

This is bloody rubbish.  A few players out there not putting enough effort to put a tackle in or win the second ball.  Two poor teams.  And now we're losing..

0-1

So bad. Brown hasn’t got a bloody clue.

Corner missed by everyone except for the tool who easily hits it in the net.

Awful

That’s buggered it then :(

We have created fuck all this half changes need to be made.

Lancashire  should not be in the team  full stop :doh:

What a fucking shambles!
How are we so shit?

Looks like another long season in this god awful league

Too many of our most reliable players having off days, Bayo, Alzate and Knoyle all playing poor by their standards.

Bayo chest the ball in the 6 yard box when he should have headed it in the net. He wanted another touch.

As in next season!!

Dunne makes a great tackle and wins the ball then gives it straight back to them, frustrating.

Twine and Anderson on for McGlashan and Richards.

Come on Swindon

This is really shite.

Big chance for Twine to make an impact up front.

We want too many touches when we should be shooting.

He's changed players but kept the system that is clearly not working.

Good corner in but Town cant get a head to it.

Another corner.

We just can't score. Combination of effort, tactics and lack of ability. Not a great combination.

Fucking hell Taylor that was a rubbish pass to Knoyle.

We can't score because we don't shoot. Simple.

Anderson 20 yard shot, easily saved.

This is pathetic.  We're completely clueless.

Get Smith on for Dunne for the last 25 mins.

Bayo great pass to Twine down the left, shame he didn't fall under the challenge in the box.

Which is combination of tactics and lack of ability no?

We are trying to fucking walk it in.

Alzate and Anderson combine well but we just wont pull the trigger.

Do you only post once in a match day thread to moan about Brown?

Great play by Bayo down the right but the ball gets between Twines feet in the 6 yard box, unlucky.

I don't think we will lose this, Northampton are shit.

Taylor 1-1

Taylor in the middle 30 yards out free kick.

1-1 Taylor.

Brilliant free kick.

Definitely been on the up since Anderson and twine came on

Great free kick from Taylor, but shouldn't have been given!

We really could easily still win this.

Northampton panicking at the back now.

If we play like we have for the last 10 minutes or so, yes.

Taylor nice long cross out for a corner toTown.

Northampton really are poor.

They are a poor side, this would be 2 points dropped, but you do sense a winner.
Great from Taylor, more of that please.

Attendance 6,138 with 504 Cobblers.

Taylor free kick 40 yards out, over the bar.

Anderson nice move passes to Twine who hoofs it over the bar from 20 yards, rush of blood to his head.

Bayo looks a different player without Richards along side him.

Aaron Pierre has to be one of the poorest footballers I have seen in years, his passing is attrocious.

No idea how Turnbull stopped that effort almost on the goal line.

Dunne gives it away cheaply in a good position.

Knoyle booked for a challenge just outside the box.

Bayo and Toums gets it away.

Waters booked for time wasting.

Why don't we just shoot when we can? frustrating.

2 mins plus stoppages left.

Town applying all the attacking pressure.

4 mins added time

Anderson has made a difference since coming on, Bayo and Alzate both looking better since then too.

Good cross from Knoyle but its cleared in the 6 yard box.

Ends 1-1,  4 Home games on the bounce without a win - just not good enough.

Absolute garbage.

Poor game, we should have won against a very poor Northampton side.

Aye, 2 poor teams. Draw a fair reflection in the end.

Very poor. Again, and against a poor side. You'd think Brown will be coming under pressure soon, if he isn't already.

Drop to 14th in the league, going to be a long season.

Oxford go bottom. Helps take the edge off.

That was absolutely dire- again.

What’s Browns win % can’t be very good at all.

Best we can hope for as long as Power is here is to stay in the division.

Not encouraging enough to entice me along to a game. Shame.

Don't talk shite. Power has employed two proven managers that, on paper, were solid, experienced appointments. He's stepped back from muddling in the football side of things and backed them fairly (more last year than this, yes, but widely regarded as a top 7 budget again).

Our current failure, and last year's, is not Power's doing.

On the plus side, we did create a good chances early on.

But after that we struggled.

