Thetownend.com

I didn't realise that Stanley were back in the League. Who did they replace?

4-0 to Swindon Town.

I didn't realise that Stanley were back in the League. Who did they replace?

Would be nice to keep a clean sheet, not convinced we're going to get much past Baxter on what we saw whilst he was here.

Don't be silly.

He seems to be a 'decent' goalie but Accrington's defensive record is far from amazing. And our scoring record this season is far from terrible.

Baxter didn’t even start on Saturday, he was on the bench.

Accrington Stanley, who are they?

Exacccccctttttttttllly (My best scouse accent)

Swindon Town V Accrington Stanley

2020/21 Prediction League; Game 9 v Swindon, Marlborough and Andover Railway FC (away)

So what Denmark does to mink, England does to Football Managers – cull them! ............. Ben Ghazi – no, sorry, Ben Garner – was appointed as Brizzle supremo when Graham Coughlan moved to Mansfield; Coughlan lasted 315 days, and Garner’s now gone after 327 days in charge (losing 4-1 at home to Fleetwood certainly didn’t help, but nor does a 3-3-5 record for the season). My guess for next Gas Board Manager would be John Sheridan – or that nice Mr Westlife ..... or Warnock ........... and on the same day, Phillip Cockup got the golden bullet from Derby (expected to be replaced by Colleen Rooney – or maybe Wayne, which might make the press conferences more interesting, even if a lot shorter, because he’ll have used up all the words he knows in about six or seven minutes)........ Tony Pulis is now in the hot-seat at Hillsborough, as you’ll have seen (appointed on Friday 13th November, so I hope he’s not supersuspicious – you know, putting his left sock on first, or wearing his lucky pants on his head on match days, that sort of thing) ........ never been relegated, Mr Pulis, apparently; but then, he’s never managed the Owls before ....... Mwahahahahahaha!

On a different topic, does anyone know the connection between Swindon and the Evening Star? It’s not the local evening paper, as you might think; it was actually the last steam engine built in the UK, back in 1960. During the first half of the 20th century the railway works was the town's largest employer and one of the biggest in the country, employing more than 14,500 workers. The works' decline started with the Evening Star, after which the works lost its locomotive building role and took on rolling stock maintenance for British Rail. In the late 1970s, much of the works closed and the rest followed in 1986. What had been a railway town ceased to be one .......... It had really begun in 1841 with the building of Isambard Kingdom Brunel's Swindon Works, constructed for the repair and maintenance of locomotives on the Great Western Railway (GWR). The GWR built a small railway village to house some of its workers, and – well ahead of its time - from 1871, GWR workers had a small amount deducted from their weekly pay and put into a healthcare fund; GWR doctors could prescribe them or their family members free medicines, or send them for medical treatment. In 1878 the fund began providing artificial limbs made by craftsmen from the carriage and wagon works, and nine years later opened its first dental surgery. In his first few months in post, the dentist extracted more than 2,000 teeth. From the opening in 1892 of the health centre, a doctor could also prescribe a haircut or even a bath. The cradle-to-grave extent of this service was later used as a blueprint for the NHS. Well I never knew that!

The Anglo-Saxon settlement of Swindon sat in a good defensive position on top of a limestone hill. It’s referred to in the 1086 Domesday Book as “Suindune”, believed to have derived from the Old English words "swine" and "dun" meaning "Pig Hill" or possibly “Sweyn's Hill”, Sweyn being a Scandinavian name akin to Sven and the English word “swain” meaning a young man. If that’s right, then the King at the time would likely have been any of the pre-William of Normandy Saxon Kings, whose rule was ended by that self-same William of Normandy ....

“It’s William of Normandy, up to his tricks,
Cried Harold at Pevensey, 1066”

.... who included such luminaries as Cnut the Great (Canute, you’ll know him as), or his bastard son Harold 1st, who pinched the crown from his non-bastard half-brother Harthacanute while he was fighting the Danes in the away leg and then died three years into his reign, weeks before Harthacanute was due to invade to regain his throne (Harthacanute’s revenge was to have his body dug up from Westminster Abbey, beheaded, and thrown into the Thames), but I sort of hope it might have been Athelstan, who was buried in Malmesbury in Wiltshire (but only after he died, of course ..........well’ I say “of course”, but you never know .......”

Swindon is a town in northeast Wiltshire, 35 miles west-northwest of Reading and the same distance east-northeast of Bristol 'as the crow flies' (if you can get a passing crow). The three places form a sort of “Wiltshire Triangle”, a bit like the Bermuda Triangle, but more like ham than jerk chicken ...it’s also 26 miles southwest of Oxford, 65 miles south-southeast of Birmingham, 71 miles west of London and 60 miles east of Cardiff. As far as I can tell, it has nothing to commend it to any potential visitors .......And what’s more, it doesn’t have a prison (The nearest one is HMP Erlestoke at Devizes .........

