Thetownend.com

I'm surprised there's enough flat ground for a pitch in either Brimscombe or Thrupp. Brum on a Friday night could be worth a look.

I thought Reg said we weren't going to have an organised pre season schedule?

He rarely comes out and categorically states that something will happen - he probably said something along the lines of "Knowing Power, I wouldn't be surprised if there was no organised pre-season schedule".

He rarely comes out and categorically states that something will happen - he probably said something along the lines of "Knowing Power, I wouldn't be surprised if there was no organised pre-season schedule".

Asks a lot of questions. Never answers any that are asked of him.

Pot. Kettle.

I really wanted an Irish trip.

The squad will travel to La Manga for a week of fitness and team-building in preparation for the new season.

I'm surprised there's enough flat ground for a pitch in either Brimscombe or Thrupp. Brum on a Friday night could be worth a look.

Sounds like a dodgy midday ITV detective show. Never ever heard of it. Where is it?

Was this sanctioned by our resident fence sitting doom merchant?

Sounds like a dodgy midday ITV detective show. Never ever heard of it. Where is it?

I didn't know that Jeremy Corbyn posted on here?

The only Thrupp I know is near Kidlington, assume there must be another one?

So what are the thoughts about two pre-season games on the same day? Hungerford and Salisbury will hopefully not be a massive test but a good thing for fitness.

I think we did the same last season? Or fairly recently at least. Although my memory may be failing me.

I think I recall the usual suspects complaining that it was incompetency from the club blah blah, as though they know more than the professionals.

I think we did the same last season? Or fairly recently at least. Although my memory may be failing me.

I think I recall the usual suspects complaining that it was incompetency from the club blah blah, as though they know more than the professionals.

With Hunt saying that to bond with fans STFC are looking at playing friendlies at a local, grass roots level, how about STFC v a TEF XI.

Who’d make the starting XI? One suggestion per position.

I’d offer up SRK as Right Wing with Legends Lounge as back up

The last time a Man Utd XI visited, in 03-04, we reached the play offs and err would have won the final... had we got there.

Got to be an omen for a better season at least :hmmm:  :nod: :no: :headhurts:

digbys testimonial?

I remember being excited by a certain Philippe Cuervo in a pre-season game against a young Man Utd team, presumably in 1997.

We have had some great trialists in the past, Boli, Cuervo, Darras, Comminges and Tchutang to name but a few. Very few turn into signings though.

You forget the legend that is Thomas Dossevi!

We have had some great trialists in the past, Boli, Cuervo, Darras, Comminges and Tchutang to name but a few. Very few turn into signings though.

Didn't Cuervo break his leg quite early on? I seem to remember flashes of brilliance, while he never really got back to the level he'd showed.

I rated Comminges.

Unfortunately, Cuervo's time at the County Ground was severely hampered by injuries - as a result, he started just eighteen games in his three year stay. After playing in just over half of the league matches in his first season, a spate of injuries restricted him to just six appearances the following year, until he suffered a broken tibia and ankle damage in a reserve clash with Millwall in December 1998, after he succumbed to a challenge described as a "terrible tackle" by Town manager Jimmy Quinn. Over the following six months, Cuervo had three operations on his injury, and it was over a year before he played again - coming on in the last minute of a 1-1 draw with Portsmouth on Boxing Day 1999, he still managed to get booked.

From Swindon Town FC page..

Massively talented player.

Cuervo was a classy player and I would love someone in his style to play for the Town again, he had pace and control, a good cross and shot and could pick out a good pass too.

Apparently he is assistant reserve team manager are Marseille now.

Here is an article, posted on here almost every pre season, about our trialists, brings back some good memories.

https://thewashbag.com/2014/07/22/trialist-fails-the-good-the-bad-and-thomas-dossevi/

Swindon did have some other good overseas trialists with the likes of full-backs Phil Cuervo, Miguel Comminges and Lescinel Jean-Francois all carving out moderate careers at the club. We also found a few in the depths of domestic football, such as erratic Knutsford Town’s wingback Paul Edwards, and in his case, sent them back there when the novelty wore off.

Philippe Cuervo wasn't a full back though.....

Philippe Cuervo wasn't a full back though.....

Anyone have an up to date list of games and dates please ?.

Man united under 23’s on July 23rd

Birmingham game now being played behind closed doors

https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2019/july/birmingham-friendly-moved-behind-closed-doors/

Birmingham game now being played behind closed doors

https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2019/july/birmingham-friendly-moved-behind-closed-doors/

Dont read the group!

Kostiuk and that Howitt are comically negative.

If they haven't travelled it may not be looking good for any of those 3 TBH.

a Christian Roberts type issue ?

oh.

real shame about Dave. on one hand he's been an utter waste of wage for us. on another I know there's a very good player there.

still, you can't live on 'he might come good' forever

You could say the same about Anderson. He reminds me of Nathan Thompson, who in my opinion was shit.

I don't think its fair to blame Thompson for the final, not exclusively anyway.

He'd surely trained and taken a fitness test, had scans and medical input before playing. He could have been covering up I suppose.

In any case the rest of the team were utter garbage regardless.

That final was probably the worst I'd seen a town team play, and I've seen my fair share of garbage over the years  :)

That final was probably the worst I'd seen a town team play, and I've seen my fair share of garbage over the years  :)

McCormick, Reid, Fryers, Baudry, Hunt, Conroy, May, Doughty, Twine, Yates, Woolery.

Pretty strong starting line up.

Playing Everton U23s in La Manga now.

Late injury time winner - Iandolo header from a corner.

No goals conceded - yet!

Iandolo header from a corner.

David Unsworth said Everton Under-23s’ 1-0 defeat against Swindon Town’s first team in their opening pre-season clash on Thursday will provide an important learning experience for his young players.

The Toffees delivered an impressive performance against considerably more experienced opponents, matching the Robins throughout in sweltering conditions in La Manga.

An 88th-minute goal from Ellis Iandolo settled the game in Swindon’s favour, however, the midfielder planting a header past Toffees stopper Nico Hansen after an inviting corner delivery.

In a fiercely competitive game, clear sights of goal were few and far between. Ellis Simms came closest for Everton, forcing a splendid save from Luke McCormick after being played through by livewire forward Anthony Gordon.

Unsworth praised the desire and application his side showed during the match but admitted his frustration that his team did not get the result their display merited.

“It was a great game and one that was spot on in terms of what we want for this time of year,” he said.

“The fitness work was very good, the defensive shape was excellent and the effort the lads gave was fantastic.

“It was a really competitive game and a good test against a first team.

“I thought it was going to be a fantastic performance and result but we were disappointed to concede from a set-piece in the last two minutes. A lapse in concentration cost us."

Several of Unsworth's 2018/19 double-winning side are with Marco Silva’s first-team squad. The Under-23s boss, then, has taken a youthful group to La Manga, with a number of players making the step up from the Blues' Under-18 side.

The Everton Giant says it is vital his young charges learn valuable lessons from the Swindon clash – and hopes the game will have reinforced the importance of remaining focussed from first minute to last.

“We’ve got such high standards," he explained. “It doesn’t matter how old you are, when you pull on the shirt of Everton you’re expected to perform and win.

“Against Swindon, we got the performance but didn’t get the result because of a lapse of concentration.

“It’s a learning curve for them and we hope they will learn quickly."

Everton U23 manager David Unsworth on yesterdays game.

https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1277257/unsworth-pre-season-opener-an-important-learning-curve

Was our team 'considerably more experienced'?