Defence looked stretched when Northampton attacked.
McGlashen was rubbish, Alzate didn't do much, Dunne was average and Dave was OK.
Richards and Taylor were slightly better than recent weeks. More Taylor than Richards.

But it was largely disjointed. We did brighten when the subs were made, and we did at least get the goal that got us a point.

Not good enough to take us where we want to be.

Awful shite. Can’t watch too much more of this.

  A useful point... when you look at respective budgets then Cobblers really are under performing, whereas we're about what you'd expect from the summer's squad building, looking OK for mid table, with perhaps a shot at a PO spot, if we can get a bit of luck with injuries etc.

 There isn't much to pick between sides in Div 4, and everyone is searching for that consistency of a string of wins.  This looks a season where a bit of as run in the FA cup might provide some interest.... it would good to maybe get through to the 3rd round.

Get your head out of the sand- we were 8th in league one when Power arrived we are now 13th in league 2

Power has at least been clear in his aims.... namely to have a financially sustainable Football League club, from which he could make some money.  With this in mind we've seen a phased reduction of the wage bill, getting to the present level, which looked in the summer to be statement of an acceptance of Div 4 is for now our natural level.

This, of course is disapponting for Town fans, who regard Div 3 as our natural level.

Erm division 4 our natural level? Really? This is only our 5/6th year in div 4 in our history so how can it be our home?

As I saw it, Dunne tackled and headed and covered well today. Some of his passes were wayward, but so were some of most of the team. At least he's not easily brushed off the ball like some, and he was unlucky not to score due to a very good save by their keeper.

In the past we've often spent money we didn't always have... when we've gone down since the mid 80's, we've spent in order to get back up.  Under Power's sustainability model, we're not going to do that... tbf I think the right decision. Last week we played Oldham... their players hadn't been paid.  I don't want any more of that shit for us... we are where we are, and ned to get on with it. The likes of Accy and Wycombe last season showed it is possible to do something, if you build over a few seasons.

Utter rubbish.  If we can't beat a poor side like that, then there's not much hope.  Starting to question some of Brown's tactics to be honest.  His win ratio since taking over must be poor.

We are so lightweight.  Rarely a winning formula in Div 4

It seems like everything has changed from last season...apart from...the quality of the team and the results.

I contacted them to complain and was told "you need an internet speed of at least 5mbps, and that is why you have issues"

A bit poor.

Richards constantly held up the ball, turned and kicked it into his marker....time and time again. Awful and Brown guilty of not taking him off sooner.

We break quickly and then put the brakes on....keep fucking going....get a foul and corner of a shot away, instead we faff about and give the ball away.

Another frustrating afternoon.

Round dodger!

Regardless of the metric you look at - whether it's funding, history, catchment area or average attendance - it's difficult to argue that our 'natural level' is anything other than League 1/Division 3.  We used to flirt regularly with the division above that until 20 yrs ago.  This is a club that is under-achieving/punching well below its weight - and has been for years.

A fair few times today that was because we played the ball behind the man and he had to check his run.

At this stage 12 games in we're a bit short of last season, 17 points compared to 19, but interestingly the GD is exactly the same F17 A16.  Flitcroft's side was notable for winning or losing, few draws, PB with his clean sheet mentality seemingly doesn't mind a few draws.  Both sides were/are fairly poor at home, but that has been the case for a few years now.

I've always thought we should be challenging for promotion to the 2nd tier, even though we'd probably struggle to stay there.

I've never understood how professional footballers can struggle with the basics, such as playing a simple pass to a teammate. So many simple passes went astray today.

Me too.  But I suspect that that's because we're the same STFC vintage...cutting our teeth in the Macari/Hoddle years.

I didn't really appreciate when I started watching in 1990 that our status at that time was loftier than normal.  In the (just) pre-internet era of the early 1990s, I remember being able to read detailed Swindon Town match reports in national Sunday newspapers.  Times have changed.

I think whatever era you were brought up in, to not be challenging for autos in division 4 is a failure.

 I'm not writing this session off yet btw, just setting perceived expectations

tbf, Reg didn't say that he thought Div 4 is our natural stamping ground, but rather that Power's refusal to throw money at promotion suggested that Power is content with it as about where we should be for now

 I would say a failure, if the perception at the outset was that you're building a side for a tilt at an auto slot.... but clearly we weren't.

