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FOOTBALL : Harry McKirdy fit for @Official_STFC tomorrow - Rob Hunt & Joe Tomlinson ruled out for season #stfc

Second visit to Victoria Park for me tomorrow - and a first for my boys.  First visit, for an uninspiring 2-0 defeat in Nov 2003, was possibly the coldest football match I've ever been to.

Almost feels like the pressure's off now as things are out of our hands.  So I'm just looking forward to enjoying a game of football - and hopefully see Harry mark his return with a goal or two.

Meh, I've given up too. Lose tomorrow and I'll skip going on Tuesday. Don't fancy seeing FGR's 60 fans celebrating promotion.

Batch, I wish you hadn't put the monkey pic on the thread title, keep thinking there's a bit of shit on my phone screen.

Sorry. I can't edit it

We win, a few teams above us drop points... and suddenly the playoffs we know we're not quite good enough for rears its head again.  Bloody hope. I'm sick of it.

Goals will be scored, middle aged men who should know better will become incandescent with rage and any faint hope of miraculously making the div 4 play offs will evaporate.

Hartlepool on a poor run. Nailed on home win.

See you up there.
Cancelled my stay over this week after the Orient shambles and will be driving up and back in a day.

One of my favourite away grounds with many decent memories over the years.

Tomlinson has looked to be struggling the last few games. Didn’t look fit.

Sold 700 for Bristol Rovers away so no reason they won't bring a similar amount here if not more.

Seeing a small village club clamber out the the EFL's basement division should give STFC some hope that it can be done. 

Them and Cheltenham leaving us behind!

Football moves on as Old Carthusians and Royal Engineers will attest.

It does If you have a wealthy owner

Yep and that has been part of the landscape for many years. As mentioned on other threads, there seems to be some inherent reason why STFC has proved to be wholly unattractive to major players. 

SBC's lack of cooperation over the past 25 years hasn't helped.

Racist

Can you blame them with a plethora of unsavoury and suspect owners with debts all over the place. Their responsibility is to the CT payers of the borough first and foremost.

If the council had given planning permission on suitable land to build a new stadium the opportunities for major investment/wealthy owners would have been endless.

Newport look destined for League Two Football.
Lost at home again tonight.

So many false dawns and promises.
Can only hope that once we own the Ground we can start to become a more progressive club.

They like our home form so decided to copy us!

Can't help thinking that because of how patchy Newport have been recently, our feeble defeat to them can be added to the list of avoidable results that would have seen us comfortably in the play offs. That said, Colchester have been on a handy run so it's swings and roundabouts.

As for today, will probably go 2 ways, a simple away victory leading to the Lord Mayor's show on Tuesday night.

Or, as per my prediction, a flat 2-0 defeat, Mckirdy's frustrations boiling over and the referee to say 'vamos' as he flashes the red card.

I was away and didn't watch the Harrogate game, but tuned in for Orient, I'm still away and almost certainly won't watch today based on the Harrogate vibes. Would be great if we could get a win today, love to be proved wrong.

Newport defeat was considered that at the time - to lose a game where the opposition have had no shots on target is unforgivable.

There have been plenty like that though, throughout the season mostly home but away aswell.   We've lacked the consistency to get promoted, can beat anyone but also are walkovers at times and cannot beat a team with 9 men let alone 10.

Ugh that Colchester game, yuk!

I think we’ll win this afternoon. Even though the POs are looking unlikely I’d like it to go down to the Walsall game just because of the huge number of tickets we’ve already sold.

Those that look likely to make the POs all have tinpot away allocations - so fuck ‘em!

Oh dear Lord. I never thought of that. The thought sickens me. I may have to reconsider my visit to the County Ground for my penultimate match

Expect several hundred especially if they don't clinch promotion today.

Pre match unwinding in the Ward Jackson where the local chimps tea party convention are keeping a very low profile at the back.

Nice day for taking a canoe out for a paddle off Seaton Carew, but no life insurance policy & they probably don't do real ale in Panama, so Hartlepools v Swindon it is then.

No pressure today, so hopefully the team will play with a bit of freedom.
If McKirdy is fit then wind up the mechanism and let him loose for 60 or 70mins & see what happens.

Looks as if they have Martin Smith in their squad.
Remember him anyone?

Not much chance of a super 6 in the Pools net but still a chance of Stelling looking like he's chewed a wasp come 5 o'clock.

Wonder if the guy who wears the half n half Hartlepool / Swindon shirt will travel up today.
Pretty sure I've seen him at home games this season.

the diametric opposite to a gloryhunter then?  :hmmm:

 :)
I'd imagine that such a shirt would be very much a custom creation.
Maybe a dab hand with some scissors & a sewing machine.

