Thetownend.com

No time to do this in the morning so here goes...

STFC 1 - the real STFC 3

I'm happy to keep doing these until we lose (Tuesday)  :)

Tough one to call.

I would love to see a settled side now, a similar 16 to what we took to Ashton Gate and Connell fitness allowing, the same starting 11.

Scoring draw.

Wouldn't surprise me to see Magera start alongside Clarke.
Mr Di canio loves a good surprise!

I think momentum will carry on from Wednesday and we'll sneak this one 1-0

Gone for a hefty 3-1 win to us

Mortified that I can't get to this one as I am off to 20/Twenty Finals day at Edgbaston.

Going for a 2-1 win (Ritchie & Connell)

Has to the same squad with a similar 16 as b3nny said. I think PDC is about there with the team minus the loan signings. Magera on the bench again with De Vita starting?

STFC 1886 1 STFC 1879 2

I reckon McCormack will start instead of Smith.

Would love us to get a hefty win but tbh think it'll be a 1-0 to Swindon

2-0 Swindon. Clarke and McCormack. Easy peasy.


Erm, probably.

I predict STFC will win or draw this.

I actually think we will succumb to a 2-0 defeat, back to earth with a bang.

4 league defeats in a row would not be good! I'm going for a 2-0 win to get us back up and running in the league.

No I know, even though we have won our last 4 visits there I just don't feel super confident, maybe because I didn't see the last 2 games, I don't know.

I guess I am just pessimistic (not as much as DV and Reg seem to be though).

I bet De Vita will start in place of Clarke and at least one forum will go into meltdown.

2-1 win. We need this- come on Swindon!

Gutted I can't make this.

But still, come on town, lets keep the momentum going!

1-1

Score draw with De Vita and McCormack back in the starting line-up.

3.0 Swindon

draw

Hoping for a 2-0 win with Clarke and Connel scoring

Think we can nick a 1-0 here.

Just need to make sure we come home with no less than a point

2-1 to the Shrews. Our goal to come from Gabilondo to put us 1-0 up midway through the first half before Shrewsbury level just after the break and we concede the winner from a setpiece in the 75th minute.

Shrews 0 Swindon 1

Smash and grab  :)

I reckon ther could be afew goals in this what with that prick morgan getting a couple, 4-3 to us!!! with all our goal coming from strikers!!! come on you reds!!!

Come on you reds!

Some good news for next week, Le Fondre to Reading for £350k plus add on's.

Is the carling cup draw on tv? 12pm isnt it?

Draw is at 12.15!

Cheers reeves

Link to watch online if anyone wants it: http://adf.ly/2RRcX (http://adf.ly/2RRcX)

Cheers for that :)

Charlton or Preston at home then round 3.

doubt we'll get past southampton tbh

4-0 to Swindon.

We'll come out of the blocks flying and Shrews won't know what's hit them !

1,153 Swindon fans will make the trip.

2-0 to the real STFC, Connell to open his account with a couple.

De Vita in for Connell, the only change.

No surprise, and not just because I predicted earlier. Supposed to be a wide pitch so plenty of room for Gabi, Caddis and Ritchie to work.

Oops looks like he'll struggle to that when he's not in the squad.

Shrewsbury Town: Ben Smith; Jermaine Grandison, Joe Jacobson, Sean McAllister, Ian Sharps (C), Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, Mark Wright, Nicky Wroe, Marvin Morgan, Lionel Ainsworth, Terry Gornell

Substitutes:

Swindon Town: Phil Smith; Paul Caddis, Joe Devera, Aden Flint, Callum Kennedy; Matt Ritchie, Simon Ferry, Jonathan Smith, Lander Gabilondo; Raffaele De Vita, Leon Clarke

Substitutes: Lanzano (GK), Comazzi, Esajas, McCormack, Magera

COME ON YOU REDS :clap:TIME TO KICK ON after tues result. 4-0 win clarke hatrick  9 points clear by xmas   "EASY"

Surprised not to se Connell,
Did he go off against Brizzol cause of injury?
Could still be injured?

However I do think we'll win this. Just.

He went off with an injury so i would imagine he is still injured. Hopefully Magera to get at least half an hour today

Connell did go off injured.

To me, Bristol City was a result similar to Charlton Athletic away last season. This time we need to build on it.

This one will be tough.

Yeah I would say that Connell must still be injured but how could you put Connell on the bench in front of Magera? because only having 5 subs you have to have 1 keeper, at least 1 defender, 1 midfielder and PdC loves his wingers so he will always put one of those on the bench that leaves 1 strike spot.

To be fair we've had 2 strikers on the bench for the last 3 games

False STFC 2 Real STFC 1 (hopefully keeping my record for wrong predictions going)

COME ON YOU REDS !

Southampton 1 down already, be good if they get a thrashing ahead of tuesday.

Off the line from a Smith ball into the box.

Sounding bright, Ferry shot just wide.

at work but seems all swindon from the (admittedly very shit) sky sports updates

Creepy Crawley losing to Cheltenham

Cunt-Stable has put Oxford one up

Ferry shot saved inside the box

Kaid Gangsta Mohammed, ya get me wid my flash boots n ting

Goallllllllllll!!!!!!!! Ritchie

Goallllllllllll

GET IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ritchie!

GOAAAAL!

GET IN! Ritchie from Kennedy cross. Come on!

Lovely stuff.

YOU REDS.

Get in there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fucking come on!!

Well played Swindon             COME ON  :clap: :clap:

Get the fuck in!! Sounds like a quality goal!!

Get in there

Yes !!!

sw :I'm a complete mofleakin Deak

Crawley 2 down now

 :)


Southampton 2 goals down now as well.

Good. Evans will not be happy.

Big fat windmill

Ricky shakes just scored for Ebbsfleet.

probably a miss control

fuck me ricky shakes finally finds the goal...must of been a mishit pass

Balls. Put Crawley in my accumulator. Bittersweet.

Crawley now 3 down hahaha

Nam now 3-0 up.

I'd love to see Steve Evans' podgy little face right now.

Fixed it for you

Much better, thank you.

Half-time.

Sounded like a good half with Ferry and Ritchie seeingly having a good game.

Half time.

Pleased with that.

Time for a cuppa.

Leicester City 3-1 Southampton

The sprinklers have been on all the way through half time. Very bizarre when taking into account it's been pissing down with rain.

Fucking hate that, can never understand it.

Anyone else having a problem getting live commentary via STFC world?

J

Nope fine.

756 Town fans there.

Thansk for reply......

Bollocks - that means it's my computer/network playing up...

Magera on for De Vita

Morgan diving.

Seems quiet on here. Anything of any note to report?

Balls

fuck

I'll shut up  :crash:

Smithy, Smithy, Smithy, tut tut

Shit.

3 seconds after i log on to the game shrews score...............cunt

FUCKING HELL  :headhurts:

FFS Smith

cock

Fucking hell Smith.

bollox

Smith cock up then?

We need a keeper.

Is Lanzano fully fit ?

Shit punch to one of their players...goal.

what did he do,  other than let one in?

Personally think Smith is shit anyway, just a matter of time before he is out of the team in my mind, and the sooner the better.

yeah he can make a couple of saves (what keeper cant!!!) but the rest of his game is awful!!

I went for a turnout, came back and they'd scored.

Fuckers.

Agreed.

Too many times he's cost us.

on the bright side smith won't play again unless we have injuries..................he is truly shite

Or is he just the scapegoat?

Ferry off for McCormack

ill blame devera ;)

I predict Magera to score the winner!

I've always thought that 9 times out of 10 punching is just a completely unnecessary skill. Don't know why so many keepers look to do it.

ffs swindon get a fucking grip

No.

Ritchie now upfront

Clarke injured or just tired?

Stats on bbc suggest things have swung to shrewbury since their goal

Shit!!!!!

Bollocks.

cuntslop

Fuck it!

FFS.

Same old Swindon.

Oh Fook !!

Its gone to shit since i turned on. Im turning off.

Smiths fault  ;D

Rubbish. Sounds like we just haven't contained Morgan or Ainsworth.

Reg will be happy that Morgan has scored...

Same old Swindon - and a division lower.  :badmood:

FUCKING SORT THIS SHIT OUT SWINDON          

It was inevitable.

near enough, git!

Hopefully PDC will twig the defence needs some additions before the window closes. Not at the game. but from what i've seen this season i dont like Devera or kennedy defensively, or Smith in goal!

By the sounds of it our Forwards are not exactly on form either, starting to worry now, 4 losses in a row  :(

That kid from Arsenal is supposed to be coming next week...

When do we go into complete meltdown ?

Hope he's bringing some mates

conceded 2 headed goals again, hmm  :hmmm: not looking good

The club announced there were delays with the loan yesterday, so may not happen that fast if it happens.

my brother at the match reckons our fullbacks are being ripped apart.  No real surprise as kennedy should be second choice and is but for injury.  Caddis IMO is to slow and anyone can just kick it past him and do him for pace.........to much ps3 and bucky i think.  Would move devera to right back and play comazzi next game as devera hasn't looked great at centre back anyway.

In about 15 mins i guess

16:51

What evidence have you got that suggests Devera is any good at right back?

Bring back Manks !!!

There's an idea.

meltdown no.  deep concern yes.  would have been happy with a point today but sounds like we aren't threatening at all

This is why I can't understand Amankwaah not getting a look in.

Always rated him.