As for the football club, it was founded as Swindon AFC in 1879, becoming “Spartans” the next year, before finally settling on the name Swindon Town in 1883. Their first officially recorded fixture was against St Mark's Young Men’s Frienly Society in November 1881 (a Desmond, I gather) .... They turned professional in 1894, playing in the Southern League and later the Western League, and they were elected to the Football League in 1920. They remained in the third tier for 43 years, finally securing promotion into the Second Division in 1962–63, where they remained for just two seasons. Most famously, they lifted the League Cup, beating Arsenal 3-1 in the 1969 final, and went on to win promotion at the end of the 1968–69 season with the help of talismanic winger Don Rogers. GreasyPoled over the years, they won the Fourth Division title in 1985–86 and secured a second successive promotion the following season under Lou Macari.

They eventually won promotion to the First Division in the 1993 Play-Offs, beating Tranmere 5-4 on aggregate, and then doing Leicester 4-3 (courtesy of a Paul Bodin penalty on 84 mins) to secure a place in the top-flight for the first time in the club's history. Starter for Ten; who opened the scoring for the Robins in that game?(he was their Player Manager for a while) ........Actually, they’d reached the Playoff Final in 1990, which they won 1-0 against Slumberland, but they were denied their Time in the Sun because of “irregularities”, and Sunderland went up instead.

They lasted just the one season in the Premiership, going down with 30 points from 42 games, with 5 wins, 15 draws, 22 defeats and 100 goals conceded (a GD of -53), ten point below Oldham and Sheff Utd ...... they lost 7-1 (Newcastle), 6-2 (Everton), 5-1 and 5-0 three times - but at least they had their Moment of Glory

They were most recently promoted at the end of Covid Season 2019/20 as champions of Ligue Deux with a PPG figure of 1.92 (69 points from 36 matches) We last met in the League in 2017/18, winning 2-1 at ours’ (goals by Billy Whizz and Kayden Jackson), but losing 3-0 at theirs’ in the last game of the season – not that it mattered by then .... at the end of this last season they released, free transferred or MutuallyConsented with, 13 players, the best known being Eoin Doyle (who joined Bolton Trotters, so he did) and GK Luke McCormick, who moved to Plymouth ..... they signed eight, including MF Diallang Jaiyesmi from the Canaries (a canary to a robin, eh? Good trick!), retired Big Band leader Jack Payne from the Imps, striker Brett Pittman from Pompey, LW Joel Grant from Plymouth and Middlesbrough GK Joe Fryer, and they’ve LoanSigned five, three of whom are called Smith, and one of whom is a Czech GK from Man U called Matěj Kovář (which is easy for you to say!)

Current form gives them three wins, one draw, six defeats and 10 points, leaving them in 20th place, one point above Oxford who have a game in hand ... wins are against Rochdale 3-1, Burton 4-2 and Hull 2-1, and all at home, and the draw was on Saturday at the Pointy-Nosed Furry things, coming from 2-0 and 3-1 down to share six goals and snaffle a point ..... they’ve scored 16 and conceded 21 (only Burton (23) have shipped more, and although they’ve won 3 of 5 at home (9 points), they’ve only taken one point away (the 3-3 on Saturday); leading scorers are seven in number – all of whom have two goals each; Hallam Hope, Joel Grant, The Three Smiths (Jonny, Matthew and Tyler), Brett Pittman and Anthony Grant (that's a Full House, Smiths on Grants); ............ they lost 2-1 at home to Darlington in the FA Cup First Round, 3-1 at home to Charlton in the EFL Cup, and went out of the Troffy at the Group stages on GD to Vegan Greenpeace

They play at the County ground (and have done since 1896), and the current manager (see last thread) is John ReallyUseless Sheridan ......... Famous managers include Welsh winger Ted Vizard, who played for Bolton for 18 seasons, was known as the Vizard of the Ving, and was a member of the side that won the FA Cup in 1923, 1926 and 1929; John Trollope (the famous author) who played for Swindon for 20 years and amassed 770 League appearances (including 368 without a break – well, he got a cup of tea at half time, I suppose), Lou Macari, Ossie Ardiles, and Paolo di Canio (who, if you read his wiki page, sounds like a nominee for the David Icke award) ........... Players? Well, there’s Septimus Atterbury (1903/07), Arnold D’Arcy (1956/64), Jan Aga Fjortoft, Glenn Hoddle, Chris Kamara, Lou Macari, Mel Nurse ...... need I go on? Household names, every man jack of them!

And your Second Starter for Ten; on 20th February 2007 Swindon lost 1-0 at Barnet in a League game; why was that game a very special milestone?

Deadline for entries is (Choirboy please note!) scheduled kick-off time, which is 7.00pm on Tuesday 17th November ........... all the goalscoring records at Swindon belong to Harry Morris, who played in the 20s and 30s .... most goals in a season (48), most League goals in a season (47) most goals in a game (five, which he did twice, against QPR on Boxing Day 1926 and Norwich in April 1930), most goals in the League (216), highest goalscorer in the club’s history (229 goals in 279 games, or 0.82 goals per game) ........... The first time they reached the “Proper” rounds of the FA Cup was 1906 (lost 3-0 to Brighton), their biggest League win was 9-1 at home to Luton (1920) and their worst League defeat by Loughborough in 1896 (0-8) ... and if you look it up, Charlton are still the form side (15 points from their last 5 games), but next – 12 points from a possible 15 – come Pompey, Fleetwoof and The Stanley ............. and if we can win four of our last five, we can win five of six – can’t we, lads? Bob the Builder time ....... “Yes We Can”

And the first goal in the Playoff Final against Leicester was scored by Glenn Hobble – no, hang on, Hoddle; and the defeat at Barnet in 2007 was remarkable because that game meant that Swindon had played home and away League games, over their years in the League, against every team which in that (2006–07) season made up the Premier League, le Championnat, League One and League Two.

