Thetownend.com

Here we go, then.  Our first League 1 game. Rochdale not the strongest of opponents, but it’ll be interesting to see how we fare in a game that actually means something.

Not a fan of these non-standard headings for MDTs this season. A nagging worry, given the results that have followed so far...

You again!  Fuck standard headings. I didn’t come on here to be a fucking sheep.  :shaun:
And before you suggest anything, my sheep-shagging days are long gone.  :D

Fryers back at full back for this? Depends on fitness of Baudry/Conroy and I suppose Caddis.

 I doubt both MB and DC will be risked even if 'fit' so maybe Fryers along with one of them at cb

Let's get down to business.

Praying Baudry and Zeki come through. If neither, we're in trouble already and can see Grant and Odimayo in there. Think Cads will get the nod to return over Ellis. The big q is who comes in for Lyden - either drop Doughty back and play 3 very attacking midfielders, or give young Matt Smith a go alongside AG. And is Pitman ready from the start?

On the Fryers back to FB point - RW has stated numerous times he sees Zeki as a CB. If he's fit and he plays, he'll play there.

For me, I'd go:

                  Kovar
Caddis  Baudry  Fryers Hunt
                  AG Doughty
         J Smith DJ Payne
                T Smith

I've been bullish about our prospects this season and this fixture in particular but the CB situation is annoying me. How can we have 6 senior CBs and still be so short there.

A not very convincing 2-1 win for me Geoff.

Isn't J Smith a doubt after picking up an injury on Tuesday?

I can see the XI being the following:

..................Kovar
Caddis.  Baudry.  Fryers.  Hunt
...........Grant.   Doughty
.....Payne.   DJ.   J.Smith
.................T.Smith

Fryer
Odemayo
Iandolo
T.Smith
Palmer
Hope
Pitman

I think I'd go with that too Panda. but it didn't sound likely Baudry and Fryers would be fit...

you'd think it would be a few weeks of increasing time from the bench for Pitman.

Rochdale so far have won 2 out of 2 first team fixtures this season, They have beaten Huddersfield and Morecambe both away so far scoring 3 goals and conceding just 1. We by contrast have scored 4 but conceded 6 with no wins from our first 2 games.

In 22 1st team games against the Dale swindon have so far won 12, drawn 7 and lost just 3 times, scoring 43 goals and conceding 29 an overall win rate of 56%.

In games at the CG between the 2 teams Swindon have won 8, drawn 1 and lost 1, scoring 23 and conceding 9 goals. A win rate of 80%

Rochdale have only ever scored more than a single goal at the CG once, in their only win in 2014 a 3-2 defeat for Town with Rodgers and Smith scoring for Town and Dale getting a last minute winner.

So far Swindon have never failed to score at least 1 goal in home games vs them.

During the Summer they have recuited 2 very highly rates players from Man City, Irish goalkeeper Gavin Bazuna and defender Yeboah Amankwah (no relative).

Swindon 0-0 Rochdale in front of a crowd of 66, including the disliked Rob Hartley.

I will go with....

                      Kovar
Caddis    Baudry     Fryers    Hunt
              Grant    Doughty
     J Smith      DJ             Payne
                   Pitman

Fryer
Odemayo
Iandolo
T. Smith
M. Smith
Palmer
Hope


Rochdale view on the game.

https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/rochdale/news/52848/match-preview-swindon-town-v-rochdale

Didn't realise Fryers was also a doubt..that's a bugger. Not a suprising bugger but a bugger nonetheless.

According to Red Frog, Town are doomed because I’ve used the wrong bloody wording in the heading.  On that basis, it doesn’t seem to matter who’s in the team, so why not try Curran as centre forward?  

Actually your selection seems workable.  I assume you see Pitman coming on at some point as a super-sub (God I hate that phrase!).

 :banthem:

ah proper match day thread, I've missed ya

My job last season, and what a season that turned out to be. Trouble is I forgot we were starting the season soon  :-[
Beaten to it by Jed  :suicide:

So last season wasn’t down to Doyle, Grant, BFG, Wellens, etc?  It was your choice of heading words, was it?  You must have superhero 🦸‍♂️ powers.  I’m more than happy for you to take over full responsibility for the new season if that’s going to ensure we do well. Sadly I’m not convinced. 
I think you’re a Cunt! :blowkiss:

I was hoping you'd be the first referee I've not thought is a complete bellend, but alas.

Ah, there is a difference, though.  With other Refs you’ve thought they were complete bellends.  With me, you know.
I see you’ve “corrected” my heading wording. That’ll get Red Frog off my back, but I’m off now to polish my Red Card.
How do you spell your name again?  :)

I’m still living off of the glory days of the PDC era.

Well, what a coincidence.

I note that I may have misidentified you and that it could have been 4D who modified my heading.  This feels like a fucking conspiracy.  How do I spell 4D?

I’m having a poor game here.  Thank God there’s no VAR.  :crash:

I’d have thought that would have begun to fade by now.  I can barely remember the “Clap for di Canio” game.  :clap:

Anybody received there match day code yet for ST holders. No show for me so far

I believe Batch has his.

Yes, came through yesterday.
Check junk folder?

Yes, came through yesterday morning. The clubs twitter feed said that all codes have been sent out. Have you checked your junk/spam folder?

check your spam folder first!

The club confirmed on Twitter that they had sent all of the codes out, so you should have it somewhere

HAS ANYONE SUGGESTED YOU CHECK YOUR  :spam:

Even I've got mine! (And used it to get a match pass)

cool. free black screen

I don't think so, check your spam :)

:D no thanks he has already got one of them!

TBF it's better than paying for it!

I would imagine, it might be wise to check your Spam (fritters not included)    ;)

Spam Fritters!  Now, that takes me back to school dinners in the 1960s.  They were always drippingly greasy.  Healthy eating - NOT! Probably with chips too.

This is driving me fucking insane!

You live on a fucking beautiful Greek Island. I'm sure there are worse places you could be.

2-1 Town
J. Smith, Pitman
Att: 72
Rochdale bemoan us switching off the wind tunnel at HT and Lodge complaint to EFL on grounds of an unfair advantage. A resident of East Isley tests positive for Covid-19 and Boris puts Berks, Oxon & Wilts into an indeterminate lockdown.
Man of the Match: Unused sub, Tyler Reid.

Now then, Mr Audrey.  What seems to be the trouble?

Hat-trick of home defeats and three goals conceded.

1-3

OG on the scoresheet, Grant sent off, two off injured and a Wellens post-match super grump.

1-1 

My Mum was born and raised in East Isley - how bizarre.

Someone has to be, I suppose. It’s getting a bit close to O****d for comfort, though, and it’s like Manchester Road but with fields and cows and all sorts of strange things.  That might explain the indeterminate lockdown.

OMG I’ve just realised that I’m inside Bamboo’s dream.  Let me out! :headhurts:

East Ilsley was famous nationally for its sheep fair....   I'm assuming you mean Ilsley not Isley of brothers fame

http://www.localdroveroads.co.uk/east-ilsley-sheep-fair/

That is correct and my Grandfather has featured in many Pathe News reports featuring the village and the War.
If you visit the Swan pub it is full of old historical pictures that show a few generations on my Mums side of the family.
Small World.

My reference wasn't to your Ma, Duke. It was more towards the location of a certain N. Watkins  :)

Yep, I meant Ilsley too Reginald.