Imagine if half & half shirts caught on......Swindon and Oxford😡

TOWN STARTING XI 👥 | Ward; Iandolo, Conroy (C), Baudry, Davison, Payne, McKirdy, Egbo, Barry, Williams, Reed.

SUBS | Odimayo, Gladwin, East, O'Brien, Mitchell-Lawson, Aguiar, Parsons

Interesting keeper change. No JoJo in the squad

No JoJo, and no keeper on the bench suggests probably a last minute thing.

No Jojo and no sub keeper.

But the sub goalkeeper is there on the pitch with the players🤔

Hartlepool haven’t won any of their last six games,  what could go wrong ??.

Egbo at right back could be signs of a more attacking outlook

Gotta assume Wollacott is injured or told the club he wants to leave as can’t just have been dropped as would be massive double standards.

4-3-3?

Williams & Payne just ahead of Reed.

Hopefully not seen as offensive in terms of performance in the post match analysis.

Surely not just dropped as then he’d be on bench.

Honestly would rather see Baudry and O'Brien as a pair

I’d prefer Odimayo and O’Brien myself, although in Baudrys defence, he is the only one of our defenders capable of opening his mouth and organising.

Good to have a prominent set of floodlights to navigate by after a few beers.

Not a retail park monstrosity as the ground was here first.

I suppose he has two of them  :hmmm:

Return of the black kit today.

For fucks sake!

JoJo Awollocot !!!

Some interesting selections today’s but why why not eh!

Who goes between the sticks when Ward gets sent off?

Gladders

fully agree!!

Pool have 5 subs. And I thought we had an injury crisis

Why not put Edem on the bench just in case, as he is there apparently..

I don’t understand why you would take Idem on the trip and not include him on the bench. Madness.

COME ON THEN

Let’s hope our usual messing about at the back takes into account Ward’s inability to kick.

Is he? I thought Idem was at Melksham on loan still?

Apparently he was warming up with Ward before the game

Judgement Day I guess. No not T2 or even tea for 2  but Town must win today. Shit or bust. Then certainly adieu but I'll be back  ::)

A fucking Drum

Yep, arseholes.

 :sherlock:
you need to get some business in Kansas City just so we can go to a sporting match so I can see the pain on your face!
 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Is that applause for the little chap who lost his life this week?

Home comms completely ignoring the applause at 5 mins

Oldham 0-1 Salford

Frenchy lucky to get away with that.

And ours.

To be precise, adieu means you definitely won’t be back.

:D Having been to numerous US sporting events, I am used to the off field shenanigans there, I would expect it - this however, is Hartlepool..

Yeah,that's what I meant! Bit poor really

The 5 minute applause is for the FGR game I think.

:) yeah poor show TBH that.

Baudry is all over the place atm

Shit on a shit pitch so far

That is all

Hartlepool commentary mentioned it and said a bit about the little lad.

Yeah,I was forgetting we were away!

I wish some fucker would rip the skin of that fucking drum.

Hartlepool need a 10 point deduction for that fucking drum.

If we lose I'm blaming that utterly shit kit

A'ternoon chaps! Couldn't get laptop connected to living room TV. Connected to a different TV now.

Looks pretty shite so far!

McKirdy nice long cross for Baudry but its an inch too high so he can only head in the air to the keeper.

Turn off the sound HTH.

Fucking Noton one up

Will try at HT

FFS the drum stopped then for a minute, I thought the drummer had picked up an injury! Alas not.

Got awa with that, great blocking tackle by Dolo.

Good low save by Ward.

And just like that, we’re completely opened up.

Good save Ward. That was going in

Stevenage 1-0 Tranmere

Good move from Egbo to McKirdy and his cross was very close to Davison, corner to Town.

Mansfield 1-0 Crawley

Stats like that and Oldham v Salford, Oldham are down I think

edit: oh no, barrow prevent that

Payne cuts inside and the keeper saves it for a corner.

Not sure Baudry will get MotM today. Struggling with the physicality of Bogle.

Reed has put us in trouble a couple of times too.

McKirdy fouled near the corner flag.

Well it means goodbye forever but who knows what lays beyond a final goodbye...? In any case, in order to return, once must leave in the first place :)

Plus, my "I'll be back was referencing the opening few words  :pint:

Good old Norris

I think Baudry had a few pre match pints

Odusina at the back on the left for Pools looks a real weak link, but I like the look of the left winger Olomola.

