Thetownend.com

 :crash:

0-2

If we're getting beat 0-2 we're all be leaving before the end of the game in disgust😃

1-1 Twine  :pint:

He's not available until the Ipswich game😁

He'll still score though  :D

Hopefully be called off so Sheridan can get his 10 new players in and trained up before the Ipswich game.

He didn’t say 10 new players. He said he expects to do 10 deals - including ins and outs.

"must win"

there. I said it

One of the two teams will score 4 :eek:

Fuck trying to keep a tight ship. Now we have some players back from injury we go four at the back with Fryers, Conroy, Mayo and Caddis. Smith and Grant/Lyden in the middle of midfield with DJ and Payne out wide. Smith and Pitman up front. Bosh.

After Tuesday I'd decided this would be the second league match I'd miss this season. By Thursday I'd changed my mind. Only hope we try and go for them.

Swindon 1 - 2 Wigan

One year ago returned from the best match of the season Plymouth away full of optimism and pride despite nearly being stranded in Plymouth for the night due to the rail chaos sadly caused by a “jumper.”

Now one year forward totally deflated, totally rudderless and no idea how this will all end up.

TIL we die and all that thus the same ritual of watching it on ifollow once more but optimism now replaced by the old card once more, blind loyalty.
Totally pissed off with this shit football club that kicks you in the bullocks time after time.

Moo.  :)

This is gonna suck. 3-0 loss, no spirit.

Duke,

Trust me, it's equally as bad living 18,000kms away.
Swindon has taken my emotions from the sublime feelings of "we can achieve anything " to almost being suicidal and not wanting to ever feel like this ever again.
The problem this time seems far bigger than previously, from all accounts Lee Power has screwed to many people over to get out of this shit.
Standing / Barry and the Aussie Builder are the current ones... but what about Spurs and the loans sold on to QPR and sell on clauses that were paid and seemed to go else where.
We hear from some loyal fans backing Power for financing the club in difficult times... but now it would seem this money came from others.
Covid 19 has caused huge disruption and heart break to the World in general. Yes, has possibly finished off STFC as well.
Good luck today and wishing all supporters well for the New Year.
COYMRs.
    

I'm interested to see the team selection today. If Wright is as good to his word from Tuesday, we will see who he and Sheridan thinks were not showing 'desire'.

He also said Hope would be involved. Can't remember whether he mentioned J Grant.

Win. 3-2

If the players react to the bollocking from Tuesday which was up there with the most abject and gutless Swindon performances I have ever seen then we could get a result.

If we continue on the same vein then we will get beaten.

Could easily go either way, but as it stands that performance was not good enough and pretty much none of the players were good enough, no spirit, no heart, no pride and no passion just going through the motions.

1-1 draw.

They must have had so many bollockings this season will they be bothered by another one!

I agree with you PV on potential scoreline but sadly I think...and I know this shouldn't be the case but I think the effort on the pitch is a reflection of players unhappy with the management off it.

Prima Donna Kebabs aside and probably not a level relative comparison but even Man Utd "stopped playing" to their optimum ability under Mourinho (oddly but then his approach is Marmite like). Once he'd gone the players suddenly started up their game again.

I think we have to consider "player mutiny" so to speak as another factor to this weird and wanky season of kick run ball. They didn't all turn to shit over night or even over a period of 4months (or even 10 if you count from last March).

My biggest ask is this... Why does it always have to be bloody Town?!  :(

2-1 Swindon we don't know how to keep a clean sheet😁

Here's hoping for something better.

To still be in the game by the 60 minute mark would be an improvement. 1-1 with a late DJ goal..... before he’s sold next week

We must continue with blind loyalty until things improve.(Or not.)

Game off according to comments on Twitter.

Swindon Town P - P Wigan Athletic

Game off apparently frozen pitch

That would be unfortunate.

Yes, I can confirm....Frozen Pitch...

On dear, ANOTHER dreaded Tuesday night game.

Spot on as always.
I want those useless fuckers from Tuesday to be hurt, a sense of pride restored and they come out of the blocks looking fired up and interested.

