Thetownend.com

Another dead rubber for us whereby winning our last three games can only advance us one place further up the EOS table. For our visitors a victory will cement their third place auto spot a little more firmly in place to the detriment of Stockpot and those PT jocks Carlisle. Who in all probability will be temporary town fans for the night.

I’m going for a 2-2 draw with 7,601 in attendance including 436 from Hertfordshire (at this point someone’s going to say they’ve bought more than I’m estimating blindly)

Would love to put a spanner in Fatty Arbuckles promotion plans, despicable warthog that he is. Beaten yesterday at Mansfield so hopefully the bus wheels are falling off for them.

Swindon 1-2 Stevenage
Khan to score
8,555 (210 Stevos)

Swindon 1 Stevenage 1 Att: 7,980 (inc 520 away fans)

Would the poster who has predicted 6-6 in the prediction league please stand up😀

Piece of piss, 4-1

That's me, always good to be optamistic about the number of goals!

Normally as it involves Evans I’d be going regardless of it being a dead rubber, but still can’t be bothered to put in the effort to drive to this.

Hope we beat them and detail their season, but my interest in this season is done.

There will be a defensive meltdown on here if that was the score😀

They lost to Mansfield yesterday so will be wobbling like Evans belly if we can get at them from the off.

Stevenage really need to win with Stockport and Carlisle breathing down their necks so expect a battle.

Really looking forward to watching this. Hopefully get revenge for shithouse defeat in the away game. 2-1 Town

Will be interesting to see how many they bring, as they had sold something like 25 tickets for the original game

You would think they would bring 500 for a game of this importance as they managed a couple of thousand to Villa in the FA Cup.

0-3

They never travel well.

These are the figures for the last 7 games played at the CG between us going back to 2013.

220
112
125
66
114
79
217

Going to this now  :)

Bit early...

 :D

For their 2 Tuesday night games in Feb they took 105 to Newport and 463 to Wimbledon.
They'll bring around 300.

Weird that Crawley are saying the last game of the season is a ‘party’ game.

Both them and Hartlepool have 2 games left, 6 points between them - Creepy home to Walsall and away to us.

Hartlepool home to Barrow and away to Stockport.

There is only a 6 goal difference in Creepy’s favour.

Not beyond the realms of possibility they could be caught at the last.

Hope so.

You are right.

But I think the odds of Hartlepool winning both and Crawley losing both are < 1%.

Either way we have to stuff them so we don't see the chest bumping dick at work.

There's every chance they'll be fatigued.

I fiercely want to smash em to pieces but want them to stay up. Easy game for me to get to and for some daft reason I like the ground

I’m moving back to the UK this Thursday so I’ll get this game in at least!

Mulling over a ST for next season.

Do it.
Next season is ours.
Champions, you heard it here first

 :pint: :pint: :pint:

I don't think you will make this match Aud. Town play them tomorrow...unless you meant you move back on Tues but then I think you would've said ''tomorrow''  ;)

Went off with a random Crawley post. That’s the game I’ll be able to attend.

I like the optimism and lets hope that is right .  probably not the first as I heard that last year from the captains of hms piss the league

This is the type of game where you need your centre backs to be on the top of their game. I'd be half tempted to start with Minturn tonight. If he's going to make it at this level these are the games he is going to have to excel in. He already did pretty well at Orient, why not give him 60-70 minutes tonight to see how he does against a direct, physical side.

I think we are in for a potential hiding. Potentially not a good one to bring Minturn in.

I stand by my prediction of 210 :)

Someone on the Stevenage forum thinks 5-1 against the wombles was our biggest ever win margin  :doh:

The pier of poor research by ITV…

Coat on or off tonight🤔

What are we thinking today then folks? I'm concerned Morris will be tempted to play Kadj-agoogoo... hopefully not.

                                         Brynn

Hutton               Brewitt                    Clayton              Lavinier


           McEachran               Khan                        Cain
                                  


             RHM                     Jephcott                 Wakeling


Williams supposedly a fitness doubt so I'd have him as an impact sub if vaguely fit.

Gate?

7500?

7501 when I get my ticket.

Don't miss the bus😀

They’ve got a forum?

http://www.borochat.co.uk/

Many of their posters make our fanbase sound smart :)

Jesus! What a pain in the arse that forum is.

Matchday thread

http://www.borochat.co.uk/thread/35014

Based on the comments I hope Northampton and either Carlisle or Stockport get the autos and Bradford win the play offs.

Paolo Di Canios flying Circus!

I was at Crawley when Fatty was put in his place...threw his note book in the dug out when all was lost!

Was it Caddis who gave him a bit of his water bottle? (home game) :)

Ball boy also pissed him off by not returning the ball one game we were winning, my son is going to the game with him tonight.

Be good to get a win over Fatty Evans but not too fussed if they go up. If they do, they'll go straight back down.

Evans?

Should be a good test against some physicality.
A small positive to take out of the season would be getting through without being beaten twice by anyone.
A potential for some feistiness tonight which would be good.
Have a feeling that we will be very competitive which may come as a surprise to the away fan.

Regarding Evans, when we played Crawley at home in 2012, when it came to dealing with Luke Rooney weren't the tactical instructions from the dugout something along the lines of "break his leg"?

