Thetownend.com

Went up for the away game, where both teams displayed major defensive frailties. Could be another high scoring game, but will probably end up 0-0!

Morning.

Haven't planned this Christmas at all well footballing wise as I'm flying back up to Newcastle this morning. 

I wouldn't like to guess how today will go, fingers crossed it's a good one.

I'm actuallly a little dissapointed I can't go today.

5-0 town now

See you there

i'm there today for my first game this season. Shameful i know but can't help a fucking shit company taking 26% from your wage packet within the last 8 months.

but it'll definitely be a home win

1-1 with a cuthbert header for us.

I have a feeling its going to be a good day for Town. I'm going 4-0 with Charlie again being the star man - its about time he got more than 1 in a game so its a hat trick for him and the other by Ritchie. Maybe its still the effects of the booze but I think defensively we'll be tight today as long as we don't put Cuthbert at RB against Boyd

Today will be the start of our new year revival. Charlie to get a Hat-trick in a convincing 3-1 win.

Has Mclean signed for Hull yet?

Hope so because im very worried by what the combination of him, Boyd and Mackail-Smith could do to our defence, i'll probably take a point.

My posh supporting mate is coming to the match and I spoke to him last night. Seemingly Mclean has been sold for 1.3 million and won't play today.

Decent attacking side, woeful at the back (apparently). Pretty much like us.

Either a 3-2 win or 0-0.

I've almost forgotten what these threads are for!

1-3 and lots of doom and gloom

There will be plenty of goal because both teams haven't got a clue how to defend. They have lost a bit of their attacking spark in recent weeks so I reckon we'll win it.

3 - 1 Town !

My prediction is 2-1 Charlie getting both, one in injury time to seal it

4-2 to Swindon, lots of beer and a big fat tasty burger at half time now that we have "chefs" at the county ground. What more can you ask for?

draw written all over it.2-2(Austin,Morrison)

Any win will do me....the CGH awaits me......will be having a few sherberts today.

3-1 defeat with Austin scoring in his last game for the club....doom and gloom. 8,745 crowd.

Blimey, Football. I'd almost forgotten that this kind of thing happened.

With the break I'd have thought form goes out the window, but Peterborough have lost McLean and therefore I think we'll edge it in a high scoring game, perhaps 3-2

we start our push today  get the 50-1 on them winning the league brighton will fade now  4-0 today

2-0 win, Austin, JPM

Please, please let us win today.

Can't bear the thought of them doing the double over us, will make our life a misery for the next 6 months.

For that reason I'm going for a 3-3 draw, with us managing to concede a last minute goal :(

I can see us getting all 3 points, well I hope so at least.

Would like to see Frampton start with Cuthbert at the back.

Peterborough are traveling down today and have been told they are stuck on the M25. Good preparation.

wot they doing on the m25 anway :hmmm:

Kick off delayed till 3.30.

According to the BBC site, Caddis is still out through illness. Considering our last game was three weeks ago and he was supposedly recovering from flu then, he must have something very nasty.

Caddis playing, as is Frampton.

Four changes, blimey. And Caddis is playing, stuff the Beeb site, unlike them to be inaccurate.

Smith, Caddis, Cuthbert (c), Frampton, Sheehan, JPM, Ferry, Prutton, Ritchie, Austin, Pericard

Quite like that side.

Good to see Ferry in.

All they said is that Amankwaah is out of the matchday squad and Scott is on the bench, other subs TBC.

Our best team we should win this easy today!!! come on town lets go on that winning streak

I cannot cope with the ever-changing mood on TEF... Weeks of pessimism and now we should be beating Peterborough United easily!

How fucking true!

Where did you hear that?

I've not seen this anywhere else. Mischief?

Just confirmed as a 3pm KO.

Prediction; 2-1 defeat, and the last time Austin and Wilson grace the CG.

Hopefully that'll jinx us out of that scenario.

They have only just arrived, I'm surprise there isn't a delayed KO.

It's unofficial but source is from within the club.

3.15 KO, wish they would make up their mind!

Well yeah!....But only because they are stuck on the motorway and will only arrive 30 mins into the game.

With them not turning up till nearly half time hopefully we wont have let a goal in by then!

So kick off is delayed to 3:15 because the Peterborough team coach went the wrong way.

Fucking dickheads

We will still be only 1-0 up

Shitty 1-0 down already

He he he

Congratulations to anyone out there who put money on Chris Baird scoring two today... I doubt there's many of you!

I see Paynter has started for Leeds.

So are we under way yet?

It has begun, yes.

Anything of note happened?

THE REF BLEW HIS WHISTLE :D

There seems to be quite a lot of running around.

Apparently, Frampton looks like an 'old fashioned' centre half..

Phew.

OH FUCKING SHIT

1 down

Booo.

Shit fucking defending and a goal down.


Right, I'm out of here :no:

Sheehan went close with a free-kick.

We are pants aren't we

Yeah, mostly.

Bloody hell Vic-I wish you wouldnt do that!I was out of my fucking seat.

Phil Smith keeps us in it with a good save from Makail-Smith.

This is all very familiar. 20 days without a fixture is plenty of time to re-group.

Were lucky to be only one down & Charlie's having a mare.

Time for a new manager me thinks.

