Thetownend.com

Swindon's supremo has described Town supporters as "among the worst in the country" for delusions of grandeur  

Thats me that is  :D

http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/index.php


Sorry if the last 10-15 years i have seen us play in every league and seen the heart ripped out the clubdue to mis managment

Apologies for wanting a little bit more.

Although from now on i will bite my Tongue  and keep my opinions to myself and see what malpas does with his own signings

It's that quote that got to me too.. Turning on the fans already, and fairly aggressively too.
 

Really, what does he exepct? We lose every week. We are under acheiving.

 

Dillusions of grandeur? He was the one that told us the aim was Championship football in 3 years...

 

Not impressed with these comments..

I can imagine Fitton is frustrated at the criticism of his (Malpas) appointment, but I don't think he's done himself any favours with that one.

I guess the plan has always been stabilise off the field this season, whilst holding station on it. Go for it next season on the field when things are calmer financially.

Underachieving??? Most would have accepted staying in L1 this season. hardly underachieving... we are where I expected being quite honest.....




Yes, 3 Years NOT 3 months.

I actually agree with him to be honest im the first to admit that I expect a lot more but that’s football isn’t it

The standard of football in this Division is really poor.. 1 win in 10 in this league is under achieving, absolutely no doubt about it.

If you are happy with Malpas mate then fair play to you. Personally I think his appointment is a disaster.

I agree with AF completely, it's about time he came out and told the fans what his opinion on the matter is and I'm glad to hear him support MM.  

Love the fact he compared Town fans to Geordies as that's what I did on an article comment on thisis last week - and got slated for it!!

Sounds like some of our supporters are willing to dish out the criticism and as soon as someone has a go back they get all upset about it.

We do have a high percentage of cunts. I will refuse to read those articles, because i have the distinct feeling i'll feel slightly more separated from my club.

I can think of at least one member of this forum who will love this article and will see it as the final piece in his/her jigsaw to go on some kind of bullshit propagandist Fitton offensive.

I feel quite sadened that Fitton needs to say whatever it is he's said which is negative about our fans. It'll only rile them further and make them start calling for his head or some bollocks.

Maybe they'll stop going? That's be nice and lower the volume of the childish booing.

What do people want?  Fitton to come out and slate Malpas?

He employed him and its only right he gives him his full backing until hes had a proper chance to assemble his own squad.

I don't like Malpas personally however the more he gets slated the more I want to give him a chance.

I think Fittons absolutely right in what he says in the article.

I wonder if you'd be so supportive if Malpas was English.

I may now read the article. I like this post as it is balanced, adult and reasonable. Nice one Jan. :D

I wonder if you'd be more supportive if he was "a name"...

If Sturrock was here and we won 1 in 10 would we be going mad??? If Cotterill was appointed?? Ling??? The only reason people are going ballistic is because Malpas is not a “name”, Yes we are doing poorly but I’ll give him until maybe November next year before I reserve judgement.

I really hope that's an attempt at :fishing:  because if it's not, you're a tool.  Nationality has nothing to do with it.  My mum's english and I've never wanted her to get the sack!!  Especially after three months.

I would go slightly further and suggest that the reason some fans have moved so swiftly against Malpas is his complete lack of charisma.

Results have been poor, but had Maurice been able built up a rapport of some sort with the supporters, he would have been seen as ‘one of us’ and would certainly have been cut a good deal more slack than he has.  As it is, he seems to have the relationship building skills of a mollusc, which has also hindered his ability to communicate his vision to the fans - further undermining confidence.

I think Fitton is right in that, for now, we need to see past all that.  Maurice does need a little time.  Relegation odds are still very slim, so I would hope he will get the summer to build something for next year and, hopefully, beyond.  I’m sick of disruption at the club, and I’m happy to wait & see for a while longer with the current manager…even if the post match interviews are sending our fans to sleep at the wheel on the way home.

Not sure if you're being serious with that Bazza!

If you do venture on to thisis brace yourself for the comments, some will really annoy you, if been on there a week now fighting my corner, well MM's corner, but it doesn't get any easier.

Although there are a few more people on there willing to give MM a break this week, last week it felt like everyone wanted him out apart from me and a w.u.m.