Still were have a good cup run hopefully, that's the most important thing, screw the league  

Devera has not looked good on the ball, dont see him being a RB. Amankwaah RB and caddis LB, until this other guy is fit. The other point is we are playing with two real wingers so the full backs dont get much help defensively. Hate to raise last seasons favourite point but i think we need an experienced CB, someone who had been there and done it in this country.

Have we had a single chance in the 2nd half?

Sounds like we're being ripped to pieces !

Hopefully our Czech International super star can find an equaliser

Folks, we are currently in sizeable trouble.

He has to get some service first...

This.

Not likely to grab an equaliser then?

Currently 1 point above relegation zone in 21st  :(  I believe this is the time to become very worried

5 minutes added on. If we can get our act together...

Stats this half dont look good!

I'm actually getting quite concerned now,4 straight defeats is not acceptable for a club with our stated ambition and budget.

In PDC we trust

Fucks sake Swindon.

Another bank holiday weekend ruined :(

IS this the lowest we have ever been in terms of leauge position? :badmood:

Yeah it's beyond not good enough now, something needs to be done.

What excuses will PDC have today

The player's arent good enough probably

Still we got 4 days untill the transfer window shuts

I can't help but feel that we are making way to many changes through matches.  yes it means fitter players on the pitch but it also upsets the balance.  Lets pick 11 and stick with them injuries permitting.  All these substitutions are a fuckin joke.  the subs are there to turn defeat into victory not victory into defeat.


Paolo sort it out now

RB would prefer manks anyday caddis is to lightweight and when he plays right back he reminds me of when timlin tried playing left back...........just doesn't work defensively/

need to start the czech striker now, stop fucking about with De Vita, he doesn't deserve to be anywhere near the team

Poor result that - sounds like we were hopeless in the second half

So Wednesday appears to have been another false dawn. On the plus side, nobody has beaten us by more than a goal, but we don't get points for that. This is the lowest we've been in the football league since I started following Town 20 years ago. There's nothing to be gained by going OTT about this, but we had an expectation of doing well this year.

We've lost 4 on the trot. Not many sides that go up do that.

Fucking bunch of chokers

We just need better defenders and more experience. Biggest problem in our squad in general is lack of english lower league experience and its beginning to show.

manky will be leaving. Caddis is our best rb and has played well this season compaired to that twat devera who shits his pants everytime the ball is in his area

Don't fancy our chances next week

I hoped that after a good result at the Shitheads the team could kick on an get a result today.

Obviously not, we need to turn this around quickly or we can kiss goodbye to any chance of getting out of this league (in the right direction) this season.

Sort it out Paolo, quickly

simply not fucking good enough.  sort it out Paolo.

that said, too early to talk about promotion or relegation battles.  either could yet happen

If these players don't start picking up points in the league soon after Wednesday's performance some serious questions will have to be asked. They showed us what they're capable of - they need to start doing it on a regular basis.

Not pushing the panic button yet - we've got an easier run of games coming up in a few weeks. We do need to start picking up a few points soon though.

The players are putting far too much pressure on themselves.

In fairness we all know what we're missing.

Oh, and anybody who texts in and starts their rant with "I've been a Town fan for ... years" deserves a slap.

What a contrast from the first half. Lack of experience could be a factor, but it's not like we're getting brushed aside, we MUST stop this early rot and fucking soon.

Too early for predicting league position but some sorting out needs to happen.

Smith, Kennedy, Devera and De Vita need to come out, simply not good enough.

I cant take reading anymore of this shit on here. I'm off down the pub. You lot sat at your pc's without seeing the game can put it all right.

what teams are these then :hmmm:

Burton, Barnet, Macclesfield, Hereford, Accrington, Plymouth

That run of games has the potential to turn our season around.

I've been a town fan for 41 years and I've had enough of this continual shite


 :crash: :crash: :crash: :crash: :crash: :crash: :crash:

 :smack: :smack:

 :blowup:


 :bye: :bye: :bye: :bye: :bye:

Well that 2nd half was awful. Sick of them talking a good game they've gotta start producing. Still think we have the wrong players for this league- we just ain't winning the physical battles

:D

So what are you trying to say? You no longer support them?   :hmmm:

Do / did you actually go to watch them anyway?  :hmmm:

Dagenham finished above us last season, Cheltenham are a team we never ever beat, and Oxford was a derby. Dare I also point out that all 3 of those teams are in the top half right now, whilst the teams I listed are pretty much all in the bottom half

I haven't been to a game this season so cannot pass judgement. Iirc there were comments on here that the only league game we have won (crewe) could have been oh so different if crewe had taken some early chances? Are we that bad? Is the team not gelling or are there some terrible individual performances? We are in this position for a reason so I didn't expect the win for us today (shrews are a good side at home).

Cheltenham we didn't play well but only lost to one defensive laps
Dagenham we didn't play well again, but conceded a harsh penalty and were denied one ourselves
Oxford we played quite well and got done by two set pieces

It's easy to point out the things that have gone our way, but there's plenty that havent. And let's not forget we took City apart in the week. I'm not trying to say everything is rosey, but I'm still convinced we've got enough to turn this around soon.

Agree with that, it makes for pretty grim reading, but we're only 5 games in.

"Swindon Town deserves more and we'll give them more" says Etienne Esajas. Slightly concerned about all the talk of how our players are better than our current position suggests - that's all we heard last season. However, I can't imagine PDC letting them delude themselves so hopefully he'll keep their feet on the ground, keep them working together, and we'll kick into gear soon.

I bet you are ripping up your season ticket right now.

Well, except that it's obviously plastic now so i guess you will melt it instead. :D

Di Canio

- First half we were up but wasn't happy, second half was even worse
- We deserved to lose as we weren't a group of professionals - we took 3 steps backwards
- Today was about being empty professionally on the field. I can improve professionalism but I can't give heart to players. I would have changed 7 players in the first half if I could
- It was clear that we should lose the game, even at 1-0 up, as we didn't have any desire
- It's not easy to gel quickly but despite this we need to be capable to do more than we did
- I'm sad for the fans as once again they've followed us
- I can't recognise my team if we play in this way. The last half hour we didn't create any chances and didn't do well enough, even against a strong team
- Very frsutrated that the ('not very skillfull') Morgan ran from one end to the other without being stopped

Basically Paolo sounds gutted that we didn't show any desire today

Has nobody told him skill isn't a prerequisite of doing well in this division?

Bring on Tuesday.

They are in the top half because they've all played us R4E!

Maybe its not yet time to panic but who can honestly say that they are not surprised we've lost 4 out of 5.The worrying thing is Di Canio's judgement of players.Players we were excited about have proved not to be up to expectations-Devera,De Vita,Risser and it doesnt fill you with optimism that others who have since joined wont turn out the same.

Well obviously beating us helps, but it's not like we've lost to teams likely to fill the bottom 5 spots in the league this year.

bet you wouldnt have had 'em in the top 5 though.

Fact is we were in some kind of control before the keeper fucked up...again,i have been shot down so many times for saying this but Smith will never inspire confidence in any team and has a fuck up to often,much to often.
A new keeper is a must,he fucked up v Oxford at a crucial time and it seems he has today also.

Well leefer if you're going to be shot down then I'll be standing beside you as I have thought the same for a long time. I didn't go today so can't comment on today's game but I've seen plenty to support these comments.

1969            STFC win League Cup and promotion to 2nd tier
1970            Scilly Red starts supporting - 41 year period of shite ensues

Maybe it's not all down to Smith

Smith must be dropped, its simple. Paolo knows Lanzano is his number one so it will be soon that he'll play, unless he regrets signing him!

In his interview today he said perhaps some that he thought were good enough arent!

He said that last week aswell!

Just got back. Too pissed off to write much and read through this thread. I'm starting to think our first choice strike force should be De Vita and Connell. I've only seen Magera against City and Shrewsbury but he looks a bit shit. Hopefully he'll adjust soon. Clarke works hard but needs a goal (not sure he has one in him though).

Holy shit-these 2 are supposed to be the answer to our prayers!

How can ppl moan about someone who has only played an hour for his team? Jesus give him time

Yes, he played an hour and did fuck all. He hasn't even had a run at goal, a header or anything in that hour. Oh yes, he did nearly get sent off for a wild lunge. Did he sound better on the radio carbonwhite?

Never listened on the radio considering i had a good enough view from the seat that i was sat in

I'm surprised you're so upbeat if you went. I'm gutted at the way we played (after our goal) and so is Di Canio.

I blame Phil Smith for everything bad that happens in the world.

http://blueandamber.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=75023

Interesteing views on the game, they all seem to agree that we were much better in the 1st and then right from start in the 2nd we were awful basically.

"You are right their deep crossing first half caused us all sorts of problems.

Swindon totally disintergrated once Di Canio started bringing on subs, none of whom had any impact. I was delighted to see their big lad up front go off. His replacement, the huge Italian, one awful dive, one blatant elbow, about 6 fouls and a yellow card that could have been more."


"Swindon were the best team in the first half, and a well worked goal.

We dominated the second half, they couldn't deal with Morgan, Wright and Ainsworth. Morgan MOTM and my signing of the close season - the lad is absolute class. Di Caneo used up all his bullets early with substitutions who made very little impact on the game."

i never said i wasnt gutted ofcourse i am. But im not guna blame it on a guy who has only played an hour of english football when there are others on the pitch at fault for it.

Also im in the league of fans that say give it 12 games but there are players that shouldnt be playing that still manage to get in the first team.