All we need is a run of 3-4 wins and we will be right up there and in the mix, but cant see us doing it with Wilson in charge unfortunately

Austin misses another good chance.I'd hate to think his mind was elsewhere

I've defended Wilson all season, and I know it isn't even half time, but, unfortunately,  it all sounds very familiar.........

Who would you bring in?

That is exactly the thing.

This I embarrassing and I am officially joining the pericard is shit brigade

Glenn Hoddle-make him an offer he cannot refuse!

Uwe Rosler :D

I am, of course, only joking.

Richard Money from Luton.  Great manager who did well with Walsall

No thanks

Thing is, Danny Wilson isn't going to be sacked.

Bring in anyone. We're looking increasingly like relegation fodder, can't get any worse defensively so just take a chance- we've not got much to lose!

Excellent shout. I'm sure he would be the answer to our problems.

i have come to the conclusion that pericar is in fact a small elephant- unable to jump. hes also just cleared a ball off the line when it was easier to score!

Well Danny Wilson isnt

By the sounds of it our football is shit and predictable.

If they are going to sack him... This is the right time.

Wooo hoooo! Pick a name out of the air!! That's the way forward. I wish you were Chairman Dave 8)

Come on, those who want him out, come up with some names*








*NOT Richard Fucking Money ::)

The stupid thing is even though we have been pretty average we could easily have scored four.

Oh yeah & on this performance it doesn't look like Pericard could control his bowels, let alone a football.

I'm fence sitting.

Letting Wilson go would be a risky move. I'd like to hear some names too but not in dismissive way like OST :)

I just hope Wilson is tearing the arse out of the players in the dressing room. Can't defend, can't Mark, can't pass and can't be bothered. My pork and stuffing roll was very tasty mind

...every cloud.

:)

It's all gone quiet over here!

Isn't Tommy Mooney looking to get into management....

Alan Curbishley
Mike Newell
Phil Brown
Simon Davey
Ian Dowie
Jim Gannon
Jim Magilton
Paul Hart
Paul Jewell
Dave Penney
Paul Trollope
Dennis Wise
Gareth Southgate
Paoulo Sousa

No to Phil Brown, Southgate, Magilton

Wouldnt mind Wise !!!!

A few realistic names plus an ex-Oxford favourite and a few no chancers.

Lee Clark (when Huddersfield fire him)

:D

Also out there would be Chris Coleman or Kevin Blackwell

This is more enjoyable than following the game.

There's a game?

I think so...

How much can Wilson be held accountantable though?  I suppose some of his signings haven't performed as he might have hoped, but we haven't spent thousands to justify a top six league spot.  I think overachieving last season is starting to take its toll.

Has no one yet told Phil King its DoSSevi ffs!

What is that old cliche the clubs use when they sack managers?

"It's a results business..."

Gannon is the most plausible of those who seems to have some sort of decent record yet might be persuaded to arrive.

I gather he's not Mr.Sweetness and Light, which may or may not be what our current bunch of stumblebums need.

Please no Penney a scummer who bored Oldham fans to death last season.

There hasn't been one update in this half!

Penalty!

PEN COME ON SWINDON

Charlie Austin...

YESSSSSSSSS :beers:

yay

Haha Hooray.

DANNY WILSON'S BARMY ARMY!!!

yesss

Wilson is clearly the right man or the job.

Where were we?

Oh yeah. I agree, no to Penney.

A new manager would inherit the same shit players, so I doubt firing Wilson would be the choice.

Get rid of a seven-nine of the fringe and bad players, and get somebody good in in the january window!

CHARLIE AUSTIN - LEGEND!

Walrus likes this.

Now all we need is Austin to leave in January and the forum will collectively slit their wrists....

How long left?

4 minutes et.

4

Brace yourself...

Has there ever been a quieter MDT? People must have lost the habit.

oh no. the post!

HIT THE POST NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO :cry:

"Charlie Austin!!! What a goal that would have been!" :suicide: :crash:

Full-Time.

Bloody commentators!

That would have been my prediction spot on

There is no one on that list who I would prefer to Danny Wilson. Not even close in fact.

This season isn't going to kick off is it

no, i think this is about as good as its going to get.

Low mid table is the best we can hope for.

Just got back. How did we not win that game? Total dominance in the 2nd half which should have been converted into 3 points. Charlie was so unlucky at the end with that shot from nothing that came back off the post it looked for all the world to be going in. Gutted to see it come off the woodwork.

I didn't think we started great. Again we let them play but our organisation was dreadful and it looked like we couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery. Shocking defending. After the first 30 though we settled down and got going. We really should have been at least level at HT. Austin had 2 really clear cut chances you'd expect him to put away but he scuffed them both wide. Pericard should have scored straight after them but somehow it was kept out.

2nd half though much much better. Ferry and Sheehan came to life as did Caddis. As the half wore on we saw Ritchie get more involved as well. We had them under pressure for all but 5-10 mins and they were really struggling. Lewis made 2 really good save both from Sheehan free-kicks and we had a few other opportunities before we finally got a deserved penalty (Ritchie was tripped it was an obvious decision for the ref.) From then on we continued to press for the most part. Just gutted we couldn't get the winner we deserved. For those moaning it wasn't a bad performance at all. If we'd have played as well as we did at the back in the 2nd half for the whole game we'd have won 2 or 3 nil IMO. Bring on Bournemouth.