 :nod:

I 100% agree with Fitton

I agree 100% Gazzza.  It may be because Hoddle, Macari and Ardiles did well that people only trust "names".  It's painful reading some people's comments under the adver stories.  All manner of theories about why MM is an idiot, crap tactician, demotivational etc like they have a clue what they are talking about.  What put the tin lid on it for me was some tool going on about the Trust brown nosing the previous board at the fans forum WTF  :shock: Yeah right!   Fitton saying some fans are delusional is quite mild criticism in my view.  If I was him I'd be calling them ignorant, ungrateful, impatient, moaning po-faced cunts - but that's why I'm not a chairman

"They then point to Moses Ashikodi but signing him was part of the deal for bringing McNamee in".

Well that explains why Mr Stabby is here so that is one strange decision explained. Now I just need to know why he keeps getting played and how he sleeps at night after picking up his wage packet as a professional footballer...

I still hate Malpas. No matter what Fitton says, i don't like him as a person, as a manager, or as a tactician.

If Sturrock was here, we wouldnt have only won 1 in 10.

we just expect too much and the silly thing is, the start of the season rose our expectation levels.

I was expect 14-16th place finish before the season.

After our good spell when we were up in 8th around the play offs I was expecting a little bit more, I was slowly starting to believe we could be a force this season (yes me of all people!!)

Then the Adver with they play off hype bullshit didnt help.

Whilst im not a fan of Malpas. If you look back at threads started before the season most of us would have taken anything above the relegation zone....

So, its Sturrocks fault for being too good and raising expectation.

We're meeting the expectation we all had in July....but not the ones we had in October.

I think Fitton has it spot on, at least we can't say anymore that we don't have a club that's open and honest. Although I think Fitton should have tempered his remarks slightly by saying 'some' fans, clearly some of us are a little more realistic and are not represented by the majority of cringeworthy comments on the Adver site.

Why?

As a person: he isn't inspiring, interesting, or engaging
As a manager: his record was poor before us, and it's poor now
As a tactician: bizarre substitutions, players out of position, weird systems, strange selection policies (the goalie swaps, J.Smith having no future, playing well, then being dropped)

Just my take on him.

But why should he GH?  According to the Adver the fans have been flooding them with Malpas Out messages, the fans who have decided that MM needs a bit of time have been ignored by our local rag.

Cryer, despite his good work in the takeover time, has let himself down in recent weeks imo.  He's succeeded in whipping some fans into a frenzied rabble.

Another thing is that people mentioned before about a Q&A section on the site where board members can answer fans questions but if the club etc. are being constantly lynched then they are far less likely to bother.

Everyone has their own personal opinions re Malpas and thats of course fair enough.  Would be boring if everyone shared the same view, however IMO we don't come across as moronic as those on the adver site.

Would be good eventually for board members to be able to read the forums or sections of, as I think it would improve interaction with the fans and reduce any animosity in the long run should we go through another rough patch.

ha, nice little flammablebenisn in there

malpas out!

fair play to Fitton for sticking up for his manager

I hope Maurice can turn it around ... of course there is the worry that he wont and we might be bottom of League 1 by December ..

will Fitton stick with Malpas then I wonder??

Personally I hope we never find out and that by December we are all saying how we are worried that higher up teams might be trying to get Maurice off of us because we are doing so well ...

Heres to 3 points on Saturday and getting behind the lads .. COME ON YOU REDSSS!!


 :beers:  :beers:

I am going to give him a chance now

a) A bit harsh to hate someone you don't know other than through media interviews.  Sir Alf Ramsey wasn't exactly effusive!

b)Point taken about his managerial record so far but how much is that down to MM and how much down to players, politics at Motherwell etc.  I'd say he's yet to prove himself as a manager which is slightly uncomfortable as if he doesn't cut the mustard we'll suffer but it's too early to say without a full pre season and a chance to select his own players.  If he's going to get more Macnamee's and Kanyuka's into the squad then we can only
improve

c) Tactically I don't think he's any better or worse than Sturrock.  Half the time he's saying the same things about getting the ball wide and crosses in but we're not doing it on the pitch.  Anyway I don't think tactics are our problem it's lack of concentration and composure on the pitch that's been costing us and has done for years.  FWIW I agreed with swapping the goalies as they were both looking ropey at various times in the season.

