Thetownend.com

Better have one of these, I suppose.

For all the bollocks about the league being more important and not wanting to pick up injuries and giving players game time . . .

JUST WIN A FUCKING CUP GAME

Pre match taking it one pub at a time starting with The Regal.

Not won a League Cup tie in 7 years. Seven. VII.
That's almost the whole P***r era.
Some unbudgeted income would be very good for the fledgling finances.
So might as well play the strongest team available & go for it.

Second encounter with Cambridge in the LC.
A 3-2 win over two legs in 1995.
Then drew the reigning PL champions in the next round.
Won't be Man City if we win tonight, but a home tie v The Toon Army for example, possibly televised & near full house. Quids in.

Watson & Crick found the secret of life here.
Maybe Garner & Lindsey can discover the DNA of a Cup run.

Anyway, not too difficult quiz question to finish with.
Which two of the Wembley hero's of 93 went on to manage our opponents?

Clearly will  be resting players tonight in readiness for Saturday.

So here it is our first Saturday-tuesday-saturday of the new era. Can we buck the trend win a cup tie and put two performances back to back.

Who knows, here's to avoiding injuries and moving on intact. I'm assuming another in your face opponent so probably one or two changes.

Had a quick look for tickets and price etc, states they offer Armed Forces discount. Having spoken to them it appears they offer it to retired aswell, £17.
Where are people drinking before the game?

You’re taking pre-match warmups to a whole new level. You do realise this isn’t a 3pm ko.

I took my then girlfriend (a geordie lass) to the CG leg of that game, Beauchamp scored for us....

Sat behind an old lass in the Arkells who had bought her own cushion and spend 90 mins berating the referee for favouring Cambridge as it had a University whilst shouting that her Grand daughter went to Swindon college and that was as good!

Cambridge is easy to get to by train and a fine drinking city with most of the students away.
Will probably need to retire to the lodgings this afternoon for a small siesta.

You doing the motm's this season RF?

Worth taking a punt on the win tonight.

I missed the game on Sat because my iFollow account screwed up, but I can do the MoMs again if there's an interest.

I think there is mate, missed it on Saturday as it would have been a tough call to pick one as well.

Not too much of a spoiler to name the Fridge.  Hadn't known the other - but a process of elimination got me there easily enough.

Enjoy your trip, Wobbly.  Pubs ain't open yet, Shirley?  :pint:

As for the game tonight, not sure if we will be able to watch or not but possibly not.

Fully expect Critchlow, Odimayo, East and Reed to start possibly Ward too but I think his first start will come in the Mickey Mouse cup.

Hopefully we will build on Saturday and get our first League Cup win in 7 bloody years, something Sheridan, Wellens, Brown, Flitcroft and Ling never managed as Town managers.

Our last win being a 2-1 win at Luton in 2014 under Cooper..

We have played Cambridge 22 times winning 13 drawing 3 times and losing 6 times, scoring 38 and conceding 21 goals.

In games at the Abbey Stadium we have won 5 of the 11 games and losing 4 of them, the biggest win being the famous 3-0 win in 92 when the Cambridge fans in reaction to Becks style started singing "we want football" as we played them off the park, the biggest defeat was in 77 when Moss and McHale scored in a 5-2 defeat.

Cambridge 1-0 Swindon
att: 4,008 (385 Swindon).

I think that most of that team ended up having a dabble at coaching.

Can grab a pint in most Wetherspoons from 9 onwards.
Will move on once the triple lock defence force start appearing for their breakfasts.

I wont be shattered if we lose tonight BUT cmon, lets win a lL cup game FFS!

I don’t think there will be many changes. The team need minutes in the legs and more time to gel.

Honestly not too fussed about this one. A cup run would be nice but with the squad as threadbare as it is I'm happy to crash out for now

I’m just classing this as an additional friendly in all honestly, it’s a free hit, give the players that need minutes a game and a win would be a bonus.

Wouldn’t normally be fussed about this game as we don’t really do cup runs

Think it’s important to win, less about a cup run more about continuing the momentum and positivity.
A nice 1-0 win with Simpson (if he’s allowed to play?) getting off the mark would suffice

Get a few players in for game time, protect the players who’s legs are made of jelly (Baudry). See what happens. 7/2 is good value

This.