“Summer Breeze, makes me feel fine, blowin’ through the jasmine in my mind .... “ :harp:

So, Zeki and Grant in defence, then? Unless he's being 'conservative' with the truth.

Although Caddis can play CB, can't he?

Tbh, we’ve had 2/3 injury prone CBs for what seems forever. Thought that position may have been a priority.

I agree, Baudry/Conroy/Fryers will never complete a whole season. Broadbent seems out of favour as well as injured, we can't rely on Odimayo yet but it appears we will have to.

               Kovar
Caddis Fryers Grant Hunt
         Doughty Smith
Payne       DJ         Smith
                Smith

1-2 (Payne )

I don't think doughty will be playing.

Bloody ell! Injured?

He’s not injured, too?

You think there is some truth in it then?

I heard similar stories of Doughty quitting training yesterday in a huff from a mate who works at the club.

Season prediction

A huff at what? Flare-up in training or more of a long-term running grievance boiling over?

Probably being told he’s not training hard enough.

I’m hoping it’s rubbish but it’s such a Swindon thing to happen that I am swaying towards it being true.

I am guessing so, he and Wellens have often had a spikey relationship, highlighted when Wellens dropped him for his attitude last season, he came back a better player. He hasn't been himself since his illness though and hes not a fan of commuting which also may have had an impact.

Fuck sake. If true he still has today to apologise and get his place back :)
Wellens has played Baudry before after saying he's not gonna play. Fingers crossed that's the case tomorrow..

Game time for Iandolo, then!

FFS. sounds very Swindon

he was excellent in the second half of the season.

I am hoping its not true but I have heard this from 3 different people, surely they can't all be wrong?

I am hoping they are wrong though.

Wellens frustrations carrying over into training sessions or Doughty out he's not starting?

Which are you guessing?

tbf he should try coming in by car instead of that little scooter thing, might make it a bit easier :)

With Grant maybe having to play CB if Wellens comments on CB injuries are true,  and lydens injury, then now is not the time for there to be problems with Doughty.  Have to wait and see tomorrow i guess. I would have liked to think the journo's at this mornings press conference would have been aware enough to address this, but perhaps not.

Ought to buy the club off Power with all that mullah he has laying around

Depends where they got it from. If they all got it from the same source, then actually that's just one person being wrong, but repeated by 3 people. If they all got it independently, then maybe. (This is more a reflection on sourcing of rumours tbh, rather than this one specifically)

I’m always concerned about PL loan players and whether we are going to effectively be forced to play M Smith in league games, but guess we will see tomorrow.

(https://www.ifmat.org/archiver/2019/10/ifmat-Iranian-mullahs-begin-to-move-billions-from-their-collapsing-country.jpeg)
:) Did you mean moolah?

would be disappointing if we do. Smith didn't look ready to me.

a few weeks, who knows

I’ve sacrificed my Saturday Acca by including Rochdale.

If my form from last season carries over we’re guaranteed 3 points.

As long as we don’t get mullered

Aren’t there these Doughty rumours pretty much annual? I’m sure last year there were all these rumours that he was quitting football to concentrate on his business!!

Guess we’ll find out at 2 tomorrow if there is any credence to it. I’ve absolutely no reason not to believe PV at all as he’s not the kind of guy to spread these rumours without any backup but I’m not buying it. (More fool me!!)

Might improve our defending from set pieces though?
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcS7V5z88cw6uoDMbFJQVDxAf3d4Sx9NTinL6w&usqp=CAU)

Just got Dale at 3/1.

Revised team if RW is telling the truth and worst-case scenario Doughty missing:

              Kovar
Caddis Grant Fryers Hunt
     M Smith Palmer
J Smith     DJ.      Payne
            T Smith

Revised prediction: 0-2

Wait, is Fryers not a doubt. I thought he was but possibly imagined it.

Thats quite a young/inexperienced central midfield there PP, hence the revised perdiction I suppose.

Available according to Wellens.

oh good. it was Tuesday he said 'struggling with calf'.

have I missed an interview somewhere (pre match press I guess)

if Doughty really is not involved then I will go with this line up.

                  Kovar
Caddis    Odimayo    Fryers    Hunt
        Grant       Palmer
J Smith        DJ.          Payne
               Pitman

Apparently Pitman has a record of about a goal a game vs Rochdale, he scores every time he plays against them.

Odmiayo has a thogh/groind strain.

I don't know if the means he's not availabe.

According to Total Sport on Twitter, RW was very upbeat in the press conference this morning and in a totally different mood to Tuesday:

"Good press conference with Richie Wellens this morning, completely different attitude to Tuesday evening and seems hungry and commited to big things with STFC this season"

Oh I didn't realise that.

Everyone is assuming that Grant will slot in next to Fryers, but there is another centre back option available.....  :idea:  :tomato:

I hope you're not suggesting Curran

Depending on what RW decides to do with Grant (and if Doughty doesn't play), then yes the option does exist.
If Grant plays in defence then there is the risk of a potentially lightweight midfield being over run.
If he's in midfield then Curran *might* benefit from having the greater experience of Fryers alongside this time.

So Baudry & Fryers and Grant & Doughty it will be.

A “thogh/groind” is really serious.  No wonder he’s unlikely to “availabe”.

The old spell checker is clearly turned off! ;)

no.

nope.

he's not at the right level yet.

I think anyone with a light bulb on his head will fit right in!

EFL Hub predicting 1-1

Maybe Wellens knows something(one) is afoot

Under Power and Wellens the best signings have always seemed to come out of the blue!

Says in his presser no ins today

Wouldnt surprise me at all if Baudry passes a late fitness test and/or there is a signing announced today/tomorrow in time for the game. RW does has form when it comes to playing the media. That said we are rather threadbare in terms of quality in defence and midfield particularly if something is not right regarding Doughty.  I do expect Matt Smith to come good though with regular game time as obviously has talent. Just needs to be partnered with Grant/Doughty rather than Palmer, who I feel RW has given up on.

Palmer and Hope really look like odd signings from January

Indeed. You can sort of understand the panic purchase of Hope given the Yates/Doyle situation at the time.

The Palmer one was odd though.

That was then; this is now.  So to speak.  
Hindsight is irrelevant in the current very strange circumstances.

Palmer was just bought as part of securing the Yates loan deal.

"Look, we want Yates to go to you for you the rest of the season but there's this other player we don't want/need, so as long as you take this dude (Palmer) too then fine, Lee/Paul/Richie?"

You don't sign a player that's not going to feature unless it's either to stop another club being able to play for them or because another signing from the club will benefit you and is part of the package. Bit like when Man Utd signed Gary Neville from Bury "You only get our Gary if you sign our Philip".

Moreover, January transfer signings are usually signed with the prospect of making an impact from the get go; to improve/boost the squad. Even Hope featured and did fairly decently as a January signing. Palmer just has not featured and it's not because of his ability or the ability of others.

And probably because it would be another bit of salt in the wounds to Bradford at the time too. Took Doyle, then grabbed their loanee too.

When did the Neville Brothers sign for United from Bury?

They didn’t.

Phil was more highly regarded than Gary as a kid too (Phil played for England schoolboys, Gary didn’t)

They didnt

They both played for the "unders" sides together.

I suppose I should rephrase, in that Phil had to be given pro terms at Man Utd as well as Gary.

Anyway, the point regarding Palmer is he was part of the Yates deal. Which is why he has never really featured, been in Wellens plans.

