Thetownend.com

Is there a game on tonight ??  We're playing according to the paper.   Just shows how much interest there is in this trophy.
Will probably listen to it on the radio if there's nothing on the telly,  but won't lose any sleep if I miss it.
Town win ?,  don't really care,  more concerned with the Exeter game Saturday,  let's just get through this with no injuries or suspensions.

We might see Woolery today, so there's some point of interest in this abomination.

Will probably watch it being its only £5 overseas, not bothered about the result but hope the fringe players that PB says will play - have a good game, Conroy, Iandolo and Woolery supposed to be getting a run out.

#STFC Line Up (352) McCormick: Woolfenden, Conroy, Romanski: Knoyle, McCourt, Smith, Anderson, Taylor: Richards, Twine

Definately a fringe side hes put out, hope they grab their chance.

On the bench:

Henry, Adebayo, Alzate, Taylor, McGlashan, Lancashire, Woolery.

Bench: Henry, Adebayo, Alzate, Taylor, McGlashan, Lancashire, Woolery.

This was a perfect opportunity to give vigs a game. I'm surprised he didn't.

2 Taylors huh?

Vigs has gone away with Chile for 2 games.

Ah, silly me.

Hmmm, reading between the team sheet and knowing it's only the Boycott Cup, the future does look bleak for Vigs if he isn't being given a chance to show PB he is committed to being Town No.1.

Of course I could be reading allsorts in to it but considering the words of Power at the weekend, there could well be trouble at mill  :hmmm:

So do we have 2 Taylors or have they made a mistake?

2 Matty Taylors, theres only 2 Matty Taylors...

Well scrap the above. Has he definitely already gone? Chile don't play until Saturday.

Mistake corrected, take out Taylor in the team and replace with Iandolo.

Power said pre game at the weekend he was leaving straight after Saturdays match to join up with the squad.

Imagine what it'll be like on Saturday.....

Can't see his name on the team sheet.

Ahh I must have missed that. Cheers PV. Still though, Chile play again in November too. I see it being difficult for Vigs to get back in the First XI.

I can't see him starting for club or country now TBH.

? Chile arent playing tonight.

Before Saturdays game, pre game Power said he was leaving to join up with the Chile squad straight after the game.

Quite. It's one of those very strange situations. If he was at Championship level he'd probably part of squad with three decent keepers. Now he wouldn't necessarily get back in the squad but his stock would be higher because he's busier on international duty. However he has to play some Club football. I don't think L1 & L2 (certainly) can operate in the same way. We saw with Kasim and Luongo and a handful other it works because your games get called off. At L2 that isn't or is very unlikely to happen. So essentially either Vigs agent has to generate a move higher up for him (giving him a chance to play Internationally and go back to his Club having not missed a match) or Vigs makes a difficult decision by not playing International. The latter is unlikely giving the opportunity there for him. As fans, at this level we have to accept we can't actually afford the luxury of players being almost too good to play league football. Hard lines indeed but unless another 4 get picked to play then Vigs will likely be going elsewhere. In Powers interests, January would probably be the best time to sell him.

Tbf money from Vigs (and Flint) could allow us to spend on another striker and free up wages for a decent/Knoyle style LB. Achieve that and we have a good chance of going up. Hmm, we live in interesting times...

Romanski, Twine and Iandolo playing well, Town having the better of the first 8 mins.

Beautiful cross from Iandolo but Richards can't connect, should have been 1-0.

Plymouth look a poor side.

Lovely shot by Twine.

1-0 Richards.

Short corner to Twine who fires just over the bar from 15 yards. Close.

Iandolo has put more decent crosses into the box in 20 mins that Taylor has in the last 5 games.

Great cross from Iandolo on the byline and Twine doesn't connect with his head from 6 yards. Shame, would have been a great goal.

Town definately playing a lot better than the last few games, creating some good chances, McCourt controlling midfield, Plymouth as toothless up front as a Detroit $5 crack whore.

Commentary courtesy of Norman Collier.

Woolf and Conroy looked solid at the back.

Muff missed a sitter from 6 yards and hits the bar.

2-0 Anderson.

Ran all the way from our own half and tickled it into the corner from 15 yards, beat everyone.

Hopefully this will be carried over into league games

Muff keeper looks shocking.

He ran so well with pace got a bit lucky with the finish though which trickled into the goal, still a lovely move set up with 2 tackles from Smith just outside out box.

We look much more solid with 3 centre backs, I would prefer Nelson instead of Romanski but even hes played quite well so far.

bloody hell, RCC would have saved that

FFS town,  stop it

HT 2-0 to Town, everyone playing well so far, good solid team performance against a very poor Muff team.