It was indeed the fat crook that shouted “Break his fucking leg”  to one of his players when manager of Crawley, don’t remember if it was Luke Rooney or not

How do I get matchday tickets these days without physically going to the ticket office?

Online.

https://www.eticketing.co.uk/swindontown/Events

They are delivered by email containing a print at home pdf, and also alternatively has links to allow you to add them to your android or apple wallet

Cheers, Batch!

The Ticket is emailed to you as a pdf, I just download it and use my phone to scan at the turnstiles

Still fat either way.

TBF, a lot of town fans said that about Port Vale

Trainee bus driver  :doh:

Shade and RHM in Williams and Wakeling out.

Wakeling on the bench is a strange one. Guessing Williams is injured

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fuk0yuiXwBouSuA?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)

I would've liked to see Clayton played in a defensive midfielder role, with Minturn slotting into the backline.  Surely now is the time to experiment, especially as the opposition are big and strong and likely to play direct !

Possibly an experiment? Wakeling we know we want/have for next season. RHM and Shade less clear....

Must be. He played well Sat

RHM will trigger a 1 season extra contract extension in the next game or 2 apparently, I like his energy and pace, he just gets the ball mixed up between his feet at times.

Shade, I am sure theres a player in there but lately hes been even worse than he was earlier in the season.

He needs to look up when running and take some risks rather than playing safe and keeping possession with a backwards pass when hes in a good attacking position.

If he is "experimenting" then the line up makes me think he's hopeful of keeping Hutton

No Norris. Reduces the chances of an ex player scoring against by 50%

Jake Reeves starts though.

Cain gave the ball away very cheaply there after a pass from brynn, cost us possession but we clear it to touch.

Bad challenge by Brewitt on the edge of our box, FK to them.

Poor FK in the end well over the bar.

Brewitt looks like he could be going off injured.

Brewitt looks like hes moving a bit freer now.

McEachran goes to ground under challenge in the box, he should have stayed on his feet, no pen.

That's a pen in my book. Straightforward push

If he hadn't been looking for it the ref may have given it, he was always looking for the pen I think as soon as he got the ball in the box.

Stevenage playing some decent pressing football so far, not the long ball shit they played in the away game. Decent team.

We look pretty sloppy in possession so far, Cain I dont think has completed a pass yet.

Stevenage showing what works in L2.

Town win a corner, great long pass from Hutton to Jephcott.

That looked more like a pen to me on McEachran there.

Surely a pen that time.

Pulled back then, collided with from behind.

RHM well over the bar after a lovely cross from Shade to Jephcott who finds RHM but its a wild finish.

Shade with a nice 1 2 with Jephcott but its inches away from the return pass in the box.

RHM goes to ground too easy in the box again.

We're outfootballing them now

The ref should get his purple shirt on at half time.

Last 5 or 7 mins we have looked the better side.

Not happy with all of our diving in the area!

TBF only one of the penalty appeals looked possible to me, the 2nd one on McEachran.

We are definately looking for penalties.

This ref is shit

Brewitt tries to dribble out of defence and loses it when he should have hoofed it but again we just get away with it.

Boo

Shit.  Too easy.  Also deserved.

0-1

Hutton asleep for that one

Easy goal, Hutton and Brewitt both gone awol.

The ref isnt giving us anything so far.

Utter cunt of a ref. Definite foul on Khan there

on the beach ⛱️

Nope, but he’s got most things right. I thought two of the penalty shouts looked nailed on but replays suggest he got them all right. We’re going down too easily.

Well worked goal that. Stevenage comfortable on the ball. Roll on next season

Stevenage as a team are much better than Bradford last week so far.

I hate us going to deck so easily, I am not sure about the 2nd pen appeal on McEachran but the first definately wasn't.

Minturn on for Brewitt who is injured.

Those who thought tonight was worth playing Minturn are in luck. Unfortunately at the expense of Brewit who limps off.

Massive game for Minturn, see how he plays against a half decent forward line, even without his injury Brewitt was struggling to cope with them today.

Does anyone know how many games Brewitt has played for us?

Hes started 11 games but only played in about 3 of them :D

Khan losing possession just outside the box.

For all his skills - showing why he's not such a great bet for a promotion push next year.

Khan closed down by 3 Stevenage players pressing us on the edge of the box, Khan really poor today, we got away with that.

For all Khans faults, like that, it was more a case of great pressing by Stevenage there IMO.

We literally have nobody capable of putting a challenge in - powderpuff

Gobsmacked to admit I'm rather impressed by Boro so far.

Ditto, I feel dirty for saying it.

The average age of our side currently on the pitch is 22.4.

Piergianni is exactly the type of horrible bastard we should and could have signed in the summer

Waste of a 4 on 2 there, needed a better ball across to tee someone up

If you saw him last season against us for Oldham you would think he wouldnt even still be a league player, he looked utterly awful in both games when Oldham were relegated.

Unless he is under 21 with sell on potential he won’t be signed

weird game. They're better than us but we've had some chances and a good penalty shout

HT 0-1

Thought that we were going to score when RHM broke clear

Its a frustrating one. They’re bigger, stronger and more experienced. But any time they get in a situation requiring skill and finesse they go to pot. Good job really or they’d be out of sight.