Sometimes but also plenty of times where the man on the ball stopped and put his foot on it to wait for team-mates to catch up. Which then also allowed Northampton to do the same. On the positive side, Brown made the right changes today IMO, just too late

Don't forget that in the 98 years since we were awarded Football League status, we have never dropped out of it and have spent less than 10 seasons in the 4th tier.  If we go on now to become an established club at this level, it will be the first time in our history (or certainly since 1920) that this has happened.  Not good.

What could Power have done differently this season other than spend more money?

I'm guessing "leave, because we want our Swindon back"

that and "we should be playing the Swindon way"

Div 4 only formed in 1958.... certainly our poor mid 50's sides would have been relegated to Div 4 had it existed. The only way we can currently say we don't look like a middling Div 4 outfit is to show it on the park... and we just aren't. However, so far we've managed to avoid getting mixed up in a Conference battle, so not all bad.

A decent, if frustrating, game.  At least Cobblers didn't come to park the bus, they did give it a go, and they certainly looked were putting a lot of pressure on up until they scored.  We seemed to lack shape at times, Alzate playing out wide is a waste, he is far better playing behind the striker(s) and running at the defence.  Too many players guilty of not putting in decent challenges, rather wait for the ball to come to them and how many times did a defender head or pass the ball straight to one of their players?  A bit disappointed in Knoyle today, think his lay-off showed, didn't get forward too many times which he is more than capable of.  McGlashan to me is a waste of space, not worth the shirt.  At least Brown got his subs right but for a team that Brown boasted were coached by three Pro-Licence holders we need to improve and rapidly.  At least we got tickets for Exeter next week!! 

Fair enough.  But this is only our 8th season in the 4th tier since it was set up 60 yrs ago (1982-86, 2006-07, 2011-12, 2017-19 (at least)), so I think the point stands.

It does remind me of pre Macari days in the 80's. We've no spark. We need a boost somewhere. FFS someone on here win a rollover ;)

Got the feeling from Power’s radio interview that he is struggling to cope with a manager that knows his own mind. Clearly upset that Vigouroux is being left out when his stock was rising. With current results I’d be surprised if Brown lasts the whole season.

Have we gone from one useless managerial dinosaur to another?

Are we actually going forward? It doesn’t seem like it. The football is still crap and we’re still not winning (much).

Despite Matt Taylor being one of our weak links, (Richards the other) his left foot is still handy!

Thought the ref had an excellent game today, but didnt he award an indirect free kick for Taylor's goal? It looked like obstruction to me.

What was said?

The football's been far better overall this season that last. By a country mile, despite the last 2-3 games.

Brown still has to get shit sorted, though. Today was fucking atrocious.

The squad is horribly imbalanced - a cast of thousands in midfield, but no cover for the likes of Richards and Knoyle. Therefore we are forced into repeatedly picking players who are out of form / unfit, whereas others who have done alright when they’ve had a game (such as Smith) don’t get a sniff. Brown has to take the blame for this.

Taylor is over the hill, but we still need him on the pitch because he pulls out moments of class which we just can’t afford to lose. Without the left back, our already limited goal threat is reduced further.

The Yeovil game looked set to be a turning point, but we’ve been flat and blunt ever since. Mansfield will be the big one for Brown. That useless, arrogant prick Flitcroft is still weaving his magic - 5 wins in 23 league games. Whatever happens at Exeter, Mansfield will be a key chance to get some momentum and enthusiasm back.

The alternative is too risky... you have to deal with what is in front of you. Let's imagine that when Flitcroft walked, the Yeovil game hadn't been postponed and Matty Taylor had got a confidence boosting win, so on to Cheltnum where the normal rules of football don't apply.... then perhaps a draw and a clamour for a permanent appointment.  Would Matty be a managerial genius  :hmmm: outflanked by Johnson on his debut.... and Johnson was soon sacked after.

Numb put in Michael Duff, respected ex player with no experience, yet to win a game. They've a big squad including some we know well like Conor Thomas, Ben Tozer, Chris Hussey, Tom Smith.  Perhaps he'll keep them up, which for them would be a decent achievement, we're currently slightly better than that, but not by much.