Good luck to everyone! ........... Stay Safe and Keep Well! .......... And thanks for playing!

Pinched from another site, a list of which clubs have had the hardest/easiest first 10 games or so

I don't know what those numbers mean. We're near the top. Does that mean we've had harder or easier teams?

4231 - no changes from Saturday would be my guess, although I wouldn't mind seeing Big Tom start.

We'll win. We're not as bad as we think.

Fancy J.Smith to bag tonight.

Early kick off :eek:

Midweek games have been all season

Fancy J.Smith to bag tonight.

He is wound up like a coiled spring....someones getting it .....:)

He is wound up like a coiled spring....someones getting it .....:)

4231 - no changes from Saturday would be my guess, although I wouldn't mind seeing Big Tom start.

We'll win. We're not as bad as we think.

They have only completed 1 days training since the new gaffer arrived so you suspect he wont know anyone else yet to change anything, probably relying on his No2 & No3 for input
[/quote

Possibly 3 good training sessions since Saturday and plenty of video footage may have made his mind up for this evenings selection

Win 1-0. Scrappy and ugly win

Fuck that. Could never,ever, ever want them to win.

STFC/Crewe double more to my liking at 6/1

Fuck that. Could never,ever, ever want them to win.

Sheridan's first proper game in charge (tactically) as he should have spent Sunday getting to know second string players and Monday his first team. But then I don't know what his commitment is like. We all know Wellens found it "hard and tiring" being a manager. Maybe that was just code for I can't be arsed today.

I think Town snatch it. Although v Shrews it was attributed to Noel Hunt/Tommy Wright, Town showed great spirit to come back into it and the invited pressure had me thinking Town would just grab that.

I'll take a bumbled, soggy, off the shin from Odimayo for a very blehh 1-0. Have a feeling though that Jonny Smith will pop a cherry tonight and smash one home from 25 yards.

Town 1 - 0 Milk Chuggers.

Let's hope Sheriden dosen't copy Ricketts tactics😁

Also Reginald Smeeton...do come back you odious fucker. Think we all echo in the hope that you are well.

Let's hope Sheridan doesn't copy Ricketts tactics😁

Baxter on the bench for Accy

To be fair, on paper that team should have enough to scrabble a win.

With Ricketts in charge😁

SR has one game left in charge at Shrews away to Ipswich on Sat. At the moment, it's JS in charge for Town ;)

Hope and Pitman in a front two weirdly excites me

Leave me out of this :D

I think we'll be 433 incidentally, Hope wide left.  However it is, a Swindon win.

Leave me out of this :D

I think we'll be 433 incidentally, Hope wide left.  However it is, a Swindon win.

3-2, will still have a mare or two at the back but not as bad a recent weeks, and will outscore them.  22/1

Jeez - I hate the i-follow adverts

Jeez - I hate the i-follow adverts

Jesus these fucking iFollow adverts are an assault on my ears.

That tune on the utilita one...

3-2, will still have a mare or two at the back but not as bad a recent weeks, and will outscore them.  22/1

Jeez - I hate the i-follow adverts

Don't appear to be playing 4-4-2

Yet again a keeper error costs us for probably the 8th time this season so far, doesn't matter who is in goal they aren't good enough.

Keep the faith. It’s happened to better keepers than Fryer.

Keep the faith. It’s happened to better keepers than Fryer.

The Tom Heaton coming for a header and missing one leaps to mind.

I predicted that a keeper would make a couple of mistakes leading to goals

Was it Rob Green in Croatia?

yes, but we need a bit of confidence right now, not a mistake every game

Pretty sure Heaton did for us in his loan spell. The Green one was an injury where he passed it right to a striker, no? Oh and Scott Carson let a ball through on a gentle roll too I think, for England.

How is it our passing has become abysmal of late? Keeping the ball was one of our good attributes last season and has all but disappeared this.

Shit happens, we can't afford to "kick" another keeper when he down, that would just be "shooting" ourselves in the foot - not like we have a lot of other options so we need to get behind one of them sooner or later..

Controversial but I’d just go back to Kovar until we can get anyone better, he at least has one positive attribute in that he can at least use his feet.

Behave. The boy made a mistake. That’s all.

These 2 keepers are shit.

For those of us who can't see, how did the keeper score an oggy?

The whole team’s been shaken by that first goal. Time for a bit of composure.

Let's hope Powers choice of manager is the right one🤔

When did we last have a defence this bad? Absolutely dismal.

Missed the ball from a simple pass back.

Ricketts ain't taking over

Alexa, show me free agent goal keepers.

