Thetownend.com

So we travel to table topping crewe this Saturday. They have lost 2 home games this season against Plymouth and Cambridge.
I think we'll sneak this.

2-1 to town. Att: 5,423 (away 755)

Crewe are a bit of a surprise package this season, they always try to play football - as opposed to teams like Newport - should be a good game.  Happy to take a point

I am going to this one, second game in a row! Not particularly confident against a side that is flying at the moment and playing some great football. Thinking 1-3.

I'm planning to get to Crewe at 1.10 and probably going to go to the Corner Bar, which is 50 yards from the Train Station apparently. This is on the back of feedback from a Northampton fan and a Crewe fan as below -

Cobbler "We spent most of our time in ’The Corner Bar’ you see it as you leave the station. If you want a £2 something pint and the football on that’ll do. Can see the ground from the bar and there’s an offy and a chippy nearby."

Crewe "if you don't want to stray too far from the ground - Corner Bar, Cheshire Inn, Brunswick and Express are your best bets. Personally recommend the Brunny out of all of them but it can get busy.

Some better pubs further afield from the ground including my local, The Imp. Excellent and affordable prices at all although I recommend you don't buy a £4.50 pint of Heineken at the Corner Bar."

Hoping to catch a glimpse of the lesser spotted Wobbly Bob on Saturday!

We’ll lose because we aren’t actually *that* good

Back in the close season, by way of debate Rob T pointed out that Wellens had got somethiing like 42 points in his part season which was pretty good and should mean we'll go on to promotion this season.

I pointed out there were others with these sort of numbers, not just the likes of Franchise and Tranny who went up.  I posed the question shouldn't therefore Crewe and Cheltenham be considered as contenders  :hmmm:

Both have done well so far.... however Stevenage also in the frame have stumbled badly, so perhaps not a completely reliable guide.

You'd like to think Olly Lancashire will get a game, so far he's been in and out, som egood results and bad.... Saturday he was out and they had a good result  :(

Another tough one to predict - as last week it depends to some extent on which players are fit / recovered enough to play. Again taking a season long view, a point would be a good result, and I think we can do that - another score draw, possibly 2-2 as both sides have goals in them.

My first away game of the season.  I can't help thinking that Crewe will end up with the 3 points.

Crewe fans have held their hands up and said Lancashire is basically useless.

Town have 1 defeat in the last 5 games up at Gresty Road, that defeat came last season with a 1-0 loss in a poor midweek game. A single goal scored by the diminutive young left winger Kirk who ran Woolfenden ragged all game.

Crewe always like to keep the ball down and play football, something few teams have tried to do against us lately.

They have started this season really well sitting in 1st place in the table after the first 13 games, winning 8 of them and losing just 3 times, home to Cambridge 3-2, home to Plymouth 3-0 and away at Newport 1-0. They did also suffer a 6-1 home defeat in Spetember by Aston Villa in the LC and home to Burton in the FLT, so 4 of their 5 defeats in all competitions has come at home so far.

They have only lost 1 less than Town so far but have scored 3 more goals than us(23) and conceded the same amount(16) and have only won 1 of their last 3 games in the league.

Their leading scorers so far is the very experienced 35 year old target man Chris Porter with 6, the tiny midfielder Tommy Lowery with 4 and the tricky winger Chris Kirk with 3 and 4 assists.

They have ex Town captain on their books Olly Lancashire, a man who fans never really took to at Swindon for his percieved lack of effort and ability, something Crewe fans have also been bemoaning this season, a man described as woefully slow by several Crewe fans on their forum, who has been at fault for a few goals so far this season most notably vs Villa and Cambridge.

Swindon have former Crewe captain Anthony Grant as our only link with the Alex on our playing staff.

Anderson is definately missing tomorrow but DJ is expected to be fit enough for a place on the bench.

I expect Town to line up as:-

           Benda
Hunt, Baudry, Zakuani, Donohue
Lyden, Grant, Doughty, Isgrove
        Doyle, Yates

Subs: McCormick, Broadbent, Iandolo, Reid, Rose, Jaiysemi(May), Woolery

2-1 defeat with Yates scoring in front of 4,571 with 585 Town fans there.

As my post above agrees!

Will take a point.

My waters tell me that we'll take 3.

I quite like going to Crewe. The stand opposite the away fans always surprises me. It looks massive, but probably isn't judging by the capacity.

That 1-0 defeat was right up there with the worst games i've ever seen. Cant be that bad this time. 2-1 win.

I was at Gresty Road the first time we played a league game v Crewe.... it was I think an Easter game, and probably for that reason there were a lot of Stoke fans there.... the terracing seemed to be a mixture of railway sleepers rammed with ballast, which served as ammunition. Town winning didn't improve the mood of the locals and their chums, so the trip back to the station proved distinctly hazardous, if reasonably short.

Is anyone in League Two?

Got a feeling we'll win, based on nothing really.

Did the midweeker last year...a game that was there for the taking. Anderson was dogshit so I'm hoping it's a cursed ground for him and deserves a rest.

We will get a Result this time I tell ee!

From what I have seen so far, no, the standard is if anything worse than last season.

