Thetownend.com

It wasn’t brilliant, but you can see that we can give the top teams a game.

Bounce back and hopefully we’ll get something from this one.

A score draw and maybe even a welcome win

2-2 or hopefully 1-2

Very confident for this one. We’ll win to nil!

Our last "hard" away game of the season. Everyone from here on is 15th or below.

Really fancy us tomorrow. We're showing some green shoots and they're in a bit of a rutt, plus Baxter is out with a knock and Conneely got a rouge Tuesday night.

So we'll lose.

Full Accrington match day digital programme available here (it's free)....

https://t.co/BhdRahajgn

Featuring a "View from the Opposition" page penned by me.

His red card has been rescinded

We will lose

2 - 0 away win

Drink your milk fellas.

Will take a point

I feel confident we can get something here.
Was a game I was looking forward attending. Met Andy Holt their owner and their Directors the day they won the league two title at ours. Was drinking with them after the match, real decent down to earth salt of the earth Northerners.

Incredible that they won the title on an annual budget of £950k.

A point not bad, a win superb.
The pitch is another ploughed field like the CG. Let’s just stop them scoring and go from there.

Important game this one. Don’t want to go into Tuesday with added pressure. Take the game to them and we might get something

Accy are probably the best side I saw this season. Tore us to pieces at the CG.

Different game Saturday. Have a feeling we may sneak a win.

we will thrash them 1-1

I predicted we would win 2-1 the other night and I was half right :) Going for the same scorline/result here and with equally little rational justification

I’ve no idea.

Stanley 5-3 Robin (Twine hat-trick of free kick scorchers)

Accrington are in a shit run of form, and just got beat by Fleetwood who at the time were in an equally shit run of form

Gotta take our chances against teams on ropey runs - think we might do alright tomorrow

Done.  Where do I sign?

Accrington 3-0 Swindon

26% possession for Swindon, same formation, same style, defensive until its too late.

We have only won away at Accrington Stanley (who are day!) once in 5 meetings and that was under PdC when Sir Wes of Foderingham made his debut for us on loan from Palace keeping a clean sheet in a 2-0 win, Wes went on to keep 5 consecutive clean sheets at the start of his career never conceding more than a single goal a game in his first 19 matches! keeping 10 cleans sheets in that run.

Accrington are not on the best run of form having just 1 win in the last 8 games since their 6-1 demolition of our gassy friends down the M4 a run of DLDLDLDL a run that has taken them out of the promotion places to 5 points outside the play offs.

They don't concede many goals with only Oxford (4) Wigan (4) and Hull (3) scoring more than 2 goals against them in any league game with 10 clean sheets in 30 games.

Their 2 leading scorers are Dion Charles on 14 and Colby Bishop on 8. Ironically they were the 2 Crewe scorers in the match at the CG in November with the hapless Fryer scoring the other.

Stanley have utilised the loan system better than we have with 7 loan players at the club including the ex Town trialist Baxter who has been playing extremely well in goal and is up for POTY, he saved a penalty on Tuesday against Ipswich and kept them in the game with some good saves.

I have watched highlights of their last 6 games and you can see the pitch at the WHAM stadium is not a good surface for playing football on and they seem to have adapted to longer passing, the cetnre of their defence seems very prone to making bad mistakes similar to the ones we were making earlier in the season and struggle with any high balls put in the box.

But its down to the Swindon Young Guns to say I'm Your Man and score from A Different Corner and win the Freedom of the Wham stadium and Enjoy What You Do without any sendings off from the Bad Boys as we had Last Christmas leaving Town fans on the Edge Of Heaven with the Swindon physio Alison Willets having Everything She Wants. :)

As long as you don’t go 0-1 when Accrington score!

1-0. It’s 1-0!!!

Thought Accrington were one of the best teams we've played at our place. Picked us apart with ease. Hopefully their recent bad run continues but I do feel like another defeat with no goals scored.

Swindon 7-0 Who are they

Brett Pitman with 5 and 2 OGs.

I always put our score first but if we score I will always put the scorer :)

^^^^^^ this, home team first people, home team first

Absolutely agree, ofcourse it’s home team first. That’s obvious!!

shame on you venks, shame

:)

:)

Love how Sheriden and Wright are still Trying to convince the  Fans Anthony Grant is 'injured'

Now apparently is 'wasn't quite' a concussion..

But he's still injured due to a knee to the head 6 weeks later......

I think we are all a bit suspicious of that one

A few predicting an away win.
Maybe a subconscious element of we should be beating little Accrington kicking in.
I've been guilty of it in the past and easily done.
Well run club with a very good owner and manager, punching well above their weight and more than holding their own.
And easily one of the better teams to have visited the CG this season.

Did witness the one and only win at their place back in 2011.
Notable for a brief sighting of Lukas Magera and one of the stewards being relieved of his tie.
Also made it up there in Dec 2017 when some contented supping was interrupted by news of the postponement.
The locals were friendly and hospitable.

A point would be very good, but maybe we can somehow bumble our way to victory over little Accrington.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyHI8Wsx0OI

Get stuck in at the off as we played the last 20 minutes at Sunderland  Tuesday night and we'll be Ok.  Point would be acceptable to me, three would be even better, but this is Swindon so I'm not holding my breath !.

Can the last game of this season just bloody hurry up.

Thought Town may have got something from the "free hit" of Mackem City. Possibly deserved a point but tomorrow's task is tougher, despite the Gold Top swallowers dip in form.

On current points prediction, this and Sunderland were always down as losses. The "extra 4pts gained v Crewe and Lincoln mean Town are above their target. Town have shown that they can beat the teams around them so I think they will be alright come season's end. It does appear that at least four other teams are shitter or marginally more shit than Town. Possibly one or two more.

A scratchy point would be lovely but expecting a loss. It will probably be another 1 - 0.

Total bullshitty bollocks.

I try not to think about it now as it annoys me.

Was it Grant's knee to Sheridan's head?

Maybe that's why he's not picked? 😂

Garrick has just signed a 2 year extension at Swansea

In terms of recent weeks and recent weeks only - Grant was significantly concussed by Iandolo and last weeks TikTok was his return to light training.

My Source: Anthony Grant.

But that doesn’t fit the narrative, Rich. So less of your facts please!

Not having it!.

For the record I'm not saying things are great in that relationship but the injury is real.

that's good to know. never heard of a concussion being that serious before

One must question how reliable the source is if the source's concussion is that bad.  :hmmm:

It's not that uncommon in other sports to have players take extended breaks - Rugby the obvious one, but even someone like Will Pucovski in cricket has had a few and taken some very long breaks and struggled to recover. Especially if he's had one before, which wouldn't be a huge surprise bearing in mind his playing style.

I didn't say I wasn't ignorant

Away win.

Won’t feature again this season.

That must have been some blow to his head😀

Just caught the Loathed Strangers preview. Listening to the Accrington fan talk about Nathan Baxter makes me very, very sad.

Bloody annoying that we've had five goalkeepers around the club to loan or lining up a loan this season and the only one that's been broadly crap played the most games.

I am convinced Kovar was a panic loan after the Man Utd pre season friendly.

Utter shite

Chelsea? dropped the asking fee after we said no and want for Kovar instead. But Wellens still went for Kovar. Accrington picked him up instead. They're not rich, they just got him at the price we could have got him for.

...and what would Anthony Grant know about Anthony Grant?
I think some ITKer in the internet is going to know more about Anthony Grant than Anthony Grant is.

In all seriousness concussions aren’t what they used to be - even 10 years ago. A lot more precautions and protocols to pass these days. Just need to look at how long some players are out in the NFL or date I say ‘wrestlers’ some have even had to retire due to a concussion or multiple concussion.

So if Anthony Grant says he’s out with a concussion, even 6 weeks later I believe it.