What was Frampton like?

once our defence tried to compete he was very good

Didn't do a lot wrong. Like Bennet says the defence was shocking to begin with but for me it was a team thing and not an individual thing. Once we got going he looked a lot sharper. He looks quite similar to Cuthbert though so not sure it will work in the long run.

What did Wilson say after the game? My son said he talked about John Campbell, saying that he could come to Swindon if he wanted to, but if he didn't it would be no great loss.

Frampton was immense. Won important challenges, and although it took him a while to settle the defense look more confident. Definitely a talker, which is better.

Austin was looking more and more frustrated as the game went on. Unlucky on several occasions. Pericard was great, not sure why he was taken off. All I can think of was that Wilson thought that their back 4 were tiring and tried to exploit that.

Really enjoyed today.

Smith had a good game in goal, made two or three very good saves.
Caddis made a few mistakes but also attacked well at times. Cuthbert and Frampton were both good once the defence settled down as a unit, and Sheehan played well for the most part too.
In midfield, Ferry was very lively in the second half, winning tackles and making driving runs like he did last year. Prutton had a poor game, getting done for the first goal and giving away possession far too often. JP was alright, and Ritchie did well in the second half once we stretched Posh and drew his marker(s) away from him.
Up front, Austin worked hard and was unlucky with the one off the post, but should probably have scored one of his chances in the first half. Pericard did ok - he won quite a few headers and showed a few nice touches. You can't deny that we livened up when Dossevi came on, but the abuse directed at Pericard (from the first few minutes) was massively undeserved.

Overall, if anybody deserved to win it was us. Lewis made a number of fantastic saves and we really pressed them in the second half. In the end it was an encouraging performance after a mediocre first half - Posh weren't a bad side and we were perhaps unlucky not to win. Bring on Bournemouth.

Today was the proverbial game of two halves.

First half we were dominated in the midfield area. Their movement was far superior to ours and they controlled the game. Prutton was fricking useless. Ferry looked like Wilson had just found him down the back of the sofa - rusty -  and JPM and Ritchie struggled to get into the game.

The back 4 weren't much better and it looked like a unit that had barely played together, which of course it was.Their goal came when Caddis did well to b reak up an attack but was caught in possession when he seemingly wasn't told their was a "man on".

Yet despite the sub standard first half performance Austin missed two sitters and JPM had a blast well blocked from close range.

Second half we finally worked out the ref would allow us to put ourself about a bit without issue, so we mixed it up a bit. The defence got its shape back and the midfield harried and brought the wide men into play as we surged forward. The equaliser came when Ritchie completely sold the Peterborough right back a dummy inside the box an so he somewhat unwittingly took him it with a slide tackle for a clear pen. Although Smith was called on to make a smart save, it was always going to be us if there was to be a winner. When Sheehan put a peach of a ball into the box for Austin he cooly side footed beating the keeper but hitting the outside of the post.

We didn't deserve the win on possession and on our first half performance, but  on another day we could have scored 4 or 5.

He basically said Campbell would be a long term project and is not a priority right now, as Wilson's focus is getting the first team sorted out. He wants to look at Campbell again but basically said nothing has happened as yet.
Wilson also talked about Charlie a bit, saying Hull's offer was even lower than offers that have been turned down before, and that Charlie's going nowhere unless we get offered something much much higher.

Also said he believes we are still  Campbell's first choice..

Pretty happy with today's peformance, Peterborough are a good side and but for some bad luck and the odd worldie from Joe Lewis we'd have put a fair few past them today. Great to hear the fans actually giving a shit in the second half as well, and the players from Vince down responded to that- more of the same on both counts please!

The second half was an absolute siege from us.

edit: Just read the Adver comments section. I know I shouldn't, my blood pressure goes through the roof, but some of them can fuck the fuck off.

Come on....today was not good.
That is it  peeps.....cant be bothered to argue the case for or against...except to say that how we got a point i dont know.....Posh could have been three up at half time.

Good point....performance was piss poor.........sorry.

Meh.

First half performance wasn't great I'll give you (not bad enough to be booed off mind) but I can only presume you left after sixty minutes if you think that was piss poor.

Dunno what game you went to.

First half was even that bad, we had just as many chances on P'boro and Charlie should have had us going into half time at least at 1-1. Sure, it wasnt a brilliant performance but I dont think it was terrible.

Second half only one team interested in scoring and that was us, on another game we'd have gone onto win that. Thought we played well second half.

Pericard wasnt good or bad today, he was just nothing. I dont think he did anything - why we persist I dont know. Dossevi at least put himself about a bit - which is at least a step up.

I thought Ferry played well and covered alot of ground, was getting box to box. JPM playing better wide right than in the middle (who knew)

The problem is only Charlie ever looked like scoring and thats been the pattern for this season. So what happens when he goes? we're fucked! Our 2nd and 3rd top scorers were sat on the bench today (Rose and Morrison)

We depend on Charlie to get our goals. When he goes we are in trouble.

I think we played decent enough today but at the end of the day you dont get points for performance.

I dont care if we playing fucking shit wank ugly hoofball if we win.

Nemo....dont insult me.

The first half was dire..we did ok the seond half and grabbed a point....could have won it but then as i said Posh should have been away and gone at half time...as i said good point but no more.