Still, as Lady points out, it's good to disagree :D

Good to see it's not just us...

"Some of the abuse towards our manager has reached abolutely unacceptable levels in recent weeks. These boards are flooded with threads accusing him of all sorts of things which are wholly unjustified.

A very small minority of us who on here who predicted that we were as likely to play as well against Carlisle last night as we did badly on Friday at Donny.

I'm literally at the point of begging people to put aside their views of our manager and finally accept the truth that he will be here until the end of the season.

We will not drop out of the play off places and therfore please accept the fact once and for all that you may as well stop posting antagonistic articles on here. There has never been as far as I know, and will never be, a manager who is replaced while the team are in the play offs.

Can we please just put aside personal feelings and accept the fact? 6 games to go so please let's unite behind the team at matches and on here?"

From a Forest fan on 606.  Substitute a few words here and there and that could be written about STFC.  Play offs would be two words needing editing.

Forest and Swindon Fans are nothing alike

They spent stupid money in the summer and have every right to be pissed off with calderwood

Forest are in 4th place though, Id hardly call it a failure and a reason to lay into Calderwood as much as they have.

I'm totally the opposite, if I was a Leeds or in particular Forest fan, I'd be mightily pissed off with anything other than winning the league.

Hopefully Forest will balls up the playoffs again and they'll give Calderwood the bullet come summer - and we'll have him here  8)

Dave do you really want CC back here, a legend as a player, but he's never been very popular with the fans at the clubs he's managed.  Some of his managerial decisions are quite baffling at times, apparently.

On one hand I'd like to see hmi come back, and it would get the fans on side, but on the other I'd be worried that one day, he'd get sacked or stitch us up.

Secondly I think it's harder for a club like Leeds and Forest to go up anyway, as all the clubs in the division love to play against them and raise their game accordingly - I think anyway.

Clubs like Carlisle, Donnie, Hull in the championship just sneak up on the inside un-noticed.

All the attention is on the traditonally "bigger" clubs

Anyway back to the Fitton comments - he does come across as a bit of a condascending fucker. The expectations, the hype and wanting to win everything.... that's the nature of being a football fan isn't it?

What Fitton and co have done for the club is immense - however in that interview he's guilty of what he's slagging people off for. You can't hammer people for having over inflated expectations and then basically say "I know best" when Malpas isn't really doing anything.

I make no secret of this Jan, I would rather see a 'name' in charge.

I'm not one of these people who only goes every now and again, drawn in by a big name gaffer - people on here know that I'll always go - but because I think a big name manager commands respect from L1 and L2 quality players. I bet half our squad would be shit scared of Wise or Sturrock because of their standing in the game. At this level I do believe the manager has to be a bigger name (look at Leeds, Forest, MKD, Peterborough etc), or a club legend (Martinez at Swansea for instance), someone of more stature than the players, not a load of no-marks being led by another no-mark.

I think people would struggle to find a post where I've screamed for Malpas' head, but the truth is I don't believe it will prove a prosperous appointment. Wise and Sturrock I think prove the point that a bigger name will bring success, you get what you pay for I suppose?

Part of me wants Malpas to go and part of me wants him to be hit obviously but i want to see that he is capable of doing something.

I understand its not his team and he has not got his own players or backroom staff even and i hope that when he gets all of that he turns it around.

The problem i have is that its weird decisions during games the dropping and changing of players then playing them in the wrong position when we have fit players and capable players in every position.

Yes we are fickle as fans thats the nature of the beast and yes some people are going way over the top in regards to slating malpas when saying they dont like him as a person etc as thats irrelevent .When i get annoyed is when people tell me my expectations are to high when all i want is a better record than 1 win in 10 .

That's fair enough Dave, I hear what you're saying.  Peterborough's not the greatest example isn't Darren Ferguson the manager there?  Hardly a name, I know his dad is but he ain't.  The Posh is his first job.

Also Martinez, doing extremely well with a decent set up, with no managerial experience.

