Thetownend.com

This squad is at least 5 players short to even be challenging for the play offs. We need at least 2 more permanent strikers (first team strikers), a new first choice goalkeeper, and competition for the full backs.

We can possibly leave 2 players to purchases on deadline day, but no more.

I fear the Pox game will come far too quickly for us.   >:(

Its definitely a worry the squad won't be complete, hell will they even know each others names!

Or maybe it's good to play them while we are still hyped up.

I'm thinking Dennis Wise as in we come out of the blocks quickly fuelled on enthusiasm and passion.

I'm worried about when that fuel runs out and how Paolo will deal with it

i don't think he will let the fuel run out.

I hope you're right

I know exactly what you mean. All these players leaving has got me sweating about august 21st.

I'm thinking back to the Terry Brady era when we'd just been relegated to L1 and had a whole new team effectively, loads of dodgy foreigners (well 2 or 3 anyway) and a whole new management team. And at this point we seem to be totally and utterly incapable of signing a proper striker (the club have admitted De Vita is a back up).

I will admit to being slightly concerned at this point.

Without a balanced squad, some quality in every position, youre fucked whatever the passion from the manager.

Last season after January we had nothing up front, poor goalkeepers, and weak full backs. So far nothing much has changed in any of those positions.

Agreed OST, my concern centres around the fact this squad has a certain Sturrock-esque quality to it. In terms of PDC is bringing in italian back room staff, a load of new players who may have more loyalty to PDC than Swindon. 

If PDC then does one, in the short term are we left with a massive bill to pay off his entourage, not to mention the stiffs who would be left in the ressies?

Obviously this is a rather negative view, as I'm actually pretty hopeful PDC's is going to be a good leader for the club and just what we need.

What the fuck are you being so negative about rah rah rah blah blah

Or maybe we are only 5 players short of a first team?

Why don't you try to contribute something?

Welcome back Jan, isn't it about 2 years since your last post?!

Can't remember being this nervous in pre season for a good few years.

The players that PDC has brought in, their quality remains to be seen. De Vita was playing in the 3rd tier of Scottish football and Smith has no league experience.

Devera looks a good buy. A good, solid CB who knows this league.

As for Risser and Atiku, we will see.

I think the thing that i'm most concerned about is that it's all looking a little familar to last season. I mean missing transfer targets, deals taking longer then the club claim they will take....random players and still no strikers signed.

Are we going to get desperate like we did last summer and sign another Dossevi? Have we already signed another Aljofree in the form of Comazzi? Remember the 3 amigos? Are we heading down that road again? So many questions but there is no point in moaning because they can't be answered until a ball is kicked on August 6th. Over a month to go yet so i'm remaining level headed about it all.

Something like that Batch.  Time flies...

If the Brazillian striker had signed things would look so different.
However, we've seen how a small sqaud at the beginning of a season can result in a sluggish start.
To face oxford at home without two decent strikers will be unforgiveable.

Is janaage the same that has the Steve Irwin avatar?

Fitness is key in the early weeks as per the Wise season.  Over the years teams like Plymouth and Luton we never the best teams in L1 when they went up, but they were fit and ready for the battle and got off to a brilliant start and just carried on from there.

Having said the key to fitness is everyone having a decent pre-season.  So Spence is right, we need at least 5 new players to have a flying start.

The Panic Button is here (http://thetownend.com/index.php/topic,44265.0.html), chaps.

For what it's worth, I tend to agree.  Next week is key.

I think so. He used to post quite regularly until he got a life/wife (not sure which). Hope he's back.

It is I fella.  Just need Piemonte back now - and others.

Hope you are doing well mate.

Good to see some of the old skool coming back to say hello

And this is the point that keeps me level headed about it all. We didn't have a great team under Wise in fact a lot of our players were crap really. Ricky Shakes, Fola Onion Bhaji etc...but we had a great work ethic and fitness levels and played well as a unit. Di Canio has talked about all 3. You dont always need quality at this level. If you can get the basics right you can do well.

In the words of Smokey Robinson....I second that emotion

Agreed IOB, I have a feeling by August PDC will have our lads 100% ready for the season in tip top condition.  Then who knows.  If we start winning a few matches in the last 10 mins of games (instead of letting one in) then we'll know things are looking good. That's my logic anyway.

Was Lou Macari not a bit of a fitness monster?

Cheers BR and others.  Life's good, got married, got a little 6 month old, life's good.  Just hope Town begin to pick up.  Matilda hasn't experience the results man declare a Town home win yet in her lifetime.

Is the pope not a bit catholic :)

Crikey, Steve Irwin's back.

He was, but we got off to an average start in our record winning season didn't we? Flies in the face of my theory.  But then again that was 25 years ago or so!

Congrats! You must be getting sleep again by now.

Still remember my lads first time wearing his baby Swindon kit. We lost in the cup against Notts County :( But his first live game we beat Vale 6-0. The results man will buck his ideas up this season.