........Game off.
Can’t even beat the weather :)

Pitch covers on furlough then

Definately this, now we won't even get that!

fucks sake. I thought covers were good down to -4 or -5.

was it really that cold last night? 🤔

no https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/observations/gcnsfxv5m (https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/observations/gcnsfxv5m)

must  be some cumulitive effect over the last few days then I suppose

A shame, however on the bright side perhaps some of the loanee dross (Kovar, J Smith, Stevens) will have been replaced with better quality by the time we next meet.

Wishful thinking!

Definitely has me thinking whether the covers were actually on and Swindon has been hit with incredible minus temperatures.
Been out with the Dog this Morning and its thawing out.
Jeez even I’m being a cynical bastard now......old age must be kicking in.

Silver lining is that we'll see some transfer action as a direct response to last Tuesday now! When will the Goalkeepers find out their fate and we find out? Watching Twitter profiles like a hawk...

Well then, that seems like we've seen the last of a few players, and cancels our easiest game of the month. Rest of our January games are against:

Ipswich (7th)
Doncaster (4th)
Charlton (6th)
Plymouth (17th)
Hull (3rd)

Eek.

Shame we're  not in the FA Cup to break it up abit😁

Piss poor for a league one club not having adequate protection for the pitch plus they woul have had a good idea yesterday and could have stopped Wigan travelling

Got the wrong Smith there, I think.

No, he's right. J Smith is a willing tryer but really is just all legs and no end product.

Runs into dead ends, chooses wrong passes, can't shoot.

I'd take someone with less "flair" that can put a decent cross into the box.

At 23 how long will it be before Bristol City sell him on as it's hard to see him making any impact in the championship

Sounds like you’re describing DJ.

Sounded more like a description of Stevens. J. Smith is a much better player than being given credit for by some. He just happens to be in a team devoid of confidence and zero confidence in the people paid to instill that in them.

As for frozen pitch. In the words of Aud...

"Me 'airy arse!"

All a bit down in the dumps on here today, here's some textbook trolling of OUFC to cheer you guys up:

https://mobile.twitter.com/OUFCOfficial/status/700997243806076930

Car wasn’t even frozen when I left work at 6am this morning.
Fuck knows how our pitch has frozen.

Surface frost at best but no deep freeze. Probably best Town aren't playing, although it somewhat delays the inevitable  :doh:

unless the damage was done earlier in the week, though I'm in not sure it got *that* cold in the last week

Obviously parts of the pitch are always in the shadow of the stands so will take longer to thaw out but the last frost was Thursday morning I think?

Don't we still put straw down?

Covers not put down Thursday thus game off.
As shite off the field as on it.

More like creative fixture management. Sheridan waiting to be able to put out his own team.  :hmmm:

Too expensive... we use shire horses from Waddies to drop their wordly goods on the surface...

Being serious, Marcus Cassidy and Co were always applauded for their ability to get matches on. A bit of ground frost wouldn't have prevented them. Hence my critical attitude. In any case, it probably is good it is off. I think the Ipswich match should be called off too. Only because I don't want to see Town get absolutely rammed by 5 or 6 in view of a wider audience and then having a pundit like Lee Clark or something.

If we did we would get some decent manure with the shite on it mixed in with the straw!

A nearly five year old tweet?

Fucking hilarious  ::)

Why not?
Still not sure the ground would still be frozen from Thursday though?

We obviously don’t want this game on. Wigan should be furious.

Incompetence or some creativity to ensure the match is off...given the high standards our ground staff usually set I expect it is the latter  :hmmm:

I don't like mistruths in that thread even if that is a word... so he has played for 3 good loan teams prior to Swindon, and made a big difference in everyone, top scorer for Oldham last year, won promotion to Lg1 with Tranmere the previou year and scored 10 and made7 assists for Fylde Afc in the Conference the previous year to that. Sandy if you going to make a statement base it on the players real progress not just because he has not fitted into a Team that has struggled with injuries and gave away stupid goals through defensive mistakes.