I had a nightmare last night. I dreamt i was in my local on Monday, i'd met someone from work, we were talking football, and he gave me a press-cutting of the match against Rochdale.

It finished 0-0, Power had brought Tactics Tim back in, and we'd gone back to passing it around with no purpose!

I've gone for 2-0 in the prediction league though...

Re the Doughty rumour......
According to a chap I’ve just spoken to who works at Beaversbrook, we didn’t even train yesterday.
Apparently we didn’t train Thursdays last season either.

For the first time for ages I’m not really looking forward to the game.

Blimey the league hasn't even started yet.

Yes, there are issues at CB despite having 6 of them on the books.
Confident that there is enough up front to cause Rochdale plenty of problems tomorrow.

That's not true. I've heard the Nevilles talking about this, it's correct that Gary was the one Utd were interested in, but Phil came along and trained and then they signed him as well. And they were training at Utd from the age of 11, were signed as schoolboys at 14, and then apprentices at 16. Back then clubs didn't have teams younger than that, so he couldn't have been playing for Bury "unders"

https://www.greatreddevils.com/gary-neville/

They played for Bury Juniors FC which was run by their mum and dad, not affiliated to Bury FC

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/gary-neville-goes-back-team-1760222.amp

Maybe I got my Burys mixed up. I knew that they played for a Bury "unders" as I would call it. So apologies on the mix up.

Although Gary is/was the better player, Phil is/was the better manager.


Yep, apologies. See Tans ref above  :)

Win. 3-1

Sorry to correct you, Palmer was from Bradford, Yates was from Rotherham.

Sorry to correct you, Palmer was on loan at Bradford from Rotherham.

So many unknowns and imponderables so fuck it, I'm just going to hope for the best...

3-0 Smith, Smith, Smith

First proper big matchday.  

Finally, back where we belong!

Let the butterflies and the beer commence :pint:

3 points please gaffer.

With Doughty starting to put a few anxious minds at rest.

And so he was, I stand corrected said the man in the orthopaedic shoes

Points on the board, preferably 3, to get the League campaign off to a solid start after an unsettled week. Don't care how we get them, the next couple of weeks are a holding operation while we wait for the team to be fully assembled, so just important we rack up sufficient points before then to not look like we're fighting a comeback operation already

That’ll do for me too!

A 95th minute winner sounds good just as many have left the ground! None of your red cards tho😁  

 Good to see the football family back more or less intact.  This is at least a beginning, but still a lot of obstacles to get over if we are ever to return to the sort of Saturday afternoon ritual, that so many of us love.

A pity that it's a bit problematic for the new home shirt to arrive in time for the season.
But that might have been the case in normal times anyway?

Anyway dug out the Adidas one from 2013-14 and surprisingly it still fits.  :)

Hope that everyone will be in a very good mood come 5pm.

Anyone know if any of the local pubs are showing the game? CGH, Tap or Merlin even?

Even in these strange times, the opening day of a season is still a special one. We have a good record in recent times. Let's keep it going.

2-1 Town.

Tap and CGH I’ve been told.

Would that be via Ifollow? Do pubs have to pay any extra? Or is it like me paying for Ifollow and having another 5 people round to watch?

This, please, on all counts.

I hope that the rumours about Doughty are from just shit stirring twats.

I still have some clothes from when I was 16 that still fit perfectly.

Ok its a pair of socks but they do still fit.

I’ve just been into town to buy some shorts. The pair on the rail, 31, looked fine. The sales lady took one look and brought out another pair, 35.

Damn her!

The latter I believe.

It's quite deceiving what we see in the mirror😃

we'll be fine. the referee is Alan Young.

wondered what happened to him.

why does that name ring a bell?

young Alan Young, pint sized town youngster that played a bit but ultimately didn't make it

http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/Person.asp?PersonID=YOUNGALA

Sounds familiar...

https://themortgagelender.com/alan-youngs-journey-from-footballer-to-money-man/

The Ifollow coverage of the Coventry game was good, I thought, and I hope it's as good today.

I don't think that was iFollow

Probably means Charlton.

Just got my match pass ready to roll! COYR!

It wasn't it was a TV channel.

Old Refs never die, they simply turn into bellends on TEF (so I’m told).
Let’s hope Alan Young is as biased as me! :D

Were you a ref in your younger years😀

Indeed I was.  Only low grade stuff, but I recall that even then I was frequently a cunt. 
Some things never change! :nod:

Was that around Swindon

Silly me, I meant Charlton.

A bit, but mostly whilst I was at university in Reading.  I was several uni teams’ pet Ref.  Got taken to away matches if the oppo didn’t have their own Ref. 
Lots of club teas, I recall.  Best was at Sandhurst Officers’ Mess - the real deal!

My own teams called me a cunt if I wasn’t biased enough in their favour!

Nice one! Have you been a Town fan all your life🤔

Can you two take it to fucking PM or make another thread for your bullshit. This is the matchday thread.

This is your final warning.

Do you have to speak like that

The tef seems to get easier and easier to read the more people I put on ignore. Literally pages of this user is ignored.
I dont know whether that is me growing more inpatient as I get older or the decent posters no longer posting here.

Think we will lose today 3-2. Hoping not. Our defence is the issue.

Probably

Just bought an iFollow match pass, but no idea what to do next... can you watch on a web browser or do I need to download an app?

You can watch on the web browser, just go to Ifollow- next match and it normally kicks in 15-20 minutes before the game

ta

The feed normally starts exactly 1 hour prior to KO but on midweek games that is nearer 30 mins some days.

The also play the BBC program from an hour before KO as well.

I actually hope that you are alright Reg. In that your message really highlights how much and how integral the regular routine of a sporting event (or any event) we love (and sometimes hate), really does matter to a lot of people.

We will adapt of course, we have to but it doesn't mean it won't be a little more difficult for some than others. You didn't have to say much but what you did say spoke volumes.

Enjoy (hopefully) the match, however you choose to tune in. We will get back to those rainy Tuesday evenings of disparity once again :)

I am unable to watch the match this afternoon. Some brief commentary and selected highlights/lowlights would be appreciated. Many thanks

Lets hope Pete reports on the game as he's great at summarising and really quick updating

I will be putting some highlights/lowlights up but would be happy if anyone else decided they want to do the same instead.

Just make sure you go easy on Iandolo this week PV  ;)

For those who are worried about getting the feed up and working, it is live now (without BBC radio as yet).

I will moderate my critising of his mistakes unless I feel them neccessary....as I do ever game :D

I hope Rob gets less stick as well😁

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EhtlOPvWsAAdWON?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)

No Doughty.

No Doughty then

Wheres Iandolo? Injured?

5 subs. Goes to show how short we are.

No Palmer... weird one given everything going on with Doughts.

Also shows Doughty must have done something wrong to not make the bench with 2 spaces free.  Worrying.

             Kovar
Caddis   Fryers Odimayo Hunt
        Grant   M Smith
Payne         DJ            J Smith
           T Smith

What's going on with Doughty?

Not a great deal on the bench aside from Pitman. Let’s hope the first XI can do the job

Missing a Smith there PV.

EDIT - Ah I see you noticed and edited it.

On a trivial note Im hating the commas on the graphic in between the subs.  No need!

Why not put the other youngsters on the bench?

If we need to call on Curran . . . :suicide:

Indeed, and as PP says Palmer not on the bench also could be an issue as he seemed fit on Tuesday.