Well Charlie missed 2 sitters in the first half and the only real chance for them other than the goal was CMS missing that one on one with Smith.

I thought it was total utter gash until the 70th minute if i am honest but we turned the screw after that which covers it up a bit.

said he was OK "in spells" in the trial but by no means the finished artical by a long shot and that he needed to concentrate his thoughts on the first team.

I suppose that will be wrong for the "Wilson out" mongs as well

Really? It wasn't THAT bad.

Pericard looked like a changed man in the second half and he took hold of a good shot tht went just over the bar. He also took players on  and made some good passes, then he was predictably subbed for Dossevi. Why?

99% disagree with you mate making your apathy quite frankly invalid

Yea but the best 2 chances of the first half were missed by Charlie, i hate to think what the reaction would have been if that of been Vince.  I agree that Posh were the best side in the first 30 mins but once the defence settled down the rest of the team grew in confidence and we pretty much dominated the last hour.

Thought Frampton was superb in an almost Greer-esqe way once he settled down, a good traditional no nonsence centre half performance.  The key factor in the 2nd half for me was that the wingers starting getting involved and we had more options that constantly playing the long ball.

Overall a decent performance and we could have very easily won that game if the luck had been on our side.

Any notice that Vince seems to have discovered a bit of hidden pace?

errrrmmmmmm















no

just got back and without reading the comments i can gather Big Vince is the centre of the reason why we were poor in the first half.

for my two pence worth the reason we was poor is Prutton. Half arssed performace and if it wasn't for Ferry the midfield would of been an open door for the posh midfield. He was useless. Even getting his token yellow card as usual. replace with Douglas and keep it at that.

Big Vince in my opinion was trying his best and held the ball up well and chased players down. i thought he played well.

overall we should have won as especially the second half we played very very well. keep this up and the wins will return

Because one run aside he had the movement of a Christmas tree. We needed to move them about more.

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

Cant be bothered with looking at invalid Fred.....

Good point and not a bad game.

Pericard doesnt know how to jump though and i thought he was crap. But each to their own.

Burgers, pie and cider was shit too

Standard Town performance for this season really......     good one minute, woeful the next. Quick one touch passing followed by period where we are unable to find another red shirt.

That said we should have won today as we created a lot of chances and Peterborough have a defence which is as bad if not worst than our, we just weren't composed enough at times in the final third.

From pre-match the general talk seemed to be if anyone will be leaving in January it will be Douglas as by all accounts there was a fall out between Wilson and Douglas after the Dagenham game?  So seems as though the rumours about Douglas are unfortunately correct so looks like we'll need to get used to a Ferry & Douglas midfield duo.

I fail to see why/how it would be 'general talk'

No one will pay us a transfer fee for Douglas anyway.

First half we were shite. Although with Charlie missing two very good chances, a Sheehan free kick well saved by Lewis & a couple of other near misses we could easily have been level or even in front, although Posh had a few other chances & could easily have scored more.

Second half we were much the better side, and aside from being caught on the break a few times I don't think Posh looked threatening at all.

One other thing that pissed me off today, some twat texted in to the radio saying Charlie didn't look bothered.

Now it wasn't his best game, & he missed chances you would expect him to score, but you can't question his commitment as he never stops trying.

Because being sociable and speaking to people outside and inside the ground it was Douglas' name that kept being mentioned..... its what happens when the transfer window approaches you know people start discussing ins and outs, bizarre I know!

I thought Peterborough played some bloody good stuff in the 1st half. Their number 24 ran the show and basically took the piss out of Prutton who kept getting tiight to him and the no 24 then turning him, which he did twice before he did it for the goal. Boyd was also giving us problems. Lucky that Mackail Smith didn't have his shooting boots on with Smith making one very good save from him. Thier football in the first 45 reminded me of us last season.
The second half, howevere was pretty much one way traffic and we were unlucky at the end with Austin hitting the post. The penalty was as stonewall as you'll ever see - none of theirs complained.
I also thugoht the ref did a decent job and tried to keep the game flowing.
MOM for me was Sheehan althuogh I'm not a particular fan of his. Frampton did OK in parts but at other times looked very, very rusty but given a run he could be what we're after.

...and they all knew he'd had a falling out with Wilson?

People saying Douglas is going doesn't automatically mean Douglas is going. As Dave has said, nobody will pay a fee for him (or at least not one we'd accept) and as far as I know there is still no evidence to back up the claims that he's fallen out with Wilson.

EXACTLY. It's all whispers from a guy who knows a guy who knows somebody who does his dry cleaning stuff.

I still don't believe Wilson would keep Douglas as his sides captain or keep him in the team if they hated eachother oh-so-much.

Douglas might choose to move on in the summer but I doubt it would be due to a tiff in Dagenham.

if douglas and wilson have had a row then that is perfectly normal.
both should be professional enough for it not to effect their abilty to do their job properly.

anyway, a mid table result for a mid table team.
backed 1-1 so have trousered a nice wedge tonight.happy days

Yeah and if it happened as far back as Dagenham then it would be history.

yeah but glos robin heard it outside the county ground so it must be true.

[quote author=Dave link=topic=42113.msg905552#msg905552 date=just nothing.
The problem is only Charlie ever looked like scoring and thats been the pattern for this season. So what happens when he goes? we're fucked! Our 2nd and 3rd top scorers were sat on the bench today (Rose and Morrison)
[/quote]

Surely vince with 6 is in our top three?