So blame him, let him be your scapegoat even though Wellens never got the players he wanted, then gets head hunted for a fee .. and then injuries which have meant that virtually in no game has he fielded a starting 11 nor, I dont think he has had the same team selection for 2 consecutive games.

There is a lot of great supporters on here who know their football and players well, and understand the game !! so I say to them "Thank You" and great interacting with you, Jonny only knows how to give 100% and he will, and has done, in every game he has played in, but you need in play tactics to work also.

I am dropping off this forum now as I understand supporters frustrations can overflow , and I will always back my son 100% because he is an Honest player and looking at some of the comments just frustrate me as the players performances do the other way around... Personally, there is a really good core at Swindonand I don't believe they will drop down to Lg2 but the players coming in will strengthen in the areas needed.

I agree with the creative management theory myself.

No way Marcus would have allowed that to happen.

Now a chance to clear a few out, get Twine & Palmer up to speed and a bit of dead wood out with hopefully someone in who can    pass / shoot / think / catch the ball.  

all the best rapidflyer.

must be impossible not to take it personally.

I'm as guilty as the next man for slating players, especially when frustrated.

Believe me, I don’t believe any thing worse than frustration is driving these comments.

Your son clearly has ability, as you state, he has proved that.

It’s very very interesting to have the perspective of a family member on here. It gives all of us an insight into a players mind set and how they cope with things. I may be wrong, but I believe this is the first opportunity we have had on this forum to here things from ‘the other side’.

If you could look past the unfounded insults and stick with us it would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Smith is your classic ‘luxury’ you need to give him the ball, you need good players making good runs around him to create space and give him something to aim for.

Our side isn’t doing that for & he isn’t good enough to that all for himself.

Very similar in that sense to DJ and Anderson.

Shame that RF. You've given a great account and insight continually which you never had to do.

J. Smith is a good player and certainly good enough for this division. He'd have flourished as a very good squad player in our 2015 side. Things are very different right now and for sure frustrations will lead to obscure or weird judgements of certain players. Unfortunately, as a current loanee* at Town, this includes your lad.

For clarity, they are quite wrong in their assessment. I now fear what I feared and laid question to on here earlier last week... many have concentrated on loans that fans might want to send back but I was always more concerned about the better ones being recalled. I think this may happen. If anything it will have been a learning curve for Johnny and (I beleive) Matt Smith. These two both deserve to be playing their football in much better managed squads. If he does get recalled, I wish him all the best.

Keep ya pecker up pal.

Whilst J Smith may have done well in previous loan spells, all of the clubs mentioned have been in League 2 or below, maybe he just isn’t ready for League 1 football yet.
He has frustrated me more than any other player this season, maybe because I expected more from him, it doesn’t mean he’s bad player, but maybe he just isn’t quite up to this level.

That's all well and good, but I'm a Swindon fan and can only judge him based on Swindon performances. In a different team that wasn't bound for relegation I'm sure my view would be different. I certainly haven't made him a scapegoat - I think all players have been equally culpable for the position we find ourselves in.

I know he's your son and you'll defend him whatever, but he and the rest of the squad have just not been good enough.

I'm sorry if my post upset you but I would love Jonny to sign for Swindon Town as it's already been stated he's exciting but also a luxury player and what's I've seen he's not yet ready for the championship so wouldn't be surprised if Bristol City sell him.
As others have stated it's great to hear the players side of things and it will be a sad loss if you leave the forum.

Not really surprising the match is off, we played Tuesday night so wouldn’t have covered the pitch after that and Wednesday/Thursday would have been needed for pitch repairs so wouldn’t have been covered until the surface prep was complete. Covering is also last resort I’d imagine as it’s really bad for the grass, too long without light and it starts dying off. Once the frost gets into the pitch on the DRS side it takes ages to thaw as barely gets any light. so unless we get undersoil heating this has and always will be a problem, it’s nothing new we’ve always been susceptible to a surprise frozen pitch postponement.

Cassidy & Co have (or were) been using the heat lamps for a good while now I beleive.