Corrected before you posted :)

Much better thanks! Hate it when they list the team in number order! Takes me longer to picture the team.  Grant and Hunt  up top :)

Was asking on another thread, but what vpns is anyone using please?

Desperately hoping for some good news, ideally before the game, on Doughty.

Yeah I put it down to see it on paper myself too, I dont like number order either!

I've got a feeling Odimayo is going to be car crash viewing, a little like watching LJF those seasons ago.

I
I use ArkVPN but no need this season. It’s available in the UK.

LJF came good though, so much so he got poached by Sheffield United....

Don't you dare. Iconic.

I really liked LJF too.

Half fit and league debut. Tough gig.

Come on you Reds. 3-0 win. Jonny Smith, DJ and Pitman.

Gonna be positive, Town to win 3-1, free bet at 14/1, and first time using I-follow through laptop/HDMI to 55 inch screen.

What can possibly go wrong?

fucks sake (doughty)

Maybe Doughty has a conflict of interest. Perhaps the Doughty empire is buying the club and he can't play.

I like the optimism. I don't know enough about the away side to predict a comfortable win.

Well with Swindon having Kovar, Odimayo, M Smith, J Smith, T Smith, Payne all making their league debuts and Caddis and Fryers not fully fit (and Odimayo) then I think we will do very well to get anything out of todays game.

Thats not being negative thats being realistic, lots of pressure on the new boys and injuries fucking us up....

Add to that the Doughty uncertainty behind the scenes, I think we could struggle and I don't like being negative.

Tavares on their bench is a good player. I worry about us late on with tired legs and such small support from the subs.

Wonder what the score is with Iandolo as well, started both games and now not even on the bench. Would assume he's injured....

Blimey, heaven must be missing an angel!
(for older viewers)

Dont suppose this game is on the telly is it ?

Got to think Palmer and Iandolo may be off not to even get on this bench.

Luke Haines is going to be a decent player, I reckon.

Ey? They sent him on loan to Curzon Albion at Christmas so would be the least of concerns tbh.

They have some very good quality players, Bazuna and Amankwah are both highly rated by Man City, They have a very experienced side full of seasoned pro's like McShane who has 33 caps for Eire and ex Man Utd & Hull, Matt Done always plays well against us, they will be anything but pushovers, I would suggest that with that side they should actually be favourites.

Apparently they dont have a recognised striker today so will pack out midfield.

Ifollow via the official Website for £10

Sent from my XQ-AD51

Curson Ashton close to Manchester

Thanks

What for

Well whoever they are non-league so he obviously wasn't deemed good enough for league 1 a few months ago so he's not someone that we should be worrying about tbh.

I assume this is Wellens trying to make some sort of point of being short of players...

My point was it's near to Manchester/Rochdale and maybe it was convenient after an injury plus he's only 19

Don't expect anything from this game, but you never know with Swindon.

4-1 defeat. Oh to have last season's squad  :cry:

Ifollow quality already better than I experienced on Tuesday night.

0-0 :zzz:

Grant captain today.

You made sure you put the quality up to its highest too?

Do we have fake crowd noises?

Already was, so I am not sure why I had issues Tuesday.  Working fine now so I am happy to move on :)

The crowd noise isn't needed.

Payne shot deflected over the bar from 15 yards.

1-0 T Smith.

We score from a corner!

Yeees.

Shit corner, shit goal. 1-0!!

Low corner from Payne hits a defender and finds Tyler 10 yards out and he belts it into the net unmarked. 4 mins.

What crisis hey? Goal from a corner as well, people can shit up about our corners for the match now!

We've scored before I've sorted out the iFollow app, both pleasing and annoying

not a bad start

:)

crowd noise though :(

Pox 1 down too  :D

Caddis wins a corner for Town.

Almost a great own goal by Rochdale there....

Matt Smith likes to leave his foot in I have noticed.

It's not set to Arkell's, is it?

Payne inside the box turns his man but he fires over from 15 yards.

Grant caught on the ball as Rochdale break.

Scramble in our box could have gone either way, after a poor choice by M Smith.

Is their manager Luke William? Their goal kicks are car crash waiting to happen...

They are shocking arent they!

DJ good tackle and sets up Payne and he nearly gets a shot in from 15 yards.

Smith, Smith, Smith, Smith.
Smith, Smith, Smith, Smith.
Smith, Smith, Smith, Smith.
Smithy,  Smithy, Smith, Smith.

I like the look of Payne

Good interception by M SMith.

Literally putting themselves in trouble every time. We're doing a good job of pressuring them high up.

Some lovely short quick passing by Town byt J Smiths cross is poor.

 :soapy tit wank:
Agreed lots of energy today.

Great pressing on the edge of their box. Special mentions for DJ, MSmith and Payne.

Payne long free kick goes out of play.

Why I worry whether Pitman will suit our style, T Smith's energy is key to the press.

We look so much better with Hunt at LB already.

DJ fouled on the touchline 40 yards out.

Matt Smith plays a long ball to Caddis a few inches too high.

Very pleasantly surprised with how we're playing. We actually look like a team that knows what its doing.

The young Rochdale keeper on loan from Man City does not look comfortable with the ball at his feet.

M Smith seems to be playing the Doughty playmaker role but with more mobility so far. Wonder if Doughty found out he wasn't starting and that brought issues to a head.

Payne shot 15 yards out shoots at the keeper.

Weirdly, Grant’s hardly been involved yet. Which is basically for all the right reasons.

They have a shot from 30 yards, well high and wide.

What's the problem with Doughty?

Great ball from Odimayo. Shame J Smith couldn't control it.

Matt Smith seems to play all his passes with a lot of pace, he can get away with it when he is playing alongside better players but he needs to pull it in a bit as they are just too hard at times.

Odimayo does have a really good long ball on him

Sent from my XQ-AD51

Watching Dale is like a terrible Luke Williams flashback.

Rumoured to have quit.

Check a few pages back on this thread (I think).

I can't believe Dale are continuing to play it out from the back when we're pressing so high. RW has obviously done his homework because they look like they're bound to fuck it up sooner

He didn't against Charlton or WBA!

Good interception by M Smith in our box, corner to them.

Is Hope injured too? He’s not on the bench is he?

I thought one of his long passes set us on our way to score Vs Charlton?

Sent from my XQ-AD51

Good block by Tyler Smith but he passes it too soon on the break.

10 long passes never got near their target though.

Help pls. My dad is a season ticket holder and entered his code but he can’t find the button to then see the live feed! I can’t see his screen so can’t help. Anyone got any very basic instructions as to how to access the feed once applied the code? Thanks!

Poor corner from Payne there, short to J Smith but its cleared.

J Smith great tracking back to win the ball outside our box.

Long shot by Dale well over the bar.

There’s a big window called Match Centre on the homepage. Then select Watch.

Click the icon on the left that says. View game.

Got the assist on J Smiths goal but don't let facts get in the way!

That’s the one.

DJ still not quite at his best yet.

1 good pass and about 10 poor ones.

Poor corner by Dale headed wide.

T Smith tackled and wins a corner, we look quick on the break.

Thanks that what I was explaining! Very painful trying to explain the tech to rents 😂

2-0 Grant

Would take 2-0 HT right now!  :pint:

graaaaaaaaant!

Header at the far post from a great deep cross from DJ.