I hope the team is stronger than the TEF tonight. You lot need to take a look at some of your comments in the morning.

Now’s not a good time to be giving up.

I am going to give our new manager a chance to sort this out. Stop going all Facebook group. Rarely seen the TEF so weak.

A lot of it is from the usual people.

Accrington are a better side than most Town fans will give them credit for, that said we have had 2 goalkeeping howlers. Kovar has done almost exactly the same as Fryer several times. Its blatant that neither keeper is good enough.

I am going to give our new manager a chance to sort this out. Stop going all Facebook group. Rarely seen the TEF so weak.

I am going to give our new manager a chance to sort this out. Stop going all Facebook group. Rarely seen the TEF so weak.

No one is not giving him the chance, but commenting that this is beyond shite and extraordinarily pathetic isn't weak. It's hard to watch this and think anything else. They're miles ahead of us.

I am going to give our new manager a chance to sort this out.

soapy tit wank..

whoever said 'relegation fodder', spot on

3-2, will still have a mare or two at the back but not as bad a recent weeks, and will outscore them.  22/1

Jeez - I hate the i-follow adverts

Accy look a very tidy team

Accy look a very tidy team

I agree. That’s fine. But limit your comments to tonight’s performance, not the entire season. Some of the same people were saying will thrash somebody soon. Just keep some perspective.

Accy look a very tidy team

At the very least you'd hope that the team would be slightly motivated by a new boss. Impress him and that.

You're trying to summon Reg back, aren't you.

That's because he's not going to be here long. I keep telling you all that. How unprofessional does a manager have to be to state that he doesn't know who any of the players are. Sheridan ain't here to do well.

It's Paul Hart all over again I'm afraid. Couldn't give a fuck.

Or is it just we're allowing them to look good?

I agree. That’s fine. But limit your comments to tonight’s performance, not the entire season. Some of the same people were saying will thrash somebody soon. Just keep some perspective.

the amount of goals we leak it's a fair assessment.

I agree. That’s fine. But limit your comments to tonight’s performance, not the entire season. Some of the same people were saying will thrash somebody soon. Just keep some perspective.

Is it unusual for a team promoted from league 2 to go straight back down? I'm not the footballer scholar I used to be

probably the worst half of the season.

Accrington and Pritchard particularly have been good value.

But we can't keep conceding like this.

the game is gone  in all probability - let's just try and see some form improvement in the second half

We desperately need Conroy and Fryers back.

We desperately need Conroy and Fryers back.

I’ve given up waiting for them, even when they’re back it’ll only be for a game or 2 before they’re injured again.

Aaaaaaand breathe. Fact is, that first goal shocked the players as much as it did the TEF. Honestly, I’ve never seen such a meltdown on here. Accy are too good to make this game recoverable, but with a good, experienced coach there is certainly enough in the squad to sort us out. Now settle those quivering lips FFS. 

What redeeming feature / qualities do you think this squad has?

Tbh, they usually do rather well. Quite a few go through L1 in a season or 2.

I think there will be a big turnaround in the second half....of the season.

What redeeming feature / qualities do you think this squad has?

What colours are Accrington playing in?

Pitman is really looking like a lost cause...

Waste of space looking for a final payday

I said a few weeks back, Pitman is season two Marc Richards. The good thing about Richards is we managed to get a good season out of him.

Also, has Valid Pint/Vapid Lint/Valid Cunt deleted his account/been suspended?

Also, has Valid Pint/Vapid Lint/Valid Cunt deleted his account/been suspended?

I can't tell if we're playing better, or Accrington are sitting back.

Deleted his account it looks like.

Deleted his account it looks like.

Also, has Valid Pint/Vapid Lint/Valid Cunt deleted his account/been suspended?

Really struggling to understand what Pitman can bring to this team.

Missing VP already?

Not really, just noticed the name had got changed by mods and then they had deleted. Can't see how a changing of the name to "Vapid Lint" could trigger them. Maybe they got locked in a twin tub years ago?!  :hmmm:

Are you next to leave? Cos I'd actually miss you. Genuinely. But nahh, don't miss VP or VD tbh  :pint:

This team has no redeeming features.

None.

I get why we took the risk. But to put all the striker eggs in one basket was foolish.

yes we have Tyler Smith as well, but a lot to ask if a young loaner ..

I get why we took the risk. But to put all the striker eggs in one basket was foolish.

yes we have Tyler Smith as well, but a lot to ask of a young loanee ..

Grounds now having a proper argument with Fryer for not moving off his line. Shambles.

Because Grounds' own positional awareness is shocking. He's always a yard off the pace.

I loves the TEF too much.  I live for the intellectual 'cut and thrust'.

We've no shape at all.

Wellens turned down another striker on deadline day according to Power when a deal was lined up for him and Wellens has wanted him earlier in the season.

Pitman was always worth a risk but so far that risk has not been one worth taking, he has been lacking effort/quality/fitness.

This team has no redeeming features.

None.

Perhaps Pitman could play CB

or in goal,  hew wouldn't have to rush about then.

completely forgot about DJ - what's the latest there?

and Lyden?