'Heavy first touch from Davison....' Yep. Every time!

Iandolo gets such twattish bookings.

Close by Barry with the keeper in no mans land.

At least fatty Evans is helping to send Sheriden down

Frenchy looking lost at the moment.

1-0 McKirdy

Need JOB for this game

Return of the squirrel!

Radio comms have dropped out
We’ve scored!

amazing when you have a striker running into mouth of the goal how goals go in

Mad few mins leading up to that.

Love football. ❤

5/1 first scorer. Fucking get in there!

Wow just heard my neighbours small boy singing McKirdy's name in the garden 😀

Ha, Sean needs to take a look at Sky Sports

Hodgetts has been caught out eating his tea.

Barry hits the post.

Hit the post

Barry hits the post!

Barry played through one on one, hits the post.

Fucking Noton tho. Bastards

It’s not really them we have to catch

We need Oldham & Crawley to win

Someone let me know when away comms are back?

Get in my son !!!!

Well,it's one of them. Bloody Leyton Orient,expected more of them!

Frenchy down injured.

Now

Harry is back !!.

Looking at the table I'd say it's really only Sutton were looking to overhaul.

Merci

2 mins added.

So are the comms

Reed wild shot high and wide from 20 yards, bad finish.

But losses for all of em would help

HT 1-0

energetic half....little loose but fun to watch...
wish they would have had this energy last week!

Didn't see an actual bobble but this is a pitch to reward an extra split second of calculation over instinct

It could have been a bobble the pitch is pretty awful despite being very green.

After super Mac's goal,get on McFabulous at Sandown 4.07

As it stands 5 points adrift. Still got to win both their matches as Barrow are -10GD, Oldham -27GD. Plus, Barrow (like Stevenage) have 3 games to play. Oldham just the 2.

Eat shit Sheridan you cunt!  :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: Feel sorry for Oldham fans though. But then I didn't when they were lauding El Dino as some kind of fucking messiah. If I ever hear the word "Shezzarection" again...

I wonder how much he'll cost to book now for an after dinner speech?!  :hmmm:

Cobblers smashing LO at their place

Sack wellens😀

Att: 4,786 (465 Swindon)

One of their 5 lowest attendances of the season.

Mercifully, the drummer has fucked off.  10 point deduction averted.

Conroy fucks up his backpass but Ward did well to get the that 1st.

Conroy always has a moment doesn’t he.

Ward saves high at his near post but conceded the corner.

According to Hawes, somebody just had a fierce shat - thoughts and prayers

It's not just Conroy, that's the problem

LO 2-4 Cobblers

A horrendous adventrue with diarrhea?

How we’ve missed Harry

Davison keeps jumping with his back to the ball.

2-0 McKirdy.

Go on Harry

Payne twists on the right beats his man and puts in a low cross to McKirdy at the near post you taps it in.

He’s great at those dinky side foot finishes isn’t he. Where might we have been?

Supermac!

Oooooooh Harry Mckirdy

Just.  Class.  Feet away from us.  Beautiful build up from Payne.  Beautiful finish.

He’s on fire !!
Double for McKirdy.

McKirdy almost grabs a hattrick!

Question could be, were we over cautious with Harry on Monday - could have made the difference.

Should have a hat trick now..

McKirdy's the man.

We’re nothing without him. Pretty much.

And McFabulous delivers at Sandown. Hope you all got on it!

Could be on 4

Egbo injured, AK for Egbo.

How different we look when we have someone who takes up good positions in the box

Ward looks like a newborn Giraffe with the ball at his feet

He makes things happen in a way no one else can.

Exeter 2 nil up

Interesting to look back at McKirdys goals and see where Davison is. I think we'll find he's close but not quite there

Barry’s been very peripheral today.

Barry still goes to deck far too softly for me, stay on your feet lad.

'Ball catches Davison on his heels...'

Barrow 1-0 Sutton

Looking at Orient today shows we made a balls up against them. Shame.
Pox waving goodbye to the play offs today  :)

Barrow score

Fuck, we’re gonna start to believe again

McKirdy off for Parsons.

Walsall 1-0 Port Vale

Stevenage 2-0

Stevenage 2-0 Tranmere

Could do with Parsons doing a Fjortoft

This ref’s done well today.

Barrow down to 10

Barrow down to 10 men

Poor finish by Parsons high and wide.

Crawley down to 10

He's doing Fjortoft phase 1!

Missed McKirdy going off. Injury or tactical?

Mansfield 2-0 Crawley

Come on Latics and,painfully,FGR!