Get game time and fitness up, hopefully no new inujuries or sendings off would be fine, if we can keep any defeat down to 1 goal that would be acceptable.

You are all so filled of the negative limitations of old STFC, fucking cowards.

We should be trying to win everything.

If this team had a full pre season and had played at least 5 games together I would think you are right, but as it stands I feel it could well be a bridge too far.

Prebuilt excuses.

Time to gel is important, as is minutes in the legs, but you also have to weigh that up against players enduring Sat-Tues-Sat-Tues-Sat without proper preparation. Like PV, I'd expect Crichlow, Odimayo, East and Reed to all start.

We should be trying to win every game. But we should also be patient if/when it doesn't happen.

Are these streaming sites kosher? Just sign up with email address and watch.

Suppose I’ll get bombarded by spam for boner pills, Bitcoin, ‘I want to fuck you now’ and some Nigerian offering me millions.

I've never had to sign up to a streaming site.

Bagged a job to MK. Guess I’m going then 😁

I was looking at these


https://live24.space/455669-cambridge-united-swindon-town-10-aug-2021-1845-utc.html

http://wiziwig1.com/soccer is a good source. If it's not listed there then I usually won't find it anywhere else.

Hesgoals also often have them.

I hope we win to keep momentum going and let's face it, a decentish cup run or two will help finances enormously. If we lose, no biggie....are we still describing our squad as threadbare? Is that totally accurate?

I use Hesgoal as well. Generally pretty good.

Can the lad we signed today play? Anyone fancy having a go at a line-up? I assume given the efforts on Saturday there will be changes.

Ward
Hunt Baudry Crichlow Iandolo
Lyden (if fit) Reed
East Payne Parsons McKirdy

I would assume Lewis Ward will play in goal and KKH will be rested... maybe Parsons to start. Beyond that, not a clue really...

Wollocott
Hunt Odimayo Crichlow Iandolo
East Reed
Parsons McKirdy Gladwin
Big Big Big Tyrese

Maybe switch gladwin for Dabre but Gladwin does need the minutes

I think this could well be how we line up too.

This seems a bit harsh from a Cambridge fan seeing as they’ve got promoted and dud OK against the piss stains first up. Bit of a rant.

‘Bonner has said he will change the team tonight. This does not include him though, a glaring mistake. No manager would keep his best players out of the team. He should have given Waddock a chance to prepare the team after saturdays mess.

Other minor coaches that can be given a chance is Barry Corr.

If i went i would have to buy four seats, two for my legs in front, and two at the side for my arms, so i can fall asleep easily, my head falling backwards, and snoring loudly.

The only thing that would keep me awake would be Sam Smith wearing a ballerinas garb, and that only briefly. The caterwauling of the crowd would only reassure me, and i would sleep better, as i would know things were going badly, as they surely will.

Still there are no players of an alternate wotsit in the team, no ladies on the board, and no trans anywhere to be seen, not even in the crowd.


Where is the Cambridge friar?. Divine intervention is always useful, if intermittent in his favours. Will there be a poetry recital prior to kick off? or anything by Revel?

Step down Bonner, let the first team have a chance. Entropy, or Bonners demise as a football manager, and becoming a car salesman starts tonight.

Bonny of Cliff Rock Road Rednal

Yeah according to reports and their forum Cambridge apparently didn't play very well on Saturday and their best player was the 39 year old Wes Hoolahan.

They have ex Town players James Brophy, Adam May and Lloyd Jones in their squad.

Their manager says it could be an almost entirely different starting team tonight to that that grabbed a draw at home to the Pox on Saturday.

From the OS:

However, live video of the game will not be available on iFollow tonight (apart to VIP's), so fans will only be able to listen to live audio of the game if you are an iFollow subscriber.

What are iFollow VIP's?

TOWN STARTING XI 👥 | Here's how we will line up to face

12. Ward (GK)
2. Odimayo
3. Iandolo
5. Crichlow
6. Baudry
9. Simpson
10. Payne (C)
11. McKirdy
25. Reed
26. East
29. Parsons

SUBS: Wollacott, Hunt, Aguiar, Dabre, Gordon, Cowmeadow, Grant.