Not uncommon for strikers to move to CB. Would be solid in the air.  No need to worry about the lack of mobility.

Dion Dublin & Chris Sutton were quite handy

Not uncommon for strikers to move to CB. Would be solid in the air.  No need to worry about the lack of mobility.

Mmmm, not sure central defenders don't need mobility!

Mmmm, not sure central defenders don't need mobility!

Venks, not being funny but why do you keep calling him Shez?! He's not your bestie. Sorry pal but it's at "Stevie G" levels of gratery  ;)

It's weird how some of our players just seem to have disappeared...

DJ, Donoghue, Tyler Smith.

What exactly is wrong with these guys?

Can we not have a man of the match thread after this please?

Can we not have a man of the match thread after this please?

Can we not have a man of the match thread after this please?

It’s almost as if they’re injured. Are you a conspiracy theorist?

Can we not have a man of the match thread after this please?

You could set one up for the away side

Why? Matt Smith has done ok(ish).

Handy Andy Rowland too.

I know this is shit but there is a lot of lockdown sniping on here tonight - some people need to have some medicinal weed I think..  It's always been feisty when we are shit but some of the posts tonight are bordeline twitter/facebook group..  and I fear that this will not improve over the next few hours..

I know this is shit but there is a lot of lockdown sniping on here tonight - some people need to have some medicinal weed I think..  It's always been feisty when we are shit but some of the posts tonight are bordeline twitter/facebook group..  and I fear that this will not improve over the next few hours..

Traditionally, no. When are they due back? It's been weeks.

It's not so bad when piss stains also get beat😁

I know this is shit but there is a lot of lockdown sniping on here tonight - some people need to have some medicinal weed I think..  It's always been feisty when we are shit but some of the posts tonight are bordeline twitter/facebook group..  and I fear that this will not improve over the next few hours..

I know this is shit but there is a lot of lockdown sniping on here tonight - some people need to have some medicinal weed I think..  It's always been feisty when we are shit but some of the posts tonight are bordeline twitter/facebook group..  and I fear that this will not improve over the next few hours..

It will get better.

And keep us out of the bottom four !!.

I like to think that I am fairly level headed and I didn't think that the views expressed were particularly over the top.

It could get worse before it gets better though. I am here for the long run.

Mid 70's JJ we aren't going away😃

Been there done that got the tee shirt!

Perhaps he is my best mate :)

All the players that work with him in the past call him Shez and its easier to type angrily than Sheridan. Why does anybody have a nickname for that matter?  :hmmm:

Why? Matt Smith has done ok(ish).

No. We can’t not.

Just so many people taking offence of other peoples opinions with snipey comments - not sure whether you were agreeing me or not tbh.

Just an observation anyway..

I kinda agree, but we have to say we were piss poor tonight, and the defensive frailties are I feel spreading nervousness across the team.  I was confident enough to bung a fiver on Town 3-2 tonight but...

Biggest thing is lacking in confidence - someone on here said a few days ago a player doesn't sudently stop knowing how to head/pass/tackle.  Hopefully Sheridan can turn somethong around - be interested to hear what he says post game

I agree. It's not often I think the TEF needs to man up (given we appear to have chased off all the women) but tonight was a test of character, on here like out there. At the moment, the only blessing is that there are no fans in the ground.

It will get better.

Can 'none of the above' be an option?

I know this is shit but there is a lot of lockdown sniping on here tonight - some people need to have some medicinal weed I think..  It's always been feisty when we are shit but some of the posts tonight are bordeline twitter/facebook group..  and I fear that this will not improve over the next few hours..

No. Time to donkey up.

Compared to what I have seen elsewhere, the TEF doesn't have a high proportion of mentalists.  Yes, some have expressed the their displeasure with the performance and result, but the manner in which they have done so doesn't compare with the madness on the Facebook (in my opinion).

No. Time to donkey up.

Sheridan live now.

NMH do your thing.

He sounds dejected

Out of the frying pan...

Good job NMH. Not much in that is there. I'd have hoped for a bit more insight. Wellens used to have a better analysis of games we lost. Hmm.

Wellens knew he got lucky last year. He couldn't believe his luck with Yates & Doyle.
His player selection this season has shown that it was luck.
He realised quite quickly that he was going to struggle this season and despite all of the initial talk he bottled it and ran!

Well, I hope Sheridan can sort this out, because that is a relegation performance.  Tbh, Saturday was too.

I've refrained from saying it but I've now listened to and watched all of Sheridan's pre-match, post-match and appointment pressers several times but...

....I don't think Sheridan is going to command the respect of many of the squad here. I think it may be a case that the players have already decided not to play for this manager...

...I really don't want to say it but there are issues with him that lay much deeper than football. I would rather he sort his own off field issues out first. Why do you think I have been hinting at him not being here long? It's a jobs for the boys appointment.

The sooner the court case is resolved and a new regime comes in, the better.

Are we talking liquid off field issues

I don't fully subscribe to the notion that Wellens 'got lucky with Doyle and Yates'. They brought them in to do a job and it worked. Yeah, possibly beyond their expectations but it still worked.