Saving him - planned

I thought 1st half Payne was off form a bit and loose but hes properly stepped up this half and done well.

Tactical

Probably tactical.  Doubted he'd do 90 mins coming back from injury.

Reed the same.

I think Payne has been our best player overall - obvs Harry deserves a mention for his goals, but Payne played a big part in creating them

Conroy with another short pass to Ward.

Also Williams has had a solid game too for me.

Agreed

Gladwin on for Williams.

Now Tuesday is vital.

WATERMELON SUGAR - HIGH!

It's only Super Squirrel Harry Styles with a brace!

Results stay as they are and that will be very delicious. Imagine getting relegated by Barrerrrr though!

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Fate says the stars are aligning for and abject PO Final failure versus Rovers and the 10k they'll take to Wembley. Don't make me go seen Town at the new Wembley for the 4th time. Preston display = never again. Some might say it was adieu (for you RF)  but for fuck sake lads...if Town do get in the POs and Town get to Wembley, please fucking turn up as players.

Mind you, STFC and away fixtures are favourable. Just need to negotiate over leaping Sutton and then winning any away leg PO fixture about 0-6

 :pint: :pint:

Now would be great if Oldham equalised too. Bizarrely 

NB: On another note, I really want Town to go up because selfishly I would look forward to Town playing Derby County.

2 problems, we are at home, and our defence

Good defending by Frenchy there.

After Reed put us in trouble

Gladwin tries a shot from 25 yards, at the keeper though.

Indeed.

Pool Comms waxing lyrical about Payne. "Fantastic footballer"

Corner to Town.

He has had a great 2nd half for sure.

Davison gets shit all from refs

Gosh😀

3-0 Frenchy.

Threeasy peasy!  :pint: :pint: :pint:

Baudry!  Fucking Baudry!!!

Yessss!

Not sure how Baudry got there before the keeper.

We scored from a corner...

Shame that Baudry took the last touch from Parson's effort.

God, we're fucking boring!

LO down to 10 men

Oldham game halted due to a protest on the pitch from the fans

As well as shite😀

Imagine if we were Oldham or Scunthorpe

Sorry, but Barry was always going to try to buy a foul rather than beat the keeper. He’s been so lightweight.

One for Dino.

https://youtu.be/PtzhvJh9NRY

Baudry/Conroy appears our best CB partnership.

Tbh Town should be beating teams like this 3 or 4 nil. We've all established it's not just an average division but a completely lips an arseholes one. Yep, the quality bar is low.

It doesn't take much to look good in L2.
A simple system of:

Pass ball.
Run into box
Receive ball
Score

Aka Harry McGirty

Wouldn’t have said that last May.

We managed step 1 against Orient

No absolutely not!! Fair play to Baudry, he's a bit of a figure of fun but he's played pretty well when called upon. Also must be tough to have Baresi playing next to him.

2 mins added.

Have they given the crowd?

Walsall 2-0 Port Vale

4786 with 465 away

Rovers - FGR finishes 0-0 (FGR Promoted)

FT 3-0

Solid win and a decent performance, Payne probably my MotM. Some good performers, Williams, Frenchy, Ward and McKirdy.

Great to keep a clean sheet too.

Its the hope that kills you.

Peterborough Relegated

Foot off gas for them on Tuesday  ;)

Cheers 4D both slightly more than I expected

Sheridan and the Smiths - made for each other.

Hopefully they are on the piss tonight

Well a mouthwatering prospect Tuesday

I really didn’t want to go on Tuesday, as I didn’t want to sit there and put myself through that frustration again. Now I’m going to have too.  :crash:

Keep up at the back ;)

Good.

You'd love the Swindon/Bristol City one  ;)

A few shakey moments, esp. in the 1st half but as the game went on that clean sheet started to look nailed on.  Away from home, we look class at this level.

Excuse my laziness but was Wollacott injured, rested, dropped or on international duty today?

Nobody knows, but the fact that he was not on the bench suggests an injury or a falling out.

Oldham v Salford abandoned will the result stand🤔

Probably dropped after his fuck ups against Orient.

It’s all kicking off at Oldham, game abandoned and Dino on the pitch trying to get their fans to behave!

Ditto !!.

Go together :pint:

How many away wins is that now? Must be getting close to our record?

Today's attendances

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/fixtures/_/date/2021000423

Yeah, I think if a match gets abandoned after 70 or 80 minutes, the result stands..

Cheers, I was hoping a rematch might happen.

JoJo hurt is shoulder last week sub goalie dropped for being late for the team meeting.