Hello Jan

Fuck off tans.  ;-)

what brings you back Jan

Without a doubt. We used to play about 10-15 pre-season games, most of which were against local non-league sides, plus the (in)famous boot camp on Salisbury Plain. When we got the double promotions in 85-86 and 86-87 there's no doubt that we didn't have the best players individually but we certainly had the best team who were incredibly fit and worked their bollocks off for each other.

In a word 'fascism'.

No, not sure, I often had a read on here every now and then, but thought interesting times at the CG, why not?

Best side I saw that year by a mile football wise was Burnley, they passed us off the CG, we were terrible, result 2-0 win, we just wore them down by effort and teamwork alone, It was bloody awful to watch though.

In a division where the likes of James Cunstubble, Elliot Beyon and Chris Zebroski are top end players - I dont think we are looking that weak.

I do however think we'll be putting some faith in Kennedy and Thompson as the full backs, which could turn out as a disaster or a damn good move we should have tried last season.

If we start the season with

Smith

Thompson
Devera
Comazzi
Kennedy

Caddis
Ferry
Timlin
Ritchie

De Vita
Bodin

I've gone with Thompson as Amankwaah is injured at the moment. Yeah we look short on strikers but the rest doesnt look too bad.

....and its only the first of July.

So - a month to get in another left back, right and left winger and two strikers in my opinion.

still no panic from me. Look at what is going on in other football transfers,it's all talk with not masses of moves. We are just rolling along like all the other clubs seem to be doing.

Bushey,then janagge in the last few days. Toni will be next

:)

Come off it, Smith was absolutely terrible a lot of games last season. Nowhere near good enough now.

Hoping that we will be good because its a weak division = certain failure.

Dicanio joined 5 weeks ago and has bought in 5 players that's one a week and we got 5 weeks left until kick off. Do the maths.

I got a feeling you will see us bring in some decent strikers.We have released aload of players and have a very big budget left to play with as we have not paid one fee yet so don't be suprised to see us spending money on strikers

I reckon they might go for mcleod

there can be only one

It is a weak division and we have a decent looking first XI.

Smith is fine as keeper.

the gulf isn't alot between div 3 and 4 imo. look at teams who go up from the conference and do well, and also those who drop from div 3 and struggle.
I think Smith will be back up keeper personally

Let's hope so. It's one thing I was thinking about earlier actually. The players that have come in can't be on big wages bar maybe Comazzi. With all the players that have gone we must have a fair bit of scope on the wage front.

The italian may be shit hot for all we know

Disagree 100%. The midfield is the only part of the team that looks anywhere near complete.

And that's before DV sells Ritchie.

I'm pretty optimistic this season. I would be a lot less optimistic if we had held on to a few players. A complete clearout was what was needed and its happenned - I'd happilly see Smith go as he is a really crap keeper.
I'm quite excited about seeing what the new guys are going to be like - one of them could be the next hero or could be the next Aljofree. I'm quite excited about how DiCanio will line them up and how up for the fight we'll be. I'm excited about playing the Scummers. Will the young uns get a chance?
Last season couldn't finish soon enough. I fucking hated football. Now with my rose tinted glasses I'm looking forward to it again.

Bang on CS

It's the first of july. Nothing should be anywhere near complete and it isn't.
I'm sure we'll be good to go come the start of august

Relax. Very close to signing further players.

A few complications no doubt.

A proven goalscorer next week (lower league) - Hopeful.
Like everyone else remaining nervous.......close to Club not.

Plenty of time to field a side to smash the scum as always.

You up for this one then, Banbers?   ;D

I personally think at this stage we'll only be signing the out of contract players. I think/hope there will be more to come in terms of spending money on players. Realistically we've got to spend some money on some players. Wasn't it stated that when Di Canio took over he would have a substantial amount of money to spend. If it was a fifth of what was speculated I'd be happy. I wonder how much was bid on the Brazillian player?

I hope we can go a few more days without signing anyone just to see the Thisis meltdown. Just love reading the views of the mentalists on there! I'm pretty chilled about the squad at the moment, although I'm on my 8th pint of 6X so everything in the world is looking pretty rosey. PDC will sort it. If he doesn't, at least we'll have some classic post match interviews to listen to next year. I wonder what a nervous breakdown sounds like in Italian?

With all due respect Mr. Duke.

Who the fuck are you?

AF?

A life long Town fan.

No shit, sherlock

he's old school from the myonlyswindon days

You wouldn't know respect if it smacked you in the fucking mouth, Bancock.

Banbury has been around for years.

in fairness respect isn't built on how many posts you have. Just look at DV

Would you recognize a tongue in cheek comment?

For crying out loud I know that Mr. Banbury was about from the TUMDFC (?) days.

Maybe it's my fault.

Raaarrrghhhh

I was referring more to how long Banners has been around as a Town fan, not his TEF post rate - most of which are fixed by the spotty faced mods anyway ;D

I think we need to just trust the club and the faith they’ve put in di Canio. Yes, we’re all a little anxious that the new squad hasn’t quite been assembled yet, but this is clearly fuelled by the modern climate of free flowing internet rumours and speculation. Almost anything that gets posted on Twitter seems to be interpreted by many as a half-done deal, when in fact there’s usually little behind it.