I think all kinds of managers become successful, don't think there's a set formula to become a good manager.

If MM was sacked early on, I really hope he goes to another club and rubs our noses in it, the man does have footballing experience, he's not some fly by night cowboy, and that's why I'd like to let him have a fair go at the CG.

Planty of people out there with loads of experience who are still clowns. Not saying MM is one of them, btw.

Martinez is a good example of the fans getting behind someone, in the same way Ling or calderwood would get backing here. Not necessarily a prove track record in either instance but their time at the club means they dictate respect, I don't MM does.

"It is the same as Newcastle United fans in a way, although there the board agreed with them there. They think they have a god given right to win the Premier League every season but it just is not like that."

Bollocks

So what should our strategy be for recruiting our next manager (no manager lasts forever :))

I'm not sure I subscribe to the "big name" v  "no name" malarkey. There are 5 basic options aren't there:

1. Experienced successful manager - like Sturrock. Pros - minimises the risk factor through proven success, gets the fans excited, Cons- rare as rocking horse pooh, expensive, likely to jump ship.

2. "Big name" retiring pro - pros - gets the fans excited, may have 'contacts' and favours to call in from playing days. Cons - expensive, massive gamble , for every Hoddle there is a McMahon.

3. "Big name charlie" - serial failure management, Bryan Robson, Graeme Souness, et al - Pros, erm, um, cons, they keep on failing and are expensive.

4. "who?" - Take an unknown with little management experience. Pros -cheap, likely to be more loyal to club (?), may work out to be best thing since sliced bread. Cons-little fan excitement, pressure for results brought about by lack of 'respect' (fans, players), may turn out to be the worst thing since I went commando and caught it in the zip.

5. "The internal appointment" - see 4. Could be an Iffy appointment (see what I did their)

Personally I'd go for 1 every time. But we are a division 3 side with 6500 average crowds, and as far as I know are still making a reasonable loss. The chances of attracting such a manager are slim, Sturrock was the exception not the normal appointment.

The other choices are much of a muchness aren't they (3 aside!). I think it comes down to a large slice of luck with these choices because whilst you can be as diligent as you want at interview there is no way of knowing.

I'll run with MM and hope that Fitton is ultimately right, and that if he isn't he'll do what is needed.

Fitton is 110% spot on, that really needed to be said IMO.

Sturrock isn't a name, he's a succes at managing lower league teams in England.  His record is patchy beyond that, and before his first Managerial job in England was a similar "name" as Malpas, in fact less so.

People seem to think we are a Championship team historically when we are not.  This is our home in football.  Every so often we've ventured beyond, and now and then ventured below, but this is Swindon Town.  Get used to it, just like Rochdale fans would have to accept any season spent above the bottom one is a bonus.  We have some potential, hence why people invest in us, but we rarely use it to it's fullness.

Good points Batch, and your last line sums it up, Fitton won't accept failure if MM isn't up to the job.

From my point of view I'm just frustrated and pissed off that the joy of a takeover and a financially stable club - for the 1st time in my long  supporting life - has been soured somewhat by the impatient pre-judging arguments over our manager. Roll on next season.

Bring back Diamandis, Holt & Iffy!

ah yes, the good times that Fitton and Malpas must be to blame for ruining.

Fitton is right to say some fans are expecting too much.

However:

* The quotes make him seem as if the Board are 'right' and the fans are 'wrong'. Maybe the quote has been especially picked out and separated in the Adver piece, but it certainly has the effect of alienation and contradicts what we've heard in the past.

* If we're expecting too much then why did Mr Fitton and the Board allow Malpas and the players to bang on about the play-off push in the media so much. Seems like you they were all too happy to allow them to hype themselves up just because of the 'feel good factor' Now that has gone of course it's not any of their fault the fans expected too much.

* Bloody hell, grandeur? Is that what you call a comfortable mid-table finish in the third division of the Football League? I'm all for a realistic outlook, but that is not grandeur. People were getting beyond themselves with the play off talk (but also see above point), but I think it's a reasonable expectation to expect comfortable survival given our earlier position. Now our form is some of the worst in the country. The performances haven't been that great. We're leaking sill y goals and not making many.

