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Any other early birds here?  Looking forward to this one as the result today is vital, although a defeat certainly wouldn't be the end of the world.  Last season we managed a draw and were far from outclassed, and this season we've embarrassed the Wendy's twice so the form book suggests we're in with a chance - which is a band thing if you're a Swindon fan!

Any clues on the line-up today?  I've heard O'Hanlon is in with a shout of being back today, but Roberts, Hewlett, Robinson, Jenkins and Miglioranzi are still all out injured and Ifil starts his two match suspension for the dismissal at Bradford.  Six first teamers missing for a trip to Hillsborough is far from ideal, but the fact we can still put out a remotely decent side is testamount to squad depth.  The subs bench may look a little thin though.

I predict:

GK: 1. R.Evans
DR: 23. L.Garrard
DL: 11. D.Duke
DC: 19 M.Heywood
DC: 6 S.O'Hanlon
MR: 7. S.Igoe
ML: 5. J.Slabber
MC: 17. B.Howard
MC: 3. G.Smith
FC: 9. S.Parkin
FC: 8. R.Fallon

I hope I am wrong though as I would like to see us continue with the 4-5-1 if at all possible, and maybe give Pook a first team start, just to have a body in the midfield area.  Would also prefer to see Howard in a wide role rather than Igoe.  If the players mentioned are all out then Slabber will probably have to start on one of the wings, which should be interesting as this, in my opinion, has been a problem area with just Howard as a natural wideman with Igoe yearning to be moved into a more central role.  Despite this, I still reckon King will prefer Howard in the middle simply due to what he said in the media.

If we're to get a win today, I certainly think we need O'Hanlon back and possibly another first team such as Jenkins or Hewlett.  If I were manager, I would also drop Heywood for this game and replace him with Reeves, but then that's probably due to my prejudice against Heywood....   :roll:

If Fallon does not start today given the number of injuries I think it will be his cue to start looking for a new club.  It would show King has absolutely no faith in him, and following last weeks embarrassment against Bradford when Fallon threw a wobbler the signs are there.

I'm here!

Maybe you should go and clean the car again during the game? It certainly worked against Bradford! last week!  :)

Granted it is filthy, but I've got a 3000 word media essay to write by Monday.  I may do in the second half if I make some progress with this essay and it doesn't get too dark, but I'll probably save that pleasure for tomorrow.

Plus I was washing the car against Bradford  :wink:  

During the Brentford game I was shopping at Bluewater in Kent  :P

Ironically I did go to the Colchester game...

(You can tell I'm a diehard fan....)   :roll:

Think Heywood and Reeves are starting, hope their strikers arent too quick. :(

I must admit I fear Kenwyne Jones.

Swindon's Lineup:

R. Evans
S.O'Hanlon
L.Garrard
A.Reeves
M.Heywood
D.Duke
L.Holmes
S.Igoe
B.Howard
S.Parkin
G.Smith


I did forget about Holmes in my prediction amazingly, considering how well he has played recently.  Unsure how they'll line-up, but I've got a suspicion O'Hanlon will be in midfield rather than at the back.  A defence of Reeves and Heywood to face Jones and MacLean is a bit frightening, but we'll see.  Think we will inevitably concede so we will need to score.

We have a bench of:
S.Book
A.Nicholas
J.Slabber
S.Robinson
R.Fallon

Think Nicholas should have started if O'Hanlon is in midfield just to give us pace at the back.

Kenwyne Jones starts, having scored 6 in 5, as does Richard Wood, who was an injury doubt, while Guylian Ndumbu-Nsungu who is dangerous with his pace and power is on the bench.

Large crowd and difficult opposition may favour us today, just hope the winds are quiet!


EDIT:  Hadwin's confirmed they're playing a 4-5-1.

Garrard, Heywood, Reeves, Duke as back four.

Igoe wide right, Holmes wide left, Howard Smith and captain O'Hanlon in the centre behind striker Sam Parkin.

Immediately Swindon on the attack.

O'hanlon is playing :D

Not many people about today are there?  With a 4-5-1 today and a fairly stronger team and surprisingly good bench we've got a shout.  When Miglioranzi, Hewlett, Ifil and Jenkins comes back we will have a very strong squad with very good depth - about 19 or 20 players capable of featuring in the first team.

Good start for Swindon.

Heywood makes a great challenge on MacLean following a long ball and potential easy chance for a good striker.  Fair play to Heywood.

scunthorpe 1 chelsea 0

Can't last long surely 8)

probably not but it made me laugh

Sounds like we're still doing pretty well. This is a very difficult game.

anyone know what the weather is like up there as that will probably play a large part in the outcome of the match!!

Havent we only won 1 in 14 tries?

We last won in 1976.

The weather is okay - not particularly windy or wet, just a bit of a poor pitch.

Chelsea Scunthorpe match should be interesting.  I said it could last when Senegal went 1-0 up against France...

I'm listening to the chelsea scunthorpe commentary as well as the Swindon game, Chelsea sound a bit nervous.

Cum on scunny

Scunthorpe are playing out of their skin! 3 corners so far. Crazy game. Was very, very nearly 2-0. 1-1 now.

call yrself swindon scum

Interesting to note Grant Smith is having another good game thus far.  Threw his body in where it may have hurt after it seemed like Garrard may have screwed up again.  He is making too many mistakes for my liking recently.

Wednesday are starting to have the better chances despite us having the lion's share of possession and being fairly controlled.  It is the long balls which are causing us problems so far yet we have two very tall centre-backs.

I am listening to the swindon game, just had it in the background for a bit.

Poo :evil:

Evans out!

I guess that atones for the brilliant double save Rhys made five minutes earlier.  We need to start making chances rather than just keeping the ball.

Then we wouldnt have a goalie :(

What about Mr Book?  :?

I was having a laugh, but allthe same i would prefer evans in goal rather than mr book, who i dont rate

sounded like we were quite unlucky to concede. what do you lot think the final score will be?

I would rather have Rhys as well but I think Book is capable of stepping in if needed, he was great againt city in the LDV.

I didn't even bother to turn the radio on for the first half, I'm a terrible fan.

You are 60 hail mary's.

Is a good game so far I think.  With our back line, we knew we were going to concede so not a lot has changed.

I wish King would be more aggressive with substitutions.  He's got a fairly strong bench, why not try and use it?  Few fresh legs wouldn't go amiss and we are chasing a goal deficit after all.

Bollocks :evil:

oops

O'Hanlon injured again :(

O'Hanlon off with injury, I hope he's fit for the next game.  He's vital.  Nicholas on.

Surely we have to see Slabber on at some point also?

:(  Played ok today but was always going to be a tough game, result's  harsh on us.

KING OUT!

KING MUST GO!

Sounded like a decent performance, considering the amount of players we have out.

We need a run of wins now if we have any chance of playoffs, Blackpool at home is a good place to start.

What twat texted in bring back gorman?  :jaw2 That's the way to go. He'll get us relegated twice again and bring us the non-league football we've longing for. Lets bring him in now!

was a fairly entertaining game to watch, evans had a mare with the punch in the first half but the double save was pretty damn good!

There was a chance with about 15 mins to go that reeeeeeeeeeeeves headed just wide, pretty much an open goal, if we had scored that we might have gone on to get a draw.

I would do player ratings but i'm to tired at the moment and can't be arsed, 6 hours of driving today after getting back in @ 3 this morning  :beers felt a little worse for wear this morning  :?

I agree entirely.

Give him a break for a week and let Book have a chance.