Jojo injured (Shoulder) Idem late to the team meeting hence why he wasn't on the bench

Idem late for team meeting hence not put on the bench.
JoJo injured shoulder.

If not you would think they would need to have a points deduction for Oldham otherwise other fans will start doing it in must win games. Maybe that’s what we need to do in a playoff final 😉

Garner:
- The way we played on a really difficult surface was breathtaking
- Second half performance was professional
- Nice for Frenchie to score from a set piece
- From Ward all the way through. Played well in difficult conditions
- Midfield 3 were a different class. Gladwin was equally as good
- McKirdy cramped up second half. Goals will do him good for Tuesday
- Both fantastic balls and McKirdy on the move just slots it home
- Wont get a more difficult surface. Bobbly and dry. Not a pitch suited to passing the ball
- Proud of team
- Wollacott hurt shoulder in impact of first goal last week. Hadn't trained all week
- Idem was late for team meeting so was removed from the bench!
- Give leniency where we can but some things wont be tolerated
- Important to win today. Need to give an equally positive performance then which would put us in a good position
- Egbo: Just tightness. He flagged it before it gor worse. Will assess tomorrow
- Wont lack energy for Tuesday. But FGR are one of the fittest teams in the league.

I get the principle but that would have been one hell of a ‘cut your nose off to spit your face’ if Ward had been sent off early

Only against teams that don’t press us (or even attack :D)

Idem the fall guy. These people will tell us owt I tell thee! JoJo is already on his way out the door lads.

Edit:

So Luke Warm Mark II will give McGirty annual leave to go and watch Chelski but reprimands Idem (3rd choice and on loan GK) for being late for a meeting. What a cunt! Which he had those kind of balls with the senior pros.

Smacks of a bully tactic with the younger lot. Obviously can't handle/daren't question senior pros - he won't ever manage above L1 (possibly L2) level.

He's taken JoJo situation out on Idem there for me.

Great win today btw  :pint: :pint: :pint:

McKirdy:
- Its what we need to do. Performances dont matter. We need to win
- Difficult pitch. Once used to it performance was good
- Like playing on Jurassic park. It was rubbish!
- Should have got the hattrick
- As a kid I was always good at finishing
- Wants to get to 20 goals and push on
- Feel fine. Only trained on Thursday.
- Felt tired at half time and then cramping in the calm in second half
- In his head he should score a hattrick every week
- Should have had the match ball on the way home
- Its our fault we are not where FGR are
- Need to win 3 games and do it through the playoff
- Talked about fan and players and how they influence eachother
- Stick with us. There will be times when we dominate and others when our backs are to the fall
- Its league 2 football! We make mistakes. The players give it everything.
- We are in a position we shouldn't be and now we have to get to Wembley and do it there.

Or maybe, JoJo is injured? Why does everything have to be a conspiracy.

Why don’t teams play an ‘away’ type of performance against us when they’re at home? It seems so obvious.

Even a half decent home record would have seen us in the autos. All season to sort it out, too.

Vale seem to be wobbling. Still some 6 pointers to come, so still in with a sniff.

Karl Robinson


 :D

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

They haven't let us down on the contrary Karl :banana:

Oh look. A Trust Associated white knight  :girlgiggle:

*I'm joshing just to be clear btw - if it gets your nape up ;)

No question though pal JoJo is a goner. Won't be here next season.

Great win though. Massive credit to Ward. Model Pro

He said that there are some times where we can show leniency but there are others that we won't accept. Idem was late for a team meeting. The others were waiting for him. If effected them so Idem was removed from the team sheet. When it impacts the rest of the team Garner said he wont stand for it.

FWIW: I don't think he's a 'cunt' for that. I would have done the same. Its about respect. But, I don't 100% believe that Wollacott was injured.

Here’s to Mystical Goat.

He may not be here, I’m not disagreeing with that.

But to say that’s why he hasn’t played, based on nothing, is just ridiculous in my opinion.

Yeah fair. Lighten up Quaggy I'm just being a cunt. Lovely quote from the Yellow Scouser btw. Fantastic. Tears at the Manor 

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Karl Robinson Should he stay or should he go!

Another season in div 3 - if only...

Yeah I don't disagree with discipline. Just wish he showed that kind of strength of discipline to the senior pros/throughout the squad. Otherwise it does breed a "favouritism culture" and senior employees will walk all over that. Anyone can look like a hard task master in any workplace to a trainee/new starter but real strength and good management is when you treat all consistently the same at the minimum.