Frankly, although I think Malpas needs some time to get into the job but it's not looking too rosy at the moment, we can't deny that. I get the impression Fitton knows he may have made the wrong choice and is trying to fight his way out of the corner rather than admit defeat. I think that is fair enough to an extent, but he has done his level best to peeve a few more fans off. I notice how the situation has also been narrowed down to fans posting on forums. I don't know if that is down to the Adver or Fitton's thinking but the worry of relegation is far more widespread than that.

Like DMR, I found it a very condescending read. I'm tempted not to bother with the rest of the season now, this may have finally sucked out any interest I've got left until the next campaign.

Forest fans are simply deluded. They think they should be winning the league by 20 points as they are big  :roll:

I totally agree Tails. I don't have a problem with anything he said in that article. But hey it wouldn't surpise me if Bart and Co begin to turn on Fitton as well....anything for a moan with some of our fans sadly  :roll:

So it's ok for Fitton to moan but not Bart?

:D

Bart didn't invest a shed load of money into this club and save it from the jaws of death.  For that reason, Fittons allowed to moan. Barts just Bart.

I am getting pissed off with people saying we are moaning for no reason .

We were 3 points of the play offs and now we are  5 points off relegation we have players playing like a bunch of cunts and have won 1 game in 10

Im not going to blame anyone in general but if I want to fucking moan after paying £300 I fucking will its not for no reason at all its because of shit football shit results and shit atmosphere at games because of it.

The buck has to stop somewhere!

the worst thing is we all know, the team is capable of much much more....

Its not like Malpas took over a shit team he couldnt do anything with.

Whilst Iffy was a naff manager and didnt get results. I didnt get on his back because he took over an unfit fucking awful team. He had no hope in hell of getting anything out of them. He had a bottom of the league side to start with

The current crop is better than a 16th place finish.

Agreed, Fitton surely has to concede that Malpas's record so far is not great, I can understand him saying Malpas needs to get his own players in etc and he trusts him after he employed him and done the interview but they are saying everything is going to plan I think my question would be does that plan really include riding so close to relegation what about your talk of play-off's ?

I also think this is down to some ace writing by the esteemend journo's at the adver to get a story though and using certain parts of the interview.

I suspect a lot more was said but they haven't printed it, I'd prefer Ed or Shaun from RS putting the questions.

I really do hope that Fitton is right though, that Malpas is the man to get this right and I hope we're not saying the same thing come September when we are in the same position.

Also what players is he on about that got another year last season but are not good enough for this level, I can only really think of 2 Nico and Williams who are not playing that may be in that catergory, although I think Nico is fine for L1 but not above.

Its all going to plan apparently!

I confess I am one of those worst supporters in the country who had delusions of mid table grandeur ,as opposed to the promotion talk coming from the club management with no doubt the approval of FitTon.

And to think I will get an invite to renew my season ticket soon.

Don't forget that under Sturrock, on 11 Aug 2007, we were joint top for a while, well on goal difference and now look what Malpas has done!!  

BURN HIM!!!!

And for the love of God, Fitton has not said "we are amongst the worst fans in the country", he said we are amongst the worst for having illusions of grandeur.  Which we are, as RobT said we are a small town club, who go through periods of not so much greatness but "goodness".

Next time the good times roll let's just remember to enjoy it, I have a feeling I took the early 90's for granted.

All football fans are whingers. All football fans want their teams to do better.  We all have delusions of grandeur even if its a dream. Why do I pay my money each week - to watch Town win? Do i hope we get back to the Premiership - of course I do. My expectations, however were mid table this season. Football fans dream - Mr Fitton, you are the current custodian of my club. When I was younger I used to dream of putting on the shirt, now there isn't one that would fit me. Whether you like it or not, you are selling a dream.
This is not a normal business. If you can't handle criticism from the fans then you shouldn't have got involved. We're all in this together. I think you have got a bit over sensitive and hitting out a bit.
Yes some of our fans are complete fuckwits but most are grateful to you. They are, however, entitled to their opinion without incurring your wrath. Lets hope you don't play the Wills trick of threatening to take your ball away.
What you have said will alienate those customers you want to attract.
MM was your appointment and i'm prepared to give him longer than most but it ain't going well nol matter how you wrap it up.