Absolutely no idea.

Might be changed, but it looks good to me

May and Jones both start against us and Brophy is on the bench.

7 changes for Cambridge from Saturday.

I don't even have a link for audio on iFollow today.

Kesler, Gladwin, Conroy not in the squad and it still looks decent enough.

Would say recruiting a striker has to be the priority. Simpson is the only player in the squad we can't adequately replace with a similar player at the moment.

Me neither.

Maybe we can listen on BBC Wilts online?

No link to live audio either

Its certainly there at the moment not sure if it will be there when it kicks off though.

Maybe the "Live" Match Centre will enjoy a resurrection 30 minutes before k.o.

That appears to be correct.

Does this go to a replay if level after 90 mins?

In a way I’m disappointed Grant isn’t playing, him against Adam May would have been hilarious

Planning on dropping by Hertford on 4th September Flash ?

Straight to pens after 90.

LL & DNA have arrived, Carling £4.50 inside the ground 😱

I have heard that Betfair are streaming some of tonights games live, I am not registered with them can anyone who is a registered member have a look to see if they are covering it live to save signing up needlessly please.

Calderwood was one.

Have y'all got audio now on iFollow? I chatted with them and now sorted.

Im just listening here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_wiltshire

What's going on with Rob Hartley not involved with BBC Wilts again

BBC radio Wiltshire has the game on online, or at least it hasn’t cut off yet

It's supposedly Sport till 22:00 so I assume the whole game.

I spoke to him on Sunday but didn't ask him when his next comms will be.

Talking of which who is on co comms? is it Phil Smith?

Yes

Jordan Turnbull scores for Salford against Derbyi

Derby really are deep in the shit and going from bad to worse it seems.

Salford winning 2-0 now at Derby.

Simpson misses a good chance from 6 yards shooting over the bar after a Parsons set up.

Louis Thompson on the bench tonight for Pompey.

Parsons puts a good chance over the bar

Sounds all Swindon the last 10 mins.

Randomly the comms have just switched to Cambridge

More than holding our own.

Had a look to see if Benda was starting again for Swansea (which he is) and saw that Swansea are currently on 85% possession away at Reading after 22 mins.

Baudry hammy

Hunt on for the injured Baudry.

Odimayo struggling too

2 mins added

Was holding his calf. Maybe cramp.

Muskwe scores for Luton.

HT 0-0

Town on 60% possession, Cambridge 3 shots to Swindons 2 shots, none on target so far by either team.

Very similar first half to Saturday. Some lovely passing and movement and lots of possession with not a lot happening in the final third. Need to figure out how to get McKirdy and Simpson into the game because if we do they'll win their game for us.

Crichlow looks brilliant so far, really composed on the ball and good distribution.

Thanks mate, nice to have an opinion of someone actually watching as its impossible to tell going just by the commentary what is actually happening.

He looked good on Saturday, won several headers, can dribble and pass and has some pace.

Odimayo alright?

Suggestion was its probably cramp. Will have to see what happens next

Okay cheers.

McKirdy with a chance, keeper makes a save and corner to Town.

Save from McKirdy - corner.

Yours truly managed to negotiated a free chicken& mushroom pie with a few little paid for bits just now. Lovely jubbly.

HMS piss the league Gas losing at home to 'Numb.

Probably not politically correct to say they appear to be (allegedly) taking more beatings than a certain football managers' wife

Odimayo off injured. Grant on and into CB

If only we still had Jonathan Grounds

Or Curran :crash:

Ricky Aguiar coming on for Simpson

Grant seems to be shooting a lot more often than last year already.

McKirdy with a chance.

HMS piss the league gas 2-0 down at home to 'Numb now.

We sound under the cosh since Odimayo went off.

is it straight to pens?

Yep.

6 mins normal time left.

Doesn't sound the best quality game.

5 mins added.

Payne shoots and it gets deflected wide for a corner.

Going to be penalties by the look of it.

FT 0-0
Penalties.

