Thetownend.com

Today’s XI:

1️⃣ Matej Kovar
2️⃣4️⃣ Rob Hunt
6️⃣ Mathieu Baudry
3️⃣ Zeki Fryers
1️⃣4️⃣ Ellis Iandolo
4️⃣2️⃣ Anthony Grant
1️⃣9️⃣ Jordan Lyden
1️⃣0️⃣ Michael Doughty
7️⃣ Diallang Jaiyesimi
9️⃣ Tyler Smith
1️⃣1️⃣ Jack Payne

Substitutes:

1️⃣2️⃣ Archie Matthews
4️⃣5️⃣ Toby Holland
2️⃣1️⃣ Dion Conroy
3️⃣0️⃣ Luke Haines

Nice to see Conroy on the bench

So we have 3 subs, to their 10. Good 90 min workout for our XI!

That's because the others are getting ready for Brentford at 3pm so our doing not theirs

Yep, realise that. Just making the point that in the 2nd half, they’ll have fresh legs and we won’t.

Agreed! Also why the 12 o'clock kick off as it's not as if they can get back for the Brentford game

Maybe so Wellens can get back and see most if not all of it? (Depending on how long he takes on post-match team talk)

I guess if he's driving he will most of the Brentford game

Nice to see Conroy on the bench

So the only coverage of the Bristol City friendly is the STFC Twitter feed?

City 1 Swindon 0

Baudry off. Conroy on.

Hope it’s not injury.

Grant og possibly...

I guess if he's driving he will most of the Brentford game

12pm kick off, finished by about 2, gives time to get back to the CG for 3pm kick off, albeit not much wiggle room

12pm kick off, finished by about 2, gives time to get back to the CG for 3pm kick off, albeit not much wiggle room


he's off to at Stoke v Blackpool

He must be scouting a Stoke player then a short trip back to Manchester

We’ve got Blackpool away soon

Conroy off

Not injured!

Luke Haines came on for him

He must be scouting a Stoke player then a short trip back to Manchester

We’ve got Blackpool away soon

Why is he going to need to scout Blackpool he was training most of them on a daily basis last season.

Why is he going to need to scout Blackpool he was training most of them on a daily basis last season.

Sounds a decent exercise with a few good chances created.

Confident we will get the striker required to complete the picture.

By biggest concern is centre half. Despite all being very good defenders; Baudry, Fryers and Conroy could all break down at any given moment and it does niggle away as something that could cost us as the season progresses.

Agree entirely. Could see us having to play Odimayo and Grant at centre back.

Agree entirely. Could see us having to play Odimayo and Grant at centre back.

You have to remember as Wellens as said before, the only reason we get the like of Fryers is because of his injury record. Hopefully one of the three is fit and can partner Odimayo, if not each other.

5 first team CBs relatively capable at this level (Odimayo unknown) plus Curran. No side needs 6 senior CBs.

We’ve got Blackpool away soon

Yeah this is my concern. We were decent enough at the back last season especially with the BFG in goal but most successful teams I'd wager have a first choice centre half pairing that play most games. It is a concern that we'll be unlikely to have that continuity. Hopefully we won't suffer too much for it against better attacking players this season.

I'm still expecting us to have a good season by the way.

Good point. The last time we did anything in League 1, we had a steady pairing of Greer and Cuthbert.

Stephens and Turnbull?

Sent from my CLT-L09

2014-15 STFC PLAYER OF THE SEASON JORDAN TURNBULL WAS SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT THOUGH

Didn't they play in a three with Nath or have I made that up? Visions of Nath bringing the ball out into midfield starting moves (and also giving the ball away on occasions).

Yes on paper, but if Baudry, Conroy and Fryers are injured we will be very weak at CB which might very well happen. Don't think Curran is ready and Broadbent isn't L1 standard. Odimayo is unknown.

2-1 FT score vs Brentford

Hope and Twine scored.

Rope & Twine! You’re taking the piss 🤣🤣

Edit. Unless you’re stringing us all along.

Spinning us a yarn, I reckon.

Caddis, M Smith, Odomayo played from the pictures i saw

Rope & Twine! You’re taking the piss 🤣🤣

Edit. Unless you’re stringing us all along.