No need to be pedantic I am fully aware you support him and respect your view show the same respect bitch  :D

Everybody is intitled to their opinion. The problem with the internet is that even if your opinion is completely unfounded and you're generally being a fuckwhit, there's enough people about that some other fuckwhit is going agree with you and egg you on. The fact that most people have a varying amount of anonymity on here doesn't help.

Just as you're entitled to moan and and have your opinion. Doesn't mean others can't tell you to shut the fuck up because you're being an overly dramatic cunt monkey.

Some people are just saying more and more outlandish things just for the sake of it. Circling on one side people edging towards wanting us to lose so they can claim to be right, to the other side saying they'd keep Malpas in the job even if he turned out to be Fred West in disguise.

Out of interest, how many season have we spent in each division?

Div 1      1
Div 2      ?
Div 3      ?
Div 4      ?

(Let's say the old Div 3(S) counts as Div 4.)

This nice page would probably help if anybody wants to count...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swindon_Town_FC_seasons

Sorry Don, I didn't mean it.  

Do you know I've been in you twice, but never bought anything, just have a look about and then leave.

That should be the advert for the Thisisstfc site, you have summed it up in a nutshell

Seriously can you rephrase this bit

i agree with fitton to a point.
we have fans that have too high expectations of the team.the ones that boo players.the ones that expect flowing passing football in league 1.the ones with knee jerk reactions.etc.etc.

but i'm afraid we can all see progress off the pitch,and a decline on the pitch.
football is about results, and we aint getting any.
how long can or should malpas get?
if we lose saturday we are right in the relegation scrap.
just because fitton bailed out the club it doesn't make him right about everything!
i hope it works out for malpas, because if it doesn't, it will mean we are in deep shit on the pitch.

Malpas' record at Swindon to date can't really be defended and I accept that.

But do I think I, or any other fan, has a better knowledge of whether he'll ultimately be a success than Fitton has?

No. Fitton doesn't come across as a fool, he's ploughed shitloads of cash into the club and obviously needs wants us to be successful.

No disrespect, but if I had to go with Fitton, or some 12 year old mong on thisis
I'd go with AF everytime.

I've said from the start of MM's reign that I'd rate after a pre season and AF will do the same, nothing's gonna change until next season.

I just keep wondering how different views would be if Cox and Paynter had scored some of the sitters they've had recently :D

Thats absolutely spot on Hertha-missed chances in recent games underline the narrow margin between upper mid table(which is all we were ever going to be)or lower mid table which is what we are.people forget that we have lost 2 potential match-winners through injury and a defender who looked promising.I dont agree with the sentiment that we have a squad that should be challenging for the play-offs.None of our players would get anywhere near the League 1 team of the season except for perhaps McNamee.I still think we'll finish 15th or 16th-it will take an unprecedented run of form from the 5 teams that are below us to take us down.Id rather be in our position than Crewe Gillingham or Millwall or Cheltenham

Good link.  Over the last 50 seasons, we have played in the following Divisions:

Division 1: 1 season
Division 2: 18 seasons
Division 3: 26 seasons
Division 4: 5 seasons

I think that shows fairly conclusively that our natural territory is oscillating between the division we're in and the one above.  Any manager managing STFC in our current division should have very clear expectations of taking us up.  (And I'm not saying that MM does not, by the way.  I'm staying well out of it...just giving him some more time.)

I did point out the other day that there was the first stirrings of anti Fitton sentiment in  the mongdom, that is thisis.  It was completely predictable that anyone who actually listens to Fitton, would realise that he would  point out that a lot of these fans have at best a tenuous grip on reality.

 At least there are some regular posters on this site who understand how things are.

Bring back Diam*ndis   :-))(

See i find that a bit condescending  Reg . I would like to think i have a grip on reality but it does not change the fact that we are in a worse position now than when he took over .

No i'm serious Jan. :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

Maybe i shouldn't have put a big grin after the post, because then you question the meaning if the smiley is slightly out of context.