2-0 Grant

Great goal, great work by DJ and Grant plants it into the roof of the net

Thanks trying to explain it on the phone is painful 🙈

Well fuck my fucking tall hat .. A goal for th General

A rarity

Whether! Lovely cross

Sent from my XQ-AD51

Great goal.

Another assist though...

Grant first goal for us and captain as well. Technically another goal from a corner....

1.2.3.4.5...Grant is working overtime!

Top of the league

Grants first league goal for almost 5 years.

M Smith scares me!

and Oxford in the bottom 4. Lovely.

League 1 malarkey is a piece of piss.

If we get a second wave of Covid and another full lockdown and the seasons ends now. We’re champions!!

There’s me telling my son the ifollow is behind the radio commentary and his phone pings thatweve scored. Low and behold up pops Grant. Get in.

It was, that was the first time he has done what he does well today, twists and turns and putting a long ball into the box.

PPG FC

Is Odimayo the new Hoddle?

Finish the season now  ;)

Wow

We are closing them down so quickly.

They're terrible.

:clap:
His passing has been better than average today

So far we are clearly playing in a higher gear than the 2 cup games, do think we just treated them as friendlies as we are playing a far quicker tempo especially our press. Rochdale in comparison look undercooked so far, the don’t seem to have the energy to close us down.

His passing has been excellent today for certain.

Isgrove who? Keshi who? Yates who? Doyle who? Woolery...who? Doughty...who?

The last two I'm tempting fate, of course but if you don't wanna be on the 3.03pm steamer at SN1, then please alight from the coach.

Game of two halves and Rochdale will never win this division but there will be worse (incredibly) than them as well as better. Only 0.5 of a game in but this a great marker. As well as having a virtually threadbare squad, we have mid-table as the minimum of our aspirations.

I think there is a very different tempo so far, whether thats because Wellens has given them a rocket I don't know, but its been way better than the last 2 games so far in urgency and quality.

The commentary all gone a bit Terminator for anyone else?

No, not just you, it happens often!

3-0 M Smith

Bugger me.

Smith, Smith, Smith, Smith.
Smith, Smith, Smith, Smith.
Smith, Smith, Smith, Smith.
Smithy, Smithy,  Smith, Smith.

That fuck up was always on

Their keeper is shit hot on FM, but not having a great time here.

3-0 that had been coming all match they are car crash at the back.

Dale pissing around at the back Matt tucks it into an empty net from 18 yards.

3-0 M Smith showing pressing works

booooom!

whoever said Rochdale are like watching a Luke Williams team was spot on

You could tell they were going to give it to us in a dangerous position sooner or later.

Get in!

This is actually really difficult to sing...

Thanks  ;)

See, he doesn't for me. I just see him as rare in the sense that not many younger english footballers like to put themselves about. Yes he leaves the foot in but he's letting the fuckers know that he might be young but won't be bullied. He's more mobile and better tackler (just) than Doughty and I think by December we'll be saying this Arsenal lad looks class.

They are, absolutely spot on.

I’m banishing my son to the garden shed and lock the fucker in there.

Eating my words. This is great. They can’t handle the press.

Matt Smith "Doughty who?" :)

Luke Williams ball

Sent from my XQ-AD51

Everything is bouncing off their players.

Rochdale are absolute pish.

I believe the correct term is 'Luke Williams ball-s up'

Bazuna looks very poor with the ball at his feet.

We, are, top of the league, say,
We, are, top of the league...

Leagues top scorers so far.

In cricket they talk about bowling a heavy ball. I think M Smith plays with heavy boots!

2 mins added.

A fifer would be nice, without reply of course.

HT 3-0.

Wow.

Well done Town, I was not expecting this today.

Fantastic first half. Can’t ask for much more then that.

I think hats off to RW to sort this team after two disappointing results and without a few first choices. Best manager we've had this millennium.

How about:

'There's only 3 Smiths
There's only 3 Smiths
We got the Smithys
There's only 3 Smiths'

My socks are now in the North Sea (fairly strong SW today though)  :pint:

Kovar has had nothing to do.

Odimayo looks a totally different player and barely put a foot wrong.

Caddis doing what is needed.

Hunt looking excellent and exactly what we have missed at LB the last few games.

Fryers not really put a foot wrong.

Grant made a couple of early mistakes but has grown into it and took his goal really well.

M Smith overhitting some passes but doing really well with his passing, the goal was excellent.

Payne all over the pitch and my MoM so far.

J Smith not playing as well as he has previously but he is still a threat and playing well when he gets it.

Tyler Smith is quick and has good control but some of his short passing is not hitting its target but hes doing very well and took his goal really well.

DJ still a bit off his best but the turn and cross for the goal was what we expect from him, a truly great cross for Grant.

Wellens Out ;)

Seriously Rochdale playing like this would struggle in league two.
The way they are set up, just falling into the counter attacking trap.
Great half.

To be fair to Doughty, let's see what's going on there first.

Rochdale are playing was too much football from the back and our press is causing them all kinds of problems. We do look good, the keeper looks comfortable, I like Odimayo he looks a good ball playing centre back and has a good range of long and short passing. Matt Smith in midfield has been a little careless but got a gift of a goal after their keeper gave it to him. We’re playing well, Payne and Johnny Smith look good and Tyler Smith up front is a willing runner. So far so good.

Not too shabby.

Today's half time ska, in memory of Toots.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhH1Lxv-8sA

Think I’ll have to cash out. Can’t see them scoring, and can’t see us not getting more if they keep playing Luke-ball.

Smith, Smith, Anthony Grant, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grubb

Major positives for Odimayo and Matt Smith. Very quiet for Jonny Smith. Very Yates-like for Tyler Smith.

Wouldn’t get carried away playing this Rochdale team.

Where the hell did that come from!  I know they're shit, but I'll take 3 - 0 at half time.

Total control.

Rochdale are a stupid team, you have to learn from the earlier press and mix things up a bit but they carried on putting themselves under pressure, which is great for us.

Kovar is a sexy footballer, no idea if he is any good in goal but I’d play him as a sweeper.  Absolute confidence on the ball.

Forward line has been lively and there is more to come from them as well, maybe not today, but as the season builds so will they.

Matt Smith is a totally different player with Grant holding fort alongside him.  Busy, neat and tidy and forward thinking, plus he is desperate to get on the ball.

Backline has done well but still look like a big, pacey forward line could undo them with long balls down the middle.

Overall, those two “friendlies” we played last week have benefited the team.

Interesting to see Charlton winning 2-0. I know they’re only playing Crewe but the result against them on the cup might not have been as bad as first suspected.

:blowkiss:

I think Grant can teach Matt Smith a lot and he will go from strength to strength playing alongside of the master.

Top of the league as it stands....just saying...😉

Nice to see Barrow and Harrogate ahead @ half time on their (Harrogate) League debut.

I did say "I'm tempting fate a little here."

Context my donkey, context :)

Harrogate at Southend is a free 3 points!

well fuck my old boots.

yes it's too early in the season to get carried away, yes the opposition were rubbish, yes the bench is wafer thin.

but what a great half. couldn't have gone much better really.

When you watch a first half like that you wonder what their manager see’s in training. They are clearly uncomfortable and I’d say incapable of playing the way they are...

Not a bad first half at all. I suspect Rochdale are not the strongest of opponents. Nice to see us heading to the top of the league though. Hopefully no injuries or cards before full time. Fingers crossed for good news re: Doughty but I hope a good result today will show him no player is bigger than the club and if he hasn’t been training hard enough then there are other players who can step up and fill the void. Great to see Grant get on the score sheet too.