Well played, even if we go out on penalties then at least we got a clean sheet at a team that won promotion from this league a few months ago.

A bit of a lottery.

Look at it like this. If we go out, well we go out but and this is how I see it if this was a league game that’s an away point.

Thought we were playing Cambridge, not Cheltenham.

Payne shot saved.

0-1

I hate how excited he sounds when we do shit/concede a goal. Assume it's Powers mate Shaun.

McKirdy missed too.

Saved technically speaking :-(

0-2

0-2 after two pens each and Hodgetts has almost cum.

1-2 Reed

1-3

Hunt misses, game over.

ffs. good effort

Hodgetts isn't even commentating.

Game over. Shame we couldn’t have a good cup run in this tournament to help with finances. Bigger league games to come though.

We're good at these

Sorry to spoil your pet rant, but...

Well done for not losing to Cambridge in 90 mins, its a step further than we got under Wellens.

Whoever it is sounds delighted when we fuck a pen and no emotion at all when we score one.

Bizarre.

Did say I didn't know who it was. Wrongful Assumption. Ass of u and me and all that.

Oh well. Decent performance over the 90 and a bit more match fitness gained.

Hopefully Odimayo's injury isn't severe. Baudry's was pretty predictable: he can't do double gameweeks.

Just get past the first round once

Yes I agree. We drew against the team who came second in league 2 last season. Bristol Rovers for example who also got relegated last season with us lost 2-0 against Cheltenham who won league 2 last season.

Unbeaten in the cup this season. Sort of.

Garner:
- Proud
- Great characters in there today
- Odimayo got through a lot with little preseason
- Couple of others cramping up
- Ran out of legs a bit
- Shows we have young players knocking on the door
- Some of the play was excellent
- Didnt quite get the final pass right, but it will come
- Not many clear cut chances.
- Odimayo was just cramp
- Baudry will be assessed. Felt his hamstring
- Preplanning: Had to be careful and rotated as much as we could
- Couldnt be prouder of the effort that went in against a team promoted last year
- Reed was excellent, especially in the second half
- He's good fitness wise as he's played in pre-season for Donkey
- Aguiar: Seen him at Worthing previously. Heard good things. Thought he had good potential
- Want young players at the club to give an opportunity to
- Like technically good players. Aguiar has good quality. Scored lots from distance. Wants to learn.
- Penalties are on Garner. Made conscious decision not to practice on them yesterday. Needed to work on other things
- Garner therefore took the blame
- Definitely need another forward. Prob wont happen before the weekend
- Probably want 1 or 2 in other areas
- Many of the players hadnt played together before
- Hoping for recovery and rest ahead of Saturday
- Energy from crowd will be fantastic
- Real positive how we have got through these two games.

Shame that.
Not much between the sides with neither offering too much of a threat.
Some of the spells of possession were very encouraging and bodes well for the style of play this season.
Everybody neat & tidy without anyone really standing out.
Total pass completion in the first couple of games can't be far off the overall total under Sheridan!

I mean Hodgetts has only been involved one way or another with the Town comms for more years than a 36 year old can remember & he’s got a very distinctive voice.

Odd to think someone else is him

Enjoyed that! missed live football terribly so it was great to get out & support the new regime.

I like Reed, reckon he will be a real asset for us & if McKirdy finds an end product could be key to our season.  Payne played well, but Critchlow was my MoM, strong in defence & can play a bit. Good support for a Tuesday night League Cup game as well.

We were never going to win the shoot out, our lads were out on their feet, gave everything & had little left.  Upbeat & optimistic for our survival this season & who knows...

Having just got in, my summary - The one that got away. We could have and should have won that. However, for me a moral victory all things considered and I’m back home feeling rather positive about the team going forward. Fitness a concern as you’d expect but penalties aside the play and effort, couldn’t fault it.

A few drunken thoughts! Payne was streets ahead of anyone else on the pitch. If we can hang on to him we could stay up. We’re desperate for something upfront. I love this club. You reds!!!

If we can hang on to him we could stay up.      Don't you mean If we can hang on to him we could go up.   Stop being so negative !!.

If I had to sum that performance up in one sentence it would be "enjoyable and frustrating in equal measures"...reflecting back on it now though I am very, very encouraged by it.