Didn't go today but noticed on wednesday night that Magera dropped very deep to pick up the ball, almost playing as a central midfielder - did he do the same today and was that one of the reasons we had no attacking threat second half because with him dropping back we had no other striker on the pitch? leaving us with nothing up front.

I am confident in the squad Paolo has assembled and it will take time to gel but it really is quite worrying that we have lost four on the bounce. Many had the same attitude last season, 'we will come good' but look what happened. Don't want to panic but at this stage it doesn't look good. Need a settled side and quick.

Not surprised to hear that the full backs struggled today, both very good going forward but always question marks over their defensive capabilities. It would be great to see Kevin Amankwaah back in the side but it is very unlikely that will happen which is a real shame because I think he would be an asset in League 2.

another quote:

"I've not seen a side disintegrate like that for a long while. their subs were rubbish! Good points that after a tough first half."


 :hmmm:

Make that huge Czech. At least the Shrewsbury fans agree with me  :D

Funny you should say that cos on FM he plays better as a CM/AM and not as a striker!!

Credit to the 800 fans that went. Plenty of noise in the first half but it was more like a morgue in the second (apart from Nobby of course).

First half superb 2nd half was fucking awful. Didn't understand the subs at all today.Devera needs to be dropped for his own good,the bloke is a nervous wreck

Oh and tbf it was smiths fault the 1st goal.

 :zipped: I'm not saying anything.

oh c'mon reg give us your comments on how the season is going so far :sherlock:

We've just played three games in six days. two local derbies and an away trip to a team that made the play offs in this division last season. It was always going to be a tough week and I'm fucking glad it's over.

Next Saturday is the crunch game really. A shit performance and result then and I'll start to worry.

I've seen enough to suggest once we get that win we will be fine.Would say devera and smith are on thin ice though.Always want smith to do well but that's 2 costly mistakes in a week now.

I've been supporting the town...........

Been back for nearly an hour, FFS never an easy ride being a town fan.

Devera what were you on? Easyjet why bother? Leaon Clarke, are you related to Perricard? Smith always supported you even when you were totally crap and be fair mate you have been. However you're the last line of defence and if the defence don't defend you've no chance. He slipped after punching out the ball for the first and the defence were nowhere on the back post for the second. Gabilondo did not get the service he needed. Flint saved us from a mauling in the second half. Lukas was lucky to stay on and did naff all. Ritchie tries to do to much. I could go on suffice to say we did not play as well in the first half as we did all game at city but should have had the game in the bag by half time. Second half we were bullied in the playground and mugged at the school gate.

As they say a game of two halves one of which we never had the balls or the answer for.

Panic? Not yet. Listening to BBC Shropshire on the way back Turner was praise worthy towards town and said after watching the City game he was very worried (as quoted by the Adver) and assured their reporter that Swindon will be there at the end of the season as he recognised the challenges gelling a new team with a new manager who he rates highly!

Back to square one on Tuesday.

Regards

fatbasher   

Would disagree about clarke. chased down and caused them problems.they were delighted when he went off.

Honestly, I'm sick of people thinking up excuses for these players.

Shrewsbury = "We've had busy week schedule and the team hasn't had time to gel". Every team has a busy week when they're in the cup. And, all these players have had plenty of time to 'gel', they've had 6 games this season + 5 games or however many pre season games there were.

Oxford = "It's a local derby". Shouldn't make a fucking difference losing to them, a team who barely scraped a draw against Aldershot today, hardly Barcelona.

Dag & Red = "We lost because of the ref". Shouldn't make a difference, the fact that they hardly mustered a shot on goal against them is a problem.

Cheltenham = "We always lose there". Makes no sense how 11 completely different players would carry on a burden like that.


The fact is that each one of these losses are unacceptable, shows how far the club has fallen from the heady highs of League 1 when these games are deemed acceptable. People are saying stuff along the lines of "It was always going to be a tough, they NEARLY got promoted last year" is absolutely ridiculous. How do we expect to get promoted then if we're losing to clubs that couldn't go up in a weaker league last season?

I was at the game and i can honestly say taking de vita off changed the game link up play brilliant, bougera or however you spell it was awful didnt win one thing so lets stop going by reputation but performances please

I was delighted he went off too but you're right DRS he did win the ball with his head once today.

Not a target man though is he.Morgan only won 1 header all game.

Havent trawled through.

Well to use a cliche a game of two halves.....

First half we got at them, played and passed, not quite City away but very good none the less.

Scored a very good goal where we worked the ball out wide and whipped in a neat cross.

What the fuck happened in the second half.?....woeful.

Couldnt:

- Tackle
- Pass
- Head (except Flint)
- Run
- Think

It was last year all over again only with players whose names i cannot pronounce...

Boiled down it was piss poor and if PDC wants to show his team how it done just watch a video of Shrewsbury knocking it about in the second.

The Midfield just collapsed...........couldnt make a pass at a drunk slut, so there was no link from defence to the front men.

Smith at fault for the first going into a tackle with his back....What????

I am not one to panic but things need to change.....chances have been given and some not taken.

Devera needs to be dropped end of.

Midfielders need to learn how to pass the ball and the 'easy' ball.

AND...for his faults if we had 11 flints we would piss this league.

Chelts we deserved a point, Daggers although i didnt go the same, Oxford we probably deserved a point...not today...Shrewsbury fucked us in the second half good a proper.

My only highlight was DRS scoffing his pie!

Rotherham has just become a big game.

Saints is a distraction...i would trade defeat to them for three points against Rotherham any day!!

Just got back. Good first half where we dominated, awful second half, where we couldn't put 2 passes together. Paolo's substitutions didn't work out today imo, and he still hasn't worked out his best side.

I'm not worried about us, but I think its gonna be a few months before he start get up near the top.

And oh yeah their RB was fantastic. Grandison?

You mean high tower?

Really? I thought that's why Di Canio bought him in     :hmmm:

On a more positive note I thought their catering set was something that the board could look at. My Cottage pie was lovely.

Shame the Brooklands ran out of real ale though.

Passed some Cunt with a Shrewsbury banner across his back window and a scarf out of each rear window when I joined at the M5 at Worcester on the way back . Thought about running him off the road but it's a company car! And besides was not his fault we were shit today.

Well you thought wrong.

Good on the 800 odd who went.
Not a great start to the season though the defeats have been close affairs,it is still early days and as i said for me i will start whinging around Xmas time....not after a few matches.
It is not a great standard and once the ball is rolling it will be hard to stop...looking forward to Tuesday  and lets hope this time next week we are a lot happier.

From a guy on facebook and I don't mean some kid. This is legit.

"Charlie Austin rang me after the game, he spoke to Simon ferry and ferry said that pdc went off his head at half time despite us winning."

Could go some way to explaining the 2nd half.

I dunno. I didn't go, but the more time passes I seem to be getting fucking pissed off.

Sigh.

Well Ferry needs to shut the fuck up and do his talking on the pitch if this is true.
What goes on in the dressing room should stay there in my opinion.

Yeah true. Doesn't help that I've taken it from facebook and spread it further... Mind you McCormack had this to say on twitter: "If only I could say wat I really think. Shit day all round so let's move on."
Which sparked the above.

You can't blame Ferry for some private conversation he has with Austin getting splashed over the net by some third party.

Of course it's all down to not enough passion....ahem.

when does the "its early days" window close, is it the same as last years : :hmmm:

31st @ 5pm

2nd half was utter crap today. 100% dominated. Didnt get near their goal. Shit tactics. Shit subs.

Just goes to show how crap City were mid week. Just like the Charlton game in January, weve overstated a win because the other team were utterly dire and gave up.

I listened to the radio and couldnt understand the subs.

I dont think i heard johnathan smith on the radio once? But he stayed on?!

Next saturday is a must win.

I agree the losses are unacceptable, but there is a lot of truth in the team geling.  The fact here is that PDC hasn't been able to get the team to gel together.  IMO, it is because he keeps changing the team (even today in the 2nd half when we were leading and on top of the match).  I can only assume he is just not happy with what he is seeing.  :eek:

Well don't go then, you miserable git  ::)

The parallels to last season are uncanny

Usually a very positive fan. But this calender year has been an utter misery.

STFC Annus Shit.

This is my concern. The more I dwell on it, the more I realise that I sound exactly the same as  I did last year.

I suppose with more reason to do so, seeing as we have 16 new players, still, not a nice thought.

No I didn't

I agree, but we need to think positive.  :nod:

I just get fed up with the people on here who just jump at any chance to moan about the team (granted there are lots of opportunities) instead of backing them.  All this negativity just adds more pressure on the team, and judging by last year, the pressure was too much for them.  I don't want to follow last year's example (as I am sure most people do).
 :badmood:


Rant over  :D

On a lighter note, may I be the first to congratulate the young woman in the pink top who displayed her skills in puppy smuggling.

It was a brazen attempt to contravene ground regulations by smuggling in two wonderful puppies and showing all the male town fans at how good she was, right under the noses of the stewards, especially the prick with dark glasses and the bald twat who kept talking into his mic.

A sterling effort that was well rewarded with an appriciative song sung in her honor.

As an avid fan of that particular breed may I ask that if any one of those two puppies are for sale I'd like to have the one with the pink nose.

Regards


Fatbasher

Connell also on twitter said he was gutted he wasn't picked.

Team fell to pieces today after half time in the dressing room. Hope Im wrong, but looks like problems.

Not really getting on the team's back. Just think that something was wrong. Much worse than the Cheltenham or Pox games where you could understand how and where we lost the game.