Can we 'qualify' if we win tonight? Or do we need to wait for like a month and a half for everyone else to finish their games?

how many qualify from the group ?

only there's 3 teams on 3 points, but we are mercifully on -1 gd as it stands..

Two, says the EFL website.

bugger

Sounds similar to the Bristol Rovers game last season - Woolery with a length of the pitch goal.

So difficult to determine the strength/motivation of the opposition. They could be saving themselves for their relegation 6-pointer against the piss stains on Saturday.

I think we should take it easy on them.

No we can't qualify as tonight is our last match and this is Plymouths first match of the campaign, we won't know until 6 weeks time either way apparently.

Muff are motivated they just lack the quality that we are showing all over the pitch.

ah, the muff have 2 games left after today, so both Chelsea and Newport can get 6 points.

what a farcical wait

edit: venks already said that.. sorry

Last game is Nov 18th, Newport v Plymouth, probably will go down to that one looking like goal difference will play a part.

Northampton seem to have had 5 players booked in 4 minutes v Pox.

Being 1-0 down to them must mess with your mind..

From the Muff forum....

We shouldn’t be getting beaten by average L2 sides either

Twine hits the bar from 6 yards with a backheeled flick volley, nice move, great cross from Iandolo.

Stop saying ‘great cross from Iandolo’. It just doesn’t make sense!

Aren't Plymouth second from bottom, perhaps they shouldn't be surprised. As long as they get some form back at the weekend  :)

Superb point blank save by LMC.

I know, it aint right!

They are but they beat Wimbledon at the weekend at home.

Great run and pass from Smith setting up Knoyle in the box and a great save by the keeper, he should have scored really.

Conroy makes a great 20 yard sliding block on their striker, hes looking quite good alongside Woolf and Romanski today.

Another great point blank save by LMC.

Anderson and Iandolo taking some lovely corners today, Anderson just whipped one in that was inches from Richards at the near post.

Anderson great flick up over the defender and volleys it just wide from 18 yards.

Anderson cross to Twine who volleys just wide from 6 yards.

Woolery is back!

Woolery coming on for Richards.

Smith, McCourt and Anderson running midfield.

Woolery makes a lovely run and is brought down just outside of the box.

Good free kick from Iandolo but Conroy gets too much on the header from 6 yards.

Woolery certainly putting in an effort tonight.

Woolery looking very eager, getting a nice cross in then, he has not lost any speed.

Iandolo and their keeper clash both hurt.

136 Swindon fans in attendance.

Could tonight’s performance lead to a changing of the old guard?

They have looked far better as a team tonight than in the last few games.

Woolery   3-0  !!!!!

So, do you think a back 3 of Wolf, Nelson and Conroy would work?

3-0 Woolery

Took that so well.

Yes.

Although Smith and McCourt have been outstanding today sat in front of the defence.

Where is he playing? Central striker?

Long pass through from Smith where Woolery pulls the ball down and with his 2nd touch blets it into the roof of the net from 6 yards or so.

Hes playing anywhere he wants, wide right or centre forward.

He's playing everywhere !!! Mans unstoppable at the moment  -  Would be good if he could run like this for 90 minutes !!.

Iandolo another good cross inches away from Twine in the box.

Muff can't cope with Woolerys pace at all.

If Twine had has shooting boots on then he could easily have got 3 today.

One more goal would be good, looks like goal difference is going to be a deciding factor in this group.

3 minutes added time

FT 3-0 to Town. 

Lets carry this form onto Saturdays game now.

FT 3-0

Anderson definately the MOM for me but it could easily go to Woolf, Conroy, McCourt, Smith or even Iandolo.

Not a single poor performance tonight, even Richards did well, Special mention to Woolery who looked like a brand new signing with a point to prove, excellent all round Swindon.

Iandolo, Smith, McCourt, Anderson, Conroy, Romanski, Woolf and Woolery probably all had their best games in a Town shirt tonight. Twine so close to getting his firdt goal for Town too.

Corners and set pieces much better today too.

no injuries, a confidence booster for Richards and Woolery. and some game time for some fringe players.

as good as you could hope for really

Muff were poor but we played really well, much more solid with 3 at the back, Anderson had a free role in midfield and looked excellent.

For once a seemingly meaningful game in this bumhole of a tournament.

Back in Devon on Saturday. A repeat would be fantastic and far more important.

 But very unlikely given team shape, personnel and opponents.

competition for striker position and richards works out how to score again!

im enjoying anderson at the moment. he is been one of my biggest dissapointments over the last 2 seasons. when average league 2 players play shit its easier to take but this lad has class and potential when it comes together. a cm with the ability to drive forward and create is huge in this league and we need him big time this year

I said at the weekend that usually these fixtures get in the way, but this could be a useful exercise, a sort of old skool Combination fixture for PB to try out a few things. I'm sure it will have given him some food for thought.