The loss of their personalities behind-the-scenes cannot be underestimated though. Club evolved around them plus a couple of others for a little while.

Danny Wilson's tenure was ruined by a change of culture within the dressing room. A few players in or out is all it takes to disrupt the balance.

He doesn't have any insights. Sheridan's been here for two games, in charge for one. Ignore him.

The players brought in are, to a man, of an offensive variety. Slight, skilful players with little physicality about them - we constantly make half tackles but ultimately lose the

Sheridan is going to need time on the training ground to work on defensive shape. He has probably only had a couple of training sessions since coming in on Friday.

That's how the relegation firefighters like Hodgson or Allardyce do it. Work on shape and positioning and keep repeating until it sticks and becomes habit. I suspect we will have to go ugly for a bit if we have the players to do that.

I don't think all is lost but if does feel like one of those low points such as Cheltenham away in 2002. It's recoverable but the team need to realise they are in the shit and not sleep walk to another relegation.

When you look at the stats in our matches they actually tend to look better than the team we are playing. Accurate passes, possession, tackles won etc. Is it just the gifting of goals that is the difference? 2.1 goals a game at the moment, which is dire.

In simple terms we are all over the place.
You cannot keep gifting goals every game like we are currently doing. I am struggling to recall another season where I have seen so many defensive errors leading to simple goals against.
Unfortunately both keepers are not up to it. Both cannot command  their area and just leads to a lack of confidence at the back. Constant changes at the back equally are not helping. Central defenders lack mobility and positioning awareness and as a result we are getting picked off by teams pressing, as we did last night.
Matt Smith is running the midfield on his own, Grant would be better off sitting deeper just to support the weak central pairing.
Drop Pitman, offers fuck all and is a waste of a shirt. Sadly this may not go down well but Hope is at best a decent league two player. Tyler Smith needs a run out, even at the expense of Pitman.
Desperate to get DJ back, A fit Lyden if that actually exists and Conroy and Fryers to give that stability and some much needed pace.
However maybe a tad thought of desperation as we look a shambles in shape.

Another concern is the muscle injuries we are getting. Surely just can’t be down to coincidence.

All is not well and we were simply outclassed for 90 minutes against the team with the smallest budget in league one. Credit where it is due, they did their homework on us last night and exposed every frailty we know we have.

Not throwing the towel in just yet but some of those senior professionals need to take some leadership responsibility. Wellens didn’t get lucky last season he simply assembled a decent side. Another complete rebuild has caught us out, it happens and will likely happen again until we get different direction (if ever in my lifetime) at the very top.
We have definitely not replaced players that have left with better players, a shadow of the team from last season. Sheridan has a mountain to climb but has to be given some time.

Right now I want to believe there are 4 teams worse than us that’s all I want for Christmas.

If Wellens didn’t get lucky last season why couldn’t he put together a decent team this season?

Any facts to back up that Accrington have the lowest budget in the division?
Not that, that even matters. We should know by know the league doesn’t finish in budget order

Andy Holt their owner told me :)

Andy Holt their owner told me :)

Accy seem to be a very well set up club with a decent manager punching quite a bit above their weight, good luck to them.

They also have used the loan system far better than we have this season with 5 of their 6 loanees playing in every match pretty much. For me only Jonny Smith and Matt Smith have shown to be good enough to play every game from our 5 loanees.

This.

There has been almost without exception (FGR away the only 1 that wasn't) at least 1 to 3 individual mistakes per match in the league.

Every defender and goalkeeper we have played have made absolute howlers, Grounds, Baudry, Kovar, Fryer, Caddis, Odimayo, Donohue and Hunt. In L2 those errors were still happening to the defenders but were rarely punished. In L1 almost every howler is being punished and a goal resulting from them.

I haven't looked back at stats but I would say that both Kovar and Fryer single handedly have cost us the most goals/points.

If you don't have a solid keeper you don't have a solid defence, and yes visa versa but if your keepers consistantly make mistakes then no defence in the world can stop that.

Goalkeeper is the one position on the pitch that almost entirely every error is punished with a goal, defenders can get saved by their other defenders and keeper if they fuck up.

Stevens started really well but appears to have turned absolutely shite. I agree with you PV, J.Smith and M Smith are head and shoulders above the rest based on what we have seen so far.

Stevens has pace and can dribble but his final ball is woeful, he came on in the middle last night to start with and it was very evident he is no central midfielder either.

Great athlete poor footballer.

I'm pretty sure Stevens or Leeds don't see him as a CM either bit harsh on a young loanee when asked to play out of position.

Poor footballer is a very harsh comment, he's obviously got lots to learn at pro level.

Accy seem to be a very well set up club with a decent manager punching quite a bit above their weight, good luck to them.

They also have used the loan system far better than we have this season with 5 of their 6 loanees playing in every match pretty much. For me only Jonny Smith and Matt Smith have shown to be good enough to play every game from our 5 loanees.

I was discussing this on Whatsapp with the lads...its pretty well every game we are handing teams at a goal...howlers like last night or basics like the goal we gave Sunderland.

He came to us with Leeds saying he can play centre midfield or right wing, he played centre midfield for FGR.