There's always a bright side  :)....her consumption of chicken balti pies, was also heroic.

If Timlin is anything to go by you have to fear for Ferry!Di Cannio needs to calm down if it's true "he went off his head " at half time.It's crap management to do that when we walked off the pitch a goal to the good.Even if we hadn't played that well you take the bonus of being in front, then focus on what can be done to do even better to win the game.Still think Di Cannio was a big mistake by the board.

Not enjoying the tweets/FB/post match reports tonight :( Obviously PDC and the team get our support, hope its an early season blip. But I'm sure a lot of us have a niggling doubt or two shoved to the back of our minds.

Disappointing day all round. Went to Collaboration Festival in Lechlade. Really well set up, two stages, quality (largely lesser known) bands, expected 4000 people, actual attendance looked more like 400. Personally I had a good time, but gutted for the performers, traders and organisers (was kind of a help for heroes charity festival). Was Ds-Tees the chap on here who set up the T-Shirt business? If so his store was there. Must be gutted too :( Not sure what went wrong - sure its Reading weekend but even so....Can't remember seeing local advertising mind.

This start isn't fucking good enough, and 'gelling' isnt an excuse. Di Canio's signings, man management, selections, and subs have all been questionable. Finishing outside the playoffs is both very likely and completely unacceptable. I'm fed up already, but that is probably exacerbated by the beers i've consumed today.

Ferry was good in our play off season, he hasn't touched on that form since. By no means the weakest link in our play off season though. There's a reason he played nearly every game that season.

The beers don't diminish the validity of the points you make though, all of which are perfectly fair.

:zipped: I'm not saying anything.

Its not good though

Whats really fucking me off is people on facebook trying to peddle rumours as fact. For example, 5 players are going to hand in transfer requests. When asked who, this person refused to say the names, so its obviously bollocks.

If you cant put up, shut up imo.

What a star performer, never noticed that. Just goes to show how magic she was. Paul Daniels would have been proud of her......

Just watched the goals on the Football League show.

2nd goal for them it appears Kennedy got skinned (again) and where were the defenders on the back post ???

Also, as others have said, this all seems very deja vu.

I remember the start of last season, the poor start, the people saying "It's early days yet" and others saying "It's ok we're only 7 points off the play offs".

Also, the rumours of Di Canio going ape at half time when we were winning and McCormack and Connell's twitter postings are a little concerning. How long before we start to hear about cliques again ???

Add to that the fact that we played well in the "high profile"games last season and our only decent performance this season was at Bristol,the parallels are worrying

I thought he was injured. If not, I'm also gutted he wasn't picked as he did nothing wrong at City.

Good to see McCormack on twitter say there is/was no player revolt.

But he opened himself up to the rumours by saying 'If I could say what I really think'?

Think that Di Canio needs to be told that there is a carrot as well as the stick. You cannot manage effectively without both. And as much as I am all for discipline and absolute fitness think he is training them too hard. Have heard that most days they do not get home until 6 and yesterday in the second half they looked knackered. Think Jeremy needs to take him aside and have a word about his man management and methods. Think currently it's counterproductive.

Even if that was true, I don't think JW can get involved. It would be undermining his manager.

Its a valid point, but PDC has played at the top level. He knows what it takes to get there. And if that means 'working' until 6 in order to be better than everyone else so be it. It'll be like a proper job for them. Though obviously we aren't seeing the reward for all the hard work yet..

I think that you have no idea what goes on at STFC and are spouting shite because, like the rest of us, you are disappointed with results and unhappy that your team is not doing well.

Bart is delighted that we're doing badly.

Most days they don't get home til 6? Those poor poor people. God forbid they actually have to 'work' hard for their very healthy salaries. Carry on working them hard PDC, and so what if he had a go at them at half time. These modern day footballers need to grow a pair of bollocks and get some fire in their bellies. So yesterday's excuse for the second half performance was 'the nasty Italian man shouted at us during half time' ffs grow up you bunch of women.

Here's how I would see it.

Cheltenham - too lightweight up front.
Dagenham - ditto, bad bit of luck with Commazi, but PDC should have had a centre back on the bench.
Pox - Couldnt defend set pieces/Didnt take our chances. Unlucky.
Shrewsbury - Decent first half, shit second half. PDC lost the plot in the dressing room.

The good news is, that apart from the three amigo's (Lanzano, Cibochhi, Commazi) I would say that he has assembled a good set of players. So its not a Colin Todd scenario. Dont agree that the players are being worked too hard. I would say Pox looked fitter than us (but admittedly we did have to chase that game).

Let's be honest about the pox match, we battered them from start to finish, on another day we'd have won that by 3 or 4 goals. How we didn't score at least two of those chances we had I'll never know. Yes slack defending cost us but it was just one of those days, shame that one of those days cost us 38 years of history. Which hurts.

Let's summarise the league games so far then:

Crewe - Poor first 45 but decent enough 2nd half. Crewe were poor though and we coasted to the win.

Cheltenham - Not the best display but probably didn't deserve a defeat. Set piece defending let us down.

Daggers - Sounded poor. PDC made errors with team selection and subs. Defeat probably fair.

Scum - Battered them for 90 mins but didn't take our chances. Pooe set piece defending costs us again.

Shrews - Good 1st half poor 2nd. Not really sure what happened there.

On another day in any of them  games we could have easily had a different result. We were lucky to be leading at half time against Crewe. We could easily have had a point at Daggers and Cheltenham and probably yesterday as well. And we should have beaten Oxford really.

The point i'm making is that we aren't far away. Teams have started poorly before but have come back to challenge at the top end come May. With the players we have there is nothing to suggest we can't do that. I understand people being reflective on last season but this lot are better players in my opinion (some of them anyway) and I feel we are much more of a team when you watch us play than we were last season. I don't think we'll see a repeat.

Di Canio is learning though and has made errors. I think we have seen from 6 games that he can be a bit OTT sometimes and also that he can make mistakes with team selection and tactics. The side is still settling and Di Canio is learning and when both begin to click it's a very good combo to have. When we went down last season people claimed they wanted a manager exactly like Di Canio. Someone with passion and someone who will only expect 100% every game. We now have that but we have to be patient with him.

I dont agree mate. Think about someone like J Smith, a player out of non league, tried his best first half, was doing fine, come in at half time, Paolo Di Canio, Italian football legend goes mental about how crap you were in the first half. What's going to happen? Inevitably he lost the plot as did several other players.

Paolo Di Canio fucked up yesterday. He turned a team that was competing into one that didnt have a clue in 15 minutes. If he slags the team off it must be at the right time.

But do we actually know what was said Spence? Did PDC have a go at individuals or the team as a whole? Just think it's a sign of the times that players these days from the moment they're in youth set up seem to expect everything on a plate, the world owes them a career. PDC obviously worked his nuts off to get to the standard he ended up at and he probably expects the same from his players - and it's not happening right now. Reminds me of when John Collins was Hibs boss he tried to motivate the players by showing them what you can have if you reach the top. It backfired as the players didn't get it, and thought he was just being flash.

But we don't know what was said at all by PdC or his staff do we? you are only presuming, or assuming what happened.

Maybe PdC said carry on as you are and the players just couldn't do it?

Maybe he said you are all doing brilliantly so they rested on their laurels.

its all guesswork unless you were actually there in the dressing room? no I didn't think you were.

Quite right.

Word...

Agreed

Hi everyone not here to wind anyone up but just wanted to add a Shrews viewpoint, I think the above quote is spot on. I am a season ticket holder at Shrewsbury and have got to say I was very impressed with Swindon in the first half, you were knocking the ball about winning all the battles in midfield and thoroughly deserved to go in  one up at half time. Having been so much on top and leading away from home, I cannot imagine why your manager would change the team. In my view not one of the subs worked in your favour all of a sudden Shrewsbury found space, we won the midfield and our wingers got in the game. After our second goal Swindon never looked like they could get back in it and I thought Marvin Morgan for us was outstanding.

Honestly think you would have won if it was not for the terrible substitutions, just glad he made them. Brilliant support from you guys good luck for the rest of the season, apart from when you play us of course. :)

Disagree. Have you never had a discussion with a mate of what a shit day you have had at work and/or your boss being a cunt? You wouldn't expect them to pass it on and it to appear on facebook. Austin should respect a private conversation.

That's IF it is even true. Which I doubt.

DC cant cut it,get rid now he's mental.

What a load of old shite this is turning out to be.  As others have said, it's like being catapulted back to a year ago.  At a similar point we had the emphatic win away at Southampton in the JPT. We all thought that would be the turning point and it just didn't happen.

I had some reservations about Di Canio and there's nothing been shown yet to prove my fears were unfounded. He's a loose cannon and unless he starts to reign it in soon, we'll have a bunch of players not wanting to play for him or STFC.  Not good at all. I  can't help but wonder whether Mr Wray is regretting his decision to appoint him?

The pressure is starting to mount on PDC.

If we lose on Saturday, I wonder how his Sky TV interview will go ?

Went yesterday and very disappointing after being pretty much in control of the game in the first half. The only criticism would be that we should have been more than a goal up and more ruthless in our final pass and decision making to killing off.
Not sure what PDC said at half time but in his quotes he said he had a go at half time but clearly got the wrong reaction. It probably just needed a come on lads, we're on top but let's tighten up and be sharper in the right areas and watch out they might come and have a go for a bit.

The substitutions seemed a bit panicked and took away a creative edge and pulling Clarke off meant the ball wasn't sticking up front and Shrewsbury came onto to us. Met some Shrews fans before and after and they couldn't believe the turnaround.