If you need a case study on why this squad is struggling in League Two, this is it. Not writing us off just yet though as we have had glimpses.

Brewitt got injured in about the second minute putting a good block in. Not sure how you can say he was struggling before that!

He still won every header and managed to score against us (i think) even when playing for the worst team in the league...  Harries/Brennan or Piergianni?  I know who I would go for

That's whay I said should/could

Shock horror - we are being outmuscled.

Khan getting worse every week. Our midfield just doesn’t tick over without Jonny.

Shade is such a frustrating player. Looks great one minute and then pub standard the next.

That said, should be 1-1. Brilliant from RHM and such a poor connection from McE.

We're certainly missing the experience and enterprise of FBT and Williams tonight.

Would bring on Wakeling for Shade  (Hopefully Shade now goes and proves this a wrong call)

Spent more time watching Piergianni, Sweeney and Bostwick than us. 3 proper experienced and competent CB’s all bellowing out instructions, organising and bollocking mistakes from others, such a far cry from what we’re used to in that position. Wish we’d gone in for Sweeney in the summer when he left FGR.

is williams dropped, injured or unknown?

Their keeper's spilled both our shots on target. We're not close enough to him. Get Wakeling on for Shade and I think we can get back in it. Minturn doing ok so far. For me that first shove on McE is a pen. Not sure about the second one. Sorry,but we are missing Williams tonight.

Stevenage everything we’re not. Organised, nasty and communicate well. Bit of class up top and wow would you believe it, you have a side that gets promoted. Can tell the difference between the two teams every time there’s a throw. Stevenage full of experienced pro’s who organise the side well. Us? Absolute silence. We’ve looked dangerous on the odd occasion but could so easily be 2-0 down.

Stevenage are a better version of the Flitcroft team we had.  It's a bit like watching effective Rugby, where a team pins the other in for long periods of time.  It's not so much that they are bullying us, more that they just know what to do to keep it there.  There is no need to think - everyone knows their job and trusts each other to do theirs.

I have no problem with us going a different route, just that we did it badly.  As Berni said, we just don't have anything different, no variety, no experience/know how etc.  We are not good enough to dominate teams (as in all over them), so teams like this can soak up a few passes then spring on us and pump us back under pressure.

Injured.

Apparently injured

Jephcott won’t win a header all night against that lot

Hutton moaned that fans said he was on the beach. He’s alive when we go forward, he’s fast asleep in the sun when it comes to anything defensive. His reaction time for their goal, and his lack of effort, were very poor. Stevenage look faster, stronger and more determined. But, we might still get something out of it if we can take our chances….

So far Cain can’t pass, Shade can’t cross, Khan can’t keep the ball. Could be a long second half for our midfield.

8 minute was when he went down.

True.

But thus far they had only one shot on target.  Thankfully :D

By contrast the average age of the Stevenage side is 28.4. If you exclude their young keeper who is 20 their youngest player is a month older than our oldest player Khan (27).

I thought the opposite. first looked shoulder to shoulder hulk v pee wee Herman.

second looked a foul. he was just about to shoot. Ref was closer but he's a massive cock so who knows

Men against boys
Just shows what Jody Morris inherited

apart from that though...

:eek:

He did it when he got hit in the first or second minute. He winced and held his knee straight away.

Their keeper doesn’t look that good.

The rest of the team look better than us.

We are trying hard and it’s entertaining.

Shame we gave away a soft goal.

Can’t see much changing in the second half.

My comment was made about his game after he went down injured....8th minute.

RHM has a shot thats easily saved.

Absolutely this - Stevenage aren't the only way to get promoted, but they are a team who have a plan and implement it well. You can get promoted from L2 playing football - in fact the last three Champions have been us under Wellens, FGR and then Orient under Wellens, all of whom were footballing sides - just better ones than us!

Not much "experience" in that offside!

Put Shade and us out of our misery

Minturn’s had two or three very good touches. Looking composed so far.

Despite Bradford and Wimbledon didn’t have energy to go to this.  Saturday was a great day out a dull cold Tuesday at home was to easy to turn down.  Despite the two wins still on the fence about Morris not convinced at all.

Not quite what you originally said but let’s move on!

None of our midfielders are better than last years midfielders, which let's face it, should be the minimum baseline if we are serious about getting out of the basement.

They must be a fucking nightmare to play against. The level of low level gamesmanship - pushing, holding, follow up hits is masterful.

Steve Evans, innit

I am not sure that Shade realises that he is actually a professional football player, if he did realise that he isn't just having a kick about, he has got all of the sttributes to be a player.

Well that was a pen,surely?

None better than last year's first choice ones for sure - Reed, Gladwin or Williams and Payne. But probably six better than a Ryan East sort of level. We replaced one good player with one and a half squad players across the pitch. But there we go, we've all argued it over and over this season, just have to hope the hierarchy have learned the right lessons ahead of this summer.

that looked a clear pen

Another pen turned down.  Contact from behind with the player and not the ball.  

Looks very much like he was being held back off the ball then. They’ll be laughing themselves all the way home that they got away with that.

Their keeper,like the ref is utter shite

The defender’s got a foot to the ball but did he pull RHM back first? Dreadful cross and the keeper’s somehow missed it completely.

Stonewall penalty and a sending off!!!