We just need to be on average slightly better than average to achieve promotion.

Based on what I have seen so far.....if we don't go up in the Autos then this season will have been a failure. The standard is really poor, but the standard of refereeing has been even worse, the worst I have ever seen at times.

Div 4 is a pretty even league this year, most clubs don't hold great advantages over a lot of the others. 

Occasionally you find someone down here, who shouldn't be, but it's rarer then Div 3 has become, as we know the likes of Leeds, Leicester, Norwich, Soton, Sheff U have been recentish visitors, Sunderland currently.

This means the 24 clubs are more or less delving into the same pool of players.... mostly loans from the top 2 Divs, the out of contract pool, and Div 4/Conference journeymen.

It's then about how the gaffer can forge them into something.   That argument might be best described as Roundhead v Cavalier.

So you get Roundhead outfits like ColU and Newport, who although not pretty are decent sides.... can easily see us off and given a hard time to various Championship/Prem sides in the LC.

Looking forward to a possible appearance from Jaiyesimi tomorrow, hopefully he can make more of an impact from the bench than the useless Woolery.

Sent from my CLT-L09

For what it’s worth, my XI below.

I would like to see Ellis a bit further forward now with Anderson likely to be rested and Donohue proving a solid choice so far ( based on one game XD )

Woolery seems to be this season's Anderson - you think he's got it, and he shows it in flashes, but he just doesn't seem to be able to deliver it consistently. And I speak as someone who over the summer thought we couldn't carry both, so of the two we should get rid of Anderson and keep Woolery, because he looked the better of the two. Got that wrong :) Maybe we should transfer list him? It worked for Anderson!

Ha perhaps! Like you said, there are flashes.
I always had confidence that we'd see this from Anderson at some point, over the last couple of years I've cut him some slack/found myself frustrated because I felt he had this in his locker, I can't say I feel the same way about KW.

Sent from my CLT-L09

I've seen him have one magnificent game ...away at Crawley...a draw.

Disappointing ref the outlay and the hype....never matched that for sure.

I think Woolery definately has it in him, hes got all the right attributes, he can dribble, hes god shitloads of pace, he can score some great goals, he can't cross very well so theres no point playing him wide.

His problem is he has zero consistancy. He can do all the hard things then falls when he has to do the easy stuff.

We don't play to his strengths very often, which is hitting balls into space for him to run onto, when we do and his head is in the right place he is brilliant. Other times he looks like a player who has never even seen a football let alone kicked one.

His goal against Carlisle earlier this season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch5NVUr6NVI

He has it in him, its just getting it out of him!

Almost every goal he has scored for Swindon, and there is only 13 of them, has been of a decent quality, great pace, good dribbling, decent finishing, like his goal away at Bury last season was brilliantly taken.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Hk3GAgfMk

The 20 yarder against FGR.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xifAVZ_LLVs

He obviously has talent, but he is as inconsistent as the weather on the Orkneys and twice as frustrating.

I must have missed the hype for KW when he signed, what type of player did people think we were getting.

Were did people get the idea from

The alleged £350,000 price tag I would imagine...

Similar to O'Brien and Hylton. Pace is great but you are unlikely to succeed with that alone.

Looking forward to the game tomorrow,  I think we have a good chance... part of me wants to stay home and watch BBC Parliament though.

If Keshi is rested, I'd say that's a good shout. He's looked a tricky little player with good close control, in those times when he's got forward.

Wellens said in the Adver on Thursday that he isn't risking Anderson today, he doesn't think hes fully git yet.

We need to get back to winning way's today, free flowing football from the Town. a 3-1 win with Doyle bagging 2 and Yates the other. COYR

Pre match where are the nice girls in the Grand Junction.
Was all ready to tuck the trackie bottoms into socks to blend in, except there is nobody here.
Where have all of the lost souls from the closed Wetherspoons gone.
Will move onto Hops Belgian Cafe Bar for opening time, a hidden gem as far as pubs in Crewe go.

The topical quiz question is which Swindon Robins speedway legend started his UK career at the now long gone Crewe Kings in the early 70's?

We are in The Whitby Morrison Ice Cream Van Stand today. Nice.

Have done well on recent Saturday visits here.
Hopeless in midweek visits.
Some good goals scored. Tom Smith & Ryan Harley efforts spring to mind.
So maybe a 25 yarder from an unexpected source today.

Might pop into The Corner Bar on the way to the ground.
With all of those holidays in sunny climes, Bobs Orange should be an easy spot with the swarthy complexion in amongst the pasty faced clientele, and the only one not looking at their phone.  :)

The answer to your speedway question is the legend Phil Crump, my personal favourite rider

Not quite got the hang of quoting yet Kev? :D

Modern technology has bypassed me Pete

Still impressive knowledge....

I wonder if Kev is doing next month's Supporter's Club quiz at the CG, definitely the hot ticket for STFC cognoscenti

I first started going when Jason was starring for the robins. Him and Adams (I’ve forgotten his first name) were a potent combo at the Abbey.

Haha :) I’m on my Jack today so may be more on my phone than usual. Should be getting into Crewe at 12:40, tonight catch the end of the Ireland game hopefully.