When was the last time we had a game called off due to a frozen pitch that completely took everyone by surprise also on a day where it hadn’t even frozen over night?

They aren’t heat lamps they are lighting rigs to provide artificial light in areas of shade to help the grass grow. Even if we do have some and they give off some residual heat we wouldn’t have the number of rigs to keep an entire side of the pitch above freezing.

It's a similar process used in hydroponics and whilst that isn't exclusive to deterring frost, heat is used to accelerate growth. In order to create an consistent micro climate. Often those lamps do bash out quite some heat too.

Possible that there wouldn't be enough to cover the whole side but you rotate these throughout the day/night. A place I used to work used a similar but cheaper technique in accelerating a warmer season with growing bulbs. You place plastic sheeting over a field and this heats up the ground more than it would be naturally. A bit like a very large cloche. The two techniques are different and for growing grass you wouldn't want to "suffocate" the surface but both do the same thing in terms of preventing ground from freezing thus accelerating growth.

It might be a case of being told/ordered/instructed not to use them (or other methods) due to the cost as I beleive the rigs are hired/hireable at short notice.

Anyway, as DV says, it really hasn't been that cold over a sustained period.

The things cost a lot to run and I’d wager that is money we don’t have, undersoil heating or hover covers that pump in hot air are the only things that are fully effective at preventing frozen pitches.

Anyway Newport’s match is also postponed for a frozen pitch and isn’t a million miles away so it’s not like our postponement is an isolated occurrence.

Nice edit. See we're slowing coming to a very adult agreement here. Via two different angles admittedly but it's nice to see. I like progress :)

I'd say Swindon's landscape is a little more protected from elements than a more exposed place on the south coast of Wales, that Bristol Channel sucks up a good brunt of prevailing winds.

But aye, both of those games are off and we can do nowt about it, although Rovers and Forest Green aren't  :hmmm:

The shade cast by the DRS stand is the problem at the CG and always has been, 2 thirds of the pitch would have been fine but that doesn’t matter. FGR and Rovers both have low stands and very open stadiums so shade isn’t a problem they suffer from.

For the record Wellens takes criticism for the squad imbalance.
I would keep Jonny Smith this season as he can create. Definitely can see him delivering with more game time. I would sacrifice Stephens for another player / position, preferably an all round central midfielder than can add some physical bite.
Clearly need to strengthen upfront and have to be brutally honest Tyler Smith has been disappointing. Equally is it down to effort or tactically playing him up front as a loan striker which as everyone can see has not worked.
Hoping that January is a turning point, last chance to save the season.
Was desperate for us to play today and bounce back from that poor midweek performance.

This unfortunately.
The rest of the pitch is fine, just the strip down the DR that I understand was not covered from Thursday.

From what I have heard so far , strengthening will be very surprising....and maybe the cogs will all turn at the same time going forward... 👍
The club have been working very hard over the last 6 weeks engulfing a lot of matches & players.

Clues in the name of the stand, the ‘South’ stand, meaning the sun is almost exclusively behind it in the winter. If the pitch alignment was north North/South rather than East/West it wouldn’t be an issue as the Town End is so small.
Just one of those things, not worth the capital outlay to prevent what one postponement on average per season even if we had the money.

Do stick around pal. This is probably about as worse it gets (bar relegation/threatened liquidation periods) but regardless of how long Johnny is at Town, most of us here hope you stick around beyond that time.

I've heard a few things regarding potential recruitment but much of that is what some might say is guessable/predictable anyway. An interesting month ahead.

Its going to be really interesting to see what happens. I think we have all been thinking we are stuck with the players we have as there is likely no money for replacements. But, maybe thats not the case, or maybe Sheridan knows exactly what he wants and where he can get it from at a price we can afford.

Totally agree. Lots of emotions. Not always a lot of thought - Nor often any understanding!

It's probs whoever Jewell has lined up/been working on in all honesty. There will be a list (similar with Wellens) and a case of Yes sir/No sir/Three bags full.

do you understand why the hell not?