Yeah thats the only players I saw int he pics, along with Ken Richards.

Brentford B fell to a 2-1 pre-season defeat away from home to Swindon Town.

A first half goal from Joe Adams was cancelled out by Hallam Hope and the winner came not long before the break courtesy of Archie Matthews.

Neil MacFarlane had a strong number of players to choose from in a squad which featured First Team player Shandon Baptiste, who played the first 45 minutes. There were also first Brentford B minutes of the season for Fredrik Hammar after his pursuits at St George's Park earlier in the week. There was also a debut for young Frenchman Tristan Crama who came off the bench in the second period and looked assured.

It was the home side who began to see more of the ball in the opening 10 minutes, but Brentford B forced the first real chance on the counterattack. As The Bees broke at speed, Shandon Baptiste slotted the ball into the path of Aaron Pressley, whose curled effort was well saved by the Town keeper.

The lively Baptiste would then try his luck from the edge of the area, but his right-footed shot edged just wide of the left-hand post.

Jonny Smith then forced Patrik Gunnarsson into a fantastic save around the 15-minute mark when he was found just inside the box before a thumping effort from close range, which seemed destined for the net, was palmed away superbly by the young shot stopper.

The Bees then took the lead in superb fashion when Joe Adams picked the ball up from distance and jinked inside before driving forwards and curling an exquisite low effort into the far corner to make it 1-0.

Taylor Curran would put the ball in at the back post following a deflected cross from the right but for the offside flag. Swindon wouldn’t have to wait long for a response when Hallam Hope finished following a Brentford mistake as they conceded possession high up the field and the home side finished ruthlessly from close range.

With half an hour gone Swindon managed to push themselves in front when a long diagonal out to the right found Jonny Smith who whipped a cross in at pace and Archie Matthews did well to cushion the ball with his side foot first time high into the net to make it 2-1 to the home side.

Despite falling behind, Brentford B continued to look bright in attack, and they almost made it 2-2 when one of the Brentford trialists was found in space on the edge of the area but his thunderous effort edged just wide as it crashed against the advertising hoardings behind.

Jonny Smith continued to threaten down the Swindon right and he almost got Swindon’s third when he cut inside a fired an effort towards goal, but he could only find the crossbar as it cannoned back into the area before the Brentford defenders scurried the ball away.

Ken Charles had a good chance shortly after the break for Swindon after a cross from the left managed to evade the Brentford defenders, but the forward’s first-time effort was just over Gunnarsson’s crossbar.

As the game crept towards the hour mark there were fewer chances, but Brentford did manage to create a good opening when one of the trialists passed inside to Julien Carre, and after beating one man, he curled left-footed, but his shot deflected behind for a corner.

A chance would fall to substitute Wraynel Hercules after Kane O'Connor rose at the back post to head across goal, but the winger was unable to get a clean connection as the home side battled back to clear.

Neil MacFarlane also made a number of changes with trialists given the opportunity to impress at The County Ground in the half an hour or so. Brentford continued to see a lot of the ball right up to the closing stages but were unable to find a way to equalise as it finished 2-1 to the hosts.

Swindon Town: Fryer, Curran, Cheshire, Odimayo, Giamattei, Palmer, Charles, Hope, Matthews, J. Smith, M. Smith,

Subs: Twine, Reid, Caddis

Brentford B: Gunnarsson, Koutsimouka, Read (Trialist, 60), Trialist (Crama, 60), Baptiste (Hercules, 45), Hammar (Trialist, 80), Pressley (Trialist, 60), Trialist (Carre, 60), Hockenhull (Trialist, 56), Adams, Stevens (O’Connor, 60)
Subs not used: Andersson

Cheers.

Could be Joe Fryer the Middlesborough keeper in goal?

Young keeper with a few injuries been out on loan to a few clubs.

(https://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Joe+Fryer+Carlisle+United+vs+Northampton+Town+T60vTy5Chg5l.jpg)

https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2020/august/match-report-for-swindon-town-vs-brentford-on-29-aug-20/

They’ll cotton on soon enough.