I remember when Joe Devera got a massive whack on the head and played on (think we’d used all our subs) think he even headed clear the resulting corner. Anyway I saw him and Jonathan Smith in the gym a day or two after and Devera was showing off his very bruised face and basically said after the initial blow he had no memory till being in the changing rooms after the game...

Colin Calderwood didn’t know he’d scored at Cambridge.

For you betting types out there. Any idea why Skybet aren’t offering any odds on our game today?

They are. Swindon are 16/5

My underlying concussion memory (yes I get the irony :) ) is Jon Gittens getting kicked in the head in a Boxing day game away at Reading in 87 when Big Jon played a MotM role despite himself not remembering 75 mins of the match playing with a bandage round his head and severe concussion and still winning everything.

In the Kovar debate I still think he is the worst keeper I have seen at Swindon, and I am convinced Wellens only signed him to keep Man Utd sweet for future loanees. Such a shame that we didn't sign Baxter when we could or this seaosn would have panned out way different and we would be sat mid table at least without the keeping errors of Kovar and Fryer.

That’s weird. Not showing when I log in.

Running Scared, obviously taken too much money on a Swindon win so suspended betting !!.

http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MatchCentre.asp?Tab=Video&MatchID=19820129
Memories of this March Mayhem  from ‘82? Proper 80’s hooliganism. A win over Rovers but we all know how the season finished.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EvzPZehWEA8a44Q?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)

No Garrick, Palmer

Good to see Iandolo back in the team - and Odimayo, Lyden

No Thompson either

On his way!

Looks a decent team that - on paper anyway

Odimayo, Palmer, Grant, Thompson all not in the squad, can’t all be injured surely? Which have been sacrificed to let Curran remain in the squad then?

Odimayo is playing!

My bad

that's an 'interesting' reshuffle.

Palmer and Thompson injured? I guess so

Nice to see Iandolo back, had a horrible time with injuries.

I’m assuming he’s wing back as he’s looked way out of his depth when he played left back this season?

Domtom and Sheridactyl fallen out for good?

Only one loanee in the starting XI doesn’t say much for the January recruitment

Good to have Lyden back

If the defence continues to be a bit more solid with conroy and broadbent, Lyden can shore up the midfield a bit, and we continue to create opportunities through Twine - then a lot of those changes seem a bit round the edges.

at least we don't have to worry about Baxter having a worldie

Odimayo and Iandolo bombing up the wings. Seems like a more attacking line up to me.

or is it a disaster if Accrington get it out wide...

ask again in about an hour

Perhaps a couple have been rested in time for tuesday?

Nobody can object about Lyden for Palmer

Have we now adopted the squad rotation principle?

could be rested yes.

lots of games coming up. thought one at least would be on the bench .

not sweating it, we have cover

I think that will work for Iandolo. Thompson has been playing in a pretty advanced position, so I'm sure it'll be the same.

Happy with Lyden for Palmer but like everyone else, not really sure what's going on!

Thought about splashing out for todays game, but having just realised what's coming up for this tuesday, think I'll save my tenner for then. Digging out the old clock radio it is.

Again for me today its pretty much a free hit, nobody really thinks we will win so why not go out and give it a go, a single goal defeat as long as we play well is not so much of an issue. But sitting back and still conceding 1 or 2 goals in defeat is not so appealing.

A draw would be excellent but a win probably a bit beyond us currently IMO.

I think we’ll win!

:D

I thought Conneely was meant to be suspended?

The red was rescinded.

Every team appeals sendings off successfully in this league except for us.

Not got any comms yet, but did just hear someone say "Hullo? Fook off."  :D

Yeah no home or away comms yet, just some shit music so far.

And with that we have some random Norverner on comms.

irtually a full house in that ground!

The letter spacing on the STANLEY in the stand is really quite upsetting.

Allum Ope.

PaulD?

It looks like random I's in between the letters!

Iandolos first touch back in the team gives it away and puts us under pressure  ::)

That tall black dude's tall ain't he?

Town corner.

Its perspective mate, hes just stood close to the camera :D

This camera angle's going to give me a headache for sure.

Certainly close to the touchline. Its like a fisheye lens.

Nottingham marking Twine is a bit of a height missmatch!

Rochdale 1 down

Corner to them.

Poor miss by the big defender.

Broadbent gives the ball away but luckily the striker fucks up his shot.

Bit nervy!

I still find it amazing that Stanley's stadium is worse than Dean Court and Huish Park..

And they score.

booooo

fucks sake. so simple

Poor defending by Town.

My optimism was short lived

Defence? Big mixup between Broadbent and Iandolo.

Sack everyone.

Absolute shite.

They are just too quick for Broadbent and Conroy

Hmm.

We’ve matched them till they scored....after 11 mins

What was that defending?

Need to compete.

Broadbent struggling so far today, in contrast to Tuesday

And still they carve straight through us.

We’ve barely had a sniff so far.

twine just wide from 20 yards on the volley good move.

Twine with an effort just wide.

Sack everybody but Twine.

good hit from twine. close

Woof, not far off at all from Twine from the customary half a mile out

Christ! Thought Twine had volleyed that in!!

Still hopeful for at least a point from this one if we can get it 1-1 before half time. We seem to settle a bit in the second half.

Iandolo looking half decent going forwards but he looks suspect at the back, normal.

Grounds injured

Grounds twisted his knee by the look of it.

Our defence is pathetic. An early goal feels as inevitable as the sun rising in the east right now

Curran  Grounds' replacement?

Good punch by Trueman.

Who’d he hit?

Conroy thumps the ball into Row E

Looks like Missilou on for Grounds.

No Garrick on for Grounds, thats different.

Garrick on for Grounds.

Comms think it's Garrick. And they're right! Change of shape already it seems.

Definately wearing number 11. I thought it was Missilou TBH :)

4-3-3 ish?

Payne shoots but its blocked, the defender hits his own man and we win the corner.

Northampton 2-0 up  ???

Corner to Town.

Rubbish corner from Twine, knee high.

Points available here for Town.

Accrington no way near as impressive as at the county ground.

Northampton winning 2-0 against Pompey.

Wigan also winning.

Northampton 2 up at Pompey and Wigan winning against Franchise

Awful throw from Iandolo cant beat the first man 10 yards in front of him.

We have had the better last 10 mins of the game.

Any decent side would beat these.

Pitman is really leading the line well today so far.

And with those scores we drop back below the dreaded line.

They are not as good as their league position suggests thats for sure.

1-1 Pitman.

Gwwaaaan Town!

PITMAN GET I

Pitman!!

Great through ball from Odimayo.

1-1 Pitman (First ball to him in 3 games!)

Brilliant finish.

Beautiful counter press. God knows how deliberate it was!

These aren’t good.

B Pitman. Great goal. Deserved.

My optimism is returning!

FK to Town 25 yards out central.

Good chance for Twine.

Can't believe that !!!!

cool finish that was from Pitman

Twine hits the bar.

Twine off the bar!

Everything but!

That was over the line.

banging!

How the fuck did that free kick not go in!

So unlucky. Two bars now in two games. This one underside and still didn’t go in.

Fuck, are we ever going to get any luck ??.

How unlucky has Twine been in the last couple of games

Extreeeeeemly !.

We can beat these.

Is it just me or is the way the commentator pronouncing Iandolo's name really grating?

They are there for the taking.

Surely he handled a back pass there.

Hughes in trouble here

Just send him off please ref.

Since Grounds has gone off we have looked the better side.

I'll take 7-1

Oh, forgot, we don't get decisions like that.

Comfortably yes. Brightest we've looked on attack for ages.

Guys stop being so negative.

This sort of attitude is why we aren't all bitcoin millionaires.

I andolo  !!.

The enforced change of formation has probably helped drive us forward, against Sheridactyl’s usual instincts.

Accrington corner. See what your attitudes have done.

I Andoh Loh.

:D :D

Northampton beating pompey 3-0
Gas losing 1-0
Rochdale losing 2-0

Could do with capitalising on this before half time.

Good defending.

And they score again.

Ah fuck.

Cunts

Fml

Fucking hell

Conroy caught underneath it.

Against the run of play.

Wtf was that

Keeper has to do better

Both teams looking better on attack than defence. More goals in this.

Payne and Twine causing their defence a lot of problems.

we had been the better team for a large part of the half

fucks sake.

two poor goals to give away. again.

Accrington arent very good but neither is our defence.

Twine time. This time...

Good free kick from Twine from 30 yards, corner to Town.

what's going on in Northampton!!

4-0 up v Pompey

Twine's shooting from range is incredibly accurate.

HT 1-2 to Accers.

Playing quite well but 2 defensive errors have cost us so far, looks like there are goals in this game for both sides.

Need to look at Twines free kick again as it looked over the line at on the replay to me.

2-1 ht. Swindon unlucky to be behind.

Not sure what Hallum Hope adds to our strike force. Hopefully he will prove me wrong and score for us.

shakey to crosses in defence but on top and unlucky.  there was a clear second booking that the referee chickened out of.

Maybe some better luck when attacking the Rubik's Cube end in the second half.

Could do with a selective mute button for the co-commentator.

As does your golden boy Conroy - just as culpable there.

Really disappointing.

Got ourselves back into this through a great ball through to Pitman who showed that given a chance he will score.

Conroy has been struggling with their pace. Twine has been unlucky with 2 free kicks and a volley. Broadbent has made a couple of last ditched tackles. Garrick and Hope havent got into the game much. Garrick probably more than Hope. Odimayo has looked good. Payne has been running around and Iandolo has tried to build down the left.

I thought we were in the ascendancy when they scored their second. If we could have crafted another opportunity I could have seen us getting something out of the game. Now though, I suspect they will sit back and catch us on the break to come out comfortable 3-1 winners

Disappointed if we don’t pick up at least a point,
These just play to their strength. Height and strength.
Technically we should be better.

I have no idea what to make of that.  By and large we are pretty shit.  By and large, they are pretty shit.

The lack of intelligence when taking off Grounds is criminal, the entire coaching team can take the blame on that front.  Keep Grounds on the floor until you have the sub ready, especially as we were defending a corner - to then have another set piece and not have a sub ready was asking for trouble.

I thought we were terrible until Brett, Brett, Brett, Brett Brett, Brett, Brett, Brett Pitman, Brett Pitman, Brett Brett, Brett, Brett, Brett Pitman, Brett Pitman, of all people, sprints clear beating the offside trap!  Then we actually looked like we might get another for a while.  The problem is we have no plan of attack, it's all hit and hope stuff and rely on individuals to do something.  Fortunately Twine has developed a cracker jack of a right foot and keeps us looking dangerous.

In defence we looked a bit all over the place, even from the start and before the change.  Why the fuck is Broadbent taking throw ins when we have a back four?  Pulls us out of position.

Overall it's sort of so bad it's almost good.  Could have been 4-3 to either side.

I think our keeper is bit ropey.

Was Conroy faster before his injuries? Pace sticks out as a weakness in his game now.

The lack of a jump with their second suggests he is playing in concrete boots.

As impressed by Accrington down here they are nowhere near the same in this game and look decidedly ordinary. As far as I can tell they are constantly in the ear of the ref. and at half time their manager was having his say as well and that always pisses me off. Game is there for us to get something I am sure.

To show how meanlingless Possession stats can be....

Northampton 32% to Pompey 68% and Northampton have had 6 shots on target and scored with 4 of them.

Could do with MKD scoring a couple this half to beat Wigan having had 9 shots so far but only 1 on target.

Both Rovers and Rochdale are currently losing and if Burton let in a late goal to lose then it will be a decent afternoon even if we cant get anything out of the game.

If we come out of the blocks as we ended the first half I can see us getting another goal or 2 but I can also see us conceding more.

Fleetwood the only team winning away from home in this division.

I must admit I didn't even realise Hope was playing.

There you go. Pumped forward to him and he fouled the defender.

If only that wasn’t a typo.

Accrington seem to have spent half time smashing mirrors, three injuries in five minutes.

Let's get all of these quick players fouled and subbed

I would prefer if we pushed Garrick further forward and get Hunt on instead of Hope.

Hope with a chance :D

Good run and cross by Garrick by the defender just intercepts it int he box in front of Hope.

Hope a mile offside.

These commentators are really grating.

Hope offside after Pitman flick

I quite like them.

The Lincoln ones were far far worse.

Goalmouth scramble. Hope ends it by clogging the keeper

Burton 1-0 Peterboro

Blackpool 1-0 Wombles

Burton 2-0 Peterboro

This half has been pretty shit, we have reverted to hoofing the ball upfield more.

I wasn't listening to that one.  :)

Unbelievable turn around since JFH has been there

Garrick wins a corner.

:D

And J Smith.

Omotoye on for Hope.

Hope off. Omatoye on.

Hull 2-0 B Rovers

Good change.

Omotoye (who's done nowt in any game) replaces Hope (whose done nowt all year)

Our corners and indirect free kicks today have been awful.

Wigan winning 1-0

Twine should shoot with every free kick.

Hope has been very poor.

Shocking.

Wigan 2-0 MK

Come on, let's rob these bar stewards!

Entertaining commentary imo.

Worst corner yet. That was properly dreadful.

Payne's corners >:(

We aren't even capable of taking a corner

What a shit corner.n

Absolutely fucking awful corner from Payne. What a waste.

Huge chance Stanley.

Absolute fucking shit.
Can we not take a corner.

Palmer can when he plays, its his only redeeming feature.

Wigan 3-0 MK

Looks as if Palmer will get his place back to take some corners and free kicks that Twine can't shoot from!

Paynes deliver has been poor.

That was a get out of jail card there. Russell firing over when he should have scored.

our set pieces are awful today

Watching us after last season is painful.
The sooner we can clear all thus dead wood out the better.

the wild panning is driving me mad.  cameraman or small ground?

Iandolo playing on fumes I think which is not surprising. Changes required.

Iandolo and Lyden presumably off as just coming back to fitness?

Fixed it for you.

Missilou gives the ball away badly moments after coming on.

Terrible touch Missilou. We’ve lost our way this half.

Burton are now 3 points in front of us, two games in hand and a better goal difference!

Missilou looks like he has just stepped out of the pub to play

Cobblers 4-1 Pompey

He always does for me. Poor player.

This is fucking atrocious.

We are terrible

Decent first half rubbish 2nd half.

I was just about to say the same thing, can't remember a worse game.

Right off the boil this half.  Conroy, Missilou etc gifting Stanley chances

Winds me up.
Absolute fucking shit the lot of them.
Stanley are shit and we are worse.

Can't wait for it to be over and to be pissed off for the rest of the week.

You’re either not serious or you clashed heads with Anthony Grant.

Especially if we play like this on Tuesday.

Second half has been dreadful, but with the mitigation of being very stop start with injuries. The first half was pretty good to watch I thought - relative to the rest of our season anyway.

I hope not. We've got a game against someone or other Tuesday ;)

Had enough of this.
Can’t pass the ball 10 feet.

I'm serious, this is absolute pants.

Sadly mate this is spot on.
Weekends ruined by this.

It amazes me how many shit players Sheridan has signed/got in on loan. Our pass accuracy must be 10% this half.

At least half the games this season have been this bad or worse.

Twine shot 1 saved.

Twine shot 2 miles away!

Had the desired effect - we strung a move together

Dion Conroy beaten again by Dion Charles. Lucky to get an offside decision

The day both Power and Sheridan fuck off will be one of the happiest days of my life.

I think they've started deliberately conceding corners because they think we're no threat from them. Better one from Twine that time, Broadbent had a chance.

Broadbent heads over

Today I learned there's such a thing as pigeon milk.

Wasn’t the point that there isn’t?

5 mins. It's milk the pigeon time.

What does Payne bring to the team? Runs around like a headless chicken and either underhits or overhits passes/crosses/shots.  

Bloody Nora the Accrington lad hit that well.

Knows how to milk a pigeon though.

They just hit cross bar.

I thought he was one of our best players in the first half. Second half has been such a non event I can't really separate performances. His corners have been dreadful mind.

But there is.

They produce milk to feed to their young. I googled it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crop_milk#:~:text=Crop%20milk%20is%20a%20secretion,and%20the%20male%20emperor%20penguin.

Good idea to have taken up a new hobby this half.

Broadbent playing up front now.

Payne has been awful today. Offered nothing at all and given the ball away countless times.

FT 2-1

I think he is a pretty limited footballer, but a central midfielder in a team that just lumps it is not the right home for him.

First half not bad, second half miserable. Opposite way round to most of the last few games.

We all see it differently.  He annoys me without fail week in, week out

Gash. Lost all shape, composure, hope second half.

A complete non performance second half.

Regardless of 6 pointers these are games we should be be looking to take 1 or preferably 3 points from.  Like Northampton for example.

I can kind of see why because he tries stuff they doesn't come off quite a lot. I'd rather than than a performance like Hope, Omotoye or Garrick where I couldn't honestly tell you a thing they'd done either way in the time they were on the pitch.

Well, that was embarrassingly bad from both teams to be honest.  What a terrible game of football.  The only way we stay up this season is the fact there are plenty of other teams willing to play this shit awful game.

We are basically a one and a half man team now - the plan is basically hope it falls to Pitman in the box or Twine just outside it.  No build-up, no pattern, no pressure being sustained.  Fucking terrible.

Prepare yourself for Tuesday people, play like that and Social Media will be a horrible place to hang out

4 teams worse than us?
That’s the problem. Every bastard week we think we are going to see a decent performance and then we don’t.
Absolutely detest Sheridan, tactics, coaching, attitude and arrogance.
Just wish he would fuck off.

first half was ok.

second hand wasn't.

that's all I have to say about that

Accrington first win at home for a month.

They looked poor, after being like Brazil at our place.

We couldn't string passes together nor take corners.

Second half performance was dire. Hope, Omatoye, and Garrick offered nothing. Pitman tried to lead the line, but there was noone taking up positions.

Hunt and Missilou might as well not have bothered coming on. Payne must have tired himself out in the first half.

Trueman had nothing to do, but not sure he would have saved the couple that went just wide and over. Was nowhere for the crossbar rattler.

I don't think there are 4 teams worse than us.

I'm resigned to relegation

Two defeats in a week and somehow still outside the bottom four...big week ahead. Scum then Pikeys.

Sheridans record as manager here is awful- results terrible as is the football.

Maybe relegation is a blessing if it sees the back of the manager and crooked owner.

With these 2 still here can’t see us selling many season tickets next year

careful what you wish for outletred.

L2 is a buffer to non League

Spot on. Terrible coach, awful tactics- still think an average manager would get far more out of this bunch of players

Yup. Suppose we get relegated and Power still doesn't give a shit.

Relegation would be a disaster.

Agree with this. We are still out of the bottom four after two tough away games on paper. Mind you, Stanley were there for the taking today - we were just too shit to do it

Agree but that’s we are headed.

Even an average manager would have got far more out of these players

By my not infallible calculation, we could be bottom come Tuesday night. Eeeuuuugh

Just getting the confrontational twat out of the club and there would be an immediate lift.

Wishful thinking I fear.  Doesn't appear that that him or his boss are going anywhere soon.

at least Sheridan isn't putting lipstick on the  pig of a second half

Think it's too late to sack Sheridan, stuck with him now. Have to hope some scrappy results and everyone else being complete gash is enough to keep us up. Then he can fuck off.

ooooh. Hard asked if substitutes involved in a dust up. missed that

Sheridan
- Disappointed ended up losing the game
- Pleased with first half after giving away a poor goal. Thought we were in the game
- Good goal from Pitman
- Twine unlucky with the shot
- Unlucky to go in 2-1 down
- Diabolical defending for second. Against run of play
- Second half . Embarrassed to watch us play like that
- Decision making poor. Kept making mistakes. Did simple things wrong.
- No quality anywhere
- Could have got ourselves back in the ground if we put our foot on the ball
- We need to defend a lot better
- Wont pick out individuals to the media but will tell them in the changing room
- Was second half down to nerves? No, sometimes our players make simple things look difficult. Throw in etc.
- Decision making from the whole team was awful
- If we believed in ourselves second half we could have done better
- We didnt deserve anything from the second half
- Freshened things up to give people a rest. Changes because of people coming back
- We were trying to win the game. We should have gone in ahead at half time
- If Twine's freekick had gone in we were in the ascendency
- Poor poor performance
- Grounds hamstring injury
- Two big games coming up. We need to work hard to get back to winning ways
- Heard two substitutes got into a dust up. Is that true? Sheridan didnt know what Hawes was on about?
- Trueman will be in goal against Oxford

Sorry what's this? Sounds like the second half might have had a moment worth talking about in after all!

I dunno, was spotted by the radio apparently but I was watching ifollow

I was listening to the radio but had gone for a cigarette out of disgust at the end.

We started shit, and were forced to make a change that accidentally made us better. Then, El Shez somehow managed to make us shit again after half time.

Impressive.

Broadbent:
- Disappointed
- Had chances
- Need to pick ourselves up and go again on Tuesday
- Second half: Couldnt explain
- 'Done alright in stages of the game'
- Twine's bad luck summed up the game for us
- Hughes second yellow? A different ref might have sent him off. Cant put things down to that
- We have to defend the goal better as a team
- Performance a step back? You could say that looking from the outside.
- We have a big game on Tuesday. Hope f or t he same result as last time
- Just have to put t his game behind us.

Hartley:
- Oxford would be a lift
- Two games where we could have got something
- A win on Tuesday would be a lift
- A loss will prob put us in the bottom four and in trouble
- Pressure building
- No one needs to build up a local derby
- Gillingham 1pm next week
- Lots of strange results
- Worried about Burton. Now prob a bottom 6 rather than 7
- Northampton 2 wins on the spin
- Things change quickly at the bottom

Don't forget Wigan Rob today's they proved they still have the fight left in them

It’s looking grim Jim.

Any rumours of the sub dust up?

Yes was just going to ask about this....

It's worse than grim Duke, one point out of three away games won't keep us up, two tough home game season coming up followed by another 3 away games, seemingly unrest in the camp and all marshalled by a horrible arrogant old school manager who knows he's probably gone at the end of the season.

Hartley summation:
- Bounce perfectly for Pitman. Took his chance well. Did his job well
- MoM can only be rated for the first half. Second half all were poor. Twine gets credit. Lyden worked hard

Hawes:
- First half: Took advantage when Accrington lost their line. Ugly, but got back into it.
- Pitman had one chance and took it. So, 100% success rate
- Cant find many positives other t han this was the hardest away game left
- Changes of shape and personnel in next game apparently
- Hope we aren't too over reliant on Twine free kicks
- Cant predict results. Northampton resurgence. Wimbledon resilience to pick up point. Everyone waiting for Barton to pick Rovers up. All fairly random other than Burton absolutely flying
- No concerns about Trueman carrying on in goal.

I've tried to listen back to that, but can't find anything about it other than Hawes asking Sheridan who denied any knowledge of it. It wasn't brought up again after the interviews.

That must mean Curran is back on Tuesday to shore up the defence😀

come on bamboo, ask your source and  tell us who was allegedly involved in subgate

Trueman 6
Didn’t have anything to do. Didn’t do much to help his defence as seemed rooted to his line in the second half. A few shots fizzed by him, but weren’t on target. Not sure whether he had them all covered, including the one that rattled the crossbar. But, don’t think he could have done much more with the two goals.

Odimayo 6.5
Thought he played well in the first half and his through ball for Pitman was awesome. Seemed to fade out of the game in the second half. Not troubled at the back but didn’t create anything coming forward.

Broadbent 6
Mix up with Conroy for the first. Couple of last ditch challenges before the second. Tried to play up front at the end.

Conroy 5
Struggled with Charles’s pace. Thought he was lucky not to give a penalty away in the first half. He seems to be getting slower – Or he was playing against some speedy attackers today.

Grounds N/A
Too early to rate him before he went off

Payne 5
Ran around lots in the first half. Anonymous in the second apart from bloody awful corners!

Lyden 6
Dour defensive midfield performance. I think that was his role though. Can’t say anything bad or anything good to be honest.

Iandolo 5
Tried. But didn’t offer much more than Thompson going forward and less when defending. Was knackered towards the end, which is understandable.

Twine 6.
Two good freekicks and a volley from outside of the area in the first half. Faded in the second half, when he had one chance that he squandered. Passing was hit and miss and his corner delivery was poor.

Hope 5
Ran around and harried. Did nothing with the ball. Fouled defenders when the ball was hoofed to him. Think I remember seeing him in the area with the ball once.

Pitman 6
Good goal. Well taken. Battled hard. Tried to bring others into the game. Noone to bring into the game in the second half! No service. 100% success rate when given a chance.

Subs:
Garrick 5
Two runs down the wing

Omatoye 3
I think I saw him touch it once. He didn’t run about as much as Hope and made less of an impression than Hope!

Hunt 4
Not an improvement on Iandolo.

Missilou 4
I’m sorry, I see a poor L2 player here.

If true, I don't think there's any need for it to be 'out there'.

I’ve just heard we may be getting some good news shorty regarding a certain manager.

👀👀👀👀👀

I really hope it’s true.
I have been told an announcement at around 7:30pm.

A Tuesday specific new manager bounce would be very welcome. But can't see it.

you will be Cowley'd if it isn't :) :)

I’ve got to be honest - the person that told me has been wrong before but my excitement got the better of me and I had to post it.

Can't see him being sacked on the coach back to Swindon

If he does go now, these straws I'm clutching at tell me that there'll be other stuff going on behind the scenes as well. Like takeover kind of stuff.

Football Phil is ready for the press conference.

indeed (flash)

He’ll be at home in Manchester by now

Should leave the twat at the services.
Couldn’t organise the cats eyes on the motorway.

They could release the news once Sheriden steps off the coach at Manchester!

Adver reporter:

I'm told the two Town players involved in the *ahem* disagreement at half-time were Taylor Curran and Tyrese Omotoye. The two Accrington officials that I spoke to said they couldn't believe what they were seeing.

You can imagine it.

‘Fuck off, my dad pays your wages!!’

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Probably not that wide of the mark...

We see it every week.

Well this is disappointing - sorry chaps.

boooooooo

Big shame

At least that's true😀

Has the manager gone yet?

I'm listening to sodding Ella Henderson! Trying to take one for the team! Suppose your comment means its not happening?

Well I was told by 7:30, so by the looks of it, no.  :crash:

Quagmire out!

sauce out

Is your source Cowley by any chance?

Name & Shame.

It moved on to Ed Sheeran with Afterglow - As if my day wasn't bad enough!

Where's Bamboo when you need him😀

We need a @BBC/Sports understands announcement.

It would have been quite typical really. Just as we're facing up to Sheridan sticking around...

Alas.

 :smugfu:

I know it is widely believed that loads of people want to buy the club, but why would the manager have been sacked on a Saturday night?

Don’t think this would mean anything, a lot of clubs do it

You’ll get one right eventually pal  :D

Got numerous right pal!

 :smugfu:

The gift that keeps on giving!

Apparently that is FH's signature phrase

The incident between the subs proves I was right about the feeling towards Curren...

But you won't get anymore from me pal!

Because Mark Cooper was and we all want this useless piece of shit to be relieved of his duties.
What has become of this club?
Even when we win we are not impressive. Watching these useless bastards not being able to pass a football 10 feet is really taking its toll.
Slowly becoming up there with the worst I have felt supporting us because I know this has not bottomed out yet. Our football is absolutely shite and nobody can tell me any differently.

From memory, some managers are told not to speak to the press after the game because they have been given the boot as soon as the game was over.

Which is why I can't help get a little excited every time El Shez doesn't take an interview, only to find later he just bottled it.

I get many want the manager to be dismissed.  I just didn't quite follow why it would happen tonight when there had been a bit of an upturn and it was anticipated that today would result in defeat.

Maybe because the second half was so poor? Or the fact players were (allegedly) involved in a dust up?

That may be right but wasn't it a dust up between the work experience CB and a loanee?  I suspect that handbags between a couple of the main pros might be more of a problem.

If/when we're bottom on Tuesday night, something may happen re a change in manager

Conversely, another win vs Oxford extends his tenure a few weeks longer.

I think Sheridan is here either until the end of the season or until the mathematical point of no return like when Paul Hart left with two games left.

Sadly he will go only when Power goes draining the last penny he can possibly take with him.

I do find it amusing that our most notorious forum ITKer is calling somebody out as an ITKer that is wrong about something.  The irony is almost too perfect.

It doesn’t matter. The damage Sheridan has caused is irretrievable. Good loan players sent back to their clubs, other god players frozen out. We’re done.

If you observe, Sheridan is only bottling the "in person" interviews at the CG. All the away ones, where he speaks to Hawes via Zoom/FT/Teams/VideoCall he takes them. It's been like that since AH started asking a few more (rightfully) pressing questions. I think El Shezza feels intimidated by Hawes.

The Jurassic one always comes across incredibly ruffled regardless of what Hawes asks him. I could see Hawes asking him "I hope you had a good day John?" only for Shezza to get all uppity with him; in part it is also proof that Sheridan isn't listening to him.

-----------

As for the subs scuffle, I'm with Rich. It wasn't really something that generally needed to be out there but regardless of whether one is paid YTS boy and the other is on a loan (and not senior pros), it still does point to not being all "together" and rosy. Especially highlights the issues with Curran still getting squad selection.

On the match - it's not a disaster. I had this and Sunderland keyed in as a loss. Town are still "up" after their points gained on Crewe and Lincoln. The key games matter against the rest of the bottom lot. I'm not going to lose my shit if Town lose to Oxford on Tues. I expect it'll be a very dull 0 - 0. Not unlike many "Derbies" that end up very disappointing. It'll be about right for the two teams but I still expect a loss by a goal.

Still conceding two on occasion. As I say none of that will matter. The only ones messign up the algorithm is bloody Northampton. Still, even if it became 5 fro 4. I think we'd top that 5. I still think even if it goes squeaky bum, it'll possibly come down to GD. I don't agree with Rob Hartley that 49 is needed. I reckon 43-45pts will be enough and on GD. Ideally you don't want that but Town might not have much choice. The low points indicator is purely down to so many teams being shit. I extend that to nearly every team in this division. Nun's Chuff all over the table where it matters;

PO's 10pts (Donny 5th) separate 10 sides (Plymouth 14th). Title race 7pts (Donny 5th) separate 5 sides (Hull 1st), Donny have 4 games in hand.

Relegation...Shrews could get sucked in if they don't find a few more wins. They're buckling but even if we disregard them, there is still only 6pts separating 7 sideds (Burton 18th - Rochdale 24th).

As I say, Nun's Chuff everywhere. It's just an incredibly weak division.

I've noticed this Chang-off has been going on for a few weeks, and there's at least 3 of them involved. It's like a fight amongst the Changs to see who's the Changiest Chang in Changtown.