RF, I understand your frustrations wholeheartedly and agree with a lot of what you say. For what it's worth, from what I've seen from your son, he's a good League One player and I consider him as a player I'd love for us to sign permanently to develop like what we've done with DJ. I don't think he's quite there in being a Championship standard player but very much has the ability to get there.

If there is any constructive criticism that I would give is that his end product isn't quite there, in specifics to his crossing. However, I am merely an observer within a short period of time and that you and he are more than aware of the areas he would like to improve on.

However, I think one thing that we all can agree on is that we want Johnny to do well, exceed expectations, develop and grow as the benefit to him is of benefit to Swindon Town. Please take some of the negative comments with a pinch of salt, we all have to put up with the most negative of fellow supporters (not a barbed comment towards anyone in particular).

It does suggest from you posting on here at the very least that Johnny isn't leaving Swindon at least until the end of the season which is reassuring we're not throwing the babies out with the bath water, in a figure of speech speak...

👍👍 Cheers.... :pint: looking forward to the next 2 weeks....

If we didn't already have "80% football, 25% bollocks" that would be a fine slogan for the site, sums it up very well :)

You're a fine one to speak     ;)

Well, exactly, it summarises all of us extremely well

But I ackshurly love you Paul and you know that.

I was going to reply before mentioning that FVR are on higher ground so more susceptible to colder elements than STFC. As it happens, their game has been abandoned.

I still feel Town's match was a bit like the equivalent of throwing a sickie. On to Ipswich next... maybe :)

Looking at the state of their pitch I think we made the right decision and vindicates our decision to postpone.

I've no doubt the pitch is frozen by the way. just incredibly surprised

It's given us something pretty trivial to discuss over 90mins. Kind of thing that would normally happen in a pub with a pint and a fave bag of crisps or nuts. Maybe some pool, darts or cards. Match called off, so you decide to stay in the pub for the remainder. Those are the kind of evenings where they become memorable or friends are made. Fucking covid ey!

Went for a walk on the ridgeway earlier.  Lots of areas were still solid.  Whether it suits us or not, it probably was call for postponement.

I hope so Mate 👍.
Your lad needs a consistent run in the side. Unfortunately as you know when you get sucked into a lower league position dogfight, coupled with injuries, trying to find a winning formula can lead to more enforced changes than you wish for.
If we can dig out a decent winning performance and move it positively onto the next it could kickstart the confidence. This month will define our season for so many reasons.

Still annoyed that Wellens pushed back on a Striker from a Championship Club.

PNE, I reckon.

I do wonder if this same striker might well be offered up to JS but possibly with a more assertive kind of "this is a striker we've sourced for you"

So with that in mind... if it were to be a Championship striker, who do any of you think it could be?

One thats not very good

Maybe trade J Grant in as part of the deal😁

Relative to the Championship maybe but who knows in L1, and possibly a smidge better than what Town already have?!   :hmmm:

I won't hold my breath though.

Louis Moult, Billy Bodin - who’ve both had long term injuries similar to Conroy.

Jayden Stockley on loan

Stockiey always bullied our defenders whilst playing for Exeter

He’s a regular at Championship level....dream on!

Where did you get that impression that we will be bringing in players 23+ yrs who we will have to pay the wages of?

I’m not saying it’s impossible because we did it last year for Grant and Doyle, but not much noise out of the club this year has given me cause for optimism that we can afford to in Jan

How about Jack Marriott?

Out of favour Derby player on loan at Sheff Wed but seemingly not part of plans there. Jewell could still have some Derby contacts knocking around. Doubtful but just thinking of who said attacker could have been?

Doesn't mean Town would be as attractive a proposition now and if anything it would seem like a move to a higher L1 club as I don't see how he fits into Sheff Weds plans now they seem to have turned the corner.

Didn't realise Aden Flint was on loan at Sheff Wed too.

What makes you think we can afford his wages?

I think there has been a bit of crossover/lost in translation. I asked who might the striker have been that was offered to and subsequently declined by RW. I then asked if it was possible the striker/forward was still up for availability via Jewell but this time to JS.