Cotton on? I'm afraid not.

Archie Matthews????

He was on the bench for the City game (first post on page 1)

I thought that but he’s just joined Carlisle on loan apparently. Mind you, the report also said Archie Matthews scored

He joined Carlisle on loan 2 years ago, are you sure?

Hope and Twine sounds like a pub.

https://www.facebook.com/bristolcityfc/videos/313501076537219/

It's funny because many City fans would disagree but a lot of the time the Bristol Post is essentially what many wanted the Adver to be for Town; Rose-tinted propaganda. The Post is not very impartial when it comes to its local clubs.

...and boy-oh-boy do they ever love a click-bait article.

That’s a good finish from Payne. If City had scored that, I’m pretty sure it would have been described in a more positive tone than “soft”. I’ve visited OTIB a bit this week after the Smith signing, and have been quite surprised by the fact they (a) think that we think they’re big rivals (!) and (b) think they’re a big deal in the Championship. They’re notable only for being one of the biggest cities in the UK to never have PL football, despite having a benefactor like Lansdown. They could do with getting over themselves.

Also interesting that Hunt and Iandolo started at full back. I would have had Fryers and Caddis, and am not a fan of Caddis with Hunt, as it lacks balance. Maybe Caddis has dropped down the pecking order.... maybe RW rates Iandolo? Guess we’ll find out next week.

Considering Town's goal was considered soft (it was actually a clever bit of awareness by Payne, in regards to keeper positioning and if he can reproduce that in a league match then he'll cause teams problems), what in the fuck was Brizzle's goal considered as then? Surely theirs was as soft as they come?!

Our goal was far better than their goal, they managed to scramble in a goal and we crafted one with a sublime finish from Payne, seeing the keeper slightly off his line and chipping it in.

I know the Slavers had a couple of players missing but thats a decent result again a strong Shitty side.

I'm sure that will have been the case with our side as well when we see the starting line up on 12/9..

But, as suggested elsewhere, there is perhaps only so much you can take from friendly fixtures.

But, as suggested elsewhere, there is perhaps only so much you can take from friendly fixtures.

I'm sure that's the invisible asterisk that everyone puts next to any comments they make about pre-season...i.e. "it's only pre-season but"...everyone knows that but they're still going to pass comment about team selection and individual and team performances.

Yes, "it's only pre-season" and not too much should be read into it but it's not totally meaningless either.

City 1 Swindon 0

Bit of a tangent, so pls bear with me. But I hate this. Calling Bristol City 'City' & us 'Swindon' feels all wrong to me. The 'City' bit implies familiarity...as in, there is only one City. Forget Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Hull. The only 'City' that matters is Bristol. Referring to BCFC as simply 'City' feels (to me, anyway) like you're being pally with them.

And by contrast, we're 'Swindon' and not 'Town'. I just don't like it. Am I completely alone here? We had friendly game a few yrs ago vs Southampton and posters in the matchday thread consistently called them 'Saints'. Drove me nuts. But must be just me, I expect.

Bit of a tangent, so pls bear with me. But I hate this. Calling Bristol City 'City' & us 'Swindon' feels all wrong to me. The 'City' bit implies familiarity...as in, there is only one City. Forget Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Hull. The only 'City' that matters is Bristol. Referring to BCFC as simply 'City' feels (to me, anyway) like you're being pally with them.

And by contrast, we're 'Swindon' and not 'Town'. I just don't like it. Am I completely alone here? We had a friendly game a few yrs ago vs Southampton and posters in the matchday thread consistently called them 'Saints'. Drove me nuts. But must be just me, I expect.

Appreciate that we're distinguishing them with Bristol Rovers, but I still don't like it. Bristol City, for me. They're nothing special.

Bit of a tangent, so pls bear with me. But I hate this. Calling Bristol City 'City' & us 'Swindon' feels all wrong to me. The 'City' bit implies familiarity...as in, there is only one City. Forget Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Hull. The only 'City' that matters is Bristol. Referring to BCFC as simply 'City' feels (to me, anyway) like you're being pally with them.