I think 1 or 2 are just playing up to a persona but it's difficult to tell. They might all be genuinely mocking each other's Chang-ness apparently oblivious of their own Changosity.

Think the feeling towards Curran (Not Curren) is well known without any ITK.

Or maybe they (you don't need to be shy, I know you include me in this. Grow a pair my man ;) ) do genuinely know something, whereas Chang knows fuck all?  :hmmm:

Damned if you  do...  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Back to the match though, because sniping benefits no one...

Just watched the highlights AGAIN, and I still have no idea how Twine's effort doesn't go in and the Milk Chugging second should never be allowed to squeeze past both defender and keeper. It was, in the words of a certain Oxford commentator...an absolute calamity.

I had somebody else in mind.

So, that's at least 4 people who have been involved in the Chang-off.

It's ok :) And I was genuinely being a sarcy twat ;) With Chang, I know he's on a bit of wind up but it's nice to be able to have some light hearted fun about it. Topbantzinnit!

Don't want to be too forgiving for what happened in the second half, but reckon if we'd gone into half time 1-1, or even 2-1 up if Twine's crossbar effort had gone in... then we are looking at a different second half.

But that's thte problem I guess? Can't build the momentum, even the scrappy holding on shit that Sheridan has succesfully got out of the last 4 games, without something going in our favour.

It's too late to sack him now, so hope that his shit will keep us up, and the previous four games have shown it can work.

Whatever happens this season is a write off. This squad is done this season. We're tired of it, it's all gloom, they must feel the same.

In the 7 (?) months since the start of the season we've gone from deserved optomism to absolute gash. Some of it the fault of Wellens, some of it the fault of Power, some of it the fault of the players, the gutting of a squad that could play football into scrapping out hoofball for survival, losing doughty/smith/dj/etc, the rest struggling to get the basics right. Blame can be everywhere but all of it shit for the fans. I'm sort of happy that we didn't get the Sheridan sacking and the appointment of a young hungry manager in January that we were all hoping for - I think this team has gone to too much this season and I wouldn't want to ruin a young pro's career by taking on such a handicap.

Pray we stay in this division. League 2 is too close to non-league, and it's an abyss we should be scared of looking into because I'm not sure we'd come back. We've been on a steady downward path for 20+ years now, next step is mid-table league 2 with failed play offs and then its one shit season and we're in the conference. Other teams have found it hard to come back. Smaller clubs (Hereford? Halifax? - naming off top of my head) have gone under.

Whoever the owners are next year, we aren't going to be the only club doing it on the cheap, and we might be a more attractive prospect than others. Appoint a young hungry manager in May/June for next year, get the pitch sorted, play football again, have some positivity about the club. If we go down doing that then at least there's something to build on. But this year it's too late, so we have to hope Sheridan's shit show works.

It’s all shit, the club is such a mess. Drastic change is required at every level. Just hope sooner rather than later

This, Top to Bottom it’s done, finished and until these changes are in place it will continue to drain us all.
Made worse by the fact that we sampled a taster last season on what it could be like.

Currently not having one flair player that is capable of changing a game (apart from a dead ball) is increasingly making it tough to watch. The style implemented by Jurassic John now unbearable.

Sick to death of watching the shite week in and week out. The only consolation is that I would be still travelling home and away to watch it this dodging one almighty bullet.
Can’t see us surviving this season but off the field changes longer term will have to be in place before we can have a platform to build from.
What a mess.

Are we actually even close to having any changes at the top though? As to me this seems like it could be the norm for a while yet.

I don’t know why any of us are surprised. It’s been thus ever since I started going 50 odd years ago. No success is ever built upon. We lurch from one shitty owner to the next with seemingly no long term game plan for the club.

No doubt when the next ‘best owner ever’ rocks up in the next few months it’ll last a year until the cracks start showing and some sort of nefarious past enters the public domain.

We’ll continue to go up and down the leagues like a pair of whore’s drawers.

As someone who is a million miles away from being ITK, I don't foresee any change any time soon.

Last season (and to some extent, the start of this) are polar opposites to where we are now. We have gone from attractive attacking passing football with exciting players that effect a game under an ambitious progressive manager to reliance on two players at opposite ends of their careers in BP and Twine and a journeyman manager completely put of touch with how the game should be played.

I just want this season over and the fuckwits in charge of this club gone. Frankly, I don't give a shit whether we are in league 1 or 2. I just want to see some decent football again. For the first time I feel envious when I watch the likes of Crewe etc. Passing the ball on the deck.  Having to watch Grounds, Conroy, Broadbent or this weeks right back lump the ball forwards to noone in particular week in, week out does my head in. We need change but when and even if that will happen is anyone's guess.

I would rather see STFC in div 3 even if it means playing football that is less pleasing on the eye.

Crewe are the poster boy club for cyclical football. Good crop of youngsters, get promoted, sell said players, next crop aren’t as good, get relegated and start all over again.

I think we could/should be way better than that. It’s the Watford, Reading and Brentford’s of this world we should be looking to aspire to. Not fucking Crewe.

Dont get me wrong.  I would love to aspire to the Brentford etc but  in the 50 years I have been watching we have never had any owner with a plan that has stayed the course. Sooner or later a ton of skeletons fall out the cupboard and we start again. My point re Crewe is that you know what you are getting and at least the football is always played in the right way in my eyes.  The shit Sheridan is serving up is right up there with the worst town sides

"Pipe dreams are good, in a way.... Keep the dream alive" - D Brent

Agree with this. It suggests that last year wasn’t skill or judgment on the club’s part - just luck. We’re a division higher, playing terrible football, with players that wouldn’t have got close to the side last year. If you run a club, just have a philosophy and a plan. Not just an ambition to build stables and houses.

It’s almost like a global pandemic came along and decimated the club’s income and playing budget. Oh wait....

good job the years before covid don't count

I feel like that excuse only holds for so long. Everyone else has to deal with covid too.

Our horrendously short term approach came back to bite us. Again.

A global pandemic doesn't dictate the style (?) Of play. That comes from the manager.

I agree. Other teams seem to be coping alright. Imagine if money made by the club and selling players was invested back into the club and not spent on stone island denim shorts and a stable

sigh. slightly OT.

our remaining games (courtesy Alan Wilson, FB):

Home
Oxford United
Gillingham
Ipswich Town
Peterborough United
Portsmouth
Blackpool

Away
Wigan Athletic
Bristol Rovers
Burton Albion
AFC Wimbledon
Rochdale
Franchise
Fleetwood Town


our home and away form, bottom of the league with 9 points (next worse 13 points)

https://www.soccerstats.com/homeaway.asp?league=england3 (https://www.soccerstats.com/homeaway.asp?league=england3)

Impossible to tell this season of course, but in the current climate I don't see us winning any of those home games

it's definitely tricky on paper!

Charlton, Ipswich, Hull, Lincoln... like you say, never can tell

This totally.

Hasselbaink 7 wins in 9 since taking over Burton

Useless fucker has 6 wins in 24

Let's not kid ourselves,that unless there is major change at the top and within the management team we could head towards the National League if we go down this season.July 1 we have 6 contracted players and the longest being Currans.Another rebuild beckons and who funds that??

I still believe Sheridan will take us down, despite the shitness of the teams around us. He’s not good enough to get this bunch of players to win another 5-6 games.

I’d rather see us get relegated with a manager who is already in place to prepare for a season in the basement. I’d even take Tisdale even though his stock has dropped (although we may be too much of a basket case club for someone like him).

Until it’s not, STFC is still Power’s club and he needs to act like he’s in charge. I’ll do my bit by renewing my season ticket; I just hope there’s some kind of direction at the club by the time I get back to the County Ground.