I think Aud is just saying who he thinks the player might have been not necessarily who Town are definitely targeting now. So we're kind of guessing that. Easy to mistake for a current rumour if not reading back :)

If it's on loan then quite possible depending on the agreement. However, I refer you to my reply above  :D

You either get loans for game time and they are free (unless you don’t play them) or you get loans to get experienced players off the wage bill and so pick up the cost.

The suggestion of Jack Marriott infers we have £500,000 available for cover the cost of his wages (note. We don’t).

How much does Jack Marriot earn?
Do Derby want 100% of his wages off their budget? What is their budget?

I get the availability bias - suggesting players you’ve heard of despite the million to one shot of them coming here.

Just like you I’d never heard of Reg, benda, Yates etc and if Jewell gets it right then it will be players of this ilk we might get in Jan, not 27 year olds on £18k a week

Like I said, you've missed the point of this opening discussion and now taking it out of context...and literally.

To reiterate, we were talking about who the player might have been offered to Richie Wellens. That's what we are guessing. Not who it could be now as it's evident a lot has changed since then. However, I did suggest that whoever said player is (and Jewell has a good relationship there) it could be possible that whoever the player is/was, may still be available.

Ahh but £18k a week is not necessarily true. Derby were one of the clubs that took a 50% wage deferral and they apparently have not paid players for December (yet) but let's say JM is on £9k per week and Town we're to pay Derby £3k of that. What we're Doyle, Doughty (and currently Grant) on?

Despite what we might think, several footballers have taken wage cuts this season compared to their normal earnings. I think that is quite across the board, especially in the EFL. Plus, I can't see Kelly Roos, Joseffson and Duane Holmes still being on less than Marriott.

Also, if we're going on that basis then there is also zero chance of Will Grigg signing. Weren't Town going to offer to pay £5k a week for him during last season :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Who was the player Wellens turned down was it a forward from Huddersfield

That's what we're discussing Jimbo :) and the possibility that they MIGHT still be available to Town (although things have changed drastically since).

I thought so but couldn't remember if the players name has been mentioned or not😁

I don't think so. Who do you think the player might hae been/is bud?

Would that be Obiero?

I can't remember his name but I'm sure it was a young Huddersfield forward.
Edit: yes Obiero on loan at Carlisle

Ahh, I had no idea he had gone out on loan.

Obiero - 5ft 10in. 19 years old. Four league games for Carlisle with 0 goals.

I guess Huddersfìeld rate him? On that though he clearly hasn't played much.

Would you rather Town had paid £3k pw for Marriott than possibly £750 PW for Obiero...

Neither I would prefer we got a big lump up front to provide a different type of threat when necessary.

Edit: In theory we did (in terms of answering the discussion) we got Pit Pony :)

However bringing that availibility to the here and now I would say you would like that player to be a Chris Martin type on loan again then? Power might still have a link with the Norfolkonian  :hmmm:

Yes, he might bring the rest of the band along to increase options. Although I wouldn't be happy if everything turned Yellow! 🤦‍♂️

I'd prefer a combo of Thom Yorke & Anthony Kiedis.

If that was/is the player it’s another damning indictment of Wellens’s poor recruitment. Carlisle are terminating his loan.

To be fair, Wellens turned the championship player down, so if it is him, that may well be why.

Definitely the right club there Jim.
Not sure if that was the player but Wellens pulled out of the deal.
Mark Devlin is at Huddersfield.

I was unsure Ofmthe player Dukey but do remember he was at Huddersfield and Wellens didn't want him

His loan ends now or end of Jan anyway? Maybe it's being terminated as Udders have informed them that they are sending him elsewhere. A mutual termination? 

I hate writing off any player but a young 19yr old that has not inspired at a club doing pretty well in L2 is probably not what Town need. Especially if you compare with Twine's loan spell and by outside judgement people might say the Championship player should be better than the L1 player. It's quite possibly the opposite.

It would be teh peakest of peak Town though if this player was then offered to JS... and accepted  :no: