Thetownend.com

As no one else has bothered :)

Wasn't going to go, but changed my mind and got tickets earlier when I picked up my season ticket.

Cant go .... Is it on BBC Wilts?

This is the first real test of how our team is likely to get on.

I'll go for an entertaining 1-2 defeat.

Will be interesting to see how we get on against decent opposition.

1-0 defeat I reckon.

Apparently it is.

Easy 4-0 win for us.

Comazzi isn't playing because Di Canio wants to assess Devera and Flint together. Comazzi has a suspsension that carries over from last season.

Other than that: Smith, Caddis, Flint, Devera, Kennedy, Ritchie, Smith, Risser, Timlin, Connell, De Vita.

Where's Kerrouche?

Knee injury according to Adver Twitter.

Di Canio seems to like Timlin on the left, never thought of him as a wide player myself.

fucking come on!!!!

1-0 Pearce og from incisive Timlin ball

1-0 own goal.

Twitter says it was a Khumalo og from a De Vita cross!

Now corrected to say it was Pearce.

Robson-Kanu started for Reading. Morrison and Howard are on the bench.

Bodin saying the players have only had one or two days off.

McCormack came here having done pre-season with Charlton and was unfit compared to all of our squad.

Sounds good so far :hmmm:

I like the sound of that. We assumed di Canio would whip the squad into shape its nice to hear some evidence that he's done just that.

Sounds from the commentary like we've held our own for long periods against a strong Reading lineup first half.

Where's Vic on BBC Wilts?

Pen to Reading

1-1

2-1 Reading

Oh dear. Is there any commentary anywhere or is it just text updates that you are seeing?

Wondered how we were playing?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/bbc_radio_wiltshire

Sounds like we're playing crap now but both sides made loads of changes

I think how we are playing is much more important than the result personally.

BBC Wilts mate, Zippy and some other cunt.

It's on BBC Wilts pal. First half we were brilliant apparently. Could have been a few goals. Mind you Smith made a decent save or two..

Lost our way a bit second half but both sides made a plethora of changes. Encouraging all in all I think.

http://twitter.com/#!/Official_STFC
http://twitter.com/#!/STGary_Rose

These as well if you happen to be deaf.

Am sat in the middle of a campsite and have left my headphones back at the caravan so better not listen!

Look forward to reading your summaries later.

I swear if he calls him Flinty one more time i'm going to kill myself.  :suicide:

I called a 2-1 defeat. Go me.

Sounds like a good performance, as Forest proved last year results in these games mean nothing.

Very good first half, much the better side.
Smith looked good in the middle, but does lunge in far too much for my liking. If he carries on like that this season he will get booked and sent off so many times.
Risser looks like captain material, always talking to players and looking around making sure he knows what's going on around him. Looks a very good player, in a similar vein to Douglas.

Flint was probably my man of the match, not followed too far behind by Ritchie.
Looked much more composed and decisive from what I saw of him last season and looks good on the floor and in the air, could be a real asset this season.

De Vita and Connell were lively and their movement was good.
Phil Smith also had a good game, made a couple of very good saves in the 1st half.

Not too many negatives really,Timlin isn't a wide man, but didn't play badly.

The 2nd half wasn't as fluent, mainly because both teams made so many subs.
Reading got into it a bit more and created a few chances.

Right, that's that then... Onwards to 2011/12.

Where did the pre-season go!?!

Blimey PDC can talk can't he!  BBC Wilts better extend their finish time if every week is like that.

Good to hear though, he certainly knows what he wants, and doesn't pull any punches.

Missed the interview, what was said?

Back from the game. We looked good in the first half and had far more shots than Reading. They had more possession but didn't do allot with it. Second half we were poor, or more like Reading started playing like a Championship side! Possession must have been 80% Reading and we were lucky to concede only the two goals.

I was very impressed with Ritchie (110% effort) and Flint (won everything in the air). De Vita and Kennedy also played well. Smith made some excellent saves, but had one or two dodgy moments. Was less impressed with J. Smith as he gave the ball away quite a bit. McCormack played quite well when he came on, as did Ferry. Caddis was shit at RB, probably the poorest player on the pitch. Not overly impressed with Connell either. The rest were okay.

My main concern was Caddis at right-back and the lack of options up front. Bodin and Atiku would not have scored if they stayed out there all night. I was also suprised at how often we hoofed the ball - didn't expect that from a PDC team.

Hopefully we'll get in that no 9 soon, but there's enough quality I think to beat Crewe.

On thge bus back to sunny calne.

I thought we looked good value in the first half before all the changes but Reading were pretty shite.

Scored one goal from three clear cut chances in the first half.

Changed the team around and then went to rat shi as Reading improved and we went to pieces after s many changes (that should be done in friendlies)...

Overall, Flint loked awesome today and we knocked it about well.

The fullbacks did ok until the midfield went to piss and they handle a constant wave.

Far too lightweight up front especially in the second half.

Conell looked good up front but nt as a target man......one is needed and fucking urgent!