Bob, the name you're looking for is Leigh Adams

Bingo! Thanks :)

Always more confident of getting a result vs teams that are going well. I'll go 1-2 must be time for a doughty pen or would Doyle take it atm?

By my reckoning there have been no penalties (for OR against us) in any of our games yet this season. Is that right?

pedo hiders 1 Swindon 1

I'd definitely settle for a draw today. Or 4 points from today and Tuesday whichever way it comes

I hadn't thought about it but yes I think you are right.

That seems alot of games without a pen. Apologies in advance for the 1 nil loss today by a pen...

I is a long time, I can't remember us going that long without either having one or conceding one.

Saying that there have been a fair few decent shouts for them for and against us.

Yes, be sods law if there is one today.

1-2 Town

3-3 all scored on penalties then.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHPh_dlWsAAwyAF?format=jpg&name=medium)

Anderson starts despite Wellens saying he wouldn't.

Shock.

Good to see the bench looking stronger with options.

That does indeed look a decent bench for once.

Surprising that both Isgrove and Anderson start with both going down with hamstring injuries last week. They played well within themselves as a result as didn't seem to want to risk running at full speed incase they pulled it, surely we can't let that happen again this week.

Wellens has been pretty good as far as fake news regarding injured players is concerned.
Although he did say it wouldn't be down to the word of Anderson with declaring fitness this time round.

I’m assuming Anderson will be off by half time and either Ellis or DJ will be put on the left.

Could of been a attempt at deception by RW?  

Designated seats said the steward.
I don't think so.

And I ddont think he rode in the same team as Phil Crump,  Phil's son Jason would have been in the same era as Leigh Adams

This was my first thought, hes played the "not playing this weekend" card 3 or 4 times already.

Whether Keshi is actually fit enough yet is debatable but we do look better when he is playing well this season.

Will be a chance possibly for DJ to get more than the 3 mins he has played so far for us.

Disappointingly Olly Lancashire doesn't play today, hes on the bench.

Great low save by Benda.

Ooh good save

The low shot shot looked to have beaten Benda but he flung out his left hand to tip it round the post for a corner to them.

Crewe player down injured in the centre. That will be time added.

Lancashire could be coming on for them.

They’re threatening to send on Lancashire.  :eek:

Crewe having marginally the better of the early exchanges.

Is there a stream today? Or was that just last week?

Another Crewe player down.

Last week the game was shown in 15 different countries because there was no Premier League fixtures, so no, no stream this week.

The game is being played at a quick pace so far, the possession eveing out a bit between the sides now.

Corner to Crewe.

You’re being generous to us. Crewe are bossing this, playing fast, pressing high, making chances. We’re clinging on.

Bendas distribution not great so far.

We had a good 5 min spell but Crewe are coming stronger at us again now.

We are creating nothing up front and Anderson has lost a couple of easy passes.

There was one spell when Crewe didn't kick the ball for about 2 mins, but we had no killer pass at the end of it.

Lancashire coming on now for Hunt for them.

Another corner to them.

Town scramble the ball away.

Another really poor clearance by Benda.

oh joy. Northern comms

benda comes out and misses the cross, goal kick to Town.

Not just that, fucking over excitable when they get in our half.

Are you watching or do you have an agenda? Their keeper hasn’t touched it yet, they’ve threatened our goal about 8 times. 

Weak long shot straight at Benda.

They have got the ball into our box 6 or 7 times but I wouldn't say they have threatened us that much yet. Only 2 shots on target and one of those was straight at Benda.

We are defending OK but offering nothing in attack as yet.

Yates touch lets him down and puts us under pressure.

I’d say possession was currently about 65/35 and territory 75/25 in their favour. We’re staying strong but can’t string passes together.

Anderson softly trips Lancashire, he makes the most of it and the ref speaks to Lancashire despite giving him the FK>

No Agenda, just a different view about what's hanging on or defending resolutely.

Since out little 5 min spell we have barely strung 4 passes together.

we are shit so far.

ref is missing loads. soapy tit wank.

I didnt accuse you of having an agenda.

 But without actually seeing anything. OK.

I did. He was already on my back last week.

rose coming on...

We have created nothing, looks like Anderson could be going off for Rose.

which has been most of the half :nod:

The fucking Norvern commentator gets excited at the opening of an envelope!

Every time they get in our half he pisses his pants. And I thought our comms was frutrating at times.

Anderson sacrificed/injured?

Anderson has looked a shadow of fit Anderson, we need to strengthen down the left side they are trying to exploit Donohue all the time.

Love the way the local comms are calling Ng “EnGee”. I somehow doubt that’s right.

I thought the same!

Grant throwing himself into tackles and winning them, Crewe fans booing their old hero at every touch.

The ref is pretty lenient so far, he could have booked about 5 players.

haha get in

LMS 0-1 GWR

Doyle 1 0

Doyle, our first chance.

Hunt crossed from the right, Yates missed his kick and it bounced off his knee to Doyle centrally 15 yards out who smacks it into the net.

Get in.

Crewe players do go to ground every time they can do, far too softly.