League?

So Pericard's goals aren't valid because we don't like him?

Strange how Pericard can split opinions so well - he seems like the footballing equivalent of Marmite.

If only the shit useless lazy cunt could split defences as well as he does opinions.

he was truly woeful today - utterly and completely inept. One shot that went about three yards over and wide does not consitute a "good game" - even for a perennial poor performer as Vince.

Quite honestly, I can forgive him playing poorly. He isnt blessed with the skill, pace, ability and talent that most footballers are - what I cannot forgive him is the lack of effort - lack of closing down defenders, lack of chasing anything remotely likely to end up in an attacking move, lack of anticipation - whenever the ball comes his way, he always seems to be on his heels..............and most of all, the total and utter lack of any emotion - he just doesnt seem to care that he is playing crap. Very odd for a frenchman.

He really really has to go. and go now.

We saw more from Dossevi in 5 minutes today than we have seen all season from Pericard.

I've no opinion on Vincent Pericard either way.

But I don't like it when we have exclude positive contributions (from any player) stricken off the record simply because people are trying and prove a point.

If he's shit, he's shit. However, he has contributed this season. Nowhere near enough it would seem but he's not the only guilty party there.

Statto's corner alert!

Minutes played per goal scored

Vincent Pericard 216
Thomas Dossevi 300
David Ball 270

I appreciate that's fairly spurious, but people saying Pericard bad, Dossevi good are simplifying things a bit too much.

they are both shit.

Glos Robin wasn't the only one that heard it, it seemed to be main topic of conversation today.  People were discussing it behind me in the Arkells Stand and in the Legends Lounge after the game.  It may well only be only a rumour, but it's certainly sweeping around and as we've seen before, these little rumours often end up being true!

On to the game.  First half we were poor, particularly in midfield.  Ritchie seems to have gone off the boil of late and loses the ball too easily at times, Prutton couldn't seem to pass to another Swindon player and Ferry looked completely out of his depth.  Luckily they all improved significantly as the game went on, especially Ferry.  

Pericard bar one or two decent touches and passes was completely useless and generally lazy once again.  I'm surprised that some think he did well, but each to their own.  Frampton made a big difference to the defence and seemed to be showing the type of leadership qualities we've been missing at the back.  The issue will be keeping him fit and free of illness.  Cuthbert looked stronger today, maybe he felt more confident with somebody more experienced alongside him? Charlie usual 100% given, although there were a few occasions when he tried to do too much by himself when other players were in better positions.  Unfortunately though that's what happens when more often than not this season nobody has been there to support him!

The second half saw a completely different side and you're left wondering why this has so often been the case this season?  Once we started attacking and winning the ball we closed own Peterborough well and looked the better team.  
Peterborough were really hanging on for the last 10 minutes or so and I really thought we might snatch it.  Sadly the post got in the bloody way!

The voice of reason :)

I also recall most of the expectancy Pre-Season was for David Ball to be amazing.

I had banter today
The burger was rotten though

So...if you hear a rumour repeated often enough, it will eventually become true..is that how it works? :hmmm:

They are both pretty poor I have to agree.

for me that wasn't a bad result today as we played the entire game (against a pretty good side by the way)with 10 men. I mean what the fuck was Prutton doing today ? He lost or gave the ball away more times than I can remember and how many times at throw ins did he stand 6 yards in field being marked not moving, sometimes not even looking at the ball. I can understand how Pericard divides opinion, but I'd like to hear anyone try to tell me that Prutton had a good game today. Never been his biggest fan, but Timlin would have been on at halftime for me, despite that creating the smallest midfield in the world ever.

And if the pub rumours are true and Douglas is off, we're gonna be fucked with Prutton playing for the rest of the season

arriba's shit is probably the truth...though pretty poor is a nice alternative.

I have been spotted on a desert island frollicking naked with Alesha Dixon and Halle Berry
Please could everyone repeat this rumour as much as possible?

Has Gok been shoplifting again?

Possibly.  Maybe the rumour will make it's way to Douglas and he'll think to himself, I'll have a row with Danny Wilson and hand in a transfer request in January  ;)

My point was it seemed to be a hot topic of conversation today amongst a lot of people.  The last time we had similar 'strong' rumours surfacing were the Paynter going to Leeds one and the Greer going to Brighton one.  Let's hope things don't have the same outcome this time.

I want to know who the Brighton scout was there to see

They play Peterborough on the 15th, so there's an innocent explanation.

So, does Dossevi know the offside rule or not?

easy one that, a big fucking NO, seems to me he never has :smugfu:

Really, I've heard a rumour that Messi is signing for Swindon in the transfer window :D

No. And I still prefer Vince.

I couldn't believe how much people were loving Dossevi today. He ran around a lot, but he got in the way of a pass which would have put Ritchie in a great position, gave the ball away cheaply, and even knocked it straight into touch when trying to control a simple ball. Some are saying he did more than Pericard in his little cameo - I'd say he did a lot more wrong than Pericard.
I made a point of watching Pericard quite closely, and having listened to people's compliants about him recently I expected to see somebody who put in no effort, won no headers, and was constantly absent. In fact, I lost count of the number of lost causes Pericard chased after, and the number of times he held the ball up only to receive no support from the midfield. People have also moaned about that shot at the Town End - ok it was two or three feet over the bar but fair play to him for having a go. Austin missed two sitters today and got nothing but encouragement - Pericard hits one speculative shot over and is apparently terrible!