Except when we go there...

At the moment that should read.

DJ booked for kicking the ball away.

:-)

Your context was clear, my quoting less so.

Caddis draws a foul on the half way line, something he is exceptional at doing!

Rochdale defence not so eager now to pass the ball back to the dodgy kicking goalkeeper!

Matt Smith gives away a weak foul just outside their box.

Must be the 6.8% Aspinall cider (other stronger ciders are available) hitting the spot.

1st poor long pass from Kovar to Hunt, goes over his head.

Caddis nice interception and pass to J Smith but he can't get a cross in.

Nice 1-2 move between Payne and Grant but he cant get a shot in.

I'd fucking hate to be a CD against Payne.

J Smith run and shot but its too close to the keeper and is saved.

Caddis and Grant linking up very well this half.

I'll give you a hall pass, since we're beasting the Spotland Specials. Eeeee-awwwww!! :)

Swindons defence and keeper playing passing football the way Rochdale wish they could play it.

Although it’s not full time and hoping the result is a positive one, would this game count as a win on the telly?

Long cross from J Smith too high and out for a goal kick.

J Smith reminds me a lot of Lee Holmes.

Long cross Kovar comes out and catches the ball easily at height.

I find Cassette Tapes can get themselves in a ravel when Payne is around too  :pint:

Good pressing by Grant wins the ball for Payne and he beats his man but his cross goes into the keepers arms.

Matt Smith covers much more ground that Doughty ever has, we do look better defensively with him and Grant.

Caddis wins the ball down the wing and breaks into the box but his cross hits the defender and the ball goes out.

Gotta laugh at the stats, 50/50 possession! Most of Rochdale’s possession has been in their own box from goal kicks!

Odimayo’s been bloody tidy hasn’t he.

DJ twists and turns down the right and puts a lovely cross into the box but the keeper claims it.

Hes been a different player than we saw in the last 2 games.

Time to give the bench a bit of a run out methinks.....Jesus! Thought we were going to score an og then!

I thought the same. The clearance did find a red shirt though.

Would be good to see Pitman get some more minutes

Tavares shoots from 20 yards well over.

Much, much better than last week.

Harrogate 0-4 now.

Easy save by Kovar from a long shot.

I think Rochdale picked a side to overload the midfield and out pass us and contain us, they have so far created very little up front.

Not many teams come to Swindon and try to out pass us and actually achieve it. Rochdale are no exception to that.

Seem to have lost a bit of energy and playing within ourselves now as you would expect on a warm day. Rochdale posing now danger though.

I would like to see Pitman get some minutes for us today.

Harrogate 4-0 up Southend in freefall

Good break by Hunt and he tries to thread it inside to J Smith but he cant get on the end of it in the box.

Can’t see Southend surviving, they couldn’t pay wages when fans could attend...

DJ pushing his luck a bit bringing down the defender while already booked.

Odimayo goes down holding his groin.

odimayo has had a good game today after looking shakey in the last 2.

Pitman getting changed on the touchline, looks an imminent arrival.

I have a nagging feeling that League 1 isn't going to be quite as easy as this.

But what a start.  As a new iFollow follower, have to say it's £10 well spent.  I'm enjoying this.

Payne, Odimayo...great starts.  Caddis being reliable Caddis.  Glad to be back in this league.

Absolutely.

We’re doing so well I’m tempted to do the same.

pitman coming on

Is Simon Cox still there

Rochdale getting desperate now, stole Wellens notes. Bit late for that...

No he’s in Oz.

J Smith felled but the ref doesn't give it to us.

pitman not coming on?

Would imagine Pitman and Hope on for Smith (T) and DJ. Just to rub a little more rust away.

I would think for DJ probably. Tyler Smith hasn't done much this half though so could be for him.

Cheers

Just sat on the bench stripped off ready for last 5 mins.

J Smith shot saved by the keeper and nearly sets up Payne.

Should have been 4

Pitman on for T Smith.

Pitman for t Smith

Lincoln beating piss stains 2-0 :pint:

T Smith for Pitman 81 mins

Good un, Ty.

DJ is sitting much deeper later this half and looking pretty good there.

I know I'll probably jinx it but would love the clean sheet as well. Just as important as a win but in terms of building confidence amongst defence and keeper.

second half has been 'professorial'

Jonny Smith has tracked back more in 1 game than Isgrove did pretty much in his entire Town career.

Hope on for DJ.

hope for dj

I wonder if Caddis playing next to Odimayo has been the reason why he's been more assured today.

When you are short of players and have injuries a second half that is a non event is absolutely ideal.

Pitman wins a free kick and the header.

Pittman hangs in the air well.

Yellow for the Dale player.

Standard  :D

Very different to any Town striker for a while to have that ability.

M Smith just has a player deliberately hack his ankle and the commentators wonder why Caddis was unhappy and took exception to it?! ::)

Grant has been exceptional again today

Kovar is so laid back he is almost horizontal.  We need to be prepared that his style might cost us a couple of goals over the season, especially in distribution.

3-1

Yep, jinxed it.

Shame we couldnt keep a clean sheet.

Shit. Sloppy.

Meh Shame about the clean sheet.

Absolutely.  Pleasing to see.

Bet Wellens is fuming.

Curran for payne

Caddis so clever in possession under pressure.

Payne off for Curran!!!

3-1 no bad performers, good solid game from all the team, can't really fault them at all.

Rochdale as poor in front of goal as any team we played last season but they still had to be broken down, which we did so well.

Well done to town under very difficult circumstances. Good result. Almost faultless.

Another 1st day win, 7 in a row.

Shame about the late goal but far more than I was expecting today. Though reading this it seems we didn't have much of an opposition, it's a good start.

FT 3-1

:D :D :toocool: :D :D

Only another 43 points needed to guarantee safety.

That'll do!

The start you want. 3pts. Easy peasy. Game management 2nd Half. I jinxed the clean sheet so blame me. Impressed and Johnny Smith didn't even play that well. Great signs and we aren't even at full strength.

You. Fucking. Reds.

TOTL and the piss stain scum 2nd from bottom   :pint:

Don’t think I saw a poorer side last season. Unbelievable number of times they either got caught in possession or just gave it away.

A bit of confidence did wonders for Matt Smith. What’s happened to Odimayo? Faultless!

Be a bit more difficult Tuesday.

nearly the perfect game, such a shame not to get a clean sheet

What was the attendance?

What was the attendance?

Well it's your fucking round then! Nice one.


Reg is gonna be so pissed at you getting that one in there before him ;)

Very comfortable and able to take a holiday in the second half, saving the legs and avoiding injuries.

Caddis had a funny second half, in a literal sense.  At one point, with our free kick just outside the corner of their box he was hurriedly pulling Rochdale players into the wall and organising them.

Wellens giving their lad our notes was good pantomime stuff as well - we were milking the clock with the notes being shared, their player comes over to get involved and is handed the notes essentially (pretty sure Wellens gave them over to him).  This then led to Caddis coming over getting all fake stroppy and pulling the notes away, wasting more time and completely distracting the Ref from the fact it was us causing the problem.

Hartley bloody backtracking on the defence on the wireless now! Mentioned after coming in for much criticism, that Odimayo has played well. Sorry yes we all knew there was issues but it wasn't our full strength defence (the other night). It was Hartley himself who was pressing the alarm bells with his "worrying defence" comments.