The passing and movement of all 10 outfield players (tbf Ward was comfortable on the ball as well) was a joy to watch and totally belied our L2 status (just as it did 2 seasons ago). The final third was where it got frustrating but we just need to figure our how to best use McKirdy and Simpson, our two potential game changers on the night and that will change. And of course our two other potential game changers, KKH and Gladwin were not on the pitch last night (not criticizing their non-selection which I totally get)

Agree with the positive comments on Crichlow, he looked really accomplished and comfortable on the ball. All the midfield lads were excellent...Payne has been phenomenal in the opening two games...and it's impossible to criticize anyone especially when you consider that the pre-season has been a complete and utter cluster fuck and they've hardly played together. For that reason all the players and coaching staff deserve huge credit.

It was obvious that they were running on fumes for the last 10-15 minutes (or possibly longer) ...understandably so...so to lose on pens was really not surprising, disappointing as it was. In the bigger scheme of things though it really doesn't matter and I'm sure will turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Based on what I've seen so far we need to abandon the "I'll be happy just to stay in the League" narrative. A month ago (maybe less) I would have absolutely gone along with that but the landscape thankfully has completely changed and we can look forward and upwards with hope and expectation once again.

Oh yes...the away support once again was fantastic...something which I've always been proud of, no matter what was going on in the boardroom or on the pitch.

Roll on Saturday!

Was it announced how many we took?

170 according to the Cambridge OS match report (out of a total of 1825).

Just watched the 10 mins extended highlights....

- We looked very composed on the ball and passed it around well
- Simpson had a glorious chance he blazed over
- McKirdy furious with Parsons when he had a poor shot with McKirdy in acres of space
- McKirdy missed 2 other chances
- Cambridge's chances came when Grant had to cover at CB. Suddenly there were unmarked players in the box as per our defending last year
- We looked tired at the end
- Penalties were awful!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1-iZOqVWwk

Going by that it seemed like we were much the better side.

Thanks for that summary mate its good to have the views of someone who was at the match as listening on the radio is an awful experience where you genuinely have little to no idea of how we are actually playing as far too often they are more interested in McKirdys rolled down socks or the colour of the boots rather than what is happening on the pitch.

Thanks for posting this BO.

Based on those highlights we do seem to have had the better chances, the miss by Simpson was a poor one and he should at least have hit the target.

I think the first team is a little beyind Parsons at the moment and he may be better served with a short loan to the Conference to start with as he looked flustered with the great chance yesterday and didnt look fully at ease when he came off the bench on Saturday either.

Critchlow looks commanding at the back and Payne and set up a few good chances, he looks a far better player with some tactical guidance instead of under the dinosaur.

Must admit the chance for McKirdy was commented on as being a great save but it appears to have been a lucky save coming off the keepers forehead, if that had gone in it would have been a very different story today.

As it stands, I am really enjoying the football being played against 2 teams so far that are both much more in the Flitcroft mode of kick and rush style.

Football like that will bring the crowds back if we keep it up.

Thanks.

Setting aside the highlights, what caught my eye was the massive space between the goal and the stand at the right hand end, have they shortened the pitch as much as they can or something, just odd?

I couldn’t have put that better, especially expectations. For me play offs a minimum, wouldn’t be surprised if we go up automatically either. We will be adding before the window closes, which we know and we also know that forwards who are play makers and feeders along with hitting the onion bag a priority. Give that time to gel and see where we are in January before deciding on further additions and tweaking the squad.

Avoid defeat and injuries on Saturday and I’ll be pleased. Roll that into next Tuesday with a with win v Tranny and I will be more than pleased. Not unrealistic expectations I think.

Really? I thought more than that but it is always difficult to tell.

Looks like we would have won that in normal time had our forwards been sharper in front of goal, albeit the highlights are one-sided by the looks of it.

Didn't think Wards kicking was very good at all and he fucking dallies with the ball in the box too much for my liking. Other than that first half we bossed secong half we couldn't keep it up nbut still created enough chances a decent striker would have scored from.
Still see no reason why we can't push on this season, points deduction will be the curse.