..he's still learning the language though..

I enjoyed the game today (even without any carvery baps availabel at half time in the legends!)

Frampton did well - everyone being short of match fitness probably helped
Prutton was dire
Ferry got better as the game went on - needs a run of games now
Sheehan was good - one of the best games he has had for us?
Pericard doesn't do himself any favours by not busting a gut often enough
Dossevi is a headless chicken

If we play like thst for the rest of the season we will safely finish in the top half.

I predict that where we are is where we will finish with a bit of a bum twitch near the end of the season.

Pericard gets so much stick for holding the ball up........only player with a P that deserves the shit he takes is Prutton....sorry Hethab old son.....he is fucking ropey at best.

Enjoyed today as it was good to see the lads and second half good value.

I thought the problem in the first 30 mins or so was our midfield.  All four went missing and were positionally shit, especially McGovern at times. Prutton looked like he was playing in ice skates and Ferry just kept running from player to player without getting close, with Ritchie looking like a sub warming up.  That meant Peterborough had a lot of chances created by simply running through us, which put the defence under a lot of pressure.  On top of that, Peterborough were pretty good on the ball going forward, some good players.

Once the midfield began to dig in a bit it changed.

Despite all that, we could and should have been at least level.  Austin missed two relatively easy chances and fucked up the chance to put Ritchie in before that.  In fact, I thought that was one of Austin's worst performances for us.  Lots of effort as always but greedy in the wrong areas today.  I think he's a class above by being greedy 12 yards out, selfish in his play by getting in there.  Today, he missed several opportunities to put others in.

2nd half was one of the better ones this season.  Prutton, still not good, got involved.  Ferry began to run around, with the ball, McGovern put a shift in (nothing more) and Ritchie began to control the fucking ball, and when he gets it, he causes full backs to get a bit worried - hence the penalty.  It was easily defendable but the defender shat himself and slid in when Ritchie would have lost the ball if the defender just stood him up.

Pericard was ok, not worth abuse that's for sure.

Thought that once the midfield turned up, the defence showed it's pretty good actually.  Liked Frampton, he was all elbows and rugged play, making sure the attacker had to work hard to get free from him.  On another day a ref may blow up, but today, as the game wore on, he took control.

spot on rob,

for me today prutton was a fucking liability, austin was woeful by his high standards, we checked at half time could be wrong but ferry and douglas have started 4 times together this season and we have won all 4. mr wilson drop prutton for douglas and watch us push on.

one other thing, phil smith played a blinder.

Wouldn't be surprised if you totted up the games, that either Ferry or Douglas have been suspended or injured, that there wouldn't be that many times they could have played together more than that amount.

The save from Mackail-Smith was fucking outstanding.

Agree 100% with all you've said here.

Agreed....brilliant save.
Also though hoping Morrison can step up and into the team if needed thought Frampton did ok.
As i said for me it was a good point...though both teams will feel they should/could have won.

Very wise decision to bring Sheehan in yesterday. Rose would've had his arse torn out by their passing and movement. Frampton looked good, had a couple of hairy moments but overall I think he even made Cuthbert look average.
Vince did ok in patches and looked from The Town End to be very close to scoring at the Bank.
We were much the better side in the 2nd half and if it wasn't for wasted chances from Charlie and inspired keeping from Lewis, we'd have come away with the win.

Great banter from Lewis at the end too!

Agreed, agreed, agreed and agreed...

I heard a couple of blokes chatting after the game. One was telling his mate that Wilson has never done anything and is a crap manager and that if Timlin had played he'd have ran the midfield.

Funniest comments I heard all day I think.

didn't all of us wonder why we signed Prutton, when we already had Douglas and Ferry? 
I think Prutton has shown some signs (not yesterday) of being a good attacking midfield option, but really there's not the space for him and Douglas and Dougie is a shoe-in.  Thought Ferry helped get us back into the game yesterday with his industry (running about, but not headless chicken style) and I'd like to see him build that partnership with the bearded wonder again. Also liked it when he got toppled on the edge of the box for free-kick, played dead for a couple of minutes then got up like nothing had happened.

Need 3 points Sat, not sure which Town will turn up though.  Maybe Doss to start?

Dossevi ran round like a headless chicken yesterday, and lost us possession as often as he did anything worthwhile. Pericard held the ball up well yesterday. If he actually gets some support from the midfield against Bournemouth he could be crucial.

Pericard didnt do any of those things yesterday, infact he did nothing all game.

We might as well have played with 10 all the good he did.

I thought he came out a different player second half

Another home game this season where Town have struggled to motivate themselves attacking the Stratton bank.

Really really hope we can fans on all 4 sides of the ground when/if we get the CG redeveloped. Sick of having 3 sided home games. Away attendances now are gash, id like to see a roof put on the bank so that it doesnt obstruct any light from those houses. Would make it smaller, but it would mean we'd get fans on all 4 sides.

Yeah, think it was Barry Corr about 2 seasons back now...

Fuck, was that the last time you went?

Sounds like it.