Sorry PV a I know he's your mate but it just irked me then when he spoke just now, as if everyone had been criticising the defence, yet really were quite composed and realistic about the defence that was put out. It was he who was panicking quite unnecessarily.

Anyway, we one and I think we're all pretty happy

 :pint: :pint: :pint:

Very comfortable.  Too comfortable.  If I were a Rochdale fan, I'd be worried already.  Happy with that, but it's just a start.  Need signings.

Top on goals scored...slightly annoying to concede so late but you have to be happy with that. 7 straight opening day victories, surprising.

Difficult to know what to take from that as Rochdale were so bad.

I thought Odimayo was very impressive and Rob Hunt not far behind. Good overall performance against a team that is going to struggle. Shame about the ludicrous goal to concede but confidence must be high after that.

Well done Town. And I think I go top of the prediction league to boot!! Muhahaha!!

Smith MOtM for me today, closely followed by Odimayo.

Yep, Rochdale should be worried, I don't see many positives they can take from that performance - really lacked anything to worry teams.  They need some players.

You can only play the team in front of you on the pitch!
Well done Town!!
 COYR

Who we playing tuesday

Hunt is such a consistent player as well, those two changes in defence, alongside Caddis gradually getting up to speed completely change the look of our team.  So much more assured.

No game, EFL CUP innit...

Edit: I see what you did there 8)

And I know this is a bit of a COVID special, but great to have 33 page Match Day Thread.  The TEF lives!

Richie Speaks...

Although most of it, I assume, involves 2 posters.

I followed it all.  It's the 2020 way.

Doughty.

Club going to release a statement. Sounds like he is retiring by the sounds of it. Personal issues.

Sounds like he's on his way out

Good start, 3 points, won't have many games as easy as that but you can only slaughter what's put in front of you. Rochdale are in a lot of trouble on the basis of that showing. And I managed to get iFollow to work!!!

Wow. What a waste. Though you can see he might have motivation issues...

Jordab Stevens done.. coming in on 21st September

Ripped contract up.

Jordan Stevens close

Statement on Doughty later..


 he's gone. But it seems he has personal issues and Wellens spoke very highly of him.

I guess at least retiring now gets his wages off the books and allows us more budget to spend. Waste of talent though.

Not really very thoughtful if he has personal issues. Hope MD is ok more to the point.

This has been a tough time for everybody.  We don’t know what is behind MD’s apparent decision to retire, but if as it seems it is personal issues rather than a falling out with Wellens, then I think we must all respect that, be grateful for what he has brought to the team during his time here, and wish him all the best for the future.  Cheers, Michael!!

Anyone got a link for any Dale forums? JJ? I can't find any.

I know and I’m sure Theakston never meant any malice. Hope MD and the club move onwards and upwards.

Well said Geoff

I just meant it in the context it’s better now whilst we can do something about it rather than him deciding in October and leaving us another player short. It is a waste of a talent though and hope he doesn’t look back in a few years and wish he could have found a way to continue.

Great result. Decent performance. Gutted about Doughty, but I hope he’s ok.

Watched on iFollow
A good performance by Town - pressed high in 1st half, won the game and just saw the game out in the second. A lot of positives to be taken from that performance.
Disappointed to concede a late goal - eased off too much in the last few minutes.
Matt Smith man of match in my view, although good performances through the team.
So far, I like the look of Kovar - confident with the ball at his feet but doesn’t do anything stupid. Not tested too much though.
Rochdale were poor throughout - didn’t put our defence under any pressure really. They will be near the bottom unless they strengthen in the rest of the transfer window.
With only 5 subs (2 of whom were Haines and Curran) we are short of cover - hopefully having a free midweek will allow us to get some players fit and at least one or two in before next Saturday. The news about Doughty makes this even more essential now.

https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/members/rochdale/forum/

Cheers mate ;)

No probs mate, not a lot on there TBH.

What a shite forum makes you appreciate ours

So he was criticised last week for being overly negative about the defense, now he is being criticised for praising them?  The bloke can't win can he..

I didn't hear anyone panicking about the defence, either in commentary or on here..  saying that the "defence is worrying" is hardly panicking (even though I know that a lot of people didn't think the context of the personel involved wasn't taken into account when that was said).

I just still don't get the strange problem that people have with him.. and he's not my mate, never met the guy, wouldn't know him if he walked past me (social distanced).

In terms of co-commentary, there are not many other that do a dramatically better job than him, whether ex-player, journalist or bloke off of the street.  Maybe Sam Parkin, but he is a busy man.

I just have to put it down to life with STFC can't be that bad at the moment if peoples criticisms need to turn to the co-commentator on a local radio station.

It is surprising the amount of shit forums out there, there are a few that are decent, both Bristols, the Pasoti, Lincoln and a couple of others, but the rest are shite, I check them all almost daily.

If you listen to Hartley throughout the season year in year out he's like Hodgetts very knowledgeable and in my opinion good as a co commentator on local radio. As you said Parkin is good but I also like Alan Mac and Hockaday

It wasn't what he said, it was how he said it. In a way that it was directed towards, saying fans who had voiced concerns (and not himself).  That was my gripe. I have no issue with the man in the main and absolutely have zero issue when someone corrects their wrongs (so to speak). Did you listen to what he said post match out of interest?

But yes, this is the kind of shit we should be moaning about as it means things must be fairly decent. A bit like with our Gov. We should be moaning about maybe things like whether potholes have been filled in on the A4 instead of having zero PPE or the dismantling of our nations infrastructure but I'll leave that to the politics freddd :)

Is that physically possible?

No not really, still interesting to get an alternative view though. The Bolton forum is quite entertaining at the moment!

Disappointed not to see the game but delighted by the win. Having not watched it, I am not sure what we take from it, if anything, going into the next league fixture.

I never saw the match either but plenty of positives from the radio commentary and next weeks game at Blackpool will give us an indication where we're at.

take it for what it is, a good easy 3 points and a very enjoyable first half.

in the context of the wider season, obviously irrelevant.

Just reflecting on life after Doughty.
With the benefit of 20:20 hindsight, d’you reckon that Wellens saw this coming some time back?
His comments this evening - nice words about MD incidentally - suggest that he saw the writing on the wall at least back to the  team’s training trip up to the north-west, and I would imagine that there could well have been clear signs of strain well before that.  If that is the case, then it explains the desire to sign Matt Smith.  Some on here (myself included) saw Smith as a strange acquisition, as he seemed to be a bit of a duplicate Doughty.  We put that aside by saying he was cover, but maybe it was a really astute bit of Power/Jewell/Wellens business, that actually relieved the pressure to stay that would otherwise have been adding to whatever has been troubling MD.

A brave decision my Michael, to tear up a contract in current circumstances, but in my book family and health always come first.  I think we have to applaud everybody involved in this - out of a difficult situation, everyone’s a winner (sort of).  :pint:

We may never know the whole story but commuting from London daily would only have made things worse and fair to the guy for putting his family first and on this occasion Bill shanklys famous quote couldn't be further from the truth

I know a Rochdale fan who was worried before today.  Can't think today will have helped.

Talking about other forums. The piss stains are tearing strips out of each other after their defeat today.

They really thought they were the dog’s bollocks.