I thought so too

This ref isn't willing to make any big calls is he?
Been impressed with RHM, he's making up for Shade being utterly absent

This ref will piss himself before he’ll ever make a decision

Oh Mino that was not very clever.

Minturn almost gifts a second. Another sitter they’ve missed.

I don't think any of our penalty shouts have been penalties - if they were given against us I would be fuming..

was thinking about Minturn as a poss. MOM.

Gift wrapping a chance for Stevenage.  They miss.

Really? You’re saying no pull three yards out there?

Stop thinking then!

I wasn't 100% on the third penalty shout, but the first two were not penalties.  Their keeper is dire though.  Imagine him playing for us against them tonight!

Austin, Darcy and Wakeling on for Shade, Cain and Jephcott

Nah, not for me

Att: 8,289 (311 Steves)

They are hanging on

Great cross from Hutton, too early for Charlie

Going back to experience.

Swindon 1st team EFL games total = 426 (before the subs)

Stevenage 1st team EFL games total = 2459

Definitely getting on top here. Youth should in theory come on strong later.

Typical Evans team, add to that the amount of experience in that team who have amassed nearly 5 times the amount of leagues games as we have in total.

Come on Swindon for Christ Sake, there a whole lot of us plastic Jocks willing you on tonight.  :clap:

I make that six penalty shouts-this ref...........

The shithousing has started

RHM looks proper dangerous sometimes but he really needs to take a bit more care of the ball sometimes. Has given it away 3 times in the last 3 minutes

They are literally just kicking for touch now, look exhausted.

We certainly havent given up yet too.

Fucking cheating bastards, going down holding their head all the time, proper gamesmanship.

Players go off for Head Injury Assessments in Rugby Union.

This should apply here.

Must be nearly three minutes since the ball was in play.

We have missed Williams drive in midfield today.

Some might wish we were more like Stevenage. I really don't

The ref really is giving us nothing today.

I very much doubt anyone does - as I mentioned before, it's a better version of the Flitcroft team we had to endure, it was awful that season.

Stevenage are lucky they have a solid backline with this keeper behind them, he is terrible

He is one of the worst we have seen this season, reminds me of RCC in his prime.

That's who I was trying to remember.  Exactly like - basically a small kid who has been sent in with those big foam hands.

Yep thats him!

7 added mins - at least he has added it on

Should be more like 10.

Torn between wanting Stevenage to go up so we don't have to play them next year and wanting them to achieve no success whatsoever whilst they play like this.

1st half Stevenage played some good football, this half its been anti football from the off.

There's your seventh penalty shout. It's quite funny really, considering Morris always thinks we should have had a penalty he'll blow a gasket tonight.

Sounds like Stevenage, exactly the same at Brunton Park except it was from the first minute, I kid you not!!!!!

1st half they were one of the better sides we have played this season, but this half has won them no friends, dirty niggly tackles, hoof ball down the wings and going to deck holding their heads, real gamesmanship from each and every one of them.

frustrating and shit

FT 0-1

This.

Steve Evans just as I remember him. He never cuts it in L1.

Stevenage were an effective team in the first half, clearly better than us.  Second half they just closed up shop - the win was vitally important for them tonight, it's a results business.  I don't begrudge them doing what they did, but it must be hell to watch for the whole season.

They got their first yellow in the 97th minute, incredible (and incredibly annoying) how well they play the referee.

Who is the twat on comms? What a bellend.

Weird one that. On the one hand we’ve struggled to create anything against a solid team and given chances away too easily. On the other, we could have had a penalty or two and lost to their only shot on target.

Stevenage Keeper may well celebrate on that clean sheet.  

Truth is they deserved it.

However 3 points for only one shot on target was a generous return.

We were unlucky not to get a pen, possibly two.  (not counting the handball claim that I didn't see)

Everything that's wrong with football summed up in 97 minutes. Shithousery rewarded with plenty of help from a shocking referee.

Ref was 50/50. 50% Stevenage 50% Borough.

Whay, Sam Parkin?

Looked hopefully at the Pox score.  They won 4-0  >:(

Lots of blue lights heading down county road  :naughty:

Season 22/23 summed up. Forwards off the pitch, backwards on it.

Steve Evans raiding the local Greggs?

People will complain about the ref, and yeah he was abysmal, but we didn’t do enough to get anything from that. Two/three chances where Stevenage should’ve killed us off but due to some horrific finishing, they left the door ajar. Thought the changes in the second half livened us up a bit, but truth be told, we are miles behind a side like that which is so disheartening considering Stevenage are just an organised, well-drilled side with a bit of grit in there. People will also look at Stevenage and think that’s the way to get promoted from this league, and while it’s worked for them, there’s no point thinking we’ll do the same. Our young players and ‘attractive’ style of play can work, but it needs two or three experienced heads (not players like Khan) and football IQ. Sadly we lack both of those.

Someone impersonating a referee apparently  :girlgiggle:

Can't argue with that.

Am I alone in enjoying that Stevenage performance a little bit? They were everything we’re not. Strong, experienced, hard working and disciplined. Willing to do anything to grind out those points. Was it attractive football to watch? No but it got the points and whilst I wouldn’t want to watch that over a season, I don’t buy the snobbery take that we’re in the right for trying to pass it about and they’re in the wrong for playing a less attractive style. There’s multiple ways to win football matches and a middle ground between what we are and what they are is what we should be aiming for in my opinion.