Doyle smash and grab, thats what having a quality striker up front does.

clinical.

shame the northern monkey commentators were turned off just before

Good assist by Lancashire, probably the best thing he's ever done for us.

Ooh big error from Lancs nearly fatal.

Baudry with a goal line clearance with Benda beaten.

Now he gifts us a throw in.  ;D

4 mins added.

Just saw the save by Benda down to his left - That was world class!

Who cross the ball from the right for the goal? The knee shot from Yates wrong footed the defence completely.

Anderson presumably went off after the clash of knees in midfield?

We have totally changed shape with Rose on, they have stopped exploiting us down our left. Lookings much more solid at the back.

We’ve dominated the last 5 mins. Definitely more balanced with Rose in place of the non-existent Anderson.

Shit that looked in when it was well wide in the end from them.

When was the last time the management had an effective Plan B? Not Brown, not Flitcroft, not Williams, not Cooper.

Great defensive cut out by Zakuani, corner to them.

ht

HT 0-1 to Swindon.

Decent performance away at top of the league. They've dominated possession but only forced Benda into one fantastic save. We've been clinical with our one chance. We look much more solid 433.

Decent performance? er, no.

we've just about kept them out

They have had the majroity of the possession but the few times we have got in their half we have looked like we could create chances, which TBF isn't often.

Anderson was a passenger and bringing on Rose has tightened us at the back.

Yates not having a great game apart from his kneed assist to Doyle for the goal, Doyle has barely kicked the ball but when he did he took it so well.

This is like loads of Town games when we have all the possession but find ourselves a goal down....proper smash and grab.

Be a massive win if we could and stop the run of poor results.

With 31% possession, 0 corners to 7. Definitely benefitting from a change in shape and the centre-halves have done well. Also being a lot dirtier than usual, since we’ve let them take the mantle of flair team, and the ref’s let us get away with more than he should.

Fantastic defensive performance- Zakuani with some brilliant blocks, Baudry with one out of this world clearance, Grant fucking them up all over the pitch.

Isgrove completely anonymous.

Big bonus with Lancashire on for them!

Slightly sensitive when someone has a differing opinion?

Lancashire is definately like us having an extra man on the pitch, Isgrove could be replaced as he has shown nothing, DJ will offer more physical presence than Isgrove, something that could come in handy as Isgrove has been bundled off the ball with ease so far.

Not sure how we've come away from that half 1 up. Crewe much the better side and it seemed, until the goal as if we lacked confidence (to me at least). Lack of movement and constantly sacrificing possession to a decent Crewe side. And yet, Doyle gets a sniff and puts it in the back of the net. What a man. Some excellent defending from us at time this afternoon. Let's hope we can see this through. Come on you reds.

Not a great attacking performance,  but our CBs deserve to be in the lead.  We're been on the other end of games like this too often.  I'll happily take it.  Have a feeling three next 45 will be long.

Not really. It's hard to call it an opinion when you're not watching. Anyway, it was mainly about language - you can call it resolute for as long as we kept them out, I can call it clinging on while we kept let them coming back onto us. We were clinging on at the point I made the comment, I'll give you resolute for the last 10 mins if you like.

Corner to them.

WTF is Joe Marler on while we’re missing the footy comms?

Bad miss from the corner by Porter with Benda nowhere, heads well over the bar unmarked from 5 yards.

Nice passing move by Town, Doyle flicks to Yates but he was running away from the ball. 8 good passes in a row.

We’ve had about 70% possession this half!

Lancashire passes a 70 yard pass stright into touch, nice to see he hasn't changed.

bit of a let off as Yates was tardy getting to the ball

Shot from 20 yards inches wide from Crewe after a poor pass from Hunt to Yates as Yates didnt go all out to get the ball.

Both Yates and Isgrove seem not fully on the ball today.

Grant just ran 50 yards to chase a back pass to their keeper.

Crewe player makes a poor dive but this time the ref gives it.

Woolery for isgrove

Isgrove off for Woolery.

Not an unexpected change.

Att: 4,792 (551 Town fans).

1-1

1-1

Porter free header from 5 yards.

bollocks

Grant didn't pick up his man at the back post from a cross.

Woolery made a good run but the ball flicks up and hits his arm and goes wide and the ref gives handball, their slow CB's had no chance with his pace there.

In his defence i think he was trying to stop the shot going top corner and the lad has mis hit his shot

Baudry gives the ball away which dribbling out.

Crewe players falling like flies under the slightest touch trying to con the ref.

It was his first lack of concentration I think, hes been excellent again today.

Town putting pressure on Crewe, Donohue wins a corner for Town.

Good confident spell of possession leading to a corner.

Not a good corner by Donohue.

we've been much better second half, especially since the goal,.

Some nice pressure from Town.

I would like to see DJ come on for Yates but I think its more likely that DOughty will come on.

DJ's game is said to rely on his strength and pace down both wings.

DJ about to come on. Intriguing.

DJ on for Yates.

He didnt show much in his previous 3 minutes appearance :D

not seen DJ play yet.

Long throw by Woolery flicks out to Donohue but his shot is straight at their keeper.