The Adver are as much to blame for jumping the gun on a lot of potential deals and releasing information that raises our hopes. All clubs are throwing offers around at the moment and you can guarantee that more than half of them don’t lead to a signing. Let’s be positive: we’ve got the high profile manager the majority of us wanted and we’ve also cleared out the under-performing squad of last season.

I’m as nervous about next season as the next fan, but there’s little point panicking about it now. There’s still over a month till the first game and we need to reserve our judgement till then.

How come Janaage suddenly suddenly came back out of the abyss?
This Banbury bloke sounds like Oxford.

Its a shame people struggle to respect their superiors.

If the season started tomorrow I think our squad would be capable of a top 10 finish.

Best part of a month to get another 5 players in.

Sure a lot of teams signed some players today and most of them have come back for pre season today also.

We've already been back and Di Canio has already bought in Comazzi, Devera, Smith, De Vita and this keeper. So if anything we're ahead...

That's another one of those tongue in cheek comments, isn't it.  (Very early.  I'm still waking up.)

About as Oxford as Mex is Brighton.

We all want more players for sure. Lets give Di Canio credit he knows the types of players he wants. No more Pericard's, O'Briens or Dossevi's we hope.
Last season all started going wrong in the dressing room. That will not be tolerated this season so a good start.

Most league 2 Clubs look to have got their squads sorted but we have not. I would be more worried if the Club were stating that "that's it" on the signings and budgets.
Di Canio's attention to detail is amazing and the players he has already signed want to play for STFC.

Still plently of time to go for signings.

Just need to win the Cup Final against that lot down the road that's all.

How are you Mate ?
Will hopefully see you at some games this season.

Only see and hear from the lads at football now. We are all busy I guess.

Getting excited a little more and won't be long before the season starts.

Doing good mate. God only knows how this season is going to pan out but it aint going to be be boring! Hopefully catch up with you soon though  8)

Nice to see you back Banbers, I still owe you a pint from from when we were in the bottom league last time!

What with you and jan back in 1 day perhaps the debates may become more of a debate and a little less heated as they seem to have become lately.

Yes it was Bury, there was you, me, Moomin and Lanky there on that bloody hot spring day got me noggin burnt! and the only part I remember was Fred having a blazing slanging match with Christian Roberts for being lazy!

Still in Somerset and not getting to as many games as I would like since my illnesses but hey ho, I am ever eager that the season coming is going to be the best ever, I have faith in PdC and feel he will contribute the goods to the cause, but even if we don't go up I so bloody wish we put one over on the "auld enemy" for people like you that live local and put up with the crap day to day.

Onwards and upwards mate.

If this thread was started in 3 weeks time, then I think we'd have cause for concern.

I just want to see a couple more friendlies organised against some other football league oppo, so that we can start guaging what these new guys are like. Especially Risser - that is a bit of a strange one that he's been offered a contract after a couple of days training...

Still, s'all good for now.

I've said this before. We do not have enough games lined up for what is a completely new squad of players.

I hope we get beat in all our friendly games against professional sides, because I think that will make the squad realise the amount of work theyve got to do.

Worst thing possible would be if Reading turn up with a bunch of reserves who went out on the piss the night before and we stuff them.

Crewe are always a tidy well organised outfit, and they will embaress us if we are not ready. Anyone remmember being played off the park by them a week after losing the cup game to the scum? That was a low, really low.

I really can't understand how people on here can already know how our season will go. It's just turned July and there are still 5 weeks until the season kicks off!

We've still got players to come in and pre season proper doesn't start until next week.

But don't let that stop anyone from making knee jerk reactions already...

I hope we win all our pre-season games and take that momentum into the season.

Good pre season = shit start. Look at the results over the last 10 years? Players get complacent if they beat a side from a league above. I honestly dont think you get any momentum from pre season, because the second after FT on the first game of the season, pre season is totally forgotten.

I like the fact that we've only got 5 friendlies arranged this summer. Playing 10+ doesn't achieve a great deal.

Crewe have 6 friendlys and cheltenham have 5.

On the oracle (FM2010), I had 7 friendlies.

So 7 should be the exact number of friendlies we should be having

 :D

That was the day that I took a flying elbow from Jukebox when we all bundled him after scoring.

Ended up with a right shiner and had a job interview on the Monday

Happy days

Fred you have been quiet.

May i ask you your take in the dicanio appointment and the pre season so far.One is intrigued to hear ones point of view.

i bet he hasn't, he's just been swearing at the dog instead.
oh and you sound well posh deano

Very very impressed with the man so far !

But with the squad its far too early to comment.

You, my dear friend will have my views once the full squad is assembled ready for 6th August.

To start negative commentary on the way things are shaping up this early would clearly be wrong of me

Wise words

Wise words indeed.

common sense, which seems to be lacking somewhat on here lately.

Certainly does poo poo pants

I think Fred smells

With his nose....boom boom!

this is completely the view I have it's still way too early to be worrying ourselves silly over the squad