I think Di Canio maybe just needs to take a step back and reflect on what is and what isn't working. You can't use the bollocking every week. He might want to look at the training and are they being overtrained, is enough being left in the tank on matchdays. I do think he is right to ask them to train every day, the players are paid well and should think of themselves as professional athletes but you can't have a one fits all approach for 25-30 players.  I don't think we are far off but we need to pick up some results quickly to stop everyone panicking and get the momentum going again!

1) Read the interview PDC gave after the game.

2) Its wrong those comments were put on FB. But to be fair, if they are not then people just say you havnt got a clue, you are just presuming and all this. Load of bollocks, this is a fans site and you have a right to make your own opinions on the facts available.

Am mega pissed off.  Last season was worst ever and it seem we are continuing the same.  I want PDC to be a success cos i want that for Swindon Town.  I just wanna see my team battle and win.  The board have backed him big time.  He has brought in more than a starting 11 yet we are still short in areas.

Need a new keeper ive had it with smith he does school girl errors, would be disrespectfull to school boys to call them that.  I dont think Kennedy is strong enough.  Devera is shit from what ive seen so far.  I think caddis who i rate is to small for this league to be played right back.  When starting from scratch with a new team you need to be hard to beat first.  So you sort out your back 5, keeper included and we havent.  Its Flint against the rest at present.

Supposedly Cibbochi has really signed yet cos of no international clearance.  If thats the case id ditch him and find a left back who is british, has played at this level and can organise a bit.  We still need a centre half like that and im not convinced commazzi will be what we hoped.

I really dont care about the southampton game now. For me this is last chance to try something before saturday.  PDC has bought them in so he has to pick them and hope they do what he saw in them.  For a start playing the wide men on the natural side might mean they cross first time and give the forwards a better chance.

Or as we have bought 5 strikers we could play the lot DOH,  sorry PDC but on that i think your an idiot.

Team for saints .   Lanzano ( might as well have a look )  Amankwaa,  Flint,  Commazzi,  Timlin ?  Gabilondo on the right, Ritchie on the left,  Mcormack and Ferry in middle, Czechy and Clarke up front.

Is bad when you look to pick a team and even with so many to pick from you think oh shit isnt it.

sorry im not happy so im ranting.  will still be their on sat.

I didn't go but did listen on the radio and have subsequently watched the highlights this morning. My thoughts are that Smith is probably the weak link in defence, it's little wonder that Devera looks like a nervous kitten by all accounts if his keeper can't hold on to a shot or parry it to safety. The second goal was another example of poor defending with Kennedy being skinned far too easily and nobody on the back post.

Our squad is far too big and our manager cannot settle on his best XI - admittedly not helped by injuries - and seems intent on bringing in players to replace players he'd signed himself. The similarities to last year are concerning.

I've already bought tickets for Southampton and Rotherham  :doh:

What PdC has done is revolution not evolution. He's still learning and will fuck up. Its how he reacts to those fuck ups that will dicate whether he is successful or not. 
I too think he needs to get the defence sorted. Flint is a beast and has let no one down - he's better than I hoped. I'd like to Comazzi alongside him for a few games.
I'm still with PdC.
I think we've got to stick with it until a few more games are played and review the situation then. Revolutions need time to gain momentum. Some work, some fail.

Like others have said, Lanzano in goal for the Saints game please and give Manks a game.

I don't think we are far off being a decent outfit in league 2. Trouble is there are a few weaknesses that are holding us back imo. Add the tinkering with a non settled side,excessive training? ott dressing room rants? and that might not bode well at all.
The biggest concern for me is that the side isn't settled and the season is well underway. Connell not getting much pitch time despite his scoring record and the fee involved is a strange one too.

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:.....four games?...beaten by the odd goal,the bloke has done a complete revamp on the shite who finished bottom last season,give him a chance for fuck sake,i cannot believe some of the comments on here....Can't cut it?
Fact is people like yourself make his job hard by getting on his back and whining every two mins.
The man has been a breath of fresh air and the season is over fourty matches not five.

Don't be a cock Leefer, plenty of people are willing to blow smoke up his backside and make excuses for him.My dessenting voice on a football forum isn't going to make any difference to it and certainly wont make his job any harder.He's doing a pretty good job of making his job hard all by himself by making rubbish signing and having the man management skills of Colonel Gadaffi

Leefer's right again. We're 5 games in to the season. Give the man a chance, it's almost a completely new squad. We finished bottom last season so things will take time to fall into place. I still think we can go up, but that we won't be up near the top until the new year.

If its like this at the end of October i will shit myself!!

Lots of people calling for Lanzano. Phil Smith may be making mistakes, but for all we know Lanzano could be complete and utter gash.

Heard some fairly worrying rumours on here and in other places about what happened at half time and after the match...hopefully it's all bollocks and everything comes together soon.

Roll on Tuesday night, sooner we can get this match out of our minds the better I suspect.

Bit of a pet hate of mine that fans call for players to be dropped for ones who they have never seen play.

Having said that, I thought the GK was a weak link before the season. Phil Smith has put in some good performances, but unfortunately not yesterday. 

I need to see at what height it came at him at.

If its between his hips and head he did well to smack it away....anything else and its a disaster..

True, but he could also be fucking brilliant.

Until he gets a chance to play we won't know.

I would play him against Southampton, if he's utter gash then you probably haven't lost anything by giving him a game.
If he's fucking brilliant then he keeps his place.

should of pushed it around the post

this

 :D
Blah,Blah Blah.. :D

Not even worth answering that shit.

He could be brilliant. I'm not sure I'd make the change yet. What we have to lose (other than going out the cup) is destroying Smiths already fragile confidence.

and by keeping him in it destroys my ( and others ) fragile confidence in winning a game.

True.

I don't know the right answers. I'll apply for the job if PDC doesn't turn things around :)

Lanzano may be crap but we need to find out. If he is then I'd go for Plan C and get an experienced keeper in on loan. Smith has had enough chances. Devera an interesting one. Do you keep him in on the basis you know he's got it but hasn't shown it ( PdC view ) or do you take him out of the firing line bacause he's a bag of nerves? I'd really like to see Manks in there to add a bit of physical presence.

A mate of mine said he saw matt ritchie and kate cady at A&E this morn bout 8, there wernt any bad injuries in the game were there?

No,they were visiting Paolo after he was admited with severe shock after yesterdays second half performance.

In Smiths defence, that one he parried could have been swerving like fuck and he might have seen it late.
That said,I saw enough vs pox to see his game has not come on, with the poor distribution and not being quick enough off his line.

True arriba but still should be doing better.Have never been in the smith out camp but when you are trying to weather the storm it doesnt help when the keeper keeps letting teams back in.

Vic and theotherbloke on the radio said Ritchie looked dazed after his header. Probably checking him out for concussion.

To me, the Carling Cup is not important at all. The only thing that matters is promotion so players like Lanzano etc should start against Saints.

Nobody has seen him play apart from the handful who went to Italy. Also WTF is going on with Chewbacca or however you say it. He sounds like another Milan Misun.

I'd drop Smith and Kennedy on tuesday and Ferry and McCormack should start in the middle.

Up front, Connell and Clarke.

Who would play left back

The Italian guy if he exists/gets international clearance or failing that put Caddis at LB and give Amankwaah a game at RB.

Ritchie was probably concussed after he scored due to pile on celebrating the goal ! If we were winning games we could try different players in different positions Tuesday night but as it is i think we need to persevere with Paolo's strongest eleven.

How can we play Paolo's strongest 11 when he doesn't even know what that is ?!

Indeed, even Mr. Di Canio seems pretty clueless - as its a cup game

Lazano

Amankwaah
Comazzi (if fit)
Flint
Kennedy

Caddis
Ferry
Timlin
Ritchie

Any 2 of the 7 non scoring strikers we have.

Even if Di Canio thinks absolutely nothing of Amankwaah and Timlin, give them a fucking chance - you never know Paolo they might prove you wrong.

I think it's worth starting Lanzano for the Saints game. I'd also start Magera and Clarke upfront seen as these 2 are supposed to be our first choice strike pairing this season. Maybe Risser will be back for Tuesday as well?

Disagree Ralphy, I think he knows his best starting eleven it just isn't working out for us at present. I believe he thought this league would be a bit easier than it is turning out to be.

Amankwha is out of here. He'll never be seen in a Swindon shirt again.

(that's him starting Tuesday now).

is it coz he iz black?

He is right black.

Timlin will never play for us again.

more fool di canio then.

I like Manks but his body just will not stand up to the rigours of playing week in/week out,even more so in this league.

Why though ??

What actually happened ?

We have a good enough midfield without Timlin.

If the rumours of why he's gone AWOL are true its a bloody stupid Steve McMahon style alienation.

If we have - they havent shown it since Timlin played against Crewe.

Yes they have. It was fine against Oxford.

Its the attack and parts of defence that worry me more.

Gabilondo has

Totally agree

Can someone actually explain what's happened with Timlin? Or is it just hearsay?

Hearsay as far as I know - that he had a training ground spat with PDC.

Di Canio has bombed Timlin out. Disagreement watching the Crewe tape.

To be fair the squad is now huge, so we are desperate to get the wages down (remmember theres that thing called the wage cap to worry about if we are in L2 next season).

Talking about players like Timlin and Manks playing show how shit we are. Ferry too. If they are what we need then we are royally fucked.