Direction with LP in charge? Never!

they also invested wisely in the market.

we got a loaner from Norwich who replaced someone who didn't leave, an unfit right back who jumped in the same window, a centre back who was unfortunate in injury and a keeper of the week.

that said JFH is getting a tune out those players. Johnny Smith seems to be doing well there as far as I can tell

Some really interesting comments above.  Even though not uniform, I find myself agreeing with each of them when I am reading them through.

Had we gone in 2-1 up and with Accrington rightly down to 10 men it could have been different.  But these footballing incidents are commonplace enough.  I was baffled by how the second half turned into such a muddle and Accrington were unlucky not to add to their half time lead.

However disappointing the "football", I still see many individuals with differing qualities doing their best.  However frustrated we are as fans, they continue to merit our support in their endeavour to secure our continued status in League 1.

Any adverse criticism for our present situation should nowadays, imo, be solely directed at Power.  Because he has been in sole control of the club for 8 years now.    

He took over a Lg 1 play off competing club, 7th in League 1.  As for quality, the squad included the likes of Sir Wes, McEveley, the Thompson twins,  Yaser, Mass, Mason, Pritchard, Ajose, Byrne, Gladwin, Rossi Branco, N'Guessan etc.  Average crowds were well into the 8ks, the operating deficit was about £1m.  Black had only recently made a generous debt write off (strings still attached?).

Power plays his cards very, very close to his chest.  He doesn't like to share with anyone, even turning down financial assistance from the Trust whilst claiming the club was "on the brink".  We don't know what will be uncovered but will Power hand the club on in a better or worse position than when he took it over?  That is the time to judge but I'm not liking what I've seen so far one bit.  Nevertheless I hope we won't have to wait long.

What's interesting is that if the club was on the up and has massive potential, as suggested previously, why did it end up the the hands of LP? Why didn't it interest the type of owner that has been attracted other clubs considered by some to be "smaller" than STFC?

Because Black wanted rid quickly, and McCrory and chums didnt undertake due dilligence so they could purchase quickly.

Ended up well hasnt it :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Other than the playing staff we had no assets. Covid aside, whoever comes in next will have 50% of the CG.

Ipswich are/were in a similar position. Their council own Portman Road but their new owners have inherited a still invested, large fan base and a not too distant time in the big league.

We’ve let things slide - seemingly forever.

The bog wall in the TE is still there, where I first stood in 1968. A damning indictment of all incumbents during the intervening half century.

Power hoped he could get to the Championship on the cheap, when he was getting the Spurs loanees thanks to Sherwood he believed he could do it...

Once Spurs sacked Sherwood and those youngsters were no longer guaranteed to be loaned he realised it wasn't possible.

Hence season after season of wading through treacle,

Now he's got the  horse stables approved that's his new project

He wants out as quick as possible

Buy who is buying?

I don't know why so many people are convinced we can't get a good owner. Just look at the likes of Reading, Brentford, Bristol, Bournemouth, Posh. I could go on. Swindon may not be a fashionable club but neither were any of those mentioned before they got investors. That, and it's well known that Swindon has a very large catchment area and could probably maintain Championship level crowds if the club saw some success.

That's what a legitimate investor would look at: the potential state of the club in a few years after investment. Not the condition it's in now. Picking up the club in its current condition might even make the club more attractive to some because there's a greater scope for development. And players in the Championship are often sold for millions.

The reason we ended up with Power this time is because Black wanted out quickly, leaving us vulnerable to characters like Jed who managed to pick up a L1 club for a quid.

Whether or not we do end up with a good owner is, of course, another matter entirely but I've heard rumblings that there's some very wealthy interested parties involved. We could well end up with another shyster, but it's hardly a leap to think we could attract the right people.

The STFC catchment area has been encroached upon by the clubs to the south, west and east that have already attracted significant investment.

So?

You think that means we can't get in 20k+ weekly? We pull in 12k for some L2 games.

*Edit. Even 20k is not necessary. 15k would see us mid-table in the attendance league

https://www.worldfootball.net/attendance/eng-championship-2019-2020/1/

Leaving ground capacity to one side, I doubt that 20k week in week out is realistic.  I am sure many take a contrary view

I don't agree, but if you look again at my post, 20k would not even be necessary.

Thanks for drawing attention to your edit.

You are entitled to your opinion.

I doubt that an average attendance of 15k is sustainable but it would be great if it was.

Yet there are clubs in the Championship that regularly see those attendances or less... And that's not opinion, it's just a fact.

We are at cross purposes.  Sustainable in that that average won't be maintained not sustainable in a financial sense.

You do know that clubs can also make money from player sales, right?

And that would be one of the biggest draws. Many club owners have the ethos of investing in players to sell on. Like McAnthony at Posh, for example. There's bound to be many wealthy people out there who think they can do the same and, if they do, Swindon would be a good vehicle to help them achieve that. It's hardly some pie in the sky notion - it's actually rather common in football.

I think you're being a bit myopic here. People who buy into a football club often have a vision. They look to what they can do with the club in the future.

I wonder what the average attendances were in the late 1990s? Going from what I remember I doubt that they were much over 10k (assuming they did crack 10k).

Agree with this and have heard the same rumblings

And the views of the Accrington fans may slightly surprise some Town fans.

Well we did have more possession than them!

I hope you are right.  For whatever reason STFC hasn't been the chosen vehicle for success. As bemoaned by many, the club seems to generally attract a certain level of investment/owner.

We may soon be at the point where significant inward investment doesn't guarantee div 2 football- as shown by some of the clubs currently languishing in div 3.

It really doesn’t matter what attendances were, the eternal problem was/is we’ve had no owner willing to invest in the club whose sole objective wasn’t just to make a quick buck.

Makes you wonder why those ‘fans’ who continually snipe and hope for the worst even bother to feign interest.

Fingers crossed. The key to a brighter future is the freehold. Period. Aided and abetted by someone with a bit of bunce and a realistic vision.

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/63/3b/2e/633b2ea2a96ceaa39669a86dac0f3c01.jpg)

Any idea if the rumblings turning to actual noise might be dependent on which division we’re in next season?

Any chance of a DM on this Berni? Presuming it's not something that you're happy to disclose on the main forum?

What it fails to show in some way is Town have done well against the shittest (and some of the better) teams in the division. They should have enough to beat Wigan, Wovvers, Rochdale and Original Dons.

Points from any of the others will be a bonus (like Crewe and Lincoln). The way I see or expect Town's results to pan out would be;

Home
Draw - Oxford United
Nowt - Gillingham
Nowt (outside point chance) - Ipswich Town
Nowt (outside point chance) - Peterborough United
Nowt - Portsmouth
Nowt - Blackpool

Away
Win - Wigan Athletic
Win - Bristol Rovers
Nowt - Burton Albion
Win - AFC Wimbledon
Win - Rochdale
Possible Draw - Franchise
Hot/Cold, will say Nowt - Fleetwood Town


13pts in the "getting close to certain" category. 16pts in the "a decent possibility" category. So 44pts or 47pts. I reckon either just about keeps Town up in this shitty season (I said 43pts to 45pts previously). Have to take into account that a lot of teams at the bottom are playing each other, so points WILL be dropped. The main indicator is as long as Town do what they have done against most of the bottom sides and win/pick up points it won't matter.