Look at the experience and know how in that team to know when to go down with an injury to relieve pressure, when to slow things down, 3 experienced CB’s bellowing out instructions and organising. Every single one of their players committed 100% to trying to win every header. All things we could learn from and that you only really learn through experiences experience.

Is that going to be enough in League One for them? Probably not, the difference in quality is mental and they’ll have to adjust but they showed traits that we need to learn quickly if we’re going to get out of this division. The Wellens side weren’t as hoofball as Stevenage were tonight but they did have players capable of the rough and sneaky side of the game like Grant and experience sprinkled throughout it with that know how.

All that being said though, the ref did have a stinker.

Shocking defending for the goal but defensively “okay”, a couple of gaffes aside.

The midfield simply didn’t operate as a unit. Cain had a pass like Thor’s hammer, Khan was dreadful. He’s gone backwards at warp speed. We should absolutely not be building around him at all next year. McEachran is the modern tidy player. Not sure he’s the man for L2. We massively missed Jonny’s guile.

I thought RHM was good. Jephcott ran a bit but not in it. Shade had his chance and blew it. Has everything to succeed but seems borderline brain dead at times.

Ref stank, as did his useless assistants but that’s part of the penance for being in league two. We need to suck it up.

Stevenage were everything we expected. Never want to be that side. Had a taste under Flitcroft and that was more likely to make me abandon my season ticket than anything Sandro has done.

Parkin:
- Good turn out
- Fans got behind the team after subs
- Stevenage players seemed to try to kill the game but crowd continued to try to lift the team
- Second half of the season has been a tough watch
- Fans continued to support the players. Only a few boos
- A few weeks ago that would have been a heavier defeat
- Stevenage should have scored more
- Swindon stuck in there and tried to rally
- Swindon have to have inch perfect passes to score the way they play
- Had to be cute and worked through the thirds. Nearly worked in the first half
- There is no shame in losing. But there is still a gap between Town and the opposition who played in unison as a team.
- More time with the management team and a much better squad may improve things
- Parkin saw a contrast in the play. Wasn't possession heavy. Saw a team trying to win a game any way they could. Didn't overly play out from the back. That was the right way to go about it. Need some physicality and to be able to run at teams in L2.

Did Morris get a red card at the death? Someone did & he was very animated.

‘Twas Brand I believe

Ahhh

I've no problem how Stevenage played to get the points.

At this stage of the season they are all that matter. Shit to watch, yes. would I care, no.

We have now been doubled haven't we.

play on . really.

https://twitter.com/warwickroadend/status/1650956324149030922?t=1AK40gLB3u1w2JmxT9Z7hQ&s=19

Couldn’t be arsed to wait for Morris

A final thought. Hutton is a shit defender. The man can cross a ball but much past that I’m struggling. Play him as a winger or not at all, and if someone is prepared to pay good money then take it.

Simply put... Stevenage were a better team
Seemed head and shoulders above a poor young Swindon outfit that offered very little.
Obvious need for a minimum of 5 experienced players in key positions before any improvements will happen.

You can see promise in virtually every player on the pitch (though I’ve run out of hope for Shade, and Cain’s going to have to do a lot more over the next 2.5 years :cry: to make me understand why he was worth investing in). But this summer we shouldn’t recruit a single player under 25!

Morris:
- Thought we were unlucky
- Elements where we can do better on the ball
- Poor goal defensively to concede
- Choose wrong moments to try to play.
- Moments to try to bring the ball under control and others when to get it away
- Early in 2nd half we still tried to do that
- Thought we competed really well.
- More than matched them in the second half
- If we had a ref that gets decisions right...We had one penalty in the first half and three in the second. They were blatant
- When you are on the front foot and competing like that then you need the right clear and obvious decisions
- Surprised not to have got 2 out of 3 in the second and 1 out of 2 in the first
- Havent matched that type of opponent that well before
- Deserved more than zero points and proper refereeing decisions
- It wasnt just the poenalties, its the going down with head injuries and bringing our players down when we broke
- Brand wouldn't be the only one who was upset. Dont know whether it was him who got the red card. Saw a red card but dont know who it was for.
- They were hanging on and relying on the ref not doing his job
- They are masters of that style of play
- Felt we matched them. On another day we could have scored more
- Brewitt knee problem. Couldnt turn as well as he would like
- Minturn did some really good things. Looked calm. Couple of moments when he was too casual. Made an outstanding interception in the first half and tried to get his head on it. Will point out bits when it wasnt the right time to play out
- Doesnt know whether with 2 games to go it is worth looking at fringe players. Morris wants to keep building
- Williams: Not sure if he will be back on Saturday. Has an ongoing groin problem

Men against boys.
Re one of our youngsters. Does anyone think Cain is able?

Not remotely.  I said some weeks ago that he reminds me of Anton Rogers and he's not shone since then.

He looks backwards first, occasionally plays forward with a quality ball, but is also capable of being utter shite and giving it away or putting it in the stands.  He appears to have no confidence in his ability, which makes him easy to read and totally ineffective.

He may come good, and really hope he does, but looks a waste of a wage to me.

And a transfer fee as well in that case.