Slight exaggeration to say 'struggling to cope'. Contracts were being discussed and Vigs has been offered a new one which he was due to sign. However since being called up by Chile, Vigs is now reconsidering. There have also been enquiries as to his situation. Power was obviously frustrated by this and by the fact that Vigs not being selected wasn't likely to help.

My connection speed is 79mb, I contacted them and they said they knew of the issue.

I know he is still dangerous from set pieces, but Taylor’s performance yesterday reminded me of myself at full back from my Sunday league days. Get the ball and either hit it down the line or aim for the big fella up front.
It’s a shame we have no-one that can come in and do a job because he’s a weak link now, as is Richards.

I don't think he sounded frustrated at all with PB he sounded totally frustrated with Vigs though. I guess when you go into something looking for negatives you will always find them.

On page 2, there was no mention of Brown in the convo at at all.

Yes him and Lancashire were the same, both hitting the ball as high and hard upfield as soon as they could with no thought about where it was going. Yes Taylor scored a beauty but the rest of his play was poor at best. Lancashire had one of his better games but was still poor, Dunne ran around a lot and was a yard away from the play but his passing was terrible at times.

I know that Taylor pulls out a lot of shit but virtually everything that we did yesterday (Dunne chance, Richards chance, goal)  came directly from his left foot. We simply cannot afford to overlook that. Nobody else in the squad is capable of it.

I would be happy with Taylor playing wide left as long as he had a decent left back behind him so he didn't have to track back all the time, he doesn't have the legs to play there any more.

FWIW I thought he made 2 great crosses and took his goal well but he still persisted in crossing the ball as soon as he got it instead of getting closer to the line where its more effective, he wasted 90% of his crosses.

He is far better attacking than defending though and maybe thats the role he needs to play, as a wide midfielder/winger but not a LWB or LB.

Thanks PV & Redbuck for clarifying what Power said.

Must admit that I thought that McCormick was brought in to take over from Vigs being sold in the January window. Not sure whether bench warming will reduce his saleable value.

Power is concerned it will affect his value but if he doesn't want to stay then he should go while he still has a value which can go up and down, its like Kasim, going on international duty and his head gets turned by his agent/other players saying "you are better than English L2" etc etc.

FWIW I think McCormick is a better keeper overall anyway so cash in now while we still can.

Didn't know what to make of that game.
Watchable and end to end at times but mainly lacking in quality from both sides.

The 2 up front didn't really work.
Richards was a bit better but Bayo only improved once Richards was subbed.

We've had a few big blokes up front that have been useless in the air, but I've never seen someone who mistimes the jump as consistently as Bayo does.
This may have a lot to do with the lack of aerial contact at PL U23 and development level, so Bayo will have to learn and hopefully improve on the job.
Richards plays the role a bit better at the moment if only through experience as opposed to suitability.
If team mates played it into chest or feet then that would suit both Bayo and Richards a lot more.
Easier said than done.

Still too early to start losing heart though.
Had some suicidal "I can't watch this anymore" bloke sat behind me at Crewe. Blimey.
It's not that bad and still a lot better than last season.

This. Very much this. We have endured a lot lot worse and in recent years too.

I really don't get this, what exactly do you expect him to do with the ball, or any Div 4 level full back for that matter. What is a Job.

You can't be watching the game at all as the majority of our play goes through Taylor, the CH's use him as an outball when under pressure and he looks long for our big man. It's seem to be how we start attacks 80%+ of the time.

The same goes for the comment about Bayo not winning headers, he won plenty first half but Richards and / or midfield don't anticipate quick enough when the ball drops.

I agree on Bayo, I think he won a fair amount of headers and a lot more than Richards ever does.

As for Taylor, yes his job is to clear his lines, my problem is that with his "cultured left foot" and experience he should find his man a lot more than he does, his long passing at times is extremely poor for a Div 4 footballer let alone a man who has been called up for the England squad years ago.

Sometimes a shorter pass to midfield is a better option than just launching it upfield in the vain hope that Richards will win the header, which 99% of the time he doesn't.

Still don't think Vigs has a cash value.  Be interesting to see if he goes off again with Chile next week or whether he gets a game in the Boycott Trophy.

Power said hes been called up and will miss the next 2 games.