Don’t hang the DJ.  :toocool:

He came on at Scunny for about 2 to 3 mins, ran around a lot, hes looked pretty eager so far since he came on.

My mate is a big Yeovil fan and he says hes is a real raw talent with strength and pace and can play anywhere in attack.

Woolery booked for a crude foul.

Benda makes a good claim for a long cross.

Rose twists and turns and loses the ball on the half way line, then is booked.

Lancashire fucks up trying a shot, yards wide and high unmarked at the back post.

Lyden booked for nothing.

Now hes banned for a game.

Literally.

Great long pass from Baudry and take by Woolery who puts a quick cross in but its beyond everyone.

Exactly. Absolutely nothing.

FK to Crewe 25 yards out.

Another Crewe player dives under no challenge.

Doyle booked for something.

Doyle pulled him down from the neck.

Lancashire inches away from setting up Doyle on the edge of the box!

Good move by Crewe but the cross misses everyone in our box.

Hunt heads out the cross for a corner to them.

Another corner to them, shot deflected over.

Oh Dear   2-1  to them

2-1 to them

fucks sake

Bollocks :crash:

Great save by Benda but he knocks in the rebound.

Real backs against the wall defending. We just couldn’t get it away. Bugger.

Rubbish !  However on balance of play Crewe fully deserve the 3 points if they are able to hang on to them.

Were really not very good are we

3-1

better in the second half but ...

need a win v Stevenage ...

Hunt mistake. What a late collapse having fought back so hard.

You just disagree with everything I say anyway.

And we only ever see you post when its negative and we have conceded.

Just not as good as we think we are. Rubbish.

Dog shit :facepalm:

Crewe deserve the win. They looked a good team and we shouldn't expect to go there and beat them.

Having said that i'm beginning to get annoyed at Wellens and the team he picks. We are playing away to a footballing team with a three man midfield and we stick to the 442? We looked good away at the start of the season with the 4-2-3-1 but don't use it now, and when we do we had lyden playing behind doyle?!

Woolery should be taken out back and shot, the guy is not a footballer.

Not sure whats going on with Anderson, looked great at the start of the season and is either now injured or not bothered.

Not dropping Yates because we works hard when he doesn't fit the system you want to play.

We need to get back to what made us a decent team. This run has to end sharpish.

A lot of effort to compete against very strong oppo, all wasted in the end.

Seemingly like a few other posters on here judging by previous comments.

Based on your commentaries Swindon should be 9 points too of the league.

Another trait of yours is that the opposition every single week easily fall over and dive.   I get you support Swindon but the majority of your comments are too biased in Swindon’s favour and thus a pinch of salt must be taken when reading them.

Then again at least your not as bad as that bamboo fella.

The games against Newport, Bradford, Plymouth and Crewe have yielded a meagre 2 points. Desperately need a win against a struggling Stevenage on Tuesday to get some confidence back, otherwise we may be in danger of being cut adrift from the top 3 at an early stage of the season.

1 win in the last 6 now and 4 points from 18

Not good enough- team not fit or strong enough

Wellens will be under pressure soon

Do you actually watch games? if you did you would see.

thought we competed in in the second half. conceded 3.

miles off in the first. scored 1

stupid game

Oh look:
Stefpol  :nod:
Processed Beats  :nod:
Outlet Red  :nod:

No need to check the result then.  :zzz:

Indeed.

Yes I watch the games. I just clearly see them in a different perspective to you. Comments like “based on the second half we deserved a draw”. Football is a game of two halves and overall most people here will concede that Crewe were the better side and deserved to win the game.

I may as well say that based on minutes 37-40 Swindon deserved to win the game as they scored a goal. Let’s ignore everything else that happened in the game.

Another disappointing defeat.

That was absolutely awful performance stats really don’t lie probably worst I’ve seen us play in 5 years or so!!

Not sure what the game plan was or even if there was one

Why do you never post opinion then? other than to try to disprove my personal opinion?

The only match day posts you ever post are to disagree with my posts.

I prefer to be a bit more balanced rather than just being 100% negative about everything Swindon as you seem to do. And post the good things not just the shit, I leave that to you and others.

If you don't like it then post your own opinion as it happens based upon what you have seen, because I doubt you even watch them you base them TBH.

No its not all good, but its by no means as utterly bad and wrist slashing as you make it out to be, yes I try and focus on the good things, surely all Swindon fans should do that? no? ok then.

Time to avoid the TEF for a few days I think.

They played like one of the hot hatches that have been known to frequent car parks in the area. All wide bore exhaust, full custom body kit, alloys and paint job.

We played like some clapped out old Nova in desperate need of some tlc.

Saw that Crewe had 21 shots and we had 3

Assuming that’s correct, there’s no way the game can be that one sided and a draw be a fair result

absolutely terrible. too many passengers. barely 3 passes kn first half. some successful side to sides in 2nd.

we have big problems at the moment.
 invisible players; isgrove, yates, doyle goal exempt, this is meant to be the teams creativity.

both full backs extremely poor distribution. only players that came out of that with any credit are zakuani and grant. and the big fucking german.

early promise is fading fast and I'm the positive one

A bit of a disappointment today but a defeat wasn't wholly unexpected given their league position.

