The Ex Swindon Town Player Where Are They Now Thread

[adje]

Remains to be seen whether Richie Wellness can cut it in League 1 but he's good at getting out of League 2

[Batch]

The point I was really trying to make was how Orient had put in place a structure of experienced football bodies. The fact they are all ex-town, whilst significant was secondary.

The fact that we have a couple of data people from the horse racing/betting industry and a Swindon fan that used to work in a building society, for me, is a major stumbling block for getting where Orient got to this season. 

The very point discussed on the lower league podcast. Someone was talking about Orient and being made CEO, and that's exactly it - realised they knew jack, brought in experienced Football people.

They were discussing in the context of Crawley, who are also a complete mess off the field

[Bob's Orange]

The very point discussed on the lower league podcast. Someone was talking about Orient and being made CEO, and that's exactly it - realised they knew jack, brought in experienced Football people.

They were discussing in the context of Crawley, who are also a complete mess off the field

Crawley is a superb example actually. Their setup has even less football professionalism than ours. At least our guys refer to football in the proper way than these "soccer boy johnny come latelys". It's funny that just because the Crawley owners seemed to have a 'war chest' they were tipped by many to compete for promotion. But they've been an absolute shambles and could go down into non-league.

From the snippets I've read about Crawley, their owners have gone into hiding recently as well and their fans have totally lost confidence in the Wagmi project.

[horlock07]

It's funny that just because the Crawley owners seemed to have a 'war chest' they were tipped by many to compete for promotion. But they've been an absolute shambles and could go down into non-league.

From the poll in WSC at the start of the season based upon comments from supporters of other L2 clubs we were favourites for the title!! 

[Wobbly Bob]

Remains to be seen whether Richie Wellness can cut it in League 1 but he's good at getting out of League 2

Well, he shirked the challenge once and now has another.
Promoted clubs from last season are all in bottom half with one of them going straight back down, which suggests that there is a not insignificant step up in quality.
One that we'll need to take account of in 2024-25.

[adje]

Well, he shirked the challenge once and now has another.

...and a League 1 relegation with Oldham I think

[Berniman]

Remains to be seen whether Richie Wellness can cut it in League 1 but he's good at getting out of League 2

Nah, he's just lucky according to some on here..  this is just a coincidence..

[Berniman]

From the snippets I've read about Crawley, their owners have gone into hiding recently as well and their fans have totally lost confidence in the Wagmi project.

I think most people saw that coming and stated it at the time on here.

[Bob's Orange]

Nah, he's just lucky according to some on here..  this is just a coincidence..

I always found the 'lucky' tag a little strange. he's had an up and down managerial career. His first at Oldham ended in relegation from league 1, then promotion from league 2 with us, then failures at both Salford and Doncaster (probably would have ended up with relegation from league 1, ultimately they went down after he left) before taking Orient up from league 2 emphatically.

I guess he's now proven that he's a solid/good league 2 manager, but has yet to prove if he can handle it up in league 1. It should be interesting to see how Orient do next season.

[Berniman]

I always found the 'lucky' tag a little strange. he's had an up and down managerial career. His first at Oldham ended in relegation from league 1, then promotion from league 2 with us, then failures at both Salford and Doncaster (probably would have ended up with relegation from league 1, ultimately they went down after he left) before taking Orient up from league 2 emphatically.

I guess he's now proven that he's a solid/good league 2 manager, but has yet to prove if he can handle it up in league 1. It should be interesting to see how Orient do next season.

My thoughts exactly - he is a very good League 2 manager and yet to be seen if he is good at League 1 level.  If he keeps LO in League 1 next year then that is his first step in proving that he might be capable at Lge1 level also

[Bob's Orange]

My thoughts exactly - he is a very good League 2 manager and yet to be seen if he is good at League 1 level.  If he keeps LO in League 1 next year then that is his first step in proving that he might be capable at Lge1 level also

I guess the best managers are able to learn from mistakes made as they get more experienced, and it seems with Wellens he is excelling in his adaption. The same could be said of Luke Williams, who seems to be having a lovely old time with Notts County.

[DiV]

Wellens is starting to look a bit Danny Wilsonish

Very good at getting a good thing going and keeping it going but once the tide turns he’s unable to stop it.

[RobertT]

His comments on the youth team when here tell the story I think.  He seems good when he can develop the squad he needs - players who know how to do what they are asked to do (Rose and Doughty could both play QB and Grant had the middle).  He doesn't strike me as a Garner type of Coach, who will work on improving a player.  Once he hits that sweet spot, it seems to work - it didn't take many players leaving for it to start wobbling with us.  Players are a fickle bunch of ego's, and not getting the right quality in probably frustrates him.  He is not going to make them better, he just wants an oven ready player (Flitcroft liked Microwaves).

Isn't something similar oft labeled at Klopp - that he essentially builds a team and then breaks them.

[Mooneyraker]

His comments on the youth team when here tell the story I think.  He seems good when he can develop the squad he needs - players who know how to do what they are asked to do (Rose and Doughty could both play QB and Grant had the middle).  He doesn't strike me as a Garner type of Coach, who will work on improving a player.  Once he hits that sweet spot, it seems to work - it didn't take many players leaving for it to start wobbling with us.  Players are a fickle bunch of ego's, and not getting the right quality in probably frustrates him.  He is not going to make them better, he just wants an oven ready player (Flitcroft liked Microwaves).

Isn't something similar oft labeled at Klopp - that he essentially builds a team and then breaks them.

It will forever be a black mark against Wellens, who I rate, that he allowed a generational Swindon talent in Twine to slip through the net. Treated him like a pup despite scoring bangers in preseason.

[RobertT]

My post seems like I'm having a pop at him - to be clear, I am not, I think he is good at what he does.  A Board needs to understand what you are getting and support him/back him that way.  He'd not fit here right now, that is for sure.