A 3-0 win to the home team? Yeah, can see that ;)

If only this was a meaningful game I could gloat to my colleagues tomorrow.

Ah fuck it, GET IN! Mwahahaha

Geddon ya Jannnnnnerrrr!!!! :)

A win is a win.

Had been thinking that Iandolo could be reinvented as a left winger.
Didn't want to say anything for fear of upsetting PV.  ;)

Would need to work hard on the defensive side of his game if played as a wing back.
Hope he can stay fit and get some more playing time.

Iandolo linked up better in defence with Romanski next to him, maybe they just click together.

I have been massively critical of Iandolo, and rightly so, yesterday he made a few silly mistakes as normal but his crossing was way better than Taylors has been this season.

He probably got more meaningful crosses in during the 90 mins than the total for Taylor this season combined.

Admittedly Plymouth probably had the worst defence we have come up against this season but that can't take away from the fact that Iandolo played really well, I didn't think he had it in him after his cameos so far off the bench this season.

It could be that it was entirely down to the shape of the team we played, he was given more freedom down the wing than he has before.

I was very impressed with McCourt and Smith in the middle, both won everything and McCourts passing was (until the 85th minute) brilliant, he tired for the last 10 mins and he gae a couple of wayward passes but he was hitting 40 and 50 yard passes to feet and Smith was breaking with pace all game, Anderson looked so up for it he was easily my MOM and played how we know he can play, hes just so inconsistant with his final pass/shot.

I would still not play Romanski, Twine and Richards though, all played ok but not great.

Richards won a fair few headers but the Muff centre defence was probably poorer than ours was at the end of last season.

Overall though I enjoyed it, no idea what possession figures were but I would guess about 60% to Town or more and we must have had 10 shots, most on target or just slightly off target.

Our free kicks and corners were much better with Anderson and Iandolo taking them also.

Good performance against a team from a division above who although they are struggling put out a decent side and we dominated them almost all game.

Here are the last few posts on their forum about the game, for a game they don't care about they really are getting pretty angry and agitated by their performance.


And this last post, apparently they had 2 players coming back from injury and a teenage striker at centre forward....


Well guess what Muff fans, we had 2 players coming back from long term injuries and we also had a teenage striker playing all game.

I've just reviewed the extended highlights, football looked pedestrian most of the time and we seem to have had plenty of time to take a few touches,Plymouth looked as though they couldn't be arsed. Can't see that being allowed to happen on Saturday.

When Anderson gets space to run with the ball he does look threatening and his finish was clever. Twine could definitely had a goal with a bit of luck.     

One poster on the muff forum wrote...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HkkW2WMj0M

Highlights.

I’d be expecting my keeper to save all three of those.

Very poor goal keeping

He was as poor a keeper as we have played against this season TBH.

Very much like an old skool Combination match, even down to the odd shout resonating around the empty terracing.  Something you learn from years of watching the stiffs is not to read too much into it.... Jamie Slabber looked handy at that level.

Given that Grecians are amongst Div 4's  leading scorers and have a good home record, I'd be very surprised if Brown goes far from his 4-4-2, with Toumani and Dunne holding.

The anticipation is too much.

Unfortunately, Plimuff are 2 down to Chelsea kids.

Does this mean we qualify?

Hope Chelsea kids win the whole thing, prefarably beating another bunch of kids in the final. Hopefully that will be the final nail in the coffin of this clusterfuck of a cup.

is it gd or head to head  for a tie?

Newport still have to play 'muff and would join us on 6 points if they win (Tues 13 Nov)

just checked, it's gd then goals scored

if nothing changes then we will go out if Newport best Plymouth. hooray

When you are in a fight for your FL status, a cup run and a potential day out at Wembley would be a welcome distraction regardless of the competition.

Be careful of what you wish for.
The upcoming change in loan rules could see a fresh 'debate' about B teams driven by some of the bigger clubs in the PL.
Better in a low profile cup competition than being introduced into the pyramid structure.

or you could pick up injuries in key positions for no reason whatsoever.

fixed

Of more importance tonight is that Flitcroft's boys are currently doing us a favour, leading at Crewe 0-2. This will keep Crewe below us, so wasting their game in hand. We need as many between us and the drop line as possible. 

Muff now 5-0 down to Chelskids

Whilst that's abviously true, we're as close to an auto spot as we are to relegation. Obviously a few bad results and the picture looks very different but let's try to enjoy the dizzy heights of mid-table while we're there.

Agree we need to look after our mid table perch, but when you get a run of poor results it then becomes under threat.... which is why Saturday was important.... even Martin Smith acknowledges that.