And by contrast, we're 'Swindon' and not 'Town'. I just don't like it. Am I completely alone here? We had a friendly game a few yrs ago vs Southampton and posters in the matchday thread consistently called them 'Saints'. Drove me nuts. But must be just me, I expect.

Calling them City sounds wrong but acceptable compaired to slave traders

And by contrast, we're 'Swindon' and not 'Town'. I just don't like it. Am I completely alone here? We had a friendly game a few yrs ago vs Southampton and posters in the matchday thread consistently called them 'Saints'. Drove me nuts. But must be just me, I expect.

Oh, and you pernickety cunt  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

I'm so glad you think so. I know I am. : )

I was definitely joking  :D But for the purposes of the TEF, I'm not  ;)

An awful lot of hot air being wasted above.  For the purposes of TEF Bristol City are all cunts. 
There. Done.

Bit of a tangent, so pls bear with me. But I hate this. Calling Bristol City 'City' & us 'Swindon' feels all wrong to me. The 'City' bit implies familiarity...as in, there is only one City. Forget Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Hull. The only 'City' that matters is Bristol. Referring to BCFC as simply 'City' feels (to me, anyway) like you're being pally with them.

And by contrast, we're 'Swindon' and not 'Town'. I just don't like it. Am I completely alone here? We had a friendly game a few yrs ago vs Southampton and posters in the matchday thread consistently called them 'Saints'. Drove me nuts. But must be just me, I expect.

A mutual friend has married a Grimsby fan. Town takes on a whole new meaning.

I'm not having a fuckin Ref tell me what to do!  :D There, I'm sure you feel more at home now.

I’ve just spent two hours looking for my Red Card, but unfortunately it seems to be in one of those very safe places that I can’t remember.  It’s an age thing. So I’ll revert back to my old reffing style, and simply tell you to piss off.  Nobody plays on my pitch wearing a fucking beanie hat, unless it’s red and white with a bobble.

##You're not fit enough to hold the cards! You're not fit to hold the fuck-in cards!##

FA Referee Report Rating:
He didn't even have any cards with him.
The tea lady was most upset as it was her birthday!
4/10

Advisory:
Referee's Assistant agrees that wearing glasses may help.
Suggest this Referee be demoted to tier 29 (twenty-nine).
Must pay all player fines for cards issued without a card shown.
With immediate effect.

An awful lot of hot air being wasted above.  For the purposes of TEF Bristol City are all cunts. 
There. Done.

Agreed. As are Bristol Rovers. All Bristol cunts.

We are Swindon.

My pet hate is people referring to Spurs. The club is Tottenham Hotspur. I refer to them as Tottenham.

But don't get me started on Barca.

Oxford City or Oxford United?

Well, I call Oxford City "town" as in town versus gown.

I call Oxford United yellow, piss-stain ridden, pension-stealing, banana-wielding inbreds from the ass end of Headington.

The only time I saw Don Rogers play was at Oxford City's old ground.

Delighted to say I saw him in his pomp.

Nobody has gotten close since.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxrnJkQORcI&feature=emb_logo

Never signing the striker Ken based on this.

From that video it appears...

Jonny Smith looks very handy wide right and cutting inside.

Disappointing the way the Brentford scorer waltzed through our defence without a challenge and scored with a fairly soft finish.

Richards looks like a bit of a barn door Billy in front of goal.

Fryer looks pretty decent in goal, certainly be a good back up.

Twine finished really well from a Jonny Smith cross close in.

Hope looked like he did ok.

Also, who was the big built black defender/midfielder number 22 for us? didn't look like Reid.

I agree with everything apart from Fryer who didn't convince me

From that video it appears...

Jonny Smith looks very handy wide right and cutting inside.

Disappointing the way the Brentford scorer waltzed through our defence without a challenge and scored with a fairly soft finish.

Richards looks like a bit of a barn door Billy in front of goal.

Fryer looks pretty decent in goal, certainly be a good back up.

Twine finished really well from a Jonny Smith cross close in.

Hope looked like he did ok.

Also, who was the big built black defender/midfielder number 22 for us? didn't look like Reid.

On the evidence thus far, Curran is not going to be with us too much longer, this is well above his level.