Its been like that since they built that new away fans stand. Don't know why they put where they did but there must be a reason for it as it does look a bit odd...

Now posting in the correct thread!


Thought Iandolo was our best player on the night, along with Payne (close second in the MOTM stakes). Iandolo didn't put a foot wrong defensively, and was a constant outlet going forwards - only criticism would be a little bit of quality lacking on the final cross. Both Iandolo and Payne looked really fit and strong though, where others in the squad were completely blowing out of their arse at the end! (e.g. Harry Parsons - understandable though really)

Crichlow was impressive over the 90 mins, very steady and comfortable on the ball. Had 3 different centre-back partners (Baudry, Odimayo and Grant) on the night as well, not easy to adjust to.

Think we've two excellent pure footballers on our hands with East and Reed as well - represents excellent depth in central midfield once Lyden is fit again and Grant doesn't have to cover at centre-half. Both look like Luke Williams types... small, technically gifted and supremely comfortable getting the ball in tight spaces.

All in all, a good night for STFC. We knew already that we are lacking depth/competition in forward areas. We need at least another main centre-forward and winger to keep Simpson/McKirdy on their toes.

No worries.

I think the Simpson one was a little unlucky as his shot wasn't that far over the bar. Granted he should have got it on target. And this is going to be extremely harsh as I know strikers are supposed to shoot and he's probably desperate to get his first senior goal but Parsons simply has to pass to McKirdy to put him 1 on 1 with the keeper. No wonder he was pissed off.

Loads of positives by the looks and sounds of things.

Probably built behind the original away terrace that was there on the space where the buses were parked? Would have allowed the terrace to still be used at the time. Didn’t we do that with the Arkells way back when? I’m sure there are pictures of the old and new together for a while?

Thanks.

Setting aside the highlights, what caught my eye was the massive space between the goal and the stand at the right hand end, have they shortened the pitch as much as they can or something, just odd?





I seem to remember a match report back in either the late 70’s or Early 80’s when John Beck was their manager. Two things stuck out in my memory, one was the length of the grass as it was a very early season game and the fact that part of the pitch was an outfield for a cricket pitch and that it was not very even because cars had parked on it during the cricket season. Regarding the grass length it was suggested that Beck liked it like that because they played route one long ball football. Needless to say I’m sure we lost. So I reckon that being the other end was nearer to the main road the stand we were in which looked reasonably new would have been part of said cricket pitch many moons ago?

Early 90's ;)

Wiki seems to suggest said stand dates from 2002? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_Stadium

I assume the strange alignment may be similar to Carlisle reflecting a previous aspiration to move the pitch not going ahead.

Attendance announced officially as 270 Swindon fans.

Could just be good planning, to allow for shifting the pitch during the season to avoid constant wear in the six-yard boxes.

Cambridge fans views.

Old age does not come alone 😉

Even though Becks agricutural style was a throwback to the 70s and 80s Division 4 football at its worst he was manager at Cambridge from 90 to 92.

I am glad that his style is no longer around much and is diluted somewhat to Flitcroft levels now.

I am reliably informed by a CUFC ST holder colleague that the odd extra bit of pitch was a result in the development of the stand that away supporters sit in, during development extra space was added for stand and pitch. The thinking was to move the bounds of the pitch up close to the away stand, thus leaving room from r development of the opposite end stand at the front, as development at the back of this stand was a no go due the encroachment on Newmarket Road.

And having a long conversation with a lovely CUFC couple that they or rather the owner sold the ground when the got relegated to the National League for £1.9m and have a low rental agreement (at the moment) which they seemed happy about… The woman asked me about Pee Lower, I tried to keep it to bullet points but it was difficult especially when you add in the might Roar, Curran, Standing, Barry etc, etc. She did mention Powers tenure there and I replied you’re lucky to still have a team to support. So all in all they thought we’d more than made a fist of the game considering. We parted wishing each other well for the season.

I see Cambridge have drawn Millwall away in the next round.
Don't think that's any big loss to us.    Extra revenue would have been a bonus, not sure we'd have got rich out of this one but at least we don't have to worry about injuries and bookings.

Or getting a good kicking to and from the ground.