Bit harsh on Ferry and Amankwaah to an extent. Of course they aren't without limitations but they were really good in our play off season.

Just watched the 'highlights' of the game. Kennedy needs shooting for the second goal. Most of us who dont wear the rose tinted specs knew kennedy wasnt going to be good enough this season given how he did when on loan with two clubs last season. Got to get someone there who can defend. We are almost at the end of the transfer window so unless this LB gets clearance we need someone else, because the lad cant defend for shit on the games i've seen.

P. Smith, your time is up thanks. I'm still gutted we shipped out Lucas and not smitt, because Lucas was a much better presence in goal and would help the defence no end. Lets hope Lanzano is decent, i've got a little worry about Lanzano but not seen him yet so lets give him a chance.

For me on tues as others have said, Caddis to LB, Amank to come in at RB and prove PDC wrong. Ferry and Mccormack in the middle. (both quite small though, dont mind smith in there) Really dont know what to do up top, guess Magera has to play soon and will play with Clarke but feel that Connell is not getting the chance.

Essentially the top three goal scorers from the league below made the step up this season, the other two are playing regularly but connell (who we spent a reasonable amount of money on) cant get on the bench, and in the glimpses i've seen looks like the most natural goal scrorer of the lot.

Ferry and McCormack are our best two central midfielders. Is it good enough for promotion, well that's opinion. But it is the best we have.

There is a reason Smith played for York and Forest Green Rovers. Risser, well I've not seen anything to say he is of Smith's standard.

Don't understand the hate for Ferry, arriba?

As for Lucas, Riddick, I don't think we had much choice. He wanted to move back North so what you gonna do?

Agree on Kennedy, never been a big fan myself and he got done like a fucking chump for the 2nd.

Kennedy provided the superb cross for our goal.
Looked like a catalogue of errors for the goals we conceeded.

Batch. Imo the centre mids are our biggest problem. None of them fill me with confidence.

Benny. i dont hate ferry, but i dont think he's all that either.

I'd be happier if we had a ball player. I see McCormack as a batterer and Ferry as a water carrier - neat enough on the ball but not one to unpick defences. But I don't think we have better in the squad? What is your opinion?

I personally think one of our central defenders and none of our attackers have yet impressed. Maybe Connell has shown a few glimpses,  god knows why he has been on the bench for so long.

Just got back to Swindon after a long weekend so a bit late in posting our match report for the Town at Shrewsbury game yesterday...

http://thewashbag.com/2011/08/28/swindon-at-shrewsbury-town-self-destruct-to-a-2-1-defeat/

Cheers Washbag. Anyone know what happened to the Wise Men Say podcast? I actually quite enjoyed them. Maybe it was just me.

Can't unlock defences with anything of quality and too lightweight. I'm afraid running around alot aint gonna get us out of the divison. Ferry is ok going sideways or backwards with the ball but that is it. Aint seen enough of the others to be sure about them but none jump out and say play me. I'd be looking to really stretch our budget on a decent centre mid more than any other area.

Agree about the central defence. Flint is decent though. I think Clarke will do well for us. He is the type of player we wished Pericard could have been. Good hold up forward but can put a shift in too.
Connell's situation is a weird one. Paid good money for him but Di canio seems reluctant to give him a run in the team.

I think Ferry has the best ball retention of all our midfielders, he plays decent passes and has a good engine. Easily enough for L2 imo.

It was a great ball by Kennedy, a bit like Rose though... maybe he's better off further forward because I don't think he can cut it defensively.

It looks to me like we lack leaders on the pitch. Caddis is the only one i've seen try and get the team together. I think we need a leader to really gel the team, forget about this arsenal lad, get an experienced CB (yes like GG did at the time) and things could look a lot better i think

No shit....! different manager, different season, same problem

Kennedy is our most creative player but he made one mistake so he's most definitely the worst left back we have ever had in the history of football...

Did you go yesterday dv?

of course not :)

Kennedy is great going forward but not the best defensively, been saying this since Supermarine.  I would prefer my fullbacks to defend first and create secondly.

From what I saw of Comazzi (albeit only against Supermarine) he was an organiser, what he is like as a defender I can't say as he has not played anyone of any decent level.  He could be the organiser that we need though.  I too think it would be a silly move to bring in a youngster from Arsenal, unless he is miles better than Flint, because IMO it is Flints position that he is challenging for if Comazzi can cut it.  Do you reallly think it would be wise to play 2 youngster in central defence in this league?  Nobody is shifting Flint at the moment so that is what it would be, not a good plan IMO.

Macari's 85/86 side had Fridge aged 21 and David Cole 23 as the centre backs....so don't think age matters that much in Div 4 as much as ability.  Flint is definitely up to the job, and will probably be our next sell on, can't see anything else we've got being value added on performances so far.

Kennedy has definitely only made one mistake this season. He definitely doesn't spend vast amounts of time getting done by his winger or being out of position.

Defo need to try out a few signings in the week. Lanzano in, Comazzi alongside Flint, Cibocchi if he's allowed to play, if not Boateng can play LB apprently or even Milan 'mystery' Misun. Maybe even try Atiku?? where is he?? Mcormack and Ferry in the centre and the two big lads up front. Connell at least on the bench. How many more players can we sign before the end of the transfer window?? Pdc needs to settle with a starting XI as pre season finished a few weeks ago now. The cup gives him on last opportunity to have a look, please give Manks a go as well!!

So two seasons ago? Oh good, that means they should come good again any day now...

Like either were given a chance last season. Manks is probably fit for the first time since Wembley.

No but it proves they can be good. Writing them off this season on the basis of a couple of games (none in the case of Amankwaah) is daft. We can only judge on the basis of the past as they've not featured enough so far this season.

Tell that to Di canio. He writes players off quickly and worryingly has signed a few of em

I agree Ferry seemed to be treated badly last season but Manks wasn't given a chance as his body was (is?) falling to pieces.

IMO the key here is organisation and communication at the back. Smith has never been a talker and I think, without a CB who does that for him (Commazi?), we're suffering on set pieces and crosses into the box. We need someone to take charge and we're not seeing that. I would still keep Smith in goal for Tuesday but I would bring Commazi in alongside Flint.

Dont agree that he has writing them off arriba,he has plenty of players and he is tinkering(rightly or wrongly)as we know a manager can't win really as he is being told to put in players like Manks by fans who last year was saying he was shit and should be bombed out.
Commazi will be the first name on the sheet when fit,hence PDC making him captain....fans are very fickle,the fans who were slagging De Vita were praising him after his second half performance at Bristol and that good finish.
Fans slagging Di Canio after only five matches really need to get a grip,we dicked Oxford and Cheltenham without getting a result and maybe deserved a draw at Dags with a cert penalty turned down.
So we have lost by the odd goal in these matches,not great i know but people like Yeo calling for his head after five matches,do me a favour.

Flint doesn't stop talking.Simple fact is in my opinion that Smith,Kennedy and Devera are making too many mistakes and the strikers are not taking the chances that the stats will show are clearly being created.Unlike arriba i would say the midfield are fine.

I think the attack will come good, Connell looks like a natural goalscorer, Clarke is good at linking up and bringing others into the game and Magera will batter defenders an give us a whole different option. We still have De Vita who has shown flashes of being a very good player. I think Clarke and Connell should start with Magera used as a 15-20 minute impact sub (route one stuff).

I thought he named Risser captain?

Just checked, he did:
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/9148179.Risser_to_captain_Town_this_season/?action=complain&cid=9525431

The fact the captain has been dropped suggests there is no guaranteed first name on the sheet :)

I stand corrected Batch :-[ :-[...but i still think he will be first name on the sheet :D

Risser will be back,good player and the goal v Oxford shows me that.

Di canio has stated that players are not as good as he thought they were. Agree he has tinkered but that isn't a good thing as we are losing games. Think Manks deserves a chance to stake a claim for a place like any other player,but he aint had that opportunity. Too early to call for Di canios head, but another 5 matches with a poor points return and the patience many are showing will wear thinner by the day.

Risser didn't even get off the bench?!

I like Manks but if PDC has seen in training that his fitness is piss poor then thats his decision,fact is arriba sacking a manager is not always the right thing to do whatever the results....i didn't want Wilson to be sacked,wonder how he is doing these days ;)

Read the thread Bunny,i was on about Commazzi not Risser.

Is fitness the reason for Manks not getting a game?

I think so, i watched three training sessions including the one at the Open Day and he just dosn't move well arriba,i may be wrong and probably am but i cannot see no other reason than that.

Does anyone really know?

I remember last season we were told he was injured but joteddyred said her dad (?) saw him in the gym all the time and he claimed he was fit?

Either way, whether you rate him or you dont - Amankwaah has not been given a chance under Di Canio what so ever.

Timlin was given a chance, seemed to take it and now Di Canio has done a massive u-turn.

If that isnt freezing out players I dont know what is.

Timmy most have done something very major, as Di Canio rated him very highly in pre-season.

No player is ever bigger than the manager,if he has dissed the manager in front of players then he is history and rightly so,all players should have an input but if you rant in front of younger players at a manager you surely know the outcome.
And if you think Timlin took his chance you were watching a different match(v Crewe)than me......he did ok but nothing special.
Has he frozen Smith out who has made two howlers,or young Kennedy or Bodin,all given a chance,Ferry as well,young Flint has played well and kept his place so there is the lesson,play well and keep your place...all this conspiracy theory about him freezing out players is pure bull.