Yep, I don't think the JoJo thing is fully true. When you compare with someone like McGirty only trained the once all week. I reckon JoJo told Garner I'm off pal but reckon he could easily have been on the bench. That becomes a combo of annoyances when Idem arrives late and the steam from Garner's ears gets blown onto him. It's still silly to drop him completely. Could have hugely backfired. Then instead of being a cunt - he would've looked a right one  ;)

Imagine Town get in the POs, get to the final and win...

The EFL  then announce they're docking Town 10pts, handing the Play Off win to...

Oh god not Wovers!  :D

#Imagine

I don't think we will have to worry about Wembley - Can't see us getting there. Very surprised if we win our last 3. Can see a maximum of a point on Tuesday followed by a loss against Barrow and a lottery against Walsall.

Agreed 100%

Just polished off a curry with starter plus the usual accoutrements for less than £18.
All served by the Indian version of Zendaya.
Maybe it's the South that needs levelling up.
And got back to the hotel without being shat on by the gulls.

Anyway, a very decent performance with everyone pretty much on their game, but that's been par for the course overall away from home.
The problems have lain elsewhere.

Pleased for Baudry to net what might be his last goal in pro football & the McKirdy type celebration afterwards.

Parsons getting the nod over JML off the bench recently might be an indication of where the focus on development lies.

Nice touch for the team to dish out their shirts to the fans at the end.

Anybody you know😀

Still on !.  I reckon we will win our next two games and it will all come down to the last game of the season.

Love the pass and movement

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/12597276/hartlepool-0-3-swindon-league-two-highlights

Same again on Tuesday night

It won’t work out that way ;)

Fair play to Mckirdy for calling out the Town’s crap home support. Only noise they make is when they’re moaning.

What did he say?

Or on the flip side the 2 better home atmosphere’s were against Northampton and Walsall where due to the absence of our ‘ball players’ in the back line we were forced to play with more intensity and go more direct and the results followed. Watching the ball going from centre back to centre for 70 minutes of a home match just doesn’t allow fans to engage. If there is intensity on the pitch or something to get behind then the fans will respond!

It needs to be remembered a lot of fans at home games don’t go to away matches so all they’ve seen this season is utter tripe for the most part so probably quite hard for them to get behind based on what they’ve witnessed.

Fair play to the fans for calling out the Town’s crap home performances. Only noise they make is when they’re passing the ball sideways.

Baudry for me.
Him and Conroy just communicate well. No disrespect to JOB but he is very quiet.

Payne second half back to his very best, superb link up play with Williams.
McKirdy makes some cracking runs with Reed and Conroy having the vision to find him. Have we missed him. Divison and their No 5 (who had a cracking game) were having a right battle all game, no malice just a decent physical battle.
Ward made a decent save first half and they nearly scored from a misguided header.

If only Barry’s shot went in instead of hitting the post we would have been out of sight earlier.

Parsons needs loan time, not ready. Hoping Egbo’s injury is not bad.
Was good to see players being taken off and rested when we were cruising.

A thoroughly enjoyable and professional display. Particularly second half where we were sublime at times.
My youngest got Baudry’s shirt at the end of the game. Met up with Jonny Williams Dad as see him virtually at every game, real Gentleman.
Understand Clem was at the game? Zav definitely was.

Nice when players do that, although I bet it drives the kitmen mad as they don't have many shirts this season. I haven't been able to get my hands on many either :-)

Performances lift fans like fans lift players. Think the players need to understand that before commenting. Did he think the Man City game atmosphere was poor too?
1 win in 3 at home is not likely to create a positive home atmosphere.

Played in the black kit today therefore the last time it will be needed.
The players were giving the out.
I guess the yellow kit decision will be made after Walsall.

We are a very fickle fan base.
Our away support always has been quality. Our home vocal support is shite.
Late 70’s and early 80’s up there with the best.

It was decent under Di Canio and for a period under Wellens. If you engage the fans they will respond, any fanbase would struggle to get involved when 90% of home games are spent passing the ball along our backline.

Nowhere near the late 70’s and early 80’s.
It’s been shite for years now unfortunately.
Agree with you though it helps with a spark on the field. Seats didn’t help either.
Our home performances this season apart from a few have been poor.

A new designed TE can live in hope again.

We saw Clem's car being turned around by a steward outside the ground shortly after 2pm.  Club ownership not always glamorous.

.

That's kind of the point, we didn't even have the ball v City and played the football fans hate costing us goals, the atmosphere was great. I totally get what fans are saying but you have players openly asking us to get behind them Tuesday as we have a sniff of a chance.