It's good that the players, get its importance in keeping our head above water. However he's right, it's now gone and it needs to be backed up.  It would definitely be a bonus to get anything at ColU, as it's now the home form that needs the application of a better attitude. 

We cannot go on with this historic level of non winning at the CG and hope not to have a season where we're looking down rather than up.... it really is that simple, and the worry is of course that although we've won a couple using the get out of jail card, we haven't really looked like winning a game so far.  You know the sort of thing, get a goal up by say half an hour, see it through to half time, then add another on the hour/ 70 mins etc.

The fixtures at the CG up until Feb look very difficult, chock full of teams who did a job on us last season, for a win or point, save for Stevenage and FGR, who are both going well this season. In the words of the Stranglers..Something Better Change

agree that results are important and form is a concern.  However, where does Martin Smith look down, like you, rather than up? It was as important in maintaining proximity with an auto spot as it was in distancing a relegation spot.  Whilst every game is tough (we have seen that with Cambridge, Crewe etc recently) it is timid beyond reason to especially fear any team in League One based on league position and especially so at this stage.

league two ;)

Great post (apart from the mistake Batch picked up on)!! If the players mindset is negative & one of looking over their shoulders constantly rather than trying to reel in the teams that are above them then that will undoubtedly show on the field. Hopefully the internal mentality is one of how high can we finish rather than who do we have to finish above to avoid relegation. Negativity breeds negativity.

Anyway, are we still in this horrendous 'competition' or not?

Not sure, tbh.

I think if the final game, Newport v Plymouth, ends in a Newport win they will go through instead of us on GD.

Here’s hoping anyway.

Any win for Newport home to Plymuff on the 13th November will put Newport through, if the game ends a draw or Plymuff win then we go through.

 :-[

On reflection, I think we would have something to fear facing some upper echelon League One teams...but I still hope we'd go out confident of our own chances.

It was important as a 6 pointer, had we lost then we'd have been 3 points off Notts, who are very much in the mix, further we'd have been down to I think 18th dependent on GD. 4 points off 22nd place Morecambe.  Given Brown's pick he rightly knew the importance relative to the danger zone, and conveyed this to the players.

Quite rightly.... there's no point being unrealistic, this squad is, atm, well away from competing at the upper end of the table.

Variables...variables...everywhere.  :D

It's recognising the variables that keeps a manager in a job.  Brown needs to find a way of winning games at home, if we are to climb the table upwardly. The back to basics policy may serve to keep us out of the dogfight, but we need a bit more if looking for upward mobility.

Here's what Kewell said post match.....


We're going to need a lot more from the younger players.  I hope they're up to the challenge

And Kewell know's what's going on and see how to fix it so much that he's led Notts to 2nd bottom

3rd bottom... after 8 games which is about when he took over they were 24th.

The contrast between our evening out in glamorous Crewe and Mansfield’s visit their last night is sadly telling in who has the more potential to rise up this division.

New manager bounce, they have lost the last three plus a sneaky Penalty win over Macclesfield

Yep. Crewe Alexandra, the great bell weather of lower league success

I get where you're coming from, but Mansfield have only won 5 games all season. They've drawn 9, inluding several goalless draws, which is a stark contrast to last year when Flitcroft's team were very much win or bust. Does that suggest they're one step away from clicking and pushing on, or does it highlight shortcomings similar to our own?

I believe the ability to avoid defeat is a vital quality in the battle of attrition that is a division 4 season.

It's a curio that a lot of draws don't look too clever, that is until you get some wins in the bag... generally teams up the top 3 will get about 24 wins or so, in other words just over half the games bung say 14 draws on top, and that should do auto.

Flitcroft needs to get a good run of wins going now ifhe wants auto.  PO's can be achieved by much more modest form.

To give Flitcroft some credit for his time with us, he did seem to have an eye on trying to get a result, risking a defeat to go for a win.  It was sort of working, but did begin to look more fragile towards the end.  It doesn't take many more wins than losses to get into Promotion spots, draw are nearly as bad as a loss.

If you win 28 and  lost 18, then it ought to get you there or thereabouts, but draws do reduce the points opponents get so that would have to be factored in.

was it Williams who tried to equate three draws with a win  :)

Well fuck me, I brought this up last season and got ripped to shit for it. I mentioned (probably naively) that a team that wins more games than draws generally will get you into the promotion spots. Indicating that if you have a highish win rate of around 24/25 games you could potentially lose 20 matches and end up on 77points. Likely enough to be in the POs.

Some clever, doryphore sod then said "Team with the most points gets promoted". Which of course is right but essentially my point was that you're better off not drawing too many matches. Of course I doubt you'll face such a backlash.