Scratching my head as to how Stevenage with that keeper kept a clean sheet last night. He spilled 2 shots first half and then that awful attempt to take/punch a ball out of the air in the second half that led to RHM being impeded, was feeble. Sadly we just never did enough to work him, I reckon if we hit some corners just under their cross bar, he probably flaps one in.

Positives - Minturn, despite taking liberties a little too much seems to be very confident and looks like he might just make it as a league player.
 I thought the combination of RHM and Hutton down the right was very positive. I do like RHM, I reckon with a pre-season under his belt he can be very good indeed in league 2. Hutton is good going forward, but poor(ish) defensively, that has been done to death. Wonder if we sell Hutton then Lavinier slots in? Nowhere near as good at crossing but has the ability to use pace to get to the byline and cut in and has a fierce shot on him. Mceachran was busy and looked useful, trying to knit defence and attack together.

Negatives - Khan, Cain and Shade just miles off where we need them to be. Sadly we miss a couple of real physical players in midfield that you want to take the game by the scruff of the neck. Jeff Cott worked hard but it was too easy for their back 3 last night, JM is going to have to work on making our strikers much more dangerous. One good moment first half with his back to goal where he unselfishly setup a team mate, but service to him wasn't up to scratch.

On another night with a more clinical forward, Stevenage probably win that 4 zip but they showed second half how to shut up shop and take home the 3 points. Not pretty, but bloody effective.

 I noticed that Evans was sat down the whole match, was that simply because he was too heavy to stand up, or is he making a conscious decision to stay off the touchline to avoid getting his gob in trouble? Alex Revell was also on the touchline, formerly of this parish. Nice to have Sam Parkin on comms last night, really intelligent guy to listen to.

This was the stat of the night.

We’ve done it to death but you’ll never build a successful team like this.

Enjoy Morris negotiating his penalty count up in the post match interview. I think he's thought we should have two penalties every game - so if he's looking for five then it probably was two to a reasonable observer! Honestly the only one that looked egregious was the RHM one after their keeper dropped the ball, the rest you've seen given but are cross if they're given at the other end.

McEachran got shoved in the back early in the first half and I counted another 2 we could have had on a good day. Ref was shocking yesterday and fell for all of their time wasting tactics. An Evans team that has passed the dark arts - good enough for L2 but they’ll be straight back down

I only managed to watch a bit of the 2nd half and we looked alright in that bit. Thought Austin should've done better with the header he had, great cross by Hutton again, I like him, we'd be silly not to keep until January at least. The referee was unbelievably atrocious, just encourages anti football.

in some respects Morris is right, with a decent ref we could have got at least a point.

But to the MK1 eyeball Stevenage, while more agricultural, looked to be a step above. Big step? maybe not. but clearly above.

you don't get points for style over substance

4D quote]
For their 2 Tuesday night games in Feb they took 105 to Newport and 463 to Wimbledon.
They'll bring around 300.
[/quote]

 :wink:

I have no issue with the 'dark arts', which to my mind is playing on the edge of the law.

What I do have a problem with is cheating, and this ref was absolutely blind to it. Going down feigning a head injury time and time again is cheating, pure and simple. One of them went over in their box when we had the ball in a dangerous area and the ref just blew up. It was piss poor from them and piss poor from the ref. Something needs to be done to stamp it out.

A bit of subtle time wasting here and there, some needle and physicality and getting in the refs ear is all fine.

Pure straight-up overt cheating stinks.

Post of the season!🙂

Absolutely and if that's what it takes wouldn't want us to do it

Havent read back.

Real mixed emotions as i left the CG last night....sober as a judge as i gave the pop a miss.

It is obviously clear why Stevenage are where they are in the League. Perfectly set up for a pop at fourth tier football success.

Organised, big (all of em), masters of the dark arts and very very direct. Although uncomfortable because it was my team on the end of it, i did admire the way they played. Sorry but i did.
Town are a young side and it was wince worthy at times when we were simply steam rollered by them.

Lightening when they picked up a loose pass on the edge of their area in the first and hit us in three passes and got a corner.....that is the way to get results in this league.

My views on the game having said all that was that we probably deserved a draw:

They did miss some chances and i dont know about the early shout but the Pen shout at the TE could be seen from space, there is no excuse for a Sunday morning ref to miss that, let alone a League official.
he also got suckered in by the 'head injuries'.
Needs to be a new rule on this, they took the piss. I also accept that all teams, including us do this stuff. Ref was awful.

For a young (too young IMO) side, we did well and its becoming very clear, which players are worth keeping, letting go or we are lumbered with.

Missed Williams, the one played that has close control and buy us some time to keep the shape.

Gutted that Charlies header went awry, i thought that was going to be the moment.

Murphy ran his bollocks off.

We still fuck about at the back and got away with Boro missing ....FFS...its NOT working.STOP!

Anyway, a dead rubber for us...two games to go and then start the speculation about what the squad will look like next season.

Exactly as I have advocated all season. I totally agree.

So where was Williams? Injured, ill or dropped?

I’ve enjoyed us having Jonny, but he’s tailed off and checked out. I suspect Morris doesn’t see the merit of playing someone who may well have a deal elsewhere already.

Does it matter?
He’s as good as gone anyway.