He held it up a few times and flicked it on a few times. And offered practically zero goal threat.

What frustrates me is his inability to run. He can do it. I saw him make a lung buster yesterday to close someone down. If he did it a bit more he wouldn't get the stick. But he looked totally fucked after doing it. Which I think is ultimately the reason he was withdrawn.

Which leads to two questions 1) is he unfit 2) if so why.

Ah yes. I clearly havent been for years - thats why I think Pericard is rubbish.

Nothing to do with the fact he's rubbish. I just havent been to football in two years - despite speaking to you at, at least 2 games that have happened within the last 2 years.

Other than that, your post is spot on

1) That's my only gripe with Pericard. If Austin can go from non-league to league one and get his fitness spot on in a couple of months without a pre-season then why can't Pericard.

2) He's French.

Faux-French too. Cameroooonian.

He is fit....he just isn't good enough.
When you have no passion you will not find that extra ounce of energy.
Been given plenty of chances by different managers...think his time is up and a move will help him and us.

I've never seen you in my life.

I know Vince ain't perfect, I know he has a lot of faults.

I'm also aware that we saw them all on show again yesterday.

But I'm not going to sit here and deny he did anything at all like some people here, in the Town End over on facebook do just to suit an opinion of Vince is shit. He isn't ideal, he isn't going to replace Charlie and he isn't the answer to our problems but he will NEVER get any credit for ANYTHING from some quarters and I find that very strange.

but he didnt do anything.

But you quite clearly denied he held the ball up and brought others into play, when he did exactly that.

because he didnt.

I thought Pericard was poor, but he wasn't the only one that didn't have a good game. I'd imagine his confidence is low and he's sick and tired of all the abuse he gets from the fans. We looked a lot better with Dossevi, time for him to start some games and see how it goes. Pericard has shown he's a good player but every player has a bad run of form.

As it's Panto Season...

Oh yes he did!

Some fans seem to just obsess over Pericard how anyone could come away from yesterdays game talking about how bad he was is beyond me. 

In the first half it was plain to see our midfield and defence were all over the place and some people sat around me were still harping on about Pericard despite him holding the ball up and laying it off pretty well.  The same abuse could be heard when people talking having a beer at half time....Pericard this.....Pericard that, do people think if he had done more we'd have been beating Peterborough.  I fear far too many will never accept Pericard and will always abuse him.

I cannot understand the obsession with Dossevi starting either as I thought he was dire when he came on, he miscontrolled out of play twice, he got caught offside as per usual and he took one great pass to Ritchie away from him then laid off a crap ball. 

He holds the ball up (when he manages to actually win and control it which is probably 1 in 5 attempts) but does he actually bring players in?

I deliberatly looked for the good in Vince yesterday and i saw only one occasion that he won the ball, controlled it well, held on to it and allowed all the other players to race forward in to attacking positions... Brilliant in fairness until his next move, the pass, went straight back in to our own half! We then had to re start the attack, players had to drop back and the whole thing proved pointless...

Im 50/50 on VP so dont think im just another hater, im neutral and im trying to see the good but i have to admit i am seeing a lot more negatives than positives...

Good shout. The difference when we attack the different ends is quite noticeable.

Spot on, the fashionable thing to do at the moment is to slate him irrespective of what he actually does during the game.  I swear some fans actually want him play poorly so they get the chance to hurl some pointless abuse at him.

thetownend.com matchday threads - 25% discussion, 80% pericard

Having an empty end is indeed undesirable....but we are developing a major problem at the Club, namely fans just giving up and staying away. It's embarrassing that the Scum had nearly a 1000 more yesterday, for the visit of Macclesfield, who I don't suppose brought more than a couple of hundred.

This despite not having had a game for a while, and the best efforts of Club to get the game on, at what should be prime attendance time.

Anyone like to hazard a guess as to why?....I've spoken to a few who've given up, because of the negativity of mongs both on messageboards and at games.  They've all said they appreciate the efforts of the Board and Wilson, but can't take any more moaning.

I'm sure others know of similar decisions being made...we've had a few on here like ISOB, previously hardcore whose had enough..

I thought a friend of mine summed it up pefectly at half time yesterday:

"Caddis gives the ball away and we concede, Charlie fires two good chances off target, bet people will be saying its all Pericard's fault"

haha i like it

IOB still goes to games Reg

If someone really has stopped going "because of the moaning" then I suggest that football, and life in general, probably isn't for them.

Agreed.

It's all excuses. If they don't want to go anymore or are happier watching Soccer Saturday down the pub then so be it.

TBF Rich, you don't actually go....the nature of our support has changed over the last couple of years, for some it's taken away the fun.  Obviously there are other reasons why fans give up, which is why I asked for other thoughts on the subject.

Si...I was just going by ISOB's post on this thread

http://thetownend.com/index.php/topic,42106.msg905259.html#msg905259

About 4 reply in....

Nope, seems the fashionable thing to do at the moment is to stick up for Pericard with such cries as 'he holds the ball up and brings others into play' as if thats some fantastic match winning attribute that none of our other strikers possess and takes some sort of amazing talent to do.

...and even then he doesnt do it enough.

Odd that some of our other boo boys like Duke and Blair Sturrock had hardly anyone sticking up for them - yet people want to take some sort of moral high ground with Pericard, which is a waste because he's fucking rubbish.