Presume it’s Odimayo

No he was number 5 and hes quite tall and skinny, the number 22 was a large built bloke. I think it was Reid TBH hes just grown his hair a bit longer since he last played for us.

Rogers was a class above the level at with Swindon were playing, but was found out when he moved away from the County Ground. 
 

Who was number 14? Was it Smith? He looked very good

Cracking finish from Twine. A very strong pre-season showing from Twine who, given the current personnel deserves a place on the bench against Charlton at the very least.

Yes it was Jonny Smith.

He looks way more dangerous than Isgrove ever was in those positions. Albeit based on one pre-season friendly. Great left foot shot on him but can also cut back onto his right. Defenders are going to hate that.

Did he shine against us at home do Oldham

Cracking finish from Twine. A very strong pre-season showing from Twine who, given the current personnel deserves a place on the bench against Charlton at the very least.

Did he shine against us at home do Oldham

He did play, he looked fairly handy from what I remember because I was told by a slavetrader mate to look out for him because he would tear us a new one if we allowed him to, but Oldham didn't create much all game against us.

As is often the case on here, reality is somewhat different to what is posted.  The Don is still highly regarded by Palace fans of a certain age....

Cheers Pete

Smith looks like he could be deadly from those highlights. Good dribbling, crossing and shooting. Give some full backs a torrid afternoon.

Smith looks like he could be deadly from those highlights. Good dribbling, crossing and shooting. Give some full backs a torrid afternoon.

Edited to add: reminded me of a budget Mahrez.

The way he cuts inside and lets loose a left foot shot from the right reminds me a lot of Matt Ritchie too.

I was thinking more Riyad Mahrez😁

As mentioned previously, I am a fan of the kit worn by the home team.

ok, just realised the city goals are up, lazy not reading back ..

good finish by Payne wasn't it. not quite how the Bristol post (or whatever) reported it :)

I don’t know what you’re getting at, Reg.  I most certainly wasn’t being negative about Rogers.  What I meant was that at the level Swindon were playing at, opposing teams just couldn’t live with him when he turned it on.  They used to put two men on him just in case and that merely opened up spaces elsewhere, so even a quiet Don Rogers was making an important contribution. Against better opposition (and I saw him play twice for Palace), he was up against more capable defenders, and he usually had one stuck to him like glue.  This reduced his effectiveness even though his on-the-ball skills were second to none.  He’s still my hero!

Matt Ritchie is better than him ;)

Cracking finish from Twine. A very strong pre-season showing from Twine who, given the current personnel deserves a place on the bench against Charlton at the very least.

He did drift out of games and it was said at the time that he didn't always show up away from home.  Obviously overlooking his threat on such days could be costly, so covering and marking him would always be a relative priority for opponents. 

Paul Reaney of the great Leeds side shut him up in an FAC 1/4 final at the CG once.

But he was discovered rather than found out at the top level, Geoff.  He scored 15 goals in 35 appearances as a winger in the top flight (to add to the 7 he had already scored for Town in 16 in the second tier).  It wasn't just the goals that continued as before however.  The Don's performances generated such excitement on a now national stage that there were tabloid calls for his England selection.  He remains a cult hero with older Palace fans to this day.

He won "goal of the season" but his performance against Man Utd was perhaps the epitome of the excitement he generated. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3QRi_oQ9mU

Nice one, Red!  I’d not seen those highlights before.  It brought back just how good he was, and that he was more of a team player than I remember.  And on a ploughed field as well!  Let us just agree that The Don was very special indeed! :clap:

Nice one, Red!  I’d not seen those highlights before.  It brought back just how good he was, and that he was more of a team player than I remember.  And on a ploughed field as well!  Let us just agree that The Don was very special indeed! :clap:

I think its safe to say that his like has only really been seen twice in our 140 year history, the other being the great Harold Fleming.

It took 30 years to find Harold, it then took another 50 years to find Rogers, we are about due another one now.....

It’s Scott Twine!! :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

You get a Yellow card for that and I'm not even a ref! Everyone knows that he's already been and gone...it was of course Jamie Sendles-White  ;)

Given our recent signings, Tom Smith's time has finally come, the Ginger Bobby Charlton.