Crewe are top of the table, we need to turn around the form to earlier in the season or it's going to be a long Winter.

At the point that they scored their 2nd we looked more likely to go on and grab another, for 20 to 30 mins we were the better side, 1st half we were very poor.

anyone that says we deserved a draw are having a laugh. we had zero ball retention and hardly any attempts. we COULD have got a draw based on the 1 shit 1 goal first half. that would mean stemming the flow and getting a grip 2nd half which we failed to do massively

My view is that once Crewe equalised, a defeat looked the most likely outcome.

Best side won today. We dug in for 10-15 minutes in the second half and looked like getting a good point but truly Crewe were the better side today and played some great football. Their right back Ng isn’t going to be playing league 2 football for long, and I’m sure a lot of their side are being watched by clubs higher up the pyramid.

For us, well not terrible but just not good enough. DJ looks handy and will be an asset. At the moment we look a mid-table/play off side and with Doyle looking a class act, we need to improve. We should beat Stevenage on Tuesday and ‘go again’ I guess.

Wellens:
- really poor and I know the reasons why
- will keep to myself which individuals were below par
- Keshi tells me he's fine, his tests look good, but I watch 25 mins and he can't keep up with Ng, didn't look fit enough to be out there
- the sports scientists tell me Isgrove had no pre-season, maybe there's something to it
- in fairness we didn't deserve anything, but the two late goals, we were so deep, we've got to play higher
- we have to be at it; today we had so many players who were off, we are just nowhere near where we were
- we'll put ourselves under pressure to do a lot better than that on Tuesday

Ooh, I forgot we're home Tuesday  :pint:

Good to see Wellens acknowledges we were poor and didn’t deserve anything from the game. PV take note.......

I guess Wellens didn’t watch the match either....

TBF it's the getting overexcited which makes it worse, if you took the more measured view available on analysing the recruitment etc, it did seem we hadn't done enough to create a squad ready to have a proper go at auto, and that is increasingly how it is looking. 

However in Div 4 with PO down to 7th you can be pretty average and keep the season going...at the moment we're 5 off autos but 4 off 18th.  Tuesday night becomes crucial, but it's a Tuesday night, not easy, Then on to Ronnie O'Sullivan's favourite place... who have quietly reversed the Fatty Evans bogey, and become a mess for us.

Disappointing result today. On current form, we look more likely to get to the play offs than top 3.
One concern for me is we seem unable to grind out / nick a point when we don’t play well, whereas top 3 sides generally seem to do that. I didn’t go today, but conceding in 90th and 94th minutes highlights that issue.
What happened to Rose - on post match on BBC Wilts (I live outside of Wiltshire so can’t get the commentary) they referred to us going down to 10 late on being a problem?
We need at least 4 and ideally 6 points from Stevenage and Crawley now.

Just before 90 input on my coat and took the dogs out.....disaster...

Maybe another 4D style jinx?!

Stevenage is a must win to me.

Will predict end of November...but not looking nailed on top three at this stage.

He was off the pitch after getting treatment. Play-offs? We need a big shake-up if we're not to disappear into mid- to lower-table. Lyden said that players weren't showing today, and that's something that has really changed since the start of the season. It took a lot of energy to move the ball about as much as we were back then, whereas currently, Isgrove and Anderson are complete passengers,  Yates has lost the ability to hold up the ball, Hunt's getting forward much less, Woolery's well, Woolery. The centre halves had good games defensively, but they don't launch attacks like Conroy could. Benda made some great saves, but he doesn't command his area and his distribution is very shaky. Too many players have gone off the boil at the same time - it's like a collective shrug.

Big task now for Wellens to reboot this side. He needs them to show some pride on Tuesday.

OK accepted, now accept that you are 100% negative with all things Swindon.

At the point they scored the 2nd I said we looked like we deserved a point. Don't twist my words and the context it was put in at the time it happened, as you always do.

At no point after the 2nd goal did I say we deserved anything, show me if you find me posting that.

I love the utter negativity you show whenever we lose a game, nice one.

Nobody, and I mean nobody at all has said that over the whole game we deserved anything.

At the point of their 2nd goal, if you bother to check the timing of the post then go ahead, I said we deserved to be drawing based upon on how we were had been playing up to that point in the 2nd half, which was far better than the first half showing.

After the 2nd goal went in there was only one winner, thats blatant.

I do think that some of our fans absolutely love us to be crap and love posting negative things especially when we lose, they know who they are.

I'll be negative. I didn't realise over the last 6 we are the league worst team.

We had far too many passengers today as I said earlier, Isgrove, Anderson, Yates, Doyle was not at his best, thats basically all of our attacking threat in 1.

Woolrey ran around and trued but was lacking again, DJ looked like he wanted to play and had a few nice touches, Baudry and Zakuani looked fairly decent.

Grant was excellent again as always, Hunt and Donohue both had poor games and Lyden went missing a lot in a more advanced position which didn't seem to suit him.