Make your mind up leefer

First you've got Timlin dissing the manager infront of players and the next thing its all a 'conspiracy theory'

If anything the fact that Smith, Kennedy, Bodin and Ferry have been given (multiple) chances where as Amankwaah and Timlin havent shows that he has frozen them out?

My mistake.

I find the whole Timlin situation bizarre. We'll never really know what's gone on, but for him to feature in every pre season game and have a decent game vs Crewe, to then completely vanish kind of stinks to me...

Didn't have any wingers pre-season though

Yeah true.

Heard Timlin was moaning bout being played on the wing.Either way i dont give a fuck.The reason we are being beat is down to individual players.Is it any coincidence that the 3 main leaks smith kennedy and devera are the only 3 players who couldnt be dropped lately due to lack of cover?

I'm lost - Risser's goal against Oxford? Is this in some alternate reality where we are capable of defending properly?

My concern is that both Lanzano and Cibocchi have been playing at a lower level than League 2 and are a totally unknown quantity.

Well you'd think he'd know his own fitness levels.

That said. I had heard through a friend of AOB he (Manks) was struggling on and off through last with the knee - hence the operation. Amazed he hasn't got a chance, but whenever I have seen Caddis he's had a good game.

He meant Crewe. He's having a mare tonight.

His words were that they were watching the Crewe tape, he was asking why he wasnt pushing on. Timlin said Kennedy asked for some cover, and Kennedy backed him up, which annoyed Di Canio. PDC called Timlin into his office a few days later and said there was no future for him at Swindon. Dont think he's been allowed to train with the first team since. Timlin had a Swindon pad which he has moved out from. Only a matter of time before a new club in the South East is announced for him. Watkins is a bit pissed off at how PDC has treated him, bit of friction there already.

Think its a bit unfair people pointing fingers at individual outfield players for the 2nd half performance. It was a complete debacle. Barely got out of our own half. Kennedy has done very well, someone said his forward play is lacking, which is a joke, he has an excellent cross on him. He's got pace and he fights. Better than Rose or Sheehan were last season. Just needs to keep going and establish himself. Caddis is the one who keeps dissapointing going forward, bad crosses and dribbles the ball out of play.

Phil Smith on the other hand should have done better yesterday.

Going back to the whole PDC bombing out players thing. I do think he places a high priority on having 'mens men' in the team. He doesnt like players who are effeminate in any way.

If that's what happened to Timlin I find it disappointing. However I tought in the summer it was best for him to move on - needs regular games. Even if it hadn't happened I can't say he'd get them now we have wingers.


I stood next to Manks last year. He looked like he ate raw cow for breakfast. I wonder if its the cornrows that confused PDC.

Yeah Manks is fooking huge. Don't really appreciate it from the stands, but he walked right past me when I was getting tickets for the play offs and even though I'm 6ft I felt like a child.

Also choked on what must have been a litre of aftershave that he was wearing.

Timlin is not good enough, spat or no spat. If he had gone to Southend last year not one person would be now saying, "oh how I wish Timlin was here".

So much shit being thrown about and so much time to go.

Manks is a different story, proven league one player who should be given a shout.

Certainly not an issue with Amankwaah. But KA does need a bit of a father figure like Wilson, and PDC just isnt going to give him that sort of attention. He doesnt react well to being in and out of the team. Long time since he got near a starting XI. His time is up.

Going back to the point about effeminate players, I think it might be the problem PDC has with Connell. But that is 100% conjecture, unlike the stuff Ive posted about Timlin, which is his version of events.

Last year I was praying that Timlin would get a game ahead of Douglas and Prutton....

I was praying anyone would get a game ahead of Prutton to be fair.

Pook came across my mind once or twice.

Yesterday was not a player selection problem. It was a good starting XI.

Di Canio fucked their heads up at half time and made a load of bad substitutions.

Were they then bad subs because the players who came on were poor?

I didn't go so I don't know if the team turned to shit before the subs or not.

Is this any more than just putting the quotes from Di Canio saying he wasn't happy at 1-0 with the second half performance.

Hope you don't have more specific information to be honest.

We got a call after the game. But to anyone who was there, it does make sense. The two halves were night and day.

I think after the non stop battering we gave City, Di Canio expected something simmilar saturday. At half time we were the better team, but not dominating.

To be honest, I think he is starting to lose it. Id be wary of writing him off, but he needs some points very soon.

are you serious? he won't walk he has to turn it around otherwise he has no future as a manager.

Long term thinking isnt really his strong point. Its all about the here and now.

And you know that how?

Not read through the whole thread so don't know what has been said before, other than the obvious!
However, I don't think that saying they were bad subs really sums it up.

My opinion is that Magera was very disappointingly poor.  I'm sure like most people I had great hopes when hearing of his signing but he did absolutely nothing of note on Saturday other than a rash challenge that the Shrews fans though deserving of a red card.  I can understand the substutution as presumably PDC sees him and Leon as his first choice strike force so wanted to give them a good run-out together (but had started with DeVita as Magera not yet ready for 90 mins).  This happened after only about 5 mins of the 2nd half but Shrews had already started much more lively than in the first half and were putting us under pressure so I wouldn't pin the collapse on this.

The other subs I could see where PDC was coming from and I thought it was refreshing to have a Town manager change things around when they clearly weren't going well in contrast to Wilson & Hart.
Taking Ferry off for McCormack was to steel things up in midfield where we were getting overrun - I thought a good idea; it didn't work but that wasn't due to McCormack being crap.
Finally, Esajas for Clarke - we weren't getting any service to our 2 up front so 2 out and out wingers and another body in the centre made some sense but we just didn't manage to hit these wingers with any decent balls and they were both anonymous in the second half.

Overall, I'd say the substitutions weren't particularly relevant to the shit performance in the second half.  The whole team constantly gave away possession and were slow to chase down the Shrews team who seemed to want it more throughout that half.

To complete our analysis of the Shrewsbury game we've got an opposition supporter view on the match:

Opposition view: http://thewashbag.com/2011/08/29/swindon-at-shrewsbury-the-opposition-view/

Match report: http://thewashbag.com/2011/08/28/swindon-at-shrewsbury-town-self-destruct-to-a-2-1-defeat/

I dont know it, its my opinion (remmember this is a fans forum for fans opinions?). Reading his autobiography. Its all about live in the moment. Thats what the whole Roman Salute thing was about, it was just something he felt like doing at the time, so he did it (not in the autobiography BTW). Didnt care to think what long term consequences would be.

Thanks cheltred69.

Just been catching up after an almost non-internet weekend.

This thread is fun!

I would and will do if he goes now.PDC wants players "with heart" and that's exactly what Timlin gives.Last season he looked to me as a player who really wanted to be here amongst a group of players who clearly did not.

I think Timlin would be a good back-up player in this league.  He always seems to give his best and you know what you're getting from him - solid but not spectacular.
If some of the comments here about his the reasons for his absence are true then that is a big concern for me.
It suggests that PdC will accept no expression of opinion that differs from his and a culture of fear, which can't be healthy, especially when things aren't going well.

Agree with you .Could it be something to do with his fascist beliefs?Dictatorships always end in revolt, and ultimately are overthrown, I don't expect this particular dictatorship to be any different.

go and have a lie down for god sake

haha mental

A dictatorship?

We have ways of making you talk.

If you are honestly trying to suggest a player can undermine the manager then you live in Cuckoo land,oh and by the way he aint a good back up player either in my view or in fact the last two managers view,why he was sent out on loan as he couldn't even make the bench.

No one knows the reason for the fall out between them,so stop the guessing games,ignore the comments and get behind the manager,not a player who has done fuck all in three years.

I have to agree pretty much word for word there Leefer.

Fuck me Leefer a good post at last.  ;)

If a player doesn't like where he plays then tough shit. Most players would be happy to play, even if it was out of position. I am getting the impression Timlin had a moan.

PDC has made it known he is the boss. No player should ever tell the gaffer what to do.

We're only 4 games into the season, so why is everyone moaning. Have a moan at christmas if we are still performing at expected levels. Every team has a blip, and ours is obviously now.

I guess its the fact that our blip appears to have lasted pretty much the whole of 2011 and the fans are now sick of losing and desperately want to turn things around. I know its early days but the goal this season is promotion and we've made just about the worst possible start to the season imaginable. Its just so frustrating that after last season's shambles and the pre-season optimism with a big name manager and a load of fresh faces that we've not got out of the blocks as quickly as I guess people might have thought we would have done.

Moaning is easy to do, patience is not something a football supporter generally has.

corrected for you

Take your own advice.

Also, you have to take into consideration that the three previous managers who didnt pick Timlin were Paul Hart, Danny Wilson and Maurice Malpas - all utter clueless waste of spaces who failed here.

Our opinions of Timlin aside, Di Canio wanted him here. Di Canio offered him a new contract because he wanted him here. Di Canio played him in pre-season because he wanted him here. Di Canio picked him against Crewe because he wanted him in the team. Now he doesnt want him at all?

Yeah - usual.

How long after PDC arrived did Timlin get his new contract?

PDC didnt sign J Smith and Devera arrived 2 seconds after PDC so i have my doubts as to if he is a PDC signing, wondering if Timlin's contract was PDC's decision.

No we arent, we've played 5 league games and lost 4 of them.

Chesterfield who won L2 last season lost 8 all season. Bury and Wycombe lost 10 and 11 respectively.

Timlin signed a contract end of June and PDC joined around 20th May.