And from what I have seen he can't pass, cross or shoot but he can dribble and run.

And from what I have seen he can't pass, cross or shoot.

I’d go 352 with

Kovar
Baudry Broadbent Grant A
J Smith Payne M Smith Odimayo Caddis
Hope Grant J

Thats not a bad shout to be fair, and the only issue I see is pace on the left which could be open to the counter, and I would still worry for pace in the flat 3, if Caddis and Smith swap that could work with Payne backing up Caddis. Tyler would be a more mobile fit when he returns up top but 352 is not a formation I particulary like to be honest as it relies on really fit wing backs shuttling all game.

From a personal view I would go with a 4321 as I think it would suit this team and structure

Kovar
Caddis  Odimayo Broadbent Hunt
J Smith  M Smith Hope
Payne J Grant
Tyler or Pitman

That team contains one central midfielder, would be beyond suicidal..........

Well it depends where the 2 sit which technically is a 451 or it could be a 4411 with Grant sitting behind the striker... and Hope & Smith offering support..

See, this is what I mean. Up until last week Kovar and Baudry were cancer, now everyone wants to drop Fryer and Grounds for them. We don't get to see them in training, so I'm not sure how close fringe players like Broadbent are to inclusion, but on performance to date, I'd be tempted to go:

                         Fryer
Caddis - Broadbent - Grounds - Donohue
                      Odimayo
     J Smith - M Smith - Payne - Hunt
                        Hope

I'm afraid A Grant hasn't been contributing enough to merit his place. Push Odimayo into a defensive CM role to shore up the CBs and offer his strength playing out. Give Hunt free range to get forward and cross, where he's better than Stevens or J Grant.

And given that we can use five subs from Saturday onwards, we might actually start to see some gk replacements, so you might get your saviour Kovar back at half-time!

I’d rather my goal keeper could save shots than kick the ball
But I’m old school like that.

My thought process last night was that you can't really fix the mental lack of focus easily on the training ground.  I still don't see that turning around bar an epiphany for individual players.  It's not because they are too high up the league ladder, the mistakes being made are so comical they belong on a school pitch.

So, what can we do.

First, I think you have to try and get safety in numbers - if someone fucks up in the middle, have another player there to bail them out.

Next, you have to have different players in there.

We can do the  first quickly - I'd go to 4-3-2-1

Kovar
Hunt  Baudry  Odimayo  Donohue
Smith Grant Haines
Smith Hope Payne

The added body in central midfield should support Grant in sitting in.  No thoughts of meandering away from position.  M Smith gets the license to go control the game, the other two act as bits and pieces in attack, focused on being in front of the back two.

Then you begin to add in any returnee's - T Smith for Hope, Lyden for Haines, Fryers for one of the two central defenders depending on whether Baudry has fixed his errors yet.

In January, assuming Kovar has still not developed the core skills of a keeper, send him back and get a new one in.

Pitman's lack of mobility is hurting us up top and we can't afford 4 attacking players.  J Smith can boss the right flank, Payne looked better to me out wide - he is a flair type of player like Isgrove and needs no responsibility of being in the middle.  He can cut a team apart but he also always play with attacking intent which means he loses the ball, a lot.

Surely in any era being able to kick a moving ball is a basic requirement, pass backs have been in the game for 3 decades.

Obviously it would be a major issue if, as you describe he can’t actually kick a football.
I’ve made the assumption that he can actually kick a football, maybe just not particularly calmly or accurately - which again, it’s a moot and secondary point to ‘can he make saves’

I’m old school in my football beliefs and I accept that but this recent trend that keepers have to be excellent with their feet to me is just another step on the total football wankfest that is currently in vogue.

The better keeper is always the one that makes more / the better saves - even if every kick is like an NFL punt that gets returns to the opposition.
Rather that than a keeper with accurate passing who can’t save a shot.

Sadly for us, seems both our keepers are neither.

Obviously it would be a major issue if, as you describe he can’t actually kick a football.
I’ve made the assumption that he can actually kick a football, maybe just not particularly calmly or accurately - which again, it’s a moot and secondary point to ‘can he make saves’

I’m old school in my football beliefs and I accept that but this recent trend that keepers have to be excellent with their feet to me is just another step on the total football wankfest that is currently in vogue.

The better keeper is always the one that makes more / the better saves - even if every kick is like an NFL punt that gets returns to the opposition.
Rather that than a keeper with accurate passing who can’t save a shot.

Sadly for us, seems both our keepers are neither.

But he's also cost us 2 further goals from non kicking related goals so the rest of his keeping isn't up to it either. Like I say I see no redeeming features with Fryer and in my opinion Kovar is the lesser of 2 evils but each to their own opinion wise.

If the club haven’t been ringing every free agent goal keeper today, then they want shooting.

If the club haven’t been ringing every free agent goal keeper today, then they want shooting.

How old is Mildenhall?

If the club haven’t been ringing every free agent goal keeper today, then they want shooting.

We should definitely sign this guy though

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/duwayne-kerr/profil/spieler/117575

How about Lewis Price? Freed by Rotherham on 6th November.

Lee Camp is another. There’s a few out there.