I never saw the squad numbers and turned up late therefore I stupidly got Smith mixed up with Risser. Was hoping Risser was going to be a migoilranzi type player yet he seemed to wander around 2nd half like ty gooden stuck in centre mid.... Was i the only one disappointed with him? Number 13 yes?

A lot, but basically he thought we did well. Great to see a manager answer with passion, but he spouted on longer than my missus when I come home bladdered!

Don't know if i am reading too much into it but pdc said that was close to our starting 11 and McCormack has also said that so can we assume flint may be ahead of commazzi?

Comazzi is suspended for the 1st game according to FIFA over a red card he got over a year ago. PDC is disputing it but if he can't get it overturned then Flint & Devera will start opening game.

i'd say flint deserves to start anyway

Did Comazzi  get any game time today?

Edit: Just say RJack post over the suspension. Makes sense then.

My take (and marks out of 10):

Smith 7 - better than last season but I still have a nagging doubt
Kennedy 8 - warming to him more and more
Devera 7 - good 1st half
Flint 9 - won everything, my man of the match
Caddis 6 - no need to give that penalty away
Ritchie 8 - tireless performance throughout
Risser 7 - bit disappointed with him really
Connell 6 - didnt do a lot
Timlin 5 - looked lost at left wing
De Vita 7 - worked hard and good skill
J Smith 7 - like him a lot
MCCormack 5 - poor today
Amankwaah 7 - solid
Thompson 6 - out of position?
Ferry 7 - not long enough to impress
Atiku 6 - looked a bit lost to me
Comazzi 7 - like him, talks well
Bodin 5 - too lightweight

Did I get everyone?

All in all - encouraging performance, esp 1st half.  But as someone else has said we did well last pre-season against Forest...

Smith 7 - looked pretty solid really
Kennedy 7 - one or two early mistakes but did fairly well against a difficult opponent
Devera 7 - looked solid
Flint 8 - won everything in the air, only one hairy moment where he nearly lost it on the edge of his own box
Caddis 7 - I think others have been harsh. He did ok defensively against Robson-Kanu and combined very well with Ritchie
Ritchie 8 - classy, energetic and a real threat
Risser 6/7 - not really worked him out yet... a few good moments and certainly a good leader, will need to see more before I understand how he plays
Connell 7 - found space quite often, was lively, and had tricky feet
Timlin 6 - we were lacking something on the left... he's not a winger
De Vita 7 - didn't look out of place and did well for our goal
J Smith ? - another one I'm unsure about, didn't watch him closely enough
MCCormack - came on, did a couple of good things and a couple of silly things
Amankwaah - did a good job for the last few minutes
Thompson - didn't have much chance to get into the game
Ferry - looked lively, even if it was brief
Atiku - didn't really impress, although we were struggling to get into attacking positions by the time he came on
Comazzi - didn't see enough of him to judge
Bodin - still think he needs to go out on loan for a few months, wasn't quite up to scratch today

If we would of won 1-0 today fans of other clubs would of said Reading must of had there reserves out. We will probably get more credit for losing 1-2 ! I thought we held our own in 1st half and was impressed with the whole team and the way in which we stuck to playing football. Some fans saying Reading we poor but I give credit to our lads for limiting them in their chances. Long was getting frustrated which is a compliment to the defence. Not too bothered about the 2nd half as around 7 changes were made and several town players were playing out of position. More than happy and look forward to Crewe game.

Great shout !!!!

Unfortunately for us

So is Comazzi suspended? I have been away for the past week so have not been keeping up to date with injuries/suspensions. So who isn't available for the Crewe match?

Yep, Comazzi has a one game suspension and I believe we are without Lanzano and Esaijas (Or however the fuck you spell his name)

On reflection that was a very decent first half i think the real downside was not having kerouche which meant we had to mess about with our wide men all 2nd half

Did anyone hear Phil Smith being interviewed?  When asked about the No.1 Jersey he was very brave with his interview and said that he won't be the no.1 and that he will only be considered as a No. 2 sounded like he was going to cry at one point.  Fair play for his honesty though

It didn't sound to me like he was going to cry. He was very honest and upfront about what PdC has said to him and is obviously disappointed.

I thought he was very good yesterday, if it wasn't for him Reading could've had a couple of goals in both halves.

It was very strange interview though i don't think the interviewer on the radio wa expecting Smithy to be so honest.  Glad he had a good game though yesterday

Has anyone actually seen this Lanzano play? I'd rather we start with Smith anyway if im being honest. He's not the best keeper but at least you know what you're getting.

First half performance was immense yesterday.

Agree Jonathan Smith spent more time on the floor than on his feet.
Risser = great leader, always talking, encouraging
Flint and Devera were good, Ritchie just edged him to MOTM
Kennedy = still learning. Couple of times he took the wrong option of clearing but all in all a solid performance. Time on the pitch will only strengthen him and build his confidence.

Loving the Caddis/Ritchie combination on the right. Ritchie either cuts inside and releases a stinger or the other option is to lay it back to Caddis to swing one in. It's a win win formula! Ritchie's run from his own box in the 2nd half was magical.

Tims was good on the left and Connell and De Vita worked well up front. Agreed, we still need that big man signed...quick!