Peru or Mexico vs Plymouth and Exeter? tough choice.

100% agree

For effectively a long weekend, I'd go Devon every time.

Unusually for a Boycott game this isn't a bad moment to get what is a glorified reserves fixture.  Use it as a sort of warm up to try a few things out for Exeter, which looks Lincoln standard difficult.  PB has already failed to get anything from the Grecians, last season.

That could very well be the first time ever in history that anyone has said that!

Its your job, you get all expenses paid trip to Mexico and Peru, you will be working with players who are better than you and much better than those you normally play with, working with managers and coaches who are much better than you have worked with, with the posibility of getting rewarded by playing for your country.....sorry there is no player in the world that would choose Exeter and Plymouth (in the Mickey Mouse Cup) over that.

How is Conroy going to get match fit sitting on the bench getting no minutes?

Brown’s team selection seems to be off the cuff.

I'll count them up over the next couple of league games. Aerial challenges / headers won.  :)

Him vs Richards, yes that would be a good indication, I am sure the scouting reports will have those details already, not that any of us have access to them.

Very poor game.  Defensively we look better although Lancashire just doesn't dominate enough.  He lost lots of headers and gave away a few needless corners because of his lack of skill.  Taylor was poor barring his free kick as was Knoyle (put that down to a bit of rustiness in his case).  Brown should drop Richards, not play Dunne in home games and not play Alzate out wide.  Does anyone have any information as to Doughty's injury?  Desperately need him back.

He will play Tuesday, possibly alongside Romanski resting Nelson (if he is close to fitness and Lancashire, Woolery to play as well as McCourt for Toums, maybe a start for Twine too.

Depends on how seriously PB takes the tie and if we do want to progress in it.

But he has been fit enough to have been on the bench for the last few games so why not bring him in for 20 minutes in each game. Surely a Brown doesn’t see Lancashire over a fit Conroy.

It has been noticeable in a few games that Brown has got his starting XI wrong as we have improved after subs have been made.

For me, Conroy over Lancashire, Smith over Dunne, Anderson over  McGlashan every time, Twine/a fit Woolery over Richards.

When Doughty and Nelson are fit they must start.

I agree with all of that except maybe Twine over Richards, jury still out on Twine.

Its not really fair to say if subs change a game, it must have been the wrong line up. We've all seen subs make a difference then been crap when they start.

But I agree really :) Except Dunne had done OK. I'm really surprised we haven't seen anything of Smith for a while too though.

Smith's an odd one, he was playing well. As much as I think people are harsh on Dunne I'd still rather have Smith in over him. We don't know what happens in training, though.

nope, we don't.

Grrr, too many midfielders..damnit.

Dunn's plays well enough until he has to actually think and then he goes to ratshit, by far the worst player we have with time on the ball. I wish he had miskicked the fucking ball when it was saved.!

Lancashire has limited skill, the corner he gave away whilst trying to nod it under control as laughable.

Richards was really poor yesterday...trap, control, turn...play it into opposition,repeat

Seemed to be alot of poor decision making yesterday.

Brown may well have wanted to do that, but at 1-0 down at Crewe and 1-1 at home to Northampton he can hardly bring on a CB can he? It'd be labelled that he has no ambition to win /happy to draw etc.

Conroy has to start on Tuesday though.

With Conroy fully fit I think we could go with a back three of Woolf Nelson Conroy, Knoyle and Taylor out wide, Dave/Doughty in Cm with Alzate in behind Woolery/Bayo.

That side is pretty much what I would like to see. An experienced CB would be nice alongside Nelson & Conroy but I think that ship has sailed.

But Doughty is injured and looks to be out for the foreseeable, so why would you want to play him when not fit?

Because I said that is the side I would 'like' to see. Woolery isn't fully fit either & Conroy isn't match fit but they'd still be in my first choice X1 if they were available.

I'm sure Brown has an XI he'd like to see, but unfortunately in football management you have to be very lucky for that to happen.  Apart from possibly the Bury game, it's usually possible to see what he's thinking.  If we are to do anything much this season, then getting Woolery into the side and for him to become better than previously seen has to be the short term aim.

You'd like to think he does. How close he's been to actually realizing it is another matter!