Also it’s mid November. If players are still free agents Im not sure they are in any position to be particularly fussy about wages.

Just using 36 year old Lee Camp as an example - even if he felt Swindon and their offer were way below him. Would it do him any harm to sign a short term month to month contract on naff all wages.

He’s earning, as naff all will still be more than the zero he is earning now. He’d be playing to keep his fitness up and his name about - then if does get a better offer he could go within weeks.

May as well get involved with this keeper chat, but in general does Sheridan have a 'go to' keeper that he has worked with regularly in his managerial career? Or does he just work with what he has.

If Luke McCormick was seemingly out of our price range to retain the services of. Lee Camp will be way out of our price range. Too high a wage command unfortunately.

How many times, it was nothing to do with him being out of our price range...... McCormick has a long term shoulder injury that he was managing even when he was playing for us, it was part of the reason he was let go by Plymouth in the first place. It flared up for him pre-season and he's so far been injured all season and is on the wind down to retirement now so wouldn't have been much use to us. He was never going to be able to play much this season and any offer we made to him would have reflected that, he's gone back to Plymouth primarily to be a coach.

McCormick was signed by Lowe for the first team and there is no mention of him doing any form of coaching there. His injury was one he did not have while at Swindon and when he left he was fully fit.

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/ryan-lowe-argyle-luke-mccormick-4382499

Luke was signed to challenge for the first team.

They recently appointed Darren Behcet as goalkeeping coach with no mention of Luke even wanting that role.

Yes he is of the age where injuries happen but when he left us he was not injured. He passed his medical at Plymouth without any problems, thei injury is a totally new injury.

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/plymouth-argyle-goalkeeper-luke-mccormick-4565830

I understand Wellens told him he wouldnt play and we offered him far reduced terms.

We're not about to spend any more money in this dog of a season. Fryer will be OK, like everyone was saying two games ago.

The bigger issue in our defence is for our senior players - Baudry, Grounds, Grant - to get back on their game, and soon.

They aren't going to say he's just there for a last pay cheque are they, he's had persistent shoulder and ankle injuries for a while and has gone there to wind down, after all he is 37...

Joe Fryer isn't on loan.

Straws. Clutching much?!  :hmmm:

It isn't "pining for McCormick", more so if you bothered to read, a mere suggestion of having a pro like McCormick. As for Luke, you can't say for certain it wouldn't have solved anything. Had he been retained his experience could possibly have been invaluable in the dressing room. He may have purely been a bench warmer (like he was for Benda) but I would bet his experience would have been much more useful and influential on one young keeper than having two young keepers; whose confidence are now totally shot to shite. I think you are also intelligent enough to figure out a squad isn't always about everything on the pitch. There's a bigger picture for certain and you know that.

Anyway you missed the point. We wouldn't be able to afford Camp (going by his wages at both Derby & Wednesday). He's likely got enough in the bank to see him through a Christmas lockdown period.

Hairs. Splitting much?! (probably splitting Bamboo is more appropriate) :hmmm:

Fair do's but you avoid the point and I'm sure you have the intelligence to instead of point out one mistake but to note it and amend your reading necessary? A little apophenia or mild imagination could have allowed you to understand the mistake and carry on instead of nitpicking (do Pandas pick nits off each other or just themselves? Possibly the latter as they are perceived as a species of solitude).

The point stands, sending one keeper back (just to confirm, that is Kovar isn't it?) and getting in a month to month OOC experienced keeper (with a view to EoS contract if doing okay). Further, assess Fryer in Jan. If he hasn't got better with an experienced keeper alongside then we may have to cut some nominal losses and let him go.

With at least one loan space available (if returning Kovar), I still think having a bit of a chat with Michael Flynn regarding the services of Tom King (with them keeping Twine) on loan in January isn't a too wild suggestion. An enquiry certainly wouldn't hurt.

Not really a go to keeper, but he has with Oldham and Chestefield used these keepers, no idea if they are all still playing or even available.

Tommy Lee
Greg Felming
Joel Coleman
David Cornell
Chris Kettings
Connor Ripley

Also it’s mid November. If players are still free agents Im not sure they are in any position to be particularly fussy about wages.

Just using 36 year old Lee Camp as an example - even if he felt Swindon and their offer were way below him. Would it do him any harm to sign a short term month to month contract on naff all wages.

He’s earning, as naff all will still be more than the zero he is earning now. He’d be playing to keep his fitness up and his name about - then if does get a better offer he could go within weeks.

Fryer's contract ends next month so we won't need to spend more, just spend his wages on a half competent keeper.

Exactly. We've got another six weeks to judge him, not just the last three games (one of which we lost). Hope that helps everyone stow the wild talk for a while.
 :doh:

Lee Camp is no better than Fryer.
Confident we can find a more reliable keeper from somewhere.

You're making the assumption he will play again....

Yes, you noticed.

I'd be surprised if he does, if we do have to pay any kind of loan fee for Kovar then there's absolutely no argument for playing Fryer with him being an as bad or arguably worst keeper that we can sack off in 6 weeks.

A chip forward would be good.

I bet they haven’t trained for a single second