Benda made 2 good saves but not so well on occassions too, his handling and claiming of crosses is suspect and his distribution at times poor but over all he looked fairly solid.

To me it looks like a confidence problem as when we scored our backs were up and we fought for everything, when their first went in we rallied around and played some good football then when the 2nd went in our heads dropped and we crumbled, easily conceding the 3rd with little challenge from our players.

No its not good enough, of course its not, we no longer have that swagger when we pass the ball around in the way we did at the start of the season, I think the injury to Conroy has affected the players more than Wellens likes to admit.

Its time for a changes in the starting line up for Tuesday because this one isn't working very well.

Doughty and DJ must be chomping at the bit for a start so let them, change the formation a bit, Lyden is out anyway so bring in a more attacking player and just play with Grant as defensive midfielder but with 2 attacking options along side.

Yates looks like he needs a rest too its just not been clicking for him the last few games.

That doesnt surprise me at all. But you dont JUST post negative stuff, you praise too when its deserved.

I thought Zakuani and Grant were excellent today.

I think the biggest problem is we can't get control of the midfield when being pressed, meaning our attacking players look useless as they don't get the ball.

it improved in the second half, but we were quite a way off Crewe overall

So Crewe scored their second goal in the 90th minute.  So are you saying that up to the 89th minute Swindon deserved a draw but then Crewe scored in the 90th minute so they then deserved to win ?

If the game would have ended 1-1 then from a personal perspective  (which is in akin to most most other people on this forum who witnessed the game) would admit that Crewe were much the better side and Swindon got away with nabbing a point.


This just further demonstrates your bias and lack of objectivity.

The irony has bypassed you with that comment.

I’m sure PV means the second goal, which was scored on the hour. Not their second goal, that would just be insane.

My interpretation for what it’s worth.

For the first time in a while we look decent defensively - it’s just that we have to do so much of it.

The problem is midfield. I find it hard to conceive why/how our 3 ‘flair’ players - Anderson, Isgrove and Doughty - have all gone to shit at the same time. There’s summit up I tells thee!

Also, we played our best stuff with only 1 striker - either Doyle or Yates. The problem Wellens has is has he got the bollocks to play just the one of them when both are fit and scoring.

4-4-2 cannot be our system.

Date the ‘takeover’ news started in the Adver - 21st September.

Wins after the 21st September - 0


The end.

When all fit it has to be a 4231

Grant & Lyden holding
Isgrove, Dougherty, Anderson as the 3
Doyle or Yates up top

You're not seriously suggesting that the team are so unsettled by some American developers chancing their arm with a slightly credulous local paper that they have now forgotten how to play? Assuming you're not on a fishing trip, I suspect injuries and the consequent inability to select a settled starting XI might be slightly more relevant.

I’m not suggesting anything Paul, but, I don’t think it’s a coincidence we look a completely different side. It’s not just injuries - our fit players have been poor since then too. In fact, I’d actually say the positions where injuries have affected us we look okay.

Don't disagree with that, but I think it's a massive stretch to say it's anything to do with the "takeover" story. More likely a side unsettled by constant turnover of injured/suspended players and that affecting the balance of the team (including the fit players). Or maybe, like Dave says, they're not as good as we thought?

Hello StefTroll, good evening. I do hope you are grimacing in a watering hole somewhere with an internal smirk?

I was quite surprised to see us 0-1 at HT. Pre-match I'm sure even the most rosy-tinty (here's looking at me Trolly) would say that a point (however obtained) would have been a good result. Deep down we mostly thought a loss would be likely - Crewe just seem to have a knack of getting favourable results at this moment. It's often like that when you're top and in a vein of form. No shock, so to speak.

Yet we were leading at HT and I thought to myself 'How nice. If we can get beyond the hour ahead, we might just nick it.' It did seem though as Crewe knocked in the equaliser it was going to be a classic case of a swing in momentum. Yet we didn't really have momentum in the game anyway. Crewe just asserted their control and it was always coming. Disappointing for our CBs, because they had worked fairly hard to prevent Crewe scoring. A matter of time as mentioned. Clinging on or resolute from Town. Crewe were going to score.

It becomes more frustrating because we really did nearly pick up a point here. Up to the 90 and even the pessimists (StefTroll, I now look at you)amongst us would be thinking we can sniff out a "undeserved" point. A very good point, when we've all forgotten about the why, how, what of achieving it comes several games later.

Alas, it was not to be and the result comes full circle in what many of us were thinking before our jaded XI took to the Gresty Road turf. We lost, most of us expected to lose but all is not lost. At least we can say we do not have a legacy left behind at an abuse and paedophile ridden club. I feel the Alex will have to work very hard to remove that particularly large blemish on their club.

Let us not lay the blame at the Alex themselves. The squad current is fairly good. I still expect them to fade away eventually. Newport are the Lincoln of yesterseason and I still think if we get our act together, we WILL be thereabouts come seasons end.

Debbie downer for now but hey, at least we showed those Aussies how to chase an egg. It's always nice beating the 'Strayans' at anything.

PS: PV, don't let StefTroll wind you up. It's his favourite pastime and should not be a surprise - since we lost. You stay calm good man and let me be the one who gets pissed off with that ilk of poster.