Its looking increasingly likely his destination will be either Wrexham or Colchester linking up with Garner.

I like Willo a lot and would love him to stay but if Morris doesnt have full faith in him I doubt we will even make him a new contract offer at all despite Johnny saying he would happily sign if the wages were right for him.

For a trip of around 100 miles each way and you are a club sitting in 3rd place in the league and looking like they will be promoted with 3 games left in the season that is utterly piss poor support.

One might even say "tinpot"!

Watching the extended highlights there were actually a few good forward passes from Cain which I didn't really clock last night as he and Khan were largely getting bulldozered in dangerous positions in front of our defence.

Newport fans thought quite highly of him so hopefully we can see more from him next year. Not quite sure what sort of midfielder he is though...

If that's the case,that is a major misjudgement by Morris in my opinion

Perhaps but I don’t think it matter if we offer him a deal or not.
He’s gone regardless.

Yes, but this is Stevenage we are talking about  ;D

Does he not? By all accounts was desperate for him to stay in Jan and my reading of it is he knows Williams is off so we need to look at players under contract.

Irrelevent of whether Williams is injured or not, fans have been crying out for players that are contracted and expected to be staying next season to be playing, bar Brynn that is exactly what that starting 11 was last night.

well yeah, wanted to win that one.

he's hardly gone experimental

If it means Morris realises that Shade needs to go then it'll have been well worth it.

Interestingly Jonny was sat with Gladwin in the Definitely not the Vice Chairman's Directors' Box.

I thought that at the time, but the Ifollow replay (which didn't look completely conclusive right enough) showed that the 2 Stevenage players clashed heads when trying to clear the ball out of the box. I also thought Rose's was a legitimate head injury as well.

Hawes said he was injured. I think I read he has a groin problem.

fair enough. thanks.

Agree.

"Hutton is a shit defender. The man can cross a ball but much past that I’m struggling. Play him as a winger or not at all, and if someone is prepared to pay good money then take it."

Is basically how Barrow fans described him when we were sniffing around.

Really need to create that experienced spine. At the moment we really only have Austin and Williams and are likely losing both.

Are we likely to lose Austin? Any info on that?

I still think there is potential there, but a defensive midfield player he certainly isn't. With Williams likely leaving he has a big chance to step up next season. Get him with an experienced ball winning midfielder and he might still come good.

I'm not ready to write him off yet anyway. We've seen the difference another Liverpool youth player can be in Clayton when he was with an experienced Centre Back in MacDonald vs how he is when thrown in with whoever is fit that week and can play. Its like a different player.

Made my mind up back in August too, that opinion has not changed all season.

His failure to stop the player crossing the ball last night was down to lack of desire. Pure and simple. And it has been evident for months.

Think he just fell asleep to the turn rather than not being arsed.

Either way the result was the same.

We still had two players in the box not marking the goalscorer too.

Might just be me being pessimistic, but that is what I'm expecting.

Cain at Wimbledon looked a decent player, he also played well in a home game (Mansfield I think) but the rest of his appearances he has looked like a lost sheep wandering around and barely completing a pass.

He came as a dead ball specialist too yet he has barely take a free kick or corner since he arrived.

Hes young and I hear he was brought partly as he is very close to Clayton, so hopefully the more Clayton improves the more Cain will start to play his game.

Surely he must have something about him to have played so many times for Liverpool at every schoolboy/youth level up to the Premiership level.

What stat did they use on that!

I wonder if we've had a more divisive player than Hutton in recent years. Gladwin might be close? Think I'd be tempted to say he's our most important player, but I completely see why people think he's terrible too.

Most people agree he's shit defensively and good going forward though. Not sure that is divisive. Some people are just more willing to look part the glaring weaknesses than others. 

Well yes you're right, but it's whether it's worth it as the overall package that divides people. Personally I think that whilst he continues to create more chances and goals than our entire midfield put together, it's worth the defensive lapses (which could probably be better mitigated if we had anything resembling a defensive midfielder). I've said the 'League Two Trent' thing before, but that's probably a clearer description of what I mean.

What is so odd is that we don't have to play him in defence! It is a choice. Injuries now slightly change that but Lavinier at RB with him ahead seems a glaringly obviously worthwhile experiment we could have conducted.

Along with Clayton DCM.

 I think you carry a Hutton in defence if your other players in the back four provide enough cover, or you have someone else on his wing who works their socks off to dig him out.

If you have a limp as lettuce midfield and a defence made out of Aero chocolate, then he has to get an assist every game to balance himself out.  In that set-up, you get him further up the pitch and plonk someone who knows how to track a player in behind him.

I like him, I just don't like our defence with him.

Imagine him with Calderwood and Taylor inside him though........

I've explained this in another post but it's not as simple as 'Hutton is good going forward so move him higher up the pitch'

He won't get as much time and space playing as a right winger as he does fullback. He's often the spare man and an easy outlet in his current position.

I think he has enough to beat a man one on one close up - he did it a few times late in yesterdays match.  That was not him just running into space, it was standing up the defender then pushing it passed him.  I'd at least like to see it, or to see him with a proper central defensive pairing.

Completely agree, a decent DM and/or RCB to cover his weakness and let Hutton do his thing. A crosser of that quality, at this level, is too good to let go imo but I also see all the shit stuff so understand that point of view. 