Our support has always been like it though, everyone harps on about Wellens and how his style of football was great yet even he had to call out the fans on occassions

Free, pre-match alcohol is the answer.

Simples!

Hope the boys enjoyed the game.
I was told that Clem had flown in early that Morning.

I feel like 'the team must play in an exciting way all the time in order to gain my support' is an incredibly entitled view. Whatever happened to supporting your team for the sake of it?

It's bargain basement football.  I suspect that most (less vocal) supporters acknowledge that and tailor their expectations accordingly.

I think I've heard the Arkells stand sing once in 33 years (Leeds 3-0), the DRS - occasionally a few in the TE corner.

The best atmosphere I've witnessed at the County ground is from the late 70's up until the early 90's when the Shrivenham Road stand was knocked down and seats installed in the Town End. We're also forgetting how much noise used to come from the away fans in the corner of shrivenham road/Stratton bank with home fans next to them and only separated by a pen who would then interact with the hordes in Town End.

I'm with you.

Obviously some will be more vocal than not but quit the moaning.  Players making mistakes or being too timid need positive encouragement.  

The atmosphere at the County Ground has not been any good since the late 80s(about the time we went all seater TBH), I agree with DOB, the home sound was a wall of sound, it used to be up with the best in the country back in the 70s and 80s, it used to be worth a goal head start.

Away from home we were a bit shit but the CG was an absolute fortress partly due to the atmosphere, everyone hated coming to us.

I dont always enjoy the way we play but i also dont expect us to win in an exciting way, but Swindon have historically been a football playing side bar a few seasons under Flitcroft and Beamish but in the main we have ALWAYS played good attacking football not the percentage long ball game, even under Macari we also played some great passing football.

Even if we play shit I wont stop watching us or supporting us, its in the blood no matter how shit it is on the pitch, after nearly 50 years its too deep ingrained now. I don't now or ever understand "fair weather fans" for me its Swindon Till I Die.

We will have some good, some bad, some indifferent but you always watch in the hope it will be a great game and a memory that will stay with you forever, thats why we go to games.....that hope of a lifelong great memory.

In the last few years the really happy memories from performances have been very few and far between for me, even under Wellens the amount of memorable great performances could be counted on the fingers of 1 hand. You have to go back to PdC to find the better ones for me.

I never ever watch games expecting us to win now, or expecting us to win with a fantastic performance but always in the hope that we will indeed win and win with aplomb.

I do think we need to get the players mindset in the right place for home games, of course there is an expectation for home games, where historically we have been so solid. Maybe we need to do a Hoddle and get in someone who will work with the players minds, Mental Game Coaching Professional who will work on any hang ups and concerns the players have, get even more from McKirdy too.

McKirdy is spot on. Yes it works both ways but the crowd could do so much more to help. 2 home games left, win them both and we have a shot at the playoffs. Time to get behind the team!

Man City at home is proof that the home crowd can get behind the team even when getting outplayed.

Damn right mate.

If we are to stand any chance of play offs then we need the fans behind us from the off, not just when 2 goals up, we have the crowds but don't seem to muster an atmosphere in the last few years barring Man City game.

If the players feel loved then I am sure they will perform for us, and maybe just push us to the next level.

If crowd support is really that significant ( professionals should perform without it) then FGR's achievements this season are even more impressive.

You really do like to twist things dont you

Perhaps FGR have a better atmosphere in a tiny ground than we have in an actual stadium?

Maybe they dont have the pressures of a large fanbase as we do?

Maybe they have better motivated players who are motivated by a huge salary whereas ours are budget limited to about £1500 a week whereas they pay about £5000 per player according to their accounts with around £4 million in wages being paid out.

Maybe they dont have players who have ever had to play in front of crowds of over 2,500 week in week out so dont have the pressure our players do?

Maybe they have a manager who has managed at international age levels before who can motivate players?

I hope the forest gumps get relegated next season even if you seem to be a huge fan of theirs, maybe you should go watch them next season?

Good post, my friend.  It seems I continue to (inadvertently) trigger you.   I have previously expressed my remorse regarding comments made about my place of birth.

Sorry Jimmy but that's horseshit.

It was a one off game against the league champions, live on prime time TV. A celebration game with no expectation beyond loss.

To compare it against a normal l2 game is nonsense.

That said, Tuesday is massive. I'm hopeful the atmosphere will be ok

I wasn't compairing just saying how good that atmosphere was even though we were poor at the back and getting outclassed. It would have been easy for the fans to give up irrespective being on the TV or not.