He is out of contract at the end of the season right?

I hope so, because I think we can do better. I don't mind that people get annoyed with Pericard. What does annoy me is those who fail to recognise anything good he does in a game, those who blame him for other players' mistakes, and those who will slag him off for not doing something impossible that Charlie Austin, Billy Paynter, Jan Age Fjortoft and even Pele wouldn't have done. If you think I'm exaggerating, you clearly haven't stood near the people I stood by yesterday.

Fair enough people don't rate Pericard, but given that Austin missed 2 or 3 good chances, perhaps we should be questioning if he was the reason we didn't win.

Personally I think Lewis having a blinder prevented us from getting 3 points.

I think that was more of a "I can't be bothered because i'm lazy" as opposed to not actually wanting to go.

No one expects Pericard to score goals like Austin.
Just to put the same effort in  he does...maybe jump and generally put his weight about.
I mean if you dont score regular you have to contribute a lot more than he does at present.

i couldn't be bothered yesterday for both reasons.

I see...no doubt a reason for many not to bother.

See... you're doing it again.

I thought you knew a thing or two. I guess the internet can give you the wrong impression.

Ho hum.

Interesting that one of the things being identified as a strength of Pericard is that he can hold the ball up, to help bring others into play.

But to be honest, he isn't that good at that. The most frustrating thing is that he CAN control the ball, but that half of the time it bounces off him farther that O'Brien can kick a ball.  The issue is then that the midfield don't trust that the ball is going to stick & so don't make runs until he's got the ball under control by which time it's too late.  

Now you can understand their reluctance to do so, as the 50% of times when the ball bounces off him if the midfield had been making a run forward they get caught out of position & we are immediately in trouble.

I guess the point is if you want to look for the good, then more often than not it's there because you can point to the times that he does it well. But if you want to look at the bad, there are just as many times when he's rubbish.

Added to the fact that for someone who on the surface looks to be a big old unit he gets knocked off the ball too easily. Maybe he's just too nice & go do with some lessons on how to be a cunt on the pitch

It can also give one a superiority complex, no matter how unfound.

I know enough to know that Pericard is rubbish and contributes very little at best to our team.

What about O'Brien coming good for us?  ;D

Ha!

that still gives me a 99% accuracy rate!

Although for the first time this season we actually passed the ball infront of him into space for him to run onto!

Shocked, I was.

O'Brien still cant have played more than about 5 games in a row can he?

Well there's a fucking start! At least you'll concede now that he does contribute?!

Someone said on the previous page and it's my main gripe: is that people just ignore the good when it happens. He's pretty bad and annoys the hell out of me. But it's baffling at times to see people completely deny that any good has come from him.

I'll give him credit and admit he contributes when he does - and he has done this season.

Yesterday wasnt one of those times. I really dont remember him doing anything apart from one shot that went miles over. He didnt see alot of the ball (not soley his fault) but I generally thought he contributed nothing yesterday.

Fair enough.

is he meant to bring a step ladder to games?

Pericard was getting blatantly pushed in the back ever time he went up for the ball and the ref allowed it to happen.  When that happened to Paynter we all hated the ref for it, but when it happens to Vince it gives an opportunity for everyone to say he's crap.

On the flipside some people are now just sticking up for him no matter how he plays. Am i the only one who saw his effort he missed from 2 yards out on saturday that went for a throw?

That'll be the one where he managed to jump in an toe poke it and it was cleared superbly by the posh defender?

You may be the only one who saw it as a easy chance missed, yes.

No but he could try you know, running, jumping, moving


Yes, the Pericard sympathizers. I fully support a shit player I'm a better fan than you.



Think the defenders deserves a bit of credit for that one - it was a pretty good block.

I can assure you that he hit it out of play. Every person who was sat around us saw it

If we're talking about the same one, go and watch the highlights.  It's clearly a block from the defender.

Im presuming we're talking about a different one if you are so sure.

I don't think anyone has said Pericard had a good game by any stretch of the imagination, people are only sticking up for him because they realise he wasn't the (only) one who cost us 2 points.

• For a start the defence was especially shit in the first 30 minutes and the midfield too.
• Austin had an off day and missed a couple of really good chances.
• Dossevi didn't really have any effect on the game and where Pericard had started slowly at least he was getting into the game by the time he came off. Dossevi had a poor game - didn't hold up the ball very well and his usual chasing down was overshadowed by Austin's workrate.
• Smith kept us in the game with a couple of top class saves.
• Lewis kept them in the game with some fantastic stops too.

Quite an even game in the end, I think we were a bit unlucky not to win by the end because the momentum was mainly with us in the second half. On another day we'd have been more clinical and won that. The fact we didn't look like scoring from open play is a worry, indicative that we rely on Austin too much. Pericard and Dossevi need to start playing more like strikers which they don't at the minute. Right now Pericard plays a lot like Paynter did in his first season here and I can see him getting a similar total of goals by the end of it.

Good post Si.

Im sitting on the fence as regards Pericard.  To the right of me on Tuesday was a pericard lover (you know who you are), to the left my nephew who hadn't been for ages who said he thought Pericard was shit.  I was firmly in the middle.

I'll admit I'm more vocal in my support of Big V, but really it's only to counter act the fucking morons who boo him or slag him off before he's even touched the ball.