Let's take a look at the updated last five form for the bottom 6 (since Burton are rampant at present and only Sunderland better their last five (13pts to Burton's 12pts sigh) games):

N' hants - L-D-L-W-W = 7pts (1.4PPG)  ~ G/L 13
Swindon - W-D-W-L-L = 7pts (1.4PPG)  ~ G/L 13
===============================
Wigan A  - L-W-L-L-W = 6pts (1.2PPG)  ~ G/L 13
Wombles - L-W-L-D-D = 5pts (1.0PPG)  ~ G/L 15
B Rovers - L-L-W-L-L  = 3pts (0.6PPG)  ~ G/L 14
Rochdale - D-D-L-L-L  = 2pts (0.4PPG)  ~ G/L 13

Using games left (G/L) and last 5 form then this would have those teams accrue:

N' hants - 18.2
Swindon - 18.2
===========
Wigan A  - 15.6
Wombles - 15.0
B Rovers -  8.4
Rochdale - 5.2

This "form" indicates Town might go and get an extra couple of points somewhere (I don't think they will). Maybe Fleetwood and one of the home games?! Obviously you can't have 0.2 or 0.6pts so I will round them down or up accordingly. With the current points on the board, the points added in from above, this is what the projected bottom (projected bottom  :girlgiggle:) could look like come the end of the season;

N' hants -  50pts
Swindon -  49pts
===========
Wigan A  - 46pts
Wombles - 45pts
B Rovers - 38pts
Rochdale - 33pts

I think it will be lower than that all round, possibly by upto 3pts. Could quite easily seeing both Wigan and Town both being on 45/46pts going into the last game of the season, and Northampton on 46/47pts. It's going to come down to the last day - isn't it?  ::)

I can see us losing 7/8 games so will be lucky to get 44/45 points which probably wouldn't be enough.
I think Rovers will get more than us leaving Wigan, Wimbledon, Rochdale and ourselves as the four to go down.
Hope I'm wrong but to get to 49 points would take a miracle with this group of players and manager but stranger things have happened

@bamboo

I agree drawing conclusions isn't as clear cut as 'on paper'.

but relying on that many wins away from home, I think that's wishful thinking.

we've got something from Lincoln, Ipswich, Hull and Charlton. it's possible to win a few of those home games

Just to clarify, I don't think Town will get to 49pts but I don't think any of the bottom 5 (poss 6) will either. It's looking more like 46pts and then only on GD.


Yeah for sure but this season Home/Away I don't think it really counts for much. If anything I think it goes against the teams who would usually have a big following come rain or shine. I;m going purely on that Town have done well against the teams around them and somewhat raised their game against teams in the top 8.

You're right though, in some respects Town could also go and grab "surprise wins" against the likes of Peterborough and Ipswich. Think that's why I put "(outside chance of point)" because it's possible they can get something from those games. I guess realistically I was only using the "form" and thinking about how well Town had returned against those that are equally shit.

Be interesting how it pans out and hopefully Town end up the right side of the line.

Fair point about Swindon's predicted total points but I will stick with 44/45 but doubt that would be enough

We won the League Cup as as a L1 team in 1969. This is our level. We then got lucky with Ossie and Glenn. Supporting a team is not dependent on results. Why do people on here get annoyed about single seasons/single results? COYYR for life, not just for the good times.

With the right owner & vision theres no reason why we cant emulate Reading.

the right owner needs to be a multi multi millionaire to do that. Took reading quite a time to get it right, infrastructure then team

They've never looked back since leaving Elm Park

Even Madejski got priced out of Championship football.

I'd setttle to be an established championship club like them😀

I think I'd take a decade in League Two over that 'Glory of Reading' song.

🤣🤣🤣

I'm probably in a minority here, and I'm well aware we aren't very good, but for me that's a nice little run in. We don't face any of the top teams away and of the teams we face at home, Peterborough usually go into bottling mode at this time of the season so i'd be fairly confident we can accrue enough points to stay up.

I have to say I hold a bit of a soft spot for Accrington Stanley FC and their fans. I know its probably not seen as being a 'true football fan' but they way they go about their job without taking things too seriously is quite refreshing. Hell, even the commentators on Ifollow on Saturday weren't exactly taking it very seriously, reading out tweets, having a bit of a laugh about random stuff etc. Their fans also seem very down to earth, but I guess that's mainly down to having zero expectations as a football club and they must be living a bit of a dream at the moment.

I am probably the only person who has no idea what THAT song is but it sounds cringeworthy :)

Plastic fans, glory hunters, something we are hugely unlikely to suffer from again unless we do somehow gain promotion to the Prem again in the future.

FWIW I hated the Premier League season we had, yes it was great playing teams we had never played in the league before but it was in reality a hateful season being thrashed by better, higher funded better teams all season long and ending in us conceding over 100 league goals. I could again be the only Town fan who does not have a desire to get back up there, but floating between the Championship and L1 seems about right for me.

I can remember feeling like that on several occasions when we have been relegated in the past. The week in week out hope that this week will be our week and kick start a resurgence. Then magically, when we win a game, but other do too - Gosh, how unlucky!

I felt like that, even when Paul Harte was in charge.

The reason we are near the bottom is that we aren't as good as the majority in the division. It might only be a bit, but its enough. We are devoid of ideas on how to win a game. Huff, puff and magic aren't the way to avoid relegation.

I was about to say you'd probably need a fair bit of wedge to get yourself established in the Championship after going up from L1 but smaller sides, such as Luton Town have managed it and Rotherham to a lesser extent have had a bit of a go. I'm completely ignoring Wycombe who are way out of their depth but managed correctly there isn't really any reason (in theory) why we shouldn't have some plan to get involved at that level in the pyramid.

Obviously it is going to take big changes at the club from owner to playing level but I've heard rumours of potential investors which would shake things up at STFC (I haven't, I read some stuff on TEF earlier today which may or may not be true :) )

Its not true :) fans are not ITK'ers at all which now appears to be some form of massive insult lately.

Any more news on the alleged punch up!? Or just another two players out with concussion??

No that's very true, but there have been fleeting signs recently that we have been showing at least some kind of competency on the pitch. Yes it maybe mainly coming just from Scott Twine direct free kicks but I personally have seen (albeit not massive) signs of improvement. Even in the first half on Saturday I thought at times we played ok. Granted the second half was pathetic, but 20 minute spells are better than the 0 minutes we've had in matches before.

Yes I am clutching straws and i'm still well aware that relegation is a grave possibility but i'm going to remain positive until the R has been allocated to us officially.

Oh we have certainly shown more "guts" on the pitch in the last 4 or 5 games but all too briefly in patches and never for an entire 90 mins, the story of the whole season seems to have been good for 45 mins, shit for the other 45 mins.

If we have a good first half and score then we just cant seem to hold out in the 2nd half, we have 45 minute players it seems.

And for me relegation is more a probability than a possiblity now, or it will be if we can't grab 3 wins from the next 5 games. We NEED to get a result against the POX for that fan "lift" we all need. We need to beat Rovers and Rochdale or we are down IMO. Gills didn't look very special against us even though they won and Fleetwood have been on a poor run until 2 games ago.

That's not true. There's been plenty of games where we've been shit for 80-85 mins, some even for the whole 90.

Maybe Omotoye fancied getting a chance of a shot on target.

I agree with you there. We've had a few tough games that we could have/have actally nicked something in, though you'd be hard pushed to say we deserved to (Lincoln aside).

Times nearly up, its crunch time.

Has Grounds had his jab already!?

Only one response to that - 'Its the hope that kills you!'  :(

Can't be bothered reading back, were we dreadful/uncreative/unambitious/unlucky/crap?

Crap, with crap defending.

We actually played reasonably well in the first half, albeit with poor defending. Yet, for some reason, it ALL turned to shit in the second.

Do we think the nonsense that went on at half time had some affect on the players? It did seem that we were totally turgid in the second half whereas we were ok in the first. Stanley were showing gamesmanship as well to break up the flow and make it scrappy but we just never got going in the second half. Perhaps the stupid goal just before half time had an effect also.

I was under the impression it happened after the game.

But, if you're right, it is a possible explanation. Football players do seem prone to having their mindset altered.

But it Curran is the pariah in the dressing room we are led to believe I imagine any ruckus involving him at half time would have lifted team moral.

That was my recollection, but listening to the LSPOD revie they were right - we played OK but only after Grounds went off.

Which still doesn't alter the question as to what happened after half time

Has the current owner gone yet?

I know you're upset, but you might want to change threads.

oops! Now deleted.