The atmosphere was good as it was akin to having the Harlem Globetrotters in town. 

I get that at the start but it could have dropped off when we conceded two goals and weren't in the game.

Superb and refreshing post.

This thing about atmosphere and whovsings and who doesn't is really difficult. I sit in the Arkells when I am able to come, which is very rare these days because of distance, and feel quite isolated from the noise. It is difficult, if there is not a decent-sized group sound you, to join in. I'm not a soloist! But even the Townend seems to lack the energy. Yesterday, 400+ altogether started at the beginning and kept a selection going (not ALL the time) for most of the match, and I was glad to join in.
But the other problem is what to sing....I cannot translate what some of the chants are - probably just as well!! But it creates a problem at home if the reticent Arkells people don't know the songs.
The great experience at Anfield, for instance, is that everyone knows one song, and they all join in before the match begins, setting everyone up for the rest of the match.....

Big question here.. What do you think could be done to create a better atmosphere?

Would be good to get those who have drifted off to the side stands back in the townend and a bit more of a concerted effort from those in the townend to start and maintain singing. The townend bar may help with that.

I hope this isn’t a thinly veiled attempt to get the drum back… :sherlock:

Better music from 2.45 and better walk out music. Get a song going on kick off that we can all sing along too . Most of the loudest grounds you will visit will have a song... Sheffield Utd Leeds Norwich Liverpool etc

Get some consistency into the home results, it feels like we are waiting for it to go wrong

Having an atmosphere build before the match would help, but I don't think it carries too far into a shit game (my opinion).

Should us fans need either. Probably not. But we do

This. Also, waiting for the ref to give the inevitable shit decision. Any noise is usually in the form of anger  :)

I don't sing all the way through the match as I'm an old fart, but I do sing at some point each game.

First thing we need to do as fans is collectively get out of the ‘just happy to be here & still have a club mentality. That just breeds acceptance and lethargy.

Our atmospheres usually ramp under two circumstances. The club is being run into the ground but some knob we all unite in our hate for….or….when we get our swagger on and add a bit of arrogance. Under Di Canio the club created this whole us and then mentality. Other teams wanted to beat us, abusing Di Canio was a badge of honour for the opposition fans but we didn’t care, we were going to win the league anyway…and we did. We need that slight but not over the top arrogance, we need to be a division heavyweight. We need to be challenging.

Also, exciting players help. Like I remember back in the day when Mark Walters got the ball, there was always this anticipation in the crowd that he’d ‘do something’ he was great player (still) when he got here but he always made things happen.

Game has changed a lot and those players seem less and less. Obviously we have McKirdy but quite frankly when he’s not on the ball (or not playing) none of the other players give off that ‘buzz’ like they’re going to make something happen. Part modern football in general, part quality of players, part tactics….

…ultimately just give us a few Mavericks, 100% effort and a burning desire to win football matches.

Outside of that a designated singing/atmosphere section wouldn’t go amiss

Winning 15 of our last 44 league home games I'm sure hasn't helped the atmosphere.

I think we would struggle to generate an atmosphere while playing possession football. Creating chances and putting teams under pressure is what gets the crowd going imo.

+ And somehow the break for lockdown too. Not sure why.

I guess other clubs have better home atmosphere, so we as a fan base need to think about that, but ashamedly I've only been to Rovers, Walsall and Horrogate away this season. None of those did.

Good point.

Don't see why music before the game would make any difference as many don't leave the pub till after 2.45, plus the tanoys are either broke or poor quality.   Hartlepool had the sound right up but it was so ear piercingly high pitch that you just wanted it to stop.

I also think the crowd is up for it but just gets bored and a bit lethargic if there is no action for 10-15 mins.

You could employ a few people to start chants in the Townend, to try to keep things going.

Other than that it is about winning and the odd early goal or 2.

I would love to know how Franchise have done so well this season playing at home in front of their soulless fans.

…by winning games

By possession football.

Very true so they must have a different mentality as their fans barely know any songs.

By having a drum....

Hahaha! No, I'm working on proposals within the Trust to improve the Match Day atmosphere. Not saying anything will come of any of it right now but call it market research as you will :)


Any suggestions of what our song should be? One question I have, rather than playing music to app everyone up, would we be better off cutting it and letting the fans make the noise? Saves singing fans competing with music blaring out the tannoy...


TE1, TE2, TE3, D7U and D7L?

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Really appreciating all the comments and feedback guys! Keep it coming

Turn the fucking tannoy down in the DRS. It's deafening and really treble-y so sounds gross.

We need more passion

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ORHpaqdwwlQ