Smith was the best I've seen him in a while. 2 great saves in the 1st half. Gathered the high balls and punched when needed. Solid performance

Looking forward to Crewe and if we can show glimpses of what we did yesterday then there;s no doubt we will get the 3 point next Saturday!!

That reminds me, clearly our new GK coach has been working with Smith, yesterday I noticed he made some very quick throws out. I've never actually had a problem with his distribution, but all the Smith haters always mention his lack of quick decisions, so I did have a wry smile to myself.

He was a bit dithery at Supermarine, so that's quick work.

I don't hate Smith, I think he is more than capable but was down on confidence last year.

my view vs reading. advanced rating system


Class: Aden Flint, Matt Ritchie

V. Good: Phil Smith; Paul Caddis, Joe Devera, Simon Ferry, Alan McCormack, Alan Connell

Average: Callum Kennedy, Kevin Amankwaah, Comazzi, Oliver Risser, Jonathan Smith, Billy Bodin, Raffaele De Vita, Nathan Thompson

Shit: Ibrahim Atiku, Michael Timlin, Billy Bodin

Its obvious but we need those stikers quick before next week. if against crewe de vita and connell are struggling there wont be much to bring on to change the game.

They didn't play the XTC song we've been banging on about either!!

What about Kerrouche? Considering he looks the best out of the three from what I've seen. Could definately change a game.

What are people's views on Risser's passing from what they saw from him yesterday?

As i said earlier I managed to get Risser and Young Smith mixed up, Risser looked a bit lost to me and out of position a lot of the time, making it easy for reading to run at us in the final 3rd.

he did seem very commanding in the middle. nice couple of touches, head up and always making sure people are in their respective positions. a little slow of the mark, a couple of times the Reading players got past him from a standing start but that's just because he's built like a brick shithouse. calm in defence and full of running

got into a few attacking positions as well and i think with him and Smith, they are both reversible in that both can play the attacking and defensive midfielder role. this is also the same as Ferry and Smith or Ferry and Risser.

Personally Aden Flint was MoM yesterday. He had Shane Long in his back pocket. Considering Long was supposedly being touted as being sold for a multi-million pound fee, he looked average at best.

I think everybody is missing what for me was the biggest concern yesterday... Are the club serious about playing the opera music before every home game? If there was an atmosphere at the County Ground, that would be sure to kill it. It just doesn't work at football.

As I said earlier, they didn't play XTC!!

there was a great moment when long was chasing a ball toward the town end and flint ushered it out, long looked completely amazed that flint had the legs on him - lovely stuff!

Having now lost a game has the Di canio out campaign started yet ;)

The Reading fans kept singing songs about how shit Swindon is.

It all went quiet and this young kid, must've been 6 or 7 just shouted at the top of his voice "WELL FUCK OFF THEN!".

Much to the hysterics of me and the people around me.

Must have been the same kid who was shouting "your mother is a prostitute" to the reading fans only for them in in a bunch to shout "Have you ever met your dad" and "ginger, whats the score"
The Steward in the end told him to "shut it"

I quite enjoyed their rendition of "How shit must you be, you're nearly non-league", if only for the fact it preceded us taking the lead.

I came up with the reply "How shit must you be, we're nearly non-league", DRS tried to get going after we scored. Unfortunately no-one joined in (Myself included).

I desperately wanted that chant to get started when we scored... it was the obviuos response! Unfortunately, I was in the Arkells so nobody would have joined in!

Pericard sat behind me at the reading match, is he still on our books? May of been there just to watch readings Manset Who is I think also French.didn't want to bother him with questions as he was on his phone most of the time, talking both in French and English. Still think he can do a decent job at this level or above.

I was sat in the Arkells towards the away fans. There was a gang of yoofs behind me that had a good fees songs them. They tried to interact with the Town End but didn't get a reply.
For the few games that I will attend this season I will more than likely be back in the Arkells sat near the away fans. It's good for a bit of banter, the view is good (apart from the posts) and you can get a pint at half time in the legends bar. I had a ST last year In the DRS and found it really dull, probably due to the shit football tho.

i was in the townend and didn't hear that, did you hear us, 1st half particularly the TE was pretty loud given the numbers, about 3 or 400...

i actually commented to the old man that it's been a while since such an atmosphere at a friendly?

The TE were pretty decent given the numbers in there. Wasn't it the same price as the DRS and Arkells though? That would explain the sparse population.

Yep, 1st half you lot sounded good. Even though it was only a small group of you the noise carried well, j hope it continues throughout the season. Obviously good football brings a good atmosphere, so I hope that if we get what we've been promised on the pitch then maybe the old codgers in the corner of the DRS can re-find their voices and link up with the town end again.

no idea, was a tenner in the TE, but unlike most I prefer to watch from there.  spent over 90% of my time watching football from behind the goal so from the sides feels wierd to me.

Yeh, it was a tenner everywhere. Fair enough if you want to sit behind the goal. I just like to go in the side stands for friendlies, especially this year as I wanted a decent view of how we played as individuals and as a team