We get Blackpool away in September and there's no fans !
Damn you Covid19

Back to the match - Rochdale were beyond shit. In the first half we took advantage, in the second we sat back and let them continue to be shit

Yellow Filth not happy with the league table

Town v Rochdale on Quest (Ch12 Freeview) in the next minute or two.

 The three points or the ease of victory?

both. more that neither are yet an indicator of anything good or bad.

when we get promoted by 3 points obviously the context will have changed

It's a common theme with those deluded wankers. Glad to be looking down on them tonight, as we should.

Well, one positive from the Doughty situation was the performance of Matt Smith who, in normal circumstances, wouldn’t have expected a regular start. He was energetic, closed down well, put in some good blocks/tackles and, of course, his goal.

It was noticeable how he improved as the game progressed - as if proving to himself he could impact a game at this level.

Odimayo was a revelation, though. Never put a foot wrong, although Dale hardly pressured him.

The 10 minutes or so if Pitman was quite telling. A presence up top that could win a header under pressure that allows the others a bit of a breather and time to fall back into position - stupid yellow, though.

I know Smith T was supposed to be replacement for the Admiral but his performance was very Yates like with his work rate.

Hunt, Caddis, Fryers and Grant did what they did so well last season. Bit disappointed in Jonny Smith but you know he’s going to tear some teams apart.

DJ looks as if just needs a couple more games to get up to speed.

Payne looks a very good signing - bringing high energy all over the pitch. He’ll notch a few, too.

Kovar had nothing to do but is so comfortable with the ball at his feet.

I think Wellens is right. Add 3/4 to this squad with the ability of the others he’s brought in and we could be in for a decent season.

I'm going anyway. You can see the pitch from the top of the roller coaster & the Eiffel Tower rip-off.

Richie misses the fans.
The bit where the ground staff sit did look a bit sparse in numbers, so maybe the club could look at renting out a couple of hundred pitchforks to some boisterous volunteers.
Some additional tlc for the pitch now will be of benefit later in the season.

Good three points to start.
Rochdale have been a solid lower mid table outfit, but are maybe on the wane in this league.

Average age of the starting lineup was 24 compared to 26 for first game last season.
Maybe a couple of older heads still required.

Young players out on their first loan can be inconsistent so I'd expect no different from Matt Smith to start with.
If he's a class above in L1 then a 7 or 8 out of 10 in every 2 games out of 3 would be very good.

Still not worked out if the keeper is left or right footed.

So, Michael Doughty. I wish him all the very best in his future endeavours.
Always looked forward to seeing him play.
We were lucky that someone who should have been playing at a higher level developed such an affinity for the club.
Rare in these mercenary days.
The love was not unrequited.
After all of the tributes he'd better not rock up somewhere else in January!

Agree with all that's been said by last 2/3 posts.

A good start by all newbies to some degree, defence looked solid but more difficult afternoons to come in next few weeks. Enjoyed M Smith in particular.

Disappointed to concede late on, left back missing in action to allow a free cross.  :D

As for Doughty, i assume we'll still hold the registration for now just in case.

Agree with pretty much everything in the last 3 posts. Matt Smith was the big plus and was arguably our best player. As WB said, on another day he may be less effective... on the other hand, T Smith who was quiet (ish) yesterday might be ripping the oppo a new one.

You could say we were fortunate to be playing Rochdale who on that evidence look like they will struggle this season (they may look a different team when Humphrys comes in to be fair)...but you can only beat what is in front of you.

Overall, no one is getting carried away but you have to pleased with that for the first game.

This is one post.


I think you are missing one major team that likes to "play" :D

I was most impressed with the energy of the pressing in the first half, which prevented Rochdale from getting going.  They must be fitter than I expected (or feared).

Some comments from our tango friends in the North West after their defeat yesterday.

We play them up there next Saturday, lets judge it by that performance, I have a feeling Yates and Keshi will be "up for it".

They should be worrying about their neighbours at the end of the tram line not us or keep bigging up the piss stains

Always baffles me how many fans, of all teams, judge players based on 1 or 2 games

Neighbours.....

So, does anybody know the reasons for the missing Palmer and Iandolo?

Dead leg for Iandolo and illness for Palmer.  Youngsters not doing enough in training to deserve a place on the bench hence only 5 subs.

It makes you wonder how lazy the youngsters are as all he was asking was for them to train hard for 2/3 hours on the Friday morning with the reward of a place on the bench for a league one game

I think Reg was correcting your spelling, not your strong point?  ;)
Unless you're American?

Do we buy the Palmer illness?

I think everyone has believed he is one they want out. Does he suddenly become better because of the loss of Doughty? I don't think so. Not playing him protects him from injury etc for potential sale or loan out.

Football managers are no different to politicians they know how to play the media!

For those watching the game on Ifollow, was the crowd ‘noise’ being piped in over the speakers at the County Ground?

Also is there really any need for the goal announcements when there are no fans? Although thinking about it again, perhaps this is a way of bringing about a level of ‘normality’ with home comforts etc to the players?

Yes, it was coming out the CG speakers. It sounds like Wellens had requested it going by his interview.

I preferred it. It sounds weird when you can hear the players talking and every kick of the ball.

It was almost as though there was an atmosphere. Maybe it has a similar effect on the pitch?

not a big fan. but if it helps them go for it, go for it.


need a Swindon specific soundboard though.

I can just stand at the gate and shout "fooooowards" if it helps

Fair enough. If it helps the team then I’m all for it. Just thought it sounded a bit unusual.

Gives a bit of normality back and makes sense to me. If stadiums are silent it’s just like a training match on a training ground, at least this way it’s a constant reminder it matters, same with goal announcements it gives a bit of a celebration still. Eventually players will play in front of crowds again so they shouldn’t get used to playing in silence.

“Get it forward” should be set on a timer every 5 minutes to really make it feel like a normal home game.

There was in-stadium crowd noise (ie not added with the commentary) on Match of the Day last night.  Seems to be a widespread thing.  I think we have to accept that it’s being done for the players not for us!

Whilst the win is obviously welcome, I assume it wasn't a great game considering the clubs 'extended highlights' lasted less than 2 mins!

First half was very enjoyable watching. Second half had the feel of a friendly at times as we looked, mainly, to avoid injuries.

We were shithousing a bit too much towards the end, though.

It's good to have some shithousery about us.

Not really gamesmanship. The lark with Wellens’s notes, though funny, was taking it a bit far. Being 3-0 up it didn’t really make much difference.

Shouldn’t complain when the tables are turned, though.

Good to see the uncut videos back - a welcome addition to the day.

Pitman has a slightly odd gait about him. Reminds me a bit of Floki from The Vikings.

He does have an odd gait but he does hang in the air well for his height and won 2 headers, something no forward of ours have done very well since we had Nile Ranger.

Its definately something different for us.

I think we will see Pitman if Wellens sees a weakness in the opposition to crosses and long balls into the box, I think we will see Tyler Smith when Wellens see there being a weakness in pace in opposition defences.

Nice to see that even in these constrained times random pitch forking is still the done thing!

That font the FL have chosen for the shirts this season is dreadful!

I haven't watched Vikings. I was thinking Andy Mutch.

I think Andy Mutch could have let a wild pig run through his legs without it touching the sides.

Luke Rooney is the strangest runner I can remember in many a year

(https://www.irishtimes.com/polopoly_fs/1.4325695.1596881658!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_620/image.jpg)

He looks way closer to match fitness than Andy Mutch ever did for Town!

Has that boar got a cardboard box for rear legs?  ???