All i was getting at is it's nice to read reasoned comments, rather than those hurled from any given, steadily filling, passing bandwagon.

I like the idea of continuity and would, barring complete disaster, give MM all of next season. I've no doubt that given some time MM can improve us.

True but would we still exist if Fitton took over? Possibly not. I just think people have got too carried away with us being poor on the pitch in recent weeks. Even i have at times myself and i'll admit that. FWIW i don't think we'll go down.

 I'm good at doing condescension.  The facts are that AF, JW and co have a plan of where they want to take the club, and it involves having a low key manager who will work on  improving technical aspects in the mid term.  Which means MM will get longer to make his mark.

  They might change their tune if we get relegated, mind.

Iffy i agree we may not have a club if he did not come in and i am grateful of course i am but thats not the point my point is being told i expect far too much when all i want is performances and results from a team that i know can do that .

Reg the same thing really, i understand what he wants to do but i am moaning purely about results not who is in charge to be exact but why we have looked a totally different team .

We have played some better football at times under Malpas i think. Things haven't always gone our way. I feel people expectations were too high. Yes you might expect more but surely you didn't think we'd be any higher than 9th did you? You can't win every game mate. Every team has a bad run. That's just football.

  I don't think we have looked a totally different team...we've been a bit sketchy all season with the odd good performance,  so all our managers this season managed 1 away win.  Sturrock produced the dross v Yeovil at home,  Byrne/Williams....Brighton....Malpas...Walsall.   All have produced the odd decnt showing.

Apart from being unhappy with Malpas,why do people think our players are capable of producing more than they do at the moment(with the exception of Cox and Ifil)?Which players do people think are underperforming?Dont forget we have 2 potential matchwinners out through injury,that has to be a factor in my book

The more I think about our missed chances, the more I feel that if Cox was showing the same form as when he was here on loan we'd not be talking about whether Malpas' was fit to manage or not.

It's not that I'm unconcerned about our league position (I am!) it's just that theres more to look at than just the new bloke who nobody wanted.

Comminges,Easton even peacock and you cant say with the exeption of cox and ifil as they are two very very important players for us

going on what i've seen of the players and how well I think they can play and have played, even this season id say the following players are currently under performing

Peter Brezovan, Jack Smith, Jerel Ifil, Hasney Aljofree, Jamie Vincent, John-Paul McGovern, Lee Peacock, Craig Easton (despite the goals) Michael Timlin, Sofiene Zaaboub, Billy Paynter, Simon Cox, Barry Corr (!!)

So, pretty much everyone bar Comminges, McNamee and Blair Sturrock!!

...and even Comminges hasnt been as good since he was switched to the left.

Comminges has been one of our best players in the last 2 months,Easton has added goals to his undoubted work-rate and Peacock has never been more than a plodder in my opinion

Your just teasing Deev-you know that's nonsense!Brez has done little wrong-JPM and Zaboub have NEVER performed to their so-called abilities,Jack Smith doesn't qualify,Aljofree is average,Timlin has only played 2 full games(1 of which he was mom),Corr is injured and I gave you Cox and Ifil.

I am not.

Brezovan isnt as good as he was last season, before he broke his arm he looked like fucking superman, he got to anything and everything. Every cross that game it he claimed and caught. Now he seems to punch them all.

Usually when strikers go through against Brez I expect him to save it, but he hasnt been saving as many. Plus we're conceeding loads of goals from set pieces. Keeper plays at part in that.

Jack Smith, now I know he hasnt played alot but he's a good footballer and we all know that. He came in out of no where and had a good game and hasnt really since. In the past he has been mr. consistent and apart from the odd rash challenge has rarely put a foot wrong.

Aljofree and Ifil looked like a hell of a defensive pairing at the start of the season. They were rocks and strikers hated playing against them. They won everything on the floor, in the air. Again, sloppy goals from set pieces

Vincent is the same, last season at centre back he was awesome and never re-gained that form and probably never will.

JPM was on fire when  he got here. Him on the right and Roberts on the left going for the 'twins' look he was setting up loads of goals and chipping in with a few as well. Was only playing in the Championship a few seasons back. Clearly better than what he's showing.