My post said IF the comments were true, not that I'm taking them as the full truth, but they suggested to me a healthy difference of opinion in a team discussion rather than undermining the manager.  There is a big difference between these - I think being able to have open opinions is necessary; but as we're all going on heresay I agree with you that its best to stop the guessing game.

I remain fully behind PdC but that doesn't mean I can't feel uncomfortable about some issues.

And as for Timlin, I'd have wanted to ship him out if we'd still been in L1 but believe he's a solid squad player at this level and he played enough games under Wilson to suggest that he didn't entirely think him a waste of space, but I accept that others will have differing opinions.

Wow. Just got back from an internet free weekend. Looking through this thread does not make for happy reading. Thank God for seize cent soixante quatre  :pint:

I was as much in the dark as anyone (and still am for that matter) as to how this season might turn out with Paolo in charge. But for any faults he might have, or any shortcomings the players might have, I seriously, never ever thought for a second that I would have to read the words 'lack of heart' in relation to a Town performance this season. I haven't looked at every post on this thread so I don't know. Is that actually justified?

We all knew Di Canio was a bit of a volatile character to say the least and it seems to me (as has been alluded to elsewhere) that he seems to make quite 'snap' decisions on players ,whether that be in a positive or negative sense. An example of this being Risser who was signed on the basis of a few 'really good' training sessions and made club captain on the basis of a couple of games against Italian pub sides. On the flip side you have the consigning of Timlin to the scrap heap having started the season in the first XI. I also suspect he is not particularly approachable - and yes, I'm surmising/reading between the lines/going on gut feeling here. Let's face it though, that's all that pretty much all of us have to go on.

For what it's worth (which is not a lot) my gut feeling is that Di Canio is probably a bit of a loon who went to the Genghis Khan School of Man Management. This is why I am buying the theory/facebook rumour/whatever you want to call it, that the lads went in at half time on Saturday, having played, from what I can gather, pretty well, only to get the collective 'hair drier' treatment from PDC (for reasons as yet unknown). This knocks the bollocks out of them as a team and the end result is something of a debacle.

When Di Canio was appointed my view was that it would be ridiculously successful or a complete disaster (and I could not see him hanging around too long in either scenario). I could not imagine it being anywhere in between. At this point we would appear to be heading down the latter road. Please let me be wrong.

Think that sums it up pretty much

Brian Clough regularly blasted his teams at half time....once they were leading 4-0 and said to them this is shit,you are playing like girls....they went out and scored another three.
Now if people are seriously trying to tell me that because the manager MAY have said they were heartless i would have thought as a pro you would want to go out and prove him wrong,after all this manager has given this bunch of have/havn't beens a great opportunity on good money and nice contracts.

Agree with you Leefer. The idea that the players played shit because they got shouted at is a lame excuse.
They would have had pelters from various people during their time playing football. I'm sure they would have felt at times it was unjustified too.

Whether he had a go at them or not, whether they felt they deserved it or not they should fucking man up about it, boo hoo hoo he called me crap I am going to throw a girlie strop and not put in as much effort as I should do.

be a fucking professional and take it on the chin and just give your all all the time FFS.

End of overpaid pansies rant.

They're professional footballers not U9's, if they get a little upset because there manager had a go at them they need to get another job.

These last three posts have restored my faith in the TEF.  For awhile there it was all getting a bit thisis. 

The point is more that Di Canio ripped up the instruction manual at half time and told them to do something different, not that they got upset.

Honestly think the lack of effort thing is a load of bollocks from Di Canio. The players were still running around just as much second half (except maybe the subs Esejas and Magera who were a bit lazy). Just the whole cohesion of the team had gone. Tactics had gone out of the window.

And in any case, you lot seem to be forgetting the whole point of a bloody manager in the first place. That he 'Manages' the team. Worst half time managerial intervention Ive ever seen by a Swindon manager. He needs to take a look at himself.

So Spence are you ruling out any impact Turner may have had at half time? Maybe it's not quite as one-sided as you think.

Yeah, fine. Get him in charge then.



(Yes Im Taking the piss).

Just reminded me of that documentery of the season we one promotion to the premiership. Glenn Hoddle telling players off for playing passes that put other players under pressure and Mickey Hazard pointing out that Hoddle had done exactly the same thing.

The link to it is here but I can't remember which section it's in: http://www.frontlinefootball.com/Football-Documentaries/thats-football/

It's been said when the likes of Hoddle went to Tottenham that a lot of the players were pissed off at the time because, although well into retirement, he could still give them a run for their money on the training ground and play passes etc that they just weren't capable of.

Is this something that you see often when you take one of the games great players and they become managers? The fact that they are still able to to do things that their players just cant?

Most of the greatest managers in English football history haven't had the glittering playing careers the likes of Macari, Ardiles, et al have had. Ferguson & Wenger spring to mind in the current era, Paisley, Shankley etc if you want to go back further and even Clough in between (Okay great start but curtailed through injury).

Just a thought.

I DO want PDC to succeed and won't be slashing my own wrists in despair for another couple of months.

But it's a serious point, no?

You seem to suggest that the role reversal was all down to Di Canio throwing some sort of wobbler at half time yet you don't account for Turner firing them up. Pretty sure they'd see us a big scalp - PDC effect - and had lost 3 on the bounce so I'd be banging into them that we were there for the taking. And they did.

Credit where credit's due and all that.

Fell to pieces 2nd half.

Looks like we'll be giving a lot of credit to the Shrewsbury's, and the Dagenhams, and the Cheltenhams. Bravo, well done them.

'lets hear it for the Mexicans'.

I'm sure Di canio did say something during half time,but unless he changed the shape of the team i can't see how his words could lose us the game. Unless he told them they will now be training 3 times a day 7 days a week ;)

I'm not making fucking excuses for anyone. Just trying to understand what the hell is happening.

It's not so much a matter of being shouted at, more along the lines of, you're playing pretty well, you're a goal up and you think you're going to get a bit of a pat on the back then....the manager comes in, starts shouting and screaming, says the whole way you're playing is wrong, says you're not putting the effort (when you know you have been). Maybe you go out for the second half thinking, 'fuck, I put everything in in the first half but he says I'm playing like a cunt. What do do? I thought I was doing exactly what he'd asked me to but now he says I'm not. What do I do?' and so on. If you go out for the second half in that frame of mind you're probably not going to put in the best of performances. In short, you think that whatever you do is going to be wrong...maybe what I described didn't happen, this is all pure speculation (obviously).

If it did happen though, the fact is that whilst its easy to say that players should bounce back and say, "Fuck him, I'll show the bastard", not everyone is like that and you have to recognize that as a manager. Maybe Clough did rip into his team at half time even when they were winning. But I bet he knew when not to as well.

I know some people think footbal is very black and white. They think players are good enough or not. They think they should be able to just come in the side and play together. Just like that, right from day 1 and it should all click. They think there is no human element involved.

That's bollocks.

But none of those other games you mentioned were, as the cliche goes, a game of two halves so what's your point?

chill man. Wasn't posting in response to you. Infact i pretty much agree with what you said.

I am chilled sir. I was merely seeking to clarify my original point which I hope I have done  8)

Well the fact is Paolo wouldn't know when to or not to bollock players on account of him only managing six games,and that is time for the older pros to understand this and help him....not cry off and start the verbals ala Timlin if the rumours are true.

For people on here slating a manager who is 6 games into management disapoints me,not as if it is Wilson or Hart with all the experience,course i am as pissed off as everyone where we are in the table but that will change i have no doubt.
And i will tell you that Ferry is on thin ice if he is twatting about stuff that happened at half time.
Not sure if he did but if he did he may find himself surplus to requirements fairly soon.

Anyway Mr Taylor hope you had a good weekend ;D

most certainly sir

We all knew the appointment was going to be great or shit. At the moment its veering towards the latter but it needs a bit more time yet. If we're still in the same position come the end of November then we may need to bail out but somehow i think he'll bail out before we do. I also think he'd rip his contract up. We're not there yet so hold tight for a few more games.

None of the rumours I've heard/read mention 'verbals' in the slightest.

I did thanks mate, in spite of Swindon Cunting Town trying their level best to ruin it for me..it'll take more than that though  ;)

Oooh, I like this. Very civilized. I think this is the way forward for TEF...less 'cunts' and more 'sirs' 8)

This point is very true and a different way of looking at it, there were 2 sides out there not just Swindon, maybe Turner did get them fired up more 2nd half and gave them the bollocking of their life and they responded to it, whereas we didn't.

Three cheers for Ramirez...

i was away all weekend (not at the football) and have now read the thread from pretty much the full time whistle.

just a couple of things to add... 

couple of people moaning about the players not getting home until 6 in the afternoon - stevenage trained 9 to 5 all of last season and went up, if they could do it why should another group of players not be able to.

as OST said players are human, what if your boss tells you that your doing a shit job even though you've just made the company more money than your colleagues for example?  you go out to work unmotivated and moan to your family and friend that your boss is a cunt?  yes of course you do...

as has also been said pdc is in his first job, he is going to make mistakes and my opinion on the evidence available to me was that he made a mistake at half time, all we can do now is hope he will learn from it

I want to know more about PDC's assistant. Sure he's just as inexperienced in terms of the league he's in, but this isn't his first job, I wonder if he's been able to have a word with Paolo about when is and isn't a good time for a tongue lashing. IF he did give them a dressing down, maybe it'd be better to wait for post match analysis. A little bit of encouragement in a situation where we go in at HT with nearly 2/3 possession and a lead, rather than a bollocking.

The point is, he isnt managing the team very well at the moment.