I watch the games and I see what happens and I’m happy to profess I don’t see or understand the minutiae of every bit of every player and of every formation like a lot of you, though I do understand the game. Fuck me I played enough as a young un and watched hundreds of live games over the years. My son completely understands what you all say and does it with every premier league team and player. I think FIFA on Xbox has helped over the formative years. I suppose it’s like computers to me, I know how to use them basically but after a while I get bored and switch off which maybe counts for why video games and now ‘device’ games make me zzz.

Now l hope you’re still with me. I’m sure Jody Morris has seen enough of each player on the pitch in anger and on the training pitch and understands all their abilities and cross references it with the algorithms of the analysts programmes to know fully who to keep, where to play them next season and with who, which includes those yet to join the club. If he doesn’t, we’re fucked irrespective of the budget.

They took over 2000 to Villa in the FA Cup so they only turn out for the big teams

Penalties and non-penalties, just seen one of the softest ones given for Forest which was saved. Needed that ref last night and we would have had three at least.

What was with the mobile phone lights?

Its a bit niche, but whatever does it for you I s'pose.

Wasn't there some film called the human centipede that went down that route?

.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zLT42GtO6NQ&t=161s

Austin staying or going feels much like the difficulties faced when trying to solve the ''Trolley Problem'' with a satisfactory outcome in both scenarios. IS it more moral for us Town fans because we have the ''attachment'' to him? I don't know. DV and I discussed this the other day and it appeared similar conversations had been had amongst friends regarding the pros and cons of Austin staying. Yep, still torn myself on it. I'd like to see him stay as part of an integrated coaching role and still have him for a season as a squad player. I think a lot of us felt similarly like this with Caddis and it never materialised.

I don't think at present investment levels, Town can afford the luxury of having Austin in that capacity...I don't know, as I don't know what the balance sheet of individual contracts look like. Maybe if several of the younger lads that aren't so great, the likes of Hutton sold and Williams gone then it might be something the club can do?

Where the ''Trolley Problem'' comes in is that it feels a little bit like ''all your eggs in one basket'' to some degree and is it really worth shuffling things to make a bit part player fit into a system he won't fully fit into? Whilst I do think offering him a position to become a coach/mentor would be a nice and honourable touch in recognition of his service to Town [much like Lee Peacock, Austin certainly is above Lee [as love-leh as he is] in terms of fan appreciation.], I'm leaning towards Jephcott if he can convert his recent form into at least half a seasons worth then Town should focus on keeping him; especially if he's coupled as part of two up front.

It's a decision I wouldn't envy, as previously stated and although it seems unlikely, it could be that Town end up keeping both Austin and Jephcott; something that isn't possible in the Trolley Problem. Damn you Philippa Foot and your double effect game, damn you.

With all the above being said, if the ''Fat Man'' is Steve Evans then I'd have no issues pushing him off the bridge  ;)

================

Tuesday vs St.Evanage wasn't the dicking that several had predicted and it's disappointing that Town probably should have come away with something - probably a point at least. It does show us a few things though. How shit the league is, how shit overall Town must be to be mid table and just how very shit you have to be to end up in the bottom two. A team like Crawley celebrating that they are effectively safe is not something to celebrate at all, although it's all relative and for them it is probably like a trip to Wembley. Sooner they are back in Non-League the better.

Town played ok, it's a shocking indictment of pro footy that people have come to accept professional refereeing standards in League Two and One when it comes to decision making in regards to penalties and Town deserved at the very very least one peno. I think this is where the FA fails big time in referee recruitment?

Anyway, I do think we are seeing the slow turning of the ship via Morris and Brand. I think it is definitely hampered by the limited experience of the playing personnel. Several of these players probably will go on to be better players than they are now but playing effectively STFC U23s as the main League Two squad is always going to be a struggle, for the players and management, let alone from a spectating point of view. Several of these players probably still need to be on the training ground or picking up valuable game time in...an actual U23 side, going on loan to a suitable level or at best being integrated to first team League Two games/squads on a performance basis only. Town this season have shot themselves in the foot by recruiting too heavily in the area of youth and development - meaning these types of players have had more game time than necessary. This will also be frustrating for both management and players because they all should be aware they probably shouldn't be playing at this level this often at this stage of their development. It's really what the pisspot trophy should be used/advocated for.

Recruiting for an U23 style team without the proper infrastructure is the biggest and obvious dropped ball. Had this approach been done AFTER Town had invested in a purpose built facility for player development then fantastic. Even then the first team would still need that blend of experience/mentorship/youth in order to succeed. A factor that has been seemingly missed or a massive oversight by senior level board members of the Town hierarchy.

We can only hope that by the mistakes made, many things can be learnt and also remedied by now having that experience bestowed upon themselves by themselves. It would not surprise me to see Town challenge at the top end of the table next season if everything is applied correctly. After all, Stevenage just stayed up last season via ''the Slug'' and I doubt they have changed THAT much since; whilst Town don't have to play the same way, all League Two should be about is playing a way to get out of the godforsaken pit of basement pro footy. The club can then start to think about developing talents whilst having the relative comfort of a division, separating our club from impending-football-league-trapdoor-doom [thanks Reg] but it still comes with the massive caveat of having the infrastructure in place to do so first.