I welcome the incoming 'cunt points' with open and loving arms. Onto St. Evanage  and Tuesday night football...Halloween edges closer. Will it be a Thriller or a Horror?

Seconded. Yates and Doyle are both very good players, just not sure they work well together when we have less possession.

Just got back in from a night out.

I did my best. Sorry it wasn't enough. In hindisght, I should probably have had some shots like I usually do.

We thank you for your sacrifice anyway FH.  You can do no more than get pissed.

Anyone know where 4D was today?

Ffs FH!

In South Wales  ;)

Wellens is entering very dangerous territory this week... atm we're a point worse off than under Flitcroft but 3 better than Brown. It was about now that Brown was on a bad run 1 win in 8, we're 1 win in 6.  It's what management is about, Brown didn't look like halting the slide and was gone, Wellens needs to this week or it's conceivable he'll be on his bike by November.

He's still just about got some credit in the bank, but in his own way Power has backed him he's now got a squad of players he's signed and had more or less a year at it to try and improve matters. That is sliding away and needs to turn starting Tuesday.

Some people need to get a grip. We're 7th after a shit run. Still right in contention after 14 games.

Shit run being the operative phrase.... we're talking football here. 

In that world, Brown gets sacked for 1 win in 8, so entirely possible the same might happen to Wellens. Hopefully he'll show his worth this week, it's what the good gaffers do.

My personal opinion after yesterday’s game is that I’m not sure Wellens yet knows his best side. He obviously wants to play Yates and Doyle in the same side, but whilst Yates gives you energy he barely spent any time in the box and played more as a midfielder. Keshi and Isgrove don’t look as dangerous as they did early season and Doughty appears to be out of favour as well when he should be the player that makes this side tick.

Injuries have clearly been an important part of this, we miss Conroy’s class at the back, Zakuani just isn’t going to be that player. Anthony Grant is clearly a class act and covers every blade of grass, hopefully the other players can take a leaf out of his book.

The run of games we’ve had was always going to be a challenge and I’m disappointed we’ve not taken the points we could have (draws at Bradford and Crewe would have been an excellent return).

Confidence seems low currently, we need 3 points on Stevenage to try and turn this malaise around. Have to remember as well it’s still early in the season and we are 7th, it’s not the end of the world but we need to turn it around sooner rather than later.

Almost a year to the day since that win at Meadow Lane when we saw a real back to basics approach/personnel - one might argue that RW would be wise to employ similar tactics in our upcoming fixtures  :hmmm:

So the storm clouds are gathering but I'm sure there be a fully supportive crowd behind the team for the off on Tuesday.

How you go about it doesn't really matter, it's about getting it done. At the same stage Flitcroft was a point better off, had a tough looking fixture in Wycombe at home (they went up) and played 1 up front, a lump Harry Smith. His goal sufficient for the points.

Last season Wellens stuck in Twine and debutant Sol Pryce up front v Stevenage as he had no-one else, we won. Pryce never played a league game again.

A quick look at Stevenage's away from shows no wins, 4 draws, 3 defeats f 4 a 10, which suggests a defensive set up.

Those that do turn up will need to be patient, unless we can repeat last season's early goals. THis will certainly be a season's lowest crowd so far, last season Stevenage managed a travelling support of 66, not sure they'll match it this time round.

Patience - not a chance, there will be those demanding a thrashing based on those stats and if we struggle against massed defence, something we tend to do, there will groans and moans after 15 mins.

No there won't,  we'll be 3-0 up by then !!.

That's usually after I drop one in the TE after a few in the Glue Pot.

After match Analysis: I didn't go, stayed at home and listened on the radio.

I have noticed this StephTroll bloke has it in for Venkman though. Literally can't ever post his own opinions and just hangs on every word PV types in order to counter it and argue against it. Whats more he never rises to anyone else in the forum, just always hates on PV.


PV you have an admirer buddy, hopefully it soon turns from forum bitter posts to surprise flowers and chocolates at your door.

Oh no Brigg, he doesn't like me either. Seeing as I take a positive approach, most of the time.

I don't think that's the reason   ;D

FWIW I think PV is pretty accurate and balanced in his comments, largely mirroring my thoughts on games. Also provides good commentary for those not able to attend games - I am not one of those.

:D

Well I have called him a cutn but that's a friendly gesture on here. Judging someone based purely off their comments on a forum, isn't shallow or narrow minded at all?  ;)

Bamboo, I'm sure, if push came to shove, that everyone would wear your face in order to survive the Zombie Apocalypse.

Even that might not stop the cunt points from racking up though. :)

All these closet lurkers ;) I'll take the cunt points all day, just don't go all Buffalo Bill on...please?! :D

Which is why I said 'I first started going when Jason was starring for the robins. Him and Adams (I’ve forgotten his first name) were a potent combo at the Abbey.'

Thank you both, not everyone agrees with me but I just post my thoughts and try to give fans who cannot listen or watch a view as things happen.

And very grateful most of us are too. Please keep it up....

My pleasure.

I think you’re a cunt. A cunt with a decent taste in music

:D