Zaaboub, still has the most assits and on his day is every bit as good as McNamee. Zaaboubs talent has never been in question, its his application and attitude. I dont think he's been the same player since he got his long term contract but when  he was first here we were all going mad over him. He hasnt had alot of them, but he's had some awesome games in the red shirt and is capable of so much more.

I respect your opinion,you know that,but Aljofree has never been a rock in my opinion,Vincent I agree is a better centre-half than full back but has only just returned from injury and JPM had a decent debut but I haven't seen any evidence of it since Im afraid.I really dont think our squad is good enough to challenge for the play-offs-but thats my opinion

Some very sound points made on here. Jan, DV, Herthab - can't disagree with anything you have posted on this thread today.

As has very clearly been pointed out, its all an issue of expectation management. At the start of the season, it was reasonable, but somehow things spiralled out of control when we actually were doing well. Suddenly, some bastard has applied the brake and we're going backwards a little.

IMO, we should have enough points on the board to be safe, however Gillingham's win last night puts them too close for comfort. Remember though that their GD is -27, ours is -2, thats almost worth an extra point.

I'll leave you with one thought. MM was apparently 'head and shoulders' above all the other candidates for the job. Just think what might have happened if one of the less impressive candidates had got the job.......

Like I've said I thought Aljofree looks class at the start of the season and did up untill his mate Sturrock left.

Vincent has just returned from injury, but hes been playing most of the season.

JPM was on form for his first dozen games and Cox and Paytner scored alot off of his crosses, both the Nottm Forest OGs came from JPM crosses

....at the start of the season I wouldnt have said we had enough to challenge for the play offs but there was a point this season where we WERE challenging for the play offs. We probably would have faded away towards the end of the season....but you can never be sure with Sturrock.

What Fitton said was absolutely true. Some of the fans on here, and all of them on thisis, are disappointed we're not in the playoffs!. Fuckinell it's our first season back in this league with almost the same squad as last season in League Two. It's obvious some of them are not good enough for this league but why won't some of you be fuckin patient so we can get rid of em.
Fittons already a legend in my eyes and the fact that some people are doubting him after what he has done for the club already is fuckin crazy.

Despite all he has done for the club Fitton still needs to tread very carefully as people especially those without access to forums still have a lack of faith in the authority figures at the club after suffering for the last 7 or 8 years. All that it needs for a lot of Fitton's good work to be undone is for him to lose a section of the clubs fanbase. Alot of people still carry the mental scars from the Diamandis regime and Fitton could do with steering well clear of criticising the clubs support IMO.

Sorry Glos, but I don't believe AF was criticising all the clubs support, just the minority that think we have a divine right to be successful and hurl abuse at a bloke who, imo, hasn't been given the time to prove himself (Or otherwise) The only people who feel outraged at his comments are the pricks on thisis, who have been slagging his manager off for the past two months.

I don't feel in the least insulted by his comments.

Nor do I Steve

Its just a shame that such a very very small minority on thisis (which evidently is the one worth reading !  :-))( ) have had this impact.

One thing I have always said about the TEF is that its balanced.

CUNTS on one side

WANKERS on the left

Stuck in  the middle with you.

You missed out

"here I am !"

Its balanced in so much as we all agree that ThisIs is populated with utter twats. Although I see Herthab ventured into the lions den the other day.....stay out of there dude!

How did you know that?

This website can be a bit 'special' at times, we're all guilty of it. Thisis is just pure spastication though, I'm scared to read it in case more of it rubs off on me.

Its the only one I can read/access in my lunch 'hour' at work. Nazis. Its fair to say it winds me up, so I need to get a good book instead.

If you have CUNTS on one side and WANKERS on the left - it is more than possible you have no Wanking Cunts on the right, except probably me!!! 8)

and me mate

We are the judges

Bit late for that

The thing about the Sturrock reign, and I did voice this concern at the time, it was quite clear he was bringing "his" players in JPM, Aljofree, Blair for example this always worried me to an extent, not whether they were good enough, just what happens when he leaves.  Will they still be the same players under a new manager?  The jury's still out for me but I do think PS knew these players inside out, MM doesn't have that luxury.